WEWNTPTSCBElectronic Pocket Oxford English DictionaryOxford University Press22/03/02Oxford University Pressen-us

© Oxford University Press 2002

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Electronic Pocket Oxford English Dictionary

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A

24-7 (also 24/7)

adverb informal, chiefly N. Amer.
twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week; all the time.

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A [1] (also a)

noun (pl. As or A's)
1. the first letter of the alphabet.
2. denoting the first, best, or most important in a set.
3. Music the sixth note of the diatonic scale of C major.
4. the human blood type (in the ABO system) containing the A antigen and lacking the B.

IDIOMS -
from A to B from one's starting point to one's destination.
from A to Z over the entire range.

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A [2]

abbreviation
1. ampere(s).
2. (Å) ångstrom(s).
3. (in showing goals or points conceded) against.
4. answer.

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a [1] (an before a vowel sound)

determiner
1. used when mentioning someone or something for the first time; the indefinite article.
2. one single: a hundred.
3. someone like (the name specified).
4. per: typing 60 words a minute.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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a [2]

abbreviation
1. (in travel timetables) arrives.
2. (used before a date) before. [ORIGIN: from Latin ante.]
3. Brit. (with reference to sporting fixtures) away.

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a- [1] (often an- before a vowel)

prefix
not; without: atheistic.

ORIGIN: from Greek.

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a- [2]

prefix
1. to; towards: aside.
2. in the process of: a-hunting.
3. in a specified state: aflutter.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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a- [3]

prefix
1. of: anew.
2. utterly: abash.

ORIGIN: Old French a-, from Latin ex 'of, from' .

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A1

adjective informal
excellent.

ORIGIN: used at Lloyd's Register of Shipping to refer to ships in first-class condition as to hull (A) and stores (1).

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AA

abbreviation
1. Alcoholics Anonymous.
2. anti-aircraft.
3. Automobile Association.

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aardvark

noun
a badger-sized African burrowing mammal, with a tubular snout and a long tongue, feeding on ants and termites.

ORIGIN: South African Dutch, from aarde 'earth' + vark 'pig' .

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AB

noun
the human blood type (in the ABO system) containing both the A and B antigens.

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ab- (also abs-)

prefix
away; from: abdicate.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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aback

adverb archaic
towards or situated to the rear.

IDIOMS -
take aback shock or surprise (someone).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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abacus

noun (pl. abacuses)
a frame with rows of wires or grooves along which beads are slid, used for calculating.

ORIGIN: Greek abax 'slab, drawing board' .

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abaft

adverb & preposition Nautical
in or behind the stern of a ship.

ORIGIN: from archaic baft «in the rear».

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abandon

verb
1. desert or leave permanently.
2. give up (an action or practice) completely.
3. (abandon oneself to) indulge in (a desire or impulse) without restraint.

noun
complete lack of inhibition or restraint.

DERIVATIVES:
abandonment noun.

ORIGIN: Old French abandoner.

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abandoned

adjective
unrestrained; uninhibited.

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abase

verb (abase oneself)
behave in a way that lessens others' respect for one.

DERIVATIVES:
abasement noun.

ORIGIN: Old French abaissier 'to lower' .

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abashed

adjective
embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed.

ORIGIN: from Old French esbair 'utterly astound' .

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abate

verb
1. (of something bad) become less intense or widespread.
2. Law reduce or remove (a nuisance).

DERIVATIVES:
abatement noun.

ORIGIN: Old French abatre 'to fell' , from Latin battere 'to beat' .

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abattoir

noun
a slaughterhouse.

ORIGIN: French, from abattre 'to fell' .

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abbess

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

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abbey

noun (pl. abbeys)
an establishment occupied by a community of monks or nuns.

ORIGIN: Old French abbeie, from Latin abbas 'abbot' .

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abbot

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

ORIGIN: Greek abbas 'father' , from Aramaic.

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abbreviate

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

ORIGIN: Latin abbreviare, from brevis 'short' .

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abbreviation

noun
1. a shortened form of a word or phrase.
2. the process or result of abbreviating.

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ABC [1]

noun
1. the alphabet.
2. an alphabetical guide.
3. the rudiments of a subject.

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abdicate

verb
1. (of a monarch) renounce the throne.
2. fail to fulfil or undertake (a duty).

DERIVATIVES:
abdication noun.

ORIGIN: Latin abdicare 'renounce' .

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abdomen

noun
1. the part of the body containing the digestive and reproductive organs; the belly.
2. Zoology the rear part of the body of an arthropod.

DERIVATIVES:
abdominal adjective
abdominally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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abduct

verb
take (someone) away by force or deception.

DERIVATIVES:
abductee noun
abduction noun
abductor noun.

ORIGIN: Latin abducere 'lead away' .

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Aberdeen Angus

noun
a breed of hornless black beef cattle originating in Scotland.

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Aberdonian

adjective
relating to Aberdeen.

noun
a person from Aberdeen.

ORIGIN: from Latin Aberdonia.

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aberrant

adjective
departing from an accepted standard or normal type.

DERIVATIVES:
aberrance noun
aberrancy noun
aberrantly adverb.

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aberration

noun
1. a departure from what is normal or acceptable.
2. a mental or moral lapse.
3. Optics the failure of rays to converge at one focus because of a defect in a lens or mirror.

DERIVATIVES:
aberrational adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from aberrare 'to stray' .

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abet

verb (abetted, abetting) (usu. in phrase aid and abet)
encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong, in particular to commit a crime.

DERIVATIVES:
abetment noun
abetter (also abettor) noun.

ORIGIN: Old French abeter, from beter 'hound, urge on' .

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abeyance

noun (in phrase in/into abeyance)
temporarily suspended or not used.

ORIGIN: from Old French abeer 'aspire after' .

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abhor

verb (abhorred, abhorring)
detest; hate.

ORIGIN: Latin abhorrere, from horrere 'to shudder' .

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abhorrent

adjective
inspiring disgust and loathing.

DERIVATIVES:
abhorrence noun.

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abide

verb
1. (abide by) accept or observe (a rule or decision).
2. informal tolerate: he could not abide conflict.
3. (of a feeling or memory) endure.
4. archaic live; dwell.

ORIGIN: Old English, 'wait' ; related to BIDE.

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abiding

adjective
continuing through time; enduring.

DERIVATIVES:
abidingly adverb.

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ability

noun (pl. abilities)
1. the power or capacity to do something.
2. skill or talent.

ORIGIN: Latin habilitas, from habilis 'able' .

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abject

adjective
1. extremely unpleasant and degrading: abject poverty.
2. completely without pride or dignity: an abject apology.

DERIVATIVES:
abjection noun
abjectly adverb
abjectness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin abjectus 'rejected' , from jacere 'to throw' .

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abjure

verb formal
swear to give up (a belief or claim).

DERIVATIVES:
abjuration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin abjurare, from jurare 'swear' .

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ablative

adjective
1. Grammar (of a case) indicating an agent, instrument, or source, expressed by ‘by’, ‘with’, or ‘from’ in English.
2. involving ablation.

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ablaze

adjective
burning fiercely.

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able

adjective (abler, ablest)
1. having the power, skill, or means to do something.
2. skilful and competent.

DERIVATIVES:
ably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin habilis 'handy' .

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-able

suffix forming adjectives meaning:
1. able to be: calculable.
2. subject to; relevant to: taxable.
3. having the quality to: suitable.

DERIVATIVES:
-ability suffix
-ably suffix.

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able-bodied

adjective
not physically unfit or disabled.

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ablutions

plural noun formal or humorous
the act of washing oneself.

DERIVATIVES:
ablutionary adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from abluere 'wash away' .

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abnegate

verb formal
renounce or reject (something desired or valuable).

DERIVATIVES:
abnegation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from negare 'deny' .

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abnormal

adjective
deviating from what is normal.

DERIVATIVES:
abnormality noun
abnormally adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek anmalos 'uneven' , related to ANOMALOUS.

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Abo

noun (pl. Abos) Austral. informal, offensive
an Aboriginal.

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aboard

adverb & preposition
on or into (a ship, train, or other vehicle).

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abode

noun formal or literary
1. a house or home.
2. residence: right of abode.

ORIGIN: from ABIDE.

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abolish

verb
formally put an end to (a practice or institution).

ORIGIN: Latin abolere 'destroy' .

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abolition

noun
the abolishing of a system, practice, or institution.

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abolitionist

noun
a person who favours the abolition of something, especially capital punishment or (formerly) slavery.

DERIVATIVES:
abolitionism noun.

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abominable

adjective
1. causing moral revulsion.
2. informal very bad; terrible.

DERIVATIVES:
abominably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin abominabilis, from abominari 'deprecate' .

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Abominable Snowman

noun
the yeti.

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abominate

verb formal
detest.

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abomination

noun
1. an object of disgust or hatred.
2. a feeling of hatred.

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aboriginal

adjective
1. inhabiting or existing in a land from the earliest times or from before the arrival of colonists; indigenous.
2. (Aboriginal) relating to the Australian Aboriginals.

noun
1. an aboriginal inhabitant.
2. (Aboriginal) a member of one of the indigenous peoples of Australia.

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aborigine

noun
1. an aboriginal person, animal, or plant.
2. (Aborigine) an Australian aboriginal.

ORIGIN: from Latin ab origine 'from the beginning' .

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abort

verb
1. carry out or undergo the abortion of (a fetus).
2. Biology (of an embryonic organ or organism) remain undeveloped; fail to mature.
3. bring to a premature end because of a problem or fault.

ORIGIN: Latin aboriri 'miscarry' .

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abortion

noun
1. the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy.
2. the natural expulsion of a fetus from the womb before it is able to survive independently.
3. informal, derogatory something imperfectly planned or made.

DERIVATIVES:
abortionist noun (chiefly derogatory ).

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abortive

adjective
failing to produce the intended result; unsuccessful.

DERIVATIVES:
abortively adverb.

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abound

verb
1. exist in large numbers or amounts.
2. (abound in/with) have in large numbers or amounts.

ORIGIN: Latin abundare 'overflow' .

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about

preposition & adverb
1. on the subject of; concerning.
2. used to indicate movement within a particular area or location in a particular place.
3. approximately.

IDIOMS -
be about to be on the point of.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to BUT.

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about-turn (also chiefly N. Amer. about-face)

noun Brit.
1. Military a turn made so as to face the opposite direction.
2. informal a complete change of opinion or policy.

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above

preposition & adverb
1. at a higher level than.
2. in preference to.
3. (in printed text) mentioned earlier.

IDIOMS -
above board legitimate and honest.
above oneself conceited.
not be above be capable of doing (something unworthy).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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abracadabra

exclamation
a word said by conjurors when performing a magic trick.

ORIGIN: Latin, from a Greek base.

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abrade

verb
scrape or wear away.

ORIGIN: Latin abradere, from radere 'to scrape' .

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abrasion

noun
1. the action or process of abrading or being abraded.
2. an area of scraped skin.

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abrasive

adjective
1. capable of polishing or cleaning a hard surface by rubbing or grinding.
2. harsh or rough in manner.

noun
a substance used for abrading.

DERIVATIVES:
abrasively adverb
abrasiveness noun.

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abreast

adverb
1. side by side and facing the same way.
2. alongside.
3. (abreast of) up to date with.

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abridge

verb
shorten (a text or film).

DERIVATIVES:
abridgement (also abridgment) noun
abridger noun.

ORIGIN: Old French abregier, from Latin abbreviare 'abbreviate' .

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abroad

adverb
1. in or to a foreign country or countries.
2. in different directions; over a wide area.
3. at large; in circulation.
4. archaic out of doors.

noun
foreign countries collectively.

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abrogate

verb formal
repeal or do away with (a law or agreement).

DERIVATIVES:
abrogation noun
abrogator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin abrogare 'repeal' .

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abrupt

adjective
1. sudden and unexpected.
2. brief to the point of rudeness; curt.
3. steep.

DERIVATIVES:
abruptly adverb
abruptness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin abruptus 'broken off, steep' , from rumpere 'break' .

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abscess

noun
a swollen area within body tissue, containing pus.

ORIGIN: Latin abscessus, from abscedere 'go away' .

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abscond

verb
leave hurriedly and secretly to escape from custody or avoid arrest.

DERIVATIVES:
absconder noun.

ORIGIN: Latin abscondere 'hide' .

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abseil

verb
descend a near-vertical surface using a rope coiled round the body and fixed at a higher point.

DERIVATIVES:
abseiler noun
abseiling noun.

ORIGIN: German abseilen, from ab 'down' + Seil 'rope' .

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absence

noun
1. the state of being away from a place or person.
2. (absence of) the non-existence or lack of.

IDIOMS -
absence makes the heart grow fonder proverb you feel more affection for those you love when parted from them.

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absent

adjective
1. not present.
2. showing a lack of attention.

verb (absent oneself)
stay or go away.

DERIVATIVES:
absently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin abesse 'to be away' .

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absentee

noun
a person who is absent.

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absenteeism

noun
frequent absence from work or school without good reason.

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absent-minded

adjective
inattentive or forgetful.

DERIVATIVES:
absent-mindedly adverb
absent-mindedness noun.

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absolute

adjective
1. not qualified or diminished in any way; total.
2. having unlimited power: an absolute ruler.
3. not relative or comparative: absolute moral principles.
4. Grammar (of a construction) syntactically independent of the rest of the sentence, as in dinner being over, we left the table; (of an adjective or transitive verb) used without an expressed noun or object (e.g. the brave, guns kill).
5. Law (of a decree) final.

noun Philosophy
a value or principle which is universally valid or able to be viewed without relation to other things.

DERIVATIVES:
absoluteness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin absolutus 'freed, unrestricted' , from absolvere 'set free' .

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absolutely

adverb
1. with no qualification, restriction, or limitation.
2. used for emphasis or to express agreement.
3. not viewed in relation to other things or factors.

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absolute majority

noun
a majority over all rivals combined; more than half.

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absolute pitch

noun Music
1. perfect pitch.
2. pitch according to a fixed standard defined by the frequency of the sound vibration.

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absolute temperature

noun
a temperature measured from absolute zero in kelvins.

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absolute zero

noun
the lowest temperature theoretically possible (zero kelvins, -273.15°C).

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absolution

noun
1. formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment.
2. formal declaration by a priest that a person's sins are forgiven.

ORIGIN: Latin, from absolvere 'set free, acquit' .

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absolutism

noun
1. the principle that those in government should have unlimited power.
2. belief in absolute principles in philosophy.

DERIVATIVES:
absolutist noun & adjective.

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absolve

verb
1. declare (someone) free from guilt or responsibility.
2. give absolution for (a sin).

ORIGIN: Latin absolvere 'set free, acquit' .

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absorb

verb
1. soak up (liquid or another substance).
2. take in (information).
3. assimilate or take over (something less powerful).
4. use up (time or resources).
5. reduce the effect or intensity of (sound or an impact).
6. (usu. as absorbed or absorbing) engross the attention of.

DERIVATIVES:
absorbable adjective
absorber noun.

ORIGIN: Latin absorbere 'suck in' .

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absorbent

adjective
able to soak up liquid easily.

DERIVATIVES:
absorbency noun.

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absorption

noun
the process of absorbing or the action of being absorbed.

DERIVATIVES:
absorptive adjective.

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abstain

verb
1. restrain oneself from doing or indulging in something.
2. formally choose not to vote.

DERIVATIVES:
abstainer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin abstinere 'hold from' .

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abstemious

adjective
not self-indulgent, especially as regards eating and drinking.

DERIVATIVES:
abstemiously adverb
abstemiousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin abstemius, from ab- 'from' + a word related to temetum 'alcoholic liquor' .

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abstention

noun
1. an instance of abstaining from a vote.
2. abstinence.

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abstinence

noun
the practice of abstaining, especially from drinking alcohol.

DERIVATIVES:
abstinent adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin abstinentia, from abstinere, 'hold from' .

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abstract

adjective
1. theoretical rather than physical or concrete.
2. (of art) achieving its effect through colour and shapes rather than attempting to represent recognizable reality.

verb
1. extract or remove.
2. consider theoretically or separately from something else.
3. make a written summary of.

noun
1. a summary of a book or article.
2. an abstract work of art.

DERIVATIVES:
abstractly adverb
abstractor noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin abstrahere 'draw away' .

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abstracted

adjective
not concentrating on what is happening; preoccupied.

DERIVATIVES:
abstractedly adverb.

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abstraction

noun
1. the quality of being abstract.
2. something which exists only as an idea.
3. a preoccupied state.
4. abstracting or removing something.

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abstruse

adjective
difficult to understand; obscure.

DERIVATIVES:
abstrusely adverb
abstruseness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin abstrusus 'concealed' .

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absurd

adjective
completely unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate.

DERIVATIVES:
absurdity noun
absurdly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin absurdus 'out of tune' , hence 'irrational' .

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abundance

noun
1. a very large quantity.
2. the state of having a very large quantity; plentifulness: vines grew in abundance.
3. the amount of something present in a particular area, volume, or sample.

ORIGIN: Latin abundantia, from abundare 'overflow' .

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abundant

adjective
1. existing or available in large quantities; plentiful.
2. (abundant in) having plenty of.

DERIVATIVES:
abundantly adverb.

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abuse

verb
1. use improperly or to excess.
2. treat with cruelty or violence, especially assault sexually.
3. speak to in an insulting and offensive way.

noun
1. the improper use of something.
2. cruel and violent treatment, especially sexual assault.
3. insulting and offensive language.

DERIVATIVES:
abuser noun.

ORIGIN: Latin abuti 'misuse' .

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abusive

adjective
1. extremely offensive and insulting.
2. involving cruelty and violence.

DERIVATIVES:
abusively adverb
abusiveness noun.

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abut

verb (abutted, abutting)
1. be next to or share a boundary with.
2. touch or lean on.

ORIGIN: Old French abouter, from bouter 'strike, butt' .

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abysmal

adjective
1. informal extremely bad.
2. literary very deep.

DERIVATIVES:
abysmally adverb.

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abyss

noun
a very deep chasm.

ORIGIN: from Greek abussos 'bottomless' .

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AC

abbreviation
1. alternating current.
2. air conditioning.
3. Aircraftman.
4. appellation contrôlée.
5. athletic club.

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Ac

symbol
the chemical element actinium.

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a/c

abbreviation
1. account.
2. (also A/C) air conditioning.

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acacia

noun
a tree or shrub of warm climates with yellow or white flowers.

ORIGIN: Greek akakia.

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academia

noun
the academic environment or community.

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academic

adjective
1. relating to education and scholarship.
2. scholarly rather than technical or practical.
3. of only theoretical interest.

noun
a teacher or scholar in an institute of higher education.

DERIVATIVES:
academically adverb.

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academy

noun (pl. academies)
1. a place of study or training in a special field.
2. a society or institution of distinguished scholars, artists, or scientists that aims to promote and maintain standards in its field.
3. US & Scottish a secondary school.

ORIGIN: Greek akadmeia, from Akadmos, the name of the garden where Plato taught.

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Academy award

noun
an award given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for achievement in the film industry; an Oscar.

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acanthus

noun
1. a plant or shrub with bold flower spikes and spiny decorative leaves.
2. Architecture a representation of an acanthus leaf.

ORIGIN: Greek akanthos, from akantha 'thorn' .

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a cappella

adjective & adverb
(of music) sung without instrumental accompaniment.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'in chapel style' .

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accede

verb (usu. accede to) formal
1. assent or agree to a demand, request, or treaty.
2. take up an office or position.

ORIGIN: Latin accedere 'come to' .

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accelerate

verb
1. begin or cause to move more quickly.
2. increase in rate, amount, or extent.

DERIVATIVES:
acceleration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin accelerare 'hasten' , from celer 'swift' .

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accelerator

noun
1. a foot pedal which controls the speed of a vehicle's engine.
2. Physics an apparatus for accelerating charged particles to high velocities.
3. a substance that speeds up a chemical process.

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accent

noun
1. a way of pronouncing a language, associated with a country, area, or social class.
2. an emphasis given to a syllable, word, or note.
3. a mark on a letter or word indicating how a sound is pronounced or stressed.
4. a particular emphasis: the accent is on participation.

verb
1. (accented) spoken with a particular accent: accented English.
2. stress or emphasize.

DERIVATIVES:
accentual adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin accentus 'tone, signal, or intensity' .

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accentuate

verb
make more noticeable or prominent.

DERIVATIVES:
accentuation noun.

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accept

verb
1. agree to receive or undertake (something offered or proposed).
2. regard favourably or with approval.
3. believe or receive as valid or correct.
4. take on (a responsibility or liability).
5. tolerate or submit to.

DERIVATIVES:
acceptance noun
acceptor noun.

ORIGIN: Latin acceptare, from capere 'take' .

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acceptable

adjective
1. able to be accepted.
2. adequate, though not outstanding or perfect.

DERIVATIVES:
acceptability noun
acceptably adverb.

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access

noun
1. the means or opportunity to approach or enter a place.
2. the right or opportunity to use something or see someone.
3. retrieval of information stored in a computer's memory.
4. an attack or outburst of an emotion: an access of rage.

verb
1. gain access to; make accessible.
2. approach or enter (a place).

ORIGIN: Latin accessus, from accedere 'come to' .

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accessible

adjective
1. able to be accessed.
2. friendly and easy to talk to; approachable.
3. easily understood or appreciated.

DERIVATIVES:
accessibility noun
accessibly adverb.

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accession

noun
1. the attainment of a position of rank.
2. the formal acceptance of a treaty or joining of an association.
3. a new item added to a library or museum collection.

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accessorize (also accessorise)

verb
add a fashion accessory to (a garment).

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accessory (also accessary)

noun (pl. accessories)
1. a thing which can be added to something else to make it more useful, versatile, or attractive.
2. a small article carried or worn to complement a garment.
3. Law a person who helps someone commit a crime without taking part in it.

adjective chiefly technical
subsidiary or supplementary.

ORIGIN: Latin accessorius 'additional thing' .

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accident

noun
1. an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally.
2. an incident that happens by chance or without apparent cause.
3. chance.

IDIOMS -
accidents will happen in the best regulated families proverb however careful you try to be, it is inevitable that some unfortunate or unforeseen events will occur.

ORIGIN: from Latin accidere 'to fall or happen' .

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accidental

adjective
1. happening by accident.
2. incidental; subsidiary.

noun Music
a sign indicating a momentary departure from the key signature by raising or lowering a note.

DERIVATIVES:
accidentally adverb.

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acclaim

verb
praise enthusiastically and publicly.

noun
enthusiastic public praise.

ORIGIN: Latin acclamare, from clamare 'to shout' .

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acclamation

noun
loud and enthusiastic approval or praise.

IDIOMS -
by acclamation (of election, agreement, etc.) by shouting approval rather than by voting.

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acclimatize (also acclimatise)

verb
make or become accustomed to a new climate or new conditions.

DERIVATIVES:
acclimatization noun.

ORIGIN: French acclimater, from climat 'climate' .

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accolade

noun
something given as a special honour or in recognition of merit.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «a touch on a person's shoulders with a sword when knighting them»: from Provençal acolada 'embrace around the neck' , from Latin collum 'neck' .

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accommodate

verb
1. provide lodging or sufficient space for.
2. adapt to or fit in with.

ORIGIN: Latin accommodare, from commodus 'fitting' .

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accommodating

adjective
willing to help or fit in with someone's wishes.

DERIVATIVES:
accommodatingly adverb.

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accommodation

noun
1. a room, building, or space where someone may live or stay.
2. (accommodations) N. Amer. lodgings.
3. a settlement or compromise.
4. adaptation to changing circumstances.

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accompaniment

noun
1. a musical part which accompanies an instrument, voice, or group.
2. something that supplements or complements something else.

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accompanist

noun
a person who provides a musical accompaniment.

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accompany

verb (accompanies, accompanied)
1. go somewhere with (someone).
2. be present or occur at the same time as.
3. play musical support or backing for (an instrument, voice, or group).

ORIGIN: Old French accompagner, from compaignon 'companion' .

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accomplice

noun
a person who helps another commit a crime.

ORIGIN: from Latin complex 'allied' .

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accomplish

verb
achieve or complete successfully.

ORIGIN: Old French acomplir, from Latin complere 'to complete' .

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accomplished

adjective
highly trained or skilled.

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accomplishment

noun
1. something that has been achieved successfully.
2. the successful achievement of a task.
3. an activity that one can do well.

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accord

verb
1. give or grant someone (power or recognition).
2. (accord with) be in agreement or consistent with.

noun
1. an official agreement or treaty.
2. agreement in opinion or feeling.

IDIOMS -
of one's own accord voluntarily or without outside intervention.
with one accord in a united way.

ORIGIN: Old French acorder 'reconcile, be of one mind' , from Latin cor 'heart' .

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accordance

noun (in phrase in accordance with)
in a manner conforming with.

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according

adverb
1. (according to) as stated by or in.
2. (according to) corresponding or in proportion to.
3. (according as) depending on whether.

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accordingly

adverb
1. appropriately.
2. consequently.

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accordion

noun
a musical instrument played by stretching and squeezing with the hands to work a bellows, the melody and chords being sounded by buttons or keys.

DERIVATIVES:
accordionist noun.

ORIGIN: from Italian accordare 'to tune' .

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accost

verb
approach and address boldly or aggressively.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «go or lie alongside»: from French accoster, from Latin costa 'rib, side' .

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account

noun
1. a description of an event or experience.
2. a record of financial expenditure and receipts.
3. a service through a bank or similar organization by which funds are held on behalf of a client or goods or services are supplied on credit.
4. importance: money was of no account to her.

verb
consider or regard in a specified way.

IDIOMS -
account for
1. supply or make up (a specified amount).
2. give a satisfactory record or explanation of.
3. succeed in killing or defeating.
call (or bring) to account require (someone) to explain a mistake or poor performance.
on someone's account for a specified person's benefit.
on account of because of.
on no account under no circumstances.
on one's own account with one's own money or assets.
take account of consider along with other factors before reaching a decision.
there's no accounting for tastes (or taste) proverb it's impossible to explain why different people like different things, especially those things which the speaker considers unappealing.
turn to (good) account turn to one's advantage.

ORIGIN: Old French acont, from conter 'to count' .

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accountable

adjective
1. required or expected to justify actions or decisions.
2. understandable.

DERIVATIVES:
accountability noun
accountably adverb.

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accountancy

noun
the profession or duties of an accountant.

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accountant

noun
a person who keeps or inspects financial accounts.

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accounting

noun
the keeping of financial accounts.

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accoutrement (US accouterment)

noun
1. an additional item of dress or equipment.
2. (accoutrements) a soldier's outfit other than weapons and garments.

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accredit

verb (accredited, accrediting)
1. (accredit to) attribute (something) to (someone).
2. give official authorization to.
3. send (a diplomat or journalist) to a particular place or post.

DERIVATIVES:
accreditation noun.

ORIGIN: French accréditer, from crédit 'credit' .

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accretion

noun
1. growth or increase by gradual accumulation.
2. a thing formed or added in this way.

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accrue

verb (accrues, accrued, accruing)
1. (of a benefit or sum of money) be received in regular or increasing amounts.
2. accumulate or receive (payments or benefits).

DERIVATIVES:
accrual noun.

ORIGIN: Old French acreistre 'increase' , from Latin accrescere 'grow' .

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accumulate

verb
1. gather together a number or quantity of.
2. gather or build up.

DERIVATIVES:
accumulation noun
accumulative adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin accumulare 'heap up' , from cumulus 'a heap' .

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accumulator

noun
1. a person or thing that accumulates.
2. Brit. a large rechargeable electric cell.
3. Brit. a bet placed on a series of events, the winnings and stake from each being placed on the next.

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accurate

adjective
1. correct in all details.
2. capable of or successful in reaching the intended target.

DERIVATIVES:
accuracy noun
accurately adverb.
USAGE - On the distinction between accurate and precise, see the note at PRECISE.
ORIGIN: from Latin accurare 'do with care' , from cura 'care' .

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accursed

adjective
1. literary under a curse.
2. informal horrible.

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accusation

noun
a charge or claim that someone has done something illegal or wrong.

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accusative

adjective Grammar
(of a case) expressing the object of an action or the goal of motion.

ORIGIN: from Latin casus accusativus 'the case showing cause' .

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accuse

verb (often accuse of)
1. charge with an offence or crime.
2. claim that (someone) has done (something wrong).

DERIVATIVES:
accusatory adjective
accuser noun.

ORIGIN: Latin accusare 'call to account' , from causa 'reason, motive, lawsuit' .

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accustom

verb
1. (accustom to) make used to.
2. (be accustomed to) be used to.

ORIGIN: Old French acostumer, from costume 'custom' .

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accustomed

adjective
customary; usual.

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AC/DC

adjective
1. alternating current/direct current.
2. informal bisexual.

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ace

noun
1. a playing card with a single spot on it, the highest card in its suit in most games.
2. informal a person who is very good at a particular activity.
3. Tennis a service that an opponent is unable to return.
4. Golf a hole in one.

adjective informal
very good.

verb informal
(in tennis) serve an ace against.

IDIOMS -
ace up one's sleeve a plan or piece of information kept secret until required.
hold all the aces have all the advantages.
within an ace of very close to.

ORIGIN: Latin as 'unity, a unit' .

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acellular

adjective Biology
1. not divided into or containing cells.
2. consisting of one cell only.

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acerbic

adjective
1. sharp and forthright.
2. archaic or technical tasting sour or bitter.

DERIVATIVES:
acerbically adverb
acerbity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin acerbus 'sour-tasting' .

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acetate

noun
1. Chemistry a salt or ester of acetic acid.
2. fibre or plastic made of cellulose acetate.
3. a transparency made of cellulose acetate film.

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acetic acid

noun
the acid that gives vinegar its characteristic taste.

ORIGIN: from Latin acetum 'vinegar' .

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acetone

noun
a colourless volatile liquid ketone used as a solvent and in chemical synthesis.

ORIGIN: from ACETIC ACID.

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acetylene

noun
a gas which burns with a bright flame, used in welding.

ORIGIN: from ACETIC ACID.

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ache

noun
a continuous or prolonged dull pain.

verb
1. suffer from an ache.
2. (ache for/to do) feel intense desire for or to do.

DERIVATIVES:
aching adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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achieve

verb
bring about or accomplish by effort, skill, or courage.

DERIVATIVES:
achievable adjective
achiever noun.

ORIGIN: Old French achever 'come or bring to a head' , from a chief 'to a head' .

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achievement

noun
1. a thing that is achieved.
2. the process or fact of achieving.

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Achilles heel

noun
a weakness or vulnerable point.

ORIGIN: from the mythological Greek hero Achilles, whose mother plunged him into the River Styx when he was a baby, thus making his body invulnerable except for the heel by which she held him.

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Achilles tendon

noun
the tendon connecting calf muscles to the heel.

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achromatic

adjective
1. transmitting light without separating it into colours.
2. without colour.

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achy (also achey)

adjective (achier, achiest)
suffering from an ache or aches.

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acid

noun
1. a substance with chemical properties including turning litmus red, neutralizing alkalis, and dissolving some metals.
2. informal the drug LSD.

adjective
1. having the properties of an acid; having a pH of less than 7.
2. sharp-tasting or sour.
3. (of a remark) bitter or cutting.

DERIVATIVES:
acidity noun
acidly adverb
acidy adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin acidus, from acere 'be sour' .

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acidify

verb (acidifies, acidified)
make or become acid.

DERIVATIVES:
acidification noun.

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acidity

noun
1. the level of acid in something.
2. bitterness or sharpness in a person's remarks or tone.

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acid rain

noun
rainfall made acidic by sulphur and nitrogen oxides from the industrial burning of fossil fuels.

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acid test

noun
a conclusive test of success or value.

ORIGIN: from the original use denoting a test for gold using nitric acid.

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acknowledge

verb
1. accept or admit the existence or truth of.
2. confirm receipt of or gratitude for.
3. greet with words or gestures.

ORIGIN: from the obsolete verb knowledge (in the same sense).

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acknowledgement (also acknowledgment)

noun
1. the action or fact of acknowledging.
2. an act or instance of acknowledging.
3. (acknowledgements) (in a book) a printed expression of the author's gratitude to others.

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acme

noun
the highest point of achievement or excellence.

ORIGIN: Greek akm 'highest point' .

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acne

noun
a skin condition marked by numerous red pimples on the face.

ORIGIN: Greek aknas, a misreading of akmas, a plural of akm 'highest point, peak, or facial eruption' ; compare with ACME.

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acolyte

noun
1. an assistant or follower.
2. a person assisting a priest in a religious service.

ORIGIN: Latin acolytus, from Greek akolouthos 'follower' .

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acorn

noun
the fruit of the oak, a smooth oval nut in a cup-like base.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to ACRE, later associated with OAK and CORN.

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acoustic

adjective
1. relating to sound or hearing.
2. (of popular music or musical instruments) not having electrical amplification.

noun
1. the properties of a room or building that determine how sound is transmitted in it.
2. (acoustics) (treated as sing. ) the branch of physics concerned with the properties of sound.

DERIVATIVES:
acoustical adjective
acoustically adverb
acoustician noun.

ORIGIN: Greek akoustikos, from akouein 'hear' .

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acquaint

verb
1. (acquaint with) make (someone) aware of or familiar with.
2. (be acquainted with) know personally.
3. (be acquainted) (of two or more people) know each other personally.

ORIGIN: Latin accognitare, from cognoscere 'come to know' .

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acquaintance

noun
1. familiarity with or knowledge of someone or something.
2. a person one knows slightly.

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acquiesce

verb
accept or consent to something without protest.

ORIGIN: Latin acquiescere, from quiescere 'to rest' .

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acquiescent

adjective
ready to accept or do something without protest.

DERIVATIVES:
acquiescence noun.

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acquire

verb
1. come to possess.
2. learn or develop (a skill, quality, etc.).

DERIVATIVES:
acquirement noun
acquirer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin acquirere 'get in addition' , from quaerere 'seek' .

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acquisition

noun
1. an object that has recently been acquired.
2. the act of acquiring.

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acquisitive

adjective
excessively interested in acquiring money or material things.

DERIVATIVES:
acquisitively adverb
acquisitiveness noun.

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acquit

verb (acquitted, acquitting)
1. formally declare that (someone) is not guilty of a criminal charge.
2. (acquit oneself) behave or perform in a specified way.

DERIVATIVES:
acquittal noun.

ORIGIN: Latin acquitare 'pay a debt' , from quitare 'set free' .

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acre

noun
a unit of land area equal to 4,840 square yards (0.405 hectare).

DERIVATIVES:
acreage noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, originally denoting the amount of land a pair of oxen could plough in a day.

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acrid

adjective
unpleasantly bitter or pungent.

DERIVATIVES:
acridity noun
acridly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin acer 'sharp, pungent' .

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acrimonious

adjective
angry and bitter.

DERIVATIVES:
acrimoniously adverb.

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acrimony

noun
bitterness or ill feeling.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «bitter taste or smell»: from Latin acrimonia, from acer 'pungent, acrid' .

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acrobat

noun
an entertainer who performs acrobatics.

ORIGIN: Greek akrobats, from akrobatos 'walking on tiptoe' .

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acrobatic

adjective
involving or adept at spectacular gymnastic feats.

DERIVATIVES:
acrobatically adverb.

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acronym

noun
a word formed from the initial letters of other words (e.g. laser, Aids).

ORIGIN: from Greek akron 'end, tip' + onoma 'name' .

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acropolis

noun
a citadel or fortified part of an ancient Greek city, built on high ground.

ORIGIN: Greek, from akron 'summit' + polis 'city' .

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across

preposition & adverb
from one side to the other of (something).

IDIOMS -
across the board applying to all.

ORIGIN: from Old French a croix, en croix 'in or on a cross' .

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acrostic

noun
a poem or puzzle in which certain letters in each line form a word or words.

ORIGIN: Greek akrostikhis, from akron 'end' + stikhos 'row, line of verse' .

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acrylic

adjective
of or relating to polymers of acrylic acid, an organic acid used in making synthetic resins.

noun
acrylic paint or textile fabric.

ORIGIN: from Latin acer 'pungent' + oleum 'oil' .

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ACT

abbreviation
Australian Capital Territory.

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act

verb
1. take action; do something.
2. take effect or have a particular effect.
3. behave in a specified way.
4. (act as) fulfil the function of.
5. (act for/on behalf of) represent on a contractual or legal basis.
6. (acting) temporarily doing the duties of another.
7. perform a fictional role in a play or film.

noun
1. a thing done.
2. a law passed formally by a parliament.
3. a simulation or pretence: putting on an act.
4. a main division of a play, ballet, or opera.
5. a set performance or performing group.
6. dated a record of the decisions or proceedings of a committee or academic body.

IDIOMS -
act of contrition (in the Roman Catholic Church) a penitential prayer.
act of God an instance of uncontrollable natural forces in operation.
act of grace a privilege or concession that cannot be claimed as a right.
act up informal behave badly.
get in on the act informal become involved in a particular activity to share its benefits.

ORIGIN: Latin actus 'event, thing done' , from agere 'do, act' .

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action

noun
1. the process of doing something to achieve an aim.
2. a thing done.
3. the effect or influence of something such as a chemical.
4. a lawsuit.
5. armed conflict.
6. the way in which something works or moves.
7. informal exciting or notable activity.

verb
take action on or deal with.

IDIOMS -
actions speak louder than words proverb what someone actually does means more than what they say they will do.
in action engaged in an activity; in operation.
out of action not working.

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actionable

adjective Law
giving sufficient reason to take legal action.

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action replay

noun Brit.
a playback of part of a television broadcast, especially one in slow motion.

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action stations

plural noun chiefly Brit.
the positions taken up by military personnel in preparation for action.

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activate

verb
1. make active or operative.
2. convert (a substance, molecule, etc.) into a reactive form.

DERIVATIVES:
activation noun
activator noun.

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active

adjective
1. moving or tending to move about vigorously or frequently.
2. (of a person's mind) alert and lively.
3. participating in a particular sphere or activity.
4. working; operative.
5. (of an electric circuit) capable of automatic change in response to input or feedback.
6. (of a volcano) erupting or having erupted in historical times.
7. having a chemical or biological effect on something.
8. Grammar (of verbs) in which the subject is the person or thing performing the action and which can take a direct object (e.g. she loved him as opposed to the passive form he was loved).

DERIVATIVES:
actively adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin activus, from agere 'act, do' .

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active service

noun
direct participation in military operations as a member of the armed forces.

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activity

noun (pl. activities)
1. a condition in which things are happening or being done.
2. busy or vigorous action or movement.
3. an action taken in pursuit of an objective.
4. a recreational pursuit.
5. the degree to which something displays its characteristic property or behaviour.

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actor

noun
1. a person whose profession is acting.
2. a participant in an action or process.

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actress

noun
a female actor.

DERIVATIVES:
actressy adjective.

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actual

adjective
1. existing in fact.
2. existing now; current: actual income.

ORIGIN: Latin actualis, from actus 'event, thing done' .

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actuality

noun (pl. actualities)
1. actual existence or fact, as opposed to what was intended or expected.
2. (actualities) existing conditions or facts.

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actualize (also actualise)

verb
make a reality of.

DERIVATIVES:
actualization noun.

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actually

adverb
1. as the truth or facts of a situation.
2. as a matter of fact; even.

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actuary

noun (pl. actuaries)
a person who compiles and analyses statistics in order to calculate insurance risks and premiums.

DERIVATIVES:
actuarial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin actuarius 'bookkeeper' .

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actuate

verb
1. cause to operate.
2. motivate to act in a particular way.

DERIVATIVES:
actuation noun
actuator noun.

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acuity

noun
sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing.

ORIGIN: Latin acuitas, from acus 'needle' .

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acumen

noun
the ability to make good judgements and take quick decisions.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'sharpness, point' .

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acupuncture

noun
a system of complementary medicine in which fine needles are inserted in the skin at specific points along supposed lines of energy.

DERIVATIVES:
acupuncturist noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin acu 'with a needle' + PUNCTURE.

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acute

adjective
1. (of something bad) critical; serious.
2. (of an illness) coming sharply to a crisis. Often contrasted with CHRONIC.
3. perceptive; shrewd.
4. (of a physical sense or faculty) highly developed.
5. (of an angle) less than 90°.

DERIVATIVES:
acutely adverb
acuteness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin acutus 'sharpened' , from acus 'needle' .

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acute accent

noun
a mark (´) placed over certain letters in some languages to indicate a feature such as altered sound quality (e.g. in fiancée).

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-acy

suffix
forming nouns of state or quality: celibacy.

ORIGIN: from Latin -atia or from Greek -ateia.

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AD

abbreviation
Anno Domini (used to indicate that a date comes the specified number of years after the traditional date of Christ's birth).
USAGE - AD is normally written in small capitals and should be placed before the numerals, as in AD 375 . However, when the date is spelled out, it is normal to write the third century AD .
ORIGIN: Latin, 'in the year of the Lord' .

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ad

noun informal
an advertisement.

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ad- (also a- before sc, sp, st; ac- before c, k, q; af- before f; ag- before g; al- before l; an- before n; ap- before p; ar- before r; as- before s; at- before t)

prefix
1. denoting motion or direction to: advance.
2. denoting reduction or change into: adulterate.
3. denoting addition or increase: adjunct.

ORIGIN: from Latin ad 'to' .

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adage

noun
a proverb or short statement expressing a general truth.

ORIGIN: Latin adagium 'saying' , from aio 'I say' .

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adagio Music

adverb & adjective
in slow time.

noun (pl. adagios)
an adagio passage.

ORIGIN: Italian, from ad agio 'at ease' .

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adamant

adjective
refusing to be persuaded or to change one's mind.

DERIVATIVES:
adamantly adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek adamas 'untameable, invincible' .

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Adam's apple

noun
a projection at the front of the neck formed by the thyroid cartilage of the larynx.

ORIGIN: so named from the notion that a piece of the forbidden fruit became lodged in Adam's throat.

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adapt

verb
1. make suitable for a new use or purpose.
2. become adjusted to new conditions.

DERIVATIVES:
adaptive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin adaptare, from aptus 'fit' .

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adaptable

adjective
able to adjust to or be modified for new conditions or uses.

DERIVATIVES:
adaptability noun
adaptably adverb.

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adaptation (also adaption)

noun
1. the action or process of adapting or being adapted.
2. a film or play adapted from a written work.
3. Biology a change by which an organism becomes better suited to its environment.

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adaptor (also adapter)

noun
1. a device for connecting pieces of equipment.
2. Brit. a device for connecting more than one plug at a time or plugs of a non-standard type to an electrical socket.

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add

verb
1. join to or put with something else.
2. put together (two or more numbers or amounts) to calculate their total value.
3. (add up) increase in amount, number, or degree.
4. say as a further remark.
5. (add up) informal make sense.

ORIGIN: Latin addere, from ad- 'to' + dare 'put' .

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addendum

noun (pl. addenda)
an extra item added at the end of a book or text.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'that which is to be added' .

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adder

noun
a venomous snake with a dark zigzag pattern on its back.

ORIGIN: Old English nædre «serpent, adder»; the initial n was lost by wrong division of a naddre.

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addict

noun
a person who is addicted to something.

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addicted

adjective
1. physically dependent on a particular substance.
2. devoted to a particular interest or activity.

ORIGIN: from Latin addicere 'assign' .

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addiction

noun
the fact or condition of being addicted.

DERIVATIVES:
addictive adjective.

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addition

noun
1. the action or process of adding.
2. a person or thing added.

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additional

adjective
added, extra, or supplementary.

DERIVATIVES:
additionally adverb.

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additive

noun
a substance added to improve or preserve something.

adjective
relating to or produced by addition.

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addle

verb
1. confuse.
2. (addled) (of an egg) rotten.

adjective
unsound; muddled.

ORIGIN: from Old English, «liquid filth».

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address

noun
1. the details of the place where someone lives or an organization is situated.
2. Computing a number identifying a location in a data storage system or computer memory.
3. a formal speech.

verb
1. write someone's name and address on (an envelope or parcel).
2. speak formally to.
3. think about and begin to deal with.

DERIVATIVES:
addressee noun
addresser noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin ad- 'towards' + directus 'direct' .

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adduce

verb
cite as evidence.

ORIGIN: Latin adducere, from ad- 'towards' + ducere 'to lead' .

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adenoids

plural noun
a mass of lymphoid tissue between the back of the nose and the throat, sometimes enlarged and hindering speech or breathing in the young.

DERIVATIVES:
adenoidal adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek adn 'gland' .

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adept

adjective
very skilled or proficient.

noun
a person who is adept at something.

DERIVATIVES:
adeptly adverb
adeptness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin adipisci 'obtain, attain' .

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adequate

adjective
satisfactory or acceptable.

DERIVATIVES:
adequacy noun
adequately adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin adaequare 'make equal to' .

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adhere

verb (adhere to)
1. stick fast to.
2. remain faithful to.

DERIVATIVES:
adherence noun.

ORIGIN: Latin adhaerere 'stick to' .

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adherent

noun
a person who supports a particular party, person, or set of ideas.

adjective
sticking fast to an object or surface.

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adhesion

noun
1. the action or process of adhering.
2. technical the sticking together of different substances. Compare with COHESION.
3. Medicine an abnormal union of surfaces due to inflammation or injury.

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adhesive

adjective
causing adherence; sticky.

noun
an adhesive substance.

DERIVATIVES:
adhesively adverb
adhesiveness noun.

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ad hoc

adjective & adverb
formed or done for a particular purpose only.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'to this' .

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adieu

exclamation chiefly literary
goodbye.

ORIGIN: Old French, from a 'to' + Dieu 'God' .

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ad infinitum

adverb
endlessly; forever.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'to infinity' .

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adipose

adjective technical
denoting body tissue used for the storage of fat.

DERIVATIVES:
adiposity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin adiposus, from adeps 'fat' .

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adjacent

adjective
next to or adjoining something else.

DERIVATIVES:
adjacency noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin adjacere 'lie near to' .

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adjective

noun Grammar
a word used to describe or modify a noun, such as sweet, red, or technical.

DERIVATIVES:
adjectival adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French adjectif, from Latin adicere 'add' .

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adjoin

verb
be next to and joined with.

ORIGIN: Old French ajoindre, from Latin adjungere 'join to' .

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adjourn

verb
1. break off (a meeting) with the intention of resuming it later.
2. postpone (a resolution or sentence).

DERIVATIVES:
adjournment noun.

ORIGIN: Old French ajorner, from a jorn nome 'to an appointed day' .

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adjudge

verb
decide or award judicially.

ORIGIN: Latin adjudicare, from ad- 'to' + judicare 'to judge' .

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adjudicate

verb
1. make a formal judgement on a disputed matter.
2. judge a competition.

DERIVATIVES:
adjudication noun
adjudicative adjective
adjudicator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin adjudicare 'adjudge' .

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adjunct

noun
1. an additional and supplementary part.
2. Grammar a word or phrase in a sentence other than the verb or predicate.

adjective
connected in an auxiliary way.

DERIVATIVES:
adjunctive adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin adjungere 'adjoin' .

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adjure

verb formal
solemnly urge to do something.

ORIGIN: Latin adjurare, from ad- 'to' + jurare 'swear' .

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adjust

verb
1. alter slightly so as to achieve a desired result.
2. become used to a new situation.
3. assess (loss or damages) when settling an insurance claim.

DERIVATIVES:
adjustability noun
adjustable adjective
adjuster noun
adjustment noun.

ORIGIN: Old French ajoster 'to approximate' , from Latin juxta 'near' .

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adjutant

noun
a military officer acting as an administrative assistant to a senior officer.

ORIGIN: from Latin adjutare, from adjuvare 'help towards' .

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ad-lib

verb (ad-libbed, ad-libbing)
speak or perform in public without preparing in advance.

adverb & adjective
1. spoken without advance preparation.
2. Music with free rhythm and expression.

noun
an ad-lib remark or speech.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of Latin ad libitum 'according to pleasure' .

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administer

verb
1. attend to the organization or implementation of.
2. dispense (a drug or remedy).

DERIVATIVES:
administrable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin administrare, from ministrare 'wait upon' .

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administrate

verb
administer; carry out administration.

DERIVATIVES:
administrative adjective
administrator noun.

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administration

noun
1. the organization and running of a business or system.
2. the action of administering.
3. the government in power.
4. chiefly N. Amer. the term of office of a political leader or government.

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admirable

adjective
deserving respect and approval.

DERIVATIVES:
admirably adverb.

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admiral

noun
1. the most senior commander of a fleet or navy.
2. (Admiral) a naval officer of the second most senior rank, above vice admiral and below Admiral of the Fleet.

ORIGIN: originally denoting an emir: from Old French amiral from an Arabic word meaning «commander».

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Admiralty

noun (pl. Admiralties)
(in the UK) the government department that formerly administered the Royal Navy, now used only in titles.

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admire

verb
1. regard with respect or warm approval.
2. look at with pleasure.

DERIVATIVES:
admiration noun
admirer noun
admiring adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin admirari 'wonder at' .

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admissible

adjective
1. acceptable or valid.
2. having the right to be admitted to a place.

DERIVATIVES:
admissibility noun.

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admission

noun
1. a confession.
2. the process or fact of being admitted to a place.
3. a person admitted to hospital for treatment.

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admit

verb (admitted, admitting)
1. confess to be true or to be the case.
2. allow to enter.
3. receive into a hospital for treatment.
4. accept as valid.
5. (admit of) allow the possibility of.

ORIGIN: Latin admittere 'let into' .

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admittance

noun
the process or fact of entering or being allowed to enter.

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admix

verb chiefly technical
mix with something else.

DERIVATIVES:
admixture noun.

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admonish

verb
1. reprimand firmly.
2. earnestly urge or warn.

DERIVATIVES:
admonishment noun
admonition noun
admonitory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin admonere 'urge by warning' .

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ad nauseam

adverb
to a tiresomely excessive degree.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'to sickness' .

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ado

noun
trouble; fuss.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «action, business»: from northern dialect at do «to do».

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adobe

noun
a kind of clay used to make sun-dried bricks.

ORIGIN: from Spanish adobar 'to plaster' , from an Arabic word meaning «bricks».

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adolescent

adjective
in the process of developing from a child into an adult.

noun
an adolescent boy or girl.

DERIVATIVES:
adolescence noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin adolescere 'come to maturity' .

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Adonis

noun
an extremely handsome young man.

ORIGIN: from the name of a beautiful youth in Greek mythology.

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adopt

verb
1. legally take (another's child) and bring it up as one's own.
2. choose to take up or follow (an option or course of action).
3. Brit. choose as a candidate for office.
4. assume (an attitude or position).
5. formally approve or accept.

DERIVATIVES:
adoptable adjective
adoptee noun
adopter noun
adoption noun.

ORIGIN: Latin adoptare, from optare 'choose' .

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adoptive

adjective
1. (of a child or parent) in that relationship by adoption.
2. denoting a place chosen as one's permanent place of residence.

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adorable

adjective
inspiring great affection.

DERIVATIVES:
adorably adverb.

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adore

verb
love and respect deeply.

DERIVATIVES:
adoration noun
adorer noun
adoring adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin adorare 'to worship' , from orare 'speak, pray' .

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adorn

verb
make more attractive or beautiful; decorate.

DERIVATIVES:
adornment noun.

ORIGIN: Latin adornare 'deck out, decorate' .

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adrenal

adjective
relating to a pair of glands (the adrenal glands), situated above the kidneys and secreting adrenalin and other hormones.

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adrenalin (also adrenaline)

noun
a hormone that increases rates of blood circulation, breathing, and carbohydrate metabolism, secreted by the adrenal glands (especially in conditions of stress).

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Adriatic

adjective
of the region of the Adriatic Sea, the arm of the Mediterranean between Italy and the Balkans.

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adrift

adjective & adverb
1. (of a boat) drifting without control.
2. Brit. informal no longer fixed in position.

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adroit

adjective
clever or skilful in using the hands or mind.

ORIGIN: from French à droit 'according to right, properly' .

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adsorb

verb
(of a solid) hold (molecules of a gas, liquid, or dissolved substance) in a layer on its surface.

DERIVATIVES:
adsorbable adjective
adsorption noun
adsorptive adjective.

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adsorbent

noun
a substance which adsorbs another.

adjective
able to adsorb substances.

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adulation

noun
excessive admiration.

DERIVATIVES:
adulate verb
adulatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from adulari 'fawn on' .

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adult

noun
1. a person who is fully grown and developed.
2. Law a person who has reached the age of majority.

adjective
1. fully grown and developed.
2. for or characteristic of adults.

DERIVATIVES:
adulthood noun.

ORIGIN: Latin adultus, from adolescere 'come to maturity' .

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adulterate

verb
make poorer in quality by adding another substance.

DERIVATIVES:
adulterant adjective
adulteration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin adulterare 'to corrupt' .

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adulterer

noun (fem. adulteress)
a person who has committed adultery.

ORIGIN: from Latin adulterare 'debauch, corrupt' .

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adultery

noun
voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not their spouse.

DERIVATIVES:
adulterous adjective.

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adumbrate

verb formal
1. give a faint or general idea of.
2. foreshadow.

DERIVATIVES:
adumbration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin adumbrare 'shade, overshadow' .

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advance

verb
1. move forwards.
2. make or cause to make progress.
3. put forward (a theory or suggestion).
4. hand over (payment) to (someone) as a loan or before it is due.

noun
1. a forward movement.
2. a development or improvement.
3. an amount of money advanced.
4. an approach made with the aim of initiating a sexual or amorous relationship.

adjective
done, sent, or supplied beforehand.

DERIVATIVES:
advancer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French avancer, from Latin abante 'in front' .

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advanced

adjective
1. far on in progress or life.
2. complex; not elementary.
3. very modern.

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advanced supplementary level

noun
(in the UK except Scotland) a GCE examination with a smaller syllabus than the advanced level examination.

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advancement

noun
1. the process of promoting a cause or plan.
2. the promotion of a person in rank or status.
3. a development or improvement.

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advantage

noun
1. a condition or circumstance that puts one in a favourable position.
2. Tennis a score marking a point interim between deuce and winning the game.

verb
be of benefit to.

IDIOMS -
take advantage of
1. make unfair use of for one's own benefit.
2. dated seduce.
3. make good use of the opportunities offered.

DERIVATIVES:
advantageous adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French avantage, from Latin abante 'in front' .

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advent

noun
1. the arrival of a notable person or thing.
2. (Advent) Christian Theology the coming or second coming of Christ.
3. (Advent) the first season of the Church year, leading up to Christmas.

ORIGIN: Latin adventus 'arrival' .

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Adventist

noun
a member of a Christian sect emphasizing belief in the imminent second coming of Christ.

DERIVATIVES:
Adventism noun.

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adventitious

adjective
1. happening according to chance.
2. Botany (of roots) growing directly from the stem or other upper part of a plant.

DERIVATIVES:
adventitiously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin adventicius 'coming to us from abroad' .

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adventure

noun
1. an unusual, exciting, and daring experience.
2. excitement arising from or associated with danger or risk.

DERIVATIVES:
adventuresome adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin adventurus 'about to happen' , from advenire 'arrive' .

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adventurer

noun (fem. adventuress)
1. a person willing to take risks or use dishonest methods for personal gain: a political adventurer.
2. a person who enjoys or seeks adventure.

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adventurous

adjective
open to or involving new or daring methods or experiences.

DERIVATIVES:
adventurously adverb
adventurousness noun.

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adverb

noun Grammar
a word or phrase that modifies the meaning of an adjective, verb, or other adverb, or of a sentence (e.g gently, very, fortunately).

ORIGIN: Latin adverbium, from ad- 'to' + verbum 'word, verb' .

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adverbial Grammar

noun
a word or phrase functioning as a major clause constituent and typically expressing place (in the garden), time (in May), or manner (in a strange way).

adjective
relating to or functioning as an adverb or adverbial.

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adversarial

adjective
involving or characterized by conflict or opposition.

DERIVATIVES:
adversarially adverb.

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adversary

noun (pl. adversaries)
an opponent.

ORIGIN: Latin adversarius 'opposed, opponent' .

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adverse

adjective
harmful; unfavourable.

DERIVATIVES:
adversely adverb.
USAGE - A common error is to use adverse instead of averse, as in I am not adverse to helping out , rather than the correct form I am not averse to helping out.
ORIGIN: Latin adversus 'against, opposite' , from advertere 'turn to' .

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adversity

noun (pl. adversities)
difficulty; misfortune.

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advert [1]

noun Brit. informal
an advertisement.

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advert [2]

verb (advert to) formal
refer to.

ORIGIN: Latin advertere 'turn to' .

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advertise

verb
1. present or describe (a product, service, or event) in a public medium so as to promote sales.
2. seek to fill (a vacancy) by placing a notice in a newspaper or other medium.
3. make (a quality or fact) known.

DERIVATIVES:
advertiser noun
advertising noun.

ORIGIN: Old French advertir, from Latin advertere 'turn to' .

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advertisement

noun
a notice or display advertising something.

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advice

noun
1. guidance or recommendations offered with regard to future action.
2. a formal notice of a sale or other transaction.

ORIGIN: Old French avis, from Latin ad 'to' + videre 'to see' .

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advisable

adjective
to be recommended; sensible.

DERIVATIVES:
advisability noun.

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advise

verb
1. recommend (a course of action).
2. inform about a fact or situation.
3. offer advice to.

DERIVATIVES:
adviser (also advisor) noun.

ORIGIN: Old French aviser, from Latin ad- 'to' + videre 'to see' .

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advised

adjective
behaving as someone would recommend; sensible.

DERIVATIVES:
advisedly adverb.

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advisory

adjective
having the power to make recommendations but not to enforce them.

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advocaat

noun
a liqueur made with eggs, sugar, and brandy.

ORIGIN: Dutch, 'advocate' (being originally considered a lawyer's drink).

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advocate

noun
1. a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.
2. a person who pleads a case on someone else's behalf.
3. Scottish term for BARRISTER.

verb
publicly recommend or support.

DERIVATIVES:
advocacy noun.

ORIGIN: Latin advocare 'call (to one's aid)' .

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adze (US adz)

noun
a tool similar to an axe, with an arched blade at right angles to the handle.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Aegean

adjective
of the region of the Aegean Sea, the part of the Mediterranean between Greece and Turkey.

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aegis

noun
the protection, backing, or support of someone.

ORIGIN: Greek aigis 'shield of Zeus' .

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aeon (US or technical also eon)

noun
1. an indefinite and very long period of time.
2. a major division of geological time, subdivided into eras.
3. Astronomy & Geology a unit of time equal to a thousand million years.

ORIGIN: Greek ain 'age' .

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aerate

verb
introduce air into.

DERIVATIVES:
aeration noun
aerator noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin aer 'air' .

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aerial

noun
a structure that transmits or receives radio or television signals.

adjective
1. existing or taking place in the air.
2. involving the use of aircraft.

ORIGIN: from Greek ar 'air' .

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aerie (esp. Brit. eyrie)

noun
a large nest of an eagle or other bird of prey, typically built high in a tree or on a cliff.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French aire, from Latin area 'level piece of ground' , later 'nest of a bird of prey' .

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aero-

combining form
1. relating to air: aerobic.
2. relating to aircraft: aerodrome.

ORIGIN: from Greek ar 'air' .

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aerobatics

plural noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
feats of flying performed for display.

DERIVATIVES:
aerobatic adjective.

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aerobic

adjective
1. relating to physical exercise intended to improve the absorption and transportation of oxygen.
2. Biology using oxygen from the air.

DERIVATIVES:
aerobically adverb.

ORIGIN: from AERO- + Greek bios 'life' .

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aerodrome

noun Brit.
a small airport or airfield.

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aerodynamic

adjective
1. relating to aerodynamics.
2. having a shape which reduces the drag from air moving past.

DERIVATIVES:
aerodynamically adverb.

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aerofoil

noun Brit.
a structure designed to give the most favourable ratio of lift to drag in flight.

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aeronautics

plural noun (usu. treated as sing. )
the study or practice of travel through the air.

DERIVATIVES:
aeronautic adjective
aeronautical adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin aeronautica 'matters relating to aeronautics' , from Greek ar 'air' + nauts 'sailor' .

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aeroplane

noun chiefly Brit.
a powered flying vehicle with fixed wings and a weight greater than that of the air it displaces.

ORIGIN: from French aéro- 'air' + Greek -planos 'wandering' .

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aerosol

noun
1. a substance enclosed under pressure and released as a fine spray.
2. Chemistry a suspension of submicroscopic particles dispersed in air or gas.

DERIVATIVES:
aerosolize (also aerosolise) verb.

ORIGIN: from AERO- + abbreviation of SOLUTION.

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aerospace

noun
the branch of technology and industry concerned with aviation and space flight.

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aesthete (US also esthete)

noun
a person who is appreciative of art and beauty.

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aesthetic (US also esthetic)

adjective
1. concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty.
2. of pleasing appearance.

noun
a set of principles underlying the work of a particular artist or artistic movement.

DERIVATIVES:
aesthetically adverb
aestheticism noun
aestheticize (also aestheticise) verb.

ORIGIN: Greek aisthtikos, from aisthesthai 'perceive' .

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aesthetics (US also esthetics)

plural noun (usu. treated as sing. )
1. a set of principles concerned with the nature of beauty, especially in art.
2. the branch of philosophy which deals with questions of beauty and artistic taste.

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afar

adverb chiefly literary
at or to a distance.

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affable

adjective
good-natured and sociable.

DERIVATIVES:
affability noun
affably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin affabilis, from ad- 'to' + fari 'speak' .

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affair

noun
1. an event of a specified kind or that has previously been referred to.
2. a matter that is a particular person's responsibility.
3. a love affair.
4. (affairs) matters of public interest and importance.

ORIGIN: from Old French à faire 'to do' .

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affect [1]

verb
1. make a difference to; have an effect on.
2. touch the feelings of.

DERIVATIVES:
affecting adjective.
USAGE - Affect and effect are frequently confused. Affect is primarily a verb meaning ‘make a difference to’, as in the changes will affect everyone . Effect is used both as a noun meaning ‘a result’ (e.g. the substance has a pain-killing effect ) and as a verb meaning ‘bring about (a result)’, as in she effected a cost-cutting exercise .
ORIGIN: Latin afficere 'affect' .

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affect [2]

verb
1. pretend to have or feel.
2. use, wear, or assume pretentiously or so as to impress.

ORIGIN: Latin affectare 'aim at' , from afficere 'affect, influence' .

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affectation

noun
behaviour, speech, or writing that is artificial and designed to impress.

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affected

adjective
artificial and designed to impress.

DERIVATIVES:
affectedly adverb.

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affection

noun
a feeling of fondness or liking.

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affectionate

adjective
readily showing affection.

DERIVATIVES:
affectionately adverb.

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affidavit

noun Law
a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, for use as evidence in court.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'he has stated on oath' .

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affiliate

verb
officially attach or connect to an organization.

noun
an affiliated person or organization.

DERIVATIVES:
affiliation noun
affiliative adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin affiliare 'adopt as a son' .

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affinity

noun (pl. affinities)
1. a natural liking or sympathy for someone or something.
2. a close relationship based on a common origin or structure.
3. relationship by marriage.
4. the tendency of a substance to combine with another.

ORIGIN: Latin affinitas, from affinis 'related' .

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affirm

verb
1. state emphatically or publicly.
2. Law make a formal declaration rather than taking an oath.

DERIVATIVES:
affirmation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin affirmare, from firmus 'strong' .

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affirmative

adjective
agreeing with or consenting to a statement or request.

noun
an affirmative statement or word.

exclamation chiefly N. Amer.
yes.

DERIVATIVES:
affirmatively adverb.

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affix

verb
attach or fasten to something else.

noun Grammar
an addition to a word in order to modify its meaning or create a new word.

DERIVATIVES:
affixation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin affixare, from figere 'to fix' .

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afflict

verb
cause pain or suffering to.

DERIVATIVES:
affliction noun.

ORIGIN: Latin afflictare 'knock about, harass' , or affligere 'knock down, weaken' .

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affluent

adjective
wealthy.

DERIVATIVES:
affluence noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin affluere 'flow towards, flow freely' .

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afford

verb
1. (can/could afford) have sufficient money, time, or means for.
2. provide (an opportunity or facility).

DERIVATIVES:
affordability noun
affordable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «promote, perform»; related to FORTH.

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afforest

verb
convert (land) into forest.

DERIVATIVES:
afforestation noun.

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affray

noun Law, dated
a breach of the peace by fighting in a public place.

ORIGIN: from Old French afrayer 'disturb, startle' .

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affront

noun
an action or remark that causes offence.

verb
offend the modesty or values of.

ORIGIN: from Old French afronter 'to slap in the face, insult' .

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Afghan

noun
a person from Afghanistan.

adjective
relating to Afghanistan.

ORIGIN: Pashto.

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Afghan hound

noun
a silky-haired breed of dog used for hunting.

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aficionado

noun (pl. aficionados)
a person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity or subject.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'amateur' .

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afield

adverb
to or at a distance.

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aflame

adjective
in flames.

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afloat

adjective & adverb
1. floating in water.
2. on board a ship or boat.
3. out of debt or difficulty.

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afoot

adverb & adjective
1. in preparation or progress.
2. chiefly N. Amer. on foot.

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afore

preposition archaic or dialect
before.

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aforementioned

adjective
denoting a thing or person previously mentioned.

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afraid

adjective
fearful or anxious.

IDIOMS -
I'm afraid expressing polite apology or regret.

ORIGIN: from Old French afrayer 'disturb, startle' .

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afresh

adverb
in a new or different way.

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African

noun
1. a person from Africa, especially a black person.
2. a person of black African descent.

adjective
relating to Africa or people of African descent.

DERIVATIVES:
Africanize (also Africanise) verb.

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African American chiefly US

noun
an American of African origin.

adjective
relating to African Americans.

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Afrikaans

noun
a language of southern Africa derived from Dutch, an official language of South Africa.

ORIGIN: Dutch, 'African' .

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Afrikaner

noun
an Afrikaans-speaking white person in South Africa.

DERIVATIVES:
Afrikanerdom noun.

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Afro

noun
a hairstyle consisting of a mass of very tight curls all round the head, like the natural hair of some black people.

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Afro-

combining form
African: Afro-American.

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Afro-Caribbean

noun
a person of African descent living in or coming from the Caribbean.

adjective
relating to Afro-Caribbeans.

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aft

adverb & adjective
at, near, or towards the stern of a ship or tail of an aircraft.

ORIGIN: probably related to ABAFT.

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after

preposition
1. in the time following (an event or another period of time).
2. behind.
3. in pursuit of.
4. next to and following in order or importance.
5. in allusion or reference to.

conjunction & adverb
in the time following (an event).

adjective
1. archaic later.
2. nearer the stern of a ship.

IDIOMS -
after all in spite of any indications to the contrary.
after hours after normal working or opening hours.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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afterbirth

noun
the placenta and fetal membranes discharged from the womb after a birth.

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aftercare

noun
care of a person after a stay in hospital or on release from prison.

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after-effect

noun
an effect that follows after the primary action of something.

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afterglow

noun
light remaining in the sky after the sun has set.

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afterlife

noun
1. (in some religions) life after death.
2. later life.

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aftermath

noun
the consequences of an unpleasant or disastrous event.

ORIGIN: from AFTER + dialect math «mowing».

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afternoon

noun
the time from noon or lunchtime to evening.

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afters

plural noun Brit. informal
the dessert course of a meal.

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aftershave

noun
a scented lotion for applying to the skin after shaving.

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aftershock

noun
a smaller earthquake following the main shock of a large earthquake.

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aftertaste

noun
a strong or unpleasant taste lingering in the mouth after eating or drinking.

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afterthought

noun
something thought of or added later.

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afterwards (US also afterward)

adverb
at a later or future time.

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afterword

noun
a concluding section in a book, typically by a person other than the author.

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Ag

symbol
the chemical element silver.

ORIGIN: from Latin argentum.

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again

adverb
1. once more.
2. returning to a previous position or condition.
3. in addition to what has already been mentioned.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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against

preposition
1. in opposition to.
2. to the disadvantage of.
3. in resistance to.
4. in anticipation of and preparation for (a difficulty).
5. in relation to (money owed, due, or lent) so as to reduce, cancel, or secure it.
6. in or into contact with.
7. (in betting) in anticipation of the failure of.

IDIOMS -
have something against dislike or bear a grudge against.

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agape

adjective
(of a person's mouth) wide open.

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agate

noun
an ornamental stone consisting of a hard variety of chalcedony.

ORIGIN: Greek akhats.

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agave

noun
an American plant with narrow spiny leaves and tall flower spikes.

ORIGIN: from Greek Agau, the name of one of the daughters of Cadmus in Greek mythology.

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age

noun
1. the length of time that a person or thing has existed.
2. a particular stage in someone's life.
3. the latter part of existence; old age.
4. a distinct period of history.
5. a division of geological time that is a subdivision of an epoch.

verb (ageing or aging)
1. grow or cause to appear old or older.
2. (with reference to an alcoholic drink, cheese, etc.) mature.

IDIOMS -
act (or be) one's age behave in a manner appropriate to someone of one's age.
come of age reach adult status (in UK law at 18).

DERIVATIVES:
ageing noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin aevum 'age, era' .

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-age

suffix forming nouns:
1. denoting an action or its result: leverage.
2. denoting an aggregate or number of: mileage.
3. denoting a place or abode: vicarage.
4. fees payable for: postage.

ORIGIN: Latin -aticum.

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aged

adjective
1. of a specified age.
2. old.
3. having been subjected to ageing.

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ageism

noun
prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of age.

DERIVATIVES:
ageist adjective & noun.

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ageless

adjective
not ageing or appearing to age.

DERIVATIVES:
agelessness noun.

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agency

noun
1. an organization providing a particular service.
2. a government office or department providing a specific service.
3. action or intervention to produce a particular result.

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agenda

noun
1. a list of items of business to be discussed at a meeting.
2. a list of matters to be addressed.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'things to be done' .

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agent

noun
1. a person who provides a particular service, typically liaising between two other parties.
2. a spy.
3. a person or thing that takes an active role or produces a specified effect.

ORIGIN: from Latin agere 'to do' .

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agent noun

noun
a noun denoting a person or thing that performs the action of a verb, usually ending in -er or -or, e.g. worker, accelerator.

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agent provocateur

noun (pl. agents provocateurs pronunc. same)
a person employed to induce suspected offenders to commit criminal acts and thus be convicted.

ORIGIN: French, 'provocative agent' .

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age of consent

noun
the age at which a person's consent to sexual intercourse is legally valid.

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age-old

adjective
having existed for a very long time.

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agglomerate

verb
collect or form into a mass.

noun
a mass or collection of things.

DERIVATIVES:
agglomeration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin agglomerare 'add to' .

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agglutinate

verb
firmly stick together to form a mass.

DERIVATIVES:
agglutination noun.

ORIGIN: Latin agglutinare 'cause to adhere' .

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aggrandize (also aggrandise)

verb
1. increase the power, status, or wealth of.
2. artificially enhance the reputation of.

DERIVATIVES:
aggrandizement noun.

ORIGIN: French agrandir, from Latin grandis 'large' .

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aggravate

verb
1. make worse.
2. informal annoy or exasperate.

DERIVATIVES:
aggravating adjective
aggravation noun.
USAGE - Aggravate in the sense ‘annoy or exasperate’ is in widespread use in modern English and dates back to the 17th century, but the use is still regarded as incorrect by some traditionalists.
ORIGIN: Latin aggravare 'make heavy' .

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aggregate

noun
1. a whole formed by combining several different elements.
2. the total score of a player or team in a fixture comprising more than one game or round.

adjective
formed or calculated by the combination of many separate items.

verb
combine into a whole.

DERIVATIVES:
aggregation noun
aggregative adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin aggregare 'herd together' .

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aggression

noun
hostile or violent behaviour or attitudes.

ORIGIN: Latin, from aggredi 'to attack' .

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aggressive

adjective
1. characterized by or resulting from aggression.
2. unduly forceful.

DERIVATIVES:
aggressively adverb
aggressiveness noun.

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aggressor

noun
a person or country that attacks without being provoked.

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aggrieved

adjective
resentful because of unfair treatment.

ORIGIN: from Old French agrever 'make heavier' , from Latin aggravare (see AGGRAVATE).

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aghast

adjective
filled with horror or shock.

ORIGIN: from obsolete gast 'frighten' ; spelling probably influenced by GHOST (compare with GHASTLY).

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agile

adjective
1. able to move quickly and easily.
2. quick-witted or shrewd.

DERIVATIVES:
agilely adverb
agility noun.

ORIGIN: Latin agilis, from agere 'do' .

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agitate

verb
1. make troubled or nervous.
2. campaign to arouse public concern about an issue.
3. stir or disturb (a liquid) briskly.

DERIVATIVES:
agitation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin agitare 'agitate, drive' .

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agitator

noun
a person who urges others to protest or rebel.

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AGM

abbreviation
annual general meeting.

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agnostic

noun
a person who believes that nothing can be known concerning the existence of God.

adjective
relating to agnostics.

DERIVATIVES:
agnosticism noun.

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ago

adverb
before the present (used with a measurement of time).

ORIGIN: from the obsolete verb ago 'to pass' .

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agog

adjective
very eager to hear or see something.

ORIGIN: from Old French en gogues, from en 'in' + gogue 'fun' .

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agonize (also agonise)

verb
1. worry greatly.
2. cause agony to.

DERIVATIVES:
agonizing adjective.

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agony

noun (pl. agonies)
extreme suffering.

ORIGIN: Greek agnia, from agn 'contest' .

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agony aunt (or agony uncle)

noun Brit. informal
a person who answers letters in an agony column.

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agony column

noun Brit. informal
a column in a newspaper or magazine offering advice on readers' personal problems.

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agora

noun (pl. agorae or agoras)
(in ancient Greece) a public open space used for assemblies and markets.

ORIGIN: Greek.

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agoraphobia

noun
irrational fear of open or public places.

DERIVATIVES:
agoraphobic adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek agora 'marketplace'

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agrarian

adjective
relating to agriculture.

ORIGIN: Latin agrarius, from ager 'field' .

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agree

verb (agrees, agreed, agreeing)
1. have the same opinion about something.
2. (be agreed) (of two or more parties) be in agreement.
3. (agree to) express willingness to comply with (a request, suggestion, etc.).
4. chiefly Brit. reach agreement about.
5. (agree with) be consistent with.
6. be good for: she ate something which didn't agree with her.

ORIGIN: Old French agreer, from Latin gratus 'pleasing' .

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agreeable

adjective
1. pleasant.
2. willing to agree to something.
3. acceptable.

DERIVATIVES:
agreeableness noun
agreeably adverb.

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agreement

noun
1. accordance in opinion or feeling.
2. a negotiated and typically legally binding arrangement.
3. consistency or conformity between two things.

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agriculture

noun
the science or practice of farming, including the rearing of crops and animals.

DERIVATIVES:
agricultural adjective
agriculturalist noun
agriculturally adverb
agriculturist noun.

ORIGIN: Latin agricultura, from ager 'field' + cultura 'cultivation' .

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agronomy

noun
the science of soil management and crop production.

DERIVATIVES:
agronomic adjective
agronomist noun.

ORIGIN: French, from Greek agros 'field' + -nomos 'arranging' .

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aground

adjective & adverb
(with reference to a ship) on or on to the bottom in shallow water.

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ague

noun archaic
1. malaria or some other illness involving fever and shivering.
2. a fever or shivering fit.

ORIGIN: from Latin acuta febris 'acute fever' .

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ahead

adverb
1. further forward in space or time.
2. in advance.
3. in the lead.

IDIOMS -
ahead of
1. before.
2. earlier than planned or expected.

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ahoy

exclamation Nautical
a call to attract attention.

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AI

abbreviation
artificial intelligence.

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AID

abbreviation
artificial insemination by donor.

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aid

noun
1. help or support.
2. material help given to a country in need.

verb
help.

IDIOMS -
in aid of chiefly Brit. in support of.

ORIGIN: Old French aide, from Latin adjuvare, from juvare 'help' .

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aide

noun
an assistant to a political leader.

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aide-de-camp

noun (pl. aides-de-camp pronunc. same)
a military officer acting as a confidential assistant to a senior officer.

ORIGIN: French.

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Aids

noun
a disease, caused by the HIV virus and transmitted in body fluids, in which the sufferer loses immunity to infection and some forms of cancer.

ORIGIN: acronym from acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

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aikido

noun
a Japanese form of self-defence and martial art that uses locks, holds, throws, and the opponent's own movements.

ORIGIN: Japanese, 'way of adapting the spirit' .

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ail

verb archaic
trouble or afflict in mind or body.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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aileron

noun
a hinged surface in the trailing edge of an aircraft's wing, used to control the roll of the aircraft about its longitudinal axis.

ORIGIN: French, 'small wing' .

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ailing

adjective
in poor health.

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ailment

noun
a minor illness.

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aim

verb
1. point (a weapon or camera) at a target.
2. direct at someone or something.
3. try to achieve something.

noun
1. a purpose or intention.
2. the aiming of a weapon or missile.

IDIOMS -
take aim point a weapon or camera at a target.

DERIVATIVES:
aimless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French amer, from Latin aestimare 'assess, estimate' .

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ain't

contraction informal
1. am not; are not; is not.
2. has not; have not.
USAGE - In modern English the use of ain't is non-standard and should not be used in formal or written contexts, despite being widespread in many dialects and in informal speech.

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air

noun
1. the invisible gaseous substance surrounding the earth, a mixture mainly of oxygen and nitrogen.
2. the open space above the surface of the earth.
3. (before another noun ) indicating the use of aircraft: air travel.
4. the earth's atmosphere as a medium for transmitting radio waves.
5. one of the four elements (air, earth, fire, and water) in ancient and medieval philosophy and in astrology.
6. Music a tune or short melodious composition.
7. (an air of) an impression of.
8. (airs) an affected and condescending manner.

verb
1. express (an opinion or grievance) publicly.
2. broadcast (a programme) on radio or television.
3. expose to fresh or warm air.

IDIOMS -
airs and graces an affectation of superiority.
in the air noticeable all around.
on (or off) the air being (or not being) broadcast on radio or television.
take the air go out of doors.
up in the air unresolved.
walk (or tread) on air feel elated.

DERIVATIVES:
airless adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek ar.

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air bag

noun
a safety device in a vehicle, that inflates rapidly when there is a sudden impact, so cushioning the occupant.

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airbase

noun
a base for military aircraft.

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air bladder

noun
an air-filled bladder or sac found in certain animals and plants.

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airborne

adjective
1. carried or spread through the air.
2. (of an aircraft) flying.

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airbrick

noun Brit.
a brick perforated with small holes for ventilation.

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airbrush

noun
an artist's device for spraying paint by means of compressed air.

verb
1. paint with an airbrush.
2. alter or conceal (a photograph or a part of a photograph) using an airbrush.

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air conditioning

noun
a system for controlling the humidity, ventilation, and temperature in a building or vehicle.

DERIVATIVES:
air-conditioned adjective
air conditioner noun.

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air corridor

noun
a route over a foreign country which aircraft must take.

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aircraft

noun (pl. same)
an aeroplane, helicopter, or other machine capable of flight.

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aircraft carrier

noun
a large warship from which aircraft can take off and land.

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aircrew

noun (pl. aircrews) (treated as sing. or pl. )
the crew of an aircraft.

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Airedale

noun
a large rough-coated black-and-tan breed of terrier.

ORIGIN: from Airedale, a district in Yorkshire.

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airer

noun Brit.
a frame or stand for airing or drying laundry.

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airfield

noun
an area of land set aside for the take-off, landing, and maintenance of aircraft.

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air force

noun
a branch of the armed forces concerned with fighting or defence in the air.

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air-freshener

noun
a scented substance or device for masking unpleasant odours in a room.

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air gun

noun
1. a gun which uses compressed air to fire pellets.
2. a tool using very hot air to strip paint.

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airhead

noun informal
a stupid person.

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air hostess

noun Brit.
a stewardess in a passenger aircraft.

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airing

noun
1. an exposure to warm or fresh air.
2. a public expression of an opinion or discussion of a subject.

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air kiss

noun
a restrained embrace, in which the lips are pursed as if kissing but without making contact.

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air letter

noun
a sheet of light paper folded and sealed to form a letter for sending by airmail.

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airlift

noun
an act of transporting supplies by aircraft, typically in an emergency.

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airline

noun
1. an organization providing a regular passenger air service.
2. (air line) a pipe or tube supplying air.

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airliner

noun
a large passenger aircraft.

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airlock

noun
1. a stoppage of the flow in a pump or pipe, caused by an air bubble.
2. a compartment with controlled pressure and parallel sets of doors, to permit movement between areas at different pressures.

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airmail

noun
a system of transporting mail overseas by air.

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airman (or airwoman)

noun
1. a pilot or member of the crew of an aircraft in an air force.
2. a member of the RAF below commissioned rank.

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air mile

noun
1. a nautical mile used as a measure of distance flown by aircraft.
2. (Air Miles) trademark points (equivalent to miles of free air travel) accumulated by buyers of airline tickets and other products.

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air pistol (or air rifle)

noun
a gun which uses compressed air to fire pellets.

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airplane

noun N. Amer.
an aeroplane.

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airplay

noun
broadcasting time devoted to a particular record, performer, or musical genre.

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air pocket

noun
1. a cavity containing air.
2. a region of low pressure causing an aircraft to lose height suddenly.

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airport

noun
a complex of runways and buildings for the take-off, landing, and maintenance of civil aircraft, with facilities for passengers.

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air quality

noun
the degree to which the ambient air is pollution-free.

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air raid

noun
an attack in which bombs are dropped from aircraft on to a ground target.

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air-sea rescue

noun
a rescue from the sea using aircraft.

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airship

noun
a power-driven aircraft kept buoyant by a body of gas (usually helium) which is lighter than air.

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airspace

noun
the part of the air above and subject to the jurisdiction of a particular country.

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airspeed

noun
the speed of an aircraft relative to the air through which it is moving.

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airstream

noun
a current of air.

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airstrip

noun
a strip of ground for the take-off and landing of aircraft.

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airtight

adjective
1. not allowing air to escape or pass through.
2. unassailable: an airtight alibi.

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airtime

noun
time during which a broadcast is being transmitted.

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air traffic control

noun
the ground-based personnel and equipment concerned with controlling and monitoring air traffic within a particular area.

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airwaves

plural noun
the radio frequencies used for broadcasting.

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airway

noun
1. the passage by which air reaches the lungs.
2. a tube for supplying air to the lungs in an emergency.
3. a recognized route followed by aircraft.

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airworthy

adjective
(of an aircraft) safe to fly.

DERIVATIVES:
airworthiness noun.

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airy

adjective (airier, airiest)
1. spacious and well ventilated.
2. light as air; delicate.
3. casual; dismissive.

DERIVATIVES:
airily adverb
airiness noun.

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airy-fairy

adjective informal, chiefly Brit.
foolishly idealistic and vague.

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aisle

noun
1. a passage between rows of seats.
2. a passage between sets of shelves in a supermarket or other shop.
3. Architecture a lateral division of a church parallel to, and divided by pillars from, a nave, choir, or transept.

IDIOMS -
lead someone up the aisle get married to someone.

DERIVATIVES:
aisled adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin ala 'wing' .

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aitch

noun
the letter H.

IDIOMS -
drop one's aitches fail to pronounce the letter h at the beginning of words.

ORIGIN: Old French ache.

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ajar

adverb & adjective
(of a door or window) slightly open.

ORIGIN: from Old English, «a turn».

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AK

abbreviation
Alaska.

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aka

abbreviation
also known as.

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akimbo

adverb
with hands on the hips and elbows turned outwards.

ORIGIN: probably from Old Norse.

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akin

adjective
1. of similar character.
2. related by blood.

ORIGIN: contracted form of of kin.

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AL

abbreviation
Alabama.

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Al

symbol
the chemical element aluminium.

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-al

suffix
1. (forming adjectives) relating to; of the kind of: tidal.
2. forming nouns chiefly denoting verbal action: arrival.

ORIGIN: from Latin -alis.

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alabaster

noun
a translucent form of gypsum, typically white, often carved into ornaments.

adjective literary
smooth and white: pale, alabaster skin.

ORIGIN: Greek alabastos, alabastros.

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à la carte

adjective & adverb
(with reference to a menu or meal) offering or ordered as dishes that are separately priced, rather than part of a set meal.

ORIGIN: French, 'according to the card' .

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alacrity

noun
brisk eagerness or enthusiasm.

ORIGIN: Latin alacritas, from alacer 'brisk' .

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Aladdin's cave

noun
a place filled with a great number of interesting or precious items.

ORIGIN: from the story of Aladdin in the Arabian Nights' Entertainments.

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à la mode

adverb & adjective
up to date; fashionable.

ORIGIN: French.

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alarm

noun
1. anxious or frightened awareness of danger.
2. a warning of danger.
3. a warning sound or device.

verb
1. frighten or disturb.
2. (be alarmed) be fitted or protected with an alarm.

ORIGIN: from Italian all' arme! 'to arms!'

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alarm clock

noun
a clock that can be preset to sound an alarm at a particular time, used to wake someone from sleep.

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alarmist

noun
a person who exaggerates a danger, so causing needless alarm.

adjective
creating needless alarm.

DERIVATIVES:
alarmism noun.

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alas

exclamation literary or humorous
an expression of grief, pity, or concern.

ORIGIN: Old French a las, a lasse, from Latin lassus 'weary' .

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albacore

noun
a tuna of warm seas which travels in large schools and is an important food fish.

ORIGIN: Arabic, probably from a word meaning «premature, precocious».

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Albanian

noun
1. a person from Albania.
2. the Indo-European language of Albania.

adjective
relating to Albania.

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albatross

noun (pl. albatrosses)
1. a very large seabird with long narrow wings, found chiefly in the southern oceans.
2. a burden or encumbrance (in allusion to Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner).

ORIGIN: alteration (influenced by Latin albus 'white' ) of alcatras (a 16th-century word applied to various seabirds), from an Arabic word meaning «the diver».

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albeit

conjunction
though.

ORIGIN: from all be it.

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albino

noun (pl. albinos)
a person or animal born with an absence of pigment in the skin and hair (which are white) and the eyes (which are usually pink).

DERIVATIVES:
albinism noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin albus 'white' .

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Albion

noun literary
Britain or England.

ORIGIN: Latin, probably of Celtic origin and related to Latin albus 'white' (in allusion to the white cliffs of Dover).

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album

noun
1. a blank book for the insertion of photographs, stamps, or other items forming a collection.
2. a collection of recordings issued as a single item.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'blank tablet' , from albus 'white' .

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albumen

noun
egg white, or the protein contained in it.

ORIGIN: Latin, from albus 'white' .

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albumin

noun Biochemistry
a water-soluble form of protein found especially in blood serum and egg white and coagulable by heat.

DERIVATIVES:
albuminous adjective.

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alchemy

noun
1. the medieval forerunner of chemistry, concerned particularly with attempts to convert common metals into gold or to find a universal elixir.
2. a mysterious or paradoxical process.

DERIVATIVES:
alchemical adjective
alchemist noun
alchemize (also alchemise) verb.

ORIGIN: from an Arabic word based on Greek khmia, khmeia 'art of transmuting metals' .

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alcohol

noun
1. a colourless volatile liquid compound which is the intoxicating ingredient in drinks such as wine, beer, and spirits.
2. drink containing this.
3. Chemistry any organic compound containing a hydroxyl group —OH: propyl alcohol.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «a fine powder, especially kohl, produced by sublimation»: from an Arabic word meaning «the kohl».

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alcoholic

adjective
relating to the consumption of alcohol.

noun
a person suffering from alcoholism.

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alcoholism

noun
addiction to alcoholic liquor.

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alcopop

noun Brit. informal
a ready-mixed carbonated drink containing alcohol.

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alcove

noun
a recess, typically in the wall of a room.

ORIGIN: French, from an Arabic word meaning «the vault».

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aldehyde

noun Chemistry
an organic compound containing the group —CHO, formed by the oxidation of alcohols.

ORIGIN: from Latin alcohol dehydrogenatum 'alcohol deprived of hydrogen' .

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al dente

adjective & adverb
(of food) cooked so as to be still firm when bitten.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'to the tooth' .

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alder

noun
a tree of the birch family, which bears catkins and has toothed leaves.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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alderman

noun
1. chiefly historical a co-opted member of an English county or borough council, next in status to the Mayor.
2. (also alderwoman) N. Amer. & Austral. an elected member of a city council.

DERIVATIVES:
aldermanship noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «chief, patriarch».

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ale

noun
1. chiefly Brit. beer other than lager, stout, or porter.
2. N. Amer. beer brewed by top fermentation.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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aleatory (also aleatoric)

adjective
1. depending on the throw of a dice or on chance.
2. relating to music or other forms of art involving elements of random choice during their composition or performance.

ORIGIN: from Latin aleator 'dice player' .

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alert

adjective
1. quick to notice and respond to danger or unusual circumstances.
2. quick-thinking; intelligent.

noun
1. the state of being alert.
2. a warning of danger.

verb
warn of a danger or problem.

DERIVATIVES:
alertly adverb
alertness noun.

ORIGIN: from Italian all' erta 'to the watchtower' .

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A level

noun
(in the UK except Scotland) the higher of the two main levels of the GCE examination.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of ADVANCED LEVEL.

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Alexander technique

noun
a system designed to promote well-being through the control of posture.

ORIGIN: named after the Australian-born actor and elocutionist Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869 1955).

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alexandrine Poetry

adjective
(of a line of verse) having six iambic feet.

noun
an alexandrine line.

ORIGIN: French, from the name of Alexander the Great, the subject of an Old French poem in this metre.

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alfalfa

noun
a plant with clover-like leaves and bluish flowers, grown in warm climates for fodder.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from an Arabic word meaning «a green fodder».

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alfresco

adverb & adjective
in the open air.

ORIGIN: Italian al fresco.

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algebra

noun
the branch of mathematics in which letters and other symbols are used to represent numbers and quantities in formulae and equations.

DERIVATIVES:
algebraic adjective
algebraist noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from an Arabic word meaning «the reunion of broken parts».

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Algerian

noun
a person from Algeria.

adjective
relating to Algeria.

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Algonquin (also Algonkin)

noun
1. a member of an American Indian people living in Canada along and westwards of the Ottawa River.
2. the Algonquian language of this people.

adjective
relating to this people.

ORIGIN: French, from a Micmac word meaning 'at the place of spearing fish and eels' .

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algorithm

noun
a process or set of rules used in calculations or other problem-solving operations.

DERIVATIVES:
algorithmic adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin algorismus, from an Arabic word meaning 'the man of Kwrizm' , referring to a 9th-century mathematician.

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alias

adverb
also known as.

noun
1. a false identity.
2. Computing an identifying label used to access a file, command, or address.

DERIVATIVES:
aliasing noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'at another time, otherwise' .

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alibi

noun (pl. alibis)
a claim or piece of evidence that one was elsewhere when an alleged act took place.

verb (alibis, alibied, alibiing) informal
provide an alibi for.

ORIGIN: from Latin, 'elsewhere' .

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alien

adjective
1. belonging to a foreign country.
2. unfamiliar and distasteful.
3. (of a plant or animal species) introduced from another country and later naturalized.
4. relating to beings from other worlds.

noun
1. a foreigner.
2. an alien plant or animal species.
3. a being from another world.

DERIVATIVES:
alienness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin alienus, from alius 'other' .

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alienate

verb
1. cause to feel isolated.
2. lose the support or sympathy of.

DERIVATIVES:
alienation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin alienare 'estrange' , from alius 'other' .

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alight [1]

verb
1. formal, chiefly Brit. descend from a vehicle.
2. (alight on) chance to notice.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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alight [2]

adverb & adjective
1. on fire.
2. shining brightly.

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align

verb
1. place or arrange in a straight line or into correct relative positions.
2. (align oneself with) ally oneself to.

DERIVATIVES:
alignment noun.

ORIGIN: French aligner, from à ligne 'into line' .

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alike

adjective
similar.

adverb
in a similar way.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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alimentary canal

noun
the passage along which food passes through the body.

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alimony

noun chiefly N. Amer.
maintenance for a spouse after separation or divorce.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «nourishment, means of subsistence»: from Latin alimonia, from alere 'nourish' .

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A-line

adjective
(of a garment) slightly flared from a narrow waist or shoulders.

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aliquot

noun
1. a portion of a larger whole, especially a sample taken for chemical analysis or other treatment.
2. (also aliquot part or portion) Mathematics a quantity which can be divided into another a whole number of times.

verb
divide into aliquots; take aliquots from.

ORIGIN: from Latin, 'some, so many' .

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alive

adjective
1. living; not dead.
2. continuing in existence or use.
3. alert and active.
4. having interest and meaning.
5. (alive with) swarming or teeming with.

DERIVATIVES:
aliveness noun.

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alkali

noun (pl. alkalis or US also alkalies)
a compound, such as lime or caustic soda, with particular chemical properties including turning litmus blue and neutralizing or effervescing with acids.

DERIVATIVES:
alkalize (also alkalise) verb.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a saline substance derived from the ashes of plants: from an Arabic word meaning «fry, roast».

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alkaline

adjective
containing an alkali or having the properties of an alkali; having a pH greater than 7.

DERIVATIVES:
alkalinity noun.

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alkane

noun Chemistry
any of the series of saturated hydrocarbons including methane, ethane, propane, and higher members.

ORIGIN: from ALKYL.

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alkene

noun Chemistry
any of the series of unsaturated hydrocarbons containing a double bond, including ethylene and propene.

ORIGIN: from ALKYL.

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all

predeterminer & determiner
1. the whole quantity or extent of: all her money.
2. any whatever: he denied all knowledge.
3. the greatest possible: with all speed.

pronoun
everything or everyone.

adverb
1. completely.
2. indicating an equal score: one-all.

IDIOMS -
all along from the beginning.
all and sundry everyone.
all but
1. very nearly.
2. all except.
all for informal strongly in favour of.
all in informal exhausted.
all in all on the whole.
all out using all one's strength or resources.
all over informal
1. everywhere.
2. informal typical of the person mentioned.
all over the place informal
1. everywhere.
2. in a state of disorder.
all round
1. in all respects.
2. for or by each person: drinks all round.
all told in total.
at all in any way.
in all in total.
on all fours on hands and knees.
one's all one's whole strength or resources.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Allah

noun
the name of God among Muslims (and Arab Christians).

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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allay

verb
1. diminish or end (fear or concern).
2. alleviate (pain or hunger).

ORIGIN: Old English, «lay down or aside».

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all-clear

noun
a signal that danger or difficulty is over.

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allegation

noun
a claim that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically made without proof.

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allege

verb
claim that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically without proof.

DERIVATIVES:
alleged adjective
allegedly adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «declare on oath»: from Old French esligier, from Latin lis 'lawsuit' ; confused in sense with Latin allegare 'allege' .

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allegiance

noun
loyalty of a subordinate to a superior or of an individual to a group or cause.

ORIGIN: Old French ligeance; related to LIEGE.

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allegorical

adjective
constituting or containing allegory.

DERIVATIVES:
allegoric adjective
allegorically adverb.

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allegory

noun (pl. allegories)
a story, poem, or picture which can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning.

DERIVATIVES:
allegorist noun
allegorization (also allegorisation) noun
allegorize (also allegorise) verb.

ORIGIN: Greek allgoria, from allos 'other' + -agoria 'speaking' .

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allegretto

adverb & adjective Music
at a fairly brisk speed.

ORIGIN: Italian, from ALLEGRO.

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allegro Music

adverb & adjective
at a brisk speed.

noun (pl. allegros)
an allegro movement, passage, or composition.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'lively' .

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Allen key

noun trademark
a spanner designed to fit into and turn an Allen screw.

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Allen screw

noun trademark
a screw with a hexagonal socket in the head.

ORIGIN: from the name of the Allen Manufacturing Company, Connecticut.

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allergen

noun
a substance that causes an allergic reaction.

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allergenic

adjective
likely to cause an allergic reaction.

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allergic

adjective
1. caused by or relating to an allergy.
2. having an allergy.

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allergy

noun (pl. allergies)
an adverse reaction by the body to a substance to which it has become hypersensitive.

DERIVATIVES:
allergist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek allos 'other' .

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alleviate

verb
make (pain or difficulty) less severe.

DERIVATIVES:
alleviation noun
alleviator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin alleviare 'lighten' .

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alley

noun (pl. alleys)
1. a narrow passageway between or behind buildings.
2. a path in a park or garden.
3. a long, narrow area in which skittles and bowling are played.

ORIGIN: Old French alee 'walking or passage' , from Latin ambulare 'to walk' .

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alleyway

noun
an alley between or behind buildings.

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alliance

noun
1. the state of being allied or associated.
2. a union or association between countries or organizations.
3. a relationship or connection.

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allied

adjective
1. joined by or relating to an alliance.
2. (Allied) relating to Britain and its allies in the First and Second World Wars.
3. (allied to/with) in combination or working together with.

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alligator

noun
a large semiaquatic reptile similar to a crocodile but with a broader and shorter head.

ORIGIN: from Spanish el lagarto 'the lizard' .

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all-in

adjective Brit.
(especially of a price) inclusive of everything.

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all-in wrestling

noun chiefly Brit.
wrestling with few or no restrictions.

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alliteration

noun
the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

DERIVATIVES:
alliterate verb
alliterative adjective
alliteratively adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from littera 'letter' .

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allocate

verb
assign or distribute to.

DERIVATIVES:
allocable adjective
allocation noun
allocative adjective
allocator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin allocare.

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allot

verb (allotted, allotting)
apportion or assign to.

DERIVATIVES:
allottee noun.

ORIGIN: Old French aloter, from Latin loter 'divide into lots' .

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allotment

noun
1. Brit. a plot of land rented by an individual from a local authority, for growing vegetables or flowers.
2. the action of allotting.
3. an amount of something allotted.

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allotrope

noun Chemistry
each of two or more different physical forms in which an element can exist (e.g. graphite, charcoal, and diamond as forms of carbon).

DERIVATIVES:
allotropic adjective
allotropy noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek allotropos 'of another form' .

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allow

verb
1. admit as legal or acceptable.
2. permit to do something.
3. (allow for) take into consideration when making plans or calculations.
4. provide or set aside for a particular purpose.
5. admit the truth of.

DERIVATIVES:
allowable adjective
allowably adverb
allowedly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French alouer, from Latin allaudare 'to praise' , reinforced by Latin allocare 'allocate' .

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allowance

noun
1. the amount of something allowed.
2. a sum of money paid regularly to a person.
3. an amount of money that can be earned or received free of tax.

IDIOMS -
make allowances for
1. take into consideration.
2. treat (someone) leniently because of their difficult circumstances.

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alloy

noun
1. a metal made by combining two or more metallic elements, especially to give greater strength or resistance to corrosion.
2. an inferior metal mixed with a precious one.

verb
1. mix (metals) to make an alloy.
2. spoil by adding something inferior.

ORIGIN: Old French aloier, aleier 'combine' , from Latin alligare 'bind' .

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all right

adjective
1. satisfactory; acceptable.
2. permissible.

adverb
fairly well.

exclamation
expressing or asking for agreement or acceptance.

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all-round (US all-around)

adjective
1. having a great many abilities or uses.
2. in many or all respects.

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all-rounder

noun Brit.
a person competent in a range of skills.

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All Saints' Day

noun
a Christian festival in honour of all the saints, held (in the Western Church) on 1 November.

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All Souls' Day

noun
a Catholic festival with prayers for the souls of the dead in purgatory, held on 2 November.

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allspice

noun
the dried aromatic fruit of a Caribbean tree, used as a culinary spice.

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all-time

adjective
hitherto unsurpassed: the all-time record.

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allude

verb (allude to)
1. hint at.
2. mention in passing.

ORIGIN: Latin alludere, from ludere 'to play' .

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allure

noun
powerful attractiveness or charm.

verb
strongly attract or charm.

DERIVATIVES:
allurement noun.

ORIGIN: Old French aleurier, from Latin luere 'a lure' .

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alluring

adjective
attractive; tempting.

DERIVATIVES:
alluringly adverb.

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allusion

noun
an indirect reference to something.

DERIVATIVES:
allusive adjective
allusively adverb
allusiveness noun.

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alluvium

noun
a fertile deposit of clay, silt, and sand left by river flood water.

DERIVATIVES:
alluvial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from luere 'to wash' .

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ally

noun (pl. allies)
1. a person, organization, or country that cooperates with another.
2. (the Allies) the countries that fought with Britain in the First and Second World Wars.

verb (allies, allied) (ally to/with)
1. beneficially combine (a resource or commodity) with.
2. (ally oneself with) side with.

ORIGIN: from Old French alier, from Latin alligare 'bind together' .

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alma mater

noun
the school, college, or university that one once attended.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'bountiful mother' .

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almanac (also almanack)

noun
1. a calendar giving important dates and information, such as the phases of the moon.
2. an annual handbook containing information of general or specialist interest.

ORIGIN: Greek almenikhiaka.

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almighty

adjective
1. omnipotent.
2. informal enormous.

noun (the Almighty)
a name or title for God.

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almond

noun
the oval edible nut-like kernel of the almond tree.

ORIGIN: Old French alemande, from Greek amugdal.

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almost

adverb
very nearly.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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alms

plural noun
(in historical contexts) charitable donations of money or food to the poor.

ORIGIN: from Greek elemosun 'compassion' .

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almshouse

noun
a house founded by charity, offering accommodation for the poor.

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aloe

noun
1. a succulent tropical plant with thick tapering leaves and bell-shaped flowers.
2. (aloes or bitter aloes) a strong laxative obtained from the bitter juice of various kinds of aloe.
3. (also aloes wood) the heartwood of a tropical Asian tree, yielding a fragrant resin.

ORIGIN: Greek alo.

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aloe vera

noun
a jelly-like substance obtained from a kind of aloe, used as a soothing treatment for the skin.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'true aloe' .

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aloft

adjective & adverb
up in or into the air.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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alone

adjective & adverb
1. on one's own; by oneself.
2. isolated and lonely.
3. only; exclusively.

IDIOMS -
leave (or let) alone
1. abandon or desert.
2. stop interfering with.

DERIVATIVES:
aloneness noun.

ORIGIN: from ALL + ONE.

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along

preposition & adverb
1. moving in a constant direction on (a more or less horizontal surface).
2. extending in a more or less horizontal line on.
3. in or into company with others.

IDIOMS -
along with in company with or at the same time as.
be (or come) along arrive.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LONG.

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alongside (N. Amer. also alongside of)

preposition
1. close to the side of; next to.
2. at the same time as or in coexistence with.

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aloof

adjective
cool and distant.

DERIVATIVES:
aloofly adverb
aloofness noun.

ORIGIN: from LUFF; originally in nautical use meaning «away and to windward!», i.e. with the ship kept away from a lee shore or other hazard.

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alopecia

noun Medicine
abnormal loss of hair.

ORIGIN: Greek alpekia, 'fox mange' .

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aloud

adverb
not silently; audibly.

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ALP

abbreviation
Australian Labor Party.

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alp

noun
1. a high mountain.
2. (the Alps) a high range of mountains in Switzerland and adjoining countries.
3. (in Switzerland) an area of green pasture on a mountainside.

ORIGIN: Greek Alpeis.

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alpaca

noun (pl. same or alpacas)
1. a long-haired domesticated South American mammal related to the llama.
2. the wool of the alpaca.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from an American Indian word.

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alpha

noun
1. the first letter of the Greek alphabet (A, ), transliterated as ‘a’.
2. Brit. a first-class mark given for a piece of work.

IDIOMS -
alpha and omega the beginning and the end.

ORIGIN: Greek.

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alphabet

noun
an ordered set of letters or symbols used to represent the basic speech sounds of a language.

DERIVATIVES:
alphabetize (also alphabetise) verb.

ORIGIN: from Greek alpha and bta, the first two letters of the Greek alphabet.

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alphabetical

adjective
in the order of the letters of the alphabet.

DERIVATIVES:
alphabetic adjective
alphabetically adverb.

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alphanumeric

adjective
consisting of or using both letters and numerals.

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alpha particle (also alpha ray)

noun Physics
a helium nucleus, especially as emitted by some radioactive substances.

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alpine

adjective
1. relating to high mountains.
2. growing or found on high mountains.
3. (Alpine) relating to the Alps.

noun
an alpine plant.

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already

adverb
1. before the time in question.
2. as surprisingly soon or early as this.

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Alsatian

noun
1. Brit. a German shepherd dog.
2. a person from Alsace, a region of NE France.

adjective
relating to Alsace.

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also

adverb
in addition.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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also-ran

noun
a loser in a race or contest.

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altar

noun
1. a table or flat-topped block on which religious offerings are made.
2. the table in a Christian church at which the bread and wine are consecrated in communion services.

IDIOMS -
lead to the altar marry (a woman).

ORIGIN: Latin, from altus 'high' .

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altar boy

noun
a boy who acts as a priest's assistant during a service.

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altarpiece

noun
a painting or other work of art set above and behind an altar.

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alter

verb
change in character, appearance, direction, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
alterable adjective
alteration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin alterare, from alter 'other' .

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altercation

noun
a noisy argument or disagreement.

ORIGIN: Latin, from altercari 'to wrangle' .

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alter ego

noun
1. a person's secondary or alternative personality.
2. a close friend who is very like oneself.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'other self' .

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alternate

verb
1. occur or do in turn repeatedly.
2. change repeatedly between two contrasting conditions.

adjective
1. every other.
2. (of two things) each following and succeeded by the other in a regular pattern.
3. chiefly N. Amer. another term for ALTERNATIVE.

DERIVATIVES:
alternately adverb
alternation noun.
USAGE - The use of alternate to mean alternative (as in we will need to find alternate sources of fuel ) is common in North American English, though still regarded as incorrect by many in Britain.
ORIGIN: Latin alternare 'do by turns' , from alter 'other' .

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alternate angles

plural noun
two equal angles formed on opposite side of a line crossing two parallel lines.

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alternating current

noun
an electric current that reverses its direction many times a second. Compare with DIRECT CURRENT.

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alternative

adjective
1. (of one or more things) available as another possibility.
2. (of two things) mutually exclusive.
3. departing from or challenging traditional practices.

noun
one of two or more available possibilities.

DERIVATIVES:
alternatively adverb.
USAGE - Some people maintain that you can only have a maximum of two alternatives (because the word alternative comes from Latin alter ‘other of two’). References to more than two alternatives are, however, normal in modern standard English.

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alternative energy

noun
energy fuelled in ways that do not use up natural resources or harm the environment.

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alternative medicine

noun
therapy regarded as unorthodox by the medical profession, e.g. herbalism.

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alternator

noun
a dynamo that generates an alternating current.

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although

conjunction
1. in spite of the fact that.
2. but.

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altimeter

noun
an instrument which indicates the altitude reached, especially in an aircraft.

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altitude

noun
the height of an object or point in relation to sea level or ground level.

DERIVATIVES:
altitudinal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin altitudo, from altus 'high' .

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alto

noun (pl. altos)
1. the highest adult male or lowest female singing voice.
2. (before another noun ) referring to the second or third highest of a family of instruments: an alto sax.

ORIGIN: from Italian alto canto 'high song' .

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altogether

adverb
1. completely.
2. in total.
3. on the whole.

IDIOMS -
in the altogether informal naked.

USAGE - Note that altogether and all together do not mean the same thing. Altogether means ‘in total’, as in there are six bedrooms altogether , whereas all together means ‘all in one place’ or ‘all at once’, as in it was good to have a group of friends all together ; they came in all together.

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altruism

noun
1. unselfish concern for others.
2. Zoology behaviour of an animal that benefits another at its own expense.

DERIVATIVES:
altruist noun
altruistic adjective
altruistically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Italian altrui 'somebody else' , from Latin alteri huic 'to this other' .

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alum

noun
a crystalline compound consisting of a double sulphate of aluminium and potassium, used in dyeing and tanning.

ORIGIN: Latin alumen.

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aluminium (US aluminum)

noun
a strong, light, corrosion-resistant silvery-grey metallic element.

DERIVATIVES:
aluminous adjective.

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aluminize (also aluminise)

verb
coat with aluminium.

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alumnus

noun (pl. alumni; fem. alumna, pl. alumnae)
a former pupil or student of a particular school, college, or university.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'pupil' , from alere 'nourish' .

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always

adverb
1. on all occasions; at all times.
2. forever.
3. repeatedly.
4. failing all else.

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Alzheimer's disease

noun
a form of progressive mental deterioration occurring in middle or old age.

ORIGIN: named after the German neurologist Alois Alzheimer (1864 1915).

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AM

abbreviation
amplitude modulation.

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Am

symbol
the chemical element americium.

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a.m.

abbreviation
before noon.

ORIGIN: from Latin ante meridiem.

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amalgam

noun
1. a mixture or blend.
2. Chemistry an alloy of mercury with another metal, especially one used for dental fillings.

ORIGIN: Greek malagma 'an emollient' .

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amalgamate

verb
1. combine or unite to form one organization or structure.
2. Chemistry alloy (a metal) with mercury.

DERIVATIVES:
amalgamation noun.

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amanuensis

noun (pl. amanuenses)
a literary assistant, in particular one who takes dictation.

ORIGIN: Latin, from servus a manu 'slave at handwriting, secretary' .

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amaryllis

noun
a bulbous plant with large trumpet-shaped flowers.

ORIGIN: from Greek Amarullis, a name for a country girl in pastoral poetry.

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amass

verb
accumulate over time.

DERIVATIVES:
amasser noun.

ORIGIN: Latin amassare, related to MASS.

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amateur

noun
1. a person who takes part in a sport or other activity without being paid.
2. a person regarded as incompetent at a particular activity.

adjective
1. non-professional.
2. inept.

DERIVATIVES:
amateurism noun.

ORIGIN: French, 'lover' .

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amateurish

adjective
incompetent; unskilful.

DERIVATIVES:
amateurishly adverb
amateurishness noun.

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amatory

adjective
relating to or induced by sexual love or desire.

ORIGIN: Latin amatorius, from amare 'to love' .

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amaze

verb
surprise greatly; astonish.

DERIVATIVES:
amazement noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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amazing

adjective
1. causing great surprise or wonder; astonishing.
2. informal very good or impressive.

DERIVATIVES:
amazingly adverb.

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Amazon

noun
1. a member of a legendary race of female warriors.
2. a very tall, strong woman.

ORIGIN: Greek Amazn, explained by the Greeks as meaning 'breastless' (as if from a- 'without' + mazos 'breast' ), with reference to the fable that the Amazons cut off the right breast so as to draw a bow more easily.

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Amazonian

adjective
1. relating to the River Amazon.
2. (of a woman) very tall and strong.

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ambassador

noun
1. a diplomat sent by a state as its permanent representative in a foreign country.
2. a representative or promoter of an activity.

DERIVATIVES:
ambassadorial adjective
ambassadress noun.

ORIGIN: Italian ambasciator, from Latin ambactus 'servant' .

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amber

noun
1. hard translucent fossilized resin, typically yellowish in colour, used in jewellery.
2. a honey-yellow colour.

ORIGIN: Old French ambre, from an Arabic word originally meaning 'ambergris' .

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ambergris

noun
a wax-like substance secreted from the intestines of the sperm whale, found floating in tropical seas and used in perfume manufacture.

ORIGIN: from Old French ambre gris 'grey amber' .

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ambidextrous

adjective
able to use the right and left hands equally well.

DERIVATIVES:
ambidexterity noun
ambidextrously adverb
ambidextrousness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin ambi- 'on both sides' + dexter 'right-handed' .

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ambience (also ambiance)

noun
1. the character and atmosphere of a place.
2. character given to a sound recording by the space in which the sound occurs.

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ambient

adjective
1. relating to the immediate surroundings of something.
2. (of music) electronic and having no vocals or persistent beat, used to create atmosphere.

ORIGIN: Latin, from ambire 'go round' .

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ambiguity

noun (pl. ambiguities)
uncertain or inexact meaning.

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ambiguous

adjective
1. (of language) having more than one meaning.
2. not clear or decided.

DERIVATIVES:
ambiguously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin ambiguus 'doubtful' .

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ambit

noun
the scope, extent, or bounds of something.

ORIGIN: Latin ambitus 'circuit' .

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ambition

noun
1. a strong desire to do or achieve something.
2. desire for success, wealth, or fame.

ORIGIN: Latin, from ambire 'go around (canvassing for votes)' .

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ambitious

adjective
1. having or showing ambition.
2. intended to meet a high standard and therefore difficult to achieve.

DERIVATIVES:
ambitiously adverb
ambitiousness noun.

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ambivalent

adjective
having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.

DERIVATIVES:
ambivalence noun
ambivalently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin ambi- 'on both sides' + valere 'be worth' .

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amble

verb
walk or move at a leisurely pace.

noun
a leisurely walk.

ORIGIN: Latin ambulare 'to walk' .

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ambrosia

noun
1. Greek & Roman Mythology the food of the gods.
2. something very pleasing to taste or smell.
3. honey or pollen used as food by bees.

DERIVATIVES:
ambrosial adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'elixir of life' .

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ambulance

noun
a vehicle equipped for taking sick or injured people to and from hospital.

ORIGIN: French, from hôpital ambulant 'mobile field hospital' , from Latin ambulare 'walk' .

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ambulatory

adjective
1. relating to walking or able to walk.
2. movable; mobile.

noun (pl. ambulatories)
an aisle or cloister in a church or monastery.

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ambush

noun
a surprise attack by people lying in wait in a concealed position.

verb
attack in such a way.

ORIGIN: Old French embusche, from a Latin word meaning 'to place in a wood' ; related to BUSH.

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ameba (esp. Brit. amoeba)

noun (pl. amebas or amebae)
a microscopic single-celled animal which is able to change shape.

DERIVATIVES:
amebic adjective
ameboid adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek amoib 'change, alternation' .

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ameliorate

verb formal
make (something) better.

DERIVATIVES:
amelioration noun
ameliorative adjective.

ORIGIN: alteration of MELIORATE.

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amen

exclamation
said at the end of a prayer or hymn, meaning ‘so be it’.

ORIGIN: Greek, from a Hebrew word meaning 'truth, certainty' .

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amenable

adjective
1. willing to respond to persuasion or suggestions.
2. (amenable to) capable of being acted on.

DERIVATIVES:
amenability noun
amenably adverb.

ORIGIN: from Old French amener 'bring to' , from Latin minari 'threaten' .

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amend

verb
make minor improvements to (a document, proposal, etc.).

DERIVATIVES:
amendable adjective.
USAGE - On the difference between amend and emend, see the note at EMEND.
ORIGIN: Latin emendare 'to correct' .

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amendment

noun
1. a minor improvement.
2. (Amendment) an article added to the US Constitution.

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amends

plural noun (in phrase make amends)
compensate or make up for a wrongdoing.

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amenity

noun (pl. amenities)
a useful or desirable feature of a place.

ORIGIN: Latin amoenitas, from amoenus 'pleasant' .

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American

adjective
relating to the United States or to the continents of America.

noun
a person from the United States or any of the countries of North, South, or Central America.

DERIVATIVES:
Americanize (also Americanise) verb.

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American dream

noun
the ideal of equality of opportunity associated with the US.

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American football

noun
a kind of football played in the US with an oval ball on a field marked out as a gridiron.

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American Indian

noun
a member of the indigenous peoples of America, especially North America.
USAGE - American Indian has been steadily replaced in the US by the term Native American, especially in official contexts. However, American Indian is still widespread in general use even in the US, and is generally acceptable to American Indians themselves.

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Americanism

noun
1. a word or phrase used or originating in the US.
2. the qualities typical of America and Americans.

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amethyst

noun
a precious stone consisting of a violet or purple variety of quartz.

ORIGIN: Greek amethustos 'not drunken' (because the stone was believed to prevent intoxication).

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amiable

adjective
friendly and pleasant in manner.

DERIVATIVES:
amiability noun
amiably adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin amicabilis 'friendly, amicable' .

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amicable

adjective
friendly and without disagreement.

DERIVATIVES:
amicably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin amicabilis, from amicus 'friend' .

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amid

preposition
surrounded by; in the middle of.

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amidships (US also amidship)

adverb & adjective
in the middle of a ship.

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amigo

noun (pl. amigos) informal, chiefly N. Amer.
a friend.

ORIGIN: Spanish.

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amine

noun Chemistry
an organic compound derived from ammonia by replacement of one or more hydrogen atoms by organic radicals.

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amino acid

noun
any of a class of about twenty organic compounds which form the basic constituents of proteins and contain both acid and amine groups.

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Amish

plural noun
a strict US Protestant sect living mainly in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

ORIGIN: from the name of the Swiss preacher Jakob Amman (c.1645 c.1730).

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amiss

adjective
not quite right; inappropriate.

adverb
wrongly or inappropriately.

IDIOMS -
not go amiss be welcome and useful.
take amiss be offended by (something said).

ORIGIN: probably from Old Norse, 'so as to miss' .

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amity

noun
friendly relations.

ORIGIN: Old French amitie, from Latin amicus 'friend' .

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ammeter

noun
an instrument for measuring electric current in amperes.

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ammo

noun informal
ammunition.

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ammonia

noun
a colourless, intensely pungent gas, forming a strongly alkaline solution in water which is used as a cleaning fluid.

DERIVATIVES:
ammoniacal adjective.

ORIGIN: from SAL AMMONIAC.

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ammonite

noun
an extinct marine mollusc with a spiral shell, found as a fossil.

ORIGIN: from Latin cornu Ammonis 'horn of Ammon' , from the fossil's resemblance to the ram's horn associated with the god Jupiter Ammon.

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ammunition

noun
1. a supply or quantity of bullets and shells.
2. points used to support one's case in argument.

ORIGIN: from French la munition 'the fortification' .

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amnesia

noun
loss of memory.

DERIVATIVES:
amnesiac noun & adjective
amnesic adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'forgetfulness' .

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amnesty

noun (pl. amnesties)
1. an official pardon for people convicted of political offences.
2. a period where no action is taken against people admitting to particular offences.

verb (amnesties, amnestied)
grant an amnesty to.

ORIGIN: Greek amnstia 'forgetfulness' .

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amniotic fluid

noun
the fluid surrounding a fetus within the amnion.

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amoeba (US also ameba)

noun (pl. amoebas or amoebae)
a microscopic single-celled animal which is able to change shape.

DERIVATIVES:
amoebic adjective
amoeboid adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek amoib 'change, alternation' .

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amok (also amuck)

adverb (in phrase run amok)
behave uncontrollably and disruptively.

ORIGIN: Malay, 'rushing in a frenzy' .

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among (chiefly Brit. also amongst)

preposition
1. surrounded by; in the middle of.
2. included or occurring in.
3. shared by; between.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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amoral

adjective
having no moral sense; unconcerned with right or wrong.

DERIVATIVES:
amoralist noun
amorality noun.

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amorous

adjective
showing or feeling sexual desire.

DERIVATIVES:
amorously adverb
amorousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin amorosus, from amor 'love' .

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amorphous

adjective
1. without a definite shape or form.
2. technical not crystalline.

ORIGIN: from Greek a- 'without' + morph 'form' .

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amortize (also amortise)

verb
gradually write off (a cost) or reduce (a debt).

DERIVATIVES:
amortization noun.

ORIGIN: Old French amortir, from Latin mors 'death' .

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amount

noun
1. the total number, size, value, or extent of something.
2. a quantity.

verb (amount to)
1. come to be (a total) when added together.
2. be the equivalent of.

ORIGIN: from Old French amont 'upward' , from Latin ad montem.

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amperage

noun
the strength of an electric current in amperes.

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ampere

noun
the SI base unit of electric current, equal to a flow of one coulomb per second.

ORIGIN: named after the French physicist André-Marie Ampère (1775 1836).

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ampersand

noun
the sign &, standing for and or the Latin et.

ORIGIN: alteration of and per se and ‘& by itself is and’, chanted as an aid to learning the sign.

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amphetamine

noun
a synthetic drug used illegally as a stimulant.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of its chemical name.

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amphibian

noun
1. a cold-blooded animal with an aquatic larval stage and a terrestrial adult stage, e.g. a frog, toad, or newt.
2. an aircraft or vehicle that can operate on land and on water.

ORIGIN: Greek amphibion, from amphi 'both' + bios 'life' .

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amphibious

adjective
1. living in or suited for both land and water.
2. (of a military operation) involving forces landed from the sea.

DERIVATIVES:
amphibiously adverb.

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amphitheatre (US amphitheater)

noun
1. a round building consisting of tiers of seats surrounding a central space for dramatic or sporting events.
2. a semicircular seating gallery in a theatre.

ORIGIN: Greek amphitheatron, from amphi 'on both sides' + theatron 'theatre' .

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ample

adjective (ampler, amplest)
1. enough or more than enough; plentiful.
2. large and accommodating.

DERIVATIVES:
amply adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin amplus 'large, abundant' .

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amplifier

noun
1. an electronic device for increasing the strength of electrical signals.
2. a device of this kind combined with a loudspeaker, used to amplify electric guitars and other musical instruments.

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amplify

verb (amplifies, amplified)
1. increase the volume or strength of (sound or electrical signals).
2. add detail to (a story or statement).

DERIVATIVES:
amplification noun.

ORIGIN: Latin amplificare, from amplus 'large, abundant' .

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amplitude

noun
1. Physics the maximum extent of a vibration or oscillation from the point of equilibrium.
2. breadth, range, or magnitude.

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amplitude modulation

noun
the modulation of a wave by varying its amplitude, used as a means of broadcasting an audio signal by radio.

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ampoule (US also ampul or ampule)

noun
a small sealed glass capsule containing a measured quantity of liquid ready for injecting.

ORIGIN: Latin ampulla (see AMPULLA).

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amputate

verb
cut off (a limb) in a surgical operation.

DERIVATIVES:
amputation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin amputare 'lop off' .

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amputee

noun
a person who has had a limb amputated.

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amulet

noun
an ornament or small piece of jewellery worn as protection against evil.

ORIGIN: Latin amuletum.

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amuse

verb
1. cause (someone) to laugh or smile.
2. entertain.

DERIVATIVES:
amused adjective
amusing adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French amuser 'entertain, deceive' , from muser 'stare stupidly' .

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amusement

noun
1. the state of being amused.
2. the provision or enjoyment of entertainment.
3. Brit. a game machine or other device for providing entertainment.

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an

determiner
the form of ‘a’ (the indefinite article) used before words beginning with a vowel sound.
USAGE - There is some divergence of opinion over whether to use a or an before certain words beginning with h- when the first syllable is unstressed (eg. historical and hotel). The form depends on whether the initial h is sounded or not: an was formerly common because h was not usually pronounced for these words. In current English the norm is for the initial h to be pronounced, and therefore the indefinite article a is used; however, the older form, with the silent h and an, is still encountered.

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anabolic steroid

noun
a synthetic hormone used to promote muscle growth and illegally to enhance performance in sport.

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anabolism

noun Biochemistry
the synthesis of complex molecules in living organisms from simpler ones together with the storage of energy. The opposite of CATABOLISM.

DERIVATIVES:
anabolic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek anabol 'ascent' .

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anachronism

noun
1. a thing belonging to a period other than the one in which it exists.
2. the placing of something in the wrong historical period.

DERIVATIVES:
anachronistic adjective
anachronistically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek ana- 'backwards' + khronos 'time' .

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anaconda

noun
a very large snake of the boa family, native to tropical South America.

ORIGIN: Sinhalese, 'whip snake' .

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anaemia (US anemia)

noun
a shortage of red cells or haemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness.

ORIGIN: from Greek an- 'without' + haima 'blood' .

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anaemic (US anemic)

adjective
1. suffering from anaemia.
2. lacking spirit or vitality.

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anaerobic

adjective Biology
not using oxygen from the air.

DERIVATIVES:
anaerobically adverb.

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anaesthetic (US anesthetic)

noun
a drug or gas that causes insensitivity to pain.

adjective
inducing or relating to anaesthesia.

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anaesthetist (US anesthetist)

noun
a medical specialist who administers anaesthetics.

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anaesthetize (also anaesthetise, US anesthetize)

verb
administer an anaesthetic to.

DERIVATIVES:
anaesthetization noun.

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anagram

noun
a word or phrase formed by rearranging the letters of another.

ORIGIN: from Greek ana- 'back, anew' + gramma 'letter' .

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anal

adjective
1. relating to the anus.
2. anal-retentive.

DERIVATIVES:
anally adverb.

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analgesic Medicine

adjective
relieving pain.

noun
a pain-relieving drug.

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analogous

adjective
comparable in certain respects.

DERIVATIVES:
analogously adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek analogos 'proportionate' .

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analogue (US also analog)

noun
an analogous person or thing.

adjective (also analog)
based on a continuously variable physical quantity (e.g. voltage) rather than digital information.

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analogy

noun (pl. analogies)
1. a comparison between one thing and another made to explain or clarify.
2. a correspondence or partial similarity.

DERIVATIVES:
analogical adjective.

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analyse (US analyze)

verb
1. examine in detail the elements or structure of.
2. psychoanalyse.

DERIVATIVES:
analysable adjective
analyser noun.

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analysis

noun (pl. analyses)
1. a detailed examination of the elements or structure of something.
2. the separation of something into its constituent elements.
3. psychoanalysis.

ORIGIN: Greek analusis, from analuein 'unloose' .

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analyst

noun
1. a person who conducts analysis.
2. a psychoanalyst.

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analytical (also analytic)

adjective
relating to or using analysis or logical reasoning.

DERIVATIVES:
analytically adverb.

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analyze (Brit. analyse)

verb
1. examine in detail the elements or structure of.
2. psychoanalyse.

DERIVATIVES:
analyzable adjective
analyzer noun.

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anarchic

adjective
with no controlling rules or principles.

DERIVATIVES:
anarchical adjective
anarchically adverb.

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anarchy

noun
1. a state of disorder due to lack of government or control.
2. a society founded on the principles of anarchism.

ORIGIN: Greek anarkhia, from an- 'without' + arkhos 'chief, ruler' .

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anathema

noun
1. something that one vehemently dislikes: racism was anathema to her.
2. a Church decree excommunicating a person or denouncing a doctrine.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'thing dedicated' , (later) 'thing devoted to evil' .

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anathematize (also anathematise)

verb
curse; condemn.

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anatomize (also anatomise)

verb
1. dissect (a body).
2. examine and analyse in detail.

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anatomy

noun (pl. anatomies)
1. the scientific study of bodily structure.
2. the bodily structure of a person, animal, or plant.
3. a detailed examination or analysis.

DERIVATIVES:
anatomical adjective
anatomically adverb
anatomist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek ana- 'up' + tomia 'cutting' .

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ANC

abbreviation
African National Congress.

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-ance

suffix forming nouns:
1. denoting a quality or state: perseverance.
2. denoting an action: utterance.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin -antia, -entia.

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ancestor

noun
1. a person, typically one more remote than a grandparent, from whom one is descended.
2. something from which a later species or version has evolved.

DERIVATIVES:
ancestral adjective
ancestrally adverb
ancestress noun.

ORIGIN: Latin antecessor, from antecedere 'go before' .

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ancestry

noun (pl. ancestries)
a person's ancestors or ethnic origins.

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anchor

noun
a heavy object used to moor a ship to the sea bottom, typically having a metal shank with a pair of curved, barbed flukes.

verb
1. moor with an anchor.
2. secure firmly in position.

ORIGIN: Greek ankura.

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anchorage

noun
1. a place where ships may anchor safely.
2. the state of anchoring or being anchored.

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anchorite

noun historical
a religious recluse.

ORIGIN: Greek anakhrts, from anakhrein 'retire' .

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anchorman (or anchorwoman)

noun
a person who presents a live television or radio programme involving other contributors.

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anchovy

noun (pl. anchovies)
a small fish of the herring family, with a strong flavour.

ORIGIN: Spanish and Portuguese anchova.

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ancien régime

noun (pl. anciens régimes pronunc. same)
a political or social system that has been replaced by a more modern one.

ORIGIN: French, 'old rule' .

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ancient

adjective
1. belonging to or originating in the very distant past.
2. chiefly humorous very old.

noun
1. archaic or humorous an old man.
2. (the ancients) the people of ancient times.

DERIVATIVES:
anciently adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French ancien, from Latin ante 'before' .

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ancillary

adjective
1. providing subsidiary support.
2. additional; supplementary.

ORIGIN: Latin ancillaris, from ancilla 'maidservant' .

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-ancy

suffix
forming nouns denoting a quality or state: expectancy.

ORIGIN: from Latin -antia.

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and

conjunction
1. used to connect words, clauses, or sentences.
2. used to connect two identical words to emphasize progressive change or great duration: getting better and better.
3. (connecting two numbers) plus.
4. informal (after a verb) to: try and do it.
USAGE - As with other conjunctions such as but and because, it is widely held that it is incorrect to begin a sentence with and, the argument being that such a sentence expresses an incomplete thought. It has, however, long been used in this way in both written and spoken English (typically for rhetorical effect), and is quite acceptable.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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andante Music

adverb & adjective
in a moderately slow tempo.

noun
an andante passage.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'going' .

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androgynous

adjective
partly male and partly female; of indeterminate sex.

DERIVATIVES:
androgyny noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek anr 'man' + gun 'woman' .

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android

noun
(in science fiction) a robot with a human appearance.

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anecdote

noun
1. a short entertaining story about a real incident or person.
2. an account regarded as unreliable or as being hearsay.

DERIVATIVES:
anecdotal adjective
anecdotalist noun
anecdotally adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek anekdota 'things unpublished' .

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anemia (Brit. anaemia)

noun
a shortage of red cells or haemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness.

ORIGIN: from Greek an- 'without' + haima 'blood' .

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anemic (Brit. anaemic)

adjective
1. suffering from anaemia.
2. lacking spirit or vitality.

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anemometer

noun
an instrument for measuring the speed of the wind or other flowing gas.

ORIGIN: from Greek anemos 'wind' .

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anemone

noun
1. a plant with brightly coloured flowers and deeply divided leaves.
2. a sea anemone.

ORIGIN: from Greek, 'windflower' , apparently because the flowers open only when the wind blows.

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anesthetic (Brit. anaesthetic)

noun
a drug or gas that causes insensitivity to pain.

adjective
inducing or relating to anaesthesia.

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aneurysm (also aneurism)

noun Medicine
an excessive localized swelling of the wall of an artery.

DERIVATIVES:
aneurysmal adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek aneurusma 'dilatation' .

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anew

adverb chiefly literary
1. in a new or different way.
2. once more; again.

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angel

noun
1. a spiritual being believed to act as an attendant or messenger of God, conventionally represented as being of human form with wings.
2. a person of great beauty, kindness, or virtue.
3. theatrical slang a financial backer.
4. a former English coin bearing the figure of the archangel Michael killing a dragon.

IDIOMS -
on the side of the angels on the side of what is right.

ORIGIN: Greek angelos 'messenger' .

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angelfish

noun
a fish with a deep, laterally compressed body and large dorsal and anal fins, often vividly coloured or patterned.

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angelic

adjective
1. relating to angels.
2. exceptionally beautiful, innocent, or kind.

DERIVATIVES:
angelically adverb.

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angelica

noun
a tall aromatic plant, the candied stalks of which are used in confectionery and cake decoration.

ORIGIN: from Latin herba angelica 'angelic herb' , so named because it was believed to be effective against poisoning and disease.

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angelus

noun
1. a Roman Catholic devotion commemorating the Incarnation of Jesus and including the Hail Mary.
2. a ringing of bells announcing this.

ORIGIN: from the Latin phrase Angelus domini 'the angel of the Lord' , the opening words of the devotion.

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anger

noun
a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility.

verb
provoke anger in.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'grief' .

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angina (also angina pectoris)

noun
a condition marked by severe pain in the chest, arising from an inadequate blood supply to the heart.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'quinsy' , from Greek ankhon 'strangling' ; pectoris means 'of the chest' in Latin.

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angiosperm

noun Botany
a plant of a large group that have flowers and produce seeds enclosed within a carpel, including herbaceous plants, shrubs, grasses, and most trees. Compare with GYMNOSPERM.

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Angle

noun
a member of an ancient Germanic people who came to England in the 5th century AD and founded kingdoms in Mercia, Northumbria, and East Anglia.

ORIGIN: Latin Anglus 'inhabitant of Angul' (in northern Germany); related to ANGLE (because Angul's shape resembled a fishing hook) and ENGLISH.

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angle [1]

noun
1. the space (usually measured in degrees) between two intersecting lines or surfaces at or close to the point where they meet.
2. a corner, especially an external projection or internal recess.
3. a position from which something is viewed or along which it travels or acts.
4. a particular way of approaching an issue or problem.

verb
1. direct, move, or incline at an angle.
2. present (information) to reflect a particular view or have a particular focus.

DERIVATIVES:
angled adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin angulus 'corner' .

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angle [2]

verb
1. fish with a rod and line.
2. seek something desired by indirectly prompting someone to offer it: she was angling for sympathy.

DERIVATIVES:
angler noun
angling noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Anglican

adjective
relating to the Church of England or any Church in communion with it.

noun
a member of any of these Churches.

DERIVATIVES:
Anglicanism noun.

ORIGIN: Latin Anglicanus, from Anglus 'Angle' .

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Anglicism

noun
1. a word or phrase that is peculiar to British English.
2. the quality of being typically English or of favouring English things.

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anglicize (also anglicise)

verb
make English in form or character.

DERIVATIVES:
anglicization noun.

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Anglo-

combining form
1. English: anglophone.
2. English or British and …: Anglo-Latin.

ORIGIN: from Latin Anglus 'English' .

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Anglo-Indian

adjective
1. relating to or involving both Britain and India.
2. of mixed British and Indian parentage.
3. chiefly historical of British descent or birth but having lived long in India.

noun
an Anglo-Indian person.

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Anglo-Irish

adjective
1. relating to both Britain and Ireland (or specifically the Republic of Ireland).
2. of mixed English and Irish parentage.
3. of English descent but born or resident in Ireland.

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Anglophile

noun
a person who is fond of or greatly admires England or Britain.

DERIVATIVES:
Anglophilia noun.

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Anglo-Saxon

noun
1. a Germanic inhabitant of England between the 5th century and the Norman Conquest.
2. a person of English descent.
3. chiefly N. Amer. any white, English-speaking person.
4. the Old English language.
5. informal plain English, in particular vulgar slang.

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angora

noun
1. a cat, goat, or rabbit of a long-haired breed.
2. a fabric made from the hair of the angora goat or rabbit.

ORIGIN: from Angora (now Ankara) in Turkey.

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angostura

noun
1. an aromatic bitter bark from South America, used as a flavouring.
2. (also Angostura bitters trademark ) a kind of tonic.

ORIGIN: from Angostura (now Ciudad Bolívar) in Venezuela.

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angry

adjective (angrier, angriest)
1. feeling or showing anger.
2. (of a wound or sore) red and inflamed.

DERIVATIVES:
angrily adverb.

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angst

noun
a profound feeling of generalized anxiety or dread.

DERIVATIVES:
angsty adjective.

ORIGIN: German, 'fear' .

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angstrom (also ångström)

noun Physics
a unit of length equal to one hundred-millionth of a centimetre, 10-10 metre.

ORIGIN: named after the Swedish physicist A. J. Ångström (1814 74).

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anguish

noun
severe mental or physical pain or suffering.

ORIGIN: Latin angustia 'tightness' , (in plural) 'straits, distress' .

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anguished

adjective
experiencing or expressing anguish.

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angular

adjective
1. having angles or sharp corners.
2. (of a person) lean and having a prominent bone structure.
3. placed or directed at an angle.
4. Physics measured with reference to angles, especially those associated with rotation.

DERIVATIVES:
angularity noun
angularly adverb.

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anhydrous

adjective Chemistry
containing no water.

ORIGIN: from Greek an- 'without' + hudr 'water' .

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aniline

noun
an oily liquid found in coal tar, used in the manufacture of dyes, drugs, and plastics.

ORIGIN: from an Arabic word meaning 'indigo' (from which it was originally obtained).

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animadvert

verb (animadvert on/upon/against) formal
criticize or censure.

DERIVATIVES:
animadversion noun.

ORIGIN: Latin animadvertere, from animus 'mind' + advertere 'to turn' .

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animal

noun
1. a living organism which feeds on organic matter, has specialized sense organs and nervous system, and is able to move about and to respond rapidly to stimuli.
2. a mammal, as opposed to a bird, reptile, fish, or insect.
3. a very cruel, violent, or uncivilized person.
4. (before another noun ) physical rather than spiritual or intellectual: animal lust.
5. a particular type of person or thing: a political animal.

ORIGIN: from Latin animalis 'having breath' .

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animalism

noun
behaviour characteristic of animals; animality.

DERIVATIVES:
animalistic adjective.

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animality

noun
human behaviour characteristic of animals, especially in being physical and instinctive.

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animate

verb
1. bring to life or activity.
2. give (a film or character) the appearance of movement using animation.

adjective
alive; having life.

DERIVATIVES:
animator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin animare, from anima 'life, soul' .

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animated

adjective
1. lively.
2. (of a film) made using animation.

DERIVATIVES:
animatedly adverb.

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animation

noun
1. the state of being full of life or vigour.
2. the technique of filming a sequence of drawings or positions of models to create an illusion of movement.
3. (also computer animation) the creation of moving images by means of a computer.

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animism

noun
the belief that plants and inanimate objects have souls.

DERIVATIVES:
animist noun
animistic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin anima 'life, soul' .

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animosity

noun (pl. animosities)
strong hostility.

ORIGIN: Latin animositas, from animus 'spirit, mind' .

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animus

noun
1. hostility or ill feeling.
2. Psychoanalysis (in Jungian psychology) the masculine part of a woman's personality.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'spirit, mind' .

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anion

noun Chemistry
a negatively charged ion. The opposite of CATION.

DERIVATIVES:
anionic adjective.

ORIGIN: from ANODE + ION.

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aniseed

noun
the seed of the plant anise, used as a flavouring.

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ankle

noun
1. the joint connecting the foot with the leg.
2. the narrow part of the leg between this and the calf.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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anklet

noun
a chain or band worn round the ankle.

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anneal

verb
heat (metal or glass) and allow it to cool slowly, so as to toughen it.

ORIGIN: Old English, «set on fire».

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annelid

noun
a worm with a segmented body, such as an earthworm or leech.

ORIGIN: from Latin annelus 'small ring' .

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annex

verb
1. seize (territory) and add it to one's own.
2. add as an extra or subordinate part.

noun (chiefly Brit. also annexe) (pl. annexes)
1. a building joined to or associated with a main building.
2. an addition to a document.

DERIVATIVES:
annexation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin annectere 'connect' .

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annihilate

verb
1. destroy completely.
2. informal defeat completely.

DERIVATIVES:
annihilation noun
annihilator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin annihilare 'reduce to nothing' .

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anniversary

noun (pl. anniversaries)
the date on which an event took place in a previous year.

ORIGIN: from Latin anniversarius 'returning yearly' .

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annotate

verb
add explanatory notes to.

DERIVATIVES:
annotation noun
annotator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin annotare 'to mark' .

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announce

verb
1. make a public declaration about.
2. be a sign of: lilies announce the arrival of summer.

DERIVATIVES:
announcer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin annuntiare, from nuntius 'messenger' .

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announcement

noun
1. a public declaration.
2. the action of announcing.

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annoy

verb
1. make slightly angry.
2. pester or harass.
3. archaic harm or attack repeatedly.

DERIVATIVES:
annoyance noun
annoyed adjective
annoying adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French anoier, from Latin mihi in odio est 'it is hateful to me' .

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annual

adjective
1. occurring once a year.
2. calculated over or covering a year.
3. (of a plant) living for a year or less.

noun
1. a book or magazine of a series published once a year.
2. an annual plant.

DERIVATIVES:
annually adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin annualis, from annus 'year' .

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annuity

noun (pl. annuities)
a fixed yearly allowance, especially one provided by a form of investment.

ORIGIN: Latin annuitas, from annuus 'yearly' .

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annul

verb (annulled, annulling)
declare (a law, marriage, or other legal contract) invalid.

DERIVATIVES:
annulment noun.

ORIGIN: Latin annullare, from nullum 'nothing' .

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annular

adjective technical
ring-shaped.

ORIGIN: Latin annularis, from anulus 'small ring' .

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annunciation

noun
1. (the Annunciation) the announcement of the Incarnation by the angel Gabriel to Mary (Gospel of Luke, chapter 1).
2. a Church festival commemorating this, held on 25 March.

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anode

noun
a positively charged electrode. The opposite of CATHODE.

ORIGIN: Greek anodos 'way up' .

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anodized (also anodised)

adjective
(of metal, especially aluminium) coated with a protective oxide layer by electrolysis.

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anodyne

adjective
unlikely to cause offence or disagreement; bland.

noun
a painkilling drug or medicine.

ORIGIN: Greek andunos 'painless' .

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anoint

verb
1. smear or rub with oil, especially as part of a religious ceremony.
2. ceremonially confer office on (a priest or monarch) by anointing them.

ORIGIN: Old French enoindre, from Latin inungere.

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anomalous

adjective
differing from what is standard or normal.

DERIVATIVES:
anomalously adverb
anomalousness noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek an- 'not' + homalos 'even' .

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anomaly

noun (pl. anomalies)
something that deviates from what is standard or normal.

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anomie (also anomy)

noun
lack of the usual social or moral standards.

ORIGIN: French, from Greek anomos 'lawless' .

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anon

adverb archaic or informal
soon; shortly.

ORIGIN: Old English, «in or into (one state or course)».

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anonymous

adjective
1. not identified by name; of unknown identity.
2. lacking character; featureless.

DERIVATIVES:
anonymity noun
anonymously adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek annumos 'nameless' .

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anorak

noun
1. a waterproof jacket, usually with a hood.
2. Brit. informal a socially inept person with an obsessive interest in something.

ORIGIN: Greenland Eskimo.

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anorexia (also anorexia nervosa)

noun
an emotional disorder characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat.

ORIGIN: from Greek an- 'without' + orexis 'appetite' .

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anorexic (also anorectic)

adjective
relating to or suffering from anorexia.

noun
1. a person suffering from anorexia.
2. (anorectic) a medicine which produces a loss of appetite.

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another

determiner & pronoun
1. one more; a further.
2. different from one that already mentioned.

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answer

noun
1. something said or written in reaction to a question or statement.
2. the solution to a problem.

verb
1. respond with an answer.
2. (answer back) respond impudently.
3. (answer to/for) be responsible to or for.
4. satisfy (a need).
5. defend oneself against (a charge or accusation).

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SWEAR.

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answerable

adjective (answerable to/for)
responsible to or for.

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answering machine

noun
a device which supplies a recorded answer to a telephone call and can record a message from the caller.

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ant

noun
a small insect, usually wingless, living in a complex social colony.

IDIOMS -
have ants in one's pants informal be fidgety.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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-ant

suffix
1. (forming adjectives) having a quality or state: arrogant.
2. (forming nouns) performing a function: deodorant.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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antacid

adjective
preventing or correcting acidity in the stomach.

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antagonism

noun
open hostility or opposition.

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antagonist

noun
an open opponent or enemy.

DERIVATIVES:
antagonistic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek antagnists, from antagnizesthai 'struggle against' .

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antagonize (also antagonise)

verb
make hostile.

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Antarctic

adjective
relating to the region surrounding the South Pole.

ORIGIN: Greek antarktikos 'opposite to the north' .

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ante

noun
a stake put up by a player in poker or brag before receiving cards.

verb (antes, anted, anteing) (ante up)
put up (an amount) as an ante.

IDIOMS -
up (or raise) the ante increase what is at stake or under discussion.

ORIGIN: from Latin, 'before' .

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ante-

prefix
before; preceding: antecedent.

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anteater

noun
a mammal with a long snout, feeding on ants and termites.

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antecedent

noun
1. a thing that existed before or precedes another.
2. (antecedents) a person's ancestors and social background.
3. Grammar an earlier word, phrase, or clause to which a following pronoun refers back.

adjective
preceding in time or order.

ORIGIN: from Latin antecedere 'go before' .

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antedate

verb
1. come before in time.
2. indicate that (a document or event) belongs to an earlier date.

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antediluvian

adjective
1. belonging to the time before the biblical Flood.
2. chiefly humorous ridiculously old-fashioned.

ORIGIN: from ANTE- + Latin diluvium 'deluge' .

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antelope

noun
a swift-running deer-like animal with upward-pointing horns, native to Africa and Asia.

ORIGIN: Greek antholops (originally the name of a fierce mythical creature).

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antenatal

adjective
before birth; during or relating to pregnancy.

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antenna

noun (pl. antennae)
1. each of a pair of long, thin sensory appendages on the heads of insects, crustaceans, etc.
2. (pl. also antennas) an aerial.

ORIGIN: Latin, alteration of antemna 'yard' (of a ship's mast).

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antepenultimate

adjective
last but two in a series.

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anterior

adjective
1. technical at or nearer the front. The opposite of POSTERIOR.
2. (anterior to) formal before.

ORIGIN: Latin, comparative of ante 'before' .

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ante-room

noun
a small room leading to a more important one.

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anthem

noun
1. an uplifting song associated with a group or cause, especially a patriotic one adopted by a country as an expression of national identity.
2. a musical setting of a religious text to be sung by a choir during a church service.

DERIVATIVES:
anthemic adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, from Latin antiphona 'antiphon' .

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anther

noun
the part of a flower's stamen that contains the pollen.

ORIGIN: Greek anthos 'flower' .

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anthill

noun
a mound-shaped nest built by ants or termites.

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anthology

noun (pl. anthologies)
a collection of poems or other pieces of writing or music.

DERIVATIVES:
anthologist noun
anthologize (also anthologise) verb.

ORIGIN: from Greek anthos 'flower' + -logia 'collection' .

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anthracite

noun
hard coal that burns with little flame and smoke.

ORIGIN: Greek anthrakits, from anthrax 'coal' .

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anthrax

noun
a serious bacterial disease of sheep and cattle, able to be transmitted to humans.

ORIGIN: Greek anthrax 'coal, carbuncle' .

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anthropoid

adjective
referring to the higher primates including monkeys, apes, and humans.

ORIGIN: from Greek anthrpos 'human being' .

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anthropology

noun
the study of humankind, especially the study of societies and cultures and human origins.

DERIVATIVES:
anthropological adjective
anthropologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek anthrpos 'human being' .

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anthropomorphic

adjective
1. attributing human form or feelings to a god, animal, or object.
2. having human characteristics.

DERIVATIVES:
anthropomorphism noun.

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anti-

prefix
1. opposed to; against: anti-aircraft.
2. preventing or relieving: antibacterial.
3. the opposite of: anticlimax.

ORIGIN: Greek.

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antibiotic

noun
a medicine that inhibits the growth of or destroys bacteria.

ORIGIN: from Greek bitikos 'fit for life' .

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antibody

noun (pl. antibodies)
a protein produced in the blood to counteract an antigen.

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Antichrist

noun
an enemy of Christ believed by the early Church to appear before the end of the world.

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anticipate

verb
1. be aware of (a future event) and prepare for it.
2. regard as probable.
3. look forward to.
4. act or happen before.

DERIVATIVES:
anticipator noun
anticipatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin anticipare, from ante- 'before' + capere 'take' .

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anticipation

noun
the action of anticipating; expectation or prediction.

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anticlimax

noun
a disappointing end to an exciting series of events.

DERIVATIVES:
anticlimactic adjective.

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anticlockwise

adverb & adjective Brit.
in the opposite direction to the way in which the hands of a clock move round.

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antics

plural noun
foolish, outrageous, or amusing behaviour.

ORIGIN: from Italian antico 'antique' , also 'grotesque' .

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anticyclone

noun
an area of high atmospheric pressure around which air slowly circulates, usually resulting in calm, fine weather.

DERIVATIVES:
anticyclonic adjective.

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antidote

noun
1. a medicine taken to counteract a poison.
2. something that counteracts an unpleasant feeling or situation: laughter is a good antidote to stress.

ORIGIN: Greek antidoton, from anti- 'against' + didonai 'give' .

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antifreeze

noun
a liquid added to water to prevent it from freezing, especially as used in the radiator of a motor vehicle.

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antigen

noun
a harmful substance which causes the body to produce antibodies.

DERIVATIVES:
antigenic adjective.

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anti-hero (or anti-heroine)

noun
a central character in a story, film, or play who lacks conventional heroic qualities.

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antihistamine

noun
a drug that counteracts the effects of histamine, used in treating allergies.

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antilogarithm

noun
the number of which a given number is the logarithm.

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antimacassar

noun
a piece of cloth put over the back of a chair to protect it from grease and dirt.

ORIGIN: from ANTI- + Macassar, a kind of hair oil formerly used by men, represented as consisting of ingredients from Makassar (the former name for the seaport of Ujung Pandang in Indonesia).

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antimatter

noun
matter consisting of the antiparticles of the particles making up normal matter.

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antimony

noun
a brittle silvery-white metallic element.

ORIGIN: Latin antimonium.

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antinomian

adjective
believing that Christians are released by grace from obeying moral laws.

noun
a person with such a belief.

DERIVATIVES:
antinomianism noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek anti- 'against' + nomos 'law' .

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antinomy

noun (pl. antinomies)
a paradox.

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antioxidant

noun
a substance that counteracts oxidation.

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antiparticle

noun
a subatomic particle with the same mass as a given particle but an opposite electric charge or magnetic effect.

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antipathy

noun (pl. antipathies)
a strong feeling of dislike.

DERIVATIVES:
antipathetic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek antipatheia, from anti- 'against' + pathos 'feeling' .

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antiperspirant

noun
a substance applied to the skin to prevent or reduce perspiration.

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antiphon

noun
a hymn or psalm sung in alternate verses by two groups.

DERIVATIVES:
antiphonal adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek antiphna 'harmonies' .

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Antipodes

plural noun
1. (the Antipodes) Australia and New Zealand (in relation to the northern hemisphere).
2. (antipodes or antipode) the direct opposite of something.

DERIVATIVES:
antipodal adjective
Antipodean adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek antipodes 'having the feet opposite' .

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antiquarian

adjective
relating to the collection or study of antiques, rare books, or antiquities.

noun (also antiquary)
a person who studies or collects antiquarian items.

DERIVATIVES:
antiquarianism noun.

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antiquated

adjective
old-fashioned or outdated.

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antique

noun
a decorative object or piece of furniture that is valuable because of its age.

adjective
1. valuable because of its age.
2. old-fashioned or outdated.
3. literary ancient.

ORIGIN: Latin antiquus 'former, ancient' .

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antiquity

noun (pl. antiquities)
1. the distant past, especially before the Middle Ages.
2. an object from the distant past.
3. great age.

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antirrhinum

noun (pl. antirrhinums)
a snapdragon.

ORIGIN: Greek antirrhinon, from anti- 'counterfeiting' + rhis 'nose' (from the flower's resemblance to an animal's snout).

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anti-Semitism

noun
hostility to or prejudice against Jews.

DERIVATIVES:
anti-Semite noun
anti-Semitic adjective.

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antiseptic

adjective
1. preventing the growth of micro-organisms that cause disease or infection.
2. so clean or pure as to lack character.

noun
an antiseptic compound or preparation.

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antisocial

adjective
1. contrary to accepted social customs and causing annoyance.
2. avoiding the company of others.

DERIVATIVES:
antisocially adverb.

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antithesis

noun (pl. antitheses)
1. a person or thing that is the direct opposite of another.
2. the putting together of contrasting ideas or words to produce a rhetorical effect.

ORIGIN: from Greek antitithenai 'set against' .

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antithetical

adjective
1. mutually opposed or incompatible.
2. (in rhetoric) using antithesis.

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antler

noun
each of a pair of branched horns on the head of an adult deer.

ORIGIN: Old French antoillier.

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antonym

noun
a word opposite in meaning to another.

ORIGIN: from Greek anti- 'against' + onoma 'a name' .

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anus

noun
the opening at the end of the digestive system through which solid waste matter leaves the body.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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anvil

noun
a heavy iron block on which metal can be hammered and shaped.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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anxiety

noun (pl. anxieties)
an anxious feeling or state.

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anxious

adjective
1. experiencing worry or unease.
2. very eager and concerned to do something.

DERIVATIVES:
anxiously adverb
anxiousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin anxius, from angere 'to choke' .

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any

determiner & pronoun
1. one or some of a thing or number of things, no matter how much or how many.
2. whichever or whatever one chooses.

adverb
at all; in some degree.
USAGE - When used as a pronoun any can be used with either a singular or a plural verb, depending on the context: we needed more sugar but there wasn't any left (singular verb) or are any of the new videos available? (plural verb).
ORIGIN: Old English.

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anybody

pronoun
anyone.

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anyhow

adverb
1. anyway.
2. in a careless or haphazard way.

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anyone

pronoun
any person or people.

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anything

pronoun
a thing of any kind, no matter what.

IDIOMS -
anything but not at all.

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anyway

adverb
1. used to emphasize something just said.
2. used in conversations to change the subject or to resume after interruption.
3. nevertheless.

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anywhere

adverb
in or to any place.

pronoun
any place.

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aorta

noun
the main artery supplying blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

DERIVATIVES:
aortic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek aort, from aeirein 'raise' .

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apace

adverb literary
swiftly; quickly.

ORIGIN: from Old French a pas 'at (a considerable) pace' .

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Apache

noun (pl. same or Apaches)
a member of an American Indian people living chiefly in New Mexico and Arizona.

ORIGIN: probably from a word in an American Indian language meaning 'enemy' .

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apart

adverb
1. separated by a distance in time or space.
2. to or on one side.
3. into pieces.

IDIOMS -
apart from
1. except for.
2. as well as.

ORIGIN: from Latin a parte 'at the side' .

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apartheid

noun
the official system of segregation or discrimination on racial grounds formerly in force in South Africa.

ORIGIN: Afrikaans, 'separateness' .

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apartment

noun
1. chiefly N. Amer. a set of rooms forming one residence; a flat.
2. (apartments) a private suite of rooms in a very large house.

ORIGIN: Italian appartamento, from appartare 'to separate' .

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apathetic

adjective
not interested or enthusiastic.

DERIVATIVES:
apathetically adverb.

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apathy

noun
lack of interest or enthusiasm.

ORIGIN: Greek apatheia, from apaths 'without feeling' .

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apatosaurus

noun
a huge herbivorous dinosaur of the late Jurassic period, with a long neck and tail. Also called BRONTOSAURUS.

ORIGIN: from Greek apat 'deceit' (because of a deceptive similarity between some of its bones and those of other dinosaurs) + sauros 'lizard' .

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ape

noun
1. a large tailless primate of a group including gorillas, chimpanzees, and gibbons.
2. informal an unintelligent or clumsy person.

verb
imitate in an absurd or unthinking way.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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aperitif

noun
an alcoholic drink taken before a meal to stimulate the appetite.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin aperire 'to open' .

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aperture

noun
1. an opening, hole, or gap.
2. the variable opening by which light enters a camera.

ORIGIN: Latin apertura, from aperire 'to open' .

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Apex

noun
a system of reduced fares for air or rail journeys booked in advance.

ORIGIN: from Advance Purchase Excursion.

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apex

noun (pl. apexes or apices)
the top or highest part, especially one forming a point.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'peak, tip' .

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aphelion

noun (pl. aphelia)
the point in a planet's orbit at which it is furthest from the sun.

ORIGIN: from Greek aph' hlion 'from the sun' .

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aphid

noun
a greenfly or similar small insect feeding on the sap of plants.

ORIGIN: Greek aphis.

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aphorism

noun
a concise witty remark which contains a general truth.

DERIVATIVES:
aphoristic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek aphorismos 'definition' .

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aphrodisiac

noun
a food, drink, or drug that arouses sexual desire.

ORIGIN: Greek aphrodisiakos, from Aphrodite, the goddess of love.

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apiary

noun (pl. apiaries)
a place where bees are kept.

DERIVATIVES:
apiarist noun.

ORIGIN: Latin apiarium, from apis 'bee' .

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apical

adjective technical
relating to or forming an apex.

ORIGIN: from Latin apex 'peak, tip' .

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apiece

adverb
to, for, or by each one.

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aplenty

adjective
in abundance: he has work aplenty.

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aplomb

noun
self-confidence or calm assurance.

ORIGIN: French, from à plomb 'according to a plumb line, perpendicularly' .

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apocalypse

noun
1. an event involving great and widespread destruction.
2. (the Apocalypse) the final destruction of the world, as described in the biblical book of Revelation.

ORIGIN: Greek apokalupsis, from apokaluptein 'uncover, reveal' .

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apocalyptic

adjective
resembling the end of the world in being momentous or catastrophic.

DERIVATIVES:
apocalyptically adverb.

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Apocrypha

plural noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
those books of the Old Testament not accepted as part of Hebrew scripture and excluded from the Protestant Bible at the Reformation.

ORIGIN: from Latin apocrypha scripta 'hidden writings' .

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apocryphal

adjective
1. widely circulated but unlikely to be true: an apocryphal story.
2. of or belonging to the Apocrypha.

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apogee

noun
1. Astronomy the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is furthest from the earth.
2. a culmination or climax.

ORIGIN: from Greek apogaion diastma, 'distance away from earth' .

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apolitical

adjective
not interested or involved in politics.

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apologetic

adjective
regretfully acknowledging an offence.

DERIVATIVES:
apologetically adverb.

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apologia

noun
a formal written defence of one's opinions or conduct.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'apology' .

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apologist

noun
a person who offers an argument in defence of something controversial.

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apologize (also apologise)

verb
express regret for something that one has done wrong.

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apology

noun (pl. apologies)
1. a regretful acknowledgement of an offence or failure.
2. (an apology for) a very poor example of.
3. a justification or defence.

ORIGIN: Greek apologia 'a speech in one's own defence' .

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apophthegm (US apothegm)

noun
a concise saying stating a general truth.

ORIGIN: Greek apothegma, from apophthengesthai 'speak out' .

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apoplectic

adjective
1. informal overcome with anger.
2. dated relating to apoplexy (stroke).

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apoplexy

noun (pl. apoplexies)
1. dated unconsciousness or incapacity resulting from a cerebral haemorrhage or stroke.
2. informal extreme anger.

ORIGIN: Greek apoplexia, from apoplssein 'disable by a stroke' .

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apostasy

noun
abandonment of a belief or principle.

ORIGIN: Greek apostasis 'desertion' .

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apostate

noun
a person who renounces a belief or principle.

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apostle

noun
1. (Apostle) each of the twelve chief disciples of Jesus Christ.
2. an enthusiastic and pioneering supporter of an idea or cause.

ORIGIN: Greek apostolos 'messenger' .

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apostolic

adjective
1. relating to the Apostles.
2. relating to the Pope, regarded as the successor to St Peter.

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apostrophe

noun
1. a punctuation mark (') used to indicate either possession (e.g. Harry's book) or the omission of letters or numbers (e.g. can't; Jan. '99).
2. Rhetoric a passage that turns away from the subject to address an absent person or thing.

ORIGIN: Greek apostrophos, from apostrephein 'turn away' .

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apothecary

noun (pl. apothecaries) archaic
a person who prepared and sold medicines.

ORIGIN: Latin apothecarius from Greek apothk 'storehouse' .

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apotheosis

noun (pl. apotheoses)
1. the culmination or highest point: science is the apotheosis of the intellect.
2. elevation to divine status.

DERIVATIVES:
apotheosize (also apotheosise) verb.

ORIGIN: Greek, from apotheoun 'make a god of' .

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appal (US appall)

verb (appalled, appalling)
1. greatly dismay or horrify.
2. (appalling) informal very bad or displeasing.

DERIVATIVES:
appallingly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French apalir 'grow pale' .

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apparatchik

noun (pl. apparatchiks or apparatchiki)
1. chiefly historical a member of the administrative system of a communist party.
2. derogatory or humorous an official in a large political organization.

ORIGIN: Russian, from German Apparat 'apparatus' .

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apparatus

noun (pl. apparatuses)
1. the equipment needed for a particular activity or purpose.
2. a complex structure within an organization: the apparatus of government.

ORIGIN: Latin, from apparare 'make ready for' .

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apparel

noun formal
clothing.

verb (apparelled, apparelling; US appareled, appareling) archaic
clothe.

ORIGIN: Old French apareillier, from Latin ad- 'to' + par 'equal' .

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apparent

adjective
1. clearly seen or understood; obvious.
2. seeming real, but not necessarily so.

DERIVATIVES:
apparently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin apparere 'appear' .

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apparition

noun
a remarkable thing making a sudden appearance, especially a ghost.

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appeal

verb
1. make a serious or heartfelt request.
2. be attractive or interesting: activities that appeal to all.
3. Law apply to a higher court for a reversal of a lower court's decision.
4. Cricket (of the bowler or fielders) call on the umpire to declare a batsman out.

noun
1. an act of appealing.
2. the quality of being attractive or interesting.

ORIGIN: Latin appellare 'to address' .

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appealing

adjective
attractive or interesting.

DERIVATIVES:
appealingly adverb.

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appear

verb
1. become visible or evident.
2. give a particular impression; seem.
3. present oneself publicly or formally, especially on television or in a law court.
4. be published.

ORIGIN: Latin apparere, from parere 'come into view' .

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appearance

noun
1. the way that someone or something looks or seems.
2. an act of appearing.

IDIOMS -
keep up appearances maintain an impression of wealth or well-being.

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appease

verb
placate (someone) by agreeing to their demands.

DERIVATIVES:
appeasement noun
appeaser noun.

ORIGIN: Old French apaisier, from pais 'peace' .

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appellation

noun formal
a name or title.

ORIGIN: Latin, from appellare 'to address' .

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append

verb
add to the end of a document or piece of writing.

ORIGIN: Latin appendere 'hang on' .

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appendage

noun
a thing attached to or projecting from something larger or more important.

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appendicitis

noun
inflammation of the appendix.

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appendix

noun (pl. appendices or appendixes)
1. a small tube of tissue attached to the lower end of the large intestine.
2. a section of additional information at the end of a book.

ORIGIN: Latin, from appendere 'hang on' .

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appertain

verb
1. (appertain to) relate to.
2. be appropriate.

ORIGIN: Latin appertinere, from pertinere 'pertain' .

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appetite

noun
1. a natural desire to satisfy a bodily need, especially for food.
2. a liking or inclination: my appetite for study had gone.

DERIVATIVES:
appetitive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin appetitus 'desire for' , from appetere 'seek after' .

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appetizer (also appetiser)

noun
a small dish of food or a drink taken before a meal to stimulate the appetite.

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appetizing (also appetising)

adjective
stimulating the appetite.

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applaud

verb
1. show approval by clapping.
2. express approval of: the world applauded his courage.

ORIGIN: Latin applaudere, from plaudere 'to clap' .

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applause

noun
approval shown by clapping.

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apple

noun
the rounded fruit of a tree of the rose family, with green or red skin and crisp flesh.

IDIOMS -
the apple never falls far from the tree proverb salient family characteristics are usually inherited.
the apple of one's eye a person of whom one is extremely fond and proud. [ORIGIN: originally denoting the pupil of the eye, extended as a symbol of something cherished.]
a rotten (or bad) apple informal a corrupt person in a group, likely to have a detrimental influence on the others.
upset the apple cart spoil a plan.

DERIVATIVES:
appley adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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apple-pie order

noun
perfect order.

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appliance

noun
1. a device designed to perform a specific task.
2. Brit. the application of something.

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applicable

adjective
relevant or appropriate.

DERIVATIVES:
applicability noun.

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applicant

noun
a person who applies for something.

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application

noun
1. a formal request to an authority.
2. the action of applying.
3. practical use or relevance.
4. sustained effort.
5. a computer program designed to fulfil a particular purpose.

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applicator

noun
a device for inserting something or applying a substance to a surface.

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applied

adjective
practical rather than theoretical: applied chemistry.

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appliqué

noun
decorative needlework in which fabric shapes are sewn or fixed on to a fabric background.

DERIVATIVES:
appliquéd adjective.

ORIGIN: French, 'applied' .

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apply

verb (applies, applied)
1. make a formal request for something to be done, such as asking to be considered for a job.
2. bring into operation or use.
3. be relevant.
4. put (a substance) on a surface.
5. (apply oneself) put all one's efforts into a task.

ORIGIN: Latin applicare 'fold, fasten to' .

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appoint

verb
1. assign a job or role to.
2. decide on (a time or place).

DERIVATIVES:
appointee noun.

ORIGIN: Old French apointer, from a point 'to a point' .

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appointment

noun
1. an arrangement to meet.
2. a job or position.
3. the action of appointing or the process of being appointed.
4. (appointments) furniture or fittings.

IDIOMS -
by appointment (to the Queen) selling goods or services to the Queen.

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apportion

verb
share out; assign.

DERIVATIVES:
apportionment noun.

ORIGIN: Latin apportionare, from portionare 'divide into portions' .

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apposite

adjective
very appropriate; apt.

ORIGIN: from Latin apponere 'apply' .

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apposition

noun
1. chiefly technical the positioning of things next to each other.
2. Grammar a relationship in which a word or phrase is placed next to another in order to qualify or explain it (e.g. my friend Sue).

DERIVATIVES:
appositive adjective & noun.

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appraisal

noun
1. the action or an instance of assessing.
2. a formal assessment of an employee's performance at work.

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appraise

verb
1. assess the quality or nature of.
2. give (an employee) an appraisal.
3. (of an official valuer) set a price on.

DERIVATIVES:
appraisee noun
appraiser noun.
USAGE - Appraise is frequently confused with apprise. Appraise means ‘assess’, while apprise means ‘inform’ and is often used in the structure apprise someone of something.
ORIGIN: alteration of APPRISE.

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appreciable

adjective
large or important enough to be noticed.

DERIVATIVES:
appreciably adverb.

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appreciate

verb
1. recognize the value or significance of.
2. understand (a situation) fully.
3. be grateful for.
4. rise in value or price.

DERIVATIVES:
appreciator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin appretiare 'appraise' , from pretium 'price' .

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appreciation

noun
1. recognition of the value or significance of something.
2. gratitude.
3. a favourable written assessment of a person or their work.
4. increase in monetary value.

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appreciative

adjective
feeling or showing gratitude or pleasure.

DERIVATIVES:
appreciatively adverb
appreciativeness noun.

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apprehend

verb
1. intercept in the course of unlawful or wrongful action.
2. seize or arrest.
3. understand; perceive.
4. archaic anticipate with fear or unease.

ORIGIN: Latin apprehendere, from prehendere 'lay hold of' .

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apprehension

noun
1. uneasy or fearful anticipation.
2. understanding.
3. the action of arresting someone.

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apprehensive

adjective
anticipating something with anxiety or fear.

DERIVATIVES:
apprehensively adverb
apprehensiveness noun.

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apprentice

noun
a person learning a skilled practical trade from an employer.

verb
employ as an apprentice.

DERIVATIVES:
apprenticeship noun.

ORIGIN: Old French aprentis, from Latin apprehendere 'apprehend' .

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apprise

verb
inform; tell.
USAGE - On the confusion of apprise and appraise, see APPRAISE.
ORIGIN: French, from apprendre 'learn, teach' , from Latin apprehendere 'apprehend' .

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approach

verb
1. come near to in distance, time, or standard.
2. go to (someone) with a proposal or request.
3. start to deal with in a certain way.

noun
1. a way of dealing with something.
2. an initial proposal or request.
3. the action of approaching.
4. a way leading to a place.

ORIGIN: Old French aprochier, from Latin appropiare 'draw near' .

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approachable

adjective
1. friendly and easy to talk to.
2. able to be reached from a particular direction or by a particular means.

DERIVATIVES:
approachability noun.

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approbation

noun
approval; praise.

DERIVATIVES:
approbative adjective
approbatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from approbare 'approve' .

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appropriate

adjective
suitable; proper.

verb
1. take for one's own use without permission.
2. devote (money) to a special purpose.

DERIVATIVES:
appropriately adverb
appropriateness noun
appropriation noun
appropriator noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin appropriare 'make one's own' , from proprius 'own, proper' .

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approval

noun
1. the opinion that something is good.
2. official acknowledgement that something is satisfactory.

IDIOMS -
on approval (of goods) able to be returned if unsatisfactory.

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approve

verb
1. (often approve of) believe that someone or something is good or acceptable.
2. officially acknowledge as satisfactory.

ORIGIN: Old French aprover, from Latin approbare.

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approximate

adjective
fairly accurate but not totally precise.

verb
1. come close in quality or quantity.
2. estimate fairly accurately.

DERIVATIVES:
approximately adverb
approximation noun
approximative adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin approximatus, from proximus 'very near' .

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APR

abbreviation
annual (or annualized) percentage rate.

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après-ski

noun
social activities following a day's skiing.

ORIGIN: French, 'after skiing' .

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apricot

noun
an orange-yellow fruit resembling a small peach.

ORIGIN: Portuguese albricoque or Spanish albaricoque, from an Arabic word based on Latin praecox 'early-ripe' .

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April

noun
the fourth month of the year.

ORIGIN: Latin Aprilis.

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April Fool's Day

noun
1 April, traditionally an occasion for playing tricks.

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a priori

adjective & adverb
based on theoretical reasoning rather than actual observation.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'from what is before' .

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apron

noun
1. a protective garment covering the front of one's clothes and tied at the back.
2. an area on an airfield used for manoeuvring or parking aircraft.
3. (also apron stage) a strip of stage projecting in front of the curtain.
4. an endless conveyor made of overlapping plates.

IDIOMS -
tied to someone's apron strings under someone's influence and control to an excessive extent.

ORIGIN: Old French naperon 'small tablecloth' , from Latin mappa 'napkin' ; the n was lost by wrong division of a napron.

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apropos

preposition
with reference to.

ORIGIN: French à propos.

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apse

noun
a large semicircular or polygonal recess with a domed roof, typically at a church's eastern end.

DERIVATIVES:
apsidal adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek apsis 'arch, vault' .

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apt

adjective
1. appropriate; suitable.
2. (apt to) having a tendency to.
3. quick to learn.

DERIVATIVES:
aptly adverb
aptness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin aptus 'fitted' .

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aptitude

noun
a natural ability or inclination.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin aptus 'fitted' .

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aqualung

noun
a portable breathing apparatus for divers.

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aquamarine

noun
1. a light bluish-green variety of beryl.
2. a light bluish-green colour.

ORIGIN: from Latin aqua marina 'seawater' .

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aquaplane

noun
a board for riding on water, pulled by a speedboat.

verb
1. ride on an aquaplane.
2. (of a vehicle) slide uncontrollably on a wet surface.

ORIGIN: from Latin aqua 'water' + PLANE.

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aquarium

noun (pl. aquaria or aquariums)
a water-filled glass tank for keeping fish and other aquatic life.

ORIGIN: Latin, from aquarius 'of water' .

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Aquarius

noun
1. Astronomy a large constellation (the Water Bearer), said to represent a man pouring water from a jar.
2. Astrology the eleventh sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about 21 January.

DERIVATIVES:
Aquarian noun & adjective.

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aquatic

adjective
1. relating to water.
2. living in or near water.

noun
an aquatic plant or animal.

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aqueduct

noun
a long channel or elevated bridge-like structure, used for channelling water over a distance.

ORIGIN: from Latin aquae ductus 'conduit' .

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aqueous

adjective
relating to or containing water.

ORIGIN: from Latin aqua 'water' .

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aqueous humour

noun
the clear fluid in the eyeball in front of the lens.

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aquifer

noun
a body of rock that holds water or through which water flows.

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aquiline

adjective
1. like an eagle.
2. (of a nose) curved like an eagle's beak.

ORIGIN: Latin aquilinus, from aquila 'eagle' .

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AR

abbreviation US
Arkansas.

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Ar

symbol
the chemical element argon.

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Arab

noun
1. a member of a Semitic people inhabiting much of the Middle East and North Africa.
2. a breed of horse originating in Arabia.

DERIVATIVES:
Arabize (also Arabise) verb.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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arabesque

noun
1. Ballet a posture in which one leg is extended horizontally backwards and the arms are outstretched.
2. an ornamental design consisting of intertwined flowing lines.
3. Music a passage with a highly ornamented melody.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian arabesco 'in the Arabic style' .

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Arabian

noun
1. historical a person from Arabia.
2. an Arab horse.

adjective
relating to Arabia or its people.

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Arabic

noun
the Semitic language of the Arabs, written from right to left in a cursive script.

adjective
relating to the Arabs or Arabic.

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Arabic numeral

noun
any of the numerals 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

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arable

adjective
1. (of land) able to be ploughed and used for the cultivation of crops.
2. (of crops) cultivated on ploughed land.

ORIGIN: Latin arabilis, from arare 'to plough' .

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arachnid

noun
a member of a class of arthropods including the spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks.

ORIGIN: from Greek arakhn 'spider' .

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arachnophobia

noun
extreme fear of spiders.

DERIVATIVES:
arachnophobe noun
arachnophobic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek arakhn 'spider' .

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Aramaic

noun
a branch of the Semitic family of languages, used as a lingua franca in the Near East from the 6th century BC and still spoken in some communities.

adjective
relating to this language.

ORIGIN: Greek Aramaios 'of Aram' (the biblical name of Syria).

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arbiter

noun
1. a person who settles a dispute.
2. a person who has influence over something.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'judge, supreme ruler' .

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arbitrary

adjective
1. based on random choice or personal whim.
2. (of power or authority) used without constraint; autocratic.

DERIVATIVES:
arbitrarily adverb
arbitrariness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin arbitrarius, from arbiter 'judge, supreme ruler' .

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arbitrate

verb
act as an arbitrator to settle a dispute.

ORIGIN: Latin arbitrari, from arbiter 'judge, supreme ruler' .

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arbitration

noun
the use of an arbitrator to settle a dispute.

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arbitrator

noun
an independent person or body officially appointed to settle a dispute.

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arboreal

adjective
1. relating to trees.
2. living in trees.

DERIVATIVES:
arboreality noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin arbor 'tree' .

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arboretum

noun (pl. arboretums or arboreta)
a garden devoted to the study and display of trees.

ORIGIN: Latin, from arbor 'tree' .

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arbour (US arbor)

noun
a shady recess in a garden, with a canopy of trees or climbing plants.

ORIGIN: Old French erbier, from Latin herba 'grass, herb' ; influenced by Latin arbor 'tree' .

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arc

noun
1. a curve forming part of the circumference of a circle.
2. a curving trajectory.
3. a luminous electrical discharge between two points.

verb (arced, arcing)
1. move with a curving trajectory.
2. (arcing) the forming of an electric arc.

ORIGIN: Latin arcus 'bow, curve' .

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arcade

noun
1. a covered passage with arches along one or both sides.
2. chiefly Brit. a covered walk with shops along one or both sides.
3. Architecture a series of arches supporting a wall.

DERIVATIVES:
arcading noun.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin arcus 'bow, curve' .

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Arcadian

noun
1. a person from Arcadia, a mountainous region of southern Greece.
2. literary an idealized country dweller.

adjective
1. relating to Arcadia in Greece.
2. rustic in an idealized way.

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arcane

adjective
understood by few; mysterious.

DERIVATIVES:
arcanely adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin arcanus, from arca 'chest' .

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arch [1]

noun
1. a curved structure spanning an opening or supporting the weight of a bridge, roof, or wall.
2. the inner side of the foot.

verb
form or cause to form an arch.

DERIVATIVES:
arched adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French arche, from Latin arcus 'bow' .

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arch [2]

adjective
self-consciously playful or teasing.

DERIVATIVES:
archly adverb
archness noun.

ORIGIN: from ARCH-, by association with the sense «rogue» in combinations such as arch-scoundrel.

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arch-

combining form
1. chief; principal: archbishop.
2. pre-eminent of its kind: an arch-enemy.

ORIGIN: from Greek arkhos 'chief' .

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archaeology (US also archeology)

noun
the study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of physical remains.

DERIVATIVES:
archaeologic adjective
archaeological adjective
archaeologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek arkhaios 'ancient' .

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archaeopteryx

noun
the oldest known fossil bird, of the late Jurassic period, which had feathers and wings like a bird, but teeth and a bony tail like a dinosaur.

ORIGIN: from Greek arkhaios 'ancient' + pterux 'wing' .

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archaic

adjective
1. belonging to former or ancient times.
2. old or in an old-fashioned style.

DERIVATIVES:
archaically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek arkhaios 'ancient' .

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archaism

noun
1. the use of archaic features in language or art.
2. an archaic word or style.

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archangel

noun
an angel of high rank.

DERIVATIVES:
archangelic adjective.

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archbishop

noun
the chief bishop responsible for a large district.

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archdeacon

noun
a senior Christian cleric to whom a bishop delegates certain responsibilities.

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archduke

noun
1. a chief duke.
2. historical a son of the Emperor of Austria.

DERIVATIVES:
archducal adjective
archduchy noun.

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archeology (esp. Brit. archaeology)

noun
the study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of physical remains.

DERIVATIVES:
archeologic adjective
archeological adjective
archeologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek arkhaios 'ancient' .

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archer

noun
a person who shoots with a bow and arrows.

ORIGIN: Old French archier, from Latin arcus 'bow' .

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archery

noun
shooting with a bow and arrows.

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archetype

noun
1. a very typical example.
2. an original model.
3. a recurrent motif in literature or art.

DERIVATIVES:
archetypal adjective
archetypical adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek arkhetupon, from arkhe- 'primitive' + tupos 'a model' .

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archipelago

noun (pl. archipelagos or archipelagoes)
an extensive group of islands.

ORIGIN: from Greek arkhi- 'chief' + pelagos 'sea' (originally a name for the Aegean Sea, notable for its large number of islands).

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architect

noun
1. a person who designs buildings and supervises their construction.
2. a person responsible for the invention or realization of something.

verb Computing
design and make (a program or system).

ORIGIN: Greek arkhitektn 'chief builder' .

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architectonic

adjective
1. relating to architecture or architects.
2. having a clearly defined and artistically pleasing structure.

noun (architectonics) (treated as sing. )
1. the scientific study of architecture.
2. musical, literary, or artistic structure.

DERIVATIVES:
architectonically adverb.

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architecture

noun
1. the art or practice of designing and constructing buildings.
2. the style in which a building is designed and constructed.
3. the complex structure of something.

DERIVATIVES:
architectural adjective.

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architrave

noun
1. (in classical architecture) a main beam resting across the tops of columns.
2. the frame around a doorway or window.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin trabs 'a beam' .

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archive

noun
a collection of historical documents or records.

verb
1. place in an archive.
2. Computing transfer (data) to a less frequently used storage medium.

DERIVATIVES:
archival adjective.

ORIGIN: French archives (plural), from Greek arkheia 'public records' .

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archivist

noun
a person who is in charge of archives.

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archway

noun
a curved structure forming a passage or entrance.

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arc lamp (also arc light)

noun
a light source using an electric arc.

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Arctic

adjective
1. relating to the regions around the North Pole.
2. living or growing in such regions.
3. (arctic) informal (of weather) very cold.

noun (the Arctic)
the regions around the North Pole.

ORIGIN: from Greek arktos 'bear, Ursa Major, pole star' .

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ardent

adjective
1. very enthusiastic; passionate.
2. archaic or literary burning; glowing.

DERIVATIVES:
ardency noun
ardently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin ardens, from ardere 'to burn' .

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ardour (US ardor)

noun
great enthusiasm; passion.

ORIGIN: Latin ardor, from ardere 'to burn' .

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arduous

adjective
difficult and tiring.

DERIVATIVES:
arduously adverb
arduousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin arduus 'steep, difficult' .

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area

noun
1. a part of an expanse or surface.
2. the extent or measurement of a surface.
3. a space allocated for a specific use.
4. a subject or range of activity.
5. a sunken enclosure giving access to a basement.

DERIVATIVES:
areal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'piece of level ground' .

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arena

noun
1. a level area surrounded by seating, in which public events and entertainments are held.
2. a sphere of activity.

ORIGIN: Latin harena, arena 'sand, sand-strewn place of combat' .

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aren't

contraction
1. are not.
2. am not (only used in questions).

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areola

noun (pl. areolae) Anatomy
a small circular area, in particular the pigmented skin surrounding a nipple.

DERIVATIVES:
areolar adjective
areolate adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin 'small open space' .

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arête

noun
a sharp mountain ridge.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin arista 'ear of corn, spine' .

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argon

noun
an inert gaseous chemical element, present in small amounts in the air.

ORIGIN: Greek, from argos 'idle' .

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argot

noun
the jargon or slang of a particular group.

ORIGIN: French.

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arguable

adjective
1. able to be argued or asserted.
2. open to disagreement.

DERIVATIVES:
arguably adverb.

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argue

verb (argues, argued, arguing)
1. exchange diverging or opposite views heatedly.
2. give reasons or cite evidence in support of something.

IDIOMS -
argue the toss informal, chiefly Brit. dispute a decision already made.

DERIVATIVES:
arguer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin arguere 'prove, accuse' .

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argument

noun
1. a heated exchange of diverging or opposite views.
2. a set of reasons given in support of something.

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argumentation

noun
systematic reasoning in support of something.

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argumentative

adjective
1. given to arguing.
2. using or characterized by systematic reasoning.

DERIVATIVES:
argumentatively adverb
argumentativeness noun.

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aria

noun Music
a long accompanied song for a solo voice in an opera or oratorio.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin aer 'air' .

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arid

adjective
1. very dry; having little or no rain.
2. uninteresting; unsatisfying.

DERIVATIVES:
aridity noun
aridly adverb
aridness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin aridus, from arere 'be dry or parched' .

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Aries

noun
1. Astronomy a small constellation (the Ram), said to represent the ram whose Golden Fleece was sought by Jason and the Argonauts.
2. Astrology the first sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about 20 March.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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arise

verb (past arose; past part. arisen)
1. originate or become apparent.
2. (arise from/out of) occur as a result of.
3. formal or literary get or stand up.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to RISE.

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aristocracy

noun (pl. aristocracies)
a class comprising people of noble birth with hereditary titles.

ORIGIN: Greek aristokratia, from aristos 'best' + -kratia 'power' .

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aristocrat

noun
a member of the aristocracy.

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aristocratic

adjective
belonging to or having the characteristics of the aristocracy.

DERIVATIVES:
aristocratically adverb.

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arithmetic

noun
1. the branch of mathematics concerned with the properties and manipulation of numbers.
2. the use of numbers in counting and calculation.

adjective
relating to arithmetic.

DERIVATIVES:
arithmetical adjective
arithmetically adverb
arithmetician noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek arithmtik tekhn 'art of counting' , from arithmos 'number' .

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arithmetic progression (also arithmetic series)

noun
a sequence of numbers in which each differs from the preceding one by a constant quantity (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.; 9, 7, 5, 3, etc.).

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ark

noun
1. (in the Bible) the ship built by Noah to save his family and two of every kind of animal from the Flood.
2. (also Holy Ark) a chest or cupboard housing the Torah scrolls in a synagogue.
3. (Ark of the Covenant) the chest which contained the tablets of the laws of the ancient Israelites.

IDIOMS -
out of the ark informal very old or old-fashioned.

ORIGIN: Latin arca 'chest' .

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arm [1]

noun
1. each of the two upper limbs of the human body from the shoulder to the hand.
2. a side part of a chair supporting a sitter's arm.
3. a narrow body of water or land projecting from a larger body.
4. a branch or division of an organization.

IDIOMS -
arm in arm with arms linked.
cost an arm and a leg informal be extremely expensive.
in arms (of a baby) too young to walk.
keep at arm's length avoid intimacy or close contact with.
with open arms with great affection or enthusiasm.

DERIVATIVES:
armful noun
armless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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arm [2]

verb
1. supply with weapons.
2. provide with essential equipment for a task or situation.
3. activate the fuse of (a bomb) so that it is ready to explode.

ORIGIN: Latin armare, from arma 'armour, arms' .

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armada

noun
a fleet of warships.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from Latin armare 'to arm' .

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armadillo

noun (pl. armadillos)
a nocturnal insect-eating mammal native to Central and South America, with large claws and a body covered in bony plates.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'little armed man' .

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Armageddon

noun
1. (in the New Testament) the last battle between good and evil before the Day of Judgement.
2. a catastrophic conflict.

ORIGIN: Greek, from a Hebrew phrase meaning «hill of Megiddo» (Book of Revelation, chapter 16).

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armament

noun
1. (also armaments) military weapons and equipment.
2. the process of equipping military forces for war.

ORIGIN: Latin armamentum, from armare 'to arm' .

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armature

noun
1. the rotating coil of a dynamo or electric motor.
2. any moving part of an electrical machine in which a voltage is induced by a magnetic field.
3. a piece of iron acting as a keeper for a magnet.
4. Biology the protective covering of an animal or plant.
5. archaic armour.

ORIGIN: Latin armatura 'armour' .

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armchair

noun
1. a large, upholstered chair with side supports for the sitter's arms.
2. (before another noun ) experiencing something through reading, television, etc. rather than at first hand: an armchair traveller.

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armed

adjective
equipped with or involving a firearm.

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armed forces

plural noun
a country's army, navy, and air force.

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armistice

noun
a truce.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin arma 'armour, arms' + -stitium 'stoppage' .

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armour (US armor)

noun
1. the metal coverings formerly worn to protect the body in battle.
2. (also armour plate) the tough metal layer covering a military vehicle or ship.
3. military vehicles collectively.
4. the protective layer or shell of some animals and plants.

DERIVATIVES:
armoured adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French armure, from Latin armatura, from arma 'armour, arms' .

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armourer (US armorer)

noun
1. a maker or supplier of weapons or armour.
2. an official in charge of the arms of a warship or regiment.

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armoury (US armory)

noun (pl. armouries)
1. a store or supply of arms.
2. a set of resources available for a particular purpose.

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armpit

noun
a hollow under the arm at the shoulder.

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arms

plural noun
1. guns and other weapons.
2. emblems originally displayed on the shields of knights to distinguish them in battle, surviving today as coats of arms.

IDIOMS -
a call to arms a call to make ready for fighting.
up in arms protesting vigorously.

ORIGIN: Latin arma.

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arms race

noun
a situation in which nations compete for superiority in the development and accumulation of weapons.

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arm-wrestling

noun
a contest in which two people engage hands and try to force each other's arm down on to a surface.

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army

noun (pl. armies)
1. an organized military force equipped for fighting on land.
2. a large number of similar people or things.

ORIGIN: Old French armee, from Latin armare 'to arm' .

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aroma

noun
a pleasant and distinctive smell.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'spice' .

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aromatherapy

noun
the use of aromatic plant extracts and essential oils for healing and cosmetic purposes.

DERIVATIVES:
aromatherapeutic adjective
aromatherapist noun.

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aromatic

adjective
1. having an aroma.
2. Chemistry (of an organic compound) containing a flat ring of atoms in its molecule (as in benzene).

noun
an aromatic plant, substance, or compound.

DERIVATIVES:
aromatically adverb.

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around

adverb
1. located or situated on every side.
2. so as to face in the opposite direction.
3. in or to many places throughout a locality.
4. here and there.
5. available or present.
6. approximately.

preposition
1. on every side of.
2. in or to many places throughout (a locality).
3. so as to encircle or embrace.
4. following an approximately circular route round.

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arouse

verb
1. bring about (a feeling or response) in someone.
2. excite sexually.
3. awaken from sleep.

DERIVATIVES:
arousal noun.

ORIGIN: from ROUSE, on the pattern of rise, arise.

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arpeggio

noun (pl. arpeggios) Music
the notes of a chord played in rapid succession.

ORIGIN: Italian, from arpeggiare 'play the harp' .

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arraign

verb
call before a court to answer a criminal charge.

DERIVATIVES:
arraignment noun.

ORIGIN: Old French araisnier, from Latin ad- 'to' + ratio 'reason, account' .

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arrange

verb
1. put tidily or in a particular order.
2. organize or plan.
3. Music adapt (a composition) for performance with instruments or voices other than those originally specified.

DERIVATIVES:
arrangeable adjective
arranger noun.

ORIGIN: Old French arangier, from rang 'rank' .

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arrangement

noun
1. the result of arranging things in an attractive or ordered way.
2. a plan for a future event.
3. Music an arranged composition.

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arrant

adjective
utter; complete.

DERIVATIVES:
arrantly adverb.

ORIGIN: variant of ERRANT, originally in phrases such as arrant thief, meaning «outlawed, roving thief».

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array

noun
1. an impressive display or range of a particular thing.
2. an ordered arrangement of troops.
3. literary elaborate or beautiful clothing.

verb
1. display or arrange in a neat or impressive way.
2. (be arrayed in) be elaborately clothed in.

ORIGIN: Old French arei.

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arrears

plural noun
money owed that should already have been paid.

IDIOMS -
in arrears
1. behind with paying money that is owed.
2. (of wages or rent) paid at the end of each period of work or occupation.

ORIGIN: Old French arere, from Latin retro 'backwards' .

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arrest

verb
1. seize by legal authority and take into custody.
2. stop or check (progress or a process).
3. (arresting) attracting attention.

noun
1. the action of arresting someone.
2. a sudden cessation of motion.

DERIVATIVES:
arrestingly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French arester, from Latin restare 'remain, stop' .

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arrival

noun
1. the action or process of arriving.
2. a newly arrived person or thing.

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arrive

verb
1. reach a destination.
2. be brought or delivered.
3. (of a particular moment) come about.
4. (arrive at) reach (a conclusion or decision).
5. informal become successful and well known.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «reach the shore after a voyage»: from Old French ariver, from Latin ripa 'shore' .

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arriviste

noun often derogatory
a person who has recently gained social or financial status or is ambitious to do so.

ORIGIN: French.

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arrogant

adjective
having an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities.

DERIVATIVES:
arrogance noun
arrogantly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin arrogare 'claim for oneself' .

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arrogate

verb
take or claim for oneself without justification.

DERIVATIVES:
arrogation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin arrogare 'claim for oneself' .

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arrow

noun
1. a stick with a sharp pointed head, designed to be shot from a bow.
2. a symbol resembling this, used to show direction or position.

verb
move swiftly and directly.

DERIVATIVES:
arrowed adjective.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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arrowroot

noun
a plant that yields a fine-grained starch used in cookery and medicine.

ORIGIN: from an Arawak word meaning 'meal of meals' , by association with ARROW and ROOT, the plant's tubers being used to absorb poison from arrow wounds.

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arse

noun Brit. vulgar slang
a person's bottom.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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arsenal

noun
a store of weapons and ammunition.

ORIGIN: French, or obsolete Italian arzanale, from an Arabic phrase meaning «house of industry».

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arsenic

noun
a brittle steel-grey chemical element with many highly poisonous compounds.

DERIVATIVES:
arsenical adjective
arsenide noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «orpiment»: from Greek arsenikon, from Arabic.

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arson

noun
the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property.

DERIVATIVES:
arsonist noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin ardere 'to burn' .

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art [1]

noun
1. the expression of creative skill through a visual medium such as painting or sculpture.
2. the product of such a process; paintings, drawings, and sculpture collectively.
3. (the arts) the various branches of creative activity, such as painting, music, and drama.
4. (arts) subjects of study primarily concerned with human culture (as contrasted with scientific or technical subjects).
5. a skill: the art of conversation.

ORIGIN: Latin ars.

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art deco

noun
a decorative style prominent in the 1920s and 1930s, characterized by precise geometric shapes.

ORIGIN: French art décoratif 'decorative art' .

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artefact (US artifact)

noun
a functional or decorative man-made object.

ORIGIN: from Latin arte 'using art' + factum 'something made' .

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arteriosclerosis

noun Medicine
thickening and hardening of the walls of the arteries.

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artery

noun (pl. arteries)
1. any of the muscular-walled tubes through which blood flows from the heart around the body.
2. an important route in a transport system.

DERIVATIVES:
arterial adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek artria.

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artful

adjective
cunningly clever.

DERIVATIVES:
artfully adverb
artfulness noun.

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arthritis

noun
painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints.

DERIVATIVES:
arthritic adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: Greek, from arthron 'joint' .

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arthropod

noun Zoology
an invertebrate animal with a segmented body, external skeleton, and jointed limbs, such as an insect, spider, or crustacean.

ORIGIN: from Greek arthron 'joint' + pous 'foot' .

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artichoke

noun (also globe artichoke)
the unopened flower head of a thistle-like plant, eaten as a vegetable.

ORIGIN: Italian articiocco, from Arabic.

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article

noun
1. a particular object.
2. a piece of writing included in a newspaper or magazine.
3. a separate clause or paragraph of a legal document.
4. (articles) a period of professional training as a solicitor, architect, surveyor, or accountant.
5. Grammar the definite or indefinite article.

verb
employ under contract as a trainee.

ORIGIN: Latin articulus 'small joint or connecting part' .

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articled clerk

noun
a law student employed as a trainee.

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article of faith

noun
a firmly held belief.

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articular

adjective Anatomy
of or relating to a joint.

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articulate

adjective
1. fluent and clear in speech.
2. having joints or jointed segments.

verb
1. pronounce (words) distinctly.
2. clearly express (an idea or feeling).
3. form a joint.
4. (articulated) having two or more sections connected by a flexible joint.

DERIVATIVES:
articulacy noun
articulately adverb
articulateness noun
articulation noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin articulare 'divide into joints, utter distinctly' .

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artifact (Brit. artefact)

noun
a functional or decorative man-made object.

ORIGIN: from Latin arte 'using art' + factum 'something made' .

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artifice

noun
the use of cunning plans or devices in order to trick or deceive.

ORIGIN: Latin artificium, from ars 'art' + facere 'make' .

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artificer

noun
1. a person skilled in making or contriving things.
2. a skilled mechanic in the armed forces.

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artificial

adjective
1. made as a copy of something natural.
2. contrived or affected.

DERIVATIVES:
artificiality noun
artificially adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin artificium, from ars 'art' + facere 'make' .

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artificial insemination

noun
the veterinary or medical procedure of injecting semen into the vagina or uterus.

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artificial intelligence

noun
the performance by computer systems of tasks normally requiring human intelligence.

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artificial respiration

noun
the restoration or maintenance of someone's breathing by manual, mechanical, or mouth-to-mouth methods.

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artillery

noun
1. large-calibre guns used in warfare on land.
2. a branch of the armed forces trained to use artillery.

ORIGIN: Old French artillerie, from atillier 'equip, arm' .

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artisan

noun
a skilled worker who makes things by hand.

DERIVATIVES:
artisanal adjective.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin artire 'instruct in the arts' .

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artist

noun
1. a person who paints or draws as a profession or hobby.
2. a person who practises or performs any of the creative arts.
3. informal a habitual practitioner of a specified activity: a con artist.

DERIVATIVES:
artistry noun.

ORIGIN: French artiste, from Latin ars 'art' .

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artiste

noun
a professional entertainer, especially a singer or dancer.

ORIGIN: French, 'artist' .

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artistic

adjective
1. having or revealing creative skill.
2. relating to or characteristic of art or artists: an artistic temperament.
3. aesthetically pleasing: artistic designs.

DERIVATIVES:
artistically adverb.

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artless

adjective
1. without guile or pretension.
2. clumsy.

DERIVATIVES:
artlessly adverb.

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art nouveau

noun
a style of decorative art and architecture prominent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by intricate linear designs and flowing curves.

ORIGIN: French, 'new art' .

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artwork

noun
illustrations or other non-textual material prepared for inclusion in a publication.

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arty (chiefly N. Amer. also artsy)

adjective (artier, artiest) informal
overtly artistic or interested in the arts.

DERIVATIVES:
artiness noun.

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-ary

suffix
1. forming adjectives such as budgetary or capillary.
2. forming nouns such as dictionary.

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Aryan

noun
1. a member of a people speaking an Indo-European language who spread into northern India in the 2nd millennium BC.
2. the language of this people.
3. (in Nazi ideology) a person of Caucasian race not of Jewish descent.

adjective
relating to the Aryan people.

ORIGIN: from Sanskrit, 'noble' .

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As

symbol
the chemical element arsenic.

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as

adverb
used in comparisons to refer to the extent or degree of something.

conjunction
1. used to indicate simultaneous occurrence.
2. used to indicate by comparison the way that something happens.
3. because.
4. even though.

preposition
1. used to refer to the function or character of someone or something: it came as a shock.
2. during the time of being.

IDIOMS -
as for with regard to.
as yet until now or that time.

ORIGIN: Old English, «similarly».

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asap

abbreviation
as soon as possible.

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asbestos

noun
a highly heat-resistant fibrous silicate mineral, used in fire-resistant and insulating materials.

ORIGIN: from Greek, 'unquenchable' .

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ascend

verb
1. go up; climb or rise.
2. rise in status.
3. (of a voice or sound) rise in pitch.

ORIGIN: Latin ascendere.

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ascendant

adjective
1. holding a position of increasing status or influence.
2. Astrology (of a planet, zodiacal degree, or sign) on or close to the intersection of the ecliptic with the eastern horizon.

noun Astrology
the ascendant point.

IDIOMS -
in the ascendant rising in power or influence.

DERIVATIVES:
ascendancy noun.

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ascension

noun
1. the action of ascending in status.
2. (Ascension) the ascent of Christ into heaven on the fortieth day after the Resurrection.

DERIVATIVES:
ascensional adjective.

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ascent

noun
1. an instance of ascending.
2. a climb up a mountain.
3. an upward slope.

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ascertain

verb
find out for certain.

DERIVATIVES:
ascertainable adjective
ascertainment noun.

ORIGIN: Old French acertener, from Latin certus 'settled, sure' .

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ascetic

adjective
strictly self-disciplined and avoiding any sensory pleasures or luxuries.

noun
an ascetic person.

DERIVATIVES:
ascetically adverb
asceticism noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek askts 'monk' , from askein 'to exercise' .

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ASCII

abbreviation Computing
American Standard Code for Information Interchange.

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ascorbic acid

noun
vitamin C, a compound found in citrus fruits and green vegetables, essential in maintaining healthy connective tissue.

ORIGIN: from Latin scorbutus 'scurvy' .

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ascribe

verb (ascribe to)
1. attribute (a particular cause, person, or period) to.
2. regard (a quality) as belonging to.

DERIVATIVES:
ascribable adjective
ascription noun.

ORIGIN: Latin ascribere, from scribere 'write' .

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aseptic

adjective
marked by the absence of bacteria, viruses, and other micro-organisms. Compare with ANTISEPTIC.

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asexual

adjective
1. Biology without sex or sexual organs.
2. (of reproduction) not involving the fusion of gametes.
3. without sexual feelings or associations.

DERIVATIVES:
asexuality noun
asexually adverb.

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ash [1]

noun
1. the powder remaining after something has been burned.
2. (ashes) the remains of a human body after cremation.
3. (the Ashes) a cricket trophy awarded for winning a test match series between England and Australia. [ORIGIN: from a mock obituary (1882) referring to the symbolic remains of English cricket after an Australian victory.]

IDIOMS -
ashes in one's mouth something that is bitterly disappointing.

DERIVATIVES:
ashy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ash [2]

noun
1. a tree with compound leaves, winged fruits, and hard pale wood.
2. an Old English letter, æ.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ashamed

adjective
feeling embarrassed or guilty.

DERIVATIVES:
ashamedly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ashen

adjective
very pale through shock, fear, or illness.

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Ashkenazi

noun (pl. Ashkenazim)
a Jew of central or eastern European descent. Compare with SEPHARDI.

ORIGIN: from Ashkenaz, a grandson of Noah.

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ashlar

noun
large square-cut stones used as the surface layer of a wall.

ORIGIN: Old French aisselier, from Latin axilla 'little plank' .

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ashore

adverb
to or on the shore or land.

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ashram

noun
an Indian religious retreat or community.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, 'hermitage' .

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Ash Wednesday

noun
the first day of Lent in the Western Christian Church.

ORIGIN: from the custom of marking the foreheads of penitents with ashes on that day.

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Asian

noun
a person from Asia or a person of Asian descent.

adjective
relating to Asia.
USAGE - In Britain Asian is used to refer to people who come from (or whose parents came from) the Indian subcontinent, while in North America it is used to refer to people from the Far East.

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Asiatic

adjective
relating to Asia.

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aside

adverb
1. to one side; out of the way.
2. in reserve.

noun
1. an actor's remark addressed to the audience rather than the other characters.
2. an incidental remark.

IDIOMS -
aside from apart from.
set aside
1. temporarily remove (land) from agricultural production.
2. annul (a legal decision or process).

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asinine

adjective
extremely stupid or foolish.

DERIVATIVES:
asininity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin asininus, from asinus 'ass' .

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ask

verb
1. say something in order to get an answer or some information.
2. say that one wants someone to do, give, or allow something.
3. (ask for) request to speak to.
4. expect or demand (something) of someone.
5. invite (someone) to a social occasion.
6. (ask out) invite (someone) out on a date.
7. (ask after) enquire about the well-being of (someone).

IDIOMS -
a big ask Austral./NZ informal a difficult demand to fulfil.
for the asking for little or no effort or cost.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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askance

adverb
with a suspicious or disapproving look.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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askew

adverb & adjective
not straight or level.

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asking price

noun
the price at which something is offered for sale.

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aslant

adverb
at a slant.

preposition
across at a slant.

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asleep

adjective & adverb
1. in or into a state of sleep.
2. not attentive or alert.
3. (of a limb) numb.

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asp

noun
1. a small viper with an upturned snout.
2. the Egyptian cobra.

ORIGIN: Greek aspis.

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asparagus

noun
a vegetable consisting of the tender young shoots of a tall plant.

ORIGIN: Greek asparagos.

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aspect

noun
1. a particular part or feature of a matter.
2. appearance or quality.
3. the side of a building facing a particular direction.

DERIVATIVES:
aspectual adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin aspectus, from aspicere 'look at' .

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aspen

noun
a poplar tree with small rounded long-stalked leaves.

ORIGIN: from dialect asp (in the same sense).

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asperity

noun (pl. asperities)
1. harshness of tone or manner.
2. a rough edge on a surface.

ORIGIN: Latin asperitas, from asper 'rough' .

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aspersion

noun (often in phrase cast aspersions on)
an attack on someone's character or reputation.

ORIGIN: originally denoting the sprinkling of water at baptism: Latin, from aspergere 'sprinkle' .

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asphalt

noun
a dark tar-like substance used in surfacing roads or waterproofing buildings.

DERIVATIVES:
asphaltic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek asphalton.

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asphodel

noun
a plant of the lily family with long, slender leaves and flowers borne on a spike.

ORIGIN: Greek asphodelos; related to DAFFODIL.

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asphyxia

noun
a condition caused by the body being deprived of oxygen, leading to unconsciousness or death.

DERIVATIVES:
asphyxiant adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: Greek asphuxia, from a- 'without' + sphuxis 'pulse' .

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asphyxiate

verb
kill or be killed by asphyxia; suffocate.

DERIVATIVES:
asphyxiation noun.

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aspic

noun
a savoury jelly made with meat stock.

ORIGIN: French, 'asp' , from the colours of the jelly as compared with those of the snake.

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aspidistra

noun
a plant of the lily family with broad tapering leaves.

ORIGIN: from Greek aspis 'shield' (because of the shape of the stigma).

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aspirant

adjective
aspiring towards a particular achievement or status.

noun
a person who has such aspirations.

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aspirate

verb
1. Phonetics pronounce with an exhalation of breath or with the sound of h.
2. Medicine draw (fluid) by suction from a vessel or cavity.
3. technical inhale.

noun Phonetics
an aspirated consonant or sound of h.

ORIGIN: Latin aspirare, from spirare 'breathe'

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aspiration

noun
1. a hope or ambition.
2. the action of aspirating.

DERIVATIVES:
aspirational adjective.

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aspire

verb (usu. aspire to/to do)
have ambitions to be or do something.

DERIVATIVES:
aspiring adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin aspirare, from spirare 'breathe' .

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aspirin

noun (pl. same or aspirins)
a medicine used in tablet form to relieve pain and reduce fever and inflammation.

ORIGIN: from the chemical name, acetylated salicylic acid.

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ass [1]

noun
1. a donkey or similar horse-like animal with long ears and a braying call.
2. informal a foolish or stupid person.

ORIGIN: Latin asinus.

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assail

verb
1. attack violently.
2. (of an unpleasant feeling) come upon (someone) strongly.

ORIGIN: Latin assalire, from salire 'to leap' .

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assailant

noun
a person who attacks another.

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assassin

noun
a person who assassinates someone.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'hashish-eater' , with reference to a fanatical Muslim sect who ruled part of northern Persia 1094 1256 and were reputed to use hashish before murder missions.

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assassinate

verb
murder (a political or religious leader).

DERIVATIVES:
assassination noun.

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assault

noun
1. a violent attack.
2. Law an act that threatens physical harm to a person.
3. a concentrated attempt to do something difficult.

verb
make an assault on.

DERIVATIVES:
assaultive adjective.

ORIGIN: from Old French assauter, from Latin saltare 'to leap' .

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assault course

noun Brit.
a course providing a series of physical challenges, used for training soldiers.

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assay

noun
the testing of a metal or ore to determine its ingredients and quality.

verb
1. carry out an assay on.
2. archaic attempt.

DERIVATIVES:
assayer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French assai, essai 'trial' .

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assegai

noun (pl. assegais)
a slender iron-tipped spear used by southern African peoples.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'the spear' .

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assemblage

noun
1. a collection or gathering.
2. something made of pieces fitted together.

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assemble

verb
1. come or bring together.
2. fit together the component parts of.

DERIVATIVES:
assembler noun.

ORIGIN: Old French asembler, from Latin ad- 'to' + simul 'together' .

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assembly

noun (pl. assemblies)
1. a group of people gathered together.
2. a body with powers to make decisions and laws.
3. a regular gathering of teachers and pupils in a school.
4. the action of assembling component parts.
5. a unit consisting of assembled parts.

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assembly line

noun
a series of machines by which identical items are assembled in successive stages.

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assent

noun
the expression of approval or agreement.

verb (usu. assent to)
express assent.

DERIVATIVES:
assenter (also assentor) noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin assentire, from sentire 'feel, think' .

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assert

verb
1. state (a fact or belief) confidently and forcefully.
2. cause others to recognize (something) by confident and forceful behaviour.
3. (assert oneself) be confident and forceful.

ORIGIN: Latin asserere 'claim, affirm' .

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assertion

noun
1. a confident and forceful statement.
2. the action of asserting.

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assertive

adjective
confident and forceful.

DERIVATIVES:
assertively adverb
assertiveness noun.

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assess

verb
1. evaluate or estimate.
2. set the value of a tax, fine, etc. for (a person or property).

DERIVATIVES:
assessable adjective
assessment noun
assessor noun.

ORIGIN: Old French assesser, from Latin assidere 'sit by' (later 'levy tax)' .

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asset

noun
1. a useful or valuable thing or person.
2. (assets) property owned by a person or company.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «sufficient estate to allow discharge of a will»: from Old French asez 'enough' .

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asset-stripping

noun
the taking over of a company in financial difficulties and selling each of its assets at a profit.

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asseveration

noun formal
a solemn or emphatic declaration or statement.

DERIVATIVES:
asseverate verb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from asseverare, from severus 'serious' .

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assiduity

noun (pl. assiduities)
constant or close attention to what one is doing.

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assiduous

adjective
showing great care and perseverance.

DERIVATIVES:
assiduously adverb
assiduousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin assiduus, from assidere 'sit by' .

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assign

verb
1. allocate (a task or duty) to someone.
2. give (someone) a job or task.
3. regard (something) as belonging to or being caused by.
4. transfer (legal rights or liabilities).

DERIVATIVES:
assignable adjective
assigner (also assignor) noun.

ORIGIN: Latin assignare, from signare 'to sign' .

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assignation

noun
1. a secret arrangement to meet, especially by lovers.
2. the action of assigning.

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assignment

noun
1. a task allocated to someone as part of a job or course of study.
2. the action of assigning.

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assimilate

verb
1. take in and understand (information or ideas).
2. absorb and integrate into a people or culture.
3. absorb and digest (food or nutrients).
4. regard as or make similar.

DERIVATIVES:
assimilable adjective
assimilation noun
assimilative adjective
assimilator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin assimilare 'absorb, incorporate' , from similis 'like' .

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assist

verb
help (someone).

noun chiefly N. Amer.
an act of helping.

ORIGIN: Latin assistere 'take one's stand by' .

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assistance

noun
help or support.

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assistant

noun
1. a person who ranks below a senior person.
2. a person who helps in particular work.

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assize (also assizes)

noun historical
a court which sat at intervals in each county of England and Wales.

ORIGIN: Old French assise, from Latin assidere 'sit by' .

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associate

verb
1. connect in the mind.
2. frequently meet or have dealings.
3. (be associated with or associate oneself with) be involved with.

noun
1. a work partner or colleague.
2. a person with subordinate membership of an organization.

adjective
1. connected with an organization or business.
2. having membership but with lower status.

ORIGIN: Latin associare 'join' , from socius 'sharing, allied' .

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association

noun
1. a group of people organized for a joint purpose.
2. a connection or link between people or organizations.
3. a mental connection between ideas.

DERIVATIVES:
associational adjective.

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associative

adjective
1. of or involving association.
2. Mathematics unchanged in result by varying the grouping of quantities, as long as their order remains the same, such that for example (a x b) x c = a x (b x c).

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assonance

noun
resemblance of sound between words arising from the rhyming of vowels only (e.g. sonnet, porridge) or from use of identical consonants with different vowels (e.g. cold, culled).

DERIVATIVES:
assonant adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin assonare 'respond to' .

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assorted

adjective
of various sorts put together.

ORIGIN: from Old French assorter, from sorte 'sort, kind' .

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assortment

noun
a miscellaneous collection.

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assuage

verb
1. make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense.
2. satisfy (an appetite or desire).

DERIVATIVES:
assuagement noun.

ORIGIN: Old French assouagier, from Latin suavis 'sweet' .

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assume

verb
1. accept as true without proof.
2. take (responsibility or control).
3. begin to have (a quality, appearance, or extent).
4. pretend to have; adopt falsely.

ORIGIN: Latin assumere, from sumere 'take' .

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assuming

conjunction
based on the assumption that.

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assumption

noun
1. a thing that is assumed to be true.
2. the action of assuming responsibility or control.
3. (Assumption) the reception of the Virgin Mary bodily into heaven, according to Roman Catholic doctrine.

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assurance

noun
1. a positive declaration intended to give confidence.
2. confidence or certainty in one's own abilities.
3. chiefly Brit. life insurance.
USAGE - In the context of life insurance, a technical distinction is made between assurance and insurance. Assurance is used of policies under whose terms a payment is guaranteed, either after a fixed term or on the death of the insured person; insurance is the general term, and is used in particular of policies under whose terms a payment would be made only in certain circumstances (e.g. accident or death within a limited period).

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assure

verb
1. tell (someone) something positively to dispel doubts.
2. make (something) certain to happen.
3. chiefly Brit. cover by assurance.

DERIVATIVES:
assurer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French assurer, from Latin securus 'free from care' .

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assured

adjective
1. confident.
2. protected against change or ending.

DERIVATIVES:
assuredly adverb.

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asterisk

noun
a symbol (*) used in text as a pointer to an annotation or footnote.

verb
mark with an asterisk.

ORIGIN: Greek asteriskos 'small star' .

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astern

adverb
behind or towards the rear of a ship or aircraft.

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asteroid

noun
a small rocky body orbiting the sun.

ORIGIN: from Greek asteroeids 'starlike' .

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asthma

noun
a medical condition marked by difficulty in breathing.

DERIVATIVES:
asthmatic adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: Greek, from azein 'breathe hard' .

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astigmatism

noun
a defect of the eye or a lens, resulting in distorted images.

DERIVATIVES:
astigmatic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek stigma 'point' .

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astir

adjective
1. in a state of excited movement.
2. awake and out of bed.

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astonish

verb
surprise or impress greatly.

DERIVATIVES:
astonished adjective
astonishing adjective
astonishment noun.

ORIGIN: Old French estoner «stun, stupefy», from Latin tonare 'to thunder' .

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astound

verb
shock or greatly surprise.

DERIVATIVES:
astounded adjective
astounding adjective.

ORIGIN: related to ASTONISH.

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astrakhan

noun
the dark curly fleece of young karakul lambs from central Asia.

ORIGIN: named after the city of Astrakhan in Russia.

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astral

adjective
relating to the stars.

ORIGIN: Latin astralis, from astrum 'star' .

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astray

adverb
away from the correct path or direction.

ORIGIN: from Old French estraie, from Latin extra 'out of bounds' + vagari 'wander' .

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astride

1. preposition & adverb with a leg on each side of.
2. adverb (of a person's legs) apart.

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astringent

adjective
1. causing the contraction of body tissues.
2. (of taste or smell) sharp or bitter.
3. harsh or severe.

noun
an astringent lotion applied for medical or cosmetic purposes.

DERIVATIVES:
astringency noun
astringently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin astringere 'pull tight' .

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astrolabe

noun
an instrument formerly used for making astronomical measurements and in navigation for calculating latitude.

ORIGIN: Latin astrolabium, from Greek astrolabos 'star-taking' .

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astrology

noun
the study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies and their supposed influence on human affairs.

DERIVATIVES:
astrologer noun
astrological adjective
astrologically adverb.

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astronaut

noun
a person trained to travel in a spacecraft.

ORIGIN: from Greek astron 'star' + nauts 'sailor' .

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astronomical

adjective
1. relating to astronomy.
2. informal extremely large: astronomical fees.

DERIVATIVES:
astronomic adjective
astronomically adverb.

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astronomy

noun
the science of celestial objects, space, and the physical universe.

DERIVATIVES:
astronomer noun.

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astrophysics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the branch of astronomy concerned with the physical nature of celestial bodies.

DERIVATIVES:
astrophysical adjective
astrophysicist noun.

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astute

adjective
good at making accurate judgements; shrewd.

DERIVATIVES:
astutely adverb
astuteness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin astutus, from astus 'craft' .

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asunder

adverb archaic or literary
apart.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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asylum

noun
1. shelter or protection.
2. protection granted by a state to a political refugee.
3. dated an institution for the mentally ill.

ORIGIN: Greek asulon 'refuge' .

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asymmetrical

adjective
lacking symmetry.

DERIVATIVES:
asymmetric adjective
asymmetrically adverb.

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asymmetry

noun (pl. asymmetries)
lack of symmetry.

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asynchronous

adjective
not existing or occurring at the same time.

DERIVATIVES:
asynchronously adverb.

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At

symbol
the chemical element astatine.

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at

preposition
1. expressing location or arrival.
2. expressing the time when an event takes place.
3. denoting a value, rate, or point on a scale.
4. expressing a state or condition.
5. expressing the object or target of a look, shot, action, or plan.
6. expressing the means by which something is done.

IDIOMS -
at that in addition; furthermore.
where it's at informal the focus of fashion.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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atavistic

adjective
returning to something ancient or ancestral.

DERIVATIVES:
atavism noun
atavistically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin atavus 'forefather' .

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-ate [1]

suffix forming nouns denoting:
1. status, office, or function: doctorate.
2. a group: electorate.
3. Chemistry a salt or ester: chlorate.
4. a product of a chemical process: condensate.

ORIGIN: Old French -at or Latin -atus.

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-ate [2]

suffix
1. forming adjectives and nouns such as associate.
2. forming verbs such as fascinate.

ORIGIN: Latin -atus.

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atelier

noun
a workshop or studio.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin astula 'splinter of wood' .

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atheism

noun
the belief that God does not exist.

DERIVATIVES:
atheist noun
atheistic adjective
atheistical adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek a- 'without' + theos 'god' .

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athlete

noun
1. a person who is good at sports.
2. a person who competes in track and field events.

ORIGIN: Greek athlts, from athlon 'prize' .

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athlete's foot

noun
a form of ringworm infection affecting the skin between the toes.

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athletic

adjective
1. fit and good at sport.
2. relating to athletics.

DERIVATIVES:
athletically adverb
athleticism noun.

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athwart

preposition & adverb
from side to side of something; across.

ORIGIN: from an archaic sense of THWART, meaning 'across' .

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-ation

suffix
(forming nouns) denoting an action or its result: exploration.

ORIGIN: French or Latin.

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Atlantic

adjective
of or adjoining the Atlantic Ocean.

ORIGIN: from the name of the god Atlas (see ATLAS); the term originally referred to Mount Atlas in Libya.

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atlas

noun
1. a book of maps or charts.
2. Anatomy the topmost vertebra of the backbone.

ORIGIN: from the name of the Greek god Atlas, who held up the pillars of the universe: his picture appeared at the front of early atlases.

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ATM

abbreviation
automated teller machine.

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atmosphere

noun
1. the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.
2. the quality of the air in a place.
3. a pervading tone or mood.
4. a unit of pressure equal to mean atmospheric pressure at sea level, 101,325 pascals (roughly 14.7 pounds per square inch).

ORIGIN: from Greek atmos 'vapour' + sphaira 'globe' .

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atmospheric

adjective
1. relating to the atmosphere of the earth or another planet.
2. creating a distinctive mood, typically of romance, mystery, or nostalgia.

DERIVATIVES:
atmospherically adverb.

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atoll

noun
a ring-shaped reef or chain of islands formed of coral.

ORIGIN: Maldivian.

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atom

noun
1. the smallest particle of a chemical element, consisting of a positively charged nucleus surrounded by negatively charged electrons.
2. an extremely small amount: she did not have an atom of strength left.

ORIGIN: from Greek atomos 'indivisible' .

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atom bomb

noun
a bomb whose explosive power comes from the fission of heavy atomic nuclei.

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atomic

adjective
1. relating to an atom or atoms.
2. of or forming a single indivisible unit or component in a larger system.
3. relating to nuclear energy.

DERIVATIVES:
atomically adverb.

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atomic mass unit

noun
a unit of mass used to express atomic and molecular weights, equal to one twelfth of the mass of an atom of carbon-12.

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atomic number

noun
the number of protons in the nucleus of a chemical element's atom, which determines its place in the periodic table.

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atomize (also atomise)

verb
1. convert (a substance) into very fine particles or droplets.
2. fragment.

DERIVATIVES:
atomization noun
atomizer noun.

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atonal

adjective Music
not written in any key or mode.

DERIVATIVES:
atonality noun.

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atone

verb (atone for)
make amends for.

ORIGIN: from at one.

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atonement

noun
1. amends for a wrong or injury.
2. (the Atonement) Christian Theology the reconciliation of God and mankind through the death of Jesus Christ.

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atop

preposition literary
on the top of.

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atrium

noun (pl. atria or atriums)
1. a central hall rising through several storeys and having a glazed roof.
2. an open central court in an ancient Roman house.
3. Anatomy each of the two upper cavities of the heart.

DERIVATIVES:
atrial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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atrocious

adjective
1. horrifyingly wicked.
2. informal extremely bad or unpleasant.

DERIVATIVES:
atrociously adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin atrox 'cruel' .

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atrocity

noun (pl. atrocities)
an extremely wicked or cruel act.

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atrophy

verb (atrophies, atrophied)
1. (of body tissue or an organ) waste away.
2. gradually become less effective or vigorous.

noun
the condition or process of atrophying.

DERIVATIVES:
atrophic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek atrophia 'lack of food' .

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attach

verb
1. fasten; join.
2. include (a condition) as part of an agreement.
3. assign or attribute.
4. appoint (someone) for special or temporary duties.
5. Law, archaic seize (a person or property) by legal authority.

DERIVATIVES:
attachable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French atachier 'fasten, fix' .

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attaché

noun
a person on an ambassador's staff with specialized duties.

ORIGIN: French, 'attached' .

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attaché case

noun
a small, flat briefcase for carrying documents.

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attached

adjective
affectionate; fond: Mark became increasingly attached to Tara.

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attachment

noun
1. an extra part or extension attached to something.
2. the action of attaching.
3. affection or fondness.
4. Brit. temporary secondment to an organization.

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attack

verb
1. take aggressive action against.
2. (of a disease, chemical, etc.) act harmfully on.
3. criticize or oppose fiercely and publicly.
4. begin to deal with (a problem or task) in a determined way.
5. (in sport) attempt to score goals or points.

noun
1. an instance of attacking.
2. a sudden short bout of an illness.
3. the players in a team whose role is to attack.

DERIVATIVES:
attacker noun.

ORIGIN: Italian attaccare 'join battle' .

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attain

verb
1. succeed in accomplishing.
2. reach (a specified age, size, or amount).

DERIVATIVES:
attainable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin attingere, from tangere 'to touch' .

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attainment

noun
1. the action of achieving.
2. an achievement.

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attar

noun
a fragrant essential oil made from rose petals.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'perfume, essence' .

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attempt

verb
make an effort to achieve or complete (something).

noun
an act of attempting.

ORIGIN: Latin attemptare, from temptare 'to tempt' .

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attend

verb
1. be present at.
2. go regularly to (a school, church, etc).
3. (attend to) deal with or pay attention to.
4. occur at the same time as or as a result of.
5. escort and wait on (an important person).

DERIVATIVES:
attendee noun
attender noun.

ORIGIN: Latin attendere, from tendere 'stretch' .

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attendance

noun
1. the action of attending.
2. the number of people present at a particular occasion.

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attendant

noun
1. a person employed to provide a service to the public.
2. an assistant to an important person.

adjective
occurring at the same time or as a result of.

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attention

noun
1. the mental faculty of considering or taking notice.
2. special care or consideration.
3. (attentions) attentive treatment or sexual advances.
4. an erect posture assumed by a soldier, with the feet together and the arms straight down the sides of the body.

DERIVATIVES:
attentional adjective.

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attentive

adjective
1. paying close attention.
2. considerately attending to the comfort or wishes of others.

DERIVATIVES:
attentively adverb
attentiveness noun.

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attenuate

verb
1. reduce the strength, effect, or value of.
2. make thin or thinner.

DERIVATIVES:
attenuation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin attenuare 'make slender' .

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attest

verb
1. provide or serve as clear evidence of.
2. declare that something exists or is the case.

DERIVATIVES:
attestation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin attestari, from testari 'to witness' .

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Attic

adjective
relating to Attica in Greece, or to ancient Athens.

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attic

noun
a space or room inside the roof of a building.

ORIGIN: originally a term in classical architecture: from Latin Atticus 'Attic' .

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attire

noun
clothes, especially fine or formal ones.

verb (be attired)
be dressed in clothes of a specified kind.

ORIGIN: from Old French atirer 'equip' , from a tire 'in order' .

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attitude

noun
1. a settled way of thinking or feeling.
2. a posture of the body.
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. self-confident or aggressively uncooperative behaviour.

DERIVATIVES:
attitudinal adjective.

ORIGIN: Italian attitudine 'fitness, posture' , from Latin aptus 'fit' .

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attitudinize (also attitudinise)

verb
adopt or express a particular attitude for effect.

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attorney

noun (pl. attorneys)
1. a person appointed to act for another in legal matters.
2. chiefly US a lawyer.

ORIGIN: from Old French atorner 'assign' .

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Attorney-General

noun (pl. Attorneys General)
the principal legal officer of the Crown or a state.

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attract

verb
1. draw in by offering something interesting or advantageous.
2. cause (a specified reaction).
3. (often be attracted to) cause to have a liking for or interest in.
4. draw (something) closer by exerting a force.

DERIVATIVES:
attractor noun.

ORIGIN: Latin attrahere 'draw near' .

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attraction

noun
1. the action or power of attracting.
2. something that attracts interest.
3. Physics a force under the influence of which objects tend to move towards each other.

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attractive

adjective
1. pleasing or appealing to the senses.
2. arousing interest.
3. relating to attraction between physical objects.

DERIVATIVES:
attractively adverb
attractiveness noun.

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attribute

verb (attribute to)
regard as belonging to or being caused by.

noun
1. a characteristic or inherent quality or feature.
2. an object that represents a person, status, or office.

DERIVATIVES:
attributable adjective
attribution noun.

ORIGIN: Latin attribuere 'assign to' .

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attributive

adjective Grammar
(of an adjective) preceding the word that it modifies, as old in the old dog. Contrasted with PREDICATIVE.

DERIVATIVES:
attributively adverb.

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attrition

noun
1. gradual wearing down through sustained attack or pressure.
2. wearing away by friction.

DERIVATIVES:
attritional adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from atterere 'to rub' .

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attune

verb
adjust or accustom to a particular situation.

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atypical

adjective
not typical.

DERIVATIVES:
atypically adverb.

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Au

symbol
the chemical element gold.

ORIGIN: from Latin aurum.

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aubergine

noun chiefly Brit.
a purple egg-shaped fruit eaten as a vegetable.

ORIGIN: French, from Arabic.

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aubretia (also aubrietia)

noun
a trailing plant with dense masses of foliage and purple, pink, or white flowers.

ORIGIN: named after the French botanist Claude Aubriet (1668 1743).

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auburn

noun
a reddish-brown colour.

ORIGIN: Old French auborne, from Latin albus 'white' ; the original sense was «yellowish white», but the word became associated with brown because it was formerly spelt abrune or abroun.

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auction

noun
a public sale in which goods or property are sold to the highest bidder.

verb
sell at an auction.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'increase, auction' , from augere 'to increase' .

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auctioneer

noun
a person who conducts auctions.

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audacious

adjective
1. willing to take bold risks.
2. impudent.

DERIVATIVES:
audaciously adverb
audaciousness noun
audacity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin audax 'bold' .

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audible

adjective
able to be heard.

DERIVATIVES:
audibility noun
audibly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin audibilis, from audire 'hear' .

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audience

noun
1. the assembled spectators or listeners at an event.
2. a formal interview with a person in authority.

ORIGIN: Latin audientia, from audire 'hear' .

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audio-

combining form
relating to hearing or sound, especially when recorded, transmitted, or reproduced: audio-visual.

ORIGIN: from Latin audire 'hear' .

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audio frequency

noun
a frequency capable of being perceived by the human ear, generally between 20 and 20,000 hertz.

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audio tape

noun
magnetic tape on which sound can be recorded.

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audio typist

noun
a typist who transcribes from recorded dictation.

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audio-visual

adjective
using both sight and sound, typically in the form of slides or video and speech or music.

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audit

noun
an official inspection of an organization's accounts.

verb (audited, auditing)
make an audit of.

ORIGIN: from Latin audire 'hear' (because an audit was originally presented orally).

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audition

noun
an interview for a performer in which they give a practical demonstration of their skill.

verb
assess or be assessed by an audition.

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auditor

noun
1. a person who conducts an audit.
2. a listener.

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auditorium

noun (pl. auditoriums or auditoria)
1. the part of a theatre or hall in which the audience sits.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a large public hall.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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auditory

adjective
relating to the sense of hearing.

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au fait

adjective (au fait with)
having a good or detailed knowledge of.

ORIGIN: French, 'to the point' .

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auger

noun
a tool resembling a large corkscrew, for boring holes.

ORIGIN: Old English nafogr; the n was lost by wrong division of a nauger.

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aught (also ought)

pronoun archaic
anything at all.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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augment

verb
make greater by addition; increase.

DERIVATIVES:
augmentation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin augmentare, from augere 'to increase' .

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au gratin

adjective (after a noun )
sprinkled with breadcrumbs or grated cheese and browned.

ORIGIN: French, 'by grating' .

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augur

verb
be a sign of (a likely outcome).

noun
(in ancient Rome) a religious official who interpreted the significance of natural signs.

ORIGIN: from Latin, 'diviner' .

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augury

noun (pl. auguries)
1. an omen.
2. the interpretation of omens.

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August

noun
the eighth month of the year.

ORIGIN: named after Augustus Caesar, the first Roman emperor.

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august

adjective
inspiring respect and admiration.

ORIGIN: Latin augustus 'consecrated, venerable' .

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auk

noun
a short-winged black and white diving seabird.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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aunt

noun
the sister of one's father or mother or the wife of one's uncle.

ORIGIN: Old French ante, from Latin amita.

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au pair

noun
a foreign girl employed to help with housework and childcare in exchange for board and lodging.

ORIGIN: French, 'on equal terms' .

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aura

noun (pl. aurae or auras)
1. the distinctive atmosphere or quality associated with someone or something.
2. a supposed invisible force surrounding a living creature.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'breeze, breath' .

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aural

adjective
relating to the ear or the sense of hearing.

DERIVATIVES:
aurally adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin auris 'ear' .

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aureole (also aureola)

noun
1. (in paintings) a radiant circle surrounding a person to represent holiness.
2. a circle of light around the sun or moon.

ORIGIN: from Latin aureola corona 'golden crown' .

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au revoir

exclamation
goodbye.

ORIGIN: French, 'to the seeing again' .

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auricle

noun
1. the external part of the ear.
2. an atrium of the heart.

ORIGIN: Latin auricula 'little ear' .

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auspice

noun archaic
an omen.

IDIOMS -
under the auspices of with the support or protection of.

ORIGIN: Latin auspicium, from auspex 'observer of birds' .

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auspicious

adjective
indicating a good chance of success; favourable.

DERIVATIVES:
auspiciously adverb.

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Aussie (also Ozzie)

noun (pl. Aussies) & adjective informal
Australia or Australian.

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austere

adjective (austerer, austerest)
1. severe or strict in appearance or manner.
2. lacking comforts, luxuries, or adornment.

DERIVATIVES:
austerely adverb
austerity noun.

ORIGIN: Greek austros 'severe' .

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Australasian

adjective
relating to Australasia, a region consisting of Australia, New Zealand, and islands of the SW Pacific.

noun
a person from Australasia.

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Australian

noun
a person from Australia.

adjective
relating to Australia.

ORIGIN: from Latin Terra Australis 'the southern land' , the name of the supposed southern continent.

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Australian Rules

plural noun (treated as sing. )
a form of football played on an oval field with an oval ball by teams of eighteen players.

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Austrian

noun
a person from Austria.

adjective
relating to Austria.

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autarky (also autarchy)

noun
1. economic independence or self-sufficiency.
2. an economically independent state or society.

DERIVATIVES:
autarkic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek autarks 'self-sufficiency' .

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authentic

adjective
of undisputed origin; genuine.

DERIVATIVES:
authentically adverb
authenticity noun.

ORIGIN: Greek authentikos 'principal, genuine' .

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authenticate

verb
prove or show to be authentic.

DERIVATIVES:
authentication noun
authenticator noun.

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author

noun
1. a writer of a book or article.
2. a person who originates a plan or idea.

verb
be the author of.

DERIVATIVES:
authoress noun
authorial adjective
authorship noun.

ORIGIN: Latin auctor, from augere 'increase, originate' .

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authoritarian

adjective
favouring or enforcing strict obedience to authority.

noun
an authoritarian person.

DERIVATIVES:
authoritarianism noun.

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authoritative

adjective
1. reliable because true or accurate.
2. commanding and self-confident.
3. supported by authority; official.

DERIVATIVES:
authoritatively adverb
authoritativeness noun.

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authority

noun (pl. authorities)
1. the power or right to give orders and enforce obedience.
2. a person or organization having official power.
3. recognized knowledge or expertise.
4. an authoritative person or book.

ORIGIN: Old French autorite, from Latin auctor 'originator' .

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authorize (also authorise)

verb
give official permission for or approval to.

DERIVATIVES:
authorization noun.

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Authorized Version

noun
an English translation of the Bible made in 1611, at the order of James I.

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autism

noun
a mental condition characterized by great difficulty in communicating with others and in using language and abstract concepts.

DERIVATIVES:
autistic adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek autos 'self' .

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auto- (usu. aut- before a vowel)

combining form
1. self: autocrat.
2. one's own: autograph.
3. automatic; spontaneous: autoxidation.

ORIGIN: from Greek autos 'self' .

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Autobahn

noun
a motorway in a German-speaking country.

ORIGIN: German, from Auto 'motor car' + Bahn 'path, road' .

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autobiography

noun (pl. autobiographies)
an account of a person's life written by that person.

DERIVATIVES:
autobiographer noun
autobiographic adjective
autobiographical adjective.

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autoclave

noun
a strong heated container used for processes using high pressures and temperatures, e.g. steam sterilization.

ORIGIN: from Greek auto- 'self' + Latin clavus 'nail' or clavis 'key' (because it is self-fastening).

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autocracy

noun (pl. autocracies)
1. a system of government by one person with absolute power.
2. a state governed in this way.

ORIGIN: from Greek autos 'self' + kratos 'power' .

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autocrat

noun
1. a ruler who has absolute power.
2. a domineering person.

DERIVATIVES:
autocratic adjective
autocratically adverb.

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autodidact

noun
a self-taught person.

DERIVATIVES:
autodidactic adjective.

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autograph

noun
1. a celebrity's signature written for an admirer.
2. a manuscript or musical score in an author's or composer's own handwriting.

verb
write one's signature on.

DERIVATIVES:
autographic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek autographos 'written with one's own hand' .

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autoimmune

adjective
(of disease) caused by antibodies or lymphocytes produced against substances naturally present in the body.

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automate

verb
convert (a process or facility) to operation by automatic equipment.

DERIVATIVES:
automation noun.

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automated teller machine

noun
a machine that provides cash and other banking services on insertion of a special card.

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automatic

adjective
1. operating with little or no direct human control.
2. (of a firearm) self-loading and able to fire continuously.
3. done or occurring without conscious thought.
4. (of a penalty) imposed inevitably as a result of a fixed rule.

noun
an automatic machine or device.

DERIVATIVES:
automatically adverb
automaticity noun.

ORIGIN: Greek automatos 'acting by itself' .

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automatic pilot

noun
a device for keeping an aircraft on a set course.

IDIOMS -
on automatic pilot doing something out of habit without concentration or conscious thought.

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automaton

noun (pl. automata or automatons)
1. a moving mechanical device resembling a human being.
2. a machine which operates according to coded instructions.

ORIGIN: Greek, from automatos 'acting of itself' .

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automobile

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a motor car.

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automotive

adjective
relating to motor vehicles.

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autonomous

adjective
self-governing or independent.

DERIVATIVES:
autonomously adverb.

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autonomy

noun
1. self-government.
2. freedom of action.

ORIGIN: Greek autonomia, from autonomos 'having its own laws' .

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autopsy

noun (pl. autopsies)
an examination of a dead body to discover the cause of death or the extent of disease.

ORIGIN: Greek autopsia, from autopts 'eyewitness' .

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autumn

noun chiefly Brit.
the season after summer and before winter.

DERIVATIVES:
autumnal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin autumnus.

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auxiliary

adjective
providing supplementary or additional help and support.

noun (pl. auxiliaries)
an auxiliary person or thing.

ORIGIN: Latin auxiliarius, from auxilium 'help' .

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auxiliary verb

noun Grammar
a verb used in forming the tenses, moods, and voices of other verbs (e.g. be, do, and have).

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avail

verb
1. (avail oneself of) use or take advantage of.
2. help or benefit.

noun
use or benefit: his protests were to little avail.

ORIGIN: Latin valere 'be strong, be of value' .

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available

adjective
1. able to be used or obtained.
2. not otherwise occupied.

DERIVATIVES:
availability noun.

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avalanche

noun
1. a mass of snow and ice falling rapidly down a mountainside.
2. an overwhelming deluge.

ORIGIN: French.

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avant-garde

adjective
(in the arts) new and experimental.

noun (the avant-garde)
avant-garde ideas or artists.

DERIVATIVES:
avant-gardism noun
avant-gardist noun.

ORIGIN: French, 'vanguard' .

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avarice

noun
extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

DERIVATIVES:
avaricious adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin avarus 'greedy' .

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avatar

noun chiefly Hinduism
a deity appearing in bodily form on earth.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, 'descent' .

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Ave Maria

noun
a prayer to the Virgin Mary used in Catholic worship.

ORIGIN: the opening words in Latin, 'hail, Mary!'

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avenge

verb
inflict harm in return for (a wrong).

DERIVATIVES:
avenger noun.

ORIGIN: Old French avengier, from Latin vindicare 'vindicate' .

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avenue

noun
1. a broad road or path.
2. a means of approach.

ORIGIN: from French avenir 'arrive, approach' .

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aver

verb (averred, averring) formal
assert to be the case.

ORIGIN: Old French averer, from Latin verus 'true' .

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average

noun
1. the result obtained by adding several amounts together and then dividing the total by the number of amounts.
2. a usual amount or level.

adjective
1. constituting an average.
2. usual or ordinary.
3. mediocre.

verb
1. amount to or achieve as an average.
2. calculate the average of.

DERIVATIVES:
averagely adverb
averageness noun.

ORIGIN: French avarie 'damage to ship or cargo' , from Arabic; the modern sense arose from the equitable sharing of liability for losses at sea between the owners of the vessel and of the cargo.

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averse

adjective (averse to)
strongly disliking or opposed to.
USAGE - On the confusion of averse and adverse, see ADVERSE.
ORIGIN: from Latin avertere (see AVERT).

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aversion

noun
a strong dislike or disinclination.

DERIVATIVES:
aversive adjective.

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avert

verb
1. turn away (one's eyes).
2. prevent or ward off (an undesirable occurrence).

ORIGIN: Latin avertere, from vertere 'to turn' .

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avian

adjective
relating to birds.

ORIGIN: from Latin avis 'bird' .

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aviary

noun (pl. aviaries)
a large enclosure for keeping birds in.

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aviation

noun
the activity of operating and flying aircraft.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin avis 'bird' .

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aviator

noun dated
a pilot.

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avid

adjective
keenly interested or enthusiastic.

DERIVATIVES:
avidity noun
avidly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin avidus, from avere 'crave' .

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avionics

plural noun (usu. treated as sing. )
electronics used in aviation.

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avocado

noun (pl. avocados)
a pear-shaped fruit with a rough skin, pale green flesh, and a large stone.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from Nahuatl.

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avocet

noun
a long-legged wading bird with an upturned bill.

ORIGIN: French.

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avoid

verb
1. keep away or refrain from.
2. prevent from doing or happening.

DERIVATIVES:
avoidable adjective
avoidably adverb
avoidance noun.

ORIGIN: Old French evuider 'clear out, get rid of' .

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avoirdupois

noun
a system of weights based on a pound of 16 ounces or 7,000 grains. Compare with TROY.

ORIGIN: from Old French aveir de peis 'goods of weight' .

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avow

verb
assert or confess openly.

DERIVATIVES:
avowal noun
avowed adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French avouer 'acknowledge' , from Latin advocare 'summon in defence' .

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avuncular

adjective
like an uncle in being friendly towards a younger person.

ORIGIN: from Latin avunculus 'maternal uncle' .

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await

verb
wait for.

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awake

verb (past awoke; past part. awoken)
1. stop sleeping.
2. make or become active again.

adjective
not asleep.

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awaken

verb
1. awake.
2. rouse (a feeling).

DERIVATIVES:
awakening noun & adjective.

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award

verb
give officially as a prize or reward.

noun
1. something awarded.
2. the action of awarding.

ORIGIN: Old French esguarder 'consider, ordain' .

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aware

adjective
having knowledge or perception of a situation or fact.

DERIVATIVES:
awareness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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awash

adjective
covered or flooded with water.

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away

adverb
1. to or at a distance.
2. into an appropriate place for storage.
3. towards or into non-existence.
4. constantly, persistently, or continuously.

adjective
(of a sports fixture) played at the opponents' ground.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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awe

noun
a feeling of great respect mixed with fear.

verb
inspire with awe.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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awesome

adjective
1. inspiring awe.
2. informal excellent.

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awful

adjective
1. very bad or unpleasant.
2. used for emphasis: an awful lot.
3. archaic inspiring awe.

DERIVATIVES:
awfulness noun.

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awfully

adverb
1. informal very or very much: I'm awfully sorry.
2. very badly or unpleasantly.

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awhile

adverb
for a short time.

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awkward

adjective
1. hard to do or deal with.
2. causing or feeling embarrassment.
3. inconvenient.
4. clumsy.

DERIVATIVES:
awkwardly adverb
awkwardness noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete awk «clumsy», from Old Norse.

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awl

noun
a small pointed tool used for piercing holes.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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awn

noun Botany
a stiff bristle growing from the ear or flower of barley, rye, and grasses.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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awning

noun
a sheet of canvas stretched on a frame and used to shelter a shop window or doorway.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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AWOL

adjective Military
absent but without intent to desert.

ORIGIN: acronym from absent without (official) leave.

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awry

adverb & adjective
away from the expected course or position.

ORIGIN: from WRY.

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axe (US also ax)

noun
1. a heavy-bladed tool used for chopping wood.
2. (the axe) severe cost-cutting action.

verb
cancel or dismiss suddenly and ruthlessly.

IDIOMS -
have an axe to grind have a private reason for doing something.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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axial

adjective
forming, relating to, or around an axis.

DERIVATIVES:
axially adverb.

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axil

noun Botany
the upper angle where a leaf joins a stem.

ORIGIN: Latin axilla.

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axiom

noun
a proposition regarded as self-evidently true.

DERIVATIVES:
axiomatic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek axima 'what is thought fitting' .

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axis

noun (pl. axes)
1. an imaginary line through a body, about which it rotates.
2. an imaginary line about which a regular figure is symmetrically arranged.
3. Mathematics a fixed reference line for the measurement of coordinates.
4. (the Axis) the alliance between Germany and Italy in the Second World War.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'axle, pivot' .

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axle

noun
a rod or spindle passing through the centre of a wheel or group of wheels.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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ayatollah

noun
a Shiite religious leader in Iran.

ORIGIN: from Arabic, 'token of God' .

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aye (also ay)

exclamation archaic or dialect
yes.

noun
a vote for a proposal.

ORIGIN: probably from I, first person personal pronoun, expressing assent.

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AZ

abbreviation
Arizona.

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azalea

noun
a deciduous flowering shrub with brightly coloured flowers.

ORIGIN: from Greek azaleos 'dry' (because the shrubs flourish in dry soil).

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azimuth

noun Astronomy
the horizontal direction of a celestial object, measured from the north or south point of the horizon.

DERIVATIVES:
azimuthal adjective.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'the way, direction' .

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Aztec

noun
a member of the American Indian people dominant in Mexico before the Spanish conquest.

ORIGIN: Nahuatl, 'person of Aztlan' , their legendary place of origin.

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azure

adjective
bright blue in colour like a cloudless sky.

noun
a bright blue colour.

ORIGIN: Old French azur, from Persian, 'lapis lazuli' .

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B

B [1] (also b)

noun (pl. Bs or B's)
1. the second letter of the alphabet.
2. denoting the second item in a set.
3. Music the seventh note of the diatonic scale of C major.
4. the human blood type containing the B antigen and lacking the A.

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B [2]

abbreviation
1. (in chess) bishop.
2. black (used in describing grades of pencil lead).

symbol
the chemical element boron.

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BA

abbreviation
1. Bachelor of Arts.
2. British Airways.

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Ba

symbol
the chemical element barium.

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baa

verb (baas, baaed, baaing)
(of a sheep or lamb) bleat.

noun
the cry of a sheep or lamb.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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babble

verb
1. talk rapidly in a foolish, excited, or incomprehensible way.
2. (of a stream) make a continuous murmur as the water flows over stones.

noun
the sound of babbling.

DERIVATIVES:
babbler noun.

ORIGIN: Low German babbelen, or an independent English formation, based on the repeated syllable ba, typical of a child's early speech.

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babe

noun
1. literary a baby.
2. informal a sexually attractive young woman.

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babel

noun
a confused noise made by a number of voices.

ORIGIN: from the biblical Tower of Babel, where God confused the languages of the builders.

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baboon

noun
a large ground-dwelling monkey with a long snout.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a grotesque figure used in architecture: from Old French babuin or Latin babewynus.

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babushka

noun
(in Russia) an old woman or grandmother.

ORIGIN: Russian, 'grandmother' .

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baby

noun (pl. babies)
1. a child or animal that is newly or recently born.
2. a timid or childish person.
3. informal a person with whom one is having a romantic relationship.
4. (one's baby) one's particular responsibility, achievement, or concern.

adjective
comparatively small or immature of its kind.

verb (babies, babied)
be overprotective towards.

IDIOMS -
be left holding the baby informal be left with an unwelcome responsibility.
throw the baby out with the bathwater discard something valuable along with things that are undesirable.

DERIVATIVES:
babyhood noun
babyish adjective.

ORIGIN: probably imitative of an infant's first attempts at speech.

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baby boom

noun informal
a temporary marked increase in the birth rate, especially the one following the Second World War.

DERIVATIVES:
baby boomer noun.

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Babylonian

noun
a person from Babylon or Babylonia, an ancient city and kingdom in Mesopotamia.

adjective
relating to Babylon or Babylonia.

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babysit

verb (babysitting; past and past part. babysat)
look after a child or children while the parents are out.

DERIVATIVES:
babysitter noun.

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baccalaureate

noun
1. an examination qualifying candidates for higher education.
2. a university bachelor's degree.

ORIGIN: Latin baccalaureatus, from baccalaureus 'bachelor' .

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baccarat

noun
a gambling card game in which players bet against a banker.

ORIGIN: French baccara.

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bacchant

noun (pl. bacchants; fem. bacchante, pl. bacchantes)
a priest or follower of Bacchus.

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bachelor

noun
1. a man who has never been married.
2. a person who holds a first degree from a university.

DERIVATIVES:
bachelorhood noun.

ORIGIN: Old French bacheler 'a young man aspiring to knighthood' .

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bacillus

noun (pl. bacilli)
a rod-shaped bacterium.

DERIVATIVES:
bacillary adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'little stick' .

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back

noun
1. the rear surface of the human body from the shoulders to the hips.
2. the corresponding upper surface of an animal's body.
3. the side or part of something away from the viewer.
4. the side or part of an object that is not normally seen or used.
5. a player in a team game who plays in a defensive position behind the forwards.

adverb
1. in the opposite direction from that in which one is facing or travelling.
2. so as to return to an earlier or normal position.
3. into the past.
4. in return.

verb
1. give support to.
2. walk or drive backwards.
3. bet money on (a person or animal) winning a race or contest.
4. (back on/on to) (of a building or other structure) have its back facing or adjacent to.
5. cover the back of.
6. provide musical accompaniment to (a singer or musician).
7. (of the wind) change direction anticlockwise around the points of the compass.

adjective
1. of or at the back.
2. in a remote or subsidiary position.
3. relating to the past.

IDIOMS -
back and forth to and fro.
the back of beyond a very remote place.
back down concede defeat.
back off draw back from confrontation.
back out withdraw from a commitment.
back to front Brit. with the back at the front and the front at the back.
bac k up Computing make a spare copy of (data or a disk).
behind someone's back without a person's knowledge.
get (or put) someone's back up annoy someone.
put one's back into approach (a task) with vigour.
turn one's back on ignore; reject.
with one's back to (or up against) the wall in a desperate situation.

DERIVATIVES:
backer noun
backless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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backbiting

noun
malicious talk about an absent person.

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backbone

noun
1. the spine.
2. the chief support of a system or organization.
3. strength of character.

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back-breaking

adjective
(of manual labour) physically demanding.

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backchat

noun Brit. informal
rude or impudent remarks.

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backcomb

verb chiefly Brit.
comb (the hair) towards the scalp to make it look thicker.

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backdate

verb Brit.
1. make retrospectively valid.
2. put an earlier date to (a document or agreement) than the actual one.

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backdrop

noun
1. a painted cloth hung at the back of a theatre stage as part of the scenery.
2. the setting or background for a scene or event.

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backfire

verb
1. (of a vehicle or its engine) undergo a mistimed explosion in the cylinder or exhaust.
2. (of a plan or action) go wrong, having the opposite effect to what was intended.

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backgammon

noun
a board game in which two players move their pieces around triangular points according to the throw of dice.

ORIGIN: from BACK + an Old English word meaning «game».

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background

noun
1. part of a scene or description that forms a setting for the main figures or events.
2. information or circumstances that influence or explain something.
3. a person's education, experience, and social circumstances.
4. a persistent low level of radioactivity, radiation, noise, etc. present in a particular environment.
5. tasks or processes running on a computer that do not need input from the user.

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backhand

noun
(in racket sports) a stroke played with the back of the hand facing in the direction of the stroke.

verb
strike with a backhanded blow or stroke.

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backhanded

adjective
1. made with the back of the hand facing in the direction of movement.
2. indirect or ambiguous: a backhanded compliment.

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backhander

noun
1. a backhand stroke or blow.
2. Brit. informal a bribe.

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backing

noun
1. support.
2. a layer of material that forms or strengthens the back of something.
3. (especially in popular music) accompaniment to the main singer.

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backlash

noun
1. a strong and adverse reaction by a large number of people.
2. recoil or degree of play arising between parts of a mechanism.

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backlog

noun
an accumulation of matters needing to be dealt with.

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backpack

noun
a rucksack.

verb
travel or hike carrying one's belongings in a rucksack.

DERIVATIVES:
backpacker noun.

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back-pedal

verb
1. move the pedals of a bicycle backwards in order to brake.
2. hastily reverse one's previous action or opinion.

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back-seat driver

noun informal
a passenger in a car who gives the driver unwanted advice.

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backside

noun informal
a person's bottom.

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backslapping

noun
the offering of hearty congratulations or praise.

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backslide

verb (past backslid; past part. backslid or backslidden)
relapse into bad ways.

DERIVATIVES:
backslider noun
backsliding noun.

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backspin

noun
a backward spin given to a moving ball, causing it to stop more quickly or rebound at a steeper angle.

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backstage

adverb
in or to the area behind the stage in a theatre.

adjective
relating to this area in a theatre.

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backstreet

noun
1. a minor street.
2. (before another noun ) secret, especially because illegal: backstreet abortions.

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backstroke

noun
a swimming stroke performed on the back with the arms lifted out of the water in a backward circular motion.

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back-to-back

adjective
1. chiefly Brit. (of houses) built in a terrace backing on to another terrace, with a wall or a narrow alley between.
2. following consecutively.

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backtrack

verb
1. retrace one's steps.
2. reverse one's previous position or opinion.

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back-up

noun
1. support.
2. a person or thing held in reserve.
3. Computing the procedure for making a spare copy of data.

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backward

adjective
1. directed behind or to the rear.
2. having made less progress than is normal or expected.

IDIOMS -
not backward in not lacking the confidence to do.

DERIVATIVES:
backwardly adverb
backwardness noun.

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backwash

noun
receding waves flowing outwards behind a ship.

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backwater

noun
1. a part of a river not reached by the current, where the water is stagnant.
2. a place or state in which no development is taking place.

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backwoods

plural noun chiefly N. Amer.
1. remote uncleared forest land.
2. a remote or sparsely inhabited region.

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backwoodsman

noun chiefly N. Amer.
an inhabitant of backwoods.

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backyard

noun
1. Brit. a yard at the back of a house or other building.
2. N. Amer. a back garden.
3. informal the area close to where one lives.

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bacon

noun
salted or smoked meat from the back or sides of a pig.

IDIOMS -
bring home the bacon informal achieve material success.

ORIGIN: Old French.

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bacteriology

noun
the study of bacteria.

DERIVATIVES:
bacteriologist noun.

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Bactrian camel

noun
the two-humped camel, native to central Asia.

ORIGIN: named after Bactria, an ancient empire in central Asia.

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bad

adjective (worse, worst)
1. of poor quality or a low standard.
2. unwelcome; unpleasant.
3. severe; serious.
4. offending moral standards or accepted conventions.
5. (bad for) harmful to.
6. injured, ill, or diseased.
7. (of food) decayed.
8. guilty; ashamed.
9. (badder, baddest) informal, chiefly N. Amer. good; excellent.

IDIOMS -
to the bad to ruin or downfall.
too bad informal regrettable but unable to be changed.

DERIVATIVES:
badness noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from an Old English word meaning «hermaphrodite, womanish man».

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bad debt

noun
a debt that cannot be recovered.

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badge

noun
a small flat object worn to show a person's name, rank, job, or membership of an organization.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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badger

noun
a heavily built nocturnal mammal, typically having a grey and black coat and a white-striped head.

verb
repeatedly and annoyingly ask (someone) to do something.

ORIGIN: perhaps from BADGE, with reference to the animal's distinctive head markings.

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badinage

noun
witty conversation.

ORIGIN: French, from badiner 'to joke' .

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badlands

plural noun
heavily eroded land on which little can grow or be grown.

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badly

adverb (worse, worst)
1. in an unsatisfactory, unacceptable, or incompetent way.
2. severely; seriously.
3. very much.

IDIOMS -
badly off poor.

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badminton

noun
a game with rackets in which a shuttlecock is hit back and forth across a net.

ORIGIN: named after Badminton in SW England, where the game was first played.

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bad-mouth

verb informal
criticize maliciously.

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bad-tempered

adjective
easily angered.

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baffle

verb
totally bewilder.

noun
a device used to restrain or regulate the flow of sound, light, gas, or a fluid.

DERIVATIVES:
bafflement noun
baffling adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to French bafouer 'ridicule' .

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bag

noun
1. a flexible container with an opening at the top.
2. (bags) loose folds of skin under a person's eyes.
3. (bags of) informal, chiefly Brit. plenty of.
4. informal an unpleasant or unattractive woman.
5. (one's bag) informal one's particular interest or taste.

verb (bagged, bagging)
1. put in a bag.
2. succeed in killing or catching (an animal).
3. succeed in obtaining.
4. (of clothes) form loose bulges.
5. Austral. informal criticize.

IDIOMS -
bags (or bags I) Brit. informal a child's expression used to make a claim to something.
in the bag informal as good as secured.

DERIVATIVES:
bagful noun
bagger noun
baggy adjective (baggier, baggiest) .

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old Norse.

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bagatelle

noun
1. a game in which small balls are hit into numbered holes on a board.
2. something unimportant.

ORIGIN: Italian bagatella.

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bagel

noun
a dense, ring-shaped bread roll that is simmered before baking.

ORIGIN: Yiddish.

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baggage

noun
1. personal belongings packed in suitcases for travelling.
2. experiences or long-held opinions perceived as encumbrances: emotional baggage.
3. dated a cheeky or disagreeable girl or woman.

ORIGIN: Old French bagage, from baguer 'tie up' , or from bagues 'bundles' .

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bag lady

noun informal
a homeless woman who carries her possessions in shopping bags.

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bagpipe

noun
a musical instrument with reed pipes that are sounded by wind squeezed from a bag.

DERIVATIVES:
bagpiper noun.

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baguette

noun
a long, narrow French loaf.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin baculum 'staff' .

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bail [1]

noun
1. the temporary release of an accused person awaiting trial, sometimes on condition that a sum of money is lodged to guarantee their appearance in court.
2. money paid by or for such a person as security.

verb
release or secure the release of (an accused person) on payment of bail.

IDIOMS -
go (or stand) bail act as surety for an accused person.
jump bail informal fail to appear for trial after being released on bail.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'custody, jurisdiction' , from Latin bajulare 'bear a burden' .

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bail [2]

noun
1. Cricket either of the two crosspieces bridging the stumps.
2. a bar on a typewriter or computer printer which holds the paper steady.
3. a bar separating horses in an open stable.
4. Austral./NZ a framework for securing the head of a cow during milking.

verb Austral./NZ
1. secure (a cow) during milking.
2. confront with intent to rob.
3. detain in conversation.

ORIGIN: Old French baile 'palisade, enclosure' .

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bail [3] (Brit. also bale)

verb
1. scoop water out of (a ship or boat).
2. (bail out) make an emergency parachute descent from an aircraft.
3. (bail out) rescue from a difficulty.

ORIGIN: from French baille 'bucket' , from Latin bajulus 'carrier' .

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bailey

noun (pl. baileys)
the outer wall of a castle.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French baile 'palisade, enclosure' .

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bailiff

noun
1. chiefly Brit. a sheriff's officer who serves writs, seizes property to clear rent arrears, and carries out arrests.
2. Brit. the agent of a landlord.

ORIGIN: Old French baillif, from Latin bajulus 'carrier, manager' .

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bailiwick

noun Law
the district or jurisdiction of a bailiff.

ORIGIN: from BAILIFF + Old English wick «dwelling place».

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bairn

noun chiefly Scottish & N. English
a child.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bait

noun
food put on a hook or in a trap to entice fish or other animals.

verb
1. taunt or tease.
2. set dogs on (a trapped or restrained animal).
3. put bait on or in.

IDIOMS -
rise to the bait react to a provocation exactly as intended.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'pasture, food' .

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baize

noun
a felt-like material that is typically green, used for covering billiard and card tables.

ORIGIN: French baies, from bai 'chestnut-coloured' .

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bake

verb
1. cook (food) by dry heat in an oven.
2. heat, especially so as to dry or harden.
3. informal be or become extremely hot in prolonged hot weather.

noun
a dish consisting of a number of ingredients mixed together and baked.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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baker

noun
a person whose trade is making bread and cakes.

IDIOMS -
baker's dozen a group of thirteen. [ORIGIN: from the former bakers' custom of adding an extra loaf to a dozen sold to a retailer.]

DERIVATIVES:
bakery noun.

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baking powder

noun
a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and cream of tartar, used as a raising agent in baking.

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baking soda

noun
sodium bicarbonate.

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baksheesh

noun
(in some eastern countries and the Indian subcontinent) a small sum of money given as alms, a tip, or a bribe.

ORIGIN: Persian.

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balaclava

noun
a close-fitting woollen hat covering the head and encircling the neck.

ORIGIN: named after the village of Balaclava in the Crimea: the hat was worn originally by soldiers in the Crimean War.

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balance

noun
1. an even distribution of weight ensuring stability.
2. mental or emotional stability.
3. a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.
4. an apparatus for weighing, especially one with a beam and central pivot.
5. a preponderance: the balance of opinion was that work was important.
6. a figure representing the difference between credits and debits in an account.

verb
1. be or put in a steady position.
2. compare the value of (one thing) with another.
3. establish equal or appropriate proportions of elements in.

IDIOMS -
balance of payments the difference in total value between payments into and out of a country over a period.
balance of power
1. a situation in which states of the world have roughly equal power.
2. the power held by a small group when larger groups are of equal strength.
balance of trade the difference in value between a country's imports and exports.
be (or hang) in the balance be in an uncertain or critical state.
on balance when all factors are taken into consideration.

DERIVATIVES:
balancer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin libra bilanx 'balance having two scale-pans' .

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balance sheet

noun
a written statement of the assets, liabilities, and capital of a business.

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balcony

noun (pl. balconies)
1. an enclosed platform on the outside of a building, with access from an upper-floor window or door.
2. the highest tier of seats in a theatre or cinema.

DERIVATIVES:
balconied adjective.

ORIGIN: Italian balcone.

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bald

adjective
1. having a scalp with very little or no hair.
2. (of an animal) not covered by the usual fur, hair, or feathers.
3. (of a tyre) having the tread worn away.
4. without any extra detail or explanation; plain or blunt.

DERIVATIVES:
balding adjective
baldish adjective
baldly adverb
baldness noun.

ORIGIN: probably from an obsolete base meaning «white patch».

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balderdash

noun
senseless talk or writing.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a frothy liquid or an unappetizing mixture of drinks: of unknown origin.

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bale [1]

noun
a large wrapped or bound bundle of paper, hay, or cotton.

verb
make up into bales.

DERIVATIVES:
baler noun.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch.

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baleen

noun
whalebone.

ORIGIN: Latin balaena 'whale' .

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baleen whale

noun
any of the kinds of whale that have plates of whalebone in the mouth for straining plankton from the water.

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baleful

adjective
1. menacing.
2. having a harmful effect.

DERIVATIVES:
balefully adverb.

ORIGIN: from an Old English word meaning 'evil' .

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Balkan

adjective
relating to the countries occupying the part of south-east Europe bounded by the Adriatic, Ionian, Aegean, and the Black Seas.

noun (the Balkans)
the Balkan countries.

ORIGIN: Turkish.

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Balkanize (also Balkanise)

verb
divide (a region or body) into smaller mutually hostile states or groups.

DERIVATIVES:
Balkanization noun.

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ball [1]

noun
1. a solid or hollow sphere, especially one that is kicked, thrown, or hit in a game.
2. a single throw or kick of the ball in a game.
3. N. Amer. a game played with a ball, especially baseball.

verb
squeeze or form into a ball.

IDIOMS -
the ball is in your court it is up to you to make the next move.
the ball of the foot the rounded part of the foot at the base of the big toe.
keep one's eye on (or take one's eye off) the ball keep (or fail to keep) one's attention focused on the matter in hand.
on the ball alert to new ideas, methods, and trends.
play ball informal cooperate.
start (or get or set) the ball rolling make a start.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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ball [2]

noun
a formal social gathering for dancing.

IDIOMS -
have a ball informal enjoy oneself greatly.

ORIGIN: French bal 'a dance' , from Latin ballare 'to dance' .

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ballad

noun
1. a poem or song telling a popular story.
2. a slow sentimental or romantic song.

DERIVATIVES:
balladeer noun
balladry noun.

ORIGIN: Provençal balada 'dance, song to dance to' , from Latin ballare 'to dance' .

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ball-and-socket joint

noun
a joint in which a rounded end lies in a socket, allowing movement in all directions.

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ballast

noun
1. a heavy substance carried by a ship or hot air balloon to keep it stable.
2. gravel or coarse stone used to form the base of a railway track or road.
3. a passive component used in an electric circuit to moderate changes in current.

ORIGIN: probably Low German or Scandinavian.

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ball bearing

noun
1. a bearing in which the parts are separated by a ring of small metal balls which reduce friction.
2. a ball used in such a bearing.

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ballboy (or ballgirl)

noun
a boy (or girl) who retrieves balls that go out of play during a tennis match or baseball game.

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ballcock

noun
a valve which automatically tops up a cistern when liquid is drawn from it.

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ballerina

noun
a female ballet dancer.

ORIGIN: from Italian ballerino 'dancing master' , from Latin ballare 'to dance' .

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ballet

noun
1. an artistic dance form performed to music, using formalized steps and gestures.
2. a creative work of this form or the music written for it.

DERIVATIVES:
balletic adjective.

ORIGIN: Italian balletto 'a little dance' .

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ballistic

adjective
1. relating to projectiles or their flight.
2. moving under the force of gravity only.

IDIOMS -
go ballistic informal fly into a rage.

ORIGIN: from Greek ballein 'to throw' .

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ballistic missile

noun
a missile which is initially powered and guided but falls under gravity on to its target.

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balloon

noun
1. a small rubber bag which is inflated and used as a toy or a decoration.
2. a large bag filled with hot air or gas to make it rise in the air, with a basket for passengers hanging from it.
3. a rounded outline in which the words or thoughts of characters in a comic strip or cartoon are written.

verb
1. swell out in a spherical shape.
2. increase rapidly.

IDIOMS -
when the balloon goes up informal when the action or trouble starts.

DERIVATIVES:
ballooning noun
balloonist noun.

ORIGIN: French ballon or Italian ballone 'large ball' .

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ballot

noun
1. a procedure by which people vote secretly on an issue.
2. (the ballot) the total number of votes cast in such a process.
3. a lottery held to decide the allocation of tickets or other things among a number of applicants.

verb (balloted, balloting)
1. obtain a secret vote from (members).
2. cast one's vote on an issue.
3. allocate by drawing lots.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a ball placed in a container to register a vote: from Italian ballotta 'little ball' .

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ballpark chiefly N. Amer.

noun
1. a baseball ground.
2. informal a particular area or range.

adjective informal
approximate: a ballpark figure.

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ballpoint pen

noun
a pen with a tiny ball as its writing point.

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ballroom

noun
a large room for formal dancing.

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ballroom dancing

noun
formal social dancing in couples.

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balls vulgar slang

plural noun
1. testicles.
2. courage; nerve.
3. (treated as sing. ) Brit. nonsense.

verb (balls up)
bungle.

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balls-up

noun Brit. vulgar slang
a bungled task or action.

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ballsy

adjective (ballsier, ballsiest) informal
bold and confident.

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ballyhoo

noun informal
extravagant publicity or fuss.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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balm

noun
1. a fragrant ointment used to heal or soothe the skin.
2. something that soothes or heals.

ORIGIN: Old French basme, from Latin balsamum 'balsam' .

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balmy

adjective (balmier, balmiest)
(of the weather) pleasantly warm.

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baloney (also boloney)

noun informal
nonsense.

ORIGIN: perhaps from BOLOGNA.

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balsa (also balsa wood)

noun
very lightweight timber obtained from a tropical American tree, used chiefly for making models and rafts.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'raft' .

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balsam

noun
1. an aromatic resin obtained from certain trees and shrubs, used in perfumes and medicines.
2. a herbaceous plant grown for its pink or purple flowers.

DERIVATIVES:
balsamic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek balsamon.

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balsamic vinegar

noun
dark, sweet Italian vinegar that has been matured in wooden barrels.

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balti

noun (pl. baltis)
a type of Pakistani cuisine in which the food is cooked in a small two-handled pan.

ORIGIN: Urdu, 'pail' .

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Baltic

adjective
1. relating to the Baltic sea or those states on its eastern shores.
2. relating to the Baltic languages.

noun
an Indo-European branch of languages consisting of Lithuanian, Latvian, and Old Prussian.

ORIGIN: from Latin Balthae 'dwellers near the Baltic Sea' .

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baluster

noun
a short pillar forming part of a series supporting a rail.

ORIGIN: from Italian balaustra 'wild pomegranate flower' (because of the resemblance to part of the flower).

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balustrade

noun
a railing supported by balusters.

DERIVATIVES:
balustraded adjective.

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bamboo

noun
a giant tropical grass with hollow woody stems.

ORIGIN: Malay.

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bamboozle

verb informal
1. cheat or deceive.
2. confuse.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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ban

verb (banned, banning)
officially prohibit.

noun
an official prohibition.

ORIGIN: Old English, «summon by a public proclamation».

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banal

adjective
tediously unoriginal or ordinary.

DERIVATIVES:
banality noun (pl. banalities)
banally adverb.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «compulsory», hence «common»: from French ban 'proclamation, summons' .

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banana

noun
a long curved fruit with yellow skin and soft flesh, which grows on a tropical or subtropical tree-like plant.

IDIOMS -
go (or be) bananas informal become (or be) mad or angry.

ORIGIN: from an African language.

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band [1]

noun
1. a flat, thin strip or loop of material used as a fastener, for reinforcement, or as decoration.
2. a stripe or strip of a different colour or composition from its surroundings: a band of cloud.
3. a range of values or a specified category within a series: the lower-rate tax band.
4. a range of frequencies or wavelengths in a spectrum: the UHF band.
5. a belt or strap transmitting motion between two wheels or pulleys.

verb
1. fit a band on or round.
2. mark with a stripe or stripes.
3. allocate to a range or category.

DERIVATIVES:
banding noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to BIND.

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band [2]

noun
1. a small group of musicians and vocalists who play pop, jazz, or rock music.
2. a group of musicians who play brass, wind, or percussion instruments.
3. a group of people with a common purpose or sharing a common feature.

verb
form a group for a common purpose.

ORIGIN: Old French bande; related to BANNER.

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bandage

noun
a strip of material used to bind up a wound or to protect an injury.

verb
bind with a bandage.

ORIGIN: French, from bande 'band' .

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bandanna

noun
a large coloured handkerchief or neckerchief.

ORIGIN: Hindi.

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B. & B.

abbreviation
bed and breakfast.

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bandeau

noun (pl. bandeaux)
1. a narrow band worn round the head to hold the hair in position.
2. a woman's strapless top consisting of a band of fabric fitting around the bust.

ORIGIN: Old French bandel 'small band' .

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bandicoot

noun
a mainly insectivorous marsupial native to Australia and New Guinea.

ORIGIN: from an Indian language, meaning 'pig-rat' .

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bandit

noun (pl. bandits or banditti)
a member of a gang of armed robbers.

DERIVATIVES:
banditry noun.

ORIGIN: from Italian bandito 'banned' .

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bandog

noun
a fighting dog bred for its strength and ferocity.

ORIGIN: from BAND, because the dog was originally kept on a chain or ‘band’.

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bandolier (also bandoleer)

noun
a shoulder belt with loops or pockets for cartridges.

ORIGIN: French bandoulière.

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bandsaw

noun
a saw consisting of an endless moving steel belt with a serrated edge.

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bandstand

noun
a covered outdoor platform for a band to play on.

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bandwagon

noun
an activity or cause that has suddenly become fashionable or popular: the company is jumping on the Green bandwagon.

ORIGIN: from the former use of a wagon to carry a band in a parade.

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bandwidth

noun
1. a range of frequencies, especially one used in telecommunications.
2. the transmission capacity of a computer network or other telecommunication system.

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bandy [1]

adjective (bandier, bandiest)
(of a person's legs) curved outwards so that the knees are wide apart.

ORIGIN: perhaps from obsolete bandy 'curved hockey stick' .

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bandy [2]

verb (bandies, bandied) (usu. bandy about/around)
pass on or mention (an idea, term, or rumour) in a casual or uninformed way.

IDIOMS -
bandy words exchange angry remarks.

ORIGIN: perhaps from French bander 'take sides at tennis' ; related to BAND.

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bane

noun
a cause of great distress or annoyance.

ORIGIN: Old English, «thing causing death, poison».

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bang

noun
1. a sudden loud sharp noise.
2. a sudden painful blow.
3. (bangs) chiefly N. Amer. a fringe of hair cut straight across the forehead.

verb
1. strike or put down forcefully and noisily.
2. make or cause to make a bang.
3. vulgar slang (of a man) have sexual intercourse with.

adverb informal, chiefly Brit.
exactly: bang on time.

IDIOMS -
bang away at informal do persistently or doggedly.
bang goes informal a plan or hope is suddenly destroyed.
bang on Brit. informal exactly right.
bang on about informal talk at tedious length about.
bang up Brit. informal imprison.
with a bang suddenly or spectacularly.

ORIGIN: imitative, perhaps Scandinavian.

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banger

noun chiefly Brit.
1. informal a sausage.
2. informal an old car.
3. a loud explosive firework.

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Bangladeshi

noun (pl. same or Bangladeshis)
a person from Bangladesh.

adjective
relating to Bangladesh.

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bangle

noun
a rigid ornamental band worn around the arm.

ORIGIN: Hindi.

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banish

verb
1. make (someone) leave a place, especially as an official punishment.
2. get rid of; drive away.

DERIVATIVES:
banishment noun.

ORIGIN: Old French banir.

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banister (also bannister)

noun
1. (also banisters) the uprights and handrail at the side of a staircase.
2. a single upright at the side of a staircase.

ORIGIN: from BALUSTER.

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banjo

noun (pl. banjos or banjoes)
a stringed musical instrument with a circular body and a long neck.

DERIVATIVES:
banjoist noun.

ORIGIN: from a black American alteration of bandore, denoting a kind of lute.

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bank [1]

noun
1. the land alongside or sloping down to a river or lake.
2. a long, raised mound or mass: mud banks.
3. a set of similar things grouped together in rows.

verb
1. heap or form into a mass or mound.
2. (of an aircraft or vehicle) tilt sideways in making a turn.
3. build (a road, railway, or sports track) higher at the outer edge of a bend.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, related to BENCH.

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bank [2]

noun
1. an organization offering financial services, especially the safekeeping of customers' money until required and making loans at interest.
2. a stock or supply available for use: a blood bank.
3. a site or container where something may be left for recycling: a paper bank.
4. (the bank) the store of money or tokens held by the banker in some gambling or board games.

verb
1. deposit in a bank.
2. have an account at a bank.
3. (bank on) rely on.

IDIOMS -
break the bank informal cost more than one can afford.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a money dealer's table: from Latin banca 'bench' .

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bankable

adjective
certain to bring profit and success.

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bank card

noun
a cheque card.

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banker

noun
1. a person who manages or owns a bank.
2. the person who keeps the bank in some gambling or board games.

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bank holiday

noun Brit.
a public holiday, when banks are officially closed.

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banking

noun
the business conducted or services offered by a bank.

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banknote

noun
a piece of paper money issued by a central bank.

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bankroll

noun N. Amer.
1. a roll of banknotes.
2. available funds.

verb informal
support financially.

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bankrupt

adjective
1. declared in law unable to pay one's debts.
2. completely lacking in a particular good quality or value: morally bankrupt.

noun
a person legally declared as bankrupt.

verb
reduce to a bankrupt state.

DERIVATIVES:
bankruptcy noun (pl. bankruptcies) .

ORIGIN: from Italian banca rotta 'broken bench' .

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banner

noun
a long strip of cloth bearing a slogan or design, hung up or carried on poles.

adjective N. Amer.
excellent; outstanding: a banner year.

ORIGIN: Old French baniere.

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banns

plural noun
a public announcement of an intended marriage read out in a parish church.

ORIGIN: plural of BAN.

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banquet

noun
an elaborate and formal meal for many people.

verb (banqueted, banqueting)
entertain with a banquet.

ORIGIN: French, 'little bench' .

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banquette

noun
an upholstered bench along a wall.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian banchetta 'little bench' .

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banshee

noun
(in Irish legend) a female spirit whose wailing warns of a death in a house.

ORIGIN: from Old Irish ben síde 'woman of the fairies' .

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bantam

noun
a chicken of a small breed.

ORIGIN: apparently named after the province of Bantam in Java.

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bantamweight

noun
a weight in boxing and other sports between flyweight and featherweight.

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banter

noun
the good-humoured exchange of teasing remarks.

verb
engage in banter.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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Bantu

noun (pl. same or Bantus)
1. a member of a large group of peoples of central and southern Africa.
2. the group of languages spoken by these peoples.
USAGE - Bantu is a strongly offensive word in South African English, especially when used of individual people, but is still used outside South Africa to refer to the group of languages and their speakers collectively.
ORIGIN: Bantu, 'people' .

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banyan (also banian)

noun
an Indian fig tree, whose branches produce aerial roots which later become new trunks.

ORIGIN: originally applied by Europeans to a tree under which traders had built a pagoda: from Gujarati, 'trader' .

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banzai

exclamation
a cry used by the Japanese when going into battle or in greeting their emperor.

adjective informal
fierce and reckless.

ORIGIN: Japanese, 'ten thousand years (of life to you)' .

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baobab

noun
a short African tree with a very thick trunk and large edible fruit.

ORIGIN: probably from an African language.

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bap

noun Brit.
a soft, round, flattish bread roll.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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baptism

noun
the Christian rite of sprinkling a person with water or immersing them in it, symbolizing purification and admission to the Christian Church.

IDIOMS -
baptism of fire a difficult new experience.

DERIVATIVES:
baptismal adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek baptizein 'immerse, baptize' .

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Baptist

noun
a member of a Protestant Christian denomination believing that baptism should be by total immersion and of adult believers only.

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baptistery (also baptistry)

noun (pl. baptisteries)
a building or part of a church used for baptism.

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baptize (also baptise)

verb
1. administer baptism to.
2. give a name or nickname to.

ORIGIN: Greek baptizein 'immerse, baptize' .

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bar [1]

noun
1. a long rigid piece of wood, metal, etc.
2. a counter, room, or place where alcoholic drinks or refreshments are served.
3. a small shop or counter serving refreshments or providing a service: a snack bar.
4. a barrier or obstacle.
5. any of the short units into which a piece of music is divided, shown on a score by vertical lines.
6. (the bar) a partition in a court room, now usually imaginary, at which an accused person stands.
7. (the Bar) the profession of barrister.
8. (the Bar) barristers or (N. Amer. ) lawyers collectively.
9. Brit. a metal strip added to a medal as an additional distinction.

verb (barred, barring)
1. fasten with a bar or bars.
2. prohibit from doing something or going somewhere.

preposition chiefly Brit.
except for.

IDIOMS -
be called (or go) to the Bar Brit. be admitted as a barrister.
behind bars in prison.

DERIVATIVES:
barred adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French barre.

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bar [2]

noun
a unit of pressure equivalent to a hundred thousand newtons per square metre.

ORIGIN: Greek baros 'weight' .

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barb

noun
1. a sharp projection near the end of an arrow, fish hook, etc., which is angled away from the main point so as to make extraction difficult.
2. a deliberately hurtful remark.

DERIVATIVES:
barbless adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a piece of linen worn by nuns over or under the chin: from Latin barba 'beard' .

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barbarian

noun
1. (in ancient times) a member of a people not belonging to the Greek, Roman, or Christian civilizations.
2. an uncivilized or cruel person.

adjective
uncivilized or cruel.

ORIGIN: from Greek barbaros 'foreign' .

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barbaric

adjective
1. savagely cruel.
2. primitive; unsophisticated.

DERIVATIVES:
barbarically adverb.

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barbarism

noun
1. extreme cruelty.
2. an uncivilized or primitive state.
3. a word or expression which is badly formed according to traditional rules, e.g. the word television, which is formed from two different languages.

DERIVATIVES:
barbarity noun.

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barbarous

adjective
1. exceedingly cruel.
2. primitive; uncivilized.

DERIVATIVES:
barbarously adverb.

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barbecue

noun
1. an outdoor meal or party at which food is grilled on a rack over a charcoal fire.
2. a grill used at a barbecue.

verb (barbecues, barbecued, barbecuing)
cook (food) on a barbecue.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «wooden framework for sleeping on, or for drying meat or fish on»: from Spanish barbacoa, perhaps from Arawak, 'wooden frame on posts' .

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barbed

adjective
1. having a barb or barbs.
2. (of a remark) deliberately hurtful.

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barbed wire

noun
wire with clusters of short, sharp spikes at intervals along it.

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barbel

noun
1. a fleshy filament growing from the mouth or snout of certain fish.
2. a large freshwater fish with barbels hanging from the mouth.

ORIGIN: Latin barbellus 'small barbel' , from barba 'beard' .

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barbell

noun
a long metal bar to which discs of varying weights are attached at each end, used for weightlifting.

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barber

noun
a person who cuts men's hair and shaves or trims beards as an occupation.

verb
cut or trim (a man's hair).

ORIGIN: Old French barbe 'beard' .

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barbican

noun
a double tower above a gate or drawbridge of a castle or fortified city.

ORIGIN: Old French barbacane.

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barbiturate

noun
any of a class of sedative drugs related to a synthetic compound (barbituric acid) derived from uric acid.

ORIGIN: from barbituric acid, from German Barbitursäure, from the name Barbara + Ursäure 'uric acid'

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bar chart (also bar graph)

noun
a diagram in which different quantities are represented by rectangles of varying height.

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bar code

noun
a code in the form of a set of stripes of varying widths that can be read by a computer, printed on a product and identifying it for stock control.

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bard

noun
1. archaic or literary a poet, traditionally one reciting epics.
2. (the Bard) Shakespeare.
3. (Bard) the winner of a prize for Welsh verse at an Eisteddfod.

DERIVATIVES:
bardic adjective.

ORIGIN: Celtic.

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bare

adjective
1. not clothed or covered.
2. without the appropriate or usual covering or contents: a big, bare room.
3. without elaboration; basic: the bare facts.
4. only just sufficient: a bare majority.

verb
uncover and reveal.

IDIOMS -
with one's bare hands without using tools or weapons.

DERIVATIVES:
barely adverb
bareness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bareback

adverb & adjective
on an unsaddled horse.

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barefaced

adjective
shameless and undisguised: a barefaced lie.

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barf

verb informal, chiefly N. Amer.
vomit.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bargain

noun
1. an agreement made between people as to what each will do for the other.
2. a thing bought or offered for sale for a low price.

verb
1. negotiate the terms of an agreement.
2. (bargain for/on) expect.

IDIOMS -
drive a hard bargain press forcefully for a deal in one's favour.
into the bargain in addition.

DERIVATIVES:
bargainer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French bargaine.

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barge

noun
1. a long flat-bottomed boat for carrying freight on canals and rivers.
2. a large ornamental boat used for pleasure or on ceremonial occasions.

verb
1. move forcefully or roughly.
2. (barge in) intrude or interrupt rudely or awkwardly.

ORIGIN: Old French, perhaps from Greek baris 'Egyptian boat' .

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bargee

noun chiefly Brit.
a person in charge of or working on a barge.

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bargepole

noun
a long pole used to propel a barge and fend off obstacles.

IDIOMS -
would not touch with a bargepole informal would refuse to have anything to do with.

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bar graph

noun
a bar chart.

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baritone

noun
1. an adult male singing voice between tenor and bass.
2. (before another noun ) denoting an instrument that is second lowest in pitch in its family: a baritone sax.

ORIGIN: Greek barutonos, from barus 'heavy' + tonos 'tone' .

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barium

noun
a soft, reactive metallic chemical element.

ORIGIN: from BARYTE.

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barium meal

noun
a preparation containing barium sulphate, opaque to X-rays, which is swallowed so that the stomach or intestines can be studied radiologically.

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bark [1]

noun
the sharp explosive cry of a dog, fox, or seal.

verb
1. give a bark.
2. utter (a command or question) abruptly or aggressively.

IDIOMS -
one's bark is worse than one's bite one is not as ferocious as one seems.
be barking up the wrong tree informal be pursuing a mistaken line of thought or course of action.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bark [2]

noun
the tough protective outer sheath of the trunk and branches of a tree or woody shrub.

verb
1. strip the bark from.
2. scrape the skin off (one's shin) by accidentally hitting it.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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barker

noun informal
a tout at an auction or sideshow who calls out to passers-by to attract custom.

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barking

adjective Brit. informal
completely mad.

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barley

noun
a hardy cereal with coarse bristles extending from the ears, used chiefly in brewing and animal feed.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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barley sugar

noun
an amber-coloured sweet made of boiled sugar.

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barmaid

noun
a woman who serves drinks in a bar or public house.

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barman

noun chiefly Brit.
a man who serves drinks in a bar or public house.

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bar mitzvah

noun
the religious initiation ceremony of a Jewish boy who has reached the age of 13.

ORIGIN: Hebrew, 'son of the commandment' .

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barmy

adjective (barmier, barmiest) informal, chiefly Brit.
extremely foolish; mad.

DERIVATIVES:
barmily adverb
barminess noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «frothy»: from BARM.

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barn

noun
a large farm building used for storage or for housing livestock.

ORIGIN: Old English, «barley house».

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barnacle

noun
a marine crustacean which attaches itself permanently to underwater surfaces.

DERIVATIVES:
barnacled adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin bernaca.

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barnacle goose

noun
a goose with a white face and black neck, breeding in arctic tundra.

ORIGIN: from the former belief that the bird hatched from barnacles.

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barn dance

noun
1. an informal social gathering for country dancing.
2. a dance for a number of couples moving round a circle.

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barnet

noun Brit. informal
a person's hair.

ORIGIN: from rhyming slang barnet fair (a horse fair held at Barnet, Herts).

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barney

noun (pl. barneys) Brit. informal
a noisy quarrel.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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barn owl

noun
a pale-coloured owl with a heart-shaped face, typically nesting in farm buildings.

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barnstorm

verb chiefly N. Amer.
1. tour rural districts giving theatrical performances, formerly often in barns.
2. make a rapid tour as part of a political campaign.

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barnstorming

adjective
flamboyantly vigorous and effective.

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barnyard

noun N. Amer.
a farmyard.

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barograph

noun
a barometer that records its readings on a moving chart.

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barometer

noun
1. an instrument measuring atmospheric pressure, used especially in forecasting the weather.
2. an indicator of change: furniture is a barometer of changing tastes.

DERIVATIVES:
barometric adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek baros 'weight' .

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baron

noun
1. a member of the lowest order of the British nobility.
2. historical a person who held lands or property from the sovereign or an overlord.
3. a powerful person in business or industry: a press baron.

DERIVATIVES:
baronial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin baro 'man, warrior' .

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baroness

noun
1. the wife or widow of a baron.
2. a woman holding the rank of baron.

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baronet

noun
a member of the lowest hereditary titled British order.

DERIVATIVES:
baronetcy noun.

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barony

noun (pl. baronies)
the rank and estates of a baron.

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baroque

noun
a highly ornate and complex style of European architecture, art, and music of the 17th and 18th centuries.

adjective
1. in or relating to this style or period.
2. highly ornate and extravagant in style.

ORIGIN: French, from Portuguese barroco 'irregularly shaped pearl' .

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barque

noun
1. a sailing ship in which the foremast and mainmast are square-rigged and the mizzenmast is rigged fore and aft.
2. literary a boat.

ORIGIN: Latin barca 'ship's boat' .

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barrack [1]

verb
provide (soldiers) with accommodation.

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barrack [2]

verb
1. Brit. & Austral./NZ jeer loudly at (a performer or speaker).
2. (barrack for) Austral./NZ support and encourage.

ORIGIN: probably from Northern Irish dialect.

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barrack-room lawyer

noun Brit.
a person who speaks with apparent authority on subjects in which they are not qualified.

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barracuda

noun (pl. same or barracudas)
a large, slender predatory fish of tropical seas.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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barrage

noun
1. a concentrated artillery bombardment over a wide area.
2. an overwhelming succession of questions or complaints.
3. Brit. an artificial barrier across a river to control the water level.

verb
bombard with questions or complaints.

ORIGIN: French, from barrer 'to bar' .

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barre

noun
a horizontal bar at waist level used by ballet dancers as a support during exercises.

ORIGIN: French.

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barrel

noun
1. a large cylindrical container bulging out in the middle and with flat ends.
2. a measure of capacity for oil and beer (36 imperial gallons for beer and 35 for oil).
3. a cylindrical tube forming part of an object such as a gun or a pen.

verb (barrelled, barrelling; US barreled, barreling)
1. informal, chiefly N. Amer. drive or move very fast.
2. put into a barrel or barrels.

IDIOMS -
over a barrel informal in a severely disadvantageous position.

ORIGIN: Latin barriclus 'small cask' .

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barrel organ

noun
a small pipe organ that plays a preset tune when a handle is turned.

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barren

adjective
1. (of land) too poor to produce vegetation.
2. (of a female animal) unable to bear young.
3. bleak and lifeless.
4. (barren of) without.

DERIVATIVES:
barrenness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French barhaine.

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barricade

noun
an improvised barrier erected to block a road or entrance.

verb
block or defend with a barricade.

ORIGIN: French, from Spanish barrica 'cask' ; related to BARREL (barrels being used to build the first barricades in Paris).

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barrier

noun
1. an obstacle that prevents movement or access.
2. an obstacle to communication or progress: a language barrier.

ORIGIN: Old French barriere.

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barrier cream

noun Brit.
a cream used to protect the skin from damage or infection.

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barrier reef

noun
a coral reef close to the shore but separated from it by a channel of deep water.

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barring

preposition
except for; if not for.

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barrister

noun chiefly Brit.
a lawyer entitled to practise as an advocate, particularly in the higher courts. Compare with SOLICITOR.

ORIGIN: from BAR.

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barrow [1]

noun Brit.
a two-wheeled handcart used by street traders.

ORIGIN: Old English, «stretcher, bier».

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barrow [2]

noun Archaeology
an ancient burial mound.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bartender

noun
a person serving drinks at a bar.

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barter

verb
exchange (goods or services) for other goods or services.

noun
trading by bartering.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French barater 'deceive' .

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basal

adjective
forming or belonging to a base.

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basalt

noun
a dark fine-grained volcanic rock that sometimes displays a columnar structure.

DERIVATIVES:
basaltic adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin basaltes, from Greek basanos 'touchstone' .

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base [1]

noun
1. the lowest part or edge of something, especially the part on which it rests.
2. a foundation, support, or starting point: the town's economic base collapsed.
3. the main place where a person works or stays.
4. a centre of operations: a military base.
5. a main element or ingredient to which others are added.
6. Chemistry a substance capable of reacting with an acid to form a salt and water.
7. the root or stem of a word.
8. Mathematics a number used as the basis of a numeration scale.
9. Baseball each of the four stations that must be reached in turn to score a run.

verb
1. use something as the foundation for.
2. situate at a centre of operations.

IDIOMS -
get to first base informal, chiefly N. Amer. achieve the first step towards one's objective.
touch base informal, chiefly N. Amer. briefly make or renew contact.

DERIVATIVES:
based adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek basis 'base, pedestal' .

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base [2]

adjective
1. without moral principles; ignoble.
2. archaic of low social class.
3. (of coins) not made of precious metal.

DERIVATIVES:
baseness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin bassus 'short' .

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baseball

noun
a game played with a bat and ball between two teams on a diamond-shaped circuit of four bases, around all of which a batsman must run to score.

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baseball cap

noun
a cotton cap with a large peak.

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baseless

adjective
not based on fact; untrue.

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baseline

noun
1. a minimum or starting point used for comparisons.
2. (in tennis, volleyball, etc.) the line marking each end of a court.

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basement

noun
a room or floor partly or entirely below ground level.

ORIGIN: probably from archaic Dutch, 'foundation' .

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base metal

noun
a common non-precious metal such as copper, tin, or zinc.

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base rate

noun
the interest rate set by the Bank of England for lending to other banks, used as the basis for interest rates generally.

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bash informal

verb
1. strike hard and violently.
2. (bash out) produce rapidly and carelessly.

noun
1. a heavy blow.
2. a party or social event.
3. Brit. an attempt: she'll have a bash at anything.

ORIGIN: perhaps a blend of BANG and SMASH.

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bashful

adjective
shy and easily embarrassed.

DERIVATIVES:
bashfully adverb
bashfulness noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete bash «make or become abashed».

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BASIC

noun
a simple high-level computer programming language.

ORIGIN: from Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code.

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basic

adjective
1. forming an essential foundation; fundamental.
2. consisting of the minimum required or offered: a basic wage.
3. Chemistry containing or having the properties of a base; alkaline.

noun (basics)
essential facts or principles.

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basically

adverb
1. fundamentally.
2. in fact; essentially: I basically did the same thing every day.

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basil

noun
an aromatic plant of the mint family, used in cookery.

ORIGIN: from Greek basilikos 'royal' .

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basilica

noun
1. a large oblong building with double colonnades and an apse, used in ancient Rome as a law court or for public assemblies.
2. a Christian church of a similar plan.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'royal palace' , from Greek basilikos 'royal' .

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basilisk

noun
1. a mythical reptile with a lethal gaze or breath.
2. a long, slender Central American lizard, the male of which has a crest running from the head to the tail.

ORIGIN: Greek basiliskos 'little king, serpent' .

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basin

noun
1. a large bowl or open container for preparing food or holding liquid.
2. a broadly circular valley or natural depression.
3. an area drained by a river and its tributaries.
4. an enclosed area of water for mooring boats.

ORIGIN: Latin bacinus, from bacca 'water container' .

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basis

noun (pl. bases)
1. the foundation of a theory or process.
2. the principles according to which an activity is carried on.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'step, pedestal' ; related to BASE.

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bask

verb
1. lie exposed to warmth and sunlight for pleasure.
2. (bask in) revel in (something pleasing).

ORIGIN: perhaps related to an Old Norse word meaning 'bathe' .

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basket

noun
1. a container for holding or carrying things, made from interwoven strips of cane or wire.
2. Basketball a net fixed on a hoop, used as the goal.
3. a group, category, or range: a basket of currencies.

ORIGIN: Old French.

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basketball

noun
a team game in which goals are scored by throwing a ball through a netted hoop fixed at each end of the court.

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basket case

noun informal
a useless person or thing.

ORIGIN: originally US slang, denoting a soldier who had lost all four limbs.

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basking shark

noun
a large shark which feeds on plankton and typically swims slowly close to the surface.

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Basque

noun
1. a member of a people living in the western Pyrenees in France and Spain.
2. the language of this people.

ORIGIN: Latin Vasco 'inhabitant of Vasconia' (the Latin name also of Gascony in SW France).

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basque

noun
a woman's close-fitting bodice, typically having a short continuation below waist level.

ORIGIN: from BASQUE, referring to traditional Basque dress.

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bas-relief

noun Art
low relief.

ORIGIN: Italian basso-rilievo.

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bass [1]

noun
1. the lowest adult male singing voice.
2. (before another noun ) denoting the member of a family of instruments that is the lowest in pitch: a bass clarinet.
3. informal a bass guitar or double bass.
4. the low-frequency output of transmitted or reproduced sound.

DERIVATIVES:
bassist noun.

ORIGIN: alteration of BASE.

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bass [2]

noun (pl. same or basses)
a fish with a spiny dorsal fin, related to or resembling the perch.

ORIGIN: alteration of dialect barse.

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bass clef

noun Music
a clef placing F below middle C on the second-highest line of the stave.

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basset (also basset hound)

noun
a breed of sturdy hunting dog with a long body, short legs, and long, drooping ears.

ORIGIN: French, from bas 'low' .

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bassoon

noun
a large bass woodwind instrument of the oboe family.

DERIVATIVES:
bassoonist noun.

ORIGIN: Italian bassone, from basso 'low' .

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bastard

noun
1. archaic or derogatory an illegitimate person.
2. informal an unpleasant or despicable person.
3. informal a person of a specified kind: the poor bastard.

adjective
1. archaic or derogatory illegitimate.
2. no longer in its pure or original form.

ORIGIN: Latin bastardus.

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bastardize (also bastardise)

verb
1. debase by adding new elements.
2. archaic declare (someone) illegitimate.

DERIVATIVES:
bastardization noun.

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baste [1]

verb
pour fat or juices over (meat) during cooking.

DERIVATIVES:
baster noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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baste [2]

verb
tack with long, loose stitches in preparation for sewing.

ORIGIN: Old French bastir 'sew lightly' .

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bastion

noun
1. a projecting part of a fortification allowing an increased angle of fire.
2. something protecting or preserving particular principles or activities: the town was a bastion of Conservatism.

ORIGIN: Italian bastione, from bastire 'build' .

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bat [1]

noun
an implement with a handle and a solid surface, used in sports for hitting the ball.

verb (batted, batting)
1. (in sport) take the role of hitting rather than throwing the ball.
2. hit with the flat of one's hand.
3. (bat around/about) informal, chiefly N. Amer. casually discuss (an idea).

IDIOMS -
off one's own bat Brit. informal of one's own accord.

ORIGIN: Old English, «club, stick, staff».

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bat [2]

noun
1. a flying nocturnal mammal with membranous wings that extend between the fingers and limbs.
2. (old bat) informal an unattractive and unpleasant woman.

IDIOMS -
have bats in the belfry informal be eccentric or mad.

ORIGIN: Scandinavian; sense 2 is from bat, an old slang term for «prostitute», or from BATTLEAXE.

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bat [3]

verb (batted, batting)
flutter (one's eyelashes).

IDIOMS -
not bat an eyelid informal show no surprise or concern.

ORIGIN: variant of obsolete bate «to flutter».

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batch

noun
1. a quantity of goods produced or dispatched at one time.
2. a quantity of loaves or rolls baked together.
3. Computing a group of records processed as a single unit.

verb
arrange in batches.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to BAKE.

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bated

adjective (in phrase with bated breath)
in great suspense.

ORIGIN: from obsolete bate «restrain», from ABATE.

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bath

noun
1. a large tub that is filled with water for immersing and washing one's body.
2. an act of washing in a bath.
3. (also baths) a building containing a public swimming pool or washing facilities.
4. a container holding a liquid in which an object is immersed in chemical processing.

verb
wash in a bath.

IDIOMS -
take a bath informal suffer a heavy financial loss.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bathe

verb
1. wash by immersing one's body in water.
2. chiefly Brit. take a swim.
3. soak or wipe gently with liquid to clean or soothe.
4. suffuse or envelop: my desk is bathed in sunlight.

noun
a swim.

DERIVATIVES:
bather noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bathos

noun
(in literature) an unintentional change in mood from the important and serious to the trivial or ridiculous.

DERIVATIVES:
bathetic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'depth' .

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bathrobe

noun
a dressing gown made of towelling.

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bathroom

noun
1. a room containing a bath and usually also a washbasin and toilet.
2. N. Amer. a room containing a toilet.

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bath salts

plural noun
crystals that are dissolved in bathwater to soften or perfume it.

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batik

noun
a method (originating in Java) of producing coloured designs on cloth by waxing the parts not to be dyed.

ORIGIN: from Javanese, 'painted' .

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batman

noun dated
(in the British armed forces) an officer's personal valet or attendant.

ORIGIN: from Old French bat 'packsaddle' ; the word originally refered to an orderly in charge of the bat horse which carried the officer's baggage.

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baton

noun
1. a thin stick used to conduct an orchestra or choir.
2. a short stick passed from runner to runner in a relay race.
3. a stick carried and twirled by a drum major.
4. a police officer's truncheon.
5. a staff of office or authority.

IDIOMS -
pass (or take up) the baton hand over (or take up) a duty or responsibility.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin bastum 'stick' .

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batsman

noun
a player who bats in cricket.

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battalion

noun
a large body of troops, forming part of a brigade.

ORIGIN: French bataillon, from Italian battaglia 'battle' .

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batten

noun
a long, flat wooden or metal strip for strengthening or securing something.

verb
strengthen or fasten with battens.

IDIOMS -
batten down the hatches
1. secure a ship's tarpaulins.
2. prepare for a difficulty or crisis.

ORIGIN: Old French batant, from batre 'to beat' .

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Battenberg

noun chiefly Brit.
an oblong marzipan-covered sponge cake in two colours.

ORIGIN: named after the town of Battenberg in Germany.

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batter [1]

verb
strike repeatedly with hard blows.

DERIVATIVES:
batterer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French batre 'to beat' .

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batter [2]

noun
a mixture of flour, egg, and milk or water, used for making pancakes or coating food before frying.

ORIGIN: from Old French batre 'to beat' .

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battered

adjective
(of food) coated in batter and fried.

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battering ram

noun
a heavy object swung or rammed against a door to break it down.

ORIGIN: the object was originally in the form of a heavy beam with a carved ram's head at the end.

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battery

noun (pl. batteries)
1. a device containing one or more electrical cells, for use as a source of power.
2. an extensive series or range: a battery of tests.
3. chiefly Brit. a series of small cages for the intensive rearing of poultry.
4. Law the infliction of unlawful personal violence on another person.
5. a fortified emplacement for heavy guns.
6. an artillery subunit of guns, men, and vehicles.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'metal articles made by hammering' , later 'a collection of artillery' : from Old French baterie, from Latin battuere 'to beat' .

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battle

noun
1. a sustained fight between organized armed forces.
2. a lengthy and difficult struggle or contest: a battle of wits.

verb
fight or struggle tenaciously.

DERIVATIVES:
battler noun.

ORIGIN: Old French bataille, from Latin battuere 'to beat' .

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battleaxe

noun
1. a large axe used in ancient warfare.
2. informal a formidably aggressive older woman.

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battledress

noun
combat dress worn by soldiers.

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battlefield (also battleground)

noun
the piece of ground on which a battle is fought.

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battlement

noun
a parapet with gaps at intervals for firing from, forming part of a fortification.

DERIVATIVES:
battlemented adjective.

ORIGIN: from Old French bataillier 'fortify with movable defence turrets' .

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battleship

noun
a heavily armoured warship with large-calibre guns.

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batty

adjective (battier, battiest) informal
mad.

DERIVATIVES:
battiness noun.

ORIGIN: from BAT.

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bauble

noun
a small, showy trinket or decoration.

ORIGIN: Old French baubel 'child's toy' .

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baud

noun (pl. same or bauds) Computing
a unit of transmission speed for electronic signals, corresponding to one information unit or event per second.

ORIGIN: named after the French engineer Jean M. E. Baudot (1845 1903).

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baulk (chiefly US also balk)

verb
1. (baulk at) hesitate to accept (an idea).
2. thwart or hinder (a plan or person).
3. (of a horse) refuse to go on.

noun
a roughly squared timber beam.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'unploughed ridge' , later 'obstacle' : from Old Norse, 'partition' .

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bauxite

noun
a clayey rock that is the chief ore of aluminium.

ORIGIN: from Les Baux, a village in SE France, where it was first found.

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bawdy

adjective (bawdier, bawdiest)
humorously indecent.

DERIVATIVES:
bawdiness noun.

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bawl

verb
1. shout out noisily.
2. (bawl out) reprimand angrily.
3. weep noisily.

noun
a loud shout.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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bay [1]

noun
a broad curved inlet of the sea.

ORIGIN: Old French baie, from Old Spanish bahia.

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bay [2] (also bay laurel or sweet bay)

noun
an evergreen Mediterranean shrub, with aromatic leaves that are used in cookery.

ORIGIN: Old French baie, from Latin baca 'berry' .

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bay [3]

noun
1. a window area that projects outwards from a wall.
2. a section of wall in a church between two buttresses or columns.
3. an area specially allocated or marked off: a loading bay.
4. a compartment with a particular function in an aircraft, motor vehicle, or ship: a bomb bay.

ORIGIN: Old French baie, from Latin batare 'to gape' .

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bay [4]

adjective
(of a horse) reddish-brown with black points.

noun
a bay horse.

ORIGIN: Old French bai, from Latin badius.

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bay [5]

verb
(of a dog) howl loudly.

noun
the sound of baying.

IDIOMS -
at bay trapped or cornered.
bay for blood demand retribution.
hold (or keep) at bay prevent from approaching or having an effect.

ORIGIN: Old French abaiier 'to bark' .

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bayonet

noun
1. a long blade fixed to the muzzle of a rifle for hand-to-hand fighting.
2. (before another noun ) denoting a type of fitting for a light bulb which is pushed into a socket and then twisted into place.

verb (bayoneted, bayoneting)
stab with a bayonet.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a short dagger: from French baïonnette, from Bayonne, a town in SW France where the daggers were first made.

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bay window

noun
a window built to project outwards from a wall.

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bazaar

noun
1. a market in a Middle-Eastern country.
2. a fund-raising sale of goods.

ORIGIN: Persian, 'market' .

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bazooka

noun
1. a short-range rocket launcher used against tanks.
2. a kazoo shaped like a trumpet.

ORIGIN: apparently from US slang bazoo in the sense «kazoo».

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BBC

abbreviation
British Broadcasting Corporation.

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BC

abbreviation
1. before Christ (used to indicate that a date is before the Christian era).
2. British Columbia.
USAGE - BC is normally written in small capitals and placed after the numerals, as in 72 BC .

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BCE

abbreviation
before the Common Era (indicating dates before the Christian era, used especially by non-Christians).

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BE

abbreviation
1. Bachelor of Education.
2. Bachelor of Engineering.

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Be

symbol
the chemical element beryllium.

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be

verb (sing. present am; are; is; pl. present are; 1st and 3rd sing. past was; 2nd sing. past and pl. past were; present subjunctive be; past subjunctive were; present part. being; past part. been)
1. (usu. there is/are) exist; be present.
2. occur; take place.
3. have the specified state, nature, or role.
4. come; go; visit.

auxiliary verb
1. used with a present participle to form continuous tenses.
2. used with a past participle to form the passive voice.
3. used to indicate something that is due to, may, or should happen.

IDIOMS -
the be-all and end-all informal the most important aspect of something.
-to-be of the future: his bride-to-be.

ORIGIN: Old English: an irregular verb whose full conjugation derives from several originally distinct verbs.

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be-

prefix
forming verbs:
1. all over; all round: bespatter.
2. thoroughly; excessively: bewilder.
3. expressing transitive action: bemoan.
4. affect with or cause to be: befog.
5. (forming adjectives ending in -ed) having; covered with: bejewelled.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to BY.

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beach

noun
a pebbly or sandy shore at the edge of the sea or a lake.

verb
bring or come on to a beach from the water.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to an Old English word meaning «brook».

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beachcomber

noun
1. a person who searches beaches for articles of value.
2. a long wave rolling in from the sea.

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beachhead

noun
a fortified position on a beach taken by landing forces.

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beacon

noun
1. a fire lit on the top of a hill as a signal.
2. a light serving as a signal for ships or aircraft.
3. a radio transmitter signalling the position of a ship or aircraft.

ORIGIN: Old English, «sign, portent, ensign».

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bead

noun
1. a small piece of glass, stone, etc., threaded in a string with others to make a necklace or rosary.
2. a drop of a liquid on a surface.
3. a small knob forming the foresight of a gun.
4. the reinforced inner edge of a tyre.

verb
1. decorate or cover with beads.
2. form into a string like beads.

IDIOMS -
draw a bead on chiefly N. Amer. take aim at with a gun.

DERIVATIVES:
beaded adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «prayer» (each bead on a rosary representing a prayer).

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beadle

noun Brit.
1. a ceremonial officer of a church, college, etc.
2. historical a parish officer dealing with petty offenders.

ORIGIN: Old English, «a person who makes a proclamation».

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beady

adjective
(of a person's eyes) small, round, and observing things clearly.

DERIVATIVES:
beadily adverb.

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beagle

noun
a small, short-legged breed of hound, originally for hunting hares.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French beegueule 'open-mouthed' .

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beak

noun
1. a bird's horny projecting jaws; a bill.
2. a projection at the prow of an ancient warship, used in attacking enemy ships.
3. Brit. informal a magistrate or schoolmaster.

DERIVATIVES:
beaked adjective
beaky adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin beccus.

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beaker

noun Brit.
1. a tall plastic cup.
2. a cylindrical glass container used in laboratories.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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beam

noun
1. a long piece of timber or metal used as a support in building.
2. a narrow horizontal length of timber for balancing on in gymnastics.
3. a ray or shaft of light or particles.
4. a radiant smile.
5. a ship's breadth at its widest point.
6. the side of a ship: there was land in sight on the port beam.

verb
1. transmit (a radio signal).
2. shine brightly.
3. smile radiantly.

IDIOMS -
a beam in one's eye a fault that is greater in oneself than in the person one is criticizing. [ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 7.]
off beam informal on the wrong track.
on her (or its) beam ends (of a ship) on its side.

ORIGIN: Old English, «tree, beam».

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bean

noun
1. an edible seed growing in long pods on certain plants.
2. the hard seed of a coffee or cocoa plant.
3. informal a very small amount or nothing at all: there is not a bean of truth in the report.
4. informal, dated a person's head.

verb informal, chiefly N. Amer.
hit on the head.

IDIOMS -
full of beans informal lively; in high spirits.
old bean Brit. informal, dated a friendly form of address.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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beanbag

noun
1. a small bag filled with dried beans and used in children's games.
2. a large cushion filled with polystyrene beads, used as a seat.

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beanfeast

noun Brit. informal
a party with plentiful food and drink.

ORIGIN: originally referring to an annual dinner given to employees, which always featured beans and bacon.

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beano

noun (pl. beanos) Brit. informal
a party.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of BEANFEAST.

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bean sprouts

plural noun
the edible sprouting seeds of certain beans.

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bear [1]

verb (past bore; past part. borne)
1. carry.
2. have as a quality or visible mark.
3. support (a weight).
4. (bear oneself) behave in a specified manner: she bore herself with dignity.
5. manage to tolerate; endure: I can't bear it.
6. (cannot bear) strongly dislike.
7. give birth to (a child).
8. (of a tree or plant) produce (fruit or flowers).
9. turn and proceed in a specified direction: bear left.

IDIOMS -
bear down on approach in a purposeful or intimidating manner.
bear fruit yield positive results.
bear someone a grudge nurture a feeling of resentment against someone.
bear in mind remember and take into account.
bear on be relevant to.
bear out support or confirm.
bear up remain cheerful in difficult circumstances.
bear with be patient or tolerant with.
bear witness (or testimony) to testify to.
be borne in upon come to be realized by.
bring to bear
1. prepare and use to effect.
2. aim (a weapon).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bear [2]

noun
1. a large, heavy mammal with thick fur and a very short tail.
2. Stock Exchange a person who sells shares hoping to buy them back later at a lower price. Often contrasted with BULL. [ORIGIN: said to be from a proverb warning against ‘selling the bear's skin before one has caught the bear’.]
3. a rough or bad-mannered person.

IDIOMS -
like a bear with a sore head Brit. informal very irritable.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bearable

adjective
able to be endured.

DERIVATIVES:
bearably adverb.

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beard

noun
1. a growth of hair on the chin and lower cheeks of a man's face.
2. a tuft of hairs or bristles on certain animals or plants.

verb
boldly confront or challenge (someone formidable).

DERIVATIVES:
bearded adjective
beardless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bearer

noun
1. a person or thing that carries something.
2. a person who presents a cheque or other order to pay money.

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bear hug

noun
a rough, tight embrace.

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bearing

noun
1. a person's way of standing, moving, or behaving.
2. relation; relevance: the case has no bearing on the issues.
3. (bearings) a device that allows two parts to rotate or move in contact with each other.
4. direction or position relative to a fixed point.
5. (one's bearings) awareness of one's position relative to one's surroundings.
6. Heraldry a device or charge.

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bearish

adjective
1. resembling or likened to a bear.
2. Stock Exchange characterized by falling share prices.

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bear market

noun Stock Exchange
a market in which share prices are falling.

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beast

noun
1. an animal, especially a large or dangerous mammal.
2. a very cruel or wicked person.

ORIGIN: Latin bestia.

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beastie

noun (pl. beasties) Scottish or humorous
a small animal or insect.

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beastly Brit. informal

adjective
very unpleasant.

adverb dated
to an extreme and unpleasant degree.

DERIVATIVES:
beastliness noun.

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beast of burden

noun
an animal used for carrying loads.

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beat

verb (past beat; past part. beaten)
1. strike (someone) repeatedly and violently.
2. strike repeatedly to flatten or make a noise.
3. defeat, surpass, or overcome.
4. informal baffle.
5. (of the heart) pulsate.
6. (of a bird) move (the wings) up and down.
7. stir (cooking ingredients) vigorously.
8. move across (land) to raise game birds for shooting.

noun
1. a main accent in music or poetry.
2. a pulsation of the heart.
3. a movement of a bird's wings.
4. a brief pause or moment of hesitation.
5. an area patrolled by a police officer.

adjective informal
completely exhausted.

IDIOMS -
beat about the bush discuss a matter without coming to the point.
beat the bounds historical mark parish boundaries by walking round them and striking certain points with rods.
beat down force (someone) to reduce the price of something.
beat it informal leave.
beat off succeed in resisting (an attacker).
beat up attack (someone) and hit them repeatedly.
beat a retreat withdraw.
off the beaten track isolated.

DERIVATIVES:
beatable adjective
beater noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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beatific

adjective
1. feeling or expressing blissful happiness.
2. Christian Theology bestowing holy bliss.

DERIVATIVES:
beatifically adverb.

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beatify

verb (beatifies, beatified)
(in the Roman Catholic Church) announce that (a dead person) is in a state of bliss, the first step towards making them a saint.

DERIVATIVES:
beatification noun.

ORIGIN: Latin beatificare, from beatus 'blessed' .

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beatnik

noun
a young member of a subculture associated with the beat generation.

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beat-up

adjective informal
worn out by overuse.

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beau

noun (pl. beaux or beaus) dated
1. a boyfriend or male admirer.
2. a dandy.

ORIGIN: from French, 'handsome' .

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Beaufort scale

noun
a scale of wind speed ranging from force 0 to force 12.

ORIGIN: named after the English admiral Sir Francis Beaufort (1774 1857).

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Beaujolais

noun
a light red wine produced in the Beaujolais district of SE France.

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beauteous

adjective literary
beautiful.

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beautician

noun
a person whose job is to give beauty treatments.

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beautiful

adjective
1. very pleasing to the senses or mind aesthetically.
2. of a very high standard; excellent.

DERIVATIVES:
beautifully adverb.

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beautify

verb (beautifies, beautified)
make beautiful.

DERIVATIVES:
beautification noun.

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beauty

noun (pl. beauties)
1. a combination of qualities that delights the aesthetic senses.
2. (before another noun ) intended to make someone more attractive: beauty treatment.
3. a beautiful woman.
4. an excellent example.
5. an attractive feature or advantage.

IDIOMS -
beauty is in the eye of the beholder proverb something which one person finds beautiful or admirable may not appeal to another.
beauty is only skin-deep proverb a pleasing appearance is not a guide to character.

ORIGIN: Old French beaute, from Latin bellus 'beautiful, fine' .

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beauty queen

noun
the winner of a beauty contest.

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beauty salon (also beauty parlour)

noun
an establishment in which hairdressing and cosmetic treatments are carried out.

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beaver

noun (pl. same or beavers)
1. a large semiaquatic rodent noted for gnawing through trees in order to make dams.
2. a hat made of felted beaver fur.
3. a very hard-working person.

verb (often beaver away) informal
work hard.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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becalm

verb (be becalmed)
(of a sailing ship) be unable to move through lack of wind.

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because

conjunction
for the reason that; since.

IDIOMS -
because of by reason of.

USAGE - On starting a sentence with because, see the note at AND.
ORIGIN: from the phrase by cause.

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beck

noun N. English
a stream.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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beckon

verb
1. make a gesture to encourage or instruct someone to approach or follow.
2. seem appealing or inviting: the wide open spaces of Australia beckoned.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to BEACON.

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become

verb (past became; past part. become)
1. begin to be.
2. turn into.
3. (become of) happen to.
4. (of clothing) look good when worn by (someone).
5. be appropriate to.

ORIGIN: Old English, from BE- + COME.

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becoming

adjective
1. (of clothing) looking good on someone.
2. decorous; proper.

DERIVATIVES:
becomingly adverb.

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becquerel

noun Physics
the SI unit of radioactivity, corresponding to one disintegration per second.

ORIGIN: named after the French physicist A-H. Becquerel (1852 1908).

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BEd

abbreviation
Bachelor of Education.

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bed

noun
1. a piece of furniture incorporating a mattress or other surface for sleeping or resting on.
2. informal a bed as a place for sexual activity.
3. an area of ground where flowers and plants are grown.
4. a flat base or foundation.
5. a layer of rock.
6. the bottom of the sea or a lake or river.

verb (bedded, bedding)
1. provide with or settle in sleeping accommodation.
2. informal have sexual intercourse with.
3. (often bed in/down) fix or be fixed firmly.
4. (bed out) transfer (a plant) from a pot to the ground.

IDIOMS -
a bed of roses a comfortable or easy situation or activity.
get out of bed on the wrong side start the day in a bad mood, which continues all day long.
put to bed informal make (a newspaper) ready for press.

DERIVATIVES:
bedded adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bed and breakfast

noun
1. sleeping accommodation and breakfast in a guest house or hotel.
2. a guest house.

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bedbug

noun
a wingless bug which sucks the blood of sleeping humans.

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bedclothes

plural noun
coverings for a bed, such as sheets and blankets.

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bedding

noun
1. bedclothes.
2. straw or similar material for animals to sleep on.
3. a base or bottom layer.

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bedding plant

noun
an annual plant produced for planting in a bed in the spring.

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bedevil

verb (bedevilled, bedevilling; US bedeviled, bedeviling)
cause continual trouble to.

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bedlam

noun
1. a scene of uproar and confusion.
2. archaic an asylum.

ORIGIN: early form of Bethlehem, referring to the hospital of St Mary of Bethlehem in London, used as an asylum for the insane.

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bedlinen

noun
sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers.

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Bedouin (also Beduin)

noun (pl. same)
a nomadic Arab of the desert.

ORIGIN: Old French, from an Arabic word meaning 'dwellers in the desert' .

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bedpan

noun
a receptacle used as a toilet by a bedridden patient.

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bedpost

noun
any of the four upright supports of a bedstead.

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bedraggled

adjective
dishevelled.

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bedridden

adjective
confined to bed by sickness or old age.

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bedrock

noun
1. solid rock underlying loose deposits such as soil.
2. the fundamental principles on which something is based.

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bedroom

noun
a room for sleeping in.

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bedside manner

noun
the manner in which a doctor attends a patient.

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bedsit (also bedsitter or bed-sitting room)

noun Brit. informal
a rented room consisting of a combined bedroom and living room, with cooking facilities.

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bedsore

noun
a sore that develops as a result of lying in bed in one position for a prolonged period.

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bedspread

noun
a decorative cloth used to cover a bed.

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bedstead

noun
the framework of a bed.

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bed-wetting

noun
involuntary urination during the night.

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bee

noun
1. a stinging winged insect which collects nectar and pollen from flowers and produces wax and honey.
2. a meeting for communal work or amusement: a sewing bee.

IDIOMS -
the bee's knees informal an outstandingly good person or thing.
have a bee in one's bonnet informal be obsessed with something.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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beech

noun
a large tree with smooth grey bark and hard, pale wood.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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beef

noun
1. the flesh of a cow, bull, or ox, used as food.
2. (pl. beeves or US also beefs) a cow, bull, or ox fattened for its meat.
3. informal flesh with well-developed muscle.
4. informal strength or power.
5. (pl. beefs) informal a complaint or grievance.

verb informal
1. (beef up) make stronger or more substantial.
2. complain.

ORIGIN: Old French boef, from Latin bos 'ox' .

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beefburger

noun
a fried or grilled cake of minced beef eaten in a bun.

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beefcake

noun informal
men with well-developed muscles.

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beefeater

noun
a Yeoman Warder or Yeoman of the Guard in the Tower of London.

ORIGIN: originally a derogatory term for a well-fed servant.

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beefsteak

noun
a thick slice of steak, especially rump steak.

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beefy

adjective
1. informal muscular or robust.
2. tasting like beef.

DERIVATIVES:
beefily adverb
beefiness noun.

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beehive

noun
1. a structure in which bees are kept.
2. a woman's domed and lacquered hairstyle popular in the 1960s.

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bee-keeping

noun
the occupation of owning and breeding bees for their honey.

DERIVATIVES:
bee-keeper noun.

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beeline

noun (in phrase make a beeline for)
hurry directly to.

ORIGIN: with reference to the straight line supposedly taken instinctively by a bee when returning to the hive.

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Beelzebub

noun
the Devil.

ORIGIN: Hebrew, 'lord of flies' , the name of a Philistine god.

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beep

noun
a short, high-pitched sound emitted by electronic equipment or a vehicle horn.

verb
produce a beep.

DERIVATIVES:
beeper noun.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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beer

noun
an alcoholic drink made from yeast-fermented malt flavoured with hops.

IDIOMS -
beer and skittles Brit. amusement or enjoyment.

ORIGIN: from Latin biber 'a drink' , from bibere 'to drink' .

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beer belly (or beer gut)

noun informal
a man's protruding stomach, caused by excessive consumption of beer.

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beer mat

noun
a small cardboard mat for resting glasses on in a public house.

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beery

adjective informal
1. drinking a lot of beer.
2. smelling or tasting of beer.

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beeswax

noun
1. wax secreted by bees to make honeycombs, used for wood polishes and candles.
2. N. Amer. informal a person's concern: that's none of your beeswax.

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beet

noun
a plant with a fleshy root, cultivated as food and for processing into sugar.

ORIGIN: Latin beta.

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beetle

noun
an insect with the forewings modified into hard wing cases that cover the hindwings and abdomen.

verb informal
hurry along with short, quick steps.

ORIGIN: Old English, «biter».

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beetle-browed

adjective
having prominent or bushy eyebrows.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain.

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beetroot

noun chiefly Brit.
the edible dark-red root of a variety of beet.

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befall

verb (past befell; past part. befallen) literary
(especially of something bad) happen to.

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befit

verb (befitted, befitting)
be appropriate for.

DERIVATIVES:
befitting adjective.

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before

preposition , conjunction , & adverb
1. during the period of time preceding.
2. in front of.
3. in preference to; rather than.

ORIGIN: Old English, from BY + FORE.

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beforehand

adverb
in advance.

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befriend

verb
become a friend to.

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befuddle

verb
muddle or confuse.

DERIVATIVES:
befuddled adjective
befuddlement noun.

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beg

verb (begged, begging)
1. ask earnestly or humbly for something.
2. ask for food or money as charity.
3. (of a dog) sit up with the front paws raised in the hope of a reward.

IDIOMS -
beg off withdraw from a promise or undertaking.
beg the question
1. (of a fact or action) invite a question or point that has not been dealt with.
2. assume the truth of a proposition without arguing it.
go begging be available because unwanted by others.

ORIGIN: probably Old English.

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beget

verb (begetting; past begot; past part. begotten) archaic or literary
1. produce (a child).
2. cause.

DERIVATIVES:
begetter noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «get, obtain by effort».

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beggar

noun
1. a person who lives by begging for food or money.
2. informal a person of a specified type: lucky beggar!

verb
reduce to poverty.

IDIOMS -
beggar belief (or description) be too extraordinary to be believed or described.
beggars can't be choosers proverb people with no other options must be content with what is offered.

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beggarly

adjective
1. meagre and ungenerous.
2. poverty-stricken.

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begin

verb (beginning; past began; past part. begun)
1. perform or undergo the first part of (an action or activity).
2. come into being.
3. have as its starting point.
4. (begin on/upon) set to work on.
5. informal have any chance of doing: circuitry that Karen could not begin to comprehend.

DERIVATIVES:
beginner noun
beginning noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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begonia

noun
a plant having flowers with brightly coloured sepals but no petals.

ORIGIN: named after the French botanist Michel Bégon (1638 1710).

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begrudge

verb
1. feel envious that (someone) possesses or enjoys (something).
2. give reluctantly or resentfully.

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beguile

verb
1. charm, enchant, or trick.
2. archaic or literary help (time) pass pleasantly.

DERIVATIVES:
beguiling adjective.

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behalf

noun (in phrase on (US also in) behalf of or on someone's behalf)
1. in the interests of a person, group, or principle.
2. as a representative of.

ORIGIN: from a mixture of the earlier phrases on his halve and bihalve him, both meaning «on his side».

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behave

verb
1. act in a specified way.
2. (also behave oneself) act in a polite or proper way.

ORIGIN: from BE- + HAVE in the sense «bear (oneself) in a particular way».

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behaved

adjective
acting in a specified way: a well-behaved child.

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behaviour (US behavior)

noun
the way in which someone or something behaves.

DERIVATIVES:
behavioural adjective.

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behead

verb
execute (someone) by cutting off their head.

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behemoth

noun
a huge or monstrous creature.

ORIGIN: Hebrew, 'monstrous beast' .

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behest

noun (usu. in phrase at the behest of) literary
a person's order or command.

ORIGIN: Old English, «a vow».

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behind

preposition & adverb
1. at or to the back or far side of.
2. further back than other members of a moving group.
3. in support of.
4. responsible for (an event or plan).
5. less advanced than.
6. late in accomplishing or paying something.
7. remaining after the departure or death of.

noun informal
a person's bottom.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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behold

verb (past and past part. beheld) archaic or literary
see or observe.

DERIVATIVES:
beholder noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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beholden

adjective (usu. beholden to)
owing a debt; indebted.

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behove (US behoove)

verb (it behoves someone to do) formal
it is a duty, responsibility, or appropriate response for someone to do.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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beige

noun
a pale sandy fawn colour.

ORIGIN: French.

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being

noun
1. existence.
2. the nature or essence of a person.
3. a living creature: alien beings.

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bejewelled (US bejeweled)

adjective
adorned with jewels.

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belabour (US belabor)

verb
1. attack physically or verbally.
2. argue or discuss in excessive detail.

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belated

adjective
coming late or too late.

DERIVATIVES:
belatedly adverb
belatedness noun.

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belch

verb
1. noisily emit wind from the stomach through the mouth.
2. forcefully emit (smoke or flames).

noun
an act of belching.

ORIGIN: Old English, probably imitative.

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beleaguered

adjective
1. under siege.
2. in difficulties; harassed.

ORIGIN: from Dutch belegeren 'camp round' .

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belfry

noun (pl. belfries)
the place in a bell tower or steeple in which bells are housed.

ORIGIN: Old French belfrei.

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Belgian

noun
a person from Belgium.

adjective
relating to Belgium.

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belie

verb (belying)
1. fail to give a true idea of.
2. show to be untrue or unjustified.

ORIGIN: Old English, «deceive by lying».

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belief

noun
1. a feeling that something exists or is true, especially one without proof.
2. a firmly held opinion.
3. (belief in) trust or confidence in.
4. religious faith.

IDIOMS -
beyond belief astonishing; incredible.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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believe

verb
1. accept that (something) is true or (someone) is telling the truth.
2. (believe in) have faith in the truth or existence of.
3. have religious faith.
4. think or suppose.

DERIVATIVES:
believable adjective
believer noun.

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belittle

verb
dismiss as unimportant.

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bell

noun
1. a deep inverted metal cup that sounds a clear musical note when struck.
2. a device that buzzes or rings to give a signal.
3. (bells) a musical instrument consisting of a set of metal tubes, played by being struck.
4. Nautical the time as indicated every half-hour of a watch by the striking of the ship's bell one to eight times: at five bells in the forenoon of June 11.
5. a bell-shaped object or part.

verb
1. summon or indicate with a bell.
2. flare outwards in the shape of a bell.

IDIOMS -
bell the cat take the danger of a shared enterprise upon oneself. [ORIGIN: an allusion to a fable in which the mice suggest hanging a bell around the cat's neck to have warning of its approach.]
bells and whistles attractive additional features or trimmings.
give someone a bell Brit. informal telephone someone.
ring a bell informal sound vaguely familiar.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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belladonna

noun
1. deadly nightshade.
2. a drug made from deadly nightshade.

ORIGIN: from Italian bella donna 'fair lady' , perhaps from the cosmetic use of its juice to dilate the pupils.

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bellboy (also bellhop)

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a porter in a hotel or club.

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belle

noun
a beautiful girl or woman.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin bellus 'beautiful' .

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bellicose

adjective
aggressive and ready to fight.

DERIVATIVES:
bellicosity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin bellicosus, from bellum 'war' .

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belligerence (also belligerency)

noun
aggressive or warlike behaviour.

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belligerent

adjective
1. hostile and aggressive.
2. engaged in a war or conflict.

noun
a nation or person engaged in war or conflict.

DERIVATIVES:
belligerently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin belligerare 'wage war' .

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bellow

verb
1. emit a loud, deep roar of pain or anger.
2. shout or sing very loudly.

noun
a loud, deep shout or sound.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old English.

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bellows

plural noun
1. a device consisting of a bag with two handles, used for blowing air into a fire.
2. an object or device with sides that allow it to expand and contract.

ORIGIN: probably from the plural of the Old English word for «belly».

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bell-ringing

noun
the activity or pastime of ringing church bells or handbells.

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belly

noun (pl. bellies)
1. the front part of the human body below the ribs, containing the stomach and bowels.
2. a person's stomach.
3. the rounded underside of a ship or aircraft.
4. the top surface of a violin or similar instrument, over which the strings are placed.

verb (bellies, bellied)
swell or bulge.

IDIOMS -
go belly up informal go bankrupt.

DERIVATIVES:
bellied adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «bag».

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bellyache informal

noun
a stomach pain.

verb
complain noisily or persistently.

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belly button

noun informal
a person's navel.

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bellyflop

noun informal
a dive into water, landing flat on one's front.

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belly laugh

noun
a loud unrestrained laugh.

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belong

verb
1. be rightly put into a particular position or class.
2. fit or be acceptable in a particular place or environment.
3. (belong to) be a member of.
4. (belong to) be the property or possession of.

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belongings

plural noun
a person's movable possessions.

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beloved

adjective
dearly loved.

noun
a much loved person.

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below

preposition & adverb
1. at a lower level than.
2. (in printed text) mentioned further down.

IDIOMS -
below stairs Brit. dated in the basement of a house (occupied by servants).

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belt

noun
1. a strip of leather or other material worn round the waist to support or hold in clothes or to carry weapons.
2. a continuous band in machinery that transfers motion from one wheel to another.
3. a strip or encircling area: the asteroid belt.
4. informal a heavy blow.

verb
1. fasten or secure with a belt.
2. beat or hit very hard.
3. (belt out) informal sing or play (something) loudly and forcefully.
4. informal rush or dash.
5. (belt up) informal be quiet.

IDIOMS -
below the belt unfair; disregarding the rules. [ORIGIN: from the notion of an illegal blow in boxing.]
belt and braces Brit. providing double security, by using more than one means to the same end.
tighten one's belt cut one's spending.
under one's belt safely or satisfactorily achieved or acquired.

DERIVATIVES:
belted adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin balteus 'girdle' .

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beluga

noun (pl. same or belugas)
1. a small white toothed whale of Arctic waters.
2. a very large sturgeon from which caviar is obtained.

ORIGIN: from Russian, 'white' .

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BEM

abbreviation
British Empire Medal.

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bemoan

verb
lament or express sorrow for.

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bemuse

verb
confuse or bewilder.

DERIVATIVES:
bemused adjective
bemusement noun.

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bench

noun
1. a long seat for more than one person.
2. a long, sturdy work table in a workshop or laboratory.
3. (the bench) the office of judge or magistrate.
4. (the bench) a seat at the side of a sports field for coaches and players not taking part in a game.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to BANK.

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benchmark

noun
1. a standard or point of reference.
2. a surveyor's mark cut in a wall and used as a reference point in measuring altitudes.

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bench press

noun
an exercise in which one lies on a bench with feet on the floor and raises a weight with both arms.

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bend

verb (past and past part. bent)
1. give or have a curved or angled shape, form, or course.
2. lean or curve the body downwards; stoop.
3. force or be forced to give in.
4. interpret or modify (a rule) to suit oneself.
5. direct (one's attention or energies) to a task.

noun
1. a curved or angled part or course.
2. a kind of knot used to join two ropes together, or one rope to another object.
3. (the bends) (treated as sing. ) decompression sickness.

IDIOMS -
bend someone's ear informal talk to someone at length or in an unwelcome way.
round the bend informal mad.

DERIVATIVES:
bendable adjective
bendy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «put in bonds, tension a bow»; related to BAND.

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bender

noun informal
1. a drinking bout.
2. Brit. a shelter made by covering a framework of bent branches with canvas.
3. derogatory a male homosexual.

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beneath

preposition & adverb
extending or directly underneath.

preposition
of lower status or worth than.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Benedictine

noun
1. a monk or nun of a Christian religious order following the rule of St Benedict.
2. trademark a liqueur based on brandy, originally made by Benedictine monks in France.

adjective
of St Benedict or the Benedictines.

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benediction

noun
1. the utterance of a blessing.
2. the state of being blessed.

ORIGIN: Latin, from benedicere 'bless' .

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benefaction

noun formal
a donation or gift.

ORIGIN: Latin, from bene facere 'do good (to)' .

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benefactor

noun
a person who gives money or other help.

DERIVATIVES:
benefactress noun.

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benefice

noun
a Church office whereby a member of the clergy receives accommodation and income in return for pastoral duties.

ORIGIN: Latin beneficium 'favour, support' , from bene facere 'do good' .

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beneficial

adjective
favourable or advantageous.

DERIVATIVES:
beneficially adverb.

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beneficiary

noun (pl. beneficiaries)
a person who benefits from something, especially a trust or will.

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benefit

noun
1. advantage or profit.
2. a payment made by the state or an insurance scheme to someone entitled to receive it, e.g. an unemployed person.
3. a public performance to raise money for a charity.

verb (benefited or benefitted, benefiting or benefitting)
1. receive an advantage; profit.
2. bring advantage to.

IDIOMS -
benefit of clergy
1. historical exemption of the English clergy and nuns from the jurisdiction of the ordinary civil courts.
2. ecclesiastical sanction or approval.
the benefit of the doubt a concession that a person must be regarded as correct or innocent if the opposite has not been proven.

ORIGIN: Latin benefactum 'good deed' , from bene facere 'do good' .

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benevolent

adjective
1. well meaning and kindly.
2. (of an organization) charitable rather than profit-making.

DERIVATIVES:
benevolence noun
benevolently adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French benivolent, from Latin bene 'well' + velle 'to wish' .

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Bengali

noun (pl. Bengalis)
1. a person from Bengal in the north-east of the Indian subcontinent.
2. the Indic language of Bangladesh and West Bengal.

adjective
relating to Bengal.

ORIGIN: Hindi.

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benighted

adjective
1. ignorant or unenlightened.
2. archaic unable to travel further because darkness has fallen.

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benign

adjective
1. genial and kindly.
2. favourable; not harmful.
3. (of a tumour) not malignant.

DERIVATIVES:
benignity noun
benignly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin benignus, probably from bene 'well' + -genus '-born' .

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bent
past and past participle of BEND
adjective
1. having an angle or sharp curve.
2. informal, chiefly Brit. dishonest; corrupt.
3. Brit. informal, derogatory homosexual.
4. (bent on) determined to do or have.

noun
a natural talent or inclination.

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benzene

noun Chemistry
a volatile liquid hydrocarbon present in coal tar and petroleum.

ORIGIN: from BENZOIC ACID.

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benzine (also benzin)

noun
a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum.

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bequeath

verb
1. leave (property) to someone by a will.
2. hand down or pass on.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to QUOTH.

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bequest

noun
1. the action of bequeathing.
2. something that is bequeathed.

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berate

verb
scold or criticize angrily.

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Berber

noun
a member of the indigenous people of North Africa.

ORIGIN: Arabic, from Greek barbaros 'foreigner' .

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bereave

verb (be bereaved)
be deprived of a close relation or friend through their death.

DERIVATIVES:
bereavement noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bereft

adjective
1. (bereft of) deprived of; without.
2. lonely and abandoned.

ORIGIN: archaic past participle of BEREAVE.

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beret

noun
a flattish round cap of felt or cloth.

ORIGIN: French, 'Basque cap' , from Latin birrus 'hooded cape' .

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bergamot

noun
1. an oily substance extracted from a variety of Seville orange, used as flavouring in Earl Grey tea.
2. an aromatic herb of the mint family.

ORIGIN: named after Bergamo in northern Italy.

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beriberi

noun
a disease causing inflammation of the nerves and heart failure, due to a deficiency of vitamin B_1.

ORIGIN: Sinhalese, from a word meaning 'weakness' .

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berk

noun Brit. informal
a stupid person.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of Berkeley or Berkshire Hunt, rhyming slang for «cunt».

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Bermuda shorts (also Bermudas)

plural noun
casual knee-length shorts.

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berry

noun (pl. berries)
1. a small roundish juicy fruit without a stone.
2. Botany a fruit that has its seeds enclosed in a fleshy pulp, e.g. a banana or tomato.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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berserk

adjective
out of control; wild and frenzied.

noun (also berserker)
an ancient Norse warrior who fought with frenzy.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, probably from bjorn 'bear' + serkr 'coat' , or possibly from berr 'bare' (i.e. without armour).

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berth

noun
1. a ship's place at a wharf or dock.
2. a fixed bunk on a ship or train.

verb
1. moor in a berth.
2. provide a berth for (a passenger).

IDIOMS -
give a wide berth stay well away from.

ORIGIN: probably from a nautical use of BEAR + -TH.

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beryl

noun
a transparent pale green, blue, or yellow mineral used as a gemstone.

ORIGIN: Greek brullos.

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beryllium

noun
a hard, grey, lightweight metallic chemical element of which the mineral beryl is a compound.

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beseech

verb (past and past part. besought or beseeched) chiefly literary
ask (someone) fervently for something.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SEEK.

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beset

verb (besetting; past and past part. beset)
trouble or harass persistently.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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beside

preposition
1. at the side of; next to.
2. compared with.
3. in addition to; apart from.

IDIOMS -
beside oneself distraught.

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besiege

verb
1. surround (a place) with armed forces in order to capture it or force it to surrender.
2. harass or oppress with requests or complaints.

DERIVATIVES:
besieger noun.

ORIGIN: Old French asegier.

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besmirch

verb
1. damage (someone's reputation).
2. literary make dirty; soil.

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besom

noun
1. a broom made of twigs tied round a stick.
2. derogatory, chiefly Scottish & N. English a woman or girl.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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besotted

adjective
strongly infatuated.

ORIGIN: from obsolete besot «make foolishly affectionate», from SOT.

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bespeak

verb (past bespoke; past part. bespoken)
1. be evidence of.
2. order or reserve in advance.

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bespoke

adjective Brit.
(of goods) made to order.

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best

adjective
1. of the most excellent or desirable type or quality.
2. most suitable, appropriate, or sensible.

adverb
1. to the highest degree; most.
2. to the highest standard.
3. most suitably, appropriately, or sensibly.

noun
1. (the best) that which is the most excellent or desirable.
2. (one's best) the highest standard one can reach.
3. (in sport) a record performance.

verb informal
outwit or defeat.

IDIOMS -
at best taking the most optimistic view.
be for the best be desirable in the end, although not at first seeming so.
best end Brit. the rib end of a neck of lamb or other meat.
the best-laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley proverb even the most careful planning doesn't necessarily ensure success.
the best of three (or five etc.) victory achieved by winning the majority of a specified odd number of games.
the best part of most of.
get the best of overcome.
give someone best Brit. admit that someone is superior.
had best find it most sensible to.
make the best of derive what limited advantage one can from.
six of the best Brit. a caning as a punishment, traditionally with six strokes of the cane.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bestial

adjective
1. of or like a beast.
2. savagely cruel and wicked.

DERIVATIVES:
bestially adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin bestialis, from bestia 'beast' .

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bestiality

noun
1. savagely cruel and wicked behaviour.
2. sexual intercourse between a person and an animal.

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bestir

verb (bestirred, bestirring) (bestir oneself)
exert or rouse oneself.

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best man

noun
a male friend or relative chosen by a bridegroom to assist him at his wedding.

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bestow

verb
give or grant (an honour, right, or gift).

DERIVATIVES:
bestowal noun.

ORIGIN: from Old English stw «place».

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bestride

verb (past bestrode; past part. bestridden)
stand astride over; span or straddle.

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best-seller

noun
a book or other product that sells in very large numbers.

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bet

verb (betting; past and past part. bet or betted)
1. risk money or property against another's on the basis of the outcome of an unpredictable event such as a race or game.
2. informal feel sure.

noun
1. an act of betting.
2. a sum of money staked.
3. informal a candidate or option with a specified likelihood of success: Allen looked a good bet for victory.
4. (one's bet) informal one's opinion.

IDIOMS -
you bet informal you may be sure; certainly.

DERIVATIVES:
bettor (also better) noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps a shortening of obsolete abet «abetment».

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beta

noun
1. the second letter of the Greek alphabet (B, ß), transliterated as ‘b’.
2. Brit. a second-class mark given for a piece of work.

ORIGIN: Greek.

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beta blocker

noun
a drug which prevents increased cardiac action, used to treat angina and reduce high blood pressure.

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betake

verb (past betook; past part. betaken) (betake oneself to) literary
go to.

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beta particle (or ray)

noun Physics
a fast-moving electron emitted by some radioactive substances.

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betel

noun
the leaf of an evergreen Asian plant related to pepper, which in the East is chewed as a mild stimulant.

ORIGIN: Portuguese, from a Dravidian language.

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betel nut

noun
the astringent seed of an areca palm, chewed with betel leaves.

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bête noire

noun (pl. bêtes noires pronunc. same) (one's bête noire)
a person or thing that one particularly dislikes.

ORIGIN: French, 'black beast' .

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bethink

verb (past and past part. bethought) (bethink oneself) formal
come to think.

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betide

verb literary
happen; befall.

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betimes

adverb literary
in good time; early.

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betoken

verb literary
be a warning or sign of.

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betray

verb
1. act treacherously towards (a person, country, etc.) by revealing information to or otherwise aiding an enemy.
2. be disloyal to.
3. unintentionally reveal; be evidence of.

DERIVATIVES:
betrayal noun
betrayer noun.

ORIGIN: from Old French trair, from Latin tradere 'hand over' .

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betrothed

adjective
formally engaged to be married.

noun (one's betrothed)
the person to whom one is engaged.

DERIVATIVES:
betrothal noun.

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better

adjective
1. more desirable, satisfactory, or effective.
2. partly or fully recovered from illness or injury.

adverb
1. more satisfactorily or effectively.
2. to a greater degree; more.

noun
1. that which is better; the better one.
2. (one's betters) chiefly dated or humorous one's superiors in social class or ability.

verb
1. improve on or surpass.
2. (better oneself) achieve a higher social position or status.

IDIOMS -
better the devil you know than the devil you don't know proverb it's wiser to deal with an undesirable but familiar person or situation than to risk a change that might lead to a situation with worse difficulties or a person whose faults you have yet to discover.
better off in a more advantageous position, especially in financial terms.
the better part of almost all of; most of.
better safe than sorry proverb it's wiser to be cautious and careful than to be hasty or rash and so do something you may later regret.
for better or worse whether the outcome is good or bad.
get the better of defeat or overcome.
had better would find it wiser to.

USAGE - In the phrase had better do something the word had acts like an auxiliary verb and in informal spoken contexts it is often dropped, as in you better not come tonight . In writing, the had may be contracted to 'd but it should not be dropped altogether.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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better half

noun informal
a person's spouse or partner.

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betterment

noun
improvement.

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between

preposition & adverb
1. at, into, or across the space separating (two objects, places, or points).
2. in the period separating (two points in time).

preposition
1. indicating a connection or relationship involving (two or more parties).
2. by combining the resources or actions of (two or more parties).

IDIOMS -
between ourselves (or you and me) in confidence.

USAGE - A preposition such as between takes the object case and is correctly followed by object pronouns such as me rather than subject pronouns such as I. It is therefore correct to say between you and me rather than between you and I.
ORIGIN: Old English, related to TWO.

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betwixt

preposition & adverb archaic
between.

IDIOMS -
betwixt and between informal neither one thing nor the other.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to TWO.

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bevel

noun
1. (in carpentry) a surface or edge which slopes away from a horizontal or vertical surface.
2. (also bevel square) a tool for marking angles in carpentry and stonework.

verb (bevelled, bevelling; US beveled, beveling)
cut a bevel on.

ORIGIN: Old French, from baif 'open-mouthed' , from baer 'gape' .

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beverage

noun
a drink other than water.

ORIGIN: Old French bevrage, from Latin bibere 'to drink' .

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bevy

noun (pl. bevies)
a large group of people or things.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bewail

verb
greatly regret or lament.

DERIVATIVES:
bewailer noun.

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beware

verb
be cautious and alert to risks or dangers.

ORIGIN: from the phrase be ware «be aware».

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bewilder

verb
perplex or confuse.

DERIVATIVES:
bewildering adjective
bewilderment noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete wilder «lead or go astray».

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bewitch

verb
1. cast a spell over.
2. enchant and delight.

DERIVATIVES:
bewitcher noun
bewitching adjective
bewitchment noun.

ORIGIN: from WITCH.

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beyond

preposition & adverb
1. at or to the further side of.
2. more extensive or extreme than.
3. happening or continuing after.
4. having reached or progressed further than (a specified level or amount).
5. to or in a degree where a specified action is impossible.
6. apart from; except.

noun (the beyond)
the unknown, especially in references to life after death.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bezique

noun
a trick-taking card game for two, played with a double pack of 64 cards.

ORIGIN: French bésigue, perhaps from a Persian word meaning «juggler».

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bhaji (also bhajia)

noun (pl. bhajis, bhajia)
(in Indian cooking) a small flat cake or ball of vegetables, fried in batter.

ORIGIN: Hindi, 'fried vegetables' .

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bhang (also bang)

noun
(in India) the leaves and flower-tops of cannabis, used as a narcotic.

ORIGIN: Hindi.

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b.h.p.

abbreviation
brake horsepower.

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bi- (also bin- before a vowel)

combining form
1. two; having two: biathlon.
2. occurring twice in every one or once in every two: bicentennial.
3. lasting for two: biennial.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'doubly, having two' .

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biannual

adjective
occurring twice a year. Compare with BIENNIAL.

DERIVATIVES:
biannually adverb.

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bias

noun
1. inclination or prejudice in favour of a particular person, thing, or viewpoint.
2. a slanting direction across the grain of a fabric.
3. the tendency of a ball in the game of bowls to swerve because of the way it is weighted.
4. Electronics a steady voltage, applied to an electronic device, that can be adjusted to change the way the device operates.

verb (biased, biasing or biassed, biassing)
influence unfairly; prejudice.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «oblique» or «oblique line»: from French biais.

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bias binding

noun
a narrow strip of fabric cut on the bias, used to bind edges.

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biathlon

noun
a sporting event in which the competitors combine cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.

DERIVATIVES:
biathlete noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek athlon 'contest' .

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bib

noun
1. a piece of cloth or plastic fastened under a child's chin to keep its clothes clean while it is eating.
2. the upper front part of an apron or pair of dungarees.
3. a common inshore fish of the cod family.

IDIOMS -
one's best bib and tucker informal one's smartest clothes.

ORIGIN: probably from Latin bibere 'to drink' .

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Bible

noun
1. the Christian scriptures, consisting of the Old and New Testaments.
2. the Jewish scriptures.
3. (bible) informal a book regarded as authoritative.

ORIGIN: Greek biblion 'book' .

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biblical

adjective
relating to or contained in the Bible.

DERIVATIVES:
biblically adverb.

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bibliography

noun (pl. bibliographies)
1. a list of books or documents on a particular subject or by a particular author.
2. the study of books in terms of their classification, printing, and publication.
3. a list of the books referred to in a scholarly work.

DERIVATIVES:
bibliographer noun
bibliographic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek biblion 'book' .

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bibliophile

noun
a person who collects or has a great love of books.

DERIVATIVES:
bibliophilic adjective
bibliophily noun.

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bibulous

adjective formal
very fond of drinking alcohol.

DERIVATIVES:
bibulously adverb
bibulousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin bibulus 'freely drinking' , from bibere 'to drink' .

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bicameral

adjective
(of a legislative body) having two chambers.

DERIVATIVES:
bicameralism noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin camera 'chamber' .

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bicarbonate

noun
1. Chemistry a salt containing the anion HCO_3-.
2. (also bicarbonate of soda) sodium bicarbonate.

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bicentenary

noun (pl. bicentenaries)
the two-hundredth anniversary of a significant event.

DERIVATIVES:
bicentennial noun & adjective.

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biceps

noun (pl. same)
1. a large muscle in the upper arm which flexes the arm and forearm and turns the hand to face palm uppermost.
2. (also leg biceps) a muscle in the back of the thigh which helps to flex the leg.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'two-headed' (because the muscle has two points of attachment).

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bicker

verb
argue about trivial matters.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bicuspid

adjective
having two cusps or points.

noun
a tooth with two cusps, especially a human premolar tooth.

ORIGIN: from Latin cuspis 'sharp point' .

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bicycle

noun
a vehicle consisting of two wheels held in a frame one behind the other, propelled by pedals and steered with handlebars attached to the front wheel.

verb
ride a bicycle.

DERIVATIVES:
bicyclist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek kuklos 'wheel' .

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bid [1]

verb (bidding; past and past part. bid)
1. offer (a certain price) for something, especially at an auction.
2. (bid for) (of a contractor) tender for (work).
3. (bid for) make an effort to obtain or achieve.

noun
1. an offer to buy something.
2. an offer to do work or supply goods at a stated price.
3. an effort to obtain or achieve something.

DERIVATIVES:
bidder noun
bidding noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bid [2]

verb (bidding; past bid or bade; past part. bid)
1. utter (a greeting or farewell) to.
2. archaic command (someone) to do something.

ORIGIN: Old English, «ask».

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biddable

adjective
meekly ready to accept and follow instructions.

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biddy

noun (pl. biddies) informal
a woman, especially an old one.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a chicken: of unknown origin.

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bide

verb archaic or dialect
remain or stay in a place.

IDIOMS -
bide one's time wait quietly for a good opportunity to do something.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bidet

noun
a low oval basin used for washing one's genital and anal area.

ORIGIN: French, 'pony' .

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biennial

adjective
1. taking place every other year. Compare with BIANNUAL.
2. (of a plant) taking two years to grow from seed to fruition and die.

noun
1. a biennial plant.
2. an event celebrated or taking place every two years.

DERIVATIVES:
biennially adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin annus 'year' .

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bier

noun
a movable platform on which a coffin or corpse is placed before burial.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to BEAR.

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biff informal

verb
strike roughly with the fist.

noun
a sharp blow with the fist.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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bifocal

adjective
denoting a lens having two parts each with a different focal length, one for distant and one for near vision.

noun (bifocals)
a pair of glasses with bifocal lenses.

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big

adjective (bigger, biggest)
1. of considerable size, physical power, or extent.
2. of considerable importance or seriousness.
3. informal exciting great interest or popularity.
4. informal, often ironic generous: ‘That's big of you!’

IDIOMS -
the big screen informal the cinema.
big with child archaic advanced in pregnancy.
in a big way informal to a great extent or high degree.
talk big informal talk confidently or boastfully.
think big informal be ambitious.
too big for one's boots informal conceited.

DERIVATIVES:
biggish adjective
bigness noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bigamy

noun
the offence of marrying someone while already married to another person.

DERIVATIVES:
bigamist noun
bigamous adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French bigamie, from BI- + Greek -gamos 'married' .

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big bang

noun
the rapid expansion of matter from a state of extremely high density and temperature which, according to current cosmological theories, marked the origin of the universe.

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Big Brother

noun
a person or organization exercising total control over people's lives.

ORIGIN: from the name of the fictitious head of state in George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-four (1949).

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big dipper

noun
1. Brit. a roller coaster.
2. (the Big Dipper) N. Amer. a prominent formation of seven stars in the constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear).

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big end

noun
(in a piston engine) the larger end of the connecting rod, encircling the crankpin.

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big-head

noun informal
a conceited person.

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bight

noun
1. a curve or recess in a coastline or other geographical feature.
2. a loop of rope.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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big mouth

noun informal
an indiscreet or boastful person.

DERIVATIVES:
big-mouthed adjective.

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bigot

noun
a person who is prejudiced in their views and intolerant of the opinions of others.

DERIVATIVES:
bigoted adjective
bigotry noun.

ORIGIN: French.

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big top

noun
the main tent in a circus.

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big wheel

noun
a Ferris wheel.

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bigwig

noun informal
an important person.

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bijou

adjective
small and elegant.

noun (pl. bijoux pronunc. same) archaic
a jewel or trinket.

ORIGIN: French, from Breton bizou 'finger-ring' , from biz 'finger' .

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bike informal

noun
a bicycle or motorcycle.

verb
ride a bicycle or motorcycle.

DERIVATIVES:
biker noun.

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bikini

noun (pl. bikinis)
a women's two-piece swimsuit.

ORIGIN: named after Bikini atoll in the western Pacific, where an atom bomb was exploded in 1946 (because of the supposed «explosive» effect created by the garment).

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bilateral

adjective
1. having two sides.
2. involving two parties.

DERIVATIVES:
bilaterally adverb.

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bilberry

noun (pl. bilberries)
the small blue edible berry of a hardy dwarf shrub found on heathland and high ground.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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bile

noun
1. a bitter fluid which aids digestion, secreted by the liver and stored in the gall bladder.
2. anger; irritability.

ORIGIN: Latin bilis.

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bile duct

noun
the tube which conveys bile from the liver and the gall bladder to the duodenum.

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bilge

noun
1. the area on the outer surface of a ship's hull where the bottom curves to meet the vertical sides.
2. (bilges) the lowest internal portion of the hull.
3. (also bilge water) dirty water that collects inside the bilges.
4. informal nonsense; rubbish.

ORIGIN: probably a variant of BULGE.

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bilingual

adjective
1. speaking two languages fluently.
2. expressed in or using two languages.

DERIVATIVES:
bilingualism noun.

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bilious

adjective
1. relating to bile.
2. affected by nausea or vomiting.
3. spiteful; bad-tempered.

DERIVATIVES:
biliously adverb
biliousness noun.

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bilk

verb informal
1. cheat or defraud.
2. obtain (money) fraudulently.

DERIVATIVES:
bilker noun.

ORIGIN: originally used in cribbage meaning «spoil one's opponent's score»: perhaps a variant of BAULK.

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Bill

noun (the Bill or the Old Bill) Brit. informal
the police.

ORIGIN: familiar form of the given name William.

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bill [1]

noun
1. a printed or written statement of the money owed for goods or services.
2. a draft of a proposed law presented to parliament for discussion.
3. a programme of entertainment at a theatre or cinema.
4. N. Amer. a banknote.
5. a poster or handbill.

verb
1. list (a person or event) in a programme.
2. (bill as) describe or proclaim as.
3. send a bill to.
4. charge (a sum of money).

IDIOMS -
bill of lading a detailed list of a ship's cargo given by the master of the ship to the person consigning the goods.
a clean bill of health a declaration or confirmation of good health or condition.
fit the bill be suitable for a particular purpose.

DERIVATIVES:
billable adjective
billing noun.

ORIGIN: Old French bille, probably from Latin bulla 'seal, sealed document' .

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bill [2]

noun
1. the beak of a bird.
2. a narrow promontory: Portland Bill.

verb
(of birds, especially doves) stroke bill with bill during courtship.

IDIOMS -
bill and coo informal behave or talk in a loving and sentimental way.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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billabong

noun Austral.
a branch of a river forming a backwater or stagnant pool.

ORIGIN: from an Aboriginal language.

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billboard

noun
a hoarding.

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billet

noun
a civilian house where soldiers are lodged temporarily.

verb (billeted, billeting)
lodge (soldiers) in a civilian house.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a short written document, later a written order requiring a householder to lodge the bearer: from Old French billette 'little bill' ; related to BILL.

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billet-doux

noun (pl. billets-doux) dated or humorous
a love letter.

ORIGIN: French, 'sweet note' .

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billhook

noun
a tool having a sickle-shaped blade with a sharp inner edge, used for pruning or lopping branches.

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billiards

plural noun (treated as sing. )
a game for two people, played on a billiard table with three balls.

ORIGIN: French billard 'billiard cue, billiards' , from Old French bille 'tree trunk' .

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billion

cardinal number (pl. billions or (with numeral or quantifying word) same)
1. the number equivalent to the product of a thousand and a million; 1,000,000,000 or 10^9.
2. dated, chiefly Brit. a million million (1,000,000,000,000 or 10^12).
3. (billions) informal a very large number or amount.

DERIVATIVES:
billionth ordinal number.

ORIGIN: French, from million, by substitution of the prefix bi- 'two' for the initial letters.

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billionaire

noun
a person possessing assets worth at least a billion pounds or dollars.

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bill of rights

noun
a statement of rights, in particular the English constitutional settlement of 1689 and the first ten amendments to the Constitution of the US, ratified in 1791.

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billow

noun
1. a large undulating mass of cloud, smoke, or steam.
2. archaic a large sea wave.

verb
1. (of fabric) fill with air and swell outwards.
2. (of smoke, cloud, or steam) move or flow outward with an undulating motion.

DERIVATIVES:
billowy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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billy (also billycan)

noun (pl. billies)
a tin or enamel cooking pot with a lid and folding handle, used in camping.

ORIGIN: perhaps from an Aboriginal word meaning «water».

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billy goat

noun
a male goat.

ORIGIN: from Billy, familiar form of the given name William.

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bimbo

noun (pl. bimbos) informal, derogatory
an attractive but unintelligent or frivolous young woman.

DERIVATIVES:
bimbette noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «fellow»: from Italian, 'little child' .

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bin Brit.

noun
1. a container for rubbish.
2. a large container for storing a specified substance.
3. a partitioned stand or case for storing bottles of wine.

verb (binned, binning) throw (something) away by putting it in a bin.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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binary

adjective
1. composed of or involving two things.
2. using or denoting a system of numbers with two as its base, employing the digits 0 and 1.

noun (pl. binaries)
1. the binary system of notation.
2. Astronomy a system of two stars revolving round their common centre.

ORIGIN: Latin binarius, from bini 'two together' .

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bind

verb (past and past part. bound)
1. tie or fasten tightly together.
2. restrain (someone) by tying their hands and feet.
3. wrap or encircle tightly.
4. hold in a united or cohesive group or mass.
5. impose a legal or contractual obligation on.
6. (be bound by) be hampered or constrained by.
7. (bind someone over) (of a court of law) require someone to fulfil an obligation, typically by paying a sum of money as surety.
8. secure (a contract), typically with a sum of money.
9. fix together and enclose (the pages of a book) in a cover.
10. trim (the edge of a piece of material) with a fabric strip.

noun
1. informal an annoyance.
2. a statutory constraint.
3. Music another term for TIE.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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binder

noun
1. a cover for holding magazines or loose sheets of paper together.
2. a reaping machine that binds grain into sheaves.
3. a bookbinder.

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bindery

noun (pl. binderies)
a workshop or factory in which books are bound.

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binding

noun
1. a strong covering holding the pages of a book together.
2. fabric cut or woven in a strip, used for binding the edges of a piece of material.
3. (also ski binding) Skiing a device fixed to a ski to grip a ski boot.

adjective
(of an agreement) involving a contractual obligation.

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bindweed

noun
a twining plant with trumpet-shaped flowers, several kinds of which are invasive weeds.

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binge informal

noun
a short period of excessive indulgence.

verb (bingeing or US also binging)
indulge in an activity, especially eating, to excess.

DERIVATIVES:
binger noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bingo

noun
a game in which players mark off randomly called numbers on printed cards, the winner being the first to mark off all their numbers.

exclamation
1. a call by someone who wins a game of bingo.
2. expressing satisfaction at a sudden positive event or outcome.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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binnacle

noun
a built-in housing for a ship's compass.

ORIGIN: from Spanish bitácula, bitácora or Portuguese bitacola, from Latin habitaculum 'dwelling place' .

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binocular

adjective
adapted for or using both eyes.

ORIGIN: from Latin bini 'two together' + oculus 'eye' .

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binomial

noun
1. Mathematics an algebraic expression of the sum or the difference of two terms.
2. Biology the two-part Latin name of a species (the genus followed by the species name).

adjective
consisting of two terms.

ORIGIN: from Latin bi- 'having two' + Greek nomos 'part, portion' .

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bint

noun Brit. informal, derogatory
a girl or woman.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'daughter, girl' .

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bio-

combining form
1. of or relating to life: biosynthesis.
2. biological; relating to biology: biohazard.
3. of living beings: biogenesis.

ORIGIN: from Greek bios 'human life' , the sense being extended in modern scientific usage to mean «organic life».

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biochemistry

noun
the branch of science concerned with the chemical processes which occur within living organisms.

DERIVATIVES:
biochemical adjective
biochemist noun.

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biodegradable

adjective
capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms.

DERIVATIVES:
biodegradability noun
biodegradation noun
biodegrade verb.

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biodiversity

noun
the variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat.

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bioengineering

noun
1. another term for GENETIC ENGINEERING.
2. the use of artificial tissues or organs in the body.
3. the use in engineering or industry of organisms or biological processes.

DERIVATIVES:
bioengineer noun & verb.

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biofeedback

noun
the use of electronic monitoring of a normally automatic bodily function in order to train someone to acquire voluntary control of that function.

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biography

noun (pl. biographies)
an account of a person's life written by someone else.

DERIVATIVES:
biographer noun
biographic adjective
biographical adjective.

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biohazard

noun
a risk to human health or the environment arising from biological research.

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biological

adjective
1. relating to biology or living organisms.
2. (of a parent or child) related by blood; natural.
3. relating to the use of micro-organisms or toxins of biological origin as weapons of war.
4. (of a detergent) containing enzymes to assist cleaning.

DERIVATIVES:
biologically adverb.

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biological clock

noun
an innate mechanism that controls the cyclical physiological activities of an organism.

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biology

noun
1. the scientific study of living organisms.
2. the plants and animals of a particular area.
3. the features of a particular organism or class of organisms.

DERIVATIVES:
biologist noun.

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bionic

adjective
1. relating to the use of electrically-operated artificial body parts.
2. informal having ordinary human powers increased by or as if by the aid of such devices.

DERIVATIVES:
bionically adverb
bionics plural noun.

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biopsy

noun (pl. biopsies)
an examination of tissue taken from the body, to discover the presence, cause, or extent of a disease.

ORIGIN: from Greek bios 'life' + opsis 'sight' .

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biorhythm

noun
a recurring cycle in the physiology or functioning of an organism, such as the daily cycle of sleeping and waking.

DERIVATIVES:
biorhythmic adjective.

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biosphere

noun
the regions of the surface and atmosphere of the earth occupied by living organisms.

DERIVATIVES:
biospheric adjective.

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biosynthesis

noun
the production of complex molecules within living organisms or cells.

DERIVATIVES:
biosynthetic adjective.

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biotechnology

noun
the exploitation of biological processes for industrial and other purposes, especially the genetic manipulation of micro-organisms for the production of antibiotics, hormones, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
biotechnological adjective
biotechnologist noun.

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biotic

adjective
relating to living things and the effect they have on each other.

ORIGIN: Greek bitikos, from bios 'life' .

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biotin

noun
a vitamin of the B complex, found in egg yolk, liver, and yeast, involved in the synthesis of fatty acids and glucose.

ORIGIN: from Greek bios 'life' .

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bipartisan

adjective
involving the agreement or cooperation of two political parties.

DERIVATIVES:
bipartisanship noun.

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bipartite

adjective
1. involving two separate parties.
2. technical consisting of two parts.

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biped

noun
an animal that walks on two feet.

DERIVATIVES:
bipedal adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin bi- 'having two' + pes 'foot' .

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biplane

noun
an early type of aircraft with two pairs of wings, one above the other.

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bipolar

adjective
having or relating to two poles or extremities.

DERIVATIVES:
bipolarity noun.

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birch

noun
1. a slender hardy tree having a peeling, typically silver-grey or white, bark and yielding a hard fine-grained wood.
2. (the birch) chiefly historical a punishment in which a person is flogged with a bundle of birch twigs.

verb chiefly historical
punish with the birch.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bird

noun
1. a warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrate animal which has feathers, wings, and a beak, and typically is able to fly.
2. informal a person of a specified kind or character: she's a sharp old bird.
3. Brit. informal a young woman or girlfriend.

IDIOMS -
the bird has flown the person one is looking for has escaped or left.
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush proverb it's better to be content with what you have than to risk losing everything by seeking to get more.
birds of a feather flock together proverb people of the same sort or with the same tastes and interests will be found together.
do (one's) bird Brit. informal serve a prison sentence. [ORIGIN: bird from rhyming slang birdlime «time».]

ORIGIN: Old English, «chick, fledgling».

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birdbrain

noun informal
a stupid person.

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birdie

noun (pl. birdies)
1. informal a little bird.
2. Golf a score of one stroke under par at a hole.

verb (birdying) Golf
play (a hole) with a score of one stroke under par.

ORIGIN: the golf term is from US slang bird, meaning any first-rate thing.

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birdlime

noun
a sticky substance spread on to twigs to trap small birds.

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bird of paradise

noun (pl. birds of paradise)
a tropical bird, the male of which is noted for the brilliance of its plumage and its spectacular courtship display.

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bird of prey

noun (pl. birds of prey)
a bird that feeds on animal flesh, typically having a hooked bill and sharp talons (e.g. an eagle, hawk, or owl).

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bird's-eye view

noun
a general view from above.

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birdwatching

noun
a hobby involving the observation of birds in their natural environment.

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biretta

noun
a square cap with three flat projections on top, worn by Roman Catholic clergymen.

ORIGIN: Italian berretta or Spanish birreta, from Latin birrus 'hooded cape' .

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biriani (also biriyani or biryani)

noun
an Indian dish made with highly seasoned rice and meat, fish, or vegetables.

ORIGIN: Urdu, from Persian, 'fried, grilled' .

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biro

noun (pl. biros) Brit. trademark
a kind of ballpoint pen.

ORIGIN: named after László József Biró (1899 1985), Hungarian inventor of the ballpoint.

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birth

noun
1. the emergence of a baby or other young from the body of its mother; the start of life as a physically separate being.
2. the beginning of something.
3. origin or ancestry: he is of noble birth.

DERIVATIVES:
birthing noun.

IDIOMS -
give birth bear a child or young.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, related to BEAR.

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birth certificate

noun
an official document recording a person's place and date of birth and identifying them by name and by the name of their parents.

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birth control

noun
the prevention of unwanted pregnancies, especially through the use of contraception.

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birthday

noun
the annual anniversary of the day on which a person was born.

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birthmark

noun
a coloured mark on the body which is there from birth.

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birthplace

noun
the place where a person was born.

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birth rate

noun
the number of live births per thousand of population per year.

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birthright

noun
1. a particular right or privilege that a person has from birth, especially as an eldest son.
2. a natural or moral right, possessed by everyone.

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birth sign

noun Astrology
the zodiacal sign through which the sun is passing when a person is born.

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biscuit

noun
1. Brit. a small, flat, crisp unleavened cake.
2. N. Amer. a small, soft round cake like a scone.
3. porcelain or other pottery which has been fired but not glazed.

IDIOMS -
take the biscuit (or chiefly N. Amer. cake) informal be the most remarkable or foolish of its kind.

DERIVATIVES:
biscuity adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French bescuit, from Latin bis 'twice' + coquere 'to cook' (because biscuits were originally cooked in a twofold process: first baked and then dried out in a slow oven).

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bisect

verb
divide into two parts.

DERIVATIVES:
bisection noun
bisector noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin secare 'to cut' .

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bisexual

adjective
1. sexually attracted to both men and women.
2. Biology having characteristics of both sexes.

noun
a person who is sexually attracted to both men and women.

DERIVATIVES:
bisexuality noun.

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bishop

noun
1. a senior member of the Christian clergy, usually in charge of a diocese and empowered to confer holy orders.
2. a chess piece, typically having a top shaped like a mitre, that can move in any direction along a diagonal.

ORIGIN: Greek episkopos 'overseer' .

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bishopric

noun
1. the office or rank of a bishop.
2. a diocese.

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bismuth

noun
a brittle reddish-tinged grey metallic chemical element resembling lead.

ORIGIN: from bisemutum, Latinization of German Wismut.

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bison

noun (pl. same)
a humpbacked shaggy-haired wild ox.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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bisque [1]

noun
a rich soup made from lobster or other shellfish.

ORIGIN: French.

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bistro

noun (pl. bistros)
a small, inexpensive restaurant.

ORIGIN: French.

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bit [1]

noun
1. a small piece or quantity.
2. (a bit) a short time or distance.
3. (also bit of fluff or stuff) informal a girl or young woman.

IDIOMS -
a bit somewhat.
bit by bit gradually.
bit on the side informal
1. a person with whom one is unfaithful to one's partner.
2. money earned outside one's normal job.
do one's bit informal make a useful contribution.
to bits
1. into pieces.
2. informal very much; to a great degree.

ORIGIN: Old English, «bite, mouthful».

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bit [3]

noun
1. a metal mouthpiece attached to a bridle, used to control a horse.
2. a tool or piece for boring or drilling.
3. the part of a key that engages with the lock lever.

IDIOMS -
get the bit between one's teeth begin to tackle something in a determined way.

ORIGIN: Old English, «biting, a bite».

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bit [4]

noun Computing
a unit of information expressed as either a 0 or 1 in binary notation.

ORIGIN: blend of BINARY and DIGIT.

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bitch

noun
1. a female dog, wolf, fox, or otter.
2. informal a woman whom one considers to be malicious or unpleasant.
3. black English a woman (used in a non-derogatory sense).
4. (a bitch) informal a difficult or unpleasant thing or situation.

verb informal
make spiteful comments.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bitchy

adjective (bitchier, bitchiest) informal
malicious; spiteful.

DERIVATIVES:
bitchily adverb
bitchiness noun.

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bite

verb (past bit; past part. bitten)
1. use the teeth to cut into something.
2. (of a snake, insect, or spider) wound with a sting, pincers, or fangs.
3. (of a fish) take the bait or lure on the end of a fishing line into the mouth.
4. (of a tool, tyre, boot, etc.) grip or take hold on a surface.
5. (of a policy or situation) take effect, with unpleasant consequences.
6. (bite back) refrain with difficulty from saying.
7. informal annoy or worry: what's biting you today?

noun
1. an act or instance of biting.
2. a piece cut off by biting.
3. Dentistry the bringing together of the teeth when the jaws are closed.
4. informal a quick snack.
5. a sharpness or pungency in flavour.
6. a feeling of cold in the air.

IDIOMS -
bite the bullet decide to do something difficult or unpleasant that one has been hesitating over. [ORIGIN: from the old custom of giving wounded soldiers a bullet to bite on when undergoing surgery without anaesthetic.]
bite the dust informal die or be killed.
bite the hand that feeds one deliberately hurt or offend a benefactor.
bite off more than one can chew take on a commitment one cannot fulfil.
bite one's tongue make a desperate effort to avoid saying something.
once bitten, twice shy an unpleasant experience causes one to be cautious when in a similar situation again.

DERIVATIVES:
biter noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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biting

adjective
1. (of a wind or the air) painfully cold.
2. (of wit or criticism) harsh or cruel.

DERIVATIVES:
bitingly adverb.

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bitmap

noun
a representation in which each item corresponds to one or more bits of information, especially the information used to control the display of a computer screen.

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bit part

noun
a small acting role in a play or a film.

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bitter

adjective
1. having a sharp, pungent taste or smell; not sweet.
2. causing pain or unhappiness.
3. feeling anger, hurt, and resentment.
4. (of a conflict) harsh and acrimonious.
5. (of wind or weather) intensely cold.

noun
1. Brit. beer that is strongly flavoured with hops and has a bitter taste.
2. (bitters) (treated as sing. ) liquor that is flavoured with bitter plant extracts and used as an ingredient in cocktails.

IDIOMS -
to the bitter end to the very end, in spite of harsh difficulties.

DERIVATIVES:
bitterly adverb
bitterness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bittern

noun
a marshbird of the heron family, noted for the male's deep booming call.

ORIGIN: Old French butor, from Latin butio 'bittern' + taurus 'bull' (because of its call).

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bittersweet

adjective
1. sweet with a bitter aftertaste.
2. arousing pleasure tinged with sadness or pain.

noun
a vine-like American climbing plant bearing clusters of bright orange pods.

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bitty

adjective (bittier, bittiest) informal
1. chiefly Brit. made up of small parts that seem unrelated.
2. N. Amer. (with another adjective) tiny: a little-bitty girl.

DERIVATIVES:
bittily adverb
bittiness noun.

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bitumen

noun
a black viscous mixture of hydrocarbons obtained naturally or as a residue from petroleum distillation, used for road surfacing and roofing.

DERIVATIVES:
bituminous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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bivalve

noun
an aquatic mollusc which has a compressed body enclosed within two hinged shells, such as an oyster, mussel, or scallop.

adjective
1. (also bivalved) having a hinged double shell.
2. Botany having two valves.

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bivouac

noun
a temporary camp without tents or cover.

verb (bivouacked, bivouacking)
stay in such a camp.

ORIGIN: French, probably from Swiss German Bîwacht 'additional guard at night' .

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bizarre

adjective
strange; unusual.

DERIVATIVES:
bizarrely adverb
bizarreness noun.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian bizzarro 'angry' .

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blab informal

verb (blabbed, blabbing)
reveal secrets by indiscreet talk.

noun
a person who blabs.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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blabber informal

verb
talk indiscreetly or excessively.

noun
1. a person who blabbers.
2. indiscreet or excessive talk.

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black

adjective
1. of the very darkest colour owing to the absence of or complete absorption of light.
2. deeply stained with dirt.
3. (of coffee or tea) served without milk.
4. relating to a human group having dark-coloured skin, especially of African or Australian Aboriginal ancestry.
5. characterized by tragedy, disaster, or despair.
6. (of humour) presenting tragic or harrowing situations in comic terms.
7. full of anger or hatred.

noun
1. black colour or pigment.
2. a member of a dark-skinned people, especially one of African or Australian Aboriginal ancestry.
3. Brit. informal blackcurrant cordial.

verb
1. make black, especially by the application of black polish, make-up, etc.
2. Brit. dated refuse to handle (goods) or have dealings with (a person or business) as a way of taking industrial action.

IDIOMS -
black someone's eye hit someone in the eye so as to cause bruising.
black out
1. make (a room or building) dark by extinguishing lights and covering windows.
2. obscure completely.
3. undergo a sudden loss of consciousness; faint.
in the black not owing any money.
in someone's black books informal in disfavour with someone.
look on the black side informal view a situation from a pessimistic angle.

DERIVATIVES:
blackish adjective
blackly adverb
blackness noun.
USAGE - To refer to African peoples and their descendants, black is the word most generally accepted in Britain today, in preference to coloured or Negro. In the US African American and Afro-American are often used.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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black and white

adjective
(of a situation or debate) involving clearly defined opposing principles or issues.

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black art (also black arts)

noun
black magic.

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blackball

verb
reject or vote against (a candidate applying to become a member of a private club).

ORIGIN: from the practice of registering an adverse vote by placing a black ball in a ballot box.

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black belt

noun
a black belt worn by an expert in judo, karate, and other martial arts.

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blackberry

noun (pl. blackberries)
the edible soft fruit of a prickly climbing shrub, consisting of a cluster of purple-black drupels.

verb (blackberries, blackberried) (usu. blackberrying)
gather blackberries.

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blackbird

noun
1. a thrush of which the male has all-black plumage and a yellow bill.
2. an American songbird with largely black plumage.

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blackboard

noun
a large board with a dark surface for writing on with chalk.

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black box

noun
a flight recorder in an aircraft.

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blackcurrant

noun
the small round edible black berry of a shrub.

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black economy

noun
the part of a country's economic activity which is not recorded or taxed by its government.

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blacken

verb
1. become or make black or dark.
2. damage or destroy (someone's reputation).

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black eye

noun
an area of bruised skin around the eye resulting from a blow.

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blackfly

noun
1. a black or dark green aphid which is a common pest of crops.
2. a small black bloodsucking fly.

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blackguard

noun dated
a man who behaves in a dishonourable or contemptible way.

DERIVATIVES:
blackguardly adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a body of servants, especially the menials in charge of kitchen utensils; the exact significance of «black» is uncertain.

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blackhead

noun
a plug of oily matter in a hair follicle.

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black hole

noun Astronomy
a region of space having a gravitational field so intense that no matter or radiation can escape.

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black ice

noun
a transparent coating of ice on a road surface.

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blackjack

noun
1. chiefly N. Amer. a gambling card game in which players try to acquire cards with a face value totalling exactly 21.
2. N. Amer. a flexible lead-filled truncheon.

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blackleg

noun Brit. derogatory
a person who continues working when fellow workers are on strike.

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blacklist

noun
a list of people or groups regarded as unacceptable or untrustworthy.

verb
put on a blacklist.

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black magic

noun
magic involving the supposed summoning of evil spirits.

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blackmail

noun
1. the demanding of money from someone in return for not revealing discreditable information.
2. the use of threats or manipulation in an attempt to influence someone's actions.

verb
subject to blackmail.

DERIVATIVES:
blackmailer noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete mail «tribute, rent», from Old Norse, 'speech, agreement' .

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Black Maria

noun informal
a police vehicle for transporting prisoners.

ORIGIN: said to be named after a black woman, Maria Lee, who kept a boarding house in Boston and helped police in escorting drunk and disorderly customers to jail.

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black mark

noun informal
a note of a person's misdemeanour or discreditable action.

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black market

noun
an illegal trade in officially controlled or scarce commodities.

DERIVATIVES:
black marketeer noun.

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black mass

noun
a travesty of the Roman Catholic Mass in worship of the Devil.

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blackout

noun
1. a period when all lights must be turned out to prevent them being seen by the enemy during an air raid.
2. a sudden failure or dimming of electric lights.
3. a temporary loss of consciousness.
4. an official suppression of information: a total news blackout.

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black pudding

noun Brit.
a black sausage containing pork, dried pig's blood, and suet.

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Black Rod (in full Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod)

noun
(in the UK) the chief usher of the Lord Chamberlain's department of the royal household, who is also usher to the House of Lords.

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black sheep

noun informal
a member of a family or other group who is regarded as a disgrace to it.

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blackshirt

noun
a member of a Fascist organization.

ORIGIN: so named because of the black uniforms worn by the Italian Fascists before and during the Second World War.

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blacksmith

noun
1. a person who makes and repairs things in iron by hand.
2. a person who shoes horses; a farrier.

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black spot

noun
1. Brit. a place marked by a particular problem or difficulty: an accident black spot.
2. a plant disease producing black blotches on the leaves.

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blackthorn

noun
a thorny shrub which bears white flowers, followed by blue-black fruits (sloes).

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black tie

noun
men's formal evening wear.

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black widow

noun
a highly venomous American spider having a black body with red markings.

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bladder

noun
1. a sac in the abdomen which receives urine from the kidneys and stores it for excretion.
2. an inflated or hollow flexible bag or chamber.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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blade

noun
1. the flat cutting edge of a knife or other tool or weapon.
2. the broad flat part of an oar, leaf, or other object.
3. a long narrow leaf of grass.
4. a shoulder bone in a joint of meat, or the joint itself.
5. informal, dated a dashing young man.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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blag Brit. informal

noun
1. a violent robbery.
2. an act of using clever talk or lying to obtain something.

verb (blagged, blagging)
1. steal in a violent robbery.
2. obtain by clever talk or lying.

DERIVATIVES:
blagger noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from French blaguer 'tell lies' .

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blame

verb
hold responsible and criticize for a fault or wrong.

noun
1. responsibility for a fault or wrong.
2. criticism for a fault or wrong.

IDIOMS -
be to blame be responsible for a fault or wrong.

DERIVATIVES:
blameable (US also blamable) adjective
blameworthy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French blasmer, from Greek blasphmein 'blaspheme' .

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blameless

adjective
innocent of wrongdoing.

DERIVATIVES:
blamelessly adverb
blamelessness noun.

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blanch

verb
1. make or become white or pale.
2. prepare (vegetables) by immersing briefly in boiling water.
3. peel (almonds) by scalding them.

ORIGIN: Old French blanchir, from blanc 'white' .

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blancmange

noun
a sweet jelly-like dessert made with cornflour and milk.

ORIGIN: from Old French blanc mangier, from blanc 'white' + mangier 'eat' .

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bland

adjective
1. lacking strong features or characteristics and therefore uninteresting.
2. (of food or drink) lacking flavour or seasoning.

DERIVATIVES:
blandly adverb
blandness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin blandus 'soft, smooth' .

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blandishments

plural noun
flattery intended to persuade or cajole.

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blank

adjective
1. not marked or decorated; bare or plain.
2. not comprehending or reacting.
3. complete; absolute: a blank refusal.

noun
1. a space left to be filled in a document.
2. a cartridge containing gunpowder but no bullet.
3. an empty space or period of time.
4. an object with no mark or design on it.

verb
1. (often blank out) cross out or obscure.
2. Brit. informal deliberately ignore (someone).

IDIOMS -
draw a blank fail to obtain a favourable response.

DERIVATIVES:
blankly adverb
blankness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French blanc 'white' .

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blank cheque

noun
1. a cheque with the amount left for the payee to fill in.
2. an unlimited freedom of action.

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blanket

noun
1. a large piece of woollen material used as a covering for warmth.
2. a thick mass or layer of a specified material: a blanket of cloud.

adjective
covering all cases or instances; total: a blanket ban.

verb (blanketed, blanketing)
cover completely with a thick layer.

IDIOMS -
born on the wrong side of the blanket dated illegitimate.

DERIVATIVES:
blanketing noun.

ORIGIN: originally denoting undyed woollen cloth: from Old French blanc 'white' .

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blanket stitch

noun
a buttonhole stitch used on the edges of material too thick to be hemmed.

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blank verse

noun
verse without rhyme.

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blare

verb
sound loudly and harshly.

noun
a loud, harsh sound.

ORIGIN: Dutch or Low German blaren.

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blarney

noun
talk intended to be charming or flattering.

ORIGIN: named after Blarney Castle in Ireland, where there is a stone said to give persuasive speech to anyone who kisses it.

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blasé

adjective
unimpressed with something because of over-familiarity.

ORIGIN: French, from blaser 'cloy' .

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blaspheme

verb
speak irreverently about God or sacred things.

DERIVATIVES:
blasphemer noun.

ORIGIN: Greek blasphmein, from blasphmos 'evil-speaking' .

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blasphemous

adjective
sacrilegious against God or sacred things; profane.

DERIVATIVES:
blasphemously adverb.

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blasphemy

noun (pl. blasphemies)
irreverent talk about God or sacred things.

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blast

noun
1. an explosion, or the destructive wave of highly compressed air spreading outwards from it.
2. a strong gust of wind or air.
3. a single loud note of a horn or whistle.
4. informal a severe reprimand.
5. N. Amer. informal an enjoyable experience.

verb
1. blow up with explosives.
2. (blast off) (of a rocket or spacecraft) take off.
3. produce loud music or noise.
4. informal criticize fiercely.
5. kick or strike (a ball) hard.
6. literary (of wind) wither (a plant).

exclamation Brit. informal
expressing annoyance.

IDIOMS -
(at) full blast at maximum power or intensity.

DERIVATIVES:
blaster noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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blast furnace

noun
a smelting furnace into which a blast of hot compressed air can be introduced.

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blatant

adjective
open and unashamed; flagrant.

DERIVATIVES:
blatancy noun
blatantly adverb.

ORIGIN: first used by the poet Edmund Spenser in blatant beast to describe a thousand-tongued monster, then in the sense «clamorous»: perhaps from Scots blatand «bleating».

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blather (also blither)

verb
talk at length without making much sense.

noun
rambling talk with no real substance.

ORIGIN: from Old Norse, 'nonsense' .

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blaze

noun
1. a very large or fiercely burning fire.
2. a very bright light or display of colour.
3. a conspicuous outburst: a blaze of publicity.
4. a white stripe down the face of a horse or other animal.
5. (blazes) informal a euphemism for ‘hell’: go to blazes!
6. a cut made on a tree to mark a route.

verb
1. burn or shine fiercely or brightly.
2. shoot repeatedly or indiscriminately.
3. present (news) in a prominent or sensational manner.

IDIOMS -
blaze a trail
1. mark out a path or route.
2. be the first to do something; pioneer.

DERIVATIVES:
blazing adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English; sense 3 of the verb is from Low German or Dutch blzen 'to blow' .

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blazer

noun
1. a jacket worn by schoolchildren or sports players as part of a uniform.
2. a man's smart jacket not forming part of a suit.

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blazon

verb
1. display or depict prominently or vividly.
2. Heraldry describe or depict (a coat of arms).

noun
1. a correct description of armorial bearings.
2. archaic a coat of arms.

ORIGIN: from Old French blason 'shield' .

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bleach

verb
1. make white or lighter by a chemical process or by exposure to sunlight.
2. clean or sterilize with bleach.

noun
a chemical used to bleach things and also to sterilize drains, sinks, etc.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to BLEAK.

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bleak

adjective
1. bare and exposed to the elements.
2. charmless and inhospitable.
3. (of a situation) not hopeful or encouraging.

DERIVATIVES:
bleakly adverb
bleakness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English or Old Norse, «white, shining».

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bleary

adjective (blearier, bleariest)
(of the eyes) dull and unfocused from sleep or tiredness.

DERIVATIVES:
blearily adverb.

ORIGIN: probably related to High German blerre 'blurred vision' and Low German blarroged 'bleary-eyed' .

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bleat

verb
1. (of a sheep or goat) make a weak, wavering cry.
2. speak or complain in a weak or foolish way.

noun
a bleating sound.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bleed

verb (past and past part. bled)
1. lose blood from the body as a result of injury or illness.
2. draw blood from (someone) as a former method of medical treatment.
3. informal drain of money or resources.
4. (of dye or colour) seep into an adjacent colour or area.
5. allow (fluid or gas) to escape from a closed system through a valve.

noun
an instance of bleeding.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bleeder

noun Brit. informal
a person regarded with contempt, disrespect, or pity: lucky little bleeder!

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bleeding

adjective Brit. informal
used for emphasis, or to express annoyance.

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bleeding heart

noun
1. informal, derogatory a person considered to be excessively soft-hearted or liberal.
2. a plant with red heart-shaped flowers.

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bleep

noun
a short high-pitched sound made by an electronic device as a signal or to attract attention.

verb
1. make a bleep.
2. (in broadcasting) censor (a word or phrase) by substituting a bleep.
3. summon with a bleeper.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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bleeper

noun Brit.
a small portable electronic device which bleeps when someone wants to contact the wearer.

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blemish

noun
1. a small flaw which spoils the appearance of something.
2. a moral defect.

verb
spoil the appearance of.

ORIGIN: from Old French blesmir 'make pale, injure' .

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blench

verb
make a sudden flinching movement out of fear or pain.

ORIGIN: Old English, «deceive».

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blend

verb
1. mix and combine with something else.
2. form a harmonious combination or part of a whole.

noun
a mixture of different things or people.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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blender

noun
an electric device used for liquidizing or chopping food.

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blenny

noun (pl. blennies)
a small coastal fish with scaleless skin and spiny fins.

ORIGIN: from Greek blennos 'mucus' (because of its mucous coating).

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bless

verb
1. call on God to protect or treat favourably.
2. consecrate by a religious rite.
3. praise (God).
4. (be blessed with) be endowed with or granted (something greatly desired).

IDIOMS -
bless you! said to a person who has just sneezed.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to BLOOD (perhaps originally in the sense «mark or consecrate with blood»).

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blessed

adjective
1. made holy.
2. granted God's favour and protection.
3. bringing welcome pleasure or relief: blessed sleep.
4. informal used in mild expressions of exasperation.

DERIVATIVES:
blessedly adverb
blessedness noun.

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blessing

noun
1. God's favour and protection.
2. a prayer asking for blessing.
3. a beneficial thing for which one is grateful.
4. a person's sanction or support.

IDIOMS -
a blessing in disguise an apparent misfortune that eventually has good results.

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blight

noun
1. a plant disease, especially one caused by fungi.
2. a thing that spoils or damages something.
3. ugly or neglected urban landscape.

verb
1. infect (plants) with blight.
2. spoil or destroy.

ORIGIN: originally denoting inflammation of the skin: of unknown origin.

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blighter

noun Brit. informal
a person regarded with contempt, irritation, or pity.

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Blighty

noun Brit. informal
Britain or England, as used by soldiers serving abroad.

ORIGIN: first used by soldiers in the Indian army: from Urdu, 'foreign, European' .

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blimey

exclamation Brit. informal
expressing surprise, excitement, or alarm.

ORIGIN: altered form of God blind (or blame) me!

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blimp

noun informal
1. (also Colonel Blimp) Brit. a pompous, reactionary person.
2. a small airship or barrage balloon.
3. N. Amer. an obese person.

DERIVATIVES:
blimpish adjective.

ORIGIN: sense 1 derives from a character invented by the cartoonist David Low.

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blind

adjective
1. lacking the power of sight; unable to see.
2. done without being able to see or without necessary information.
3. lacking perception, judgement, or reason.
4. concealed, closed, or blocked off.
5. (of flying) using instruments only.
6. informal the slightest: it didn't do a blind bit of good.

verb
1. make blind.
2. deprive of understanding or judgement.
3. (blind with) confuse or overawe (someone) with (something they do not understand).

noun
1. a screen for a window.
2. something designed to conceal one's real intentions.

adverb
without being able to see clearly.

IDIOMS -
bake blind bake (a flan case) without a filling.
blind drunk informal extremely drunk.
turn a blind eye pretend not to notice. [ORIGIN: said to be in allusion to Nelson, who lifted a telescope to his blind eye at the Battle of Copenhagen (1801), thus not seeing the signal to ‘discontinue the action’.]
when the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into a ditch proverb those people without knowledge or experience should not try to guide others in a similar position.

DERIVATIVES:
blindly adverb
blindness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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blind date

noun
a social engagement with a person one has not previously met, designed to have a romantic aim.

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blinder

noun Brit. informal
an excellent performance in a game or race.

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blindfold

noun
a piece of cloth tied around the head to cover someone's eyes.

verb
deprive of sight with a blindfold.

adverb
with a blindfold covering the eyes.

ORIGIN: from obsolete blindfell «strike blind, blindfold», from Old English.

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blinding

adjective
1. (of light) very bright.
2. suddenly and overwhelmingly obvious.
3. informal (of an action) remarkably skilful and exciting.

DERIVATIVES:
blindingly adverb.

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blind man's buff (US also blind man's bluff)

noun
a game in which a blindfold player tries to catch others while being pushed about by them.

ORIGIN: from buff «a blow», from Old French.

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blind spot

noun
1. Anatomy the point of entry of the optic nerve on the retina, insensitive to light.
2. an area where a person's view is obstructed.
3. an area in which a person lacks understanding or impartiality.
4. a point within the normal range of a transmitter where there is unusually weak reception.

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blink

verb
1. shut and open the eyes quickly.
2. (blink at) react to (something) with surprise or disapproval.
3. (of a light) shine unsteadily or intermittently.

noun
an act of blinking.

IDIOMS -
on the blink informal (of a machine) not working properly; out of order.

ORIGIN: Scots variant of BLENCH.

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blinker

noun chiefly Brit.
1. (blinkers) a pair of small screens attached to a horse's bridle to prevent the horse seeing sideways.
2. (blinkers) a thing that prevents someone from understanding a situation fully.
3. a vehicle indicator light that flashes on and off.

verb
1. put blinkers on (a horse).
2. cause to have a narrow outlook.

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blinking

adjective Brit. informal
used to express annoyance.

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blip

noun
1. a very short high-pitched sound made by an electronic device.
2. an unexpected, minor, and usually temporary deviation from a general trend.
3. a small flashing point of light on a radar screen.

verb (blipped, blipping)
(of an electronic device) make a blip.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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bliss

noun
1. perfect happiness; great joy.
2. a state of spiritual blessedness.

verb (bliss out or be blissed out) informal
be in a state of perfect happiness, oblivious to everything else.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to BLITHE.

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blissful

adjective
extremely happy; full of joy.

DERIVATIVES:
blissfully adverb.

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blister

noun
1. a small bubble on the skin filled with serum and typically caused by friction or burning.
2. a similar swelling, filled with air or fluid, on a surface.

verb
be or cause to be affected with blisters.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French blestre 'swelling, pimple' .

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blistering

adjective
1. (of heat) intense.
2. (of criticism) very vehement.
3. (in sport) extremely fast, forceful, or impressive.

DERIVATIVES:
blisteringly adverb.

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blithe

adjective
1. cheerfully or thoughtlessly indifferent.
2. literary happy or joyous.

DERIVATIVES:
blithely adverb
blitheness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to BLISS.

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blithering

adjective informal
complete; utter: a blithering idiot.

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BLitt

abbreviation
Bachelor of Letters.

ORIGIN: from Latin Baccalaureus Litterarum.

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blitz

noun
1. an intensive or sudden military attack.
2. (the Blitz) the German air raids on Britain in 1940.
3. informal a sudden and concerted effort.

verb
1. attack or seriously damage in a blitz.
2. succeed in overwhelming or defeating utterly.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of BLITZKRIEG.

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blizzard

noun
a severe snowstorm with high winds.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bloat

verb
cause to swell with fluid or gas.

DERIVATIVES:
bloated adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from an Old Norse word meaning 'soft, flabby' .

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bloater

noun
a herring cured by salting and light smoking.

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blob

noun
1. a drop of a thick liquid or viscous substance.
2. an indeterminate roundish mass or shape.

DERIVATIVES:
blobby adjective.

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bloc

noun
a group of countries or political parties who have formed an alliance.

ORIGIN: French, 'block' .

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block

noun
1. a large solid piece of material with flat surfaces on each side.
2. chiefly Brit. a large single building subdivided into separate flats or offices.
3. a group of buildings bounded by four streets.
4. a large quantity of things regarded as a unit.
5. an obstacle to progress.
6. a solid area of colour on a surface.
7. (also cylinder block or engine block) a large metal moulding containing the cylinders of an internal-combustion engine.
8. a pulley or system of pulleys mounted in a case.

verb
1. prevent movement or flow in.
2. impede or prevent (an action or movement).
3. (block out/in) mark out (an outline) or shade in roughly.

IDIOMS -
knock someone's block off informal hit someone about the head.
put one's head (or neck) on the block informal put one's standing or reputation at risk.

DERIVATIVES:
blocker noun
blocky adjective.

ORIGIN: Dutch.

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blockade

noun
an act of sealing off a place to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving.

verb
set up a blockade of.

IDIOMS -
run a blockade (of a ship) manage to enter or leave a blockaded port.

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blockage

noun
an obstruction which makes movement or flow difficult or impossible.

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block and tackle

noun
a lifting mechanism consisting of ropes, a pulley block, and a hook.

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blockbuster

noun informal
a film or book that is a great commercial success.

DERIVATIVES:
blockbusting adjective.

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block capitals

plural noun
plain capital letters.

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blockhead

noun informal
a very stupid person.

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blockhouse

noun
1. a reinforced concrete shelter used as an observation point.
2. US a house made of squared logs.

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bloke

noun Brit. informal
a man.

ORIGIN: Shelta.

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blokeish (also blokish or blokey)

adjective Brit. informal
stereotypically male in behaviour and interests.

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blonde

adjective (also blond)
1. (of hair) fair or pale yellow.
2. having fair hair and a light complexion.

noun
1. a woman with blonde hair.
2. the colour of blonde hair.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin blundus, blondus 'yellow' .

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Blood

noun (pl. same or Bloods)
a member of a North American Indian people belonging to the Blackfoot Confederacy.

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blood

noun
1. the red liquid that circulates in the arteries and veins, carrying oxygen and carbon dioxide.
2. family background: she must have Irish blood.
3. violence involving bloodshed.
4. fiery or passionate temperament.
5. dated a fashionable and dashing young man.

verb
1. initiate in a particular activity.
2. smear the face of (a novice hunter) with the blood of the kill.

IDIOMS -
blood and thunder informal unrestrained and violent action or behaviour.
blood is thicker than water proverb family relationships are the most important ones.
blood, sweat, and tears extremely hard work.
first blood
1. the first shedding of blood in a fight.
2. the first point or advantage gained in a contest.
give blood allow blood to be removed medically from one's body for use in transfusions.
have blood on one's hands be responsible for someone's death.
in one's blood ingrained in or fundamental to one's character.
make someone's blood boil informal infuriate someone.
make someone's blood run cold horrify someone.
new (or fresh) blood new members admitted to a group.
of the blood (royal) literary royal.
young blood a younger member or members of a group as an invigorating force.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bloodbath

noun
an event in which many people are killed violently.

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blood brother

noun
a man who has sworn to treat another man as a brother.

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blood count

noun
a determination of the number of corpuscles in a specific volume of blood.

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blood-curdling

adjective
horrifying; very frightening.

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blood feud

noun
a lengthy conflict between families involving a cycle of retaliatory killings.

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blood group

noun
any of various types of human blood classified according to their compatibility in transfusion, especially by means of the ABO system.

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bloodhound

noun
a large hound with a very keen sense of smell, used in tracking.

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bloodless

adjective
1. (of a conflict) without violence or killing.
2. (of the skin) drained of colour.
3. lacking in vitality; feeble.
4. cold or ruthless.

DERIVATIVES:
bloodlessly adverb
bloodlessness noun.

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bloodletting

noun
1. historical the surgical removal of some of a patient's blood for therapeutic purposes.
2. violence during a war or conflict.

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bloodline

noun
a pedigree or set of ancestors.

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blood money

noun
1. money paid in compensation to the family of someone who has been killed.
2. money paid to a hired killer.

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blood poisoning

noun
a diseased state due to the presence of micro-organisms or their toxins in the blood.

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blood pressure

noun
the pressure of the blood in the circulatory system, which is closely related to the force and rate of the heartbeat.

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blood relation (also blood relative)

noun
a person who is related to another by birth rather than by marriage.

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bloodshed

noun
the killing or wounding of people.

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bloodshot

adjective
(of the eyes) inflamed or tinged with blood.

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blood sport

noun
a sport involving the hunting, wounding, or killing of animals.

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bloodstream

noun
the blood circulating through the body of a person or animal.

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blood sugar

noun
the concentration of glucose in the blood.

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bloodthirsty

adjective (bloodthirstier, bloodthirstiest)
eager to kill and maim.

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blood vessel

noun
a tubular structure carrying blood through the tissues and organs; a vein, artery, or capillary.

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bloody

adjective (bloodier, bloodiest)
1. covered with or composed of blood.
2. involving much violence or cruelty.

verb (bloodies, bloodied)
cover or stain with blood.

DERIVATIVES:
bloodily adverb
bloodiness noun.

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bloody-minded

adjective Brit. informal
deliberately uncooperative.

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bloom

verb
1. produce flowers; be in flower.
2. be or become very healthy.

noun
1. a flower, especially one cultivated for its beauty.
2. the state or period of blooming.
3. a youthful or healthy glow in a person's complexion.
4. a delicate powdery surface deposit on fruits.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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bloomers

plural noun
1. women's loose-fitting knee-length knickers.
2. historical women's loose-fitting trousers, gathered at the knee or ankle.

ORIGIN: named after Mrs Amelia J. Bloomer (1818 94), an American social reformer who advocated a similar garment.

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blooming

adjective Brit. informal
used to express annoyance or for emphasis.

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blossom

noun
1. a flower or a mass of flowers on a tree or bush.
2. the state or period of flowering.

verb
1. (of a tree or bush) produce blossom.
2. develop in a promising or healthy way.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to BLOOM.

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blot

noun
1. a dark mark or stain, especially one made by ink.
2. a thing that mars something that is otherwise good.

verb (blotted, blotting)
1. dry with an absorbent material.
2. mark, stain, or mar.
3. (blot out) obscure (a view).
4. (blot out) obliterate or ignore (a painful memory or thought).

IDIOMS -
blot one's copybook Brit. tarnish one's good reputation.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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blotch

noun
a large irregular patch or unsightly mark.

verb
cover or mark with blotches.

DERIVATIVES:
blotchy adjective.

ORIGIN: alteration of obsolete plotch.

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blotter

noun
blotting paper inserted into a frame.

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blotting paper

noun
absorbent paper used for soaking up excess ink when writing.

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blotto

adjective informal
extremely drunk.

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blouse

noun
1. a woman's upper garment resembling a shirt.
2. a loose smock or tunic.
3. a type of jacket worn as part of military uniform.

verb
make (a garment) hang in loose folds.

IDIOMS -
big girl's blouse Brit. informal a weak, cowardly, or over-sensitive man.

ORIGIN: French.

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blouson

noun
a short loose-fitting jacket.

ORIGIN: French.

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blow [1]

verb (past blew; past part. blown)
1. (of wind) move creating an air current.
2. propel or be propelled by the wind.
3. expel air through pursed lips.
4. force air through the mouth into (an instrument) to make a sound.
5. sound (the horn of a vehicle).
6. (of an explosion) displace violently.
7. burst or burn out through pressure or overheating.
8. force air through a tube into (molten glass) to create an artefact.
9. informal spend (money) recklessly.
10. informal completely bungle (an opportunity).
11. informal expose (a stratagem): his cover was blown.

noun
1. a strong wind.
2. an act of blowing.

IDIOMS -
blow a fuse (or gasket) informal lose one's temper.
blow away informal kill by shooting.
blow hot and cold vacillate.
blow someone's mind informal impress or affect someone very strongly.
blow one's nose clear one's nose of mucus by blowing through it.
blow off informal
1. lose one's temper and shout.
2. break wind noisily.
blow over (of trouble) fade away without serious consequences.
blow one's top informal lose one's temper.
blow up
1. explode.
2. lose one's temper.
3. (of a wind or storm) beg in to develop.
4. (of a scandal or dispute) emerge or become public.
5. inflate.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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blow [2]

noun
1. a powerful stroke with a hand or weapon.
2. a sudden shock or disappointment.

IDIOMS -
come to blows start fighting after a disagreement.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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blow-by-blow

adjective
(of a description of an event) giving all the details in the order in which they occurred.

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blower

noun
1. a device for creating a current of air to dry or heat something.
2. informal, chiefly Brit. a telephone.

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blowfly

noun
a bluebottle or similar large fly which lays its eggs on meat and carcasses.

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blowhole

noun
1. the nostril of a whale or dolphin on the top of its head.
2. a hole in ice for breathing or fishing through.
3. a vent for air or smoke in a tunnel.

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blow job

noun vulgar slang
an act of fellatio.

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blowout

noun
1. an occasion when a vehicle tyre bursts or an electric fuse melts.
2. informal a large, lavish meal.

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blowpipe

noun
1. a weapon consisting of a long tube through which an arrow or dart is blown.
2. a long tube by means of which molten glass is blown.

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blowsy (also blowzy)

adjective
(of a woman) coarse, untidy, and red-faced.

ORIGIN: from obsolete blowze «beggar's female companion».

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blowtorch

noun
a portable device producing a hot flame, typically used to burn off paint.

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blowy

adjective (blowier, blowiest)
windy or windswept.

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blub

verb (blubbed, blubbing) informal
sob noisily.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of BLUBBER.

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blubber [1]

noun
the fat of sea mammals, especially whales and seals.

DERIVATIVES:
blubbery adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting the foaming of the sea: perhaps symbolic.

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blubber [2]

verb informal
sob noisily and uncontrollably.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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bludgeon

noun
a thick stick with a heavy end, used as a weapon.

verb
1. beat with a bludgeon.
2. bully into doing something.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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blue [1]

adjective (bluer, bluest)
1. of a colour intermediate between green and violet, as of the sky on a sunny day.
2. informal melancholy or depressed.
3. informal (of a film, joke, or story) with sexual or pornographic content.
4. (of a cat, fox, or rabbit) having fur of a smoky grey colour.
5. Brit. informal politically conservative.

noun
1. blue colour, pigment, or material.
2. Brit. a person who has represented Cambridge University or Oxford University in a particular sport.
3. Austral./NZ informal a nickname for a redheaded person.
4. Austral./NZ informal an argument or fight.

IDIOMS -
once in a blue moon informal very rarely. [ORIGIN: because a ‘blue moon’ is a phenomenon that never occurs.]
out of the blue informal unexpectedly.
talk a blue streak N. Amer. informal speak continuously and at great length.

DERIVATIVES:
blueness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French bleu.

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blue [2]

verb (blues, blued, bluing or blueing) Brit. informal, dated
squander or spend recklessly.

ORIGIN: perhaps from BLOW.

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bluebell

noun
a woodland plant which produces clusters of blue bell-shaped flowers.

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blueberry

noun (pl. blueberries)
the small blue-back berry of a North American dwarf shrub.

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blue-blooded

adjective
of noble birth.

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bluebottle

noun
a common blowfly with a metallic-blue body.

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blue cheese

noun
cheese containing veins of blue mould, such as Stilton.

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blue-chip

adjective
denoting companies or their shares considered to be a reliable investment.

ORIGIN: from the blue chip used in gambling games, which usually has a high value.

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blue-collar

adjective chiefly N. Amer.
relating to manual work or workers.

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blue-eyed boy

noun Brit. informal, chiefly derogatory
a person highly regarded and treated with special favour.

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Blue Peter

noun
a blue flag with a white square in the centre, raised by a ship about to leave port.

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blueprint

noun
1. a design plan or other technical drawing.
2. something which acts as a plan, model, or template.

ORIGIN: from the original process in which prints were composed of white lines on a blue ground or of blue lines on a white ground.

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blues

plural noun
1. (treated as sing. or pl. ) melancholic music of black American folk origin.
2. (the blues) informal feelings of melancholy or depression.

DERIVATIVES:
bluesy adjective.

ORIGIN: from blue devils «depression or delirium tremens».

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blue-sky

adjective informal
not yet practicable or profitable.

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bluestocking

noun often derogatory
an intellectual or literary woman.

ORIGIN: in reference to literary parties held in London around 1750 by three society ladies, where some of the men favoured less formal dress (blue worsted stockings as opposed to the more formal black silk ones).

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blue tit

noun
a common titmouse with a blue cap and yellow underparts.

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blue whale

noun
a bluish-grey rorqual which is the largest living animal.

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bluff [1]

noun
an attempt to deceive someone into believing that one can or will do something.

verb
try to deceive someone as to one's abilities or intentions.

IDIOMS -
call someone's bluff challenge someone to carry out a stated intention, in the expectation of being able to expose it as a pretence.

DERIVATIVES:
bluffer noun.

ORIGIN: from Dutch bluffen 'brag' .

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bluff [2]

adjective
good-naturedly frank and direct.

DERIVATIVES:
bluffly adverb
bluffness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «surly, abrupt»: figurative use of BLUFF.

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bluff [3]

noun
a steep cliff, bank, or promontory.

adjective
(of a cliff or a ship's bows) having a vertical or steep broad front.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bluish (also blueish)

adjective
having a blue tinge.

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blunder

noun
a stupid or careless mistake.

verb
1. make a blunder.
2. move clumsily or as if unable to see.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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blunderbuss

noun
1. historical a short large-bored gun.
2. an unsubtle and imprecise action or method.

ORIGIN: Dutch donderbus 'thunder gun' .

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blunt

adjective
1. lacking a sharp edge or point.
2. having a flat or rounded end.
3. uncompromisingly forthright in manner.

verb
1. make or become blunt.
2. weaken or reduce the force of.

DERIVATIVES:
bluntly adverb
bluntness noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps Scandinavian.

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blur

verb (blurred, blurring)
make or become unclear or less distinct.

noun
something that cannot be seen, heard, or recalled clearly.

DERIVATIVES:
blurry adjective (blurrier, blurriest) .

ORIGIN: perhaps related to BLEARY.

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blurb

noun
a short promotional description of a book, film, or other product.

ORIGIN: coined by the American humorist Gelett Burgess (died 1951).

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blurt

verb
say suddenly and without careful consideration.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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blush

verb
become red in the face through shyness or embarrassment.

noun
1. an instance of blushing.
2. literary a pink or pale red tinge.

IDIOMS -
at first blush at the first glimpse or impression.

DERIVATIVES:
blushing adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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blusher

noun
a cosmetic used to give a warm reddish tinge to the cheeks.

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bluster

verb
1. talk in a loud or aggressive way with little effect.
2. (of wind or rain) blow or beat fiercely and noisily.

noun
blustering talk.

DERIVATIVES:
blusterer noun
blustery adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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BM

abbreviation
1. Bachelor of Medicine.
2. British Museum.

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BMA

abbreviation
British Medical Association.

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B-movie

noun
a low-budget film used as a supporting feature in a cinema programme.

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BMX

abbreviation
bicycle motocross (referring to bicycles designed for cross-country racing).

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boa

noun
1. a large snake which kills its prey by constriction.
2. a long, thin stole of feathers or fur worn around a woman's neck.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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boar

noun (pl. same or boars)
1. (also wild boar) a tusked wild pig.
2. an uncastrated domestic male pig.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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board

noun
1. a long, thin, flat piece of wood used in building.
2. a thin, flat, rectangular piece of stiff material used for various purposes.
3. the decision-making body of an organization.
4. the provision of regular meals in return for payment.

verb
1. get on or into (a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle).
2. receive meals and accommodation in return for payment.
3. (of a pupil) live in school during term time.
4. (board up/over) cover or seal with pieces of wood.

IDIOMS -
go by the board (of a plan or principle) be abandoned or rejected. [ORIGIN: from nautical use meaning «fall overboard», the «board» meaning the side of a ship.]
on board on or in a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.
take on board informal fully consider or assimilate (a new idea or situation).
tread the boards informal appear on stage as an actor.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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boarder

noun
1. a person who boards, in particular a pupil who lives in school during term time.
2. a person who forces their way on to a ship in an attack.

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board game

noun
a game that involves the movement of counters or other objects around a board.

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boarding house

noun
a private house providing food and lodging for paying guests.

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boarding school

noun
a school in which the pupils live during term time.

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boardroom

noun
a room in which a board of directors meets regularly.

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boast

verb
1. talk about oneself with excessive pride.
2. possess (a feature that is a source of pride).

noun
an act of boasting.

DERIVATIVES:
boaster noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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boastful

adjective
showing excessive pride and self-satisfaction in oneself.

DERIVATIVES:
boastfully adverb
boastfulness noun.

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boat

noun
1. a vessel for travelling on water.
2. a boat-shaped serving dish for sauce or gravy.

verb
travel in a boat for pleasure.

IDIOMS -
be in the same boat informal be in the same difficult circumstances as others.
miss the boat see MISS.
push the boat out Brit. informal be extravagant.
rock the boat informal disturb an existing situation.

DERIVATIVES:
boating noun
boatload noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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boater

noun
1. a flat-topped straw hat with a brim. [ORIGIN: originally worn while boating.]
2. a person who travels in a boat.

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boathook

noun
a long pole with a hook and a spike at one end, used for moving boats.

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boatman

noun
a person who provides transport by boat.

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boat people

plural noun
refugees who have left a country by sea.

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boatswain (also bo'sun or bosun)

noun
a ship's officer in charge of equipment and the crew.

ORIGIN: from BOAT + SWAIN.

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Bob

noun (in phrase Bob's your uncle) Brit. informal
an expression signifying the simplicity of completing a task.

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bob [1]

verb (bobbed, bobbing)
1. make or cause to make a quick, short movement up and down.
2. curtsy briefly.

noun
a quick, short movement up and down.

IDIOMS -
bob for apples try to catch floating apples with one's mouth, as a game.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bob [2]

noun
1. a short hairstyle hanging evenly all round.
2. a weight on a pendulum, plumb line, or kite-tail.
3. a bobsleigh.

verb (bobbed, bobbing)
cut (hair) in a bob.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a bunch or cluster: of unknown origin.

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bob [3]

noun (pl. same) Brit. informal
a shilling.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bobbin

noun
a cylinder, cone, or reel holding thread.

ORIGIN: French bobine.

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bobble

noun
a small ball made of strands of wool.

DERIVATIVES:
bobbly adjective.

ORIGIN: from BOB.

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bobby

noun (pl. bobbies) Brit. informal, dated
a police officer.

ORIGIN: after Sir Robert Peel (1788 1850), the British Prime Minister who established the Metropolitan Police.

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bobsleigh (N. Amer. bobsled)

noun
a mechanically steered and braked sledge used for racing down an ice-covered run.

DERIVATIVES:
bobsleighing noun.

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Boche

noun (the Boche) informal, dated
Germans, especially German soldiers, collectively.

ORIGIN: French soldiers' slang, literally 'rascal' , applied to Germans in World War I.

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bod

noun informal
1. a body.
2. chiefly Brit. a person.

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bode

verb (bode well/ill)
be a portent of a good or bad outcome.

ORIGIN: Old English, «proclaim, foretell»; related to BID.

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bodge

verb Brit. informal
make or repair badly or clumsily.

DERIVATIVES:
bodger noun.

ORIGIN: alteration of BOTCH.

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bodice

noun
1. the upper front part of a woman's dress.
2. a woman's sleeveless undergarment, often laced at the front.

ORIGIN: originally bodies, plural of BODY.

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bodiless

adjective
1. lacking a body.
2. incorporeal; insubstantial.

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bodily

adjective
1. relating to the body.
2. material or physical.

adverb
by taking hold of a person's body with force.

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bodkin

noun
1. a thick, blunt needle with a large eye, used for drawing tape or cord through a hem.
2. historical a long pin used to fasten women's hair.

ORIGIN: perhaps of Celtic origin and related to Irish bod, Welsh bidog, Scottish Gaelic biodag 'dagger' .

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body

noun (pl. bodies)
1. the physical structure, including the bones, flesh, and organs, of a person or an animal.
2. the torso.
3. a corpse.
4. the main or central part of something.
5. a mass or collection.
6. an organized group of people with a common function: a regulatory body.
7. technical a piece of matter; a material object: the path taken by the falling body.
8. a full flavour in wine.
9. fullness of a person's hair.
10. a bodysuit.

verb (bodies, bodied) (body forth)
give material form to.

IDIOMS -
keep body and soul together stay alive in difficult circumstances.
over my dead body informal used to express strong opposition.

DERIVATIVES:
bodied adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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body blow

noun
1. a heavy punch to the body.
2. a severe setback.

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bodybuilder

noun
a person who strengthens and enlarges their muscles through exercise such as weightlifting.

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body clock

noun
a person's biological clock.

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bodyguard

noun
a person employed to protect a rich or famous person.

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body language

noun
the conscious and unconscious bodily movements by which feelings are communicated.

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body politic

noun
the people of a nation or society considered as an organized group of citizens.

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body stocking

noun
a woman's one-piece undergarment covering the torso and legs.

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bodysuit

noun
a woman's close-fitting stretch garment for the upper body.

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bodywork

noun
the metal outer shell of a vehicle.

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Boer

noun
a member of the Dutch and Huguenot population which settled in southern Africa in the late 17th century.

adjective
relating to the Boers.

ORIGIN: Dutch, 'farmer' .

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boffin

noun informal, chiefly Brit.
a scientist.

DERIVATIVES:
boffiny adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bog

noun
1. an area of soft, wet, muddy ground.
2. Brit. informal a toilet.

verb (bogged, bogging)
1. (bog down) cause to become stuck; hinder the progress of.
2. (bog in) Austral./NZ informal start a task enthusiastically.

DERIVATIVES:
bogginess noun
boggy adjective.

ORIGIN: Irish or Scottish Gaelic bogach, from bog 'soft' .

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bogey [1] Golf

noun (pl. bogeys)
a score of one stroke over par at a hole.

verb (bogeys, bogeyed)
play (a hole) in one stroke over par.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Bogey, denoting the Devil (see BOGEY), regarded as an imaginary player.

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bogey [2] (also bogy)

noun (pl. bogeys)
1. an evil or mischievous spirit.
2. a cause of fear or alarm: the bogey of recession.
3. Brit. informal a piece of nasal mucus.

ORIGIN: originally as Bogey, a name applied to the Devil.

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bogeyman (also bogyman)

noun
an evil spirit.

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boggle

verb informal
1. be astonished or baffled.
2. (boggle at) hesitate to do.

ORIGIN: probably related to BOGEY.

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bogie

noun (pl. bogies) chiefly Brit.
1. an undercarriage with four or six wheels pivoted beneath the end of a railway vehicle.
2. chiefly N. English a low truck on four small wheels.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bog-standard

adjective informal, derogatory
ordinary; basic.

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bogus

adjective
not genuine or true.

DERIVATIVES:
bogusly adverb
bogusness noun.

ORIGIN: originally US, denoting a machine for making counterfeit money: of unknown origin.

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Bohemian

noun
1. a person from Bohemia, a region of the Czech Republic.
2. a socially unconventional person, especially an artist or writer.

adjective
1. relating to Bohemia.
2. socially unconventional.

DERIVATIVES:
Bohemianism noun.

ORIGIN: sense 2 is from French bohémien 'gypsy' (because gypsies were thought to come from Bohemia).

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boil [1]

verb
1. (with reference to a liquid) reach or cause to reach the temperature at which it bubbles and turns to vapour.
2. (with reference to food) cook or be cooked by immersing in boiling water.
3. seethe like boiling liquid.
4. (boil down to) amount to.

noun
1. the act or process of boiling; boiling point.
2. a state of vigorous activity or excitement: the team have gone off the boil this season.

ORIGIN: Old French boillir, from Latin bullire 'to bubble' .

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boil [2]

noun
an inflamed pus-filled swelling on the skin.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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boiler

noun
1. a fuel-burning apparatus for heating water, especially a device providing a domestic hot-water supply or serving a central heating system.
2. Brit. informal a chicken suitable for cooking only by boiling.

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boiler suit

noun Brit.
a one-piece suit worn as overalls for heavy manual work.

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boiling

adjective
1. at or near boiling point.
2. informal extremely hot.

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boiling point

noun
the temperature at which a liquid boils.

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boisterous

adjective
1. noisy, energetic, and cheerful.
2. literary (of weather or water) wild or stormy.

DERIVATIVES:
boisterously adverb
boisterousness noun.

ORIGIN: from earlier boistuous «rustic, coarse, boisterous», of unknown origin.

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bold

adjective
1. confident and courageous.
2. dated audacious; impudent.
3. (of a colour or design) strong or vivid.
4. (of type) having thick strokes.

noun
a bold typeface.

IDIOMS -
be so bold as to dare to.
as bold as brass confident to the point of impudence.

DERIVATIVES:
boldly adverb
boldness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bole

noun
a tree trunk.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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bolero

noun (pl. boleros)
1. a Spanish dance in simple triple time.
2. a woman's short open jacket.

ORIGIN: Spanish.

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boll

noun
the rounded seed capsule of plants such as cotton or flax.

ORIGIN: Dutch bolle 'rounded object' .

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bollard

noun
1. Brit. a short post used to prevent traffic from entering an area.
2. a short post on a ship or quayside for securing a rope.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old Norse, 'bole' .

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bollocking (also ballocking)

noun Brit. vulgar slang
a severe reprimand.

DERIVATIVES:
bollock verb.

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bollocks (also ballocks)

plural noun Brit. vulgar slang
1. the testicles.
2. (treated as sing. ) nonsense; rubbish.

ORIGIN: related to BALL.

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Bollywood

noun informal
the Indian popular film industry, based in Bombay.

ORIGIN: blend of Bombay and Hollywood.

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Bolshevik

noun historical
1. a member of the majority faction of the Russian Social Democratic Party, which seized power in the Revolution of 1917.
2. a person with politically subversive or radical views.

adjective
relating to or characteristic of Bolsheviks or Bolshevism.

DERIVATIVES:
Bolshevism noun
Bolshevist noun.

ORIGIN: Russian, from bol'she 'greater' (with reference to the greater faction).

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bolshie (also bolshy) Brit. informal

adjective
deliberately combative or uncooperative.

DERIVATIVES:
bolshiness noun.

ORIGIN: from BOLSHEVIK.

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bolster

noun
1. a long, firm pillow.
2. a part in a tool, vehicle, or structure providing support or reducing friction.

verb
support or strengthen.

DERIVATIVES:
bolsterer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bolt

noun
1. a long metal pin with a head that screws into a nut, used to fasten things together.
2. a bar that slides into a socket to fasten a door or window.
3. the sliding piece of the breech mechanism of a rifle.
4. a short, heavy arrow shot from a crossbow.
5. a flash of lightning across the sky.

verb
fasten with a bolt.

IDIOMS -
a bolt from (or out of) the blue a sudden and unexpected event.
bolt upright with the back very straight.
have shot one's bolt informal have done everything possible but still not succeeded.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bolt hole

noun chiefly Brit.
an escape route or hiding place.

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bomb

noun
1. a container of explosive or incendiary material, designed to explode on impact or when detonated by a timer or remote-control.
2. (the bomb) nuclear weapons collectively.
3. (a bomb) Brit. informal a large sum of money.

verb
1. attack with a bomb or bombs.
2. Brit. informal move very quickly.
3. informal fail badly.

IDIOMS -
go down a bomb Brit. informal be very well received.
go like a bomb Brit. informal
1. be very successful.
2. move very fast.

ORIGIN: French bombe, probably from Greek bombos 'booming, humming' , of imitative origin.

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bombard

verb
1. attack continuously with bombs or other missiles.
2. subject to a continuous flow of questions or information.
3. Physics direct a stream of high-speed particles at (a substance).

noun
an early form of cannon, which fired a stone ball.

DERIVATIVES:
bombardment noun.

ORIGIN: from Old French bombarde 'a cannon' or French bombarder, probably from Greek bombos 'booming' .

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bombardier

noun
1. a rank of non-commissioned officer in certain artillery regiments, equivalent to corporal.
2. a member of a bomber crew in the US air force responsible for sighting and releasing bombs.

ORIGIN: French.

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bombast

noun
grandiose but empty language.

ORIGIN: originally denoting cotton wool used as padding: from Old French bombace, from Latin bombyx 'silkworm' .

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bombastic

adjective
grandiose but with little meaning.

DERIVATIVES:
bombastically adverb.

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bombazine

noun
a twilled dress fabric of worsted and silk or cotton.

ORIGIN: French bombasin, from Latin bombycinus 'silken' , from Greek bombux 'silkworm' .

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bombed

adjective
1. subjected to bombing.
2. informal intoxicated by drink or drugs.

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bomber

noun
1. an aircraft that drops bombs.
2. a person who plants bombs, especially as a terrorist.
3. informal a large cannabis cigarette.

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bomber jacket

noun
a short jacket gathered at the waist and cuffs by elasticated bands and having a zip front.

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bombshell

noun
1. something that comes as a great surprise and shock.
2. informal a very attractive woman.

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bona fide

adjective
genuine; real.

adverb chiefly Law
without intention to deceive.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'with good faith' .

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bona fides

noun
1. honesty and sincerity of intention.
2. (treated as pl. ) informal a person's credentials.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'good faith' .

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bonanza

noun
a source of wealth, profit, or good fortune.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'fair weather, prosperity' , from Latin bonus 'good' .

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bonbon

noun
a sweet.

ORIGIN: French, from bon 'good' .

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bonce

noun Brit. informal
a person's head.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a large marble: of unknown origin.

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bond

noun
1. a thing used to tie or fasten things together.
2. (bonds) physical restraints used to hold someone prisoner.
3. a force or feeling that unites people.
4. a binding agreement.
5. a certificate issued by a government or a public company promising to repay borrowed money at a fixed rate of interest at a specified time.
6. (also chemical bond) a strong force of attraction holding atoms together in a molecule.
7. Building any of the various patterns in which bricks are laid to ensure strength in the resulting structure.

verb
1. join or be joined securely to something else.
2. establish a relationship based on shared feelings or experiences.
3. lay (bricks) in a strong overlapping pattern.
4. place (dutiable goods) in bond.

IDIOMS -
in bond (of dutiable goods) stored by customs until duty is paid by the importer.

ORIGIN: variant of BAND.

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bondage

noun
1. the state of being a slave or feudal serf.
2. sexual practice that involves the tying up or restraining of one partner.

ORIGIN: from obsolete bond «serf»; influenced by BOND.

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bond paper

noun
high-quality writing paper.

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bone

noun
1. any of the pieces of hard, whitish tissue making up the skeleton in vertebrates.
2. the hard material of which bones consist.
3. a thing resembling a bone, such as a strip of stiffening for an undergarment.

verb
1. remove the bones from (meat or fish) before cooking.
2. (bone up on) informal study (a subject) intensively.

IDIOMS -
bone of contention a source of continuing disagreement.
close to the bone
1. (of a remark) accurate to the point of causing discomfort.
2. (of a joke or story) near the limit of decency.
have a bone to pick with informal have reason to disagree or be annoyed with.
in one's bones felt or believed deeply or instinctively.
make no bones about be straightforward in stating or dealing with.
off (or on) the bone (of meat or fish) having had the bones removed (or left in).
what's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh (or blood) proverb a person's behaviour or characteristics are determined by their heredity.
work one's fingers to the bone work very hard.

DERIVATIVES:
boneless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bone china

noun
white porcelain containing the mineral residue of burnt bones.

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bone dry

adjective
extremely dry.

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bonehead

noun informal
a stupid person.

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bone idle

adjective
extremely idle.

ORIGIN: expressing idle through to the bone.

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bonemeal

noun
ground bones used as a fertilizer.

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boneshaker

noun Brit. informal
1. an old vehicle with poor suspension.
2. an early type of bicycle without rubber tyres.

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bonfire

noun
an open-air fire lit to burn rubbish or as a celebration.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a fire on which bones were burnt, or for burning heretics.

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bongo

noun (pl. bongos or bongoes)
each of a pair of small drums, held between the knees and played with the fingers.

ORIGIN: Latin American Spanish bongó.

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bonhomie

noun
good-natured friendliness.

DERIVATIVES:
bonhomous adjective.

ORIGIN: French, from bonhomme 'good fellow' .

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bonito

noun (pl. bonitos)
a small tuna with dark stripes, important as a food and game fish.

ORIGIN: Spanish.

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bonk informal

verb
1. hit so as to cause a reverberating sound.
2. Brit. have sexual intercourse.

noun
1. a reverberating sound.
2. Brit. an act of sexual intercourse.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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bonkers

adjective informal
mad; crazy.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bon mot

noun (pl. bons mots)
a clever or witty remark.

ORIGIN: French, 'good word' .

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bonnet

noun
1. a woman's or child's hat tied under the chin and with a brim framing the face.
2. a soft brimless hat like a beret, worn by men and boys in Scotland.
3. Brit. the hinged metal canopy covering the engine of a motor vehicle.

DERIVATIVES:
bonneted adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French bonet, from Latin abonnis 'headgear' .

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bonny (also bonnie)

adjective (bonnier, bonniest) chiefly Scottish & N. English
1. physically attractive; healthy-looking.
2. sizeable; considerable.

DERIVATIVES:
bonnily adverb
bonniness noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Old French bon 'good' .

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bonsai

noun
the art of growing ornamental, artificially dwarfed varieties of trees or shrubs.

ORIGIN: Japanese, 'tray planting' .

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bonus

noun
1. a sum of money added seasonally to a person's wages for good performance.
2. Brit. an extra dividend or issue paid to shareholders.
3. an unexpected and welcome event.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'good' .

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bon vivant

noun (pl. bon vivants or bons vivants pronunc. same)
a person indulging in a sociable and luxurious lifestyle.

ORIGIN: French, 'person living well' .

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bon voyage

exclamation
have a good journey.

ORIGIN: French, 'good journey' .

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bony

adjective (bonier, boniest)
1. of, like, or containing bones.
2. so thin that the bones can be seen.

DERIVATIVES:
boniness noun.

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bonzer

adjective Austral./NZ informal
excellent.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of BONANZA.

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boo

exclamation
1. said suddenly to surprise someone.
2. said to show disapproval or contempt.

verb (boos, booed)
say ‘boo’ to show disapproval or contempt.

IDIOMS -
wouldn't say boo to a goose is very shy or reticent.

ORIGIN: imitative of the lowing of oxen.

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boob [1] informal

noun
1. Brit. an embarrassing mistake.
2. N. Amer. a stupid person.

verb Brit.
make an embarrassing mistake.

ORIGIN: from BOOBY.

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boob [2]

noun informal
a woman's breast.

ORIGIN: from BOOBY.

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boo-boo

noun informal
a mistake.

ORIGIN: reduplication of BOOB.

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boob tube

noun
1. Brit. informal a woman's tight-fitting strapless top.
2. N. Amer. informal television; a television set.

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booby [1]

noun (pl. boobies)
1. informal a stupid person.
2. a large tropical seabird of the gannet family.

ORIGIN: probably from Spanish bobo, from Latin balbus 'stammering' .

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booby [2]

noun (pl. boobies) informal
a woman's breast.

ORIGIN: from dialect bubby; perhaps related to German dialect Bübbi 'teat' .

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booby prize

noun
a prize given to the person who comes last in a contest.

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booby trap

noun
an object containing a concealed explosive device designed to detonate when someone touches it.

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boodle

noun informal
money, especially that gained or spent dishonestly.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a pack or crowd: from Dutch boedel, boel 'possessions, disorderly mass' .

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boogie

noun (also boogie-woogie) (pl. boogies)
1. a style of blues played on the piano with a strong, fast beat.
2. informal a dance to pop or rock music.

verb (boogieing) informal
dance to pop or rock music.

ORIGIN: originally US in the sense «party»: of unknown origin.

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book

noun
1. a written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers.
2. a main division of a literary work or of the Bible.
3. a bound set of blank sheets for writing in: an exercise book.
4. (books) a set of records or accounts.
5. a set of tickets, stamps, matches, etc., bound together.
6. a bookmaker's record of bets accepted and money paid out.

verb
1. reserve (accommodation, a ticket, etc.).
2. (book in) register one's arrival at a hotel.
3. engage (a performer or guest) for an event.
4. (be booked up) have all places or dates reserved.
5. make an official note of the details of (someone who has broken a law or rule).

IDIOMS -
bring someone to book officially call someone to account for their behaviour.
by the book strictly according to the rules.
in someone's bad (or good) books in disfavour (or favour) with someone.
in my book in my opinion.
on the books contained in a list of members, employees, or clients.
take a leaf out of someone's book imitate someone in a particular way.
throw the book at informal charge or punish (someone) as severely as possible.
you can't judge a book by its cover proverb outward appearances are not a reliable indication of the true character of someone or something.

DERIVATIVES:
bookable adjec tive
booker noun
booking noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «to grant by charter».

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bookcase

noun
an open cabinet containing shelves on which to keep books.

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book club

noun
an organization which sells its subscribers selected books by mail order at reduced prices.

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bookend

noun
a support placed at the end of a row of books to keep them upright.

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bookie

noun (pl. bookies) informal
a bookmaker.

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bookish

adjective
1. devoted to reading and studying.
2. (of language) literary in style.

DERIVATIVES:
bookishly adverb
bookishness noun.

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bookkeeping

noun
the activity of keeping records of financial affairs.

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booklet

noun
a small, thin book with paper covers.

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bookmaker

noun
a person whose job is to take bets, calculate odds, and pay out winnings.

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bookmark

noun
1. a strip of leather or card used to mark a place in a book.
2. Computing a record of the address of a file, Internet page, etc. enabling quick access by a user.

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bookworm

noun informal
a person who enjoys and spends much time reading.

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Boolean

adjective
denoting a system of notation used to represent logical propositions by means of the binary digits 0 (false) and 1 (true), especially in computing and electronics.

ORIGIN: named after the English mathematician George Boole (1815 64).

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boom [1]

noun
a loud, deep, resonant sound.

verb
make this sound.

DERIVATIVES:
booming adjective
boomy adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative; perhaps from Dutch bommen 'to hum, buzz' .

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boom [3]

noun
1. a pivoted spar to which the foot of a vessel's sail is attached.
2. a movable arm carrying a microphone or film camera.
3. a floating beam used to contain oil spills or to form a barrier across the mouth of a harbour.

ORIGIN: Dutch, 'beam, tree, pole' , related to BEAM.

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boomerang

noun
a curved flat piece of wood that can be thrown so as to return to the thrower, used by Australian Aboriginals as a hunting weapon.

ORIGIN: from an Aboriginal language.

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boon

noun
1. a thing that is helpful or beneficial.
2. archaic a favour or request.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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boon companion

noun
a close friend.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «good fellow», referring to a drinking companion: boon from Old French bon, from Latin bonus 'good' .

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boor

noun
a rough and bad-mannered person.

DERIVATIVES:
boorish adjective
boorishly adverb
boorishness noun.

ORIGIN: Low German br or Dutch boer 'farmer' .

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boost

verb
help or encourage to increase or improve.

noun
a source of help or encouragement.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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booster

noun
1. Medicine a dose of a vaccine increasing or renewing the effect of an earlier one.
2. the part of a rocket or spacecraft used to give initial acceleration.
3. a source of help or encouragement.
4. a device for increasing electrical voltage or signal strength.

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boot [1]

noun
1. a sturdy item of footwear covering the foot and ankle, and sometimes the lower leg.
2. informal a hard kick.
3. Brit. a space at the back of a car for carrying luggage.

verb
1. kick hard.
2. (boot out) informal force to leave.
3. start (a computer) and put it into a state of readiness for operation. [ORIGIN: from BOOTSTRAP.]

IDIOMS -
the boot is on the other foot the situation is now reversed.
give (or get) the boot informal dismiss (or be dismissed) from a job.
old boot informal an ugly or disliked old woman.
put the boot in Brit. informal kick or attack someone when they are already on the ground.
with one's heart in one's boots very depressed or anxious.

DERIVATIVES:
bootable adjective
booted adjective.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, or Old French bote.

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boot [2]

noun (in phrase to boot)
as well.

ORIGIN: Old English, «advantage, remedy».

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bootee (also bootie)

noun
1. a baby's soft shoe.
2. a woman's short boot.

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booth

noun
1. a small temporary structure used for selling goods or staging shows at a market or fair.
2. an enclosed compartment allowing privacy when telephoning, voting, etc.

ORIGIN: from Old Norse, «dwell».

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bootleg

adjective
(of alcoholic drink or a recording) made or distributed illegally.

noun
an illegal musical recording.

DERIVATIVES:
bootlegger noun
bootlegging noun.

ORIGIN: from a practice among smugglers of hiding bottles in their boots.

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bootlicker

noun informal
an obsequious person.

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bootstrap

noun
1. a loop at the back of a boot, used to pull it on.
2. Computing the action of loading a program into a computer by means of a few initial instructions which enable the introduction of the rest of the program from an input device.

IDIOMS -
pull oneself up by one's bootstraps improve one's position by one's own efforts.

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booty

noun
valuable stolen goods.

ORIGIN: Low German bte, buite 'exchange, distribution' .

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booze informal

noun
alcoholic drink.

verb
drink large quantities of alcohol.

DERIVATIVES:
boozy (boozier, booziest) adjective.

ORIGIN: from Dutch bsen 'drink to excess' .

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boozer

noun informal
1. a person who drinks large quantities of alcohol.
2. Brit. a pub.

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booze-up

noun informal
a heavy drinking session.

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bop [1] informal

noun chiefly Brit.
1. a dance to pop music.
2. a social occasion with dancing.

verb (bopped, bopping)
dance to pop music.

DERIVATIVES:
bopper noun.

ORIGIN: shortening of BEBOP.

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bop [2] informal

verb (bopped, bopping)
hit or punch quickly.

noun
a quick blow or punch.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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boracic

adjective
1. consisting of, containing, or denoting boric acid.
2. Brit. informal having no money. [ORIGIN: from boracic lint, rhyming slang for «skint».]

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borage

noun
a herbaceous plant with bright blue flowers and hairy leaves.

ORIGIN: Latin borrago, perhaps from an Arabic word meaning «father of roughness» (referring to the leaves).

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borax

noun
a white mineral consisting of hydrated sodium borate, found in some alkaline salt deposits and used in making glass and as a metallurgical flux.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Aramaic.

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border

noun
1. a boundary between two countries or other areas.
2. a decorative band around the edge of something.
3. a strip of ground along the edge of a lawn for planting flowers or shrubs.

verb
1. form a border around or along.
2. (of a country or area) be adjacent to (another).
3. (border on) come close to (an extreme condition).

ORIGIN: Old French bordeure.

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borderline

noun
a line marking a boundary.

adjective
only just acceptable in quality or as belonging to a category: references may be requested in borderline cases.

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bore [1]

verb
1. make (a hole) in something with a drill or other tool.
2. hollow out (a gun barrel or other tube).

noun
1. the hollow part inside a gun barrel or other tube.
2. the diameter of this: a small-bore rifle.

DERIVATIVES:
borer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bore [2]

noun
a dull and uninteresting person or activity.

verb
cause to feel weary and uninterested by being dull and tedious.

DERIVATIVES:
boring adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bore [3]

noun
a steep-fronted wave caused by the meeting of two tides or by a tide rushing up a narrow estuary.

ORIGIN: perhaps from an Old Norse word meaning 'wave' .

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bored

adjective
feeling weary and impatient because one is unoccupied or has no interest in one's current activity.
USAGE - The constructions bored by or bored with should be used rather than bored of. Although bored of mirrors the accepted construction tired of and is often used informally, it is not considered acceptable in standard English.

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boredom

noun
the state of feeling bored.

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borehole

noun
a deep, narrow hole in the ground made to locate water or oil.

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boric acid

noun Chemistry
a weakly acid crystalline compound derived from borax, used as a mild antiseptic.

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born

adjective
1. existing as a result of birth.
2. (born of) existing as a result of (a situation or feeling).
3. having a natural ability to do a particular job or task: a born engineer.
4. (-born) having a specific nationality: a German-born philosopher.

IDIOMS -
born and bred by birth and upbringing.
in all one's born days throughout one's life (used for emphasis).
not know one is born not realize how easy one's life is.
I (or she, etc.) wasn't born yesterday I am (or she, etc. is) not foolish or gullible.

ORIGIN: Old English, past participle of BEAR.

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born-again

adjective
1. relating to or denoting a person who has converted to a personal faith in Christ.
2. showing the great enthusiasm of a person newly converted to a cause: born-again environmentalists.

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boron

noun
a non-metallic chemical element which can be prepared as a brown powder or (if pure) a black crystalline semiconductor.

DERIVATIVES:
boride noun.

ORIGIN: from BORAX.

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borough

noun
1. Brit. a town (as distinct from a city) with a corporation and privileges granted by a royal charter.
2. an administrative division of London.
3. a municipal corporation in certain US states.
4. each of five divisions of New York City.

ORIGIN: Old English, «fortress, citadel».

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borrow

verb
1. take and use (something belonging to someone else) with the intention of returning it.
2. take and use (money) from a person or bank under agreement to pay it back later.

IDIOMS -
be (living) on borrowed time be surviving against expectations.

DERIVATIVES:
borrower noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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borstal

noun Brit. historical
a custodial institution for young offenders.

ORIGIN: named after the village of Borstal in southern England, where the first of these was established.

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borzoi

noun (pl. borzois)
a breed of large Russian wolfhound with a narrow head and silky coat.

ORIGIN: from Russian borzy 'swift' .

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bosh

noun informal
nonsense.

ORIGIN: from Turkish bos 'empty, worthless' .

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bosky

adjective literary
covered by trees or bushes.

ORIGIN: from obsolete bosk, variant of BUSH.

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bosom

noun
1. a woman's breast or chest.
2. the breast as the seat of emotions.
3. a person's loving care or protection: the bosom of his family.

adjective
(of a friend) very close.

DERIVATIVES:
bosomy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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boss [1] informal

noun
a person who is in charge of an employee or organization.

verb
give orders in a domineering manner.

adjective N. Amer.
excellent.

ORIGIN: Dutch baas 'master' .

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boss [2]

noun
1. a projecting knob or stud on the centre of a shield, propeller, or similar object.
2. Architecture an ornamental carving at the point where the ribs in a ceiling cross.

ORIGIN: Old French boce.

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bossa nova

noun
a dance like the samba, originating in Brazil.

ORIGIN: Portuguese, 'new tendency' .

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boss-eyed

adjective Brit. informal
cross-eyed; squinting.

ORIGIN: related to dialect boss «miss, bungle», of unknown origin.

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bossy

adjective (bossier, bossiest) informal
fond of giving orders; domineering.

DERIVATIVES:
bossily adverb
bossiness noun.

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botanical

adjective
relating to botany.

noun
a substance obtained from a plant and used as an additive.

DERIVATIVES:
botanically adverb.

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botanical garden (also botanic garden)

noun
a place where plants are grown for scientific study and display to the public.

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botany

noun
the scientific study of plants.

DERIVATIVES:
botanic adjective
botanist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek botan 'plant' .

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botch informal

verb
perform (an action or task) badly or carelessly.

noun (also botch-up)
a badly performed action or task.

DERIVATIVES:
botcher noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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both

predeterminer , determiner , & pronoun
two people or things, regarded and identified together.

adverb
applying equally to each of two alternatives.

IDIOMS -
have it both ways benefit from two incompatible ways of thinking or behaving.

USAGE - When both is used in constructions with and, the structures following the two words should be symmetrical: both at home and at work is better than both at home and work .
ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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bother

verb
1. take the trouble to do.
2. worry, disturb, or upset.
3. (bother with/about) feel concern about or interest in.

noun
1. trouble and fuss.
2. (a bother) a cause of trouble or fuss.

exclamation chiefly Brit.
used to express mild irritation.

ORIGIN: originally in the dialect senses «noise, chatter» or «confuse with noise»: from Anglo-Irish.

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bothersome

adjective
annoying; troublesome.

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bottle

noun
1. a container with a narrow neck, used for storing liquids.
2. Brit. informal one's courage or confidence.

verb
1. place in bottles for storage.
2. (bottle up) repress or conceal (one's feelings).
3. (bottle out) Brit. informal lose one's nerve and decide not to do something.
4. informal hit with a glass bottle.

IDIOMS -
hit the bottle informal start to drink alcohol heavily.

ORIGIN: Old French boteille, from Latin butticula 'small cask' .

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bottle bank

noun Brit.
a place where used glass bottles may be deposited for recycling.

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bottle green

adjective
dark green.

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bottleneck

noun
1. the neck or mouth of a bottle.
2. a narrow section of road or a junction where traffic flow is restricted.

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bottom

noun
1. the lowest point or part of something.
2. the furthest point or part of something.
3. the lowest position in a competition or ranking.
4. chiefly Brit. a person's buttocks.
5. (also bottoms) the lower half of a two-piece garment.

adjective
1. in the lowest position.
2. in the furthest position away in a downhill direction.

verb
1. (of a ship) touch the bottom of the sea.
2. (bottom out) (of a situation) reach the lowest point before stabilizing or improving.
3. Austral./NZ excavate to the level of a mineral-bearing stratum.

IDIOMS -
at bottom fundamentally.
be at the bottom of be the fundamental cause or origin of.
the bottom falls (or drops) out of something something suddenly fails or collapses.
bottoms up! informal said as a toast before drinking.
get to the bottom of find an explanation for (a mystery).

DERIVATIVES:
bottomless adjective
bottommost adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bottom drawer

noun Brit. dated
household linen and other items stored by a woman in preparation for her marriage.

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bottom line

noun informal
1. the final total of an account or balance sheet.
2. the underlying and most important factor.

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botulism

noun
a dangerous form of food poisoning caused by a bacterium growing on improperly sterilized foods.

ORIGIN: German Botulismus, originally 'sausage poisoning' , from Latin botulus 'sausage' .

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bouclé

noun
yarn with a looped or curled ply.

ORIGIN: French, 'buckled, curled' .

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boudoir

noun
a woman's bedroom or small private room.

ORIGIN: French, 'sulking-place' , from bouder 'pout, sulk' .

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bouffant

adjective
(of hair) styled so as to stand out from the head in a rounded shape.

noun
a bouffant hairstyle.

ORIGIN: French, 'swelling' .

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bougainvillea (also bougainvillaea)

noun
an ornamental climbing plant widely cultivated in the tropics, with brightly coloured papery bracts surrounding the flowers.

ORIGIN: named after the French explorer L. A. de Bougainville (1729 1811).

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bough

noun
a main branch of a tree.

ORIGIN: Old English «bough or shoulder»; related to BOW.

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bouillon

noun
thin soup or stock made by stewing meat, fish, or vegetables.

ORIGIN: French, from bouillir 'to boil' .

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boulder

noun
a large rock.

DERIVATIVES:
bouldery adjective.

ORIGIN: Scandinavian.

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boule (also boules)

noun
a French game similar to bowls, played with metal balls.

ORIGIN: French, 'bowl' .

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boulevard

noun
a wide street, typically one lined with trees.

ORIGIN: French, 'rampart' (later 'a promenade on the site of a rampart' ), from German Bollwerk 'bulwark' .

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bounce

verb
1. spring quickly up or away from a surface after hitting it.
2. move or jump up and down repeatedly.
3. (of light or sound) reflect back from a surface.
4. (bounce back) recover well after a setback or problem.
5. informal (of a cheque) be returned by a bank when there are insufficient funds in an account to meet it.
6. Brit. informal pressurize (someone) into doing something.
7. informal, chiefly N. Amer. dismiss from a job.

noun
1. a rebound of a ball or other object.
2. an act of bouncing up and down.
3. exuberant self-confidence.
4. health and body in a person's hair.

IDIOMS -
bounce an idea off someone informal discuss an idea with another person in order to test or improve it.

ORIGIN: perhaps imitative, or from Low German bunsen 'beat' or Dutch bons 'a thump' .

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bouncer

noun
a person employed by a nightclub to prevent troublemakers entering or to eject them from the premises.

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bouncing

adjective
(of a baby) vigorous and healthy.

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bouncy

adjective (bouncier, bounciest)
1. able to bounce or making something bounce well.
2. confident and lively.

DERIVATIVES:
bouncily adverb
bounciness noun.

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bound [1]

verb
walk or run with leaping strides.

noun
a leaping movement towards or over something.

ORIGIN: French bondir 'resound' , later 'rebound' , from Latin bombus 'humming' .

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bound [2]

noun
1. a boundary.
2. a limitation or restriction.

verb
1. form the boundary of.
2. restrict.

IDIOMS -
out of bounds
1. (in sport) beyond the field of play.
2. beyond the acceptable or permitted limits.

ORIGIN: Old French bodne, from Latin bodina.

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bound [3]

adjective
going towards somewhere: a train bound for Edinburgh.

ORIGIN: from Old Norse, 'get ready' .

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bound [4]
past and past participle of BIND.
adjective
1. (-bound) restricted or confined to or by a place or situation: his job kept him city-bound.
2. destined or certain to be, do, or have.
3. obliged to do.

IDIOMS -
I'll be bound I am sure.

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boundary

noun (pl. boundaries)
1. a line marking the limits of an area.
2. Cricket a hit crossing the limits of the field, scoring four or six runs.

ORIGIN: from BOUND.

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bounden
archaic past participle of BIND.
IDIOMS -
a bounden duty an obligatory responsibility.

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bounder

noun Brit. informal, dated
a dishonourable man.

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boundless

adjective
unlimited.

DERIVATIVES:
boundlessly adverb
boundlessness noun.

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bounteous

adjective archaic
bountiful.

DERIVATIVES:
bounteously adverb
bounteousness noun.

ORIGIN: from Old French bontif 'benevolent' , from bonte «bounty, goodness».

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bountiful

adjective
1. abundant.
2. giving generously.

IDIOMS -
Lady Bountiful a woman who engages in ostentatious acts of charity. [ORIGIN: from the name of a character in Farquhar's The Beaux' Stratagem (1707).]

DERIVATIVES:
bountifully adverb.

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bounty

noun (pl. bounties)
1. a reward paid for killing or capturing someone.
2. historical a sum paid by the state to encourage trade.
3. chiefly historical a sum paid by the state to army or navy recruits on enlistment.
4. literary something given or occurring in generous amounts.
5. literary generosity: people along the Nile depend on its bounty.

ORIGIN: Old French bonte 'goodness' , from Latin bonus 'good' .

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bouquet

noun
1. a bunch of flowers.
2. the characteristic scent of a wine or perfume.

ORIGIN: French, (earlier 'clump of trees' ), from Old French bos, variant of bois 'wood' .

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bourbon

noun
a kind of American whisky distilled from maize and rye.

ORIGIN: named after Bourbon County, Kentucky, where it was first made.

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bourgeois (also bourgeoise)

adjective
1. characteristic of the middle class, especially in being materialistic or conventional.
2. (in Marxist contexts) capitalist.

noun (pl. same)
a bourgeois person.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin burgus 'castle, fortified town' ; related to BOROUGH and BURGESS.

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bourgeoisie

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
1. the middle class.
2. (in Marxist contexts) the capitalist class.

ORIGIN: French.

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bourse

noun
a stock market in a non-English-speaking country, especially France.

ORIGIN: French, 'purse' , from Greek bursa 'leather' .

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bout

noun
1. a short period of illness or intense activity.
2. a wrestling or boxing match.

ORIGIN: from dialect bought «bend, loop».

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boutique

noun
a small shop selling fashionable clothes.

ORIGIN: French, 'small shop' , from Greek apothk 'storehouse' .

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bovine

adjective
1. relating to or resembling cattle.
2. sluggish or stupid.

noun
an animal of the cattle group, which also includes buffaloes and bisons.

DERIVATIVES:
bovinely adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin bovinus, from bos 'ox' .

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bow [1]

noun
1. a knot tied with two loops and two loose ends.
2. a weapon for shooting arrows, made of curved wood joined at both ends by a taut string.
3. a rod with horsehair stretched along its length, used for playing some stringed instruments.

verb
play (a stringed instrument) using a bow.

IDIOMS -
have another string to one's bow Brit. have a further resource available.

ORIGIN: Old English, «bend, bow, arch»; related to BOW.

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bow [2]

verb
1. bend the head or upper body as a sign of respect, greeting, or shame.
2. bend with age or under a heavy weight.
3. submit to pressure or demands.
4. (bow out) withdraw or retire from an activity.

noun
an act of bowing.

IDIOMS -
bow and scrape behave in an obsequious way.
take a bow acknowledge applause by bowing.

ORIGIN: Old English, «bend, stoop»; related to BOW.

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bow [3] (also bows)

noun
the front end of a ship.

IDIOMS -
a shot across the bows a warning statement or gesture.

ORIGIN: Low German boog or Dutch boeg 'shoulder or ship's bow' ; related to BOUGH.

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bowdlerize (also bowdlerise)

verb
remove indecent or offensive material from (a text).

ORIGIN: from the name of Dr Thomas Bowdler (1754 1825), an American who published an expurgated edition of Shakespeare.

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bowel

noun
1. the intestine.
2. (bowels) the deepest inner parts of something.

ORIGIN: Latin botellus 'little sausage' .

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bowel movement

noun
an act of defecation.

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bower

noun
1. a pleasant shady place under trees.
2. literary a lady's private room.
3. literary a summer house or country cottage.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bowerbird

noun
an Australasian bird noted for the male's habit of constructing an elaborate bower adorned with feathers, shells, etc. to attract the female.

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bowie knife

noun
a long knife with a blade double-edged at the point.

ORIGIN: named after the American frontiersman Jim Bowie (1799 1836).

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bowl [1]

noun
1. a round, deep dish or basin.
2. a rounded, concave part of an object.
3. a natural basin.
4. chiefly N. Amer. a stadium for sporting or musical events.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to BOLL.

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bowl [2]

verb
1. roll (a round object) along the ground.
2. Cricket (of a bowler) throw (the ball) towards the wicket, or dismiss (a batsman) by hitting the wicket with a bowled ball.
3. move rapidly and smoothly.
4. (bowl over) knock down.
5. (bowl over) informal completely overwhelm or astonish.

noun
1. a wooden or hard rubber ball used in the game of bowls.
2. a large ball used in tenpin bowling or skittles.

ORIGIN: Old French boule, from Latin bulla 'bubble' .

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bow-legged

adjective
having legs that curve outwards at the knee.

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bowler [1]

noun
1. Cricket a member of the fielding side who bowls.
2. a player at bowls, tenpin bowling, or skittles.

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bowler [2]

noun
a man's hard felt hat with a round dome-shaped crown.

ORIGIN: named after the 19th-century English hatter William Bowler.

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bowline

noun
1. a rope attaching the weather side of a square sail to a ship's bow.
2. a simple knot for forming a non-slipping loop at the end of a rope.

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bowling

noun
the game of bowls, tenpin bowling, or skittles.

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bowling alley

noun
a long narrow track along which balls are rolled in skittles or tenpin bowling.

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bowling green

noun
an area of closely mown grass on which the game of bowls is played.

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bowls

plural noun (treated as sing. )
a game played with heavy wooden bowls, the object of which is to propel one's bowl as close as possible to a small white ball (the jack).

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bowsprit

noun
a spar running out from a ship's bow, to which the forestays are fastened.

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bow tie

noun
a necktie in the form of a bow.

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bow window

noun
a curved bay window.

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box [1]

noun
1. a container with a flat base and sides and a lid.
2. an area enclosed within straight lines on a page or computer screen.
3. an enclosed area reserved for a group of people in a theatre or sports ground, or for witnesses or the jury in a law court.
4. a facility at a newspaper office for receiving replies to an advertisement, or at a post office for keeping letters until collected.
5. Brit. a shield for protecting a man's genitals in sport.
6. Brit. a small country house used when shooting or fishing.
7. (the box) informal, chiefly Brit. television.
8. (the box) Soccer, informal the penalty area.

verb
1. put in a box.
2. (box in) restrict or confine.

ORIGIN: Old English, probably related to BOX.

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box [2]

verb
fight an opponent with the fists in padded gloves as a sport.

noun
a slap on the side of a person's head.

IDIOMS -
box clever Brit. informal act so as to outwit someone.
box someone's ears slap someone on the side of the head.

DERIVATIVES:
boxing noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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box [3]

noun
a slow-growing evergreen shrub with small glossy leaves and hard wood.

ORIGIN: Greek puxos.

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boxer

noun
1. a person who boxes as a sport.
2. a medium-sized breed of dog with a smooth brown coat and pug-like face.

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boxer shorts

plural noun
men's underpants resembling shorts.

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Boxing Day

noun chiefly Brit.
a public holiday on the first day after Christmas Day.

ORIGIN: from the former custom of giving tradespeople a Christmas box on this day.

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box junction

noun Brit.
a road area at a junction marked with a yellow grid, which a vehicle should enter only if its exit is clear.

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box number

noun
a number identifying an advertisement in a newspaper, used as an address for replies.

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box office

noun
a place at a theatre, cinema, etc. where tickets are sold.

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box pleat

noun
a pleat consisting of two parallel creases forming a raised band.

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boxroom

noun Brit.
a very small room.

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boxy

adjective (boxier, boxiest)
1. squarish in shape.
2. (of a room or space) cramped.

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boy

noun
1. a male child or youth.
2. (boys) informal men who mix socially or belong to a particular group.

exclamation informal
used to express strong feelings.

DERIVATIVES:
boyhood noun
boyish adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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boycott

verb
refuse to have commercial or social dealings with (a person, organization, or country) as a punishment or protest.

noun
an act of boycotting.

ORIGIN: from Captain Charles C. Boycott, an Irish land agent so treated in 1880 in an attempt to get rents reduced.

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boyfriend

noun
a person's regular male companion in a romantic or sexual relationship.

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boyo

noun (pl. boyos) Welsh & Irish informal
a boy or man.

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boysenberry

noun (pl. boysenberries)
a large red edible blackberry-like fruit.

ORIGIN: named after the American horticulturalist Robert Boysen (died 1950).

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bozo

noun (pl. bozos) informal, chiefly N. Amer.
a stupid or insignificant person.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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BP

abbreviation
1. before the present (era).
2. blood pressure.
3. British Petroleum.

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bra

noun
a woman's undergarment worn to support the breasts.

DERIVATIVES:
braless adjective.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of BRASSIERE.

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brace

noun
1. (braces) Brit. a pair of straps passing over the shoulders and fastening to the top of trousers to hold them up.
2. a strengthening or supporting piece or part.
3. a wire device fitted in the mouth to straighten the teeth.
4. (also brace and bit) a drilling tool with a crank handle and a socket to hold a bit.
5. a rope attached to the yard of a ship for trimming the sail.
6. (pl. same) a pair of things, especially birds or mammals killed in hunting.
7. either of two connecting marks ( and ), used in printing and music.

verb
1. make stronger or firmer with a brace.
2. press (one's body) firmly against something to stay balanced.
3. (brace oneself) prepare for something difficult or unpleasant.

ORIGIN: from Old French bracier 'embrace' , from brace 'two arms' , from Latin bracchium 'arm' .

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bracelet

noun
an ornamental band or chain worn on the wrist or arm.

ORIGIN: Old French, from bras 'arm' .

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bracing

adjective
fresh and invigorating.

DERIVATIVES:
bracingly adverb.

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bracken

noun
a tall fern with coarse lobed fronds.

ORIGIN: Scandinavian.

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bracket

noun
1. each of a pair of marks ( ) [ ] ( ) < > used to enclose words or figures.
2. a category of similar people or things: a high income bracket.
3. a right-angled support projecting from a wall.

verb (bracketed, bracketing)
1. enclose (words or figures) in brackets.
2. place in the same category or group.
3. hold or attach by means of a bracket.

ORIGIN: Spanish bragueta 'codpiece, bracket' , from Latin bracae 'breeches' .

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brackish

adjective
(of water) slightly salty, as in river estuaries.

ORIGIN: from obsolete brack «salty», from Low German, Dutch brac.

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bract

noun Botany
a modified leaf with a flower or flower cluster in its axil.

ORIGIN: Latin bractea 'thin metal plate' .

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brad

noun
a nail with a rectangular cross section and a small asymmetrical head.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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bradawl

noun
a tool for boring holes, resembling a screwdriver.

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brae

noun Scottish
a steep bank or hillside.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'eyelash' .

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brag

verb (bragged, bragging)
say something boastfully.

noun
1. a simplified form of poker.
2. an act of bragging.

DERIVATIVES:
bragger noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin (French braguer is recorded only later).

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braggart

noun
a person who brags.

ORIGIN: French bragard, from braguer 'to brag' .

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Brahman

noun (pl. Brahmans)
1. (also Brahmin) a member of the highest Hindu caste, that of the priesthood.
2. (also Brahma) the ultimate reality underlying all phenomena in the Hindu scriptures.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit.

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braid

noun
1. threads woven into a decorative band.
2. a length of hair made up of interlaced strands.

verb
1. form a braid with (hair).
2. edge or trim with braid.

ORIGIN: Old English, «make a sudden movement», also «interweave».

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Braille

noun
a written language for the blind, in which characters are represented by patterns of raised dots.

ORIGIN: named after the blind French educationist Louis Braille (1809 52).

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brain

noun
1. an organ of soft nervous tissue contained in the skull, functioning as the coordinating centre of sensation and intellectual and nervous activity.
2. intellectual capacity.
3. (the brains) informal the main organizer or planner within a group.

verb informal
hit hard on the head with an object.

IDIOMS -
have on the brain informal be obsessed with.

DERIVATIVES:
brained adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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brainbox

noun Brit. informal
a very clever person.

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brainchild

noun informal
an idea or invention originated by a specified person.

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brain-dead

adjective
1. having suffered brain death.
2. informal extremely stupid.

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brain death

noun
irreversible brain damage causing the end of independent breathing.

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brain drain

noun informal
the emigration of highly skilled or qualified people from a country.

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brainless

adjective
stupid; very foolish.

DERIVATIVES:
brainlessly adverb
brainlessness noun.

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brainstorm

noun
1. informal a moment in which one is suddenly unable to think clearly.
2. a spontaneous group discussion to produce ideas.

verb
have a spontaneous discussion to produce ideas.

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brain-teaser

noun informal
a problem or puzzle.

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brainwash

verb
subject (someone) to a prolonged process to transform their attitudes and beliefs totally.

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brainwave

noun
1. an electrical impulse in the brain.
2. informal a sudden clever idea.

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brainy

adjective (brainier, brainiest) informal
intelligent.

DERIVATIVES:
brainily adverb
braininess noun.

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braise

verb
fry (food) lightly and then stew slowly in a closed container.

ORIGIN: French braiser, from braise 'live coals' (in which the container was placed).

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brake

noun
a device for slowing or stopping a moving vehicle.

verb
slow or stop a vehicle with a brake.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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brake drum

noun
a broad, short cylinder attached to a wheel, against which the brake shoes press to cause braking.

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brake horsepower

noun
an imperial unit equal to one horsepower, used in expressing the power available at the shaft of an engine.

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brake shoe

noun
a long curved block which presses on to a brake drum.

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bramble

noun
1. a prickly scrambling shrub of the rose family, especially a blackberry.
2. chiefly Brit. the fruit of the blackberry.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to BROOM.

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brambling

noun
a finch with a white rump, related to the chaffinch.

ORIGIN: perhaps from obsolete German Brämling in the same sense; related to BRAMBLE.

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Bramley (also Bramley's seedling)

noun (pl. Bramleys)
a variety of large English cooking apple with green skin.

ORIGIN: named after the 19th-century English butcher Matthew Bramley, in whose garden it first grew.

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bran

noun
pieces of grain husk separated from flour after milling.

ORIGIN: Old French.

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branch

noun
1. a part of a tree which grows out from the trunk or a bough.
2. a river, road, or railway extending out from a main one.
3. a division of a large organization, group, etc.

verb
1. divide into or send out one or more branches.
2. (branch out) extend one's activities or interests in a new direction.

ORIGIN: Old French branche, from Latin branca 'paw' .

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brand

noun
1. a type of product manufactured by a company under a particular name.
2. a brand name.
3. an identifying mark burned on livestock with a heated iron.
4. a piece of burning or smouldering wood.

verb
1. mark with a branding iron.
2. mark out as having a particular shameful quality: she was branded a liar.
3. give a brand name to.

ORIGIN: from Old English, «burning».

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brandish

verb
wave or flourish (something) as a threat or in anger or excitement.

ORIGIN: Old French brandir, related to BRAND.

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brand name

noun
a name given by the maker to a product or range of products.

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brand new

adjective
completely new.

ORIGIN: with the idea 'straight from the fire' .

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brandy

noun (pl. brandies)
a strong alcoholic spirit distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice.

ORIGIN: from earlier brandwine, from Dutch branden 'burn, distil' + wijn 'wine' .

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brash

adjective
self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overbearing way.

DERIVATIVES:
brashly adverb
brashness noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps a form of RASH.

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brass

noun
1. a yellow alloy of copper and zinc.
2. (also horse brass) a flat brass ornament for the harness of a draught horse.
3. Brit. a memorial consisting of a flat piece of inscribed brass in the wall or floor of a church.
4. brass wind instruments forming a band or section of an orchestra.
5. (also top brass) informal people in authority.
6. Brit. informal money.

IDIOMS -
brassed off Brit. informal disgruntled.
cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey informal extremely cold. [ORIGIN: from a type of brass rack or ‘monkey’ in which cannonballs were stored and which contracted in very cold weather, ejecting the balls.]
get down to brass tacks informal start to consider the basic facts.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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brass band

noun
a group of musicians playing brass instruments.

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brasserie

noun (pl. brasseries)
an inexpensive French or French-style restaurant.

ORIGIN: French, 'brewery' .

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brassica

noun
a plant of a family that includes cabbage, swede, rape, and mustard.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'cabbage' .

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brass rubbing

noun
reproduction of the design on an engraved brass by rubbing heelball or chalk over paper laid on it.

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brassy

adjective (brassier, brassiest)
1. resembling brass in colour.
2. harsh or blaring like a brass instrument.
3. tastelessly showy or loud.

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brat

noun informal
a badly behaved child.

DERIVATIVES:
brattish adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps an abbreviation of Scots bratchet, from Old French brachet 'hound, bitch' .

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bravado

noun
boldness intended to impress or intimidate.

ORIGIN: Spanish bravada, from bravo 'brave' .

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brave

adjective
having or showing courage.

noun dated
an American Indian warrior.

verb
endure or face (unpleasant conditions) with courage.

DERIVATIVES:
bravely adverb
bravery noun.

ORIGIN: Italian or Spanish bravo 'bold, untamed' , from Latin barbarus 'barbarous' .

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bravo

exclamation
shouted to express approval for a performer.

ORIGIN: from Italian, 'bold, brave' .

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bravura

noun
1. great skill and brilliance.
2. the display of great daring.

ORIGIN: Italian, from bravo 'bold' .

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brawl

noun
a rough or noisy fight or quarrel.

verb
take part in a brawl.

DERIVATIVES:
brawler noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps imitative and related to BRAY.

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brawn

noun
1. physical strength as opposed to intelligence.
2. Brit. cooked meat from a pig's or calf's head, pressed with jelly.

DERIVATIVES:
brawny adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French braon 'fleshy part of the leg' .

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bray

noun
the loud, harsh cry of a donkey.

verb
make such a sound.

ORIGIN: from Old French braire 'to cry' .

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braze

verb
solder with an alloy of copper and zinc.

noun
a brazed joint.

ORIGIN: French braser 'solder' .

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brazen

adjective
1. bold and shameless.
2. literary made of brass.

verb (brazen it out)
endure a difficult situation with apparent confidence and lack of shame.

DERIVATIVES:
brazenly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English, «made of brass».

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brazier [1]

noun
1. a portable heater holding lighted coals.
2. N. Amer. a barbecue.

ORIGIN: French brasier, from braise 'hot coals' .

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brazier [2]

noun
a worker in brass.

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Brazilian

noun
a person from Brazil.

adjective
relating to Brazil.

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brazil nut

noun
the large three-sided nut of a South American forest tree.

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breach

verb
1. make a gap or hole in; break through.
2. break (a rule or agreement).

noun
1. a gap made in a wall or barrier.
2. an act of breaking a rule or agreement.
3. a break in relations.

IDIOMS -
breach of the peace chiefly Brit. the criminal offence of behaving in a violent or noisy way that causes a public disturbance.
breach of promise the breaking of a sworn assurance.
step into the breach replace someone who is suddenly unable to do a job.

ORIGIN: Old French breche, related to BREAK.

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bread

noun
1. food made of flour, water, and yeast mixed together and baked.
2. informal money.

IDIOMS -
bread and butter a person's livelihood or main source of income.
bread and circuses entertainment or political policies intended to keep the masses happy and docile.
break bread celebrate the Eucharist.
cast one's bread upon the waters do good without expecting gratitude or reward. [ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to the Book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 11.]
know which side one's bread is buttered informal know where one's advantage lies.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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breadcrumb

noun
a small fragment of bread.

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breaded

adjective
(of food) coated with breadcrumbs and fried.

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breadfruit

noun
a large round starchy fruit of a tropical tree, used as a vegetable and to make a substitute for flour.

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breadline

noun
1. (usu. in phrase on the breadline) Brit. the poorest condition in which it is acceptable to live.
2. N. Amer. a queue of people waiting to receive free food.

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breadth

noun
1. the distance or measurement from side to side of something.
2. wide range: breadth of experience.
3. dated a piece of cloth of standard or full width.

ORIGIN: obsolete brede, related to BROAD.

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breadwinner

noun
a person who supports their family with the money they earn.

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break

verb (past broke; past part. broken)
1. separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain.
2. make or become inoperative; stop working.
3. interrupt (a continuity, sequence, or course).
4. fail to observe (a law, regulation, or agreement).
5. crush the strength or spirit of.
6. surpass (a record).
7. succeed in deciphering (a code).
8. make a sudden rush or dash.
9. lessen the impact of (a fall).
10. suddenly make or become public.
11. (of a person's voice) falter and change tone.
12. (of a boy's voice) change in tone and register at puberty.
13. (of the weather) change suddenly, especially after a fine spell.
14. (of a storm) begin violently.
15. (of dawn or a day) begin as the sun rises.
16. use (a banknote) to pay for something and receive change.
17. make the first stroke at the beginning of a game of billiards, pool, or snooker.

noun
1. an interruption, pause, or gap.
2. a short rest or pause in work.
3. an instance of breaking, or the point where something is broken.
4. a sudden rush or dash.
5. informal an opportunity or chance.
6. (also break of serve or service break) Tennis the winning of a game against an opponent's serve.
7. Snooker & Billiards a consecutive series of successful shots.
8. a short s olo in jazz or popular music.

IDIOMS -
break away escape from control or influence.
break one's back (or neck) put great effort into achieving something.
break the back of accomplish the main or hardest part of.
break cover (of game being hunted) emerge into the open.
break down
1. suddenly cease to function or continue.
2. lose control of one's emotions when in distress.
break in
1. force entry to a building.
2. interject.
3. accustom (a horse) to being ridden.
4. make (new shoes) comfortable by wearing them.
breaking and entering (in North American, and formerly also British, law) the crime of entering a building by force to commit burglary.
break into burst forth into (laughter, song, or faster movement).
break a leg! theatrical slang good luck!
break of day dawn.
break off abruptly end or discontinue.
break out
1. (of something undesirable) start suddenly.
2. escape.
3. informal open and start using (something).
break out in be suddenly affected by an unpleasant sensation or condition.
break someone's serve win a game in a tennis match against an opponent's service.
break up
1. (of a gathering or relationship) end or part.
2. Brit. end the school term.
break wind release gas from the anus.
break with
1. quarrel with.
2. go against (a custom or tradition).
give someone a br eak informal stop putting pressure on someone.

DERIVATIVES:
breakable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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breakage

noun
1. the action of breaking something or the fact of being broken.
2. a thing that has been broken.

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breakaway

noun
1. a withdrawal from something established or long-standing.
2. a sudden rush away from a main group.

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break-dancing

noun
an energetic and acrobatic style of street dancing, developed by US blacks.

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breakdown

noun
1. a failure or collapse.
2. an explanatory analysis, especially of statistics.

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breaker

noun
1. a heavy sea wave that breaks on the shore.
2. a person that breaks up old machinery.

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breakfast

noun
a meal eaten in the morning, the first of the day.

verb
eat this meal.

IDIOMS -
have for breakfast informal deal with or defeat with contemptuous ease.

ORIGIN: from BREAK + FAST.

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break-in

noun
an illegal forced entry in order to steal something.

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breakneck

adjective
dangerously fast.

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breakthrough

noun
a sudden important development or success.

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breakwater

noun
a barrier built out into the sea to protect a coast or harbour from the force of waves.

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bream

noun (pl. same)
a deep-bodied greenish-bronze freshwater fish.

ORIGIN: Old French bresme.

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breast

noun
1. either of the two soft, protruding organs on a woman's chest which secrete milk after pregnancy.
2. a person's or animal's chest region.

verb
1. face and move forwards against or through.
2. reach the top of (a hill).

DERIVATIVES:
breasted adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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breastbone

noun
a thin flat bone running down the centre of the chest and connecting the ribs; the sternum.

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breastfeed

verb (breastfeeds, breastfeeding, breastfed)
feed (a baby) with milk from the breast.

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breastplate

noun
a piece of armour covering the chest.

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breaststroke

noun
a style of swimming in which the arms are pushed forwards and then swept back while the legs are alternately tucked in and kicked out.

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breath

noun
1. air taken into or expelled from the lungs.
2. an instance of breathing in or out.
3. a slight movement of air.
4. a sign, hint, or suggestion: he avoided the slightest breath of scandal.

IDIOMS -
breath of fresh air a refreshing change.
catch one's breath
1. cease breathing momentarily in surprise or fear.
2. rest after exercise to restore normal breathing.
draw breath breathe in.
hold one's breath cease breathing temporarily.
out of breath gasping for air.
take breath pause to recover normal breathing.
take someone's breath away astonish or inspire someone.
under one's breath in a very quiet voice.

ORIGIN: Old English, «smell, scent».

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breathable

adjective
1. (of air) fit to breathe.
2. (of clothing) admitting air to the skin and allowing sweat to evaporate.

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breathalyser (US trademark Breathalyzer)

noun
a device used by police for measuring the amount of alcohol in a driver's breath.

DERIVATIVES:
breathalyse (US breathalyze) verb.

ORIGIN: blend of BREATH and ANALYSE.

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breathe

verb
1. take air into the lungs and then expel it as a regular physical process.
2. say with quiet intensity.
3. admit or emit air or moisture.
4. give an impression of.

IDIOMS -
breathe down someone's neck
1. follow closely behind someone.
2. constantly check up on someone.
breathe one's last die.

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breather

noun informal
a brief pause for rest.

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breathing space

noun
an opportunity to pause, relax, or decide what to do next.

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breathless

adjective
1. gasping for breath.
2. feeling or causing great excitement, fear, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
breathlessly adverb
breathlessness noun.

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breathtaking

adjective
astonishing or awe-inspiring.

DERIVATIVES:
breathtakingly adverb.

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breath test

noun
a test in which a driver is made to blow into a breathalyser.

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breathy

adjective
(of a voice) having an audible sound of breathing.

DERIVATIVES:
breathily adverb.

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breech

noun
the back part of a rifle or gun barrel.

ORIGIN: Old English, «garment covering the loins and thighs», later «the buttocks».

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breech birth

noun
a birth in which the baby's buttocks or feet are delivered first.

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breeches

plural noun
short trousers fastened just below the knee, now worn for riding or as part of ceremonial dress.

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breed

verb (past and past part. bred)
1. (of animals) mate and then produce offspring.
2. keep (animals) for the purpose of producing young.
3. bring up (someone) to behave in a particular way.
4. produce or lead to.

noun
1. a distinctive type within a species of animals or plants, especially one deliberately developed.
2. a sort or kind.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to BROOD.

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breeder

noun
1. a person or animal that breeds.
2. a nuclear reactor which creates another fissile material (plutonium-239) as a by-product of energy production by fission of uranium-238.

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breeding

noun
upper-class good manners regarded as being passed on by heredity.

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breeze

noun
1. a gentle wind.
2. informal something easy to do.

verb informal
come or go in a casual or light-hearted manner.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'north-east wind' : probably from Old Spanish and Portuguese briza.

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breeze block

noun Brit.
a lightweight building brick made from cinders mixed with sand and cement.

ORIGIN: breeze from French braise 'live coals' .

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breezy

adjective (breezier, breeziest)
1. pleasantly windy.
2. relaxed, informal, and cheerily brisk.

DERIVATIVES:
breezily adverb
breeziness noun.

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brethren
archaic plural of BROTHER.
plural noun
fellow Christians or members of a male religious order.

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Breton

noun
1. a person from Brittany.
2. the language of Brittany, derived from Cornish.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'Briton' .

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breve

noun
1. Music a note twice as long as a semibreve, represented as a semibreve with two short bars either side, or as a square.
2. a written or printed mark () indicating a short or unstressed vowel.

ORIGIN: variant of BRIEF: the musical term was originally used in a series where a long was of greater time value than a breve.

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breviary

noun (pl. breviaries)
a book containing the service for each day, recited by those in orders in the Roman Catholic Church.

ORIGIN: Latin breviarium 'summary, abridgement' .

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brevity

noun
1. concise and exact use of words.
2. shortness of time.

IDIOMS -
brevity is the soul of wit proverb the essence of a witty statement lies in its concise wording and delivery. [ORIGIN: from Shakespeare's Hamlet (II. ii. 90).]

ORIGIN: Latin brevitas, from brevis 'brief' .

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brew

verb
1. make (beer) by soaking, boiling, and fermentation.
2. make (tea or coffee) by mixing it with hot water.
3. (of an unwelcome situation) begin to develop.

noun
something brewed.

DERIVATIVES:
brewer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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brewery

noun (pl. breweries)
a place where beer is made commercially.

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briar (also brier)

noun
a prickly scrambling shrub, especially a wild rose.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bribe

verb
dishonestly persuade (someone) to act in one's favour by paying them or giving other inducement.

noun
an inducement offered in an attempt to bribe.

DERIVATIVES:
bribery noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «rob, extort», later «money extorted or demanded»: from Old French briber, brimber 'beg' .

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bric-a-brac

noun
miscellaneous objects and ornaments of little value.

ORIGIN: French, from obsolete à bric et à brac 'at random' .

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brick

noun
1. a small rectangular block of fired or sun-dried clay, used in building.
2. Brit. a child's toy building block.
3. Brit. informal, dated a generous, helpful, and reliable person.

verb
block or enclose with a wall of bricks.

IDIOMS -
bricks and mortar buildings, especially housing.
like a ton of bricks informal with crushing weight, force, or authority.
you can't make bricks without straw proverb nothing can be made or accomplished without adequate material or information.

ORIGIN: Low German, Dutch bricke, brike.

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brickbat

noun
1. a piece of brick used as a missile.
2. a critical remark or reaction.

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brickie

noun (pl. brickies) Brit. informal
a bricklayer.

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bricklayer

noun
a person whose job is to build structures with bricks.

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brick red

noun
a deep brownish red.

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bridal

adjective
of or concerning a bride or a newly married couple.

ORIGIN: from Old English, «wedding feast».

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bride

noun
a woman on her wedding day or just before and after the event.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bridegroom

noun
a man on his wedding day or just before and after the event.

ORIGIN: Old English, «bride man».

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bridesmaid

noun
a girl or woman who accompanies a bride on her wedding day.

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bridge [1]

noun
1. a structure carrying a road, path, or railway across a river, road, etc.
2. the platform on a ship from which the captain and officers direct operations.
3. the upper bony part of a person's nose.
4. a partial denture supported by natural teeth on either side.
5. the part on a stringed instrument over which the strings are stretched.
6. (also bridge passage) Music a transitional section or middle eight in a composition.

verb
be or make a bridge over or between.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bridge [2]

noun
a card game related to whist, played by two partnerships of two players.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bridgehead

noun
a strong position secured by an army inside enemy territory.

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bridging loan

noun chiefly Brit.
a sum of money lent by a bank to cover an interval between two transactions, typically the buying of one house and the selling of another.

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bridle

noun
the headgear used to control a horse, consisting of buckled straps to which a bit and reins are attached.

verb
1. put a bridle on.
2. bring under control.
3. show resentment or anger.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bridleway (also bridle path)

noun Brit.
a path or track along which horse riders have right of way.

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Brie

noun
a kind of soft, mild, creamy cheese with a firm, white skin.

ORIGIN: named after Brie in northern France.

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brief

adjective
1. lasting a short time.
2. concise; using few words.
3. (of clothing) not covering much of the body.

noun
1. chiefly Brit. a summary of the facts in a case given to a barrister to argue in court.
2. informal a solicitor or barrister.
3. chiefly Brit. a set of instructions about a task.
4. a letter from the Pope on a matter of discipline.

verb
instruct or inform thoroughly in preparation for a task.

IDIOMS -
hold a brief for Brit. be retained as counsel for.
hold no brief for not support.

DERIVATIVES:
briefly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin brevis 'short' .

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briefcase

noun
a flat rectangular case for carrying books and documents.

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briefing

noun
a meeting for giving information or instructions.

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briefs

plural noun
short, close-fitting underpants or knickers.

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brig

noun
1. a two-masted square-rigged ship.
2. informal a prison on a warship.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of BRIGANTINE.

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brigade

noun
1. a subdivision of an army, typically consisting of a small number of battalions and forming part of a division.
2. informal, often derogatory a particular group of people: the anti-smoking brigade.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian brigata 'company' , from brigare 'contend' .

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brigadier

noun
a rank of officer in the British army, above colonel and below major general.

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brigand

noun
a member of a gang of bandits, especially in forested and mountainous areas.

DERIVATIVES:
brigandage noun.

ORIGIN: Italian brigante '(person) contending' , related to BRIGADE.

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brigantine

noun
a two-masted sailing ship with a square-rigged foremast and a mainmast rigged fore and aft.

ORIGIN: Italian brigantino, from brigante 'brigand' .

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bright

adjective
1. giving out much light, or filled with light.
2. (of colour) vivid and bold.
3. intelligent and quick-witted.
4. (of sound) clear and high-pitched.
5. cheerfully lively.
6. (of prospects) good.

IDIOMS -
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed informal alert and lively.

DERIVATIVES:
brightly adverb
brightness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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brighten

verb
1. make or become brighter.
2. make or become happier and more cheerful.

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bright spark

noun ironic
a clever or witty person.

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brill

noun
a flatfish similar to the turbot.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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brilliant

adjective
1. (of light or colour) very bright or vivid.
2. exceptionally clever or talented.
3. Brit. informal excellent; marvellous.

DERIVATIVES:
brilliance (also brilliancy) noun
brilliantly adverb.

ORIGIN: French brillant, from briller 'shine' , probably from Latin beryllus 'beryl' .

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brim

noun
1. the projecting edge around the bottom of a hat.
2. the lip of a cup, bowl, etc.

verb (brimmed, brimming)
fill or be full to the point of overflowing.

DERIVATIVES:
brimful adjective
brimmed adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting the edge of a body of water: perhaps related to German Bräme 'trimming' .

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brimstone

noun
1. archaic sulphur.
2. a large bright yellow or greenish-white butterfly.

ORIGIN: Old English, probably from bryne «burning» + stn «stone».

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brindle (also brindled)

adjective
(of a domestic animal) brownish or tawny with streaks of other colour.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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brine

noun
water saturated or strongly impregnated with salt, e.g. seawater.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bring

verb (past and past part. brought)
1. carry or accompany to a place.
2. cause to be in a particular position, state, or condition.
3. cause (someone) to receive (specified income or profit).
4. (bring oneself to do) force oneself to do (something unpleasant).
5. initiate (legal action).

IDIOMS -
bring about
1. cause (something) to happen.
2. cause (a ship) to head in a different direction.
bring forward
1. move (something scheduled) to an earlier time.
2. propose (an idea) for consideration.
bring the house down make an audience laugh or applaud very enthusiastically.
bring off achieve (something) successfully.
bring on
1. encourage or help (someone) to develop or improve.
2. cause (something unpleasant) to occur.
bring out
1. produce and launch (a new product or publication).
2. emphasize (a feature).
3. encourage (someone) to feel more confident.
bring round
1. restore (someone) to consciousness.
2. persuade (someone) to adopt one's own point of view.
bring to
1. restore (someone) to consciousness.
2. cause (a boat) to stop, especially by turning into the wind.
bring to bear exert (influence or pressure).
bring to pass chiefly literary cause (something) to happen.
bring up
1. look after (a child) until it is an adult.
2. raise (a matter) for discussion.
3. (of a ship) come to a stop.

DERIVATIVES:
bringer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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brink

noun
1. the extreme edge of land before a steep slope or a body of water.
2. the threshold of a state or situation, typically a bad one.

ORIGIN: Scandinavian.

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brinkmanship (US also brinksmanship)

noun
the pursuit of a dangerous policy to the limits of safety before stopping.

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briny

adjective
of salty water or the sea; salty.

noun (the briny) Brit. informal
the sea.

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brio

noun
vigour or vivacity.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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brioche

noun
a small, round, sweet French roll.

ORIGIN: French, from brier 'split up into small pieces' .

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briquette (also briquet)

noun
a block of compressed coal dust or peat used as fuel.

ORIGIN: French, 'small brick' .

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brisk

adjective
1. active and energetic.
2. slightly brusque.

DERIVATIVES:
briskly adverb
briskness noun.

ORIGIN: probably from French brusque 'lively, fierce' .

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brisket

noun
meat from the breast of a cow.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old Norse, 'cartilage, gristle' .

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bristle

noun
1. a short, stiff hair on an animal's skin or a man's face.
2. a stiff animal or artificial hair, used to make a brush.

verb
1. (of hair or fur) stand upright away from the skin.
2. react angrily or defensively.
3. (bristle with) be covered with or abundant in.

DERIVATIVES:
bristly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Brit

noun informal
a British person.

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Britannia

noun
the personification of Britain, usually depicted as a helmeted woman with shield and trident.

ORIGIN: the Latin name for Britain.

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British

adjective
relating to Great Britain or the United Kingdom.

DERIVATIVES:
Britishness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, from Latin Britto or Celtic.

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Briton

noun
1. a British person.
2. a native of southern Britain before and during Roman times.

ORIGIN: Old French Breton, from Latin Britto or Celtic.

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brittle

adjective
1. hard but liable to break or shatter easily.
2. hard or superficial in a way that masks nervousness or instability.

noun
a brittle sweet made from nuts and set melted sugar.

DERIVATIVES:
brittleness noun.

ORIGIN: related to an Old English word meaning «break up».

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broach

verb
1. raise (a sensitive subject) for discussion.
2. pierce or open (a cask or container) to draw out liquid.

ORIGIN: Old French brochier, from Latin brocchus 'projecting' .

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broad

adjective
1. having a distance larger than usual from side to side; wide.
2. of a specified distance wide.
3. large in area or scope.
4. without detail; general.
5. (of a hint) clear and unambiguous.
6. (of a regional accent) very noticeable and strong.
7. somewhat coarse and indecent.

noun N. Amer. informal
a woman.

IDIOMS -
broad daylight full daylight; day.

DERIVATIVES:
broadly adverb
broadness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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broad bean

noun
a large flat green bean which is usually eaten without the pod.

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broadcast

verb (past broadcast; past part. broadcast or broadcasted)
1. transmit by radio or television.
2. tell to many people.
3. scatter (seeds) rather than placing in drills or rows.

noun
a radio or television programme or transmission.

DERIVATIVES:
broadcaster noun.

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broadcloth

noun
a fine cloth of wool or cotton.

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broaden

verb
make or become broader.

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broadleaved (also broadleaf)

adjective
(of trees or herbaceous plants) having relatively wide flat leaves, as opposed to conifers or grasses.

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broadloom

noun
carpet woven in wide widths.

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broad-minded

adjective
tolerant or liberal.

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broadsheet

noun
1. a large piece of paper printed with information on one side only.
2. a newspaper with a large format.

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broadside

noun
1. historical a firing of all the guns from one side of a warship.
2. the side of a ship above the water between the bow and quarter.
3. a strongly worded critical attack.

IDIOMS -
broadside on sideways on.

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brocade

noun
a rich fabric woven with a raised pattern, usually with gold or silver thread.

DERIVATIVES:
brocaded adjective.

ORIGIN: Spanish and Portuguese brocado, from Italian brocco 'twisted thread' .

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broccoli

noun
a vegetable with heads of small green or purplish flower buds.

ORIGIN: Italian, plural of broccolo 'cabbage sprout, head' .

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brochure

noun
a magazine containing pictures and information about a product or service.

ORIGIN: French, 'something stitched' , related to BROACH and BROOCH.

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broderie anglaise

noun
open embroidery on fine white cotton or linen.

ORIGIN: French, 'English embroidery' .

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brogue

noun
1. a strong outdoor shoe with ornamental perforated patterns in the leather.
2. a marked accent, especially Irish or Scottish, when speaking English.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a rough shoe: from Scottish Gaelic and Irish bróg; sense 2 perhaps arose as an allusion to the rough footwear of Irish peasants.

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broil

verb chiefly N. Amer.
1. cook (meat or fish) by exposure to direct heat.
2. become very hot.

ORIGIN: Old French bruler 'to burn' .

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broiler

noun
1. a young chicken suitable for roasting, grilling, or barbecuing.
2. N. Amer. a gridiron or grill for broiling meat or fish.

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broke
past (and archaic past participle) of BREAK.
adjective informal
having completely run out of money.

IDIOMS -
go for broke informal risk everything in an all-out effort.

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broken past participle of BREAK.

adjective
(of a language) spoken falteringly and with many mistakes, as by a foreigner.

DERIVATIVES:
brokenly adverb
brokenness noun.

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broken-down

adjective
1. worn out and dilapidated.
2. not working.

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broken-hearted

adjective
overwhelmed by grief or disappointment.

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broken home

noun
a family in which the parents are divorced or separated.

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broker

noun
a person who buys and sells goods or assets for others.

verb
arrange or negotiate (a deal or plan).

DERIVATIVES:
brokerage noun.

ORIGIN: Old French brocour.

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brolly

noun (pl. brollies) Brit. informal
an umbrella.

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bromide

noun
1. Chemistry a compound of bromine with another element or group.
2. dated a sedative preparation containing potassium bromide.
3. a trite and unoriginal idea or remark, especially one intended to placate: I was too hard-headed to accept their official bromides.

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bromine

noun
a dark red liquid chemical element of the halogen group, with a choking irritating smell.

ORIGIN: from Greek brmos 'a stink' .

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bronchial

adjective
relating to the bronchi or bronchioles.

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bronchitis

noun
inflammation of the mucous membrane in the bronchial tubes.

DERIVATIVES:
bronchitic adjective & noun.

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bronchus

noun (pl. bronchi)
any of the major air passages of the lungs which diverge from the windpipe.

ORIGIN: Greek bronkhos 'windpipe' .

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bronco

noun (pl. broncos)
a wild or half-tamed horse of the western US.

ORIGIN: from Spanish, 'rough, rude' .

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bronze

noun
1. a yellowish-brown alloy of copper and tin.
2. a yellowish-brown colour.
3. a work of sculpture or other object made of bronze.

verb
1. give a bronze surface to.
2. make suntanned.

DERIVATIVES:
bronzy adjective.

ORIGIN: Italian bronzo, probably from a Persian word meaning 'brass' .

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Bronze Age

noun
a historical period that followed the Stone Age and preceded the Iron Age, when weapons and tools were made of bronze.

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bronze medal

noun
a medal made of or coloured bronze, customarily awarded for third place in a race or competition.

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brooch

noun
an ornament fastened to clothing with a hinged pin and catch.

ORIGIN: Old French broche 'spit for roasting' , from Latin brocchus 'projecting' .

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brood

noun
1. a family of young animals produced at one hatching or birth.
2. informal all the children in a family.

verb
1. think deeply about an unpleasant subject.
2. (brooding) appearing darkly menacing.
3. (of a bird) sit on (eggs) to hatch them.

adjective
(of an animal) kept to be used for breeding.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to BREED.

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broody

adjective (broodier, broodiest)
1. (of a hen) inclined to incubate eggs.
2. informal (of a woman) having a strong desire to have a baby.
3. thoughtful and unhappy.

DERIVATIVES:
broodily adverb
broodiness noun.

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brook [1]

noun
a small stream.

DERIVATIVES:
brooklet noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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brook [2]

verb formal
tolerate or allow (opposition): she would brook no criticism.

ORIGIN: Old English «use, possess» (later «digest, stomach»).

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broom

noun
1. a long-handled brush used for sweeping.
2. a shrub with many yellow flowers and small or few leaves.

IDIOMS -
a new broom sweeps clean proverb people newly appointed to positions of responsibility tend to make far-reaching changes.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to BRAMBLE.

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broomstick

noun
the handle of a broom, on which witches are said to fly.

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Bros

plural noun
brothers (in names of companies).

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broth

noun
1. soup consisting of meat or vegetable chunks cooked in stock.
2. a liquid nutrient medium for the culture of bacteria.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to BREW.

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brothel

noun
a house where men visit prostitutes.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «worthless man, prostitute»: related to an Old English word meaning «degenerate, deteriorate».

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brother

noun
1. a man or boy in relation to other children of his parents.
2. a male associate or fellow member of an organization.
3. (pl. also brethren) a (male) fellow Christian.
4. a member of a religious order of men: a Benedictine brother.
5. N. Amer. informal a black man.

exclamation
used to express annoyance or surprise.

DERIVATIVES:
brotherly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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brotherhood

noun
1. the relationship between brothers.
2. a feeling of kinship and closeness.
3. an association or community of people.

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brother-in-law

noun (pl. brothers-in-law)
1. the brother of one's wife or husband.
2. the husband of one's sister or sister-in-law.

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brougham

noun historical
1. a horse-drawn carriage with a roof, four wheels, and an open driver's seat in front.
2. a motor car with an open driver's seat.

ORIGIN: named after Lord Brougham (1778 1868), who designed the carriage.

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brouhaha

noun
a noisy and overexcited reaction.

ORIGIN: French.

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brow

noun
1. a person's forehead.
2. an eyebrow.
3. the summit of a hill or pass.

DERIVATIVES:
browed adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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browbeat

verb (past browbeat; past part. browbeaten)
intimidate with words or looks.

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brown

adjective
1. of a colour produced by mixing red, yellow, and blue, as of dark wood or rich soil.
2. dark-skinned or suntanned.

noun
brown colour, pigment, or material.

verb
1. make or become brown by cooking.
2. (be browned off) informal be irritated or depressed.

DERIVATIVES:
brownish adjective
browny adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Brownian motion

noun Physics
the erratic movement of microscopic particles in a fluid, as a result of collisions with the surrounding molecules.

ORIGIN: named after the Scottish botanist Robert Brown (1773 1858).

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Brownie

noun (pl. Brownies)
1. (Brit. also Brownie Guide) a member of the junior branch of the Guides Association.
2. (brownie) a small square of rich chocolate cake.
3. (brownie) a benevolent elf supposedly doing housework secretly.

IDIOMS -
brownie point informal, humorous a notional award given for an attempt to please.

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brown rice

noun
unpolished rice with only the husk of the grain removed.

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Brownshirt

noun
a member of a Nazi militia founded by Hitler in 1921 and suppressed in 1934, with brown uniforms.

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brownstone

noun N. Amer.
1. a kind of reddish-brown sandstone used for building.
2. a building faced with such sandstone.

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brown sugar

noun
unrefined or partially refined sugar.

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brown trout

noun (pl. same)
the common trout of European lakes and rivers, typically with dark spotted skin.

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browse

verb
1. survey goods or text in a leisurely way.
2. Computing read or survey (data files) via a network.
3. (of an animal) feed on leaves, twigs, etc.

noun
an act of browsing.

DERIVATIVES:
browsable adjective.

ORIGIN: from Old French brost 'young shoot' .

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browser

noun
1. a person or animal that browses.
2. Computing a program with a graphical user interface for displaying HTML files, used to navigate the World Wide Web.

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bruise

noun
1. an injury appearing as an area of discoloured skin on the body, caused by a blow rupturing underlying blood vessels.
2. a similar area of damage on a fruit, vegetable, or plant.

verb
1. inflict a bruise on.
2. be susceptible to bruising.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bruiser

noun informal, derogatory
a tough, aggressive person.

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bruit

verb
spread (a report or rumour) widely.

ORIGIN: Old French bruire 'to roar' .

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Brummie (also Brummy) Brit. informal

noun (pl. Brummies)
a person from Birmingham.

adjective
1. Brit. relating to Birmingham.
2. (brummy) Austral./NZ counterfeit, showy, or cheaply made.

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brunch

noun
a late morning meal eaten instead of breakfast and lunch.

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brunette (US also brunet)

noun
a woman or girl with dark brown hair.

ORIGIN: from French brun 'brown' .

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brunt

noun
the chief impact of something bad.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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brush [1]

noun
1. an implement with a handle and a block of bristles, hair, or wire, used especially for cleaning, smoothing, or painting.
2. an act of brushing.
3. a slight and fleeting touch.
4. a brief encounter with something bad or unwelcome.
5. the bushy tail of a fox.
6. a piece of carbon or metal serving as an electrical contact with a moving part in a motor or alternator.

verb
1. clean, smooth, or apply with a brush.
2. touch or push lightly.
3. (brush off) dismiss in an abrupt, contemptuous way.
4. (brush up on or brush up) work to regain (a previously learned skill).

DERIVATIVES:
brushy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French broisse.

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brush [2]

noun chiefly N. Amer. & Austral./NZ
undergrowth, small trees, and shrubs.

ORIGIN: Old French broce.

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brushed

adjective
1. (of fabric) having a soft raised nap.
2. (of metal) finished with a non-reflective surface.

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brushwood

noun
undergrowth, twigs, and small branches.

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brusque

adjective
abrupt or offhand.

DERIVATIVES:
brusquely adverb
brusqueness noun.

ORIGIN: French, 'lively, fierce' , from Italian brusco 'sour' .

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Brussels sprout (also Brussel sprout)

noun
a vegetable consisting of the small compact bud of a variety of cabbage.

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brut

adjective
(of sparkling wine) very dry.

ORIGIN: French, 'raw, rough' .

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brutal

adjective
1. savagely violent.
2. without any attempt to disguise unpleasantness.

DERIVATIVES:
brutality noun
brutally adverb.

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brutalism

noun
cruelty and savageness.

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brutalize (also brutalise)

verb
1. make brutal by frequent exposure to violence.
2. treat brutally.

DERIVATIVES:
brutalization noun.

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brute

noun
1. a violent or savage person or animal.
2. informal a cruel or insensitive person.

adjective
1. unreasoning and animal-like.
2. merely physical.
3. harsh or inescapable.

DERIVATIVES:
brutish adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin brutus 'dull, stupid' .

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bryony

noun (pl. bryonies)
a climbing hedgerow plant with red berries.

ORIGIN: Greek brunia.

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BS

abbreviation
1. Bachelor of Surgery.
2. British Standard(s).

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BSc

abbreviation
Bachelor of Science.

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BSE

abbreviation
bovine spongiform encephalopathy, a fatal disease of cattle which affects the central nervous system and is believed to be related to Creutzfeldt Jakob disease in humans.

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BSI

abbreviation
British Standards Institution.

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B-side

noun
the side of a pop single regarded as the less important one.

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BST

abbreviation
1. bovine somatotrophin, especially as an additive in cattle feed.
2. British Summer Time.

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BT

abbreviation
British Telecom.

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bubble

noun
1. a thin sphere of liquid enclosing air or another gas.
2. an air- or gas-filled spherical cavity in a liquid or a solidified liquid such as glass.
3. a transparent domed cover.

verb
1. (of a liquid) be agitated by rising bubbles of air or gas.
2. (bubble with) be filled with (an irrepressible positive feeling).
3. (bubble up) (of a feeling) intensify to the point of being expressed.

ORIGIN: partly imitative, partly an alteration of BURBLE.

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bubble and squeak

noun Brit.
a dish of cooked cabbage fried with cooked potatoes.

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bubble bath

noun
fragrant liquid added to bathwater to make it foam.

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bubblegum

noun
1. chewing gum that can be blown into bubbles.
2. (before another noun ) chiefly N. Amer. simplistic or adolescent in style: bubblegum pop music.

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bubbly

adjective (bubblier, bubbliest)
1. containing bubbles.
2. cheerful and high-spirited.

noun informal
champagne.

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bubonic plague

noun
a form of plague transmitted by rat fleas and characterized by the formation of buboes.

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buccaneer

noun
1. historical a pirate, originally one preying on ships in the Caribbean.
2. a recklessly adventurous and unscrupulous person.

DERIVATIVES:
buccaneering adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting European hunters in the Caribbean: from French boucanier, from boucan 'a frame on which to cook or cure meat' .

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buck [1]

noun
1. the male of some animals, especially deer and antelopes.
2. S. African an antelope (of either sex).
3. a vertical jump performed by a horse.
4. archaic a fashionable young man.

verb
1. (of a horse) perform a buck.
2. oppose or resist.
3. (buck up) informal make or become more cheerful.

IDIOMS -
buck up one's ideas become more serious and hard-working.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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buck [2]

noun N. Amer. & Austral./NZ informal
a dollar.

IDIOMS -
a fast buck easily and quickly earned money.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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buck [3]

noun
an object placed in front of a poker player whose turn it is to deal.

IDIOMS -
the buck stops here informal the responsibility for something cannot be avoided.
pass the buck informal shift responsibility to someone else.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bucket

noun
1. a cylindrical open container with a handle used to carry liquids.
2. (buckets) informal large quantities of liquid.
3. a scoop on a waterwheel, dredger, digger, etc.

verb (bucketed, bucketing) informal (bucket down) Brit.
rain heavily.

DERIVATIVES:
bucketful noun.

ORIGIN: Old French buquet 'tub, pail' .

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bucket shop

noun informal, derogatory
1. an unauthorized office speculating with the funds of unwitting investors.
2. Brit. a travel agency providing cheap air tickets.

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buckle

noun
a flat frame with a hinged pin, used for fastening a belt or strap.

verb
1. fasten with a buckle.
2. bend and give way under pressure.
3. (buckle down) tackle a task with determination.

ORIGIN: Latin buccula 'cheek strap of a helmet' , from bucca 'cheek' ; sense 2 is from French boucler 'to bulge' .

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buckram

noun
coarse linen or other cloth stiffened with paste, used as interfacing and in bookbinding.

ORIGIN: Old French boquerant.

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Bucks

abbreviation
Buckinghamshire.

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buckshee

adjective informal, chiefly Brit.
free of charge.

ORIGIN: alteration of BAKSHEESH.

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buckshot

noun
coarse lead shot used in shotgun shells.

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buckskin

noun
1. the skin of a male deer.
2. (buckskins) clothes or shoes made from buckskin.
3. thick smooth cotton or woollen fabric.

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buckthorn

noun
a thorny shrub or small tree which bears black berries.

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buck-tooth

noun
an upper tooth that projects over the lower lip.

DERIVATIVES:
buck-toothed adjective.

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buckwheat

noun
a plant producing starchy seeds used for fodder or milled into flour.

ORIGIN: Dutch boecweite 'beech wheat' , its grains being shaped like beechmast.

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bucolic

adjective
relating to rural or pastoral life.

ORIGIN: Greek boukolikos, from boukolos 'herdsman' .

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bud

noun
1. a knob-like growth on a plant which develops into a leaf, flower, or shoot.
2. Biology an outgrowth from an organism that separates to form a new individual asexually.

verb (budded, budding)
form a bud or buds.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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Buddhism

noun
a religion or philosophy, founded by Siddartha Gautama (Buddha; c.563 c.460 BC), which teaches that elimination of the self is the route to enlightenment.

DERIVATIVES:
Buddhist noun & adjective
Buddhistic adjective.

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budding

adjective
beginning and showing signs of promise: their budding relationship.

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buddleia

noun
a shrub with clusters of fragrant lilac, white, or yellow flowers.

ORIGIN: named after the English botanist Adam Buddle (died 1715).

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buddy

noun (pl. buddies) informal, chiefly N. Amer.
1. a close friend.
2. a working companion with whom close cooperation is required.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of BROTHER.

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budge

verb
1. make or cause to make the slightest movement.
2. change or cause to change an opinion.

ORIGIN: French bouger 'to stir' , from Latin bullire 'to boil' .

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budgerigar

noun
a small Australian parakeet which is green with a yellow head in the wild.

ORIGIN: of Aboriginal origin.

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budget

noun
1. an estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time.
2. the amount of money needed or available for a purpose.
3. (Budget) a regular estimate of national revenue and expenditure put forward by a finance minister.

verb (budgeted, budgeting)
allow or provide for in a budget.

adjective
inexpensive.

DERIVATIVES:
budgetary adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a pouch or wallet: from Old French bougette 'little leather bag' , from Latin bulga 'leather bag, knapsack' ; in the 18th century the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in presenting his annual statement, was said ‘to open the budget’.

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buff [1]

noun
1. a yellowish-beige colour.
2. a dull yellow leather with a velvety surface.

verb
1. polish.
2. give (leather) a velvety finish.

IDIOMS -
in the buff informal naked.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a buffalo: probably from French buffle, from Latin bufalus 'buffalo' .

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buff [2]

noun informal
a person who is interested in and very knowledgeable about a particular subject.

ORIGIN: from BUFF, originally applied to enthusiastic fire-watchers, because of the buff uniforms worn by New York firemen.

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buffalo

noun (pl. same or buffaloes)
1. a heavily built wild ox with backward-curving horns.
2. the North American bison.

ORIGIN: Latin bufalus, from Greek boubalos 'antelope, wild ox' .

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buffer

noun
1. (buffers) Brit. projecting shock-absorbing pistons at the end of a railway track or on a railway vehicle.
2. a person or thing that reduces a shock or forms a barrier between adversaries.
3. (also buffer solution) Chemistry a solution which resists changes in pH when acid or alkali is added to it.
4. Computing a temporary memory area or queue used when creating or editing text, or when transferring data.

ORIGIN: probably from the obsolete verb buff 'deaden the force of something' .

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buffet [1]

noun
1. a meal consisting of several dishes from which guests serve themselves.
2. a room or counter selling light meals or snacks.
3. a sideboard or cupboard for crockery.

ORIGIN: Old French bufet 'stool' .

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buffet [2]

verb (buffeted, buffeting)
(especially of wind or waves) strike repeatedly and violently.

noun dated
a blow.

ORIGIN: Old French buffeter, from bufe 'a blow' .

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buffoon

noun
a ridiculous but amusing person.

DERIVATIVES:
buffoonery noun
buffoonish adjective.

ORIGIN: French bouffon, from Latin buffo 'clown' .

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bug

noun
1. an insect of an order including aphids and many other insects.
2. informal any small insect.
3. informal a harmful micro-organism or an illness caused by a micro-organism.
4. informal an enthusiasm for something: the sailing bug.
5. a microphone used for secret recording.
6. an error in a computer program or system.

verb (bugged, bugging)
1. conceal a microphone in (a room or telephone).
2. informal annoy; bother.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bugbear

noun
a cause of anxiety or irritation.

ORIGIN: probably from the obsolete bug 'evil spirit' + BEAR.

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bug-eyed

adjective
with bulging eyes.

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bugger vulgar slang, chiefly Brit.

noun
1. derogatory a person who commits buggery.
2. a person regarded with contempt or pity.
3. an annoying or awkward thing.

verb
1. practise buggery with.
2. cause serious harm or trouble to.
3. (bugger off) go away.

exclamation
used to express annoyance.

IDIOMS -
bugger about/around act stupidly or carelessly.
bugger all nothing.

ORIGIN: Old French bougre 'heretic' , from Latin Bulgarus 'Bulgarian' (particularly one belonging to the Orthodox Church and regarded as a heretic by the Roman Catholic Church).

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buggery

noun
anal intercourse.

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buggy

noun (pl. buggies)
1. a small motor vehicle with an open top.
2. historical a light horse-drawn vehicle for one or two people.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bugle

noun
a brass instrument like a small trumpet, traditionally used for military signals.

verb
sound a bugle.

DERIVATIVES:
bugler noun.

ORIGIN: Latin buculus 'little ox' , from bos 'ox' : the horn of an ox was used to give signals.

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build

verb (past and past part. built)
1. construct by putting parts or materials together.
2. (often build up) increase in size or intensity over time.
3. (build on) use as a basis for further progress or development.
4. (build in/into) incorporate (something) as a permanent part of.

noun
1. the proportions of a person's or animal's body.
2. the style or form of construction of something.

DERIVATIVES:
builder noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to BOWER.

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building

noun
1. a structure with a roof and walls.
2. the process or trade of building houses and other structures.

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building society

noun Brit.
a financial organization which pays interest on members' investments and lends capital for mortgages.

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build-up

noun
1. a gradual accumulation.
2. a period of excitement and preparation before an event.

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built
past and past participle of BUILD.
adjective
of a specified physical build: a slightly built woman.

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built-in

adjective
1. forming an integral part of a structure.
2. inherent; innate.

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built-up

adjective
(of an area) densely covered by buildings.

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bulb

noun
1. a rounded underground storage organ present in some plants, consisting of a short stem surrounded by fleshy leaf bases.
2. a light bulb.
3. an expanded or rounded part at the end of something.

ORIGIN: Greek bolbos 'onion, bulbous root' .

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bulbous

adjective
1. round or bulging in shape.
2. (of a plant) growing from a bulb.

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Bulgarian

noun
1. a person from Bulgaria.
2. the Slavic language spoken in Bulgaria.

adjective
relating to Bulgaria.

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bulge

noun
1. a rounded swelling distorting a flat surface.
2. Military a piece of land projecting outwards from an otherwise regular line.
3. informal a temporary increase.

verb
1. swell or protrude to an unnatural extent.
2. be full of and distended with.

DERIVATIVES:
bulging adjective
bulgy adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a wallet or bag: from Old French boulge, from Latin bulga 'leather bag' .

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bulimia (also bulimia nervosa)

noun
an emotional disorder characterized by bouts of overeating, typically alternating with fasting or self-induced vomiting.

DERIVATIVES:
bulimic adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: Greek boulimia 'ravenous hunger' , from bous 'ox' + limos 'hunger' .

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bulk

noun
1. the mass or size of something large.
2. the greater part.
3. a large mass or shape.
4. (before another noun ) large in quantity: bulk orders.
5. roughage in food.

verb
1. be of great size or importance.
2. treat (a product) so that its quantity appears greater than it is.

IDIOMS -
in bulk (of goods) in large quantities.

ORIGIN: probably from an Old Norse word meaning 'cargo' .

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bulkhead

noun
a barrier between separate compartments inside a ship, aircraft, etc.

ORIGIN: from Old Norse, 'partition' + HEAD.

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bulky

adjective (bulkier, bulkiest)
large and unwieldy.

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bull [1]

noun
1. an uncastrated male bovine animal.
2. a large male animal, e.g. a whale or elephant.
3. Brit. a bullseye.
4. Stock Exchange a person who buys shares hoping to sell them at a higher price later. Often contrasted with BEAR.

IDIOMS -
like a bull in a china shop behaving clumsily in a delicate situation.
take the bull by the horns deal decisively with a difficult situation.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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bull [2]

noun
a papal edict.

ORIGIN: Latin bulla 'bubble, rounded object' , later 'seal or sealed document' .

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bulldog

noun
a breed of dog with a protruding lower jaw, a flat wrinkled face, and a broad chest.

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bulldog clip

noun Brit. trademark
a sprung metal device with two flat plates, used to hold papers together.

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bulldoze

verb
1. clear or destroy with a bulldozer.
2. informal use force to deal with or coerce.

ORIGIN: from BULL + -doze, an alteration of the noun DOSE.

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bulldozer

noun
a tractor with a broad curved blade at the front for clearing ground.

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bullet

noun
1. a projectile fired from a small firearm.
2. (the bullet) informal dismissal from employment.
3. Printing a solid circle printed before each in a list of items.

ORIGIN: French boulet 'small ball' , from Latin bulla 'bubble' .

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bulletin

noun
1. a short official statement or summary of news.
2. a regular newsletter or report.

ORIGIN: Italian bullettino 'little passport' , from bulla 'seal, bull' .

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bulletin board

noun
1. N. Amer. a noticeboard.
2. Computing an information storage system designed to permit any authorized user to access and add to it from a remote terminal.

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bullfighting

noun
the sport of baiting and killing a bull as a public spectacle.

DERIVATIVES:
bullfight noun
bullfighter noun.

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bullfinch

noun
a finch with mainly grey and black plumage, of which the male has a pink breast.

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bullfrog

noun
a very large frog with a deep croak.

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bullion

noun
gold or silver in bulk before coining.

ORIGIN: Old French bouillon, based on Latin bullire 'to boil' .

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bullish

adjective
1. aggressively confident and self-assertive.
2. Stock Exchange characterized or influenced by rising share prices.

DERIVATIVES:
bullishly adverb
bullishness noun.

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bullock

noun
a castrated male bovine animal raised for beef.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bullring

noun
an arena where bullfights are held.

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bullseye

noun
1. the centre of the target in sports such as archery and darts.
2. a hard peppermint-flavoured sweet.

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bullshit vulgar slang

noun
nonsense.

verb (bullshitted, bullshitting)
talk nonsense in an attempt to deceive.

DERIVATIVES:
bullshitter noun.

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bull terrier

noun
a dog that is a cross-breed of bulldog and terrier.

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bully

noun (pl. bullies)
a person who deliberately intimidates or persecutes those who are weaker.

verb (bullies, bullied)
intimidate.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch boele 'lover' .

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bulrush (also bullrush)

noun
a reed mace or similar waterside plant.

ORIGIN: probably from BULL in the sense «large, coarse».

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bulwark

noun
1. a defensive wall.
2. an extension of a ship's sides above deck level.

ORIGIN: from Low German and Dutch bolwerk.

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bum [1]

noun Brit. informal
a person's bottom.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bum [2] informal

noun N. Amer.
1. a vagrant.
2. a lazy or worthless person.
3. a devotee of a particular activity: a surf bum.

verb (bummed, bumming)
1. get by asking or begging.
2. (bum around) chiefly N. Amer. pass one's time idly.

adjective
bad; wrong.

IDIOMS -
give the bum's rush chiefly N. Amer. forcibly eject (someone).

ORIGIN: probably from BUMMER.

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bumbag

noun Brit. informal
a small pouch for valuables on a belt, worn round the hips.

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bumble

verb
1. act or speak in an awkward or confused manner.
2. (of an insect) buzz or hum.

DERIVATIVES:
bumbler noun.

ORIGIN: from BOOM.

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bumblebee

noun
a large hairy bee with a loud hum.

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bumf (also bumph)

noun informal, chiefly Brit.
1. useless or tedious printed information.
2. dated toilet paper.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of slang bum-fodder, in the same sense.

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bummer

noun informal
1. an annoying or disappointing thing.
2. N. Amer. a vagrant or loafer.

ORIGIN: perhaps from German Bummler, from bummeln 'stroll, loaf about' .

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bump

noun
1. a light blow or a jolting collision.
2. a protuberance on a level surface.

verb
1. knock or run into with a jolt.
2. move with much jolting.
3. (bump into) meet by chance.
4. (bump off) informal murder.
5. (bump up) informal make larger or apparently larger.

DERIVATIVES:
bumpy adjective (bumpier, bumpiest) .

ORIGIN: perhaps Scandinavian.

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bumper

noun
1. a protective horizontal bar across the front or back of a motor vehicle.
2. (also bumper race) Horse Racing a flat race for horses intended for future steeplechases.
3. archaic a large glass of an alcoholic drink.

adjective
exceptionally large or successful.

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bumpkin

noun
an unsophisticated person from the countryside.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Dutch boomken 'little tree' or earlier bommekijn 'little barrel' , denoting a dumpy person.

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bumptious

adjective
irritatingly self-assertive or conceited.

DERIVATIVES:
bumptiously adverb
bumptiousness noun.

ORIGIN: from BUMP, on the pattern of fractious.

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bun

noun
1. a small cake or bread roll.
2. a hairstyle in which the hair is drawn into a tight coil at the back of the head.
3. (buns) N. Amer. informal a person's buttocks.

IDIOMS -
have a bun in the oven informal be pregnant.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bunch

noun
1. a number of things growing or fastened together.
2. informal a group of people.
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. a lot.

verb
collect or form into a bunch.

IDIOMS -
bunch of fives Brit. informal a punch.

DERIVATIVES:
bunchy adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bundle

noun
1. a collection of things or quantity of material tied or wrapped up together.
2. a set of nerve, muscle, or other fibres running in parallel.
3. informal a large amount of money.

verb
1. tie or roll up in or as if in a bundle.
2. (be bundled up) be dressed in many warm clothes.
3. informal push or carry forcibly.

IDIOMS -
a bundle of fun (or laughs) informal, often ironic something extremely amusing or pleasant.
go a bundle on Brit. informal be very keen on.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old English, «a binding».

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bunfight

noun Brit. informal, humorous
a grand or official tea party or other function.

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bung [1]

noun
a stopper for a hole in a container.

verb
1. close with a bung.
2. (bung up) block up.

ORIGIN: Dutch bonghe.

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bung [2] Brit. informal

verb
put or throw somewhere casually.

noun
a bribe.

ORIGIN: symbolic.

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bungalow

noun
a house with only one main storey.

ORIGIN: Hindi, 'belonging to Bengal' .

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bungee

noun (also bungee cord or rope)
a long nylon-cased rubber band used for securing luggage and in the sport of bungee jumping.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bungee jumping

noun
the sport of leaping from a high place, secured by a bungee around the ankles.

DERIVATIVES:
bungee jump noun
bungee jumper noun.

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bungle

verb
1. perform (a task) clumsily or incompetently.
2. (bungling) prone to making mistakes.

noun
a mistake or failure.

DERIVATIVES:
bungler noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bunion

noun
a painful swelling on the big toe.

ORIGIN: Old French buignon, from buigne 'bump on the head' .

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bunk [1]

noun
a narrow shelf-like bed.

verb chiefly N. Amer.
sleep in a bunk or improvised bed in shared quarters.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin; perhaps related to BUNKER.

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bunk [2]

verb Brit. informal
abscond from school or work.

IDIOMS -
do a bunk make a hurried departure.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bunk bed

noun
a piece of furniture consisting of two beds, one above the other.

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bunker

noun
1. a large container for storing fuel.
2. an underground shelter for use in wartime.
3. a hollow filled with sand, used as an obstacle on a golf course.

verb
refuel (a ship).

ORIGIN: originally Scots, denoting a seat or bench.

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bunkum (also buncombe)

noun informal, dated
nonsense.

ORIGIN: named after Buncombe County in North Carolina, mentioned in a speech made by its congressman solely to please his constituents (c.1820).

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bunny

noun (pl. bunnies) informal
1. a child's term for a rabbit.
2. (also bunny girl) a club hostess or waitress wearing a skimpy costume with ears and a tail.

ORIGIN: dialect bun «squirrel, rabbit».

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Bunsen burner

noun
a small adjustable gas burner used in laboratories.

ORIGIN: named after the German chemist Robert Bunsen (1811 99).

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bunting [1]

noun
a seed-eating songbird of a large group typically with brown streaked plumage and a boldly marked head.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bunting [2]

noun
flags and streamers used as festive decorations.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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buoy

noun
an anchored float serving as a navigation mark or for mooring.

verb
1. keep afloat.
2. (often be buoyed up) cause to become or remain cheerful and confident.
3. cause (a price) to rise to or remain high.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch boye, boeie; the verb is from Spanish boyar 'to float' .

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buoyant

adjective
1. able to keep afloat.
2. cheerful and optimistic.
3. (of an economy or market) engaged in much activity.

DERIVATIVES:
buoyancy noun
buoyantly adverb.

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BUPA

abbreviation
British United Provident Association, a private health insurance organization.

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burble

verb
1. make a continuous murmuring noise.
2. speak unintelligibly and at length.

noun
1. continuous murmuring noise.
2. rambling speech.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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burbot

noun
an elongated bottom-dwelling fish that is the only freshwater member of the cod family.

ORIGIN: Old French borbete, probably from borbe 'mud, slime' .

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burden

noun
1. a heavy load.
2. a cause of hardship, worry, or grief.
3. the main responsibility for a task.
4. the main theme of a speech, book, or argument.
5. a ship's carrying capacity.

verb
1. load heavily.
2. cause worry, hardship, or grief.

IDIOMS -
burden of proof the obligation to prove an assertion.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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burdensome

adjective
onerous or troublesome.

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burdock

noun
a herbaceous plant of the daisy family, with large leaves and prickly flowers.

ORIGIN: from BUR + DOCK.

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bureau

noun (pl. bureaux or bureaus)
1. Brit. a writing desk with drawers and an angled top opening downwards to form a writing surface.
2. N. Amer. a chest of drawers.
3. an office for transacting particular business: a news bureau.
4. a government department.

ORIGIN: French, originally in the sense 'baize' (used to cover writing desks), from Old French burel, probably from bure 'dark brown' .

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bureaucracy

noun (pl. bureaucracies)
1. a system of government in which most decisions are taken by state officials rather than by elected representatives.
2. excessively complicated administrative procedure.

DERIVATIVES:
bureaucratization (also bureaucratisation) noun
bureaucratize (also bureaucratise) verb.

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bureaucrat

noun
an official perceived as being overly concerned with procedural correctness.

DERIVATIVES:
bureaucratic adjective.

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bureau de change

noun (pl. bureaux de change pronunc. same)
a place where one can exchange foreign money.

ORIGIN: French, 'office of exchange' .

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burette (US also buret)

noun
a graduated glass tube with a tap at one end, for delivering known volumes of a liquid.

ORIGIN: French, from buire 'jug' .

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burgeon

verb
grow or increase rapidly.

ORIGIN: Old French bourgeonner 'put out buds' , from Latin burra 'wool' .

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burger

noun
a hamburger.

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burgher

noun archaic
a citizen of a town or city.

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burglar

noun
a person who commits burglary.

ORIGIN: from Old French burgier 'pillage' .

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burglary

noun (pl. burglaries)
illegal entry into a building with intent to commit a crime such as theft.

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burgle

verb
commit burglary in (a building).

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burgundy

noun (pl. burgundiies)
1. a red wine from Burgundy, a region of east central France.
2. a deep red colour.

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burial

noun
1. the burying of a dead body.
2. Archaeology a grave or the remains found in it.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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burl

noun
1. a lump in wool or cloth.
2. N. Amer. a rounded knotty growth on a tree.

ORIGIN: Old French bourle 'tuft of wool' , from Latin burra 'wool' .

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burlap

noun
coarse canvas woven from jute or hemp, used for sacking.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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burlesque

noun
1. a comically exaggerated imitation, especially in a literary or dramatic work.
2. N. Amer. a variety show, typically including striptease.

verb (burlesques, burlesqued, burlesquing)
parody.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian burla 'mockery' .

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burly

adjective (burlier, burliest)
(of a person) large and strong.

DERIVATIVES:
burliness noun.

ORIGIN: probably from an Old English word meaning 'stately, fit for the bower' .

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Burmese

noun (pl. same)
1. a member of the largest ethnic group of Burma (now Myanmar) in SE Asia.
2. a person from Burma.
3. (also Burmese cat) a cat of a short-coated breed originating in Asia.

adjective
relating to Burma or the Burmese.

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burn [1]

verb (past and past part. burned or chiefly Brit. burnt)
1. (of a fire) flame or glow while consuming a fuel.
2. be or cause to be harmed or destroyed by fire.
3. use (a fuel) as a source of heat or energy.
4. (of the skin) become red and painful through exposure to the sun.
5. (be burning with) be entirely possessed by (a desire or emotion).
6. (burn out) become exhausted through overwork.
7. informal drive very fast.

noun
an injury caused by burning.

IDIOMS -
burn one's boats (or bridges) do something which makes turning back impossible.
burn the candle at both ends go to bed late and get up early.
burn a hole in one's pocket (of money) tempt one to spend it.
burn the midnight oil work late into the night.
burn rubber informal drive very quickly.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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burn [2]

noun Scottish & N. English
a small stream.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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burner

noun
1. a part of a cooker, lamp, etc. that emits a flame.
2. an apparatus for burning something.

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burning

adjective
1. very deeply felt.
2. of urgent interest and importance.

DERIVATIVES:
burningly adverb.

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burnish

verb
polish by rubbing.

noun
the shine on a polished surface.

DERIVATIVES:
burnisher noun.

ORIGIN: Old French brunir 'make brown' , from brun 'brown' .

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burnous (US also burnoose)

noun
a long hooded cloak worn by Arabs.

ORIGIN: Arabic, from Greek birros 'cloak' .

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burnout

noun
1. the reduction of a fuel or substance to nothing through use or combustion.
2. overheating of an electrical device or component.
3. physical or mental collapse.

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burp informal

verb
1. belch.
2. make (a baby) belch after feeding.

noun
a belch.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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burr

noun
1. a whirring sound.
2. a rough pronunciation of the letter r, as in some regional accents.
3. (also bur) a prickly seed case or flower head that clings to clothing and animal fur.
4. (also bur) a rough edge left on a metal object by the action of a tool.
5. (also bur) a small drill used in woodworking, dentistry, or surgery.

verb
1. make a whirring sound.
2. form a rough edge on (metal).

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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burrow

noun
a hole or tunnel dug by a small animal as a dwelling.

verb
1. make a burrow.
2. hide underneath or delve into something.

DERIVATIVES:
burrower noun.

ORIGIN: variant of BOROUGH.

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bursar

noun
1. chiefly Brit. a person who manages the financial affairs of a college or school.
2. Scottish a student holding a bursary.

ORIGIN: Latin bursarius, from bursa 'bag, purse' .

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bursary

noun (pl. bursaries) chiefly Brit.
a grant, especially one awarded to a student.

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burst

verb (past and past part. burst)
1. break suddenly and violently apart.
2. be very full.
3. move or be opened suddenly and forcibly.
4. (be bursting with) feel (an irrepressible emotion or impulse).
5. suddenly do something as an expression of a strong feeling: she burst out crying.

noun
1. an instance or the result of bursting.
2. a sudden brief outbreak of something violent or noisy.
3. a period of continuous effort.

IDIOMS -
burst someone's bubble shatter someone's illusions.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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burton

noun (in phrase go for a burton) Brit. informal
be ruined, destroyed, or killed.

ORIGIN: originally RAF slang: perhaps referring to Burton ale, from Burton-upon-Trent.

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bury

verb (buries, buried)
1. put or hide underground.
2. place (a dead body) in the earth or a tomb.
3. cause to disappear or become unnoticeable.
4. (bury oneself) involve oneself deeply in something.

IDIOMS -
bury one's head in the sand ignore unpleasant realities.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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bus

noun (pl. buses; US also busses)
1. a large motor vehicle carrying customers along a fixed route.
2. Computing a distinct set of conductors within a computer system, to which pieces of equipment may be connected in parallel.

verb (buses or busses, bused or bussed, busing or bussing)
1. transport or travel in a bus.
2. N. Amer. clear (dirty crockery) in a restaurant or cafeteria.

ORIGIN: shortening of OMNIBUS.

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busby

noun (pl. busbies)
a tall fur hat with a cloth flap hanging down on the right-hand side, worn by certain regiments of hussars and artillerymen.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a bushy wig: of unknown origin.

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bush [1]

noun
1. a shrub or clump of shrubs with stems of moderate length.
2. (the bush) (in Australia and Africa) wild or uncultivated country.
3. vulgar slang a woman's pubic hair.

verb
spread out into a thick clump.

ORIGIN: Old French bois 'wood' .

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bush [2]

noun Brit.
1. a metal lining for a round hole, especially one in which an axle revolves.
2. a sleeve that protects an electric cable where it passes through a panel.

ORIGIN: Dutch busse.

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bushbaby

noun (pl. bushbabies)
a small nocturnal African primate with very large eyes.

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bushed

adjective informal
1. exhausted.
2. Austral./NZ lost in the bush.
3. Canadian & Austral./NZ mad.

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bushel

noun
1. Brit. a measure of capacity equal to 8 gallons (equivalent to 36.4 litres).
2. US a measure of capacity equal to 64 US pints (equivalent to 35.2 litres).

ORIGIN: Old French boissel.

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Bushman

noun
1. a member of any of several aboriginal peoples of southern Africa.
2. (bushman) a person who lives or travels in the Australian bush.

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bush telegraph

noun
a rapid informal network by which information or gossip is spread.

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bushy

adjective (bushier, bushiest)
1. growing thickly.
2. covered with bush or bushes.

DERIVATIVES:
bushily adverb
bushiness noun.

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business

noun
1. a person's regular occupation or trade.
2. work to be done or matters to be attended to.
3. a person's concern.
4. commercial activity.
5. a commercial organization.
6. informal a difficult or problematic matter.
7. (the business) informal an excellent person or thing.
8. actions other than dialogue in a play.

IDIOMS -
in business informal operating or able to begin operation.
in the business of engaged in or prepared to engage in.
like nobody's business informal extraordinarily.
mind one's own business avoid meddling in other people's affairs.

ORIGIN: Old English, «anxiety» (from BUSY + -NESS); the sense «a duty», from which other senses developed, dates from Middle English.

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businesslike

adjective
efficient and practical.

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businessman (or businesswoman)

noun
a person who works in commerce, especially at executive level.

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busk

verb
1. play music in the street for voluntary donations.
2. (busk it) informal improvise.

DERIVATIVES:
busker noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete French busquer 'seek' .

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busman

noun
a bus driver.

IDIOMS -
a busman's holiday leisure time spent doing the same thing that one does at work.

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bust [1]

noun
1. a woman's breasts.
2. a sculpture of a person's head, shoulders, and chest.

ORIGIN: French buste, from Latin bustum 'tomb, sepulchral monument' .

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bust [2] informal

verb (past and past part. busted or bust)
1. break, split, or burst.
2. chiefly N. Amer. strike violently.
3. chiefly N. Amer. raid, search, or arrest.
4. chiefly US demote (a soldier).

noun
1. a period of economic difficulty or depression.
2. a police raid.

adjective
1. damaged; broken.
2. bankrupt.

ORIGIN: variant of BURST.

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bustard

noun
a large swift-running bird of open country.

ORIGIN: perhaps a blend of Old French bistarde and oustarde, from Latin avis tarda 'slow bird' .

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buster

noun informal, chiefly N. Amer.
a form of address to a man or boy.

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bustier

noun
a close-fitting strapless top for women.

ORIGIN: French.

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bustle [1]

verb
1. move energetically or noisily.
2. (of a place) be full of activity.

noun
excited activity and movement.

DERIVATIVES:
bustling adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from obsolete busk «prepare».

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bustle [2]

noun historical
a pad or frame worn under a skirt to puff it out behind.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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bust-up

noun informal
a serious quarrel or fight.

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busty

adjective (bustier, bustiest) informal
having large breasts.

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busy

adjective (busier, busiest)
1. having a great deal to do.
2. currently occupied with an activity.
3. excessively detailed or decorated.

verb (busies, busied) (busy oneself)
keep occupied.

DERIVATIVES:
busily adverb
busyness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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busybody

noun
a meddling or prying person.

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busy Lizzie

noun Brit.
a plant with abundant red, pink, or white flowers.

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but

conjunction
1. nevertheless.
2. on the contrary.
3. other than; otherwise than.
4. archaic without it being the case that.

preposition
except; apart from.

adverb
1. only.
2. Austral./NZ , N. English , & Scottish informal though, however: he was a nice bloke but.

noun
an objection.

IDIOMS -
but for
1. except for.
2. if it were not for.
but then on the other hand.

USAGE - On starting a sentence with but, see the note at AND.
ORIGIN: Old English, «outside, without, except».

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butane

noun
a flammable hydrocarbon gas present in petroleum and natural gas and used as a fuel.

ORIGIN: ultimately from Latin butyrum 'butter' .

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butch

adjective informal
aggressively or ostentatiously masculine.

ORIGIN: perhaps an abbreviation of BUTCHER.

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butcher

noun
1. a person who cuts up and sells meat as a trade.
2. a person who slaughters animals for food.
3. a person who kills brutally or indiscriminately.

verb
1. slaughter or cut up (an animal) for food.
2. kill (someone) brutally.
3. ruin deliberately or through incompetence.

IDIOMS -
have (or take) a butcher's Brit. informal have a look. [ORIGIN: butcher's from butcher's hook, rhyming slang for a «look».]

DERIVATIVES:
butchery noun.

ORIGIN: Old French bochier, from boc 'he-goat' .

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butler

noun
the chief manservant of a house.

ORIGIN: Old French bouteillier 'cup-bearer' , from bouteille 'bottle' .

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butt [1]

verb
1. hit with the head or horns.
2. (butt in) interrupt or intrude on a conversation or activity.
3. (butt out) N. Amer. informal stop interfering.

noun
a rough push with the head.

ORIGIN: Old French boter.

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butt [2]

noun
1. an object of criticism or ridicule.
2. a target or range in archery or shooting.
3. a position taken up by a person shooting grouse.

ORIGIN: Old French but.

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butt [3]

noun
1. the thicker end of a tool or a weapon.
2. the square end of a plank or plate meeting the end or side of another.
3. the stub of a cigar or a cigarette.
4. N. Amer. informal a person's bottom.

verb
1. meet end to end.
2. join (pieces of timber) with the ends or sides flat against each other.

ORIGIN: from Dutch bot 'stumpy' , related to BUTTOCK.

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butter

noun
a pale yellow fatty substance made by churning cream and used as a spread or in cooking.

verb
1. spread with butter.
2. (butter up) informal flatter (someone).

IDIOMS -
look as if butter wouldn't melt in one's mouth informal appear innocent while being the opposite.

ORIGIN: Latin butyrum, from Greek bouturon.

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butter bean

noun
a lima bean of a variety with large flat white seeds.

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buttercream

noun
a mixture of butter and icing sugar used as a filling or topping for a cake.

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buttercup

noun
a plant with bright yellow cup-shaped flowers, common as a garden weed.

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butterfat

noun
the natural fat contained in milk and dairy products.

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butterfingers

noun informal
a clumsy person, especially one who fails to hold a catch.

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butterfly

noun
1. an insect with two pairs of large, typically colourful wings held erect when at rest, feeding on nectar and active by day.
2. a showy or frivolous person.
3. (butterflies) informal a fluttering and nauseous sensation felt in the stomach when one is nervous.
4. a stroke in swimming in which both arms are raised out of the water and lifted forwards together.

ORIGIN: Old English: perhaps from the cream or yellow colour of common species, or from a former belief that the insects stole butter.

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buttermilk

noun
the slightly sour liquid left after butter has been churned.

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butterscotch

noun
a brittle yellow-brown sweet made with butter and brown sugar.

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buttery [1]

adjective
containing, tasting like, or covered with butter.

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buttery [2]

noun (pl. butteries) Brit.
a room in a college where food is kept and sold to students.

ORIGIN: Old French boterie 'butt-store' .

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buttock

noun
either of the two round fleshy parts of the human body that form the bottom.

ORIGIN: Old English, probably related to BUTT.

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button

noun
1. a small disc or knob sewn on to a garment to fasten it by being pushed through a buttonhole.
2. a knob on a piece of electrical or electronic equipment which is pressed to operate it.
3. chiefly N. Amer. a decorative badge pinned to clothing.
4. Fencing a knob fitted to the point of a foil to make it harmless.

verb
1. fasten or be fastened with buttons.
2. (button up) informal complete satisfactorily.

IDIOMS -
button one's lip informal stop or refrain from talking.
buttoned-up informal formal and inhibited in manner.
on the button informal, chiefly N. Amer. precisely.

DERIVATIVES:
buttoned adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French bouton.

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buttonhole

noun
1. a slit made in a garment to receive a button for fastening.
2. Brit. a flower or spray worn in a lapel buttonhole.

verb informal
accost and detain (someone) in conversation.

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button mushroom

noun
a young unopened mushroom.

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buttress

noun
1. a projecting support built against a wall.
2. a projecting portion of a hill or mountain.

verb
1. support with buttresses.
2. support or strengthen.

ORIGIN: from Old French ars bouterez 'thrusting arch' .

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butty (also buttie)

noun (pl. butties) informal, chiefly N. English
a sandwich.

ORIGIN: from BUTTER.

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buxom

adjective
(of a woman) attractively plump and large-breasted.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «compliant», later «lively and good-tempered»: from Old English, «to bend».

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buy

verb (buys, buying; past and past part. bought)
1. obtain in exchange for payment.
2. get (something) by sacrifice or great effort.
3. informal accept the truth of.

noun informal
a purchase.

IDIOMS -
buy out
1. pay (someone) to give up an interest or share in something.
2. (buy oneself out) obtain one's release from the armed services by payment.
buy time delay an event temporarily so as to have longer to improve one's own position.
have bought it informal be killed.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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buyer

noun
1. a person who buys.
2. a person employed to select and purchase stock for a retail or manufacturing business.

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buyer's market

noun
an economic situation in which goods or shares are plentiful and buyers can keep prices down.

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buyout

noun
the purchase of a controlling share in a company, especially by its own managers.

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buzz

noun
1. a low, continuous humming or murmuring sound.
2. the sound of a buzzer or telephone.
3. an atmosphere of excitement and activity.
4. informal a thrill.
5. informal a rumour.

verb
1. make a humming sound.
2. signal with a buzzer.
3. move quickly.
4. (buzz off) informal go away.
5. have an air of excitement or purposeful activity.
6. informal (of an aircraft) fly very close to (something) at high speed.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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buzzard

noun
1. a large bird of prey typically seen soaring in wide circles.
2. N. Amer. a vulture.

ORIGIN: Old French busard, from Latin buteo 'falcon' .

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buzzer

noun
an electrical device that makes a buzzing noise to attract attention.

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buzzword

noun informal
a technical word or phrase that has become fashionable.

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by

preposition
1. through the agency or means of.
2. indicating a quantity or amount, or the size of a margin.
3. expressing multiplication, especially in dimensions.
4. indicating the end of a time period.
5. near to; beside.
6. past and beyond.
7. during.
8. according to.

adverb
so as to go past.

noun (pl. byes) variant spelling of BYE.

IDIOMS -
by and by before long.
by the by (or bye) incidentally.
by and large on the whole. [ORIGIN: originally in nautical use, describing the handling of a ship both to the wind and off it.]
by oneself
1. alone.
2. unaided.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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by- (also bye-)

prefix
subordinate; incidental; secondary: by-election.

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bye [1]

noun
1. the transfer of a competitor directly to the next round of a competition because they have no opponent assigned to them.
2. Cricket a run scored from a ball that passes the batsman without being hit.

IDIOMS -
by the bye variant spelling of by the by (see BY).

ORIGIN: originally denoting an incidental matter; from BY.

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bye [2]

exclamation informal
goodbye.

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by-election

noun Brit.
an election held in a single constituency to fill a vacancy arising during a government's term of office.

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bygone

adjective
belonging to an earlier time.

IDIOMS -
let bygones be bygones forget past differences and be reconciled.

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by-law (also bye-law)

noun
1. Brit. a regulation made by a local authority or corporation.
2. a rule made by a company or society to control the actions of its members.

ORIGIN: probably from obsolete byrlaw «local law or custom», from an Old Norse word meaning 'town' .

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byline

noun
1. a line in a newspaper naming the writer of an article.
2. (also byeline) (in soccer) the part of the goal line to either side of the goal.

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bypass

noun
1. a road passing round a town for through traffic.
2. a secondary channel or connection to allow a flow when the main one is closed or blocked.
3. a surgical operation to make an alternative passage to aid the circulation of blood.

verb
go past or round.

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by-product

noun
1. an incidental or secondary product made in the manufacture of something else.
2. an unintended but inevitable secondary result.

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byre

noun Brit.
a cowshed.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Byronic

adjective
1. characteristic of Lord Byron (1788 1824) or his poetry.
2. (of a man) alluringly dark, mysterious, and moody.

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bystander

noun
a person who is present at an event or incident but does not take part.

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byte

noun Computing
a group of binary digits (usually eight) operated on as a unit.

ORIGIN: based on BIT and BITE.

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byway

noun
a minor road or path.

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byword

noun
1. a notable example or embodiment of something.
2. a proverb or saying.

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Byzantine

adjective
1. relating to Byzantium (later called Constantinople, now Istanbul), the Byzantine Empire, or the Eastern Orthodox Church.
2. excessively complicated and detailed.
3. very devious or underhand.

noun
a citizen of Byzantium or the Byzantine Empire.

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C

C [1] (also c)

noun (pl. Cs or C's)
1. the third letter of the alphabet.
2. denoting the third item in a set.
3. Music the first note of the diatonic scale of C major.
4. the Roman numeral for 100. [ORIGIN: abbreviation of Latin centum 'hundred' .]

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C [2]

abbreviation
1. (C.) Cape (chiefly on maps).
2. Celsius or centigrade.
3. (in names of sports clubs) City.
4. (©) copyright.
5. (in Britain) Conservative.
6. Physics coulomb(s).

symbol
the chemical element carbon.

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c

abbreviation
1. Cricket caught by.
2. cent(s).
3. (preceding a date or amount) circa.
4. (c.) century or centuries.

symbol Physics
the speed of light in a vacuum.

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CA

abbreviation
California.

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Ca

symbol
the chemical element calcium.

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ca.

abbreviation
(preceding a date or amount) circa.

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CAB

abbreviation
Citizens' Advice Bureau.

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cab

noun
1. (also taxi cab) a taxi.
2. the driver's compartment in a truck, bus, or train.
3. historical a horse-drawn vehicle for public hire.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of CABRIOLET.

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cabal

noun
a secret political clique or faction.

ORIGIN: Latin cabala 'Kabbalah' (its original sense in English).

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cabaret

noun
1. entertainment held in a nightclub or restaurant while the audience sit at tables.
2. a nightclub or restaurant where such entertainment is performed.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'wooden structure, inn' .

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cabbage

noun
1. a vegetable with thick green or purple leaves surrounding a spherical heart or head of young leaves.
2. Brit. informal, derogatory a person with a very dull or limited life.
3. Brit. informal, offensive a person who is severely handicapped or brain-damaged.

ORIGIN: Old French caboche 'head' .

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cabby (also cabbie)

noun (pl. cabbies) informal
a taxi driver.

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caber

noun
a roughly trimmed tree trunk used in the Scottish Highland sport of tossing the caber.

ORIGIN: Scottish Gaelic cabar 'pole' .

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cabin

noun
1. a private room or compartment on a ship.
2. the passenger compartment in an aircraft.
3. a small wooden shelter or house.

ORIGIN: Old French cabane, from Latin capanna.

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cabin cruiser

noun
a motor boat with living accommodation.

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cabinet

noun
1. a cupboard with drawers or shelves for storing or displaying articles.
2. a wooden box or piece of furniture housing a radio, television, or speaker.
3. (also Cabinet) a committee of senior ministers responsible for controlling government policy.

DERIVATIVES:
cabinetry noun.

ORIGIN: from CABIN; sense 3 derives from the obsolete sense «small private room».

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cabinetmaker

noun
a skilled joiner who makes furniture or similar high-quality woodwork.

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cable

noun
1. a thick rope of wire or hemp.
2. an insulated wire or wires for transmitting electricity or telecommunication signals.
3. a cablegram.
4. the chain of a ship's anchor.
5. Nautical a length of 200 yards (182.9 m) or (in the US) 240 yards (219.4 m).

verb dated
send a cablegram to.

ORIGIN: Old French chable, from Latin capulum 'halter' .

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cable car

noun
a small carriage suspended on a continuous moving cable and travelling up and down a mountainside.

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cable television

noun
a system in which television programmes are transmitted to the sets of subscribers by cable.

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caboodle

noun (in phrase the whole caboodle or the whole kit and caboodle) informal
the whole number or quantity of people or things in question.

ORIGIN: originally US: perhaps from the phrase kit and boodle, in the same sense.

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caboose

noun
1. N. Amer. a wagon with accommodation for the crew on a freight train.
2. archaic a kitchen on a ship's deck.

ORIGIN: Dutch kabuis.

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cabriolet

noun
1. a car with a roof that folds down.
2. a light two-wheeled carriage with a hood, drawn by one horse.

ORIGIN: French, from cabriole 'light leap' ; so named because of the carriage's motion.

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cacao

noun
the bean-like seeds of a tropical American tree, from which cocoa, cocoa butter, and chocolate are made.

ORIGIN: Nahuatl.

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cache

noun
1. a hidden store of things.
2. Computing an auxiliary memory from which high-speed retrieval is possible.

verb
store in a cache.

ORIGIN: French, from cacher 'to hide' .

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cachet

noun
1. prestige.
2. a distinguishing mark or seal.
3. a flat capsule enclosing a dose of unpleasant-tasting medicine.

ORIGIN: French, from cacher in the sense 'to press' .

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cack

noun Brit. informal
excrement.

ORIGIN: Old English, from Latin cacare 'defecate' .

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cack-handed

adjective Brit. informal
1. inept; clumsy.
2. derogatory left-handed.

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cackle

noun
a raucous clucking cry, as made by a hen or goose.

verb
1. give a cackle.
2. talk inconsequentially and at length.

IDIOMS -
cut the cackle informal stop talking aimlessly and come to the point.

ORIGIN: probably from Low German kkelen.

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cacophony

noun (pl. cacophonies)
a harsh discordant mixture of sounds.

DERIVATIVES:
cacophonous adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek kakophnia, from kakophnos 'ill-sounding' .

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cactus

noun (pl. cacti or cactuses)
a succulent plant with a thick fleshy stem bearing spines but no leaves.

ORIGIN: Greek kaktos 'cardoon' .

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cad

noun dated or humorous
a man who behaves dishonourably, especially towards a woman.

DERIVATIVES:
caddish adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a passenger picked up by the driver of a horse-drawn coach for personal profit: abbreviation of CADDIE or CADET.

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cadaver

noun Medicine or literary
a corpse.

ORIGIN: Latin, from cadere 'to fall' .

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cadaverous

adjective
resembling a corpse in being very pale, thin, or bony.

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caddie (also caddy)

noun (pl. caddies)
a person who carries a golfer's clubs and provides other assistance during a match.

verb (caddying)
work as a caddie.

ORIGIN: originally Scots, denoting a gentleman who joined the army without a commission, later coming to mean «odd-job man»: from French cadet (see CADET).

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caddis (also caddis fly)

noun
a small moth-like insect having aquatic larvae that build protective cases of sticks, stones, etc.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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caddy

noun (pl. caddies)
a small storage container, especially for tea.

ORIGIN: from earlier catty, denoting a unit of weight of 11 / 3 lb (0.61 kg), from Malay.

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cadence

noun
1. a modulation or inflection of the voice.
2. Music a sequence of notes or chords comprising the close of a musical phrase.
3. rhythm.

DERIVATIVES:
cadenced adjective.

ORIGIN: Italian cadenza, from Latin cadere 'to fall' .

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cadenza

noun Music
a virtuoso solo passage in a concerto or other work, typically near the end.

ORIGIN: Italian (see CADENCE).

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cadet

noun
1. a young trainee in the armed services or police.
2. formal or archaic a younger son or daughter.

DERIVATIVES:
cadetship noun.

ORIGIN: French, ultimately from Latin caput 'head' .

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cadge

verb informal
ask for or obtain (something to which one is not entitled).

DERIVATIVES:
cadger noun.

ORIGIN: from cadger, a northern English and Scottish word meaning «itinerant dealer».

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cadmium

noun
a silvery-white metallic chemical element resembling zinc.

ORIGIN: from Latin cadmia 'calamine' , so named because it is found with calamine in zinc ore.

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cadre

noun
1. a small group of people trained for a particular purpose or profession.
2. a group of activists in a revolutionary organization.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin quadrus 'square' .

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caecum (US cecum)

noun (pl. caeca)
a pouch connected to the junction of the small and large intestines.

DERIVATIVES:
caecal adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin intestinum caecum 'blind gut' .

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Caesar

noun
a title of Roman emperors, especially those from Augustus to Hadrian.

ORIGIN: family name of the Roman statesman Gaius Julius Caesar.

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Caesarean section

noun
a surgical operation for delivering a child by cutting through the wall of the mother's abdomen.

ORIGIN: from the story that Julius Caesar was delivered by this method.

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caesura

noun
1. (in Greek and Latin verse) a break between words within a metrical foot.
2. (in modern verse) a pause near the middle of a line.

ORIGIN: Latin, from caedere 'cut' .

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cafe

noun
1. a small restaurant selling light meals and drinks.
2. N. Amer. a bar or nightclub.

ORIGIN: French, 'coffee or coffee house' .

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cafeteria

noun
a self-service restaurant.

ORIGIN: Latin American Spanish, 'coffee shop' .

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cafetière

noun
a coffee pot containing a plunger with which the grounds are pushed to the bottom before the coffee is poured.

ORIGIN: French.

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caffeine

noun
a compound which is found in tea and coffee plants and is a stimulant of the central nervous system.

DERIVATIVES:
caffeinated adjective.

ORIGIN: French caféine, from café 'coffee' .

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cage

noun
1. a structure of bars or wires in which birds or other animals are confined.
2. any similar structure, in particular the compartment in a lift.

verb
confine in or as if in a cage.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin cavea.

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cagey (also cagy)

adjective informal
uncommunicative owing to caution or suspicion.

DERIVATIVES:
cagily adverb
caginess (also cageyness) noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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cagoule (also kagoul)

noun
a lightweight, hooded, thigh-length waterproof jacket.

ORIGIN: French, 'cowl' .

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cahoots

plural noun (in phrase in cahoots) informal
colluding or conspiring together secretly.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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caiman (also cayman)

noun
a tropical American reptile similar to an alligator.

ORIGIN: Carib.

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Cain

noun (in phrase raise Cain) informal
create trouble or a commotion.

ORIGIN: from Cain, eldest son of Adam and Eve and murderer of his brother Abel (Genesis 4).

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cairn

noun
1. a mound of rough stones built as a memorial or landmark.
2. (also cairn terrier) a small breed of terrier with a shaggy coat.

ORIGIN: Scottish Gaelic carn.

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cajole

verb
persuade (someone) to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery.

DERIVATIVES:
cajolery noun.

ORIGIN: French cajoler.

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Cajun

noun
a member of a French-speaking community in the bayou areas of southern Louisiana, descended from French Canadians.

adjective
relating to the Cajuns.

ORIGIN: alteration of Acadian 'relating to Acadia' , a former French colony in Canada (now Nova Scotia).

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cake

noun
1. an item of soft sweet food made from baking a mixture of flour, fat, eggs, and sugar.
2. a flat, round item of savoury food that is baked or fried.
3. the amount of money available for sharing: a fair slice of the education cake.

verb
(of a thick or sticky substance) cover and become encrusted on.

IDIOMS -
a piece of cake informal something easily achieved.
sell like hot cakes informal be sold quickly and in large quantities.
take the cake see take the biscuit at BISCUIT.
you can't have your cake and eat it (too) proverb you can't enjoy both of two desirable but mutually exclusive alternatives.

ORIGIN: Scandinavian.

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Cal

abbreviation
large calorie(s).

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cal

abbreviation
small calorie(s).

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calabash

noun
a water container, tobacco pipe, or other object made from the dried shell of a gourd.

ORIGIN: Spanish calabaza, perhaps from a Persian word meaning 'melon' .

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calabrese

noun
a bright green variety of broccoli.

ORIGIN: Italian, meaning 'from Calabria' , a region of SW Italy.

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calamine

noun
a pink powder consisting of zinc carbonate and ferric oxide, used to make a soothing lotion or ointment.

ORIGIN: Latin calamina, from Greek kadmeia g 'Cadmean earth' , from the name of Cadmus, the legendary founder of Thebes.

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calamity

noun (pl. calamities)
an event causing great and sudden damage or distress.

DERIVATIVES:
calamitous adjective
calamitously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin calamitas.

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calando

adverb Music
gradually decreasing in speed and volume.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'slackening' .

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calcareous

adjective
containing calcium carbonate; chalky.

ORIGIN: Latin calcarius, from calx 'lime' .

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calciferol

noun Biochemistry
vitamin D_2, essential for the deposition of calcium in bones.

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calcify

verb (calcifies, calcified)
harden by deposition of or conversion into calcium carbonate or other calcium salts.

DERIVATIVES:
calcification noun.

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calcine

verb
reduce, oxidize, or dry (a substance) by roasting or strong heat.

DERIVATIVES:
calcination noun.

ORIGIN: Latin calcinare, from calx 'lime' .

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calcite

noun
a white or colourless mineral consisting of calcium carbonate.

ORIGIN: German Calcit.

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calcium

noun
a soft grey reactive metallic chemical element.

ORIGIN: from Latin calx 'lime' .

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calcium carbonate

noun
a white insoluble compound occurring naturally as chalk, limestone, marble, and calcite, and forming mollusc shells.

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calculate

verb
1. determine mathematically.
2. (calculate on) include as an essential element in one's plans.
3. intend (an action) to have a particular effect.

DERIVATIVES:
calculable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin calculare 'count' , from calculus 'small pebble' (as used on an abacus).

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calculated

adjective
done with awareness of the likely consequences.

DERIVATIVES:
calculatedly adverb.

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calculating

adjective
selfishly scheming.

DERIVATIVES:
calculatingly adverb.

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calculation

noun
1. a mathematical determination of quantity or extent.
2. an assessment of the risks or effects of a course of action.

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calculator

noun
something used for making mathematical calculations, in particular a small electronic device with a keyboard and a visual display.

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calculus

noun (pl. calculi or calculuses)
1. the branch of mathematics concerned with finding derivatives and integrals of functions by methods based on the summation of infinitesimal differences.
2. Medicine a stone formed by deposition of minerals in the kidney, gall bladder, or other organ.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'small pebble' (as used on an abacus).

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Caledonian

adjective
relating to Scotland or the Scottish Highlands.

ORIGIN: from Caledonia, the Latin name for northern Britain.

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calendar

noun
1. a chart or series of pages showing the days, weeks, and months of a particular year.
2. a system by which the beginning, length, and subdivisions of the year are fixed.
3. a list or schedule of special days, events, or activities.

DERIVATIVES:
calendrical adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin kalendarium 'account book' , from kalendae (see CALENDS).

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calf [1]

noun (pl. calves)
1. a young bovine animal, especially a domestic cow or bull in its first year.
2. the young of some other large mammals, such as elephants.
3. a floating piece of ice detached from an iceberg.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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calf [2]

noun (pl. calves)
the fleshy part at the back of a person's leg below the knee.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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calibrate

verb
1. mark (a gauge or instrument) with a standard scale of readings.
2. compare the readings of (an instrument) with those of a standard.
3. adjust (experimental results) to take external factors into account or to allow comparison with other data.

DERIVATIVES:
calibration noun
calibrator noun.

ORIGIN: from CALIBRE.

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calibre (US caliber)

noun
1. quality of character or level of ability.
2. the internal diameter of a gun barrel, or the diameter of a bullet or shell.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «social standing»: from French, perhaps from an Arabic word meaning 'mould' .

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calico

noun (pl. calicoes or US also calicos)
1. Brit. a type of plain white or unbleached cotton cloth.
2. N. Amer. printed cotton fabric.

ORIGIN: alteration of Calicut, a seaport in SW India where the fabric originated.

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Californian

noun
a person from California.

adjective
relating to California.

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caliper (also calliper)

noun
1. (also calipers) a measuring instrument with two hinged legs and in-turned or out-turned points.
2. a motor-vehicle or bicycle brake consisting of two or more hinged components.
3. a metal support for a person's leg.

ORIGIN: probably an alteration of CALIBRE.

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caliph

noun historical
the chief Muslim civil and religious ruler, regarded as the successor of Muhammad.

DERIVATIVES:
caliphate noun.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'deputy of God' .

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calisthenics (Brit. callisthenics)

plural noun
gymnastic exercises to achieve bodily fitness and grace of movement.

ORIGIN: from Greek kallos 'beauty' + sthenos 'strength' .

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calk (esp. Brit. caulk)

noun
a waterproof filler and sealant, used in building work and repairs.

verb
1. seal with caulk.
2. make (a boat or its seams) watertight.

ORIGIN: from Latin calcare 'to tread' .

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call

verb
1. cry out to (someone) in order to summon them or attract their attention.
2. telephone.
3. (of a bird or animal) make its characteristic cry.
4. pay a brief visit.
5. give a specified name or description to.
6. fix a date or time for (a meeting, election, or strike).
7. predict the result of (a vote or contest).
8. bring (a witness) into court to give evidence.
9. inspire or urge to do something.

noun
1. a cry made as a summons or to attract attention.
2. a telephone communication.
3. the characteristic cry of a bird or animal.
4. a brief visit.
5. (call for) demand or need for: there is little call for antique furniture.
6. a vocation.
7. a shout by an official in a game indicating that the ball has gone out of play or that a rule has been breached.

IDIOMS -
call for require; demand.
call in require payment of (a loan).
call off cancel (an event or agreement).
call on/upon turn to as a source of help.
call of nature euphemistic a need to urinate or defecate.
call the shots (or tune) take the initiative in deciding how something should be done.
call up
1. summon (someone) to serve in the army or to play in a team.
2. bring (something stored) into use.
on call
1. available to provide a professional ser vice if necessary.
2. (of money lent) repayable on demand.

DERIVATIVES:
caller noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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call centre

noun
an office in which large numbers of telephone calls, especially from customers, are handled for an organization.

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call girl

noun
a female prostitute who accepts appointments by telephone.

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calligraphy

noun
decorative handwriting or handwritten lettering.

DERIVATIVES:
calligrapher noun
calligraphic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek kalligraphia, from kalligraphos 'person who writes beautifully' .

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calling

noun
1. a profession or occupation.
2. a vocation.

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callisthenics (US calisthenics)

plural noun
gymnastic exercises to achieve bodily fitness and grace of movement.

ORIGIN: from Greek kallos 'beauty' + sthenos 'strength' .

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callous

adjective
insensitive and cruel.

noun variant spelling of CALLUS.

DERIVATIVES:
callously adverb
callousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin callosus 'hard-skinned' .

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callow

adjective
(of a young person) inexperienced and immature.

DERIVATIVES:
callowly adverb
callowness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «bald», probably from Latin calvus 'bald' , later «unfledged».

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call sign (also call signal)

noun
a message or tune broadcast on radio to identify the broadcaster or transmitter.

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callus (also callous)

noun
1. a thickened and hardened part of the skin or soft tissue.
2. Botany a hard formation of tissue formed over a wound.

DERIVATIVES:
callused adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'hardened skin' .

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calm

adjective
1. not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other emotions.
2. peaceful and undisturbed.

noun
1. a calm state or period.
2. (calms) an area of the sea without wind.

verb (often calm down)
make or become tranquil and quiet.

DERIVATIVES:
calmly adverb
calmness noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek kauma 'heat of the day' .

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Calor gas

noun Brit. trademark
liquefied butane stored under pressure in portable containers, used as a substitute for mains gas.

ORIGIN: from Latin calor 'heat' .

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caloric

adjective chiefly N. Amer. or technical
relating to heat; calorific.

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calorie

noun (pl. calories)
1. (also large calorie) a unit of energy, often used in specifying the energy value of foods, equal to the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water through 1 °C (4.1868 kilojoules).
2. (also small calorie) a unit of energy equal to one-thousandth of a large calorie.

ORIGIN: from Latin calor 'heat' .

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calorific

adjective chiefly Brit.
1. relating to the amount of energy contained in food or fuel.
2. high in calories.

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calorimeter

noun
an apparatus for measuring the amount of heat involved in a chemical reaction or other process.

DERIVATIVES:
calorimetric adjective
calorimetry noun.

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calumniate

verb formal
make false and defamatory statements about.

DERIVATIVES:
calumniator noun.

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calumny

noun (pl. calumnies)
the making of false and defamatory statements about someone.

verb (calumnies, calumnied) formal
calumniate.

DERIVATIVES:
calumnious adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin calumnia.

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calve

verb
1. give birth to a calf.
2. (of a mass of ice) split off from an iceberg or glacier.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Calvinism

noun
the Protestant theological system of John Calvin (1509 64) and his successors, centring on the doctrine of predestination.

DERIVATIVES:
Calvinist noun
Calvinistic adjective.

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calypso

noun (pl. calypsos)
a kind of West Indian music or song in syncopated African rhythm, typically with words improvised on a topical theme.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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calyx (also calix)

noun (pl. calyces or calyxes)
1. Botany the sepals of a flower, forming a protective layer around a flower in bud.
2. Zoology a cup-like cavity or structure.

ORIGIN: Greek kalux 'case of a bud, husk' .

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cam

noun
1. a projection on a rotating part in machinery, designed to make sliding contact with another part while rotating and impart motion to it.
2. a camshaft.

ORIGIN: Dutch kam 'comb'

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camaraderie

noun
mutual trust and friendship.

ORIGIN: French, from camarade 'comrade' .

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camber

noun
1. a slightly convex or arched shape of a road, aircraft wing, or other horizontal surface.
2. Brit. a tilt built into a road at a bend or curve.
3. the slight sideways inclination of the front wheels of a motor vehicle.

DERIVATIVES:
cambered adjective.

ORIGIN: from Old French chambre 'arched' , from Latin camurus 'curved inwards' .

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cambium

noun (pl. cambia or cambiums) Botany
a layer of cells in a plant stem between the xylem and phloem, from which new tissue grows by cellular division.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'change, exchange' .

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Cambodian

noun
1. a person from Cambodia.
2. the Khmer language.

adjective
relating to Cambodia.

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Cambrian

adjective
1. Welsh.
2. Geology relating to the first period in the Palaeozoic era (between the Precambrian aeon and the Ordovician period, about 570 to 510 million years ago).

ORIGIN: from Latin Cambria, from Welsh Cymru 'Wales' .

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cambric

noun
a lightweight, closely woven white linen or cotton fabric.

ORIGIN: named after the town of Cambrai in northern France; compare with CHAMBRAY.

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Cambs.

abbreviation
Cambridgeshire.

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camcorder

noun
a portable combined video camera and video recorder.

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camel

noun
a large, long-necked mammal of arid country, with long slender legs, broad cushioned feet, and either one or two humps on the back.

ORIGIN: Greek kamlos, from Semitic.

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camellia

noun
an evergreen shrub with showy flowers and shiny leaves.

ORIGIN: named after the Moravian botanist Joseph Kamel (1661 1706) (Latinized as Camellus).

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Camembert

noun
a kind of rich, soft, creamy cheese originally made near Camembert in Normandy.

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cameo

noun (pl. cameos)
1. a piece of jewellery consisting of a portrait in profile carved in relief on a background of a different colour.
2. a short piece of writing which neatly encapsulates something.
3. a small distinctive part played by a distinguished actor.

ORIGIN: Latin cammaeus.

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camera

noun
a device for recording visual images in the form of photographs, cinema film, or video signals.

IDIOMS -
in camera chiefly Law in private, in particular in the private chambers of a judge. [ORIGIN: Latin, 'in the chamber' .]

ORIGIN: Latin, 'vault, arched chamber' .

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camera obscura

noun
a darkened box or building with a lens or aperture for projecting the image of an external object on to a screen inside.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'dark chamber' .

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camiknickers

plural noun Brit.
a woman's one-piece undergarment which combines a camisole and a pair of French knickers.

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camisole

noun
a woman's loose-fitting undergarment for the upper body.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin camisia 'shirt or nightgown' .

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camouflage

noun
1. the disguising of military personnel and equipment by painting or covering them to make them blend in with their surroundings.
2. clothing or materials used for such a purpose.
3. the natural colouring or form of an animal which enables it to blend in with its surroundings.

verb
hide or disguise by means of camouflage.

ORIGIN: French, from camoufler 'to disguise' .

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camp [1]

noun
1. a place where tents are temporarily set up.
2. a complex of huts and other buildings for soldiers, holidaymakers, or detainees.
3. the supporters of a particular party or doctrine regarded collectively.
4. a fortified prehistoric site, especially an Iron Age hill fort.

verb
lodge in a tent or caravan while on holiday.

IDIOMS -
break camp take down a tent or the tents of an encampment ready to leave.

ORIGIN: Latin campus 'level ground' .

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camp [2] informal

adjective
1. (of a man) ostentatiously and extravagantly effeminate.
2. deliberately exaggerated and theatrical in style.

noun
camp behaviour or style.

verb (usu. camp it up)
behave in a camp way.

DERIVATIVES:
campy adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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campaign

noun
1. a series of military operations intended to achieve an objective in a particular area.
2. an organized course of action to achieve a goal.

verb
work in an organized way towards a goal.

DERIVATIVES:
campaigner noun.

ORIGIN: French campagne 'open country' , from Latin campus 'level ground' ; the modern sense arose from an army's practice of moving from a fortress or town to open country in spring.

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campanile

noun
a bell tower, especially a free-standing one.

ORIGIN: Italian, from campana 'bell' .

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campanology

noun
the art or practice of bell-ringing.

DERIVATIVES:
campanological adjective
campanologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin campana 'bell' .

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camp bed

noun Brit.
a folding portable bed.

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camper

noun
1. a person who spends a holiday in a tent or holiday camp.
2. (also camper van) a large motor vehicle with living accommodation.

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campfire

noun
an open-air fire in a camp.

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camp follower

noun
1. a civilian working in or attached to a military camp.
2. a person who associates with a group without being a full member of it.

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camphor

noun
a white volatile crystalline substance with an aromatic smell and bitter taste, occurring in certain essential oils.

ORIGIN: Latin camphora, from Sanskrit.

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campsite

noun
a place used for camping, especially one equipped for holidaymakers.

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campus

noun (pl. campuses)
1. the grounds and buildings of a university or college.
2. N. Amer. the grounds of a college, school, hospital, or other institution.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'level ground' .

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camshaft

noun
a shaft with one or more cams attached to it, especially one operating the valves in an internal-combustion engine.

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can [1]

modal verb (3rd sing. present can; past could)
1. be able to.
2. used to express doubt or surprise: he can't have finished.
3. used to indicate that something is typically the case: he could be very moody.
4. be permitted to.
USAGE - On whether it is better to use can or may when requesting permission, see the note at MAY.
ORIGIN: Old English, «know».

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can [2]

noun
1. a cylindrical metal container, in particular one in which food or drink is hermetically sealed for long-term storage.
2. (the can) N. Amer. informal prison.
3. (the can) N. Amer. informal the toilet.

verb (canned, canning)
preserve in a can.

IDIOMS -
a can of worms a complex matter that once acknowledged will prove difficult to manage.
in the can informal on tape or film and ready to be broadcast or released.

DERIVATIVES:
canner noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Canadian

noun
a person from Canada.

adjective
relating to Canada.

DERIVATIVES:
Canadianism noun.

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canal

noun
1. an artificial waterway allowing the passage of boats inland or conveying water for irrigation.
2. a tubular duct in a plant or animal conveying food, liquid, or air.

ORIGIN: Latin canalis 'pipe, groove, channel' , from canna 'cane' .

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canalize (also canalise)

verb
1. convert (a river) into a navigable canal.
2. convey through a duct or channel.
3. give a direction or purpose to.

DERIVATIVES:
canalization noun.

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canapé

noun
1. a small piece of bread or pastry with a savoury topping, often served with drinks.
2. a sofa, especially a decorative French antique.

ORIGIN: French, 'sofa, couch' ; the first sense is a figurative extension of this (a «couch» on which to place toppings); related to CANOPY.

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canard

noun
an unfounded rumour or story.

ORIGIN: French, 'duck' , also 'hoax' , from Old French caner 'to quack' .

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canary

noun (pl. canaries)
1. a bright yellow finch with a melodious song, popular as a cage bird.
2. (also canary yellow) a bright yellow colour.

ORIGIN: from the Canary Islands, to which one species of the bird is native; the name of the islands is from Latin canaria insula 'island of dogs' .

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canasta

noun
a card game resembling rummy, using two packs and usually played by two pairs of partners.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'basket' .

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cancan

noun
a lively, high-kicking stage dance originating in 19th-century Parisian music halls.

ORIGIN: French, child's word for canard 'duck' , from Old French caner 'to quack' .

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cancel

verb (cancelled, cancelling; US also canceled, canceling)
1. decide that (a planned event) will not take place.
2. annul or revoke.
3. (cancel out) neutralize or negate the effect of.
4. mark (a stamp, ticket, etc.) to show that it has been used and is no longer valid.

DERIVATIVES:
cancellation noun
canceller noun.

ORIGIN: Latin cancellare, from cancelli 'crossbars' .

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Cancer

noun
1. Astronomy a constellation (the Crab), said to represent a crab crushed under the foot of Hercules.
2. Astrology the fourth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters at the northern summer solstice (about 21 June).

DERIVATIVES:
Cancerian noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'crab' .

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cancer

noun
1. a disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body.
2. a malignant growth or tumour resulting from such a division of cells.
3. something evil or destructive that is hard to contain or eradicate.

DERIVATIVES:
cancerous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'crab or creeping ulcer' , said to have been applied to tumours because the swollen veins around them resembled the limbs of a crab.

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candela

noun Physics
the SI unit of luminous intensity.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'candle' .

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candelabrum

noun (pl. candelabra)
a large branched candlestick or holder for several candles or lamps.
USAGE - Based on the Latin forms, the correct singular is candelabrum and the correct plural is candelabra, but these forms are often not observed in practice: the singular form is assumed to be candelabra and hence its plural is interpreted as candelabras.
ORIGIN: Latin, from candela 'candle' .

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candid

adjective
truthful and straightforward; frank.

DERIVATIVES:
candidly adverb
candidness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'white' : from Latin candidus 'white' .

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candidate

noun
1. a person who applies for a job or is nominated for election.
2. a person taking an examination.
3. a person or thing regarded as suitable for a particular fate, treatment, or position: she was the perfect candidate for a biography.

DERIVATIVES:
candidacy noun
candidature noun (Brit. ).

ORIGIN: from Latin candidatus 'white-robed' , also denoting a candidate for office (who traditionally wore a white toga), from candidus 'white' .

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candle

noun
a stick or block of wax or tallow with a central wick which is lit to produce light as it burns.

IDIOMS -
be unable to hold a candle to informal be not nearly as good as.
not worth the candle not justifying the cost or trouble involved.

ORIGIN: Latin candela, from candere 'be white or glisten' .

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Candlemas

noun
a Christian festival held on 2 February to commemorate the purification of the Virgin Mary (after childbirth, according to Jewish law) and the presentation of Christ in the Temple.

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candlestick

noun
a support or holder for a candle.

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candlewick

noun
a thick, soft cotton fabric with a raised, tufted pattern.

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candour (US candor)

noun
the quality of being open and honest.

ORIGIN: Latin candor 'whiteness, purity' .

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candy

noun (pl. candies) (also sugar candy)
1. N. Amer. sweets.
2. chiefly Brit. sugar crystallized by repeated boiling and slow evaporation.

verb (candies, candied)
preserve (fruit) by coating and impregnating it with a sugar syrup.

ORIGIN: from French sucre candi 'crystallized sugar' , from Arabic.

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candyfloss

noun Brit.
1. a mass of pink or white fluffy spun sugar wrapped round a stick.
2. something worthless or insubstantial.

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candy-striped

adjective
patterned with alternating stripes of white and another colour, typically pink.

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cane

noun
1. the hollow jointed stem of tall reeds, grasses, etc., especially bamboo.
2. the slender, pliant stem of plants such as rattan.
3. a woody stem of a raspberry or related plant.
4. a length of cane or a slender stick used as a support for plants, a walking stick, or an instrument of punishment.

verb
beat with a cane as a punishment.

DERIVATIVES:
caner noun.

ORIGIN: Greek kanna, kann.

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canine

adjective
relating to or resembling a dog.

noun
1. a dog or other animal of the dog family.
2. (also canine tooth) a pointed tooth between the incisors and premolars, often greatly enlarged in carnivores.

ORIGIN: Latin caninus, from canis 'dog' .

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canister

noun
a round or cylindrical container.

ORIGIN: Greek kanastron 'wicker basket' , from kanna 'cane' .

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canker

noun
1. a destructive fungal disease of trees that results in damage to the bark.
2. an open lesion in plant tissue caused by infection or injury.
3. fungal rot in parsnips, tomatoes, or other vegetables.
4. an ulcerous condition in animals, especially an inflammation of the ear caused by a mite infestation.

verb
1. become infected with canker.
2. (cankered) infected with a pervasive and corrupting bitterness.

DERIVATIVES:
cankerous adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a tumour: from Old French chancre, from Latin cancer 'crab, creeping ulcer' .

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cannabis

noun
a psychotropic drug in the form of a resinous extract or dried preparation, obtained from the hemp plant.

ORIGIN: Latin (used as the botanical name for hemp); from Greek kannabis.

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canned

adjective
1. preserved in a sealed can.
2. informal, chiefly derogatory (of music, applause, etc.) pre-recorded.

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cannelloni

plural noun
rolls of pasta stuffed with a meat or vegetable mixture, usually cooked in a cheese sauce.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'large tubes' .

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cannery

noun (pl. canneries)
a factory where food is canned.

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cannibal

noun
a person who eats the flesh of other human beings.

DERIVATIVES:
cannibalism noun
cannibalistic adjective.

ORIGIN: Spanish Canibales, a variant of Caribes, a West Indian people reputed to eat humans; related to CARIB.

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cannibalize (also cannibalise)

verb
1. use (a machine) as a source of spare parts for another, similar machine.
2. (of an animal) eat (an animal of its own kind).

DERIVATIVES:
cannibalization noun.

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cannon

noun (pl. usu. same)
1. a large, heavy piece of artillery formerly used in warfare.
2. an automatic heavy gun that fires shells from an aircraft or tank.

verb chiefly Brit. (cannon into/off)
collide with forcefully or at an angle.

ORIGIN: Italian cannone 'large tube' , from Latin canna 'cane' .

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cannonade

noun
a period of continuous heavy gunfire.

verb
discharge heavy guns continuously.

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cannonball

noun
a round metal or stone projectile fired from a cannon.

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cannon fodder

noun
soldiers regarded merely as material to be expended in war.

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cannot

contraction
can not.

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canny

adjective (cannier, canniest)
1. shrewd, especially in financial or business matters.
2. N. English & Scottish pleasant; nice.

DERIVATIVES:
cannily adverb
canniness noun.

ORIGIN: from CAN, in the obsolete sense 'know' .

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canoe

noun
a narrow keelless boat with pointed ends, propelled with a paddle.

verb (canoes, canoed, canoeing)
travel in or paddle a canoe.

DERIVATIVES:
canoeist noun.

ORIGIN: Spanish canoa, from Carib.

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canon

noun
1. a general rule or principle by which something is judged.
2. a Church decree or law.
3. a collection of authentic sacred books.
4. the authentic works of a particular author or artist.
5. a list of literary works considered to be permanently established as being of the highest quality.
6. Music a passage or piece of music in which a theme is taken up by two or more parts that overlap.

ORIGIN: Greek kann 'rule' .

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canonical

adjective
1. according to canon law.
2. accepted as being authentic, accurate, and authoritative.
3. of or relating to a cathedral chapter or a member of it.

noun (canonicals)
the prescribed official dress of the clergy.

DERIVATIVES:
canonically adverb.

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canonize (also canonise)

verb
1. (in the Roman Catholic Church) officially declare (a dead person) to be a saint.
2. sanction by Church authority.

DERIVATIVES:
canonization noun.

ORIGIN: Latin canonizare 'admit as authoritative' .

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canon law

noun
ecclesiastical law, especially that laid down by papal pronouncements.

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canoodle

verb informal
kiss and cuddle amorously.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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canopy

noun (pl. canopies)
1. a cloth covering hung or held up over a throne or bed.
2. a roof-like projection or shelter.
3. the expanding, umbrella-like part of a parachute.
4. the uppermost branches of the trees in a forest, forming a roof-like cover of foliage.

verb (canopies, canopied)
cover or provide with a canopy.

ORIGIN: Latin conopeum 'mosquito net over a bed' , from Greek knps 'mosquito' .

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cant [1]

noun
1. hypocritical and sanctimonious talk.
2. derogatory language peculiar to a specified group.
3. (before another noun ) denoting a phrase or catchword temporarily current: a cant word.

verb dated
talk hypocritically and sanctimoniously.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «singing», later «whining speech» (as of a beggar): probably from Latin cantare 'to sing' .

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cant [2]

verb
be or cause to be in a slanting or oblique position; tilt.

noun
1. a slope or tilt.
2. a wedge-shaped block of wood remaining after the better-quality pieces have been cut off.

ORIGIN: Low German kant, kante, Dutch cant, 'point, side, edge' .

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can't

contraction
cannot.

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Cantab.

abbreviation
of Cambridge University.

ORIGIN: from Latin Cantabrigia 'Cambridge' .

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cantabile

adverb & adjective Music
in a smooth singing style.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'singable' .

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cantaloupe

noun
a small round variety of melon with orange flesh and ribbed skin.

ORIGIN: French cantaloup, from Cantaluppi near Rome.

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cantankerous

adjective
bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative.

DERIVATIVES:
cantankerously adverb
cantankerousness noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps a blend of Anglo-Irish cant «auction» and rancorous.

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cantata

noun
a medium-length narrative or descriptive piece of music with vocal solos and normally a chorus and orchestra.

ORIGIN: from Italian cantata aria 'sung air' .

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canteen

noun
1. a restaurant in a workplace or educational establishment.
2. Brit. a specially designed case containing a set of cutlery.
3. a small water bottle, as used by soldiers or campers.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a shop selling provisions or alcohol in a barracks: from Italian cantina 'cellar' .

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canter

noun
a pace of a horse between a trot and a gallop, with not less than one foot on the ground at any time.

verb
move at a canter.

IDIOMS -
in (or at) a canter Brit. without much effort; easily.

ORIGIN: short for Canterbury pace, from the supposed easy pace of medieval pilgrims to Canterbury.

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canticle

noun
a hymn or chant forming a regular part of a church service.

ORIGIN: Latin canticulum 'little song' .

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cantilever

noun
1. a long projecting beam or girder fixed at only one end, used chiefly in bridge construction.
2. a bracket or beam projecting from a wall to support a balcony, cornice, etc.

verb
support by a cantilever or cantilevers.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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canto

noun (pl. cantos)
one of the sections into which some long poems are divided.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'song' , from Latin cantus.

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canton

noun
1. a political or administrative subdivision of a country.
2. a state of the Swiss Confederation.

DERIVATIVES:
cantonal adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'corner' .

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Cantonese

noun (pl. same)
1. a person from Canton (another name for Guangzhou), a city in China.
2. a form of Chinese spoken mainly in SE China and Hong Kong.

adjective
relating to Canton or Cantonese.

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cantonment

noun
a military station in British India.

ORIGIN: French cantonnement, from cantonner 'to quarter' .

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cantor

noun
1. (in Jewish worship) an official who sings liturgical music and leads prayer in a synagogue.
2. (in formal Christian worship) a person who sings solo verses to which the choir or congregation respond.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'singer' .

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canvas

noun (pl. canvases or canvasses)
1. a strong, coarse unbleached cloth used to make sails, tents, etc.
2. a piece of canvas prepared for use as the surface for an oil painting.
3. (the canvas) the floor of a boxing or wrestling ring, having a canvas covering.
4. either of a racing boat's tapering ends, originally covered with canvas.

verb (canvassed, canvassing; US canvased, canvasing)
cover with canvas.

IDIOMS -
under canvas
1. in a tent or tents.
2. with sails spread.

ORIGIN: Old French canevas, from Latin cannabis 'hemp' .

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canvass

verb
1. visit (someone) in order to seek their vote in an election.
2. question (someone) to find out their opinion.
3. Brit. propose (an idea or plan) for discussion.

noun
an act of canvassing.

DERIVATIVES:
canvasser noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «toss in a canvas sheet» (as a sport or punishment).

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canyon

noun
a deep gorge, especially one with a river flowing through it.

ORIGIN: Spanish cañón 'tube' , from Latin canna 'cane' .

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CAP

abbreviation
Common Agricultural Policy.

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cap

noun
1. a soft, flat hat without a brim and usually with a peak.
2. a soft, close-fitting head covering worn for a particular purpose.
3. a protective lid or cover for a bottle, pen, etc.
4. Dentistry an artificial protective covering for a tooth.
5. an upper limit imposed on spending or borrowing.
6. chiefly Brit. a cap awarded to members of a sports team.
7. (also Dutch cap) Brit. informal a contraceptive diaphragm.
8. the broad upper part of a mushroom or toadstool.
9. short for PERCUSSION CAP.

verb (capped, capping)
1. put or form a cap, lid, or cover on.
2. provide a fitting climax or conclusion to.
3. place a limit on (prices, expenditure, etc.).
4. (be capped) chiefly Brit. be chosen as a member of a sports team.
6. Scottish & NZ confer a university degree on.

IDIOMS -
cap in hand humbly asking for a favour.
set one's cap at dated (of a woman) try to attract (a man).
to cap it all as the final unfortunate incident in a long series.

DERIVATIVES:
capful noun
capper noun.

ORIGIN: Latin cappa, perhaps from caput 'head' .

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capability

noun (pl. capabilities)
the power or ability to do something.

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capable

adjective
1. (capable of) having the ability or quality necessary to do.
2. able to achieve efficiently whatever one has to do.

DERIVATIVES:
capably adverb.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin capere 'take or hold' .

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capacious

adjective
having a lot of space inside; roomy.

DERIVATIVES:
capaciously adverb
capaciousness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin capax 'capable' .

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capacitance

noun Physics
the ability of a circuit or object to store electric charge, equivalent to the ratio of the change in electric charge to the corresponding change in electric potential.

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capacitor

noun
a device used to store electric charge, consisting of one or more pairs of conductors separated by an insulator.

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capacity

noun (pl. capacities)
1. the maximum amount that something can contain or produce.
2. (before another noun ) fully occupying the available space: a capacity crowd.
3. the total cylinder volume that is swept by the pistons in an internal-combustion engine.
4. the ability or power to do something.
5. a specified role or position: I was engaged in a voluntary capacity.

ORIGIN: Latin capacitas, from capere 'take or hold' .

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caparison

noun
an ornamental covering spread over a horse's saddle or harness.

verb (be caparisoned)
be decked out in rich decorative coverings.

ORIGIN: Spanish caparazón 'saddlecloth' , from capa 'hood' .

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cape [1]

noun
1. a cloak, specially a short one.
2. a part of a longer coat or cloak that falls loosely over the shoulders from the neckband.

DERIVATIVES:
caped adjective.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin cappa 'covering for the head' .

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cape [2]

noun
a headland or promontory.

ORIGIN: Old French cap, from Latin caput 'head' .

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caper [1]

verb
skip or dance about in a lively or playful way.

noun
1. a playful skipping movement.
2. informal an illicit or ridiculous activity or escapade.

IDIOMS -
cut a caper make a playful, skipping movement.

DERIVATIVES:
caperer noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin capreolus 'little goat' .

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caper [2]

noun
a flower bud of a southern European shrub, pickled for use in cooking.

ORIGIN: Greek kapparis.

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capercaillie (Scottish also capercailzie)

noun (pl. capercaillies)
a large turkey-like grouse of mature pine forests in northern Europe.

ORIGIN: from Scottish Gaelic capull coille, 'horse of the wood' .

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capillarity

noun
the tendency of a liquid in a narrow tube or pore to rise or fall as a result of surface tension.

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capillary

noun
1. Anatomy any of the fine branching blood vessels that form a network between the arterioles and venules.
2. (also capillary tube) a tube with an internal diameter of hair-like thinness.

adjective
relating to capillaries or capillarity.

ORIGIN: Latin capillaris, from capillus 'hair' .

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capital [1]

noun
1. the most important city or town of a country or region, usually its seat of government and administrative centre.
2. wealth owned by a person or organization or invested, lent, or borrowed.
3. the excess of a company's assets over its liabilities.
4. a capital letter.

adjective
1. (of an offence or charge) liable to the death penalty.
2. (of a letter of the alphabet) large in size and of the form used to begin sentences and names.
3. informal, dated excellent.

IDIOMS -
make capital out of use to advantage.

ORIGIN: Latin capitalis, from caput 'head' .

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capital [2]

noun Architecture
the top part of a pillar or column.

ORIGIN: Latin capitellum 'little head' .

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capital gain

noun
a profit from the sale of property or an investment.

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capital goods

plural noun
goods that are used in producing other goods, rather than being bought by consumers.

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capitalism

noun
an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

DERIVATIVES:
capitalist noun & adjective
capitalistic adjective.

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capitalize (also capitalise)

verb
1. (capitalize on) take the chance to gain advantage from.
2. provide with financial capital.
3. convert into financial capital.
4. write or print (a word or letter) in capital letters or with an initial capital.

DERIVATIVES:
capitalization noun.

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capital punishment

noun
the legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime.

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capital sum

noun
a lump sum of money payable to an insured person or paid as an initial fee or investment.

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capitation

noun
the payment of a fee or grant to a doctor, school, etc., the amount being determined by the number of patients, pupils, etc.

ORIGIN: Latin, from caput 'head' .

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capitol

noun
1. (in the US) a building housing a legislative assembly.
2. (the Capitol) the seat of the US Congress in Washington DC.
3. (the Capitol) the temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill in ancient Rome.

ORIGIN: Old French capitolie, from Latin caput 'head' .

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capitulate

verb
give in to an opponent or an unwelcome demand.

DERIVATIVES:
capitulation noun
capitulator noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «parley»: from Latin capitulare 'draw up under headings' , from caput 'head' .

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capo (also capo tasto)

noun (pl. capos)
a clamp fastened across all the strings of a fretted musical instrument to raise their tuning.

ORIGIN: from Italian capo tasto, 'head stop' .

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capon

noun
a castrated domestic cock fattened for eating.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin capo.

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cappuccino

noun (pl. cappuccinos)
coffee made with milk that has been frothed up with pressurized steam.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'Capuchin' (because the colour of the coffee resembles that of a Capuchin's habit).

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caprice

noun
a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behaviour.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian capriccio 'head with the hair standing on end' , later 'sudden start' .

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capricious

adjective
given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behaviour.

DERIVATIVES:
capriciously adverb
capriciousness noun.

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Capricorn

noun Astrology
the tenth sign of the zodiac (the Goat), which the sun enters at the northern winter solstice (about 21 December).

DERIVATIVES:
Capricornian noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin capricornus, from caper 'goat' + cornu 'horn' .

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capri pants (also capris)

plural noun
close-fitting tapered trousers for women.

ORIGIN: from Capri, an island off the west coast of Italy.

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capsicum

noun (pl. capsicums)
the fruit of a tropical American plant, of which sweet peppers and chilli peppers are varieties.

ORIGIN: Latin, perhaps from capsa 'container, case' .

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capsize

verb
(of a boat) be overturned in the water.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Spanish capuzar 'sink (a ship) by the head' .

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capstan

noun
a broad revolving cylinder with a vertical axis, used for winding a rope or cable.

ORIGIN: Provençal cabestan, from Latin capere 'seize' .

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capsule

noun
1. a small soluble case of gelatin containing a dose of medicine, swallowed whole.
2. a small case or container.
3. a space capsule.
4. Botany a dry fruit that releases its seeds by bursting open when ripe.

DERIVATIVES:
capsular adjective
capsulate adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin capsula 'small case or container' .

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captain

noun
1. the person in command of a ship.
2. the pilot in command of a civil aircraft.
3. a rank of naval officer above commander and below commodore.
4. a rank of officer in the army and in the US and Canadian air forces, above lieutenant and below major.
5. (in the US) a police officer in charge of a precinct.
6. the leader of a team, especially in sports.

verb
serve as the captain of.

DERIVATIVES:
captaincy noun.

ORIGIN: Old French capitain 'chief' , from Latin caput 'head' .

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caption

noun
1. a title or brief explanation appended to an illustration or cartoon.
2. a piece of text appearing on screen as part of a film or television broadcast.

verb
provide with a caption.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «capture»: from Latin, from capere 'take, seize' .

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captious

adjective formal
tending to find fault or raise petty objections.

DERIVATIVES:
captiously adverb
captiousness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French captieux, from Latin capere 'take, seize' ; related to CAPTION.

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captivate

verb
attract and hold the interest and attention of; charm.

DERIVATIVES:
captivating adjective
captivation noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin captivare 'take captive' .

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captive

noun
a person who has been taken prisoner or held in confinement.

adjective
1. imprisoned or confined.
2. having no freedom to choose an alternative.
3. (of a facility or service) controlled by and reserved for a particular organization.

DERIVATIVES:
captivity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin captivus, from capere 'seize, take' .

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captor

noun
a person who imprisons or confines another.

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capture

verb
1. take into one's possession or control by force.
2. record or express accurately in words or pictures.
3. cause (data) to be stored in a computer.

noun
1. the action of capturing or of being captured.
2. a person or thing that has been captured.

DERIVATIVES:
capturer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin captura, from capere 'seize, take' .

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Capuchin

noun
1. a friar belonging to a strict branch of the Franciscan order.
2. a cloak and hood formerly worn by women.
3. (capuchin) a South American monkey with a cowl-like cap of hair on the head.

ORIGIN: from Italian cappuccino 'small hood' , from Latin cappa 'covering for the head' .

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capybara

noun (pl. same or capybaras)
a large South American rodent resembling a long-legged guinea pig.

ORIGIN: Spanish capibara or Portuguese capivara, from an American Indian word meaning «grass-eater».

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car

noun
1. a powered road vehicle designed to carry a small number of people.
2. a railway carriage or (N. Amer. ) wagon.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «wheeled vehicle»: from Latin carrus.

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carafe

noun
an open-topped glass flask typically used for serving wine in a restaurant.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian caraffa, probably from an Arabic word meaning «draw water».

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carambola

noun
a golden-yellow fruit with a star-shaped cross section; starfruit.

ORIGIN: Portuguese, probably from an Indian language.

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caramel

noun
1. sugar or syrup heated until it turns brown, used as a flavouring or colouring for food or drink.
2. a soft toffee made with sugar and butter that have been melted and further heated.

DERIVATIVES:
caramelize (also caramelise) verb.

ORIGIN: French, from Spanish caramelo.

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carapace

noun
the hard upper shell of a tortoise or crustacean.

ORIGIN: French, from Spanish carapacho.

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carat

noun
1. a unit of weight for precious stones and pearls, equivalent to 200 milligrams.
2. (US also karat) a measure of the purity of gold, pure gold being 24 carats.

ORIGIN: French, from Greek keration 'fruit of the carob' (also denoting a unit of weight).

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caravan

noun
1. Brit. a vehicle equipped for living in, usually designed to be towed.
2. N. Amer. a covered truck.
3. historical a group of people travelling together across a desert in Asia or North Africa.

DERIVATIVES:
caravanner noun
caravanning noun.

ORIGIN: French caravane, from Persian.

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caravanserai (US also caravansary)

noun (pl. caravanserais or caravansaries)
1. historical an inn with a central courtyard for travellers in the desert regions of Asia or North Africa.
2. a group of people travelling together; a caravan.

ORIGIN: Persian, 'caravan palace' .

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caravel (also carvel)

noun historical
a small, fast Spanish or Portuguese ship of the 15th 17th centuries.

ORIGIN: Portuguese caravela, from Greek karabos 'horned beetle' or 'light ship' .

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caraway

noun
the seeds of a plant of the parsley family, used for flavouring.

ORIGIN: Latin carui, probably ultimately from Greek karon 'cumin' .

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carbide

noun Chemistry
a compound of carbon with a metal or other element.

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carbine

noun
1. a light automatic rifle.
2. historical a short rifle or musket used by cavalry.

ORIGIN: French carabine, from carabin 'mounted musketeer' .

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carbohydrate

noun
any of a large group of compounds (including sugars, starch, and cellulose) which contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, occur in foods and living tissues, and can be broken down to release energy in the body.

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carbolic acid (also carbolic)

noun
phenol, especially when used as a disinfectant.

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carbon

noun
a non-metallic chemical element which has two main forms (diamond and graphite), occurs in impure form in charcoal, soot, and coal, and is present in all organic compounds.

DERIVATIVES:
carbonaceous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin carbo 'coal, charcoal' .

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carbonate

noun
a salt of the anion CO_32-, typically formed by reaction of carbon dioxide with bases.

verb (usu. as adj. carbonated)
dissolve carbon dioxide in.

DERIVATIVES:
carbonation noun.

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carbon copy

noun
1. a copy made with carbon paper.
2. a person or thing identical to another.

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carbon dating

noun
the determination of the age of an organic object from the relative proportions of the isotopes carbon-12 and carbon-14 that it contains.

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carbon dioxide

noun
a colourless, odourless gas produced by burning carbon and organic compounds and by respiration, and absorbed by plants in photosynthesis.

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carbonic acid

noun
a very weak acid formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water.

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Carboniferous

adjective Geology
relating to the fifth period of the Palaeozoic era (between the Devonian and Permian periods, about 363 to 290 million years ago), a time when extensive coal-bearing strata were formed.

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carbonize (also carbonise)

verb
convert into carbon, by heating or burning.

DERIVATIVES:
carbonization noun.

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carbon monoxide

noun
a colourless, odourless toxic flammable gas formed by incomplete combustion of carbon.

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carbon paper

noun
thin paper coated with carbon, used for making a second impression as a document is being written or typed.

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car boot sale

noun Brit.
an outdoor sale at which people sell things from the boots of their cars.

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carborundum

noun
a very hard black solid consisting of silicon carbide, used as an abrasive.

ORIGIN: blend of CARBON and CORUNDUM.

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carboy

noun
a large globular glass bottle with a narrow neck, used for holding acids or other corrosive liquids.

ORIGIN: from a Persian word meaning 'large glass flagon' .

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carbuncle

noun
1. a severe abscess or multiple boil in the skin.
2. a bright red gem, in particular a polished garnet.

DERIVATIVES:
carbuncular adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin carbunculus 'small coal' , from carbo 'coal, charcoal' .

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carburettor (also carburetter, US carburetor)

noun
a device in an internal-combustion engine for mixing air with a fine spray of liquid fuel.

DERIVATIVES:
carburetted (US carbureted) adjective.

ORIGIN: from archaic carburet «combine or charge with carbon».

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carcass (Brit. also carcase)

noun
1. the dead body of an animal, especially one prepared for cutting up as meat.
2. the remains of a cooked bird after all the edible parts have been removed.
3. the structural framework of a building, ship, or piece of furniture.

ORIGIN: Old French carcois and in later use from French carcasse.

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carcinogen

noun
a substance capable of causing cancer.

DERIVATIVES:
carcinogenic adjective.

ORIGIN: from CARCINOMA.

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carcinoma

noun (pl. carcinomas or carcinomata)
a cancer arising in the tissues of the skin or of the lining of the internal organs.

DERIVATIVES:
carcinomatous adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek karkinos 'crab' .

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card [1]

noun
1. thick, stiff paper or thin cardboard.
2. a piece of card for writing on, especially a postcard or greetings card.
3. a business card or visiting card.
4. a small rectangular piece of plastic containing machine-readable personal data, e.g. a credit card or cash card.
5. a playing card.
6. (cards) a game played with playing cards.
7. (cards) Brit. informal documents relating to an employee, especially for tax and national insurance, held by the employer.
8. informal, dated or N. Amer. an odd or amusing person.

verb
write on a card, especially for indexing.

IDIOMS -
a card up one's sleeve Brit. a plan or asset that is kept secret until it is needed.
give someone their cards (or get one's cards) Brit. informal dismiss someone (or be dismissed) from employment.
hold all the cards be in a very strong position.
on the cards informal possible or likely.
play the card exploit a specified issue or idea, especially for political advantage: he plays the race card.
play one's cards right make the best use of one's assets and opportunities.
put (or lay) one's cards on the table be completely open and honest in declaring one's intentions.

ORIGIN: Old French carte, from Greek kharts 'papyrus leaf' .

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card [2]

verb
comb and clean (raw wool or similar material) with a sharp-toothed instrument to disentangle the fibres before spinning.

noun
a toothed implement or machine for this purpose.

DERIVATIVES:
carder noun.

ORIGIN: Provençal carda, from cardar 'tease, comb' , from Latin carduus 'thistle' .

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cardamom (also cardamum)

noun
the aromatic seeds of a plant of the ginger family, used as a spice.

ORIGIN: from Greek kardamon 'cress' + ammon, a kind of spice plant.

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cardboard

noun
1. pasteboard or stiff paper.
2. (before another noun ) (of a fictional character) lacking depth and realism.

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card-carrying

adjective
registered as a member of a political party or trade union.

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cardiac

adjective
of or relating to the heart.

ORIGIN: from Greek kardia 'heart' .

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cardigan

noun
a knitted jumper fastening with buttons down the front.

ORIGIN: named after the 7th Earl of Cardigan (1797 1868), whose troops fighting in the Crimean War first wore such garments.

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cardinal

noun
1. a leading dignitary of the Roman Catholic Church, nominated by and having the power to elect the Pope.
2. a deep scarlet colour like that of a cardinal's cassock.
3. an American songbird of which the male is partly or mostly red and which typically has a crest.

adjective
of the greatest importance; fundamental.

DERIVATIVES:
cardinalate noun
cardinally adverb
cardinalship noun.

ORIGIN: Latin cardinalis, from cardo 'hinge' ; sense 1 has arisen from the function of such priests as ‘pivots’ of church life.

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cardinal number

noun
a number denoting quantity (one, two, three, etc.), as opposed to an ordinal number (first, second, third, etc.).

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cardinal point

noun
each of the four main points of the compass (north, south, east, and west).

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cardiograph

noun
an instrument for recording heart muscle activity.

DERIVATIVES:
cardiographer noun
cardiography noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek kardia 'heart' .

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cardiology

noun
the branch of medicine concerned with diseases and abnormalities of the heart.

DERIVATIVES:
cardiological adjective
cardiologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek kardia 'heart' .

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cardiovascular

adjective Medicine
of or relating to the heart and blood vessels.

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cardoon

noun
a tall thistle-like plant related to the globe artichoke, with edible leaves and roots.

ORIGIN: French cardon, from Latin carduus 'thistle, artichoke' .

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card sharp (also card sharper)

noun
a person who cheats at cards.

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care

noun
1. the provision of what is necessary for the welfare and protection of someone or something.
2. Brit. protective custody or guardianship provided for children by a local authority.
3. serious attention or consideration applied to avoid damage, risk, or error: handle with care.
4. a feeling of or occasion for anxiety.

verb
1. feel concern or interest.
2. feel affection or liking.
3. (care for/to do) like to have or be willing to do.
4. (care for) look after and provide for the needs of.

IDIOMS -
care of at the address of.
take care
1. be cautious.
2. make sure (to do).
take care of
1. keep safe and provided for.
2. deal with.

DERIVATIVES:
caring noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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careen

verb
1. turn (a ship) on its side for cleaning or repair.
2. (of a ship) tilt; lean over.
3. move in an uncontrolled way; career.

ORIGIN: from Latin carina 'a keel' .

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career

noun
1. an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life, usually with opportunities for progress.
2. (before another noun ) working with long-term commitment in a particular profession: a career diplomat.
3. (before another noun ) (of a woman) choosing to pursue a profession rather than devoting her time to childcare or housekeeping.

verb
move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way in a specified direction.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a road or racecourse: from French carrière, from Latin carrus 'wheeled vehicle' .

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careerist

noun
a person who is intent on gaining advancement in their profession.

DERIVATIVES:
careerism noun.

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carefree

adjective
free from anxiety or responsibility.

DERIVATIVES:
carefreeness noun.

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careful

adjective
1. taking care to avoid mishap or harm; cautious.
2. (careful with) prudent in the use of.
3. done with or showing thought and attention.

DERIVATIVES:
carefully adverb
carefulness noun.

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careless

adjective
1. not giving sufficient attention or thought to avoiding harm or mistakes.
2. (careless of/about) not concerned or worried about.
3. showing no interest or effort; casual.

DERIVATIVES:
carelessly adverb
carelessness noun.

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carer

noun Brit.
a family member or paid helper who regularly looks after a sick, elderly, or disabled person.

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caress

verb
touch or stroke gently or lovingly.

noun
a gentle or loving touch.

DERIVATIVES:
caressing adjective
caressingly adverb.

ORIGIN: French caresser, from Latin carus 'dear' .

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caret

noun
a mark (^, ) placed below a line of text to indicate a proposed insertion.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'is lacking' .

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caretaker

noun
1. Brit. a person employed to look after a public building.
2. (before another noun ) holding power temporarily: a caretaker government.

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careworn

adjective
tired and unhappy because of prolonged worry.

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cargo

noun (pl. cargoes or cargos)
goods carried commercially on a ship, aircraft, or truck.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from Latin carricare 'to load' , from carrus 'wheeled vehicle' .

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Carib

noun
1. a member of an indigenous South American people living mainly in coastal regions of French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, and Venezuela.
2. the language of the Carib.

ORIGIN: Spanish caribe, from Haitian Creole.

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Caribbean

adjective
relating to the region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (including the West Indies), and the surrounding coasts.
USAGE - There are two acceptable pronunciations of Caribbean: the British pronunciation puts the stress on the -be-, while in the US and the Caribbean itself the stress is on the -rib-.

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caribou

noun (pl. same) N. Amer.
a reindeer.

ORIGIN: Canadian French, from an American Indian word meaning «snow-shoveller».

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caricature

noun
a depiction of a person in which distinguishing characteristics are exaggerated for comic or grotesque effect.

verb
make a caricature of.

DERIVATIVES:
caricatural adjective
caricaturist noun.

ORIGIN: Italian caricatura, from Latin carricare 'to load' .

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caries

noun
decay and crumbling of a tooth or bone.

DERIVATIVES:
carious adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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carillon

noun
a set of bells sounded from a keyboard or by an automatic mechanism.

ORIGIN: French, from Old French quarregnon 'peal of four bells' , from Latin quattuor 'four' .

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Carmelite

noun
a friar or nun of an order founded at Mount Carmel in NW Israel during the Crusades (c.1154).

adjective
relating to the Carmelites.

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carmine

noun
a vivid crimson pigment made from cochineal.

ORIGIN: French carmin, from an Arabic word meaning «kermes»; related to CRIMSON.

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carnage

noun
the killing of a large number of people.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin caro 'flesh' .

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carnal

adjective
relating to physical, especially sexual, needs and activities.

DERIVATIVES:
carnality noun
carnally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin carnalis, from caro 'flesh' .

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carnation

noun
a double-flowered cultivated variety of clove pink, with grey-green leaves and showy pink, white, or red flowers.

ORIGIN: perhaps based on a misreading of an Arabic word meaning 'clove or clove pink' , influenced by French carnation «flesh colour or rosy pink», from Latin caro 'flesh' .

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carnelian (also cornelian)

noun
a dull red or pink semi-precious variety of chalcedony.

ORIGIN: Old French corneline, the prefix car- being suggested by Latin caro 'flesh' .

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carnival

noun
1. an annual period of public revelry involving processions, music, and dancing.
2. N. Amer. a travelling funfair or circus.

DERIVATIVES:
carnivalesque adjective.

ORIGIN: Italian carnevale, from Latin carnelevamen 'Shrovetide' , from caro 'flesh' + levare 'put away' .

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carnivore

noun
a carnivorous animal.

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carnivorous

adjective
(of an animal) feeding on flesh.

DERIVATIVES:
carnivorously adverb
carnivorousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin carnivorus, from caro 'flesh' .

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carob

noun
the edible brownish-purple pod of an Arabian tree, from which a powder is extracted for use as a substitute for chocolate.

ORIGIN: Old French carobe, from Arabic.

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carol

noun
a religious song or popular hymn associated with Christmas.

verb (carolled, carolling; US caroled, caroling)
1. (go carolling) sing carols in the streets.
2. sing or say happily.

DERIVATIVES:
caroller (US caroler) noun.

ORIGIN: Old French carole.

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carotene

noun
an orange or red plant pigment found notably in carrots, important in the formation of vitamin A.

DERIVATIVES:
carotenoid noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin carota 'carrot' .

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carotid

adjective Anatomy
relating to the two main arteries carrying blood to the head and neck.

ORIGIN: from Greek kartides, plural of kartis 'drowsiness, stupor' (because compression of these arteries was thought to cause stupor).

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carouse

verb
drink alcohol and enjoy oneself with others in a noisy, lively way.

noun
a noisy, lively drinking party.

DERIVATIVES:
carousal noun
carouser noun.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «right out, completely» in the phrase drink carouse, from German gar aus trinken.

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carousel

noun
1. a merry-go-round at a fair.
2. a rotating machine or device, in particular a conveyor system for baggage collection at an airport.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «an equestrian tournament among knights»: from Italian carosello, perhaps from carro 'chariot' .

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carp [1]

noun (pl. same)
a deep-bodied freshwater fish, often kept in ponds and sometimes farmed for food.

ORIGIN: Latin carpa.

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carp [2]

verb
complain or find fault continually.

DERIVATIVES:
carper noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «talk, chatter»: from Old Norse, 'brag' , later influenced by Latin carpere 'slander, pluck at' .

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carpal Anatomy & Zoology

adjective
relating to the carpus.

noun
a bone of the carpus.

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carpe diem

exclamation
make the most of the present time.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'seize the day!' .

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carpel

noun Botany
the female reproductive organ of a flower, consisting of an ovary, a stigma, and usually a style.

DERIVATIVES:
carpellary adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek karpos 'fruit' .

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carpenter

noun
a person who makes wooden objects and structures.

verb
make by shaping wood.

DERIVATIVES:
carpentry noun.

ORIGIN: Old French carpentier, from Latin carpentarius artifex 'carriage-maker' ; related to CAR.

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carpet

noun
1. a floor covering made from thick woven fabric.
2. a large rug.
3. a thick or soft expanse or layer: a carpet of bluebells.

verb (carpeted, carpeting)
1. cover with a carpet.
2. Brit. informal reprimand severely.

IDIOMS -
on the carpet informal being severely reprimanded by someone in authority.
sweep under the carpet conceal or ignore (a problem) in the hope that it will be forgotten.

DERIVATIVES:
carpeting noun.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a thick cover for a table or bed: from obsolete Italian carpita 'woollen counterpane' , from Latin carpere 'pluck, pull to pieces' ; the phrase «on the carpet» and the related verb sense are in reference to the covering over the council table before which one would be summoned.

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carpet bag

noun
a travelling bag of a kind originally made of carpet-like fabric.

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carpetbagger

noun derogatory, chiefly N. Amer.
1. a politician who seeks election in an area where they have no local connections.
2. an unscrupulous opportunist.

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carpet-bomb

verb
bomb (an area) intensively.

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carpet slipper

noun
a soft slipper with an upper of wool or thick cloth.

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carport

noun
an open-sided shelter for a car, projecting from the side of a house.

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carpus

noun (pl. carpi)
the group of small bones in the wrist.

ORIGIN: Greek karpos 'wrist' .

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carrageen (also carrageen moss)

noun
an edible red shoreline seaweed with flattened branching fronds.

ORIGIN: Irish.

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carrel

noun
1. a small cubicle with a desk for a reader in a library.
2. historical a small enclosure or study in a cloister.

ORIGIN: apparently related to CAROL in the obsolete sense «a ring or enclosure».

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carriage

noun
1. a four-wheeled passenger vehicle pulled by two or more horses.
2. Brit. any of the separate passenger vehicles of a train.
3. Brit. the conveying of goods from one place to another.
4. a person's bearing or deportment.
5. a moving part of a machine that carries other parts into the required position.
6. a wheeled support for moving a heavy object such as a gun.

ORIGIN: Old French cariage, from carier 'carry' .

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carriage clock

noun Brit.
a portable clock in a rectangular case with a handle on top.

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carriageway

noun Brit.
1. each of the two sides of a dual carriageway or motorway.
2. the part of a road intended for vehicles.

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carrier

noun
1. a person or thing that carries or holds something.
2. a person or company that transports goods or people for payment.
3. a person or animal that transmits a disease to others without suffering from it themselves.

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carrier bag

noun Brit.
a plastic or paper bag with handles, for carrying shopping.

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carrier pigeon

noun
a homing pigeon trained to carry messages.

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carrion

noun
the decaying flesh of dead animals.

ORIGIN: Old French caroine, charoigne, from Latin caro 'flesh' .

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carrot

noun
1. the tapering orange root of a plant of the parsley family, eaten as a vegetable.
2. something enticing offered as a means of persuasion: training that relies more on the carrot than on the stick.

ORIGIN: Greek karton.

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carroty

adjective
(of a person's hair) orange-red.

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carry

verb (carries, carried)
1. move or transport from one place to another.
2. have on one's person wherever one goes.
3. support the weight of.
4. assume or accept (responsibility or blame).
5. have as a feature or consequence: the bike carries a ten-year guarantee.
6. conduct or transmit.
7. take or develop (an idea or activity) to a particular point.
8. approve (a proposed measure) by a majority of votes: the motion was carried by one vote.
9. persuade to support one's policy.
10. publish or broadcast.
11. (of a sound or voice) travel a specific distance: his voice carried clearly across the room.
12. (carry oneself) stand and move in a specified way.
13. be pregnant with.

noun (pl. carries)
an act of carrying.

IDIOMS -
be/get carried away lose self-control.
carry all before one overcome all opposition.
carry the can Brit. informal take responsibility for a mistake or misdeed.
carry the day be victorious or successful.
carry forward transfer (figures) to a new page or account.
carry off
1. take away by force.
2. (of a disease) kill.
3. succeed in doing.
carry on
1. continue.
2. engage in (an activity).
3. informal, chiefly Brit. be engaged in a love affair.
carry out perform (a task).
carry over
1. keep to use or deal with in a new context.
2. postpone.
carry through bring to completion.
carry weight be influential.

ORIGIN: Old French carier, from Latin carrus 'wheeled vehicle' .

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carrycot

noun Brit.
a small portable baby's cot.

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carry-on noun Brit. informal

1. a fuss.
2. (also carryings-on) questionable or improper behaviour.

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cart

noun
1. an open horse-drawn vehicle with two or four wheels, used for carrying loads or passengers.
2. a shallow open container on wheels, pulled or pushed by hand.

verb
1. convey in a cart or similar vehicle.
2. informal carry (a heavy or cumbersome object) somewhere with difficulty.
3. convey or remove unceremoniously: the demonstrators were carted off by the police.

IDIOMS -
put the cart before the horse reverse the proper order or procedure.

DERIVATIVES:
carter noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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carte blanche

noun
complete freedom to act as one wishes.

ORIGIN: French, 'blank paper' .

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cartel

noun
an association of manufacturers or suppliers formed to maintain high prices and restrict competition.

ORIGIN: used originally to refer to the coalition of the Conservative and National Liberal parties in Germany (1887): from German Kartell, from Italian cartello 'little card' .

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Cartesian

adjective
relating to the French philosopher René Descartes (1596 1650) and his ideas.

noun
a follower of Descartes.

DERIVATIVES:
Cartesianism noun.

ORIGIN: from Cartesius, Latinized form of Descartes.

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Cartesian coordinates

plural noun
a coordinate system using two (or three) mutually perpendicular axes.

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carthorse

noun Brit.
a large, strong horse suitable for heavy work.

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Carthusian

noun
a monk or nun of an austere contemplative order founded by St Bruno in 1084.

adjective
relating to this order.

ORIGIN: from Carthusia, the Latin name for Chartreuse in France, where the order was founded.

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cartilage

noun
firm, flexible connective tissue which covers the ends of joints and forms structures such as the larynx and the external ear.

DERIVATIVES:
cartilaginous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin cartilago.

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cartography

noun
the science or practice of drawing maps.

DERIVATIVES:
cartographer noun
cartographic adjective.

ORIGIN: from French carte 'card, map' .

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carton

noun
a light cardboard box or container.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian cartone 'cartoon' .

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cartoon

noun
1. a drawing executed in an exaggerated style for humorous or satirical effect.
2. (also cartoon strip) a narrative sequence of humorous drawings with captions in a comic, newspaper, or magazine.
3. a film made from a sequence of drawings, using animation techniques to give the appearance of movement.
4. a full-size drawing made as a preliminary design for a painting or other work of art.

verb
represent in a cartoon.

DERIVATIVES:
cartoonish adjective
cartoonist noun
cartoony adjective.

ORIGIN: Italian cartone, from Latin carta, charta 'card, map' .

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cartouche

noun
1. a carved decoration or drawing representing a scroll with rolled-up ends, often bearing an inscription.
2. an oval or oblong enclosing Egyptian hieroglyphs, typically representing the name and title of a monarch.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin carta, charta 'card, map' .

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cartridge

noun
1. a container holding a spool of film, a quantity of ink, or other item or substance, designed for insertion into a mechanism.
2. a casing containing a charge and a bullet or shot for small arms or an explosive charge for blasting.

ORIGIN: variant of CARTOUCHE.

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cartridge paper

noun
thick, rough-textured drawing paper originally used for making cartridge casings.

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cartwheel

noun
a circular sideways handspring with the arms and legs extended.

verb
perform cartwheels.

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carve

verb
1. cut into or shape (a hard material) to produce an object or design.
2. produce (a design or object) by carving.
3. cut (cooked meat) into slices for eating.
4. (carve out) develop (a career, reputation, etc.) through painstaking effort.
5. (carve up) divide up ruthlessly.
6. (carve up) aggressively overtake (another driver).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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carver

noun
1. a person or tool that carves.
2. Brit. the principal chair, with arms, in a set of dining chairs, intended for the person carving meat.

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carvery

noun (pl. carveries) chiefly Brit.
a buffet or restaurant where cooked joints are carved as required.

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carving

noun
an object or design carved from wood or stone as a work of art.

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Casanova

noun
a man notorious for seducing women.

ORIGIN: from the name of the Italian adventurer Giovanni Jacopo Casanova (1725 98).

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cascade

noun
1. a small waterfall, especially one in a series.
2. a mass of something that falls, hangs, or occurs in large quantities.
3. a succession of devices or stages in a process, each of which triggers or initiates the next.

verb
1. pour downwards rapidly and in large quantities.
2. arrange in a series or sequence.

ORIGIN: Italian cascata, from cascare 'to fall' ; related to CASE.

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case [1]

noun
1. an instance of a particular situation or set of circumstances.
2. an instance of a disease, injury, or problem.
3. an incident under official investigation by the police.
4. a legal action that is to be or has been decided in a court of law.
5. a set of facts or arguments supporting one side of a debate or lawsuit.
6. a person or their situation as a subject of medical or welfare attention.
7. Grammar an inflected form of a noun, adjective, or pronoun expressing the semantic relation of the word to other words in the sentence: the possessive case.

IDIOMS -
be the case be so.
in case so as to provide for the possibility of something happening or being true.
on (or off) someone's case informal continually (or no longer) criticizing or harassing someone.

ORIGIN: Latin casus 'fall, occurrence, chance' .

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case [2]

noun
1. a container or protective covering.
2. Brit. a suitcase.
3. a box containing twelve bottles of wine or other drink, sold as a unit.
4. each of the two forms, capital or minuscule, in which a letter of the alphabet may be written or printed.

verb
1. enclose within a case.
2. informal reconnoitre (a place) before carrying out a robbery.

ORIGIN: Old French casse, from Latin capsa 'box, receptacle' ; sense 4 derives from a container for holding type in printing; two cases were set on a stand, the higher one for capitals (upper case) and the lower for minuscule (lower case).

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case history

noun
a record of a person's background or medical history kept by a doctor or social worker.

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casein

noun
the main protein present in milk and (in coagulated form) in cheese.

ORIGIN: from Latin caseus 'cheese' .

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casement

noun
a window set on a vertical hinge so that it opens like a door.

ORIGIN: Anglo-Latin cassimentum, from Latin capsa 'box, receptacle' .

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case study

noun
1. a detailed study of the development of a particular person, group, or situation over a period of time.
2. a particular instance used to illustrate a thesis or principle.

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casework

noun
social work directly concerned with individuals and their personal circumstances.

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cash

noun
1. money in coins or notes.
2. money as an available resource: he was always short of cash.

verb
1. give or obtain notes or coins for (a cheque or money order).
2. (cash in) convert (an insurance policy, savings account, etc.) into money.
3. (cash in on) informal take advantage of (a situation).
4. (cash up) Brit. count and check takings at the end of a day's trading.

IDIOMS -
cash down with immediate and full payment at the time of purchase.
cash in one's chips informal die.
cash in hand payment in cash rather than by cheque or other means.

DERIVATIVES:
cashable adjective
cashless adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a box for money: from Old French casse, from Latin capsa 'box, receptacle' .

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cash and carry

noun
a system of wholesale trading whereby goods are paid for in full and taken away by the purchaser.

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cashback

noun
1. a cash refund offered as an incentive to buyers.
2. a facility whereby a customer may withdraw cash when making a debit card purchase.

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cash book

noun
a book in which receipts and payments of money are recorded.

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cash card

noun Brit.
a plastic card issued by a bank or building society which enables the holder to withdraw money from a cash dispenser.

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cash crop

noun
a crop produced for its commercial value rather than for use by the grower.

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cashew

noun (also cashew nut)
the edible kidney-shaped nut of a tropical American tree.

ORIGIN: Tupi.

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cash flow

noun
the total amount of money passing into and out of a business, especially as affecting liquidity.

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cashier [1]

noun
a person handling payments and receipts in a shop, bank, or business.

ORIGIN: French caissier, from caisse 'cash' .

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cashier [2]

verb
dismiss from the armed forces because of a serious misdemeanour.

ORIGIN: French casser 'revoke, dismiss' , from Latin quassare 'quash' .

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cashmere

noun
fine soft wool, originally that obtained from a breed of Himalayan goat.

ORIGIN: an early spelling of Kashmir, a region on the northern border of India and NE Pakistan.

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cash register

noun
a machine used in shops for totalling and recording the amount of each sale and storing the money received.

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casing

noun
1. a cover or shell that protects or encloses something.
2. the frame round a door or window.

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casino

noun (pl. casinos)
a public building or room for gambling.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'little house' .

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cask

noun
a large barrel for the storage of liquid, especially alcoholic drinks.

ORIGIN: French casque or Spanish casco 'helmet' .

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casket

noun
1. a small ornamental box or chest for holding valuable objects.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a coffin.

ORIGIN: perhaps a variant of Old French cassette 'little box' .

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Cassandra

noun
a prophet of disaster.

ORIGIN: from Cassandra in Greek mythology, whose prophecies, though true, were doomed by Apollo to be disbelieved.

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cassava

noun
the starchy tuberous root of a tropical American tree, used as food.

ORIGIN: from Taino (an extinct Caribbean language).

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casserole

noun
1. a large dish with a lid, used for cooking food slowly in an oven.
2. a kind of stew cooked slowly in an oven.

verb
cook slowly in a casserole.

ORIGIN: French, from Greek kuathion 'little cup' .

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cassette

noun
a sealed plastic case containing audio tape, videotape, film, etc., for insertion into a recorder, camera, etc.

ORIGIN: French, 'little box' .

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cassock

noun
a long garment worn by some Christian clergy and members of church choirs.

ORIGIN: Italian casacca 'riding coat' .

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cassowary

noun (pl. cassowaries)
a very large flightless bird related to the emu, native mainly to New Guinea.

ORIGIN: Malay.

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cast

verb (past and past part. cast)
1. throw forcefully or so as to spread over an area.
2. cause (light or shadow) to appear on a surface.
3. direct (one's eyes or thoughts) towards something.
4. express: journalists cast doubt on this account.
5. register (a vote).
6. assign a part to (an actor) or allocate parts in (a play or film).
7. discard or shed.
8. throw the hooked and baited end of (a fishing line) out into the water.
9. shape (metal or other material) by pouring it into a mould while molten.
10. produce by casting: a figure cast in bronze.
11. arrange and present in a specified form or style.
12. cause (a magic spell) to take effect.
13. Hunting (of a dog) search around for a scent.

noun
1. the actors taking part in a play or film.
2. an object made by casting metal or other material.
3. (also plaster cast) a bandage stiffened with plaster of Paris, moulded to support and protect a broken limb.
4. an act of casting.
5. form, appearance, or character: minds of a philosophical cast.
6. a slight squint.

IDIOMS -
be cast away be stranded after a shipwreck.
be cast down feel depressed.
cast about (or around or round) search far and wide.
cast off
1. Knitting take the stitches off the needle by looping each over the next.
2. set a boat or ship free from its moorings.
cast on Knitting make the first row of loops on the needle.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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castanets

plural noun
a pair of small concave pieces of wood, ivory, or plastic, clicked together by the fingers as an accompaniment to Spanish dancing.

ORIGIN: Spanish castañeta 'little chestnut' .

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castaway

noun
a person who has been shipwrecked and stranded in an isolated place.

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caste

noun
1. each of the hereditary classes of Hindu society, distinguished by relative degrees of ritual purity or pollution and of social status.
2. any exclusive social class.

ORIGIN: Spanish and Portuguese casta 'lineage, breed' , from Latin castus 'chaste' .

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castellated

adjective
having battlements.

DERIVATIVES:
castellation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin castellatus, from castellum 'little fort' .

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caster

noun
1. a person or machine that casts.
2. variant spelling of CASTOR.

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caster sugar (also castor sugar)

noun Brit.
finely granulated white sugar.

ORIGIN: because suitable for sprinkling from a castor.

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castigate

verb
reprimand severely.

DERIVATIVES:
castigation noun
castigator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin castigare 'reprove' , from castus 'pure, chaste' .

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casting

noun
an object made by casting molten metal or other material.

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casting vote

noun
an extra vote used by a chairperson to decide an issue when votes on each side are equal.

ORIGIN: from an obsolete sense of cast «turn the scale».

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cast iron

noun
1. a hard alloy of iron and carbon which can be readily cast in a mould.
2. (before another noun ) firm and unchangeable: a cast-iron guarantee.

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castle

noun
1. a large fortified building or group of buildings, typically of the medieval period.
2. Chess, informal old-fashioned term for ROOK.

IDIOMS -
castles in the air (or in Spain) unattainable schemes existing only in the imagination.

ORIGIN: Latin castellum 'little fort' .

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cast-off

adjective
abandoned or discarded.

noun
a cast-off garment.

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castor (also caster)

noun
1. each of a set of small swivelling wheels fixed to the legs or base of a piece of furniture.
2. a small container with holes in the top, used for sprinkling salt, sugar, etc.

ORIGIN: variant of CASTER.

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castor oil

noun
a pale yellow purgative oil obtained from the seeds of an African shrub.

ORIGIN: Greek kastr 'beaver' : perhaps so named because in medicinal use it succeeded an oily substance secreted by beavers.

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castrate

verb
1. remove the testicles of.
2. deprive of power or vigour.

DERIVATIVES:
castration noun
castrator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin castrare.

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casual

adjective
1. relaxed and unconcerned.
2. showing insufficient care or forethought: a casual remark.
3. not regular or firmly established; occasional or temporary: casual jobs.
4. happening by chance; accidental.
5. informal.

noun
1. a temporary or occasional worker.
2. (casuals) clothes or shoes suitable for informal everyday wear.

DERIVATIVES:
casually adverb
casualness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin casualis, from casus 'fall' .

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casualty

noun (pl. casualties)
1. a person killed or injured in a war or accident.
2. a person or thing badly affected by an event or situation: the firm was one of the casualties of the recession.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «a chance occurrence»: from Latin casualitas, from casualis (see CASUAL).

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casuistry

noun
the use of clever but false reasoning, especially in relation to moral issues.

DERIVATIVES:
casuist noun
casuistic adjective
casuistical adjective.

ORIGIN: from Spanish casuista, from Latin casus 'fall, chance, occurrence' .

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CAT

abbreviation Medicine
computerized axial tomography.

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cat

noun
1. a small domesticated carnivorous mammal with soft fur, a short snout, and retractile claws.
2. a wild animal resembling this, in particular a lion, tiger, or other member of the cat family.
3. informal a malicious or spiteful woman.

IDIOMS -
all cats are grey in the dark proverb distinguishing qualities are obscured in some circumstances, and if they can't be perceived they don't matter.
a cat may look at a king proverb even a person of low status or importance has rights.
let the cat out of the bag informal reveal a secret by mistake.
like a cat on a hot tin roof (Brit. also on hot bricks) informal very agitated or anxious.
put (or set) the cat among the pigeons Brit. say or do something likely to cause trouble.
when (or while) the cat's away, the mice will play proverb it is natural for people to do as they like in the absence of someone in authority.

DERIVATIVES:
catlike adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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cata- (also cat-)

prefix
1. down; downwards: catabolism.
2. wrongly; badly: catachresis.
3. completely: cataclysm.
4. against; alongside: catechize.

ORIGIN: from Greek kata 'down' .

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catabolism

noun
the breakdown of complex molecules in living organisms to form simpler ones, together with the release of energy. The opposite of ANABOLISM.

DERIVATIVES:
catabolic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek katabol 'throwing down' .

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cataclysm

noun
a violent upheaval or disaster.

DERIVATIVES:
cataclysmic adjective
cataclysmically adverb.

ORIGIN: originally denoting the biblical Flood: from Greek kataklusmos 'deluge' .

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catacomb

noun
an underground cemetery consisting of a gallery with recesses for tombs.

ORIGIN: Latin catacumbas, the name of the subterranean cemetery of St Sebastian near Rome.

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catafalque

noun
a decorated wooden framework to support a coffin.

ORIGIN: Italian catafalco.

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Catalan

noun
1. a person from Catalonia in NE Spain.
2. the language of Catalonia.

adjective
relating to Catalonia.

ORIGIN: Spanish, related to Catalan català 'Catalan' .

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catalepsy

noun
a medical condition in which a person suffers a trance or seizure with a loss of sensation and consciousness accompanied by rigidity of the body.

DERIVATIVES:
cataleptic adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: Greek katalpsis, from katalambanein 'seize upon' .

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catalogue (US also catalog)

noun
1. a complete list of items arranged in alphabetical or other systematic order.
2. a publication containing details of items for sale.
3. a series of bad things: a catalogue of failures.

verb (catalogues, catalogued, cataloguing; US also catalogs, cataloged, cataloging)
list in a catalogue.

DERIVATIVES:
cataloguer noun.

ORIGIN: Greek katalogos, from katalegein 'pick out or enrol' .

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catalyse (US catalyze)

verb
cause or accelerate (a reaction) by acting as a catalyst.

DERIVATIVES:
catalyser noun.

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catalysis

noun
the acceleration of a chemical reaction by a catalyst.

DERIVATIVES:
catalytic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek katalusis 'dissolution' .

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catalyst

noun
1. a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change.
2. a person or thing that precipitates an event.

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catalytic converter

noun
a device in the exhaust system of a motor vehicle, containing a catalyst for converting pollutant gases into less harmful ones.

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catamaran

noun
a yacht or other boat with twin hulls in parallel.

ORIGIN: Tamil, 'tied wood' .

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catapult

noun
1. chiefly Brit. a forked stick with an elastic band fastened to the two prongs, used for shooting small stones.
2. historical a military machine for hurling large stones or other missiles.
3. a mechanical device for launching a glider or aircraft.

verb
1. hurl or launch with or as if with a catapult.
2. move suddenly or at great speed.

ORIGIN: Latin catapulta, from Greek kata- 'down' + pallein 'hurl' .

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cataract

noun
1. a large waterfall.
2. a medical condition in which the lens of the eye becomes progressively opaque, resulting in blurred vision.

ORIGIN: Latin cataracta 'waterfall, floodgate' , also 'portcullis' (sense 2 probably being a figurative use of this), from Greek katarakts 'down-rushing' .

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catarrh

noun
excessive discharge of mucus in the nose or throat.

DERIVATIVES:
catarrhal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin catarrhus, from Greek katarrhein 'flow down' .

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catastrophe

noun
an event causing great damage or suffering.

DERIVATIVES:
catastrophic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek katastroph 'overturning, sudden turn' .

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catatonia

noun
1. abnormality of movement and behaviour arising from a disturbed mental state.
2. informal a state of immobility and stupor.

DERIVATIVES:
catatonic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek tonos 'tone or tension' .

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cat burglar

noun
a thief who enters a building by climbing to an upper storey.

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catcall

noun
a shrill whistle or shout of mockery or disapproval.

verb
make a catcall.

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catch

verb (past and past part. caught)
1. intercept and hold (something thrown, propelled, or dropped).
2. seize or take hold of.
3. capture after a chase or in a trap, net, etc.
4. be in time to board (a train, bus, etc.) or to see (a person, programme, etc.).
5. entangle or become entangled: she caught her foot in the bedspread.
6. (be caught in) unexpectedly find oneself in (an unwelcome situation).
7. surprise (someone) in an awkward or incriminating situation.
8. engage (a person's interest or imagination).
9. perceive, hear, or understand: he said something Jess couldn't catch.
10. strike (someone or a part of one's body).
11. become infected with (an illness).
12. ignite and start burning.
13. Cricket dismiss (a batsman) by catching the ball before it touches the ground.

noun
1. an act of catching.
2. a device for securing a door, window, etc.
3. a hidden problem or disadvantage.
4. an unevenness in a person's voice caused by emotion.
5. informal a person considered desirable as a partner or spouse.
6. an amount of fish caught.

IDIOMS -
catch one's breath
1. draw one's breath in sharply to express an emotion.
2. recover one's breath after exertion.
catch someone's eye
1. be noticed by someone.
2. attract someone's attention by maki ng eye contact.
catch the light shine in the light.
catch on informal
1. (of a practice or fashion) become popular.
2. understand what is meant.
catch out Brit.
1. discover that (someone) has done something wrong.
2. take unawares: you might get caught out by the weather.
catch the sun
1. be in a sunny position.
2. Brit. become tanned or sunburnt.
catch up
1. succeed in reaching a person ahead.
2. do tasks which one should have done earlier.
3. (be/get caught up in) become involved in.

DERIVATIVES:
catchable adjective
catcher noun.

ORIGIN: Old French chacier, from Latin captare 'try to catch' .

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catch-22

noun
a difficult situation from which there is no escape because it involves mutually conflicting or dependent conditions.

ORIGIN: title of a novel by Joseph Heller (1961).

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catch-all

noun
a term or category intended to cover all possibilities.

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catching

adjective informal
(of a disease) infectious.

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catchline

noun Brit.
1. a short, eye-catching headline or title.
2. an advertising slogan.

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catchment (also catchment area)

noun
1. the area from which a hospital's patients or a school's pupils are drawn.
2. the area from which rainfall flows into a river, lake, or reservoir.

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catchpenny

adjective
having a cheap superficial attractiveness designed to encourage quick sales.

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catchphrase

noun
a well-known sentence or phrase.

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catchword

noun
1. a popular word or phrase encapsulating a particular concept.
2. a word printed or placed so as to attract attention.

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catchy

adjective (catchier, catchiest)
(of a tune or phrase) instantly appealing and memorable.

DERIVATIVES:
catchiness noun.

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catechism

noun
a summary of the principles of Christian religion in the form of questions and answers, used for teaching.

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catechist

noun
a Christian teacher, especially one using a catechism.

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catechize (also catechise)

verb
instruct by question and answer, especially by using a catechism.

ORIGIN: Greek katkhizein, from katkhein 'instruct orally' .

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categorical (also categoric)

adjective
unambiguously explicit and direct.

DERIVATIVES:
categorically adverb.

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categorize (also categorise)

verb
place in a particular category; classify.

DERIVATIVES:
categorization noun.

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category

noun (pl. categories)
a class or division of people or things having shared characteristics.

ORIGIN: Greek katgoria 'statement, accusation' .

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cater

verb chiefly Brit.
1. (cater for) provide food and drink at (a social event).
2. (cater for/to) provide with what is needed or required.
3. (cater for) take into account.
4. (cater to) satisfy (a need or demand).

DERIVATIVES:
caterer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French acater 'buy' , from Latin captare 'seize' .

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caterpillar

noun
1. the larva of a butterfly or moth.
2. (also caterpillar track or tread) trademark an articulated steel band passing round the wheels of a vehicle for travel on rough ground.

ORIGIN: perhaps from a variant of Old French chatepelose 'hairy cat' , influenced by obsolete piller «ravager».

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caterwaul

verb
make a shrill howling or wailing noise.

noun
a shrill howling or wailing noise.

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catfish

noun
a freshwater or marine fish with whisker-like barbels round the mouth.

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catgut

noun
material used for the strings of musical instruments and for surgical sutures, made of the dried intestines of sheep or horses (but not cats).

ORIGIN: the association with CAT remains unexplained.

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catharsis

noun
the release of pent-up emotions, for example through drama.

DERIVATIVES:
cathartic adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: Greek katharsis, from kathairein 'cleanse' .

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cathedral

noun
the principal church of a diocese.

ORIGIN: from Greek kathedra 'seat' (the full term was originally cathedral church, being a church containing the bishop's throne).

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Catherine wheel

noun Brit.
a firework in the form of a spinning coil.

ORIGIN: named after St Catherine, who was martyred on a spiked wheel.

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catheter

noun
a flexible tube inserted into a body cavity, particularly the bladder, for removing fluid.

ORIGIN: Greek kathetr, from kathienai 'send or let down' .

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cathode

noun
a negatively charged electrode. The opposite of ANODE.

ORIGIN: Greek kathodos 'way down' .

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cathode ray tube

noun
a high-vacuum tube in which cathode rays produce a luminous image on a fluorescent screen, used in televisions and visual display units.

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catholic

adjective
1. including a wide variety of things: catholic tastes.
2. (Catholic) Roman Catholic.
3. (Catholic) of or including all Christians.

noun (Catholic)
a Roman Catholic.

DERIVATIVES:
Catholicism noun
catholicity noun
Catholicize (also Catholicise) verb.

ORIGIN: Greek katholikos 'universal' .

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cation

noun Chemistry
a positively charged ion. The opposite of ANION.

DERIVATIVES:
cationic adjective.

ORIGIN: from CATHODE + ION.

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catkin

noun
a spike of small soft flowers hanging from trees such as willow and hazel.

ORIGIN: from obsolete Dutch katteken 'kitten' .

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catnap

noun
a short sleep during the day.

verb (catnapped, catnapping)
have a catnap.

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cat-o'-nine-tails

noun historical
a rope whip with nine knotted cords, used for flogging.

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cat's cradle

noun
a child's game in which patterns are constructed in a loop of string held between the fingers of each hand.

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cat's paw

noun
a person used by another to carry out an unpleasant task.

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catsuit

noun chiefly Brit.
a woman's close-fitting one-piece garment with trouser legs.

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cattery

noun (pl. catteries)
a boarding or breeding establishment for cats.

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cattle

plural noun
large ruminant animals with horns and cloven hoofs, domesticated for meat or milk or as beasts of burden; cows and oxen.

ORIGIN: Old French chatel 'chattel' .

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cattle grid (N. Amer. cattle guard)

noun
a metal grid covering a ditch, allowing vehicles and pedestrians to cross but not animals.

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catty

adjective (cattier, cattiest)
spiteful.

DERIVATIVES:
cattily adverb.

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catwalk

noun
1. a narrow walkway or open bridge, especially in an industrial installation.
2. a narrow platform along which models walk to display clothes.

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Caucasian

adjective
1. relating to a broad division of humankind covering peoples from Europe, western Asia, and parts of India and North Africa.
2. white-skinned; of European origin.
3. relating to the region of the Caucasus in SE Europe.

noun
a Caucasian person.

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caucus

noun (pl. caucuses)
1. a meeting of the members of a legislative body of a political party, to select candidates or decide policy.
2. a group of people with shared concerns within a larger organization.

ORIGIN: perhaps from an Algonquian word meaning 'adviser' .

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caudal

adjective
1. of or like a tail.
2. at or near the posterior part of the body.

DERIVATIVES:
caudally adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin cauda 'tail' .

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caul

noun
the amniotic membrane enclosing a fetus, part of which is occasionally found on a baby's head at birth.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French cale 'head covering' .

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cauldron (also caldron)

noun
a large metal pot, used for cooking over an open fire.

ORIGIN: Old French caudron, from Latin caldarium 'hot bath' , caldaria 'cooking pot' .

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cauliflower

noun
a variety of cabbage with a large flower head of small creamy-white flower buds, eaten as a vegetable.

ORIGIN: from obsolete French chou fleuri 'flowered cabbage' .

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caulk (US also calk)

noun
a waterproof filler and sealant, used in building work and repairs.

verb
1. seal with caulk.
2. make (a boat or its seams) watertight.

ORIGIN: from Latin calcare 'to tread' .

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causal

adjective
relating to or acting as a cause.

DERIVATIVES:
causally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin causalis, from causa 'cause' .

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causality

noun
1. the relationship between cause and effect.
2. the principle that everything has a cause.

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causation

noun
1. the action of causing.
2. the relationship between cause and effect.

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causative

adjective
1. acting as a cause.
2. Grammar expressing causation.

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cause

noun
1. a person or thing that produces an effect.
2. reasonable grounds for a belief or action: cause for concern.
3. a principle or movement which one is prepared to support or advocate.
4. a lawsuit.

verb
be the cause of; make happen.

IDIOMS -
cause and effect the principle of causation.
make common cause unite in order to achieve a shared aim.

DERIVATIVES:
causeless adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin causa.

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cause célèbre

noun (pl. causes célèbres pronunc. same)
a controversial issue arousing great public interest.

ORIGIN: French, 'famous case' .

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causeway

noun
a raised road or track across low or wet ground.

ORIGIN: from Old French causee, from Latin calx 'lime, limestone' (used for paving roads).

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caustic

adjective
1. able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action.
2. scathingly sarcastic.

noun
a caustic substance.

DERIVATIVES:
caustically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek kaustikos, from kaustos 'combustible' .

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caustic soda

noun
sodium hydroxide.

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cauterize (also cauterise)

verb
burn the skin or flesh of (a wound) to stop bleeding or prevent infection.

DERIVATIVES:
cauterization noun.

ORIGIN: Greek kautriazein, from kautrion 'branding iron' .

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caution

noun
1. care taken to avoid danger or mistakes.
2. warning: advisers sounded a note of caution.
3. Law, chiefly Brit. a formal warning given to someone who has committed a minor offence but has not been charged.

verb
1. warn or advise.
2. chiefly Brit. issue a legal caution to.
3. chiefly Brit. (of a police officer) advise (someone) of their legal rights when arresting them.

IDIOMS -
throw caution to the wind act in a reckless manner.

ORIGIN: Latin, from cavere 'take heed' .

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cautionary

adjective
serving as a warning.

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cautious

adjective
careful to avoid potential problems or dangers.

DERIVATIVES:
cautiously adverb
cautiousness noun.

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cavalcade

noun
a procession of vehicles, riders, or people on foot.

ORIGIN: Italian cavalcata, from cavalcare 'to ride' .

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cavalier

noun
1. (Cavalier) historical a supporter of King Charles I in the English Civil War.
2. archaic or literary a courtly gentleman.

adjective
showing a lack of proper concern.

DERIVATIVES:
cavalierly adverb.

ORIGIN: Italian cavaliere, from Latin caballus 'horse' .

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cavalry

noun (pl. cavalries) (usu. treated as pl. )
soldiers who fight on horses or in armoured vehicles.

DERIVATIVES:
cavalryman noun.

ORIGIN: Italian cavalleria, from cavallo 'horse' .

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cave

noun
a large natural underground chamber.

verb (cave in)
1. subside or collapse.
2. submit under pressure.

DERIVATIVES:
caver noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin cavus 'hollow' .

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caveat

noun
a warning or proviso of specific conditions.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'let a person beware' .

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cavern

noun
1. a large cave, or chamber in a cave.
2. a vast, dark space.

DERIVATIVES:
cavernous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin caverna, from cavus 'hollow' .

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caviar (also caviare)

noun
the pickled roe of sturgeon or other large fish, eaten as a delicacy.

ORIGIN: French.

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cavil

verb (cavilled, cavilling; US caviled, caviling)
make petty objections.

noun
a petty objection.

ORIGIN: Latin cavillari, from cavilla 'mockery' .

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cavity

noun (pl. cavities)
1. a hollow space within a solid object.
2. a decayed part of a tooth.

ORIGIN: Latin cavitas, from cavus 'hollow' .

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cavity wall

noun
a wall formed from two thicknesses of bricks with a space between them.

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cavort

verb
jump or dance around excitedly.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of CURVET.

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cavy

noun (pl. cavies)
a guinea pig or related South American rodent.

ORIGIN: Latin cavia, from Carib.

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caw

noun
the harsh cry of a rook, crow, or similar bird.

verb
utter a caw.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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cayenne (also cayenne pepper)

noun
a pungent, hot-tasting red powder prepared from dried chillies.

ORIGIN: Tupi, later associated with Cayenne in French Guiana.

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CB

abbreviation
1. Citizens' Band.
2. (in the UK) Companion of the Order of the Bath.

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CBE

abbreviation
(in the UK) Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

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CBI

abbreviation
Confederation of British Industry.

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CC

abbreviation
1. Brit. City Council.
2. Brit. County Council.
3. Cricket Club.

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cc (also c.c.)

abbreviation
1. carbon copy (an indication that a duplicate has been or should be sent to another person).
2. cubic centimetre(s).

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CCTV

abbreviation
closed-circuit television.

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CD

abbreviation
compact disc.

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Cd

symbol
the chemical element cadmium.

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cd

abbreviation
candela.

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CD-ROM

noun
a compact disc used in a computer as a read-only device for displaying data.

ORIGIN: from compact disc read-only memory.

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CE

abbreviation
1. Church of England.
2. Common Era.

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Ce

symbol
the chemical element cerium.

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cease

verb
come or bring to an end; stop.

IDIOMS -
without cease without stopping.

ORIGIN: Latin cessare, from cedere 'to yield' .

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ceasefire

noun
a temporary suspension of fighting.

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ceaseless

adjective
constant and unending.

DERIVATIVES:
ceaselessly adverb.

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cecum (Brit. caecum)

noun (pl. ceca)
a pouch connected to the junction of the small and large intestines.

DERIVATIVES:
cecal adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin intestinum caecum 'blind gut' .

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cedar

noun
a tall coniferous tree with hard, fragrant wood.

ORIGIN: Greek kedros.

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cede

verb
give up (power or territory).

ORIGIN: Latin cedere 'to yield' .

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cedilla

noun
a mark (¸) written under the letter c, especially in French, to show that it is pronounced like an s (e.g. façade).

ORIGIN: Spanish zedilla 'little ‘z’' .

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ceilidh

noun
a social event with Scottish or Irish folk music and singing, traditional dancing, and storytelling.

ORIGIN: Old Irish céilide 'visit, visiting' .

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ceiling

noun
1. the upper inside surface of a room.
2. an upper limit set on prices, wages, or expenditure.
3. the maximum altitude an aircraft can reach.

ORIGIN: from obsolete ceil 'line or plaster the roof of (a building)' , perhaps from Latin celare 'conceal' .

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celandine

noun
1. (also lesser celandine) a common yellow-flowered plant of the buttercup family.
2. (greater celandine) a yellow-flowered plant of the poppy family, with toxic sap.

ORIGIN: from Greek khelidn 'swallow' (the flowering of the plant being associated with the arrival of swallows).

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celebrant

noun
1. a person who performs a rite, especially a priest at the Eucharist.
2. a person who celebrates something.

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celebrate

verb
1. mark (a significant occasion) with an enjoyable activity.
2. engage in festivities to mark a significant occasion.
3. honour or praise publicly.
4. perform (a religious ceremony), in particular officiate at (the Eucharist).

DERIVATIVES:
celebration noun
celebrator noun
celebratory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin celebrare, from celeber 'frequented or honoured' .

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celebrity

noun (pl. celebrities)
1. a famous person.
2. the state of being famous.

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celeriac

noun
a variety of celery which forms a large swollen edible root.

ORIGIN: from CELERY.

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celerity

noun archaic or literary
swiftness of movement.

ORIGIN: Latin celeritas, from celer 'swift' .

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celery

noun
a garden plant with crisp juicy stalks, used in salads or as a vegetable.

ORIGIN: French céleri, from Greek selinon 'parsley' .

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celestial

adjective
1. positioned in or relating to the sky or outer space.
2. belonging or relating to heaven.

DERIVATIVES:
celestially adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin caelestis, from caelum 'heaven' .

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celibate

adjective
1. abstaining from marriage and sexual relations for religious reasons.
2. having or involving no sexual relations.

noun
a person who is celibate.

DERIVATIVES:
celibacy noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin caelibatus 'unmarried state' .

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cell

noun
1. a small room for a prisoner, monk, or nun.
2. Biology the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, consisting of cytoplasm and a nucleus enclosed in a membrane.
3. a small compartment in a larger structure such as a honeycomb.
4. a small group forming a nucleus of political activity.
5. a device or unit in which electricity is generated using chemical energy or light, or in which electrolysis takes place.

ORIGIN: Latin cella 'storeroom or chamber' .

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cellar

noun
1. a storage space or room below ground level in a house.
2. a stock of wine.

ORIGIN: Latin cellarium 'storehouse' , from cella 'storeroom or chamber' .

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cello

noun (pl. cellos)
a bass instrument of the violin family, held upright on the floor between the legs of the seated player.

DERIVATIVES:
cellist noun.

ORIGIN: shortening of VIOLONCELLO.

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cellophane

noun trademark
a thin transparent wrapping material made from viscose.

ORIGIN: from CELLULOSE + -phane (from Latin diaphanus 'diaphanous' ).

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cellphone

noun
a mobile phone.

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cellular

adjective
1. relating to or consisting of living cells.
2. relating to a mobile telephone system that uses a number of short-range radio stations to cover the area it serves.
3. (of fabric) woven with an open mesh to trap air for extra insulation.
4. consisting of small compartments or rooms.

ORIGIN: Latin cellularis, from cellula 'little chamber' .

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cellulite

noun
persistent subcutaneous fat causing dimpling of the skin.

ORIGIN: French, from cellule 'small cell' .

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celluloid

noun
1. a transparent flammable plastic made from camphor and nitrocellulose, formerly used for cinematographic film.
2. the cinema as a genre.

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cellulose

noun
1. an insoluble substance derived from glucose, forming the main constituent of plant cell walls and of vegetable fibres such as cotton.
2. paint or lacquer consisting principally of cellulose acetate or nitrate in solution.

DERIVATIVES:
cellulosic adjective.

ORIGIN: French, from cellule 'small cell' .

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Celsius

adjective
of or denoting a scale of temperature on which water freezes at 0° and boils at 100°.
USAGE - Celsius rather than centigrade is the standard accepted term when giving temperatures.
ORIGIN: named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius (1701 44).

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Celt

noun
1. a member of a group of peoples inhabiting much of Europe and Asia Minor in pre-Roman times.
2. a native of a modern nation or region in which a Celtic language is (or was) spoken.

ORIGIN: from Greek Keltoi 'Celts' .

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Celtic

noun
a group of languages including Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Breton, Manx, and Cornish.

adjective
relating to Celtic or to the Celts.

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cement

noun
1. a powdery substance made by calcining lime and clay, used in making mortar and concrete.
2. a soft glue that hardens on setting.

verb
1. fix with cement.
2. establish or strengthen: the occasion cemented our friendship.

DERIVATIVES:
cementation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin caementum 'quarry stone' , from caedere 'hew' .

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cemetery

noun (pl. cemeteries)
a large burial ground.

ORIGIN: Greek koimtrion 'dormitory' .

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cenotaph

noun
a monument to someone buried elsewhere, especially a war memorial.

ORIGIN: from Greek kenos 'empty' + taphos 'tomb' .

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Cenozoic (also Cainozoic)

adjective Geology
of or relating to the era following the Mesozoic era (from about 65 million years ago to the present).

ORIGIN: from Greek kainos 'new' + zion 'animal' .

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censer

noun
a container in which incense is burnt.

ORIGIN: Old French censier, from encens 'incense' .

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censor

noun
an official who examines material that is to be published and suppresses parts considered offensive or a threat to security.

verb
suppress or remove unacceptable parts of (a book, film, etc.).

DERIVATIVES:
censorship noun.

ORIGIN: Latin (denoting a magistrate in ancient Rome who held censuses and supervised public morals), from censere 'assess' .

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censorious

adjective
severely critical.

DERIVATIVES:
censoriously adverb
censoriousness noun.

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censure

verb
express strong disapproval of.

noun
strong disapproval or criticism.

DERIVATIVES:
censurable adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin censura 'judgement, assessment' , from censere 'assess' .

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census

noun (pl. censuses)
an official count or survey of a population.

ORIGIN: Latin, from censere 'assess' .

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cent

noun
a monetary unit equal to one hundredth of a dollar or other decimal currency unit.

ORIGIN: from Latin centum 'hundred' .

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centaur

noun Greek Mythology
a creature with the head, arms, and torso of a man and the body and legs of a horse.

ORIGIN: Greek kentauros, the Greek name for a people of Thessaly who were expert horsemen.

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centenarian

noun
a person a hundred or more years old.

adjective
a hundred or more years old.

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centenary

noun (pl. centenaries) chiefly Brit.
the hundredth anniversary of an event.

ORIGIN: from Latin centenarius 'containing a hundred' , from centum 'a hundred' .

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centennial

adjective
relating to a hundredth anniversary.

noun
a hundredth anniversary.

ORIGIN: from Latin centum 'a hundred' .

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center (Brit. centre)

noun
1. a point in the middle of something that is equally distant from all of its sides, ends, or surfaces.
2. a place where a specified activity is concentrated.
3. a point from which something spreads or to which something is directed: the city was a center of discontent.
4. a political group whose opinions avoid extremes.
5. the middle player in some team games.

verb
1. place in the centre.
2. (center on/around) have as a major concern or theme.

ORIGIN: Latin centrum, from Greek kentron 'sharp point, stationary point of a pair of compasses' .

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centi-

combining form
1. one hundredth: centilitre.
2. hundred: centipede.

ORIGIN: from Latin centum 'hundred' .

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centigrade

adjective
of or denoting the Celsius scale of temperature, with a hundred degrees between the freezing and boiling points of water.
USAGE - On using centigrade or Celsius, see the note at CELSIUS.
ORIGIN: from Latin centum 'a hundred' + gradus 'step' .

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centilitre (US centiliter)

noun
a metric unit of capacity equal to one hundredth of a litre.

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centime

noun
a monetary unit of France, Belgium, Switzerland, and certain other countries, equal to one hundredth of a franc or other decimal currency unit.

ORIGIN: from Latin centesimus 'hundredth' .

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centimetre (US centimeter)

noun
a metric unit of length equal to one hundredth of a metre.

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centipede

noun
an arthropod with an elongated body composed of many segments, most of which bear a pair of legs.

ORIGIN: from Latin centum 'a hundred' + pes 'foot' .

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central

adjective
1. in or near the centre.
2. very important; essential.

DERIVATIVES:
centrality noun
centrally adverb.

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central bank

noun
a national bank that provides services for its country's government and commercial banking system, and issues currency.

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central heating

noun
a system for warming a building by heating water or air in one place and circulating it through pipes and radiators or vents.

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centralize (also centralise)

verb
concentrate (control or power) under a single authority.

DERIVATIVES:
centralism noun
centralist noun & adjective
centralization noun.

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central nervous system

noun
the complex of nerve tissues that controls the activities of the body.

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central processing unit (also central processor)

noun
the part of a computer in which operations are controlled and executed.

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central reservation

noun Brit.
the strip of land between the carriageways of a motorway or other major road.

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centre (US center)

noun
1. a point in the middle of something that is equally distant from all of its sides, ends, or surfaces.
2. a place where a specified activity is concentrated.
3. a point from which something spreads or to which something is directed: the city was a centre of discontent.
4. a political group whose opinions avoid extremes.
5. the middle player in some team games.

verb
1. place in the centre.
2. (centre on/around) have as a major concern or theme.

ORIGIN: Latin centrum, from Greek kentron 'sharp point, stationary point of a pair of compasses' .

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centre back

noun Soccer
a defender who plays in the middle of the field.

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centreboard (US centerboard)

noun
a pivoted board lowered through the keel of a sailing boat to reduce sideways movement.

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centrefold (US centerfold)

noun
the two middle pages of a magazine.

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centre forward

noun Soccer & Hockey
an attacker who plays in the middle of the field.

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centre of gravity

noun
the point from which the weight of a body appears to act.

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centrepiece (US centerpiece)

noun
the most important item in a display.

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-centric

combining form
1. having a specified centre: geocentric.
2. originating from a specified viewpoint: Eurocentric.

DERIVATIVES:
-centricity combining form in corresponding nouns.

ORIGIN: from Greek kentrikos.

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centrifugal

adjective Physics
moving away from a centre.

DERIVATIVES:
centrifugally adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin centrum 'centre' + -fugus 'fleeing' .

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centrifugal force

noun Physics
a force, arising from the body's inertia, which appears to act on a body moving in a circular path and is directed away from the centre around which the body is moving.

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centrifuge

noun
a machine with a rapidly rotating container, used chiefly to separate liquids from solids.

verb
subject to the action of a centrifuge.

DERIVATIVES:
centrifugation noun.

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centripetal

adjective Physics
moving towards a centre.

DERIVATIVES:
centripetally adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin centrum 'centre' + -petus 'seeking' .

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centripetal force

noun Physics
a force which acts on a body moving in a circular path and is directed towards the centre around which the body is moving.

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centrist

noun
a person having moderate political views or policies.

DERIVATIVES:
centrism noun.

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centurion

noun
the commander of a century in the ancient Roman army.

ORIGIN: Latin, from centuria 'century' .

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century

noun (pl. centuries)
1. a period of one hundred years.
2. a batsman's score of a hundred runs in cricket.
3. a company of a hundred men in the ancient Roman army.
USAGE - Strictly speaking, centuries run from 01 to 100, meaning that the new century begins on the first day of the year 01 (e.g. 1 January 2001). In practice and in popular perception, however, the new century is held to begin when the significant digits in the date change, e.g. on 1 January 2000, when 1999 becomes 2000.
ORIGIN: Latin centuria, from centum 'hundred' .

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CEO

abbreviation
chief executive officer.

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cephalic

adjective
relating to the head.

ORIGIN: from Greek kephal 'head' .

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cephalopod

noun Zoology
a mollusc of a class including octopuses and squids.

ORIGIN: from Greek kephal 'head' + pous 'foot' .

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ceramic

adjective
1. made of clay that is permanently hardened by heat.
2. relating to ceramic articles.

noun (ceramics)
1. ceramic articles.
2. (usu. treated as sing. ) the art of making ceramics.

DERIVATIVES:
ceramicist noun.

ORIGIN: Greek keramikos, from keramos 'pottery' .

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cereal

noun
1. a grain used for food, for example wheat, maize, or rye.
2. a grass producing such grain.
3. a breakfast food made from a cereal grain or grains.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture.

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cerebellum

noun (pl. cerebellums or cerebella) Anatomy
the part of the brain at the back of the skull, which coordinates muscular activity.

DERIVATIVES:
cerebellar adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'little brain' .

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cerebral

adjective
1. relating to the cerebrum of the brain.
2. intellectual rather than emotional or physical.

DERIVATIVES:
cerebrally adverb.

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cerebral palsy

noun
a condition marked by impaired muscle coordination and spastic paralysis, caused by damage to the brain before or at birth.

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cerebration

noun
the working of the brain; thinking.

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cerebrospinal

adjective Anatomy
relating to the brain and spine.

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cerebrum

noun (pl. cerebra) Anatomy
the principal part of the brain, located in the front area of the skull.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'brain' .

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ceremonial

adjective
1. relating to or used for ceremonies.
2. (of a post or role) involving only nominal authority or power.

noun another term for CEREMONY.

DERIVATIVES:
ceremonially adverb.

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ceremonious

adjective
relating or appropriate to grand and formal occasions.

DERIVATIVES:
ceremoniously adverb
ceremoniousness noun.

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ceremony

noun (pl. ceremonies)
1. a formal occasion, typically celebrating a particular event or anniversary.
2. the ritual procedures observed at such occasions.

IDIOMS -
stand on ceremony observe formalities.
without ceremony without formality or politeness.

ORIGIN: Latin caerimonia 'religious worship' .

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cerise

noun
a light, clear red colour.

ORIGIN: French, 'cherry' .

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cerium

noun
a silvery-white metallic chemical element, the most abundant of the lanthanide series.

ORIGIN: named after the asteroid Ceres, discovered in 1801, shortly before cerium was identified.

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cert

noun Brit. informal
1. an event regarded as inevitable.
2. a competitor, candidate, etc. regarded as certain to win.

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certain

adjective
1. able to be relied on to happen or be the case.
2. completely convinced of something.
3. specific but not explicitly named or stated.

pronoun (certain of)
some but not all.

ORIGIN: Latin certus 'settled, sure' .

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certainly

adverb
1. definitely; undoubtedly.
2. yes; by all means.

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certainty

noun (pl. certainties)
1. the quality or state of being certain.
2. a fact that is true or an event that is definitely going to take place.

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certifiable

adjective
able or needing to be certified.

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certificate

noun
1. an official document recording a particular fact, event, or level of achievement.
2. an official classification awarded to a cinema film, indicating its suitability for a particular age group.

verb
provide with a certificate.

DERIVATIVES:
certification noun.

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certify

verb (certifies, certified)
1. formally confirm.
2. officially recognize as meeting certain standards.
3. officially declare insane.

ORIGIN: Latin certificare, from certus 'certain' .

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certitude

noun
a feeling of absolute certainty.

ORIGIN: Latin certitudo, from certus 'certain' .

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cerulean

adjective
deep blue in colour like a clear sky.

ORIGIN: Latin caeruleus, from caelum 'sky' .

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cervical

adjective Anatomy
1. relating to the cervix.
2. relating to the neck.

ORIGIN: Latin cervicalis, from cervix 'neck' .

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cervical smear

noun Brit.
a specimen of cellular material from the cervix spread on a microscope slide for examination for cancerous cells or precancerous changes.

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cervix

noun (pl. cervices)
1. the narrow neck-like passage forming the lower end of the womb.
2. technical the neck.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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cessation

noun
the fact or process of ceasing.

ORIGIN: Latin, from cessare 'cease' .

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cession

noun
the formal giving up of rights, property, or territory by a state.

ORIGIN: Latin, from cedere 'cede' .

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cesspool

noun
an underground container for the temporary storage of liquid waste and sewage.

ORIGIN: probably from archaic suspiral «vent, water pipe, settling tank», from Old French souspirail 'air hole' .

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cetacean Zoology

noun
a marine mammal of an order including whales and dolphins.

adjective
relating to cetaceans.

ORIGIN: from Greek ktos 'whale' .

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CF

abbreviation
cystic fibrosis.

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Cf

symbol
the chemical element californium.

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CFC

abbreviation
chlorofluorocarbon, any of a class of synthetic compounds of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine, used as refrigerants and aerosol propellants and harmful to the ozone layer.

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CFE

abbreviation
(in the UK) College of Further Education.

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CH

abbreviation
(in the UK) Companion of Honour.

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ch.

abbreviation
chapter.

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Chablis

noun
a dry white burgundy wine from Chablis in eastern France.

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cha-cha

noun
a ballroom dance with small steps and swaying hip movements, performed to a Latin American rhythm.

ORIGIN: Latin American Spanish.

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chaconne

noun Music
1. a composition in a series of varying sections in slow triple time.
2. a stately dance performed to such music.

ORIGIN: Spanish chacona.

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chador (also chuddar)

noun
a piece of dark-coloured cloth that is wrapped around the head and upper body leaving only the face exposed, worn by Muslim women.

ORIGIN: Persian, 'sheet or veil' .

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chafe

verb
1. make or become sore by rubbing.
2. (of an object) rub abrasively against another.
3. rub (a part of the body) to restore warmth or sensation.
4. become impatient because of a restriction or inconvenience.

noun
wear or damage caused by rubbing.

ORIGIN: Old French chaufer 'make hot' , from Latin calere 'be hot' .

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chafer

noun
a large flying beetle of a group including the cockchafer and June bug.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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chaff [1]

noun
1. the husks of grain or other seed separated by winnowing or threshing.
2. chopped hay and straw used as fodder.

IDIOMS -
separate (or sort) the wheat from the chaff distinguish valuable people or things from worthless ones.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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chaff [2]

noun
light-hearted joking.

verb
tease.

ORIGIN: perhaps from CHAFE.

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chaffinch

noun
a common finch, the male of which has a bluish head, pink underparts, and dark wings with a white flash.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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chagrin

noun
annoyance or shame at having failed.

verb (be chagrined)
feel annoyed or ashamed.

ORIGIN: French, 'rough skin, shagreen' .

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chain

noun
1. a connected series of metal links used for fastening or pulling, or as jewellery.
2. a connected series, set, or sequence.
3. a part of a molecule consisting of a number of atoms bonded together in a series.
4. a measure of length equal to 66 ft.

verb
fasten or confine with a chain.

ORIGIN: Old French chaine, from Latin catena.

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chain gang

noun
a group of convicts chained together while working outside the prison.

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chain letter

noun
one of a sequence of letters, each recipient in the sequence being requested to send copies to a number of other people.

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chain mail

noun historical
armour made of small metal rings linked together.

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chain reaction

noun
1. a chemical reaction in which the products themselves spread the reaction.
2. a series of events, each caused by the previous one.

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chainsaw

noun
a power-driven saw with teeth set on a moving chain.

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chain-smoke

verb
smoke cigarettes in continuous succession.

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chain store

noun
one of a series of shops owned by one firm and selling the same goods.

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chair

noun
1. a separate seat for one person, with a back and four legs.
2. the person in charge of a meeting or an organization.
3. a professorship.
4. (the chair) US short for ELECTRIC CHAIR.

verb
1. act as chairperson of.
2. carry aloft in a chair or sitting position to celebrate a victory.

ORIGIN: Old French chaiere, from Greek kathedra.

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chairlift

noun
a series of chairs hung from a moving cable, used for carrying passengers up and down a mountain.

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chairman (or chairwoman)

noun
a person in charge of a meeting or organization.

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chairperson

noun
a chairman or chairwoman.

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chaise

noun chiefly historical
a horse-drawn carriage for one or two people, especially one with an open top and two wheels.

ORIGIN: French.

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chaise longue (US also chaise lounge)

noun (pl. chaises longues pronunc. same)
1. a sofa with a backrest at only one end.
2. N. Amer. a sunbed or other chair with a lengthened seat.

ORIGIN: French, 'long chair' .

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chalcedony

noun (pl. chalcedonies)
quartz occurring in a microcrystalline form such as onyx and agate.

ORIGIN: Greek khalkdn.

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chalet

noun
1. a wooden house with overhanging eaves, typically found in the Swiss Alps.
2. a small wooden cabin used by holidaymakers.

ORIGIN: Old French chasel 'farmstead' .

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chalice

noun
1. historical a goblet.
2. the wine cup used in the Christian Eucharist.

ORIGIN: Latin calix 'cup' .

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chalk

noun
1. a white soft limestone (calcium carbonate) formed from the skeletal remains of sea creatures.
2. a similar substance (calcium sulphate), made into sticks and used for drawing or writing.

verb
1. draw or write with chalk.
2. Brit. charge (drinks bought in a pub or bar) to a person's account.
3. (chalk up) achieve (something) noteworthy.
4. (chalk up) ascribe (something) to a particular cause.

IDIOMS -
as different as chalk and cheese Brit. fundamentally different.
by a long chalk Brit. by far.

DERIVATIVES:
chalky adjective (chalkier, chalkiest) .

ORIGIN: Latin calx 'lime' .

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challenge

noun
1. a call to someone to participate in a contest.
2. a call to prove something.
3. a demanding task or situation.
4. an attempt to win a sporting contest.

verb
1. dispute the truth or validity of.
2. invite (someone) to engage in a contest.
3. Law object to (a jury member).
4. compete with.
5. (of a sentry) call on (someone) to prove their identity.

DERIVATIVES:
challenger noun
challenging adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French chalenge, from Latin calumnia 'calumny' .

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chalybeate

adjective
denoting natural mineral springs containing iron salts.

ORIGIN: Latin chalybeatus, from Greek khalups 'steel' .

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chamber

noun
1. a large room used for formal or public events.
2. one of the houses of a parliament.
3. (chambers) Law, Brit. rooms used by a barrister or barristers.
4. literary or archaic a private room, especially a bedroom.
5. an enclosed space or cavity.
6. (before another noun ) Music of or for a small group of instruments: a chamber orchestra.
7. the part of a gun bore that contains the charge.

DERIVATIVES:
chambered adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French chambre, from Latin camera 'vault, arched chamber' , from Greek kamara 'object with an arched cover' .

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chamberlain

noun historical
1. an officer who managed the household of a monarch or noble.
2. Brit. an officer who received revenue on behalf of a corporation or public body.

ORIGIN: Old French.

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chambermaid

noun
a woman who cleans rooms in a hotel.

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chamber music

noun
instrumental music played by a small ensemble, such as a string quartet.

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Chamber of Commerce

noun
a local association to promote the interests of the business community.

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chamber pot

noun
a bowl kept in a bedroom and used as a toilet.

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chambray

noun
a linen-finished gingham cloth with a white weft and a coloured warp.

ORIGIN: from Cambrai (see CAMBRIC).

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chameleon (also chamaeleon)

noun
a small slow-moving lizard with a long extensible tongue, protruding eyes, and the ability to change colour.

DERIVATIVES:
chameleonic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek khamailen, from khamai 'on the ground' + len 'lion' .

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chamfer Carpentry

verb
cut away (a right-angled edge or corner) to make a symmetrical sloping edge.

noun
a chamfered edge or corner.

ORIGIN: French chamfrain, from chant 'point, side, edge' + fraint 'broken' .

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chamois

noun (pl. same)
1. (pl. ) an agile goat-antelope found in mountainous areas of southern Europe.
2. (pl. ) (also chamois leather) soft pliable leather made from the skin of sheep, goats, or deer.

ORIGIN: French.

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chamomile (also camomile)

noun
an aromatic plant with white and yellow flowers.

ORIGIN: Latin chamomilla, from Greek khamaimlon 'earth-apple' (because of the apple-like smell of its flowers).

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champ [1]

verb
1. munch enthusiastically or noisily.
2. fret impatiently.

IDIOMS -
champ at the bit be very impatient.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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champ [2]

noun informal
a champion.

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champagne

noun
a white sparkling wine from Champagne, a region in NE France.

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champion

noun
1. a person who has won a sporting contest or other competition.
2. a defender of a cause or person.

verb
support the cause of.

adjective Brit. informal or dialect
excellent.

ORIGIN: Latin campion 'fighter' , from campus 'level ground' .

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championship

noun
1. a sporting contest for the position of champion.
2. the vigorous defence of a person or cause.

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chance

noun
1. a possibility of something happening.
2. (chances) the probability of something happening.
3. an opportunity.
4. the occurrence of events in the absence of any obvious design.

verb
1. do something by accident.
2. informal risk.

IDIOMS -
by any chance possibly.
chance one's arm Brit. informal risk doing something.
on the (off) chance just in case.
stand a chance have a prospect of success.
take a chance (or chances) expose oneself to the risk of danger or failure.

ORIGIN: Old French cheance, from cheoir 'fall, befall' .

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chancel

noun
the part of a church near the altar, reserved for the clergy and choir.

ORIGIN: from Latin cancelli 'crossbars' .

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chancellery

noun (pl. chancelleries)
the position, office, or department of a chancellor.

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chancellor

noun
1. a senior state or legal official of various kinds.
2. (Chancellor) the head of the government in some European countries.

DERIVATIVES:
chancellorship noun.

ORIGIN: Latin cancellarius 'porter, secretary' (originally a court official stationed at the grating separating public from judges), from cancelli 'crossbars' .

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Chancellor of the Exchequer

noun
the finance minister of the United Kingdom.

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chancer

noun informal
a person who fully exploits any opportunity.

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chancery

noun (pl. chanceries) (Chancery or Chancery Division) Law
(in the UK) the Lord Chancellor's court, a division of the High Court of Justice.

ORIGIN: contraction of CHANCELLERY.

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chancre

noun Medicine
a painless ulcer, particularly one developing on the genitals in venereal disease.

ORIGIN: Latin cancer 'creeping ulcer' .

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chancy

adjective (chancier, chanciest) informal
uncertain; risky.

DERIVATIVES:
chancily adverb.

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chandelier

noun
a large hanging light with branches for several light bulbs or candles.

ORIGIN: French, from chandelle 'candle' .

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chandler

noun
1. (also ship chandler) a dealer in supplies and equipment for ships.
2. historical a dealer in household items such as oil and groceries.

DERIVATIVES:
chandlery noun.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a candlemaker or candle seller: from Old French chandelier, from chandelle (see CHANDELIER).

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change

verb
1. make or become different.
2. exchange for another.
3. move from one to (another).
4. (change over) move from one system or situation to another.
5. exchange (a sum of money) for the same sum in a different currency or denomination.

noun
1. the action of changing.
2. an instance of becoming different.
3. money returned to someone as the balance of the sum paid or money given in exchange for the same sum in larger units.
4. coins as opposed to banknotes.
5. a clean garment or garments as replacement clothing.
6. an order in which a peal of bells can be rung.

IDIOMS -
change hands
1. (of a business or building) pass to a different owner.
2. (of money) pass to another person in the course of a business transaction.
a change is as good as a rest proverb a change of work or occupation can be as refreshing as a period of relaxation.
change one's tune express a very different attitude.
for a change contrary to how things usually happen.
get no change out of Brit. informal fail to get information or a desired reaction from.
ring the changes vary the ways of doing something. [ORIGIN: with allusion to the different orders in which a peal of bells may be rung.]

DERIVATIVES:
changeless adjective
changer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French changer, from Latin cambire 'barter ' .

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changeable

adjective
1. liable to unpredictable variation.
2. able to be changed.

DERIVATIVES:
changeability noun.

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changeling

noun
a child believed to have been secretly substituted by fairies for the parents' real child.

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changeover

noun
a change from one system or situation to another.

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channel

noun
1. a length of water wider than a strait, joining two larger areas of water, especially two seas.
2. (the Channel) the English Channel.
3. Biology a tubular passage or duct for liquid.
4. an electric circuit which acts as a path for a signal.
5. a band of frequencies used in radio and television transmission.
6. a medium for communication or the passage of information.
7. a navigable passage in a stretch of water otherwise unsafe for vessels.

verb (channelled, channelling; US channeled, channeling)
1. direct towards a particular end.
2. cause to pass along or through a specified route or medium.

ORIGIN: Latin canalis 'pipe, groove, channel' , from canna 'cane, reed' .

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chant

noun
1. a repeated rhythmic phrase, typically one shouted or sung in unison by a group.
2. a monotonous or repetitive song.
3. a tune to which the words of psalms or other works with irregular rhythm are fitted by singing several syllables or words to the same note.

verb
say, shout, or sing in a chant.

ORIGIN: Old French chanter, from Latin canere 'sing' .

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chaos

noun
1. complete disorder and confusion.
2. the formless matter supposed to have existed before the creation of the universe.

DERIVATIVES:
chaotic adjective
chaotically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek khaos 'vast chasm, void' .

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chap

verb (chapped, chapping)
1. (of the skin) crack and become sore through exposure to cold weather.
2. (of cold weather) cause (skin) to crack in this way.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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chapatti

noun (pl. chapattis)
(in Indian cookery) a thin pancake of unleavened wholemeal bread cooked on a griddle.

ORIGIN: from Hindi, 'roll out' .

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chapel

noun
1. a small building for Christian worship, typically one attached to an institution or private house.
2. a part of a large church with its own altar and dedication.
3. Brit. a place of worship for Nonconformist congregations.
4. Brit. the members or branch of a print or newspaper trade union at a particular place of work.

ORIGIN: Old French chapele, from Latin cappella, 'little cape' (the first chapel being a sanctuary in which St Martin's cloak was preserved).

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chaperone (also chaperon)

noun dated
an older woman responsible for the behaviour of an unmarried girl at social occasions.

verb
accompany and look after.

DERIVATIVES:
chaperonage noun.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a hood, regarded as giving protection: from French, from chape 'cap, hood' .

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chaplain

noun
a member of the clergy attached to a private chapel, institution, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
chaplaincy noun.

ORIGIN: Latin cappellanus, originally denoting a custodian of the cloak of St Martin, from cappella (see CHAPEL).

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chaplet

noun
1. a circlet for a person's head.
2. a string of 55 beads for counting prayers.

ORIGIN: Old French chapelet 'little hat' , from Latin cappa 'cap' .

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chapter

noun
1. a main division of a book.
2. a particular period in history or in a person's life.
3. the governing body of a cathedral or other religious community.
4. chiefly N. Amer. a local branch of a society.

IDIOMS -
chapter and verse an exact reference or authority.
a chapter of accidents a series of unfortunate events.

ORIGIN: Old French chapitre, from Latin capitulum 'little head' .

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char [1]

verb (charred, charring)
partially burn so as to blacken the surface.

ORIGIN: apparently from CHARCOAL.

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char [2] Brit. informal

noun
a charwoman.

verb (charred, charring)
work as a charwoman.

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char [3] (also cha or chai)

noun Brit. informal
tea.

ORIGIN: Chinese.

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charabanc

noun Brit.
an early form of bus.

ORIGIN: French char-à-bancs 'carriage with benches' .

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character

noun
1. the qualities distinctive to an individual.
2. the distinctive nature of something.
3. a person in a novel, play, or film.
4. a part played by an actor.
5. a printed or written letter or symbol.
6. strength and originality in a person's nature.
7. a person's good reputation.
8. informal an eccentric or amusing person.

DERIVATIVES:
characterful adjective
characterless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French caractere, from Greek kharaktr 'a stamping tool' .

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characteristic

adjective
typical of a particular person, place, or thing.

noun
a feature or quality typical of a person, place, or thing.

DERIVATIVES:
characteristically adverb.

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characterize (also characterise)

verb
1. describe the distinctive character of.
2. (of a feature or quality) be characteristic of.

DERIVATIVES:
characterization noun.

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charade

noun
1. an absurd pretence.
2. (charades) (treated as sing. ) a game of guessing a word or phrase from written or acted clues.

ORIGIN: Provençal charrado 'conversation' .

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charcoal

noun
1. a porous black form of carbon obtained when wood is heated in the absence of air.
2. a dark grey colour.

ORIGIN: probably related to COAL in the early sense «charcoal».

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chard

noun (also Swiss chard)
a beet of a variety with edible broad white leaf stalks and green blades.

ORIGIN: French carde.

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charge

verb
1. demand (an amount) as a price for a service rendered or goods supplied.
2. accuse (someone) of something, especially an offence under law.
3. rush forward in attack.
4. entrust with a task.
5. store electrical energy in (a battery).
6. technical or formal load or fill (a container, gun, etc.) to the full or proper extent.
7. fill with a quality or emotion.

noun
1. a price asked.
2. a formal accusation made against a prisoner brought to trial.
3. a financial liability or commitment.
4. responsibility for care or control.
5. a person or thing entrusted to someone's care.
6. a headlong rush forward, typically in attack.
7. the property of matter that is responsible for electrical phenomena, existing in a positive or negative form.
8. the quantity of this carried by a body.
9. energy stored chemically in a battery for conversion into electricity.
10. a quantity of explosive to be detonated in order to fire a gun or similar weapon.

IDIOMS -
press charges accuse someone formally of a crime so that they can be brought to trial.

DERIVATIVES:
chargeable adjective
charged adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French charger, from Latin carricare 'to load' .

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charge card

noun
a credit card for use with an account which must be paid in full when a statement is issued.

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chargé d'affaires (also chargé)

noun (pl. chargés pronunc. same)
1. an ambassador's deputy.
2. a state's diplomatic representative in a minor country.

ORIGIN: French, 'a person in charge of affairs' .

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charger

noun
1. a device for charging a battery.
2. a horse ridden by a knight or cavalryman.

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chargrill

verb
grill (food, typically meat or fish) quickly at a very high heat.

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chariot

noun
a two-wheeled vehicle drawn by horses, used in ancient warfare and racing.

DERIVATIVES:
charioteer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from char 'cart' from Latin carrus 'wheeled vehicle' .

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charisma

noun
1. compelling attractiveness or charm.
2. (pl. charismata) Christian Theology a divinely conferred talent.

ORIGIN: Greek kharisma, from kharis 'favour, grace' .

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charismatic

adjective
1. having charisma.
2. relating to a movement within certain Christian Churches that emphasizes the inspirational power of the Holy Spirit.

noun
an adherent of the charismatic movement.

DERIVATIVES:
charismatically adverb.

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charitable

adjective
1. relating to the assistance of those in need.
2. tolerant in judging others.

DERIVATIVES:
charitably adverb.

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charity

noun (pl. charities)
1. an organization set up to help those in need.
2. the voluntary giving of money or other help to those in need.
3. help or money given in this way.
4. tolerance in judging others.

IDIOMS -
charity begins at home proverb a person's first responsibility is for the needs of their own family and friends.

ORIGIN: Latin caritas, from carus 'dear' .

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charlatan

noun
a person falsely claiming to have a certain expertise.

DERIVATIVES:
charlatanism noun
charlatanry noun.

ORIGIN: Italian ciarlatano, from ciarlare 'to babble' .

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charleston

noun
a lively dance of the 1920s which involved turning the knees inwards and kicking out the lower legs.

ORIGIN: named after the city of Charleston in South Carolina, US.

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charlie

noun (pl. charlies) informal
1. Brit. a fool.
2. cocaine.

ORIGIN: from the male given name Charles.

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charm

noun
1. the power or quality of delighting or fascinating others.
2. a small ornament worn on a necklace or bracelet.
3. an object, act, or saying believed to have magic power.

verb
1. delight greatly.
2. use one's charm in order to influence someone.

DERIVATIVES:
charmer noun
charmless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French charme, from Latin carmen 'song, verse, incantation' .

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charming

adjective
1. delightful; attractive.
2. very polite, friendly, and likeable.

exclamation
used as an ironic expression of displeasure.

DERIVATIVES:
charmingly adverb.

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charnel house

noun historical
a building or vault in which corpses or bones were piled.

ORIGIN: from Latin carnalis 'relating to flesh' .

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charr (also char)

noun (pl. same)
a trout-like northern freshwater or marine fish.

ORIGIN: perhaps Celtic.

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chart

noun
1. a sheet of information in the form of a table, graph, or diagram.
2. a geographical map, especially one used for navigation by sea or air.
3. (the charts) a weekly listing of the current best-selling pop records.

verb
1. make a map of.
2. plot or record on a chart.

ORIGIN: Latin charta, from Greek kharts 'papyrus leaf' .

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charter

noun
1. a written grant by a sovereign or legislature, by which a body such as a university is created or its rights defined.
2. a written constitution or description of an organization's functions.
3. (in the UK) a written statement of the rights of a specified group of people.
4. the hiring of an aircraft, ship, or motor vehicle.

verb
1. grant a charter to (a city, university, etc.).
2. hire (an aircraft, ship, or motor vehicle).

DERIVATIVES:
charterer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin chartula, from charta 'paper' .

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chartered

adjective Brit.
(of an accountant, engineer, etc.) qualified as a member of a professional body that has a royal charter.

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charter flight

noun
a flight by an aircraft chartered for a specific journey, not part of an airline's regular schedule.

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Chartism

noun
a UK parliamentary reform movement of 1837 48, the principles of which were set out in a manifesto called The People's Charter.

DERIVATIVES:
Chartist noun & adjective.

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chartreuse

noun
a pale green or yellow liqueur made from brandy.

ORIGIN: named after La Grande Chartreuse, the Carthusian monastery near Grenoble where the liqueur was first made.

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charwoman

noun Brit. dated
a woman employed as a cleaner in a house or office.

ORIGIN: from obsolete char or chare «a chore».

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chary

adjective (charier, chariest)
cautiously reluctant: leaders are chary of reform.

ORIGIN: Old English, «sorrowful, anxious».

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chase [1]

verb
1. pursue in order to catch.
2. rush or cause to go in a specified direction.
3. try to obtain (something owed or required).

noun
1. an act of chasing.
2. (the chase) hunting as a sport.

IDIOMS -
give chase go in pursuit.

ORIGIN: Old French chacier, from Latin captare 'continue to take' .

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chase [2]

verb
engrave (metal, or a design on metal).

ORIGIN: apparently from earlier enchase, from Old French enchasser 'enclose' .

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chaser

noun
1. a person or thing that chases.
2. a horse for steeplechasing.
3. informal a strong alcoholic drink taken after a weaker one.

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chasm

noun
1. a deep fissure.
2. a profound difference between people, viewpoints, feelings, etc.

ORIGIN: Greek khasma 'gaping hollow' .

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chassis

noun (pl. same )
1. the base frame of a motor vehicle or other wheeled conveyance.
2. the outer structural framework of a piece of audio, radio, or computer equipment.

ORIGIN: French, 'frame' .

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chaste

adjective
1. abstaining from extramarital, or from all, sexual intercourse.
2. without unnecessary ornamentation.

ORIGIN: Latin castus 'morally pure' .

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chasten

verb
(of a reproof or misfortune) have a restraining or demoralizing effect on.

ORIGIN: Old French chastier, from Latin castigare 'castigate' .

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chastise

verb
reprimand severely.

DERIVATIVES:
chastisement noun
chastiser noun.

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chastity

noun
the practice of refraining from sexual intercourse.

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chasuble

noun
a sleeveless outer vestment worn by a priest when celebrating Mass.

ORIGIN: Latin casubla, from casula 'hooded cloak or little cottage' .

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chat

verb (chatted, chatting)
1. talk in an informal way.
2. (chat up) informal engage in flirtatious conversation.

noun
an informal conversation.

ORIGIN: shortening of CHATTER.

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chateau

noun (pl. chateaux)
a large French country house or castle.

ORIGIN: French.

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chatelaine

noun dated
a woman in charge of a large house.

ORIGIN: French, from châtelain 'castellan' .

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chatline

noun
a telephone service which allows conversation among a number of separate callers.

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chat room

noun
an area on the Internet or other computer network where users can communicate.

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chat show

noun Brit.
a television or radio programme in which celebrities are invited to talk informally.

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chattel

noun
a personal possession.

ORIGIN: Old French chatel, from Latin caput 'head' .

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chatter

verb
1. talk at length about trivial matters.
2. (of a person's teeth) click repeatedly together from cold or fear.

noun
1. incessant trivial talk.
2. a series of short quick high-pitched sounds.

IDIOMS -
the chattering classes derogatory educated people considered as a social group given to liberal opinions.

DERIVATIVES:
chatterer noun.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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chatterbox

noun informal
a person who chatters.

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chatty

adjective (chattier, chattiest)
1. fond of chatting.
2. (of a conversation, letter, etc.) informal and lively.

DERIVATIVES:
chattily adverb
chattiness noun.

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chauffeur

noun
a person employed to drive a car.

verb
drive (a car or a passenger in a car) as a chauffeur.

ORIGIN: French, 'stoker' (by association with steam engines).

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chauvinism

noun
1. exaggerated or aggressive patriotism.
2. excessive or prejudiced support for one's own cause, group, or sex.

ORIGIN: named after Nicolas Chauvin, a Napoleonic veteran noted for his extreme patriotism.

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chauvinist

noun
a person displaying excessive or prejudiced support for their own country, cause, group, or sex.

adjective
relating to such excessive or prejudiced support.

DERIVATIVES:
chauvinistic adjective.

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cheap

adjective
1. low in price.
2. charging low prices.
3. inexpensive because of poor quality.
4. of little worth because achieved in a discreditable way.
5. N. Amer. informal miserly.

adverb
at or for a low price.

DERIVATIVES:
cheapish adjective
cheaply adverb
cheapness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English «bargaining, trade», from Latin caupo 'small trader, innkeeper' .

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cheapen

verb
1. lower the price of.
2. degrade the worth of.

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cheapskate

noun informal
a miserly person.

ORIGIN: from skate «a disreputable or contemptible person».

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cheat

verb
1. act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage.
2. deprive of something by deceitful or unfair means.
3. avoid (something undesirable) by luck or skill: she cheated death in a spectacular crash.

noun
1. a person who cheats.
2. an act of cheating.

ORIGIN: shortening of ESCHEAT.

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check [1]

verb
1. examine the accuracy, quality, or condition of.
2. stop or slow the progress of.
3. Chess move a piece or pawn to a square where it directly attacks (the opposing king).

noun
1. an examination to check accuracy, quality, or condition.
2. an act of checking progress.
3. a means of control or restraint.
4. Chess an act of checking the opposing king.
5. N. Amer. the bill in a restaurant.
6. (also check mark) N. Amer. a mark () used to indicate that an item in a text is correct or has been chosen or checked.

IDIOMS -
check in
1. register at a hotel or airport.
2. have (one's baggage) weighed and put into the hold of an aircraft.
check out
1. settle one's hotel bill before leaving.
2. establish the truth of or inform oneself about.
check up on investigate.
in check
1. under control.
2. Chess (of a king) directly attacked by an opponent's piece or pawn.

DERIVATIVES:
checkable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French eschequier 'play chess, put in check' , ultimately from a Persian word meaning 'king' .

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check [2]

noun
a pattern of small squares.

adjective (also checked)
having such a pattern.

ORIGIN: probably from CHEQUER.

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check [3] (Brit. cheque)

noun
a written order to a bank to pay a stated sum from an account to a specified person.

ORIGIN: variant of CHECK, in the sense «device for checking the amount of an item».

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checker

noun
1. a person or thing that checks.
2. US a cashier in a supermarket.

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checklist

noun
a list of items required or things to be done or considered.

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checkmate

noun
1. Chess a position of check from which a king cannot escape.
2. a final defeat or deadlock.

verb
1. Chess put into checkmate.
2. defeat or frustrate totally.

ORIGIN: from Persian, 'the king is dead' .

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checkout

noun
a point at which goods are paid for in a supermarket or similar store.

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checkpoint

noun
a barrier where security checks are carried out on travellers.

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check-up

noun
a thorough medical or dental examination to detect any problems.

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Cheddar

noun
a kind of firm smooth cheese originally made in Cheddar in SW England.

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cheek

noun
1. either side of the face below the eye.
2. either of the buttocks.
3. impertinence; audacity.

verb
speak impertinently to.

IDIOMS -
cheek by jowl close together.
turn the other cheek refrain from retaliating after an attack or insult. [ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5.]

ORIGIN: Old English.

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cheekbone

noun
the bone below the eye.

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cheeky

adjective (cheekier, cheekiest)
impudent or irreverent.

DERIVATIVES:
cheekily adverb
cheekiness noun.

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cheep

noun
1. a shrill squeaky cry made by a young bird.
2. informal the slightest sound: there hasn't been a cheep from anybody.

verb
make a cheep.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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cheer

verb
1. shout for joy or in praise or encouragement.
2. praise or encourage with shouts.
3. (cheer up) make or become less miserable.
4. give comfort or support to.

noun
1. a shout of joy, encouragement, or praise.
2. (also good cheer) cheerfulness; optimism.
3. food and drink provided for a festive occasion.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «face», later «expression, mood»: from Old French chiere 'face' , from Greek kara 'head' .

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cheerful

adjective
1. noticeably happy and optimistic.
2. bright and pleasant: a cheerful room.

DERIVATIVES:
cheerfully adverb
cheerfulness noun.

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cheerio

exclamation Brit. informal
goodbye.

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cheerleader

noun
(in North America) a girl belonging to a group that performs organized chanting and dancing in support of a team at sporting events.

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cheerless

adjective
gloomy; depressing.

DERIVATIVES:
cheerlessly adverb
cheerlessness noun.

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cheers

exclamation informal
1. expressing good wishes before drinking.
2. chiefly Brit. said to express gratitude or on parting.

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cheery

adjective (cheerier, cheeriest)
happy and optimistic.

DERIVATIVES:
cheerily adverb
cheeriness noun.

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cheese [1]

noun
a food made from the pressed curds of milk, having a texture either firm and elastic or soft and semi-liquid.

IDIOMS -
hard cheese Brit. informal, dated used to express sympathy over a petty matter.

ORIGIN: Latin caseus.

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cheese [2]

verb (usu. be cheesed off) Brit. informal
exasperate, frustrate, or bore.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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cheesecake

noun
1. a rich sweet tart made with cream and soft cheese on a biscuit base.
2. informal images portraying women according to a stereotyped ideal of sexual attractiveness.

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cheesecloth

noun
thin, loosely woven cotton cloth.

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cheese-paring

noun
excessive care with money; parsimony.

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cheesy

adjective (cheesier, cheesiest)
1. like cheese in taste, smell, or consistency.
2. informal cheap or blatantly artificial.

DERIVATIVES:
cheesiness noun.

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cheetah

noun
a large swift-running spotted cat found in Africa and parts of Asia.

ORIGIN: Hindi.

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chef

noun
a professional cook, especially the chief cook in a restaurant or hotel.

ORIGIN: French, 'head' .

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chemical

adjective
relating to chemistry or chemicals.

noun
a distinct compound or substance, especially one which has been artificially prepared or purified.

DERIVATIVES:
chemically adverb.

ORIGIN: French chimique, from Latin alchimia 'alchemy' .

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chemical engineering

noun
the branch of engineering concerned with the design and operation of industrial chemical plants.

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chemise

noun
1. a dress hanging straight from the shoulders, popular in the 1920s.
2. a woman's loose-fitting undergarment or nightdress.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin camisia 'shirt or nightgown' .

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chemist

noun
1. Brit. a person who is authorized to dispense medicinal drugs.
2. Brit. a shop where medicinal drugs are dispensed and toiletries and other medical goods are sold.
3. a person engaged in chemical research or experiments.

ORIGIN: Latin alchimista 'alchemist' .

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chemistry

noun (pl. chemistries)
1. the branch of science concerned with the properties and interactions of the substances of which matter is composed.
2. the chemical properties of a substance or body.
3. attraction or interaction between two people.

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chemotherapy

noun
the treatment of disease, especially cancer, by the use of chemical substances.

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chenille

noun
fabric made from a tufted velvety yarn, typically used for furnishings or clothing.

ORIGIN: French, 'hairy caterpillar' , from Latin canicula 'small dog' .

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cheque (US check)

noun
a written order to a bank to pay a stated sum from an account to a specified person.

ORIGIN: variant of CHECK, in the sense «device for checking the amount of an item».

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cheque card

noun Brit.
a card issued by a bank to guarantee the honouring of cheques up to a stated amount.

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chequer (US checker)

noun
1. (chequers) a pattern of alternately coloured squares.
2. (checkers) (treated as sing. ) N. Amer. the game of draughts.

verb
1. (be chequered) be divided into or marked with chequers.
2. (chequered) marked by periods of fluctuating fortune.

ORIGIN: from EXCHEQUER, originally in the sense «chessboard».

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cherish

verb
1. protect and care for lovingly.
2. have (a hope or ambition) over a long period.

ORIGIN: Old French cherir, from cher 'dear' .

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Cherokee

noun (pl. same or Cherokees)
a member of an American Indian people formerly inhabiting much of the southern US.

ORIGIN: the Cherokees' name for themselves.

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cheroot

noun
a cigar with both ends open.

ORIGIN: French cheroute, from a Tamil word meaning 'roll of tobacco' .

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cherry

noun (pl. cherries)
1. the small, round bright or dark red stone fruit of a tree of the rose family.
2. a bright deep red colour.
3. (one's cherry) informal one's virginity.

IDIOMS -
a bite at the cherry an attempt or opportunity.
a bowl of cherries a very pleasant situation: life is no bowl of cherries.
the cherry on the cake a desirable thing providing the finishing touch to something already good.

ORIGIN: Old French cherise, from Greek kerasos.

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cherry-pick

verb
selectively choose (the best things or people) from those available.

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cherry tomato

noun
a miniature tomato with a strong flavour.

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cherub

noun
1. (pl. cherubim or cherubs) a winged angelic being represented as a chubby child with wings.
2. (pl. cherubs) a beautiful or innocent-looking child.

DERIVATIVES:
cherubic adjective
cherubically adverb.

ORIGIN: Hebrew.

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chervil

noun
a plant with delicate fern-like leaves which are used as a culinary herb.

ORIGIN: Greek khairephullon.

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Ches.

abbreviation
Cheshire.

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Cheshire

noun
a kind of firm crumbly cheese, originally made in Cheshire.

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chess

noun
a board game for two players, the object of which is to put the opponent's king under a direct attack, leading to checkmate.

ORIGIN: from Old French esches plural of eschec 'a check' , from a Persian word meaning 'king' .

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chessboard

noun
a square board divided into sixty-four alternating dark and light squares, used for playing chess or draughts.

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chest

noun
1. the front surface of a person's body between the neck and the stomach.
2. the circumference of a person's upper body.
3. a large strong box for storage or transport.
4. Brit. the treasury or financial resources of an institution.

IDIOMS -
get something off one's chest informal say something that one has wanted to say for a long time.
keep (or play) one's cards close to one's chest informal be extremely secretive about one's intentions.

DERIVATIVES:
chested adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek kist 'box' .

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chesterfield

noun
1. a sofa having padded arms and back of the same height and curved outwards at the top.
2. a man's plain straight overcoat, typically with a velvet collar.

ORIGIN: named after a 19th-century Earl of Chesterfield.

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chestnut

noun
1. a glossy hard brown nut which develops within a bristly case and can be roasted and eaten.
2. (also sweet chestnut or Spanish chestnut) the large tree that produces these nuts.
3. a deep reddish-brown colour.
4. a horse of a reddish-brown or yellowish-brown colour.
5. (usu. old chestnut) a joke, story, or subject that has become uninteresting through constant repetition.

ORIGIN: from Greek kastanea + NUT.

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chest of drawers

noun
a piece of furniture consisting of an upright frame into which drawers are fitted.

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chesty

adjective informal
1. Brit. having a lot of catarrh in the lungs.
2. (of a woman) having large or prominent breasts.

DERIVATIVES:
chestiness noun.

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chevalier

noun
1. historical a knight.
2. a member of certain orders of knighthood or of modern French orders such as the Legion of Honour.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin caballus 'horse' .

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chevron

noun
1. a V-shaped line or stripe, especially one on the sleeve of a uniform indicating rank or length of service.
2. Heraldry a broad inverted V-shape.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin caper 'goat' .

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chew

verb
1. bite and work (food) in the mouth to make it easier to swallow.
2. (chew over) discuss or consider at length.
3. (chew out) N. Amer. informal reprimand severely.

noun
1. an instance of chewing.
2. a thing, especially a sweet, for chewing.

IDIOMS -
chew the fat (or rag) informal chat in a leisurely way.

DERIVATIVES:
chewable adjective
chewer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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chewing gum

noun
flavoured gum for chewing.

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chewy

adjective
suitable for chewing, or requiring much chewing.

DERIVATIVES:
chewiness noun.

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Chianti

noun (pl. Chiantis)
a dry red Italian wine produced in Tuscany.

ORIGIN: named after the Chianti Mountains, Italy.

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chiaroscuro

noun
the treatment of light and shade in drawing and painting.

ORIGIN: Italian, from chiaro 'clear, bright' + oscuro 'dark, obscure' .

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chic

adjective (chicer, chicest)
elegantly and stylishly fashionable.

noun
stylishness and elegance.

DERIVATIVES:
chicly adverb.

ORIGIN: French.

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chicane

noun
1. a sharp double bend created to form an obstacle on a motor-racing track.
2. archaic chicanery.

ORIGIN: from French chicaner 'quibble' .

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chicanery

noun
the use of trickery to achieve one's purpose.

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chick

noun
1. a young bird, especially one newly hatched.
2. informal a young woman.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of CHICKEN.

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chicken

noun
1. a domestic fowl kept for its eggs or meat, especially a young one.
2. a coward.
3. informal a game in which the first person to lose their nerve and withdraw from a dangerous situation is the loser.

adjective informal
cowardly.

verb (chicken out) informal
be too scared to do something.

IDIOMS -
chicken-and-egg (of a situation) in which each of two things appears to be necessary to the other. [ORIGIN: from the question ‘What came first, the chicken or the egg?’]
like a headless chicken informal frenziedly.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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chicken feed

noun informal
a paltry sum of money.

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chickenpox

noun
an infectious disease causing a mild fever and a rash of itchy inflamed pimples; varicella.

ORIGIN: probably so named because of its mildness, as compared to smallpox.

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chickpea

noun
a round yellowish seed which is a pulse of major importance as food.

ORIGIN: from Latin cicer 'chickpea' .

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chickweed

noun
a small white-flowered plant, often growing as a garden weed.

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chicory

noun (pl. chicories)
1. a blue-flowered plant with edible leaves and a root which is used as an additive to or substitute for coffee.
2. N. Amer. a plant with bitter curly or smooth leaves, eaten in salads.

ORIGIN: Greek kikhorion.

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chide

verb (past chided or chid; past part. chided or archaic chidden)
scold or rebuke.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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chief

noun
1. a leader or ruler of a people.
2. the head of an organization.

adjective
1. having the highest rank or authority.
2. most important: the chief reason.

DERIVATIVES:
chiefdom noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin caput 'head' .

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chief constable

noun Brit.
the head of the police force of a county or other region.

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chiefly

adverb
mainly; mostly.

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chief of staff

noun
the senior staff officer of a service or command.

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chieftain

noun
the leader of a people or clan.

DERIVATIVES:
chieftaincy noun (pl. chieftaincies)
chieftainship noun.

ORIGIN: Old French chevetaine, from Latin capitaneus 'chief' .

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chiffchaff

noun
a common warbler with drab plumage and a repetitive call.

ORIGIN: imitative of its call.

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chiffon

noun
a light, transparent fabric of silk or nylon.

ORIGIN: French, from chiffe 'rag' .

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chignon

noun
a knot or coil of hair arranged on the back of a woman's head.

ORIGIN: French, 'nape of the neck' .

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chihuahua

noun
a very small breed of dog with smooth hair and large eyes.

ORIGIN: named after Chihuahua in northern Mexico.

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chilblain

noun
a painful, itching swelling on a hand or foot caused by poor circulation in the skin when exposed to cold.

ORIGIN: from CHILL + archaic blain, from an Old English word meaning «inflamed swelling or sore».

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child

noun (pl. children)
1. a young human being below the age of full physical development.
2. a son or daughter of any age.
3. derogatory an immature or irresponsible person.
4. (children) archaic the descendants of a family or people.

IDIOMS -
child's play a task which is easily accomplished.
with child archaic pregnant.

DERIVATIVES:
childless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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childbirth

noun
the action of giving birth to a child.

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childhood

noun
the state or period of being a child.

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childish

adjective
1. of, like, or appropriate to a child.
2. silly and immature.

DERIVATIVES:
childishly adverb
childishness noun.

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childlike

adjective
(of an adult) having the good qualities, such as innocence, associated with a child.

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childminder

noun Brit.
a person who looks after children in their own house for payment.

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chill

noun
1. an unpleasant feeling of coldness.
2. a feverish cold.

verb
1. make cold.
2. horrify or frighten.
3. (usu. chill out) informal calm down and relax.

adjective
chilly.

DERIVATIVES:
chilling adjective
chillness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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chiller

noun
1. a cold cabinet or refrigerator for keeping stored food a few degrees above freezing point.
2. short for spine-chiller.

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chilli (also chilli pepper, chile, US chili)

noun (pl. chillies, chiles, or US chilies)
1. a small hot-tasting pod of a variety of capsicum, used in sauces, relishes, and spice powders.
2. chilli powder or chilli con carne.

ORIGIN: Nahuatl.

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chilli con carne

noun
a stew of minced beef and beans flavoured with chilli.

ORIGIN: Spanish chile con carne 'chilli pepper with meat' .

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chilly

adjective (chillier, chilliest)
1. unpleasantly cold.
2. unfriendly.

DERIVATIVES:
chilliness noun.

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chime

noun
1. a melodious ringing sound.
2. a bell or a metal bar or tube used in a set to produce chimes when struck.

verb
1. (of a bell or clock) make a melodious ringing sound.
2. (chime in with) be in agreement with.
3. (chime in) interject a remark.

ORIGIN: probably from CYMBAL (interpreted as chime bell).

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chimera (also chimaera)

noun
1. Greek Mythology a fire-breathing female monster with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail.
2. something hoped for but illusory or impossible to achieve.
3. Biology an organism containing a mixture of genetically different tissues.

ORIGIN: Greek khimaira 'she-goat or chimera' .

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chimerical

adjective
1. like a mythical chimera.
2. illusory or impossible to achieve.

DERIVATIVES:
chimerically adverb.

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chimney

noun (pl. chimneys)
1. a vertical pipe which conducts smoke and gases up from a fire or furnace.
2. a glass tube protecting the flame of a lamp.
3. a very steep narrow cleft by which a rock face may be climbed.

ORIGIN: Old French cheminee, from Greek kaminos 'oven' .

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chimney breast

noun
a part of an interior wall that projects to surround a chimney.

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chimney pot

noun
an earthenware or metal pipe at the top of a chimney.

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chimney stack

noun
the part of a chimney that projects above a roof.

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chimpanzee

noun
an anthropoid ape native to west and central Africa.

ORIGIN: Kikongo (a language of the Congo and surrounding areas).

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chin

noun
the protruding part of the face below the mouth.

verb informal
hit or punch on the chin.

IDIOMS -
keep one's chin up informal remain cheerful in difficult circumstances.
take it on the chin informal accept misfortune stoically.

DERIVATIVES:
chinned adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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china

noun
1. a fine white or translucent ceramic material.
2. household objects made from china.
3. Brit. informal a friend. [ORIGIN: from rhyming slang china plate «mate».]

ORIGIN: from Persian, 'relating to China' .

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chinchilla

noun
1. a small South American rodent with soft grey fur and a long bushy tail.
2. a breed of cat or rabbit with silver-grey or grey fur.

ORIGIN: Aymara or Quechua (South American Indian languages).

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chine

noun
1. the backbone of an animal, or a joint of meat containing part of it.
2. a mountain ridge.

ORIGIN: Old French eschine, from Latin spina 'spine' .

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Chinese

noun (pl. same)
1. the language of China.
2. a person from China.

adjective
relating to China.

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Chinese leaves (also Chinese cabbage)

plural noun
an oriental variety of cabbage which does not form a firm heart.

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Chinese whispers

plural noun (treated as sing. )
a game in which a message is distorted by being passed around in a whisper.

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Chink (also Chinky)

noun informal, offensive
a Chinese person.

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chink [1]

noun
1. a narrow opening or crack.
2. a beam of light admitted by a chink.

ORIGIN: Old English

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chink [2]

verb
make a light, high-pitched ringing sound, as of glasses or coins striking together.

noun
a high-pitched ringing sound.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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chinless

adjective
1. lacking a well-defined chin.
2. informal lacking strength of character.

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chino

noun
1. a cotton twill fabric.
2. (chinos) casual trousers made from such fabric.

ORIGIN: Latin American Spanish, 'toasted' (referring to the typical khaki colour).

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chinoiserie

noun
1. the use of Chinese motifs and techniques in Western art, furniture, and architecture.
2. objects or decorations in this style.

ORIGIN: French, from chinois 'Chinese' .

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chintz

noun
printed multicoloured cotton fabric with a glazed finish, used for curtains and upholstery.

ORIGIN: Hindi, 'spattering, stain' .

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chintzy

adjective (chintzier, chintziest)
1. decorated with or resembling chintz.
2. colourful but fussy and tasteless.

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chinwag

noun Brit. informal
a chat.

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chip

noun
1. a small, thin piece removed in the course of cutting or breaking a hard material.
2. a blemish left by the removal of such a piece.
3. chiefly Brit. a long rectangular piece of deep-fried potato.
4. (also potato chip) chiefly N. Amer. a potato crisp.
5. a microchip.
6. a counter used in certain gambling games to represent money.
7. (in football or golf) a short lofted kick or shot.

verb (chipped, chipping)
1. cut or break (a chip) from a hard material.
2. break at the edge or on the surface.
3. (chip away) gradually and relentlessly make something smaller or weaker.
4. (in football or golf) strike (the ball) to produce a short lofted shot or pass.
5. (chipped) Brit. (of potatoes) cut into chips.

IDIOMS -
chip in
1. contribute one's share of a joint activity.
2. Brit. informal make an interjection.
a chip off the old block informal someone who resembles their parent in character.
a chip on one's shoulder informal a deeply ingrained grievance.
have had one's chips Brit. informal be dead or out of contention.
when the chips are down informal when a very serious situation arises.

ORIGIN: from an Old English word meaning «cut off».

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chipboard

noun
material made from compressed wood chips and resin.

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chipmunk

noun
a burrowing ground squirrel with light and dark stripes running down the body.

ORIGIN: Ojibwa (an American Indian language).

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chipolata

noun Brit.
a small thin sausage.

ORIGIN: Italian cipollata 'dish of onions' .

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chipper

adjective informal
cheerful and lively.

ORIGIN: perhaps from northern English dialect kipper «lively».

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chipping

noun Brit.
a small fragment of stone, wood, or similar material.

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chippy informal

noun (also chippie) (pl. chippies)
1. Brit. a fish-and-chip shop.
2. Brit. a carpenter.
3. N. Amer. a prostitute.

adjective
touchy and irritable.

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chiropody

noun
the treatment of the feet and their ailments.

DERIVATIVES:
chiropodist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek kheir 'hand' + pous 'foot' .

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chiropractic

noun
a system of complementary medicine based on the manipulative treatment of misalignments of the joints, especially those of the spinal column.

DERIVATIVES:
chiropractor noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek kheir 'hand' + praktikos 'practical' .

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chirp

verb
1. (of a small bird or a grasshopper) utter a short, sharp, high-pitched sound.
2. say something in a lively and cheerful way.

noun
a chirping sound.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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chirpy

adjective (chirpier, chirpiest) informal
cheerful and lively.

DERIVATIVES:
chirpily adverb
chirpiness noun.

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chisel

noun
a long-bladed hand tool with a bevelled cutting edge, used to cut or shape wood, stone, or metal.

verb (chiselled, chiselling; US chiseled, chiseling)
1. cut or shape with a chisel.
2. (chiselled) (of a man's facial features) strongly defined.
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. cheat or swindle.

DERIVATIVES:
chiseller noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin caedere 'to cut' .

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chit [1]

noun derogatory
an impudent or arrogant young woman.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «whelp, cub, or kitten»: perhaps related to dialect chit «sprout».

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chit [2]

noun
a short official note recording a sum owed.

ORIGIN: Hindi, 'note, pass' .

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chit-chat informal

noun
inconsequential conversation.

verb
talk about trivial matters.

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chitin

noun Biochemistry
a fibrous substance which forms the exoskeleton of arthropods and the cell walls of fungi.

DERIVATIVES:
chitinous adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek khitn (see CHITON).

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chivalrous

adjective
1. (of a man) courteous and gallant, especially towards women.
2. relating to the historical notion of chivalry.

DERIVATIVES:
chivalrously adverb.

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chivalry

noun
1. the medieval knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code.
2. the combination of qualities expected of an ideal knight, especially courage, honour, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help the weak.
3. courteous behaviour, especially that of a man towards women.

DERIVATIVES:
chivalric adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French chevalerie, from Latin caballarius 'horseman' .

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chives

plural noun
a small plant with long tubular leaves used as a culinary herb.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin cepa 'onion' .

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chivvy (also chivy)

verb (chivvies, chivvied)
tell (someone) repeatedly to do something.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «a hunting cry»: probably from the ballad Chevy Chase, celebrating a skirmish on the Scottish border.

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chloral

noun Chemistry
a viscous liquid used as a sedative in the form of a crystalline derivative (chloral hydrate).

ORIGIN: French, blend of chlore 'chlorine' and alcool 'alcohol' .

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chlorate

noun Chemistry
a salt containing the anion ClO_3-.

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chloride

noun
a compound of chlorine with another element or group.

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chlorinate

verb
impregnate or treat with chlorine.

DERIVATIVES:
chlorination noun.

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chlorine

noun
a poisonous, irritant, pale green gaseous chemical element.

ORIGIN: from Greek khlros 'green' .

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chloroform

noun
a sweet-smelling liquid used as a solvent and formerly as a general anaesthetic.

verb
make unconscious with this substance.

ORIGIN: from CHLORINE + FORMIC ACID.

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chlorophyll

noun
a green pigment which is responsible for the absorption of light by plants to provide energy for photosynthesis.

ORIGIN: from Greek khlros 'green' + phullon 'leaf' .

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chloroplast

noun
a structure in green plant cells which contains chlorophyll and in which photosynthesis takes place.

ORIGIN: from Greek khlros 'green' + plastos 'formed' .

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choc ice

noun Brit.
a small bar of ice cream with a thin coating of chocolate.

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chock

noun
1. a wedge or block placed against a wheel to prevent it from moving.
2. a ring with a gap at the top, through which a rope or line is run.

ORIGIN: Old French çoche 'block, log' .

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chock-a-block

adjective informal
crammed full.

ORIGIN: originally in nautical use, with reference to blocks in tackle running close together.

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chock-full

adjective informal
filled to overflowing.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin; later associated with CHOCK.

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chocoholic (also chocaholic)

noun informal
a person who is very fond of chocolate.

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chocolate

noun
1. a food made from roasted and ground cacao seeds, typically sweetened and eaten as confectionery.
2. a sweet covered with chocolate.
3. a drink made by mixing milk or water with chocolate.
4. a deep brown colour.

DERIVATIVES:
chocolatey (also chocolaty) adjective.

ORIGIN: Nahuatl.

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chocolate-box

adjective
(of a view or picture) pretty in a trite, conventional way.

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choice

noun
1. an act of choosing.
2. the right or ability to choose.
3. a range from which to choose.
4. something chosen.

adjective
1. of very good quality.
2. (of language) rude and abusive.

ORIGIN: from Old French chois, from choisir 'choose' .

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choir

noun
1. an organized group of singers, especially one that takes part in church services.
2. the part of a large church between the altar and the nave, used by the choir and clergy.

ORIGIN: Old French quer, from Latin chorus (see CHORUS).

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choirboy (or choirgirl)

noun
a boy (or girl) who sings in a church or cathedral choir.

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choke

verb
1. prevent (someone) from breathing by constricting or obstructing the throat or depriving of air.
2. have trouble breathing.
3. (often be choked with) fill (a space) so as to hinder movement.
4. make speechless with strong emotion.

noun
1. a valve in the carburettor of a petrol engine used to reduce the amount of air in the fuel mixture.
2. an inductance coil used to smooth the variations of an alternating current or to alter its phase.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to CHEEK.

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choker

noun
1. a close-fitting necklace or ornamental neckband.
2. a clerical or other high collar.

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cholecalciferol

noun Biochemistry
a form of vitamin D (vitamin D_3), produced naturally in the skin by the action of sunlight.

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cholera

noun
an infectious disease of the small intestine, typically contracted from infected water and causing severe vomiting and diarrhoea.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'diarrhoea, bile' .

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choleric

adjective
bad-tempered or irritable.

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cholesterol

noun
a compound of the steroid type which occurs normally in most body tissues and is believed to promote atherosclerosis if present in high concentrations in the blood (e.g. as a result of a diet high in animal fat).

ORIGIN: from Greek khol 'bile' + stereos 'stiff' .

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chomp

verb
munch or chew noisily or vigorously.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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choose

verb (past chose; past part. chosen)
1. pick out as being the best of two or more alternatives.
2. decide on a course of action.

DERIVATIVES:
chooser noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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choosy

adjective (choosier, choosiest) informal
excessively fastidious in making a choice.

DERIVATIVES:
choosiness noun.

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chop [1]

verb (chopped, chopping)
1. cut with repeated sharp, heavy blows of an axe or knife.
2. strike with a short, heavy blow.
3. ruthlessly abolish or reduce in size.

noun
1. a downward cutting blow or movement.
2. (the chop) Brit. informal dismissal, cancellation, or killing.
3. a thick slice of meat, especially pork or lamb, adjacent to and usually including a rib.

IDIOMS -
chop logic argue in a tiresomely pedantic way. [ORIGIN: from a dialect use of chop meaning «bandy words».]

ORIGIN: variant of CHAP.

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chop [2]

verb (chopped, chopping) (in phrase chop and change) Brit. informal
repeatedly change one's opinions or behaviour.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «barter, exchange», related to CHAPMAN.

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chop-chop

adverb & exclamation
quickly.

ORIGIN: pidgin English, from Chinese dialect; related to CHOPSTICK.

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chopper

noun
1. Brit. a short axe with a large blade.
2. (choppers) informal teeth.
3. informal a helicopter.
4. informal a type of motorcycle with high handlebars.
5. vulgar slang a man's penis.

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choppy

adjective
(of the sea) having many small waves.

DERIVATIVES:
choppiness noun.

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chops

plural noun informal
1. a person's or animal's mouth, jaws, or cheeks.
2. the technical skill of a jazz or rock musician.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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chopstick

noun
each of a pair of small, thin, tapered sticks held in one hand and used as eating utensils by the Chinese and Japanese.

ORIGIN: pidgin English, from a Chinese dialect word meaning 'nimble ones' .

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chop suey

noun
a Chinese-style dish of meat with bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, and onions.

ORIGIN: Chinese, 'mixed bits' .

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choral

adjective
of, for, or sung by a choir or chorus.

DERIVATIVES:
chorally adverb.

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chorale

noun
1. a simple, stately hymn tune, or a composition consisting of a harmonized version of one.
2. chiefly US a choir or choral society.

ORIGIN: from Latin cantus choralis.

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chord [1]

noun
a group of three or more notes sounded together in harmony.

DERIVATIVES:
chordal adjective.

ORIGIN: from ACCORD; the spelling was influenced by CHORD.

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chord [2]

noun
1. a straight line joining the ends of an arc.
2. the width of an aircraft's wing from leading to trailing edge.
3. Engineering each of the two principal members of a truss.
4. Anatomy variant spelling of CORD.

IDIOMS -
strike (or touch) a chord affect or stir someone's emotions.

ORIGIN: a later spelling (influenced by Latin chorda 'rope' ) of CORD.

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chore

noun
a routine or tedious task, especially a household one.

ORIGIN: variant of obsolete char or chare (see CHARWOMAN).

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choreograph

verb
compose the sequence of steps and moves for (a dance performance).

DERIVATIVES:
choreographer noun.

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choreography

noun
1. the sequence of steps and movements in dance.
2. the practice of designing such sequences.

DERIVATIVES:
choreographic adjective
choreographically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek khoreia 'dancing in unison' , from khoros 'chorus' .

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chorister

noun
1. a member of a choir, especially a choirboy or choirgirl.
2. US a person who leads the singing of a church choir or congregation.

ORIGIN: Old French cueriste, from quer (see CHOIR).

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chortle

verb
laugh in a breathy, gleeful way.

noun
a breathy, gleeful laugh.

ORIGIN: coined by Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking Glass; probably a blend of CHUCKLE and SNORT.

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chorus

noun (pl. choruses)
1. a part of a song which is repeated after each verse.
2. something said at the same time by many people.
3. a large group of singers, especially one performing with an orchestra.
4. a piece of choral music, especially one forming part of an opera or oratorio.
5. (in ancient Greek tragedy) a group of performers who comment on the main action.

verb (chorused, chorusing)
(of a group of people) say the same thing at the same time.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek khoros.

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chorus girl

noun
a young woman who sings or dances in the chorus of a musical.

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chough

noun
a black bird of the crow family with a red or yellow downcurved bill.

ORIGIN: probably from the sound of the bird's call.

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choux pastry

noun
very light pastry made with egg, used for eclairs and profiteroles.

ORIGIN: French, from chou 'cabbage, rosette' .

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chow

noun
1. informal, chiefly N. Amer. food.
2. (also chow chow) a Chinese breed of dog with a tail curled over its back, a bluish-black tongue, and a thick coat.

verb (chow down) N. Amer. informal
eat.

ORIGIN: shortened from chow chow, a pidgin English word originally meaning 'mixed pickle' .

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chow mein

noun
a Chinese-style dish of fried noodles with shredded meat or seafood and vegetables.

ORIGIN: Chinese, 'stir-fried noodles' .

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Christ

noun
the title given to Jesus.

exclamation
used to express irritation, dismay, or surprise.

DERIVATIVES:
Christlike adjective
Christly adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek Khristos 'anointed one' , translating a Hebrew word meaning 'Messiah' .

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christen

verb
1. name (a baby) at baptism as a sign of admission to a Christian Church.
2. informal use for the first time.

DERIVATIVES:
christening noun.

ORIGIN: Old English «make Christian», from Latin Christus 'Christ' .

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Christendom

noun dated
the worldwide body of Christians.

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Christian

adjective
relating to or professing Christianity or its teachings.

noun
a person who has received Christian baptism or is a believer in Christianity.

DERIVATIVES:
Christianize (also Christianise) verb.

ORIGIN: Latin Christianus, from Christus 'Christ' .

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Christianity

noun
the religion based on the person and teachings of Jesus Christ.

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Christian name

noun
a forename, especially one given at baptism.

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Christian Science

noun
the beliefs and practices of the Church of Christ Scientist, a Christian sect.

DERIVATIVES:
Christian Scientist noun.

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Christmas

noun (pl. Christmases)
1. (also Christmas Day) the annual Christian festival celebrating Christ's birth, held on 25 December.
2. the period immediately before and after this.

ORIGIN: Old English, «Mass of Christ».

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Christmas box

noun Brit.
a present given at Christmas to tradespeople and employees.

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Christmas cake

noun Brit.
a rich fruit cake covered with marzipan and icing, eaten at Christmas.

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Christmas pudding

noun Brit.
a rich pudding eaten at Christmas, made with flour, suet, and dried fruit.

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Christmas rose

noun
a small white-flowered winter-blooming hellebore.

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Christmas tree

noun
an evergreen tree decorated with lights and ornaments at Christmas.

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chromatic

adjective
1. Music relating to or using notes not belonging to the diatonic scale of the key of a passage.
2. (of a scale) ascending or descending by semitones.
3. relating to or produced by colour.

ORIGIN: Greek khrmatikos, from khrma 'colour, chromatic scale' .

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chromatography

noun Chemistry
a technique for the separation of a mixture by passing it through a medium in which the components move at different rates.

DERIVATIVES:
chromatogram noun
chromatograph noun
chromatographic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek khrma 'colour' (early separations being displayed as coloured bands or spots).

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chrome

noun
1. chromium plate as a finish.
2. (before another noun ) denoting compounds or alloys of chromium: chrome steel.

DERIVATIVES:
chromed adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek khrma 'colour' (some chromium compounds having brilliant colours).

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chromium

noun
a hard white metallic chemical element used in stainless steel and other alloys.

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chromosome

noun Biology
a thread-like structure found in the nuclei of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.

DERIVATIVES:
chromosomal adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek khrma 'colour' + sma 'body' .

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chronic

adjective
1. (of an illness or problem) persisting for a long time.
2. having a persistent illness or bad habit.
3. Brit. informal very bad.

DERIVATIVES:
chronically adverb
chronicity noun.

ORIGIN: Greek khronikos 'of time' , from khronos 'time' .

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chronicle

noun
a written account of historical events in the order of their occurrence.

verb
record (a series of events) in a detailed way.

DERIVATIVES:
chronicler noun.

ORIGIN: Greek khronika 'annals' , from khronikos 'of time' .

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chronograph

noun
an instrument for recording time with great accuracy.

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chronological

adjective
1. relating to the establishment of dates and time sequences.
2. (of a record of events) starting with the earliest and following the order in which they occurred.

DERIVATIVES:
chronologically adverb.

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chronology

noun (pl. chronologies)
1. the study of records to establish the dates of past events.
2. the arrangement of events or dates in the order of their occurrence.

DERIVATIVES:
chronologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek khronos 'time' .

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chronometer

noun
an instrument for measuring time accurately in spite of motion or varying conditions.

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chrysalis

noun (pl. chrysalises)
1. an insect pupa, especially of a butterfly or moth.
2. the hard outer case enclosing this.

ORIGIN: Greek khrusallis, from khrusos 'gold' (because of the metallic sheen of some pupae).

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chrysanthemum

noun (pl. chrysanthemums)
a garden plant with brightly coloured flowers.

ORIGIN: from Greek khrusos 'gold' + anthemon 'flower' .

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chub

noun
a thick-bodied river fish with a grey-green back and white underparts.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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Chubb

noun trademark
a lock with a device for fixing the bolt to prevent it from being picked.

ORIGIN: named after the London locksmith Charles Chubb (1773 1845).

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chubby

adjective (chubbier, chubbiest)
plump and rounded.

DERIVATIVES:
chubbily adverb
chubbiness noun.

ORIGIN: from CHUB.

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chuck [1]

verb informal
1. throw (something) carelessly or casually.
2. give up.
3. (chuck up) vomit.

IDIOMS -
chuck it down rain heavily.

DERIVATIVES:
chucker noun.

ORIGIN: from CHUCK.

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chuck [2]

verb
touch playfully under the chin.

noun
a playful touch under the chin.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French chuquer 'to knock, bump' .

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chuck [3]

noun
1. a device for holding a workpiece in a lathe or a tool in a drill.
2. a cut of beef extending from the neck to the ribs.

ORIGIN: a variant of CHOCK.

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chuckle

verb
laugh quietly or inwardly.

noun
a quiet laugh.

ORIGIN: from obsolete chuck 'to cluck' .

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chuff

verb
(of a steam engine) move with a regular puffing sound.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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chuffed

adjective Brit. informal
delighted.

ORIGIN: from dialect chuff «plump or pleased».

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chug

verb (chugged, chugging)
move with or give out a series of muffled explosive sounds, as of an engine running slowly.

noun
a sound of this type.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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chukka

noun
each of a number of periods (typically six) into which play in a game of polo is divided.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, 'circle or wheel' .

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chum informal

noun
a close friend.

verb (chummed, chumming) (chum up)
form a friendship with someone.

DERIVATIVES:
chummy adjective.

ORIGIN: originally Oxford University slang for a room-mate: probably short for chamber-fellow; compare with CRONY.

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chump

noun
1. informal, dated a foolish person.
2. Brit. the thick end of something, especially a loin of lamb or mutton.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «thick lump of wood»: probably a blend of CHUNK and LUMP or STUMP.

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chunder informal, chiefly Austral./NZ

verb
vomit.

noun
vomit.

ORIGIN: probably from rhyming slang Chunder Loo «spew», from the name of a cartoon character.

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chunk

noun
1. a thick, solid piece.
2. a large amount.

ORIGIN: apparently an alteration of CHUCK.

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chunky

adjective (chunkier, chunkiest)
1. (of a person) short and sturdy.
2. containing chunks.

DERIVATIVES:
chunkily adverb
chunkiness noun.

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church

noun
1. a building used for public Christian worship.
2. (Church) a particular Christian organization with its own distinctive doctrines.
3. institutionalized religion as a political or social force.

ORIGIN: from Greek kuriakon dma 'Lord's house' , from kurios 'master or lord' .

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churchman (or churchwoman)

noun
a member of the Christian clergy or of a Church.

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Church of England

noun
the English branch of the Western Christian Church, which rejects the Pope's authority and has the monarch as its head.

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Church of Scotland

noun
the national (Presbyterian) Christian Church in Scotland.

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churchwarden

noun
either of two elected lay representatives in an Anglican parish.

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churchyard

noun
an enclosed area surrounding a church, especially as used for burials.

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churl

noun
1. an impolite and mean-spirited person.
2. archaic a peasant.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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churlish

adjective
rude, mean-spirited, and surly.

DERIVATIVES:
churlishly adverb
churlishness noun.

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churn

noun
1. a machine for making butter by agitating milk or cream.
2. Brit. a large metal milk can.

verb
1. agitate (milk or cream) in a churn to produce butter.
2. (with reference to liquid) move about vigorously.
3. (churn out) produce mechanically and in large quantities.
4. (as adj. churned up) upset or nervous.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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chute (also shoot)

noun
1. a sloping channel for conveying things to a lower level.
2. a water slide into a swimming pool.

ORIGIN: French, 'fall' (of water or rocks).

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chutney

noun (pl. chutneys)
a spicy condiment made of fruits or vegetables with vinegar, spices, and sugar.

ORIGIN: Hindi.

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chutzpah

noun informal
shameless audacity.

ORIGIN: Yiddish.

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chyle

noun Physiology
a milky fluid which drains from the small intestine into the lymphatic system during digestion.

DERIVATIVES:
chylous adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek khlos 'juice' .

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chyme

noun Physiology
the fluid which passes from the stomach to the small intestine, consisting of gastric juices and partly digested food.

ORIGIN: Greek khmos 'juice' .

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Ci

abbreviation
curie.

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CIA

abbreviation
Central Intelligence Agency.

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ciabatta

noun
a flattish Italian bread made with olive oil.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'slipper' (from its shape).

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ciao

exclamation informal
used as a greeting at meeting or parting.

ORIGIN: Italian, from dialect schiavo 'I am your slave' .

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cicada

noun
a large bug with long transparent wings, which makes a shrill droning noise after dark.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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cicatrix (also cicatrice)

noun (pl. cicatrices)
1. a scar.
2. Botany a mark on a stem left after a leaf or other part has become detached.

DERIVATIVES:
cicatricial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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cicely (also sweet cicely)

noun (pl. cicelies)
an aromatic white-flowered plant with fern-like leaves.

ORIGIN: Greek seselis.

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CID

abbreviation
(in the UK) Criminal Investigation Department.

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-cide

combining form
1. denoting a person or substance that kills: insecticide.
2. denoting an act of killing: suicide.

ORIGIN: from Latin -cida, -cidium, from caedere 'to kill' .

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cider

noun Brit.
an alcoholic drink made from fermented apple juice.

ORIGIN: Old French sidre, from a Hebrew word meaning 'strong drink' .

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cigar

noun
a cylinder of tobacco rolled in tobacco leaves for smoking.

ORIGIN: French cigare, probably from a Mayan word meaning 'smoking' .

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cigarette (US also cigaret)

noun
a cylinder of finely cut tobacco rolled in paper for smoking.

ORIGIN: French, 'little cigar' .

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cigarette card

noun Brit.
a collectable card with a picture on it, formerly included in packets of cigarettes.

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cigarette paper

noun
a thin paper for rolling around tobacco to make a cigarette.

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cigarillo

noun (pl. cigarillos)
a small cigar.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'little cigar' .

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cilium

noun (pl. cilia)
1. Biology a microscopic hair-like vibrating structure, occurring on the surface of certain cells.
2. Anatomy an eyelash.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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C.-in-C.

abbreviation
Commander-in-Chief.

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cinch

noun informal
1. an extremely easy task.
2. a certainty.

ORIGIN: from Spanish cincha 'girth' .

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cinchona

noun
a medicinal drug obtained from the bark of a South American tree, containing quinine and related compounds.

ORIGIN: named after the Countess of Chinchón (died 1641), who brought the drug to Spain.

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cinder

noun
a piece of burnt coal or wood that has stopped giving off flames but still has combustible matter in it.

DERIVATIVES:
cindery adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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cine

adjective
cinematographic.

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cinema

noun chiefly Brit.
1. a theatre where films are shown.
2. the production of films as an art or industry.

ORIGIN: Greek kinma 'movement' , from kinein 'to move' .

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cinematic

adjective
relating to or characteristic of the cinema.

DERIVATIVES:
cinematically adverb.

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cinematography

noun
the art of photography and camerawork in film-making.

DERIVATIVES:
cinematographer noun
cinematographic adjective.

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cinnabar

noun
1. a bright red mineral consisting of mercury sulphide.
2. (also cinnabar moth) a day-flying moth with black and red wings.

ORIGIN: Greek kinnabari.

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cinnamon

noun
1. an aromatic spice made from the dried and rolled bark of an Asian tree.
2. a yellowish-brown colour resembling cinnamon.

ORIGIN: Greek kinnammon.

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cinquefoil

noun
1. a plant with compound leaves of five leaflets and five-petalled yellow flowers.
2. Art an ornamental design of five lobes arranged in a circle.

ORIGIN: from Latin quinque 'five' + folium 'leaf' .

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cipher (also cypher)

noun
1. a code.
2. a key to a code.
3. an unimportant person or thing.
4. dated a zero.

verb
encode (a message).

ORIGIN: Old French cifre, from Arabic.

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circa

preposition
approximately.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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circadian

adjective
(of biological processes) recurring on a twenty-four-hour cycle.

ORIGIN: from Latin circa 'about' + dies 'day' .

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circle

noun
1. a round plane figure whose boundary consists of points equidistant from the centre.
2. a group of people or things forming a circle.
3. a curved upper tier of seats in a theatre.
4. a group of people with a shared profession, interests, or acquaintances.

verb
1. move or be situated all the way around.
2. draw a line around.

IDIOMS -
come (or turn) full circle return to a previous position or situation.
go (or run) round in circles informal do something for a long time without achieving anything.

ORIGIN: Latin circulus 'small ring' , from circus 'ring' .

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circlet

noun
an ornamental circular band worn on the head.

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circuit

noun
1. a roughly circular line, route, or movement.
2. Brit. a track used for motor racing.
3. a system of conductors and components forming a complete path for an electric current.
4. an established series of sporting events or entertainments.
5. a series of physical exercises performed in one training session.
6. (in the UK) a regular journey by a judge around a district to hear court cases.

verb
move all the way around.

ORIGIN: Latin circuitus, from circumire 'go round' .

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circuit-breaker

noun
an automatic safety device for stopping the flow of current in an electric circuit.

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circuitous

adjective
(of a route) longer than the most direct way.

DERIVATIVES:
circuitously adverb
circuitousness noun.

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circuitry

noun (pl. circuitries)
electric circuits collectively.

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circular

adjective
1. having the form of a circle.
2. Logic (of an argument) false because already containing an assumption of what is to be proved.
3. (of a letter or advertisement) for distribution to a large number of people.

noun
a circular letter or advertisement.

DERIVATIVES:
circularity noun
circularly adverb.

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circular saw

noun
a power saw with a rapidly rotating toothed disc.

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circulate

verb
1. move continuously through a closed system or area.
2. pass from place to place or person to person.
3. move around a social function and talk to many people.

DERIVATIVES:
circulator noun.

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circulation

noun
1. movement to and fro or around something.
2. the continuous motion of blood round the body.
3. the public availability of something.
4. the number of copies sold of a newspaper or magazine.

DERIVATIVES:
circulatory adjective.

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circum-

prefix
about; around: circumambulate.

ORIGIN: from Latin circum 'round' .

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circumambulate

verb formal
walk all the way round.

DERIVATIVES:
circumambulation noun.

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circumcise

verb
1. cut off the foreskin of (a young boy or man) as a Jewish or Islamic rite.
2. cut off the clitoris, and sometimes the labia, of (a girl or young woman).

DERIVATIVES:
circumcision noun.

ORIGIN: Latin circumcidere 'cut around' .

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circumference

noun
1. the enclosing boundary of a circle.
2. the distance around something.

DERIVATIVES:
circumferential adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin circumferentia, from circum 'around' + ferre 'carry' .

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circumflex

noun
a mark (^) placed over a vowel in some languages to indicate contraction, length, or another quality.

ORIGIN: Latin circumflexus, from circum 'around' + flectere 'to bend' .

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circumlocution

noun
the use of many words where fewer would do.

DERIVATIVES:
circumlocutory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from circum 'around' + loqui 'speak' .

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circumnavigate

verb
sail all the way around.

DERIVATIVES:
circumnavigation noun.

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circumscribe

verb
1. restrict; limit.
2. Geometry draw (a figure) round another, touching it at points but not cutting it.

DERIVATIVES:
circumscription noun.

ORIGIN: Latin circumscribere, from circum 'around' + scribere 'write' .

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circumspect

adjective
cautious or prudent.

DERIVATIVES:
circumspection noun
circumspectly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin circumspectus, from circumspicere 'look around' .

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circumstance

noun
1. a fact or condition connected with an event or action.
2. unforeseen events outside one's control: a victim of circumstance.
3. (circumstances) one's state of financial or material welfare.

IDIOMS -
under (or in) the circumstances given the difficult nature of the situation.
under (or in) no circumstances never.

ORIGIN: Latin circumstantia, from circumstare 'encircle, encompass' .

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circumstantial

adjective
1. (of evidence) consisting of facts that strongly suggest something, but do not provide conclusive proof.
2. containing full details.

DERIVATIVES:
circumstantiality noun
circumstantially adverb.

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circumvent

verb
find a way around (an obstacle).

DERIVATIVES:
circumvention noun.

ORIGIN: Latin circumvenire 'skirt around' .

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circus

noun (pl. circuses)
1. a travelling company of acrobats, trained animals, and clowns.
2. (in ancient Rome) a rounded sporting arena lined with seats.
3. informal a scene of frantic activity: a media circus.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'ring or circus' .

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cirque

noun Geology
a steep-sided hollow at the head of a valley or on a mountainside.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin circus.

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cirrhosis

noun
a chronic liver disease marked by degeneration of cells and thickening of tissue.

DERIVATIVES:
cirrhotic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek kirrhos 'tawny' (the colour of the liver in many cases).

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cirrocumulus

noun
cloud forming a broken layer of small fleecy clouds at high altitude.

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cirrostratus

noun
cloud forming a thin, uniform semi-translucent layer at high altitude.

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cirrus

noun (pl. cirri)
1. cloud forming wispy streaks at high altitude.
2. Zoology & Botany a slender tendril or hair-like filament.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'a curl' .

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CIS

abbreviation
Commonwealth of Independent States.

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Cistercian

noun
a monk or nun of an order that is a stricter branch of the Benedictines.

adjective
relating to this order.

ORIGIN: from Cistercium, the Latin name of Cîteaux in France, where the order was founded.

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cistern

noun
1. a water storage tank, especially as part of a flushing toilet.
2. an underground reservoir for rainwater.

ORIGIN: Latin cisterna, from cista 'box' .

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citadel

noun
a fortress protecting or dominating a city.

ORIGIN: French citadelle or Italian cittadella, from Latin civitas 'city' .

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citation

noun
1. a quotation from or reference to a book or author.
2. a mention of a praiseworthy act in an official report.
3. a note accompanying an award, giving reasons for it.

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cite

verb
1. quote (a book or author) as evidence for an argument.
2. praise for a courageous act in an official dispatch.
3. Law summon to appear in court.

ORIGIN: Latin citare, from cire 'to call' .

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citizen

noun
1. a legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth.
2. an inhabitant of a town or city.

DERIVATIVES:
citizenry noun
citizenship noun.

ORIGIN: Old French citezein, from Latin civitas 'city' .

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Citizens' Band

noun
a range of radio frequencies which are allocated for local communication by private individuals.

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citric acid

noun
a sharp-tasting acid present in the juice of lemons and other sour fruits.

DERIVATIVES:
citrate noun.

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citron

noun
the large, lemon-like fruit of a shrubby Asian tree.

ORIGIN: Latin citrus 'citron tree' , on the pattern of limon 'lemon' .

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citronella

noun
a fragrant natural oil obtained from a South Asian grass, used as an insect repellent and in perfume.

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citrus

noun (pl. citruses)
1. a tree of a genus that includes citron, lemon, lime, orange, and grapefruit.
2. (also citrus fruit) a fruit from such a tree.

DERIVATIVES:
citrusy adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'citron tree' .

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city

noun (pl. cities)
1. a large town, in particular (Brit. ) a town created a city by charter and containing a cathedral.
2. (the City) the part of London governed by the Lord Mayor and the Corporation.
3. the financial and commercial institutions in this part of London.

ORIGIN: Old French cite, from Latin civitas, from civis 'citizen' .

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cityscape

noun
a city landscape.

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city slicker

noun
a person with the sophisticated tastes or values associated with city dwellers.

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city state

noun
a city and surrounding territory that forms an independent state.

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City Technology College

noun
(in the UK) a type of secondary school set up to teach technology and science in inner-city areas.

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civet

noun
1. a slender nocturnal cat native to Africa and Asia.
2. a strong musky perfume obtained from the scent glands of the civet.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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civic

adjective
relating to a city or town.

DERIVATIVES:
civically adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin civicus, from civis 'citizen' .

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civic centre

noun
1. the area of a town where municipal offices are situated.
2. a building containing municipal offices.

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civics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the study of the rights and duties of citizenship.

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civil

adjective
1. relating to ordinary citizens, as distinct from military or ecclesiastical matters.
2. Law non-criminal: a civil court.
3. courteous and polite.

DERIVATIVES:
civilly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin civilis, from civis 'citizen' .

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civil disobedience

noun
the refusal to comply with certain laws or to pay taxes, as a political protest.

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civil engineer

noun
an engineer who designs roads, bridges, dams, etc.

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civilian

noun
a person not in the armed services or the police force.

adjective
relating to a civilian.

ORIGIN: Old French civilien, in the phrase droit civilien 'civil law' .

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civility

noun (pl. civilities)
1. politeness and courtesy.
2. (civilities) polite remarks used in formal conversation.

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civilization (also civilisation)

noun
1. an advanced stage or system of human social development.
2. the process of achieving this.
3. a civilized nation or region.

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civilize (also civilise)

verb
1. bring to an advanced stage of social development.
2. (civilized) polite and good-mannered.

DERIVATIVES:
civilizer noun.

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civil law

noun
1. law concerned with ordinary citizens, rather than criminal, military, or religious affairs.
2. the system of law predominant on the European continent, influenced by that of ancient Rome.

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civil liberty

noun
1. freedom of action and speech subject to laws established for the good of the community.
2. (civil liberties) one's rights to this.

DERIVATIVES:
civil libertarian noun.

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Civil List

noun
(in the UK) an annual allowance voted by Parliament for the royal family's household expenses.

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civil rights

plural noun
the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.

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civil servant

noun
a member of the civil service.

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civil service

noun
the branches of state administration, excluding military and judicial branches and elected politicians.

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civil war

noun
a war between citizens of the same country.

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CJD

abbreviation
Creutzfeldt Jakob disease.

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Cl

symbol
the chemical element chlorine.

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cl

abbreviation
centilitre.

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clack

verb
make a sharp sound as of a hard object striking another.

noun
a clacking sound.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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clad
archaic or poetic past participle of CLOTHE.
adjective
1. clothed.
2. provided with cladding.

verb (cladding; past and past part. cladded or clad)
cover with cladding.

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cladding

noun
a covering or coating on a structure or material.

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claim

verb
1. state as being the case, without being able to give proof.
2. demand as one's due.
3. call for (someone's attention).
4. request (money) under the terms of an insurance policy.
5. cause the loss of (someone's life).

noun
1. a statement that something is the case.
2. a demand for something considered one's due.
3. a request for compensation under the terms of an insurance policy.

DERIVATIVES:
claimable adjective
claimant noun.

ORIGIN: Latin clamare 'call out' .

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clairvoyance

noun
the supposed faculty of perceiving events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact.

ORIGIN: from French clair 'clear' + voir 'to see' .

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clairvoyant

noun
a person claiming to have clairvoyance.

adjective
having clairvoyance.

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clam

noun
a large marine bivalve mollusc with shells of equal size.

verb (clammed, clamming) (clam up) informal
stop talking abruptly.

ORIGIN: Old English, «a bond or bondage»; related to CLAMP.

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clamber

verb
climb or move in an awkward and laborious way.

noun
an act of clambering.

ORIGIN: probably from clamb, obsolete past tense of CLIMB.

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clammy

adjective (clammier, clammiest)
1. unpleasantly damp and sticky.
2. (of air) cold and damp.

DERIVATIVES:
clammily adverb
clamminess noun.

ORIGIN: from dialect clam «to be sticky»; related to CLAY.

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clamour (US clamor)

noun
1. a loud and confused noise.
2. a vehement protest or demand.

verb
(of a group) make a clamour.

DERIVATIVES:
clamorous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin clamor, from clamare 'cry out' .

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clamp

noun
a brace, band, or clasp for strengthening or holding things together.

verb
1. fasten in place or together with a clamp.
2. (clamp down) suppress or prevent something.
3. fit a wheel clamp to (an illegally parked car).

DERIVATIVES:
clamper noun.

ORIGIN: probably Dutch and related to CLAM.

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clampdown

noun informal
a concerted attempt to suppress something.

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clan

noun
1. a group of close-knit and interrelated families, especially in the Scottish Highlands.
2. a group with a strong common interest.

ORIGIN: Scottish Gaelic, 'offspring, family' , from Latin planta 'sprout' .

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clandestine

adjective
surreptitious or secretive.

DERIVATIVES:
clandestinely adverb
clandestinity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin clandestinus, from clam 'secretly' .

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clang

noun
a loud metallic sound.

verb
make a clang.

ORIGIN: imitative, influenced by Latin clangere 'resound' .

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clanger

noun informal, chiefly Brit.
a mistake.

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clangour (US clangor)

noun
a continuous clanging sound.

DERIVATIVES:
clangorous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin clangor, from clangere 'resound' .

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clank

noun
a loud, sharp sound as of pieces of metal being struck together.

verb
make a clank.

DERIVATIVES:
clanking adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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clannish

adjective
tending to exclude others outside the group.

DERIVATIVES:
clannishly adverb
clannishness noun.

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clansman

noun
a male member of a clan.

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clap [1]

verb (clapped, clapping)
1. strike the palms of (one's hands) together repeatedly, especially to applaud.
2. slap encouragingly on the back.
3. place (a hand) briefly over one's face as a gesture of dismay.
4. (of a bird) flap (its wings) audibly.

noun
1. an act of clapping.
2. an explosive sound, especially of thunder.

IDIOMS -
clap in jail (or irons) put in prison (or in chains).

ORIGIN: Old English, «throb, beat».

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clap [2]

noun informal
a venereal disease, especially gonorrhoea.

ORIGIN: Old French clapoir.

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clapped-out

adjective informal, chiefly Brit.
worn out from age or heavy use.

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clapper

noun
the tongue or striker of a bell.

IDIOMS -
like the clappers Brit. informal very fast or hard.

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clapperboard

noun
hinged boards that are struck together at the beginning of filming to synchronize the picture and sound machinery.

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claptrap

noun
nonsense.

ORIGIN: originally denoting something designed to elicit applause.

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claque

noun
1. a group of people hired to applaud or heckle a performer.
2. a group of sycophantic followers.

ORIGIN: French, from claquer 'to clap' .

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claret

noun
1. a red wine, especially from Bordeaux.
2. a deep purplish red colour.

ORIGIN: from Latin claratum vinum 'clarified wine' , from clarus 'clear' .

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clarify

verb (clarifies, clarified)
1. make more comprehensible.
2. melt (butter) to separate out the impurities.

DERIVATIVES:
clarification noun
clarifier noun.

ORIGIN: Old French clarifier, from Latin clarus 'clear' .

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clarinet

noun
a woodwind instrument with a single-reed mouthpiece, a cylindrical tube, and holes stopped by keys.

DERIVATIVES:
clarinettist (US clarinetist) noun.

ORIGIN: from French clarine, denoting a kind of bell.

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clarion

noun chiefly historical
a shrill war trumpet.

adjective
loud and clear.

IDIOMS -
clarion call a strongly expressed demand for action.

ORIGIN: Latin, from clarus 'clear' .

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clarity

noun
1. the state or quality of being clear and easily perceived or understood.
2. transparency or purity.

ORIGIN: Latin claritas, from clarus 'clear' .

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clash

verb
1. (of opposing groups) come into violent conflict.
2. disagree or be at odds.
3. (of colours) appear discordant when placed together.
4. (of dates or events) occur inconveniently at the same time.
5. strike together, producing a loud discordant sound.

noun
an act or sound of clashing.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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clasp

verb
1. grasp tightly with one's hand.
2. place (one's arms) around something so as to hold it tightly.
3. press (one's hands) together with the fingers interlaced.
4. fasten with a clasp.

noun
1. a device with interlocking parts used for fastening.
2. a bar on a medal ribbon.
3. an act of clasping.

IDIOMS -
clasp hands shake hands warmly.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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clasp knife

noun
a knife with a blade that folds into the handle.

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class

noun
1. a set or category of things having a common characteristic and differentiated from others by kind or quality.
2. a system that divides members of a society into sets based on social or economic status.
3. a set in a society ordered by social or economic status.
4. a group of students or pupils who are taught together.
5. a lesson.
6. Biology a principal taxonomic category that ranks above order and below phylum or division.
7. informal impressive stylishness.
8. Brit. a division of candidates according to merit in a university examination.

verb
assign to a particular category.

adjective informal
showing stylish excellence: a class player.

ORIGIN: Latin classis 'a division of the Roman people, a grade, or a class of pupils' .

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classic

adjective
1. judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality.
2. typical.

noun
1. a work of art of established value.
2. (Classics) the study of ancient Greek and Latin literature, philosophy, and history.
3. (the classics) the works of ancient Greek and Latin writers.

ORIGIN: Latin classicus 'belonging to a class or division' , later 'of the highest class' .

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classical

adjective
1. relating to ancient Greek or Latin literature, art, or culture.
2. (of a form of art or a language) representing an exemplary standard within a long-established form.
3. (of music) of long-established form or style or (more specifically) written in the European tradition between approximately 1750 and 1830.
4. relating to the first significant period of an area of study: classical Marxism.

DERIVATIVES:
classically adverb.

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classicism

noun
the following of ancient Greek or Roman principles and style in art and literature, generally associated with harmony and restraint.

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classicist

noun
1. a person who studies Classics.
2. a follower of classicism.

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classification

noun
1. the action or process of classifying.
2. a category into which something is put.

DERIVATIVES:
classificatory adjective.

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classified

adjective
1. (of newspaper or magazine advertisements) organized in categories.
2. (of information or documents) designated as officially secret.

noun (classifieds)
classified advertisements.

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classify

verb (classifies, classified)
1. arrange (a group) in classes according to shared characteristics.
2. assign to a particular class or category.
3. designate (documents or information) as officially secret.

DERIVATIVES:
classifiable adjective
classifier noun
classifying adjective.

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classless

adjective
1. (of a society) not divided into social classes.
2. not showing characteristics of a particular social class.

DERIVATIVES:
classlessness noun.

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classroom

noun
a room in which a class of pupils or students is taught.

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classy

adjective (classier, classiest) informal
stylish and sophisticated.

DERIVATIVES:
classily adverb
classiness noun.

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clatter

noun
a loud rattling sound as of hard objects striking each other.

verb
1. make a clatter.
2. fall or move with a clatter.

ORIGIN: Old English, of imitative origin.

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clause

noun
1. a unit of grammatical organization next below the sentence in rank, and in traditional grammar said to consist of a subject and predicate.
2. a particular and separate article, stipulation, or proviso in a treaty, bill, or contract.

DERIVATIVES:
clausal adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin claudere 'shut, close' .

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claustrophobia

noun
extreme or irrational fear of confined places.

DERIVATIVES:
claustrophobe noun
claustrophobic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin claustrum 'lock, bolt' .

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clavichord

noun
a small, rectangular keyboard instrument with a soft tone.

ORIGIN: from Latin clavis 'key' + chorda 'string' .

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claw

noun
1. a curved, pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot in birds, lizards, and some mammals.
2. the pincer of a crab, scorpion, or other arthropod.

verb
1. scratch or tear at with the claws or fingernails.
2. (claw away) try desperately to move (something) with the hands.
3. (claw one's way) haul oneself forward with one's hands.
4. (claw back) regain or recover (money, power, etc.) laboriously or harshly.

IDIOMS -
get one's claws into informal have a controlling influence over.

DERIVATIVES:
clawed adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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claw hammer

noun
a hammer with one side of the head split and curved, used for extracting nails.

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clay

noun
1. a sticky impermeable earth that can be moulded when wet and baked to make bricks and pottery.
2. literary the substance of the human body.

DERIVATIVES:
clayey adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to CLEAVE and CLIMB.

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claymore

noun historical
a type of broadsword used in Scotland.

ORIGIN: Scottish Gaelic claidheamh 'great sword' .

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clay pigeon

noun
a saucer-shaped piece of baked clay or other material thrown up in the air as a target for shooting.

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clean

adjective
1. free from dirt, pollutants, or harmful substances.
2. morally pure: clean living.
3. not obscene.
4. attentive to personal hygiene.
5. showing or having no record of offences or crimes: a clean driving licence.
6. played or done according to the rules: a good clean fight.
7. free from irregularities; smooth: a clean fracture.
8. (of an action) smoothly and skilfully done.

adverb
1. so as to be free from dirt.
2. informal completely.

verb
1. make clean.
2. (clean out) informal use up or take (all someone's money or resources).
3. (clean out) steal the entire contents of (a place).
4. (clean up) informal make a substantial gain or profit.

noun chiefly Brit.
an act of cleaning.

IDIOMS -
a clean sheet (or slate) an absence of existing restraints or commitments.
come clean informal fully confess something.
keep one's hands clean remain uninvolved in an immoral or illegal act.
make a clean breast of it fully confess something.
make a clean sweep
1. remove all unwanted people or things ready to start afresh.
2. win all of a group of related sporting contests.

DERIVATIVES:
cleanable adjective
cleanness noun .

ORIGIN: Old English.

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clean-cut

adjective
1. sharply outlined.
2. (of a person) clean and neat.

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cleaner

noun
a person or thing that cleans.

IDIOMS -
take to the cleaners informal
1. defraud of a large portion of money or resources.
2. inflict a crushing defeat on.

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cleanly

adverb
in a clean manner.

adjective (cleanlier, cleanliest) archaic
habitually clean.

DERIVATIVES:
cleanliness noun.

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cleanse

verb
1. make thoroughly clean.
2. rid of something unpleasant or unwanted.

noun
an act of cleansing.

DERIVATIVES:
cleanser noun
cleansing adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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clean-shaven

adjective
(of a man) without a beard or moustache.

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clear

adjective
1. easy to perceive or understand.
2. leaving or feeling no doubt.
3. transparent; unclouded.
4. free of obstructions or unwanted objects.
5. (of a period of time) free of commitments.
6. free from disease, contamination, or guilt.
7. (clear of) not touching; away from.
8. complete: seven clear days' notice.
9. (of a sum of money) net.

adverb
1. so as to be out of the way of or uncluttered by.
2. with clarity.

verb
1. make or become clear.
2. get past or over (something) safely or without touching it.
3. show or declare to be innocent.
4. give official approval or authorization to or for.
5. cause people to leave (a building or place).
6. (of a cheque) pass through a clearing house so that the money enters the payee's account.
7. earn or gain (an amount of money) as a net profit.
8. discharge (a debt).

IDIOMS -
clear the air
1. make the air less sultry.
2. defuse a tense situation by frank discussion.
clear the decks prepare for something by dealing beforehand with anything that might hinder progress.
clear off informal go away.
clear out informal
1. empty.
2. leave quickly.
clear up
1. tidy (something) by removing unwanted items.
2. solve or explain.
3. (of an illness or other medical condition) become cured.
4. (of the weather) become brighter; stop raining.
in the clear no longer in danger or under suspicion.

DERIVATIVES:
clearness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French cler, from Latin clarus.

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clearance

noun
1. the action or an act of clearing or the process of being cleared.
2. official authorization for something to take place.
3. clear space allowed for a thing to move past or under another.

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clear-cut

adjective
sharply defined; easy to perceive or understand.

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clearing

noun
an open space in a forest.

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clearing house

noun
1. a bankers' establishment where cheques and bills from member banks are exchanged.
2. an agency which collects and distributes information.

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clearly

adverb
1. with clarity.
2. obviously; without doubt.

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clear-sighted

adjective
thinking clearly; perspicacious.

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clearway

noun Brit.
a main road other than a motorway on which vehicles are not permitted to stop.

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cleat

noun
1. a T-shaped or similar projection to which a rope may be attached.
2. a projecting wedge on a spar, tool, etc., to prevent slippage.

DERIVATIVES:
cleated adjective.

ORIGIN: Germanic, related to CLOT and CLOUT.

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cleavage

noun
1. a sharp division; a split.
2. the cleft between a woman's breasts.
3. Biology cell division, especially of a fertilized egg cell.
4. the splitting of rocks or crystals in a preferred plane or direction.

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cleave [1]

verb (past clove or cleft or cleaved; past part. cloven or cleft or cleaved)
1. split or sever along a natural grain or line.
2. divide; split.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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cleave [2]

verb (cleave to) literary
1. stick fast to.
2. become strongly involved with or emotionally attached to.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to CLAY and CLIMB.

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cleaver

noun
a tool with a heavy broad blade, used for chopping meat.

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clef

noun Music
any of several symbols placed on a stave, indicating the pitch of the notes written on the stave.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin clavis 'key' .

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cleft
past participle of CLEAVE.
adjective
split, divided, or partially divided into two.

noun
1. a fissure or split in rock or the ground.
2. an indentation in a person's forehead or chin, or a hollow between two parts of the body.

IDIOMS -
be (or be caught) in a cleft stick chiefly Brit. be in a situation in which any action one takes will have adverse consequences.

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cleft palate

noun
a congenital split in the roof of the mouth.

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clematis

noun
an ornamental climbing plant bearing white, pink, or purple flowers and feathery seeds.

ORIGIN: Greek klmatis, from klma 'vine branch' .

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clement

adjective
1. (of weather) mild.
2. merciful.

DERIVATIVES:
clemency noun.

ORIGIN: Latin clemens.

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clementine

noun
a deep orange-red variety of tangerine grown around the Mediterranean and in South Africa.

ORIGIN: French, from the male given name Clément.

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clench

verb
1. (with reference to one's fist or teeth) close or press together tightly, in response to stress or anger.
2. (with reference to a set of muscles) contract sharply.
3. grasp tightly.

noun
the action of clenching or the state of being clenched.

ORIGIN: Old English, «fix securely»; related to CLING.

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clerestory (US also clearstory)

noun (pl. clerestories)
the upper part of the nave, choir, and transepts of a large church, incorporating a series of windows which admit light to the central parts of the building.

ORIGIN: from CLEAR + STOREY.

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clergy

noun (pl. clergies) (usu. treated as pl. )
the body of people ordained for religious duties in the Christian Church.

ORIGIN: Latin clericus 'cleric, clergyman' .

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clergyman (or clergywoman)

noun
a priest or minister of a Christian church.

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cleric

noun
a priest or religious leader.

ORIGIN: Latin clericus, from Greek klros 'lot, heritage' (with reference to Acts of the Apostles, chapter 1).

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clerical

adjective
1. relating to the routine work of an office clerk.
2. of or relating to the clergy.

DERIVATIVES:
clericalism noun
clericalist noun
clerically adverb.

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clerical collar

noun
a stiff upright white collar which fastens at the back, worn by the clergy in some churches.

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clerk

noun
1. a person employed in an office or bank to keep records or accounts and to undertake other routine administrative duties.
2. an official in charge of the records of a local council or court.
3. a senior official in Parliament.
4. a lay officer of a cathedral, church, or chapel.
5. (also desk clerk) N. Amer. a receptionist in a hotel.
6. (also sales clerk) N. Amer. an assistant in a shop.

verb N. Amer.
work as a clerk.

DERIVATIVES:
clerkish adjective
clerkly adjective
clerkship noun.

ORIGIN: Latin clericus 'cleric, clergyman' ; reinforced by Old French clerc, from the same source.

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clever

adjective (cleverer, cleverest)
1. quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas.
2. skilled at doing something.

DERIVATIVES:
cleverly adverb
cleverness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «quick to catch hold»: perhaps of Dutch or German origin, and related to CLEAVE.

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cliché (also cliche)

noun
1. a hackneyed or overused phrase or opinion.
2. a very predictable or unoriginal thing or person.

DERIVATIVES:
clichéd (also cliché'd) adjective.

ORIGIN: French, from clicher 'to stereotype' .

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click

noun
1. a short, sharp sound as of two hard objects coming smartly into contact.
2. Computing an act of pressing one of the buttons on a mouse.

verb
1. make or cause to make a click.
2. move or become secured with a click.
3. Computing press (a mouse button).
4. informal become suddenly clear and understandable.
5. informal become friendly and compatible.

DERIVATIVES:
clickable adjective
clicker noun
clicky adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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client

noun
a person using the services of a professional person or organization.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a person under the protection and patronage of another: from Latin cliens, from cluere 'hear or obey' .

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clientele

noun
clients or customers collectively.

ORIGIN: French.

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cliff

noun
a steep rock face, especially at the edge of the sea.

DERIVATIVES:
cliffy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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cliffhanger

noun
a story or event that is full of suspense because its ending or outcome is uncertain.

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climacteric

noun
1. Medicine the period of life when fertility is in decline; (in women) the menopause.
2. a critical period or event.

adjective
1. having extreme and far-reaching implications or results; critical.
2. Medicine characteristic of or undergoing a climacteric.

ORIGIN: from Greek klimaktr 'critical period' , from klimax 'ladder, climax' .

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climactic

adjective
forming an exciting climax.

DERIVATIVES:
climactically adverb.

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climate

noun
1. the general weather conditions prevailing in an area over a long period.
2. a prevailing trend or public attitude.

DERIVATIVES:
climatology noun
climatological adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a zone of the earth between two lines of latitude: from Greek klima 'slope, zone' .

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climatic

adjective
relating to climate.

DERIVATIVES:
climatically adverb.

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climax

noun
1. the most intense, exciting, or important point of something.
2. an orgasm.

verb
reach or bring to a climax.

ORIGIN: Greek klimax 'ladder, climax' .

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climb

verb
1. go or come up to a higher position.
2. go up or scale (a hill, rock face, etc.)
3. (of a plant) grow up (a supporting structure) by clinging to or twining round it.
4. move with effort into or out of a confined space.
5. increase in scale, value, or power.
6. (climb down) withdraw from a position taken up in argument or negotiation.

noun
1. an act of climbing.
2. a recognized route up a mountain or cliff.

IDIOMS -
be climbing the walls informal feel frustrated, helpless, and trapped.

DERIVATIVES:
climbable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to CLAY and CLEAVE.

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climber

noun
1. a person who climbs rocks or mountains as a sport.
2. a climbing plant.

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climbing frame

noun Brit.
a structure of joined bars for children to climb on.

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clime

noun chiefly literary
a region considered with reference to its climate: sunnier climes.

ORIGIN: Greek klima 'slope, zone' .

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clinch

verb
1. conclusively settle (a contract or contest).
2. (of two people) grapple at close quarters.
3. come together in an embrace.
4. secure (a nail or rivet) by driving the point sideways when it has penetrated.

noun
1. a struggle or scuffle at close quarters.
2. an embrace.

ORIGIN: from CLENCH.

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clincher

noun informal
a fact, argument, or event that settles a matter conclusively.

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cling

verb (past and past part. clung) (cling to/on to)
1. hold on tightly to.
2. adhere or stick to.
3. remain persistently faithful to.
4. be emotionally dependent on.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to CLENCH.

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cling film

noun Brit.
a thin clinging transparent plastic film used as a wrapping or covering for food.

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clingy

adjective (clingier, clingiest)
liable to cling; clinging.

DERIVATIVES:
clinginess noun.

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clinic

noun
1. a place where specialized medical treatment or advice is given.
2. a gathering at a hospital bedside for the teaching of medicine or surgery.
3. chiefly N. Amer. a conference or short course on a particular subject.

ORIGIN: from Greek klinik tekhn 'bedside art' , from klin 'bed' .

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clinical

adjective
1. relating to the observation and treatment of patients (rather than theoretical studies).
2. efficient and coldly detached.
3. (of a place) bare, functional, and clean.

DERIVATIVES:
clinically adverb.

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clinician

noun
a doctor having direct contact with and responsibility for treating patients, rather than one involved with theoretical studies.

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clink

noun
a sharp ringing sound, such as that made when metal or glass are struck.

verb
make or cause to make a clink.

ORIGIN: from Dutch klinken.

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clinker

noun
1. the stony residue from burnt coal or from a furnace.
2. a brick with a vitrified surface.

ORIGIN: from Dutch klinken 'to clink' .

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clip [1]

noun
1. a flexible or spring-loaded device for holding an object or objects together or in place.
2. a piece of jewellery that can be fastened on to a garment with a clip.
3. a metal holder containing cartridges for an automatic firearm.

verb (clipped, clipping)
fasten or be fastened with a clip or clips.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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clip [2]

verb (clipped, clipping)
1. cut, trim, or cut out with shears or scissors.
2. trim the hair or wool of (an animal).
3. strike smartly or with a glancing blow.

noun
1. an act of clipping.
2. a short sequence taken from a film or broadcast.
3. informal a smart or glancing blow.
4. informal a rapid or specified speed: they went by at a fast clip.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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clip art

noun
pre-drawn pictures and symbols provided with word-processing software and drawing packages.

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clipboard

noun
a small board with a spring clip at the top, used for holding papers and providing support for writing.

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clipped

adjective
(of speech) having short, sharp vowel sounds and clear pronunciation.

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clipper

noun
1. (clippers) an instrument for clipping.
2. a fast sailing ship, especially one of 19th-century design with concave bows and raked masts.

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clipping

noun
1. a small piece trimmed from something: grass clippings.
2. an article cut from a newspaper or magazine.

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clique

noun
a small group of people who spend time together and do not readily allow others to join them.

DERIVATIVES:
cliquey adjective
cliquish adjective.

ORIGIN: French, from Old French cliquer 'make a noise' .

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clitoris

noun
a small sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals at the front end of the vulva.

DERIVATIVES:
clitoral adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek kleitoris.

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cloak

noun
1. an overgarment that hangs loosely from the shoulders over the arms to the knees or ankles.
2. something that hides or covers: a cloak of secrecy.
3. (cloaks) Brit. a cloakroom.

verb
dress or hide in a cloak.

ORIGIN: Old French cloke, from cloche 'bell, cloak' , from Latin clocca 'bell' ; related to CLOCK.

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cloak-and-dagger

adjective
involving intrigue and secrecy.

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cloakroom

noun
1. a room in a public building where outdoor clothes and bags may be left.
2. Brit. a room that contains a toilet or toilets.

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clobber

noun Brit. informal
clothing and personal belongings.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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cloche

noun
1. a small translucent cover for protecting or forcing outdoor plants.
2. (also cloche hat) a woman's close-fitting, bell-shaped hat.

ORIGIN: French, 'bell' .

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clock

noun
1. an instrument that measures and indicates the time by means of a dial or a digital display.
2. informal a measuring device resembling a clock, such as a speedometer.

verb informal
1. attain or register (a specified time, distance, or speed).
2. (clock in/out or Brit. on/off) register one's arrival at or departure from work by means of an automatic recording clock.
3. Brit. see or watch.
4. chiefly Brit. hit on the head.
5. illegally wind back the milometer of (a car).

IDIOMS -
round (or around) the clock all day and all night.
turn (or put) back the clock return to the past or to a previous way of doing things.

DERIVATIVES:
clocker noun.

ORIGIN: Latin clocca 'bell' ; related to CLOAK.

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clockwise

adverb & adjective
in a curve corresponding in direction to the movement of the hands of a clock.

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clockwork

noun
a mechanism with a spring and toothed gearwheels, used to drive a mechanical clock, toy, or other device.

IDIOMS -
like clockwork very smoothly and easily.

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clod

noun
1. a lump of earth.
2. informal a stupid person.

ORIGIN: variant of CLOT.

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clodhopper

noun informal
1. a large, heavy shoe.
2. a foolish, awkward, or clumsy person.

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clog

noun
1. a shoe with a thick wooden sole.
2. an encumbrance.

verb (clogged, clogging) (often clog up)
block or become blocked.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «block of wood to impede an animal's movement»: origin unknown.

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cloister

noun
1. a covered, and typically colonnaded, passage round an open court in a convent, monastery, college, or cathedral.
2. (the cloister) the secluded life of a monk or nun.

verb
seclude or shut up in a convent or monastery.

DERIVATIVES:
cloistral adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French cloistre, from Latin claustrum 'lock, enclosed place' , from claudere 'to close' .

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cloistered

adjective
1. having or enclosed by a cloister.
2. sheltered from the outside world.

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clomp

verb
walk with a heavy tread.

noun
the sound of a heavy tread.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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clone

noun
1. Biology an organism produced asexually from one ancestor to which it is genetically identical.
2. a person or thing regarded as identical with another; a copy or double.

verb
1. propagate as a clone.
2. make an identical copy of.

DERIVATIVES:
clonal adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek kln 'twig' .

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clop

noun
a sound made by a horse's hooves on a hard surface.

verb (clopped, clopping)
move with such a sound.

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close [1]

adjective
1. only a short distance away or apart in space or time.
2. (of a connection or resemblance) strong.
3. denoting someone who is part of a person's immediate family.
4. (of a relationship or the people conducting it) very affectionate or intimate.
5. (of observation or examination) done in a careful and thorough way.
6. (of information) carefully guarded.
7. not willing to give away money or information.
8. uncomfortably humid or airless.

adverb
so as to be very near; with very little space between.

noun
1. Brit. a residential street without through access.
2. Brit. the precinct surrounding a cathedral.

IDIOMS -
close-fisted unwilling to spend money; mean.
close-knit (of a group of people) united or bound together by strong relationships and common interests.
close-mouthed reticent; discreet.
at (or from) close quarters (or range) close to or from a position close to someone or something.
close-run (of a contest or objective) won or lost by a very small margin.
close shave (also close call) informal a narrow escape from danger or disaster.

DERIVATIVES:
closely adverb
closeness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French clos, from Latin claudere 'close, enclose, shut' .

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close [2]

verb
1. move so as to cover an opening.
2. (also close up) bring two parts of (something) together.
3. (close on/in on/up on) gradually get nearer to or surround.
4. (close in) (of bad weather or darkness) gradually surround one.
5. (close in) (of days or nights) feature nightfall at an increasingly early hour with the approach of the winter solstice.
6. (close around/over) encircle and hold.
7. bring or come to an end.
8. finish speaking or writing.
9. (often close down/up) (with reference to a business or other organization) cease or cause to cease to trade or operate.
10. bring (a transaction or arrangement) to a conclusion.

noun
1. the end of an event or of a period of time or activity.
2. a shut position.

DERIVATIVES:
closable adjective
closer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French clore, from Latin claudere.

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closed

adjective
1. not open or allowing access.
2. not communicating with or influenced by others.

IDIOMS -
behind closed doors taking place secretly.
a closed book a subject or person about which one knows nothing.

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closed-circuit television

noun
a television system in which the video signals are transmitted from one or more cameras by cable to a restricted set of monitors.

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closed shop

noun
a place of work where all employees must belong to an agreed trade union.

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close season (also chiefly N. Amer. closed season)

noun
1. a period between specified dates when fishing or the killing of particular game is officially forbidden.
2. Brit. a part of the year when a particular sport is not played.

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closet

noun
1. chiefly N. Amer. a tall cupboard or wardrobe.
2. a small room.
3. archaic a toilet.
4. (the closet) (especially with reference to homosexuality) a state of secrecy or concealment.
5. (before another noun ) secret; covert: a closet socialist.

verb (closeted, closeting)
1. shut away in private conference or study.
2. (closeted) keeping the fact of being homosexual secret.

ORIGIN: Old French, from clos 'close' .

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close-up

noun
a photograph or film sequence taken at close range and showing the subject on a large scale.

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closure

noun
1. an act or process of closing.
2. a device that closes or seals.
3. (in a legislative assembly) a procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote.

ORIGIN: Latin clausura, from claudere 'to close' .

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clot

noun
1. a thick mass of coagulated liquid, especially blood, or of material stuck together.
2. Brit. informal a foolish or clumsy person.

verb (clotted, clotting)
form or cause to form into clots.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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cloth

noun (pl. cloths)
1. woven, knitted, or felted fabric made from a soft fibre such as wool or cotton.
2. a piece of cloth for a particular purpose.
3. (the cloth) the clergy; the clerical profession.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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clothe

verb (past and past part. clothed or archaic or literary clad)
1. provide with clothes.
2. (be clothed in) be dressed in.

ORIGIN: from the same Old English word as CLOTH.

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clothes

plural noun
items worn to cover the body.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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clothes horse

noun
a frame on which washed clothes are hung to dry.

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clothes line

noun
a rope or wire on which washed clothes are hung to dry.

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clothes peg (also N. Amer. clothespin)

noun Brit.
a clip or forked device for securing clothes to a clothes line.

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clothier

noun
a person who makes or sells clothes or cloth.

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clothing

noun
clothes collectively.

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clotted cream

noun chiefly Brit.
thick cream obtained by heating milk slowly and then allowing it to cool while the cream content rises to the top in coagulated lumps.

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cloud

noun
1. a visible mass of condensed watery vapour floating in the atmosphere, typically high above the general level of the ground.
2. an indistinct or billowing mass of smoke, dust, etc.
3. a large number of insects or birds moving together.
4. a state or cause of gloom or anxiety.

verb
1. (usu. cloud over) (of the sky) become full of clouds.
2. make or become less clear or transparent.
3. (of someone's face or eyes) show sadness, anxiety, or anger.
4. make unclear or uncertain.

IDIOMS -
have one's head in the clouds be full of idealistic dreams.
on cloud nine (or seven) extremely happy. [ORIGIN: with reference to a ten-part classification of clouds in which ‘nine’ was next to the highest.]
under a cloud under suspicion or discredited.

DERIVATIVES:
cloudiness noun
cloudless adjective
cloudlet noun
cloudy adjective (cloudier, cloudiest) .

ORIGIN: Old English, «mass of rock or earth»; probably related to CLOT.

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cloudburst

noun
a sudden violent rainstorm.

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cloud cuckoo land

noun
a state of unrealistic or absurdly over-optimistic fantasy.

ORIGIN: translation of Greek Nephelokokkugia, the name of a city built by the birds in Aristophanes' comedy Birds, from nephel 'cloud' + kokkux 'cuckoo' .

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clout

noun
1. informal a heavy blow.
2. informal influence or power.
3. archaic a piece of cloth or clothing.

verb informal
hit hard.

IDIOMS -
ne'er cast a clout till May be out proverb do not discard your winter clothes until the end of May.

ORIGIN: Old English, «a patch or metal plate»; related to CLEAT and CLOT.

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clove [1]

noun
1. the dried flower bud of a tropical tree, used as a pungent aromatic spice.
2. (oil of cloves) an aromatic oil extracted from these buds and used for the relief of dental pain.
3. (also clove pink or clove gillyflower) a clove-scented pink which is the original type from which the carnation and other double pinks have been bred.

ORIGIN: from Old French clou de girofle, 'nail of gillyflower' (from its shape), GILLYFLOWER being originally the name of the spice and later applied to the similarly scented pink.

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clove [2]

noun
any of the small bulbs making up a compound bulb of garlic, shallot, etc.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to CLEAVE.

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clove hitch

noun
a knot by which a rope is secured by passing it twice round a spar or another rope that it crosses at right angles in such a way that both ends pass under the loop of rope at the front.

ORIGIN: clove, past tense of CLEAVE (because the rope appears as separate parallel lines at the back of the knot).

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cloven hoof (also cloven foot)

noun
the divided hoof or foot of ruminants such as cattle, sheep, goats, antelopes, and deer.

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clover

noun
a herbaceous plant with globular white or deep pink flower heads and three-lobed leaves.

IDIOMS -
in clover in ease and luxury.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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clown

noun
1. a comic entertainer, especially one in a circus, wearing a traditional costume and exaggerated make-up.
2. a playful, extrovert person.

verb
act comically or playfully.

DERIVATIVES:
clownish adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps of Low German origin.

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club [1]

noun
1. an association dedicated to a particular interest or activity.
2. an organization offering members social amenities, meals, and temporary residence.
3. a nightclub with dance music.

verb (clubbed, clubbing)
1. (club together) combine with others to do something, especially to collect a sum of money.
2. informal go out to nightclubs.

DERIVATIVES:
clubber noun.

ORIGIN: formed obscurely from CLUB.

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club [2]

noun
1. a heavy stick with a thick end, used as a weapon.
2. (also golf club) a club used to hit the ball in golf, with a heavy wooden or metal head on a slender shaft.
3. (clubs) one of the four suits in a conventional pack of playing cards, denoted by a black trefoil.

verb (clubbed, clubbing)
beat with a club or similar implement.

ORIGIN: Old Norse; related to CLUMP.

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clubbable

adjective
sociable and popular.

DERIVATIVES:
clubbability noun.

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club class

noun Brit.
the intermediate class of seating on an aircraft, designed especially for business travellers.

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club foot

noun
a deformed foot which is twisted so that the sole cannot be placed flat on the ground.

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clubhouse

noun
a building having a bar and other facilities for the members of a club.

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club sandwich

noun
a sandwich consisting typically of chicken and bacon, tomato, and lettuce, layered between three slices of bread.

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cluck

noun
the characteristic short, guttural sound made by a hen.

verb
1. make a cluck.
2. (cluck over/around) express fussy concern about.

DERIVATIVES:
clucky adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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clue

noun
a fact or piece of evidence that helps to clarify a mystery or solve a problem.

verb (clues, clued, clueing) (clue in) informal
inform.

IDIOMS -
not have a clue informal be bewildered, incompetent, or ignorant.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a ball of thread, hence one used to guide a person out of a labyrinth: variant of CLEW.

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clued-up (also chiefly N. Amer. clued-in)

adjective informal
well informed about a particular subject.

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clueless

adjective informal
having no knowledge, understanding, or ability.

DERIVATIVES:
cluelessly adverb
cluelessness noun.

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clump

noun
1. a small group of trees or plants growing closely together.
2. a compacted mass or lump of something.
3. another term for CLOMP.

verb
1. form into a clump or mass.
2. another term for CLOMP.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a heap or lump; related to CLUB.

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clumpy

adjective
1. (also clompy) (of shoes or boots) heavy and inelegant.
2. forming or tending to form clumps.

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clumsy

adjective (clumsier, clumsiest)
1. awkward in movement or performance.
2. difficult to use; unwieldy.
3. tactless.

DERIVATIVES:
clumsily adverb
clumsiness noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete clumse «make or be numb», probably of Scandinavian origin.

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clunk

noun
a dull, heavy sound such as that made by thick pieces of metal striking together.

verb
move with or make a clunk.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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cluster

noun
a group of similar things positioned or occurring closely together.

verb
form a cluster.

ORIGIN: Old English, probably related to CLOT.

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clutch [1]

verb
grasp tightly.

noun
1. a tight grasp.
2. (clutches) power; control.
3. a mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the engine and the transmission system in a vehicle.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «bend, crook»: variant of obsolete clitch «close the hand», from Old English.

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clutch [2]

noun
1. a group of eggs fertilized at the same time and laid in a single session.
2. a brood of chicks.
3. a small group of people or things.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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clutter

noun
1. things lying about untidily.
2. an untidy state.

verb
cover or fill with clutter.

ORIGIN: variant of dialect clotter 'to clot' , influenced by CLUSTER and CLATTER.

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Cm

symbol
the chemical element curium.

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cm

abbreviation
centimetre or centimetres.

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CMG

abbreviation
(in the UK) Companion of St Michael and St George (or Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George).

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CND

abbreviation
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

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CO

abbreviation
1. Colorado.
2. Commanding Officer.

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Co

symbol
the chemical element cobalt.

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Co.

abbreviation
1. company.
2. county.

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co-

prefix
1. (forming nouns) joint; mutual; common: co-driver.
2. (forming adjectives) jointly; mutually: coequal.
3. (forming verbs) together with another or others: co-produce.

ORIGIN: Latin, originally a form of COM-.

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c/o

abbreviation
care of.

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coach [1]

noun
1. chiefly Brit. a comfortably equipped single-decker bus used for longer journeys.
2. a railway carriage.
3. a closed horse-drawn carriage.

verb
travel or convey by coach.

ORIGIN: French coche, from Hungarian kocsi szekér 'wagon from Kocs' , a town in Hungary.

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coach [2]

noun
1. an instructor or trainer in sport.
2. a tutor who gives private or specialized teaching.

verb
train or teach as a coach.

ORIGIN: a figurative extension of COACH.

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coachwork

noun
the bodywork of a road or railway vehicle.

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coagulant

noun
a substance that causes coagulation.

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coagulate

verb
(of a fluid, especially blood) change to a solid or semi-solid state.

DERIVATIVES:
coagulable adjective
coagulation noun
coagulator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin coagulare 'curdle' .

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coal

noun
1. a combustible black rock consisting mainly of carbonized plant matter and used as fuel.
2. Brit. a piece of coal.

IDIOMS -
coals to Newcastle something supplied to a place where it is already plentiful.
haul over the coals reprimand severely.

DERIVATIVES:
coaly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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coalesce

verb
come or bring together to form one mass or whole.

DERIVATIVES:
coalescence noun
coalescent adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin coalescere, from alescere 'grow up' .

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coalface

noun
an exposed surface of coal in a mine.

IDIOMS -
at the coalface engaged in work in a particular field at an active rather than theoretical level.

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coalfield

noun
an extensive area containing a number of underground coal strata.

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coalition

noun
a temporary alliance, especially of political parties forming a government.

DERIVATIVES:
coalitionist noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from coalescere 'coalesce' .

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coal tar

noun
a thick black liquid distilled from coal, containing organic chemicals including benzene, naphthalene, phenols, and aniline.

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coal tit (also cole tit)

noun
a small titmouse with a grey back, black cap and throat, and white cheeks.

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coaming (also coamings)

noun
a raised border round the cockpit or hatch of a boat to keep out water.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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coarse

adjective
1. rough or harsh in texture.
2. consisting of large grains or particles.
3. rude or vulgar in behaviour or speech.
4. of inferior quality.

DERIVATIVES:
coarsely adverb
coarseness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «ordinary or inferior»: perhaps related to COURSE.

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coarse fish

noun (pl. same) Brit.
any freshwater fish other than salmon and trout.

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coarsen

verb
make or become coarse.

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coast

noun
1. land adjoining or near the sea.
2. the easy movement of a vehicle without the use of power.

verb
1. move easily without using power.
2. act or make progress without making much effort: United coasted to victory.
3. sail along the coast.

IDIOMS -
the coast is clear there is no danger of being observed or caught.

DERIVATIVES:
coastal adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «side of the body»: from Latin costa 'rib, flank, side' .

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coaster

noun
1. a ship carrying cargo along the coast from port to port.
2. a small mat for a glass.

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coastguard

noun
an organization or person that keeps watch over coastal waters to assist people or ships in danger and to prevent smuggling.

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coastline

noun
a length of coast: a rugged coastline.

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coat

noun
1. a full-length outer garment with sleeves.
2. an animal's covering of fur or hair.
3. an enclosing or covering layer or structure.
4. a single application of paint or similar material.

verb
provide with or form a layer or covering.

ORIGIN: Old French cote.

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coating

noun
a thin layer or covering.

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coat of arms

noun
the distinctive heraldic bearings or shield of a person, family, corporation, or country.

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coat of mail

noun historical
a jacket composed of metal rings or plates, serving as armour.

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coat-tail

noun
each of the flaps formed by the back of a tailcoat.

IDIOMS -
on someone's coat-tails undeservedly benefiting from another's success.

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coax

verb
1. persuade gradually or by flattery to do something.
2. manipulate carefully into a particular situation or position.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'pet, fondle' : from obsolete cokes «simpleton».

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coaxial

adjective
1. having a common axis.
2. (of a cable or line) transmitting by means of two concentric conductors separated by an insulator.

DERIVATIVES:
coaxially adverb.

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cob

noun
1. Brit. a loaf of bread.
2. a corncob.
3. (also cobnut) a hazelnut or filbert.
4. a powerfully built, short-legged horse.
5. a male swan.
6. a roundish lump of coal.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a strong man or leader: of unknown origin.

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cobalt

noun
a hard silvery-white metallic chemical element with magnetic properties, used in alloys.

ORIGIN: German Kobalt 'imp, demon' (from the belief that cobalt was harmful to the ores with which it occurred).

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cobber

noun Austral./NZ informal
a companion or friend.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to English dialect cob «take a liking to».

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cobble [1]

noun (also cobblestone)
a small round stone used to cover road surfaces.

DERIVATIVES:
cobbled adjective.

ORIGIN: from COB.

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cobble [2]

verb
1. (cobble together) roughly assemble from available parts or elements.
2. dated repair (shoes).

ORIGIN: back-formation from COBBLER.

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cobbler

noun
1. a person whose job is mending shoes.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a fruit pie with a rich, cake-like crust.
3. (cobblers) Brit. informal nonsense. [ORIGIN: originally in the sense «testicles»: from rhyming slang cobbler's awls «balls».]

IDIOMS -
let the cobbler stick to his last proverb people should only concern themselves with things they know something about. [ORIGIN: translating Latin ne sutor ultra crepidam.]

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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cobra

noun
a highly venomous snake that spreads the skin of its neck into a hood when disturbed, native to Africa and Asia.

ORIGIN: from Portuguese cobra de capello 'snake with hood' .

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cobweb

noun
a spider's web, especially an old or dusty one.

DERIVATIVES:
cobwebbed adjective
cobwebby adjective.

ORIGIN: originally coppeweb: from obsolete coppe «spider», from Old English.

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coca

noun
a tropical American shrub grown for its leaves, which are the source of cocaine.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from an American Indian word.

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cocaine

noun
an addictive drug derived from coca or prepared synthetically, used as an illegal stimulant and sometimes medicinally as a local anaesthetic.

ORIGIN: from COCA.

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coccus

noun (pl. cocci) Biology
any spherical or roughly spherical bacterium.

DERIVATIVES:
coccal adjective
coccoid adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a scale insect: from Greek kokkos 'berry' .

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coccyx

noun (pl. coccyges or coccyxes)
a small triangular bone at the base of the spinal column in humans and some apes, formed of fused vestigial vertebrae.

DERIVATIVES:
coccygeal adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek kokkux 'cuckoo' (because the shape of the human bone resembles the cuckoo's bill).

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cochineal

noun
a scarlet dye used for colouring food, made from the crushed dried bodies of a female scale insect.

ORIGIN: French cochenille or Spanish cochinilla, from Latin coccinus 'scarlet' .

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cochlea

noun (pl. cochleae)
the spiral cavity of the inner ear, containing an organ which produces nerve impulses in response to sound vibrations.

DERIVATIVES:
cochlear adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'snail shell or screw' , from Greek kokhlias.

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cock

noun
1. a male bird, especially of a domestic fowl.
2. vulgar slang a man's penis.
3. Brit. informal nonsense.
4. a firing lever in a gun which can be raised to be released by the trigger.
5. a stopcock.

verb
1. tilt or bend (something) in a particular direction.
2. raise the cock of (a gun) to make it ready for firing.
3. (cock up) Brit. informal spoil or ruin.

IDIOMS -
cock one's ear (of a dog) raise its ears to an erect position.

ORIGIN: Latin coccus; reinforced by Old French coq.

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cockade

noun
a rosette or knot of ribbons worn in a hat as a badge of office or as part of a livery.

DERIVATIVES:
cockaded adjective.

ORIGIN: French cocarde, from obsolete coquard 'saucy' .

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cock-a-hoop

adjective
extremely pleased.

ORIGIN: from the phrase set cock a hoop, apparently denoting the action of turning on a tap and allowing liquor to flow.

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cock and bull story

noun informal
a ridiculous and implausible story.

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cockatoo

noun
a parrot with an erectile crest.

ORIGIN: Dutch kaketoe, from Malay.

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cockcrow

noun literary
dawn.

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cockerel

noun
a young domestic cock.

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cocker spaniel

noun
a small breed of spaniel with a silky coat.

ORIGIN: from COCK, because the dog was bred to flush game birds such as woodcock.

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cock-eyed

adjective informal
1. crooked or askew; not level.
2. absurd; impractical.
3. having a squint.

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cockfighting

noun
the sport (illegal in the UK and some other countries) of setting two cocks to fight each other.

DERIVATIVES:
cockfight noun.

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cockle

noun
1. an edible burrowing bivalve mollusc with a strong ribbed shell.
2. (also cockleshell) literary a small shallow boat.

IDIOMS -
warm the cockles of one's heart give one a comforting feeling of contentment.

DERIVATIVES:
cockling noun.

ORIGIN: Old French coquille 'shell' , from Greek konkh 'conch' .

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cockney

noun (pl. cockneys)
1. a native of the East End of London, traditionally one born within the sound of Bow Bells.
2. the dialect or accent prevailing in this area.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a pampered child, later a town-dweller regarded as affected or puny: origin uncertain.

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cockpit

noun
1. a compartment for the pilot and crew in an aircraft or spacecraft.
2. the driver's compartment in a racing car.
3. a place where cockfights are held.

ORIGIN: from COCK + PIT; sense 1 derives from an 18th-century use denoting an area in the aft lower deck of a ship where the wounded were taken, later coming to mean «the ‘pit’ or well from which a yacht was steered».

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cockroach

noun
a beetle-like scavenging insect with long antennae and legs, some kinds of which are household pests.

ORIGIN: Spanish cucaracha.

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cocksure

adjective
presumptuously or arrogantly confident.

DERIVATIVES:
cocksureness noun.

ORIGIN: from archaic cock (a euphemism for God) + SURE; later associated with COCK.

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cocktail

noun
1. an alcoholic drink consisting of a spirit mixed with other ingredients, such as fruit juice.
2. (before another noun ) relating to or associated with cocktail drinking or formal social occasions: a cocktail dress.
3. a dish consisting of a mixture of small pieces of food.
4. a mixture of diverse substances or factors, especially when dangerous or unpleasant.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a horse with a docked tail, later a racehorse which was not a thoroughbred through having a cock-tailed horse in its pedigree: from COCK + TAIL.

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cock-up

noun Brit. informal
something done badly or inefficiently.

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cocky

adjective (cockier, cockiest)
conceited in a bold or cheeky way.

DERIVATIVES:
cockily adverb
cockiness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «lecherous»: from COCK.

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cocoa

noun
1. a powder made from roasted and ground cacao seeds.
2. a hot drink made from cocoa powder mixed with milk or water.

ORIGIN: alteration of CACAO.

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cocoa butter

noun
a fatty substance obtained from cocoa beans, used in making confectionery and cosmetics.

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coconut

noun
1. the large brown seed of a tropical palm, consisting of a hard woody husk surrounded by fibre, lined with edible white flesh and containing a clear liquid (coconut milk).
2. the edible white flesh of a coconut.

ORIGIN: from Spanish and Portuguese coco 'grinning face' (because of the appearance of the base of the coconut).

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coconut shy

noun Brit.
a fairground sideshow where balls are thrown at coconuts in an attempt to knock them off stands.

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cocoon

noun
1. a silky case spun by the larvae of many insects for protection during the pupal stage.
2. a covering that prevents the corrosion of metal equipment.
3. something that envelops in a protective or comforting way.

verb
1. wrap in a cocoon.
2. N. Amer. retreat from the stressful conditions of public life.

DERIVATIVES:
cocooner noun.

ORIGIN: French cocon, from Provençal coucoun 'eggshell, cocoon' .

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cod [1] (also codfish)

noun (pl. same)
a large marine fish with a small barbel on the chin, important as a food fish.

ORIGIN: perhaps the same word as Old English codd «bag», because of the fish's appearance.

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cod [2]

adjective Brit. informal
not authentic; fake.

ORIGIN: perhaps from slang cod «a fool».

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coda

noun
1. Music the concluding passage of a piece or movement, typically forming an addition to the basic structure.
2. a concluding event, remark, or section.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin cauda 'tail' .

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coddle

verb
1. treat in an indulgent or overprotective way.
2. cook (an egg) in water below boiling point.

DERIVATIVES:
coddler noun.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain; sense 1 is probably a variant of obsolete caudle 'administer invalids' gruel' .

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code

noun
1. a system of words, figures, or symbols used to represent others, especially for the purposes of secrecy.
2. (also dialling code) a sequence of numbers dialled to connect a telephone line with another exchange.
3. Computing program instructions.
4. a systematic collection of laws or statutes: the penal code.
5. a set of conventions governing behaviour.

verb
1. convert into a code.
2. (usu. coded) express in an indirect or euphemistic way.

DERIVATIVES:
coder noun.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a collection of statutes in ancient Rome: from Latin codex 'block of wood' .

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codeine

noun
a sleep-inducing and painkilling drug derived from morphine.

ORIGIN: from Greek kdeia 'poppy head' .

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codex

noun (pl. codices or codexes)
1. an ancient manuscript text in book form.
2. an official list of medicines, chemicals, etc.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a collection of statutes: from Latin, 'block of wood' , later denoting a block for writing on, hence a book.

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codger

noun informal, derogatory
an elderly man.

ORIGIN: perhaps a variant of cadger (see CADGE).

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codicil

noun
an addition or supplement that explains, modifies, or revokes a will or part of one.

ORIGIN: Latin codicillus 'little book' , from codex 'block of wood' .

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codify

verb (codifies, codified)
organize (procedures or rules) into a system or code.

DERIVATIVES:
codification noun
codifier noun.

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cod liver oil

noun
oil pressed from the fresh liver of cod, which is rich in vitamins D and A.

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codpiece

noun
a pouch to cover the genitals on a pair of man's breeches, worn in the 15th and 16th centuries.

ORIGIN: from earlier cod «scrotum», from Old English, «bag».

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codswallop

noun Brit. informal
nonsense.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain, but perhaps named after Hiram Codd, who invented a bottle for fizzy drinks (1875).

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co-education

noun
the education of pupils of both sexes together.

DERIVATIVES:
co-educational adjective.

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coefficient

noun
1. Mathematics a quantity placed before and multiplying the variable in an algebraic expression (e.g. 4 in 4x^2).
2. Physics a multiplier or factor that measures some property.

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coelacanth

noun
a large bony marine fish with a three-lobed tail fin, known only from fossils until one was found alive in 1938.

ORIGIN: from Greek koilos 'hollow' + akantha 'spine' (because its fins have hollow spines).

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coelenterate

noun Zoology
a member of a large group of aquatic invertebrate animals (phylum Cnidaria), including jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones, which typically have a tube- or cup-shaped body with a single opening ringed with tentacles.

ORIGIN: from Greek koilos 'hollow' + enteron 'intestine' .

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coerce

verb
persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by using force or threats.

DERIVATIVES:
coercion noun
coercive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin coercere 'restrain' .

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coeval

adjective
having the same age or date of origin; contemporary.

noun
a person of roughly the same age as oneself; a contemporary.

ORIGIN: Latin coaevus, from co- 'in common' + aevum 'age' .

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coexist

verb
1. exist at the same time or in the same place.
2. exist in harmony.

DERIVATIVES:
coexistence noun
coexistent adjective.

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C. of E.

abbreviation
Church of England.

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coffee

noun
1. a hot drink made from the roasted and ground bean-like seeds of a tropical shrub.
2. the roasted and ground seeds used to make this drink.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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coffee table

noun
a small, low table.

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coffee-table book

noun
a large, lavishly illustrated book.

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coffer

noun
1. a small chest for holding valuables.
2. (coffers) the funds or financial reserves of an institution.
3. a decorative sunken panel in a ceiling.

ORIGIN: Old French coffre 'chest' , from Greek kophinos 'basket' .

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coffin

noun
a long, narrow box in which a dead body is buried or cremated.

verb (coffined, coffining)
place in a coffin.

ORIGIN: Old French cofin 'little basket' , from Greek kophinus 'basket' .

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cog

noun
1. a wheel or bar with a series of projections on its edge, which transfers motion by engaging with projections on another wheel or bar.
2. any one of these projections.

DERIVATIVES:
cogged adjective.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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cogent

adjective
(of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing.

DERIVATIVES:
cogency noun
cogently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin cogere 'compel' .

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cogitate

verb formal
meditate or reflect.

DERIVATIVES:
cogitation noun
cogitative adjective
cogitator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin cogitare 'to consider' .

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cognac

noun
a high-quality brandy distilled in Cognac in western France.

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cognition

noun
the mental acquisition of knowledge through thought, experience, and the senses.

DERIVATIVES:
cognitional adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from cognoscere 'get to know' .

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cognitive

adjective
of or relating to cognition.

DERIVATIVES:
cognitively adverb.

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cognizance (also cognisance)

noun formal
knowledge or awareness.

IDIOMS -
take cognizance of formal take account of.

DERIVATIVES:
cognizant adjective
cognize (also cognise) verb.

ORIGIN: Old French conoisance, from Latin cognoscere 'get to know' .

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cognoscenti

plural noun
people who are well informed about a particular subject.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'people who know' , from Latin cognoscere 'get to know' .

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cohabit

verb (cohabited, cohabiting)
1. live together and have a sexual relationship without being married.
2. coexist.

DERIVATIVES:
cohabitant noun
cohabitation noun
cohabitee noun.

ORIGIN: Latin cohabitare 'live together' .

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cohere

verb
1. hold firmly together; form a whole.
2. (of an argument or theory) be logically consistent.

ORIGIN: Latin cohaerere 'stick together' .

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coherent

adjective
1. (of an argument or theory) logical and consistent.
2. able to speak clearly and logically.
3. holding together to form a whole.

DERIVATIVES:
coherence noun
coherently adverb.

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cohesion

noun
the action or fact of holding together or forming a united whole.

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cohesive

adjective
characterized by or causing cohesion.

DERIVATIVES:
cohesively adverb
cohesiveness noun.

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cohort

noun
1. an ancient Roman military unit, comprising six centuries and equal to one tenth of a legion.
2. a number of people banded together or treated as a group.
3. derogatory, chiefly N. Amer. a supporter or companion.

ORIGIN: Latin cohors 'yard, retinue' .

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coif

noun
a close-fitting cap worn by nuns under a veil.

verb (coiffed, coiffing; US also coifed, coifing)
style or arrange (someone's hair).

ORIGIN: Old French coife 'headdress' , from Latin cofia 'helmet' .

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coiffure

noun
a person's hairstyle.

DERIVATIVES:
coiffured adjective.

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coil

noun
1. a length of something wound in a joined sequence of concentric loops.
2. an intrauterine contraceptive device in the form of a coil.
3. an electrical device consisting of a coiled wire, for converting the level of a voltage, producing a magnetic field, or adding inductance to a circuit.

verb
arrange or form into a coil.

ORIGIN: Old French coillir, from Latin colligere 'gather together' .

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coin

noun
a flat disc or piece of metal with an official stamp, used as money.

verb
1. make (coins) by stamping metal.
2. Brit. informal earn (large amounts of money) quickly and easily.
3. invent (a new word or phrase).

DERIVATIVES:
coiner noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'wedge, corner, die' , from Latin cuneus 'wedge' .

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coinage

noun
1. coins collectively.
2. the action or process of producing coins.
3. a system or type of coins in use.
4. the invention of a new word or phrase.
5. a newly invented word or phrase.

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coincide

verb
1. occur at the same time or place.
2. correspond in nature; tally.
3. be in agreement.

ORIGIN: Latin coincidere 'occur together.' .

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coincidence

noun
1. a remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection.
2. correspondence in nature or in time of occurrence.

DERIVATIVES:
coincident adjective
coincidental adjective
coincidentally adverb.

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coir

noun
fibre from the outer husk of the coconut, used in potting compost and for making ropes and matting.

ORIGIN: from a Dravidian word.

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coitus

noun technical
sexual intercourse.

DERIVATIVES:
coital adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from coire 'go together' .

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coitus interruptus

noun
sexual intercourse in which the penis is withdrawn before ejaculation.

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coke [1]

noun
1. a solid fuel made by heating coal in the absence of air so that the volatile components are driven off.
2. carbon residue left after the incomplete combustion or distillation of petrol or other fuels.

verb (usu. coking)
convert (coal) into coke.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «charcoal»: of unknown origin.

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Col.

abbreviation
Colonel.

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col

noun
the lowest point of a ridge or saddle between two peaks.

ORIGIN: French, 'neck' .

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colander

noun
a perforated bowl used to strain off liquid from food.

ORIGIN: from Latin colare 'to strain' .

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cold

adjective
1. of or at a low or relatively low temperature.
2. not feeling or showing emotion or affection.
3. not affected by emotion; objective: cold statistics.
4. (of a colour) containing pale blue or grey and giving no impression of warmth.
5. (of a scent or trail) no longer fresh and easy to follow.
6. (in children's games) far from finding or guessing what is sought.
7. without preparation or rehearsal; unawares.
8. informal unconscious.

noun
1. cold weather or surroundings.
2. a common infection in which the mucous membrane of the nose and throat becomes inflamed, causing running at the nose and sneezing.

IDIOMS -
cold comfort poor or inadequate consolation.
get cold feet lose one's nerve.
the cold shoulder intentional unfriendliness or rejection.
in cold blood without feeling or mercy.

DERIVATIVES:
coldly adverb
coldness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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cold-blooded

adjective
1. (of animals, e.g. reptiles and fish) having a body whose temperature varies with that of the environment.
2. without emotion; callous.

DERIVATIVES:
cold-bloodedly adverb
cold-bloodedness noun.

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cold-call

verb
make an unsolicited visit or telephone call to (someone) in an attempt to sell goods or services.

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cold cream

noun
a cream for cleansing and softening the skin.

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cold frame

noun
a frame with a glass top in which small plants are grown and protected.

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cold-hearted

adjective
lacking affection or warmth; unfeeling.

DERIVATIVES:
cold-heartedly adverb
cold-heartedness noun.

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cold sore

noun
an inflamed blister in or near the mouth, caused by infection with the herpes simplex virus.

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cold sweat

noun
a state of sweating induced by nervousness or illness.

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cold turkey

noun informal
1. abrupt withdrawal from a drug to which one is addicted.
2. symptoms such as sweating and nausea caused by this.

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cold war

noun
a state of hostility between the Soviet bloc countries and the Western powers after the Second World War.

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coleslaw

noun
a salad dish of shredded raw cabbage and carrots mixed with mayonnaise.

ORIGIN: Dutch koolsla, from kool 'cabbage' + sla 'salad' .

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colic

noun
severe pain in the abdomen caused by wind or obstruction in the intestines.

DERIVATIVES:
colicky adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin colicus, from colon 'colon' .

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collaborate

verb
1. work jointly on an activity or project.
2. cooperate traitorously with an enemy.

DERIVATIVES:
collaboration noun
collaborationist noun & adjective
collaborative adjective
collaborator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin collaborare 'work together' .

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collage

noun
1. a form of art in which various materials are arranged and stuck to a backing.
2. a combination or collection of various things.

ORIGIN: French, 'gluing' .

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collagen

noun
the main structural protein found in animal connective tissue, yielding gelatin when boiled.

ORIGIN: French collagène, from Greek kolla 'glue' .

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collapse

verb
1. suddenly fall down or give way.
2. (of a person) fall down as a result of physical breakdown.
3. fail suddenly and completely.

noun
1. an instance of a structure collapsing.
2. a sudden failure or breakdown.

ORIGIN: Latin collabi, from labi 'to slip' .

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collapsible

adjective
able to be folded down.

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collar

noun
1. a band of material around the neck of a shirt or other garment, either upright or turned over.
2. a band put around the neck of a domestic animal.
3. a connecting band or pipe in a piece of machinery.
4. Brit. a piece of meat rolled up and tied.

verb informal
seize or apprehend (someone).

DERIVATIVES:
collared adjective
collarless adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin collare 'band for the neck' , from collum 'neck' .

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collarbone

noun
either of the pair of bones joining the breastbone to the shoulder blades; the clavicle.

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collate

verb
1. collect and combine (texts or information).
2. compare and analyse (two or more sources of information).
3. Printing examine (a book) to make sure the sheets are in the correct order.

DERIVATIVES:
collator noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «confer (a benefice) upon»: from Latin collatus 'brought together' , from conferre (see CONFER).

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collateral

noun
1. something pledged as security for repayment of a loan.
2. a person descended from the same ancestor as another but through a different line.

adjective
1. additional but subordinate; secondary.
2. descended from the same stock but by a different line.
3. situated side by side; parallel.

DERIVATIVES:
collaterally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin collateralis, from latus 'side' .

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collation

noun
1. the action of collating.
2. a light informal meal.

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colleague

noun
a person with whom one works.

ORIGIN: Latin collega 'partner in office' .

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collect [1]

verb
1. bring or gather together.
2. systematically acquire (items of a particular kind) as a hobby.
3. call for and take away; fetch.
4. call for and receive as a right or due.
5. (collect oneself) regain control of oneself.
6. Austral./NZ informal collide with.

adverb & adjective N. Amer.
(of a telephone call) to be paid for by the person receiving it.

ORIGIN: Latin colligere 'gather together' .

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collect [2]

noun
(in church use) a short prayer, especially one assigned to a particular day or season.

ORIGIN: Latin collecta 'a gathering' , from colligere 'gather together' .

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collectable (also collectible)

adjective
1. worth collecting; of interest to a collector.
2. able to be collected.

noun
an item valued and sought by collectors.

DERIVATIVES:
collectability noun.

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collected

adjective
1. calm and unperturbed.
2. (of works) brought together in one volume or edition.

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collection

noun
1. the action of collecting.
2. a regular removal of mail for dispatch or of refuse for disposal.
3. an instance of collecting donations.
4. a group of things collected or accumulated.

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collective

adjective
1. done by or belonging to all the members of a group.
2. taken as a whole; aggregate.

noun
an enterprise owned or operated cooperatively.

DERIVATIVES:
collectively adverb
collectivity noun.

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collective bargaining

noun
negotiation of wages and other conditions of employment by an organized body of employees.

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collective farm

noun
a jointly operated amalgamation of several smallholdings, especially one owned by the state.

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collective noun

noun
a noun that denotes a group of individuals (e.g. assembly, family).

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collectivism

noun
1. the giving of priority to a group over each individual in it.
2. the ownership of land and the means of production by the people or the state.

DERIVATIVES:
collectivist adjective & noun
collectivize (also collectivise) verb.

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collector

noun
1. a person who collects things of a specified type.
2. an official who is responsible for collecting money owed.

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colleen

noun Irish
a girl or young woman.

ORIGIN: Irish cailin 'country girl' .

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college

noun
1. an educational establishment providing higher education or specialized training.
2. (in Britain) any of the independent institutions into which some universities are separated.
3. an organized group of professional people.

ORIGIN: Latin collegium 'partnership' , from collega 'partner' .

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collegiate

adjective
1. relating to a college or college students.
2. (of a university) composed of different colleges.

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collide

verb
1. hit by accident when moving.
2. come into conflict or opposition.

ORIGIN: Latin collidere, from laedere 'to strike' .

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collie

noun (pl. collies)
a breed of sheepdog with a long, pointed nose and thick long hair.

ORIGIN: perhaps from COAL (the breed originally being black).

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collier

noun chiefly Brit.
1. a coal miner.
2. a ship carrying coal.

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colliery

noun (pl. collieries)
a coal mine.

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collinear

adjective Geometry
(of points) lying in the same straight line.

DERIVATIVES:
collinearity noun.

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collision

noun
an instance of colliding.

DERIVATIVES:
collisional adjective.

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collocate

verb
(of a word) form a collocation with another.

noun
a word that forms a collocation with another.

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collocation

noun
1. the habitual occurrence of a word with another word or words with a frequency greater than chance.
2. a word or group of words that habitually occur together (e.g. heavy drinker).

ORIGIN: Latin, from collocare 'place together' .

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colloid

noun
1. a homogeneous substance consisting of submicroscopic particles of one substance dispersed in another, as in an emulsion or gel.
2. a gelatinous substance.

DERIVATIVES:
colloidal adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek kolla 'glue' .

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colloquial

adjective
(of language) used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary.

DERIVATIVES:
colloquially adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin colloquium 'conversation' .

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colloquialism

noun
a colloquial word or phrase.

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colloquium

noun (pl. colloquiums or colloquia)
an academic conference or seminar.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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colloquy

noun (pl. colloquies)
1. formal a conference or conversation.
2. a gathering for discussion of theological questions.

ORIGIN: Latin colloquium 'conversation' .

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collude

verb
come to a secret understanding; conspire.

ORIGIN: Latin colludere 'have a secret agreement' , from ludere 'to play' .

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collusion

noun
secret cooperation in order to cheat or deceive.

DERIVATIVES:
collusive adjective.

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collywobbles

plural noun informal, chiefly humorous
1. stomach pain or queasiness.
2. intense anxiety.

ORIGIN: formed from COLIC and WOBBLE.

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colobus

noun (pl. same)
a slender leaf-eating African monkey with silky fur.

ORIGIN: from Greek kolobos 'curtailed' (with reference to its shortened thumbs).

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cologne

noun
eau de cologne or similarly scented toilet water.

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colon [1]

noun
a punctuation mark (:) used to precede a list of items, a quotation, or an expansion or explanation.

ORIGIN: Greek klon 'limb, clause' .

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colon [2]

noun
the main part of the large intestine, which passes from the caecum to the rectum.

ORIGIN: Greek kolon 'food, meat' .

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colonel

noun
a rank of officer in the army and in the US air force, above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier or brigadier general.

DERIVATIVES:
colonelcy noun (pl. colonelcies) .

ORIGIN: from Italian colonnello 'column of soldiers' .

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colonial

adjective
1. relating to or characteristic of a colony or of colonialism.
2. in a style characteristic of the period of the British colonies in America before independence.
3. (of animals or plants) living in colonies.

noun
a person who lives in a colony.

DERIVATIVES:
colonially adverb.

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colonialism

noun
the practice of acquiring control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.

DERIVATIVES:
colonialist noun & adjective.

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colonic

adjective Anatomy
relating to or affecting the colon.

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colonic irrigation

noun
a therapeutic treatment in which water is inserted via the anus to flush out the colon.

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colonist

noun
an inhabitant of a colony.

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colonize (also colonise)

verb
1. establish a colony in (a place).
2. take over (a place) for one's own use.

DERIVATIVES:
colonization noun
colonizer noun.

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colonnade

noun
a row of evenly spaced columns supporting a roof or other structure.

DERIVATIVES:
colonnaded adjective.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin columna 'column' .

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colony

noun (pl. colonies)
1. a country or area under the control of another country and occupied by settlers from that country.
2. a group of people of one nationality or race living in a foreign place.
3. a place where a group of people with the same occupation or interest live together: a nudist colony.
4. a community of animals or plants of one kind living close together.

ORIGIN: Latin colonia 'settlement, farm' , from colere 'cultivate' .

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color (Brit. colour)

noun
1. the property possessed by an object of producing different sensations on the eye as a result of the way it reflects or emits light.
2. one, or any mixture, of the constituents into which light can be separated in a spectrum or rainbow.
3. the use of all colours, not only black and white, in photography or television.
4. pigmentation of the skin as an indication of someone's race.
5. redness of the complexion.
6. interest, excitement, and vitality.
7. (colors) chiefly Brit. an item or items of a particular colour worn for identification, especially in sport.
8. (colors) the flag of a regiment or ship.

verb
1. give a colour to.
2. show embarrassment by becoming red; blush.
3. influence, especially in a negative way: the experiences had colored her whole existence.

IDIOMS -
show one's true colors reveal one's real character or intentions, especially when these are disreputable.

ORIGIN: Latin color.

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Colorado beetle

noun
a yellow- and black-striped American beetle whose larvae are highly destructive to potato plants.

ORIGIN: named after the US state of Colorado.

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coloration (also colouration)

noun
1. arrangement or scheme of colour; colouring.
2. character or tone, especially of music.

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coloratura

noun
1. elaborate ornamentation of a vocal melody.
2. a soprano skilled in such singing.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'colouring' .

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colossal

adjective
extremely large.

DERIVATIVES:
colossally adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin colossus (see COLOSSUS).

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colossus

noun (pl. colossi or colossuses)
a person or thing of enormous size, in particular a statue that is much bigger than life size.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek kolossos.

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colostomy

noun (pl. colostomies)
a surgical operation in which the colon is shortened and the cut end diverted to an opening in the abdominal wall.

ORIGIN: from COLON + Greek stoma 'mouth' .

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colour (US color)

noun
1. the property possessed by an object of producing different sensations on the eye as a result of the way it reflects or emits light.
2. one, or any mixture, of the constituents into which light can be separated in a spectrum or rainbow.
3. the use of all colours, not only black and white, in photography or television.
4. pigmentation of the skin as an indication of someone's race.
5. redness of the complexion.
6. interest, excitement, and vitality.
7. (colours) chiefly Brit. an item or items of a particular colour worn for identification, especially in sport.
8. (colours) the flag of a regiment or ship.

verb
1. give a colour to.
2. show embarrassment by becoming red; blush.
3. influence, especially in a negative way: the experiences had coloured her whole existence.

IDIOMS -
show one's true colours reveal one's real character or intentions, especially when these are disreputable.

ORIGIN: Latin color.

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colour-blind

adjective
unable to distinguish certain colours.

DERIVATIVES:
colour blindness noun.

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coloured (US colored)

adjective
1. having a colour or colours.
2. dated or offensive wholly or partly of non-white descent.
3. S. African of mixed ethnic origin.

noun
1. dated or offensive a person who is wholly or partly of non-white descent.
2. S. African an Afrikaans- or English-speaking person of mixed descent.
3. (coloureds) clothes, sheets, etc. that are any colour but white.
USAGE - In reference to skin colour coloured was the accepted term until the 1960s, when it was superseded by black; it is now widely regarded as offensive except in historical contexts. In South Africa, on the other hand, the term is used to refer to people of mixed-race parentage rather than as a synonym for black, and in this context is not considered offensive or derogatory.

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colour-fast

adjective
dyed in colours that will not fade or be washed out.

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colourful (US colorful)

adjective
1. having many or varied colours.
2. lively and exciting; vivid.

DERIVATIVES:
colourfully adverb
colourfulness noun.

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colouring (US coloring)

noun
1. the process or art of applying colour.
2. visual appearance with regard to colour.
3. the natural hues of a person's skin, hair, and eyes.
4. a substance used to colour something, especially food.

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colourist (US colorist)

noun
an artist or designer who uses colour in a special or skilful way.

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colourless (US colorless)

adjective
1. without colour.
2. lacking character or interest; dull.

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colour scheme

noun
an arrangement or combination of colours.

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colour sergeant

noun
a rank of non-commissioned officer in the Royal Marines, above sergeant and below warrant officer (responsible for carrying one of the regiment's colours in a guard of honour).

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colt

noun
1. a young uncastrated male horse, in particular one less than four years old.
2. a member of a junior sports team.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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coltish

adjective
energetic but awkward in one's movements or behaviour.

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coltsfoot

noun
a plant with yellow flowers and large heart-shaped leaves.

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columbine

noun
a plant with long-spurred, typically purplish-blue flowers.

ORIGIN: from Latin columba 'dove' (from the supposed resemblance of the flower to a cluster of five doves).

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column

noun
1. an upright pillar supporting an arch or other structure or standing alone as a monument.
2. a line of people or vehicles moving in the same direction.
3. a vertical division of a page or text.
4. a regular section of a newspaper or magazine on a particular subject or by a particular person.
5. an upright shaft used for controlling a machine.

DERIVATIVES:
columnar adjective
columned adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin columna 'pillar' .

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columnist

noun
a journalist who writes a column in a newspaper or magazine.

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com- (also co-, col-, con-, or cor-)

prefix
with; together; jointly; altogether: combine.

ORIGIN: from Latin cum 'with' .

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coma

noun
a state of prolonged deep unconsciousness.

ORIGIN: Greek kma 'deep sleep' .

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Comanche

noun (pl. same or Comanches)
a member of an American Indian people of the south-western US.

ORIGIN: the Comanches' name for themselves.

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comatose

adjective
1. of or in a state of coma.
2. humorous extremely tired or lethargic.

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comb

noun
1. an article with a row of narrow teeth, used for untangling or arranging the hair.
2. a device for separating and dressing textile fibres.
3. the red fleshy crest on the head of a domestic fowl, especially a cock.
4. a honeycomb.

verb
1. untangle or arrange (the hair) by drawing a comb through it.
2. prepare (wool, flax, or cotton) for manufacture with a comb.
3. search carefully and systematically.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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combat

noun
fighting, especially between armed forces.

verb (combated or combatted, combating or combatting)
take action to reduce or prevent (something bad or undesirable).

ORIGIN: from Latin combattere 'fight with' .

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combatant

noun
a person or nation engaged in fighting during a war.

adjective
engaged in fighting during a war.

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combative

adjective
ready or eager to fight or argue.

DERIVATIVES:
combatively adverb
combativeness noun.

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combat trousers

plural noun
loose trousers with large patch pockets halfway down each leg, typically made of hard-wearing cotton.

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combe (also coomb or coombe)

noun Brit.
a short valley or hollow on a hillside or coastline.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to CWM.

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combination

noun
1. the action of combining two or more different things.
2. something in which the component elements are individually distinct.
3. a sequence of numbers or letters used to open a combination lock.
4. (combinations) dated a single undergarment covering the body and legs.

DERIVATIVES:
combinational adjective.

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combination lock

noun
a lock that is opened by rotating a set of marked dials to show a specific sequence of letters or numbers.

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combine

verb
1. join or mix together.
2. do or engage in simultaneously.
3. Chemistry unite to form a compound.

noun
a group of people or companies acting together for a commercial purpose.

DERIVATIVES:
combiner noun.

ORIGIN: Latin combinare 'join two by two' , from bini 'two together' .

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combine harvester

noun
an agricultural machine that reaps, threshes, and cleans a cereal crop in one operation.

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combining form

noun
a form of a word normally used in combination with another element to form a word (e.g. bio- ‘life’ in biology).

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combo

noun (pl. combos) informal
1. a small jazz, rock, or pop band.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a combination.

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combust

verb
consume or be consumed by fire.

DERIVATIVES:
combustible adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: Latin comburere 'burn up' .

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combustion

noun
1. the process of burning.
2. Chemistry rapid chemical combination with oxygen, involving the production of heat and light.

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come

verb (past came; past part. come)
1. move, travel, or reach towards or into a place thought of as near or familiar to the speaker.
2. arrive.
3. happen; take place.
4. occupy or achieve a specified position in space, order, or priority: she came second.
5. pass into a specified state or reach a certain condition or state of mind: his shirt came undone.
6. be sold or available in a specified form.
7. (also come, come) said to correct, reassure, or urge on someone.
8. (coming) likely to be important or successful in the future: a coming man.
9. informal have an orgasm.

preposition informal
when a specified time is reached or event happens.

noun informal
semen ejaculated at an orgasm.

IDIOMS -
come about
1. happen; take place.
2. (of a ship) change direction.
come across
1. (also chiefly Brit. come over) give a specified impression.
2. meet or find by chance.
3. informal hand over what is wanted.
come back chiefly N. Amer. reply or respond, especially vigorously.
come by manage to acquire or obtain.
come down on
1. criticize or punish harshly.
2. reach a decision in favour of one side or another.
come down to be dependent on (a factor).
come forward volunteer for a task o r to give evidence.
come from originate in.
come in prove to be: it came in handy.
come in for receive (a negative reaction).
come into inherit (money or property).
come of
1. result from.
2. be descended from.
come off
1. succeed; be accomplished.
2. fare in a specified way.
come off it informal said when vigorously expressing disbelief.
come on
1. (of a state or condition) start to arrive or happen.
2. (also come upon) meet or find by chance.
3. said to encourage or correct someone or hurry them up.
come on to informal make sexual advances towards.
come out
1. (of a fact) become known.
2. declare oneself as being for or against something.
3. acquit oneself or fare in a specified way.
4. (of a photograph) be produced satisfactorily or in a specified way.
5. (of the result of a calculation or measurement) emerge at a specified figure.
6. informal openly declare that one is homosexual.
7. Brit. dated (of a young upper-class woman) make one's debut in society.
come out with say in a sudden, rude, or incautious way.
come over
1. (of a feeling) begin to affect.
2. Brit. informal suddenly start to feel a specified way.
come round chiefly Brit. (chiefly US also come around)
1. recover consciousness.
2. be converted to anot her person's opinion.
3. (of a date or regular occurrence) be imminent again.
come to
1. recover consciousness.
2. (of an expense) amount to.
3. (of a ship) come to a stop.
come to pass chiefly literary happen.
come up
1. (of a situation or problem) occur or present itself.
2. (of a time or event) approach or draw near.
come up with produce (something), especially when pressured or challenged.
come upon
1. attack by surprise.
2. see come on (sense 2).
come what may no matter what happens.
have it coming (to one) informal be due for retribution.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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comeback

noun
1. a return to prominence or fashionability.
2. informal a quick reply to a critical remark.
3. informal opportunity to seek redress.

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comedian

noun (fem. comedienne)
1. an entertainer whose act is intended to arouse laughter.
2. a comic actor.

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comedown

noun informal
1. a loss of status or importance.
2. a feeling of disappointment or depression.
3. a lessening of the sensations generated by a narcotic drug as its effects wear off.

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comedy

noun (pl. comedies)
1. entertainment consisting of jokes and sketches intended to make an audience laugh.
2. a film, play, or programme intended to arouse laughter.
3. a humorous or satirical play in which the characters ultimately triumph over adversity.

DERIVATIVES:
comedic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek kmidia, from kmos 'revel' + aoidos 'singer' .

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come-hither

adjective informal
flirtatious or coquettish.

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comely

adjective (comelier, comeliest) archaic or humorous
pleasant to look at; attractive.

DERIVATIVES:
comeliness noun.

ORIGIN: probably shortened from becomely «fitting, becoming».

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come-on

noun informal
a gesture or remark intended to attract someone sexually.

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comestible formal or humorous

noun
an item of food.

adjective
edible.

ORIGIN: Latin comestibilis, from comedere 'eat up' .

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comet

noun
a celestial object moving around the solar system, consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a diffuse tail.

DERIVATIVES:
cometary adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek komts 'long-haired star' .

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comeuppance

noun informal
a punishment or fate that someone deserves.

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comfort

noun
1. a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint.
2. (comforts) things that contribute to comfort.
3. consolation for grief or anxiety.

verb
cause to feel less unhappy; console.

DERIVATIVES:
comforting adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French confort, from Latin confortare 'strengthen' .

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comfortable

adjective
1. providing or enjoying physical comfort.
2. free from financial worry.
3. (of a victory) with a wide margin.

DERIVATIVES:
comfortably adverb.

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comforter

noun
1. a person or thing that provides consolation.
2. Brit. a baby's dummy.
3. N. Amer. a warm quilt.

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comfrey

noun (pl. comfreys)
a plant with large hairy leaves and clusters of purplish or white bell-shaped flowers.

ORIGIN: Old French cumfirie, from Latin confervere 'heal' (referring to the plant's medicinal use).

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comfy

adjective (comfier, comfiest) informal
comfortable.

DERIVATIVES:
comfily adverb
comfiness noun.

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comic

adjective
1. causing or meant to cause laughter.
2. relating to or in the style of comedy.

noun
1. a comedian.
2. a children's periodical containing comic strips.

ORIGIN: Greek kmikos, from kmos 'revel' .

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comical

adjective
causing laughter, especially through being ludicrous.

DERIVATIVES:
comically adverb.

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comic strip

noun
a sequence of drawings in boxes that tell an amusing story.

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comity

noun (pl. comities)
1. an association of nations for their mutual benefit.
2. (also comity of nations) the mutual recognition by nations of the laws and customs of others.
3. formal polite and considerate behaviour towards others.

ORIGIN: Latin comitas, from comis 'courteous' .

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comma

noun
1. a punctuation mark (,) indicating a pause between parts of a sentence or separating items in a list.
2. a butterfly with orange and brown wings and a white comma-shaped mark on the underside of the hindwing.

ORIGIN: Greek komma 'piece cut off, short clause' .

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command

verb
1. give an authoritative order.
2. be in charge of (a military unit).
3. dominate (a strategic position) from a superior height.
4. be in a position to receive or secure: emeralds command a high price.

noun
1. an authoritative order.
2. authority, especially over armed forces: the officer in command.
3. a group of officers exercising control over a particular group or operation.
4. the ability to use or control something: his command of English.
5. an instruction causing a computer to perform one of its basic functions.

ORIGIN: Latin commandare, from mandare 'commit, command' .

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commandant

noun
an officer in charge of a force or institution.

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commandeer

verb
1. officially take possession of for military purposes.
2. seize for one's own purposes.

ORIGIN: Afrikaans kommandeer, from Dutch commanderen 'command' .

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commander

noun
1. a person in authority, especially in a military context.
2. a rank of naval officer next below captain.
3. an officer in charge of a Metropolitan Police district in London.
4. a member of a higher class in some orders of knighthood.

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commander-in-chief

noun (pl. commanders-in-chief)
an officer in charge of all of the armed forces of a country.

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commanding

adjective
1. indicating or expressing authority; imposing.
2. possessing or giving superior strength: a commanding lead.

DERIVATIVES:
commandingly adverb.

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commandment

noun
a divine rule, especially one of the Ten Commandments.

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commando

noun (pl. commandos)
1. a soldier specially trained for carrying out raids.
2. a unit of such troops.

ORIGIN: Portuguese, from commandar 'to command' .

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command performance

noun
a presentation of a play, concert, or film at the request of royalty.

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commemorate

verb
honour the memory of as a mark of respect.

DERIVATIVES:
commemoration noun
commemorative adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin commemorare 'bring to remembrance' .

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commence

verb
begin.

ORIGIN: Old French commencier, from Latin initiare 'begin' .

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commencement

noun
1. the beginning of something.
2. N. Amer. a ceremony in which degrees or diplomas are conferred.

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commend

verb
1. praise formally or officially.
2. present as suitable or good; recommend.
3. (commend to) archaic or formal entrust to.

DERIVATIVES:
commendation noun
commendatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin commendare, from mandare 'commit, entrust' .

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commendable

adjective
deserving praise.

DERIVATIVES:
commendably adverb.

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commensal

adjective Biology
relating to an association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm.

ORIGIN: Latin commensalis, from com- 'sharing' + mensa 'a table' .

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commensurable

adjective
1. measurable by the same standard.
2. (commensurable to) proportionate to.
3. Mathematics (of numbers) in a ratio equal to a ratio of integers.

ORIGIN: Latin commensurabilis, from mensurare 'to measure' .

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commensurate

adjective
corresponding in size or degree; in proportion.

DERIVATIVES:
commensurately adverb.

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comment

noun
1. a remark expressing an opinion or reaction.
2. discussion, especially of a critical nature, of an issue or event.

verb
express an opinion or reaction.

ORIGIN: Latin commentum 'contrivance, interpretation' , from comminisci 'devise' .

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commentary

noun (pl. commentaries)
1. the expression of opinions or offering of explanations about an event or situation.
2. a broadcast spoken account of a sports match or other event as it happens.
3. a set of explanatory or critical notes on a text.

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commentate

verb
provide a commentary on a sports match or other event.

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commentator

noun
1. a person who comments on events or texts, especially in the media.
2. a person who provides a commentary on a sports match or other event.

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commerce

noun
1. the activity of buying and selling, especially on a large scale.
2. dated social dealings between people.

ORIGIN: Latin commercium 'trade, trading' , from merx 'merchandise' .

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commercial

adjective
1. concerned with or engaged in commerce.
2. making or intended to make a profit.
3. (of television or radio) funded by the revenue from broadcast advertisements.

noun
a television or radio advertisement.

DERIVATIVES:
commerciality noun
commercially adverb.

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commercialism

noun
emphasis on the maximizing of profit.

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commercialize (also commercialise)

verb
manage or exploit in a way designed to make a profit.

DERIVATIVES:
commercialization noun.

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Commie

noun (pl. Commies) informal, derogatory
a communist.

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commingle

verb literary
mix; blend.

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commiserate

verb
express sympathy or pity; sympathize.

DERIVATIVES:
commiseration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin commiserari, from miserari 'to lament' .

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commissar

noun
a Communist official, especially in Soviet Russia or China, responsible for political education.

ORIGIN: Russian komissar, from Latin commissarius 'person in charge' .

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commissariat

noun chiefly Military
a department for the supply of food and equipment.

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commission

noun
1. an instruction, command, or duty.
2. an order for something to be produced specially.
3. a group of people given official authority to do something.
4. a sum paid to an agent in a commercial transaction.
5. a warrant conferring the rank of military officer.
6. the action of committing a crime or offence.
7. archaic the authority to perform a task.

verb
1. order or authorize the production of.
2. bring into working order.
3. appoint to the rank of military officer.

IDIOMS -
in (or out of) commission in (or not in) use or working order.

ORIGIN: Latin, from committere 'join, entrust' .

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commissionaire

noun chiefly Brit.
a uniformed door attendant at a hotel, theatre, or other building.

ORIGIN: French.

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commissioner

noun
1. a person appointed by, or as a member of, a commission.
2. a representative of the supreme authority in an area.
3. the head of the Metropolitan Police in London.

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commit

verb (committed, committing)
1. carry out or perform (a crime, immoral act, or mistake).
2. pledge or dedicate to a course, policy, or use.
3. (commit oneself to) resolve to remain in a long-term emotional relationship with (someone).
4. transfer for safekeeping or permanent preservation.
5. send to prison or psychiatric hospital, or for trial in a higher court.

ORIGIN: Latin committere 'join, entrust' , from mittere 'put or send' .

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commitment

noun
1. dedication to a cause or policy.
2. a pledge or undertaking.
3. an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action.

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committal

noun
1. the sending of someone to prison or psychiatric hospital, or for trial.
2. the burial of a corpse.

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committed

adjective
1. dedicated to a cause, activity, job, etc.
2. in a long-term emotional relationship.

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committee

noun
1. (treated as sing. or pl. ) a group of people appointed for a specific function by a larger group.
2. Law, Brit. a person to whom another person or another person's property is entrusted.

IDIOMS -
Committee of the whole House the whole House of Commons when sitting as a committee.

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commode

noun
1. a piece of furniture containing a concealed chamber pot.
2. a chest of drawers of a decorative type popular in the 18th century.

ORIGIN: French, 'convenient, suitable' .

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commodify

verb (commodifies, commodified)
turn into or treat as a mere commodity.

DERIVATIVES:
commodification noun.

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commodious

adjective formal
roomy and comfortable.

ORIGIN: Latin commodus 'convenient' .

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commodity

noun (pl. commodities)
1. a raw material or agricultural product that can be bought and sold.
2. something useful or valuable.

ORIGIN: Latin commoditas, from commodus 'convenient' .

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commodore

noun
1. a naval rank above captain and below rear admiral.
2. the president of a yacht club.
3. the senior captain of a shipping line.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch komandeur 'commander' .

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common

adjective (commoner, commonest)
1. occurring, found, or done often; not rare.
2. without special qualities, rank, or position; ordinary.
3. of the most familiar type.
4. showing a lack of taste and refinement supposedly typical of the lower classes; vulgar.
5. shared by two or more people or things.
6. belonging to or affecting the whole of a community: common land.
7. Grammar (of a noun in Latin, Dutch, and certain other languages) belonging to a gender conventionally regarded as masculine or feminine.

noun
1. a piece of open land for public use.
2. a form of Christian service used for each of a group of occasions.

IDIOMS -
common or garden Brit. informal of the usual or ordinary type.
in common in joint use or possession; shared.
in common with in the same way as.

DERIVATIVES:
commonness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin communis.

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commonality

noun (pl. commonalities)
the sharing of features or attributes.

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common denominator

noun
1. Mathematics a common multiple of the denominators of several fractions.
2. a feature shared by all members of a group.

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commoner

noun
one of the ordinary or common people, as opposed to the aristocracy or to royalty.

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common ground

noun
views shared by each of two or more parties.

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common law

noun
law derived from custom and judicial precedent rather than statutes.

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common-law husband (or wife)

noun
1. a partner in a marriage recognized in some jurisdictions (excluding the UK) as valid by common law, though not brought about by a civil or ecclesiastical ceremony.
2. a partner in a relationship in which a man and woman cohabit for long enough to suggest stability.

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commonly

adverb
very often; frequently.

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common market

noun
1. a group of countries imposing few or no duties on trade with one another and a common tariff on trade with other countries.
2. (the Common Market) the European Economic Community or European Union.

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common noun

noun
a noun referring to a class of objects or a concept as opposed to a particular individual.

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commonplace

adjective
not unusual or original; ordinary or trite.

noun
1. a usual or ordinary thing.
2. a trite saying or topic; a platitude.

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common room

noun chiefly Brit.
a room in an educational institution for use of students or staff outside teaching hours.

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commons

plural noun
1. (the Commons) the House of Commons.
2. (the Commons) historical the common people regarded as a part of a political system.
3. archaic provisions shared in common; rations.

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common sense

noun
good sense and sound judgement in practical matters.

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commonsensical

adjective
possessing or marked by common sense.

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common time

noun Music
a rhythmic pattern in which there are two or four beats in a bar.

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commonwealth

noun
1. an independent state or community, especially a democratic republic.
2. (the Commonwealth or in full the Commonwealth of Nations) an association consisting of the UK together with states that were previously part of the British Empire, and dependencies.
3. an aggregate or grouping of states or other bodies.
4. (the Commonwealth) the republican period of government in Britain between the execution of Charles I in 1649 and the Restoration of Charles II in 1660.
5. (the commonwealth) archaic the general good.

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commotion

noun
a state of confused and noisy disturbance.

ORIGIN: Latin, from com- 'altogether' + motio 'motion' .

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communal

adjective
1. shared or done by all members of a community.
2. (of conflict) between different communities, especially those having different religions or ethnic origins.

DERIVATIVES:
communality noun
communally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin communalis, from communis 'common' .

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commune [1]

noun
1. a group of people living together and sharing possessions and responsibilities.
2. the smallest French territorial division for administrative purposes.
3. (the Commune) the government elected in Paris in 1871, advocating communal organization of society.

ORIGIN: Latin communia, from communis 'common' .

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commune [2]

verb (commune with)
share one's intimate thoughts or feelings with.

ORIGIN: Old French comuner 'to share' .

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communicable

adjective
(especially of a disease) able to be communicated to others.

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communicant

noun
a person who receives Holy Communion.

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communicate

verb
1. share or exchange information or ideas.
2. pass on, transmit, or convey (an emotion, disease, heat, etc.).
3. (communicating) (of two rooms) having a common connecting door.
4. receive Holy Communion.

DERIVATIVES:
communicator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin communicare 'to share' , from communis 'common' .

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communication

noun
1. the action of communicating.
2. a letter or message.
3. (communications) means of sending or receiving information, such as telephone lines or computers.
4. (communications) means of travelling or of transporting goods, such as roads or railways.

DERIVATIVES:
communicational adjective.

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communication cord

noun Brit.
a cord or chain which a train passenger may pull in an emergency, causing the train to brake.

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communicative

adjective
willing or eager to talk or impart information.

DERIVATIVES:
communicatively adverb.

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communion

noun
1. the sharing of intimate thoughts and feelings.
2. (also Holy Communion) the service of Christian worship at which bread and wine are consecrated and shared; the Eucharist.
3. an allied group of Christian Churches or communities: the Anglican communion.

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communiqué

noun
an official announcement or statement, especially one made to the media.

ORIGIN: French, 'communicated' .

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communism

noun
1. a political and social system whereby all property is owned by the community and each person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs.
2. a system of this kind derived from Marxism, practised in China and formerly in the Soviet Union.

DERIVATIVES:
communist noun & adjective
communistic adjective.

ORIGIN: French communisme, from commun 'common' .

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community

noun (pl. communities)
1. a group of people living together in one place.
2. (the community) the people of an area or country considered collectively; society.
3. a group of people with a common religion, race, or profession: the scientific community.
4. the holding of certain attitudes and interests in common.
5. a group of interdependent plants or animals growing or living together or occupying a specified habitat.

ORIGIN: Old French comunete, from Latin communis 'common' .

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community care

noun
long-term care for mentally ill, elderly, and disabled people within the community rather than in hospitals or institutions.

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community centre

noun
a place providing educational or recreational activities for a neighbourhood.

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community service

noun
socially useful work that an offender is required to do instead of going to prison.

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commutate

verb
regulate or reverse the direction of (an alternating electric current), especially to make it a direct current.

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commutation

noun
1. the commuting of a judicial sentence.
2. the commutating of an electric current.

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commutative

adjective Mathematics
unchanged in result by interchanging the order of quantities, such that for example a x b = b x a.

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commutator

noun
an attachment connected with the armature of a motor or dynamo, through which electrical contact is made and which ensures the current flows as direct current.

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commute

verb
1. travel some distance between one's home and place of work on a regular basis.
2. reduce (a judicial sentence, especially a sentence of death) to a less severe one.
3. change (one kind of payment or obligation) for (another).

DERIVATIVES:
commutable adjective
commuter noun.

ORIGIN: Latin commutare, from mutare 'to change' ; sense 1 derives from commutation ticket, the US term for a season ticket (because the daily fare is commuted to a single payment).

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compact [1]

adjective
1. closely and neatly packed together; dense.
2. having all the necessary components or features neatly fitted into a small space.

verb
exert force on to make more dense; compress.

noun
a small flat case containing face powder, a mirror, and a powder puff.

DERIVATIVES:
compaction noun
compactly adverb
compactness noun
compactor noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin compingere 'fasten together' .

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compact [2]

noun
a formal agreement or contract between two or more parties.

ORIGIN: Latin compactum, from compacisci 'make a covenant with' .

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compact disc

noun
a small plastic disc on which music or other digital information is stored in the form of a pattern of metal-coated pits from which it can be read using laser light reflected off the disc.

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compadre

noun (pl. compadres) informal, chiefly N. Amer.
a friend or companion.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'godfather' .

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companion

noun
1. a person with whom one spends time or travels.
2. each of a pair of things intended to complement or match each other.
3. (Companion) a member of the lowest grade of certain orders of knighthood.

DERIVATIVES:
companionship noun.

ORIGIN: Old French compaignon 'one who breaks bread with another' , from Latin panis 'bread' .

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companionable

adjective
friendly and sociable.

DERIVATIVES:
companionably adverb.

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companionway

noun
a set of steps leading from a ship's deck down to a cabin or lower deck.

ORIGIN: from obsolete Dutch kompanje 'quarterdeck' .

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company

noun (pl. companies)
1. a commercial business.
2. companionship, especially of a specified kind: she is excellent company.
3. a guest or guests: we're expecting company.
4. a number of people gathered together.
5. a body of soldiers, especially the smallest subdivision of an infantry battalion.
6. a group of actors, singers, or dancers who perform together.

IDIOMS -
in company with together with.
keep someone company spend time with someone to prevent them feeling lonely or bored.
keep company with associate with habitually.

ORIGIN: Old French compainie; related to compaignon (see COMPANION).

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comparable

adjective
1. able to be likened to another; similar.
2. of equivalent quality.

DERIVATIVES:
comparability noun
comparably adverb.

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comparative

adjective
1. measured or judged by comparison; relative.
2. involving comparison between two or more subjects or branches of science.
3. (of an adjective or adverb) expressing a higher degree of a quality, but not the highest possible (e.g. braver; more fiercely). Contrasted with POSITIVE, SUPERLATIVE.

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comparatively

adverb
to a moderate degree as compared to something else; relatively.

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comparator

noun
1. a device for comparing something measurable with a reference or standard.
2. something used as a standard for comparison.

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compare

verb
1. (often compare to/with) estimate, measure, or note the similarity or dissimilarity between.
2. (compare to) point out or describe the resemblances of (something) with.
3. (usu. compare with) be similar to or have a specified relationship with another thing or person.

IDIOMS -
beyond (or without) compare surpassing all others of the same kind.
compare notes exchange ideas or information about a subject.

ORIGIN: Latin comparare, from compar 'like, equal' .

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comparison

noun
1. the action or an instance of comparing.
2. the quality of being similar or equivalent.

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compartment

noun
1. a separate section of a structure or container.
2. a division of a railway carriage marked by partitions.

DERIVATIVES:
compartmental adjective
compartmentally adverb.

ORIGIN: French compartiment, from Latin compartiri 'divide' .

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compartmentalize (also compartmentalise)

verb
divide into categories or sections.

DERIVATIVES:
compartmentalization noun.

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compass

noun
1. an instrument containing a magnetized pointer which shows the direction of magnetic north and bearings from it.
2. (also compasses) an instrument for drawing circles and arcs and measuring distances between points, consisting of two arms linked by a movable joint.
3. range or scope.

verb archaic
1. circle or surround.
2. manage to accomplish.

ORIGIN: Old French compas, from Latin com- 'together' + passus 'a step or pace' .

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compassion

noun
sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.

ORIGIN: Latin, from compati 'suffer with' .

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compassionate

adjective
feeling or showing compassion.

DERIVATIVES:
compassionately adverb.

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compatible

adjective
1. able to exist or be used together without problems or conflict.
2. (of two people) able to have a harmonious relationship; well suited.
3. (usu. compatible with) consistent or in keeping.

DERIVATIVES:
compatibility noun
compatibly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin compatibilis, from compati 'suffer with' .

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compatriot

noun
a person from the same country; a fellow citizen.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin patriota 'fellow countryman' .

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compel

verb (compelled, compelling)
1. force or oblige to do something.
2. bring about by force or pressure.

ORIGIN: Latin compellere, from pellere 'drive' .

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compelling

adjective
powerfully evoking attention or admiration.

DERIVATIVES:
compellingly adverb.

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compendious

adjective formal
presenting the essential facts in a comprehensive but concise way.

DERIVATIVES:
compendiously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin compendiosus 'advantageous, brief' .

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compendium

noun (pl. compendiums or compendia)
1. a collection of concise but detailed information about a particular subject.
2. a collection of similar items.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'profit, saving' (literally 'what is weighed together' ), from compendere 'weigh together' .

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compensate

verb
1. give (someone) something to reduce or balance the bad effect of loss, suffering, or injury.
2. (compensate for) make up for (something undesirable) by exerting an opposite force or effect.

DERIVATIVES:
compensator noun
compensatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin compensare 'weigh against' .

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compensation

noun
1. something given to compensate for loss, suffering, or injury.
2. something that compensates for an undesirable state of affairs.
3. the action or process of compensating.
4. chiefly N. Amer. salary or wages.

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compère Brit.

noun
a person who introduces the acts in a variety show.

verb
act as a compère for.

ORIGIN: French, 'godfather' .

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compete

verb
strive to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others.

ORIGIN: Latin competere, from petere 'aim at, seek' .

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competence (also competency)

noun
1. the quality or extent of being competent.
2. dated an income large enough to live on.

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competent

adjective
1. having the necessary skill or knowledge to do something successfully.
2. satisfactory or adequate, though not outstanding: she spoke quite competent French.
3. having legal authority to deal with a particular matter.

DERIVATIVES:
competently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin competere in the sense 'be fit or proper' .

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competition

noun
1. the activity of competing against others.
2. an event or contest in which people compete.
3. the person or people with whom one is competing.

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competitive

adjective
1. relating to or characterized by competition.
2. strongly desiring to be more successful than others.
3. as good as or better than others of a comparable nature.

DERIVATIVES:
competitively adverb
competitiveness noun.

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competitor

noun
1. a person who takes part in a sporting contest.
2. an organization engaged in commercial or economic competition with others.

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compilation

noun
1. the action or process of compiling.
2. a thing, especially a book or record, compiled from different sources.

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compile

verb
1. produce (a book, report, etc.) by assembling material from other sources.
2. gather (material) to produce a book, report, etc.

ORIGIN: Latin compilare 'plunder or plagiarize' .

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compiler

noun
1. a person who compiles information.
2. a computer program that translates instructions from a high-level language into a machine-code or lower-level form which can be executed by the computer.

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complacent

adjective
smug and uncritically satisfied with oneself or one's achievements.

DERIVATIVES:
complacency (also complacence) noun
complacently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin complacere 'to please' .

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complain

verb
1. express dissatisfaction or annoyance.
2. (complain of) state that one is suffering from (a symptom of illness).

DERIVATIVES:
complainer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French complaindre, from Latin complangere 'bewail' .

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complainant

noun Law
a plaintiff in certain lawsuits.

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complaint

noun
1. an act of complaining.
2. a reason for dissatisfaction.
3. the expression of dissatisfaction: a letter of complaint.
4. an illness or medical condition, especially a relatively minor one.

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complaisant

adjective
willing to please others or to accept their behaviour without protest.

DERIVATIVES:
complaisance noun.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin complacere 'to please' .

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complement

noun
1. a thing that contributes extra features to something else so as to enhance or improve it.
2. the number or quantity that makes something complete.
3. a word or words used with a verb to complete the meaning of the predicate (e.g. happy in the sentence we are happy).
4. Geometry the amount by which a given angle is less than 90°.

verb
serve as a complement to.
USAGE - Complement and compliment are frequently confused. As a verb, complement means ‘add to in a way that enhances or improves’, while compliment means ‘politely congratulate or praise’.
ORIGIN: Latin complementum, from complere 'fill up' .

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complementary

adjective
1. combining so as to form a complete whole or to enhance each other.
2. relating to complementary medicine.

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complementary angle

noun
either of two angles whose sum is 90°.

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complementary medicine

noun
medical therapy that falls beyond the scope of scientific medicine but may be used alongside it, e.g. acupuncture and osteopathy.

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complete

adjective
1. having all the necessary or appropriate parts; entire.
2. having run its full course; finished.
3. to the greatest extent or degree; total.
4. skilled at every aspect of an activity: the complete footballer.
5. (complete with) having as an additional part or feature.

verb
1. finish making or doing.
2. provide with the items necessary to make (something) complete.
3. write the required information on (a form).
4. Brit. conclude the sale of a property.

DERIVATIVES:
completeness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin complere 'fill up, finish, fulfil' .

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completely

adverb
totally; utterly.

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completion

noun
1. the action of completing or the state of being completed.
2. Brit. the final stage in the sale of a property, at which point it legally changes ownership.

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completist

noun
an obsessive fan who wants to own everything produced by a particular person or group.

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complex

adjective
1. consisting of many different and connected parts.
2. not easy to understand; complicated.

noun
1. a group of similar buildings or facilities on the same site.
2. an interlinked system; a network.
3. a related group of repressed feelings or ideas which lead to abnormal mental states or behaviour.
4. informal an obsession or preoccupation.

DERIVATIVES:
complexity noun
complexly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin complexus, from complectere 'embrace, comprise' , later associated with complexus 'plaited' .

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complexion

noun
1. the natural tone and texture of the skin of a person's face.
2. the general aspect or character of something.

DERIVATIVES:
-complexioned adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'combination' , from complectere 'embrace, comprise' .

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complex number

noun Mathematics
a number containing both a real and an imaginary part.

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compliance

noun
1. the action or fact of complying.
2. excessive acquiescence.

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compliant

adjective
1. tending to be excessively obedient or acquiescent.
2. complying with rules or standards.

DERIVATIVES:
compliantly adverb.

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complicate

verb
1. make more intricate or confusing.
2. Medicine introduce complications in (an existing condition).

ORIGIN: Latin complicare 'fold together' .

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complicated

adjective
1. consisting of many interconnecting elements; intricate.
2. involving many confusing aspects.

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complication

noun
1. a circumstance that complicates something; a difficulty.
2. an involved or confused state.
3. Medicine a secondary disease or condition aggravating an already existing one.

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complicit

adjective
involved with others in an unlawful activity.

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complicity

noun
involvement with others in an unlawful activity.

ORIGIN: from Old French complice 'an associate' , from Latin complicare 'fold together' .

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compliment

noun
1. an expression of praise or admiration, either in words or by an action.
2. (compliments) formal greetings.

verb
politely congratulate or praise.

IDIOMS -
return the compliment retaliate or respond in kind.
with the compliments of someone given without charge.

USAGE - On the confusion of compliment and complement, see the note at COMPLEMENT.
ORIGIN: Italian complimento 'fulfilment of the requirements of courtesy' , from Latin complementum 'completion, fulfilment' .

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complimentary

adjective
1. expressing a compliment; praising or approving.
2. given free of charge.

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comply

verb (complies, complied) (often comply with)
1. act in accordance with a wish or command.
2. meet specified standards.

ORIGIN: Latin complere 'fulfil, fill up' .

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component

noun
a part or element of a larger whole.

adjective
being part of a larger whole.

ORIGIN: from Latin componere 'put together' .

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comport

verb (comport oneself) formal
conduct oneself; behave.

ORIGIN: Latin comportare, from portare 'carry, bear' .

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comportment

noun formal
behaviour or bearing.

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compose

verb
1. create (a work of art, especially music or poetry).
2. constitute or make up (a whole).
3. arrange in an orderly or artistic way.
4. (often composed) calm or settle (one's features or thoughts).
5. prepare (a text) for printing by setting up the characters to be printed.

ORIGIN: Old French composer, from Latin componere 'put together' .

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composer

noun
a person who writes music.

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composite

adjective
1. made up of various parts or elements.
2. (Composite) relating to a classical order of architecture consisting of elements of the Ionic and Corinthian orders.
3. (of a plant) having flower heads consisting of numerous florets, such as a daisy or chrysanthemum.

noun
1. a thing made up of several parts or elements.
2. a motion for debate composed of two or more related resolutions.

ORIGIN: from Latin componere 'put together' .

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composition

noun
1. the constitution of something made up from different elements: the molecular composition of cells.
2. a work of music, literature, or art.
3. a thing composed of various elements.
4. the action of composing.
5. the artistic arrangement of the parts of a picture.

DERIVATIVES:
compositional adjective.

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compositor

noun
a person who arranges type for printing or who keys text into a composing machine.

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compos mentis

adjective
having full control of one's mind.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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compost

noun
1. decayed organic material used as a fertilizer for growing plants.
2. a mixture of compost with loam soil used as a growing medium.

verb
make into or treat with compost.

ORIGIN: Latin composita 'something put together' , from componere 'compose' .

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composure

noun
the state of being calm and self-controlled.

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compound [1]

noun
1. a thing composed of two or more separate elements.
2. a substance formed from two or more elements chemically united in fixed proportions.
3. a word made up of two or more existing words.

adjective
1. made up or consisting of several parts or elements.
2. (of interest) payable on both capital and the accumulated interest. Compare with SIMPLE.
3. (of a leaf, flower, or eye) consisting of two or more simple parts or individuals in combination.

verb
1. make up (a composite whole).
2. make (something bad) worse.
3. mix (ingredients or constituents).
4. Law forbear from prosecuting (a felony) in exchange for money or other consideration.

DERIVATIVES:
compounder noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin componere 'put together' .

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compound [2]

noun
1. a large open area enclosed by a fence, e.g. around a factory or within a prison.
2. another term for POUND.

ORIGIN: Malay, 'enclosure, hamlet' .

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compound fracture

noun
an injury in which a broken bone pierces the skin.

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comprehend

verb
1. grasp mentally; understand.
2. formal include or encompass.

ORIGIN: Latin comprehendere, from prehendere 'to grasp' .

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comprehensible

adjective
able to be understood; intelligible.

DERIVATIVES:
comprehensibility noun.

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comprehension

noun
1. the action of understanding.
2. the ability to understand; range of understanding: mysteries beyond human comprehension.

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comprehensive

adjective
1. including or dealing with all or nearly all aspects of something.
2. Brit. (of a system of secondary education) in which children of all abilities are educated in one school.
3. (of motor-vehicle insurance) providing cover for most risks.
4. (of a victory or defeat) by a large margin.

noun Brit.
a comprehensive school.

DERIVATIVES:
comprehensively adverb
comprehensiveness noun.

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compress

verb
1. flatten by pressure; force into less space.
2. squeeze or press (two things) together.

noun
a pad of absorbent material pressed on to part of the body to relieve inflammation or stop bleeding.

DERIVATIVES:
compressibility noun
compressible adjective
compressive adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French compresser, from Latin comprimere 'press together' .

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compressed air

noun
air that is at more than atmospheric pressure.

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compression

noun
1. the action of compressing or being compressed.
2. the reduction in volume (causing an increase in pressure) of the fuel mixture in an internal-combustion engine before ignition.

DERIVATIVES:
compressional adjective.

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compressor

noun
1. an instrument or device for compressing something.
2. a machine used to supply air or other gas at increased pressure.

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comprise

verb
1. be made up of; consist of.
2. (also be comprised of) make up; constitute.
USAGE - Traditionally, comprise means ‘consist of’ and should not be used to mean ‘constitute or make up (a whole)’. However, a passive use of comprise is becoming part of standard English: this use (as in the country is comprised of twenty states ) is more or less synonymous with the traditional active sense (as in the country comprises twenty states ).
ORIGIN: from French, 'comprised' , from comprendre 'comprehend' .

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compromise

noun
1. an agreement reached by each side making concessions.
2. an intermediate state between conflicting opinions, reached by mutual concession.

verb
1. settle a dispute by mutual concession.
2. expediently accept standards that are lower than is desirable.
3. bring into disrepute or danger by indiscreet or reckless behaviour.

DERIVATIVES:
compromiser noun.

ORIGIN: Old French compromis, from Latin compromittere, from promittere 'promise' .

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compromising

adjective
revealing an embarrassing or incriminating secret.

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comptroller

noun
a controller (used in the title of some financial officers).

ORIGIN: variant of CONTROLLER.

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compulsion

noun
1. the action or state of compelling or being compelled.
2. an irresistible urge to behave in a certain way.

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compulsive

adjective
1. resulting from or acting on an irresistible urge.
2. irresistibly interesting or exciting.

DERIVATIVES:
compulsively adverb
compulsiveness noun.

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compulsory

adjective
required by law or a rule; obligatory.

DERIVATIVES:
compulsorily adverb.

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compunction

noun
a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows wrongdoing: he felt no compunction in letting her worry.

DERIVATIVES:
compunctious adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from compungere 'prick sharply' .

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computation

noun
1. mathematical calculation.
2. the use of computers, especially as a subject of research or study.

DERIVATIVES:
computational adjective.

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compute

verb
reckon or calculate (a figure or amount).

DERIVATIVES:
computable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin computare, from putare 'settle (an account)' .

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computer

noun
an electronic device capable of storing and processing information in accordance with a predetermined set of instructions.

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computerize (also computerise)

verb
convert to a system or form which is controlled, stored, or processed by computer.

DERIVATIVES:
computerization noun.

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computer-literate

adjective
having sufficient knowledge and skill to be able to use computers.

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computing

noun
the use or operation of computers.

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comrade

noun
1. (among men) a companion who shares one's activities or is a fellow member of an organization.
2. (also comrade-in-arms) a fellow soldier.
3. a fellow socialist or communist.

DERIVATIVES:
comradely adjective
comradeship noun.

ORIGIN: Spanish camarada 'room-mate' .

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con [1] informal

verb (conned, conning)
deceive (someone) into doing or believing something by lying.

noun
a deception of this kind.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of CONFIDENCE, as in confidence trick.

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con [2]

noun (usu. in phrase pros and cons)
a disadvantage or argument against something.

ORIGIN: from Latin contra 'against' .

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con-

prefix variant spelling of COM-
assimilated before c, d, f, g, j, n, q, s, t, v, and sometimes before vowels (as in concord, confide, etc.).

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concave

adjective
having an outline or surface that curves inwards like the interior of a sphere. Compare with CONVEX.

DERIVATIVES:
concavity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin concavus, from cavus 'hollow' .

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conceal

verb
prevent from being seen or known.

DERIVATIVES:
concealer noun
concealment noun.

ORIGIN: Latin concelare, from celare 'hide' .

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concede

verb
1. finally admit or agree that something is true.
2. surrender (a possession, advantage, or right).
3. admit defeat in (a match or contest).
4. fail to prevent an opponent scoring (a goal or point).

ORIGIN: Latin concedere, from cedere 'yield' .

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conceit

noun
1. excessive pride in oneself.
2. an elaborate metaphor or artistic effect.
3. a fanciful notion.

ORIGIN: from CONCEIVE.

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conceited

adjective
excessively proud of oneself.

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conceivable

adjective
capable of being imagined or understood.

DERIVATIVES:
conceivably adverb.

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conceive

verb
1. become pregnant with (a child).
2. devise in the mind; imagine.

ORIGIN: Latin concipere, from capere 'take' .

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concentrate

verb
1. (often concentrate on) focus all one's attention or mental effort on an object or activity.
2. gather together in numbers or a mass at one point.
3. focus on: concentrate your energy on breathing.
4. increase the strength of (a solution).

noun
a concentrated substance or solution.

DERIVATIVES:
concentrator noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin con- 'together' + centrum 'centre' or from French concentrer 'to concentrate' .

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concentration

noun
1. the action or power of concentrating.
2. a close gathering of people or things.
3. the relative amount of a particular substance contained within a solution or mixture.

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concentration camp

noun
a camp for detaining political prisoners, especially in Nazi Germany.

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concentric

adjective
(of circles or arcs) sharing the same centre.

DERIVATIVES:
concentrically adverb
concentricity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin concentricus, from con- 'together' + centrum 'centre' .

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concept

noun
1. an abstract idea.
2. an idea to help sell or publicize a commodity.

ORIGIN: Latin conceptum 'something conceived' .

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conception

noun
1. the action of conceiving a child or of one being conceived.
2. the devising of a plan or idea.
3. a concept.
4. ability to imagine or understand.

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conceptual

adjective
relating to mental concepts.

DERIVATIVES:
conceptually adverb.

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conceptualize (also conceptualise)

verb
form a concept of.

DERIVATIVES:
conceptualization noun.

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concern

verb
1. relate to; be about.
2. be relevant to; affect or involve.
3. make anxious or worried.

noun
1. worry; anxiety.
2. a matter of interest or importance.
3. a business.

IDIOMS -
have no concern with have nothing to do with.
to whom it may concern used to address a reader whose identity is unknown.

ORIGIN: Latin concernere, from cernere 'sift, discern' .

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concerned

adjective
worried or anxious.

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concerning

preposition
about.

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concert

noun
1. a musical performance given in public, typically of several compositions.
2. formal agreement; harmony.

verb formal
arrange by mutual agreement or coordination.

IDIOMS -
in concert
1. acting jointly.
2. giving a live public performance.

ORIGIN: Italian concerto, from concertare 'harmonize' .

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concerted

adjective
1. jointly arranged or carried out: a concerted campaign.
2. using exertion: a concerted effort.

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concertina

noun
a small musical instrument played by stretching and squeezing a central bellows between the hands to blow air over reeds, each note being sounded by a button.

verb (concertinas, concertinaed or concertina'd, concertinaing)
compress in folds like those of a concertina.

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concerto

noun (pl. concertos or concerti)
a musical composition for an orchestra and one or more solo instruments.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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concert performance

noun Brit.
a performance of a piece of music written for an opera or ballet without the accompanying dramatic action.

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concession

noun
1. a thing conceded.
2. a reduction in price for a certain category of person.
3. the right to use land or other property for a specified purpose, granted by a government or other controlling body.
4. a commercial operation set up within the premises of a larger concern.

DERIVATIVES:
concessionary adjective
concessive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from concedere 'concede' .

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conch

noun (pl. conchs or conches)
a tropical marine mollusc with a spiral shell.

ORIGIN: Greek konkh 'mussel, cockle, or shell-like cavity' .

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concierge

noun
1. (especially in France) a resident caretaker of a block of flats or small hotel.
2. a hotel employee who assists guests by booking tours, making theatre and restaurant reservations, etc.

ORIGIN: French.

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conciliate

verb
1. make calm and content; placate.
2. mediate in a dispute.

DERIVATIVES:
conciliation noun
conciliator noun
conciliatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin conciliare 'combine, gain' , from concilium 'assembly' .

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concise

adjective
giving a lot of information clearly and in few words.

DERIVATIVES:
concisely adverb
conciseness noun
concision noun.

ORIGIN: Latin concisus 'cut up, cut down' .

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conclave

noun
1. a private meeting.
2. (in the Roman Catholic Church) the assembly of cardinals for the election of a pope.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'lockable room' , from clavis 'key' .

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conclude

verb
1. bring or come to an end.
2. arrive at a judgement or opinion by reasoning.
3. formally settle or arrange (a treaty or agreement).

ORIGIN: Latin concludere, from claudere 'to shut' .

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conclusion

noun
1. an end or finish.
2. the summing-up of an argument or text.
3. a judgement or decision reached by reasoning.
4. the settling of a treaty or agreement.

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conclusive

adjective
decisive or convincing.

DERIVATIVES:
conclusively adverb
conclusiveness noun.

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concoct

verb
1. make (a dish or meal) by combining ingredients.
2. invent or devise (a story or plan).

DERIVATIVES:
concocter noun
concoction noun.

ORIGIN: Latin concoquere 'cook together' .

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concomitant formal

adjective
naturally accompanying or associated.

noun
a concomitant phenomenon.

DERIVATIVES:
concomitance noun
concomitantly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin concomitari 'accompany' , from comes 'companion' .

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concord

noun
1. agreement; harmony.
2. a treaty.

ORIGIN: Latin concordia, from concors 'of one mind' .

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concordance

noun
1. an alphabetical list of the important words in a text, usually with citations of the passages concerned.
2. formal agreement.

ORIGIN: from Latin concordare 'agree on' .

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concordat

noun
an agreement or treaty, especially one between the Vatican and a secular state.

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concourse

noun
1. a large open area inside or in front of a public building.
2. formal a crowd of people.

ORIGIN: Latin concursus, from concurrere 'assemble in crowds' .

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concrete

adjective
1. existing in a material or physical form; not abstract.
2. specific; definite: concrete proof.

noun
a building material made from gravel, sand, cement, and water, hardening when dry into a stone-like mass.

verb
cover or fix solidly with concrete.

DERIVATIVES:
concretely adverb
concreteness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin concretus 'grown together' .

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concretion

noun
a hard solid mass formed by accumulation of matter.

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concubine

noun
1. chiefly historical (in polygamous societies) a woman who lives with a man but has lower status than his wife or wives.
2. archaic a mistress.

ORIGIN: Latin concubina, from con- 'with' + cubare 'to lie' .

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concur

verb (concurred, concurring)
1. (often concur with) agree.
2. happen at the same time.

ORIGIN: Latin concurrere 'run together, assemble in crowds' .

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concurrent

adjective
1. existing or happening at the same time.
2. Mathematics (of three or more lines) meeting at or tending towards one point.

DERIVATIVES:
concurrence noun
concurrently adverb.

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concussion

noun
1. temporary unconsciousness or confusion caused by a blow on the head.
2. a violent shock as from a heavy blow.

DERIVATIVES:
concuss verb
concussive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from concutere 'dash together, shake' .

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condemn

verb
1. express complete disapproval of.
2. (usu. condemn to) sentence to a punishment, especially death.
3. force (someone) to endure something unpleasant.
4. officially declare to be unfit for use.
5. prove the guilt of.

DERIVATIVES:
condemnation noun
condemnatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin condemnare, from damnare 'inflict loss on' .

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condensation

noun
1. water from humid air collecting as droplets on a cold surface.
2. the conversion of a vapour or gas to a liquid.
3. a concise version of something.

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condense

verb
1. make denser or more concentrated.
2. change from a gas or vapour to a liquid.
3. express (a piece of writing or speech) in fewer words.

ORIGIN: Latin condensare, from condensus 'very thick' .

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condensed milk

noun
milk that has been thickened by evaporation and sweetened.

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condescend

verb
1. show that one feels superior.
2. do something despite regarding it as below one's dignity: he condescended to see me at my hotel.

DERIVATIVES:
condescension noun.

ORIGIN: Latin condescendere, from descendere 'descend' .

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condescending

adjective
feeling or showing a patronizing attitude.

DERIVATIVES:
condescendingly adverb.

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condiment

noun
a seasoning or relish for food, such as salt or mustard.

ORIGIN: Latin condimentum, from condire 'to pickle' .

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condition

noun
1. the state of something or someone, with regard to appearance, fitness, or working order.
2. (conditions) circumstances affecting the functioning or existence of something.
3. a state of affairs that must exist before something else is possible: for a country to borrow money, three conditions must be met.
4. an illness or medical problem.

verb
1. have a significant influence on; determine.
2. bring into a good or desirable state or condition.
3. train or accustom to behave in a certain way: the child is conditioned to dislike food.
4. set prior requirements on (something) before it can occur.

IDIOMS -
in (or out of) condition in a fit (or unfit) physical state.
on condition that with the stipulation that.

ORIGIN: Latin condicion 'agreement' , from condicere 'agree upon' .

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conditional

adjective
1. subject to one or more conditions being met.
2. (of a clause, phrase, conjunction, or verb form) expressing a condition.

noun
the conditional mood of a verb, for example should in if I should die.

DERIVATIVES:
conditionality noun
conditionally adverb.

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conditioner

noun
a thing used to improve the condition of something, especially a liquid applied to the hair.

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condole

verb (condole with)
express sympathy for.

ORIGIN: Latin condolere 'grieve or suffer with' .

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condolence

noun
an expression of sympathy, especially on the occasion of a death.

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condom

noun
a thin rubber sheath worn on the penis during sexual intercourse as a contraceptive or to protect against infection.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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condominium

noun (pl. condominiums)
1. the joint control of a state's affairs by other states.
2. N. Amer. a building or complex containing a number of individually owned flats or houses.
3. N. Amer. a flat or house in a condominium.

ORIGIN: Latin, from con- 'together with' + dominium 'sovereignty, dominion'

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condone

verb
accept or forgive (an offence or wrongdoing).

DERIVATIVES:
condonation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin condonare 'refrain from punishing' .

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condor

noun
a very large South American vulture with a bare head and mainly black plumage.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from Quechua.

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conducive

adjective (conducive to)
contributing or helping towards.

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conduct

noun
1. the manner in which a person behaves.
2. management or direction: the conduct of foreign affairs.

verb
1. organize and carry out.
2. direct the performance of (a piece of music or an orchestra or choir).
3. guide to or around a place.
4. (conduct oneself) behave in a specified way.
5. transmit (heat, electricity, etc.) by conduction.

ORIGIN: from Latin conducere 'bring together' .

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conductance

noun
the degree to which a material conducts electricity.

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conduction

noun
the transmission of heat or electricity directly through a substance, without motion of the material.

DERIVATIVES:
conductive adjective.

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conductivity

noun
the degree to which a specified material conducts electricity or heat.

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conductor

noun
1. a person who conducts an orchestra or choir.
2. a material or device that conducts heat or electricity.
3. a person who collects fares on a bus.
4. N. Amer. a guard on a train.

DERIVATIVES:
conductorship noun
conductress noun.

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conduit

noun
1. a channel for conveying water or other fluid.
2. a tube or trough protecting electric wiring.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin conductus, from conducere 'bring together' .

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cone

noun
1. an object which tapers from a circular or roughly circular base to a point.
2. (also traffic cone) a plastic cone used to separate off sections of a road.
3. the cone-shaped dry fruit of a conifer.
4. one of two types of light-sensitive cell in the retina of the eye, responsible for sharpness of vision and colour perception. Compare with ROD.

ORIGIN: Greek knos.

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coney (also cony)

noun (pl. coneys) Brit.
a rabbit.

ORIGIN: Old French conin, from Latin cuniculus.

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confab

noun informal
an informal conversation or discussion.

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confabulate

verb formal
converse.

DERIVATIVES:
confabulation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin confabulari 'chat together' .

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confect

verb
make (something elaborate or dainty).

ORIGIN: Latin conficere 'put together' .

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confection

noun
1. an elaborate sweet dish or delicacy.
2. an elaborately constructed thing: a confection of marble and gilt.

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confectionery

noun (pl. confectioneries)
sweets and chocolates collectively.

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confederacy

noun (pl. confederacies)
1. a league or alliance, especially of confederate states.
2. (the Confederacy) the Confederate states of the US.

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confederate

adjective
1. joined by an agreement or treaty.
2. (Confederate) denoting the southern states which separated from the US in 1860 1.

noun
an accomplice or fellow worker.

verb (usu. confederated)
bring into an alliance.

ORIGIN: Latin confoederatus, from foedus 'league' .

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confederation

noun
1. an alliance of a number of parties or groups.
2. a union of states with some political power vested in a central authority.
3. the action of confederating or the state of being confederated.

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confer

verb (conferred, conferring)
1. grant (a title, degree, benefit, or right).
2. have discussions.

DERIVATIVES:
conferment noun
conferral noun.

ORIGIN: Latin conferre 'bring together' .

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conference

noun
1. a formal meeting for discussion or debate.
2. an association in commerce for regulation or exchange of information.
3. a league of sports teams or clubs.

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confess

verb
1. admit to a crime or wrongdoing.
2. acknowledge reluctantly.
3. declare one's sins formally to a priest.
4. (of a priest) hear the confession of.

ORIGIN: Old French confesser, from Latin confiteri 'acknowledge' .

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confession

noun
1. an act of confessing, especially a formal statement admitting to a crime.
2. a formal admission of one's sins privately to a priest.
3. (also confession of faith) a statement setting out essential religious doctrine.

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confessional

noun
1. an enclosed stall in a church, in which a priest sits to hear confessions.
2. a confession.

adjective
1. (of speech or writing) in which a person admits to private thoughts or incidents in their past.
2. relating to religious confession.

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confessor

noun
1. a priest who hears confessions.
2. a person who makes a confession.

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confetti

noun
small pieces of coloured paper traditionally thrown over a bride and groom after a marriage ceremony.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'sweets' (from the Italian custom of throwing sweets during carnivals).

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confidant

noun (fem. confidante pronunc. same)
a person in whom one confides.

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confide

verb
1. (often confide in) tell someone about a secret or private matter in confidence.
2. (confide to) dated entrust (something) to the care of.

ORIGIN: Latin confidere 'have full trust' .

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confidence

noun
1. the belief that one can have faith in or rely on someone or something.
2. self-assurance arising from an appreciation of one's abilities.
3. the telling of private matters or secrets with mutual trust.
4. a secret or private matter told to someone under a condition of trust.

IDIOMS -
in someone's confidence in a position of trust with someone.
take into one's confidence tell one's secrets to.

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confidence trick (N. Amer. also confidence game)

noun
an act of cheating someone by gaining their trust.

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confident

adjective
1. feeling confidence in oneself.
2. feeling certainty about something.

DERIVATIVES:
confidently adverb.

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confidential

adjective
1. intended to be kept secret.
2. entrusted with private information: a confidential secretary.

DERIVATIVES:
confidentiality noun
confidentially adverb.

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configuration

noun
an arrangement of parts or elements in a particular form or figure.

DERIVATIVES:
configurational adjective.

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configure

verb
1. arrange in a particular configuration.
2. arrange or order (a computer system) so as to fit it for a designated task.

DERIVATIVES:
configurable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin configurare 'shape after a pattern' ; related to FIGURE.

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confine

verb
1. (confine to) restrict (someone or something) within certain limits of (space, scope, or time).
2. (be confined to) be unable to leave (one's bed, home, etc.) due to illness or disability.
3. (be confined) dated (of a woman) remain in bed for a period before, during, and after giving birth.

noun (confines)
limits or boundaries.

DERIVATIVES:
confinement noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin confinis 'bordering' , from finis 'end, limit' .

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confined

adjective
(of a space) enclosed; cramped.

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confirm

verb
1. establish the truth or correctness of.
2. state with assurance that something is true.
3. make definite or formally valid.
4. (confirm in) reinforce (someone) in (an opinion or feeling).
5. (usu. be confirmed) administer the religious rite of confirmation to.

DERIVATIVES:
confirmatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin confirmare, from firmus 'firm' .

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confirmation

noun
1. the action of confirming or the state of being confirmed.
2. the rite at which a baptized person affirms their belief and is admitted as a full member of the Christian Church.
3. the Jewish ceremony of bar mitzvah.

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confirmed

adjective
firmly established in a habit, belief, or way of life: a confirmed bachelor.

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confiscate

verb
1. take or seize (property) with authority.
2. appropriate to the public treasury as a penalty.

DERIVATIVES:
confiscation noun
confiscatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin confiscare 'put away in a chest, consign to the public treasury' , from fiscus 'chest, treasury' .

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conflagration

noun
an extensive and destructive fire.

ORIGIN: Latin, from flagrare 'to blaze' .

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conflate

verb
combine into one.

DERIVATIVES:
conflation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin conflare 'kindle, fuse' .

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conflict

noun
1. a serious disagreement or argument.
2. a prolonged armed struggle.
3. an incompatibility between opinions, principles, etc.: a conflict of interests.

verb
be incompatible or at variance with.

DERIVATIVES:
conflictual adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin conflictus 'a contest' .

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confluence

noun
1. the junction of two rivers.
2. an act or process of merging.

DERIVATIVES:
confluent adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin confluere 'flow together' .

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conform

verb
1. comply with rules, standards, or conventions.
2. be similar in form or type.

ORIGIN: Latin conformare, from formare 'to form' .

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conformist

noun
a person who conforms to accepted behaviour or established practices.

adjective
conventional.

DERIVATIVES:
conformism noun.

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conformity

noun
1. compliance with conventions, rules, or laws.
2. similarity in form or type.

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confound

verb
1. surprise or bewilder.
2. prove wrong.
3. defeat (a plan, aim, or hope).

ORIGIN: Latin confundere 'pour together, mix up' .

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confounded

adjective informal, dated
used to express annoyance.

DERIVATIVES:
confoundedly adverb.

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confraternity

noun (pl. confraternities)
a brotherhood, especially with a religious or charitable purpose.

ORIGIN: Latin confraternitas, from confrater 'confrère' .

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confront

verb
1. meet face to face in hostility or defiance.
2. (of a problem) present itself to.
3. face up to and deal with (a problem).
4. compel to face or consider something.

DERIVATIVES:
confrontation noun
confrontational adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin confrontare, from frons 'face' .

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Confucian

adjective
relating to the Chinese philosopher Confucius (551 479 BC) or his philosophy.

noun
a follower of Confucius or his philosophy.

DERIVATIVES:
Confucianism noun
Confucianist noun & adjective.

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confuse

verb
1. make bewildered or perplexed.
2. make less easy to understand.
3. mistake (one for another).

DERIVATIVES:
confusable adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin confusus, from confundere 'mix up' .

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confused

adjective
1. bewildered.
2. lacking order and so difficult to understand or distinguish.

DERIVATIVES:
confusedly adverb.

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confusion

noun
1. the state of being confused; uncertainty or bewilderment.
2. a situation or state of panic or disorder.
3. the mistaking of one person or thing for another.

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confute

verb formal
prove to be wrong.

DERIVATIVES:
confutation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin confutare 'restrain, answer conclusively' .

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conga

noun
1. a Latin American dance of African origin, performed by people in single file and consisting of three steps forward followed by a kick.
2. (also conga drum) a tall, narrow drum beaten with the hands.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from congo 'Congolese' .

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congeal

verb
become semi-solid, especially on cooling.

DERIVATIVES:
congelation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin congelare, from gelare 'freeze' .

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congenial

adjective
1. pleasant because of qualities or interests similar to one's own: congenial company.
2. suited to one's taste or inclination.

DERIVATIVES:
congeniality noun
congenially adverb.

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congenital

adjective
1. (of a disease or abnormality) present from birth.
2. having a particular trait from or as if from birth: a congenital liar.

DERIVATIVES:
congenitally adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin congenitus 'born together' .

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conger (also conger eel)

noun
a large predatory eel of shallow coastal waters.

ORIGIN: Greek gongros.

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congested

adjective
1. so crowded as to hinder or prevent freedom of movement.
2. abnormally full of blood.
3. blocked with mucus.

DERIVATIVES:
congestion noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin congerere 'heap up' .

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conglomerate

noun
1. something consisting of a number of different and distinct things.
2. a large corporation formed by the merging of separate firms.
3. Geology a coarse-grained sedimentary rock composed of rounded fragments cemented together.

adjective
relating to a conglomerate.

verb
gather into or form a conglomerate.

DERIVATIVES:
conglomeration noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin conglomerare 'roll or heap together' .

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congratulate

verb
1. express good wishes or praise at the happiness, success, or good fortune of.
2. (congratulate oneself) think oneself fortunate or clever.

DERIVATIVES:
congratulatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin congratulari, from gratus 'pleasing' .

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congratulation

noun
1. (congratulations) praise or good wishes on a special occasion.
2. the action of congratulating.

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congregate

verb
gather into a crowd or mass.

ORIGIN: Latin congregare 'collect (into a flock)' , from grex 'a flock' .

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congregation

noun
1. a group of people assembled for religious worship.
2. a gathering or collection of people or things.
3. the action of congregating.

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congress

noun
1. a formal meeting or series of meetings between delegates.
2. (Congress) a national legislative body, especially that of the US.
3. the action of coming together.

DERIVATIVES:
congressional adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin congressus, from congredi 'meet' .

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congressman (or congresswoman)

noun
a male (or female) member of the US Congress.

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congruent

adjective
1. in agreement or harmony.
2. Geometry (of figures) identical in form.

DERIVATIVES:
congruence noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin congruere 'agree, meet together' .

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conic

adjective
of a cone.

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conical

adjective
shaped like a cone.

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conic section

noun
the figure of a circle, ellipse, parabola, or hyperbola formed by the intersection of a plane and a circular cone.

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conifer

noun
a tree bearing cones and evergreen needle-like or scale-like leaves, e.g. a pine or cypress.

DERIVATIVES:
coniferous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'cone-bearing' .

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conjecture

noun
an opinion or conclusion based on incomplete information; a guess.

verb
form a conjecture; guess.

DERIVATIVES:
conjectural adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin conjectura, from conicere 'put together in thought' .

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conjoin

verb formal
join; combine.

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conjugal

adjective
relating to marriage or the relationship between husband and wife.

ORIGIN: Latin conjugalis, from conjux 'spouse' .

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conjugate

verb
1. give the different forms of (a verb).
2. (of bacteria or unicellular organisms) become temporarily united in order to exchange genetic material.

adjective
1. technical joined or related as a pair.
2. Biology (of gametes) fused.

noun
a conjugate thing.

DERIVATIVES:
conjugation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin conjugare 'yoke together' .

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conjunction

noun
1. a word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause (e.g. and, if).
2. an instance of two or more events occurring at the same point in time or space.
3. Astronomy & Astrology an alignment of two planets so that they appear to be in the same place in the sky.

IDIOMS -
in conjunction together.

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conjunctivitis

noun
inflammation of the conjunctiva.

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conjure

verb (usu. conjure up)
1. cause to appear as if by magic.
2. call to the mind.
3. call upon (a spirit) to appear by magic.
4. archaic implore to do something.

IDIOMS -
a name to conjure with a name of great importance within a particular field.

ORIGIN: Latin conjurare 'band together by an oath, conspire' .

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conjuring

noun
the performance of seemingly magical tricks, often involving sleight of hand.

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conjuror (also conjurer)

noun
a performer of conjuring tricks.

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conk [1]

verb (conk out) informal
1. (of a machine) break down.
2. faint or go to sleep.
3. die.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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conk [2]

noun Brit. informal
a person's nose.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of CONCH.

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conker

noun Brit.
1. the hard shiny dark brown nut of a horse chestnut tree.
2. (conkers) (treated as sing. ) a children's game in which each has a conker on a string and tries to break another's with it.

ORIGIN: dialect, «snail shell» (with which the game was originally played).

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con man

noun informal
a man who cheats others using confidence tricks.

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connect

verb
1. bring together so as to establish a link.
2. join together so as to provide access and communication.
3. (be connected) be related in some respect.
4. put into contact by telephone.
5. (of a train, bus, etc.) arrive at its destination just before another departs so that passengers can transfer.

DERIVATIVES:
connectable adjective
connector noun.

ORIGIN: Latin connectere, from nectere 'bind' .

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connection (Brit. also connexion)

noun
1. a link or relationship.
2. the action of connecting.
3. (connections) influential people with whom one has contact or to whom one is related.
4. an opportunity for catching a connecting train, bus, etc.

IDIOMS -
in connection with concerning.
in this (or that) connection with reference to this (or that).

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connective

adjective
connecting.

noun
something that connects.

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connective tissue

noun
bodily tissue that connects, supports, binds, or separates other tissues or organs, typically consisting of relatively few cells embedded in fibrous material or fat.

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connive

verb
1. (connive at/in) secretly allow (a wrongdoing).
2. (often connive with) conspire.

DERIVATIVES:
connivance noun.

ORIGIN: Latin connivere 'shut the eyes (to)' .

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connoisseur

noun
an expert judge in matters of taste.

DERIVATIVES:
connoisseurship noun.

ORIGIN: French, from connaître 'know' .

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connotation

noun
an idea or feeling invoked by a word in addition to its primary or literal meaning.

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connote

verb
1. (of a word) imply or suggest in addition to its primary or literal meaning.
2. imply as a consequence or condition.

DERIVATIVES:
connotative adjective.
USAGE - Connote does not mean the same as denote: whereas denote refers to the literal, primary meaning of something, connote refers to other characteristics suggested or implied by that thing. Thus, one might say that a word like mother denotes ‘a woman who is a parent’ but connotes qualities such as protection and affection.
ORIGIN: Latin connotare 'mark in addition' .

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connubial

adjective literary
conjugal.

ORIGIN: Latin connubialis, from connubium 'marriage' .

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conquer

verb
1. overcome and take control of by military force.
2. successfully overcome (a problem) or climb (a mountain).

DERIVATIVES:
conquerable adjective
conqueror noun.

ORIGIN: Latin conquirere 'gain, win' .

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conquest

noun
1. the action of conquering.
2. a conquered territory.
3. a person whose affection or favour has been won.

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conquistador

noun (pl. conquistadores or conquistadors)
a Spanish conqueror of Mexico or Peru in the 16th century.

ORIGIN: Spanish.

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conscience

noun
a person's moral sense of right and wrong, chiefly as it affects their own behaviour.

IDIOMS -
in (all) conscience in fairness.

DERIVATIVES:
conscienceless adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin conscientia 'knowledge within oneself' , from scire 'to know' .

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conscientious

adjective
1. diligent and thorough in carrying out one's work or duty.
2. relating to a person's conscience.

DERIVATIVES:
conscientiously adverb
conscientiousness noun.

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conscientious objector

noun
a person who refuses to serve in the armed forces for reasons of conscience.

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conscious

adjective
1. aware of and responding to one's surroundings.
2. (usu. conscious of) aware.
3. deliberate: a conscious effort.

DERIVATIVES:
consciously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin conscius 'knowing with others or in oneself' .

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consciousness

noun
1. the state of being conscious.
2. one's awareness or perception of something.

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conscript

verb
call up for compulsory military service.

noun
a conscripted person.

DERIVATIVES:
conscription noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin conscriptus, from conscribere 'enrol' .

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consecrate

verb
1. make or declare sacred.
2. ordain to a sacred office, typically that of bishop.
3. (in Christian belief) make (bread or wine) into the body and blood of Christ.

DERIVATIVES:
consecration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin consecrare 'dedicate, devote as sacred' .

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consecutive

adjective
1. following in unbroken or logical sequence.
2. Grammar expressing consequence or result.

DERIVATIVES:
consecutively adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin consecutivus, from consequi 'follow closely' .

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consensual

adjective
relating to or involving consent or consensus.

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consensus

noun
general agreement.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'agreement' .

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consent

noun
permission or agreement.

verb
1. give permission.
2. agree to do.

ORIGIN: from Latin consentire 'agree' .

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consequence

noun
1. a result or effect.
2. importance or relevance: the past is of no consequence.
3. dated social distinction.

ORIGIN: Latin consequentia, from consequi 'follow closely' .

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consequent

adjective
following as a consequence.

DERIVATIVES:
consequential adjective
consequently adverb.

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conservation

noun
1. preservation or restoration of the natural environment and wildlife.
2. preservation and repair of archaeological, historical, and cultural sites and artefacts.
3. careful use of a resource: energy conservation.
4. Physics the principle by which the total value of a quantity (e.g. mass or energy) remains constant in a closed system.

DERIVATIVES:
conservationist noun.

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conservative

adjective
1. averse to change and holding traditional values.
2. (in a political context) favouring free enterprise, private ownership, and socially conservative ideas.
3. (Conservative) relating to a Conservative Party.
4. (of an estimate) purposely low for the sake of caution.

noun
1. a conservative person.
2. (Conservative) a supporter or member of a Conservative Party.

DERIVATIVES:
conservatism noun
conservatively adverb.

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conservatoire

noun
a college for the study of classical music or other arts.

ORIGIN: French.

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conservatory

noun (pl. conservatories)
1. Brit. a room with a glass roof and walls, attached to a house and used as a sun lounge or a greenhouse.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a conservatoire.

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conserve

verb
1. protect from harm, destruction, or wasteful overuse.
2. Physics maintain (a quantity) at a constant overall total.

noun
fruit jam.

ORIGIN: Latin conservare 'to preserve' .

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consider

verb
1. think carefully about.
2. believe or think.
3. take into account when making a judgement.
4. look attentively at.

ORIGIN: Latin considerare 'examine' , perhaps from sidus 'star' .

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considerable

adjective
1. notably large.
2. significant or notable.

DERIVATIVES:
considerably adverb.

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considerate

adjective
careful not to harm or inconvenience others.

DERIVATIVES:
considerately adverb.

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consideration

noun
1. careful thought.
2. a fact taken into account when making a decision.
3. thoughtfulness towards others.
4. a payment or reward.

IDIOMS -
in consideration of in return for.

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considering

preposition & conjunction
taking into consideration.

adverb informal
taking everything into account.

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consign

verb
1. deliver to someone's possession or care.
2. send (goods) by a public carrier.
3. (consign to) put (someone or something) in (a place) so as to be rid of them.

DERIVATIVES:
consignee noun
consignor noun.

ORIGIN: Latin consignare 'mark with a seal' .

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consignment

noun
a batch of goods consigned.

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consist

verb
1. (consist of) be composed of.
2. (consist in) have as an essential feature.

ORIGIN: Latin consistere 'stand firm or still, exist' .

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consistency (also consistence)

noun (pl. consistencies)
1. the state of being consistent.
2. the degree of thickness or viscosity of a substance.

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consistent

adjective
1. conforming to a regular pattern; unchanging.
2. (usu. consistent with) in agreement.

DERIVATIVES:
consistently adverb.

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consistory

noun (pl. consistories)
1. (in the Roman Catholic Church) the council of cardinals, with or without the Pope.
2. (also consistory court) (in the Church of England) a court presided over by a bishop, for the administration of ecclesiastical law in a diocese.

ORIGIN: Latin consistorium, from consistere 'stand firm, exist' .

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consolation

noun
1. comfort received after a loss or disappointment.
2. a source of such comfort.

DERIVATIVES:
consolatory adjective.

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consolation prize

noun
a prize given to a competitor who just fails to win.

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console [1]

verb
comfort in a time of grief of disappointment.

ORIGIN: Latin consolari, from solari 'soothe' .

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console [2]

noun
1. a panel or unit accommodating a set of controls.
2. (also games console) a small machine for playing computerized video games.
3. the cabinet containing the keyboards, stops, etc. of an organ.
4. an ornamental bracket or corbel.

ORIGIN: French.

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consolidate

verb
1. make stronger or more solid.
2. combine into a single unit.

DERIVATIVES:
consolidation noun
consolidator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin consolidare, from solidus 'solid' .

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consommé

noun
a clear soup made with concentrated stock.

ORIGIN: French, 'consummated, completed' .

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consonance

noun
1. agreement or compatibility.
2. the recurrence of similar-sounding consonants, especially in prosody.

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consonant

noun
1. a speech sound in which the breath is at least partly obstructed and which forms a syllable when combined with a vowel.
2. a letter representing such a sound.

adjective (consonant with)
in agreement or harmony with.

DERIVATIVES:
consonantal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin consonare 'sound together' , from sonus 'sound' .

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consort

noun
1. a wife, husband, or companion, especially the spouse of a monarch.
2. a ship sailing in company with another.

verb (consort with)
habitually associate with.

ORIGIN: Latin consors 'sharing, partner' .

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consortium

noun (pl. consortia or consortiums)
an association, typically of several companies.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'partnership' .

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conspicuous

adjective
1. clearly visible.
2. attracting notice; notable: conspicuous bravery.

DERIVATIVES:
conspicuously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin conspicuus, from conspicere 'look at attentively' .

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conspiracy

noun (pl. conspiracies)
1. a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful.
2. the action of conspiring.

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conspire

verb
1. jointly make secret plans to commit a wrongful act.
2. (of circumstances) seem to be acting together in bringing about an unfortunate result.

DERIVATIVES:
conspirator noun
conspiratorial adjective
conspiratorially adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin conspirare 'agree, plot' , from spirare 'breathe' .

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constable

noun Brit.
a police officer.

ORIGIN: originally denoting the governor of a royal castle: from Old French conestable, from Latin comes stabuli 'count, or head officer, of the stable' .

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constabulary

noun (pl. constabularies) chiefly Brit.
a police force.

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constant

adjective
1. occurring continuously.
2. remaining the same.
3. faithful and dependable.

noun
1. an unchanging situation.
2. Mathematics & Physics a number or quantity that does not change its value.

DERIVATIVES:
constancy noun
constantly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin constare 'stand firm' .

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constellation

noun
a group of stars forming a recognized pattern and typically named after a mythological or other figure.

ORIGIN: Latin, from stella 'star' .

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consternation

noun
anxiety or dismay.

ORIGIN: Latin, from consternare 'terrify, prostrate' .

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constipate

verb (usu. be constipated)
affect with constipation.

ORIGIN: Latin constipare 'crowd or press together' .

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constipation

noun
a difficulty in emptying the bowels, associated with hardened faeces.

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constituency

noun (pl. constituencies)
1. a body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body.
2. chiefly Brit. the area represented in this way.

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constituent

adjective
1. being a part of a whole.
2. having the power to appoint or elect.
3. able to make or change a political constitution.

noun
1. a member of a constituency.
2. a component part.

ORIGIN: Latin, from constituere 'establish, appoint' .

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constitute

verb
1. be (a part) of a whole.
2. be or be equivalent to.
3. (usu. be constituted) establish by law.

ORIGIN: Latin constituere 'establish, appoint' , from statuere 'set up' .

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constitution

noun
1. a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or organization is governed.
2. composition or formation.
3. a person's physical or mental state.

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constitutional

adjective
1. relating to or in accordance with a constitution.
2. relating to a person's physical or mental state.

noun dated
a walk taken regularly to maintain good health.

DERIVATIVES:
constitutionality noun
constitutionally adverb.

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constrain

verb
1. compel or force towards a course of action.
2. (constrained) appearing forced.
3. severely restrict the scope, extent, or activity of.

DERIVATIVES:
constrainedly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French constraindre, from Latin constringere 'bind tightly together' .

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constraint

noun
1. a limitation or restriction.
2. stiffness of manner and inhibition.

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constrict

verb
1. make or become narrower, especially by encircling pressure; tighten.
2. deprive of freedom of movement.

DERIVATIVES:
constriction noun
constrictive adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin constringere 'bind tightly together' .

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constrictor

noun
1. a snake that kills by constricting and asphyxiating its prey, such as a boa or python.
2. a muscle whose contraction narrows a vessel or passage.

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construct

verb
1. build or erect.
2. form (a theory) from various conceptual elements.

noun
1. an idea or theory containing various conceptual elements.
2. a thing constructed.

DERIVATIVES:
constructor noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin construere 'heap together, build' .

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construction

noun
1. the action or process of constructing.
2. a building or other structure.
3. the industry of erecting buildings.
4. an interpretation or explanation.

DERIVATIVES:
constructional adjective.

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constructive

adjective
1. serving a useful purpose.
2. Law derived by inference; not stated explicitly.

DERIVATIVES:
constructively adverb
constructiveness noun.

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construe

verb (construes, construed, construing) (often be construed)
interpret in a particular way.

DERIVATIVES:
construable adjective
construal noun.

ORIGIN: Latin construere 'heap together, build' .

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consubstantiation

noun Christian Theology
the doctrine that the substance of the bread and wine coexists with the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist. Compare with TRANSUBSTANTIATION.

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consul

noun
1. a state official living in a foreign city and protecting the state's citizens and interests there.
2. (in ancient Rome) one of two elected chief magistrates who ruled the republic jointly for a year.

DERIVATIVES:
consular adjective
consulship noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, related to consulere 'take counsel' .

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consulate

noun
1. the place where a consul works.
2. (in ancient Rome) the period of office of a consul or the system of government by consuls.

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consult

verb
1. seek information or advice from.
2. seek permission or approval from.
3. (consulting) engaged in the business of giving advice to others in the same field.

DERIVATIVES:
consultation noun
consultative adjective
consultee noun.

ORIGIN: Latin consultare, from consulere 'take counsel' .

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consultancy

noun (pl. consultancies)
a professional practice giving expert advice in a particular field.

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consultant

noun
1. a person who provides expert advice professionally.
2. Brit. a hospital doctor of senior rank.

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consume

verb
1. eat or drink.
2. use up.
3. (especially of a fire) completely destroy.
4. (of a feeling) absorb all of the attention and energy of.

DERIVATIVES:
consuming adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin consumere, from sumere 'take up' .

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consumer

noun
a person who buys a product or service for personal use.

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consumerism

noun
1. the protection or promotion of the interests of consumers.
2. the preoccupation of society with the acquisition of goods.

DERIVATIVES:
consumerist adjective & noun.

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consummate

verb
1. make (a marriage or relationship) complete by having sexual intercourse.
2. complete (a transaction).

adjective
showing great skill and flair.

DERIVATIVES:
consummately adverb
consummation noun
consummator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin consummare 'bring to completion' .

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consumption

noun
1. the action or process of consuming.
2. an amount consumed.
3. dated a wasting disease, especially tuberculosis.

DERIVATIVES:
consumptive adjective & noun (dated ).

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contact

noun
1. the state or condition of physical touching.
2. (before another noun ) caused by or operating through physical touch: contact dermatitis.
3. the state or condition of communicating or meeting.
4. a meeting or communication set up with someone.
5. a person who may be asked for information or assistance.
6. a person who has associated with a patient with a contagious disease.
7. a connection for the passage of an electric current from one thing to another.

verb
get in touch or communication with.

DERIVATIVES:
contactable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin contactus, from contingere 'touch, border on' .

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contact lens

noun
a thin plastic lens placed directly on the surface of the eye to correct visual defects.

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contact sport

noun
a sport in which the participants necessarily come into bodily contact with one another.

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contagion

noun
the communication of disease from one person to another by close contact.

ORIGIN: Latin, from con- 'together with' + tangere 'to touch' .

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contagious

adjective
1. (of a disease) spread by direct or indirect contact between people or organisms.
2. having a contagious disease.
3. (of an emotion, attitude, etc.) likely to spread to and affect others.

DERIVATIVES:
contagiously adverb
contagiousness noun.

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contain

verb
1. have or hold within.
2. control or restrain.
3. prevent (a problem) from becoming worse.

DERIVATIVES:
containable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin continere, from tenere 'to hold' .

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container

noun
1. a box, cylinder, or similar object for holding something.
2. a large standard-sized metal box for the transport of goods by road, rail, sea, or air.

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containment

noun
the action of keeping something harmful under control.

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contaminate

verb
make impure by exposure to or addition of a poisonous or polluting substance.

DERIVATIVES:
contaminant noun
contamination noun
contaminator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin contaminare 'make impure' , from contamen 'contact, pollution' .

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contemplate

verb
1. look at thoughtfully.
2. think about.
3. think profoundly and at length.
4. have as a probable intention.

DERIVATIVES:
contemplator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin contemplari 'survey, observe, contemplate' , from templum 'place for observation' .

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contemplation

noun
1. the action of contemplating.
2. religious meditation.

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contemplative

adjective
expressing or involving contemplation.

noun
a person whose life is devoted to prayer, especially in a monastery or convent.

DERIVATIVES:
contemplatively adverb.

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contemporaneous

adjective
existing at or occurring in the same period of time.

DERIVATIVES:
contemporaneity noun
contemporaneously adverb
contemporaneousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from tempus 'time' .

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contemporary

adjective
1. living, occurring, or originating at the same time.
2. belonging to or occurring in the present.
3. modern in style or design.

noun (pl. contemporaries)
1. a person or thing existing at the same time as another.
2. a person of roughly the same age as another.

ORIGIN: Latin contemporarius, from tempus 'time' .

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contempt

noun
1. the feeling that a person or a thing is worthless or beneath consideration.
2. (also contempt of court) the offence of being disobedient to or disrespectful of a court of law.

IDIOMS -
beneath contempt utterly worthless or despicable.
hold in contempt despise.

ORIGIN: Latin contemptus, from temnere 'despise' .

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contemptible

adjective
deserving contempt.

DERIVATIVES:
contemptibly adverb.

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contemptuous

adjective
showing contempt.

DERIVATIVES:
contemptuously adverb
contemptuousness noun.

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contend

verb
1. (contend with/against) struggle to deal with (a difficulty).
2. (contend for) engage in a struggle or campaign to achieve.
3. assert as a position in an argument.

DERIVATIVES:
contender noun.

ORIGIN: Latin contendere, from tendere 'stretch, strive' .

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content [1]

adjective
in a state of peaceful happiness or satisfaction.

verb
1. satisfy; please.
2. (content oneself with) accept (something) as adequate despite wanting something more or better.

noun
1. a state of happiness or satisfaction.
2. a member of the British House of Lords who votes for a motion.

IDIOMS -
to one's heart's content to the full extent of one's desires.

DERIVATIVES:
contentment noun.

ORIGIN: Latin contentus 'satisfied' , from tenere 'to hold' .

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content [2]

noun
1. (contents) the things that are contained in something.
2. the amount of a particular constituent occurring in a substance: soya milk has a low fat content.
3. (contents or table of contents) a list of chapters or sections at the front of a book or periodical.
4. the material dealt with in a speech or text as distinct from its form or style.

ORIGIN: Latin contentum 'thing contained' .

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contented

adjective
1. happy and at ease.
2. willing to accept something; satisfied.

DERIVATIVES:
contentedly adverb
contentedness noun.

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contention

noun
1. heated disagreement.
2. an assertion.

IDIOMS -
in contention having a good chance of success in a contest.

ORIGIN: Latin, from contendere 'contend' .

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contentious

adjective
1. causing or likely to cause disagreement or controversy.
2. given to provoking argument.
3. Law relating to or involving differences between contending parties.

DERIVATIVES:
contentiously adverb
contentiousness noun.

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contest

noun
1. an event in which people compete for supremacy.
2. a dispute or conflict.

verb
1. compete to attain (a position of power).
2. take part in (a competition or election).
3. challenge or dispute.

IDIOMS -
no contest a decision to declare a boxing match invalid on the grounds that one or both of the boxers are not making serious efforts.

DERIVATIVES:
contestable adjective
contester noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «swear to, attest»: from Latin contestari 'call upon to witness, initiate an action (by calling witnesses)' .

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contestant

noun
a person who takes part in a contest.

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context

noun
1. the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea.
2. the parts that immediately precede and follow a word or passage and clarify its meaning.

DERIVATIVES:
contextual adjective
contextualize (also contextualise) verb
contextually adverb.

ORIGIN: originally denoting the construction of a text: from Latin contextus, from texere 'to weave' .

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contiguous

adjective
1. sharing a common border.
2. next or together in sequence.

DERIVATIVES:
contiguity noun
contiguously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin contiguus 'touching' .

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continent [1]

noun
1. any of the world's main continuous expanses of land (Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, Australia, Antarctica).
2. (also the Continent) the mainland of Europe as distinct from the British Isles.

ORIGIN: from Latin terra continens 'continuous land' .

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continent [2]

adjective
1. able to control movements of the bowels and bladder.
2. exercising self-restraint, especially sexually.

DERIVATIVES:
continence noun
continently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin continere, from tenere 'to hold' .

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continental

adjective
1. forming or belonging to a continent.
2. (also Continental) coming from or characteristic of mainland Europe.

noun (also Continental)
a person from mainland Europe.

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continental breakfast

noun
a light breakfast of coffee and bread rolls with butter and jam.

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continental drift

noun
the gradual movement of the continents across the earth's surface through geological time.

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continental shelf

noun
an area of seabed around a large land mass where the sea is relatively shallow.

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contingency

noun (pl. contingencies)
1. a future event or circumstance which is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty.
2. a provision for such an event or circumstance.
3. the absence of certainty in events.

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contingent

adjective
1. subject to chance.
2. (contingent on/upon) dependent on.
3. (of losses, liabilities, etc.) that can be anticipated to arise if a particular event occurs.

noun
1. a group of people with a common feature, forming part of a larger group.
2. a body of troops or police sent to join a larger force.

DERIVATIVES:
contingently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin contingere 'befall' .

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continual

adjective
1. constantly or frequently occurring.
2. having no interruptions.

DERIVATIVES:
continually adverb.

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continuation

noun
1. the action of continuing or the state of being continued.
2. a part that is attached to and is an extension of something else.

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continue

verb (continues, continued, continuing)
1. persist in an activity or process.
2. remain in existence, operation, or a specified state.
3. carry on with.
4. carry on travelling in the same direction.
5. recommence or resume.

DERIVATIVES:
continuator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin continuare, from continuus 'uninterrupted' .

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continuity

noun (pl. continuities)
1. the unbroken and consistent existence or operation of something.
2. a connection or line of development with no sharp breaks.
3. the maintenance of continuous action and self-consistent detail in the scenes of a film or broadcast.
4. the linking of broadcast items by a spoken commentary.

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continuous

adjective
1. without interruption.
2. forming a series with no exceptions or reversals.

DERIVATIVES:
continuously adverb
continuousness noun.

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continuous assessment

noun Brit.
the evaluation of a pupil's progress throughout a course of study, as distinct from by examination.

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continuum

noun (pl. continua)
a continuous sequence in which adjacent elements are not perceptibly different from each other, but the extremes are quite distinct.

ORIGIN: Latin, from continuus 'uninterrupted' .

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contort

verb
twist or bend out of its normal shape.

DERIVATIVES:
contortion noun.

ORIGIN: Latin contorquere 'twist round, brandish' .

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contortionist

noun
an entertainer who twists and bends their body into strange and unnatural positions.

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contour

noun
1. an outline, especially one representing or bounding the shape or form of something.
2. (also contour line) a line on a map joining points of equal height above or below sea level.

verb
1. mould into a specific shape.
2. (contoured) (of a map or diagram) marked with contours.
3. (of a road or railway) follow the outline of (a topographical feature).

ORIGIN: French, from Italian contornare 'draw in outline' .

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contra-

prefix
1. against; opposite: contraception.
2. (of musical instruments or organ stops) pitched an octave below: contrabass.

ORIGIN: Latin contra 'against' .

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contraband

noun
1. goods that have been imported or exported illegally.
2. trade in smuggled goods.

adjective
1. imported or exported illegally.
2. relating to traffic in illegal goods.

DERIVATIVES:
contrabandist noun.

ORIGIN: Italian contrabando, from contra- 'against' + bando 'proclamation, ban' .

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contraception

noun
the use of contraceptives.

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contraceptive

adjective
1. preventing conception.
2. relating to contraception.

noun
a device or drug used to prevent conception.

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contract

noun
1. a written or spoken agreement intended to be enforceable by law.
2. informal an arrangement for someone to be killed by a hired assassin.

verb
1. decrease in size, number, or range.
2. (of a muscle) become shorter and tighter in order to move part of the body.
3. shorten (a word or phrase) by omitting or merging letters or words.
4. enter into a formal and legally binding agreement.
5. (contract in/out) Brit. choose to be or not to be involved in.
6. (contract out) arrange for (work) to be done by another organization.
7. catch or develop (a disease).
8. become liable to pay (a debt).

DERIVATIVES:
contractive adjective
contractual adjective
contractually adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin contractus, from contrahere 'draw together, tighten' .

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contract bridge

noun
the standard form of the card game bridge, in which only tricks bid and won count towards the game.

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contractible

adjective
able to be shrunk or capable of contracting.

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contraction

noun
1. the process of contracting.
2. a shortening of the muscles of the womb occurring at intervals during childbirth.
3. a word or group of words resulting from contracting an original form.

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contractor

noun
a person who undertakes a contract to provide materials or labour for a job.

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contradict

verb
1. deny the truth of (a statement) by asserting the opposite.
2. challenge (someone) by making a statement opposing one made by them.

DERIVATIVES:
contradictor noun.

ORIGIN: Latin contradicere 'speak against' .

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contradiction

noun
1. a combination of statements, ideas, or features which are opposed to one another.
2. the statement of a position opposite to one already made.

IDIOMS -
contradiction in terms a statement or group of words associating incompatible objects or ideas.

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contradictory

adjective
1. mutually opposed or inconsistent.
2. containing inconsistent elements.

DERIVATIVES:
contradictorily adverb
contradictoriness noun.

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contradistinction

noun
distinction made by contrasting the different qualities of two things.

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contraflow

noun Brit.
a temporary arrangement by which the lanes of a dual carriageway or motorway normally carrying traffic in one direction become two-directional.

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contralto

noun (pl. contraltos)
the lowest female singing voice.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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contraption

noun
a machine or device that appears strange or unnecessarily complicated.

ORIGIN: perhaps from CONTRIVE, by association with TRAP.

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contrapuntal

adjective Music
of or in counterpoint.

DERIVATIVES:
contrapuntally adverb
contrapuntist noun.

ORIGIN: from Italian contrapunto 'counterpoint' .

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contrariwise

adverb
1. in the opposite way.
2. on the other hand.

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contrary

adjective
1. opposite in nature, direction, or meaning.
2. (of two or more statements, beliefs, etc.) opposed to one another.
3. perversely inclined to do the opposite of what is expected or desired.

noun (the contrary)
the opposite.

IDIOMS -
to the contrary with the opposite meaning or implication.

DERIVATIVES:
contrarily adverb
contrariness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin contrarius, from contra 'against' .

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contrast

noun
1. the state of being noticeably different from something else when put or considered together.
2. a thing or person noticeably different from another.
3. the degree of difference between tones in a television picture, photograph, etc.
4. enhancement of appearance provided by juxtaposing different colours or textures.

verb
1. differ noticeably.
2. compare so as to emphasize differences.

DERIVATIVES:
contrastive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin contrastare, from stare 'stand' .

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contravene

verb
1. commit an act that is not in accordance with (a law, treaty, etc.).
2. conflict with (a right, principle, etc.).

DERIVATIVES:
contravener noun
contravention noun.

ORIGIN: Latin contravenire, from venire 'come' .

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contretemps

noun (pl. same)
a minor dispute or disagreement.

ORIGIN: originally meaning 'motion out of time' and denoting a thrust in fencing made at an inopportune moment: from French.

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contribute

verb
1. give in order to help achieve or provide something.
2. (contribute to) help to cause or bring about.

DERIVATIVES:
contribution noun
contributive adjective
contributor noun.
USAGE - The first pronunciation, which puts the stress on -tri-, is held to be the only correct one, despite the fact that the alternative, with the stress on con-, is older.
ORIGIN: Latin contribuere 'bring together, add' .

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contributory

adjective
1. playing a part in bringing something about.
2. (of a pension or insurance scheme) operated by means of a fund into which people pay.

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con trick

noun informal
a confidence trick.

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contrite

adjective
feeling or expressing remorse.

DERIVATIVES:
contritely adverb
contriteness noun
contrition noun.

ORIGIN: Latin contritus, from conterere 'grind down, wear away' .

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contrivance

noun
1. the action of contriving.
2. an ingenious device or scheme.

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contrive

verb
1. devise or plan using skill and artifice.
2. manage to do something foolish.

DERIVATIVES:
contrivable adjective
contriver noun.

ORIGIN: Old French controver 'imagine, invent' , from Latin contropare 'compare' .

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contrived

adjective
deliberately created rather than arising spontaneously.

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control

noun
1. the power to influence people's behaviour or the course of events.
2. the restriction of an activity or phenomenon.
3. a means of limiting or regulating something: exchange controls.
4. a device by which a machine is regulated.
5. the place where something is verified or from which an activity is directed: passport control.
6. a person or thing used as a standard of comparison for checking the results of a survey or experiment.

verb (controlled, controlling)
1. have control or command of.
2. limit or regulate.

IDIOMS -
in control able to direct a situation, person, or activity.
out of control no longer manageable.
under control (of a danger or emergency) being dealt with or contained successfully.

DERIVATIVES:
controllability noun
controllable adjective
controllably adverb
controller noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «verify accounts»: from Old French contreroller 'keep a copy of a roll of accounts' , from Latin contrarotulus 'copy of a roll' .

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control tower

noun
a tall building from which the movements of air traffic are monitored and controlled.

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controversial

adjective
causing or likely to cause controversy.

DERIVATIVES:
controversialist noun
controversially adverb.

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controversy

noun (pl. controversies)
debate or disagreement about a matter which arouses strongly contrasting opinions.
USAGE - The second pronunciation, putting the stress on -trov-, is widely held to be incorrect in standard English.
ORIGIN: Latin controversia, from controversus 'turned against, disputed' .

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contumely

noun (pl. contumelies) archaic
insolent or insulting language or treatment.

DERIVATIVES:
contumelious adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin contumelia, perhaps from tumere 'to swell' .

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contusion

noun Medicine
a bruise.

DERIVATIVES:
contuse verb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from contundere 'to bruise, crush' .

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conundrum

noun (pl. conundrums)
1. a confusing and difficult problem or question.
2. a riddle.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «a crank or pedant»: of unknown origin.

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conurbation

noun
an extended urban area, typically consisting of several towns merging with the suburbs of a central city.

ORIGIN: from Latin urbs 'city' .

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convalesce

verb
gradually recover one's health after an illness or medical treatment.

ORIGIN: Latin convalescere, from valescere 'grow strong' .

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convalescent

adjective
recovering from an illness or medical treatment.

noun
a convalescent person.

DERIVATIVES:
convalescence noun.

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convection

noun
transference of mass or heat within a fluid caused by the tendency of warmer and less dense material to rise.

DERIVATIVES:
convect verb
convectional adjective
convective adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from convehere, from vehere 'carry' .

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convector

noun
a heating appliance that circulates warm air by convection.

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convene

verb
1. call people together for (a meeting).
2. assemble for a common purpose.

DERIVATIVES:
convenable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin convenire 'assemble, agree, fit' , from venire 'come' .

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convener (also convenor)

noun
1. a person who convenes meetings of a committee.
2. Brit. a senior trade union official at a workplace.

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convenience

noun
1. freedom from effort or difficulty.
2. a useful or helpful device or situation.
3. Brit. a public toilet.

IDIOMS -
at one's convenience when or where it suits one.
at one's earliest convenience as soon as one can without difficulty.

ORIGIN: Latin convenientia, from convenire 'assemble, agree, fit' .

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convenience food

noun
a food that has been pre-prepared commercially and so requires little preparation by the consumer.

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convenient

adjective
1. fitting in well with a person's needs, activities, and plans.
2. involving little trouble or effort.

DERIVATIVES:
conveniently adverb.

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convent

noun
1. a Christian community of nuns living under monastic vows.
2. (also convent school) a school attached to and run by a convent.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin conventus 'assembly, company' .

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convention

noun
1. a way in which something is usually done.
2. socially acceptable behaviour.
3. an agreement between countries.
4. a large meeting or conference.
5. N. Amer. an assembly of the delegates of a political party to select candidates for office.
6. a body set up by agreement to deal with a particular issue.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'meeting, covenant' .

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conventional

adjective
1. based on or in accordance with convention.
2. following social conventions; not individual or adventurous.
3. (of weapons or power) non-nuclear.

DERIVATIVES:
conventionalist noun
conventionality noun
conventionalize (also conventionalise) verb
conventionally adverb.

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converge

verb
1. come together from different directions so as eventually to meet.
2. (converge on/upon) come from different directions and meet at.

DERIVATIVES:
convergent adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin convergere, from vergere 'incline' .

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conversant

adjective (conversant with)
familiar with or knowledgeable about.

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conversation

noun
an informal spoken exchange of news and ideas between two or more people.

DERIVATIVES:
conversational adjective.

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conversationalist

noun
a person who is good at or fond of engaging in conversation.

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converse [1]

verb
hold a conversation.

DERIVATIVES:
converser noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «live among, be familiar with»: from Latin conversari 'keep company with' .

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converse [2]

noun
a situation, object, or statement that is the opposite of another.

adjective
opposite.

DERIVATIVES:
conversely adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin conversus 'turned about' .

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conversion

noun
1. the action of converting or the state of being converted.
2. Brit. a building that has been converted to a new purpose.
3. Rugby a successful kick at goal after a try, scoring two points.

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convert

verb
1. change in form, character, or function.
2. change (money, stocks, or units in which a quantity is expressed) into others of a different kind.
3. adapt (a building) to make it suitable for a new purpose.
4. change one's religious faith or other beliefs.
5. Rugby score extra points after (a try) by a successful kick at goal.

noun
a person who has changed their religious faith or other beliefs.

DERIVATIVES:
converter (also convertor) noun.

ORIGIN: Latin convertere 'turn about' .

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convertible

adjective
1. able to be converted.
2. (of a car) having a folding or detachable roof.

noun
a convertible car.

DERIVATIVES:
convertibility noun.

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convex

adjective
having an outline or surface that curves outwards like the exterior of a sphere. Compare with CONCAVE.

DERIVATIVES:
convexity noun
convexly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin convexus 'vaulted, arched' .

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convey

verb
1. transport or carry to a place.
2. communicate (an idea, impression, or feeling).
3. Law transfer the title to (property).

DERIVATIVES:
conveyable adjective
conveyor (also conveyer) noun.

ORIGIN: Latin conviare 'escort' , from via 'way' .

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conveyance

noun
1. the action or process of conveying.
2. formal a means of transport; a vehicle.
3. the legal process of transferring property from one owner to another.

DERIVATIVES:
conveyancer noun
conveyancing noun.

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conveyor belt

noun
a continuous moving band used for transporting objects from one place to another.

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convict

verb
declare to be guilty of a criminal offence by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law.

noun
a person convicted of a criminal offence and serving a sentence of imprisonment.

ORIGIN: from Latin convictus 'demonstrated, convicted' , from convincere (see CONVINCE).

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conviction

noun
1. an instance of being convicted of a criminal offence.
2. the action or process of convicting.
3. a firmly held belief or opinion.
4. the quality of showing that one is convinced of what one believes or says.

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convince

verb
1. cause to believe firmly in the truth of something.
2. persuade to do something.

DERIVATIVES:
convincer noun
convincible adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin convincere 'overcome, demonstrate' , from vincere 'conquer' .

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convincing

adjective
1. able to convince.
2. (of a victory or a winner) leaving no margin of doubt.

DERIVATIVES:
convincingly adverb.

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convivial

adjective
1. (of an atmosphere or event) friendly and lively.
2. (of a person) cheerfully sociable.

DERIVATIVES:
conviviality noun
convivially adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «fit for a feast»: from Latin convivium 'a feast' .

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convocation

noun
a large formal assembly of people.

DERIVATIVES:
convocational adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from convocare 'call together' .

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convoke

verb formal
call together (an assembly or meeting).

ORIGIN: Latin convocare, from vocare 'to call' .

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convoluted

adjective
1. (of an argument, statement, etc.) extremely complex.
2. intricately folded, twisted, or coiled.

DERIVATIVES:
convolutedly adverb.

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convolution

noun
1. a coil or twist.
2. the state of being or process of becoming coiled or twisted.
3. a complex argument, statement, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
convolutional adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from convolvere 'roll together' .

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convolvulus

noun (pl. convolvuluses)
a twining plant with trumpet-shaped flowers, some kinds of which are invasive weeds; bindweed.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'bindweed' , from convolvere 'roll together' .

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convoy

noun
a group of ships or vehicles travelling together under armed protection.

verb
(of a warship or armed troops) accompany (a group of ships or vehicles) for protection.

IDIOMS -
in convoy travelling as a group.

ORIGIN: originally in the senses «convey» and «act as escort»: from French convoyer, from Latin conviare 'convey' .

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convulse

verb
1. suffer convulsions.
2. (be convulsed) be caused by an emotion, laughter, or physical stimulus to make sudden, violent, uncontrollable movements.

DERIVATIVES:
convulsive adjective
convulsively adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin convellere 'pull violently, wrench' .

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convulsion

noun
1. a sudden, violent, irregular movement of the body caused by involuntary contraction of muscles.
2. (convulsions) uncontrollable laughter.
3. a violent social or natural upheaval.

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coo

verb (coos, cooed)
1. (of a pigeon or dove) make a soft murmuring sound.
2. (of a person) speak in a soft gentle voice.

noun
a cooing sound.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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cook

verb
1. prepare (food or a meal) by mixing, combining, and heating the elements or ingredients.
2. (with reference to food) heat or be heated so as to reach an edible state.
3. informal alter dishonestly.
4. (cook up) informal concoct (a story, excuse, or plan).

noun
a person who cooks.

IDIOMS -
cook someone's goose informal spoil someone's plans.
too many cooks spoil the broth proverb if too many people are involved in a task or activity, it will not be done well.

ORIGIN: from Latin coquus 'a cook' .

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cooker

noun Brit.
1. an appliance for cooking food, typically consisting of an oven, hob, and grill.
2. informal an apple or other fruit more suitable for cooking than for eating raw.

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cookery

noun (pl. cookeries)
1. the practice or skill of preparing and cooking food.
2. N. Amer. a kitchen.

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cookie

noun (pl. cookies)
1. N. Amer. a sweet biscuit.
2. informal a person of a specified kind: she's a tough cookie.

IDIOMS -
the way the cookie crumbles informal, chiefly N. Amer. the way things turn out, especially when undesirable.

ORIGIN: Dutch koekje 'little cake' .

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cool

adjective
1. of or at a fairly low temperature.
2. keeping one from becoming too hot.
3. unfriendly or unenthusiastic.
4. free from anxiety or excitement: he kept a cool head .
5. (of jazz) restrained and relaxed.
6. informal fashionably attractive or impressive.
7. informal excellent.
8. (a cool ) informal used to emphasize a specified large amount of money: a cool £50 million.

noun (the cool)
a fairly low temperature, or a place or time characterized by this: the cool of the day.

verb
make or become cool.

IDIOMS -
keep (or lose) one's cool informal maintain (or fail to maintain) a calm and controlled attitude.

DERIVATIVES:
coolish adjective
coolly adverb
coolness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to COLD.

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coolant

noun
a fluid used to cool an engine, nuclear reactor, or other device.

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cooler

noun
1. a device or container for keeping things cool.
2. N. Amer. a refrigerator.
3. a long drink, especially a mixture of wine, fruit juice, and soda water.
4. (the cooler) informal prison or a prison cell.

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coolie

noun (pl. coolies)
1. dated an unskilled native labourer in India, China, and some other Asian countries.
2. offensive a person from the Indian subcontinent or of Indian descent.

ORIGIN: from a Hindi word meaning 'day-labourer' .

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cooling-off period

noun
1. an interval during which the parties in a dispute can try to settle their differences before taking further action.
2. an interval after a sale contract is agreed during which the purchaser can decide to cancel without loss.

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cooling tower

noun
a tall, open-topped, cylindrical concrete tower, used for cooling water or condensing steam from an industrial process.

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coon

noun
1. N. Amer. short for RACCOON.
2. informal, offensive a black person. [ORIGIN: slang use of sense 1, from an earlier sense ‘(sly) fellow’.]

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coop

noun
a cage or pen for poultry.

verb (usu. be cooped up)
confine in a small space.

ORIGIN: Latin cupa 'cask, tub' .

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cooper

noun
a person who makes or repairs casks and barrels.

DERIVATIVES:
cooperage noun
coopery noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin cupa 'cask, tub' .

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cooperate (also co-operate)

verb
1. work jointly towards the same end.
2. comply with a request.

DERIVATIVES:
cooperant noun
cooperation noun
cooperator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin cooperari 'work together' .

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cooperative (also co-operative)

adjective
1. involving cooperation.
2. willing to be of assistance.
3. (of a farm, business, etc.) owned and run jointly by its members, with profits or benefits shared among them.

noun
a cooperative organization.

DERIVATIVES:
cooperatively adverb
cooperativeness noun.

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co-opt

verb
1. appoint to membership of a committee or other body by invitation of the existing members.
2. divert to a role different from the usual or original one.
3. adopt (an idea or policy) for one's own use.

DERIVATIVES:
co-optation noun
co-option noun
co-optive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin cooptare, from optare 'choose' .

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coordinate (also co-ordinate)

verb
1. bring the different elements of (a complex activity or organization) into a harmonious or efficient relationship.
2. (coordinate with) negotiate with (others) in order to work together effectively.
3. match or harmonize attractively.

adjective
equal in rank or importance.

noun
1. Mathematics each of a group of numbers used to indicate the position of a point, line, or plane.
2. (coordinates) matching items of clothing.

DERIVATIVES:
coordinative adjective
coordinator noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin ordinare 'put in order' , from ordo 'order' .

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coordination (also co-ordination)

noun
1. the action or process of coordinating.
2. the ability to move different parts of the body smoothly and at the same time.

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coot

noun
1. (pl. same) an aquatic bird of the rail family with black plumage and a white bill that extends back on to the forehead as a horny shield.
2. (usu. old coot) informal a stupid or eccentric person.

ORIGIN: probably Dutch or Low German.

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cop informal

noun
a police officer.

verb (copped, copping)
1. catch or arrest (an offender).
2. incur (something unwelcome).
3. (cop off) have a sexual encounter.
4. (cop out) avoid doing something that one ought to do.

IDIOMS -
cop hold of Brit. take hold of.
cop it Brit.
1. get into trouble.
2. be killed.
not much cop Brit. not very good.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French caper 'seize' , from Latin capere.

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cope [1]

verb
deal effectively with something difficult.

DERIVATIVES:
coper noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «meet in battle, come to blows»: from Old French coper, from Greek kolaphos 'a blow with the fist' .

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cope [2]

noun
a long, loose cloak worn by a priest or bishop on ceremonial occasions.

verb
(in building) cover (a joint or structure) with a coping.

ORIGIN: Latin cappa 'covering for the head' , from caput 'head' .

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Copernican system (also Copernican theory)

noun
the theory proposed by the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (1473 1543) that the sun is the centre of the solar system, with the planets (including the earth) orbiting round it. Compare with PTOLEMAIC SYSTEM.

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copier

noun
a machine that makes exact copies of something.

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co-pilot

noun
a second pilot in an aircraft.

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coping

noun
the top, typically rounded or sloping, course of a brick or stone wall.

ORIGIN: from COPE, originally meaning «dress in a cope», hence «to cover».

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copious

adjective
abundant; plentiful.

DERIVATIVES:
copiously adverb
copiousness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin copia 'plenty' .

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copper [1]

noun
1. a red-brown metallic chemical element which is used for electrical wiring and as a component of brass and bronze.
2. (coppers) Brit. coins of low value made of copper or bronze.
3. Brit. dated a large copper or iron container for boiling laundry.
4. a reddish-brown colour.

verb
cover or coat with copper.

DERIVATIVES:
coppery adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin cyprium aes 'Cyprus metal' (so named because Cyprus was the chief source).

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copper [2]

noun Brit. informal
a police officer.

ORIGIN: from COP.

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copper-bottomed

adjective Brit.
thoroughly reliable.

ORIGIN: with reference to copper sheathing applied to the bottom of a ship.

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copperplate

noun
1. a polished copper plate with a design engraved or etched into it.
2. an elaborate looped style of handwriting. [ORIGIN: the copybooks for this were originally printed from copperplates.]

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coppice

noun
an area of woodland in which the trees or shrubs are periodically cut back to ground level to stimulate growth and provide wood.

verb
cut back (a tree or shrub) in this way.

ORIGIN: Old French copeiz, from Greek kolaphus 'a blow with the fist' .

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copra

noun
dried coconut kernels, from which oil is obtained.

ORIGIN: Portuguese and Spanish, from an Indian word meaning «coconut».

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copse

noun
a small group of trees.

ORIGIN: shortened form of COPPICE.

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Copt

noun
1. a native Egyptian in the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
2. a member of the Coptic Church, the native Christian Church in Egypt.

ORIGIN: Latin Coptus, from Greek Aiguptios 'Egyptian' .

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Coptic

noun
the language of the Copts, which survives only in the Coptic Church.

adjective
relating to the Copts or their language.

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copulate

verb
have sexual intercourse.

DERIVATIVES:
copulation noun
copulatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin copulare 'fasten together' .

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copy

noun (pl. copies)
1. a thing made to be similar or identical to another.
2. a single specimen of a particular book, record, etc.
3. matter to be printed.
4. material for a newspaper or magazine article.

verb (copies, copied)
1. make a copy of.
2. imitate the behaviour or style of.

ORIGIN: Latin copia 'abundance' , later 'transcript' .

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copybook

noun
1. a book containing models of handwriting for learners to imitate.
2. (before another noun ) exactly in accordance with established standards: a copybook landing.

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copycat

noun informal
1. a person who copies another.
2. (before another noun ) denoting an action, especially a crime, carried out in imitation of another: copycat attacks.

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copy-edit

verb
edit (text) by checking its consistency and accuracy.

DERIVATIVES:
copy editor noun.

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copyist

noun
1. a person who makes copies.
2. a person who imitates the styles of others, especially in art.

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copyright

noun
the exclusive legal right, given to the originator or their assignee for a fixed number of years, to publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material, and to authorize others to do the same.

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copy typist

noun
a person whose job is to type transcripts of written drafts.

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copywriter

noun
a person who writes the text of advertisements or publicity material.

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coquette

noun
a woman who flirts.

DERIVATIVES:
coquetry noun
coquettish adjective
coquettishly adverb
coquettishness noun.

ORIGIN: French, 'wanton female' , from coq 'cock' .

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coracle

noun
a small, round boat made of wickerwork covered with a watertight material, propelled with a paddle.

ORIGIN: Welsh corwgl, related to Scottish Gaelic and Irish curach 'small boat' .

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coral

noun
1. a hard stony substance secreted by certain marine animals as an external skeleton, typically forming large reefs.
2. precious red coral, used in jewellery.
3. the pinkish-red colour of red coral.

ORIGIN: Greek korallion, kouralion.

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coralline

adjective
1. derived or formed from coral.
2. pinkish-red.
3. resembling coral.

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cor anglais

noun (pl. cors anglais pronunc. same)
an alto woodwind instrument of the oboe family, having a bulbous bell and sounding a fifth lower than the oboe.

ORIGIN: French, 'English horn' .

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corbel

noun
a projection jutting out from a wall to support a structure above it.

DERIVATIVES:
corbelled (US corbeled) adjective
corbelling (US corbeling) noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'little crow' , from Latin corvus 'raven' (perhaps because the shape of a corbel is similar to that of a crow's beak).

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cord

noun
1. long thin string or rope made from several twisted strands.
2. a length of cord.
3. an anatomical structure resembling a cord (e.g. the spinal cord).
4. an electric flex.
5. corduroy.
6. (cords) corduroy trousers.
7. a measure of cut wood (usually 128 cu. ft, 3.62 cubic metres).

verb (usu. corded)
attach a cord to.

DERIVATIVES:
cording noun.

ORIGIN: Greek khord 'gut, string of a musical instrument' .

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cordial

adjective
1. warm and friendly.
2. heartfelt and sincere.

noun
1. Brit. a sweet fruit-flavoured drink, sold as a concentrate.
2. chiefly N. Amer. another term for LIQUEUR.
3. a pleasant-tasting medicine.

DERIVATIVES:
cordiality noun
cordially adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin cordialis, from cor 'heart' .

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cordite

noun
a smokeless explosive made from nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, and petroleum jelly.

ORIGIN: from CORD, because of its appearance.

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cordless

adjective
(of an electrical appliance or telephone) working without connection to a mains supply or central unit.

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cordon

noun
1. a line or circle of police, soldiers, or guards forming a barrier.
2. a fruit tree trained to grow as a single stem.

verb (cordon off)
prevent access to or from by means of a cordon.

ORIGIN: Italian cordone and French cordon; related to CORD.

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cordon bleu

adjective Cookery
of the highest class.

noun (pl. cordons bleus pronounc. same)
a cook of the highest class.

ORIGIN: French, 'blue ribbon' (once signifying the highest order of chivalry in the reign of the Bourbon kings).

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corduroy

noun
a thick cotton fabric with velvety ribs.

ORIGIN: probably from CORD + duroy, denoting a former kind of lightweight worsted.

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core

noun
1. the tough central part of various fruits, containing the seeds.
2. the central or most important part of something.
3. the dense metallic or rocky central region of a planet.
4. the central part of a nuclear reactor, which contains the fissile material.

verb
remove the core from (a fruit).

IDIOMS -
to the core to the depths of one's being.

DERIVATIVES:
corer noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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co-respondent (also corespondent)

noun
a person cited in a divorce case as having committed adultery with the respondent.

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corgi (also Welsh corgi)

noun (pl. corgis)
a breed of dog with short legs and a foxlike head.

ORIGIN: Welsh, from cor 'dwarf' + ci 'dog' .

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coriander

noun
an aromatic Mediterranean plant of the parsley family, the leaves and seeds of which are used in cookery.

ORIGIN: Old French coriandre, from Greek koriannon.

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cork

noun
1. the buoyant, light brown substance obtained from the bark of the cork oak.
2. a bottle stopper made of cork.
3. a piece of cork used as a float for a fishing line or net.

verb
1. close or seal (a bottle) with a cork.
2. (corked) (of wine) spoilt by tannin from the cork.

ORIGIN: Dutch and Low German kork, from Spanish alcorque 'cork-soled sandal' , ultimately from Latin quercus 'oak, cork oak' .

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corkage

noun
a charge made by a restaurant or hotel for serving wine that has been brought in by a customer.

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corker

noun informal
an excellent person or thing.

DERIVATIVES:
corking adjective.

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corkscrew

noun
a device for pulling corks from bottles, consisting of a spiral metal rod that is inserted into the cork, and a handle.

verb
move or twist in a spiral.

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corm

noun
a rounded underground storage organ present in plants such as crocuses and cyclamens, consisting of a swollen stem base covered with scale leaves.

DERIVATIVES:
cormlet noun.

ORIGIN: Greek kormos 'trunk stripped of its boughs' .

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cormorant

noun
a large diving seabird with a long neck, long hooked bill, and mainly black plumage.

ORIGIN: Old French cormaran, from Latin corvus marinus 'sea-raven' .

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corn [1]

noun
1. chiefly Brit. the chief cereal crop of a district, especially (in England) wheat or (in Scotland) oats.
2. N. Amer. & Austral./NZ maize.
3. informal something banal or sentimental.

verb (corned)
preserved with salt or brine.

IDIOMS -
corn on the cob maize when cooked and eaten straight from the cob.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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corn [2]

noun
a small, painful area of thickened skin on the toes or foot, caused by pressure.

ORIGIN: Latin cornu 'horn' .

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corncob

noun
the central woody part of an ear of maize, to which the grains are attached.

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corncrake

noun
a secretive crake inhabiting coarse grasslands, with a distinctive double rasping call.

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corn dolly

noun Brit.
a symbolic or decorative model of a human figure, made of plaited straw.

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cornea

noun
the transparent layer forming the front of the eye.

DERIVATIVES:
corneal adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin cornea tela 'horny tissue' .

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corned beef

noun
1. Brit. beef preserved in brine, chopped and pressed and sold in tins.
2. N. Amer. beef brisket cured in brine and boiled, typically served cold.

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corner

noun
1. a place or angle where two or more sides or edges meet.
2. a place where two streets meet.
3. a secluded or remote region or area.
4. a difficult or awkward position.
5. a position in which one dominates the supply of a particular commodity.
6. (also corner kick) Soccer a free kick taken by the attacking side from a corner of the field.
7. Boxing & Wrestling each of the diagonally opposite ends of the ring, where a contestant rests between rounds.

verb
1. force into a place or situation from which it is hard to escape.
2. control (a market) by dominating the supply of a particular commodity.
3. go round a bend in a road.

IDIOMS -
fight one's corner defend one's position or interests.

ORIGIN: Latin cornu 'horn, tip, corner' .

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corner shop

noun Brit.
a small shop selling groceries and general goods in a mainly residential area.

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cornerstone

noun
1. a stone that forms the base of a corner of a building, joining two walls.
2. a vital part or basis: sugar was the cornerstone of the economy.

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cornet

noun
1. a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but shorter and wider.
2. Brit. a cone-shaped wafer for holding ice cream.

DERIVATIVES:
cornetist (also cornettist) noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'little horn' , from Latin cornu 'horn' .

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cornflakes

plural noun
a breakfast cereal consisting of toasted flakes made from maize flour.

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cornflour

noun Brit.
finely ground maize flour, used for thickening sauces.

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cornflower

noun
a slender plant of the daisy family with deep blue flowers.

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cornice

noun
1. an ornamental moulding round the wall of a room just below the ceiling.
2. a horizontal moulded projection crowning a building or structure.

DERIVATIVES:
corniced adjective
cornicing noun.

ORIGIN: Italian, perhaps from Latin cornix 'crow' (compare with CORBEL).

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Cornish

adjective
relating to Cornwall.

noun
the ancient Celtic language of Cornwall.

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Cornish pasty

noun Brit.
a pasty containing seasoned meat and vegetables, especially potato.

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cornucopia

noun
1. a symbol of plenty consisting of a goat's horn overflowing with flowers, fruit, and corn.
2. an abundant supply of good things.

DERIVATIVES:
cornucopian adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin cornu copiae 'horn of plenty' (a mythical horn able to provide whatever is desired).

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corny

adjective (cornier, corniest) informal
trite or mawkishly sentimental.

DERIVATIVES:
cornily adverb
corniness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «rustic, appealing to country folk».

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corolla

noun
the petals of a flower, typically forming a whorl within the sepals.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'little crown' .

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corollary

noun (pl. corollaries)
1. a logical proposition that follows from one already proved.
2. a direct consequence or result.

adjective
associated; supplementary.

ORIGIN: Latin corollarium 'money paid for a garland or chaplet; gratuity' (later 'a deduction' ), from corolla 'little crown' .

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corona

noun (pl. coronae)
1. the rarefied gaseous envelope of the sun or a star.
2. (also corona discharge) Physics the glow around a conductor at high potential.
3. a small circle of light seen round the sun or moon.
4. Anatomy a crown or crown-like structure.
5. Botany the trumpet-shaped central part of a daffodil or narcissus flower.
6. a long, straight-sided cigar.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'wreath, crown' ; sense 6 comes from a proprietary name of a Havana cigar.

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coronary

adjective
relating to or denoting the arteries which surround and supply the heart.

noun (pl. coronaries) (also coronary thrombosis)
a blockage of the flow of blood to the heart, caused by a clot in a coronary artery.

ORIGIN: Latin coronarius 'resembling or forming a crown' .

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coronation

noun
the ceremony of crowning a sovereign or a sovereign's consort.

ORIGIN: Latin, from coronare 'to crown' .

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coroner

noun
an official who holds inquests into violent, sudden, or suspicious deaths, and (in Britain) inquiries into cases of treasure trove.

ORIGIN: originally denoting an official responsible for safeguarding the private property of the Crown: from Old French coruner, from corune 'crown' .

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coronet

noun
1. a small or simple crown.
2. a decorative band encircling the head.

ORIGIN: Old French coronete, 'little crown' .

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corporal [1]

noun
a rank of non-commissioned officer in the army, above lance corporal or private first class and below sergeant.

ORIGIN: Italian caporale, probably from Latin corpus 'body (of troops)' .

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corporal [2]

adjective
relating to the human body.

ORIGIN: Latin corporalis, from corpus 'body' .

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corporal punishment

noun
physical punishment, such as caning or flogging.

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corporate

adjective
1. relating to a business corporation.
2. of or shared by all members of a group: corporate responsibility.

DERIVATIVES:
corporately adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin corporare 'form into a body' , from corpus 'body' .

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corporation

noun
1. a large company or group of companies authorized to act as a single entity and recognized as such in law.
2. Brit. a group of people elected to govern a city, town, or borough.

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corporation tax

noun
tax levied on companies' profits.

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corporeal

adjective
relating to a person's body; physical rather than spiritual.

DERIVATIVES:
corporeality noun.

ORIGIN: Latin corporealis, from corpus 'body' .

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corps

noun (pl. corps)
1. a main subdivision of an army in the field, consisting of two or more divisions.
2. a branch of an army assigned to a particular kind of work.
3. a body of people engaged in a particular activity: the press corps.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin corpus 'body' .

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corps de ballet

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
1. the members of a ballet company who dance together as a group.
2. the lowest rank of dancers in a ballet company.

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corpse

noun
a dead body, especially of a human.

verb theatrical slang
spoil a piece of acting by forgetting one's lines or laughing uncontrollably.

ORIGIN: Latin corpus.

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corpulent

adjective
(of a person) fat.

DERIVATIVES:
corpulence noun.

ORIGIN: Latin corpulentus, from corpus 'body' .

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corpus

noun (pl. corpora or corpuses)
1. a collection of written texts.
2. a collection of written or spoken material in machine-readable form.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'body' .

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corpuscle

noun
a minute body or cell in an organism, especially a red or white blood cell.

DERIVATIVES:
corpuscular adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin corpusculum 'small body' .

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corral

noun N. Amer.
a pen for livestock on a farm or ranch.

verb (corralled, corralling)
1. N. Amer. put or keep (livestock) in a corral.
2. gather (a group) together.

ORIGIN: Spanish and Old Portuguese.

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correct

adjective
1. free from error; true; right.
2. conforming to accepted social standards.
3. conforming to a particular political or ideological orthodoxy: environmentally correct.

verb
1. put right.
2. mark the errors in (a text).
3. tell (someone) that they are in error.
4. adjust so as to function accurately or accord with a standard.

DERIVATIVES:
correctable adjective
correctly adverb
correctness noun
corrector noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin corrigere 'make straight, amend' .

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correction

noun
1. the action or process of correcting.
2. a change that rectifies an error or inaccuracy.

DERIVATIVES:
correctional adjective (chiefly N. Amer. ).

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corrective

adjective
designed to correct something undesirable.

noun
a corrective measure.

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correlate

verb
have or bring into a relationship in which one thing affects or depends on another.

noun
each of two or more related or complementary things.

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correlation

noun
1. a mutual relationship.
2. the process of correlating two or more things.
3. Statistics interdependence of variable quantities.

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correlative

adjective
1. having a correlation.
2. (of words such as neither and nor) corresponding to each other and regularly used together.

noun
a correlative word or concept.

ORIGIN: Latin correlativus, from relativus 'having reference or relation' .

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correspond

verb
1. match or agree almost exactly.
2. be comparable or equivalent in character or form.
3. communicate by exchanging letters.

ORIGIN: Latin correspondere, from respondere 'answer' .

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correspondence

noun
1. the action or fact of corresponding.
2. letters sent or received.

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correspondence course

noun
a course of study in which student and tutors communicate by post.

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correspondent

noun
1. a person who writes letters, especially on a regular basis.
2. a journalist reporting on a particular subject or from a particular country.

adjective
corresponding.

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corridor

noun
1. a passage in a building or train, with doors leading into rooms or compartments.
2. a belt of land linking two other areas or following a road or river.

IDIOMS -
the corridors of power the senior levels of government or administration.

ORIGIN: Italian corridore, alteration of corridoio 'running-place' .

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corroborate

verb
confirm or give support to (a statement or theory).

DERIVATIVES:
corroboration noun
corroborative adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin corroborare 'strengthen' .

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corrode

verb
1. (with reference to metal or other hard material) wear or be worn away slowly by chemical action.
2. gradually weaken or destroy.

DERIVATIVES:
corrosion noun.

ORIGIN: Latin corrodere, from rodere 'gnaw' .

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corrosive

adjective
tending to cause corrosion.

noun
a corrosive substance.

DERIVATIVES:
corrosively adverb
corrosiveness noun.

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corrugate

verb
contract into wrinkles or folds.

ORIGIN: Latin corrugare 'to wrinkle' .

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corrupt

adjective
1. willing to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain.
2. evil or morally depraved.
3. (of a text or computer data) made unreliable by errors or alterations.
4. archaic rotten or putrid.

verb
1. make corrupt.
2. archaic infect; contaminate.

DERIVATIVES:
corrupter noun
corruptible adjective
corruption noun
corruptive adjective
corruptly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin corrumpere 'mar, bribe, destroy' .

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corsage

noun
1. a spray of flowers worn pinned to a woman's clothes.
2. the bodice of a woman's dress.

ORIGIN: French, from Old French cors 'body' .

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corsair

noun
1. archaic a pirate.
2. historical a privateer, especially one operating along the southern shore of the Mediterranean.

ORIGIN: French corsaire, from Latin cursus 'a raid, plunder' .

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corset

noun
1. a woman's tightly fitting undergarment extending from below the chest to the hips, worn to shape the figure.
2. a similar garment worn to support a weak or injured back.

DERIVATIVES:
corseted adjective
corsetry noun.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «a close-fitting outer bodice»: from Old French, 'little body' .

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cortège

noun
a solemn procession, especially for a funeral.

ORIGIN: Italian corteggio 'entourage or retinue' .

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cortex

noun (pl. cortices) Anatomy
the outer layer of an organ or structure, especially the outer, folded layer of the brain (cerebral cortex).

DERIVATIVES:
cortical adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'bark' .

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cortisone

noun
a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex and used as an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy agent.

ORIGIN: from elements of its chemical name.

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corundum

noun
extremely hard crystallized alumina, used as an abrasive.

ORIGIN: Tamil.

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corvette

noun
a small warship designed for convoy escort duty.

ORIGIN: French, from Dutch korf, denoting a kind of ship.

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cos [1]

noun
a variety of lettuce with crisp narrow leaves that form a tall head.

ORIGIN: named after the Greek island of Cos, where it originated.

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cos [2]

abbreviation
cosine.

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cosec

abbreviation
cosecant.

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cosecant

noun Mathematics
(in a right-angled triangle) the ratio of the hypotenuse to the side opposite an acute angle (the reciprocal of sine).

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cosh Brit.

noun
a thick heavy stick or bar used as a weapon.

verb
hit on the head with a cosh.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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cosine

noun Mathematics
(in a right-angled triangle) the ratio of the side adjacent to a particular acute angle to the hypotenuse.

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cosmetic

adjective
1. relating to treatment intended to improve a person's appearance.
2. improving only the appearance of something.

noun (cosmetics)
cosmetic preparations, especially for the face.

DERIVATIVES:
cosmetically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek kosmtikos, from kosmos 'order or adornment' .

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cosmic

adjective
relating to the universe or cosmos, especially as distinct from the earth.

DERIVATIVES:
cosmical adjective
cosmically adverb.

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cosmogony

noun (pl. cosmogonies)
the branch of science concerned with the origin of the universe, especially the solar system.

DERIVATIVES:
cosmogonic adjective
cosmogonist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek kosmos 'order or world' + -gonia '-begetting' .

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cosmology

noun (pl. cosmologies)
1. the science of the origin and development of the universe.
2. an account or theory of the origin of the universe.

DERIVATIVES:
cosmological adjective
cosmologist noun.

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cosmonaut

noun
a Russian astronaut.

ORIGIN: Russian kosmonavt, on the pattern of astronaut.

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cosmopolitan

adjective
1. consisting of people from many different countries and cultures: a cosmopolitan metropolis.
2. familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures.

noun
a cosmopolitan person.

DERIVATIVES:
cosmopolitanism noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek kosmos 'world' + polits 'citizen' .

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cosmos

noun
the universe seen as a well-ordered whole.

ORIGIN: Greek kosmos 'order or world' .

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Cossack

noun
a member of a people of southern Russia, Ukraine, and Siberia, noted for their horsemanship and military skill.

ORIGIN: Turkic, 'vagabond, nomad' .

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cosset

verb (cosseted, cosseting)
care for and protect in an overindulgent way.

ORIGIN: orginally denoting a lamb brought up by hand, later a spoiled child: probably from Old English, 'cottar' .

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cost

verb (past and past part. cost)
1. require the payment of (a specified sum) in order to be bought or obtained.
2. involve the loss of: his heroism cost him his life.
3. (past and past part. costed) estimate the cost of.

noun
1. an amount given or required as payment.
2. the effort or loss necessary to achieve something.
3. (costs) legal expenses.

IDIOMS -
at all costs (or at any cost) regardless of the price or the effort needed.
at cost at cost price.
to someone's cost with loss or disadvantage to someone.

ORIGIN: Old French couster, from Latin constare 'stand firm, stand at a price' .

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co-star

noun
a performer appearing with another or others of equal importance.

verb
1. appear in a production as a co-star.
2. (of a production) include as a co-star.

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cost-effective (also cost-efficient)

adjective
effective or productive in relation to its cost.

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costermonger

noun Brit. dated
a person who sells fruit and vegetables from a handcart in the street.

ORIGIN: from Costard (a type of apple) + -MONGER.

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costing

noun
the estimated cost of producing or undertaking something.

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costive

adjective
constipated.

DERIVATIVES:
costiveness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin constipare 'press together' .

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costly

adjective (costier, costiest)
1. expensive.
2. causing suffering, loss, or disadvantage: a costly mistake.

DERIVATIVES:
costliness noun.

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cost price

noun
the price at which goods are bought by a retailer.

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costume

noun
1. a set of clothes in a style typical of a particular country or historical period.
2. a set of clothes worn by an actor or performer for a role.
3. Brit. dated a woman's matching jacket and skirt.

verb
dress in a costume.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'custom, fashion, habit' , from Latin consuetudo 'custom' .

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costume jewellery

noun
jewellery made with inexpensive materials or imitation gems.

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costumier (US also costumer)

noun
a maker or supplier of theatrical or fancy-dress costumes.

ORIGIN: French.

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cosy (US cozy)

adjective (cosier, cosiest)
1. comfortable, warm, and secure.
2. not seeking or offering challenge or difficulty: the cosy belief that man is master.

noun (pl. cosies)
a cover to keep a teapot or a boiled egg hot.

verb (cosies, cosied) informal
1. make (someone) feel cosy.
2. (cosy up to) ingratiate oneself with.

DERIVATIVES:
cosily adverb
cosiness noun.

ORIGIN: originally Scots: of unknown origin.

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cot [1]

noun Brit.
a small bed with high barred sides for a baby or very young child.

ORIGIN: Hindi, 'bedstead, hammock' .

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cot [2]

noun
1. a small shelter for livestock.
2. archaic a small, simple cottage.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to COTE.

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cotangent

noun Mathematics
(in a right-angled triangle) the ratio of the side (other than the hypotenuse) adjacent to a particular acute angle to the side opposite the angle (the reciprocal of tangent).

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cot death

noun Brit.
the unexplained death of a baby in its sleep.

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cote

noun
a shelter for mammals or birds, especially pigeons.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to COT.

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coterie

noun (pl. coteries)
a small exclusive group of people with shared interests or tastes.

ORIGIN: French, from Low German kote 'cote' .

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cottage

noun
a small house, typically one in the country.

DERIVATIVES:
cottagey adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin cotagium, from COT or COTE.

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cottage cheese

noun
soft, lumpy white cheese made from the curds of skimmed milk.

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cottage industry

noun
a business or manufacturing activity carried on in people's homes.

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cottage pie

noun Brit.
a dish of minced meat topped with browned mashed potato.

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cottager

noun
a person living in a cottage.

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cotter pin

noun
1. a metal pin used to fasten two parts of a mechanism together.
2. a split pin that is opened out after being passed through a hole.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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cotton

noun
a soft white fibrous substance which surrounds the seeds of a tropical and subtropical plant, used to make cloth or thread for sewing.

verb informal (cotton on)
begin to understand.

DERIVATIVES:
cottony adjective.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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cotton wool

noun
1. Brit. fluffy wadding of a kind originally made from raw cotton, used especially for applying or removing cosmetics or bathing wounds.
2. US raw cotton.

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cotyledon

noun
an embryonic leaf, the first leaf to grow from a germinating seed.

ORIGIN: Greek kotuldn 'cup-shaped cavity' .

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couch

noun
1. a long upholstered piece of furniture for several people to sit on.
2. a long seat with a headrest at one end on which a psychoanalyst's subject or doctor's patient lies while undergoing treatment.

verb
1. (usu. be couched in) express in language of a specified style.
2. literary lie down.

ORIGIN: Old French couche, from Latin collocare 'place together' .

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couch potato

noun informal
a person who spends a great deal of time watching television.

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cough

verb
1. expel air from the lungs with a sudden sharp sound.
2. (of an engine) make a sudden harsh noise.
3. (cough up) informal give (something, especially money) reluctantly.
4. Brit. informal reveal information; confess.

noun
1. an act or sound of coughing.
2. a condition of the respiratory organs causing coughing.

DERIVATIVES:
cougher noun.

ORIGIN: of imitative origin.

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couldn't

contraction
could not.

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coulomb

noun Physics
the unit of electric charge in the SI system, equal to the quantity of electricity conveyed in one second by a current of one ampere.

ORIGIN: named after the French military engineer Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (1736 1806).

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council

noun
1. a formally constituted advisory, deliberative, or administrative body.
2. a body elected to manage the affairs of a city, county, or district.
3. (before another noun ) Brit. denoting housing provided by a local council.

ORIGIN: Latin concilium 'convocation, assembly' ; compare with COUNSEL.

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councillor (US also councilor)

noun
a member of a council.

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council tax

noun
a tax levied on households by local authorities in the UK, based on the estimated value of a property.

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counsel

noun
1. advice, especially that given formally.
2. (pl. same) a barrister or other legal adviser conducting a case.
3. archaic consultation, especially to seek advice.

verb (counselled, counselling; US counseled, counseling)
1. give advice to.
2. give professional help and advice to (someone) to resolve personal or psychological problems.
3. recommend (a course of action).

IDIOMS -
keep one's own counsel not disclose one's plans or opinions.

ORIGIN: Latin consilium 'consultation, advice' .

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counsellor (US counselor)

noun
1. a person trained to give guidance on personal or psychological problems.
2. a senior officer in the diplomatic service.
3. (also counselor-at-law) US & Irish a barrister.

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count [1]

verb
1. determine the total number of.
2. recite numbers in ascending order.
3. take into account; include.
4. regard or be regarded as possessing a quality or fulfilling a role: people she had counted as her friends.
5. be significant; matter: it's the thought that counts.
6. (count on/upon) rely on.
7. (count in or out) include (or not include) in a planned activity.
8. (count down) recite numbers backwards to zero to indicate remaining time, especially before the launch of a rocket.
9. (count out) complete a count of ten seconds over (a fallen boxer) to indicate defeat.

noun
1. an act of counting.
2. the total determined by counting.
3. a point for discussion or consideration.
4. Law a separate charge in an indictment.

IDIOMS -
count the days (or hours) be impatient for time to pass.
keep (or lose) count take note of (or forget) the number or amount when counting.
don't count your chickens before they're hatched proverb don't be too confident in anticipating success before it is certain.
out for the count Boxing defeated by being knocked to the ground and unable to rise within ten seconds.

DERIVATIVES:
countable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French counter, from Latin computare 'calculate' .

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count [2]

noun
a foreign nobleman whose rank corresponds to that of an earl.

ORIGIN: Old French conte, from Latin comes 'companion, attendant' .

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countdown

noun
1. an act of counting down to zero, especially before the launch of a rocket.
2. the final moments before a significant event.

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countenance

noun
1. a person's face or facial expression.
2. formal support or approval.

verb
admit as acceptable or possible.

IDIOMS -
keep one's countenance maintain one's composure.
out of countenance disconcerted or unpleasantly surprised.

ORIGIN: Old French contenance 'bearing, behaviour' , from contenir 'contain' .

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counter [1]

noun
1. a long flat-topped fitment over which goods are sold or served or across which business is conducted with customers.
2. a small disc used in board games for keeping the score or as a place marker.
3. a token representing a coin.
4. a factor used to give one party an advantage in negotiations.
5. a person or thing that counts something.

IDIOMS -
over the counter by ordinary retail purchase, with no need for a prescription or licence.
under the counter (or table) (with reference to goods bought or sold) surreptitiously and illegally.

ORIGIN: Old French conteor, from Latin computare 'calculate' .

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counter [2]

verb
1. speak or act in opposition or response to.
2. Boxing give a return blow while parrying.

adverb (counter to)
in the opposite direction to or in conflict with.

adjective
responding to something of the same kind, especially in opposition: argument and counter argument.

noun
an act or speech which counters something else.

ORIGIN: from Latin contra 'against' .

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counter-

prefix
1. denoting opposition, retaliation, or rivalry: counter-attack.
2. denoting movement or effect in the opposite direction: counterpoise.
3. denoting correspondence, duplication, or substitution: counterpart.

ORIGIN: from Latin contra 'against' .

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counteract

verb
act against (something) so as to reduce its force or neutralize it.

DERIVATIVES:
counteraction noun
counteractive adjective.

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counter-attack

noun
an attack made in response to one by an enemy or opponent.

verb
attack in response.

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counterbalance

noun
1. a weight that balances another.
2. a factor having the opposite effect to that of another, so neutralizing it.

verb
have an opposing and balancing effect on.

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counter-espionage

noun
activities designed to prevent or thwart spying by an enemy.

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counterfeit

adjective
made in exact imitation of something valuable with the intention to deceive or defraud.

noun
a forgery.

verb
1. imitate fraudulently.
2. pretend to feel or possess (an emotion or quality).

DERIVATIVES:
counterfeiter noun.

ORIGIN: Old French contrefait 'made in opposition' .

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counterfoil

noun chiefly Brit.
the part of a cheque, ticket, etc. that is kept as a record by the person issuing it.

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countermand

verb
1. revoke (an order).
2. declare (voting) invalid.

ORIGIN: Latin contramandare, from mandare 'to order' .

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countermeasure

noun
an action taken to counteract a danger or threat.

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counterpane

noun dated
a bedspread.

ORIGIN: Old French contrepointe, from Latin culcitra puncta 'quilted mattress' .

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counterpart

noun
a person or thing that corresponds to or has the same function as another.

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counterpoint

noun
1. the technique of writing or playing a melody or melodies in conjunction with another, according to fixed rules.
2. a melody played in conjunction with another.
3. an idea or theme contrasting with the main element.

verb
1. add counterpoint to (a melody).
2. emphasize by contrast.

ORIGIN: Old French contrepoint, from Latin contrapunctum, '(song) marked over against (the original melody)' .

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counterpoise

noun
a counterbalance.

verb
counterbalance.

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counterproductive

adjective
having the opposite of the desired effect.

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countersign

verb
sign (a document already signed by another person).

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countersink

verb (past and past part. countersunk)
1. enlarge and bevel the rim of (a drilled hole) so that a screw or bolt can be inserted flush with the surface.
2. drive (a screw or bolt) into such a hole.

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countertenor

noun
the highest male adult singing voice.

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countervail

verb (usu. countervailing)
offset the effect of (something) by countering it with something of equal force.

ORIGIN: from Latin contra valere 'be of worth against' .

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countess

noun
1. the wife or widow of a count or earl.
2. a woman holding the rank of count or earl.

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counting

preposition
taking account of; including.

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countless

adjective
too many to be counted; very many.

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count noun

noun
a noun that can form a plural and, in the singular, can be used with the indefinite article, e.g. books, a book. Contrasted with MASS NOUN.

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countrified (also countryfied)

adjective
characteristic of the country, especially in being unsophisticated.

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country

noun (pl. countries)
1. a nation with its own government, occupying a particular territory.
2. districts outside large urban areas.
3. an area with regard to its physical features: hill country.

IDIOMS -
across country not keeping to roads.
go to the country Brit. test public opinion by dissolving Parliament and holding a general election.
line of country Brit. a subject in which a person is skilled or knowledgeable.

ORIGIN: Old French cuntree, from Latin contrata terra 'land lying opposite' .

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country and western

noun
country music.

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country club

noun
a club with sporting and social facilities, set in a rural area.

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country dance

noun
a traditional type of English dance, in particular one performed by couples facing each other in long lines.

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countryman (or countrywoman)

noun
1. a person living or born in the country.
2. a person from the same country as someone else.

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country music

noun
a form of popular music originating in the rural southern US, characteristically featuring ballads and dance tunes accompanied by a guitar.

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countryside

noun
the land and scenery of a rural area.

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county

noun (pl. counties)
1. a territorial division of some countries, forming the chief unit of local administration.
2. US a political and administrative division of a state.
3. (before another noun ) Brit. of or denoting the upper-class landed families of a particular county: loud county voices.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a periodical meeting held to transact the business of a shire: from Old French conte, from Latin comitatus 'domain of a count' .

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county council

noun
(in the UK) the elected governing body of an administrative county.

DERIVATIVES:
county councillor noun.

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county court

noun
1. (in England and Wales) a judicial court for civil cases.
2. US a court for civil and criminal cases.

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county town (N. Amer. county seat)

noun
the town that is the administrative capital of a county.

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coup

noun (pl. coups)
1. a coup d'état.
2. an unexpected and notably successful act.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin colpus 'a blow' .

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coup de grâce

noun (pl. coups de grâce pronunc. same)
a final blow or shot given to kill a wounded person or animal.

ORIGIN: French, 'stroke of grace' .

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coup d'état

noun (pl. coups d'état pronunc. same)
a sudden violent seizure of power from a government.

ORIGIN: French, 'blow of state' .

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coupe

noun
a shallow glass or glass dish, typically with a stem, in which desserts or champagne are served.

ORIGIN: French, 'goblet' .

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coupé (also coupe)

noun
a car with a fixed roof, two doors, and a sloping rear.

ORIGIN: originally denoting an enclosed carriage for two passengers and a driver: from French carrosse coupé 'cut carriage' .

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couple

noun
1. two individuals of the same sort considered together.
2. (treated as sing. or pl. ) two people who are married or otherwise closely associated romantically or sexually.
3. informal an indefinite small number.
4. Mechanics a pair of equal and parallel forces acting in opposite directions and tending to cause rotation.

verb
1. (often be coupled to/with) connect or combine.
2. have sexual intercourse.

DERIVATIVES:
coupledom noun
coupler noun.

ORIGIN: Latin copula 'connection' ; related to COPULATE.

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couplet

noun
a pair of successive lines of verse, typically rhyming and of the same length.

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coupling

noun
a device for connecting railway vehicles or parts of machinery together.

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coupon

noun
1. a voucher entitling the holder to a discount on a product or a quantity of something rationed.
2. a detachable form used to send for a purchase or information or to enter a competition.

ORIGIN: French, 'piece cut off' .

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courage

noun
1. the ability to do something that frightens one.
2. strength in the face of pain or grief.

IDIOMS -
have the courage of one's convictions act on one's beliefs despite danger or disapproval.
take one's courage in both hands nerve oneself to do something that frightens one.

ORIGIN: Old French corage, from Latin cor 'heart' .

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courageous

adjective
having courage; brave.

DERIVATIVES:
courageously adverb
courageousness noun.

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courgette

noun Brit.
a variety of marrow harvested and eaten at an early stage of growth.

ORIGIN: French, 'little gourd' .

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courier

noun
1. a messenger who transports goods or documents.
2. a person employed to guide and assist a group of tourists.

verb
send or transport by courier.

ORIGIN: Old French coreor or French courrier, from Latin currere 'to run' .

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course

noun
1. a direction followed or intended: the aircraft changed course.
2. the way in which something progresses or develops: the course of history.
3. a procedure adopted to deal with a situation.
4. a dish forming one of the successive parts of a meal.
5. a series of lectures or lessons in a particular subject.
6. a series of repeated treatments or doses of medication.
7. an area of land or water prepared for racing, golf, or another sport.
8. Architecture a continuous horizontal layer of brick or stone.

verb
1. (of liquid) flow.
2. (often coursing) pursue (game, especially hares) with greyhounds using sight rather than scent.

IDIOMS -
in (the) course of
1. in the process of.
2. during.
of course
1. as expected.
2. used to give agreement or permission.

ORIGIN: Old French cours, from Latin currere 'to run' .

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coursework

noun
work done during a course of study, typically counting towards a final mark.

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court

noun
1. (also court of law) a body of people before whom judicial cases are heard.
2. the place where such a body meets.
3. a quadrangular area marked out for ball games such as tennis.
4. a quadrangle surrounded by a building or group of buildings.
5. the establishment, retinue, and courtiers of a sovereign.

verb
1. dated be involved with romantically, especially with a view to marriage.
2. attempt to win the support or favour of.
3. go to great lengths to win (favourable attention).
4. risk incurring (misfortune) because of the way one behaves.
5. (of a male bird or other animal) try to attract (a mate).

IDIOMS -
hold court be the centre of attention.
out of court before a legal hearing can take place.
pay court to pay flattering attention to.

ORIGIN: Old French cort, from Latin cohors 'yard or retinue' .

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court card

noun Brit.
a playing card that is a king, queen, or jack of a suit.

ORIGIN: alteration of coat card, from the decorative dress of the figures depicted.

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courteous

adjective
polite, respectful, and considerate.

DERIVATIVES:
courteously adverb
courteousness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French corteis 'having manners fit for a royal court' .

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courtesan

noun
a prostitute, especially one with wealthy or upper-class clients.

ORIGIN: French courtisane, from obsolete Italian cortigiana 'female courtier' .

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courtesy

noun (pl. courtesies)
1. courteous behaviour.
2. a polite speech or action, especially one required by convention.

IDIOMS -
(by) courtesy of given or allowed by.

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courthouse

noun
1. a building in which a judicial court is held.
2. US a building containing the administrative offices of a county.

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courtier

noun
a sovereign's companion or adviser.

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courtly

adjective (courtlier, courtliest)
very dignified and polite.

DERIVATIVES:
courtliness noun.

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court martial

noun (pl. courts martial or court martials)
a judicial court for trying members of the armed services accused of breaking military law.

verb (court-martial) (court-martialled, court-martialling; US court-martialed, court-martialing)
try by court martial.

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court order

noun
a direction issued by a court or a judge requiring a person to do or not do something.

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courtship

noun
1. a period of courting.
2. the courting behaviour of male birds and other animals.
3. the action of courting.

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court shoe

noun Brit.
a woman's plain, lightweight shoe that has a low-cut upper and no fastening.

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courtyard

noun
an open area enclosed by walls or buildings, especially in a castle or large house.

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couscous

noun
a North African dish of steamed or soaked semolina, usually served with spicy meat or vegetables.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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cousin

noun
1. (also first cousin) a child of one's uncle or aunt.
2. a person of a kindred people or nation.

IDIOMS -
first cousin once removed
1. a child of one's first cousin.
2. one's parent's first cousin.
second cousin a child of one's parent's first cousin.
third cousin a child of one's parent's second cousin.

DERIVATIVES:
cousinly adjective
cousinship noun.

ORIGIN: Old French cosin, from Latin consobrinus 'mother's sister's child' .

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couture

noun
1. the design and manufacture of fashionable clothes to a client's specific requirements.
2. clothes of this type.

ORIGIN: French, 'sewing, dressmaking' .

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couturier

noun (fem. couturière)
a person who designs and sells couture clothes.

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cove

noun
1. a small sheltered bay.
2. Architecture a concave arch or arched moulding at the junction of a wall with a ceiling.

verb (coved) Architecture
having a cove.

DERIVATIVES:
coving noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «chamber, cave».

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coven

noun
a group of witches who meet regularly.

ORIGIN: variant of archaic covin 'band of people' , from Latin convenire 'come together' .

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covenant

noun
1. a solemn agreement.
2. a contract by which one undertakes to make regular payments to a charity.
3. an agreement held to be the basis of a relationship of commitment with God.

verb
agree or pay by covenant.

DERIVATIVES:
covenantal adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'agreeing' , from Latin convenire 'come together' .

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cover

verb
1. put something over or in front of (someone or something) so as to protect or conceal.
2. spread or extend over.
3. deal with.
4. travel (a specified distance).
5. (of money) be enough to pay for.
6. (of insurance) protect against a liability, loss, or accident.
7. (cover up) try to hide or deny the fact of (a wrongful action).
8. (cover for) temporarily take over the job of.
9. aim a gun at.
10. protect (an exposed person) by shooting at the enemy.
11. (in team games) take up a position ready to defend against (an opponent).
12. record or perform a cover version of (a song).
13. (of a male animal, especially a stallion) copulate with (a female animal).

noun
1. something that covers or protects.
2. a thick protective outer part or page of a book or magazine.
3. shelter: they ran for cover.
4. military support for someone in danger.
5. a means of concealing an illegal or secret activity.
6. Brit. protection by insurance.
7. a place setting at a table in a restaurant.
8. (also cover version) a recording or performance of a song previously recorded by a different artist.

IDIOMS -
break cover suddenly leave shelter when being pursued.
cover one's back informal take steps to avoid attack or criticism.
under cover of
1. conce aled by.
2. while pretending to do something.
under separate cover in a separate envelope.

DERIVATIVES:
covering noun.

ORIGIN: Old French covrir, from Latin cooperire, from operire 'to cover' .

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coverage

noun
the extent to which something is covered.

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cover charge

noun
a service charge per person added to the bill in a restaurant.

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covering letter (N. Amer. cover letter)

noun
a letter explaining the contents of an accompanying enclosure.

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coverlet

noun
a bedspread.

ORIGIN: from Old French covrir 'to cover' + lit 'bed' .

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cover note

noun Brit.
a temporary certificate showing that a person has a current insurance policy.

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covert

adjective
not openly acknowledged or displayed.

noun
1. a thicket in which game can hide.
2. a feather covering the base of a bird's main flight or tail feather.

DERIVATIVES:
covertly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'covered' .

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cover-up

noun
an attempt to conceal a mistake or crime.

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covet

verb (coveted, coveting)
yearn to possess (something belonging to someone else).

DERIVATIVES:
covetable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French cuveitier, from Latin cupiditas 'cupidity' .

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covetous

adjective
longing to possess something.

DERIVATIVES:
covetously adverb
covetousness noun.

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covey

noun (pl. coveys)
a small flock of birds, especially partridge.

ORIGIN: from Old French cover, from Latin cubare 'lie down' .

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cow [1]

noun
1. a fully grown female animal of a domesticated breed of ox.
2. the female of certain other large animals, such as the elephant or whale.
3. informal, derogatory a woman.
4. Austral./NZ an unpleasant person or thing.

IDIOMS -
till the cows come home informal for an indefinitely long time.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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cow [2]

verb (usu. be cowed)
intimidate into submitting to one's wishes.

ORIGIN: probably from an Old Norse word meaning 'oppress' .

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coward

noun
a person contemptibly lacking in courage.

DERIVATIVES:
cowardice noun
cowardliness noun
cowardly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French couard, from Latin cauda 'tail' , perhaps with reference to an animal with its tail between its legs.

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cowboy

noun
1. a man on horseback who herds cattle, especially in the western US.
2. informal an unscrupulous or unqualified tradesman.

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cower

verb
crouch down or shrink back in fear.

ORIGIN: Low German kren 'lie in wait' .

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cowl

noun
1. a large loose hood forming part of a monk's habit.
2. a hood-shaped covering for a chimney or ventilation shaft.
3. another term for COWLING.

DERIVATIVES:
cowled adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin cucullus 'hood of a cloak' .

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cowlick

noun
a lock of hair hanging over the forehead.

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cowling

noun
a removable cover for a vehicle or aircraft engine.

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cowpat

noun
a flat, round piece of cow dung.

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cowrie (also cowry)

noun (pl. cowries)
a marine gastropod mollusc with a smooth, glossy, domed shell with a long, narrow opening.

ORIGIN: Hindi.

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cowslip

noun
a wild primula with clusters of drooping fragrant yellow flowers in spring.

ORIGIN: Old English, «cow slime».

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Cox (in full Cox's orange pippin)

noun
an eating apple of a variety with a red-tinged green skin.

ORIGIN: named after the English fruit grower R. Cox (c.1776 1845).

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cox

noun
a coxswain.

verb
act as a coxswain for.

DERIVATIVES:
coxless adjective.

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coxcomb

noun archaic
a vain and conceited man; a dandy.

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coxswain

noun
1. the steersman of a boat.
2. the senior petty officer in a small ship or submarine in the Royal Navy.

ORIGIN: from obsolete cock 'small boat' + SWAIN.

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coy

adjective (coyer, coyest)
1. pretending shyness or modesty.
2. reluctant to give details about something sensitive: he's coy about his age.

DERIVATIVES:
coyly adverb
coyness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French coi, from Latin quietus 'quiet' .

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coyote

noun (pl. same or coyotes)
a wolf-like wild dog native to North America.

ORIGIN: Nahuatl.

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coypu

noun (pl. coypus)
a large semiaquatic beaver-like South American rodent, farmed for its fur.

ORIGIN: from a Chilean language.

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cozen

verb literary
trick or deceive.

ORIGIN: perhaps from obsolete Italian cozzonare 'to cheat' .

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cozy (Brit. cosy)

adjective (cozier, coziest)
1. comfortable, warm, and secure.
2. not seeking or offering challenge or difficulty: the cozy belief that man is master.

noun (pl. cozies)
a cover to keep a teapot or a boiled egg hot.

verb (cozies, cozied) informal
1. make (someone) feel cosy.
2. (cozy up to) ingratiate oneself with.

DERIVATIVES:
cozily adverb
coziness noun.

ORIGIN: originally Scots: of unknown origin.

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CPS

abbreviation
(in the UK) Crown Prosecution Service.

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cps (also c.p.s.)

abbreviation
1. Computing characters per second.
2. cycles per second.

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CPU

abbreviation Computing
central processing unit.

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crab

noun
1. a marine crustacean, some kinds of which are edible, with a broad shell and five pairs of legs, the first of which are modified as pincers.
2. (crabs) informal an infestation of crab lice.

verb
1. move sideways or obliquely.
2. fish for crabs.

IDIOMS -
catch a crab Rowing make a faulty stroke in which the oar is jammed under the water or misses the water completely.

DERIVATIVES:
crabber noun
crablike adjective & adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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crab apple

noun
a small, sour kind of apple.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of Scots and northern English scrab.

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crabbed

adjective
1. (of writing) hard to read or understand.
2. bad-tempered; crabby.

ORIGIN: from CRAB, because of the crab's sideways gait and habit of snapping.

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crabby

adjective (crabbier, crabbiest)
bad-tempered; morose.

DERIVATIVES:
crabbily adverb
crabbiness noun.

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crab louse

noun
a louse that infests human body hair.

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crabwise

adverb & adjective
(of movement) sideways, especially in an awkward way.

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crack

noun
1. a narrow opening between two parts of something which has split or been broken.
2. a sudden sharp or explosive noise.
3. a sharp blow.
4. informal a joke or jibe.
5. informal an attempt to do something.
6. Irish enjoyable entertainment; a good time.
7. (also crack cocaine) a potent hard crystalline form of cocaine broken into small pieces.

verb
1. break with little or no separation of the parts.
2. give way under pressure or strain.
3. make a sudden sharp or explosive sound.
4. hit hard.
5. (of a person's voice) suddenly change in pitch, especially through strain.
6. informal solve, interpret, or decipher.
7. informal break into (a safe).

adjective
very good or skilful.

IDIOMS -
crack down on informal take severe measures against.
crack of dawn daybreak.
crack of doom a thunder peal announcing the Day of Judgement.
crack of the whip Brit. informal a chance to try or participate in something.
crack on informal proceed or progress quickly.
crack up informal
1. suffer an emotional breakdown under pressure.
2. burst into laughter.
3. (be cracked up to be) informal be asserted to be: acting isn't as glamorous as it's cracked up to be.
get cracking informal act quickly and energetically.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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crackbrained

adjective informal
extremely foolish.

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crackdown

noun
a series of severe measures against undesirable or illegal behaviour.

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cracked

adjective
1. having cracks.
2. informal crazy.

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cracker

noun
1. a paper cylinder which, when pulled apart, makes a sharp noise and releases a small toy or other novelty.
2. a firework that explodes with a crack.
3. a thin dry biscuit of a kind eaten with cheese.
4. Brit. informal a fine example of something.

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crackers

adjective informal, chiefly Brit.
insane; crazy.

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cracking

adjective Brit. informal
1. excellent.
2. fast and exciting: a cracking pace.

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crackle

verb
make a rapid succession of slight cracking noises.

noun
1. a crackling sound.
2. a pattern of minute surface cracks.

DERIVATIVES:
crackly adjective.

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crackling

noun
the crisp fatty skin of roast pork.

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crackpot informal

noun
an eccentric or foolish person.

adjective
eccentric; impractical.

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-cracy

combining form
denoting a particular form of government or rule: democracy.

ORIGIN: from Greek -kratia 'power, rule' .

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cradle

noun
1. a baby's bed or cot, especially one mounted on rockers.
2. a place or period in which something originates or flourishes: the cradle of civilization.
3. a supporting framework resembling a cradle, in particular for a boat under repair or for workers on the side of high building.

verb
1. hold gently and protectively.
2. place in a cradle.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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craft

noun
1. an activity involving skill in making things by hand.
2. skill in carrying out one's work.
3. (crafts) things made by hand.
4. cunning.
5. (pl. same) a boat, ship, or aircraft.

verb
make (something) skilfully.

DERIVATIVES:
crafter noun.

ORIGIN: Old English; sense 5 perhaps comes from the idea of vessels requiring skill to handle.

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craftsman (or craftswoman)

noun
a worker skilled in a particular craft.

DERIVATIVES:
craftsmanship noun.

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crafty

adjective (craftier, craftiest)
cunning or deceitful.

DERIVATIVES:
craftily adverb
craftiness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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crag

noun
a steep or rugged cliff or rock face.

ORIGIN: Celtic.

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craggy

adjective (craggier, craggiest)
1. having many crags.
2. (of a man's face) attractively rugged and rough-textured.

DERIVATIVES:
craggily adverb
cragginess noun.

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cram

verb (crammed, cramming)
1. force (too many people or things) into a room or container.
2. fill (something) to the point of overflowing.
3. study intensively just before an examination.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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crammer

noun Brit.
a college that gives intensive preparation for examinations.

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cramp

noun
1. painful involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscles.
2. a tool for clamping two objects together.
3. (also cramp-iron) a metal bar with bent ends for holding masonry together.

verb
1. restrict or inhibit the development of.
2. fasten with a cramp or cramps.
3. suffer from cramp.

IDIOMS -
cramp someone's style informal prevent a person from acting freely or naturally.

ORIGIN: Low German and Dutch.

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cramped

adjective
1. uncomfortably small or crowded.
2. (of handwriting) small and difficult to read.

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crampon

noun
a spiked device fixed to a boot for climbing on ice or rock.

ORIGIN: Old French.

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cranberry

noun (pl. cranberries)
a small sour-tasting red berry used in cooking.

ORIGIN: German Kranbeere 'crane-berry' .

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crane

noun
1. a tall machine used for moving heavy objects by suspending them from a projecting arm.
2. a moving platform supporting a camera.

verb
1. stretch out (one's neck) to see something.
2. move by means of a crane.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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crane fly

noun
a slender two-winged fly with very long legs; a daddy-long-legs.

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cranial

adjective
relating to the skull or cranium.

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cranium

noun (pl. craniums or crania)
the skull, especially the part enclosing the brain.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek kranion.

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crank [1]

noun
a part of an axle or shaft bent out at right angles, for converting reciprocal to circular motion and vice versa.

verb
1. turn a crankshaft or handle.
2. (crank up) informal increase the intensity of.
3. (crank out) informal, derogatory produce regularly and routinely.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to CRINGE.

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crank [2]

noun
1. an eccentric or obsessive person.
2. N. Amer. a bad-tempered person.

ORIGIN: from CRANKY.

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crankshaft

noun
a shaft driven by a crank.

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cranky

adjective (crankier, crankiest) informal
1. eccentric, odd.
2. chiefly N. Amer. bad-tempered; irritable.
3. (of a machine) working erratically.

DERIVATIVES:
crankily adverb
crankiness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «sickly, in poor health»: perhaps from Dutch or German krank 'sick' .

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cranny

noun (pl. crannies)
a small, narrow space or opening.

ORIGIN: Latin crena 'notch' .

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crap vulgar slang

noun
1. excrement; faeces.
2. nonsense; rubbish.

verb (crapped, crapping)
defecate.

adjective
extremely poor in quality.

DERIVATIVES:
crappy adjective.

ORIGIN: originally meaning 'chaff' , later «residue from rendering fat» and «dregs of beer»: related to Dutch krappe.

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crape

noun
1. variant spelling of CRÊPE.
2. black silk, formerly used for mourning clothes.

ORIGIN: French crêpe (see CRÊPE).

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craps

plural noun (treated as sing. )
a North American gambling game played with two dice.

ORIGIN: perhaps from CRAB or crab's eyes, denoting a throw of two ones.

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crash

verb
1. (of a vehicle) collide violently with an obstacle or another vehicle.
2. (of an aircraft) fall from the sky and violently hit the land or sea.
3. move with force, speed, and sudden loud noise.
4. make a sudden loud, deep noise.
5. (of shares) fall suddenly in value.
6. Computing fail suddenly.
7. (also crash out) informal fall deeply asleep.
8. informal gatecrash (a party).

noun
1. an instance of crashing.
2. a sudden loud, deep noise.

adjective
rapid and concentrated: a crash course in Italian.

ORIGIN: imitative, perhaps partly suggested by CRAZE and DASH.

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crash-dive

verb
(of an aircraft or submarine) dive rapidly or uncontrollably.

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crash helmet

noun
a helmet worn by a motorcyclist to protect the head.

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crashing

adjective informal
complete; total: a crashing bore.

DERIVATIVES:
crashingly adverb.

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crash-land

verb
land roughly in an emergency.

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crass

adjective
grossly insensitive and unintelligent.

DERIVATIVES:
crassly adverb
crassness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «dense or coarse»: from Latin crassus 'solid, thick' .

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-crat

combining form
denoting a member or supporter of a particular form of government or rule: democrat.

ORIGIN: from Greek -kratia 'power, rule' .

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crate

noun
1. a slatted wooden case for transporting goods.
2. a square container divided into small individual units for holding bottles.
3. informal an old and dilapidated vehicle.

verb
pack in a crate for transportation.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Dutch krat 'tailboard of a wagon' .

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crater

noun
a large bowl-shaped cavity, especially one caused by an explosion or impact or forming the mouth of a volcano.

verb
form a crater or craters in.

ORIGIN: Greek kratr 'mixing-bowl' .

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-cratic

combining form
relating to a particular kind of government or rule: democratic.

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cravat

noun
a strip of fabric worn by men round the neck and tucked inside an open-necked shirt.

ORIGIN: French cravate, from Cravate 'Croat' , because of the scarves worn by Croatian mercenaries in 17th-century France.

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crave

verb
1. feel a powerful desire for.
2. dated ask for: I must crave your indulgence.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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craven

adjective
contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly.

DERIVATIVES:
cravenly adverb.

ORIGIN: from obsolete cravant «defeated», perhaps from Old French cravanter 'crush, overwhelm' .

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craving

noun
a powerful desire for something.

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craw

noun dated
the crop of a bird or insect.

IDIOMS -
stick in one's craw see STICK.

ORIGIN: related to Dutch crghe or Low German krage 'neck, throat' .

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crawl

verb
1. move forward on the hands and knees or by dragging the body close to the ground.
2. (of an insect or small animal) move slowly along a surface.
3. move unusually slowly.
4. (be crawling with) be unpleasantly covered or crowded with.
5. feel an unpleasant sensation resembling something moving over the skin.
6. informal behave obsequiously or ingratiatingly.

noun
1. an act of crawling.
2. an unusually slow rate of movement.
3. a swimming stroke involving alternate overarm movements and rapid kicks of the legs.

DERIVATIVES:
crawler noun.

ORIGIN: possibly related to Swedish kravla and Danish kravle.

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crayfish

noun (pl. same)
a freshwater or marine crustacean resembling a small lobster.

ORIGIN: Old French crevice, related to German Krebs 'crab' .

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crayon

noun
a stick of coloured chalk or wax, used for drawing.

verb
draw with a crayon or crayons.

ORIGIN: French, from craie 'chalk' .

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craze

noun
a widespread but short-lived enthusiasm for something.

verb (be crazed)
(of a surface) be covered with a network of fine cracks.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «break, shatter, produce cracks»: perhaps Scandinavian.

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crazy

adjective (crazier, craziest)
1. insane or unbalanced, especially in a wild or aggressive way.
2. extremely enthusiastic about something.
3. absurdly unlikely: a crazy angle.
4. archaic full of cracks or flaws.

noun (pl. crazies) informal, chiefly N. Amer.
an insane person.

IDIOMS -
like crazy to a great degree.

DERIVATIVES:
crazily adverb
craziness noun.

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crazy paving

noun Brit.
paving made of irregular pieces of flat stone.

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creak

verb
1. make a harsh high-pitched sound when being moved or when pressure is applied.
2. show weakness or frailty under strain.

noun
a creaking sound.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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creaky

adjective (creakier, creakiest)
1. making a creaking sound.
2. decrepit or dilapidated.

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cream

noun
1. the thick white or pale yellow fatty liquid which rises to the top when milk is left to stand.
2. a dessert or other food containing cream or having a creamy consistency.
3. a thick liquid or semi-solid cosmetic or medical preparation.
4. the very best of a group: the cream of American society.
5. a very pale yellow or off-white colour.

verb
1. work (butter) to form a smooth soft paste.
2. mash (a cooked vegetable) and mix with milk or cream.
3. (cream off) take away (the best part of a group).

ORIGIN: Old French cresme, from Latin chrisma 'oil for anointing' .

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cream cheese

noun
soft, rich cheese made from unskimmed milk and cream.

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creamer

noun
1. a cream or milk substitute for adding to coffee or tea.
2. N. Amer. a jug for cream.
3. historical a flat dish for skimming the cream off milk.

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creamery

noun (pl. creameries)
a factory that produces butter and cheese.

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creamy

adjective (creamier, creamiest)
resembling or containing a lot of cream.

DERIVATIVES:
creamily adverb
creaminess noun.

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crease

noun
1. a line or ridge produced on paper, cloth, etc. by folding, pressing, or crushing.
2. Cricket any of a number of lines marked on the pitch at specified places.

verb
1. make a crease in.
2. become creased.
3. (crease up) Brit. informal burst out laughing.

ORIGIN: probably a variant of CREST.

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create

verb
1. bring into existence.
2. make (someone) a member of the nobility.
3. Brit. informal make a fuss; complain.

ORIGIN: Latin creare 'produce' .

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creation

noun
1. the action or process of creating.
2. a thing which has been made or invented, especially something showing artistic talent.
3. (the Creation) the creating of the universe regarded as an act of God.
4. (Creation) literary the universe.

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creative

adjective
involving the use of the imagination or original ideas in order to create something.

DERIVATIVES:
creatively adverb
creativeness noun
creativity noun.

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creator

noun
1. a person or thing that creates.
2. (the Creator) God.

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creature

noun
1. a living being, in particular an animal as distinct from a person.
2. a person under the complete control of another.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «something created»: from Latin creatura, from creare 'produce' .

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creature comforts

plural noun
material comforts such as good food and accommodation.

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crèche

noun Brit.
a nursery where babies and young children are cared for during the working day.

ORIGIN: French, related to CRIB.

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credence

noun
1. belief in or acceptance of something as true.
2. the likelihood of something being true; plausibility.

ORIGIN: Latin credentia, from credere 'believe' .

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credential

noun
1. a qualification, achievement, etc., that gives an indication of a person's suitability for something.
2. a document or certificate proving a person's identity or qualifications.
3. a letter of introduction given by a government to an ambassador before a new posting.

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credibility

noun
1. the quality of being credible.
2. (also street credibility) acceptability among fashionable young urban people.

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credible

adjective
able to be believed; convincing.

DERIVATIVES:
credibly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin credibilis, from credere 'believe' .

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credit

noun
1. the facility of being able to obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that payment will be made in the future.
2. an entry in an account recording a sum received.
3. public acknowledgement or praise given for an achievement or quality.
4. a source of pride: the fans are a credit to the club.
5. a written acknowledgement of a contributor's role displayed at the beginning or end of a film or programme.
6. a unit of study counting towards a degree or diploma.
7. Brit. a grade above a pass in an examination.

verb (credited, crediting)
1. (often credit to) publicly acknowledge that someone participated in the production of (something).
2. (credit with) ascribe an achievement or good quality to.
3. add (an amount of money) to an account.
4. believe (something surprising or unlikely).

IDIOMS -
be in credit (of an account) have money in it.
do someone credit make someone worthy of praise or respect.

ORIGIN: Latin creditum, from credere 'believe, trust' .

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creditable

adjective
deserving public acknowledgement and praise, although not necessarily outstanding or successful.

DERIVATIVES:
creditability noun
creditably adverb.

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credit card

noun
a plastic card allowing the holder to make purchases on credit.

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creditor

noun
a person or company to whom money is owing.

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creditworthy

adjective
considered suitable to receive commercial credit.

DERIVATIVES:
creditworthiness noun.

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credo

noun (pl. credos)
1. a statement of a person's beliefs or aims.
2. (Credo) a creed of the Christian Church in Latin.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'I believe' .

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credulous

adjective
excessively ready to believe things; gullible.

DERIVATIVES:
credulity noun
credulously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin credulus, from credere 'believe' .

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creed

noun
1. a system of religious belief; a faith.
2. a statement of beliefs or principles; a credo.

ORIGIN: from Latin credo 'I believe' .

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Creek

noun (pl. same)
a member of a confederacy of American Indian peoples of the south-eastern US.

ORIGIN: from CREEK, because they lived beside the waterways of the flatlands of Georgia and Alabama.

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creek

noun
1. a small waterway such as an inlet in a shoreline or channel in a marsh.
2. N. Amer. & Austral./NZ a stream or minor tributary of a river.

IDIOMS -
up the creek informal
1. in severe difficulty or trouble.
2. Brit. stupid or misguided.

ORIGIN: Old French crique or Old Norse kriki 'nook' .

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creel

noun
1. a large basket for carrying fish.
2. a rack holding bobbins or spools when spinning.

ORIGIN: originally Scots and northern English: of unknown origin.

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creep

verb (past and past part. crept)
1. move slowly and carefully, especially to avoid being noticed.
2. move or progress very slowly and steadily.
3. (of a plant) grow along the ground or other surface by extending stems or branches.
4. (creep to) informal behave obsequiously towards.

noun
1. informal a contemptible person, especially one who behaves obsequiously.
2. very slow, steady movement or progress.

IDIOMS -
give someone the creeps informal make someone feel revulsion or fear.
make one's flesh creep cause one to have an unpleasant sensation like that of something crawling over the skin.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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creeper

noun
1. any plant that grows along the ground or another surface by extending stems or branches.
2. (creepers) informal soft-soled suede shoes.

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creepy

adjective (creepier, creepiest) informal
causing an unpleasant feeling of fear or unease.

DERIVATIVES:
creepily adverb
creepiness noun.

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cremate

verb
dispose of (a dead person's body) by burning it to ashes.

DERIVATIVES:
cremation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin cremare 'burn' .

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crematorium

noun (pl. crematoria or crematoriums)
a building where the dead are cremated.

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crème de la crème

noun
the best person or thing of a particular kind.

ORIGIN: French, 'cream of the cream' .

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crenellated (also crenelated)

adjective
(of a building) having battlements.

ORIGIN: from Latin crena 'notch' .

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crenellations

plural noun
battlements.

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Creole

noun
1. a person of mixed European and black descent.
2. a descendant of European settlers in the Caribbean or Central or South America.
3. a white descendant of French settlers in Louisiana.
4. a mother tongue formed from the contact of a European language with another language, especially an African language.

ORIGIN: French, from Spanish criollo, probably from Portuguese crioulo 'black person born in Brazil' .

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creosote

noun
1. a dark brown oil distilled from coal tar, used as a wood preservative.
2. a liquid distilled from wood tar and used as an antiseptic.

verb
treat with creosote.

ORIGIN: from Greek kreas 'flesh' + str 'preserver' .

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crêpe (also crape)

noun
1. a light, thin fabric with a wrinkled surface.
2. hard-wearing wrinkled rubber used for the soles of shoes.
3. a thin pancake.

DERIVATIVES:
crêpey (also crêpy) adjective.

ORIGIN: French, from Old French crespe 'curled, frizzed' .

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crêpe paper

noun
thin, crinkled paper used for making decorations.

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crepuscular

adjective
resembling or relating to twilight.

ORIGIN: from Latin crepusculum 'twilight' .

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crescendo

noun
1. (pl. crescendos or crescendi) a gradual increase in loudness in a piece of music.
2. the loudest or climactic point.

adverb & adjective Music
with a gradual increase in loudness.

verb (crescendoes, crescendoed)
increase in loudness or intensity.

ORIGIN: Italian, from crescere 'to increase' .

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crescent

noun
1. the curved sickle shape of the waxing or waning moon.
2. a thing of this shape, in particular a street or terrace of houses forming an arc.

ORIGIN: from Latin crescere 'grow' .

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cress

noun
1. a plant with small white flowers and pungent leaves.
2. young sprouts of garden cress eaten in salads.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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crest

noun
1. a comb or tuft of feathers, fur, or skin on the head of a bird or other animal.
2. a plume of feathers on a helmet.
3. the top of a ridge, wave, etc.
4. a distinctive heraldic device representing a family or corporate body.

verb
1. reach the top of.
2. (be crested with) have (something) attached at the top.

IDIOMS -
on the crest of a wave at a very successful point.

DERIVATIVES:
crested adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French creste, from Latin crista 'tuft, plume' .

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crestfallen

adjective
sad and disappointed.

ORIGIN: originally referring to an animal with a fallen or drooping crest.

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Cretaceous

adjective
relating to the last period of the Mesozoic era (between the Jurassic and Tertiary periods, about 146 to 65 million years ago), at the end of which dinosaurs and many other organisms died out.

ORIGIN: from Latin creta 'chalk' .

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cretin

noun
1. a stupid person.
2. Medicine, dated a person who is deformed and mentally handicapped because of congenital thyroid deficiency.

DERIVATIVES:
cretinism noun.

ORIGIN: from Swiss French crestin 'Christian' , apparently used to convey a reminder that handicapped people are human.

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cretinous

adjective
very stupid.

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cretonne

noun
a heavy cotton fabric, typically with a floral pattern, used for upholstery.

ORIGIN: French.

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Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

noun
a fatal degenerative disease affecting nerve cells in the brain.

IDIOMS -
new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease a form of the disease possibly linked to BSE.

ORIGIN: named after the German neurologists H. G. Creutzfeldt and A. Jakob, who first described the disease in the early 1920s.

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crevasse

noun
a deep open crack in a glacier or ice field.

ORIGIN: Old French crevace (see CREVICE).

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crevice

noun
a narrow opening or fissure in a rock or wall.

ORIGIN: Old French crevace, from crever 'to burst' .

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crew [1]

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
1. a group of people who work on and operate a ship, boat, aircraft, or train.
2. such a group other than the officers.
3. informal, often derogatory a group of people.

verb
1. provide with a crew.
2. act as a member of a crew.

ORIGIN: Old French creue 'augmentation, increase' , from Latin crescere 'grow' .

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crew cut

noun
a very short haircut for men and boys.

ORIGIN: apparently first adopted by boat crews of Harvard and Yale universities.

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crew neck

noun
a close-fitting round neckline.

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crib

noun
1. chiefly N. Amer. a child's bed with barred or latticed sides; a cot.
2. a barred rack for animal fodder; a manger.
3. informal a translation of a text for use by students, especially in a surreptitious way.
4. informal, chiefly N. Amer. an apartment or house.
5. short for CRIBBAGE.
6. Austral./NZ a snack.

verb (cribbed, cribbing)
1. informal copy (something) illicitly or without acknowledgement.
2. archaic steal.

DERIVATIVES:
cribber noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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cribbage

noun
a card game for two players, the objective of which is to play cards whose value reaches exactly 15 or 31.

ORIGIN: related to CRIB.

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crick

noun
a painful stiff feeling in the neck or back.

verb
twist or strain (one's neck or back), causing painful stiffness.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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cricket [1]

noun
an open-air game played on a large grass field with bat and ball between teams of eleven players, the batsmen attempting to score runs by hitting the ball and running between the wickets.

IDIOMS -
not cricket Brit. informal not fair or honourable.

DERIVATIVES:
cricketer noun
cricketing adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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cricket [2]

noun
an insect related to the grasshoppers but with shorter legs, of which the male produces a characteristic musical chirping sound.

ORIGIN: Old French criquet, from criquer 'to crackle' .

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cri de cœur

noun (pl. cris de cœur pronunc. same)
a passionate appeal or complaint.

ORIGIN: French, 'cry from the heart' .

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crikey

exclamation Brit. informal
an expression of surprise.

ORIGIN: euphemism for CHRIST.

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crime

noun
1. an offence against an individual or the state which is punishable by law.
2. such actions collectively.
3. informal something shameful or deplorable.

ORIGIN: Latin crimen 'judgement, offence' .

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criminal

noun
a person who has committed a crime.

adjective
1. relating to or constituting a crime.
2. informal deplorable and shocking.

DERIVATIVES:
criminality noun
criminally adverb.

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criminology

noun
the scientific study of crime and criminals.

DERIVATIVES:
criminological adjective
criminologist noun.

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crimp

verb
1. compress into small folds or ridges.
2. make waves in (hair) with a hot iron.

noun
a curl, wave, or folded or compressed edge.

DERIVATIVES:
crimper noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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crimplene

noun trademark
a synthetic crease-resistant fibre and fabric.

ORIGIN: probably from CRIMP + TERYLENE.

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crimson

noun
a rich deep red colour inclining to purple.

verb
become flushed, especially through embarrassment.

ORIGIN: Arabic, related to KERMES.

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cringe

verb (cringing)
1. bend one's head and body in fear or in a servile manner.
2. have a sudden feeling of embarrassment or disgust.

noun
an act of cringing.

ORIGIN: from an Old English word meaning «bend, yield, fall in battle»; related to CRANK, CRINKLE.

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crinkle

verb
form small creases or wrinkles.

noun
a small crease or wrinkle.

DERIVATIVES:
crinkly adjective.

ORIGIN: related to CRINGE.

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crinoline

noun
a stiffened or hooped petticoat formerly worn to make a long skirt stand out.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin crinis 'hair' + linum 'thread' .

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cripple

noun archaic or offensive
a person who is unable to walk or move properly through disability or injury.

verb
1. make (someone) unable to move or walk properly.
2. cause severe and disabling damage to (something).
USAGE - The word cripple as a noun has acquired offensive connotations and should be avoided. Broader terms such as ‘disabled person’ are preferable.
ORIGIN: Old English, related to CREEP.

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crisis

noun (pl. crises)
1. a time of intense difficulty or danger.
2. the turning point of a disease, when it becomes clear whether the patient will recover or not.

ORIGIN: Greek krisis 'decision' , from krinein 'decide' .

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crisp

adjective
1. firm, dry, and brittle.
2. (of the weather) cool, fresh, and invigorating.
3. briskly decisive and matter-of-fact.

noun (also potato crisp) Brit.
a wafer-thin slice of potato fried until crisp and eaten as a snack.

verb
1. give (food) a crisp surface by cooking in an oven or under a grill.
2. archaic curl into short, stiff, wavy folds or crinkles.

DERIVATIVES:
crisper noun
crisply adverb
crispness noun
crispy adjective (crispier, crispiest) .

ORIGIN: Latin crispus 'curled' .

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crispbread

noun
a thin crisp biscuit made from crushed rye or wheat.

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criss-cross

adjective
containing a number of intersecting straight lines or paths.

noun
a criss-cross pattern.

verb
1. form a criss-cross pattern on (a place).
2. move or travel around (a place) by going back and forth repeatedly.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a figure of a cross preceding the alphabet in a hornbook: from Christ-cross.

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criterion

noun (pl. criteria)
a principle or standard by which something may be judged or decided.

DERIVATIVES:
criterial adjective.
USAGE - The singular form is criterion and the plural form is criteria. Do not use criteria as if it were a singular, as in a further criteria needs to be considered.
ORIGIN: Greek kritrion 'means of judging' , from krits 'a judge' .

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critic

noun
1. a person who expresses an unfavourable opinion of something.
2. a person who reviews literary or artistic works.

ORIGIN: Greek kritikos, from krits 'a judge' .

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critical

adjective
1. expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgements.
2. expressing or involving an analysis of the merits and faults of a literary or artistic work.
3. having a decisive importance in the success or failure of something; crucial.
4. extremely ill and at risk of death.
5. Mathematics & Physics relating to a point of transition from one state to another.
6. (of a nuclear reactor or fuel) maintaining a self-sustaining chain reaction.

DERIVATIVES:
critically adverb.

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criticism

noun
1. expression of disapproval; finding fault.
2. the critical assessment of literary or artistic works.

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criticize (also criticise)

verb
1. indicate the faults of in a disapproving way.
2. form and express a critical assessment of (a literary or artistic work).

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critique

noun
a detailed analysis and assessment.

verb (critiques, critiqued, critiquing)
evaluate in a detailed and analytical way.

ORIGIN: French.

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croak

noun
a characteristic deep hoarse sound made by a frog or a crow.

verb
1. utter a croak.
2. informal die.

DERIVATIVES:
croaker noun
croakily adverb
croaky adjective (croakier, croakiest) .

ORIGIN: imitative.

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crochet

noun
a handicraft in which yarn is made up into a patterned fabric by means of a hooked needle.

verb (crocheted, crocheting)
make (a garment or piece of fabric) in this way.

ORIGIN: French, 'little hook' .

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crock [1] informal

noun
1. an old person considered to be feeble and useless.
2. Brit. an old worn-out vehicle.

verb
1. Brit. cause an injury to.
2. (crocked) N. Amer. drunk.

ORIGIN: originally denoting an old ewe or horse: probably related to CRACK.

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crock [2]

noun
1. an earthenware pot or jar.
2. an item of crockery.
3. N. Amer. informal something considered to be complete nonsense.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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crockery

noun
plates, dishes, cups, and similar items made of earthenware or china.

ORIGIN: from obsolete crocker «potter».

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crocodile

noun
1. a large predatory semiaquatic reptile with long jaws, long tail, short legs, and a horny textured skin.
2. leather made from crocodile skin.
3. Brit. informal a line of schoolchildren walking in pairs.

ORIGIN: Old French cocodrille, from Greek krokodilos 'worm of the stones' .

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crocodile tears

plural noun
insincere tears or expressions of sorrow.

ORIGIN: said to be so named from a belief that crocodiles wept while devouring or luring their prey.

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crocus

noun (pl. crocuses or croci)
a small spring-flowering plant with bright yellow, purple, or white flowers.

ORIGIN: Greek krokos.

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Croesus

noun
a person of great wealth.

ORIGIN: from the name of a famously wealthy king of Lydia c.560 546 BC.

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croft Brit.

noun
1. a small rented farm in Scotland or northern England.
2. a small enclosed field attached to a house.

verb
farm (land) as a croft or crofts.

DERIVATIVES:
crofter noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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croissant

noun
a crescent-shaped French roll made of sweet flaky pastry.

ORIGIN: French, 'crescent' .

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cromlech

noun
1. (in Wales) a megalithic tomb; a dolmen.
2. (in Brittany) a circle of standing stones.

ORIGIN: Welsh, 'arched flat stone' .

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crone

noun
an ugly old woman.

ORIGIN: Old French caroigne 'carrion' .

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crony

noun (pl. cronies) informal, often derogatory
a close friend or companion.

ORIGIN: originally Cambridge university slang: from Greek khronios 'long-lasting' (here used to mean «contemporary»); compare with CHUM.

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cronyism (also croneyism)

noun derogatory
the improper appointment of friends and associates to positions of authority.

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crook

noun
1. a shepherd's hooked staff.
2. a bishop's crozier.
3. a bend, especially at the elbow in a person's arm.
4. informal a criminal or dishonest person.

verb
bend (something, especially a finger).

adjective Austral./NZ informal
1. bad, unsound, or unwell.
2. dishonest; illegal.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'hook' .

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crooked

adjective
1. bent or twisted out of shape or position.
2. informal dishonest or illegal.
3. Austral./NZ informal annoyed; exasperated.

DERIVATIVES:
crookedly adverb
crookedness noun.

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croon

verb
hum, sing, or speak in a soft, low voice.

noun
a soft, low voice or tone.

DERIVATIVES:
crooner noun.

ORIGIN: Low German and Dutch krnen 'groan, lament' .

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crop

noun
1. a plant, especially a cereal, fruit, or vegetable, cultivated for food or other use.
2. an amount of a crop harvested at one time.
3. an amount of people or things appearing at one time: the current crop of politicians.
4. a very short hairstyle.
5. a riding crop or hunting crop.
6. a pouch in a bird's gullet where food is stored or prepared for digestion.

verb (cropped, cropping)
1. cut very short or trim off the edges of.
2. (of an animal) bite off and eat the tops of (plants).
3. (crop up) appear or occur unexpectedly.
4. harvest (a crop) from an area.
5. sow or plant (land) with plants that will produce a crop.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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crop circle

noun
an area of standing crops which has been flattened in the form of a circle or other pattern by unexplained means.

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cropper

noun
1. a plant which yields a specified crop.
2. a machine or person that cuts or trims something.
3. chiefly US a person who raises a crop, especially as a sharecropper.

IDIOMS -
come a cropper informal
1. fall heavily.
2. suffer a defeat or disaster.

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croquet

noun
1. a game played on a lawn, in which wooden balls are driven through a series of hoops with a mallet.
2. an act of croqueting a ball.

verb (croqueted, croqueting)
knock away (an opponent's ball) by holding one's own ball against it and striking this with a mallet.

ORIGIN: perhaps a dialect form of French crochet 'hook' .

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croquette

noun
a small ball or roll of vegetables, minced meat, or fish, fried in breadcrumbs.

ORIGIN: French, from croquer 'to crunch' .

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cross

noun
1. a mark, object, or figure formed by two short intersecting lines or pieces (+ or x).
2. an upright post with a transverse bar, as used in antiquity for crucifixion.
3. a cross-shaped decoration awarded for bravery or indicating rank in some orders of knighthood.
4. a thing that is unavoidable and has to be endured: she's just a cross we have to bear.
5. an animal or plant resulting from cross-breeding; a hybrid.
6. (a cross between) a mixture or compromise of (two things).
7. (in soccer) a pass of the ball across the field towards the centre close to one's opponents' goal.

verb
1. go or extend across or to the other side of (a path, obstacle, or area).
2. pass in an opposite or different direction; intersect.
3. place crosswise: Michele crossed her legs.
4. draw a line or lines across; mark with a cross.
5. Brit. mark or annotate (a cheque) with a pair of parallel lines to indicate that it must be paid into a named bank account.
6. Soccer pass (the ball) across the field towards the centre when attacking.
7. cause (an animal of one species, breed, or variety) to interbreed with one of another.
8. oppose or stand in the way of.

adjective
annoyed.

IDIOMS -
at cross purposes misunderstanding or having different aims from one another.
cross one's fingers put one finger across another as a sign of hoping for good luck.
cross the floor Brit . join the opposing side in Parliament.
cross my heart (and hope to die) used to emphasize the truthfulness and sincerity of what one is saying.
cross off delete (an item) from a list.
cross oneself make the sign of the cross in front of one's chest as a sign of Christian reverence or to invoke divine protection.
cross out/through delete (a word or phrase) by drawing a line through it.
cross over (of an artist) begin to appeal to a wider audience.
cross someone's palm with silver often humorous pay someone for a service, especially fortune-telling.
cross swords have an argument or dispute.
crossed line a telephone connection that has been wrongly made with the result that another call can be heard.
get one's wires (or lines) crossed have a misunderstanding.

DERIVATIVES:
crosser noun
crossly adverb
crossness noun.

ORIGIN: Old Irish cros, from Latin crux.

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crossbar

noun
a horizontal bar, in particular one between the two upright posts of a football goal or between the handlebars and saddle on a bicycle.

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crossbow

noun
a medieval bow fixed across a wooden support, having a groove for the bolt and a mechanism for drawing and releasing the string.

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cross-breed

noun
an animal or plant produced by mating or hybridizing two different species, breeds, or varieties.

verb
breed in this way.

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cross-check

verb
verify (figures or information) by using an alternative source or method.

noun
an instance of cross-checking figures or information.

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cross-country

adjective
1. across fields or countryside, as opposed to on roads or tracks.
2. across a region or country, in particular not keeping to main or direct routes.

noun
the sport of cross-country running, riding, skiing, or motoring.

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cross-dressing

noun
the wearing of clothing typical of the opposite sex.

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cross-examine

verb
question (a witness called by the other party) in a court of law to check or extend testimony already given.

DERIVATIVES:
cross-examination noun.

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cross-eyed

adjective
having one or both eyes turned inwards towards the nose, either temporarily or as a permanent condition.

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cross-fertilize

verb
1. fertilize (a plant) using pollen from another plant of the same species.
2. stimulate the development of (something) with an exchange of ideas or information.

DERIVATIVES:
cross-fertilization noun.

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crossfire

noun
gunfire from two or more directions passing through the same area.

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cross-hatch

verb
shade (an area) with many intersecting parallel lines.

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crossing

noun
1. a place where things, especially roads or railway lines, cross.
2. a place at which one may safely cross a street or railway line.
3. the intersection of a church nave and the transepts.

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cross-legged

adjective & adverb
(of a seated person) with the legs crossed at the ankles and the knees bent outwards.

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crossover

noun
1. a point or place of crossing.
2. the production of work or achieving of success in a new field or style, especially in popular music.

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cross ownership

noun
the ownership by one corporation of different companies with related interests or commercial aims.

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cross-pollinate

verb
pollinate (a flower or plant) with pollen from another flower or plant.

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cross-question

verb
question in great detail.

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cross reference

noun
a reference to another text given in order to elaborate on a point.

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crossroads

noun
1. an intersection of two or more roads.
2. (crossroad) N. Amer. a road that crosses a main road or joins two main roads.

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cross section

noun
1. a surface or shape exposed by making a straight cut through something at right angles to the axis.
2. a typical or representative sample of a larger group.

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crosstalk

noun
1. unwanted transfer of signals between communication channels.
2. witty conversation.

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crosswind

noun
a wind blowing across one's direction of travel.

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crosswise (also crossways)

adverb
1. in the form of a cross.
2. diagonally; transversely.

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crossword

noun
a puzzle consisting of a grid of squares and blanks into which words crossing vertically and horizontally are written according to clues.

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crotch

noun
1. the part of the human body between the legs where they join the torso.
2. a fork in a tree, road, or river.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Old French croche 'shepherd's crook' ; partly also a variant of CRUTCH.

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crotchet

noun
1. Music, chiefly Brit. a musical note having the time value of a quarter of a semibreve, represented by a large solid dot with a plain stem.
2. a perverse or unfounded belief or notion.

ORIGIN: Old French crochet 'little hook' .

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crotchety

adjective
irritable.

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crouch

verb
adopt a position where the knees are bent and the upper body is brought forward and down.

noun
a crouching stance or posture.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French crochir 'be bent' , from croche 'shepherd's crook' .

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croup [1]

noun
inflammation of the larynx and trachea in children, causing breathing difficulties.

ORIGIN: from dialect croup «to croak».

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croup [2]

noun
the rump or hindquarters of a horse.

ORIGIN: Old French, related to CROP.

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croupier

noun
the person in charge of a gaming table, gathering in and paying out money or tokens.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a person standing behind a gambler to give advice: from Old French cropier 'pillion rider' .

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crouton

noun
a small piece of fried or toasted bread served with soup or used as a garnish.

ORIGIN: French, from croûte 'crust' .

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crow [1]

noun
1. a large perching bird with mostly glossy black plumage, a heavy bill, and a raucous voice.
2. informal an old or ugly woman.

IDIOMS -
as the crow flies in a straight line across country.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to CROW.

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crow [2]

verb (past crowed or crew)
1. (of a cock) utter its characteristic loud cry.
2. express pride or triumph in a tone of gloating satisfaction.

noun
the cry of a cock.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to CROW; imitative.

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crowbar

noun
an iron bar with a flattened end, used as a lever.

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crowd

noun
1. a large number of people gathered together.
2. a large audience, especially at a sporting event.
3. informal, often derogatory a group of people with a common interest.

verb
1. (of a number of people) fill (a space) almost completely.
2. move or come together as a crowd.
3. move or stand too close to.
4. (crowd out) exclude by taking the place of.

ORIGIN: from Old English, «press, hasten».

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crowded

adjective
(of a place) filled almost completely by a large number of people.

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crown

noun
1. a circular ornamental headdress worn by a monarch as a symbol of authority.
2. (the Crown) the monarchy or reigning monarch.
3. a wreath of leaves or flowers worn as an emblem of victory, especially in ancient Greece or Rome.
4. an award or distinction gained by a victory or achievement.
5. the top or highest part, in particular of a person's head or a hat.
6. the part of a tooth projecting from the gum.
7. an artificial replacement or covering for the upper part of a tooth.
8. a British coin with a face value of five shillings or 25 pence, now minted only for commemorative purposes.

verb
1. ceremonially place a crown on the head of (someone) to invest them as a monarch.
2. rest on or form the top of.
3. be the triumphant culmination of (an effort or endeavour).
4. fit a crown to (a tooth).
5. informal hit on the head.

ORIGIN: Latin corona 'wreath, chaplet' .

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Crown Colony

noun
a British colony controlled by the Crown.

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Crown Court

noun
(in England and Wales) a court which deals with serious cases referred from the magistrates' courts.

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Crown jewels

plural noun
the crown and other jewellery worn or carried by the sovereign on state occasions.

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Crown prince

noun
(in some countries) a male heir to a throne.

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Crown princess

noun
1. the wife of a Crown prince.
2. (in some countries) a female heir to a throne.

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crow's foot

noun
a branching wrinkle at the outer corner of a person's eye.

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crow's-nest

noun
a platform at the masthead of a vessel for a lookout to watch from.

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crozier (also crosier)

noun
a hooked staff carried by a bishop.

ORIGIN: Old French croisier 'cross-bearer' .

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crucial

adjective
1. decisive or critical.
2. informal very important.
3. informal excellent.

DERIVATIVES:
crucially adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «cross-shaped»: from Latin crux 'cross' .

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crucible

noun
1. a container in which metals or other substances may be melted or subjected to very high temperatures.
2. a situation of severe trial, or in which different elements interact to produce something new.

ORIGIN: Latin crucibulum 'night lamp, crucible' , from crux 'cross' .

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cruciferous

adjective Botany
of the cabbage family (Cruciferae), with four equal petals arranged in a cross.

ORIGIN: from Latin crux 'cross' + -fer 'bearing' .

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crucifix

noun
a representation of a cross with a figure of Christ on it.

ORIGIN: from Latin cruci fixus 'fixed to a cross' .

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crucifixion

noun
1. the execution of a person by crucifying them.
2. (the Crucifixion) the killing of Jesus Christ in such a way.

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cruciform

adjective
having the shape of a cross.

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crucify

verb (crucifies, crucified)
1. put (someone) to death by nailing or binding them to a cross.
2. cause anguish to.
3. informal criticize severely.

ORIGIN: from Latin crux 'cross' + figere 'fix' .

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crud

noun informal
1. an unpleasantly dirty or messy substance.
2. nonsense; rubbish.

DERIVATIVES:
cruddy adjective.

ORIGIN: variant of CURD.

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crude

adjective
1. in a natural or raw state; not yet processed or refined.
2. (of an estimate or guess) likely to be only approximately accurate.
3. rudimentary or makeshift.
4. offensively coarse or rude.

noun
natural mineral oil.

DERIVATIVES:
crudely adverb
crudeness noun
crudity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin crudus 'raw, rough' .

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crudités

plural noun
mixed raw vegetables served with a sauce into which they may be dipped.

ORIGIN: plural of French crudité 'rawness, crudity' .

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cruel

adjective (crueller, cruellest or crueler, cruelest)
1. disregarding or taking pleasure in the pain or suffering of others.
2. causing pain or suffering.

DERIVATIVES:
cruelly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin crudelis, related to crudus 'raw, rough' .

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cruelty

noun (pl. cruelties)
cruel behaviour or attitudes.

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cruet

noun
1. a small container for salt, pepper, oil, or vinegar for use at a dining table.
2. Brit. a stand holding such containers.
3. a small container for the wine or water to be used in the celebration of the Eucharist.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'small pot' ; related to CROCK.

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cruise

verb
1. move slowly around without a precise destination, especially for pleasure.
2. travel smoothly at a moderate or economical speed.
3. achieve an objective with ease.
4. informal wander about in search of a sexual partner.

noun
1. an instance of cruising.
2. a voyage on a ship taken as a holiday and usually calling in at several places.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch kruisen 'to cross' .

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cruise missile

noun
a low-flying missile which is guided to its target by an on-board computer.

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cruiser

noun
1. a fast warship larger than a destroyer and less heavily armed than a battleship.
2. a yacht or motor boat with passenger accommodation.
3. N. Amer. a police patrol car.

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crumb

noun
1. a small fragment of bread, cake, or biscuit.
2. the soft inner part of a loaf of bread.
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. an objectionable or contemptible person.

verb
cover (food) with breadcrumbs.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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crumble

verb
1. break or fall apart into small fragments.
2. gradually disintegrate or fail.

noun Brit.
a pudding made with fruit and a topping of flour and fat rubbed to the texture of breadcrumbs.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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crumbly

adjective (crumblier, crumbliest)
easily crumbling.

DERIVATIVES:
crumbliness noun.

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crummy (also crumby)

adjective (crummier, crummiest) informal
bad, unpleasant, or of poor quality.

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crumpet

noun
1. a thick, flat cake with a soft, porous texture, eaten toasted and buttered.
2. Brit. informal women regarded as objects of sexual desire.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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crumple

verb
1. crush so as to become creased and wrinkled.
2. suddenly lose force, effectiveness, or composure.

noun
a crushed fold, crease, or wrinkle.

ORIGIN: from obsolete crump «make or become curved».

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crunch

verb
1. crush (something hard or brittle) with the teeth, making a marked grinding sound.
2. make or move with such a sound.

noun
1. a crunching sound.
2. (the crunch) informal the crucial point of a situation.
3. a sit-up.

ORIGIN: variant of obsolete cranch: probably imitative.

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crunchy

adjective (crunchier, crunchiest)
making a crunching noise when bitten or crushed.

DERIVATIVES:
crunchily adverb
crunchiness noun.

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crupper

noun
a strap buckled to the back of a saddle and looped under the horse's tail to prevent the saddle or harness from slipping forward.

ORIGIN: Old French cropiere; related to CROUP.

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crusade

noun
1. any of a series of medieval military expeditions made by Europeans to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims.
2. an energetic organized campaign with a political, social, or religious aim: a crusade against crime.

verb
1. lead or take part in a crusade.
2. (crusading) energetically campaigning for a particular aim.

DERIVATIVES:
crusader noun.

ORIGIN: French croisade, from croisée 'the state of being marked with the cross' .

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crush

verb
1. deform, squash, or pulverize by compressing forcefully.
2. crease or crumple (cloth or paper).
3. violently subdue (opposition or a rebellion).
4. cause (someone) to feel overwhelming disappointment or embarrassment.

noun
1. a crowd of people pressed closely together.
2. informal an intense infatuation.
3. a drink made from the juice of pressed fruit.

DERIVATIVES:
crushable adjective
crusher noun.

ORIGIN: Old French cruissir 'gnash teeth or crack' .

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crust

noun
1. the tough outer part of a loaf of bread.
2. a hard, dry scrap of bread.
3. informal a living or livelihood: earning a crust.
4. a hardened layer, coating, or deposit on something soft.
5. a layer of pastry covering a pie.
6. the outermost layer of rock of which a planet consists, especially the part of the earth above the mantle.
7. a deposit formed in wine or port aged in the bottle.

verb
form into or cover with a crust.

ORIGIN: Latin crusta 'rind, shell, crust' .

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crustacean

noun
an aquatic arthropod of a large group including crabs, lobsters, shrimps, woodlice, and barnacles.

ORIGIN: Latin, from crusta 'rind, shell, crust' .

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crusty

adjective (crustier, crustiest)
1. having or consisting of a crust.
2. (of an old person) conservative and easily irritated.

noun (pl. crusties) informal
a young person of a subculture characterized by a shabby appearance and a nomadic lifestyle.

DERIVATIVES:
crustiness noun.

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crutch

noun
1. a long stick with a crosspiece at the top, used as a support by a lame person.
2. something used for support or reassurance.
3. the crotch of the body or a garment.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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crux

noun (pl. cruxes or cruces) (the crux)
1. the decisive or most important point at issue.
2. a particular point of difficulty.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'cross' .

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cry

verb (cries, cried)
1. shed tears.
2. shout or scream loudly.
3. (of a bird or other animal) make a loud characteristic call.
4. (cry out for) demand as a self-evident requirement or solution.
5. (cry off) informal go back on a promise or fail to keep to an arrangement.

noun (pl. cries)
1. a spell of shedding tears.
2. a loud shout or scream.
3. a distinctive call of a bird or other animal.

IDIOMS -
cry for the moon ask for what is unattainable or impossible.
for crying out loud informal used to express irritation or impatience.

ORIGIN: Old French crier, from Latin quiritare 'raise a public outcry' , literally 'call on the Quirites (Roman citizens) for help' .

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crying

adjective
very great: it would be a crying shame.

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cryogenics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the branch of physics concerned with the production and effects of very low temperatures.

DERIVATIVES:
cryogenic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek kruos 'frost' .

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crypt

noun
an underground room or vault beneath a church, used as a chapel or burial place.

ORIGIN: Greek krupt 'a vault' , from kruptos 'hidden' .

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cryptic

adjective
1. mysterious or obscure in meaning.
2. (of a crossword) having difficult clues which indicate the solutions indirectly.
3. Zoology serving to camouflage an animal in its natural environment.

DERIVATIVES:
cryptically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek kruptikos, from kruptos 'hidden' .

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cryptogram

noun
a text written in code.

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cryptography

noun
the art of writing or solving codes.

DERIVATIVES:
cryptographer noun
cryptographic adjective.

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crystal

noun
1. a clear transparent mineral, especially quartz.
2. a piece of a solid substance having a natural geometrically regular form with symmetrically arranged plane faces.
3. highly transparent glass with a high refractive index.
4. the glass over a watch face.
5. (before another noun ) clear and transparent: the crystal waters of the lake.

ORIGIN: Greek krustallos 'ice, crystal' .

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crystal ball

noun
a solid globe of glass or rock crystal, used for crystal-gazing.

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crystalline

adjective
1. having the structure and form of a crystal.
2. literary very clear.

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crystallize (also crystallise)

verb
1. form crystals.
2. (crystallized) (of fruit) coated and impregnated with sugar.
3. make or become definite and clear.

DERIVATIVES:
crystallization noun.

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crystallography

noun
the branch of science concerned with the structure and properties of crystals.

DERIVATIVES:
crystallographer noun
crystallographic adjective.

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c/s

abbreviation
cycles per second.

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CS gas

noun
a powerful form of tear gas used in the control of riots.

ORIGIN: from the initials of the American chemists Ben B. Corson and Roger W. Stoughton.

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CT

abbreviation
1. computerized (or computed) tomography.
2. Connecticut.

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ct

abbreviation
1. carat.
2. cent.

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CTC

abbreviation
City Technology College.

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Cu

symbol
the chemical element copper.

ORIGIN: Latin cuprum.

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cu.

abbreviation
cubic.

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cub

noun
1. the young of a fox, bear, lion, or other carnivorous mammal.
2. (also Cub Scout) a member of the junior branch of the Scout Association, for boys aged about 8 to 11.
3. archaic a young man.

verb (cubbed, cubbing)
1. give birth to cubs.
2. hunt fox cubs.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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cubbyhole

noun
a small enclosed space or room.

ORIGIN: originally meaning 'straw basket' : related to dialect cub «stall, pen, hutch».

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cube

noun
1. a symmetrical three-dimensional shape contained by six equal squares.
2. Mathematics the product of a number multiplied by its square, represented by a superscript figure 3.

verb
1. Mathematics multiply (a number) by its square; find the cube of.
2. cut (food) into small cubes.

ORIGIN: Greek kubos.

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cube root

noun
the number which produces a given number when cubed.

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cubic

adjective
1. having the shape of a cube.
2. (of a unit of measurement) equal to the volume of a cube whose side is one of the linear unit specified: a cubic metre.
3. involving the cube (and no higher power) of a quantity or variable.

DERIVATIVES:
cubical adjective.

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cubicle

noun
a small partitioned-off area of a room.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «bedroom»: from Latin cubiculum, from cubare 'lie down' .

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cubism

noun
an early 20th-century style of painting making use of simple geometric shapes and interlocking planes.

DERIVATIVES:
cubist noun & adjective.

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cubit

noun
an ancient measure of length, approximately equal to the length of a forearm.

ORIGIN: Latin cubitum 'elbow, forearm, cubit' .

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cuboid

adjective
more or less cubic in shape.

noun
a solid which has six rectangular faces at right angles to each other.

DERIVATIVES:
cuboidal adjective.

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cuckold

noun
the husband of an adulteress, regarded as an object of derision.

verb
make (a married man) a cuckold.

DERIVATIVES:
cuckoldry noun.

ORIGIN: Old French cucuault, from cucu 'cuckoo' (from the cuckoo's habit of laying its egg in another bird's nest).

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cuckoo

noun
a grey or brown bird known for the two-note call of the male and for the habit of laying its eggs in the nests of small songbirds.

adjective informal
crazy.

ORIGIN: Old French cucu, imitative of its call.

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cucumber

noun
the long, green-skinned fruit of a climbing plant, which has watery flesh and is eaten raw in salads.

ORIGIN: Latin cucumis.

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cud

noun
partly digested food returned from the first stomach of cattle or other ruminants to the mouth for further chewing.

IDIOMS -
chew the cud think or talk reflectively.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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cuddle

verb
1. hold close in one's arms as a way of showing love or affection.
2. (often cuddle up to) lie or sit close; nestle.

noun
a prolonged and affectionate hug.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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cuddly

adjective (cuddlier, cuddliest)
pleasantly soft or plump.

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cudgel

noun
a short thick stick used as a weapon.

verb (cudgelled, cudgelling; US cudgeled, cudgeling)
beat with a cudgel.

IDIOMS -
cudgel one's brain think hard about a problem.
take up cudgels start to defend or support someone or something strongly.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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cue [1]

noun
1. a signal to an actor to enter or to begin their speech or performance.
2. a signal or prompt for action.
3. a facility for playing through an audio or video recording very rapidly until a desired starting point is reached.

verb (cues, cued, cueing or cuing)
1. give a cue to or for.
2. set a piece of audio or video equipment in readiness to play (a particular part of a recording).

IDIOMS -
on cue at the correct moment.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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cue [2]

noun
a long tapering wooden rod for striking the ball in snooker, billiards, etc.

verb (cues, cued, cueing or cuing)
use a cue to strike the ball.

ORIGIN: originally meaning 'long plait or pigtail' : variant of QUEUE.

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cuff [1]

noun
1. the end part of a sleeve, where the material of the sleeve is turned back or a separate band is sewn on.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a trouser turn-up.
3. (cuffs) informal handcuffs.

verb informal
secure with handcuffs.

IDIOMS -
off the cuff informal without preparation. [ORIGIN: as if from notes jotted on one's shirt cuffs.]

DERIVATIVES:
cuffed adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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cuff [2]

verb
strike with an open hand, especially on the head.

noun
a blow given with an open hand.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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cufflink

noun
a device for fastening together the sides of a shirt cuff.

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cuirass

noun historical
a piece of armour consisting of breastplate and backplate fastened together.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin corium 'leather' .

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cuisine

noun
a style or method of cooking, especially as characteristic of a particular country or region.

ORIGIN: French, 'kitchen' .

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cul-de-sac

noun (pl. culs-de-sac pronunc. same)
a street or passage closed at one end.

ORIGIN: originally a term in anatomy: from French, 'bottom of a sack' .

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culinary

adjective
of or for cooking.

DERIVATIVES:
culinarily adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin culina 'kitchen' .

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cull

verb
1. reduce the numbers of (animals) by selective slaughter.
2. select or obtain from a large quantity or a variety of sources.

noun
a selective slaughter of animals.

ORIGIN: Old French coillier, from Latin colligere 'gather together' .

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culminate

verb
1. (usu. culminate in/with) reach or be a climax or point of highest development.
2. archaic or Astrology (of a celestial body) reach or be at the meridian.

DERIVATIVES:
culmination noun.

ORIGIN: Latin culminare, from culmen 'summit' .

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culottes

plural noun
women's knee-length trousers, cut with very full legs to resemble a skirt.

ORIGIN: French, 'knee breeches' , from cul 'rump' .

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culpable

adjective
deserving blame.

DERIVATIVES:
culpability noun
culpably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin culpabilis, from culpa 'fault, blame' .

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culprit

noun
a person who is responsible for a crime or offence.

ORIGIN: originally in the judicial formula Culprit, how will you be tried?, perhaps from a misinterpretation of the written abbreviation cul. prist for Old French Culpable: prest d'averrer notre bille '(You are) guilty: (We are) ready to prove our indictment' .

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cult

noun
1. a system of religious worship directed towards a particular figure or object.
2. a small religious group regarded as strange or as imposing excessive control over members.
3. something popular or fashionable among a particular section of society.

DERIVATIVES:
cultish adjective
cultist noun.

ORIGIN: Latin cultus 'worship' .

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cultivar

noun
a plant variety that has been produced in cultivation by selective breeding.

ORIGIN: blend of CULTIVATE and VARIETY.

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cultivate

verb
1. prepare and use (land) for crops or gardening.
2. raise or grow (plants or crops).
3. grow or maintain (living cells or tissue) in an artificial medium containing nutrients.
4. try to acquire or develop (a quality or skill).
5. try to win the friendship or favour of.
6. (cultivated) refined and well educated.

DERIVATIVES:
cultivable adjective
cultivatable adjective
cultivation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin cultivare, from cultiva terra 'arable land' .

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cultivator

noun
1. a person or thing that cultivates something.
2. a mechanical implement for breaking up the ground.

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cultural

adjective
1. relating to the culture of a society.
2. relating to the arts and to intellectual achievements.

DERIVATIVES:
culturally adverb.

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culture

noun
1. the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively.
2. a refined understanding or appreciation of this.
3. the customs, institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or group.
4. the cultivation of plants, breeding of animals, or production of cells or tissues.
5. a preparation of cells grown in an artificial medium containing nutrients.

verb
maintain (tissue cells, bacteria, etc.) in conditions suitable for growth.

ORIGIN: Latin cultura 'growing, cultivation' , from colere 'cultivate' .

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cultured

adjective
1. refined and well educated.
2. (of a pearl) formed round a foreign body inserted into an oyster.

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culvert

noun
a tunnel carrying a stream or open drain under a road or railway.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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cum

preposition
combined with; also used as: a study-cum-bedroom.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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cumbersome

adjective
1. difficult to carry or use through size; unwieldy.
2. slow or complicated and therefore inefficient.

DERIVATIVES:
cumbersomely adverb
cumbersomeness noun.

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cumbrous

adjective literary
cumbersome.

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cumin (also cummin)

noun
the aromatic seeds of a plant of the parsley family, used as a spice, especially in curry powder.

ORIGIN: Greek kuminon, probably of Semitic origin.

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cummerbund

noun
a sash worn around the waist, especially as part of a man's formal evening suit.

ORIGIN: Urdu and Persian.

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cumulative

adjective
increasing or increased by successive additions.

DERIVATIVES:
cumulatively adverb.

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cumulonimbus

noun (pl. cumulonimbi)
cloud forming a towering mass with a flat base at fairly low altitude, as in thunderstorms.

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cumulus

noun (pl. cumuli)
cloud forming rounded masses heaped on each other above a flat base at fairly low altitude.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'heap' .

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cuneiform

adjective
1. relating to the wedge-shaped characters used in the ancient writing systems of Mesopotamia, Persia, and Ugarit.
2. chiefly Biology wedge-shaped.

noun
cuneiform writing.

ORIGIN: from Latin cuneus 'wedge' .

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cunnilingus

noun
stimulation of the female genitals using the tongue or lips.

ORIGIN: from Latin cunnus 'vulva' + lingere 'lick' .

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cunning

adjective
1. skilled in achieving one's ends by deceit or evasion.
2. ingenious.
3. N. Amer. attractive; charming.

noun
1. craftiness.
2. ingenuity.

DERIVATIVES:
cunningly adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «erudite or skilful»: perhaps from an Old Norse word meaning 'knowledge' , related to CAN.

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cunt

noun vulgar slang
1. a woman's genitals.
2. an unpleasant or stupid person.

ORIGIN: Germanic.

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cup

noun
1. a small bowl-shaped container for drinking from.
2. a cup-shaped trophy, usually with a stem and two handles, awarded as a prize in a sports contest.
3. a sports contest in which the winner is awarded a cup.
4. chiefly N. Amer. a measure of capacity used in cookery, equal to half a US pint (0.237 litre).
5. either of the two parts of a bra shaped to contain or support one breast.
6. a long mixed drink made from wine or cider and fruit juice.

verb (cupped, cupping)
1. form (one's hand or hands) into the curved shape of a cup.
2. place one's curved hand or hands around.

IDIOMS -
in one's cups informal drunk.
not one's cup of tea informal not what one likes or is interested in.

ORIGIN: Latin cuppa, probably from cupa 'tub' .

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cupboard

noun
a piece of furniture or small recess with a door and usually shelves, used for storage.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a table or sideboard on which cups, plates, etc. were displayed.

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cupboard love

noun
affection that is feigned so as to obtain something.

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Cupid

noun
1. Roman Mythology the god of love, represented as a naked winged boy with a bow and arrows.
2. (also cupid) a representation of a naked winged child carrying a bow.

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cupidity

noun
greed for money or possessions.

ORIGIN: Latin cupiditas, from cupidus 'desirous' .

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cupola

noun
1. a rounded dome forming or adorning a roof or ceiling.
2. a gun turret.
3. a cylindrical furnace for refining metals.

ORIGIN: Latin cupula 'small cask' .

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cupro-nickel

noun
an alloy of copper and nickel, especially in the proportions 3:1 as used in ‘silver’ coins.

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cur

noun
1. an aggressive dog, especially a mongrel.
2. informal a despicable man.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old Norse kurr 'grumbling' .

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curacy

noun (pl. curacies)
the office of a curate.

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curare

noun
a paralysing poison obtained from South American plants and traditionally used by Indian peoples as an arrow poison.

ORIGIN: Carib.

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curate [1]

noun
a member of the clergy engaged as assistant to a parish priest.

IDIOMS -
curate's egg Brit. something that is partly good and partly bad. [ORIGIN: from a cartoon in Punch (1895) depicting a meek curate who, given a stale egg when dining with the bishop, assures his host that ‘parts of it are excellent’.]

ORIGIN: Latin curatus, from cura 'care' .

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curate [2]

verb
select, organize, and look after the items in (a collection or exhibition).

DERIVATIVES:
curation noun.

ORIGIN: back-formation from CURATOR.

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curative

adjective
able to cure disease.

noun
a curative medicine or agent.

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curator

noun
a keeper of a museum or other collection.

DERIVATIVES:
curatorial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from curare 'take care of' .

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curb

noun
1. a check or restraint.
2. a type of bit with a strap or chain attached which passes under a horse's lower jaw, used as a check.
3. US variant spelling of KERB.

verb
keep in check.

ORIGIN: Old French courber 'bend, bow' , from Latin curvare 'bend' .

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curd

noun
1. (also curds) a soft, white substance formed when milk coagulates, used as the basis for cheese.
2. the edible head of a cauliflower or similar plant.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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curd cheese

noun
a mild, soft, smooth cheese made from skimmed milk curd.

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curdle

verb
separate or cause to separate into curds or lumps.

IDIOMS -
make one's blood curdle fill one with horror.

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cure

verb
1. relieve (someone) of the symptoms of a disease or condition.
2. end (a disease, condition, or problem) by treatment or appropriate action.
3. preserve (meat, fish, etc.) by salting, drying, or smoking.

noun
1. something that cures a disease, condition, or problem.
2. restoration to health.
3. the process of curing meat, fish, etc.
4. a Christian minister's area of responsibility.

DERIVATIVES:
curable adjective
curer noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the senses «care, concern, responsibility», later 'medical care' : from Latin cura 'care' .

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curé

noun
a parish priest in a French-speaking country.

ORIGIN: French.

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curfew

noun
1. a regulation requiring people to remain indoors between specified hours, typically at night.
2. the time at which such a restriction begins.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a regulation requiring fires to be extinguished at a fixed hour in the evening: from Old French cuevrefeu, from cuvrir 'to cover' + feu 'fire' .

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Curia

noun
the papal court at the Vatican, by which the Roman Catholic Church is governed.

DERIVATIVES:
Curial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, denoting a division of an ancient Roman tribe, (by extension) the senate of cities other than Rome, and later a feudal or Roman Catholic court of justice.

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curie

noun (pl. curies)
a unit of radioactivity, corresponding to 3.7 x 10^10 disintegrations per second.

ORIGIN: named after the French physicists Pierre and Marie Curie (1867 1934 and 1859 1906).

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curio

noun (pl. curios)
a rare, unusual, or intriguing object.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of CURIOSITY.

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curiosity

noun (pl. curiosities)
1. a strong desire to know or learn something.
2. a unusual or interesting object or fact.

IDIOMS -
curiosity killed the cat proverb being inquisitive about other people's affairs may get you into trouble.

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curious

adjective
1. eager to know or learn something.
2. strange; unusual.

DERIVATIVES:
curiously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin curiosus 'careful' , from cura 'care' .

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curl

verb
1. form or cause to form a curved or spiral shape.
2. move in a spiral or curved course.
3. (curl up) informal writhe with embarrassment, shame, or amusement.
4. play at the game of curling.

noun
1. something in the shape of a spiral or coil, especially a lock of hair.
2. a curling movement.

IDIOMS -
make someone's hair curl informal shock or horrify someone.

DERIVATIVES:
curly adjective (curlier, curliest) .

ORIGIN: from obsolete crulle «curly», from Dutch krul.

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curler

noun
1. a roller or clasp around which a lock of hair is wrapped to curl it.
2. a player in the game of curling.

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curlew

noun (pl. same or curlews)
a large wading bird with a long downcurved bill and brown streaked plumage.

ORIGIN: Old French courlieu, derived from the sound of the bird's call.

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curlicue

noun
a decorative curl or twist in calligraphy or in the design of an object.

ORIGIN: from curly + CUE (in the sense «pigtail»), or -cue representing the letter q.

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curling

noun
a game played on ice, in which large circular flat stones are slid across the surface towards a mark.

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curmudgeon

noun
a bad-tempered or surly person.

DERIVATIVES:
curmudgeonly adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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currant

noun
1. a dried fruit made from a small seedless variety of grape.
2. a shrub producing small edible black, red, or white berries.

ORIGIN: from Old French raisins de Corauntz 'grapes of Corinth' (the original source).

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currency

noun (pl. currencies)
1. a system of money in general use in a particular country.
2. the quality or period of being current.

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current

adjective
1. happening or being used or done now.
2. in common or general use.

noun
1. a body of water or air moving in a definite direction through a surrounding body of water or air.
2. a flow of electrically charged particles.

ORIGIN: from Latin currere 'run' .

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current account

noun Brit.
an account with a bank or building society from which money may be withdrawn without notice.

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currently

adverb
at the present time.

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curriculum

noun (pl. curricula or curriculums)
the subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college.

DERIVATIVES:
curricular adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'course, racing chariot' .

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curriculum vitae

noun (pl. curricula vitae)
a brief account of a person's education, qualifications, and previous occupations, sent with a job application.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'course of life' .

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curry [1]

noun (pl. curries)
a dish of meat, vegetables, etc., cooked in an Indian-style sauce of strong spices.

verb (curries, curried)
prepare or flavour with such a sauce.

ORIGIN: Tamil.

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curry [2]

verb (curries, curried)
1. chiefly N. Amer. groom (a horse) with a curry-comb.
2. historical treat (tanned leather) to improve its properties.

IDIOMS -
curry favour ingratiate oneself through obsequious behaviour. [ORIGIN: from the name (Favel) of a horse in a medieval French romance who became a symbol of cunning and duplicity; hence ‘to rub down Favel’ meant to use cunning.]

ORIGIN: Old French correier.

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curry-comb

noun
a hand-held device with serrated ridges, used for grooming horses.

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curse

noun
1. an appeal to a supernatural power to inflict harm on someone or something.
2. a cause of harm or misery.
3. an offensive word or phrase used to express anger or annoyance.

verb
1. use a curse against.
2. (be cursed with) be afflicted with.
3. utter offensive words; swear.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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cursive

adjective
written with the characters joined.

noun
writing with such a style.

DERIVATIVES:
cursively adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin cursivus, from currere 'run' .

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cursor

noun
1. a movable indicator on a computer screen identifying the point that will be affected by input from the user.
2. the transparent slide engraved with a hairline used to locate points on a slide rule.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'runner' (the first sense in English).

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cursory

adjective
hasty and therefore not thorough.

DERIVATIVES:
cursorily adverb
cursoriness noun.

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curt

adjective
noticeable or rudely brief.

DERIVATIVES:
curtly adverb
curtness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin curtus 'cut short, abridged' .

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curtail

verb
reduce in extent or quantity.

DERIVATIVES:
curtailment noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete curtal «horse with a docked tail», from Latin curtus, influenced by TAIL.

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curtain

noun
1. a piece of material suspended at the top to form a screen, hung at a window in pairs or between the stage and auditorium of a theatre.
2. (the curtain) the rise or fall of a stage curtain between acts or scenes.
3. (curtains) informal a disastrous outcome.

verb
1. provide with a curtain or curtains.
2. conceal with a curtain.

ORIGIN: Latin cortina, translation of Greek aulaia, from aul 'court' .

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curtain call

noun
the appearance of one or more performers on stage after a performance to acknowledge the audience's applause.

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curtain-raiser

noun
an entertainment or other event happening just before a longer or more important one.

ORIGIN: originally used in the theatre to mean a short opening piece performed before a play.

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curtsy (also curtsey)

noun (pl. curtsies or curtseys)
a woman's or girl's formal greeting, made by bending the knees with one foot in front of the other.

verb (curtsies, curtsied or curtseys, curtseyed)
perform a curtsy.

ORIGIN: variant of COURTESY.

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curvaceous

adjective
(especially of a woman or a woman's figure) having an attractively curved shape.

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curvature

noun
the fact of being curved or the degree to which something is curved.

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curve

noun
1. a line or outline which gradually deviates from being straight for some or all of its length.
2. a line on a graph showing how one quantity varies with respect to another.

verb
form or cause to form a curve.

ORIGIN: from Latin curvus 'bent' .

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curvet

noun
a graceful or energetic leap.

verb (curvetted, curvetting or curveted, curveting)
(especially of a horse) leap gracefully or energetically.

ORIGIN: Italian corvetta 'little curve' .

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curvilinear

adjective
contained by or consisting of a curved line or lines.

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curvy

adjective (curvier, curviest)
1. having many curves.
2. informal curvaceous.

DERIVATIVES:
curviness noun.

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cushion

noun
1. a bag of cloth stuffed with a mass of soft material, used as a comfortable support for sitting or leaning on.
2. a source of support or protection against impact.
3. the elastic lining of the sides of a billiard table, from which the ball rebounds.

verb
1. soften the effect of an impact on.
2. lessen the adverse effects of.

ORIGIN: Old French cuissin, from a Latin word meaning 'cushion for the hip' , from coxa 'hip, thigh' .

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cushy

adjective (cushier, cushiest) informal
1. (of a task or situation) easy and undemanding.
2. N. Amer. (of furniture) comfortable.

DERIVATIVES:
cushiness noun.

ORIGIN: from Urdu, 'pleasure' .

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cusp

noun
1. a pointed end where two curves meet.
2. each of the pointed ends of a crescent, especially of the moon.
3. a cone-shaped prominence on the surface of a tooth.
4. Astrology the initial point of an astrological sign or house.
5. a point of transition between two different states: those on the cusp of adulthood.

DERIVATIVES:
cuspate adjective
cusped adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin cuspis 'point or apex' .

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cuss informal

noun
1. an annoying or stubborn person or animal.
2. a source of harm of misery.

verb
use offensive language; swear or curse.

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cussed

adjective informal
awkward; annoying.

DERIVATIVES:
cussedly adverb
cussedness noun.

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custard

noun
a dessert or sweet sauce made with milk and eggs and thickened with cornflour, or milk and a proprietary powder.

ORIGIN: originally crustarde or custarde, denoting an open pie containing meat or fruit in a sauce thickened with eggs: from Old French crouste 'crust' .

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custodian

noun
a person who has responsibility for or looks after something.

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custody

noun
1. protective care or guardianship.
2. Law parental responsibility, especially as allocated to one of two divorcing parents.
3. imprisonment.

DERIVATIVES:
custodial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin custodia, from custos 'guardian' .

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custom

noun
1. a traditional way of behaving or doing something that is specific to a particular society, place, or time.
2. chiefly Brit. regular dealings with a shop or business by customers.
3. Law established usage having the force of law or right.

ORIGIN: Old French coustume, from Latin consuescere 'accustom' .

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customary

adjective
in accordance with custom; usual.

DERIVATIVES:
customarily adverb.

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custom-built (also custom-made)

adjective
made to a particular customer's order.

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customer

noun
1. a person who buys goods or services from a shop or business.
2. a person or thing of a specified kind that one has to deal with: he's a tough customer.

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customize (also customise)

verb
modify (something) to suit a particular individual or task.

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customs

plural noun
1. the duties levied by a government on imported goods.
2. the official department that administers and collects such duties.

ORIGIN: originally meaning a customary due paid to a ruler, later duty levied on goods on their way to market.

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cut

verb (cutting; past and past part. cut)
1. make an opening, incision, or wound in (something) with a sharp implement.
2. shorten or divide into pieces with a sharp implement.
3. make, form, or remove with a sharp implement.
4. make or design (a garment) in a particular way: an impeccably cut suit.
5. reduce the amount or quantity of.
6. end or interrupt the provision of (a supply).
7. (of a line) cross or intersect (another line).
8. stop filming or recording.
9. move to another shot in a film.
10. make (a sound recording).
11. divide a pack of playing cards by lifting a portion from the top.
12. strike or kick (a ball) quickly and abruptly.
13. chiefly N. Amer. absent oneself deliberately from: Rod was cutting class.
14. chiefly N. Amer. dilute or adulterate (alcohol or a drug) by mixing it with another substance.

noun
1. an act of cutting.
2. a result of cutting: a cut on his jaw.
3. a reduction in amount or size.
4. the way or style in which a garment or the hair is cut.
5. a piece of meat cut from a carcass.
6. informal a share of profits.
7. a version of a film after editing: the director's cut.

IDIOMS -
be cut out for (or to be) informal have exactly the right qualities for a particular role.
cut your coat according to your cloth proverb underta ke only what you have the money or ability to do and no more.
a cut above informal noticeably superior to.
cut and dried (of a situation) completely settled. [ORIGIN: originally used to distinguish the herbs of herbalists' shops from growing herbs.]
cut and run informal make a speedy departure from a difficult situation rather than deal with it. [ORIGIN: originally a nautical phrase, meaning «cut the anchor cable because of an emergency and make sail immediately».]
cut and thrust a difficult or competitive atmosphere or environment. [ORIGIN: originally a fencing phrase.]
cut both ways
1. (of a point or statement) serve both sides of an argument.
2. (of an action or process) have both good and bad effects.
cut corners do something in a perfunctory way to save time or money.
cut a dash be stylish or impressive.
cut dead completely ignore (someone).
be cut from the same cloth be of the same nature.
cut in
1. interrupt.
2. pull in too closely in front of another vehicle.
3. (of a motor or other device) begin operating automatically.
4. informal include (someone) in a deal and give them a share of the profits.
cut it informal, chiefly N. Amer. come up to expectations. [ORIGIN: shortened form of the idiom cut the mustard.]
cut it out informal stop it.
cut the mustard informal reach the required standard.
cut no ice informal have no influence or effect.
cut off
1. block the usual means of access to (a place).
2. deprive of a supply of power, water, etc.
3. break a telephone connection with (someone).
4. disinherit.
cut out
1. exclude (someone).
2. (of an engine) suddenly stop operating.
cut a (or the) rug informal, chiefly N. Amer. dance.
cut one's teeth acquire initial experience of an activity.
cut a tooth (of a baby) have a tooth appear through the gum.
cut up informal (of a driver) overtake (someone) and pull in too closely.
cut up rough Brit. informal behave in an aggressive or awkward way.

ORIGIN: probably Germanic.

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cutaneous

adjective
relating to or affecting the skin.

ORIGIN: from Latin cutis 'skin' .

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cutback

noun
a reduction, especially in expenditure.

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cute

adjective
1. endearingly pretty.
2. N. Amer. informal sexually attractive.
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. clever; shrewd.

DERIVATIVES:
cutely adverb
cuteness noun.

ORIGIN: shortening of ACUTE.

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cut glass

noun
glass ornamented by having patterns cut into it.

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cuticle

noun
1. dead skin at the base of a fingernail or toenail.
2. the epidermis of the body.
3. a protective layer covering the epidermis of a plant or invertebrate.

DERIVATIVES:
cuticular adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin cuticula 'little skin' .

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cutlass

noun
a short sword with a slightly curved blade, formerly used by sailors.

ORIGIN: Latin cultellus 'little knife' .

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cutler

noun
a person who makes or sells cutlery.

ORIGIN: Old French coutelier, from Latin cultellus 'little knife, ploughshare' .

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cutlery

noun
knives, forks, and spoons used for eating or serving food.

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cutlet

noun
1. a portion of meat, especially a chop from just behind the neck.
2. a flat croquette of minced meat, nuts, or pulses.

ORIGIN: French côtelette, from coste 'rib' .

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cut-off

noun
1. a point or level marking a designated limit.
2. a device for interrupting a power or fuel supply.
3. (cut-offs) shorts made by cutting off the legs of a pair of jeans.
4. chiefly N. Amer. a short cut.

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cut-out

noun
1. a shape cut out of board or another material.
2. a hole cut for decoration or to allow the insertion of something.
3. a device that automatically breaks an electric circuit for safety.

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cut-price (chiefly N. Amer. also cut-rate)

adjective
for sale at a reduced price; cheap.

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cutter

noun
1. a person or thing that cuts.
2. a light, fast patrol boat or sailing boat.
3. a ship's boat used for carrying light stores or passengers.
4. Cricket & Baseball a ball that deviates sharply on pitching.

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cut-throat

noun dated
a murderer or other violent criminal.

adjective
ruthless and intense.

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cut-throat razor

noun Brit.
a razor with a long blade which folds like a penknife.

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cutting

noun
1. a piece cut off from something, in particular an article cut from a newspaper or a piece cut from a plant for propagation.
2. an open passage excavated through higher ground for a railway, road, or canal.

adjective
1. capable of cutting.
2. (of a remark) hurtful.

DERIVATIVES:
cuttingly adverb.

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cutting edge

noun
1. the latest or most advanced stage; the forefront.
2. (as adjective ) (cutting-edge) innovative; pioneering.

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cuttlefish

noun
a swimming marine mollusc that resembles a broad-bodied squid, having eight arms and two long tentacles that are used for grabbing prey.

ORIGIN: related to Old English codd «bag», with reference to its ink bag.

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cut up

adjective informal
very distressed.

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CV

abbreviation
curriculum vitae.

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CVO

abbreviation
(in the UK) Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.

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cwt.

abbreviation
hundredweight.

ORIGIN: from Latin centum 'a hundred' .

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cyan

noun
a greenish-blue colour which is one of the primary colours, complementary to red.

ORIGIN: Greek kuaneos 'dark blue' .

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cyanide

noun
a salt or ester of hydrocyanic acid, most kinds of which are extremely poisonous.

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cyanocobalamin

noun
vitamin B_12, a cobalt-containing vitamin derived from liver, fish, and eggs, a deficiency of which can cause pernicious anaemia.

ORIGIN: from Greek kuanos 'dark blue' + a blend of COBALT and VITAMIN.

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cyanosis

noun
a bluish discoloration of the skin due to poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation of the blood.

DERIVATIVES:
cyanotic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek kuansis 'blueness' .

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cyber-

combining form
relating to information technology, the Internet, and virtual reality: cyberspace.

ORIGIN: from CYBERNETICS.

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cybernetics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the science of communications and automatic control systems in both machines and living things.

DERIVATIVES:
cybernetic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek kubernts 'steersman' .

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cyberphobia

noun
extreme or irrational fear of computers or technology.

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cyberspace

noun
the notional environment in which communication over computer networks occurs.

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cybersquatting

noun
the practice of registering well-known names as Internet domain names, in the hope of reselling them to the owner at a profit.

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cyborg

noun
a fictional or hypothetical person whose physical abilities are extended beyond human limitations by mechanical elements built into the body.

ORIGIN: blend of CYBER- and ORGANISM.

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cyclamen

noun (pl. same or cyclamens)
a plant having pink, red, or white flowers with backward-curving petals.

ORIGIN: Greek kuklaminos, perhaps from kuklos 'circle' , with reference to its bulbous roots.

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cycle

noun
1. a series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order.
2. a complete sequence of changes associated with a recurring phenomenon such as an alternating current, wave, etc.
3. a series of musical or literary works composed around a particular theme.
4. a bicycle.

verb
1. ride a bicycle.
2. move in or follow a cycle of events.

ORIGIN: Greek kuklos 'circle' .

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cyclic

adjective
1. occurring in cycles.
2. Chemistry having a molecular structure containing one or more closed rings of atoms.

DERIVATIVES:
cyclical adjective
cyclically adverb.

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cyclist

noun
a person who rides a bicycle.

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cyclone

noun
1. a system of winds rotating inwards to an area of low barometric pressure; a depression.
2. a tropical storm.

DERIVATIVES:
cyclonic adjective.

ORIGIN: probably from Greek kuklma 'wheel, coil of a snake' .

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cyclopean (also cyclopian)

adjective
1. of or resembling a Cyclops.
2. (of ancient masonry) made with massive irregular blocks.

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Cyclops

noun
1. (pl. Cyclops, Cyclopses, or Cyclopes) Greek Mythology a member of a race of savage one-eyed giants.
2. (cyclops) a minute freshwater crustacean which has a cylindrical body with a single central eye.

ORIGIN: from Greek Kuklps, 'round-eyed' .

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cyclotron

noun
an apparatus in which charged atomic and subatomic particles are accelerated by an alternating electric field while following an outward spiral or circular path in a magnetic field.

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cygnet

noun
a young swan.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Greek kuknos 'swan' .

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cylinder

noun
1. a three-dimensional shape with straight parallel sides and a circular or oval cross section.
2. a piston chamber in a steam or internal-combustion engine.
3. a cylindrical container for liquefied gas under pressure.
4. a rotating metal roller in a printing press.

DERIVATIVES:
cylindrical adjective
cylindrically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek kulindros 'roller' .

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cymbal

noun
a musical instrument consisting of a slightly concave round brass plate which is either struck against another one or struck with a stick.

ORIGIN: Greek kumbalon, from kumb 'cup' .

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cyme

noun Botany
a flower cluster with a central stem bearing a single terminal flower that develops first, the other flowers in the cluster developing on lateral stems. Compare with RACEME.

ORIGIN: French, 'summit, unopened flower head' , from Latin cyma.

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cynic

noun
1. a person who has little faith in the integrity or sincerity of others.
2. a sceptic.
3. (Cynic) (in ancient Greece) a member of a school of philosophers founded by Antisthenes, characterized by an ostentatious contempt for wealth and pleasure.

DERIVATIVES:
cynicism noun.

ORIGIN: Greek kunikos; probably originally from Kunosarges, the name of a gymnasium where the philosopher Antisthenes taught, but popularly taken to mean 'doglike, churlish' , kun 'dog' becoming a nickname for a Cynic.

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cynical

adjective
1. tending not to believe in the integrity or sincerity of others.
2. sceptical.
3. contemptuous; mocking.
4. concerned only with one's own interests.

DERIVATIVES:
cynically adverb.

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cynosure

noun
a person or thing that is the centre of attention or admiration.

ORIGIN: originally denoting the constellation Ursa Minor, or the pole star which it contains: from Greek kunosoura 'dog's tail' (also 'Ursa Minor' ).

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cypress

noun
an evergreen coniferous tree with flattened shoots bearing small scale-like leaves, whose dark foliage is sometimes associated with mourning.

ORIGIN: Greek kuparissos.

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Cypriot

noun
1. a person from Cyprus.
2. the dialect of Greek used in Cyprus.

adjective
relating to Cyprus.

ORIGIN: Greek Kuprites, from Kupros 'Cyprus' .

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Cyrillic

adjective
denoting the alphabet used for Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Serbian, and some other Slavic languages, ultimately derived from Greek uncials.

noun
the Cyrillic alphabet.

ORIGIN: named after the 9th-century Greek missionary St Cyril, its reputed inventor.

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cyst

noun
1. a thin-walled sac or cavity of abnormal character in the body, containing fluid.
2. a tough protective capsule enclosing the larva of a parasitic worm or the resting stage of an organism.

ORIGIN: Greek kustis 'bladder' .

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cystic

adjective
1. chiefly Medicine relating to or characterized by cysts.
2. Zoology (of a parasite or other organism) enclosed in a cyst.
3. relating to the urinary bladder or the gall bladder.

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cystic fibrosis

noun
a hereditary disorder which affects the exocrine glands, resulting in the production of abnormally thick mucus and leading to the blockage of the pancreatic ducts, intestines, and bronchi.

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cystitis

noun
inflammation of the urinary bladder, typically caused by infection and accompanied by frequent painful urination.

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cytology

noun
the branch of biology concerned with the structure and function of plant and animal cells.

DERIVATIVES:
cytological adjective
cytologist noun.

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cytoplasm

noun Biology
the material or protoplasm within a living cell, excluding the nucleus.

DERIVATIVES:
cytoplasmic adjective.

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Czech

noun
1. a person from the Czech Republic or (formerly) Czechoslovakia.
2. the Slavic language spoken in the Czech Republic, closely related to Slovak.

adjective
relating to the Czech Republic.

ORIGIN: Polish spelling of the Czech.

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Czechoslovak (also Czechoslovakian)

noun
a person from the former country of Czechoslovakia, now divided between the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

adjective
relating to the former country of Czechoslovakia.

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D

D [1] (also d)

noun (pl. Ds or D's)
1. the fourth letter of the alphabet.
2. denoting the fourth item in a set.
3. Music the second note of the diatonic scale of C major.
4. the Roman numeral for 500. [ORIGIN: understood as half of CI, an earlier form of M (= 1,000).]

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D [2]

abbreviation
1. (in the US) Democrat or Democratic.
2. depth (in the sense of the dimension of an object from front to back).
3. (with a numeral) dimension(s) or dimensional.
4. (in tables of sports results) drawn.

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d

abbreviation
1. (in genealogies) daughter.
2. deci-.
3. (in travel timetables) departs.
4. (d.) died (used to indicate a date of death).
5. Brit. penny or pence (of pre-decimal currency). [ORIGIN: from Latin denarius 'penny' .]

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'd

contraction
1. had.
2. would.

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DA

abbreviation US
district attorney.

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dab [1]

verb (dabbed, dabbing)
1. press lightly with absorbent material.
2. apply with light quick strokes.

noun
1. a small amount lightly applied.
2. (dabs) Brit. informal fingerprints.

ORIGIN: symbolic of a light striking movement

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dab [2]

noun
a small North Atlantic flatfish.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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dabble

verb
1. move (one's hands or feet) around gently in water.
2. take part in an activity in a casual way.

DERIVATIVES:
dabbler noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete Dutch dabbelen or from DAB.

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dab hand

noun Brit. informal
a person who is very skilled in a particular activity.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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dace

noun (pl. same)
a small freshwater fish related to the carp.

ORIGIN: Old French dars (see DART).

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dachshund

noun
a breed of dog with a long body and very short legs.

ORIGIN: German, 'badger dog' (the breed was originally used to dig badgers out of their setts).

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dactyl

noun Poetry
a metrical foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables.

DERIVATIVES:
dactylic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek daktulos 'finger' (the three bones of the finger corresponding to the three syllables).

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dad

noun informal
one's father.

ORIGIN: perhaps imitative of a child's first syllables da, da.

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Dada

noun
an early 20th-century movement in the arts which mocked conventions and emphasized the illogical and absurd.

DERIVATIVES:
Dadaism noun
Dadaist noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: French, 'hobby horse' , the title of a review which appeared in Zurich in 1916.

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daddy

noun (pl. daddies) informal
one's father.

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daddy-long-legs

noun Brit. informal
a crane fly.

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dado rail

noun
a waist-high moulding round the wall of a room, separating the dado from the upper part of the wall.

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daffodil

noun
a plant bearing bright yellow flowers with a long trumpet-shaped centre.

ORIGIN: originally as affodill: from Latin asphodilus 'asphodel' .

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daffy

adjective (daffier, daffiest) informal
silly; mildly eccentric.

DERIVATIVES:
daffiness noun.

ORIGIN: from northern English dialect daff «simpleton»; perhaps related to DAFT.

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daft

adjective informal, chiefly Brit.
silly; foolish.

ORIGIN: Old English, «mild, meek».

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dagger

noun
1. a short pointed knife, used as a weapon.
2. Printing an obelus.

IDIOMS -
at daggers drawn in bitter conflict.
look daggers at glare angrily at.

ORIGIN: perhaps from obsolete dag «pierce», influenced by Old French dague 'long dagger' .

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dago

noun (pl. dagos or dagoes) informal, offensive
a Spanish, Portuguese, or Italian-speaking person.

ORIGIN: from the Spanish forename Diego 'James' .

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daguerreotype (also daguerrotype)

noun
a photograph taken by an early process using an iodine-sensitized silver-coated copper plate and mercury vapour.

ORIGIN: French, named after L.-J.-M. Daguerre (1789 1851), its French inventor.

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dahlia

noun
a garden plant with brightly coloured single or double flowers and tuberous roots.

ORIGIN: named after the Swedish botanist Andreas Dahl (1751 89).

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Dáil (in full Dáil Éireann)

noun
the lower House of Parliament in the Republic of Ireland.

ORIGIN: Irish, 'assembly' (in full 'assembly of Ireland' ).

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daily

adjective
done, happening, or produced every day or every weekday.

adverb
every day.

noun (pl. dailies) informal
1. a newspaper published every day except Sunday.
2. (also daily help) Brit. dated a domestic cleaner.

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dainty

adjective (daintier, daintiest)
1. delicately small and pretty.
2. fastidious and fussy when eating.

noun (pl. dainties)
a small appetizing item of food.

DERIVATIVES:
daintily adverb
daintiness noun.

ORIGIN: from Old French daintie 'choice morsel, pleasure' , from Latin dignitas 'worthiness, beauty' .

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dairy

noun (pl. dairies)
a building for the processing and distribution of milk and milk products.

adjective
1. made from milk.
2. involved in milk production.

DERIVATIVES:
dairying noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «female servant» (later «dairymaid»); related to DOUGH.

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dais

noun
a low platform for a lectern or throne.

ORIGIN: Old French deis, from Latin discus 'disc or plate' (later 'table' ), from Greek diskos 'discus' .

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daisy

noun (pl. daisies)
a small grassland plant having flowers with a yellow centre and white rays.

IDIOMS -
pushing up (the) daisies informal dead and buried.

ORIGIN: Old English, «day's eye» (because the flower opens in the morning and closes at night).

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daisy wheel

noun
a spoked disc carrying printing characters, used in word processors and typewriters.

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Dalai Lama

noun
the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism and, until the establishment of Chinese communist rule, the spiritual and temporal ruler of Tibet.

ORIGIN: Tibetan, 'ocean monk' , because he is regarded as ‘the ocean of compassion’.

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dale

noun
a valley, especially in northern England.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to DELL.

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dally

verb (dallies, dallied)
1. act or move slowly.
2. (dally with) have a casual sexual liaison with.
3. (dally with) show a casual interest in.

DERIVATIVES:
dalliance noun.

ORIGIN: Old French dalier 'to chat' .

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Dalmatian

noun
1. a breed of large dog with short white hair and dark spots.
2. a person from Dalmatia, a region in Croatia.

ORIGIN: the dog is believed to have originally come from Dalmatia.

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dam [1]

noun
a barrier constructed across a river to hold back water, in order to form a reservoir or prevent flooding.

verb (dammed, damming)
build a dam across.

ORIGIN: Low German or Dutch.

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dam [2]

noun
the female parent of an animal, especially a mammal.

ORIGIN: from DAME.

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damage

noun
1. physical harm reducing the value, operation, or usefulness of something.
2. (damages) financial compensation for a loss or injury.

verb
cause damage to.

IDIOMS -
what's the damage? informal, humorous what does it cost?

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin damnum 'loss or hurt' ; related to DAMN.

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damaging

adjective
harmful or undesirable.

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damask

noun
a rich heavy fabric with a pattern woven into it.

adjective literary
pink or light red.

ORIGIN: from Damascus, where the fabric was first produced.

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dame

noun
1. (Dame) (in the UK) the title of a woman awarded a knighthood, equivalent to Sir.
2. N. Amer. informal a woman.
3. (also pantomime dame) Brit. a comic female character in pantomime, played by a man.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin domina 'mistress' .

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damn

verb
1. (be damned) (in Christian belief) be condemned by God to eternal punishment in hell.
2. harshly condemn.
3. curse.

exclamation informal
expressing anger or frustration.

adjective informal
used to emphasize anger or frustration.

IDIOMS -
as near as damn it as close to being accurate as makes no difference.
damn all Brit. informal nothing.
damn with faint praise praise so unenthusiastically as to suggest condemnation.
not be worth a damn informal have no value.

ORIGIN: Latin dampnare 'inflict loss on' , from damnum 'loss, damage' .

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damnable

adjective
very bad or unpleasant.

DERIVATIVES:
damnably adverb.

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damnation

noun
condemnation to eternal punishment in hell.

exclamation
expressing anger or frustration.

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damned

adjective
1. used to emphasize anger or frustration.
2. (damnedest) used to emphasize the surprising nature of something.

IDIOMS -
do (or try) one's damnedest do (or try) one's utmost.

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damning

adjective
strongly suggestive of guilt.

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damp

adjective
slightly wet.

noun
moisture in the air, on a surface, or in a solid.

verb
1. make damp.
2. (damp down) control or restrain (a feeling or situation).
3. (damp down) make (a fire) burn less strongly by reducing its air supply.
4. reduce or stop the vibration of (the strings of a musical instrument).

DERIVATIVES:
dampish adjective
damply adverb
dampness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «noxious inhalation»: from Germanic.

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damp course (also damp-proof course)

noun
a layer of waterproof material in a wall near the ground, to prevent rising damp.

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dampen

verb
1. make damp.
2. make less strong or intense.

DERIVATIVES:
dampener noun.

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damper

noun
1. a pad silencing a piano string.
2. a device for reducing vibration or oscillation.
3. a movable metal plate in a flue or chimney, used to regulate the draught.

IDIOMS -
put a damper on informal have a subduing effect on.

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damp squib

noun Brit.
something that turns out to be much less impressive than expected.

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damsel

noun archaic or literary
a young unmarried woman.

ORIGIN: Old French dameisele, from Latin domina 'mistress' .

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damselfly

noun
a slender insect related to the dragonflies.

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damson

noun
a small purple-black plum-like fruit.

ORIGIN: from Latin damascenum prunum 'plum of Damascus' .

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dan

noun
1. any of ten degrees of advanced proficiency in judo or karate.
2. a person who has achieved a dan.

ORIGIN: Japanese.

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dance

verb
1. move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps.
2. move in a quick and lively way.

noun
1. a series of steps and movements that match the rhythm of a piece of music.
2. a social gathering at which people dance.
3. (also dance music) music for dancing to, especially in a nightclub.

IDIOMS -
dance attendance on try hard to please.
dance to someone's tune comply with someone's demands.
lead someone a merry dance Brit. cause someone a great deal of trouble.

DERIVATIVES:
dancer noun
dancing noun.

ORIGIN: Old French dancer.

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dandelion

noun
a weed with large bright yellow flowers followed by rounded heads of seeds with downy tufts.

ORIGIN: French dent-de-lion 'lion's tooth' (because of the jagged shape of the leaves).

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dander

noun (in phrase get/have one's dander up) informal
lose one's temper.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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dandified

adjective
1. (of a man) excessively concerned about his appearance.
2. self-consciously elaborate.

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dandle

verb
gently bounce (a young child) on one's knees or in one's arms.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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dandruff

noun
flakes of dead skin on a person's scalp and in the hair.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain.

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dandy

noun (pl. dandies)
a man unduly concerned with a stylish and fashionable appearance.

adjective (dandier, dandiest) informal, chiefly N. Amer.
excellent.

DERIVATIVES:
dandyish adjective.

ORIGIN: a familiar form of the given name Andrew.

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Dane

noun
a person from Denmark.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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danger

noun
1. the possibility of suffering harm.
2. a cause of harm.
3. the possibility of something unpleasant.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «jurisdiction or power», specifically «power to harm»: from Old French dangier, from Latin dominus 'lord' .

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dangerous

adjective
1. likely to cause harm.
2. likely to cause problems.

DERIVATIVES:
dangerously adverb
dangerousness noun.

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dangle

verb
1. hang so as to swing freely.
2. offer (an incentive) to someone.

DERIVATIVES:
dangler noun
dangly adjective.

ORIGIN: symbolic of something loose and hanging.

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Danish

adjective
relating to Denmark or the Danes.

noun
the language of Denmark.

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dank

adjective
damp and cold.

DERIVATIVES:
dankly adverb
dankness noun.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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dapper

adjective
(of a man) neat in dress and appearance.

ORIGIN: probably from a Low German or Dutch word meaning 'strong, stout' .

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dapple

verb
mark with spots or small patches.

noun
a patch of colour or light.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to an Old Norse word meaning 'spot' .

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dapple grey

adjective
(of a horse) grey or white with darker ring-like markings.

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Darby and Joan

noun Brit.
a devoted old married couple.

ORIGIN: from a poem (1735) in the Gentleman's Magazine.

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dare

verb (3rd sing. present usu. dare before an expressed or implied infinitive without ‘to’)
1. have the courage to do.
2. defy or challenge to do.

noun
a challenge, especially to prove courage.

IDIOMS -
how dare you used to express indignation.
I dare say (or daresay) it is probable.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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daredevil

noun
a person who enjoys doing dangerous things.

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daring

adjective
audaciously or adventurously bold.

noun
adventurous courage.

DERIVATIVES:
daringly adverb.

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dark

adjective
1. with little or no light.
2. of a deep or sombre colour.
3. (of skin, hair, or eyes) brown or black.
4. secret or mysterious.
5. (darkest) humorous most remote or uncivilized.
6. depressing or cheerless.
7. evil.

noun
1. (the dark) the absence of light.
2. nightfall.
3. a dark colour or shade.

IDIOMS -
the darkest hour is just before the dawn proverb when things seem to be at their worst they are about to start improving.
in the dark in a state of ignorance.
a shot (or stab) in the dark a wild guess.

DERIVATIVES:
darkish adjective
darkly adverb
darkness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Dark Ages

plural noun
1. the period in Europe between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages, c.500 1100, regarded as unenlightened.
2. any period regarded as unenlightened.

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darken

verb
1. make or become darker.
2. cast a shadow over; spoil.
3. become unhappy or angry.

IDIOMS -
never darken someone's door keep away from someone's home.

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dark horse

noun
a person who is secretive about themselves.

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darkroom

noun
a room for developing photographs, from which normal light is excluded.

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darling

noun
1. used as an affectionate form of address.
2. an endearing person.
3. a person popular with a particular group.

adjective
1. beloved.
2. pretty; charming.

ORIGIN: Old English, from DEAR.

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darn [1]

verb
mend (knitted material) by interweaving yarn across it.

DERIVATIVES:
darning noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from an Old English word meaning 'to hide' .

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dart

noun
1. a small pointed missile thrown or fired as a weapon.
2. a small pointed missile with a flight, used in the game of darts.
3. (darts) (usu. treated as sing. ) an indoor game in which darts are thrown at a dartboard.
4. a sudden rapid movement.
5. a tapered tuck in a garment.

verb
move suddenly or rapidly.

ORIGIN: Old French, from a Germanic word meaning 'spear, lance' .

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dartboard

noun
a circular board used as a target in the game of darts.

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Darwinism

noun
the theory of the evolution of species by natural selection, advanced by the English natural historian Charles Darwin (1809 82).

DERIVATIVES:
Darwinian noun & adjective
Darwinist noun & adjective.

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dash

verb
1. run or travel in a great hurry.
2. strike or throw with great force.
3. destroy or frustrate (hopes).
4. (dash off) write (something) hurriedly.

exclamation Brit. informal
used to express mild annoyance.

noun
1. an act of dashing.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a sprint.
3. a small amount added: a dash of soda.
4. impressive style; flair.
5. a horizontal stroke in writing, marking a pause or omission.
6. the longer of the signals used in Morse code.

ORIGIN: probably symbolic of forceful movement.

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dashboard

noun
the panel of instruments and controls facing the driver of a vehicle.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a board in front of a carriage, to keep out mud.

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dashing

adjective
excitingly attractive and stylish.

DERIVATIVES:
dashingly adverb.

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dastardly

adjective dated or humorous
wicked and cruel.

ORIGIN: from archaic dastard 'despicable person' , probably from dazed and influenced by dotard and bastard.

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data

noun
1. facts and statistics used for reference or analysis.
2. the quantities, characters, or symbols on which operations are performed by a computer.
USAGE - Traditionally and in technical use data is treated as a plural, as in Latin it is the plural of datum. In modern non-scientific use, however, it is often treated as a singular, and sentences such as data was collected over a number of years are now acceptable.
ORIGIN: Latin, plural of DATUM.

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databank

noun
a large store of data in a computer.

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database

noun
a structured set of data held in a computer.

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datable (also dateable)

adjective
able to be dated to a particular time.

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data capture

noun Computing
the action of gathering data from an automatic device, control system, or sensor.

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data protection

noun Brit.
legal control over access to data stored in computers.

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date [1]

noun
1. the day of the month or year as specified by a number.
2. a day or year when a given event occurred or will occur.
3. informal a social or romantic appointment.
4. a musical or theatrical performance, especially as part of a tour.

verb
1. establish or ascertain the date of.
2. mark with a date.
3. (date back to) start or originate at (a particular time in the past).
4. (dated) old-fashioned.
5. informal, chiefly N. Amer. go on a date or regular dates with.

IDIOMS -
to date until now.

ORIGIN: Latin data, from dare 'give' ; from the Latin formula used in dating letters, data epistola 'letter given or delivered' .

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date [2]

noun
1. a sweet, dark brown, oval fruit with a hard stone, usually eaten dried.
2. (also date palm) a tall palm tree which bears this fruit, native to western Asia and North Africa.

ORIGIN: Greek daktulos 'finger' (because of the finger-like shape of the tree's leaves).

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date stamp

noun
1. a stamped mark indicating a date.
2. an adjustable stamp used to make such a mark.

verb (date-stamp)
mark with a date stamp.

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dating agency

noun
a service which arranges introductions for people seeking romantic partners or friends.

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dative Grammar

adjective
(in Latin, Greek, German, etc.) denoting a case of nouns and pronouns indicating an indirect object or recipient.

noun
a dative noun, pronoun, etc.

ORIGIN: from Latin casus dativus 'case of giving' , from dare 'give' .

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datum

noun (pl. data)
1. a piece of information.
2. an assumption or premise from which inferences may be drawn.
3. a fixed starting point of a scale or operation.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'something given' .

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daub

verb
1. coat or smear carelessly or liberally with a thick substance.
2. spread (a thick substance) on a surface in such a way.

noun
1. plaster, clay, or a similar substance, especially when mixed with straw and applied to laths or wattles to form a wall.
2. a patch or smear of a thick substance.
3. a painting executed without much skill.

DERIVATIVES:
dauber noun.

ORIGIN: Old French dauber, from Latin dealbare 'whiten, whitewash' , from albus 'white' .

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daughter

noun
1. a girl or woman in relation to her parents.
2. a female descendant.

DERIVATIVES:
daughterly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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daughter-in-law

noun (pl. daughters-in-law)
the wife of one's son.

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daunt

verb (usu. be daunted)
cause to feel intimidated or apprehensive.

DERIVATIVES:
daunting adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French danter, from Latin domare 'to tame' .

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dauntless

adjective
fearless and determined.

DERIVATIVES:
dauntlessly adverb
dauntlessness noun.

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dauphin

noun historical
the eldest son of the King of France.

ORIGIN: French, from the family name of the lords of the province of Dauphiné, ultimately a nickname meaning 'dolphin' .

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davit

noun
a small crane on a ship, especially one of a pair for lowering a lifeboat.

ORIGIN: Old French daviot, from david, denoting a kind of carpenter's tool.

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dawdle

verb
move slowly; take one's time.

DERIVATIVES:
dawdler noun.

ORIGIN: related to dialect daddle, doddle 'dally' .

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dawn

noun
1. the first appearance of light in the sky in the morning.
2. the beginning of something.

verb
1. (of a day) begin.
2. come into existence.
3. (dawn on) become evident to.

ORIGIN: from Old English, «to dawn»; related to DAY.

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dawn chorus

noun
the early-morning singing of birds.

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day

noun
1. a period of twenty-four hours as a unit of time, reckoned from midnight to midnight and corresponding to a rotation of the earth on its axis.
2. the time between sunrise and sunset.
3. (usu. days) a particular period of the past.
4. (the day) the present time or the time in question.
5. (one's day) the youthful or successful period of one's life.
6. (before another noun ) working or done during the day: my day job.

IDIOMS -
any day informal
1. at any time.
2. under any circumstances.
call it a day decide to stop doing something.
day by day gradually and steadily.
day in, day out continuously or repeatedly over a long period.
one day (or some day or one of these days) at some time in the future.
one of those days a day when things go badly.
that will be the day informal that is very unlikely.
these days at present.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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day boy (or day girl)

noun Brit.
a boy (or girl) who lives at home and attends a school that also takes boarders.

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daybreak

noun
dawn.

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day centre (also day-care centre)

noun
a place providing daytime care and recreation facilities for those who cannot be fully independent.

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daydream

noun
a series of pleasant thoughts that distract one's attention from the present.

verb
indulge in a daydream.

DERIVATIVES:
daydreamer noun.

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daylight

noun
1. the natural light of the day.
2. dawn.
3. visible distance between one person or thing and another.
4. (the (living) daylights) life: he beat the living daylights out of them.

IDIOMS -
see daylight begin to understand something.

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daylight robbery

noun Brit. informal
blatant and unfair overcharging.

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day release

noun Brit.
a system in which employees are granted days off work to go on educational courses.

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day return

noun Brit.
a ticket at a reduced rate for a return journey on public transport within one day.

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day school

noun
1. a non-residential school.
2. a short educational course.

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daytime

noun
1. the time between sunrise and sunset.
2. the period of time corresponding to normal working hours.

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day-to-day

adjective
1. happening regularly every day.
2. of a routine nature; ordinary.

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day trip

noun
a journey or excursion completed in one day.

DERIVATIVES:
day tripper noun.

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daze

verb
cause to feel stunned or bewildered.

noun
a state of stunned confusion or bewilderment.

DERIVATIVES:
dazedly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Old Norse, 'weary' .

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dazzle

verb
1. (of a bright light) blind temporarily.
2. overwhelm with an impressive quality.

noun
blinding brightness.

DERIVATIVES:
dazzlement noun
dazzler noun.
dazzling adjective.

ORIGIN: from DAZE.

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Db

symbol
the chemical element dubnium.

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dB

abbreviation
decibel(s).

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DBE

abbreviation
(in the UK) Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

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DC

abbreviation
1. direct current.
2. District of Columbia.

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DCB

abbreviation
(in the UK) Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath.

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DCC

abbreviation
digital compact cassette.

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DCM

abbreviation
(in the UK) Distinguished Conduct Medal.

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DCMG

abbreviation
(in the UK) Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George.

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DD

abbreviation
Doctor of Divinity.

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D-Day

noun
1. the day (6 June 1944) in the Second World War on which Allied forces invaded northern France.
2. the day on which something important is to begin.

ORIGIN: from D for day + DAY.

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DDR

abbreviation historical
German Democratic Republic.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of German Deutsche Demokratische Republik.

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DDT

abbreviation
dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, a synthetic organic compound used as an insecticide but now banned in many countries.

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DE

abbreviation
1. Delaware.
2. (in the UK) Department of Employment.

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de-

prefix forming or added to verbs or their derivatives:
1. down; away: deduct.
2. completely: denude.
3. denoting removal or reversal: de-ice.

ORIGIN: from Latin de 'off, from' or dis- (expressing reversal).

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deacon

noun
1. (in Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox Churches) an ordained minister of an order ranking below that of priest.
2. (in some Protestant Churches) a lay officer assisting a minister.

ORIGIN: Greek diakonos 'servant' .

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deaconess

noun
a woman with duties similar to those of a deacon.

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deactivate

verb
make (equipment or a virus) inactive by disconnecting or destroying it.

DERIVATIVES:
deactivation noun
deactivator noun.

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dead

adjective
1. no longer alive.
2. (of a part of the body) numb.
3. displaying no emotion.
4. no longer relevant or important.
5. lacking activity or excitement.
6. devoid of living things.
7. (of equipment) not functioning.
8. complete; absolute: dead silence.

adverb
1. absolutely.
2. exactly.
3. straight; directly.
4. Brit. informal very.

IDIOMS -
dead and buried over; finished.
the dead of night the quietest, darkest part of the night.
the dead of winter the coldest part of winter.
dead on one's feet informal extremely tired.
dead to the world informal fast asleep.
from the dead from being dead; from death.

DERIVATIVES:
deadness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to DIE.

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deadbeat

adjective (dead beat) informal
completely exhausted.

noun informal
1. an idle or feckless person.
2. N. Amer. a person who tries to evade paying debts.

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deadbolt

noun
a bolt engaged by turning a knob or key, rather than by spring action.

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dead duck

noun informal
an unsuccessful or useless person or thing.

ORIGIN: from the old saying ‘never waste powder on a dead duck’.

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deaden

verb
1. reduce the strength or intensity of (a noise or sensation).
2. make insensitive.
3. deprive of force or vitality.

DERIVATIVES:
deadener noun.

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dead end

noun
an end of a road or passage from which no exit is possible.

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dead hand

noun
an undesirable persisting influence.

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deadhead chiefly Brit.

noun
a faded flower head.

verb
remove dead flower heads from (a plant).

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dead heat

noun
a race in which two or more competitors are exactly level.

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dead letter

noun
1. a law or treaty which has not been repealed but is defunct in practice.
2. a letter that has not been delivered or claimed.

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deadline

noun
the latest time or date by which something should be completed.

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deadlock

noun
1. a situation in which no progress can be made.
2. Brit. a lock operated by a key, as distinct from a spring lock.

verb
cause to reach a deadlock.

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dead loss

noun
an unproductive or useless person or thing.

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deadly

adjective (deadlier, deadliest)
1. causing or able to cause death.
2. (of a voice, glance, etc.) filled with hate.
3. extremely accurate or effective.
4. informal extremely boring.

adverb
1. in a way that resembles or suggests death.
2. extremely: she was deadly serious.

DERIVATIVES:
deadliness noun.

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deadly sin

noun
(in Christian tradition) a sin regarded as leading to damnation.

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deadpan

adjective
impassive or expressionless.

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dead reckoning

noun
the calculation of one's position, especially at sea, by estimating the direction and distance travelled.

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dead ringer

noun
a person or thing closely resembling another.

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deadweight

noun
1. the weight of an inert person or thing.
2. the total weight of cargo, stores, etc. which a ship can carry.

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dead wood

noun
useless or unproductive people or things.

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deaf

adjective
1. without the faculty of hearing or having impaired hearing.
2. (deaf to) unwilling to listen or respond to.

IDIOMS -
fall on deaf ears be ignored.
turn a deaf ear refuse to listen or respond.

DERIVATIVES:
deafness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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deafen

verb
1. cause to become deaf.
2. (deafening) extremely loud.

DERIVATIVES:
deafeningly adverb.

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deaf mute

noun
a person who is deaf and unable to speak.
USAGE - In modern use deaf mute has acquired offensive connotations. It is advisable to avoid it in favour of other terms such as profoundly deaf.

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deal [1]

verb (past and past part. dealt)
1. distribute (cards) to players for a game or round.
2. (deal out) distribute or apportion.
3. take part in commercial trading of a commodity.
4. informal buy and sell illegal drugs.
5. (deal with) have commercial relations with.
6. (deal with) take measures to put right.
7. (deal with) cope with.
8. (deal with) have as a subject.
9. inflict (a blow) on.

noun
1. an agreement between two or more parties for their mutual benefit.
2. the process of dealing cards in a card game.
3. a particular form of treatment given or received: working mothers get a bad deal.

IDIOMS -
a big deal informal
1. an important thing.
2. (big deal) used ironically to express contempt for something regarded as unimpressive.
a deal of a large amount of.
a good (or great) deal
1. a large amount.
2. to a considerable extent: a good deal better.
a square deal a fair bargain or treatment.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to DOLE.

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deal [2]

noun
fir or pine wood (as a building material).

ORIGIN: Low German and Dutch dele 'plank' .

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dealer

noun
1. a person who buys and sells goods.
2. a person who buys and sells shares or other financial assets as a principal (rather than as a broker or agent).
3. a player who deals cards in a card game.

DERIVATIVES:
dealership noun.

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dean

noun
1. the head of a cathedral chapter.
2. the head of a university faculty or department or of a medical school.
3. a college officer with a disciplinary and advisory role.

DERIVATIVES:
deanery noun.

ORIGIN: Old French deien, from Latin decanus 'chief of a group of ten' .

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dear

adjective
1. regarded with deep affection.
2. used in the polite introduction to a letter.
3. expensive.

noun
1. an endearing person.
2. used as an affectionate form of address.

adverb
at a high cost.

exclamation
used in expressions of surprise or dismay.

DERIVATIVES:
dearness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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dearest

adjective
1. most loved or cherished.
2. most expensive.

noun
used as an affectionate form of address.

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dearly

adverb
1. very much.
2. at great cost.

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dearth

noun
a scarcity or lack.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «dearness and shortage of food»: from DEAR + -TH.

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death

noun
1. the action or fact of dying.
2. an instance of a person or an animal dying.
3. the state of being dead.
4. the end of something.

IDIOMS -
at death's door so ill that one may die.
catch one's death (of cold) informal catch a severe cold.
die a death fail utterly or come to an end.
do to death repeat to the point of tedium.
like death warmed up informal extremely tired or ill.
put to death execute.
to death
1. until dead.
2. used for emphasis: sick to death of him.

DERIVATIVES:
deathless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to DIE.

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death certificate

noun
an official statement, signed by a doctor, detailing a person's death.

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death knell

noun
1. the tolling of a bell to mark a death.
2. an event that signals the end of something.

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deathly

adjective (deathlier, deathliest)
resembling or suggestive of death.

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death penalty

noun
punishment by execution.

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death rate

noun
the number of deaths per one thousand people per year.

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death row

noun
a prison block for those sentenced to death.

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death toll

noun
the number of deaths resulting from a particular cause.

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death trap

noun
a dangerous building, vehicle, etc.

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death-watch beetle

noun
a beetle whose larvae bore into dead wood and structural timbers.

ORIGIN: so-called because it makes a sound like a watch ticking, formerly believed to portend death.

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death wish

noun
an unconscious desire for one's own death.

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debacle

noun
an utter failure or disaster.

ORIGIN: French, from débâcler 'unleash' .

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debag

verb (debagged, debagging) Brit. informal
remove the trousers of (someone) as a joke or punishment.

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debar

verb (debarred, debarring)
exclude or prohibit officially from doing something.

DERIVATIVES:
debarment noun.

ORIGIN: Old French desbarrer 'unbar' .

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debark

verb
leave a ship or aircraft.

ORIGIN: French débarquer.

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debase

verb
lower the quality, value, or character of.

DERIVATIVES:
debasement noun.

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debatable

adjective
open to discussion or argument.

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debate

noun
1. a formal discussion in a public meeting or legislature, in which opposing arguments are presented.
2. an argument.

verb
1. discuss or argue about.
2. consider; ponder.

IDIOMS -
under debate being discussed.

DERIVATIVES:
debater noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin battere 'to fight' .

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debauch

verb
corrupt morally.

noun
a bout of excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.

ORIGIN: Old French desbaucher 'turn away from one's duty' .

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debauchery

noun
excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.

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debenture

noun Brit.
a bond of a company acknowledging a debt and yielding a fixed rate of interest.

ORIGIN: Latin debentur 'are owing' (used as the first word of a certificate recording a debt), from debere 'owe' .

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debilitate

verb
severely weaken.

DERIVATIVES:
debilitation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin debilitare, from debilis 'weak' .

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debility

noun
physical weakness.

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debit

noun
1. an entry in an account recording a sum owed.
2. a payment made or owed.

verb (debited, debiting)
(of a bank) remove (money) from a customer's account.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin debitum 'something owed' .

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debit card

noun
a card allowing the holder to debit a bank account electronically when making a purchase.

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debonair

adjective
(of a man) confident, stylish, and charming.

ORIGIN: from Old French de bon aire 'of good disposition' .

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debouch

verb
emerge from a confined space into a wide, open area.

DERIVATIVES:
debouchment noun.

ORIGIN: French, from bouche 'mouth' .

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debrief

verb
question in detail about a completed mission.

DERIVATIVES:
debriefing noun.

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debris

noun
1. scattered items or pieces of rubbish.
2. loose broken pieces of rock.

ORIGIN: French, from débriser 'break down' .

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debt

noun
1. a sum of money owed.
2. the state of owing money.
3. a feeling of gratitude for a favour or service.

ORIGIN: Latin debitum 'something owed' , from debere 'owe' .

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debtor

noun
a person who owes money.

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debug

verb (debugged, debugging)
remove errors from (computer hardware or software).

DERIVATIVES:
debugger noun.

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debunk

verb
1. discredit (a widely held opinion).
2. reduce the inflated reputation of.

DERIVATIVES:
debunker noun.

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deburr (also debur)

verb (deburred, deburring)
smooth the rough edges of.

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debut

noun
1. a person's first appearance in a capacity or role.
2. (before another noun ) denoting the first recording or publication of a singer or writer.

verb
make a debut.

ORIGIN: French, from débuter 'lead off' .

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debutant

noun
a person making a debut.

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debutante

noun
a young upper-class woman making her first appearance in society.

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Dec.

abbreviation
December.

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deca- (also dec- before a vowel)

combining form
ten; having ten: decahedron.

ORIGIN: Greek deka 'ten' .

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decade

noun
a period of ten years.
USAGE - Pronunciation with the stress on -cade is disapproved of by some traditionalists.
ORIGIN: Old French, from Greek deka 'ten' .

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decadent

adjective
1. characterized by moral or cultural decline.
2. luxuriously self-indulgent.

DERIVATIVES:
decadence noun
decadently adverb.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin decadentia; related to DECAY.

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decaffeinated

adjective
(of tea or coffee) having had most or all of its caffeine removed.

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decagon

noun
a plane figure with ten straight sides and angles.

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decahedron

noun (pl. decahedra or decahedrons)
a solid figure with ten plane faces.

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decalitre (US decaliter, dekaliter)

noun
a metric unit of capacity, equal to 10 litres.

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Decalogue

noun
the Ten Commandments.

ORIGIN: from Greek dekalogos biblos 'book of the Ten Commandments' .

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decametre (US decameter, dekameter)

noun
a metric unit of length, equal to 10 metres.

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decamp

verb
depart suddenly or secretly.

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decanal

adjective
relating to a dean or deanery.

ORIGIN: Latin decanalis, from decanus (see DEAN).

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decant

verb
1. pour from one container into another to separate liquid from sediment.
2. informal transfer (passengers) to another place.

ORIGIN: Latin decanthare, from canthus 'edge, rim' .

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decanter

noun
a stoppered glass container into which wine or spirit is decanted.

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decapitate

verb
cut off the head of.

DERIVATIVES:
decapitation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin decapitare, from caput 'head' .

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decapod

noun
a crustacean with five pairs of walking legs, such as a shrimp.

ORIGIN: from Greek deka 'ten' + pous 'foot' .

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decarbonize (also decarbonise)

verb
remove carbon deposits from (an engine).

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decathlon

noun
an athletic event in which each competitor takes part in the same ten events.

DERIVATIVES:
decathlete noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek deka 'ten' + athlon 'contest' .

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decay

verb
1. rot through the action of bacteria and fungi.
2. decline in quality or vigour.
3. Physics (of a radioactive substance, particle, etc.) undergo change to a different form by emitting radiation.

noun
1. the state or process of decaying.
2. rotten matter or tissue.

ORIGIN: Old French decair, from Latin decidere 'fall down or off' .

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decease

noun formal or Law
death.

verb archaic
die.

ORIGIN: Latin decessus 'death' , from decedere 'to die' .

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deceased formal or Law

noun (the deceased)
the recently dead person in question.

adjective
recently dead.

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deceit

noun
1. the action or practice of deceiving.
2. a deceitful act or statement.

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deceitful

adjective
acting to deceive others.

DERIVATIVES:
deceitfully adverb
deceitfulness noun.

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deceive

verb
1. deliberately mislead into believing something false.
2. (of a thing) give a mistaken impression.

DERIVATIVES:
deceiver noun.

ORIGIN: Old French deceivre, from Latin decipere 'ensnare, cheat' .

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decelerate

verb
begin to move more slowly.

DERIVATIVES:
deceleration noun.

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December

noun
the twelfth month of the year.

ORIGIN: Latin, from decem 'ten' (being originally the tenth month of the Roman year).

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decency

noun (pl. decencies)
1. decent behaviour.
2. (decencies) standards of propriety.

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decennial

adjective
lasting for or recurring every ten years.

ORIGIN: from Latin decem 'ten' + annus 'year' .

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decent

adjective
1. conforming with generally accepted standards of morality or respectability.
2. of an acceptable standard.
3. Brit. informal kind or generous.

DERIVATIVES:
decently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin decere 'to be fit' .

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decentralize (also decentralise)

verb
transfer (authority) from central to local government.

DERIVATIVES:
decentralist noun & adjective
decentralization noun.

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deception

noun
1. the action of deceiving.
2. a thing that deceives.

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deceptive

adjective
giving an impression different from the true one.

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deceptively

adverb
1. to a lesser extent than appears the case.
2. to a greater extent than appears the case.
USAGE - Beware of confusion when using deceptively, as it can mean both one thing and also its complete opposite. A deceptively smooth surface is one which appears smooth but in fact is not smooth at all, while a deceptively spacious room is one that does not look spacious but is in fact more spacious than it appears.

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deci-

combining form
one tenth: decilitre.

ORIGIN: from Latin decimus 'tenth' .

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decibel

noun
a unit of measurement expressing the intensity of a sound or the power of an electrical signal.

ORIGIN: from DECI- + bel, a unit (= 10 decibels) named after Alexander Graham Bell (1847 1922), inventor of the telephone.

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decide

verb
1. resolve in the mind as a result of consideration.
2. settle (an issue or contest).
3. give a judgement concerning a legal case.

DERIVATIVES:
decidable adjective
deciding adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin decidere 'determine' , from caedere 'cut' .

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decided

adjective
definite; clear.

DERIVATIVES:
decidedly adverb.

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decider

noun
a contest that settles the winner of a series of contests.

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deciduous

adjective
1. (of a tree or shrub) shedding its leaves annually. Contrasted with EVERGREEN.
2. (of teeth or horns) shed after a time.

ORIGIN: Latin deciduus, from decidere 'fall down or off' .

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decilitre (US deciliter)

noun
a metric unit of capacity, equal to one tenth of a litre.

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decimal

adjective
relating to a system of numbers based on the number ten.

noun
a fraction whose denominator is a power of ten, expressed by numbers placed to the right of a decimal point.

DERIVATIVES:
decimalize (also decimalise) verb
decimally adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin decimus 'tenth' .

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decimal place

noun
the position of a digit to the right of a decimal point.

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decimal point

noun
a full point placed after the figure representing units in a decimal fraction.

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decimate

verb
1. kill or destroy a large proportion of.
2. drastically reduce the strength of.

DERIVATIVES:
decimation noun.
USAGE - The earliest sense of decimate was ‘kill one in every ten of’, a reference to the ancient Roman practice of killing one in every ten of a group of soldiers as a collective punishment. This has been more or less totally superseded by the sense ‘kill or destroy a large proportion of’, although some traditionalists argue that this later sense is incorrect.
ORIGIN: Latin decimare 'take as a tenth' .

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decimetre (US decimeter)

noun
a metric unit of length, equal to one tenth of a metre.

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decipher

verb
1. convert from code into normal language.
2. succeed in understanding (something hard to interpret).

DERIVATIVES:
decipherable adjective
decipherment noun.

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decision

noun
1. a conclusion or resolution reached after consideration.
2. the action or process of deciding.
3. the quality of being decisive.

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decisive

adjective
1. settling an issue quickly.
2. able to make decisions quickly.

DERIVATIVES:
decisively adverb
decisiveness noun.

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deck

noun
1. a floor of a ship, especially the upper level.
2. a floor or platform, as in a bus or car park.
3. chiefly N. Amer. a pack of cards.
4. a component in sound-reproduction equipment, incorporating a player or recorder for discs or tapes.

verb
1. decorate brightly or festively.
2. informal knock to the ground with a punch.

IDIOMS -
hit the deck informal fall to the ground.

DERIVATIVES:
decked adjective.

ORIGIN: Dutch dec 'covering, roof' .

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deckchair

noun
a folding chair with a wooden frame and a canvas seat.

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decking

noun
material used in making a deck.

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declaim

verb
speak or recite in an emphatic or dramatic way.

DERIVATIVES:
declamatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin declamare, from clamare 'to shout' .

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declamation

noun
the action or art of declaiming.

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declaration

noun
1. a formal statement or announcement.
2. an act of declaring.

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declarative

adjective
1. of the nature of a declaration.
2. (of a sentence or phrase) taking the form of a simple statement.

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declare

verb
1. announce solemnly or officially.
2. (declare oneself) reveal one's intentions or identity.
3. (declared) having admitted that one is the specified thing: a declared atheist.
4. acknowledge possession of (income or goods on which tax or duty should be paid).
5. Cricket close an innings voluntarily with wickets remaining.

DERIVATIVES:
declaratory adjective
declaredly adverb
declarer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin declarare, from clarare 'make clear' .

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declassify

verb (declassifies, declassified)
officially declare (information or documents) to be no longer secret.

DERIVATIVES:
declassification noun.

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declension

noun
1. the variation of the form of a noun, pronoun, or adjective that identifies its grammatical case, number, and gender.
2. the class to which a noun or adjective is assigned according to this variation.

ORIGIN: from Old French decliner 'to decline' .

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declination

noun
1. Astronomy the angular distance of a point north or south of the celestial equator.
2. the angular deviation of a compass needle from true north.

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decline

verb
1. become smaller, weaker, or less in quality or quantity.
2. politely refuse.
3. (especially of the sun) move downwards.
4. Grammar form (a noun, pronoun, or adjective) according to case, number, and gender.

noun
a gradual and continuous loss of strength, numbers, or value.

ORIGIN: Latin declinare 'bend down, turn aside' , from clinare 'to bend' .

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declivity

noun (pl. declivities)
a downward slope.

ORIGIN: Latin declivitas, from clivus 'a slope' .

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decoction

noun
a liquor containing the concentrated essence of a substance, produced as a result of heating or boiling.

ORIGIN: Latin, from decoquere 'boil down' .

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decode

verb
1. convert (a coded message) into intelligible language.
2. convert (audio or video signals), in particular from analogue to digital.

DERIVATIVES:
decodable adjective
decoder noun.

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décolletage

noun
a low neckline on a woman's dress or top.

ORIGIN: French, from décolleter 'expose the neck' .

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décolleté

adjective
having a low neckline.

noun
a décolletage.

ORIGIN: French.

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decommission

verb
1. take (a ship) out of service.
2. dismantle and make safe (a nuclear reactor or weapon).

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decompose

verb
1. (of organic matter) decay.
2. break down into component elements.

DERIVATIVES:
decomposable adjective
decomposition noun.

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decompress

verb
1. expand (compressed computer data) to its normal size.
2. subject (a diver) to decompression.

DERIVATIVES:
decompressor noun.

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decompression

noun
1. reduction in air pressure.
2. the process of decompressing.

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decompression sickness

noun
a serious condition that results when too rapid decompression causes nitrogen bubbles to form in the tissues of the body.

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decongestant

adjective
(of a medicine) used to relieve nasal congestion.

noun
a decongestant medicine.

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deconstruct

verb
1. analyse by deconstruction.
2. dismantle and expose the workings of.

DERIVATIVES:
deconstructive adjective.

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decontaminate

verb
remove dangerous substances from.

DERIVATIVES:
decontamination noun.

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decor

noun
the furnishing and decoration of a room.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin decorare 'embellish' .

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decorate

verb
1. make more attractive by adding ornamentation.
2. apply paint or wallpaper to.
3. confer an award or medal on.
4. (Decorated) denoting a stage of English Gothic church architecture of the 14th century with elaborate tracery.

ORIGIN: Latin decorare 'embellish' , from decus 'honour or embellishment' .

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decoration

noun
1. the process or art of decorating.
2. a decorative object or pattern.
3. the way in which something is decorated.
4. a medal or award conferred as an honour.

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decorative

adjective
1. serving to make something look more attractive; ornamental.
2. relating to decoration.

DERIVATIVES:
decoratively adverb
decorativeness noun.

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decorator

noun
a person who decorates, in particular (Brit. ) a person whose job is to paint interior walls or hang wallpaper.

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decorous

adjective
in keeping with good taste and propriety; polite and restrained.

DERIVATIVES:
decorously adverb
decorousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin decorus 'seemly' .

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decorum

noun
1. behaviour in keeping with good taste and propriety.
2. prescribed behaviour; etiquette.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'seemly thing' .

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découpage

noun
the decoration of a surface with paper cut-outs.

ORIGIN: French, from découper 'cut out' .

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decoy

noun
1. a bird or mammal, or an imitation of one, used by hunters to lure game.
2. a person or thing used to mislead or lure someone into a trap.
3. a pond from which narrow netted channels lead, into which wild duck may be enticed for capture.

verb
lure by means of a decoy.

ORIGIN: from Dutch de kooi 'the decoy' , from Latin cavea 'cage' .

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decrease

verb
make or become smaller or fewer in size, amount, intensity, or degree.

noun
1. an instance of decreasing.
2. the process of decreasing.

ORIGIN: Latin decrescere, from crescere 'grow' .

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decree

noun
1. an official order that has the force of law.
2. a judgement or decision of certain law courts.

verb (decrees, decreed, decreeing)
order by decree.

ORIGIN: Latin decretum 'something decided' , from decernere 'decide' .

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decree absolute

noun (pl. decrees absolute) English Law
a final order by a court of law which officially ends a marriage.

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decree nisi

noun (pl. decrees nisi) English Law
an order by a court of law that states the date on which a marriage will end, unless a good reason to prevent a divorce is produced.

ORIGIN: Latin nisi «unless».

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decrepit

adjective
1. worn out or ruined because of age or neglect.
2. elderly and infirm.

DERIVATIVES:
decrepitude noun.

ORIGIN: Latin decrepitus, from crepare 'rattle, creak' .

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decriminalize (also decriminalise)

verb
cease to treat (something) as illegal.

DERIVATIVES:
decriminalization noun.

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decry

verb (decries, decried)
publicly denounce.

DERIVATIVES:
decrier noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «decrease the value of coins by royal proclamation»: from French décrier 'cry down' .

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decrypt

verb
make (a coded or unclear message) intelligible.

DERIVATIVES:
decryption noun.

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dedicate

verb
1. devote to a particular subject, task, or purpose.
2. address (a book) to a person as a sign of respect or affection.
3. ceremonially assign (a church or other building) to a deity or saint.

DERIVATIVES:
dedicatee noun
dedicator noun
dedicatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin dedicare 'devote or consecrate' .

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dedicated

adjective
1. devoted to a task or purpose.
2. exclusively assigned or allocated to a particular purpose.

DERIVATIVES:
dedicatedly adverb.

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dedication

noun
1. the quality of being devoted to a purpose or task.
2. the action of dedicating.
3. the words with which something is dedicated.

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deduce

verb
arrive at (a fact or a conclusion) by reasoning.

DERIVATIVES:
deducible adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin deducere 'to take or lead away' .

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deduct

verb
subtract or take away from a total.

ORIGIN: Latin deducere 'to take or lead away' .

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deductible

adjective
able to be deducted, especially from taxable income.

DERIVATIVES:
deductibility noun.

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deduction

noun
1. the action of deducting.
2. an amount that is or may be deducted.
3. the inference of particular instances by reference to a general law or principle. Often contrasted with INDUCTION.

DERIVATIVES:
deductive adjective
deductively adverb.

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deed

noun
1. an action that is performed intentionally or consciously.
2. (usu. deeds) a legal document, especially one relating to property ownership or legal rights.

verb N. Amer.
convey or transfer by legal deed.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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deed of covenant

noun Brit.
an agreement to pay a regular amount of money, particularly when this enables the recipient to reclaim any tax paid by the donor on the amount.

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deed poll

noun English Law
a legal deed made and executed by one party only, especially to formalize a change of a person's name.

ORIGIN: so named because the parchment was ‘polled’ or cut even, not indented as in the case of a deed made by two parties.

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deejay

noun informal
a disc jockey.

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deem

verb formal
regard or consider in a specified way.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to DOOM.

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deep

adjective
1. extending far down or in from the top or surface.
2. extending a specified distance from the top, surface, or outer edge.
3. (of sound) low in pitch and full in tone; not shrill.
4. (of colour) dark and intense.
5. very intense, profound, or extreme: a deep sleep.
6. difficult to understand.
7. (in ball games) far down or across the field.

noun
1. (the deep) literary the sea.
2. (usu. deeps) a deep part of something, especially the sea.

adverb
far down or in; deeply.

IDIOMS -
go off the deep end informal give way immediately to an emotional or irrational outburst.
in deep water informal in trouble or difficulty.
jump (or be thrown) in at the deep end informal face a difficult problem or undertaking with little experience.

DERIVATIVES:
deepness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to DIP.

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deepen

verb
make or become deep or deeper.

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deep freeze

noun (also deep freezer)
a freezer.

verb (deep-freeze)
store in or freeze using a deep freeze.

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deep-fry

verb
fry (food) in an amount of fat or oil sufficient to cover it completely.

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deeply

adverb
1. far down or in.
2. intensely.

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deep-seated (also deep-rooted)

adjective
firmly established.

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deer

noun (pl. same)
a hoofed grazing or browsing animal, the male of which usually has branched bony antlers that are shed annually.

ORIGIN: Old English, originally also denoting any quadruped.

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deerstalker

noun
a soft cloth cap, originally worn for hunting, with peaks in front and behind and ear flaps which can be tied together over the top.

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deface

verb
spoil the surface or appearance of.

DERIVATIVES:
defacement noun.

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de facto

adverb
in fact, whether by right or not. Often contrasted with DE JURE.

adjective
existing in fact: a de facto one-party system.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'of fact' .

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defame

verb
damage the good reputation of.

DERIVATIVES:
defamation noun
defamatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin diffamare 'spread evil report' , from fama 'report' .

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default

noun
1. failure to fulfil an obligation, especially to repay a loan or appear in a law court.
2. a pre-selected option adopted by a computer program or other mechanism when no alternative is specified.

verb
1. fail to fulfil an obligation, especially to repay a loan or to appear in court.
2. (default to) revert automatically to (a pre-selected option).

IDIOMS -
by default because of a lack of opposition or positive action.
in default of in the absence of.

ORIGIN: from Old French defaillir 'to fail' , from Latin fallere 'disappoint, deceive' .

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defaulter

noun
1. a person who defaults.
2. chiefly Brit. a member of the armed forces guilty of a military offence.

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defeat

verb
1. win a victory over.
2. prevent from achieving an aim or prevent (an aim) from being achieved.
3. reject or block (a proposal or motion).

noun
an instance of defeating or the state of being defeated.

ORIGIN: Old French desfaire, from Latin disfacere 'undo' .

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defeatist

noun
a person who gives in to failure too readily.

adjective
showing ready acceptance of failure.

DERIVATIVES:
defeatism noun.

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defecate

verb
discharge faeces from the body.

DERIVATIVES:
defecation noun
defecatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin defaecare, from faex 'dregs' .

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defect [1]

noun
a shortcoming, imperfection, or lack.

ORIGIN: Latin defectus, from deficere 'desert or fail' .

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defect [2]

verb
abandon one's country or cause in favour of an opposing one.

DERIVATIVES:
defection noun
defector noun.

ORIGIN: Latin deficere (see DEFECT).

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defective

adjective
1. imperfect or faulty.
2. lacking or deficient.

DERIVATIVES:
defectively adverb
defectiveness noun.

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defence (US defense)

noun
1. the action of defending from or resisting attack.
2. military measures or resources for protecting a country.
3. (defences) fortifications against attack.
4. attempted justification or vindication.
5. the case presented by or on behalf of the party being accused or sued in a lawsuit.
6. (the defence) the counsel for the defendant in a lawsuit.
7. (in sport) the action of defending one's goal or wicket, or the players in a team who perform this role.

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defenceless (US defenseless)

adjective
without defence or protection; completely vulnerable.

DERIVATIVES:
defencelessness noun.

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defend

verb
1. resist an attack on; protect from harm or danger.
2. conduct the case for (the party being accused or sued) in a lawsuit.
3. attempt to justify.
4. compete to retain (a title or seat) in a contest or election.
5. (in sport) protect one's goal or wicket rather than attempt to score against one's opponents.

DERIVATIVES:
defendable adjective
defender noun.

ORIGIN: Latin defendere 'ward off, defend' .

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defendant

noun
a person sued or accused in a court of law. Compare with PLAINTIFF.

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defensible

adjective
1. justifiable by argument.
2. able to be defended or protected.

DERIVATIVES:
defensibility noun
defensibly adverb.

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defensive

adjective
1. used or intended to defend or protect.
2. very anxious to challenge or avoid criticism.

IDIOMS -
on the defensive expecting or resisting criticism or attack.

DERIVATIVES:
defensively adverb
defensiveness noun.

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defer [1]

verb (deferred, deferring)
put off to a later time; postpone.

DERIVATIVES:
deferment noun
deferral noun.

ORIGIN: Latin differre, from ferre 'bring, carry' .

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defer [2]

verb (deferred, deferring) (defer to)
submit humbly to.

ORIGIN: Latin deferre 'carry away, refer' .

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deference

noun
humble submission and respect.

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deferential

adjective
showing deference; respectful.

DERIVATIVES:
deferentially adverb.

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defiance

noun
open resistance; bold disobedience.

ORIGIN: Old French, from defier 'defy' .

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defiant

adjective
showing defiance.

DERIVATIVES:
defiantly adverb.

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deficiency

noun (pl. deficiencies)
1. a lack or shortage.
2. a failing or shortcoming.

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deficient

adjective
1. not having enough of a specified quality or ingredient.
2. insufficient or inadequate.

ORIGIN: Latin, from deficere 'fail' .

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deficit

noun
1. the amount by which something, especially a sum of money, falls short.
2. an excess of expenditure or liabilities over income or assets.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'it is lacking' .

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defile [1]

verb
1. make dirty; spoil or pollute.
2. desecrate.

DERIVATIVES:
defilement noun
defiler noun.

ORIGIN: alteration of obsolete defoul, from Old French defouler 'trample down' .

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defile [2]

noun
a steep-sided narrow gorge or passage (originally one requiring troops to march in single file).

ORIGIN: French, from file 'column, file' .

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define

verb
1. state or describe the exact nature or scope of.
2. give the meaning of (a word or phrase).
3. mark out the limits or outline of.

DERIVATIVES:
definable adjective
definer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin definire, from finire 'finish' .

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definite

adjective
1. clearly stated or decided; not vague or doubtful.
2. (of a person) certain about something.
3. known to be true or real.
4. having exact and discernible physical limits.

DERIVATIVES:
definiteness noun.

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definite article

noun Grammar
a determiner (the in English) that introduces a noun and implies that the thing mentioned has already been mentioned, is common knowledge, or is about to be defined.

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definitely

adverb
without doubt; certainly .

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definition

noun
1. a statement of the exact meaning of a word or the nature or scope of something.
2. the action or process of defining.
3. the degree of distinctness in outline of an object or image.

IDIOMS -
by definition by its very nature; intrinsically.

DERIVATIVES:
definitional adjective.

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definitive

adjective
1. (of a conclusion or agreement) decisive and with authority.
2. (of a book or other text) the most authoritative of its kind.
3. (of a postage stamp) for general use, not special or commemorative.

DERIVATIVES:
definitively adverb.

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deflate

verb
1. let air or gas out of (a tyre, balloon, etc.).
2. cause to feel suddenly dispirited.
3. reduce price levels in (an economy).

DERIVATIVES:
deflator noun.

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deflation

noun
1. the action or process of deflating or being deflated.
2. reduction of the general level of prices in an economy.

DERIVATIVES:
deflationary adjective.

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deflect

verb
turn aside from from a straight course or intended purpose.

DERIVATIVES:
deflective adjective
deflector noun.

ORIGIN: Latin deflectere, from flectere 'to bend' .

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deflection (also deflexion)

noun
the action or process of deflecting or being deflected.

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deflower

verb dated or literary
deprive (a woman) of her virginity.

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defoliant

noun
a chemical used to remove the leaves from trees and plants.

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defoliate

verb
remove leaves or foliage from (trees or plants).

DERIVATIVES:
defoliation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin defoliare, from folium 'leaf' .

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deforest

verb
clear of forest or trees.

DERIVATIVES:
deforestation noun.

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deform

verb
distort the shape or form of; make misshapen.

DERIVATIVES:
deformable adjective
deformation noun.

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deformed

adjective
misshapen; distorted.

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deformity

noun (pl. deformities)
1. a deformed part, especially of the body.
2. the state of being deformed.

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defraud

verb
illegally obtain money from (someone) by deception.

DERIVATIVES:
defrauder noun.

ORIGIN: Latin defraudare, from fraudare 'to cheat' .

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defray

verb
provide money to pay (a cost).

DERIVATIVES:
defrayal noun.

ORIGIN: French défrayer, from obsolete frai 'cost, expenses' .

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defrock

verb
deprive (a person in holy orders) of ecclesiastical status.

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defrost

verb
1. free of accumulated ice.
2. thaw (frozen food).

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deft

adjective
quick and neatly skilful.

DERIVATIVES:
deftly adverb
deftness noun.

ORIGIN: variant of DAFT, in the obsolete sense «meek».

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defunct

adjective
no longer existing or functioning.

ORIGIN: Latin defunctus 'dead' , from defungi 'carry out, finish' .

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defuse

verb
1. remove the fuse from (an explosive device) in order to prevent it from exploding.
2. reduce the danger or tension in (a difficult situation).
USAGE - The verbs defuse and diffuse have different meanings but are often confused. Defuse means ‘reduce the danger or tension in’, while diffuse means ‘spread over a wide area’.

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defy

verb (defies, defied)
1. openly resist or refuse to obey.
2. challenge to do or prove something.

DERIVATIVES:
defier noun.

ORIGIN: Old French desfier, from Latin fidus 'faithful' .

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degauss

verb Physics
remove unwanted magnetism from.

ORIGIN: named after the German physicist Karl Friedrich Gauss (1777 1855).

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degenerate

adjective
having lost normal and desirable qualities; showing evidence of moral or physical decline.

noun
a morally degenerate person.

verb
deteriorate physically or morally.

DERIVATIVES:
degeneracy noun
degenerately adverb
degeneration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin degeneratus 'no longer of its kind' , from genus 'race, kind' .

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degenerative

adjective
(of a disease) characterized by progressive deterioration.

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degradation

noun
1. the condition or process of degrading or being degraded.
2. Geology the wearing down of rock by disintegration.

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degrade

verb
1. cause (someone) to suffer a loss of dignity or self-respect.
2. lower the character or quality of.
3. archaic reduce to a lower rank.
4. cause to break down or deteriorate chemically.
5. Physics reduce (energy) to a less readily convertible form.

DERIVATIVES:
degradable adjective
degradative adjective.

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degrading

adjective
causing a loss of self-respect; humiliating.

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degree

noun
1. the amount, level, or extent to which something happens or is present.
2. a unit of measurement of angles, equivalent to one ninetieth of a right angle.
3. a unit in a scale of temperature, intensity, hardness, etc.
4. an academic rank conferred by a college or university after examination or completion of a course.
5. each of a set of grades (usually three) used to classify burns according to their severity.
6. chiefly N. Amer. a legal grade of crime, especially murder.
7. a step in direct genealogical descent.
8. archaic social or official rank.

IDIOMS -
by degrees gradually.
to a degree
1. to some extent.
2. dated to a considerable extent.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin gradus 'grade' .

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dehisce

verb technical
gape or burst open.

DERIVATIVES:
dehiscence noun
dehiscent adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin dehiscere, from hiscere 'begin to gape' .

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dehumanize (also dehumanise)

verb
deprive of positive human qualities.

DERIVATIVES:
dehumanization noun.

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dehumidify

verb (dehumidifies, dehumidified)
remove moisture from (the air or a gas).

DERIVATIVES:
dehumidification noun
dehumidifier noun.

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dehydrate

verb
1. cause (someone) to lose a large amount of water from their body.
2. remove water from (food) in order to preserve it.

DERIVATIVES:
dehydration noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek hudros 'water' .

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de-ice

verb
remove ice from.

DERIVATIVES:
de-icer noun.

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deify

verb (deifies, deified)
make into or worship as a god.

DERIVATIVES:
deification noun.

ORIGIN: Latin deificare, from deus 'god' .

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deign

verb (deign to do)
do something that one considers to be beneath one's dignity.

ORIGIN: Latin dignare 'deem worthy' , from dignus 'worthy' .

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deism

noun
belief in the existence of a supreme being, specifically of a creator who does not intervene in the universe. Compare with THEISM.

DERIVATIVES:
deist noun
deistic adjective.

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deity

noun (pl. deities)
1. a god or goddess.
2. divine status, quality, or nature.

ORIGIN: Latin deitas, from deus 'god' .

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déjà vu

noun
a feeling of having already experienced the present situation.

ORIGIN: French, 'already seen' .

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dejected

adjective
sad and dispirited.

DERIVATIVES:
dejectedly adverb.

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dejection

noun
sadness or low sprits.

ORIGIN: Latin, from deicere 'throw down' .

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de jure

adverb
rightfully; by right. Often contrasted with DE FACTO.

adjective
rightful.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'of law' .

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delay

verb
1. make late or slow.
2. loiter or hesitate.
3. postpone or defer.

noun
an instance of delaying or being delayed.

ORIGIN: Old French delayer.

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delectable

adjective
lovely, delightful, or delicious.

DERIVATIVES:
delectably adverb.

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delectation

noun formal, chiefly humorous
pleasure and delight.

ORIGIN: Latin, from delectare 'to charm' .

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delegate

noun
1. a person sent to represent others, in particular at a conference.
2. a member of a committee.

verb
1. entrust (a task or responsibility) to another person.
2. authorize (someone) to act as a representative.

DERIVATIVES:
delegator noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin delegare 'send away, assign' .

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delegation

noun
1. a body of delegates; a deputation.
2. the process of delegating or being delegated.

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delete

verb
remove or erase (text).

DERIVATIVES:
deletion noun.

ORIGIN: Latin delere 'to blot out' .

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deleterious

adjective
causing harm or damage.

DERIVATIVES:
deleteriously adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek dltrios 'noxious' .

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delft

noun
glazed earthenware, typically decorated in blue on a white background.

ORIGIN: named after the town of Delft in the Netherlands, where it originated.

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deliberate

adjective
1. done consciously and intentionally.
2. careful and unhurried.

verb
engage in long and careful consideration.

DERIVATIVES:
deliberately adverb
deliberateness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin deliberare 'consider carefully' , from librare 'weigh' .

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deliberation

noun
1. long and careful consideration.
2. slow and careful movement or thought.

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deliberative

adjective
relating to or involving consideration or discussion.

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delicacy

noun (pl. delicacies)
1. delicate texture or structure.
2. susceptibility to illness or adverse conditions.
3. discretion and tact.
4. a choice or expensive food.

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delicate

adjective
1. very fine in texture or structure.
2. easily broken or damaged; fragile.
3. susceptible to illness or adverse conditions.
4. requiring sensitive or careful handling.
5. skilful; deft.
6. (of food or drink) subtly and pleasantly flavoured.

IDIOMS -
in a delicate condition archaic, euphemistic pregnant.

DERIVATIVES:
delicately adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «delightful, charming»: from Latin delicatus.

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delicatessen

noun
a shop selling cooked meats, cheeses, and unusual or foreign prepared foods.

ORIGIN: German or Dutch, from French délicatesse 'delicacy' .

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delicious

adjective
1. highly pleasant to the taste.
2. delightful: a delicious irony.

DERIVATIVES:
deliciously adverb
deliciousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin deliciosus, from deliciae 'delight, pleasure' .

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delight

verb
1. please greatly.
2. (delight in) take great pleasure in.

noun
1. great pleasure.
2. a cause or source of great pleasure.

ORIGIN: Latin delectare 'to charm' .

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delighted

adjective
feeling or showing great pleasure.

DERIVATIVES:
delightedly adverb.

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delightful

adjective
causing delight; very pleasing.

DERIVATIVES:
delightfully adverb.

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delimit

verb (delimited, delimiting)
determine the limits or boundaries of.

DERIVATIVES:
delimitation noun
delimiter noun.

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delineate

verb
describe or indicate precisely.

DERIVATIVES:
delineation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin delineare 'to outline' .

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delinquency

noun (pl. delinquencies)
1. minor crime, especially that committed by young people.
2. formal neglect of one's duty.
3. chiefly US a failure to pay an outstanding debt.

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delinquent

adjective
1. (especially of young people) tending to commit crime.
2. formal failing in one's duty.
3. chiefly N. Amer. in arrears.

noun
a delinquent person.

DERIVATIVES:
delinquently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin delinquere 'to offend' .

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deliquesce

verb
1. (of organic matter) become liquid, typically during decomposition.
2. Chemistry (of a solid) become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air.

DERIVATIVES:
deliquescence noun
deliquescent adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin deliquescere 'dissolve' .

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delirious

adjective
1. suffering from delirium.
2. extremely excited or happy.

DERIVATIVES:
deliriously adverb.

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delirium

noun
an acutely disturbed state of mind characterized by restlessness, illusions, and incoherent thought and speech.

ORIGIN: Latin, from delirare 'deviate, be deranged' (literally 'deviate from the furrow' ).

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deliver

verb
1. bring and hand over (a letter or goods) to the appropriate recipient.
2. provide (something promised or expected).
3. save or set free.
4. state or present in a formal manner.
5. assist in the birth of.
6. (also be delivered of) give birth to.
7. launch or aim (a blow or attack).

IDIOMS -
deliver the goods informal provide what is promised or expected.

DERIVATIVES:
deliverable adjective
deliverer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French delivrer, from Latin liberare 'set free' .

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deliverance

noun
1. the process of being rescued or set free.
2. a formal or authoritative utterance.

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delivery

noun (pl. deliveries)
1. the action of delivering something, especially letters or goods.
2. the process of giving birth.
3. an act of throwing or bowling a ball, especially a cricket ball.
4. the manner or style of giving a speech.

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dell

noun literary
a small valley.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to DALE.

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Delphic

adjective
1. relating to the ancient Greek oracle at Delphi.
2. deliberately obscure or ambiguous: Delphic utterances.

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delphinium

noun (pl. delphiniums)
a garden plant bearing tall spikes of blue flowers.

ORIGIN: Greek delphinion 'larkspur' , from delphin 'dolphin' (because of the shape of the spur, thought to resemble a dolphin's back).

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delta [1]

noun
1. the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet (, ), transliterated as ‘d’.
2. Brit. a fourth-class mark given for a piece of work.

ORIGIN: Greek, from Phoenician.

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delta [2]

noun
a triangular area of sediment deposited at the mouth of a river where it diverges into several outlets.

ORIGIN: from the shape of the Greek letter delta.

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delude

verb
persuade (someone) to believe something incorrect; mislead.

ORIGIN: Latin deludere 'to mock' , from ludere 'to play' .

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deluge

noun
1. a severe flood or very heavy fall of rain.
2. a great quantity of something arriving at the same time: a deluge of complaints.

verb
1. inundate; overwhelm.
2. flood.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin diluvium, from diluere 'wash away' .

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delusion

noun
a belief or impression that is not in accordance with a generally accepted reality.

DERIVATIVES:
delusional adjective
delusive adjective
delusory adjective.

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de luxe

adjective
luxurious or sumptuous; of a superior kind.

ORIGIN: French, 'of luxury' .

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delve

verb
1. reach inside a receptacle and search for something.
2. research intensively into something.
3. literary dig or excavate.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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demagnetize (also demagnetise)

verb
remove magnetic properties from.

DERIVATIVES:
demagnetization noun.

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demagogue

noun
1. a political leader who appeals to popular desires and prejudices.
2. (in ancient Greece and Rome) an orator who supported the cause of the common people.

DERIVATIVES:
demagogic adjective
demagoguery noun
demagogy noun.

ORIGIN: Greek dmaggos, from dmos 'the people' + aggos 'leading' .

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demand

noun
1. an insistent and peremptory request, made as of right.
2. (demands) pressing requirements.
3. the desire of purchasers or consumers for a particular commodity or service.

verb
1. ask authoritatively or brusquely.
2. insist on having.
3. require; need.

IDIOMS -
in demand sought after.
on demand as soon as or whenever required.

ORIGIN: Latin demandare 'hand over, entrust' .

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demanding

adjective
requiring much skill or effort.

DERIVATIVES:
demandingly adverb.

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demarcate

verb
set the boundaries or limits of.

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demarcation

noun
1. the action of fixing boundaries or limits.
2. a dividing line.

ORIGIN: Spanish demarcación, originally used with reference to the line dividing the New World between the Spanish and Portuguese, laid down by the Pope in 1493.

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dematerialize (also dematerialise)

verb
1. become no longer physically present.
2. become spiritual rather than physical.

DERIVATIVES:
dematerialization noun.

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demean

verb
1. cause to suffer a loss of dignity or respect.
2. (demean oneself) do something that is beneath one's dignity.

DERIVATIVES:
demeaning adjective.

ORIGIN: from DE- + MEAN, on the pattern of debase.

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demeanour (US demeanor)

noun
outward behaviour or bearing.

ORIGIN: from DEMEAN.

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demented

adjective
1. suffering from dementia.
2. informal wild and irrational.

DERIVATIVES:
dementedly adverb.

ORIGIN: from earlier dement «drive mad», from Latin demens 'insane' .

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dementia

noun
a mental disorder marked by memory failures, personality changes, and impaired reasoning.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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demerara sugar

noun
light brown cane sugar coming originally from the region of Demerara in Guyana.

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demerit

noun
1. something deserving blame or criticism; a fault.
2. N. Amer. a mark awarded against someone for a fault or offence.

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demersal

adjective
living close to the seabed.

ORIGIN: from Latin demergere 'submerge, sink' .

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demesne

noun
1. historical land attached to a manor.
2. archaic a domain.

ORIGIN: from Old French demeine 'belonging to a lord' , from Latin dominus 'lord, master' .

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demi-

prefix
1. half: demisemiquaver.
2. partially; in an inferior degree: demigod.

ORIGIN: from Latin dimidius 'half' .

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demijohn

noun
a bulbous narrow-necked bottle holding from 3 to 10 gallons of liquid.

ORIGIN: probably an alteration of French dame-jeanne 'Lady Jane' .

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demilitarize (also demilitarise)

verb
remove all military forces from (an area).

DERIVATIVES:
demilitarization noun.

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demi-monde

noun
a group considered to be on the fringes of respectable society.

ORIGIN: French, 'half-world' .

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demise

noun
1. a person's death.
2. the end or failure of something.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin dimittere 'send away' .

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demisemiquaver

noun Music, chiefly Brit.
a note having the time value of half a semiquaver.

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demist

verb Brit.
clear condensation from.

DERIVATIVES:
demister noun.

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demo informal

noun (pl. demos)
1. short for DEMONSTRATION.
2. a demonstration recording or piece of software.

verb (demos, demoed)
give a demonstration of.

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demob Brit. informal

verb (demobbed, demobbing)
demobilize.

noun
demobilization.

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demobilize (also demobilise)

verb
take (troops) out of active service.

DERIVATIVES:
demobilization noun.

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democracy

noun (pl. democracies)
1. a form of government in which the people have a voice in the exercise of power, typically through elected representatives.
2. a state governed in such a way.
3. control of a group by the majority of its members.

ORIGIN: Greek dmokratia, from dmos 'the people' + -kratia 'power, rule' .

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democrat

noun
1. a supporter of democracy.
2. (Democrat) (in the US) a member of the Democratic Party.

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democratic

adjective
1. relating to or supporting democracy.
2. egalitarian.
3. (Democratic) (in the US) relating to the Democratic Party.

DERIVATIVES:
democratically adverb.

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democratize (also democratise)

verb
introduce a democratic system or democratic principles to.

DERIVATIVES:
democratization noun.

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demodulate

verb Electronics
reverse the modulation of.

DERIVATIVES:
demodulation noun
demodulator noun.

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demography

noun
the study of the structure of human populations using statistics of births, deaths, wealth, disease, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
demographer noun
demographic adjective
demographically adverb.

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demolish

verb
1. pull or knock down (a building).
2. comprehensively refute or defeat.
3. humorous eat up (food) quickly.

ORIGIN: Latin demoliri, from moliri 'construct' .

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demolition

noun
the action or process of demolishing or being demolished.

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demon

noun
1. an evil spirit or devil.
2. often humorous an evil or destructive person or thing.
3. (before another noun ) forceful or skilful: a demon cook.

ORIGIN: Greek daimn 'deity, spirit' .

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demonetize (also demonetise)

verb
deprive (a coin or precious metal) of its status as money.

DERIVATIVES:
demonetization noun.

ORIGIN: French démonétiser, from Latin moneta 'money' .

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demoniac

adjective
demonic.

noun
a person supposedly possessed by an evil spirit.

DERIVATIVES:
demoniacal adjective.

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demonic

adjective
of, resembling, or characteristic of demons or evil spirits.

DERIVATIVES:
demonically adverb.

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demonize (also demonise)

verb
portray as wicked and threatening.

DERIVATIVES:
demonization noun.

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demonology

noun
the study of demons or demonic belief.

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demonstrable

adjective
clearly apparent or capable of being logically proved.

DERIVATIVES:
demonstrably adverb.

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demonstrate

verb
1. clearly show that (something) exists or is true.
2. give a practical exhibition and explanation of.
3. express or reveal (a feeling or quality) by one's actions.
4. take part in a public demonstration.

DERIVATIVES:
demonstrator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin demonstrare 'point out' .

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demonstration

noun
1. the action or an instance of demonstrating.
2. a public meeting or march expressing protest or other opinion on an issue.

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demonstrative

adjective
1. tending to show one's feelings openly.
2. serving to demonstrate something.
3. Grammar (of a determiner or pronoun) indicating the person or thing referred to (e.g. this, that, those).

noun Grammar
a demonstrative determiner or pronoun.

DERIVATIVES:
demonstratively adverb
demonstrativeness noun.

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demoralize (also demoralise)

verb
cause to lose confidence or hope.

DERIVATIVES:
demoralization noun
demoralized adjective
demoralizing adjective.

ORIGIN: French démoraliser 'corrupt, deprave' .

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demote

verb
reduce to a lower rank or less senior position.

DERIVATIVES:
demotion noun.

ORIGIN: from DE- + a shortened form of PROMOTE.

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demotic

adjective
1. (of language) used by ordinary people; colloquial.
2. relating to demotic Greek.

noun
1. the form of modern Greek used in everyday speech and writing.
2. demotic language.

ORIGIN: Greek dmotikos, from dmos 'the people' .

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demotivate

verb
make less eager to work or make an effort.

DERIVATIVES:
demotivation noun.

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demur

verb (demurred, demurring)
raise doubts or objections; show reluctance.

noun
the action of demurring: they accepted without demur.

DERIVATIVES:
demurral noun.

ORIGIN: Old French demourer, from Latin morari 'delay' .

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demure

adjective (demurer, demurest)
(of a woman) reserved, modest, and shy.

DERIVATIVES:
demurely adverb
demureness noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French demourer 'remain, stay' , influenced by mur 'grave' .

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demystify

verb (demystifies, demystified)
make (a subject) less difficult to understand.

DERIVATIVES:
demystification noun.

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den

noun
1. a wild animal's lair or home.
2. informal a person's private room.
3. a place where people meet secretly or illicitly: an opium den.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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denationalize (also denationalise)

verb
transfer from public to private ownership.

DERIVATIVES:
denationalization noun.

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denature

verb
1. take away or alter the natural qualities of.
2. make (alcohol) unfit for drinking by adding poisonous or foul-tasting substances.

DERIVATIVES:
denaturation noun.

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dendrite

noun
a short extension of a nerve cell that conducts impulses to the cell body.

DERIVATIVES:
dendritic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek dendrits 'tree-like' .

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dene

noun Brit.
a deep, narrow, wooded valley.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to DEN.

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deniable

adjective
able to be denied.

DERIVATIVES:
deniability noun.

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denial

noun
1. the action of denying.
2. Psychology refusal to acknowledge an unacceptable truth or emotion.

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denier

noun
a unit by which the fineness of yarn is measured, equal to the weight in grams of 9,000 metres of the yarn.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a French small coin: from Latin denarius.

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denigrate

verb
criticize unfairly; disparage.

DERIVATIVES:
denigration noun
denigrator noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «blacken, make dark»: from Latin denigrare, from niger 'black' .

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denim

noun
1. a hard-wearing cotton twill fabric, typically blue.
2. (denims) jeans or other clothes made of such fabric.

ORIGIN: from French serge de Nîmes, denoting serge from the manufacturing town of Nîmes.

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denizen

noun
1. formal or humorous an inhabitant or occupant.
2. Brit. historical a foreigner allowed certain rights in their adopted country.

ORIGIN: from Old French deinz 'within' .

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denominate

verb
1. formal call; name.
2. (be denominated) (of sums of money) be expressed in a specified monetary unit.

ORIGIN: Latin denominare, from nominare 'to name' .

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denomination

noun
1. a recognized branch of a church or religion.
2. the face value of a banknote, coin, postage stamp, etc.
3. formal a name or designation.

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denominational

adjective
relating to a particular religious denomination.

DERIVATIVES:
denominationalism noun.

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denominator

noun Mathematics
the number below the line in a vulgar fraction; a divisor.

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denote

verb
1. be a sign of; indicate.
2. be a name or symbol for.

DERIVATIVES:
denotation noun
denotational adjective
denotative adjective.
USAGE - On the difference between denote and connote, see the note at CONNOTE.
ORIGIN: Latin denotare, from notare 'observe, note' .

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denouement

noun
the final part of a play, film, or narrative, in which matters are explained or resolved.

ORIGIN: French, from dénouer 'unknot' .

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denounce

verb
publicly declare to be wrong or evil.

DERIVATIVES:
denouncement noun
denouncer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin denuntiare 'give official information' , from nuntius 'messenger' .

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dense

adjective
1. closely compacted in substance.
2. crowded closely together.
3. informal stupid.

DERIVATIVES:
densely adverb
denseness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin densus.

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density

noun (pl. densities)
1. the degree of compactness of a substance; mass per unit volume.
2. the quantity of people or things in a given area or space.

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dent

noun
a slight hollow in a surface made by a blow or pressure.

verb
1. mark with a dent.
2. have an adverse effect on.

ORIGIN: variant of DINT.

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dental

adjective
1. relating to the teeth or to dentistry.
2. Phonetics (of a consonant) pronounced with the tip of the tongue against the upper front teeth (as th) or the alveolar ridge (as n, d, t).

DERIVATIVES:
dentally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin dentalis, from dens 'tooth' .

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dentine (US dentin)

noun
hard dense bony tissue forming the bulk of a tooth.

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dentist

noun
a person who is qualified to treat the diseases and conditions that affect the teeth and gums.

DERIVATIVES:
dentistry noun.

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dentition

noun
the arrangement or condition of the teeth in a particular species or individual.

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denture

noun
a removable plate or frame holding one or more artificial teeth.

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denude

verb (often be denuded of)
strip of covering or possessions; make bare.

DERIVATIVES:
denudation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin denudare, from nudare 'to bare' .

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denunciation

noun
the action of denouncing.

DERIVATIVES:
denunciatory adjective.

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deny

verb (denies, denied)
1. refuse to admit the truth or existence of.
2. refuse to give (something requested or desired) to.
3. (deny oneself) go without.

ORIGIN: Old French deneier, from Latin denegare, from negare 'say no' .

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deodorant

noun
a substance which removes or conceals unpleasant bodily odours.

ORIGIN: from Latin odor 'smell' .

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deodorize (also deodorise)

verb
remove or conceal an unpleasant smell in.

DERIVATIVES:
deodorizer noun.

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deoxygenate

verb
remove oxygen from.

DERIVATIVES:
deoxygenation noun.

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depart

verb
1. leave, especially to start a journey.
2. (depart from) deviate from (a course of action).

ORIGIN: Old French departir, from Latin dispertire 'to divide' .

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departed

adjective
deceased.

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department

noun
1. a division of a large organization or building, dealing with a specific area of activity.
2. an administrative district in France and other countries.
3. (one's department) informal an area of special expertise or responsibility.
4. informal a specified aspect or quality: he was a bit lacking in the height department.

DERIVATIVES:
departmental adjective
departmentalize (also departmentalise) verb
departmentally adverb.

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department store

noun
a large shop stocking many types of goods in different departments.

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departure

noun
the action or an instance of departing.

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depend

verb (depend on)
1. be controlled or determined by.
2. rely on.

IDIOMS -
depending on according to.

ORIGIN: Latin dependere 'hang down' .

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dependable

adjective
trustworthy and reliable.

DERIVATIVES:
dependability noun
dependably adverb.

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dependant (also dependent)

noun
a person who relies on another, especially a family member, for financial support.
USAGE - Until recently, the correct spelling of the noun was dependant, but the variant dependent is now acceptable. However, the adjective is always spelled dependent.

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dependency

noun (pl. dependencies)
1. a country or province controlled by another.
2. the state of being dependent.

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dependent

adjective
1. (dependent on) contingent on or determined by.
2. relying on someone or something for financial or other support.
3. (dependent on) unable to do without.
4. Grammar subordinate to another clause, phrase, or word.

noun variant spelling of DEPENDANT.

DERIVATIVES:
dependence noun
dependently adverb.

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depict

verb
1. represent by a drawing, painting, or other art form.
2. portray in words.

DERIVATIVES:
depiction noun.

ORIGIN: Latin depingere, from pingere 'to paint' .

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depilate

verb
remove the hair from.

DERIVATIVES:
depilation noun
depilator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin depilare, from pilus 'hair' .

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depilatory

adjective
used to remove unwanted hair.

noun (pl. depilatories)
a depilatory cream or lotion.

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deplete

verb
1. reduce the number or quantity of.
2. use up (energy, stocks, etc.); exhaust.

DERIVATIVES:
depletion noun.

ORIGIN: Latin deplere 'empty out' .

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deplorable

adjective
deserving strong condemnation; shockingly bad.

DERIVATIVES:
deplorably adverb.

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deplore

verb
feel or express strong disapproval of.

ORIGIN: Latin deplorare, from plorare 'bewail' .

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deploy

verb
1. bring or move into position for military action.
2. bring into effective action.

DERIVATIVES:
deployment noun.

ORIGIN: French déployer, from Latin displicare 'unfold or explain' .

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depopulate

verb
substantially reduce the population of.

DERIVATIVES:
depopulation noun.

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deport

verb
1. expel (a foreigner or immigrant) from a country.
2. (deport oneself) archaic behave in a specified manner.

DERIVATIVES:
deportation noun
deportee noun.

ORIGIN: Latin deportare, from portare 'carry' .

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deportment

noun
1. chiefly Brit. the way a person stands and walks.
2. N. Amer. a person's behaviour or manners.

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depose

verb
1. remove from office suddenly and forcefully.
2. Law testify to or give (evidence) on oath, especially in writing.

ORIGIN: Old French deposer, from Latin deponere 'put down' .

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deposit

noun
1. a sum of money placed in a bank or other account.
2. a sum payable as a first instalment or as a pledge.
3. a returnable sum paid to cover possible loss or damage.
4. a layer or body of accumulated matter.
5. the action or an act of depositing.

verb (deposited, depositing)
1. put down in a specific place.
2. store or entrust with someone for safekeeping.
3. pay as a deposit.
4. (of a natural agency) lay down (matter) as a layer or covering.

IDIOMS -
lose one's deposit (of a candidate in a UK parliamentary election) receive less than a certain proportion of the votes (thereby forfeiting a statutory financial deposit).

DERIVATIVES:
depositor noun.

ORIGIN: Latin depositum, from deponere 'put down' .

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depositary (also depository)

noun (pl. depositaries)
a person to whom something is entrusted.

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deposition

noun
1. the action of deposing someone from office.
2. Law the process of giving sworn evidence.
3. Law a sworn statement to be used as evidence.
4. the action of depositing.

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depository

noun (pl. depositories)
1. a place where things are stored.
2. variant spelling of DEPOSITARY.

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depot

noun
1. a place for the storage of large quantities of goods.
2. a place where buses, trains, or other vehicles are housed and maintained.
3. N. Amer. a railway or bus station.
4. the headquarters of a regiment.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin depositum 'deposit' .

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deprave

verb
lead away from what is natural or right; corrupt.

DERIVATIVES:
depravity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin depravare, from pravus 'crooked, perverse' .

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deprecate

verb
1. express disapproval of.
2. another term for DEPRECIATE (in sense 2).

DERIVATIVES:
deprecation noun
deprecatory adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'pray to ward off evil' : from Latin deprecari, from precari 'pray' .

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depreciate

verb
1. reduce in value over a period of time.
2. disparage or belittle.

DERIVATIVES:
depreciation noun
depreciatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin depreciare 'lower in price, undervalue' .

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depredation

noun (usu. depredations)
an act of attacking or plundering.

ORIGIN: Latin, from depraedari 'to plunder' .

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depress

verb
1. cause to feel utterly dispirited or dejected.
2. reduce the level of activity in (a system).
3. push or pull down.

ORIGIN: Latin depressare, from deprimere 'press down' .

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depressant

adjective
reducing functional or nervous activity.

noun
a depressant drug or other agent.

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depressed

adjective
1. severely despondent and dejected.
2. suffering the damaging effects of economic recession: depressed rural areas.

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depression

noun
1. severe despondency and dejection, especially when long-lasting and accompanied by physical symptoms.
2. a long and severe recession in an economy or market.
3. the action of depressing.
4. a sunken place or hollow.
5. Meteorology a cyclonic weather system.

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depressive

adjective
tending to causing depression.

noun
a person who tends to suffer from depression.

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deprivation

noun
1. hardship resulting from the lack of basic material benefits.
2. the action of depriving or the state of being deprived.

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deprive

verb
prevent from possessing, using, or enjoying something: the city was deprived of its water supply.

ORIGIN: Latin deprivare, from privare 'bereave, deprive' .

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deprived

adjective
suffering a detrimental lack of basic material and cultural benefits.

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Dept

abbreviation
Department.

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depth

noun
1. the distance from the top down, from the surface inwards, or from front to back.
2. complexity and profundity of thought: the book has unexpected depth.
3. comprehensiveness of study or detail.
4. creditable intensity of emotion.
5. (the depths) the deepest, lowest, or inmost part: the depths of Devon.

IDIOMS -
out of one's depth
1. in water too deep to stand in.
2. in a situation beyond one's capabilities.

ORIGIN: from DEEP + -TH.

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depth charge

noun
an explosive charge designed to explode under water, used for attacking submarines.

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depthless

adjective
1. unfathomably deep.
2. shallow and superficial.

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deputation

noun
a group of people who undertake a mission on behalf of a larger group.

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depute

verb
1. appoint (someone) to perform a task for which one is responsible.
2. delegate (authority or a task).

noun Scottish
a deputy.

ORIGIN: Latin deputare 'consider to be, assign' .

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deputize

verb
temporarily act on behalf of someone else.

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deputy

noun (pl. deputies)
1. a person appointed to undertake the duties of a superior in the superior's absence.
2. a parliamentary representative in certain countries.

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derail

verb
1. cause (a train) to leave the tracks.
2. obstruct (a process) by diverting it from its intended course.

DERIVATIVES:
derailment noun.

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derange

verb
1. make insane.
2. throw into disorder.

DERIVATIVES:
derangement noun.

ORIGIN: French déranger, from Old French desrengier, 'move from orderly rows' .

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Derby

noun (pl. Derbies)
1. an annual flat race at Epsom in Surrey for three-year-old horses, founded in 1780 by the 12th Earl of Derby.
2. (in names ) a similar race or other important sporting contest.
3. (derby; also local derby) a sports match between two rival teams from the same area.
4. (derby) N. Amer. a bowler hat.

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deregulate

verb
remove regulations or restrictions from.

DERIVATIVES:
deregulation noun
deregulatory adjective.

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derelict

adjective
1. in a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect.
2. chiefly N. Amer. shamefully negligent.

noun
1. a destitute person.
2. a ship or other piece of property abandoned by its owner.

ORIGIN: from Latin derelinquere 'to abandon' .

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dereliction

noun
1. the state of having been abandoned and become dilapidated.
2. (usu. dereliction of duty) shameful failure to fulfil one's obligations.

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deride

verb
express contempt for; ridicule.

ORIGIN: Latin deridere 'scoff at' .

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de rigueur

adjective
required by etiquette or current fashion: large bath suites are de rigueur.

ORIGIN: French, 'in strictness' .

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derision

noun
contemptuous ridicule or mockery.

ORIGIN: Latin, from deridere 'scoff at' .

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derisive

adjective
expressing contempt or ridicule.

DERIVATIVES:
derisively adverb.

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derisory

adjective
1. ridiculously small or inadequate.
2. another term for DERISIVE.

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derivation

noun
1. the deriving of something from a source or origin.
2. the formation of a word from another word or from a root in the same or another language.

DERIVATIVES:
derivational adjective.

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derivative

adjective
1. chiefly derogatory imitative of the work of another artist, writer, etc.
2. (of a financial product) having a value deriving from an underlying variable asset.

noun
1. something which is derived from another source.
2. a derivative future, option, or other financial product.
3. Mathematics an expression representing the rate of change of a function with respect to an independent variable.

DERIVATIVES:
derivatively adverb.

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derive

verb (derive from)
1. obtain (something) from (a source).
2. base (something) on a modification of.
3. have as a root or origin; originate from.

DERIVATIVES:
derivable adjective.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «draw a fluid through or into a channel»: from Latin derivare, from rivus 'a stream' .

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dermatitis

noun
inflammation of the skin as a result of irritation by or allergic reaction to an external agent.

ORIGIN: from Greek derma 'skin' .

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dermatology

noun
the branch of medicine concerned with skin disorders.

DERIVATIVES:
dermatological adjective
dermatologically adverb
dermatologist noun.

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dermis

noun Anatomy
the thick layer of the skin below the epidermis, consisting of living tissue.

DERIVATIVES:
dermal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, suggested by epidermis.

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derogate

verb formal
1. (derogate from) detract from.
2. (derogate from) deviate from.
3. disparage.

DERIVATIVES:
derogation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin derogare 'abrogate' .

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derogatory

adjective
showing a critical or disrespectful attitude.

DERIVATIVES:
derogatorily adverb.

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derrick

noun
1. a kind of crane with a movable pivoted arm.
2. the framework over an oil well, holding the drilling machinery.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a hangman, also the gallows: from Derrick, the surname of a 17th-century London hangman.

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derring-do

noun dated or humorous
action displaying heroic courage.

ORIGIN: from a 16th-century misprint and misinterpretation of the Middle English phrase dorryng do «daring to do».

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dervish

noun
a member of a Muslim fraternity vowed to poverty and known for their wild rituals.

ORIGIN: Persian, 'religious beggar' , also 'poor' .

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desalinate

verb
remove salt from (seawater).

DERIVATIVES:
desalination noun
desalinator noun.

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descant

noun
an independent treble melody sung or played above a basic melody.

verb
talk tediously or at length.

ORIGIN: Latin discantus 'part song, refrain' .

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descend

verb
1. move down or downwards.
2. slope or lead downwards.
3. (descend to) lower oneself to commit (a shameful act).
4. (descend on) make a sudden attack on or unwelcome visit to.
5. (be descended from) be a blood relative of (an ancestor).
6. (usu. descend to) pass by inheritance.

DERIVATIVES:
descendent adjective
descender noun.

ORIGIN: Latin descendere 'climb down' .

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descendant

noun
a person, animal, etc. that is descended from a particular ancestor.

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descent

noun
1. an act or the action of descending.
2. a downward slope.
3. a person's origin or nationality.
4. (descent on) a sudden violent attack on.

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describe

verb
1. give a detailed account in words of.
2. mark out or draw (a geometrical figure).

DERIVATIVES:
describable adjective
describer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin describere 'write down' .

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description

noun
1. a spoken or written account.
2. the process of describing.
3. a sort, kind, or class: people of any description.

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descriptive

adjective
1. serving or seeking to describe.
2. describing or classifying without expressing judgement.

DERIVATIVES:
descriptively adverb.

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descry

verb (descries, descried) literary
catch sight of.

ORIGIN: perhaps confused with obsolete descry 'describe' , related to DESCRIBE.

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desecrate

verb
treat (something sacred) with violent disrespect.

DERIVATIVES:
desecration noun
desecrator noun.

ORIGIN: from DE- + a shortened form of CONSECRATE.

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desegregate

verb
end a policy of racial segregation in.

DERIVATIVES:
desegregation noun.

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deselect

verb Brit.
reject the candidature of (an existing MP).

DERIVATIVES:
deselection noun.

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desensitize (also desensitise)

verb
1. make less sensitive.
2. make indifferent to cruelty or suffering.

DERIVATIVES:
desensitization noun.

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desert [1]

verb
1. leave without help or support; abandon.
2. leave (a place), causing it to appear empty.
3. illegally run away from military service.

DERIVATIVES:
desertion noun.

ORIGIN: Latin desertare, from desertus 'left waste' (related to DESERT).

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desert [2]

noun
1. a waterless, desolate area of land with little or no vegetation, typically covered with sand.
2. a situation or area considered dull and uninteresting: a cultural desert.

adjective
like a desert; uninhabited and desolate.

ORIGIN: Latin desertum 'something left waste' , from deserere 'leave, forsake' .

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deserter

noun
a member of the armed forces who deserts.

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deserts

plural noun (usu. in phrase get or receive one's just deserts)
what a person deserves with regard to reward or punishment.

ORIGIN: Old French desert, from deservir 'serve well, deserve' .

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deserve

verb
do something or show qualities worthy of (a reward or punishment as appropriate).

DERIVATIVES:
deservedly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin deservire 'serve well or zealously' .

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deserving

adjective
worthy of favourable treatment or assistance.

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déshabillé (also dishabille)

noun
the state of being only partly or scantily clothed.

ORIGIN: French, 'undressed' .

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desiccate

verb (usu. desiccated)
remove the moisture from.

DERIVATIVES:
desiccation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin desiccare 'make thoroughly dry' .

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design

noun
1. a plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of something before it is built or made.
2. the art or action of producing such a plan or drawing.
3. underlying purpose or planning: the appearance of design in the universe.
4. a decorative pattern.

verb
1. conceive and produce a design for.
2. plan or intend for a purpose.

IDIOMS -
by design intentionally.
have designs on aim to obtain, especially in an underhand way.

ORIGIN: from Latin designare 'mark out, designate' .

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designate

verb
1. officially give a specified status or name to; describe as.
2. appoint to a specified position.

adjective (after a noun )
appointed to an office or position but not yet installed: the Director designate.

DERIVATIVES:
designator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin designare (see DESIGN).

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designation

noun
1. the action of designating.
2. an official title or description.

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designer

noun
1. a person who designs things.
2. (before another noun ) made by a famous fashion designer: designer jeans.

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desirable

adjective
1. wished for as being attractive, useful, or necessary.
2. (of a person) arousing sexual desire.

noun
a desirable person or thing.

DERIVATIVES:
desirability noun
desirableness noun
desirably adverb.

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desire

noun
1. a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen.
2. strong sexual feeling or appetite.

verb
1. strongly wish for or want.
2. want sexually.
3. archaic request or entreat.

DERIVATIVES:
desirous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin desiderare.

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desist

verb
cease; abstain.

ORIGIN: Latin desistere, from sistere 'to stop' .

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desk

noun
1. a piece of furniture with a flat or sloping surface and often with drawers, for writing, reading, or other work.
2. a counter in a hotel, bank, airport, etc.
3. a specified section of a news organization: the sports desk.
4. a position in an orchestra at which two players share a music stand.

ORIGIN: from Latin discus 'plate' (later 'desk' ), from Greek diskos 'discus' .

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desktop

noun
1. the working surface of a desk.
2. a microcomputer suitable for use at an ordinary desk.
3. the working area of a computer screen regarded as representing a notional desktop.

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desolate

adjective
1. giving an impression of bleak and dismal emptiness.
2. utterly wretched and unhappy.

verb
make desolate.

DERIVATIVES:
desolation noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin desolare 'abandon' , from solus 'alone' .

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despair

noun
the complete loss or absence of hope.

verb
lose or be without hope.

IDIOMS -
be the despair of be the cause of despair in (someone else).

ORIGIN: from Latin desperare, from sperare 'to hope' .

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desperado

noun (pl. desperadoes or desperados) dated
a desperate or reckless criminal.

ORIGIN: pseudo-Spanish alteration of the obsolete noun desperate 'person in despair or in a desperate situation' .

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desperate

adjective
1. feeling, showing, or involving despair.
2. extremely bad or serious: a desperate shortage.
3. having a great need or desire for something: desperate for a cigarette.
4. violent or dangerous.

IDIOMS -
desperate diseases must have desperate remedies proverb extreme measures are justified as a response to a difficult or dangerous situation.

DERIVATIVES:
desperately adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin desperatus 'deprived of hope' , from desperare (see DESPAIR).

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desperation

noun
a state of despair, especially as resulting in reckless behaviour.

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despicable

adjective
deserving hatred and contempt.

DERIVATIVES:
despicably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin despicabilis, from despicari 'look down on' .

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despise

verb
feel contempt or repugnance for.

DERIVATIVES:
despiser noun.

ORIGIN: Latin despicere 'look down' .

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despite

preposition
in spite of.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «contempt, scorn»: from Latin despectus 'looking down on' , from despicere (see DESPISE).

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despoil

verb literary
steal valuable possessions from.

DERIVATIVES:
despoiler noun
despoliation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin despoliare 'rob, plunder' .

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despondent

adjective
in low spirits from loss of hope or courage.

DERIVATIVES:
despondency noun
despondently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin despondere 'give up, abandon' .

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despot

noun
a ruler with absolute power, especially one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way.

DERIVATIVES:
despotic adjective
despotism noun.

ORIGIN: Greek despots 'master, absolute ruler' .

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dessert

noun
the sweet course eaten at the end of a meal.

ORIGIN: French, from desservir 'clear the table' .

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dessertspoon

noun
a spoon used for dessert, smaller than a tablespoon and larger than a teaspoon.

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destabilize (also destabilise)

verb
upset the stability of.

DERIVATIVES:
destabilization noun.

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destination

noun
the place to which someone or something is going or being sent.

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destine

verb (be destined)
1. be intended or chosen for a particular purpose or end: he was destined to be an engineer.
2. bound for a particular destination.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «predetermine, decree»: from Latin destinare 'make firm, establish' .

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destiny

noun (pl. destinies)
1. the events that will happen to a person, regarded as predetermined by fate.
2. the hidden power believed to control this; fate.

ORIGIN: Latin destinata, from destinare 'make firm, establish' .

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destitute

adjective
1. extremely poor and lacking the means to provide for oneself.
2. (destitute of) not having.

DERIVATIVES:
destitution noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «deserted, abandoned»: from Latin destituere 'forsake' .

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destroy

verb
1. put out of existence by severe damage or attack.
2. completely ruin or spoil.
3. kill (an animal) by humane means.

ORIGIN: Latin destruere, from struere 'build' .

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destroyer

noun
1. a person or thing that destroys.
2. a small fast warship equipped for a defensive role against submarines and aircraft.

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destruct

verb
cause the destruction of.

DERIVATIVES:
destructor noun.

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destructible

adjective
able to be destroyed.

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destruction

noun
1. the action of destroying or the state of being destroyed.
2. a cause of someone's ruin.

ORIGIN: Latin, from destruere 'destroy' .

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destructive

adjective
1. causing destruction.
2. negative and unhelpful: destructive criticism.

DERIVATIVES:
destructively adverb
destructiveness noun.

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desuetude

noun formal
a state of disuse.

ORIGIN: Latin desuetudo, from desuescere 'make unaccustomed' .

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desultory

adjective
1. lacking purpose or enthusiasm.
2. going from one thing to another erratically and intermittently: a desultory conversation.

DERIVATIVES:
desultorily adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin desultorius 'superficial' (literally 'relating to a vaulter' ), from desilire 'leap down' .

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detach

verb
1. disengage (something) and remove it.
2. (detach oneself from) leave or distance oneself from (a group or situation).
3. (be detached) Military be sent on a separate mission.

DERIVATIVES:
detachability noun
detachable adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «discharge a gun»: from French détacher, from attacher 'attach' .

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detached

adjective
1. separate or disconnected.
2. (of a house) not joined to another on either side.
3. aloof and objective.

DERIVATIVES:
detachedly adverb.

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detachment

noun
1. the state of being objective or aloof.
2. a group of troops, ships, etc. sent away on a separate mission.
3. the action or process of detaching.

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detail

noun
1. a small individual item or fact.
2. small items or facts collectively: attention to detail.
3. a small part of a picture reproduced separately for close study.
4. a small detachment of troops or police officers given a special duty.

verb
1. describe item by item.
2. assign to undertake a particular task.

IDIOMS -
in detail as regards every aspect; fully.

ORIGIN: French détail, from tailler 'to cut' .

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detailed

adjective
having many details.

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detailing

noun
small decorative features on a building, garment, or work of art.

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detain

verb
1. keep from proceeding; delay.
2. keep in official custody.

DERIVATIVES:
detainer noun
detainment noun.

ORIGIN: Latin detinere 'keep back' .

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detainee

noun
a person detained in custody, especially for political reasons.

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detect

verb
1. discover the presence or existence of.
2. discover or investigate (a crime or its perpetrators).
3. notice (something intangible or barely perceptible).

DERIVATIVES:
detectable adjective
detectably adverb
detection noun.

ORIGIN: Latin detegere 'uncover' from tegere 'to cover' .

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detective

noun
a person, especially a police officer, whose occupation is to investigate crimes.

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detector

noun
a device designed to detect the presence of something and to emit a signal in response.

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détente

noun
the easing of hostility or strained relations between countries.

ORIGIN: French, 'loosening, relaxation' .

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detention

noun
1. the action of detaining or the state of being detained.
2. the punishment of being kept in school after hours.

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detention centre

noun
an institution where people, especially refugees and people awaiting trial, are detained.

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deter

verb (deterred, deterring)
1. discourage from doing something through fear of the consequences.
2. prevent the occurrence of.

ORIGIN: Latin deterrere, from terrere 'frighten' .

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detergent

noun
a soluble cleansing agent which combines with impurities and dirt to make them more soluble.

adjective
relating to detergents or their action.

ORIGIN: from Latin detergere 'wipe away' .

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deteriorate

verb
become progressively worse.

DERIVATIVES:
deterioration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin deteriorare, from deterior 'worse' .

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determinant

noun
1. a factor which determines the nature or outcome of something.
2. Biology a gene determining the character and development of particular cells in an organism.
3. Mathematics a quantity obtained by adding products of the elements of a square matrix according to a given rule.

adjective
serving to determine or decide.

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determination

noun
1. firmness of purpose; resolutenesss.
2. the action or process of determining.

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determine

verb
1. be the decisive factor in: it is biological age that determines our looks.
2. firmly decide.
3. ascertain or establish by research or calculation.

DERIVATIVES:
determinable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin determinare 'limit, fix' .

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determined

adjective
having firmness of purpose; resolute.

DERIVATIVES:
determinedly adverb.

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determiner

noun
1. a person or thing that determines.
2. Grammar a modifying word that determines the kind of reference a noun or noun group has, for example a, the, every.

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deterrent

noun
a thing that deters or is intended to deter.

adjective
able or intended to deter.

DERIVATIVES:
deterrence noun.

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detest

verb
dislike intensely.

ORIGIN: Latin detestari 'denounce, abhor' , from testari 'witness' .

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detestable

adjective
deserving intense dislike.

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detestation

noun
intense dislike.

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dethrone

verb
1. remove (a monarch) from power.
2. remove from a position of authority or dominance.

DERIVATIVES:
dethronement noun.

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detonate

verb
explode or cause to explode.

DERIVATIVES:
detonation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin detonare, from tonare 'to thunder' .

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detonator

noun
a device or charge used to detonate an explosive.

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detour

noun
a divergence from a direct or intended route.

verb
take a detour.

ORIGIN: French, 'change of direction' .

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detox informal

noun
detoxification.

verb
detoxify.

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detoxify

verb (detoxifies, detoxified)
1. remove toxic substances from.
2. abstain or help to abstain from drink or drugs until the bloodstream is free of toxins.

DERIVATIVES:
detoxification noun
detoxifier noun.

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detract

verb (detract from)
cause (something) to seem less valuable or impressive.

DERIVATIVES:
detraction noun.

ORIGIN: Latin detrahere 'draw away' .

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detractor

noun
a person who disparages someone or something.

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detriment

noun
harm or damage: she fasted to the detriment of her health.

DERIVATIVES:
detrimental adjective detrimentally adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin detrimentum, from deterere 'wear away' .

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detritus

noun
debris or waste material.

DERIVATIVES:
detrital adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from deterere 'wear away' .

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deuce [1]

noun
1. chiefly N. Amer. the number two on dice or playing cards.
2. Tennis the score of 40 all in a game, at which two consecutive points are needed to win the game.

ORIGIN: Old French deus, from Latin duos 'two' .

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deuce [2]

noun (the deuce) informal
used as a euphemism for ‘devil’ in exclamations or for emphasis.

ORIGIN: Low German duus, probably of the same origin as DEUCE (two aces at dice being the worst throw).

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deus ex machina

noun
an unexpected event saving a seemingly hopeless situation, especially in a narrative.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek theos ek mkhans 'god from the machinery' (referring to the actors representing gods suspended above the stage in ancient Greek theatre, who intervened in the play's outcome).

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deuterium

noun Chemistry
a stable isotope of hydrogen with a mass approximately twice that of the usual isotope.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek deuteros 'second' .

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Deutschmark (also Deutsche Mark)

noun
the basic monetary unit of Germany, equal to 100 pfennig.

ORIGIN: from German deutsche Mark 'German mark' .

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devalue

verb (devalues, devalued, devaluing)
1. reduce the worth of.
2. reduce the official value of (a currency) in relation to other currencies.

DERIVATIVES:
devaluation noun.

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devastate

verb
1. destroy or ruin.
2. overwhelm with severe shock or grief.

DERIVATIVES:
devastation noun
devastator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin devastare, from vastare 'lay waste' .

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devastating

adjective
1. highly destructive.
2. extremely distressing or shocking.
3. informal very impressive or attractive.

DERIVATIVES:
devastatingly adverb.

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develop

verb (developed, developing)
1. become or make larger or more advanced.
2. start to exist, experience, or possess.
3. convert (land) to a new purpose, especially by constructing buildings.
4. treat (a photographic film) with chemicals to make a visible image.

DERIVATIVES:
developable adjective
developer noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «unfold»: from French développer, from Latin dis- 'un-' + a second element found also in ENVELOP.

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developing country

noun
a poor agricultural country that is seeking to become more advanced economically and socially.

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development

noun
1. the action of developing or the state of being developed.
2. a new product or idea.
3. a new stage in a changing situation.
4. an area of land with new buildings on it.

DERIVATIVES:
developmental adjective
developmentally adverb.

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deviant

adjective
diverging from normal standards, especially in social or sexual behaviour.

noun
a deviant person.

DERIVATIVES:
deviance noun
deviancy noun.

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deviate

verb
diverge from an established course or from normal standards.

ORIGIN: Latin deviare 'turn out of the way' , from via 'way' .

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deviation

noun
1. the action or an act of deviating.
2. Statistics the amount by which a single measurement differs from a fixed value.

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device

noun
1. a thing made for a particular purpose, especially a mechanical or electronic contrivance.
2. a plan, scheme, or trick.
3. a drawing or design.

IDIOMS -
leave someone to their own devices leave someone to do as they wish.

ORIGIN: originally in sense «desire or intention»: from Old French devis, from Latin dividere 'to divide' .

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devil

noun
1. (the Devil) (in Christian and Jewish belief) the supreme spirit of evil.
2. an evil spirit; a demon.
3. a very wicked or cruel person.
4. a mischievously clever or self-willed person.
5. informal a person with specified characteristics: the poor devil.
6. (the devil) fighting spirit; wildness.
7. (the devil) a thing that is very difficult to deal with.
8. (the devil) expressing surprise or annoyance.

IDIOMS -
be a devil! informal said to encourage a hesitant person.
between the devil and the deep blue sea caught in a dilemma.
the devil can quote scripture for his purpose proverb people may conceal unworthy motives by reciting words that sound morally authoritative.
the devil finds work for idle hands to do proverb if someone doesn't have enough work to occupy them, they are liable to cause or get into trouble.
the devil looks after his own proverb success or good fortune often seem to come to those who least deserve it.
devil-may-care cheerful and reckless.
the devil's in the detail the details of a matter are its most problematic aspect.
the devil to pay serious trouble to be dealt with.
give the devil his due proverb if someone or something bad has any redeeming features these should be acknowledged.
like the devil with great speed or energy.
speak (or talk) of the devil said when a person appears jus t after being mentioned.

ORIGIN: Greek diabolos 'accuser, slanderer' .

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devilish

adjective
1. like a devil in evil and cruelty.
2. mischievous.
3. very difficult to deal with.

adverb informal, dated
very; extremely: a devilish clever chap.

DERIVATIVES:
devilishly adverb
devilishness noun.

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devilment

noun
reckless mischief; wild spirits.

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devilry

noun
1. wicked activity.
2. reckless mischief.

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devil's advocate

noun
a person who expresses a contentious opinion in order to provoke debate.

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devious

adjective
1. skilful in using underhand tactics.
2. (of a route or journey) deviating from the most direct course; circuitous.

DERIVATIVES:
deviously adverb
deviousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin devius 'out of the way' , from via 'way'

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devise

verb
1. plan or invent (a complex procedure or mechanism).
2. Law leave (real property) to someone in a will.

DERIVATIVES:
deviser noun.

ORIGIN: Old French deviser, from Latin dividere 'force apart, remove' .

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devoid

adjective (devoid of)
entirely lacking in.

ORIGIN: from Old French devoidier 'cast out' .

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devolution

noun
the devolving of power by central government to local or regional administration.

DERIVATIVES:
devolutionary adjective
devolutionist noun.

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devolve

verb
1. transfer (power) to a lower level, especially from central government to local or regional administration.
2. (devolve on/to) (of duties or responsibility) pass to (a deputy or successor).
3. (devolve on/to) Law (of property) pass from one owner to (another), especially by inheritance.

ORIGIN: Latin devolvere 'roll down' .

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devoré

noun
a velvet fabric with a pattern formed by burning the pile away with acid.

ORIGIN: French, 'devoured' .

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devote

verb (devote to)
give (time or resources) to.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «dedicate formally, consecrate»: from Latin devovere 'consecrate' .

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devoted

adjective
very loving or loyal.

DERIVATIVES:
devotedly adverb.

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devotee

noun
1. a person who is very enthusiastic about someone or something.
2. a follower of a particular religion or god.

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devotion

noun
1. great love or loyalty.
2. religious worship.
3. (devotions) prayers or religious observances.

DERIVATIVES:
devotional adjective.

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devour

verb
1. eat greedily.
2. (of fire or a similar force) consume destructively.
3. read quickly and eagerly.
4. (be devoured) be totally absorbed by an emotion.

DERIVATIVES:
devourer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin devorare, from vorare 'to swallow' .

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devout

adjective
1. deeply religious.
2. earnestly sincere: my devout hope.

DERIVATIVES:
devoutly adverb
devoutness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin devotus 'devoted' , from devovere 'consecrate' .

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dew

noun
1. tiny drops of water that form when atmospheric vapour condenses on cool surfaces at night.
2. beaded or glistening liquid.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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dewberry

noun (pl. dewberries)
the edible blue-black fruit of a trailing bramble, with a dewy white bloom.

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dewlap

noun
a fold of loose skin hanging from the neck or throat of an animal or bird, especially that present in many cattle.

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dewy

adjective (dewier, dewiest)
1. wet with dew.
2. (of a person's skin) appearing soft and lustrous.

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dewy-eyed

adjective
naively sentimental.

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dexterity

noun
skill in performing tasks, especially with the hands.

ORIGIN: Latin dexteritas, from dexter 'on the right' .

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dexterous (also dextrous)

adjective
showing dexterity; adroit.

DERIVATIVES:
dexterously adverb.

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DFC

abbreviation
(in the UK) Distinguished Flying Cross.

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DFE

abbreviation
Department for Education.

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DFM

abbreviation
(in the UK) Distinguished Flying Medal.

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DG

abbreviation
director general.

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dhal (also dal)

noun
(in Indian cookery) split pulses.

ORIGIN: Hindi.

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dharma

noun
(in Indian religion) the eternal law of the cosmos.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, 'decree or custom' .

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di-

combining form
twice; two-; double: dioxide.

ORIGIN: from Greek dis 'twice' .

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dia- (also di- before a vowel)

prefix
1. through; across: diameter.
2. apart: diaeresis.

ORIGIN: Greek dia 'through' .

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diabetes

noun
a disorder of the metabolism causing the production of large amounts of urine.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'siphon' .

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diabetic

adjective
having or relating to diabetes.

noun
a person with diabetes.

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diabolical

adjective
1. (also diabolic) of or like the Devil, especially in being evil or cruel.
2. informal very bad: a diabolical voice.

DERIVATIVES:
diabolically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek diabolos 'accuser, slanderer' (see DEVIL).

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diabolism

noun
worship of the Devil.

DERIVATIVES:
diabolist noun.

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diacritic

noun
a sign, such as an accent, written above or below a letter to indicate a difference in pronunciation from the same letter when unmarked.

DERIVATIVES:
diacritical adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek diakritikos, from diakrinein 'distinguish' .

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diadem

noun
a jewelled crown or headband worn as a symbol of sovereignty.

ORIGIN: Greek diadma, from diadein 'bind round' .

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diaeresis (US dieresis)

noun (pl. diaereses)
a mark (¨) placed over a vowel to indicate that it is sounded separately, as in naïve.

ORIGIN: Greek diairesis 'separation' .

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diagnose

verb
1. make a diagnosis of.
2. identify the medical condition of (someone).

DERIVATIVES:
diagnosable adjective.

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diagnosis

noun (pl. diagnoses)
the identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.

ORIGIN: Greek, from diagignskein 'distinguish, discern' .

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diagnostic

adjective
1. concerned with diagnosis.
2. (of a symptom) distinctive, and so indicating the nature of an illness: infections which are diagnostic of Aids.

noun
1. a distinctive symptom or characteristic.
2. (diagnostics) (treated as sing. or pl. ) the practice or techniques of diagnosis.

DERIVATIVES:
diagnostically adverb
diagnostician noun.

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diagonal

adjective
1. denoting a straight line joining opposite corners of a rectangle, square, or other figure.
2. (of a line) straight and at an angle; slanting.

noun
a diagonal line.

DERIVATIVES:
diagonally adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek diagnios 'from angle to angle' .

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diagram

noun
a drawing giving a schematic representation of the appearance or structure of something.

verb (diagrammed, diagramming; US diagramed, diagraming)
represent by means of a diagram.

DERIVATIVES:
diagrammatic adjective
diagrammatically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek diagramma, from diagraphein 'mark out by lines' .

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dial

noun
1. a disc marked to show the time on a clock or to indicate a reading or measurement by means of a pointer.
2. a disc with numbered holes on a telephone, turned to make a call.
3. a disc turned to select a setting on a radio, cooker, etc.
4. Brit. informal a person's face.

verb (dialled, dialling; US dialed, dialing)
call (a telephone number) by turning a dial or using a keypad.

DERIVATIVES:
dialler (also dialer) noun.

ORIGIN: Latin diale 'clock dial' , from dies 'day' .

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dialect

noun
a form of a language which is peculiar to a specific region or social group.

DERIVATIVES:
dialectal adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «dialectic»: from Greek dialektos 'discourse, way of speaking' .

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dialectic Philosophy

noun (also dialectics) (usu. treated as sing. )
1. the investigation of the truth of opinions, especially by logical discussion.
2. enquiry into metaphysical contradictions and their solutions.
3. the existence or action of opposing social forces, concepts, etc.

adjective
of or relating to dialectic or dialectics.

ORIGIN: from Greek dialektik tekhn 'art of debate' , from dialegesthai 'converse with' .

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dialectical

adjective
1. relating to the logical discussion of opinions.
2. concerned with or acting through opposing forces.

DERIVATIVES:
dialectically adverb.

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dialling code

noun Brit.
a sequence of numbers dialled to connect a telephone to an exchange in another area or country.

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dialling tone (N. Amer. dial tone)

noun
a sound produced by a telephone that indicates that a caller may start to dial.

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dialog box (Brit. also dialogue box)

noun
a small area on a computer screen in which the user is prompted to provide information or select commands.

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dialogue (US also dialog)

noun
1. conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or film.
2. discussion directed towards exploration of a subject or resolution of a problem.

verb chiefly N. Amer.
take part in dialogue.

ORIGIN: Greek dialogos, from dialegesthai 'converse with' .

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dialysis

noun (pl. dialyses)
1. Chemistry the separation of particles in a liquid on the basis of differences in their ability to pass through a membrane.
2. the clinical purification of blood by this technique, as a substitute for the normal function of the kidney.

ORIGIN: Greek dialusis, from dialuein 'split, separate' .

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diamanté

adjective
decorated with artificial jewels.

noun
fabric or costume jewellery decorated with artificial jewels.

ORIGIN: French, 'set with diamonds' .

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diameter

noun
a straight line passing from side to side through the centre of a circle or sphere.

ORIGIN: from Greek diametros gramm 'line measuring across' .

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diametrical

adjective
1. (of opposites) complete; absolute.
2. of or along a diameter.

DERIVATIVES:
diametric adjective
diametrically adverb.

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diamond

noun
1. a precious stone consisting of a clear and colourless crystalline form of pure carbon, the hardest naturally occurring substance.
2. a figure with four straight sides of equal length forming two opposite acute angles and two opposite obtuse angles; a rhombus.
3. (diamonds) one of the four suits in a conventional pack of playing cards, denoted by a red diamond shape.

DERIVATIVES:
diamondiferous adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French diamant, from Latin adamans 'invincible' ; related to ADAMANT.

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diamond jubilee

noun
the sixtieth anniversary of a notable event.

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diamond wedding

noun
the sixtieth anniversary of a wedding.

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diamorphine

noun technical
heroin.

ORIGIN: short for diacetylmorphine in the same sense.

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diapason

noun
1. an organ stop sounding a main register of flue pipes.
2. a grand swelling burst of harmony.

ORIGIN: from Greek dia pasn khordn 'through all notes' .

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diaper

noun
1. N. Amer. a baby's nappy.
2. a fabric woven in a pattern of small diamonds.
3. a repeating geometrical pattern.

verb
1. N. Amer. put a nappy on (a baby).
2. decorate with a repeating geometrical pattern.

ORIGIN: from Greek diaspros, from dia 'across' + aspros 'white' .

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diaphanous

adjective
light, delicate, and translucent.

ORIGIN: Greek diaphans, from dia 'through' + phainein 'to show' .

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diaphragm

noun
1. a dome-shaped muscular partition separating the thorax from the abdomen in mammals.
2. a taut flexible membrane in mechanical or acoustic systems.
3. a thin contraceptive cap fitting over the cervix.
4. a device for varying the effective aperture of the lens in a camera or other optical system.

DERIVATIVES:
diaphragmatic adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin diaphragma, from Greek dia 'through, apart' + phragma 'a fence' .

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diarist

noun
a person who writes a diary.

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diarrhoea (US diarrhea)

noun
a condition in which faeces are discharged from the bowels frequently and in a liquid form.

DERIVATIVES:
diarrhoeal adjective
diarrhoeic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek diarrhoia, from diarrhein «flow through».

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diary

noun (pl. diaries)
1. a book in which one keeps a daily record of events and experiences.
2. a book marked with each day's date, in which to note appointments.

ORIGIN: Latin diarium, from dies 'day' .

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diaspora

noun
1. (the diaspora) the dispersion of the Jews beyond Israel, chiefly in the 8th to 6th centuries BC.
2. the dispersion of any people from their traditional homeland.

ORIGIN: Greek, from diaspeirein 'disperse' .

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diastole

noun
the phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle relaxes and the chambers fill with blood. Often contrasted with SYSTOLE.

DERIVATIVES:
diastolic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'separation, expansion' .

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diatom

noun Biology
a single-celled alga which has a cell wall of silica.

DERIVATIVES:
diatomaceous adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek diatomos 'cut in two' .

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diatomic

adjective Chemistry
consisting of two atoms.

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diatonic

adjective Music
involving only the notes of the major or minor scale, without chromatic alteration.

ORIGIN: Greek diatonikos 'at intervals of a tone' .

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diatribe

noun
a harsh and forceful verbal attack.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'spending of time, discourse' .

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dibble

noun
a pointed hand tool for making holes in the ground for seeds or young plants.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain.

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dice

noun (pl. same; sing. also die)
a small cube with faces bearing from one to six spots, used in games of chance. See also DIE.

verb
cut (food) into small cubes.

IDIOMS -
dice with death take serious risks.
no dice informal, chiefly N. Amer. used to indicate an unsuccessful attempt or request.

USAGE - Historically, dice is the plural of die, but in modern standard English dice is used as both the singular and the plural.
ORIGIN: Old French des, plural of de, from Latin datum 'something given or played' .

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dicey

adjective (dicier, diciest) informal
difficult or potentially dangerous.

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dichotomy

noun (pl. dichotomies)
a separation or contrast between two things.

DERIVATIVES:
dichotomous adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek dikhotomia 'a cutting in two' .

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dick

noun vulgar slang
1. a penis.
2. Brit. a stupid or contemptible person.

ORIGIN: familiar form of the given name Richard.

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dickens

noun informal
used to express annoyance or surprise when asking questions: what the dickens is going on?

ORIGIN: a euphemism for «devil».

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Dickensian

adjective
reminiscent of the novels of Charles Dickens (1812 1870), especially in terms of the urban poverty that they portray.

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dicker

verb
1. engage in petty argument or bargaining.
2. toy or fiddle with something.

ORIGIN: perhaps from obsolete dicker «set of ten hides», used as a unit of trade, from Latin decem 'ten' .

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dickhead

noun vulgar slang
a stupid, irritating, or ridiculous man.

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dicky

adjective (dickier, dickiest) Brit. informal
not strong, healthy, or functioning reliably.

ORIGIN: perhaps from the given name Dick, in the old saying as queer as Dick's hatband.

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dicotyledon

noun
a plant with an embryo bearing two cotyledons (seed leaves).

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dictate

verb
1. state or order authoritatively.
2. say or read aloud (words to be typed or written down).
3. control or determine.

noun
an order or principle that must be obeyed.

DERIVATIVES:
dictation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin dictare.

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dictator

noun
a ruler with total power over a country.

DERIVATIVES:
dictatorial adjective.

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dictatorship

noun
1. government by a dictator.
2. a country governed by a dictator.

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diction

noun
1. the choice and use of words in speech or writing.
2. the style of enunciation in speaking or singing.

ORIGIN: Latin, from dicere 'to say' .

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dictionary

noun (pl. dictionaries)
a book that lists the words of a language and gives their meaning, or their equivalent in a different language.

ORIGIN: from Latin dictionarium manuale or dictionarius liber 'manual or book of words' .

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dictum

noun (pl. dicta or dictums)
1. a formal pronouncement from an authoritative source.
2. a short statement that expresses a general principle.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'something said' .

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didactic

adjective
intended to teach or give moral instruction.

DERIVATIVES:
didactically adverb
didacticism noun.

ORIGIN: Greek didaktikos, from didaskein 'teach' .

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diddle

verb informal
cheat or swindle.

ORIGIN: probably from Jeremy Diddler, a character in the farce Raising the Wind (1803) who constantly borrowed small sums of money.

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didgeridoo

noun
an Australian Aboriginal wind instrument in the form of a long wooden tube, blown to produce a deep resonant sound.

ORIGIN: from an Aboriginal language.

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didn't

contraction
did not.

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die [1]

verb (dying)
1. stop living.
2. (die out) become extinct.
3. (often die away/down) become less loud or strong.
4. (be dying for/to do) informal be very eager for.

IDIOMS -
die hard disappear or change very slowly.
never say die do not give up hope.
to die for informal extremely good or desirable.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, related to DEAD.

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die [2]

noun
1. singular form of DICE.
2. (pl. dies) a device for cutting or moulding metal or for stamping a design onto coins or medals.

IDIOMS -
the die is cast an event has happened that cannot be changed.
(as) straight as a die
1. completely straight.
2. entirely open and honest.

USAGE - In modern English the singular die (rather than dice) for sense 1 is now uncommon. Dice is widely used for both the singular and the plural.
ORIGIN: Old French de, from Latin datum 'something given or played' .

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die-cast

adjective
(of a metal object) formed by pouring molten metal into a mould.

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diehard

noun
a person who supports something uncompromisingly.

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dielectric Physics

adjective
non-conducting of electricity; insulating.

noun
an insulator.

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dieresis (Brit. diaeresis)

noun (pl. diereses)
a mark (¨) placed over a vowel to indicate that it is sounded separately, as in naïve.

ORIGIN: Greek diairesis 'separation' .

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diesel

noun
1. an internal-combustion engine in which the heat of compressed air is used to ignite the fuel.
2. a form of petroleum used to fuel diesel engines.

ORIGIN: named after the German engineer Rudolf Diesel (1858 1913).

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diet [1]

noun
1. the kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats.
2. a restricted regime of eating, followed in order to lose weight or for medical reasons.
3. (before another noun ) (of food or drink) with reduced fat or sugar content.

verb (dieted, dieting)
restrict oneself to a special diet to lose weight.

DERIVATIVES:
dietary adjective
dieter noun.

ORIGIN: Greek diaita 'a way of life' .

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diet [2]

noun
1. a legislative assembly in certain countries.
2. historical a regular meeting of the states of a confederation.

ORIGIN: Latin dieta 'day's work' , also 'meeting of councillors' .

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dietetics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the branch of knowledge concerned with the diet and its effects on health.

DERIVATIVES:
dietetic adjective.

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dietitian (also dietician)

noun
an expert on diet and nutrition.

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differ

verb
1. be unlike or dissimilar.
2. disagree.

IDIOMS -
agree to differ amicably stop arguing because agreement will not be reached.
beg to differ politely disagree.

ORIGIN: Latin differre, from ferre 'bring, carry' .

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difference

noun
1. a way in which people or things are dissimilar.
2. the state or condition of being dissimilar.
3. a disagreement, quarrel, or dispute.
4. the remainder left after subtraction of one value from another.

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different

adjective
1. not the same as another or each other.
2. distinct; separate.
3. informal novel and unusual.

DERIVATIVES:
differently adverb
differentness noun.
USAGE - There is little difference in sense between different from, different to, and different than. Different from is generally regarded as the correct use in British English, while different than is largely restricted to North America.

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differential

adjective chiefly technical
constituting or depending on a difference; differing or varying according to circumstances or relevant factors.

noun
1. Brit. a difference in wages between industries or between categories of employees in the same industry.
2. Mathematics an infinitesimal difference between successive values of a variable.
3. a gear allowing a vehicle's driven wheels to revolve at different speeds in cornering.
4. chiefly technical a difference.

DERIVATIVES:
differentially adverb.

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differential calculus

noun Mathematics
the part of calculus concerned with the derivatives of functions.

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differential equation

noun
an equation involving derivatives of a function or functions.

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differentiate

verb
1. recognize or identify as different; distinguish.
2. cause to appear different or distinct.
3. Mathematics transform (a function) into its derivative.

DERIVATIVES:
differentiation noun
differentiator noun.

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difficult

adjective
1. needing much effort or skill to accomplish, deal with, or understand.
2. not easy to please or satisfy; awkward.

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difficulty

noun (pl. difficulties)
1. the state or condition of being difficult.
2. a difficult or dangerous situation or circumstance.

ORIGIN: Latin difficultas, from facultas 'ability, opportunity' .

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diffident

adjective
lacking in self-confidence.

DERIVATIVES:
diffidence noun
diffidently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from diffidere 'fail to trust' .

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diffraction

noun Physics
the process by which a beam of light or other system of waves is spread out as a result of passing through a narrow aperture or across an edge.

DERIVATIVES:
diffract verb
diffractive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from diffringere 'break into pieces' .

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diffuse

verb
1. spread over a wide area.
2. Physics (of a gas or liquid) travel or spread by diffusion.

adjective
1. spread out over a large area; not concentrated.
2. lacking clarity or conciseness.

DERIVATIVES:
diffusely adverb
diffuser (also diffusor) noun.
USAGE - Do not confuse with defuse.
ORIGIN: Latin diffundere 'pour out' .

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diffusion

noun
1. the action or process of becoming spread over a wide area.
2. Physics the intermingling of substances by the natural movement of their particles.

DERIVATIVES:
diffusive adjective.

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dig

verb (digging; past and past part. dug)
1. break up and turn over or move earth.
2. make (a hole) by digging.
3. (often dig up) extract from the ground by digging.
4. poke or jab sharply.
5. (dig into/through) search or rummage in.
6. (dig out/up) discover (facts).
7. (dig in) begin eating heartily.
8. informal, dated like; appreciate.

noun
1. an act of digging.
2. an archaeological excavation.
3. a sharp push or poke.
4. informal a mocking or critical remark.
5. (digs) informal, chiefly Brit. lodgings.

IDIOMS -
dig in one's heels stubbornly refuse to compromise.

ORIGIN: perhaps from an Old English word meaning 'ditch' .

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digest

verb
1. break down (food) in the stomach and intestines into substances that can be absorbed by the body.
2. Chemistry treat (a substance) with heat, enzymes, or a solvent to break it down.
3. reflect on and assimilate (information).

noun
1. a compilation or summary of material or information.
2. Chemistry a substance or mixture obtained by digestion.

DERIVATIVES:
digestible adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin digerere 'distribute, dissolve, digest' .

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digestion

noun
1. the process of digesting.
2. a person's capacity to digest food.

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digestive

adjective
relating to the process of digesting food.

noun
1. a food or medicine that aids the digestion of food.
2. Brit. a round semi-sweet biscuit made with wholemeal flour.

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digger

noun
1. a person, animal, or large machine that digs earth.
2. Austral./NZ informal a friendly form of address for a man.

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digit

noun
1. any of the numerals from 0 to 9, especially when forming part of a number.
2. a finger or thumb.

ORIGIN: Latin digitus 'finger, toe' ; sense 1 arose from the practice of counting on the fingers.

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digital

adjective
1. of or relating to information represented as digits using particular values of a physical quantity such as voltage or magnetic polarization.
2. (of a clock or watch) showing the time by means of displayed digits.
3. of or relating to a finger or fingers.

DERIVATIVES:
digitally adverb.

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digital audiotape

noun
magnetic tape used to make digital recordings.

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digitalis

noun
a drug prepared from foxglove leaves, containing substances that stimulate the heart muscle.

ORIGIN: from the Latin genus name of the foxglove, from digitalis herba 'plant relating to the finger' (with reference to the shape of the flowers).

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digitize (also digitise)

verb
convert (pictures or sound) into a digital form that can be processed by a computer.

DERIVATIVES:
digitization noun
digitizer noun.

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dignified

adjective
having or showing dignity.

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dignify

verb (dignifies, dignified)
cause to be or appear impressive or worthy of respect.

ORIGIN: Latin dignificare, from dignus 'worthy' .

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dignitary

noun (pl. dignitaries)
a person holding high rank or office.

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dignity

noun (pl. dignities)
1. the state or quality of being worthy of respect.
2. a composed or serious manner.
3. a sense of pride in oneself.

IDIOMS -
stand on one's dignity insist on being treated with respect.

ORIGIN: Latin dignitas, from dignus 'worthy' .

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digraph

noun
a combination of two letters representing one sound, as in ph.

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digress

verb
leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing.

DERIVATIVES:
digression noun
digressive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin digredi 'step away' .

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dihedral

adjective
having or contained by two plane faces.

noun
1. an angle formed by two plane faces.
2. Aeronautics upward inclination of an aircraft's wing.

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diktat

noun
a decree imposed by someone in power without popular consent.

ORIGIN: German.

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dilapidated

adjective
in a state of disrepair or ruin.

DERIVATIVES:
dilapidation noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin dilapidare 'demolish' (literally 'scatter as if throwing stones' ).

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dilate

verb
1. make or become wider, larger, or more open.
2. (dilate on) speak or write at length on.

DERIVATIVES:
dilation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin dilatare 'spread out' .

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dilatory

adjective
1. slow to act.
2. intended to cause delay.

DERIVATIVES:
dilatoriness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin dilatorius, from dilator 'delayer' .

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dildo

noun (pl. dildos or dildoes)
an object shaped like an erect penis, used for sexual stimulation.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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dilemma

noun
1. a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two alternatives, especially when a decision either way will bring undesirable consequences.
2. informal a difficult situation or problem.

ORIGIN: Greek, from di- 'twice' + lmma 'premise' .

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dilettante

noun (pl. dilettanti or dilettantes)
a person who dabbles in a subject for enjoyment but without serious study.

DERIVATIVES:
dilettantish adjective
dilettantism noun.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'person loving the arts' .

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diligence

noun
care and conscientiousness in one's work.

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diligent

adjective
careful and conscientious in a task or duties.

DERIVATIVES:
diligently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin diligere 'love, take delight in' .

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dill

noun
an aromatic herb with yellow flowers, used in cookery or for medicinal purposes.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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dilly-dally

verb (dilly-dallies, dilly-dallied) informal
dawdle or vacillate.

ORIGIN: reduplication of DALLY.

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dilute

verb
1. make (a liquid) thinner or weaker by adding water or another solvent.
2. weaken by modifying or adding other elements.

adjective
1. (of a liquid) diluted.
2. Chemistry (of a solution) having a relatively low concentration of solute.

DERIVATIVES:
diluter noun
dilution noun
dilutive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin diluere 'wash away, dissolve' .

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dim

adjective (dimmer, dimmest)
1. (of a light or illuminated object) not shining brightly or clearly.
2. made difficult to see by darkness, shade, or distance.
3. (of the eyes) not able to see clearly.
4. not clearly remembered.
5. informal stupid or slow to understand.

verb (dimmed, dimming)
make or become dim.

IDIOMS -
take a dim view of regard with disapproval.

DERIVATIVES:
dimly adverb
dimness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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dime

noun N. Amer.
a ten-cent coin.

IDIOMS -
a dime a dozen informal very common and of little value.

ORIGIN: Old French disme, from Latin decima pars 'tenth part' .

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dimension

noun
1. a measurable extent, such as length, breadth, or height.
2. an aspect or feature.

DERIVATIVES:
dimensional adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from dimetiri 'measure out' .

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diminish

verb
make or become less.

IDIOMS -
(the law of) diminishing returns the principle that as expenditure or investment increases each further increase produces a proportionately smaller return.

ORIGIN: Latin deminuere 'lessen' .

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diminuendo

adverb & adjective Music
with a decrease in loudness.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'diminishing' .

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diminution

noun
a reduction.

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diminutive

adjective
1. extremely or unusually small.
2. (of a word, name, or suffix) implying smallness (e.g. -let in booklet).

noun
a shortened form of a name, typically used informally.

DERIVATIVES:
diminutively adverb
diminutiveness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin diminutivus, from deminuere 'lessen' .

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dimmer

noun (also dimmer switch)
a device for varying the brightness of an electric light.

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dimple

noun
1. a small depression formed in the fleshy part of the cheeks when one smiles.
2. any small depression in a surface.

verb
produce a dimple or dimples in the surface of.

DERIVATIVES:
dimply adjective.

ORIGIN: Germanic.

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dimwit

noun informal
a stupid or silly person.

DERIVATIVES:
dim-witted adjective.

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DIN

noun
any of a series of international technical standards, used especially to designate electrical connections and film speeds.

ORIGIN: acronym from German Deutsche Industrie-Norm 'German Industrial Standard' .

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din

noun
a prolonged loud and unpleasant noise.

verb (dinned, dinning) (din into)
instil (information) into by constant repetition.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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dinar

noun
1. the basic monetary unit of the states of Yugoslavia.
2. the basic monetary unit of certain countries of the Middle East and North Africa.

ORIGIN: Turkish and Serbo-Croat, from Latin denarius 'containing ten' .

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dine

verb
1. eat dinner.
2. (dine out on) regularly entertain friends with (a particular anecdote).

ORIGIN: Old French disner, probably from desjëuner 'to break fast' .

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diner

noun
1. a person who dines.
2. a dining car on a train.
3. N. Amer. a small roadside restaurant.

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dinette

noun
a small room or part of a room used for eating meals.

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ding-dong

noun Brit.
1. the sound of a bell ringing with simple alternate chimes.
2. informal a fierce argument or fight.

adjective
(of a contest) evenly matched and intensely fought.

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dinghy

noun (pl. dinghies)
1. a small open boat with a mast and sails, for recreation or racing.
2. a small inflatable rubber boat.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a rowing boat in India: from Hindi.

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dingle

noun literary or dialect
a deep wooded valley.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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dingo

noun (pl. dingoes or dingos)
a wild or semi-domesticated Australian dog with a sandy-coloured coat.

ORIGIN: from an Aboriginal language.

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dingy

adjective (dingier, dingiest)
gloomy and drab.

DERIVATIVES:
dingily adverb
dinginess noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from an Old English word meaning 'dung' .

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dining car

noun
a railway carriage equipped as a restaurant.

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dinkum

adjective Austral./NZ informal
genuine.

IDIOMS -
fair dinkum used to emphasize that or query whether something is genuine or true.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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dinky

adjective (dinkier, dinkiest) Brit. informal
attractively small and neat.

ORIGIN: from Scots and northern English dialect dink «neat, trim».

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dinner

noun
1. the main meal of the day, taken either around midday or in the evening.
2. a formal evening meal.

ORIGIN: Old French disner 'to dine' (used as a noun).

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dinner jacket

noun
a man's short jacket without tails, worn with a bow tie for formal evening occasions.

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dinosaur

noun
1. an extinct reptile of the Mesozoic era, of which there were many kinds including large bipedal and quadrupedal forms.
2. a thing that is outdated or has become obsolete.

ORIGIN: from Greek deinos 'terrible' + sauros 'lizard' .

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dint

noun
an impression or hollow in a surface; a dent.

IDIOMS -
by dint of by means of.

ORIGIN: Old English, «a blow with a weapon».

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diocese

noun (pl. dioceses)
a district under the pastoral care of a bishop in the Christian Church.

DERIVATIVES:
diocesan adjective .

ORIGIN: Latin dioecesis 'governor's jurisdiction, diocese' , from Greek dioikein 'keep house, administer' .

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diode

noun Electronics
1. a semiconductor device with two terminals, typically allowing the flow of current in one direction only.
2. a thermionic valve with two electrodes.

ORIGIN: from DI- + a shortened form of ELECTRODE.

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dioptric

adjective
of or relating to the refraction of light.

DERIVATIVES:
dioptrics plural noun.

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diorama

noun
1. a model representing a scene with three-dimensional figures against a painted background.
2. chiefly historical a scenic painting, viewed through a peephole, in which changes in colour and direction of illumination simulate changes in the weather and time of day.

ORIGIN: French, from DIA-, on the pattern of panorama.

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dioxide

noun Chemistry
an oxide containing two atoms of oxygen in its molecule or empirical formula.

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dioxin

noun
a highly toxic organic compound produced as a by-product in some manufacturing processes.

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dip

verb (dipped, dipping)
1. (dip in/into) put or lower briefly in or into.
2. sink, drop, or slope downwards.
3. (of a level or amount) temporarily become lower or smaller.
4. lower or move downwards.
5. Brit. lower the beam of (a vehicle's headlights).
6. (dip into) put a hand or implement into (a bag or container) to take something out.
7. (dip into) spend from (one's financial resources).
8. (dip out) Austral./NZ informal fail.

noun
1. an act of dipping.
2. a thick sauce in which pieces of food are dipped before eating.
3. a brief swim.
4. a brief downward slope followed by an upward one.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to DEEP.

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diphtheria

noun
a serious bacterial disease causing inflammation of the mucous membranes, especially in the throat.

ORIGIN: Greek diphthera 'skin, hide' (referring to the false membrane that forms in the throat).

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diphthong

noun
a sound formed by the combination of two vowels in a single syllable (as in coin).

ORIGIN: Greek diphthongos, from di- 'twice' + phthongos 'sound' .

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diploid

adjective Genetics
(of a cell or nucleus) containing two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent. Compare with HAPLOID.

ORIGIN: from Greek diplous 'double' .

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diploma

noun
a certificate awarded by an educational establishment for passing an examination or completing a course of study.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «state paper»: from Greek, 'folded paper' , from diplous 'double' .

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diplomacy

noun
1. the profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations.
2. skill and tact in dealing with people.

ORIGIN: French diplomatie, from Greek diplma (see DIPLOMA).

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diplomat

noun
an official representing a country abroad.

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diplomatic

adjective
1. concerning diplomacy.
2. tactful.

DERIVATIVES:
diplomatically adverb.

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diplomatic immunity

noun
the exemption from certain laws granted to diplomats by the state in which they are working.

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dipole

noun
1. Physics a pair of equal and oppositely charged or magnetized poles separated by a distance.
2. an aerial consisting of a horizontal metal rod with a connecting wire at its centre.

DERIVATIVES:
dipolar adjective.

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dipper

noun
1. a short-tailed songbird able to dive into fast-flowing streams to feed.
2. a ladle.

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dippy

adjective (dippier, dippiest) informal
foolish or eccentric.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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dipsomania

noun
alcoholism.

DERIVATIVES:
dipsomaniac noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek dipsa 'thirst' .

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dipstick

noun
1. a graduated rod for measuring the depth of a liquid, especially oil in an engine.
2. informal a stupid or inept person.

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diptych

noun
a painting on two hinged wooden panels, typically forming an altarpiece.

ORIGIN: Greek diptukha 'pair of writing tablets' , from diptukhos 'folded in two' .

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dire

adjective
1. extremely serious or urgent.
2. informal of a very poor quality.

DERIVATIVES:
direly adverb
direness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin dirus 'fearful, threatening' .

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direct

adjective
1. going from one place to another without changing direction or stopping.
2. without intervening factors or intermediaries.
3. straightforward; frank.
4. clear; unambiguous.
5. (of descent) proceeding in continuous succession from parent to child.

adverb
in a direct way or by a direct route.

verb
1. control the operations of.
2. aim (something) in a particular direction.
3. tell or show (someone) the way.
4. supervise and control (a film, play, or other production).
5. give an order to.

DERIVATIVES:
directness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin directus, from dirigere, from regere 'put straight' .

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direct action

noun
the use of public forms of protest rather than negotiation to achieve one's aims.

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direct current

noun
an electric current flowing in one direction only. Compare with ALTERNATING CURRENT.

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direct debit

noun Brit.
an arrangement made with a bank that allows a third party to transfer money from a person's account.

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direction

noun
1. a course along which someone or something moves, or which leads to a destination.
2. a point to or from which a person or thing moves or faces.
3. the action of directing or managing people.
4. (directions) instructions on how to reach a destination or how to do something.

DERIVATIVES:
directional adjective
directionless adjective.

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directive

noun
an official or authoritative instruction.

adjective
involving the direction of operations.

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directly

adverb
1. in a direct manner.
2. exactly in a specified position.
3. immediately.

conjunction Brit.
as soon as.

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direct mail

noun
unsolicited commercial literature mailed to prospective customers.

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direct object

noun
a noun phrase denoting a person or thing that is the recipient of the action of a transitive verb (e.g. the dog in Jeremy fed the dog).

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director

noun
1. a person who is in charge of a department, organization, or activity.
2. a member of the managing board of a business.
3. a person who directs a film, play, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
directorial adjective
directorship noun.

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directorate

noun
1. the board of directors of a company.
2. a section of a government department in charge of a particular activity.

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director-general

noun (pl. directors-general) chiefly Brit.
the chief executive of a large organization.

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directory

noun (pl. directories)
a book listing individuals or organizations with details such as addresses and telephone numbers.

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direct speech

noun
the reporting of speech by repeating the actual words of a speaker, for example ‘I'm going’, she said. Contrasted with REPORTED SPEECH.

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direct tax

noun
a tax, such as income tax, which is levied on the income or profits of the person who pays it.

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dirge

noun
1. a lament for the dead, especially one forming part of a funeral rite.
2. a mournful song, piece of music, or sound.

ORIGIN: from Latin dirige! 'direct!' , the first word of a psalm used in the Latin Office for the Dead.

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dirigible

noun
an airship.

ORIGIN: from Latin dirigere 'to direct' .

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dirk

noun
a short dagger of a kind formerly carried by Scottish Highlanders.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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dirndl

noun
1. (also dirndl skirt) a full, wide skirt gathered into a tight waistband.
2. a woman's dress with a dirndl skirt and a close-fitting bodice.

ORIGIN: German dialect, 'little girl' .

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dirt

noun
1. a substance that causes uncleanliness.
2. loose soil or earth.
3. informal excrement.
4. informal scandalous or sordid information or material.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'excrement' .

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dirt cheap

adjective & adverb
extremely cheap.

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dirt track

noun
a racing track made of earth or rolled cinders.

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dirty

adjective (dirtier, dirtiest)
1. covered or marked with dirt; not clean.
2. lewd; obscene.
3. dishonest; dishonourable.
4. (of weather) rough and unpleasant.

adverb Brit. informal
used for emphasis: a dirty great slab of stone.

verb (dirties, dirtied)
make dirty.

IDIOMS -
do the dirty on Brit. informal cheat or betray.
get one's hands dirty (or dirty one's hands) do manual, menial, or other hard work.
play dirty informal act in a dishonest or unfair way.

DERIVATIVES:
dirtily adverb
dirtiness noun.

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dirty look

noun informal
a look expressing disapproval, disgust, or anger.

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dirty weekend

noun Brit. informal
a weekend spent away, especially in secret, with a lover.

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dirty word

noun
1. an offensive or indecent word.
2. a reference to something regarded with dislike or disapproval.

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dirty work

noun
unpleasant or dishonest activities that are delegated to someone else.

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dis-

prefix
1. expressing negation: disadvantage.
2. denoting reversal or absence of an action or state: discharge.
3. denoting removal, separation, or expulsion: disbar.
4. expressing completeness or intensification of an action: disgruntled.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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disability

noun (pl. disabilities)
1. a physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities.
2. a disadvantage or handicap.

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disable

verb
1. (of a disease, injury, or accident) limit (someone) in their movements, senses, or activities.
2. put out of action.

DERIVATIVES:
disablement noun.

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disabled

adjective
having a physical or mental disability.
USAGE - Disabled is the standard term for people with physical or mental disabilities, and should be used rather than outmoded, now sometimes offensive, terms such as crippled.

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disabuse

verb
persuade (someone) that an idea or belief is mistaken.

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disadvantage

noun
an unfavourable circumstance or condition.

verb
1. put in an unfavourable position.
2. (disadvantaged) in socially or economically deprived circumstances.

DERIVATIVES:
disadvantageous adjective.

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disaffected

adjective
discontented through having lost one's feelings of loyalty or commitment.

DERIVATIVES:
disaffection noun.

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disagree

verb (disagrees, disagreed, disagreeing)
1. have a different opinion.
2. be inconsistent.
3. (disagree with) make slightly unwell.

DERIVATIVES:
disagreement noun.

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disagreeable

adjective
1. unpleasant.
2. unfriendly and bad-tempered.

DERIVATIVES:
disagreeably adverb.

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disallow

verb
declare invalid.

DERIVATIVES:
disallowance noun.

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disappear

verb
1. cease to be visible.
2. cease to exist or be in use.
3. (of a person) go missing or be killed.

DERIVATIVES:
disappearance noun.

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disappoint

verb
1. fail to fulfil the hopes or expectations of.
2. prevent (hopes or expectations) from being realized.

DERIVATIVES:
disappointing adjective
disappointment noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «deprive of a position»; from Old French desappointer.

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disappointed

adjective
sad or displeased because one's hopes or expectations have not been fulfilled.

DERIVATIVES:
disappointedly adverb.

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disapprobation

noun
strong disapproval.

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disapprove

verb
have or express an unfavourable opinion.

DERIVATIVES:
disapproval noun
disapproving adjective.

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disarm

verb
1. take a weapon or weapons away from.
2. (of a country or force) give up or reduce its armed forces or weapons.
3. remove the fuse from (a bomb).
4. allay the hostility or suspicions of; win over.

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disarmament

noun
the reduction or withdrawal of military forces and weapons.

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disarming

adjective
1. allaying suspicion or hostility.
2. captivating; charming.

DERIVATIVES:
disarmingly adverb.

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disarrange

verb
make untidy or disordered.

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disarray

noun
a state of disorganization or untidiness.

verb
throw into a state of disarray.

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disaster

noun
1. a sudden accident or a natural catastrophe that causes great damage or loss of life.
2. an event or fact leading to ruin or failure.

ORIGIN: Italian disastro 'ill-starred event' , from Latin astrum 'star' .

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disastrous

adjective
1. causing great damage.
2. informal highly unsuccessful.

DERIVATIVES:
disastrously adverb.

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disavow

verb
deny any responsibility or support for.

DERIVATIVES:
disavowal noun.

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disband

verb
(with reference to an organized group) break up or cause to break up.

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disbar

verb (disbarred, disbarring)
1. expel (a barrister) from the Bar.
2. exclude.

DERIVATIVES:
disbarment noun.

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disbelief

noun
1. inability or refusal to accept that something is true or real.
2. lack of faith.

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disbelieve

verb
1. be unable to believe.
2. have no religious faith.

DERIVATIVES:
disbeliever noun.

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disburse

verb
pay out (money from a fund).

DERIVATIVES:
disbursal noun
disbursement noun.

ORIGIN: Old French desbourser, from bourse 'purse' .

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disc (US also disk)

noun
1. a flat, thin, round object.
2. (disk) an information storage device for a computer, on which data is stored either magnetically or optically.
3. a layer of cartilage separating vertebrae in the spine.
4. dated a gramophone record.

ORIGIN: Greek diskos 'discus' .

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discard

verb
get rid of as no longer useful or desirable.

noun
a discarded item.

DERIVATIVES:
discardable adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «reject (a playing card)»; from DIS- + CARD.

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discern

verb
1. recognize or find out.
2. distinguish with difficulty by sight or with the other senses.

DERIVATIVES:
discernible adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin discernere, from cernere 'to separate' .

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discerning

adjective
having or showing good judgement.

DERIVATIVES:
discernment noun.

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discharge

verb
1. dismiss or allow to leave.
2. emit or send out (a liquid, gas, or other substance).
3. fire (a gun or missile).
4. do all that is required to fulfil (a responsibility).
5. release from a contract or obligation.
6. Physics release or neutralize the electric charge of).

noun
1. the action of discharging.
2. a substance that has been discharged.
3. a flow of electricity through the air or other gas.

DERIVATIVES:
discharger noun.

ORIGIN: Old French descharger, from Latin discarricare 'unload' .

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disciple

noun
1. a personal follower of Christ during his life, especially one of the twelve Apostles.
2. a follower or pupil of a teacher, leader, or philosophy.

DERIVATIVES:
discipleship noun.

ORIGIN: Latin discipulus 'learner' , from discere 'learn' .

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disciplinarian

noun
a person who enforces firm discipline.

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discipline

noun
1. the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour.
2. controlled behaviour resulting from such training.
3. a branch of knowledge, especially one studied in higher education.

verb
1. train in obedience or self-control by punishment or imposing rules.
2. punish or rebuke formally for an offence.
3. (disciplined) behaving in a controlled way.

DERIVATIVES:
disciplinary adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin disciplina 'instruction, knowledge' .

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disc jockey

noun
a person who introduces and plays recorded popular music on radio or at a disco.

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disclaim

verb
1. refuse to acknowledge.
2. Law renounce a legal claim to (a property or title).

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disclaimer

noun
a statement disclaiming something, especially responsibility.

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disclose

verb
1. make (secret or new information) known.
2. expose to view.

DERIVATIVES:
discloser noun.

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disclosure

noun
1. the action of disclosing information.
2. a fact, especially a secret, that is disclosed.

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disco

noun (pl. discos) informal
1. a club or party at which people dance to pop music.
2. (also disco music) soul-influenced, melodic pop music with a regular bass beat.

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discolour (US discolor)

verb
become or cause to become stained, yellowed, or otherwise changed in colour.

DERIVATIVES:
discoloration (also discolouration) noun.

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discomfit

verb (discomfited, discomfiting)
make uneasy or embarrassed.

DERIVATIVES:
discomfiture noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «defeat in battle»: from Old French desconfire, from Latin conficere 'put together' .

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discomfort

noun
1. slight pain.
2. slight anxiety or embarrassment.

verb
cause discomfort to.

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discompose

verb
disturb or agitate.

DERIVATIVES:
discomposure noun.

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disconcert

verb
disturb the composure of.

DERIVATIVES:
disconcerted adjective
disconcerting adjective.

ORIGIN: obsolete French desconcerter, from concerter 'bring together' .

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disconnect

verb
1. break the connection of or between.
2. detach (an electrical device) from a power supply.

DERIVATIVES:
disconnection noun.

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disconnected

adjective
(of speech, writing, or thought) lacking a logical sequence.

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disconsolate

adjective
unable to be comforted or consoled; very unhappy.

DERIVATIVES:
disconsolately adverb.

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discontent

noun
lack of contentment or satisfaction.

DERIVATIVES:
discontented adjective
discontentment noun.

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discontinue

verb (discontinues, discontinued, discontinuing)
stop doing, providing, or making.

DERIVATIVES:
discontinuation noun.

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discontinuous

adjective
having intervals or gaps; not continuous.

DERIVATIVES:
discontinuity noun.

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discord

noun
1. lack of agreement or harmony.
2. Music lack of harmony between notes sounding together.
3. Music a chord regarded as displeasing or requiring resolution by another.

DERIVATIVES:
discordance noun
discordancy noun
discordant adjective
discordantly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin discors 'discordant' , from cor 'heart' .

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discount

noun
a deduction from the usual cost of something.

verb
1. deduct a discount from (the usual price of something).
2. disregard as lacking credibility or significance.
3. Finance buy or sell (a bill of exchange) before its due date at a discount.

DERIVATIVES:
discounter noun.

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discourage

verb
1. cause a loss of confidence or enthusiasm in.
2. prevent or try to prevent by showing disapproval or creating difficulties.
3. (discourage from) persuade (someone) against (an action).

DERIVATIVES:
discouragement noun
discouraging adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French descouragier, from corage 'courage' .

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discourse

noun
1. written or spoken communication or debate.
2. a formal discussion of a topic in speech or writing.

verb
1. speak or write authoritatively about a topic.
2. engage in conversation.

ORIGIN: Latin discursus 'running to and fro' , from discurrere 'run away' .

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discourteous

adjective
rude and lacking consideration for others.

DERIVATIVES:
discourteously adverb
discourteousness noun.

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discourtesy

noun (pl. discourtesies)
1. rude and inconsiderate behaviour.
2. an impolite act or remark.

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discover

verb
1. find unexpectedly or in the course of a search.
2. become aware of (a fact or situation).
3. be the first to find or observe (a place, substance, or scientific phenomenon).

DERIVATIVES:
discoverable adjective
discoverer noun.

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discovery

noun (pl. discoveries)
1. the action or process of discovering or being discovered.
2. a person or thing discovered.
3. Law the compulsory disclosure of documents relevant to an action.

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discredit

verb (discredited, discrediting)
1. harm the good reputation of.
2. cause (an idea or piece of evidence) to seem false or unreliable.

noun
loss or lack of reputation.

DERIVATIVES:
discreditable adjective.

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discreet

adjective (discreeter, discreetest)
careful not to attract attention or give offence.

DERIVATIVES:
discreetly adverb.
USAGE - The words discrete and discreet are often confused. Discrete means ‘separate’ (a discrete unit), while discreet means ‘careful and prudent’.
ORIGIN: Old French discret, from Latin discretus 'separate' .

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discrepancy

noun (pl. discrepancies)
an illogical or surprising lack of compatibility between facts.

DERIVATIVES:
discrepant adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin discrepantia, from discrepare 'be discordant' .

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discrete

adjective
individually separate and distinct.

DERIVATIVES:
discretely adverb
discreteness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin discretus 'separate' : compare with DISCREET.

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discretion

noun
1. the quality of being discreet.
2. the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation.

IDIOMS -
discretion is the better part of valour proverb it's better to avoid a dangerous situation than to confront it.

DERIVATIVES:
discretionary adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'separation' (later 'discernment' ), from discernere (see DISCERN).

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discriminate

verb
1. recognize a distinction.
2. make an unjust distinction in the treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, sex, or age.

DERIVATIVES:
discriminative adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin discriminare 'distinguish between' .

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discriminating

adjective
having or showing good taste or judgement.

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discrimination

noun
1. the action of discriminating against people.
2. recognition of the difference between one thing and another.
3. good judgement or taste.

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discriminatory

adjective
showing discrimination or prejudice.

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discursive

adjective
1. digressing from subject to subject.
2. relating to discourse or modes of discourse.

DERIVATIVES:
discursively adverb
discursiveness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin discursivus, from discurrere (see DISCOURSE).

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discus

noun (pl. discuses)
a heavy thick-centred disc thrown by an athlete, in ancient Greek games or in modern field events.

ORIGIN: Greek diskos; related to DISC and DISH.

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discuss

verb
1. talk about so as to reach a decision.
2. talk or write about (a topic) in detail.

DERIVATIVES:
discussable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin discutere 'dash to pieces' (later 'investigate' ).

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discussion

noun
1. the action or process of discussing something.
2. a conversation or debate about a topic.
3. a detailed treatment of a topic in speech or writing.

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disdain

noun
the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one's consideration or respect.

verb
consider with disdain.

ORIGIN: Old French desdeign, from Latin dedignari 'consider unworthy' .

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disdainful

adjective
showing contempt or lack of respect.

DERIVATIVES:
disdainfully adverb
disdainfulness noun.

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disease

noun
a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms.

DERIVATIVES:
diseased adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French desaise 'lack of ease' .

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disembark

verb
leave a ship, aircraft, or train.

DERIVATIVES:
disembarkation noun.

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disembodied

adjective
1. separated from or existing without the body.
2. (of a sound) lacking any obvious physical source.

DERIVATIVES:
disembodiment noun
disembody verb.

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disembowel

verb (disembowelled, disembowelling; US disemboweled, disemboweling)
cut open and remove the internal organs of.

DERIVATIVES:
disembowelment noun.

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disempower

verb
make less powerful or confident.

DERIVATIVES:
disempowerment noun.

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disenchant

verb
make disillusioned.

DERIVATIVES:
disenchanting adjective
disenchantment noun.

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disenfranchise

verb
1. deprive of the right to vote.
2. deprive of a right or privilege.

DERIVATIVES:
disenfranchisement noun.

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disengage

verb
1. separate, release, or detach.
2. remove (troops) from an area of conflict.
3. (disengaged) emotionally detached; uninvolved.

DERIVATIVES:
disengagement noun.

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disentangle

verb
free from entanglement; untwist.

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disestablish

verb
deprive (an organization, especially a national Church) of its official status.

DERIVATIVES:
disestablishment noun.

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disfavour (US disfavor)

noun
1. disapproval or dislike.
2. the state of being disliked.

verb
regard or treat with disfavour.

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disfigure

verb
spoil the appearance of.

DERIVATIVES:
disfiguration noun
disfigurement noun.

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disgorge

verb
1. cause to pour out; discharge.
2. bring up or vomit (food).
3. yield or give up (funds, especially when dishonestly acquired).

ORIGIN: Old French desgorger, from gorge 'throat' .

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disgrace

noun
1. loss of reputation as the result of a dishonourable action.
2. a person or thing regarded as shameful and unacceptable.

verb
bring disgrace on.

ORIGIN: Italian disgrazia, from Latin gratia 'grace' .

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disgraceful

adjective
shockingly unacceptable.

DERIVATIVES:
disgracefully adverb.

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disgruntled

adjective
angry or dissatisfied.

DERIVATIVES:
disgruntlement noun.

ORIGIN: from dialect gruntle «utter little grunts, grumble».

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disguise

verb
1. alter in appearance or nature so as to conceal the identity of.
2. hide the nature or existence of (a feeling or situation).

noun
a means of disguising one's identity.

ORIGIN: Old French desguisier.

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disgust

noun
strong revulsion or profound indignation.

verb
cause disgust in.

DERIVATIVES:
disgusted adjective
disgustedly adverb.

ORIGIN: French desgoust or Italian disgusto, from Latin gustus 'taste' .

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disgusting

adjective
arousing revulsion or strong indignation.

DERIVATIVES:
disgustingly adverb
disgustingness noun.

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dish

noun
1. a shallow container for cooking or serving food.
2. (the dishes) all the items used in the preparation, serving, and eating of a meal.
3. a particular variety of food served as part of a meal.
4. a shallow, concave receptacle.
5. informal a sexually attractive person.

verb
1. (dish out/up) put (food) on to a plate or plates before a meal.
2. (dish out) dispense in a casual or indiscriminate way.
3. N. Amer. informal gossip.

IDIOMS -
dish the dirt informal reveal or spread scandal or gossip.

ORIGIN: Latin discus 'disc or plate' , from Greek diskos 'discus' .

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disharmony

noun
lack of harmony.

DERIVATIVES:
disharmonious adjective
disharmoniously adverb.

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dishearten

verb
cause to lose determination or confidence.

DERIVATIVES:
disheartening adjective.

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dishevelled (US disheveled)

adjective
(of a person's hair, clothes, or appearance) untidy; disordered.

DERIVATIVES:
dishevelment noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «having the hair uncovered»: from Old French deschevele, from Latin capillus 'hair' .

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dishonest

adjective
not honest, trustworthy, or sincere.

DERIVATIVES:
dishonestly adverb
dishonesty noun.

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dishonour (US dishonor)

noun
a state of shame or disgrace.

verb
1. bring dishonour to.
2. fail to honour (an agreement, cheque, etc.).

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dishonourable (US dishonorable)

adjective
bringing shame or disgrace.

DERIVATIVES:
dishonourably adverb.

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dishwasher

noun
1. a machine for washing dishes automatically.
2. a person employed to wash dishes.

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dishy

adjective (dishier, dishiest) informal, chiefly Brit.
sexually attractive.

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disillusion

noun
disappointment from discovering that something is not as good as one believed it to be.

verb
cause to experience disillusion.

DERIVATIVES:
disillusioned adjective
disillusionment noun.

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disincentive

noun
a factor that discourages a particular action.

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disinclination

noun
a reluctance to do something.

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disinclined

adjective
reluctant; unwilling.

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disinfect

verb
make clean and free from infection, especially with a chemical disinfectant.

DERIVATIVES:
disinfection noun.

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disinfectant

noun
a chemical liquid that destroys bacteria.

adjective
causing disinfection.

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disinformation

noun
information which is intended to mislead.

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disingenuous

adjective
not candid or sincere, especially in feigning ignorance.

DERIVATIVES:
disingenuously adverb
disingenuousness noun.

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disinherit

verb (disinherited, disinheriting)
dispossess of or bar from an inheritance.

DERIVATIVES:
disinheritance noun.

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disintegrate

verb
1. break up into small parts as a result of impact or decay.
2. lose strength or cohesion.

DERIVATIVES:
disintegrative adjective
disintegrator noun.

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disintegration

noun
1. the process of disintegrating.
2. Physics a process in which a nucleus or other subatomic particle emits a smaller particle or divides into smaller particles.

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disinter

verb (disinterred, disinterring)
dig up (something buried).

DERIVATIVES:
disinterment noun.

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disinterest

noun
1. impartiality.
2. lack of interest.

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disinterested

adjective
1. not influenced by considerations of personal advantage; impartial.
2. having or feeling no interest.

DERIVATIVES:
disinterestedly adverb
disinterestedness noun.
USAGE - There is a difference between disinterested and uninterested. Disinterested primarily means ‘impartial’, while uninterested means ‘not interested’.

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disjointed

adjective
lacking a coherent sequence or connection.

DERIVATIVES:
disjointedly adverb
disjointedness noun.

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disjunction

noun
a lack of correspondence or consistency.

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disk drive

noun
a device which allows a computer to read from and write on to computer disks.

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dislike

verb
feel distaste for or hostility towards.

noun
1. a feeling of dislike.
2. a thing that is disliked.

DERIVATIVES:
dislikable (also dislikeable) adjective.

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dislocate

verb
1. displace (a bone) from its proper position in a joint.
2. put out of order; disrupt.

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dislocation

noun
the process of dislocating or state of being dislocated.

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dislodge

verb
remove from a fixed position.

DERIVATIVES:
dislodgement noun.

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disloyal

adjective
not loyal or faithful.

DERIVATIVES:
disloyally adverb
disloyalty noun.

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dismal

adjective
1. causing or showing gloom or depression.
2. informal pitifully or disgracefully bad.

DERIVATIVES:
dismally adverb.

ORIGIN: from obsolete dismals, the two days in each month which in medieval times were believed to be unlucky, from Old French dis mal, from Latin dies mali 'evil days' .

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dismantle

verb
take to pieces.

DERIVATIVES:
dismantlement noun
dismantler noun.

ORIGIN: Old French desmanteler, from manteler 'fortify' .

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dismay

noun
discouragement and distress.

verb
cause to feel dismay.

ORIGIN: Old French, related to MAY.

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dismember

verb
1. tear or cut the limbs from.
2. divide up (a territory or organization).

DERIVATIVES:
dismembered adjective
dismemberment noun.

ORIGIN: Old French desmembrer, from Latin membrum 'limb' .

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dismiss

verb
1. order or allow to leave; send away.
2. discharge from employment.
3. regard as unworthy of consideration.
4. Law refuse further hearing to (a case).
5. Cricket end the innings of (a batsman or side).

DERIVATIVES:
dismissal noun
dismissible adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin dimittere 'send away' .

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dismissive

adjective
feeling or showing that something is unworthy of serious consideration.

DERIVATIVES:
dismissively adverb
dismissiveness noun.

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dismount

verb
1. alight from a horse or bicycle.
2. remove (something) from its support.

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disobedient

adjective
failing or refusing to be obedient.

DERIVATIVES:
disobedience noun
disobediently adverb.

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disobey

verb
fail or refuse to obey.

DERIVATIVES:
disobeyer noun.

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disorder

noun
1. a lack of order; confusion.
2. the disruption of peaceful and law-abiding behaviour.
3. Medicine a disruption of normal physical or mental functions.

verb
bring disorder to.

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disorderly

adjective
1. lacking organization; untidy.
2. involving a breakdown of peaceful and law-abiding behaviour.

DERIVATIVES:
disorderliness noun.

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disorganized (also disorganised)

adjective
1. not properly planned and controlled.
2. not able to plan one's activities efficiently.

DERIVATIVES:
disorganization noun.

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disorientate

verb
cause (someone) to lose their sense of direction or feel confused.

DERIVATIVES:
disorientated adjective
disorientation noun.

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disown

verb
refuse to acknowledge any connection with.

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disparage

verb
regard or represent as being of little worth; scorn.

DERIVATIVES:
disparagement noun
disparaging adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French desparagier 'marry someone of unequal rank' , from Latin par 'equal' .

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disparate

adjective
1. essentially different in kind; not able to be compared.
2. containing elements very different from one another: a culturally disparate country.

DERIVATIVES:
disparately adverb
disparateness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin disparare 'to separate' .

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disparity

noun (pl. disparities)
a great difference.

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dispassionate

adjective
not influenced by strong emotion; rational and impartial.

DERIVATIVES:
dispassion noun
dispassionately adverb.

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dispatch (also despatch)

verb
1. send off to a destination or for a purpose.
2. deal with (a task or problem) quickly and efficiently.
3. kill.

noun
1. the action or an instance of dispatching.
2. an official report on the latest situation in state or military affairs.
3. a report sent in from abroad by a journalist.
4. promptness and efficiency: proceed with dispatch.

DERIVATIVES:
dispatcher noun.

ORIGIN: Italian dispacciare or Spanish despachar 'expedite' .

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dispel

verb (dispelled, dispelling)
make (a doubt, feeling, or belief) disappear.

ORIGIN: Latin dispellere 'drive apart' .

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dispensable

adjective
able to be replaced or done without.

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dispensary

noun (pl. dispensaries)
1. a room where medicines are prepared and provided.
2. a clinic provided by public or charitable funds.

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dispensation

noun
1. exemption from a rule or usual requirement.
2. a religious or political system prevailing at a particular time.
3. the action of dispensing.

DERIVATIVES:
dispensational adjective.

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dispense

verb
1. distribute to a number of people.
2. (of a chemist) supply (medicine) according to a doctor's prescription.
3. (of a machine or container) supply or release (a product).
4. (dispense with) get rid of or manage without.

DERIVATIVES:
dispenser noun.

ORIGIN: Latin dispensare 'continue to weigh out or disburse' , from pendere 'weigh' .

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disperse

verb
1. go or distribute in different directions or over a wide area.
2. thin out and eventually disappear.
3. Physics divide (light) into constituents of different wavelengths.

DERIVATIVES:
dispersal noun
disperser noun
dispersible adjective
dispersive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin dispergere 'scatter widely' .

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dispersion

noun
1. the action or process of dispersing or the state of being dispersed.
2. (the dispersion) another term for DIASPORA.

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displace

verb
1. shift from the proper or usual position.
2. take over the place, position, or role of.
3. (especially of war or natural disaster) force (someone) to leave their home.

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displacement

noun
1. the action or process of displacing.
2. the amount by which a thing is moved from a position.
3. the volume or weight of water displaced by a floating ship, used as a measure of the ship's size.
4. Psychoanalysis the unconscious transfer of an intense emotion from one object to another.

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display

verb
1. put on show in a noticeable and attractive way.
2. show (data or an image) on a screen.
3. give a conspicuous demonstration of (a quality, emotion, or skill).
4. (of a male animal) engage in behaviour intended to attract a mate.

noun
1. a performance, show, or event for public entertainment.
2. a collection of objects being displayed.
3. the action or an instance of displaying.
4. an electronic device for displaying data.

ORIGIN: Old French despleier, from Latin displicare 'scatter, disperse' .

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displease

verb
annoy or upset.

DERIVATIVES:
displeased adjective
displeasing adjective.

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displeasure

noun
a feeling of annoyance or dissatisfaction.

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disport

verb (disport oneself)
enjoy oneself unrestrainedly; frolic.

ORIGIN: Old French desporter 'carry away' .

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disposable

adjective
1. (of an article) intended to be used once and then thrown away.
2. (of financial assets) readily available for the owner's use as required.

noun
a disposable article.

DERIVATIVES:
disposability noun.

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disposal

noun
the action or process of disposing.

IDIOMS -
at one's disposal available for one to use whenever or however one wishes.

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dispose

verb
1. (dispose of) get rid of.
2. arrange in a particular position.
3. give, sell, or transfer (money or assets).
4. incline (someone) towards a particular activity or frame of mind.

DERIVATIVES:
disposer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French disposer, from Latin disponere 'arrange' .

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disposition

noun
1. a person's inherent qualities of character.
2. an inclination or tendency.
3. the action or result of arranging people or things in a particular way.

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dispossess

verb
1. deprive of land or property.
2. (in sport) deprive (a player) of the ball.

DERIVATIVES:
dispossession noun.

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disproportionate

adjective
too large or too small in comparison with something else.

DERIVATIVES:
disproportionately adverb.

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disprove

verb
prove to be false.

DERIVATIVES:
disprovable adjective.

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disputable

adjective
open to debate.

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disputation

noun
debate or argument.

DERIVATIVES:
disputative adjective.

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disputatious

adjective
1. fond of argument.
2. (of an argument or situation) motivated by or causing strong opinions.

DERIVATIVES:
disputatiously adverb
disputatiousness noun.

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dispute

verb
1. argue about.
2. question the truth or validity of (a statement or fact).
3. compete for; battle to win.

noun
1. an argument.
2. a disagreement between management and employees that leads to industrial action.

DERIVATIVES:
disputant noun.

ORIGIN: Latin disputare 'to estimate' .

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disqualify

verb (disqualifies, disqualified)
1. pronounce ineligible for an office or activity because of an offence or infringement.
2. (of a feature or characteristic) make unsuitable for an office or activity.

DERIVATIVES:
disqualification noun.

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disquiet

noun
a feeling of anxiety.

verb
make anxious.

DERIVATIVES:
disquieting adjective
disquietude noun.

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disquisition

noun
a long or complex discussion of a topic in speech or writing.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'investigation' , from quaerere 'seek' .

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disregard

verb
pay no attention to.

noun
the action of disregarding or the state of being disregarded.

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disrepair

noun
a poor condition due to neglect.

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disreputable

adjective
not respectable in appearance or character.

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disrepute

noun
the state of being held in low public esteem.

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disrespect

noun
lack of respect or courtesy.

verb informal, chiefly N. Amer.
show a lack of respect for.

DERIVATIVES:
disrespectful adjective
disrespectfully adverb.

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disrobe

verb
1. undress.
2. take off official regalia or vestments.

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disrupt

verb
interrupt or disturb (an activity or process).

DERIVATIVES:
disrupter (also disruptor) noun
disruption noun
disruptive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin disrumpere 'break apart' .

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dissatisfaction

noun
lack of satisfaction.

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dissatisfied

adjective
not content or happy.

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dissect

verb
1. methodically cut up (a body, part, or plant) in order to study its internal parts.
2. analyse in great detail.
3. (dissected) technical divided into separate parts.

DERIVATIVES:
dissection noun
dissector noun.

ORIGIN: Latin dissecare 'cut up' .

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dissemble

verb
hide or disguise one's true motives or feelings.

DERIVATIVES:
dissembler noun.

ORIGIN: Latin dissimulare 'disguise, conceal' .

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disseminate

verb
spread widely.

DERIVATIVES:
dissemination noun
disseminator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin disseminare 'scatter' , from semen 'seed' .

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dissension

noun
disagreement that leads to discord.

ORIGIN: Latin, from dissentire 'differ in sentiment' .

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dissent

verb
1. express disagreement with a prevailing or official view.
2. disagree with the doctrine of an established or orthodox Church.

noun
the holding or expression of a dissenting view.

ORIGIN: Latin dissentire 'differ in sentiment' .

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dissenter

noun
1. a person who dissents.
2. (Dissenter) Brit. historical a member of a non-established Church; a Nonconformist.

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dissentient

adjective
in opposition to a majority or official opinion.

noun
a dissenter.

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dissertation

noun
a long essay, especially one written for a university degree or diploma.

ORIGIN: Latin, from dissertare 'continue to discuss' .

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disservice

noun
a harmful action.

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dissident

noun
a person who opposes official policy.

adjective
in opposition to official policy.

DERIVATIVES:
dissidence noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin dissidere 'sit apart, disagree' .

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dissimilar

adjective
not similar; different.

DERIVATIVES:
dissimilarity noun
dissimilarly adverb.

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dissimulate

verb
hide or disguise one's thoughts or feelings.

DERIVATIVES:
dissimulation noun
dissimulator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin dissimulare 'to conceal' .

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dissipate

verb
1. be or cause to be dispelled or dispersed.
2. waste (money, energy, or resources).

DERIVATIVES:
dissipative adjective
dissipator (also dissipater) noun.

ORIGIN: Latin dissipare 'scatter' .

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dissipation

noun
1. dissipated living.
2. the action of dissipating.

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dissociate

verb
1. disconnect or separate.
2. (dissociate oneself from) declare that one is not connected with (someone or something).

DERIVATIVES:
dissociation noun
dissociative adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin dissociare 'separate' .

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dissolute

adjective
overindulgent in sensual pleasures.

ORIGIN: Latin dissolutus 'disconnected, loose' , from dissolvere 'dissolve' .

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dissolution

noun
1. the formal closing down or ending of an assembly, official body, or agreement.
2. the action or process of dissolving.
3. disintegration; decomposition.
4. debauched living; dissipation.

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dissolve

verb
1. (with reference to a solid) become or cause to become incorporated into a liquid so as to form a solution.
2. (with reference to an assembly or body) close down, dismiss, or annul.
3. (dissolve into/in) subside uncontrollably into (an expression of strong feelings).

DERIVATIVES:
dissolvable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin dissolvere, from solvere 'loosen or solve' .

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dissonant

adjective
1. Music sounding harsh or discordant.
2. unsuitable in combination; clashing.

DERIVATIVES:
dissonance noun
dissonantly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin dissonare 'be discordant' , from sonare 'to sound' .

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dissuade

verb (dissuade from)
persuade or advise not to do.

DERIVATIVES:
dissuasion noun
dissuasive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin dissuadere, from suadere 'advise, persuade' .

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distaff

noun
1. a stick or spindle on to which wool or flax is wound for spinning.
2. (before another noun ) denoting the female side or members of a family. Compare with SPEAR (in sense 3).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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distance

noun
1. the length of the space between two points.
2. the condition of being far off; remoteness.
3. a far-off point or place.
4. an interval of time or relation.
5. the full length or time of a race or other contest.
6. Brit. Horse Racing a space of more than twenty lengths between two finishers in a race.
7. aloofness.

verb
1. make distant.
2. (distance oneself from) dissociate or separate oneself from.

IDIOMS -
go the distance continue to participate until the scheduled end of a contest.

ORIGIN: Latin distantia, from distare 'stand apart' .

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distant

adjective
1. far away in space or time.
2. at a specified distance.
3. remote or far apart in resemblance or relationship: a distant acquaintance.
4. aloof or reserved.
5. remote; abstracted.

DERIVATIVES:
distantly adverb.

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distaste

noun
dislike or aversion.

DERIVATIVES:
distasteful adjective
distastefully adverb
distastefulness noun.

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distemper

noun
a kind of paint having a base of glue or size, used on walls.

verb
paint with distemper.

ORIGIN: from Latin distemperare 'soak' .

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distend

verb
swell because of internal pressure.

DERIVATIVES:
distended adjective
distensibility noun
distensible adjective
distension noun.

ORIGIN: Latin distendere, from tendere 'to stretch' .

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distil (US distill)

verb (distilled, distilling)
1. purify (a liquid) by heating it so that it vaporizes, then cooling and condensing the vapour and collecting the resulting liquid.
2. make (spirits) in this way.
3. extract the essential meaning of.

DERIVATIVES:
distillate noun
distillation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin distillare, from stilla 'a drop' .

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distiller

noun
a person or company that manufactures spirits.

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distillery

noun (pl. distilleries)
a place where spirits are manufactured.

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distinct

adjective
1. recognizably different or individual.
2. able to be perceived clearly by the senses.

DERIVATIVES:
distinctly adverb
distinctness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin distinctus, from distinguere 'distinguish' .

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distinction

noun
1. a marked difference or contrast.
2. the action of distinguishing.
3. outstanding excellence.
4. a special honour or recognition.

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distinctive

adjective
individually characteristic; distinct from others of its kind.

DERIVATIVES:
distinctively adverb
distinctiveness noun.

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distinguish

verb
1. recognize, show, or treat as different.
2. manage to discern (something barely perceptible).
3. be an identifying characteristic of.
4. (distinguish oneself) make oneself worthy of respect.

DERIVATIVES:
distinguishable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin distinguere, from stinguere 'put out' .

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distinguished

adjective
1. dignified in appearance.
2. successful and commanding great respect.

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distort

verb
1. pull or twist out of shape.
2. give a misleading account of.
3. change the form of (an electrical signal or sound wave) during transmission or amplification.

DERIVATIVES:
distorted adjective
distortion noun.

ORIGIN: Latin distorquere 'twist apart' .

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distract

verb
1. prevent (someone) from giving their full attention to something.
2. divert (attention) from something.

DERIVATIVES:
distracted adjective
distracting adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin distrahere 'draw apart' .

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distraction

noun
1. a thing that diverts attention.
2. a thing offering entertainment.
3. mental agitation.

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distraught

adjective
very worried and upset.

ORIGIN: alteration of obsolete adjective distract, from Latin distractus 'pulled apart' .

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distress

noun
1. extreme anxiety or suffering.
2. the state of a ship or aircraft when in danger or difficulty.
3. Medicine a state of physical strain, especially difficulty in breathing.

verb
1. cause distress to.
2. give (furniture, leather, etc.) simulated marks of age and wear.

DERIVATIVES:
distressed adjective
distressful adjective
distressing adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French destresce, from Latin distringere 'stretch apart' .

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distribute

verb
1. hand or share out to a number of recipients.
2. (be distributed) be spread over an area.
3. supply (goods) to retailers.

DERIVATIVES:
distributable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin distribuere 'divide up' .

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distribution

noun
1. the action of distributing.
2. the way in which something is distributed among a group or over an area.

DERIVATIVES:
distributional adjective.

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distributive

adjective
1. relating to the processes of distribution or things that are distributed.
2. Grammar (of a determiner or pronoun) referring to each individual of a class, not to the class collectively, e.g. each, either.

DERIVATIVES:
distributively adverb.

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distributor

noun
1. an agent who supplies goods to retailers.
2. a device in a petrol engine for passing electric current to each spark plug in turn.

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district

noun
1. an area of a town or region, especially one regarded as a unit because of a particular characteristic.
2. Brit. a division of a county or region that elects its own councillors.

ORIGIN: Latin districtus '(territory of) jurisdiction' , from distringere 'draw apart' .

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district attorney

noun
(in the US) a public official who acts as prosecutor for the state or the federal government in court in a particular district.

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district nurse

noun
(in the UK) a nurse who treats patients in their homes, operating within a particular district.

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distrust

noun
lack of trust.

verb
have little trust in; regard with suspicion.

DERIVATIVES:
distrustful adjective
distrustfully adverb.

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disturb

verb
1. interfere with the normal arrangement or functioning of.
2. interrupt the sleep, relaxation, or privacy of.
3. make anxious.

DERIVATIVES:
disturbing adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin disturbare, from turbare 'disturb' .

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disturbance

noun
1. the action of disturbing or the process of being disturbed.
2. a breakdown of peaceful behaviour; a riot.

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disunited

adjective
lacking unity.

DERIVATIVES:
disunity noun.

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disuse

noun
the state of not being used; neglect.

DERIVATIVES:
disused adjective.

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ditch

noun
a narrow channel dug to hold or carry water.

verb
1. provide with a ditch.
2. (with reference to an aircraft) bring or come down in a forced landing on the sea.
3. informal get rid of; give up.

DERIVATIVES:
ditcher noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to DYKE.

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dither

verb
be indecisive.

noun informal
1. indecisive behaviour.
2. a state of agitation.

DERIVATIVES:
ditherer noun
dithery adjective.

ORIGIN: variant of dialect didder; related to DODDER.

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ditto

noun
1. the same thing again (used in lists and often indicated by a ditto mark).
2. (also ditto mark) a symbol consisting of two apostrophes (") representing a repetition.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «in the aforesaid month»: from Italian detto 'said' .

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ditty

noun (pl. ditties)
a short simple song.

ORIGIN: Old French dite 'composition' , from Latin dictare 'to dictate' .

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diuretic Medicine

adjective
causing increased passing of urine.

noun
a diuretic drug.

ORIGIN: Greek diourtikos, from diourein 'urinate' .

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diurnal

adjective
1. of or during the daytime.
2. daily; of each day.

DERIVATIVES:
diurnally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin diurnalis, from dies 'day' .

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diva

noun
a celebrated female opera singer.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'goddess' .

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divan

noun
1. a bed consisting of a base and mattress but no footboard or headboard.
2. a long, low sofa without a back or arms.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a legislative body, council chamber, or court in the Middle East: from Persian, 'bench, court' .

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dive

verb (past and past part. dived; US also dove)
1. plunge head first and with arms outstretched into water.
2. go to a deeper level in water.
3. swim under water using breathing equipment.
4. plunge steeply downwards through the air.
5. move quickly or suddenly in a downward direction or under cover.
6. Soccer deliberately fall as if fouled in order to deceive the referee.

noun
1. an act or instance of diving.
2. informal a disreputable nightclub or bar.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to DEEP and DIP.

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dive-bomb

verb
bomb (a target) while diving steeply in an aircraft.

DERIVATIVES:
dive-bomber noun.

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diver

noun
1. a person who dives under water as a sport or as part of their work.
2. a large diving waterbird with a straight pointed bill.

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diverge

verb
1. (of a road, route, or line) separate from another route and go in a different direction.
2. (of an opinion or approach) differ.
3. (diverge from) depart from (a set course or standard).

DERIVATIVES:
divergence noun
diverging adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin divergere, from vergere 'to turn or incline' .

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divergent

adjective
diverging.

DERIVATIVES:
divergently adverb.

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divers

adjective archaic or literary
of varying types.

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diverse

adjective
widely varied.

DERIVATIVES:
diversely adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin diversus 'diverse' , from divertere (see DIVERT).

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diversify

verb (diversifies, diversified)
1. make or become more diverse.
2. (of a company) enlarge or vary its range of products or field of operation.

DERIVATIVES:
diversification noun.

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diversion

noun
1. an instance of diverting.
2. Brit. an alternative route for use when the usual road is closed.
3. something intended to distract attention.
4. a recreation or pastime.

DERIVATIVES:
diversionary adjective.

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diversity

noun (pl. diversities)
1. the state of being diverse.
2. a diverse range; a variety.

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divert

verb
1. cause to change course or take a different route.
2. reallocate (a resource) to a different purpose.
3. draw the attention of; distract or entertain.

DERIVATIVES:
diverting adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin divertere 'turn in separate ways' .

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divertissement

noun
1. a minor entertainment.
2. Ballet a short discrete dance within a ballet.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin divertere 'turn in separate ways' .

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divest

verb (divest of)
1. deprive or dispossess (someone or something) of.
2. free or rid of.

ORIGIN: Old French desvestir, from Latin vestire 'clothe' .

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divide

verb
1. separate into parts.
2. distribute or share out.
3. disagree or cause to disagree.
4. form a boundary between.
5. Mathematics find how many times (a number) contains another.
6. Mathematics (of a number) be susceptible of division without a remainder.
7. (of a legislative assembly) separate or be separated into two groups for voting.

noun
a wide divergence between two groups: the North-South divide.

IDIOMS -
divide and rule (or conquer) maintain control over opponents by encouraging a disunity that makes their opposition ineffective.

DERIVATIVES:
divided adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin dividere 'force apart, remove' .

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dividend

noun
1. a sum of money that is divided among a number of people, such as the part of a company's profits paid to its shareholders or the winnings from a football pool.
2. (dividends) benefits from an action or policy.
3. Mathematics a number to be divided by another number.

ORIGIN: Latin dividendum 'something to be divided' .

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divider

noun
1. (also room divider) a screen or piece of furniture that divides a room into two parts.
2. (dividers) a measuring compass, especially one with a screw for making fine adjustments.

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divination

noun
the practice of seeking knowledge of the future of the unknown by supernatural means.

DERIVATIVES:
divinatory adjective.

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divine [1]

adjective (diviner, divinest)
1. of, from, or like God or a god.
2. informal excellent.

noun
1. dated a cleric or theologian.
2. (the Divine) providence or God.

DERIVATIVES:
divinely adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin divinus, from divus 'godlike' .

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divine [2]

verb
1. discover by guesswork or intuition.
2. have supernatural insight into (the future).
3. discover (water) by dowsing.

DERIVATIVES:
diviner noun.

ORIGIN: Old French deviner 'predict' , from Latin divinus (see DIVINE).

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diving bell

noun
an open-bottomed chamber supplied with air, in which a person can be let down under water.

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diving board

noun
a board projecting over a swimming pool or other body of water, from which people dive or jump in.

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diving suit

noun
a watertight suit, typically with a helmet and an air supply, worn for working or exploring deep under water.

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divinity

noun (pl. divinities)
1. the state or quality of being divine.
2. a divine being.
3. (the Divinity) God.
4. the study of religion; theology.

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divisible

adjective
1. capable of being divided.
2. Mathematics (of a number) containing another number a number of times without a remainder.

DERIVATIVES:
divisibility noun.

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division

noun
1. the action or process of dividing.
2. each of the parts into which something is divided.
3. a major unit or section of an organization.
4. a number of teams or competitors grouped together in a sport for competitive purposes.
5. a partition that divides two groups or things.

IDIOMS -
division of labour the assignment of different parts of a manufacturing process or task to different people.

DERIVATIVES:
divisional adjective.

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division sign

noun
the sign ÷, placed between two numbers showing that the first is to be divided by the second, as in 6 ÷ 3 = 2.

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divisive

adjective
causing disagreement or hostility.

DERIVATIVES:
divisively adverb
divisiveness noun.

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divisor

noun Mathematics
a number by which another number is to be divided.

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divorce

noun
the legal dissolution of a marriage.

verb
1. legally dissolve one's marriage with.
2. (divorce from) detach or dissociate (something) from.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin divertere 'divert' .

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divorcee

noun (US masc. divorcé, fem. divorcée)
a divorced person.

ORIGIN: French divorcé(e) 'divorced man (or woman)' .

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divot

noun
a piece of turf cut out of the ground, especially by a golf club in making a stroke.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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divulge

verb
make known (private or sensitive information).

ORIGIN: Latin divulgare 'publish widely' .

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divvy informal

noun (also divi) (pl. divvies) Brit.
a dividend or share, especially of profits earned by a cooperative.

verb (divvies, divvied)
share out.

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Diwali (also Divali)

noun
a Hindu festival with lights, held in October and November to celebrate the end of the monsoon.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, 'row of lights' .

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Dixie

noun
an informal name for the Southern states of the US.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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dixie

noun (pl. dixies)
a large iron cooking pot used especially by campers or soldiers.

ORIGIN: Persian, 'small pot' .

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DIY

noun chiefly Brit.
the activity of decorating and making repairs in the home oneself rather than employing a professional.

DERIVATIVES:
DIY'er noun.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of DO-IT-YOURSELF.

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dizzy

adjective (dizzier, dizziest)
1. having a sensation of spinning around and losing one's balance.
2. informal (of a woman) silly but attractive.

verb (dizzies, dizzied)
cause to feel unsteady, confused, or amazed.

IDIOMS -
the dizzy heights informal a position of great importance in a particular field.

DERIVATIVES:
dizzily adverb
dizziness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «foolish».

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DJ

noun
1. a disc jockey.
2. a person who uses samples of recorded music to make techno or rap music.

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djellaba (also djellabah or jellaba)

noun
a loose woollen hooded cloak of a kind traditionally worn by Arabs.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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dl

abbreviation
decilitre(s).

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DLitt

abbreviation
Doctor of Letters.

ORIGIN: Latin Doctor Litterarum.

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DM (also D-mark)

abbreviation
Deutschmark.

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dm

abbreviation
decimetre(s).

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DMA

abbreviation Computing
direct memory access.

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DMus

abbreviation
Doctor of Music.

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DNA

noun Biochemistry
deoxyribonucleic acid, a substance which is present in the cell nuclei of nearly all living organisms and is the carrier of genetic information.

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do [1]

verb (does; past did; past part. done)
1. perform or carry out (an action).
2. achieve or complete (a specified target).
3. act or progress in a specified way.
4. work on (something) to bring it to a required state.
5. have a specified result or effect on: the walk will do me good.
6. work at for a living or take as one's subject of study: what does she do?
7. make or provide.
8. be suitable or acceptable: he'll do.
9. (be/have done with) give up concern for; have finished with.
10. informal regularly take (a narcotic drug).

auxiliary verb
1. used before a verb in questions and negative statements.
2. used to refer back to a verb already mentioned: he looks better than he did before.
3. used in negative or positive commands, or to give emphasis to a positive verb: do sit down.

noun (pl. dos or do's) informal, chiefly Brit.
a party or other social event.

IDIOMS -
be done up be dressed elaborately.
do away with informal put an end to; kill.
do for
1. informal defeat, ruin, or kill.
2. suffice for.
do one's head in Brit. informal make one extremely angry or agitated.
do in informal
1. kill.
2. tire out.
do or die persist, even if death is the result.
do out of deprive of (something) in an unfair way.
dos and don'ts rules of behaviour.
do time informal spend a period of time in prison.
do up
1. fasten, wrap, or arrange.
2. informal renovate or redecorate.
do with informal
1. (can/could do with) would find useful or would like.
2. (can't/won't be doing with) Brit. be unwilling to tolerate.

DERIVATIVES:
doable adjective (informal )
doer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Dobermann (also Dobermann pinscher , chiefly N. Amer. also Doberman)

noun
a large breed of dog with powerful jaws, typically black with tan markings.

ORIGIN: named after the 19th-century German dog-breeder Ludwig Dobermann (+ German Pinscher 'terrier' ).

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docile

adjective
ready to accept control or instruction; submissive.

DERIVATIVES:
docilely adverb
docility noun.

ORIGIN: Latin docilis, from docere 'teach' .

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dock [1]

noun
1. an enclosed area of water in a port for the loading, unloading, and repair of ships.
2. (also loading dock) a platform for loading trucks or goods trains.

verb
1. (with reference to a ship) come or bring into a dock.
2. (of a spacecraft) join with a space station or another spacecraft in space.
3. attach (a piece of equipment) to another.

ORIGIN: Dutch or Low German docke.

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dock [2]

noun
the enclosure in a criminal court where a defendant stands or sits.

ORIGIN: probably related to Flemish dok 'chicken coop, rabbit hutch' .

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dock [3]

noun
a weed with broad leaves, popularly used to relieve nettle stings.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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dock [4]

verb
1. deduct (money or a point in a score).
2. cut short (an animal's tail).

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «the solid part of an animal's tail»: perhaps related to a Frisian word meaning 'bunch, ball (of string)' and German Docke 'doll' .

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docker

noun
a person employed in a port to load and unload ships.

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docket

noun Brit.
a document accompanying a consignment of goods that lists its contents, certifies payment of duty, or entitles the holder to delivery.

verb (docketed, docketing)
mark (a consignment or package) with a docket.

ORIGIN: originally referring to a short abstract or summary: perhaps from DOCK.

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dockyard

noun
an area with docks and equipment for repairing and maintaining ships.

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doctor

noun
1. a person who is qualified to practise medicine.
2. (Doctor) a person who holds the highest university degree.
3. Austral./NZ informal a cook on board a ship or in a camp or station.

verb
1. change in order to deceive; falsify.
2. adulterate (a food or drink) with a harmful or potent ingredient.
3. Brit. remove the sexual organs of (an animal) so that it cannot reproduce.

IDIOMS -
go for the doctor Austral./NZ informal make an all-out effort.
what the doctor ordered informal something beneficial or desirable.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'teacher' .

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doctoral

adjective
relating to a doctorate.

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doctorate

noun
the highest degree awarded by a university faculty.

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doctrinaire

adjective
seeking to impose a doctrine without compromise.

ORIGIN: French.

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doctrine

noun
a set of beliefs or principles held and taught by a Church, political party, or other group.

DERIVATIVES:
doctrinal adjective
doctrinally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin doctrina 'teaching, learning' .

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docudrama

noun
a dramatized film based on real events and incorporating documentary features.

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document

noun
a piece of written, printed, or electronic matter that provides information or evidence.

verb
record in written or other form.

ORIGIN: Latin documentum 'lesson, proof' , from docere 'teach' .

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documentary

adjective
1. consisting of documents and other material providing a factual account.
2. using film, photographs, and sound recordings of real events.

noun (pl. documentaries)
a documentary film or television or radio programme.

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documentation

noun
1. the documents required in the provision of information or evidence.
2. written specifications or instructions.

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dodder

verb
be slow and unsteady.

DERIVATIVES:
dodderer noun
doddering adjective
doddery adjective.

ORIGIN: variant of obsolete dialect dadder; related to DITHER.

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doddle

noun Brit. informal
a very easy task.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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dodecagon

noun
a plane figure with twelve straight sides and angles.

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dodecahedron

noun (pl. dodecahedra or dedecahedrons)
a three-dimensional shape having twelve plane faces.

ORIGIN: Greek ddekaedron, from ddekaedros 'twelve-faced' .

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dodge

verb
1. avoid by a sudden quick movement.
2. cunningly avoid doing or paying.

noun
1. an act or instance of dodging.
2. informal a cunning trick, especially one used to avoid something.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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dodgem

noun
a small electrically powered car with rubber bumpers, driven within an enclosure at a funfair with the aim of bumping other such cars.

ORIGIN: US proprietary name (as Dodg'em), from dodge them.

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dodger

noun informal
a person who evades something that is required of them: a tax dodger.

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dodgy

adjective (dodgier, dodgiest) Brit. informal
1. dishonest.
2. risky.
3. not good or reliable.

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dodo

noun (pl. dodos or dodoes)
a large extinct flightless bird found on Mauritius until the end of the 17th century.

IDIOMS -
as dead as a dodo utterly dead or finished.

ORIGIN: Portuguese doudo 'simpleton' (because the birds were tame and easy to catch).

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DoE

abbreviation
(in the UK) Department of the Environment.

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doe

noun
1. a female roe or fallow deer or reindeer.
2. a female hare, rabbit, rat, ferret, or kangaroo.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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doesn't

contraction
does not.

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doff

verb
remove (an item of clothing, especially a hat).

ORIGIN: contraction of do off.

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dog

noun
1. a domesticated carnivorous mammal with a barking or howling voice and an acute sense of smell.
2. a wild animal resembling this, in particular any member of the dog family (Canidae), which includes the wolf, fox, coyote, jackal, and other species.
3. the male of such an animal.
4. (the dogs) Brit. informal greyhound racing.
5. informal, derogatory an unattractive woman.
6. informal a contemptible man.
7. dated a person of a specified kind: you lucky dog!

verb (dogged, dogging)
1. follow closely and persistently.
2. (of a problem) cause continual trouble for.

IDIOMS -
a dog in the manger a person who prevents others from having things that they do not need themselves. [ORIGIN: alluding to the fable of the dog that lay in a manger to prevent the ox and horse from eating the hay.]
a dog's dinner (or breakfast) Brit. informal a mess.
every dog has his (or its) day proverb everyone will have good luck or success at some point in their lives.
go to the dogs informal deteriorate badly.
you can't teach an old dog new tricks proverb you cannot make people change their ways.
why keep a dog and bark yourself? proverb why pay someone to work for you and then do the work yourself?

DERIVATIVES:
dogdom noun
doggish adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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dog collar

noun
1. a collar for a dog.
2. informal a clerical collar.

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dog days

plural noun chiefly literary
the hottest period of the year (reckoned in antiquity from the heliacal rising of Sirius, the Dog Star).

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doge

noun historical
the chief magistrate of Venice or Genoa.

ORIGIN: Italian doze, from Latin dux 'leader' .

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dog-eared

adjective
having worn or battered corners.

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dog-end

noun informal
1. a cigarette end.
2. the last and least pleasing part of something.

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dogfight

noun
1. a close combat between military aircraft.
2. a ferocious struggle or fight.

DERIVATIVES:
dogfighting noun.

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dogfish

noun
a small bottom-dwelling shark with a long tail.

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dogged

adjective
very persistent.

DERIVATIVES:
doggedly adverb
doggedness noun.

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doggerel

noun
1. comic verse composed in irregular rhythm.
2. badly written verse.

ORIGIN: apparently from DOG (used contemptuously).

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doggo

adverb (in phrase lie doggo) Brit. informal, dated
remain motionless and quiet to escape detection.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain.

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doggy

adjective
1. of or like a dog.
2. fond of dogs.

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doggy bag

noun
a bag used to take home leftover food from a restaurant, supposedly for one's dog.

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doggy-paddle

noun
an elementary swimming stroke resembling that of a dog.

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doghouse

noun N. Amer.
a dog's kennel.

IDIOMS -
in the doghouse informal in disgrace or disfavour.

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dog-leg

noun
a sharp bend.

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dogma

noun
an inflexible principle or set of principles laid down by an authority.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'opinion' , from dokein 'seem good, think' .

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dogmatic

adjective
inclined to impose dogma; firmly asserting personal opinions as true.

DERIVATIVES:
dogmatically adverb
dogmatism noun
dogmatist noun.

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do-gooder

noun
a well-meaning but unrealistic or interfering person.

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dog rose

noun
a delicately scented wild rose with pink or white flowers.

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dogsbody

noun (pl. dogsbodies) Brit. informal
a person who is given boring, menial tasks.

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dog-tired

adjective
extremely tired.

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dog-tooth

noun
1. Architecture a small pointed moulding forming one of a series radiating from a raised centre.
2. (also dogstooth) a small check pattern with notched corners.

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dogwood

noun
a flowering shrub or small tree with red stems, colourful berries, and hard wood.

ORIGIN: so named because the wood was formerly used to make ‘dogs’ (i.e. skewers).

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DoH

abbreviation
(in the UK) Department of Health.

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doh (also do)

noun Music
the first note of a major scale, coming before ‘ray’.

ORIGIN: Italian do, an arbitrarily chosen syllable.

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doily

noun (pl. doilies)
a small ornamental mat made of lace or paper.

ORIGIN: from Doiley or Doyley, a 17th-century London draper.

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Dolby

noun trademark
1. a noise-reduction system used in tape recording.
2. an electronic system providing stereophonic sound for cinemas and televisions.

ORIGIN: named after the American engineer Ray M. Dolby (born 1933).

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doldrums

plural noun (the doldrums)
1. a state of stagnation or depression.
2. a region of the Atlantic Ocean with calms, sudden storms, and light unpredictable winds.

ORIGIN: perhaps from DULL.

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dole

noun (often in phrase on the dole) Brit. informal
benefit paid by the state to the unemployed.

verb (dole out)
distribute.

ORIGIN: Old English, «division, portion, or share»; related to DEAL.

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doleful

adjective
1. sorrowful.
2. causing grief or misfortune.

DERIVATIVES:
dolefully adverb.

ORIGIN: from Old French doel 'mourning' , from Latin dolere 'grieve' .

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doll

noun
1. a small model of a human figure, used as a child's toy.
2. informal an attractive young woman.

verb (doll up) informal
dress (someone) smartly and attractively.

ORIGIN: from the given name Dorothy.

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dollar

noun
the basic monetary unit of the US, Canada, Australia, and certain countries in the Pacific, Caribbean, SE Asia, Africa, and South America.

ORIGIN: German Thaler, short for Joachimsthaler, a coin from the silver-mine of Joachimsthal ( 'Joachim's valley' ), now Jáchymov in the Czech Republic.

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dollar sign (also dollar mark)

noun
the sign $, representing a dollar.

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dollop informal

noun
a shapeless mass or lump, especially of soft food.

verb (dolloped, dolloping)
add or serve out in large shapeless quantities.

ORIGIN: perhaps Scandinavian.

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dolly bird

noun Brit. informal, dated
an attractive and fashionable young woman.

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dolman sleeve

noun
a loose sleeve cut in one piece with the body of a garment.

ORIGIN: dolman from Turkish dolama, dolaman 'open robe' .

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dolmen

noun
a megalithic tomb with a large flat stone laid on upright ones.

ORIGIN: Cornish, 'hole of a stone' .

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dolomite

noun
a mineral or sedimentary rock consisting chiefly of a carbonate of calcium and magnesium.

DERIVATIVES:
dolomitic adjective.

ORIGIN: named after the French geologist Dolomieu (1750 1801).

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dolorous

adjective literary
feeling great sorrow or distress.

DERIVATIVES:
dolorously adverb.

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dolour (US dolor)

noun literary
a state of great sorrow or distress.

ORIGIN: Latin dolor 'pain, grief' .

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dolphin

noun
a small gregarious toothed whale with a beak-like snout and a curved fin on the back.

ORIGIN: Old French dauphin, from Greek delphin.

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dolphinarium

noun (pl. dolphinariums or dolphinaria)
an aquarium in which dolphins are kept and trained for public entertainment.

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dolt

noun
a stupid person.

DERIVATIVES:
doltish adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps a variant of dulled, from DULL.

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-dom

suffix forming nouns:
1. denoting a state or condition: freedom.
2. denoting status: earldom.
3. denoting a domain.
4. denoting a class of people: officialdom.

ORIGIN: Old English, «decree, judgement».

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domain

noun
1. an area controlled by a ruler or government.
2. a sphere of activity or knowledge.
3. Computing a distinct subset of the Internet with addresses sharing a common suffix.

ORIGIN: French domaine, from Old French demeine 'belonging to a lord' (see DEMESNE).

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dome

noun
1. a rounded vault forming the roof of a building, typically with a circular base.
2. a sports stadium or other building with a domed roof.
3. informal the top of the head.

DERIVATIVES:
domed adjective
domical adjective.

ORIGIN: Italian duomo 'cathedral, dome' , from Latin domus 'house' .

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domestic

adjective
1. relating to a home or family affairs or relations.
2. of or for use in the home.
3. fond of family life and running a home.
4. (of an animal) tame and kept by humans.
5. existing or occurring within a country; not foreign.

noun
1. (also domestic worker or domestic help) a person employed to do domestic tasks.
2. informal a violent quarrel between family members.

DERIVATIVES:
domestically adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin domesticus, from domus 'house' .

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domesticate

verb
1. tame (an animal) and keep it as a pet or for farm produce.
2. cultivate (a plant) for food.

DERIVATIVES:
domestication noun.

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domesticity

noun
home or family life.

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domicile

noun formal or Law
1. the country in which a person has permanent residence.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a person's home.

verb (be domiciled) formal or Law
1. treat a specified country as a permanent home.
2. chiefly N. Amer. reside; be based.

ORIGIN: Latin domicilium 'dwelling' , from domus 'home' .

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domiciliary

adjective
concerned with or occurring in someone's home.

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dominance

noun
1. power and influence over others.
2. Genetics the property of being dominant.

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dominant

adjective
1. most important, powerful, or influential.
2. (of a high place or object) overlooking others.
3. Genetics (of a heritable characteristic) controlled by a gene that is expressed in offspring even when inherited from only one parent. Compare with RECESSIVE.

noun Genetics
a dominant trait or gene.

DERIVATIVES:
dominantly adverb.

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dominate

verb
1. have a commanding or controlling influence over.
2. (of something tall or high) overlook.

DERIVATIVES:
domination noun
dominator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin dominari 'rule, govern' , from dominus 'lord, master' .

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domineering

adjective
arrogant and overbearing.

ORIGIN: from Dutch dominieren, from Latin dominari 'rule, govern' .

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Dominican

noun
a member of the order of preaching friars founded by St Dominic, or of a similar religious order for women.

adjective
relating to St Dominic or the Dominicans.

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dominion

noun
1. sovereignty; control.
2. the territory of a sovereign or government.
3. (Dominion) historical a self-governing territory of the British Commonwealth.

ORIGIN: Latin dominium, from dominus 'lord, master' .

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domino

noun (pl. dominoes)
1. any of 28 small oblong pieces marked with 0 6 pips in each half.
2. (dominoes) (treated as sing. ) the game played with such pieces.

ORIGIN: probably from Latin dominus 'lord, master' .

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domino effect

noun
the hypothetical influence of political events in one country upon its neighbours.

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don [1]

noun
1. a university teacher, especially a senior member of a college at Oxford or Cambridge.
2. (Don) a Spanish title prefixed to a male forename.
3. N. Amer. informal a high-ranking member of the Mafia.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from Latin dominus 'lord, master' .

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don [2]

verb (donned, donning)
put on (an item of clothing).

ORIGIN: contraction of do on.

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donate

verb
1. give (money or goods) to a good cause.
2. allow the removal of (blood or an organ) from one's body for transfusion or transplantation.

DERIVATIVES:
donator noun.

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donation

noun
something that is given to a charity.

ORIGIN: Latin, from donare 'give' .

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done
past participle of DO.
adjective
1. (of food) cooked thoroughly.
2. no longer happening or existing.
3. informal socially acceptable: the done thing.

exclamation
(in response to an offer) accepted.

IDIOMS -
done for informal in serious trouble.
done in informal extremely tired.

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doner kebab

noun
a Turkish dish consisting of spiced lamb cooked on a spit and served in slices.

ORIGIN: from Turkish döner 'rotating' and kebap 'roast meat' .

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donjon

noun
1. the great tower or innermost keep of a castle.
2. archaic a dungeon.

ORIGIN: from DUNGEON.

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Don Juan

noun
a seducer of women.

ORIGIN: from the name of a legendary Spanish nobleman.

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donkey

noun (pl. donkeys)
1. a domesticated hoofed mammal of the horse family with long ears and a braying call.
2. informal a foolish person.

IDIOMS -
donkey's years informal a very long time.
talk the hind leg off a donkey Brit. informal talk incessantly.

ORIGIN: perhaps from DUN, or from the given name Duncan.

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donkey jacket

noun Brit.
a heavy jacket with a patch of waterproof material across the shoulders.

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donkey work

noun informal
the laborious part of a job.

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donnish

adjective
resembling a college don, particularly in having a pedantic manner.

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donor

noun
1. a person who donates.
2. a substance, molecule, etc. which provides electrons for a physical or chemical process.

ORIGIN: Old French doneur, from Latin donare 'give' .

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don't

contraction
do not.

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donut (esp. Brit. doughnut)

noun
a small fried cake or ring of sweetened dough.

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doodle

verb
scribble absent-mindedly.

noun
a drawing made absent-mindedly.

DERIVATIVES:
doodler noun.

ORIGIN: from Low German dudeldopp 'simpleton' .

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doolally

adjective informal
temporarily insane.

ORIGIN: from Indian army slang doolally tap, from Deolali (a town near Bombay) + Urdu tap 'fever' .

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doom

noun
death, destruction, or another terrible fate.

verb
condemn to certain destruction or failure.

DERIVATIVES:
doomy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «statute, judgement».

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doomsday

noun
1. the last day of the world's existence.
2. (in Christian belief) the day of the Last Judgement.

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door

noun
1. a movable barrier at the entrance to a building, room, or vehicle, or in the framework of a cupboard.
2. the distance from one building in a row to another: he lived two doors away.

IDIOMS -
lay at someone's door blame someone for.
out of doors in or into the open air.

DERIVATIVES:
doored adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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doorbell

noun
a bell in a building which can be rung by visitors outside.

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do-or-die

adjective
showing or requiring a determination not to be deterred.

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doorman

noun
a man who is on duty at the entrance to a large building.

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doormat

noun
1. a mat placed in a doorway for wiping the shoes.
2. informal a submissive person.

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doornail

noun (in phrase dead as a doornail)
quite dead.

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doorstep

noun
1. a step leading up to the outer door of a house.
2. Brit. informal a thick sandwich or slice.

verb (doorstepped, doorstepping) Brit. informal
1. (of a journalist) wait uninvited outside the home of (someone) for an interview or photograph.
2. go from door to door selling or canvassing.

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doorstop (also doorstopper)

noun
an object that keeps a door open or in place.

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dope

noun
1. informal an illegal drug, especially cannabis or (US ) heroin.
2. a drug used to enhance the performance of an athlete, racehorse, or greyhound.
3. informal a stupid person.
4. informal information.

verb
1. administer dope to (a racehorse, greyhound, or athlete).
2. (be doped up) informal be heavily under the influence of drugs.

DERIVATIVES:
doper noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «thick liquid»: from Dutch doop 'sauce' .

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dopey (also dopy)

adjective (dopier, dopiest) informal
1. stupefied by sleep or a drug.
2. idiotic.

DERIVATIVES:
dopily adverb
dopiness noun.

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doppelgänger

noun
an apparition or double of a living person.

ORIGIN: German, 'double-goer' .

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Doppler effect (also Doppler shift)

noun Physics
an increase (or decrease) in the apparent frequency of sound, light, or other waves as the source and the observer move towards (or away from) each other.

ORIGIN: named after the Austrian physicist Johann Christian Doppler (1803 53).

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dork

noun informal
a socially inept person.

ORIGIN: perhaps a variant of DIRK, influenced by DICK.

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dormant

adjective
1. (of an animal) in or as if in a deep sleep.
2. (of a plant or bud) alive but not growing.
3. (of a volcano) temporarily inactive.

DERIVATIVES:
dormancy noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'sleeping' , from Latin dormire 'to sleep' .

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dormer (also dormer window)

noun
a window set vertically into a sloping roof.

ORIGIN: originally denoting the window of a dormitory or bedroom: from Old French dormir 'to sleep' .

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dormitory

noun (pl. dormitories)
1. a bedroom for a number of people in an institution.
2. (before another noun ) denoting a small town or suburb from which people travel to work in a nearby city.

ORIGIN: Latin dormitorium, from dormire 'to sleep' .

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dormouse

noun (pl. dormice)
an agile mouse-like rodent with a bushy tail.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin, but associated with Latin dormire 'to sleep' .

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dorsal

adjective Anatomy, Zoology, & Botany
on or relating to the upper side or back. Compare with VENTRAL.

DERIVATIVES:
dorsally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin dorsalis, from dorsum 'back' .

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dory

noun (pl. dories)
a narrow marine fish with a large mouth.

ORIGIN: French dorée 'gilded' , from Latin aurum 'gold' .

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DOS

abbreviation Computing
disk operating system.

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dosage

noun
the size of a dose of medicine or radiation.

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dose

noun
1. a quantity of a medicine or drug taken at one time.
2. an amount of ionizing radiation received or absorbed at one time.
3. informal a venereal infection.

verb
administer a dose to.

IDIOMS -
like a dose of salts Brit. informal very fast and efficiently. [ORIGIN: from the use of Epsom salts as a laxative.]

ORIGIN: Greek dosis 'gift' , from didonai 'give' .

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dosh

noun Brit. informal
money.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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doss Brit. informal

verb
1. sleep in rough or improvised conditions.
2. spend time idly.

noun
1. archaic a bed in a cheap lodging house.
2. an easy task giving time for idling.

DERIVATIVES:
dosser noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Latin dorsum 'back' .

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dossier

noun
a collection of documents about a person or subject.

ORIGIN: French, denoting a bundle of papers with a label on the back, from dos 'back' .

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DoT

abbreviation
(in the UK and Canada) Department of Transport.

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dot

noun
1. a small round mark or spot.
2. Music a dot used to denote the lengthening of a note or rest by half, or to indicate staccato.
3. the shorter signal of the two used in Morse code.

verb (dotted, dotting)
1. mark with a dot or dots.
2. scatter over (an area).

IDIOMS -
dot the i's and cross the t's informal ensure that all details are correct.
on the dot informal exactly on time.
the year dot Brit. informal a very long time ago.

ORIGIN: Old English, «head of a boil».

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dotage

noun
the period of life in which a person is old and weak.

ORIGIN: from DOTE + -AGE.

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dotard

noun
an old person, especially one who is weak or senile.

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dot-com

noun
a company that conducts its business on the Internet.

ORIGIN: from «.com» in an Internet address, indicating a commercial site.

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dote

verb (dote on/upon)
be extremely and uncritically fond of.

DERIVATIVES:
doting adjective.

ORIGIN: related to Dutch doten 'be silly' .

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dotty

adjective (dottier, dottiest) informal, chiefly Brit.
slightly mad or eccentric.

DERIVATIVES:
dottily adverb
dottiness noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from obsolete dote 'simpleton, fool' .

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double

adjective
1. consisting of two equal, identical, or similar parts or things.
2. having twice the usual size, quantity, or strength: a double brandy.
3. designed to be used by two people.
4. having two different roles or interpretations: she began a double life.
5. (of a flower) having more than one circle of petals.

predeterminer
twice as much or as many.

adverb
at or to twice the amount or extent.

noun
1. a thing which is twice as large as usual or is made up of two parts.
2. a person who looks exactly like another.
3. (doubles) a game involving sides made up of two players.
4. Brit. (the double) the winning of two sporting trophies in the same season.
5. Darts a hit on the ring enclosed by the two outer circles of a dartboard, scoring double.

pronoun
an amount twice as large as usual.

verb
1. make or become double.
2. fold or bend over on itself.
3. (double up) bend over or curl up with pain or laughter.
4. (double (up) as) be used in or play another, different role.
5. (double back) go back in the direction one has come.

IDIOMS -
at the double very fast.

DERIVATIVES:
doubleness noun
doubler noun
doubly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin duplus, from duo 'two ' .

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double agent

noun
an agent who pretends to act as a spy for one country while in fact acting for its enemy.

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double-barrelled

adjective
1. (of a gun) having two barrels.
2. Brit. (of a surname) having two parts joined by a hyphen.

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double bass

noun
the largest and lowest-pitched instrument of the violin family.

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double-book

verb
inadvertently reserve (something) for two different customers at the same time.

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double-breasted

adjective
(of a jacket or coat) having a large overlap at the front and two rows of buttons.

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double-check

verb
check again.

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double chin

noun
a roll of flesh below a person's chin.

DERIVATIVES:
double-chinned adjective.

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double cream

noun Brit.
thick cream containing a high proportion of milk fat.

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double-cross

verb
betray (a person one is supposedly helping).

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double-dealing

noun
deceitful behaviour.

adjective
acting deceitfully.

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double-decker

noun
something, especially a bus, with two levels.

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double Dutch

noun Brit. informal
incomprehensible language.

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double-edged

adjective
1. (of a blade) having two cutting edges.
2. having two contradictory aspects or possible outcomes.

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double entendre

noun (pl. double entendres pronunc. same)
a word or phrase open to two interpretations, one of which is usually indecent.

ORIGIN: from obsolete French, 'double understanding' .

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double figures

plural noun
a number between 10 and 99.

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double glazing

noun
windows having two layers of glass with a space between them, designed to reduce heat loss and exclude noise.

DERIVATIVES:
double-glaze verb.

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double helix

noun
a pair of parallel helices intertwined about a common axis, especially that in the structure of DNA.

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double-jointed

adjective
(of a person) having unusually flexible joints.

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double negative

noun Grammar
1. a negative statement containing two negative elements (e.g. didn't say nothing), regarded as incorrect in standard English.
2. a positive statement in which two negative elements are used to produce the positive force, e.g. there is not nothing to worry about!

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double pneumonia

noun
pneumonia affecting both lungs.

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doublespeak

noun
deliberately ambiguous or obscure language.

ORIGIN: coined by George Orwell (see DOUBLETHINK).

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double standard

noun
a rule or principle applied unfairly in different ways to different people.

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doublet

noun
1. a man's short close-fitting padded jacket, worn from the 14th to the 17th century.
2. either of a pair of similar things.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'something folded' , from double 'double' .

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double take

noun
a delayed reaction to something unexpected.

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doublethink

noun
the acceptance of contrary opinions or beliefs at the same time.

ORIGIN: coined by George Orwell in his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949).

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double time

noun
a rate of pay equal to double the standard rate.

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doubloon

noun historical
a Spanish gold coin.

ORIGIN: Spanish doblón, from doble 'double' (because the coin was worth double the value of another former Spanish coin, the pistole).

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doubt

noun
a feeling of uncertainty.

verb
1. feel uncertain about.
2. question the truth of.

IDIOMS -
no doubt certainly; probably.

DERIVATIVES:
doubter noun
doubting adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French doute, from Latin dubitare 'hesitate' , from dubius 'doubtful' .

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doubtful

adjective
1. uncertain.
2. not known with certainty.
3. improbable.

DERIVATIVES:
doubtfully adverb
doubtfulness noun.

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doubting Thomas

noun
a person who refuses to believe something without proof.

ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to the apostle Thomas (Gospel of John, Chapter 20).

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doubtless

adverb
very probably.

DERIVATIVES:
doubtlessly adverb.

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douche

noun
1. a shower of water.
2. a jet of liquid applied to part of the body for cleansing or medicinal purposes.
3. a device for washing out the vagina as a contraceptive measure.

verb
1. spray or shower with water.
2. use a contraceptive douche.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian doccia 'conduit pipe' .

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dough

noun
1. a thick mixture of flour and liquid, for baking into bread or pastry.
2. informal money.

DERIVATIVES:
doughy adjective (doughier, doughiest) .

ORIGIN: Old English.

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doughnut (also US donut)

noun
a small fried cake or ring of sweetened dough.

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doughty

adjective (doughtier, doughtiest) archaic or humorous
brave and resolute.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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dour

adjective
very severe, stern, or gloomy.

DERIVATIVES:
dourly adverb
dourness noun.

ORIGIN: probably from Scottish Gaelic, 'dull, obstinate, stupid' .

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douse (also dowse)

verb
1. drench with liquid.
2. extinguish (a fire or light).

ORIGIN: perhaps imitative, influenced by SOUSE, or perhaps from dialect douse 'strike, beat' .

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dove [1]

noun
1. a stocky bird with a small head, short legs, and a cooing voice, very similar to but generally smaller than a pigeon.
2. a person who advocates conciliatory policies.

DERIVATIVES:
dovish adjective.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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dovecote (also dovecot)

noun
a shelter with nest holes for domesticated pigeons.

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dovetail

noun
a joint formed by interlocking tenons and mortises.

verb
1. join by means of a dovetail.
2. fit together easily or conveniently.

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dowager

noun
1. a widow with a title or property derived from her late husband.
2. informal a dignified elderly woman.

ORIGIN: Old French douagiere, from douer 'endow' , from Latin dos 'dowry' .

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dowdy

adjective (dowdier, dowdiest)
(especially of a woman) unfashionable and dull in appearance.

DERIVATIVES:
dowdily adverb
dowdiness noun.

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dowel

noun
a headless peg used for holding together components.

verb (dowelled, dowelling; US doweled, doweling)
fasten with a dowel.

ORIGIN: perhaps Low German.

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dower

noun
1. a widow's share for life of her husband's estate.
2. archaic a dowry.

ORIGIN: Old French douaire, from Latin dotare 'endow' , from dos 'dowry' .

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down [1]

adverb
1. towards or in a lower place or position.
2. to or at a lower level or value.
3. so as to lie flush or flat.
4. in or into a weaker or worse position, mood, or condition.
5. to a smaller amount or size, or a simpler or more basic state.
6. in or into writing.
7. from an earlier to a later point in time or order.
8. (of a computer system) out of action.
9. away from a central place or the north.
10. (down with ) expressing strong dislike.
11. (with reference to partial payment of a sum) made initially.
12. (of sailing) with the current or the wind.

preposition
1. from a higher to a lower point of.
2. at a point further along the course of.
3. throughout (a period of time).
4. along the course or extent of.
5. informal at or to (a place).

adjective
1. directed or moving towards a lower place or position.
2. unhappy.
3. (of a computer system) out of action.

verb informal
1. knock or bring to the ground.
2. consume (a drink).

IDIOMS -
be (or have a) down on informal feel hostile towards.
be down to
1. be attributable to (a factor).
2. be left with only (the specified amount).
down in the mouth informal unhappy.
down on one's luck informal having a per iod of bad luck.
down tools Brit. informal stop work.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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down [2]

noun
1. soft fine feathers forming the covering of a young bird or an insulating layer below the contour feathers of an adult bird, used for stuffing cushions and quilts.
2. fine soft hairs.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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down [3]

noun
1. a gently rolling hill.
2. (the Downs) ridges of undulating chalk and limestone hills in southern England.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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down and out

adjective
destitute.

noun (down-and-out)
a destitute person.

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down at heel

adjective chiefly Brit.
1. (of a shoe) with the heel worn down.
2. shabby or impoverished.

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downbeat

adjective
1. pessimistic; gloomy.
2. understated.

noun Music
an accented beat, usually the first of the bar.

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downcast

adjective
1. (of eyes) looking downwards.
2. feeling despondent.

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downer

noun informal
1. a depressant or tranquillizing drug.
2. something dispiriting or depressing.

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downfall

noun
a loss of power, prosperity, or status.

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downgrade

verb
reduce to a lower grade, rank, or level of importance.

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downhearted

adjective
discouraged; dejected.

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downhill

adverb & adjective
1. towards the bottom of a slope.
2. into a steadily worsening situation.

noun
1. a downward slope.
2. Skiing a downhill race.

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download Computing

verb
copy (data) from one computer system to another or to a disk.

noun
the act or process of downloading.

DERIVATIVES:
downloadable adjective.

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downmarket

adjective & adverb chiefly Brit.
towards or relating to the cheaper or less prestigious sector of the market.

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down payment

noun
an initial payment made when buying on credit.

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downplay

verb
make (something) appear less important than it really is.

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downpour

noun
a heavy fall of rain.

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downright

adjective
utter; complete.

adverb
to an extreme degree; thoroughly.

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downriver

adverb & adjective
towards or situated at a point nearer the mouth of a river.

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downside

noun
the negative aspect of something.

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downsize

verb chiefly N. Amer.
1. make smaller.
2. (of a company) shed staff.

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Down's syndrome

noun Medicine
a congenital disorder causing intellectual impairment and physical abnormalities.
USAGE - Down's syndrome is the accepted term in modern use, and former terms such as mongol and mongolism, which are likely to cause offence, should be avoided.
ORIGIN: named after the English physician John L. H. Down (1828 96).

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downstairs

adverb & adjective
down a flight of stairs; on or to a lower floor.

noun
the ground floor or lower floors of a building.

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downstream

adverb & adjective
situated or moving in the direction in which a stream or river flows.

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down-to-earth

adjective
practical and realistic.

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downtown chiefly N. Amer.

adjective & adverb
of, in, or towards the central area of a city.

noun
a downtown area.

DERIVATIVES:
downtowner noun.

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downtrodden

adjective
oppressed or treated badly by people in power.

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downturn

noun
a decline in economic or other activity.

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down under informal

adverb
in or to Australia or New Zealand.

noun
Australia and New Zealand.

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downward

adverb (also downwards)
towards a lower point or level.

adjective
moving towards a lower point or level.

DERIVATIVES:
downwardly adverb.

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downwind

adverb & adjective
in the direction in which the wind is blowing.

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downy

adjective (downier, downiest)
covered with fine soft hair or feathers.

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dowry

noun (pl. dowries)
property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage.

ORIGIN: Old French dowarie, from Latin dotare 'endow' (see DOWER).

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dowse [1]

verb
search for underground water or minerals with a pointer which is supposedly moved by unseen influences.

DERIVATIVES:
dowser noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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doxology

noun (pl. doxologies)
a liturgical formula of praise to God.

ORIGIN: Greek doxologia, from doxa 'appearance, glory' .

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doyen

noun (fem. doyenne)
the most respected or prominent person in a particular field.

ORIGIN: Old French deien (see DEAN).

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doze

verb
sleep lightly.

noun
a short light sleep.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Danish døse 'make drowsy' .

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dozen

noun (pl. same)
a group or set of twelve.

IDIOMS -
talk nineteen to the dozen Brit. talk quickly and incessantly.

DERIVATIVES:
dozenth adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French dozeine, from Latin duodecim 'twelve' .

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dozy

adjective (dozier, doziest)
1. feeling drowsy and lazy.
2. Brit. informal not alert; stupid.

DERIVATIVES:
dozily adverb
doziness noun.

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DP

abbreviation
data processing.

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DPhil

abbreviation
Doctor of Philosophy.

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DPP

abbreviation
(in the UK) Director of Public Prosecutions.

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Dr

abbreviation
1. debit. [ORIGIN: formerly representing debtor.]
2. (as a title) Doctor.

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drab

adjective (drabber, drabbest)
drearily dull.

noun
a dull light brown colour.

DERIVATIVES:
drably adverb
drabness noun.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French drap 'cloth' (see DRAPE).

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drachm

noun historical
1. a unit of weight equivalent to 60 grains or one eighth of an ounce.
2. (also fluid drachm) a liquid measure equivalent to 60 minims or one eighth of a fluid ounce.

ORIGIN: originally denoting the ancient Greek drachma: from Greek drakhm.

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drachma

noun (pl. drachmas or drachmae)
1. the basic monetary unit of Greece.
2. a silver coin of ancient Greece.

ORIGIN: Greek drakhm, an Attic weight and coin.

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draconian

adjective
(of laws) excessively harsh.

ORIGIN: named after the Athenian legislator Draco (7th century BC).

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draft [1]

noun
1. a preliminary version of a piece of writing.
2. a plan or sketch.
3. a written order to pay a specified sum.
4. (the draft) chiefly US compulsory recruitment for military service.

verb
1. prepare a preliminary version of (a text).
2. select (a person or group) and bring them somewhere for a purpose.
3. US conscript for military service.

DERIVATIVES:
drafter noun.

ORIGIN: phonetic spelling of DRAUGHT.

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draft [2] (Brit. draught)

noun
1. a current of cool air in a room or confined space.
2. a single act of drinking or inhaling.
3. literary or archaic a quantity of a liquid with medicinal properties: a sleeping draft.
4. the depth of water needed to float a particular ship.
5. the drawing in of a fishing net.

adjective
1. denoting beer served from a cask rather than from a bottle or can.
2. denoting an animal used for pulling heavy loads.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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draftsman

noun
1. a person who drafts legal documents.
2. chiefly N. Amer. variant spelling of DRAUGHTSMAN.

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drafty (Brit. draughty)

adjective (draftier, draftiest)
uncomfortable because of draughts of cold air.

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drag

verb (dragged, dragging)
1. pull along forcefully, roughly, or with difficulty.
2. trail along the ground.
3. take (someone) somewhere, despite their reluctance.
4. (of time) pass slowly.
5. (drag out) protract (something) unnecessarily.
6. (drag up) informal deliberately mention (something unwelcome).
7. move (an image) across a computer screen using a mouse.
8. search the bottom of (a body of water) with grapnels or nets.
9. (drag on) informal inhale the smoke from (a cigarette).

noun
1. the action of dragging.
2. the longitudinal retarding force exerted by air or other fluid surrounding a moving object.
3. informal a boring or tiresome person or thing.
4. informal women's clothing worn by a man.
5. informal an act of inhaling smoke from a cigarette.
6. a strong-smelling lure drawn before hounds as a substitute for a fox.

IDIOMS -
drag one's feet
1. walk wearily or with difficulty.
2. be slow or reluctant to act.

ORIGIN: Old English or Old Norse.

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dragnet

noun
1. a net drawn through water or across ground to trap fish or game.
2. a systematic search for criminals.

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dragon

noun
1. a mythical monster like a giant reptile, typically able to breathe out fire.
2. derogatory a fierce and intimidating woman.

IDIOMS -
chase the dragon informal smoke heroin.

ORIGIN: Greek drakn 'serpent' .

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dragonfly

noun
a fast-flying long-bodied insect with two pairs of large transparent wings.

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dragoon

noun
1. a member of any of several British cavalry regiments.
2. historical a mounted infantryman armed with a carbine.

verb
coerce into doing something.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a kind of carbine or musket, thought of as breathing fire: from French dragon 'dragon' .

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drag queen

noun informal
a man who ostentatiously dresses up in women's clothes, especially in an entertainment.

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drag race

noun
a short race between two cars as a test of acceleration.

DERIVATIVES:
drag racer noun
drag racing noun.

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drain

verb
1. cause the liquid in (something) to run out.
2. (of liquid) run off or out.
3. become dry as liquid runs off.
4. deprive of strength or resources.
5. drink the entire contents of.

noun
1. a channel or pipe carrying off surplus liquid.
2. a thing that uses up a resource or one's strength.

IDIOMS -
go down the drain informal be totally wasted.
laugh like a drain Brit. informal laugh raucously.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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drainage

noun
1. the action or process of draining.
2. a system of drains.

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draining board

noun Brit.
a sloping grooved surface on which crockery is left to drain into an adjacent sink.

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drainpipe

noun
1. a pipe for carrying off rainwater from a building.
2. (drainpipes or drainpipe trousers) trousers with very narrow legs.

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drake

noun
a male duck.

ORIGIN: Germanic.

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DRAM

abbreviation Electronics
dynamic random-access memory.

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dram

noun
1. chiefly Scottish a small drink of spirits.
2. another term for DRACHM.

ORIGIN: Latin dragma, from Greek drakhm 'drachma' .

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drama

noun
1. a play.
2. plays as a genre.
3. an exciting series of events.

ORIGIN: Greek drama, from dran 'do, act' .

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dramatic

adjective
1. relating to drama.
2. sudden and striking: a dramatic increase.
3. exciting or impressive.
4. intended to create an effect; theatrical.

DERIVATIVES:
dramatically adverb.

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dramatis personae

plural noun
the characters of a play, novel, or narrative.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'persons of the drama' .

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dramatist

noun
a person who writes plays.

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dramatize (also dramatise)

verb
1. present (a novel, event, etc.) as a play.
2. exaggerate the excitement or seriousness of.

DERIVATIVES:
dramatization noun.

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drape

verb
arrange (cloth or clothing) loosely on or round something.

noun
1. (drapes) long curtains.
2. the way in which a garment or fabric hangs.

ORIGIN: back-formation from DRAPERY.

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draper

noun Brit. dated
a person who sells textile fabrics.

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drapery

noun (pl. draperies)
cloth, curtains, or clothing hanging in loose folds.

ORIGIN: Old French draperie, from drap 'cloth' .

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drastic

adjective
having a strong or far-reaching effect.

DERIVATIVES:
drastically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek drastikos, from dran 'do' .

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drat

exclamation
used to express mild annoyance.

DERIVATIVES:
dratted adjective.

ORIGIN: shortening of od rat, a euphemism for God rot.

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draught (US draft)

noun
1. a current of cool air in a room or confined space.
2. a single act of drinking or inhaling.
3. literary or archaic a quantity of a liquid with medicinal properties: a sleeping draught.
4. the depth of water needed to float a particular ship.
5. the drawing in of a fishing net.

verb variant spelling of DRAFT (in senses 1 and 2).

adjective
1. denoting beer served from a cask rather than from a bottle or can.
2. denoting an animal used for pulling heavy loads.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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draughtsman (or draughtswoman)

noun
1. a person who makes detailed technical plans or drawings.
2. an artist skilled in drawing.
3. variant spelling of DRAFTSMAN.

DERIVATIVES:
draughtsmanship noun.

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draughty (US drafty)

adjective (draughtier, draughtiest)
uncomfortable because of draughts of cold air.

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draw

verb (past drew; past part. drawn)
1. produce (a picture or diagram) by making lines and marks on paper.
2. produce (a line) on a surface.
3. pull or drag (a vehicle) so as to make it follow behind.
4. pull or move in a specified direction.
5. pull (curtains) shut or open.
6. arrive at a point in time: the campaign drew to a close.
7. extract from a container or receptacle: he drew his gun.
8. take in (a breath).
9. be the cause of (a specified response).
10. attract to a place or an event.
11. induce to reveal or do something.
12. reach (a conclusion) by deduction or inference.
13. (draw on) suck smoke from (a cigarette or pipe).
14. finish (a contest or game) with an even score.

noun
1. an act of selecting names randomly, for prizes, sporting fixtures, etc.
2. a game or match that ends with the scores even.
3. a person or thing that is very attractive or interesting.
4. an act of inhaling smoke from a cigarette.
5. Cricket a game which is left incomplete for lack of time. Compare with TIE.

IDIOMS -
draw someone's fire attract hostile criticism away from a more important target.
draw in (of successive days) become shorter because of the changing seasons.
draw the line at set a limit of what one is willing to do or accept.
draw on (of a period of time) pass by and approach its end.
draw out
1. make (something) last longer.
2. persuade to be more talkative.
draw up
1. come to a halt.
2. prepare (a plan or document) in detail.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to DRAUGHT.

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drawback

noun
a disadvantage or problem.

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drawbridge

noun
a bridge which is hinged at one end so that it can be raised.

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drawer

noun
1. a lidless storage compartment made to slide horizontally in and out of a desk or chest.
2. (drawers) dated or humorous knickers or underpants.
3. a person who draws something.
4. the person who writes a cheque.

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drawing

noun
1. a monochrome picture or diagram made with a pencil, pen, or crayon rather than paint.
2. the art or skill of making such pictures.

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drawing board

noun
a board on which paper can be spread for artists or designers to work on.

IDIOMS -
back to the drawing board a plan has failed and a new one is needed.

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drawing pin

noun Brit.
a short flat-headed pin for fastening paper to a surface.

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drawing room

noun
a room in a large private house in which guests can be received.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of withdrawing-room «a room to withdraw to».

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drawl

verb
speak in a slow, lazy way with prolonged vowel sounds.

noun
a drawling accent.

ORIGIN: from Low German or Dutch dralen 'delay, linger' .

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drawn
past participle of DRAW.
adjective
looking strained from illness or exhaustion.

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drawn-out

adjective
lasting longer than is necessary.

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drawstring

noun
a string in the seam of a garment or bag, which can be pulled to tighten or close it.

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dray

noun
a low truck or cart without sides, for delivering barrels or other heavy loads.

ORIGIN: perhaps from an Old English word meaning «dragnet»; related to DRAW.

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dread

verb
anticipate with great apprehension or fear.

noun
great fear or apprehension.

adjective
greatly feared; dreadful.

DERIVATIVES:
dreaded adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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dreadful

adjective
1. extremely bad or serious.
2. used for emphasis: a dreadful flirt.

DERIVATIVES:
dreadfully adverb.

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dreadlocks

plural noun
a Rastafarian hairstyle in which the hair is twisted into tight braids or ringlets.

DERIVATIVES:
dreadlocked adjective.

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dream

noun
1. a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep.
2. a cherished ambition or ideal; a fantasy.
3. informal someone or something perceived as wonderful or perfect.

verb (past and past part. dreamed or dreamt)
1. experience dreams during sleep.
2. indulge in daydreams or fantasies.
3. contemplate the possibility of: I never dreamed she'd take offence.
4. (dream up) imagine or invent.

IDIOMS -
like a dream informal very easily or successfully.

DERIVATIVES:
dreamer noun
dreamless adjective.

ORIGIN: Germanic.

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dreamy

adjective (dreamier, dreamiest)
1. dreamlike; pleasantly distracting or unreal.
2. given to daydreaming.

DERIVATIVES:
dreamily adverb
dreaminess noun.

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dreary

adjective (drearier, dreariest)
dull, bleak, and depressing.

DERIVATIVES:
drearily adverb
dreariness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «gory, cruel, melancholy».

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dredge

verb
1. clean out the bed of (a harbour, river, etc.) with a dredge.
2. bring up or remove with a dredge.
3. (dredge up) bring (something unwelcome and forgotten) to people's attention.

noun
an apparatus for bringing up objects or mud from a river or seabed by scooping or dragging.

DERIVATIVES:
dredger noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Dutch dregghe 'grappling hook' .

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dregs

noun
1. the remnants of a liquid left in a container, together with any sediment.
2. the most worthless parts: the dregs of society.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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drench

verb
1. wet thoroughly; soak.
2. cover liberally with something.
3. forcibly give a liquid medicine to (an animal).

noun
a dose of medicine administered to an animal.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to DRINK.

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dress

verb
1. (also get dressed) put on one's clothes.
2. put clothes on (someone).
3. wear clothes in a particular way or of a particular type: she dresses well.
4. decorate or arrange in an artistic or attractive way.
5. clean, treat, or apply a dressing to (a wound).
6. clean and prepare (food) for cooking or eating.
7. add a dressing to (a salad).
8. apply fertilizer to.
9. treat or smooth the surface of (leather, fabric, or stone).

noun
1. a one-piece garment for a woman or girl that covers the body and extends down over the legs.
2. clothing of a specified kind.
3. (before another noun ) (of clothing) formal or ceremonial: a dress suit.

IDIOMS -
dress down informal
1. reprimand.
2. wear informal clothes.
dressed to kill informal wearing glamorous clothes intended to create a striking impression.
dress up dress in smart or formal clothes, or in a special costume.

ORIGIN: Old French dresser 'arrange, prepare' , from Latin directus 'direct, straight' .

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dressage

noun
the art of riding and training horses so as to develop obedience, flexibility, and balance.

ORIGIN: French, 'training' .

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dress circle

noun
the first level of seats above the ground floor in a theatre.

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dresser

noun
1. a sideboard with shelves above for storing and displaying crockery.
2. N. Amer. a dressing table or chest of drawers.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a sideboard or table on which food was prepared.

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dressing

noun
1. a sauce for salads, usually consisting of oil and vinegar with herbs or other flavourings.
2. N. Amer. stuffing.
3. a piece of material placed on a wound to protect it.
4. size or stiffening used in the finishing of fabrics.
5. a fertilizer spread over land.

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dressing-down

noun informal
a severe reprimand.

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dressing gown

noun
a long loose robe worn after getting out of bed or bathing.

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dressing room

noun
1. a room in which actors or other performers change clothes.
2. a small room attached to a bedroom for storing clothes.

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dressing table

noun
a table with a mirror and drawers, used while dressing or applying make-up.

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dress rehearsal

noun
a final rehearsal in which everything is done as it would be in a real performance.

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dress sense

noun
a good instinct for selecting clothes.

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dress shirt

noun
1. a man's white shirt worn with a bow tie and a dinner jacket on formal occasions.
2. N. Amer. a shirt suitable for wearing with a tie.

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dressy

adjective (dressier, dressiest)
(of clothes) suitable for a smart or formal occasion.

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dribble

verb
1. (of a liquid) fall slowly in drops or a thin stream.
2. allow saliva to run from the mouth.
3. (in sport) take (the ball) forward with slight touches or (in basketball) by continuous bouncing.

noun
1. a thin stream of liquid.
2. (in sport) an act of dribbling.

DERIVATIVES:
dribbler noun
dribbly adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in sense «shoot an arrow short or wide of its target»: from obsolete drib, variant of DRIP.

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dribs and drabs

plural noun (in phrase in dribs and drabs) informal
in small scattered or sporadic amounts.

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drift

verb
1. be carried slowly by a current of air or water.
2. walk or move slowly or casually.
3. (of snow, leaves, etc.) be blown into heaps by the wind.

noun
1. a continuous slow movement from one place to another.
2. the general intention or meaning of someone's remarks: he got her drift.
3. a large mass of snow, leaves, etc. piled up by the wind.
4. deviation from a course because of currents or winds.
5. Geology deposits left by retreating ice sheets.
6. S. African a ford.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'snowdrift, something driven' ; related to DRIVE.

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drifter

noun
1. a person who is continually moving from place to place, without any fixed home or job.
2. a fishing boat equipped with a drift net.

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drift net

noun
a large fishing net kept upright by weights at the bottom and floats at the top and allowed to drift in the sea.

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driftwood

noun
pieces of wood floating on the sea or washed ashore.

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drill [1]

noun
1. a tool or machine used for boring holes.
2. training in military exercises.
3. instruction by means of repeated exercises.
4. (the drill) informal the correct or recognized procedure.

verb
1. bore (a hole) with a drill.
2. subject to military training or other intensive instruction.
3. informal hit hard so as to travel in a straight line.

DERIVATIVES:
driller noun.

ORIGIN: from Dutch drillen 'bore, turn in a circle' .

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drill [2]

noun
1. a machine which makes small furrows, sows seed in them, and then covers the sown seed.
2. a small furrow made by such a machine.

verb
sow with a drill.

ORIGIN: perhaps from DRILL.

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drily (also dryly)

adverb
1. in a matter-of-fact or ironically humorous way.
2. in a dry way or condition.

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drink

verb (past drank; past part. drunk)
1. take (a liquid) into the mouth and swallow.
2. consume alcohol, especially to excess.
3. (drink in) watch or listen eagerly to.

noun
1. a liquid consumed as refreshment or nourishment.
2. a quantity of liquid swallowed at one time.
3. the habitual or excessive consumption of alcohol.
4. (the drink) informal the sea.

IDIOMS -
drink someone's health (or drink to someone) express good wishes for someone by raising one's glass and drinking a small amount.
I'll drink to that expressing agreement or approval.
in drink when intoxicated.

DERIVATIVES:
drinkable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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drink-driving

noun Brit.
the crime of driving a vehicle with an excess of alcohol in the blood.

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drinking chocolate

noun
a mixture of cocoa powder, milk solids, and sugar added to hot water to make a chocolate drink.

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drip

verb (dripped, dripping)
fall or let fall in small drops of liquid.

noun
1. a small drop of a liquid.
2. an apparatus which slowly passes fluid, nutrients, or drugs into a patient's body intravenously.
3. informal a weak and ineffectual person.
4. Architecture a projection which is channelled to prevent rain from running down the wall below.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to DROP.

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drip-feed

verb
introduce (fluid) drop by drop.

noun (drip feed)
a device for introducing fluid drop by drop.

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dripping

noun Brit.
fat that has melted and dripped from roasting meat.

adjective
extremely wet.

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drippy

adjective (drippier, drippiest)
1. informal weak, ineffectual, or sloppily sentimental.
2. tending to drip.

DERIVATIVES:
drippily adverb
drippiness noun.

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drive

verb (past drove; past part. driven)
1. operate and control (a motor vehicle).
2. convey in a motor vehicle.
3. propel or carry along in a specified direction.
4. urge (animals or people) to move in a specified direction.
5. compel to act in a particular way.
6. provide the energy to keep (an engine or machine) in motion.

noun
1. a trip or journey in a car.
2. (also driveway) a short private road leading to a house.
3. an innate, biologically determined urge.
4. an organized effort to achieve a particular purpose.
5. determination and ambition.
6. the transmission of power to machinery or to the wheels of a vehicle.
7. Brit. a large organized gathering for playing a game: a whist drive.

IDIOMS -
what someone is driving at the point that someone is attempting to make.

DERIVATIVES:
drivable (also driveable) adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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drive-in

adjective chiefly N. Amer.
(of a cinema, restaurant, etc.) that one can visit without leaving one's car.

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drivel

noun
nonsense.

verb (drivelled, drivelling; US driveled, driveling)
1. talk nonsense.
2. archaic let saliva or mucus flow from the mouth or nose.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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driver

noun
1. a person or thing that drives something.
2. a flat-faced golf club used for driving.

IDIOMS -
in the driver's seat in control.

DERIVATIVES:
driverless adjective.

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driving

adjective
1. having a controlling influence: the driving force behind the plan.
2. being blown by the wind with great force: driving rain.

IDIOMS -
in the driving seat in control.

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drizzle

noun
light rain falling in very fine drops.

verb
1. (it drizzles, it is drizzling, etc.) rain lightly.
2. Cookery pour a thin stream of (a liquid ingredient) over a dish.

DERIVATIVES:
drizzly adjective.

ORIGIN: probably from an Old English word meaning «to fall».

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droll

adjective
amusing in a strange or quaint way.

DERIVATIVES:
drollery noun
drollness noun
drolly adverb.

ORIGIN: French, perhaps from Dutch drolle 'imp, goblin' .

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dromedary

noun (pl. dromedaries)
an Arabian camel, with one hump.

ORIGIN: from Latin dromedarius camelus 'swift camel' , from Greek dromas 'runner' .

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drone

verb
1. make a continuous low humming sound.
2. speak tediously and at length.

noun
1. a low continuous humming sound.
2. a pipe (especially in a set of bagpipes) or string used to sound a continuous note of low pitch.
3. a male bee which does no work in a colony but can fertilize a queen.
4. an idler.
5. a remote-controlled pilotless aircraft.

ORIGIN: Old English, «male bee».

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drool

verb
1. drop saliva uncontrollably from the mouth.
2. (often drool over) informal show excessive pleasure or desire.

noun
saliva falling from the mouth.

ORIGIN: contraction of DRIVEL.

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droop

verb
1. bend or hang downwards limply.
2. sag down from weariness or dejection.

noun
an act or instance of drooping.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'hang the head' ; related to DRIP and DROP.

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droopy

adjective (droopier, droopiest)
1. hanging down limply; drooping.
2. lacking strength or spirit.

DERIVATIVES:
droopily adverb
droopiness noun.

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drop

verb (dropped, dropping)
1. fall or cause to fall.
2. sink to the ground.
3. make or become lower, weaker, or less.
4. abandon or discontinue.
5. (often drop off) set down or unload (a passenger or goods).
6. place or leave (something) without ceremony.
7. informal collapse from exhaustion.
8. lose (a point, a match, etc.).
9. mention casually.
10. (of an animal) give birth to.

noun
1. a small round or pear-shaped portion of liquid.
2. an instance of falling or dropping.
3. a small drink, especially of alcohol.
4. an abrupt fall or slope.
5. informal a delivery.
6. a sweet or lozenge.

IDIOMS -
at the drop of a hat informal without delay or good reason.
drop back/behind fall back or get left behind.
drop by/in visit informally and briefly.
drop a clanger Brit. informal make an embarrassing or foolish mistake.
drop a curtsy Brit. make a curtsy.
drop dead die suddenly and unexpectedly.
drop one's guard abandon a previously watchful attitude.
a drop in the ocean a very small amount compared with what is needed.
drop a line informal send (someone) a note or letter.
drop off fall asleep, especially without intending to.
drop out
1. cease to participate.
2. pursue an alternative lifestyle.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to DRIP and DROOP.

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drop cloth

noun
1. (also drop curtain) a curtain or painted cloth lowered vertically on to a theatre stage.
2. N. Amer. a dust sheet.

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drop goal

noun Rugby
a goal scored by drop-kicking the ball over the crossbar.

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drop kick

noun
(chiefly in rugby) a kick made by dropping the ball and kicking it as it bounces.

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droplet

noun
a very small drop of a liquid.

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dropout

noun
1. a person who has dropped out of society or a course of study.
2. Rugby the restarting of play with a drop kick.

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droppings

plural noun
the excrement of animals.

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drop shot

noun
(in tennis or squash) a softly hit shot which drops abruptly to the ground.

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dross

noun
1. rubbish.
2. scum on the surface of molten metal.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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drought

noun
a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall; a shortage of water.

ORIGIN: Old English, «dryness».

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drove [2]

noun
1. a flock of animals being driven.
2. a large number of people doing the same thing: tourists arrived in droves.

verb historical
drive (livestock) to market.

DERIVATIVES:
drover noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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drown

verb
1. die or kill through submersion in water.
2. submerge or flood (an area).
3. (usu. drown out) make inaudible by being much louder.

IDIOMS -
drown one's sorrows forget one's problems by getting drunk.

ORIGIN: related to an Old Norse word meaning 'be drowned' .

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drowsy

adjective (drowsier, drowsiest)
sleepy and lethargic.

DERIVATIVES:
drowsily adverb
drowsiness noun.

ORIGIN: probably from an Old English word meaning «be languid or slow»; related to DREARY.

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drub

verb (drubbed, drubbing)
1. hit or beat repeatedly.
2. informal defeat thoroughly.

DERIVATIVES:
drubbing noun.

ORIGIN: originally with reference to the punishment of bastinado: probably from Arabic.

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drudge

noun
a person made to do hard, menial, or dull work.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin; perhaps related to DRAG.

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drudgery

noun
hard, menial, or dull work.

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drug

noun
1. a medicine or other substance which has a marked effect when taken into the body.
2. a substance with narcotic or stimulant effects.

verb (drugged, drugging)
make (someone) unconscious or stupefied by administering a drug.

ORIGIN: Old French drogue, perhaps from Dutch droge vate 'dry vats' .

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druggy informal

adjective
caused by or involving drugs.

noun (also druggie) (pl. druggies)
a drug addict.

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drugstore

noun N. Amer.
a pharmacy which also sells toiletries and other articles.

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Druid

noun
a priest, magician, or soothsayer in the ancient Celtic religion.

DERIVATIVES:
Druidic adjective
Druidical adjective
Druidism noun.

ORIGIN: Gaulish (the language of the ancient Gauls); related to Irish draoidh 'magician, sorcerer' .

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drum

noun
1. a percussion instrument with a skin stretched across a rounded frame, sounded by being struck with sticks or the hands.
2. a cylindrical object or part, especially a container.
3. a sound made by or resembling that of a drum.
4. Austral./NZ informal a piece of reliable inside information.

verb (drummed, drumming)
1. play on a drum.
2. make a continuous rhythmic noise.
3. (drum into) instruct someone in (something) by prolonged repetition.
4. (drum out) expel (someone) from somewhere in disgrace.
5. (drum up) attempt to obtain (something) by canvassing or soliciting.

ORIGIN: from Dutch or Low German tromme, of imitative origin.

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drum and bass

noun
a type of dance music consisting largely of electronic drums and bass.

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drumbeat

noun
a stroke or pattern of strokes on a drum.

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drum kit

noun
a set of drums, cymbals, and other percussion instruments.

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drum majorette

noun
1. the female leader of a marching band.
2. a female member of such a band.

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drummer

noun
a person who plays a drum or drums.

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drum roll

noun
a rapid succession of drumbeats.

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drumstick

noun
1. a stick used for beating a drum.
2. the lower joint of the leg of a cooked fowl.

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drunk
past part. of DRINK.
adjective
affected by alcohol to the extent of losing control of one's faculties or behaviour.

noun
a person who is drunk or who habitually drinks to excess.

IDIOMS -
drunk and disorderly creating a public disturbance under the influence of alcohol.

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drupe

noun Botany
a fleshy fruit with thin skin and a central stone, e.g. a plum or olive.

ORIGIN: Latin drupa 'overripe olive' .

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dry

adjective (drier, driest)
1. free from moisture or liquid.
2. not yielding water, oil, or milk.
3. without grease or other moisturizer or lubricator.
4. dully factual.
5. unemotional or undemonstrative.
6. (of humour) subtle and expressed in a matter-of-fact way.
7. (of wine) not sweet.
8. prohibiting the sale or consumption of alcoholic drink.

verb (dries, dried)
1. make or become dry.
2. preserve by evaporating the moisture from.
3. (dry up) (of a supply or flow) decrease and stop.
4. (dry up) informal cease talking.
5. (dry out) informal overcome alcoholism.

noun (pl. dries or drys)
1. (the dry) a dry place.
2. Brit. a Conservative politician (especially in the 1980s) in favour of strict monetarist policies.

DERIVATIVES:
dryness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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dry-clean

verb
clean (a garment) with an organic solvent.

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dryer (also drier)

noun
a machine or device for drying something, especially the hair or laundry.

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dry ice

noun
1. solid carbon dioxide.
2. white mist produced with this as a theatrical effect.

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dry measure

noun
a measure of volume for dry goods.

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dry rot

noun
a fungus causing decay of wood in poorly ventilated conditions.

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dry run

noun informal
a rehearsal of a performance or procedure.

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drystone

adjective Brit.
(of a stone wall) built without using mortar.

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DSC

abbreviation
(in the UK) Distinguished Service Cross.

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DSc

abbreviation
Doctor of Science.

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DSM

abbreviation
(in the UK) Distinguished Service Medal.

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DSO

abbreviation
(in the UK) Distinguished Service Order.

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DSS

abbreviation
(in the UK) Department of Social Security.

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DTI

abbreviation
(in the UK) Department of Trade and Industry.

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DTP

abbreviation
desktop publishing.

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DTp

abbreviation
(in the UK) Department of Transport.

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dual

adjective
consisting of two parts, elements, or aspects.

DERIVATIVES:
dualize (also dualise) verb
dually adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin dualis, from duo 'two' .

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dual carriageway

noun Brit.
a road consisting of two or more lanes in each direction, with a dividing strip separating the two directions.

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dualism

noun
1. division into two opposed or contrasted aspects, such as good and evil or mind and matter.
2. duality.

DERIVATIVES:
dualist noun & adjective
dualistic adjective.

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duality

noun (pl. dualities)
1. the quality or condition of being dual.
2. an opposition or contrast between two concepts or aspects.

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dub [1]

verb (dubbed, dubbing)
1. give an unofficial name or nickname to.
2. knight (someone) by the ritual touching of the shoulder with a sword.
3. smear (leather) with grease.

ORIGIN: Old French adober 'equip with armour' .

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dub [2]

verb (dubbed, dubbing)
1. provide (a film) with a soundtrack in a different language from the original.
2. add (sound effects or music) to a film or a recording.
3. make a copy of (a recording).

noun
1. an instance of dubbing sound effects or music.
2. a style of popular music originating from the remixing of recorded music (especially reggae).

ORIGIN: abbreviation of DOUBLE.

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dubbin Brit.

noun
prepared grease used for softening and waterproofing leather.

verb (dubbined, dubbining)
apply dubbin to (leather).

ORIGIN: from DUB (sense 3).

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dubiety

noun formal
uncertainty.

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dubious

adjective
1. hesitating or doubting.
2. not to be relied upon.
3. of questionable value; suspect.

DERIVATIVES:
dubiously adverb
dubiousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin dubiosus, from dubium 'a doubt' .

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ducal

adjective
relating to a duke or dukedom.

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ducat

noun
1. a gold coin formerly current in most European countries.
2. (ducats) informal money.

ORIGIN: Italian ducato, originally referring to a silver coin minted by the Duke of Apulia in 1190.

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duchess

noun
1. the wife or widow of a duke.
2. a woman holding a rank equivalent to duke.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin ducissa, from dux 'duke' .

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duchy

noun (pl. duchies)
the territory of a duke or duchess.

ORIGIN: Old French duche, from Latin dux 'leader' .

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duck [1]

noun (pl. same or ducks)
1. a waterbird with a broad blunt bill, short legs, webbed feet, and a waddling gait.
2. the female of such a bird. Contrasted with DRAKE.
3. (also ducks) Brit. informal an affectionate form of address.

IDIOMS -
like water off a duck's back (of a critical remark) having no effect.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to DUCK (expressing the notion of «diving bird»).

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duck [2]

verb
1. lower the head or body quickly to avoid a blow or missile or so as not to be seen.
2. push (someone) under water.
3. informal evade (an unwelcome duty).

noun
a quick lowering of the head.

IDIOMS -
duck and dive informal use one's ingenuity to deal with or evade a situation.

DERIVATIVES:
ducker noun.

ORIGIN: Germanic, related to DUCK.

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duck [3]

noun Cricket
a batsman's score of nought.

IDIOMS -
break one's duck score the first run of one's innings.

ORIGIN: short for duck's egg, used for the figure 0.

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duckboards

plural noun
wooden slats joined together to form a path over muddy ground.

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ducking stool

noun historical
a chair fastened to the end of a pole, used to plunge offenders into a pond or river as a punishment.

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duckling

noun
a young duck.

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duct

noun
1. a tube or passageway for air, cables, etc.
2. a vessel in the body for conveying lymph or glandular secretions.

verb
convey through a duct.

DERIVATIVES:
ducting noun.

ORIGIN: Latin ductus 'leading, aqueduct' , from ducere 'lead' .

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ductile

adjective
1. (of a metal) able to be drawn out into a thin wire.
2. able to be deformed without losing toughness.

DERIVATIVES:
ductility noun.

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ductless

adjective Anatomy
(of a gland) secreting directly into the bloodstream (e.g. an endocrine gland).

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dud informal

noun
1. a thing that fails to work properly.
2. (duds) clothes.

adjective
failing to work or meet a standard.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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dude

noun N. Amer. informal
1. a man.
2. a dandy.

ORIGIN: probably from German dialect Dude 'fool' .

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dudgeon

noun (often in phrase in high dudgeon)
deep resentment.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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due

adjective
1. owing or payable.
2. expected at or planned for a certain time.
3. (often due to) merited; fitting.
4. at a point where something is owed or merited: he was due for a rise.
5. proper; appropriate: due process of law.

noun
1. (one's due/dues) a person's right.
2. (dues) fees.

adverb
(with reference to a point of the compass) directly.

IDIOMS -
due to
1. caused by.
2. because of.
give someone their due be fair to someone.
in due course at the appropriate time.
pay one's dues fulfil one's obligations.

USAGE - Due to in the sense ‘because of’ has been condemned as incorrect on the grounds that due is an adjective and should not be used in a prepositional phrase. However, this use is now common and is regarded as part of standard English.
ORIGIN: Old French deu 'owed' , from Latin debere 'owe' .

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duel

noun
1. historical a pre-arranged contest with deadly weapons between two people to settle a point of honour.
2. a contest between two parties.

verb (duelled, duelling; US dueled, dueling)
fight a duel.

DERIVATIVES:
dueller (US dueler) noun
duellist (US duelist) noun.

ORIGIN: Latin duellum, literary form of bellum 'war' .

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duet

noun
1. a performance by two singers, instrumentalists, or dancers.
2. a musical composition for two performers.

verb (duetted, duetting)
perform a duet.

ORIGIN: Italian duetto, from duo 'duet' .

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duff [1]

noun
a flour pudding boiled or steamed in a cloth bag.

ORIGIN: northern English form of DOUGH.

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duff [2]

adjective Brit. informal
worthless or false.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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duffel (also duffle)

noun
1. a coarse woollen cloth with a thick nap.
2. N. Amer. sporting or camping equipment.

ORIGIN: from Duffel, the name of a town in Belgium where the cloth was originally made.

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duffel bag

noun
a cylindrical canvas bag closed by a drawstring.

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duffel coat

noun
a hooded coat made of duffel, typically fastened with toggles.

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duffer

noun informal
an incompetent or stupid person.

ORIGIN: from Scots dowfart «stupid person».

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dug [2]

noun
the udder, teat, or nipple of a female animal.

ORIGIN: perhaps Old Norse.

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dugong

noun (pl. same or dugongs)
a sea cow found in the Indian Ocean.

ORIGIN: Malay.

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dugout

noun
1. a trench that is roofed over as a shelter for troops.
2. an underground air-raid or nuclear shelter.
3. a low shelter at the side of a sports field for a team's coaches and substitutes.
4. (also dugout canoe) a canoe made from a hollowed tree trunk.

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duke

noun
1. a male holding the highest hereditary title in the British and certain other peerages.
2. chiefly historical (in parts of Europe) a male ruler of a small independent state.
3. (dukes) informal fists.

IDIOMS -
duke it out N. Amer. informal fight it out.

DERIVATIVES:
dukedom noun.

ORIGIN: Old French duc, from Latin dux 'leader' ; sense 3 is from rhyming slang Duke of Yorks «forks» (= fingers).

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dulcet

adjective often ironic
(of a sound) sweet and soothing.

ORIGIN: Old French doucet, from Latin dulcis 'sweet' .

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dulcimer

noun
a musical instrument with strings of graduated length struck with hand-held hammers.

ORIGIN: Old French doulcemer, probably from Latin dulce melos 'sweet melody' .

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dull

adjective
1. lacking interest or excitement.
2. lacking brightness or sheen.
3. (of the weather) overcast.
4. slow to understand; rather unintelligent.
5. indistinctly felt or heard.

verb
make or become dull.

DERIVATIVES:
dullness (also dulness) noun
dully adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English, «stupid».

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dullard

noun
a slow or stupid person.

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duly

adverb
in accordance with what is required, appropriate, or expected.

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dumb

adjective
1. unable to speak; lacking the power of speech.
2. temporarily unable or unwilling to speak.
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. stupid.
4. (of a computer terminal) having no independent processing capability.

verb
1. (dumb down) N. Amer. informal make or become less intellectually challenging.
2. literary silence.

DERIVATIVES:
dumbly adverb
dumbness noun.
USAGE - Avoid dumb in the sense meaning ‘not able to speak’, as it likely to cause offence; use alternatives such as speech-impaired.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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dumb-bell

noun
1. a short bar with a weight at each end, used for exercise or muscle-building.
2. informal a stupid person.

ORIGIN: originally denoting an object similar to that used to ring a church bell (but without the bell, so ‘dumb’).

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dumbfound (also dumfound)

verb
astonish greatly.

ORIGIN: blend of DUMB and CONFOUND.

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dumbo

noun (pl. dumbos) informal
a stupid person.

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dumbshow

noun
1. gestures used to convey something without speech.
2. (especially in English drama of the 16th and 17th centuries) a part of a play acted in mime.

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dumbstruck

adjective
so shocked or surprised as to be unable to speak.

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dumb waiter

noun
1. a small lift for carrying food and crockery between floors.
2. Brit. a movable table, typically with revolving shelves, used in a dining room.

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dumdum (also dumdum bullet)

noun
a kind of soft-nosed bullet that expands on impact and inflicts laceration.

ORIGIN: from Dum Dum, name of a town and arsenal near Calcutta, India, where they were first produced.

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dummy

noun (pl. dummies)
1. a model or replica of a human being.
2. an object designed to resemble and serve as a substitute for the real one.
3. Brit. a rubber or plastic teat for a baby to suck on.
4. (in sport) a feigned pass or kick.
5. informal, chiefly N. Amer. a stupid person.

verb (dummies, dummied)
feign a pass or kick.

IDIOMS -
sell someone a dummy deceive an opponent by feigning a pass or kick.

ORIGIN: originally «a person who cannot speak», later «an imaginary fourth player in whist»: from DUMB.

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dummy run

noun
a practice or trial.

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dump

noun
1. a site for depositing rubbish or waste.
2. a heap of rubbish left at a dump.
3. informal an unpleasant or dreary place.
4. Military a temporary store of weaponry or provisions.
5. Computing an act of dumping stored data.

verb
1. deposit or dispose of (rubbish or something unwanted).
2. put down (something) firmly and carelessly.
3. informal abandon (someone).
4. Computing copy (stored data) to a different location.
5. send (goods) to a foreign market for sale at a low price.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old Norse; in later use partly imitative.

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dumper

noun
1. a person or thing that dumps something.
2. (also dumper truck) Brit. a truck with a body that tilts or opens at the back for unloading.

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dumpling

noun
1. a small savoury ball of dough boiled in water or in a stew.
2. a pudding consisting of fruit enclosed in a sweet dough and baked.

ORIGIN: apparently from the obsolete adjective dump «of the consistency of dough».

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dumps

plural noun (in phrase (down) in the dumps) informal
depressed or unhappy.

ORIGIN: originally as dump in the sense 'a dazed or puzzled state' : probably a figurative use of Dutch domp 'haze, mist' .

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dumpster

noun N. Amer.
a rubbish skip.

ORIGIN: originally Dempster Dumpster, a proprietary name given by the American manufacturers, Dempster Brothers of Tennessee.

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dump truck

noun N. Amer.
a dumper truck.

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dumpy

adjective (dumpier, dumpiest)
short and stout.

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dun

adjective
of a dull greyish-brown colour.

noun
1. a dull greyish-brown colour.
2. a horse with a sandy coat and a dark side stripe.

ORIGIN: Old English, probably related to DUSK.

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dunce

noun
a person who is slow at learning.

ORIGIN: originally a name for a follower of the 13th-century Scottish theologian John Duns Scotus, whose followers were ridiculed by humanists and reformers as enemies of learning.

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dunce's cap

noun
a paper cone formerly put on the head of a dunce at school as a mark of disgrace.

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Dundee cake

noun
a rich fruit cake decorated with almonds.

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dunderhead

noun informal
a stupid person.

DERIVATIVES:
dunderheaded adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from obsolete Scots dunder, dunner «resounding noise».

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dune

noun
a mound or ridge of sand formed by the wind, especially on the sea coast or in a desert.

ORIGIN: Dutch, related to DOWN.

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dung

noun
manure.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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dung beetle

noun
a beetle whose larvae feed on dung, especially a scarab.

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dungeon

noun
a strong underground prison cell, especially in a castle.

ORIGIN: Old French, probably originally with the sense 'lord's tower' , from Latin dominus 'lord' .

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dunghill

noun
a heap of dung or refuse, especially in a farmyard.

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dunk

verb
1. dip (bread or other food) into a drink or soup before eating it.
2. immerse in water.
3. Basketball score a field goal by shooting the ball down through the basket with the hands above the rim.

noun Basketball
a goal scored by dunking.

ORIGIN: German tunken 'dip or plunge' .

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dunlin

noun (pl. same or dunlins)
a sandpiper with a downcurved bill and (in winter) greyish-brown upper parts.

ORIGIN: probably from DUN + -LING.

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dunnock

noun
a small songbird with a dark grey head and a reddish-brown back.

ORIGIN: apparently from DUN.

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dunny

noun (pl. dunnies) Austral./NZ informal
a toilet.

ORIGIN: probably from DUNG (the original sense) + archaic slang ken 'house' .

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duo

noun (pl. duos)
1. a pair of people or things, especially in music or entertainment.
2. Music a duet.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'two' .

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duodecimal

adjective
relating to a system of counting or numerical notation that has twelve as a base.

ORIGIN: Latin duodecimus 'twelfth' .

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duodenum

noun (pl. duodenums or duodena)
the first part of the small intestine immediately beyond the stomach.

DERIVATIVES:
duodenal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from duodeni 'in twelves' , its length being equivalent to the breadth of approximately twelve fingers.

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duopoly

noun (pl. duopolies)
a situation in which two suppliers dominate a market.

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dupe

verb
deceive; trick.

noun
a victim of deception.

DERIVATIVES:
duper noun.

ORIGIN: French dialect dupe 'hoopoe' , from the bird's supposedly stupid appearance.

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duple

adjective Music
(of rhythm) based on two main beats to the bar.

ORIGIN: Latin duplus, from duo 'two' .

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duplex

noun
1. N. Amer. a residential building divided into two apartments.
2. N. Amer. & Austral. a semi-detached house.

adjective
having two parts.

ORIGIN: Latin, from duplicare 'double' .

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duplicate

adjective
1. exactly like something else.
2. having two corresponding parts.
3. twice the number or quantity.

noun
one of two or more identical things.

verb
1. make or be an exact copy of.
2. multiply by two.
3. do (something) again unnecessarily.

DERIVATIVES:
duplication noun.

ORIGIN: Latin duplicare, from duo 'two' + plicare 'to fold' .

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duplicator

noun
a machine for copying something.

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duplicitous

adjective
deceitful.

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duplicity

noun
deceitfulness.

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durable

adjective
1. hard-wearing.
2. (of goods) not for immediate consumption and so able to be kept.

DERIVATIVES:
durability noun
durably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin durabilis, from durare 'to last' .

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duration

noun
the time during which something continues.

IDIOMS -
for the duration informal for a very long time.

DERIVATIVES:
durational adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from durare 'to last' .

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duress

noun
threats or violence used to coerce a person into doing something: confessions extracted under duress.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'harshness, cruel treatment' : from Latin durus 'hard' .

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during

preposition
1. throughout the course or duration of.
2. at a particular point in the course of.

ORIGIN: from obsolete dure 'last, endure' , from Latin durare 'to last' .

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durum wheat

noun
a kind of hard wheat grown in arid regions, yielding flour that is used to make pasta.

ORIGIN: Latin, from durus 'hard' .

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dusk

noun
the darker stage of twilight.

ORIGIN: Old English, «dark, swarthy».

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dusky

adjective (duskier, duskiest)
darkish in colour.

DERIVATIVES:
duskily adverb
duskiness noun.

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dust

noun
1. fine, dry powder consisting of tiny particles of earth or waste matter.
2. any material in the form of tiny particles: coal dust.
3. an act of dusting.

verb
1. remove dust from the surface of.
2. cover lightly with a powdered substance.
3. (dust down/off) bring (something) out for use again after a long period of neglect.

IDIOMS -
not see someone for dust find that a person has made a hasty departure.
when the dust settles when things quieten down.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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dustbin

noun Brit.
a large container for household refuse.

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dust bowl

noun
an area where vegetation has been lost and soil reduced to dust and eroded.

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dustcart

noun Brit.
a vehicle used for collecting household refuse.

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dust cover

noun
a dust jacket or dust sheet.

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duster

noun Brit.
a cloth for dusting furniture.

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dust jacket

noun
a removable paper cover on a book.

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dustman

noun Brit.
a man employed to remove household refuse from dustbins.

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dustpan

noun
a flat hand-held receptacle into which dust and waste can be swept.

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dust sheet

noun Brit.
a large sheet for covering furniture to protect it from dust or while decorating.

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dust-up

noun informal
a fight or quarrel.

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dusty

adjective (dustier, dustiest)
1. covered with or resembling dust.
2. staid and uninteresting.

DERIVATIVES:
dustily adverb
dustiness noun.

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Dutch

adjective
relating to the Netherlands or its language.

noun
the Germanic language of the Netherlands.

IDIOMS -
go Dutch share the cost of a meal equally.

ORIGIN: Dutch dutsch 'Dutch, Netherlandish, German' .

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dutch

noun (usu. one's old dutch) Brit. informal
(among cockneys) one's wife.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of DUCHESS.

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Dutch auction

noun
a method of selling in which the price is reduced until a buyer is found.

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Dutch cap

noun
1. a woman's lace cap with triangular flaps on each side, worn as part of Dutch traditional dress.
2. see CAP (sense 7).

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Dutch courage

noun
confidence gained from drinking alcohol.

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Dutch elm disease

noun
a disease of elm trees, caused by a fungus and spread by bark beetles.

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Dutch oven

noun
1. a covered earthenware or cast-iron container for cooking casseroles.
2. chiefly historical a large metal box serving as a simple oven, heated by being placed under or next to hot coals.

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Dutch uncle

noun informal, chiefly N. Amer.
a person giving firm but benevolent advice.

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dutiable

adjective
liable to customs or other duties.

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dutiful

adjective
conscientiously fulfilling one's duty.

DERIVATIVES:
dutifully adverb.

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duty

noun (pl. duties)
1. a moral or legal obligation.
2. a task required as part of one's job.
3. a payment levied on the import, export, manufacture, or sale of goods.
4. Brit. a payment levied on the transfer of property, for licences, and for the legal recognition of documents.

IDIOMS -
on (or off) duty engaged (or not engaged) in one's regular work.

ORIGIN: Old French duete, from deu 'owed, due' .

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duty-bound

adjective
morally or legally obliged.

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duty-free

adjective & adverb
exempt from payment of duty.

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duvet

noun chiefly Brit.
a soft thick quilt used instead of an upper sheet and blankets.

ORIGIN: French, 'down' .

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DVD

abbreviation
digital versatile disc.

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DVLA

abbreviation
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

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dwarf

noun (pl. dwarfs or dwarves)
1. a member of a mythical race of short, stocky human-like creatures.
2. an abnormally small person.
3. (before another noun ) (of an animal or plant) much smaller than is usual for its type or species.
4. (also dwarf star) Astronomy a star of relatively small size and low luminosity.

verb
cause to seem small in comparison.

DERIVATIVES:
dwarfish adjective.
USAGE - In the sense ‘an abnormally small person’, dwarf is normally considered offensive. However, there is no accepted alternative, since terms such as person of restricted growth have gained little currency.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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dwarfism

noun
unusually low stature or small size.

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dwell

verb (past and past part. dwelt or dwelled)
1. formal live in or at a place.
2. (dwell on/upon) think, speak, or write at length about.

DERIVATIVES:
dweller noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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dwelling (also dwelling place)

noun formal
a house or other place of residence.

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dwindle

verb
diminish gradually.

ORIGIN: from Scots and dialect dwine «fade away».

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dye

noun
a natural or synthetic substance used to colour something.

verb (dyeing)
make (something) a specified colour with dye.

IDIOMS -
dyed in the wool unchanging in a particular belief. [ORIGIN: with allusion to the fact that yarn was dyed when raw, producing a more even and permanent colour.]

DERIVATIVES:
dyer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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dyestuff

noun
a substance used as or yielding a dye.

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dyke [1] (also dike)

noun
1. an embankment built to prevent flooding from the sea.
2. an earthwork serving as a boundary or defence: Offa's Dyke.
3. a ditch or watercourse.
4. Geology an intrusion of igneous rock cutting across existing strata. Compare with SILL.

verb
provide (land) with a dyke to prevent flooding.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, related to DITCH.

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dyke [2] (also dike)

noun informal
a lesbian.

DERIVATIVES:
dykey adjective.

ORIGIN: earlier as bulldyke: of unknown origin.

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dynamic

adjective
1. (of a process or system) characterized by constant change or activity.
2. full of energy and new ideas.
3. Physics relating to forces producing motion. Often contrasted with STATIC.
4. Music relating to the volume of sound produced by an instrument or voice.

noun
1. an energizing or motive force.
2. Music another term for DYNAMICS (in sense 3).

DERIVATIVES:
dynamical adjective
dynamically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek dunamikos, from dunamis 'power' .

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dynamic range

noun
the range of sound intensity that occurs in a piece of music or that can be satisfactorily handled by a piece of equipment.

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dynamics

plural noun
1. (treated as sing. ) the branch of mechanics concerned with the motion of bodies under the action of forces.
2. the forces which stimulate development or change within a system or process.
3. Music the varying levels of volume of sound in a musical performance.

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dynamism

noun
the quality of being dynamic.

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dynamite

noun
1. a high explosive consisting of nitroglycerine mixed with an absorbent material.
2. informal an extremely impressive or potentially dangerous person or thing.

verb
blow up with dynamite.

ORIGIN: from Greek dunamis 'power' .

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dynamo

noun (pl. dynamos) chiefly Brit.
a machine for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy by rotating conducting coils in a magnetic field.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of dynamo-electric machine.

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dynasty

noun (pl. dynasties)
1. a line of hereditary rulers.
2. a succession of powerful or prominent people from the same family.

DERIVATIVES:
dynastic adjective
dynastically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek dunasteia 'lordship' , from dunasthai 'be able' .

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dyne

noun Physics
a unit of force that, acting on a mass of one gram, increases its velocity by one centimetre per second every second along the direction in which it acts.

ORIGIN: from Greek dunamis 'force, power' .

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dys-

combining form
bad; difficult (used especially in medical terms): dyspepsia.

ORIGIN: from Greek dus-.

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dysentery

noun
a disease in which the intestines are infected, resulting in severe diarrhoea with blood and mucus in the faeces.

ORIGIN: Greek dusenteria, from dusenteros 'afflicted in the bowels' .

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dysfunctional

adjective
1. not operating normally or properly.
2. unable to deal adequately with normal social relations.

DERIVATIVES:
dysfunction noun
dysfunctionally adverb.

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dyslexia

noun
a disorder involving difficulty in learning to read or interpret words, letters, and other symbols.

DERIVATIVES:
dyslexic adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek lexis 'speech' (apparently by confusion of Greek legein 'to speak' and Latin legere 'to read' ).

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dysmenorrhoea (US dysmenorrhea)

noun Medicine
painful menstruation.

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dyspepsia

noun
indigestion.

ORIGIN: Greek duspepsia, from duspeptos 'difficult to digest' .

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dyspeptic

adjective
1. relating to or suffering from dyspepsia.
2. irritable.

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dyspraxia

noun
a disorder of the brain in childhood causing difficulty in activities requiring coordination and movement.

ORIGIN: from Greek dus- 'bad or difficult' + praxis 'action' .

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dystopia

noun
an imaginary place or society in which everything is bad.

DERIVATIVES:
dystopian adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: from DYS- + UTOPIA.

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dystrophy

noun Medicine
a disorder in which an organ or tissue of the body wastes away. See also MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY.

DERIVATIVES:
dystrophic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek -trophia 'nourishment' .

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E

E [1] (also e)

noun (pl. Es or E's)
1. the fifth letter of the alphabet.
2. denoting the fifth in a set.
3. Music the third note of the diatonic scale of C major.

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E [2]

abbreviation
1. East or Eastern.
2. informal the drug Ecstasy or a tablet of Ecstasy.
3. Physics energy.
4. denoting products, in particular food additives, which comply with EU regulations.

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each

determiner & pronoun
every one of two or more people or things, regarded and identified separately.

adverb
to, for, or by every one of a group.

IDIOMS -
each and every every single.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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each other

pronoun
the other one or ones.

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eager

adjective
1. strongly wanting to do or have.
2. keenly expectant or interested.

DERIVATIVES:
eagerly adverb
eagerness noun.

ORIGIN: originally also in the sense «pungent, sour»: from Old French aigre 'keen' , from Latin acer 'sharp, pungent' .

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eagle

noun
a large keen-sighted bird of prey with a massive hooked bill and long broad wings.

DERIVATIVES:
eaglet noun.

ORIGIN: Old French aigle, from Latin aquila.

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eagle-eyed

adjective
sharp sighted and keenly observant.

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eagle owl

noun
a very large owl with ear tufts and a deep hoot.

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ear [1]

noun
1. the organ of hearing and balance in humans and other vertebrates.
2. the fleshy external part of this organ.
3. (in other animals) an organ sensitive to sound.
4. an ability to recognize and appreciate music or language.
5. willingness to listen and pay attention: a sympathetic ear.

IDIOMS -
be all ears informal be listening attentively.
one's ears are burning one is subconsciously aware of being talked about.
have someone's ear have access to and power to persuade or influence someone.
have (or keep) an ear to the ground be well informed about events and trends.
be out on one's ear informal be dismissed ignominiously.
up to one's ears in informal very busy with.

DERIVATIVES:
eared adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ear [2]

noun
the seed-bearing head or spike of a cereal plant.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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earache

noun
pain inside the ear.

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earbashing

noun informal
a lengthy and reproachful speech.

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eardrum

noun
the membrane of the middle ear, which vibrates in response to sound waves.

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earhole

noun
the external opening of the ear.

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earl

noun
a British nobleman ranking above a viscount and below a marquess.

DERIVATIVES:
earldom noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Earl Grey

noun
a kind of China tea flavoured with bergamot.

ORIGIN: probably named after the 2nd Earl Grey (1764 1845), said to have been given the recipe by a Chinese mandarin.

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ear lobe

noun
the soft, rounded fleshy part at the lower edge of the external ear.

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early

adjective (earlier, earliest) & adverb
1. before the usual or expected time.
2. of or at the beginning of a particular time, period, or sequence.

IDIOMS -
at the earliest not before the time or date specified.
early bird humorous a person who rises or arrives early.
the early bird catches the worm proverb the person who takes the earliest opportunity to do something will gain the advantage over others.
early (or earlier) on at an early (or earlier) stage.
it's early days informal, chiefly Brit. it is too soon to be sure how a situation will develop.

DERIVATIVES:
earliness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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earmark

noun
1. a mark on the ear of a domesticated animal indicating ownership or identity.
2. an identifying feature.

verb
1. apply an earmark to.
2. (be earmarked) be designated for a particular purpose.

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earmuffs

plural noun
a pair of soft fabric coverings, connected by a band, worn over the ears to protect them from cold or noise.

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earn

verb
1. obtain (money) in return for labour or services.
2. gain as the reward for hard work or merit.
3. (of capital invested) gain (money) as interest or profit.

DERIVATIVES:
earner noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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earnest

adjective
intensely serious.

IDIOMS -
in earnest with sincere and serious intention.

DERIVATIVES:
earnestly adverb
earnestness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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earnings

plural noun
money or income earned.

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earphone

noun
an electrical device worn on the ear to receive radio or telephone communications or to listen to a radio or tape recorder.

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earpiece

noun
the part of a telephone, radio receiver, or other aural device that is applied to the ear during use.

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ear-piercing

adjective
loud and shrill.

noun
the piercing of the lobes or edges of the ears to allow the wearing of earrings.

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earplug

noun
a piece of wax, cotton wool, etc., placed in the ear as protection against noise or water.

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earring

noun
a piece of jewellery worn on the lobe or edge of the ear.

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earshot

noun
the range or distance over which one can hear or be heard.

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ear-splitting

adjective
extremely loud.

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earth

noun
1. (also Earth) the planet on which we live.
2. the substance of the land surface; soil.
3. Brit. electrical connection to the ground, regarded as having zero electrical potential.
4. the underground lair of a badger or fox.
5. one of the four elements (air, earth, fire, and water) in ancient and medieval philosophy and in astrology.

verb
1. Brit. connect (an electrical device) to earth.
2. Hunting (of a fox) run to its earth.

IDIOMS -
come back (or down) to earth return to reality.
the earth chiefly Brit. a very large amount: her hat cost the earth.
go to earth go into hiding.
on earth used for emphasis: what on earth are you doing?

DERIVATIVES:
earthward adjective & adverb
earthwards adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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earthen

adjective
1. made of compressed earth.
2. (of a pot) made of baked or fired clay.

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earthenware

noun
pottery made of fired clay.

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earthling

noun
(in science fiction) an inhabitant of the earth.

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earthly

adjective
1. relating to the earth or human life on the earth.
2. material; worldly.
3. informal used for emphasis; there was no earthly reason to rush.

DERIVATIVES:
earthliness noun.

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earthquake

noun
a sudden violent shaking of the ground as a result of movements within the earth's crust.

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earth sciences

plural noun
the branches of science concerned with the physical constitution of the earth and its atmosphere.

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earth-shattering

adjective informal
very important or shocking.

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earthwork

noun
a large artificial bank of soil, especially one made as a defence in ancient times.

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earthworm

noun
a burrowing segmented worm that lives in the soil.

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earthy

adjective (earthier, earthiest)
1. resembling or suggestive of soil.
2. direct and uninhibited, especially about sexual subjects or bodily functions.

DERIVATIVES:
earthily adverb
earthiness noun.

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ear trumpet

noun
a trumpet-shaped device formerly used as a hearing aid.

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earwax

noun
the protective yellow waxy substance secreted in the passage of the outer ear.

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earwig

noun
a small elongated insect with a pair of terminal appendages that resemble pincers.

verb (earwigged, earwigging) informal
eavesdrop.

ORIGIN: Old English, from are «ear» + wicga «earwig»; the insect was once thought to crawl into the human ear.

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ease

noun
1. absence of difficulty or effort.
2. freedom from worries or problems.

verb
1. make or become less serious or severe.
2. move carefully or gradually.
3. (ease off/up) do something with more moderation.
4. (of share prices, interest rates, etc.) decrease in value or amount.

IDIOMS -
at (one's) ease
1. relaxed.
2. (at ease) Military in a relaxed attitude with the feet apart and the hands behind the back.

DERIVATIVES:
easeful adjective (literary ).

ORIGIN: Old French aise, from Latin adjacere 'lie close by' .

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easel

noun
a wooden frame on legs for holding an artist's work in progress.

ORIGIN: Dutch ezel 'ass' .

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easily

adverb
1. without difficulty or effort.
2. without doubt.
3. very probably.

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east

noun (the east)
1. the direction towards the point of the horizon where the sun rises at the equinoxes, on the right-hand side of a person facing north.
2. the eastern part of a country, region, or town.
3. (the East) the regions or countries lying to the east of Europe, especially China, Japan, and India.
4. (the East) historical the former communist states of eastern Europe.

adjective
1. lying towards, near, or facing the east.
2. (of a wind) blowing from the east.

adverb
to or towards the east.

DERIVATIVES:
eastbound adjective & adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Easter (also Easter Day or Easter Sunday)

noun
the festival of the Christian Church celebrating the resurrection of Christ, held (in the Western Church) on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the northern spring equinox.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to EAST.

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Easter egg

noun
a chocolate egg or decorated hard-boiled egg given as a gift at Easter.

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easterly

adjective & adverb
1. in an eastward position or direction.
2. (of a wind) blowing from the east.

noun
a wind blowing from the east.

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eastern

adjective
1. situated in, directed towards, or facing the east.
2. (Eastern) coming from or characteristic of the regions to the east of Europe.

DERIVATIVES:
easternmost adjective.

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Eastern Church (also Eastern Orthodox Church)

noun
1. another name for ORTHODOX CHURCH.
2. any of the Christian Churches originating in eastern Europe and the Middle East.

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easterner

noun
a person from the east of a region or country.

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east-north-east

noun
the direction or compass point midway between east and north-east.

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east-south-east

noun
the direction or compass point midway between east and south-east.

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eastward

adjective
in an easterly direction.

adverb (also eastwards)
towards the east.

DERIVATIVES:
eastwardly adjective & adverb.

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easy

adjective (easier, easiest)
1. achieved without great effort; presenting few difficulties.
2. free from worry or problems.
3. lacking anxiety or awkwardness.
4. informal, derogatory willingly responsive to sexual advances.

exclamation
be careful!

IDIOMS -
easy on the eye (or ear) informal pleasant to look at (or listen to).
go (or be) easy on informal refrain from being harsh with or critical of.
take it easy
1. proceed calmly.
2. make no unnecessary effort.

DERIVATIVES:
easiness noun.

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easy chair

noun
a large, comfortable chair, typically an armchair.

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easy-going

adjective
relaxed and open-minded.

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easy listening

noun
popular music that is tuneful and undemanding.

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easy street

noun informal
a state of financial comfort or security.

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eat

verb (past ate; past part. eaten)
1. put (food) into the mouth and chew and swallow it.
2. (eat out or in) have a meal in a restaurant (or at home).
3. (eat something away or eat away at/into) gradually erode or destroy something.
4. (eat up) use (resources) in very large quantities.

noun (eats) informal
light food or snacks.

IDIOMS -
eat one's heart out suffer from longing for something unattainable.
eat one's words retract what one has said.
I'll eat my hat informal said to indicate that one thinks something is extremely unlikely to happen.
what's eating you (or him etc.) ? informal what is worrying or annoying you (or him etc.)?

DERIVATIVES:
eater noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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eatable

adjective
fit to be consumed as food.

noun (eatables)
items of food.

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eatery

noun (pl. eateries) informal
a restaurant or cafe.

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eau de cologne

noun (pl. eaux de cologne pronunc. same)
a toilet water with a strong, characteristic scent.

ORIGIN: French, 'water of Cologne' .

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eau de Nil

noun
a pale greenish colour.

ORIGIN: French, 'water of the Nile' .

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eau de toilette

noun (pl. eaux de toilette pronunc. same)
a dilute form of perfume.

ORIGIN: French, 'toilet water' .

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eau de vie

noun (pl. eaux de vie pronunc. same)
brandy.

ORIGIN: French, 'water of life' .

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eaves

plural noun
the part of a roof that meets or overhangs the walls of a building.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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eavesdrop

verb (eavesdropped, eavesdropping)
secretly listen to a conversation.

DERIVATIVES:
eavesdropper noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete eavesdrop «the ground on to which water drips from the eaves».

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ebb

noun
the movement of the tide out to sea.

verb
1. (of tidewater) move away from the land; recede.
2. (often ebb away) (of an emotion or quality) gradually lessen or reduce.

IDIOMS -
at a low ebb in a poor state.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ebony

noun
1. heavy blackish or very dark brown wood from a tree of tropical and warm regions.
2. a very dark brown or black colour.

ORIGIN: Greek ebenos 'ebony tree' .

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ebullient

adjective
1. cheerful and full of energy.
2. archaic or literary boiling or agitated as if boiling.

DERIVATIVES:
ebullience noun
ebulliently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin ebullire 'boil up' .

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EC

abbreviation
1. East Central (London postal district).
2. European Commission.
3. European Community.

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eccentric

adjective
1. unconventional and slightly strange.
2. technical not placed centrally or not having its axis placed centrally.
3. technical (of an orbit) not circular, especially to a marked degree.

noun
1. an eccentric person.
2. a cam or other part mounted eccentrically on a revolving shaft in order to transform rotation into backward-and-forward motion.

DERIVATIVES:
eccentrically adverb
eccentricity noun.

ORIGIN: Greek ekkentros, from ek 'out of' + kentron 'centre' .

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ecclesiastical

adjective
relating to the Christian Church or its clergy.

DERIVATIVES:
ecclesiastically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek ekklsiastikos, from ekklsiasts 'member of an assembly' .

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ECG

abbreviation
electrocardiogram or electrocardiograph.

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echelon

noun
1. a level or rank in an organization, profession, or society.
2. Military a formation of troops, ships, etc. in parallel rows with the end of each row projecting further than the one in front.

ORIGIN: French échelon, from échelle 'ladder' .

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echinoderm

noun Zoology
a marine invertebrate of a large group (the phylum Echinodermata) including starfishes, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers.

ORIGIN: from Greek ekhinos 'hedgehog, sea urchin' + derma 'skin' .

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echo

noun (pl. echoes)
1. a sound caused by the reflection of sound waves from a surface back to the listener.
2. a reflected radio or radar beam.
3. something suggestive of or parallel to something else.

verb (echoes, echoed)
1. (of a sound) reverberate or be repeated after the original sound has stopped.
2. have a continued significance or influence.
3. repeat (someone's words or opinions).

DERIVATIVES:
echoer noun
echoey adjective
echoless adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek kh.

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echo chamber

noun
an enclosed space for producing echoes.

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echoic

adjective
1. of or like an echo.
2. representing a sound by imitation; onomatopoeic.

DERIVATIVES:
echoically adverb.

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echolocation

noun
the location of objects by reflected sound, in particular as used by animals such as dolphins and bats.

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echo sounder

noun
a device for determining the depth of the seabed or detecting objects in water by measuring the time taken for echoes to return to the listener.

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eclair

noun
a small, soft, long cake of choux pastry filled with cream and topped with chocolate icing.

ORIGIN: French, 'lightning' .

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eclampsia

noun Medicine
a condition in which one or more convulsions occur in a pregnant woman suffering from high blood pressure, often followed by coma.

DERIVATIVES:
eclamptic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek eklampsis 'sudden development' .

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éclat

noun
a conspicuously brilliant or successful effect.

ORIGIN: French, from éclater 'burst out' .

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eclectic

adjective
deriving ideas or style from a broad and varied range of sources.

noun
an eclectic person.

DERIVATIVES:
eclectically adverb
eclecticism noun.

ORIGIN: Greek eklektikos, from eklegein 'pick out' .

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eclipse

noun
1. an obscuring of the light from one celestial body by the passage of another between it and the observer or between it and its source of illumination.
2. a sudden loss of significance, power, or prominence.

verb
1. (of a celestial body) obscure the light from or to (another body).
2. deprive of significance, power, or prominence.

ORIGIN: Greek ekleipsis, from ekleipein 'fail to appear, be eclipsed' .

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ecliptic Astronomy

noun
a great circle on the celestial sphere representing the sun's apparent path during the year, so called because lunar and solar eclipses can only occur when the moon crosses it.

adjective
of eclipses or the ecliptic.

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eclogue

noun
a short pastoral poem, especially one in the form of a dialogue.

ORIGIN: Greek eklog 'selection' .

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eco-friendly

adjective
not harmful to the environment.

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E. coli

noun
the bacterium Escherichia coli, commonly found in the intestines of humans and other animals, some strains of which can cause severe food poisoning.

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ecology

noun
the branch of biology concerned with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.

DERIVATIVES:
ecological adjective
ecologically adverb
ecologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek oikos 'house' .

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e-commerce

noun
commercial transactions conducted electronically on the Internet.

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economic

adjective
1. relating to economics or the economy.
2. justified in terms of profitability.

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economical

adjective
1. giving good value or return in relation to the resources used or money spent.
2. sparing in the use of resources or money.

IDIOMS -
economical with the truth euphemistic lying or deliberately withholding information.

DERIVATIVES:
economically adverb.

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economics

plural noun (often treated as sing. )
the branch of knowledge concerned with the production, consumption, and transfer of wealth.

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economist

noun
an expert in economics.

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economize (also economise)

verb
spend less; be economical.

DERIVATIVES:
economizer noun.

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economy

noun (pl. economies)
1. the state of a country or region in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services and the supply of money.
2. careful management of available resources.
3. a financial saving.
4. (also economy class) the cheapest class of air or rail travel.
5. (before another noun ) offering good value for money: an economy pack.

IDIOMS -
economy of scale a proportionate saving in costs gained by an increased level of production.

ORIGIN: Greek oikonomia 'household management' .

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ecosystem

noun
a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

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ecotourism

noun
tourism directed towards unspoiled natural environments and intended to support conservation efforts.

DERIVATIVES:
ecotour noun & verb
ecotourist noun.

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eco-warrior

noun
a person actively involved in protecting the environment from damage.

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ecru

noun
the light cream or beige colour of unbleached linen.

ORIGIN: French, 'unbleached' .

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ecstasy

noun (pl. ecstasies)
1. an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement.
2. an emotional or religious frenzy or trancelike state.
3. (Ecstasy) an illegal amphetamine-based synthetic drug with euphoric effects.

ORIGIN: from Greek ekstasis 'standing outside oneself' .

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ecstatic

adjective
feeling or characterized by ecstasy.

noun
a person who is subject to mystical experiences.

DERIVATIVES:
ecstatically adverb.

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ectopic

adjective Medicine
in an abnormal place or position.

ORIGIN: from Greek ektopos 'out of place' .

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ectopic pregnancy

noun
a pregnancy in which the fetus develops outside the womb, typically in a Fallopian tube.

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ectoplasm

noun
a viscous substance that supposedly exudes from the body of a medium during a spiritualistic trance and forms the material for the manifestation of spirits.

DERIVATIVES:
ectoplasmic adjective.

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ecumenical

adjective
1. representing a number of different Christian Churches.
2. promoting or relating to unity among the world's Christian Churches.

DERIVATIVES:
ecumenically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek oikoumenikos, from oikoumen 'the inhabited earth' .

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eczema

noun
a condition in which patches of skin become rough and inflamed, causing itching and bleeding.

DERIVATIVES:
eczematous adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek ekzema, from ekzein 'boil over, break out' .

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-ed [1]

suffix forming adjectives:
1. (added to nouns) having; possessing; affected by: talented.
2. from phrases consisting of adjective and noun: bad-tempered.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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-ed [2]

suffix forming:
1. the past tense and past participle of weak verbs: landed.
2. participial adjectives: wounded.

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Edam

noun
a round pale yellow cheese with a red wax coating.

ORIGIN: from Edam in the Netherlands, where it is made.

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eddy

noun (pl. eddies)
a circular movement of water causing a small whirlpool.

verb (eddies, eddied)
(of water, air, smoke, etc.) move in a circular way.

ORIGIN: probably related to an Old English prefix meaning «again, back».

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edelweiss

noun
a mountain plant which has woolly white bracts around its small flowers and downy grey-green leaves.

ORIGIN: German, from edel 'noble' + weiss 'white' .

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edema (Brit. oedema)

noun
an excess of watery fluid in the cavities or tissues of the body.

DERIVATIVES:
edematous adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek oidma, from oidein 'to swell' .

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Eden

noun
1. (also Garden of Eden) the place where Adam and Eve lived in the biblical account of the Creation.
2. a place or state of unspoilt happiness or beauty.

ORIGIN: Hebrew.

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edge

noun
1. the outside limit of an object, area, or surface.
2. the line along which two surfaces of a solid meet.
3. the sharpened side of a blade.
4. an intense or striking quality.
5. a quality or factor which gives superiority over close rivals.

verb
1. provide with an edge or border.
2. move or cause to move carefully or furtively.

IDIOMS -
on edge tense, nervous, or irritable.
set someone's teeth on edge (of a sound or taste) cause intense discomfort or irritation to someone.

DERIVATIVES:
edged adjective
edgeless adjective
edger noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «sharpened side of a blade».

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edgeways (also edgewise)

adverb
with the edge uppermost or towards the viewer.

IDIOMS -
get a word in edgeways manage to break into a lively conversation.

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edging

noun
something forming an edge or border.

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edgy

adjective (edgier, edgiest)
tense, nervous, or irritable.

DERIVATIVES:
edgily adverb
edginess noun.

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edible

adjective
fit to be eaten.

noun (edibles)
items of food.

DERIVATIVES:
edibility noun.

ORIGIN: Latin edibilis, from edere 'eat' .

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edict

noun
an official order or proclamation.

ORIGIN: Latin edictum 'something proclaimed' , from dicere 'say, tell' .

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edifice

noun
1. a large, imposing building.
2. a complex abstract or conceptual system.

ORIGIN: Latin aedificium, from aedis 'dwelling' + facere 'make' .

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edify

verb (edifies, edified)
instruct or improve morally or intellectually.

DERIVATIVES:
edification noun
edifying adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin aedificare 'build' .

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edit

verb (edited, editing)
1. prepare (written material) for publication by correcting, condensing, or otherwise modifying it.
2. prepare and arrange material for (a recording or broadcast).
3. (edit out) remove (material) in preparing a recording or broadcast.
4. be editor of (a newspaper or magazine).

noun
a change or correction made as a result of editing.

DERIVATIVES:
editable adjective.

ORIGIN: from EDITOR, reinforced by French éditer 'to edit' .

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edition

noun
1. a particular form or version of a published text.
2. the total number of copies of a book, newspaper, etc. issued at one time.
3. a particular version or instance of a regular programme or broadcast.

ORIGIN: Latin, from edere 'put out' .

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editor

noun
1. a person who is in charge of a newspaper, magazine, or multi-author book.
2. a person who commissions written texts for publication.
3. a person who prepares texts or recorded material for publication or broadcasting.

DERIVATIVES:
editorship noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from edere 'put out' .

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editorial

adjective
relating to the commissioning or preparing of material for publication.

noun
a newspaper article giving an opinion on a topical issue.

DERIVATIVES:
editorialist noun
editorially adverb.

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editorialize (also editorialise)

verb
(of a newspaper or editor) express opinions rather than just report news.

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educate

verb
1. give intellectual, moral, and social instruction to.
2. give training in or information on a particular subject.

DERIVATIVES:
educable adjective
educative adjective
educator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin educare 'lead out' .

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educated guess

noun
a guess based on knowledge and experience.

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education

noun
1. the process of educating or being educated.
2. the theory and practice of teaching.
3. information about or training in a particular subject.
4. (an education) informal an enlightening experience.

DERIVATIVES:
educational adjective
educationalist noun
educationally adverb
educationist noun.

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Edwardian

adjective
relating to the reign of King Edward VII (1901 10).

noun
a person who lived during this period.

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-ee

suffix forming nouns:
1. denoting the person affected directly or indirectly by the action of a verb: employee.
2. denoting a person described as or concerned with: absentee.
3. denoting an object of relatively smaller size: bootee.

ORIGIN: Old French -é; some forms are anglicized modern French nouns (e.g. refugee from réfugié).

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EEC

abbreviation
European Economic Community.

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eel

noun
a snake-like fish with a slender elongated body and poorly developed fins.

DERIVATIVES:
eel-like adjective
eely adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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eerie

adjective (eerier, eeriest)
strange and frightening.

DERIVATIVES:
eerily adverb
eeriness noun.

ORIGIN: originally northern English and Scots in the sense «fearful»: probably from Old English, «cowardly».

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efface

verb
1. erase (a mark) from a surface.
2. (efface oneself) make oneself appear insignificant or inconspicuous.

DERIVATIVES:
effacement noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «pardon or be absolved from (an offence)»: from French effacer, from face 'face' .

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effect

noun
1. a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.
2. the state of being or becoming operative.
3. the extent to which something succeeds or is operative: wind power can be used to great effect.
4. (effects) personal belongings.
5. (effects) the lighting, sound, or scenery used in a play or film.
6. Physics a physical phenomenon, typically named after its discoverer.

verb
cause to happen; bring about.

IDIOMS -
for effect in order to impress people.
in effect in practice, even if not formally acknowledged.
to that effect having that general result, purpose, or meaning.

USAGE - On the confusion of effect and affect, see the note at AFFECT.
ORIGIN: Latin effectus, from efficere 'accomplish' .

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effective

adjective
1. producing a desired or intended result.
2. (of a law or policy) operative.
3. existing in fact, though not formally acknowledged as such.

DERIVATIVES:
effectively adverb
effectiveness noun
effectivity noun.

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effectual

adjective
1. effective.
2. Law (of a legal document) valid or binding.

DERIVATIVES:
effectuality noun
effectually adverb
effectualness noun.

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effeminate

adjective
(of a man) having characteristics regarded as typical of a woman.

DERIVATIVES:
effeminacy noun
effeminately adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin effeminare 'make feminine' .

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effervescent

adjective
1. (of a liquid) giving off bubbles; fizzy.
2. vivacious and enthusiastic.

DERIVATIVES:
effervesce verb
effervescence noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin effervescere 'boil up' .

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effete

adjective
1. affected, over-refined, and ineffectual.
2. having lost vitality; worn out.

DERIVATIVES:
effetely adverb
effeteness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin effetus 'worn out by bearing young' ; related to FETUS.

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efficacious

adjective formal
effective.

DERIVATIVES:
efficaciously adverb
efficaciousness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin efficere 'accomplish' .

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efficacy

noun formal
the ability to produce a desired or intended result.

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efficiency

noun (pl. efficiencies)
1. the state or quality of being efficient.
2. an action intended to achieve efficiency.

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efficient

adjective
working productively with minimum wasted effort or expense.

DERIVATIVES:
efficiently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin efficere 'accomplish' .

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effigy

noun (pl. effigies)
a sculpture or model of a person.

ORIGIN: Latin effigies, from effingere 'to fashion' .

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effloresce

verb
1. (of a substance) lose moisture and turn to a fine powder on exposure to air.
2. (of salts) come to the surface of brickwork or other material and crystallize.
3. reach an optimum stage of development.

DERIVATIVES:
efflorescence noun
efflorescent adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin efflorescere, from florescere 'begin to bloom' .

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effluence

noun
1. a substance that flows out.
2. the action of flowing out.

ORIGIN: from Latin effluere 'flow out' .

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effluent

noun
liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or the sea.

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effluvium

noun (pl. effluvia)
an unpleasant or harmful odour or discharge.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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effort

noun
1. a vigorous or determined attempt.
2. strenuous physical or mental exertion.

DERIVATIVES:
effortful adjective.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin ex- 'out' + fortis 'strong' .

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effortless

adjective
done or achieved without effort; natural and easy.

DERIVATIVES:
effortlessly adverb
effortlessness noun.

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effrontery

noun
insolence or impertinence.

ORIGIN: French effronterie, from Latin effrons 'shameless, barefaced' , from frons 'forehead' .

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effusion

noun
1. an instance of giving off a liquid, light, or smell.
2. Medicine an escape of fluid into a body cavity.
3. an instance of unrestrained speech or writing.

DERIVATIVES:
effuse verb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from effundere 'pour out' .

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effusive

adjective
1. expressing gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained manner.

DERIVATIVES:
effusively adverb
effusiveness noun.

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e.g.

abbreviation
for example.

ORIGIN: from Latin exempli gratia 'for the sake of example' .

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egalitarian

adjective
in accordance with the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.

noun
an egalitarian person.

DERIVATIVES:
egalitarianism noun.

ORIGIN: French égalitaire, from Latin aequalis 'equal' .

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egg [1]

noun
1. an oval or round object laid by a female bird, reptile, fish, or invertebrate and containing an ovum which if fertilized can develop into a new organism.
2. an infertile egg of the domestic hen, used for food.
3. Biology the female reproductive cell in animals and plants; an ovum.
4. informal, dated a person of a specified kind: you're a good egg.

IDIOMS -
don't put all your eggs in one basket proverb don't risk everything on the success of one venture.
kill the goose that lays the golden eggs destroy a reliable and valuable source of income. [ORIGIN: with allusion to one of Aesop's fables.]
with egg on one's face informal appearing foolish or ridiculous.

DERIVATIVES:
eggy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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egg [2]

verb (egg on)
urge or encourage to do something foolish or risky.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'incite' .

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egg custard

noun
a custard made with milk and eggs, typically sweetened and baked.

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egghead

noun informal
a very academic or studious person.

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eggshell

noun
1. the thin, hard, fragile outer layer of an egg.
2. (before another noun ) (of china) extremely thin and delicate.
3. (before another noun ) denoting an oil-based paint that dries with a slight sheen.

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egg white

noun
the clear, viscous substance round the yolk of an egg that turns white when cooked or beaten.

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ego

noun (pl. egos)
1. a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance.
2. Psychoanalysis the part of the mind that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious and is responsible for the interpretation of reality and the development of a sense of self. Compare with ID and SUPEREGO.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'I' .

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egocentric

adjective
self-centred.

noun
an egocentric person.

DERIVATIVES:
egocentrically adverb
egocentricity noun
egocentrism noun.

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egoism

noun
1. an ethical theory that treats self-interest as the foundation of morality.
2. another term for EGOTISM.

DERIVATIVES:
egoist noun
egoistic adjective
egoistical adjective.

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egomania

noun
obsessive egotism.

DERIVATIVES:
egomaniac noun
egomaniacal adjective.

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egotism

noun
the quality of being excessively conceited or absorbed in oneself.

DERIVATIVES:
egotist noun
egotistic adjective
egotistical adjective.

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ego trip

noun informal
something done as a result of an undue sense of self-importance.

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egregious

adjective
1. outstandingly bad.
2. archaic remarkably good.

DERIVATIVES:
egregiously adverb
egregiousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin egregius 'illustrious' (literally 'standing out from the flock' ), from grex 'flock' .

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egress

noun formal
1. the action of going out of or leaving a place.
2. a way out.

DERIVATIVES:
egression noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin egressus, from egredi 'go out' .

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egret

noun
a heron with mainly white plumage, having long plumes in the breeding season.

ORIGIN: Old French aigrette, from the Germanic base of HERON.

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Egyptian

noun
1. a person from Egypt.
2. the Afro-Asiatic language used in ancient Egypt, represented in its oldest stages by hieroglyphic inscriptions.

adjective
relating to Egypt.

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Eid (also Id)

noun
1. (in full Eid ul-Fitr) the Muslim festival marking the end of the fast of Ramadan.
2. (in full Eid ul-Adha) the festival marking the culmination of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'feast' .

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eider

noun (pl. same or eiders)
1. (also eider duck) a northern sea duck, the male of which has mainly black-and-white plumage.
2. (also eider down) small, soft feathers from the breast of the female eider duck.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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eiderdown

noun chiefly Brit.
a quilt filled with down (originally from the eider) or some other soft material.

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eight

cardinal number
1. one more than seven; 8. (Roman numeral: viii or VIII.)
2. an eight-oared rowing boat or its crew.

IDIOMS -
have one over the eight Brit. informal have one drink too many.
pieces of eight historical Spanish dollars, equivalent to eight reals.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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eighteen

cardinal number
one more than seventeen; 18. (Roman numeral: xviii or XVIII.)

DERIVATIVES:
eighteenth ordinal number.

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eighth

ordinal number
constituting number eight in a sequence; 8th.

DERIVATIVES:
eighthly adverb.

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eighth note

noun Music, chiefly N. Amer.
a quaver.

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eighty

cardinal number (pl. eighties)
ten less than ninety; 80. (Roman numeral: lxxx or LXXX.)

DERIVATIVES:
eightieth ordinal number.

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eirenic (also irenic)

adjective formal
aiming or aimed at peace.

ORIGIN: from Greek eirn 'peace' .

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eisteddfod

noun (pl. eisteddfods or eisteddfodau)
a competitive festival of music and poetry in Wales.

ORIGIN: Welsh, 'session' .

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either

conjunction & adverb
1. used before the first of two (or occasionally more) alternatives specified (the other being introduced by ‘or’).
2. (adverb ) used to indicate a similarity or link with a statement just made: You don't like him, do you? I don't either.
3. for that matter; moreover.

determiner & pronoun
1. one or the other of two people or things.
2. each of two.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to AYE and WHETHER.

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ejaculate

verb
1. (of a man or male animal) eject semen from the penis at the moment of orgasm.
2. dated say something quickly and suddenly.

noun
semen that has been ejaculated.

DERIVATIVES:
ejaculation noun
ejaculator noun
ejaculatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin ejaculari 'dart out' , from iacere 'to throw' .

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eject

verb
1. force or throw out violently or suddenly.
2. (of a pilot) escape from an aircraft by means of an ejection seat.
3. compel (someone) to leave a place.

DERIVATIVES:
ejection noun
ejector noun.

ORIGIN: Latin eicere 'throw out' , from jacere 'to throw' .

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ejection seat (also ejector seat)

noun
an aircraft seat that can propel its occupant from the craft in an emergency.

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eke

verb (eke out)
1. use or consume frugally.
2. make (a living) with difficulty.

ORIGIN: Old English, «increase».

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elaborate

adjective
involving many carefully arranged parts; detailed and complicated.

verb
1. develop or present in detail.
2. (elaborate on) add more detail to (something already said).

DERIVATIVES:
elaborately adverb
elaborateness noun
elaboration noun
elaborative adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin elaborare 'work out' .

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elan

noun
energy and flair.

ORIGIN: French, from élancer 'to dart' .

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eland

noun
a spiral-horned African antelope, the largest of the antelopes.

ORIGIN: Dutch, 'elk' .

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elapse

verb
(of time) pass.

ORIGIN: Latin elabi 'slip away' .

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elastic

adjective
1. able to resume normal shape spontaneously after being stretched or squeezed.
2. flexible and adaptable.

noun
cord, tape, or fabric which returns to its original length or shape after being stretched.

DERIVATIVES:
elastically adverb
elasticity noun
elasticize (also elasticise) verb.

ORIGIN: Greek elastikos 'propulsive' .

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elasticated

adjective chiefly Brit.
(of a garment or material) made elastic by the insertion of rubber thread or tape.

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elastic band

noun
a rubber band.

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elastomer

noun
a natural or synthetic polymer having elastic properties, e.g. rubber.

DERIVATIVES:
elastomeric adjective.

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Elastoplast

noun trademark
adhesive sticking plaster for covering cuts and wounds.

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elated

adjective
extremely happy and excited.

DERIVATIVES:
elatedly adverb
elatedness noun
elation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin elatus 'raised' , from efferre 'to raise' .

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elbow

noun
1. the joint between the forearm and the upper arm.
2. a piece of piping or something similar bent through an angle.

verb
1. strike with one's elbow.
2. push roughly away.
3. (often elbow one's way) move by pushing past people with one's elbows.

IDIOMS -
give someone the elbow informal summarily reject or dismiss someone.
up to one's elbows in informal deeply involved in.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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elbow grease

noun informal
hard physical work, especially vigorous polishing or cleaning.

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elbow room

noun informal
adequate space to move or work in.

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elder [1]

adjective
(of one or more out of a group of people) of a greater age.

noun
1. (one's elder) a person of greater age than oneself.
2. a leader or senior figure in a tribe.
3. an official or minister in certain Protestant Churches.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to OLD.

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elder [2]

noun
a small tree or shrub with white flowers and bluish-black or red berries.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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elderberry

noun
the berry of the elder, used for making jelly or wine.

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elderflower

noun
the flower of the elder, used to make wines and cordials.

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elderly

adjective
old or ageing.

DERIVATIVES:
elderliness noun.

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eldest

adjective
(of one out of a group of people) oldest.

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elect

verb
1. choose (someone) to hold public office or another position by voting.
2. opt for or choose to do something.

adjective
1. chosen or singled out.
2. elected to a position but not yet in office: the President Elect.

DERIVATIVES:
electable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin eligere 'pick out' .

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election

noun
1. a formal procedure whereby a person is elected, especially to a public office.
2. the action of electing or fact of being elected.

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electioneering

noun
the action of campaigning to be elected to public office.

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elective

adjective
1. relating to or appointed by election.
2. (of a course of study, treatment, etc.) selected by the person concerned; not compulsory.

noun chiefly N. Amer.
an optional course of study.

DERIVATIVES:
electively adverb.

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elector

noun
1. a person who has the right to vote in an election.
2. (in the US) a member of the electoral college.
3. historical a German prince entitled to take part in the election of the Holy Roman Emperor.

DERIVATIVES:
electorship noun.

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electoral

adjective
relating to elections or electors.

DERIVATIVES:
electorally adverb.

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electoral college

noun
1. a body of electors chosen or appointed by a larger group.
2. (in the US) a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the President and Vice-President.

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electoral roll (also electoral register)

noun
an official list of the people in a district who are entitled to vote in an election.

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electorate

noun
1. the body of people in a country or area who are entitled to vote in an election.
2. Austral./NZ the area represented by one Member of Parliament.
3. historical the office or territories of a German elector.

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electric

adjective
1. of, worked by, or producing electricity.
2. thrillingly exciting.

noun (electrics) Brit.
the system of electric wiring and parts in a house or vehicle.

DERIVATIVES:
electrically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek lektron 'amber' (because rubbing amber causes electrostatic phenomena).

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electrical

adjective
concerned with, operating by, or producing electricity.

noun (electricals)
electrical equipment or circuitry.

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electric blanket

noun
an electrically wired blanket used for heating a bed.

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electric blue

noun
a steely or brilliant light blue.

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electric chair

noun
a chair in which convicted criminals are executed by electrocution.

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electric eel

noun
a large eel-like freshwater fish of South America, which uses pulses of electricity to kill prey, assist in navigation, and for defence.

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electric fence

noun
a fence through which an electric current can be passed, giving an electric shock to any person or animal touching it.

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electric guitar

noun
a guitar with a built-in pickup which converts sound vibrations into electrical signals for amplification.

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electrician

noun
a person who installs and maintains electrical equipment.

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electricity

noun
1. a form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles (such as electrons or protons), either statically as an accumulation of charge or dynamically as a current.
2. the supply of electric current to a building for heating, lighting, etc.
3. thrilling excitement.

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electric shock

noun
a sudden discharge of electricity through a part of the body.

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electric storm

noun
a thunderstorm or other violent disturbance of the electrical condition of the atmosphere.

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electrify

verb (electrifies, electrified)
1. charge with electricity.
2. convert to the use of electrical power.
3. (electrifying) causing thrilled admiration or excitement.

DERIVATIVES:
electrification noun
electrifier noun.

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electroconvulsive

adjective
relating to or denoting the treatment of mental illness by applying electric shocks to the brain.

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electrocute

verb
injure or kill by electric shock.

DERIVATIVES:
electrocution noun.

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electrode

noun
a conductor through which electricity enters or leaves something.

ORIGIN: from ELECTRIC + Greek hodos 'way' , on the pattern of anode and cathode.

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electrolysis

noun
1. chemical decomposition produced by passing an electric current through a conducting liquid.
2. the breaking up and removal of hair roots or small blemishes on the skin by means of an electric current.

DERIVATIVES:
electrolytic adjective.

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electrolyte

noun
1. a liquid or gel which contains ions and can be decomposed by electrolysis, e.g. that present in a battery.
2. Physiology the ionic constituents of cells, blood, etc.

ORIGIN: from Greek lutos 'released' .

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electromagnet

noun
a metal core made into a magnet by the passage of electric current through a surrounding coil.

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electromagnetic

adjective
relating to the interrelation of electric currents or fields and magnetic fields.

DERIVATIVES:
electromagnetically adverb
electromagnetism noun.

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electromagnetic radiation

noun
a kind of radiation including visible light, radio waves, gamma rays, and X-rays, in which electric and magnetic fields vary simultaneously.

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electromotive

adjective
tending to produce an electric current.

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electromotive force

noun
a difference in potential that tends to give rise to an electric current.

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electron

noun Physics
a stable negatively charged subatomic particle with a mass 1,836 times less than that of the proton, found in all atoms and acting as the primary carrier of electricity in solids.

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electron gun

noun
a device for producing a narrow stream of electrons from a heated cathode.

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electronic

adjective
1. having components such as microchips and transistors that control and direct electric currents.
2. relating to electrons or electronics.
3. relating to or carried out by means of a computer or other electronic device: electronic shopping.

DERIVATIVES:
electronically adverb.

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electronic publishing

noun
the issuing of texts in machine-readable form rather than on paper.

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electronics

plural noun
1. (usu. treated as sing. ) the branch of physics and technology concerned with the behaviour and movement of electrons, especially in semiconductors and gases.
2. (treated as pl. ) circuits or devices using transistors, microchips, etc.

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electron microscope

noun
a microscope with high magnification and resolution, employing electron beams in place of light.

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electroplate

verb
coat (a metal object) by electrolytic deposition with another metal.

noun
electroplated articles.

DERIVATIVES:
electroplater noun
electroplating noun.

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electroscope

noun
an instrument for detecting and measuring electric charge.

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electrostatic

adjective
relating to stationary electric charges or fields as opposed to electric currents.

DERIVATIVES:
electrostatics plural noun.

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elegant

adjective
1. graceful and stylish.
2. pleasingly ingenious and simple.

DERIVATIVES:
elegance noun
elegantly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin elegans 'discriminating' ; related to ELECT.

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elegiac

adjective
1. relating to or characteristic of an elegy.
2. wistfully mournful.

DERIVATIVES:
elegiacally adverb.

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elegy

noun (pl. elegies)
a mournful poem, typically a lament for the dead.

ORIGIN: Greek elegos 'mournful poem' .

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element

noun
1. a basic constituent part.
2. (also chemical element) each of more than one hundred substances that cannot be chemically interconverted or broken down.
3. any of the four substances (earth, water, air, and fire) regarded as the fundamental constituents of the world in ancient and medieval philosophy.
4. a trace: an element of danger.
5. a distinct group within a larger group: right-wing elements in the army.
6. (the elements) the weather, especially bad weather.
7. one's natural or preferred environment.
8. a part in an electric device consisting of a wire through which an electric current is passed to provide heat.

ORIGIN: Latin elementum 'principle, rudiment' .

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elemental

adjective
1. fundamental.
2. of or resembling the powerful and primitive forces of nature: elemental hatred.
3. relating to or of the nature of a chemical element.

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elementary

adjective
1. relating to the most rudimentary aspects of a subject.
2. straightforward and uncomplicated.
3. not decomposable into elements or other primary constituents.

DERIVATIVES:
elementarily adverb.

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elementary school

noun
a primary school, especially (N. Amer. ) for the first six or eight grades.

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elephant

noun (pl. same or elephants)
a very large plant-eating mammal with a trunk, long curved tusks, and large ears, native to Africa and southern Asia.

DERIVATIVES:
elephantoid adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek elephas 'ivory, elephant' .

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elephantine

adjective
resembling or characteristic of an elephant, especially in being large or clumsy.

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elevate

verb
1. lift to a higher position.
2. raise to a higher level or status.

ORIGIN: Latin elevare 'to raise' .

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elevated

adjective
of a high intellectual or moral level.

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elevation

noun
1. the action of elevating or the fact of being elevated.
2. height above a given level, especially sea level.
3. the angle of something with the horizontal.
4. a particular side of a building.
5. a scale drawing showing the vertical projection of one side of a building.

DERIVATIVES:
elevational adjective.

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elevator

noun
1. N. Amer. a platform or compartment housed in a shaft for raising and lowering people or things.
2. a machine consisting of an endless belt with scoops attached, used for raising grain.
3. N. Amer. a tall building used for storing grain.

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eleven

cardinal number
1. one more than ten; 11. (Roman numeral: xi or XI.)
2. a sports team of eleven players.

DERIVATIVES:
elevenfold adjective & adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English, from the base of ONE + a second element occurring also in TWELVE.

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eleven-plus

noun
(in the UK, especially formerly) an examination taken at the age of 11 12 to determine the type of secondary school a child should enter.

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elevenses

plural noun Brit. informal
a break for light refreshments taken at about eleven o'clock in the morning.

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eleventh

ordinal number
constituting number eleven in a sequence; 11th.

IDIOMS -
the eleventh hour the latest possible moment.

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elf

noun (pl. elves)
a supernatural creature of folk tales, represented as a small, delicate human figure with pointed ears and a capricious nature.

DERIVATIVES:
elfish adjective
elven adjective (literary )
elvish adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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elfin

adjective
of or resembling an elf, especially in being small and delicate.

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elicit

verb (elicited, eliciting)
evoke or draw out (a response or reaction).

DERIVATIVES:
elicitation noun
elicitor noun.

ORIGIN: Latin elicere 'draw out by trickery' .

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elide

verb
1. omit (a sound or syllable) when speaking.
2. join together; merge.

ORIGIN: Latin elidere 'crush out' .

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eligible

adjective
1. satisfying the conditions to do or receive something: you may be eligible for a refund.
2. desirable or suitable as a spouse.

DERIVATIVES:
eligibility noun.

ORIGIN: Latin eligibilis, from eligere 'choose, select' .

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eliminate

verb
1. completely remove or get rid of.
2. reject or exclude from consideration or further participation.

DERIVATIVES:
elimination noun
eliminator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin eliminare 'turn out of doors' .

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elision

noun
1. the omission of a sound or syllable in speech.
2. the action of joining or merging.

ORIGIN: Latin, from elidere 'crush out' .

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elite

noun
1. a group of people regarded as the best in a particular society or organization.
2. a size of letter in typewriting, with 12 characters to the inch (about 4.7 to the centimetre).

ORIGIN: French, 'selection, choice' .

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elitism

noun
1. the belief that a society or system should be run by an elite.
2. the superior attitude or behaviour associated with an elite.

DERIVATIVES:
elitist adjective & noun.

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elixir

noun
a magical or medicinal potion, especially (in former times) either one supposedly able to change metals into gold or (also called elixir of life) supposedly able to prolong life indefinitely.

ORIGIN: Arabic, from Greek xrion 'powder for drying wounds' .

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Elizabethan

adjective
relating to or characteristic of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558 1603).

noun
a person, especially a writer, of the Elizabethan age.

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elk

noun (pl. same or elks)
1. a large northern deer with palmate antlers and a growth of skin hanging from the neck.
2. N. Amer. a red deer of a large North American subspecies.

ORIGIN: probably Old English.

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ellipse

noun
a regular oval shape, traced by a point moving in a plane so that the sum of its distances from two other points is constant, or resulting when a cone is cut by an oblique plane which does not intersect the base.

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ellipsis

noun (pl. ellipses)
1. the omission of words from speech or writing.
2. a set of dots indicating such an omission.

ORIGIN: Greek elleipsis, from elleipein 'leave out' .

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elliptic

adjective
relating to or having the form of an ellipse.

DERIVATIVES:
ellipticity noun.

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elliptical

adjective
1. another term for ELLIPTIC.
2. (of speech or text) using or involving ellipsis, especially so as to be difficult to understand.

DERIVATIVES:
elliptically adverb.

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elm

noun
a tall deciduous tree with rough serrated leaves.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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El Niño

noun (pl. El Niños)
an irregularly occurring and complex cycle of climatic changes affecting the Pacific region.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'the Christ child' , so called because the characteristic sign of an El Niño is the appearance of unusually warm, nutrient-poor water off northern Peru and Ecuador around Christmas time.

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elocution

noun
1. the skill of clear and expressive speech, especially of distinct pronunciation and articulation.
2. a particular style of speaking.

DERIVATIVES:
elocutionist noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from eloqui 'speak out' .

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elongate

verb
make or become longer.

DERIVATIVES:
elongation noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «move away»: from Latin elongare 'place at a distance' .

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elope

verb
run away secretly in order to get married.

DERIVATIVES:
elopement noun.

ORIGIN: Old French aloper.

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eloquence

noun
fluent or persuasive speaking or writing.

ORIGIN: Latin eloquentia, from eloqui 'speak out' .

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eloquent

adjective
1. showing eloquence.
2. clearly indicative or expressive.

DERIVATIVES:
eloquently adverb.

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else

adverb
1. in addition; besides.
2. different; instead.

IDIOMS -
or else
1. used to introduce the second of two alternatives.
2. in circumstances different from those mentioned; otherwise.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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elsewhere

adverb
in, at, or to some other place or other places.

pronoun
some other place.

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elucidate

verb
make clear; explain.

DERIVATIVES:
elucidation noun
elucidatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin elucidare 'make clear' .

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elude

verb
1. evade or escape adroitly from.
2. fail to be attained or understood by: the logic of this eluded her.

ORIGIN: Latin eludere, from ludere 'to play' .

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elusive

adjective
1. difficult to find, catch, or achieve.
2. difficult to remember.

DERIVATIVES:
elusively adverb
elusiveness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin eludere 'elude' .

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elver

noun
a young eel.

ORIGIN: variant of dialect eel-fare «the passage of young eels up a river», from FARE in its original sense «a journey».

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Elysian

adjective
1. relating to Elysium or the Elysian Fields, the place in Greek mythology where heroes were conveyed after death.
2. of or like paradise.

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emaciated

adjective
abnormally thin and weak.

DERIVATIVES:
emaciation noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin emaciare 'make thin' .

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email

noun
the sending of messages by electronic means from one computer user to one or more recipients via a network.

verb
mail or send using email.

DERIVATIVES:
emailer noun.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of electronic mail.

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emanate

verb
1. (emanate from) issue or spread out from (a source).
2. give out or emit: he emanated a brooding air.

ORIGIN: Latin emanare 'flow out' .

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emanation

noun
1. something which emanates from a source.
2. (in various mystical traditions) a being or force which is a manifestation of God.
3. the action or process of emanating.

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emancipate

verb
1. set free, especially from legal, social, or political restrictions.
2. free from slavery.

DERIVATIVES:
emancipation noun
emancipator noun
emancipatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin emancipare 'transfer as property' , from mancipium 'slave' .

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emasculate

verb
1. make weaker or less effective.
2. deprive (a man) of his male role or identity.

DERIVATIVES:
emasculation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin emasculare 'castrate' .

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embalm

verb
preserve (a corpse) from decay, originally with spices and now usually by injection of a preservative.

DERIVATIVES:
embalmer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French embaumer, from baume 'balm' .

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embankment

noun
1. a wall or bank built to prevent flooding by a river.
2. a bank of earth or stone built to carry a road or railway over an area of low ground.

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embargo

noun (pl. embargoes)
1. an official ban, especially on trade or other commercial activity with a particular country.
2. historical an order of a state forbidding foreign ships to enter, or any ships to leave, its ports.

verb (embargoes, embargoed)
impose an embargo on.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from embargar 'to arrest' .

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embark

verb
1. go on board a ship or aircraft.
2. (embark on/upon) begin (a new project or course of action).

DERIVATIVES:
embarkation noun.

ORIGIN: French embarquer, from barque 'bark, ship' .

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embarrass

verb
1. cause to feel awkward, self-conscious, or ashamed.
2. (be embarrassed) be caused financial difficulties.

DERIVATIVES:
embarrassed adjective
embarrassing adjective
embarrassment noun.

ORIGIN: French embarrasser, probably from Portuguese embaraçar, from baraço 'halter' .

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embassy

noun (pl. embassies)
1. the official residence or offices of an ambassador.
2. chiefly historical a deputation sent by one state to another.

ORIGIN: Old French ambasse, from Latin ambactus 'servant' (related to AMBASSADOR).

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embattled

adjective
1. prepared for battle, especially because surrounded by enemy forces.
2. beset by difficulties: the embattled Chancellor.
3. fortified; having battlements.

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embed (also imbed)

verb (embedded, embedding)
1. fix firmly and deeply in a surrounding mass.
2. implant (an idea or feeling).

DERIVATIVES:
embedment noun.

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embellish

verb
1. make more attractive; decorate.
2. add extra details to (a story or account) for interest.

DERIVATIVES:
embellisher noun
embellishment noun.

ORIGIN: Old French embellir, from bel 'handsome' .

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ember

noun
a small piece of burning wood or coal in a dying fire.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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embezzle

verb
steal or misappropriate (money placed in one's trust or under one's control).

DERIVATIVES:
embezzlement noun
embezzler noun.

ORIGIN: Old French embesiler, from besiler 'destroy, maltreat' .

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embitter

verb
make bitter or resentful.

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emblazon

verb
1. (usu. be emblazoned) conspicuously display (a design) on something.
2. depict (a heraldic device) on something.

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emblem

noun
1. a heraldic device or symbolic object as a distinctive badge of a nation, organization, or family.
2. a symbol or symbolic representation.

DERIVATIVES:
emblematic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek emblma 'insertion' .

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embody

verb (embodies, embodied)
1. give a tangible or visible form to (an idea or quality).
2. include or contain as a constituent part.

DERIVATIVES:
embodiment noun.

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embolden

verb
give courage or confidence to.

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embolism

noun Medicine
obstruction of an artery, typically by a clot of blood or an air bubble.

ORIGIN: Greek embolismos, from emballein 'insert' .

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emboss

verb
carve a design in relief on.

DERIVATIVES:
embosser noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete French embosser, from boce 'protuberance' .

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embrace

verb
1. hold closely in one's arms, especially as a sign of affection.
2. include or contain.
3. accept or support (a belief or change) willingly.

noun
an act of embracing.

DERIVATIVES:
embraceable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French embracer, from Latin bracchium 'arm' .

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embrocation

noun
a liquid medication rubbed on the body to relieve pain from sprains and strains.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek embrokh 'lotion' .

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embroider

verb
1. sew decorative needlework patterns on.
2. add fictitious or exaggerated details to.

DERIVATIVES:
embroiderer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French enbrouder.

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embroidery

noun (pl. embroideries)
1. the art or pastime of embroidering.
2. embroidered cloth.

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embroil

verb
involve deeply in a conflict or difficult situation.

DERIVATIVES:
embroilment noun.

ORIGIN: French embrouiller 'to muddle' .

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embryo

noun (pl. embryos)
1. an unborn or unhatched offspring in the process of development, especially an unborn human in the first eight weeks from conception. Compare with FETUS.
2. the part of a seed which develops into a new plant.

IDIOMS -
in embryo at a rudimentary stage.

DERIVATIVES:
embryonal adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek embruon 'fetus' .

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embryonic

adjective
1. relating to an embryo.
2. in or at a rudimentary stage.

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emcee N. Amer. informal

noun
a master of ceremonies.

verb (emcees, emceed, emceeing)
act as a master of ceremonies for or at.

ORIGIN: representing the pronunciation of MC.

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emend

verb
correct and revise (a text).

DERIVATIVES:
emendation noun.
USAGE - The words emend and amend both derive from Latin emendare ‘to correct’ and have similar, but not identical, meanings in English. Emend means ‘correct and revise (a text)’, while amend means ‘make minor improvements to (a document, rule, or proposal)’.
ORIGIN: Latin emendare, from menda 'a fault' .

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emerald

noun
1. a bright green gem variety of beryl.
2. a bright green colour.

ORIGIN: Old French esmeraud, from Greek smaragdos.

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emerge

verb
1. become gradually visible or apparent.
2. (of facts) become known.
3. recover from or survive a difficult period.

DERIVATIVES:
emergence noun.

ORIGIN: Latin emergere, from mergere 'to dip' .

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emergency

noun (pl. emergencies)
1. a serious, unexpected, and potentially dangerous situation requiring immediate action.
2. (before another noun ) arising from or used in an emergency: an emergency exit.
3. N. Amer. the casualty department in a hospital.

ORIGIN: Latin emergentia, from emergere 'emerge' .

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emergent

adjective
in the process of coming into being.

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emeritus

adjective
having retired but allowed to retain a title as an honour: an emeritus professor.

ORIGIN: Latin, from emereri 'earn one's discharge by service' .

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emery board

noun
a strip of thin wood or card coated with emery or another abrasive and used as a nail file.

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emetic

adjective
(of a substance) causing vomiting.

noun
an emetic substance.

ORIGIN: Greek emetikos, from emein 'to vomit' .

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EMF

abbreviation
1. electromagnetic field(s).
2. (emf) electromotive force.

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emigrant

noun
a person who emigrates.

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emigrate

verb
leave one's own country in order to settle permanently in another.

DERIVATIVES:
emigration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin emigrare, from migrare 'migrate' .

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émigré

noun
a person who has emigrated, especially for political reasons.

ORIGIN: French.

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eminence

noun
1. acknowledged superiority within a particular sphere.
2. an important or distinguished person.
3. (His/Your Eminence) a title given to a Roman Catholic cardinal.
4. formal or literary a piece of rising ground.

ORIGIN: Latin eminentia, from eminere 'jut, project' .

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éminence grise

noun (pl. éminences grises pronunc. same)
a person who exercises power or influence without holding an official position.

ORIGIN: French, 'grey eminence' ; the term was originally applied to Cardinal Richelieu's grey-cloaked private secretary, Père Joseph (1577 1638).

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eminent

adjective
1. respected; distinguished.
2. outstanding or conspicuous: the eminent reasonableness of their claim.

DERIVATIVES:
eminently adverb.

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emir (also amir)

noun
a title of various Muslim (mainly Arab) rulers.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a male descendant of Muhammad: from Arabic, 'commander' .

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emissary

noun (pl. emissaries)
a person sent as a diplomatic representative on a special mission.

ORIGIN: Latin emissarius 'scout, spy' , from emittere 'emit' .

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emission

noun
1. the action of emitting something, especially heat, light, gas, or radiation.
2. a substance which is emitted.

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emit

verb (emitted, emitting)
1. discharge; send forth or give out.
2. make (a sound).

DERIVATIVES:
emitter noun.

ORIGIN: Latin emittere, from mittere 'send' .

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Emmy

noun (pl. Emmys)
(in the US) a statuette awarded annually to an outstanding television programme or performer.

ORIGIN: said to be from Immy, short for image orthicon tube (a kind of television camera tube).

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emollient

adjective
1. having the quality of softening or soothing the skin.
2. attempting to avoid confrontation or anger; calming.

noun
an emollient substance.

DERIVATIVES:
emollience noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin emollire 'make soft' .

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emolument

noun formal
a salary, fee, or benefit from employment or office.

ORIGIN: Latin emolumentum (originally probably meaning 'payment for grinding corn' ), from molere 'grind' .

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emote

verb
portray emotion in an exaggerated way.

ORIGIN: back-formation from EMOTION.

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emotion

noun
1. a strong feeling, such as joy or anger.
2. instinctive feeling as distinguished from reasoning or knowledge.

DERIVATIVES:
emotionless adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a public disturbance: from French, from Latin emovere 'disturb' .

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emotional

adjective
1. relating to the emotions.
2. arousing or showing emotion.
3. easily affected by or readily displaying emotion.

DERIVATIVES:
emotionalism noun
emotionality noun
emotionalize (also emotionalise) verb
emotionally adverb.

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emotive

adjective
arousing intense feeling.

DERIVATIVES:
emotively adverb
emotivity noun.

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empathize (also empathise)

verb
understand and share the feelings of another.

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empathy

noun
the ability to empathize.

DERIVATIVES:
empathetic adjective
empathic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek empatheia, from pathos 'feeling' .

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emperor

noun
the ruler of an empire.

ORIGIN: Latin imperator 'military commander' , from imperare 'to command' .

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emperor penguin

noun
the largest kind of penguin, which breeds in the Antarctic and has a yellow patch on each side of the head.

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emphasis

noun (pl. emphases)
1. special importance, value, or prominence given to something.
2. stress laid on a word or words in speaking.

ORIGIN: Greek, originally in the sense 'appearance, show' , later denoting a figure of speech in which more is implied than said.

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emphasize (also emphasise)

verb
give special importance or prominence to.

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emphatic

adjective
1. showing or giving emphasis.
2. definite and clear: an emphatic win.

DERIVATIVES:
emphatically adverb.

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emphysema (also pulmonary emphysema)

noun Medicine
a condition in which the air sacs of the lungs are damaged and enlarged, causing breathlessness.

ORIGIN: Greek emphusma, from emphusan 'puff up' .

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empire

noun
1. an extensive group of states ruled over by a single monarch or ruling authority.
2. supreme political power.
3. a large commercial organization under the control of one person or group.

adjective (Empire)
denoting a neoclassical style of furniture and dress fashionable chiefly during the First Empire (1804 15) in France.

ORIGIN: Latin imperium, from imperare 'to command' .

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empirical (also empiric)

adjective
based on observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic.

DERIVATIVES:
empirically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek empeirikos, from empeiria 'experience' .

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empiricism

noun Philosophy
the theory that all knowledge is derived from experience and observation.

DERIVATIVES:
empiricist noun & adjective.

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emplacement

noun
a structure or platform where a gun is placed for firing.

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employ

verb
1. give work to (someone) and pay them for it.
2. make use of.
3. keep occupied.

IDIOMS -
in the employ of employed by.

DERIVATIVES:
employability noun
employable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French employer, from Latin implicare 'involve, imply' .

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employee

noun
a person employed for wages or salary.

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employer

noun
a person or organization that employs people.

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employment

noun
1. the action of employing or the state of being employed.
2. a person's work or profession.

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emporium

noun (pl. emporia or emporiums)
a large store selling a wide variety of goods.

ORIGIN: Greek emporion, from emporos 'merchant' .

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empower

verb
1. give authority or power to; authorize.
2. give strength and confidence to.

DERIVATIVES:
empowerment noun.

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empress

noun
1. a female emperor.
2. the wife or widow of an emperor.

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empty

adjective (emptier, emptiest)
1. containing nothing; not filled or occupied.
2. having no meaning or likelihood of fulfilment: an empty threat.
3. having no value or purpose.

verb (empties, emptied)
1. make or become empty.
2. discharge (the contents) from a container.
3. (of a river) flow into the sea or a lake.

noun (pl. empties) informal
a bottle or glass left empty of its contents.

IDIOMS -
be running on empty have exhausted all of one's resources.
empty vessels make most noise (or sound) proverb those with least wisdom or knowledge are always the most talkative.

DERIVATIVES:
emptily adverb
emptiness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «at leisure, empty».

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empty-handed

adjective
having failed to obtain or achieve what one wanted.

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empty-headed

adjective
unintelligent and foolish.

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empyrean literary

noun (the empyrean)
heaven or the sky.

adjective
relating to heaven.

ORIGIN: Greek empurios (used by the ancients to refer to the highest part of heaven, thought to be the realm of pure fire), from pur 'fire' .

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EMU

abbreviation
Economic and Monetary Union.

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emu

noun
a large flightless fast-running Australian bird similar to an ostrich.

ORIGIN: Portuguese ema.

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emulate

verb
try to equal or surpass, typically by imitation.

DERIVATIVES:
emulation noun
emulative adjective
emulator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin aemulari 'to rival or equal' .

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emulsifier

noun
a substance that stabilizes an emulsion, especially an additive used to stabilize processed foods.

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emulsify

verb (emulsifies, emulsified)
make into or become an emulsion.

DERIVATIVES:
emulsifiable adjective
emulsification noun.

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emulsion

noun
1. a fine dispersion of minute droplets of one liquid in another in which it is not soluble or miscible.
2. a type of paint consisting of pigment bound in a synthetic resin which forms an emulsion with water.
3. a light-sensitive coating for photographic films and plates, containing crystals of a silver compound dispersed in a medium such as gelatin.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a milky liquid made by crushing almonds in water: from Latin, from emulgere 'milk out' .

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en- (also em-)

prefix forming verbs:
1. (added to nouns) meaning ‘put into or on’: engulf.
2. (added to nouns and adjectives) meaning ‘bring into the condition of’: enliven.
3. (added to verbs) meaning ‘in, into, or on’ or as an intensifier: ensnare | entangle.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin in-.

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-en [1]

suffix
forming verbs from adjectives or nouns denoting the development or intensification of a state or quality: widen.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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-en [2]

suffix (also -n) forming adjectives from nouns:
1. made or consisting of: earthen.
2. resembling: golden.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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-en [3] (also -n)

suffix forming past participles of strong verbs:
1. as a regular inflection: spoken.
2. as an adjective: mistaken.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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enable

verb
1. provide with the ability or means to do something.
2. make possible.

DERIVATIVES:
enablement noun
enabler noun.

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enact

verb
1. make (a bill or other proposal) law.
2. act out (a role or play).

DERIVATIVES:
enactor noun.

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enactment

noun
1. the process of enacting.
2. a law that has been passed.

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enamel

noun
1. a coloured opaque glassy substance applied to metal, glass, or pottery for decorative or protective purposes.
2. the hard glossy substance that covers the crown of a tooth.
3. a paint that dries to give a smooth, hard coat.

verb (enamelled, enamelling; US enameled, enameling) (usu. as adj. enamelled)
coat or decorate with enamel.

DERIVATIVES:
enameller noun.

ORIGIN: Old French enamailler, from amail 'enamel' .

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enamour (US enamor)

verb (be enamoured of/with/by)
be filled with love or admiration for.

ORIGIN: Old French enamourer, from amour 'love' .

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en bloc

adverb
all together or all at once.

ORIGIN: French.

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encamp

verb
settle in or establish a camp.

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encampment

noun
1. a place where a camp is set up.
2. a prehistoric enclosed or fortified site, especially an Iron Age hill fort.

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encapsulate

verb
1. enclose in or as if in a capsule.
2. express concisely and succinctly.

DERIVATIVES:
encapsulation noun.

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encase (also incase)

verb
enclose or cover in a case or close-fitting surround.

DERIVATIVES:
encasement noun.

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encephalitis

noun
inflammation of the brain.

DERIVATIVES:
encephalitic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek enkephalos 'brain' .

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enchant

verb
1. delight; charm.
2. put under a spell.

DERIVATIVES:
enchanter noun
enchantment noun
enchantress noun.

ORIGIN: French enchanter, from Latin cantare 'sing' .

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enchanting

adjective
delightfully charming or attractive.

DERIVATIVES:
enchantingly adverb.

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encircle

verb
form a circle around; surround.

DERIVATIVES:
encirclement noun.

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enclave

noun
1. a portion of territory surrounded by a larger territory whose inhabitants are culturally or ethnically distinct.
2. a group that is different in character from those surrounding it: a male enclave.

ORIGIN: from Old French enclaver 'enclose' , from Latin clavis 'key' .

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enclose (also inclose)

verb
1. surround or close off on all sides.
2. place in an envelope together with a letter.

ORIGIN: Old French enclore, from Latin includere 'shut in' .

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enclosure (also inclosure)

noun
1. an area that is enclosed by a fence, wall, or other barrier.
2. a document or object placed in an envelope together with a letter.

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encode

verb
convert into a coded form.

DERIVATIVES:
encoder noun.

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encomium

noun (pl. encomiums or encomia) formal
a speech or piece of writing expressing praise.

ORIGIN: Greek enkmion 'eulogy' .

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encompass

verb
1. surround and have or hold within.
2. include comprehensively.

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encore

noun
a repeated or additional performance of an item at the end of a concert, as called for by an audience.

exclamation
again! (as called by an audience at the end of a concert)

verb
call for (an encore).

ORIGIN: French, 'still, again' .

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encounter

verb
unexpectedly meet or be faced with.

noun
1. an unexpected or casual meeting.
2. a confrontation or difficult struggle.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «meet as an adversary»: from Old French encontrer, from Latin contra 'against' .

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encourage

verb
1. give support, confidence, or hope to.
2. help or stimulate the development of.

DERIVATIVES:
encouragement noun
encourager noun
encouraging adjective.

ORIGIN: French encourager, from corage 'courage' .

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encroach

verb
1. (encroach on/upon) gradually intrude on (a person's territory, rights, etc.).
2. advance gradually beyond expected or acceptable limits: the sea has encroached all round the coast.

DERIVATIVES:
encroachment noun.

ORIGIN: Old French encrochier 'seize' .

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en croute

adjective & adverb
in a pastry crust.

ORIGIN: French.

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encrust (also incrust)

verb
cover with a hard crust.

DERIVATIVES:
encrustation noun.

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encrypt

verb
convert into code.

DERIVATIVES:
encryption noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek kruptos 'hidden' .

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encumber

verb
be a burden or impediment to.

ORIGIN: Old French encombrer 'block up' , from combre 'river barrage' .

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encumbrance

noun
1. a burden or impediment.
2. Law a mortgage or other charge on property or assets.

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encyclopedia (also encyclopaedia)

noun
a book or set of books giving information on many subjects or on many aspects of one subject, typically arranged alphabetically.

ORIGIN: pseudo-Greek enkuklopaideia, for enkuklios paideia 'all-round education' .

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encyclopedic (also encyclopaedic)

adjective
1. comprehensive: an encyclopedic knowledge.
2. relating to encyclopedias or information suitable for an encyclopedia.

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end

noun
1. the final part of something.
2. the furthest or most extreme part.
3. a termination of a state or situation: they called for an end to violence.
4. a person's death or downfall.
5. a goal or desired result.
6. a part or share of an activity: your end of the deal.
7. a small piece that is left after use.
8. the part of a sports field or court defended by one team or player.

verb
1. come or bring to an end; finish.
2. (end in) have as its result.
3. (end up) eventually reach or come to a particular state or place.

IDIOMS -
at the end of the day informal, chiefly Brit. when everything is taken into consideration.
be the end informal be the limit of what one can tolerate.
end it all commit suicide.
the end of the road (or line) the point beyond which progress or survival cannot continue.
the end of one's tether having no patience or energy left.
end on situated on or viewed from the end.
end to end in a row with the ends touching or close together.
in the end eventually.
keep (or hold) one's end up informal perform well in a difficult or competitive situation.
make (both) ends meet earn just enough money to live on.
no end informal very much.
no end of informal a vast number or amou nt of.
on end
1. continuously.
2. upright.
the sharp end informal the most challenging and risky part of an activity.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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endanger

verb
put in danger.

DERIVATIVES:
endangerment noun.

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endangered

adjective
in danger of extinction.

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endear

verb
cause to be loved or liked.

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endearing

adjective
inspiring love or affection.

DERIVATIVES:
endearingly adverb.

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endearment

noun
1. love or affection.
2. a word or phrase expressing this.

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endeavour (US endeavor)

verb
try hard to do or achieve something.

noun
1. an earnest attempt to achieve something.
2. earnest and industrious effort.

ORIGIN: from the obsolete phrase put oneself in devoir «do one's utmost» (from archaic devoir 'one's duty' ).

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endemic

adjective
1. (of a disease or condition) regularly found among particular people or in a certain area.
2. (of a plant or animal) native or restricted to a certain area.

DERIVATIVES:
endemicity noun
endemism noun.

ORIGIN: Greek endmios 'native' .

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endgame

noun
the final stage of a game such as chess or bridge, when few pieces or cards remain.

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ending

noun
an end or final part.

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endive

noun
1. a plant with bitter curly or smooth leaves, eaten in salads.
2. (also Belgian endive) N. Amer. a chicory crown.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Greek entubon.

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endless

adjective
1. having or seeming to have no end or limit.
2. innumerable.
3. (of a belt, chain, or tape) having the ends joined to allow for continuous action.

DERIVATIVES:
endlessly adverb
endlessness noun.

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endocrine

adjective
(of a gland) secreting hormones or other products directly into the blood.

ORIGIN: from Greek krinein 'sift' .

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endorphin

noun
any of a group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system and causing an analgesic effect.

ORIGIN: blend of ENDOGENOUS and MORPHINE.

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endorse (US & Law also indorse)

verb
1. declare one's public approval of.
2. sign (a cheque or bill of exchange) on the back to specify another as the payee or to accept responsibility for paying it.
3. Brit. enter an endorsement on (a driving licence).

DERIVATIVES:
endorsable adjective
endorsee noun
endorser noun.

ORIGIN: Latin indorsare, from dorsum 'back' .

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endorsement (chiefly US also indorsement)

noun
1. an act or the action of endorsing.
2. (in the UK) a note on a driving licence recording the penalty points incurred for a driving offence.
3. a clause in an insurance policy detailing an exemption from or change in cover.

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endoskeleton

noun
an internal skeleton, such as that of vertebrates. Compare with EXOSKELETON.

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endosperm

noun Botany
the part of a seed which acts as a food store for the developing plant embryo.

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endothermic

adjective
1. Chemistry (of a reaction) accompanied by the absorption of heat. The opposite of EXOTHERMIC.
2. Zoology (of an animal) dependent on the internal generation of heat.

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endow

verb
1. give or bequeath an income or property to.
2. (usu. be endowed with) provide with a quality, ability, or asset.
3. establish (a university post, annual prize, etc.) by donating funds.

DERIVATIVES:
endower noun.

ORIGIN: Old French endouer, from Latin dotare 'endow' .

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endowment

noun
1. the action of endowing.
2. a quality or ability with which a person is endowed.
3. an income or form of property endowed.
4. (before another noun ) denoting a form of life insurance involving payment of a fixed sum to the insured person on a specified date, or to their estate should they die before this date.

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endowment mortgage

noun Brit.
a mortgage linked to an endowment insurance policy which is intended to repay the capital sum on maturity.

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endpaper

noun
a leaf of paper at the beginning or end of a book, fixed to the inside of the cover.

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endurance

noun
1. the fact or power of enduring something painful and prolonged.
2. the capacity of something to last or to withstand wear and tear.

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endure

verb
1. suffer (something painful and prolonged) patiently.
2. tolerate.
3. remain in existence.

DERIVATIVES:
endurable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin indurare 'harden' .

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endways (also endwise)

adverb
1. with its end facing upwards, forwards, or towards the viewer.
2. end to end.

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ENE

abbreviation
east-north-east.

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enema

noun (pl. enemas or enemata)
a procedure in which fluid is injected into the rectum, typically to expel its contents.

ORIGIN: Greek, from enienai 'send or put in' .

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enemy

noun (pl. enemies)
1. a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.
2. (the enemy) (treated as sing. or pl. ) a hostile nation or its armed forces in time of war.
3. a thing that damages or opposes something: routine is the enemy of art.

ORIGIN: Old French enemi, from Latin inimicus, from in- 'not' + amicus 'friend' .

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energetic

adjective
1. showing or involving great energy or activity.
2. Physics relating to energy.

DERIVATIVES:
energetically adverb.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «powerfully effective»: from Greek energein 'operate, work in or upon' .

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energy

noun (pl. energies)
1. the strength and vitality required for sustained activity.
2. (energies) a person's physical and mental powers as applied to a particular activity.
3. power derived from physical or chemical resources to provide light and heat or to work machines.
4. Physics the property of matter and radiation which is manifest as a capacity to perform work.

DERIVATIVES:
energize (also energise) verb.

ORIGIN: Greek energeia, from ergon 'work' .

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enervate

verb
cause to feel drained of energy.

DERIVATIVES:
enervation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin enervare 'weaken (by extraction of the sinews)' , from nervus 'sinew' .

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enfant terrible

noun (pl. enfants terribles pronunc. same)
a person who behaves in an unconventional or controversial way.

ORIGIN: French, 'terrible child' .

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enfeeble

verb
weaken.

DERIVATIVES:
enfeeblement noun.

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enfilade

noun
1. a volley of gunfire directed along a line from end to end.
2. a suite of rooms with doorways in line with each other.

verb
direct an enfilade at.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a military post commanding the length of a line: from French, from enfiler 'thread on a string' .

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enfold

verb
surround; envelop.

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enforce

verb
1. compel compliance with (a law, rule, or obligation).
2. cause to happen by necessity or force.

DERIVATIVES:
enforceable adjective
enforced adjective
enforcement noun
enforcer noun.

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enfranchise

verb
1. give the right to vote to.
2. historical free (a slave).

DERIVATIVES:
enfranchisement noun.

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engage

verb
1. attract or involve (someone's interest or attention).
2. (engage in/with) participate or become involved in.
3. chiefly Brit. employ or hire.
4. enter into a contract to do.
5. enter into combat with.
6. (with reference to a part of a machine or engine) move into position so as to come into operation.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «pawn or pledge»: from French engager, ultimately from GAGE.

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engagé

adjective
(of a writer or artist) morally committed to a particular cause.

ORIGIN: French.

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engaged

adjective
1. busy; occupied.
2. Brit. (of a telephone line) unavailable because already in use.
3. having formally agreed to marry.

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engagement

noun
1. a formal agreement to get married.
2. an appointment.
3. the action of engaging or being engaged.
4. a fight or battle between armed forces.

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engaging

adjective
charming and attractive.

DERIVATIVES:
engagingly adverb.

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engender

verb
give rise to.

ORIGIN: Old French engendrer, from Latin generare 'beget' .

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engine

noun
1. a machine with moving parts that converts power into motion.
2. (also railway engine) a locomotive.
3. historical a mechanical device or instrument, especially one used in warfare: a siege engine.

DERIVATIVES:
-engined adjective
engineless adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «ingenuity, cunning»: from Latin ingenium 'talent, device' , from gignere 'beget' .

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engineer

noun
1. a person qualified in engineering.
2. a person who maintains or controls an engine or machine.
3. a person who skilfully originates something.

verb
1. design and build.
2. contrive to bring about.

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engineering

noun
the branch of science and technology concerned with the design, building, and use of engines, machines, and structures.

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English

noun
the language of England, now used in many varieties throughout the world.

adjective
relating to England.

DERIVATIVES:
Englishness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to ANGLE.

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English breakfast

noun
a substantial cooked breakfast, typically including bacon and eggs.

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Englishman (or Englishwoman)

noun
a person from England.

IDIOMS -
an Englishman's home is his castle Brit. proverb an English person's home is a place where they may do as they please.

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English rose

noun
an attractive English girl with a delicate, fair-skinned complexion.

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engorge

verb (often be engorged)
swell or cause to swell with blood, water, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
engorgement noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «gorge oneself»: from Old French engorgier 'feed to excess' .

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engrave

verb
1. cut or carve (a text or design) on a hard surface.
2. cut or carve a text or design on.
3. (be engraved on or in) be permanently fixed in (one's mind).

DERIVATIVES:
engraver noun.

ORIGIN: from EN- + GRAVE.

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engraving

noun
1. a print made from an engraved plate, block, or other surface.
2. the process or art of cutting or carving a design on a hard surface, especially so as to make a print.

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engross

verb
1. (often be engrossed in) absorb all the attention of.
2. Law produce (a legal document) in its final or definitive form.

ORIGIN: sense 1 is from Latin in grosso 'wholesale' ; sense 2 is from Latin ingrossare 'write in large letters' .

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engulf

verb
(of a natural force) sweep over so as to completely surround or cover.

DERIVATIVES:
engulfment noun.

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enhance

verb
increase the quality, value, or extent of.

DERIVATIVES:
enhancement noun
enhancer noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «elevate»: from Old French enhauncer, from Latin altus 'high' .

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enigma

noun
a mysterious or puzzling person or thing.

DERIVATIVES:
enigmatic adjective
enigmatical adjective
enigmatically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek ainigma 'riddle' .

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enjoin

verb
1. instruct or urge to do.
2. (enjoin from) Law prohibit (someone) from performing (an action) by an injunction.

ORIGIN: Old French enjoindre, from Latin injungere 'join, attach, impose' .

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enjoy

verb
1. take pleasure in.
2. (enjoy oneself) have a pleasant time.
3. possess and benefit from: these professions enjoy high status.

DERIVATIVES:
enjoyment noun.

ORIGIN: Old French enjoier 'give joy to' or enjoïr 'enjoy' .

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enjoyable

adjective
giving delight or pleasure.

DERIVATIVES:
enjoyability noun
enjoyably adverb.

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enlarge

verb
1. make or become bigger.
2. (enlarge on/upon) speak or write about in greater detail.

DERIVATIVES:
enlarger noun.

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enlargement

noun
1. the action of enlarging or the state of being enlarged.
2. a photograph that is larger than the original negative or than an earlier print.

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enlighten

verb
1. give greater knowledge and understanding to.
2. (enlightened) rational, tolerant, and well-informed.

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enlightenment

noun
1. the action of enlightening or the state of being enlightened.
2. (the Enlightenment) a European intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition.

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enlist

verb
1. enrol or be enrolled in the armed services.
2. engage (a person or their help).

DERIVATIVES:
enlistment noun.

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enliven

verb
1. make more interesting or appealing.
2. make more cheerful or animated.

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en masse

adverb
all together.

ORIGIN: French, 'in a mass' .

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enmesh

verb (usu. be enmeshed in)
entangle.

DERIVATIVES:
enmeshment noun.

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enmity

noun (pl. enmities)
the state of being an enemy; hostility.

ORIGIN: Old French enemistie, from Latin inimicus 'enemy' .

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ennoble

verb
1. give a noble rank or title to.
2. give greater dignity to; elevate.

DERIVATIVES:
ennoblement noun.

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ennui

noun
listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from boredom.

ORIGIN: French, from the same Latin base as ANNOY.

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enormity

noun (pl. enormities)
1. (the enormity of) the extreme seriousness or extent of (something bad).
2. great size or scale: the enormity of Einstein's intellect.
3. a grave crime or sin.
USAGE - Enormity is not related to enormous and originally meant ‘a crime or deviation from morality’. For this reason some people object to its use in modern English as a synonym for hugeness.
ORIGIN: Latin enormitas, from norma 'pattern, standard' .

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enormous

adjective
very large.

DERIVATIVES:
enormously adverb
enormousness noun.

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enough

determiner & pronoun
as much or as many as is necessary or desirable.

adverb
1. to the required degree or extent.
2. to a moderate degree.

IDIOMS -
enough is as good as a feast proverb moderation is more satisfying than excess.
enough is enough no more will be tolerated.
enough said all is understood and there is no need to say more.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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enquire

verb
1. ask for information.
2. (enquire after) ask about the health and well-being of.
3. (enquire into) investigate.

DERIVATIVES:
enquirer noun
enquiring adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin inquirere, from quaerere 'seek' .

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enquiry

noun (pl. enquiries)
1. an act of asking for information.
2. an official investigation.

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enrage

verb
make very angry.

DERIVATIVES:
enraged adjective.

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enrapture

verb
give intense pleasure to.

DERIVATIVES:
enrapt adjective.

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enrich

verb
1. improve the quality or value of.
2. make wealthy or wealthier.

DERIVATIVES:
enrichment noun.

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enrol (US enroll)

verb (enrolled, enrolling)
officially register or recruit as a member or student.

ORIGIN: Old French enroller, from rolle 'a roll' : names were originally written on a roll of parchment.

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enrolment (US enrollment)

noun
1. the action of enrolling or being enrolled.
2. N. Amer. the number of people enrolled at a school or college.

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en route

adverb
on the way.

ORIGIN: French.

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ensconce

verb
establish in a comfortable, safe, or secret place.

ORIGIN: originally in the senses «fortify» and «shelter with a fortification»: from archaic sconce, denoting a small fort or earthwork, from High German schanze 'brushwood' .

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ensemble

noun
1. a group of musicians, actors, or dancers who perform together.
2. a passage for a whole choir or group of instruments.
3. a group of items viewed as a whole, in particular a set of clothes worn together.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin simul 'at the same time' .

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enshrine

verb
1. place (a revered or precious object) in an appropriate receptacle.
2. preserve (a right, tradition, or idea) in a form that ensures it will be respected.

DERIVATIVES:
enshrinement noun.

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enshroud

verb literary
envelop completely and hide from view.

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ensign

noun
1. a flag, especially a military or naval one indicating nationality.
2. the lowest rank of commissioned officer in the US and some other navies, above chief warrant officer and below lieutenant.
3. historical a standard-bearer.

ORIGIN: Old French enseigne, from Latin insignia (see INSIGNIA).

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enslave

verb
1. make (someone) a slave.
2. cause (someone) to lose freedom of choice or action.

DERIVATIVES:
enslavement noun
enslaver noun.

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ensnare

verb
catch in or as in a trap.

DERIVATIVES:
ensnarement noun.

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ensue

verb (ensues, ensued, ensuing)
happen or occur afterwards or as a result.

ORIGIN: Old French ensivre, from Latin sequi 'follow' .

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en suite

adjective & adverb Brit.
(of a bathroom) immediately adjoining a bedroom and forming a single unit.

ORIGIN: French, 'in sequence' .

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ensure

verb
1. make certain that (something) will occur or be so.
2. (ensure against) make sure that (a problem) does not occur.

ORIGIN: Old French enseurer, earlier form of assurer 'assure' .

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ENT

abbreviation
ear, nose, and throat (as a department in a hospital).

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entail

verb
1. involve (something) as an inevitable part or consequence.
2. Law settle the inheritance of (property) over a number of generations so that it remains within a family.

noun Law
an instance of entailing property.

DERIVATIVES:
entailment noun.

ORIGIN: from Old French taille.

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entangle

verb (usu. be entangled in/with)
1. cause to become tangled.
2. involve in complicated circumstances.

DERIVATIVES:
entanglement noun.

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entente (also entente cordiale)

noun
a friendly understanding or informal alliance between states or factions.

ORIGIN: from French entente cordiale 'friendly understanding' .

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enter

verb
1. come or go into.
2. (often enter into/on/upon) begin to be involved in or do.
3. join (an institution or profession).
4. register as a competitor or participant in.
5. (enter into) undertake to bind oneself by (an agreement)
6. record (information) in a book, computer, etc.

ORIGIN: Old French entrer, from Latin intra 'within' .

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enterprise

noun
1. a project or undertaking, especially a bold one.
2. bold resourcefulness.
3. a business or company.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'something undertaken' , from Latin prehendere 'to take' .

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enterprising

adjective
showing initiative and resourcefulness.

DERIVATIVES:
enterprisingly adverb.

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entertain

verb
1. provide with amusement or enjoyment.
2. show hospitality to.
3. give attention or consideration to.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «maintain, continue»: from French entretenir, from Latin tenere 'to hold' .

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entertainer

noun
a person, such as a singer or comedian, whose job is to entertain others.

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entertaining

adjective
providing amusement or enjoyment.

DERIVATIVES:
entertainingly adverb.

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entertainment

noun
1. the action of entertaining or being entertained.
2. an event, performance, or activity designed to entertain others.

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enthral (US enthrall)

verb (enthralled, enthralling)
1. fascinate (someone) and hold their attention.
2. (also inthrall) archaic enslave.

DERIVATIVES:
enthralment (US enthrallment) noun.

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enthrone

verb
ceremonially install (a monarch or bishop) on a throne.

DERIVATIVES:
enthronement noun.

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enthuse

verb
1. (often enthuse over) express one's great enthusiasm for something.
2. make enthusiastic.

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enthusiasm

noun
1. intense enjoyment, interest, or approval.
2. an object of such feelings.
3. archaic, derogatory religious fervour supposedly resulting directly from divine inspiration.

ORIGIN: Greek enthousiasmos, from enthous 'possessed by a god' .

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enthusiast

noun
1. a person who is full of enthusiasm for something.
2. archaic, derogatory a person with intense and visionary Christian views.

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enthusiastic

adjective
having or showing great enthusiasm.

DERIVATIVES:
enthusiastically adverb.

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entice

verb
attract by offering pleasure or advantage.

DERIVATIVES:
enticement noun
enticer noun
enticing adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French enticier, probably from a base meaning 'set on fire' .

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entire

adjective
1. with no part left out; whole.
2. not broken, damaged, or decayed.
3. without qualification; absolute.

ORIGIN: Old French entier, from Latin integer 'untouched, whole' .

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entirely

adverb
1. wholly; completely.
2. solely.

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entirety

noun (the entirety)
the whole.

IDIOMS -
in its entirety as a whole.

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entitle

verb
1. give (someone) a right to do or have.
2. give a title to (a book, play, etc.).

DERIVATIVES:
entitlement noun.

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entity

noun (pl. entities)
a thing with distinct and independent existence.

ORIGIN: French entité, from Latin ens 'being' .

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entomb

verb
1. place in a tomb.
2. bury in or under something.

DERIVATIVES:
entombment noun.

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entomology

noun
the branch of zoology concerned with the study of insects.

DERIVATIVES:
entomological adjective
entomologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek entomon 'insect' , from entomos 'cut up, segmented' .

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entourage

noun
a group of people attending or surrounding an important person.

ORIGIN: French, from entourer 'to surround' .

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entrails

plural noun
a person's or animal's intestines or internal organs.

ORIGIN: Latin intralia 'internal things' .

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entrance [1]

noun
1. an opening that allows access to a place.
2. an act of entering.
3. the right, means, or opportunity to enter.

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entrance [2]

verb
1. fill with wonder and delight.
2. cast a spell on.

DERIVATIVES:
entrancement noun
entrancing adjective.

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entrant

noun
a person who enters, joins, or takes part in something.

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entrap

verb (entrapped, entrapping)
1. catch in a trap.
2. (of a police officer) deceive (someone) into committing a crime in order to secure their prosecution.

DERIVATIVES:
entrapment noun.

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entreat

verb
1. ask (someone) earnestly or anxiously.
2. ask earnestly or anxiously for.

ORIGIN: Old French entraitier, from Latin tractare 'to handle' .

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entreaty

noun (pl. entreaties)
an earnest or humble request.

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entrée

noun
1. the main course of a meal.
2. Brit. a dish served between the fish and meat courses at a formal dinner.
3. right of entry.

ORIGIN: French.

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entrench

verb
1. establish (something) so firmly that change is difficult.
2. establish (a military force, camp, etc.) in trenches or other fortified positions.

DERIVATIVES:
entrenchment noun.

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entrepreneur

noun
a person who sets up a business or businesses.

DERIVATIVES:
entrepreneurial adjective
entrepreneurialism noun
entrepreneurially adverb
entrepreneurism noun.

ORIGIN: French, from entreprendre 'undertake' .

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entropy

noun Physics
a thermodynamic quantity expressing the unavailability of a system's thermal energy for conversion into mechanical work, often interpreted as the degree of disorder or randomness in the system.

DERIVATIVES:
entropic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek trop 'transformation' .

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entrust

verb
1. (entrust with) assign a responsibility to.
2. (entrust to) put (something) into someone's care.

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entry

noun (pl. entries)
1. an act or the action of entering.
2. an opening through which one may enter, e.g. a door.
3. the right, means, or opportunity to enter.
4. an item entered in a list, account book, reference book, etc.
5. a person who enters a competition.

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entry-level

adjective
suitable for a beginner or first-time user.

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entwine

verb
wind or twist together.

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E-number

noun Brit.
a code number preceded by the letter E, given to food additives numbered in accordance with EU directives.

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enumerate

verb
1. mention one by one.
2. formal establish the number of.

DERIVATIVES:
enumerable adjective
enumeration noun
enumerative adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin enumerare 'count out' .

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enunciate

verb
1. say or pronounce clearly.
2. set out precisely or definitely.

DERIVATIVES:
enunciation noun
enunciator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin enuntiare 'announce clearly' .

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envelop

verb (enveloped, enveloping)
wrap up, cover, or surround completely.

DERIVATIVES:
envelopment noun.

ORIGIN: Old French envoluper, related to DEVELOP.

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envelope

noun
1. a flat paper container with a sealable flap, used to enclose a letter or document.
2. a covering or containing structure or layer.
3. the outer housing of a vacuum tube, electric light, etc.
4. the structure within a balloon or non-rigid airship containing the gas.

IDIOMS -
push the (edge of the) envelope informal approach or extend the limits of what is possible. [ORIGIN: originally aviation slang, relating to graphs of aerodynamic performance.]

ORIGIN: from French envelopper 'envelop' .

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enviable

adjective
arousing or likely to arouse envy.

DERIVATIVES:
enviably adverb.

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envious

adjective
feeling or showing envy.

DERIVATIVES:
enviously adverb.

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environment

noun
1. the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates.
2. (the environment) the natural world, especially as affected by human activity.
3. Computing the overall structure within which a user, computer, or program operates.

DERIVATIVES:
environmental adjective
environmentally adverb.

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environmentalist

noun
1. a person who is concerned with the protection of the environment.
2. a person who considers that environment has the primary influence on the development of a person or group.

DERIVATIVES:
environmentalism noun.

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environs

plural noun
the surrounding area or district.

ORIGIN: French, plural of environ 'surroundings' .

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envisage

verb
1. regard or conceive of as a possibility.
2. form a mental picture of.

ORIGIN: French envisager, from visage 'face' .

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envision

verb
visualize; envisage.

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envoy

noun
1. a messenger or representative, especially one on a diplomatic mission.
2. (also envoy extraordinary) a minister plenipotentiary, ranking below ambassador and above chargé d'affaires.

ORIGIN: from French envoyé 'sent' .

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envy

noun (pl. envies)
1. discontented or resentful longing aroused by another's possessions, qualities, or luck.
2. (the envy of) a person or thing that inspires such a feeling.

verb (envies, envied)
feel envy of.

ORIGIN: Old French envie, from Latin invidia 'hostility, ill will' ; related to INVIDIOUS.

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enzyme

noun
a substance produced by a living organism and acting as a catalyst to promote a specific biochemical reaction.

DERIVATIVES:
enzymatic adjective
enzymic adjective.

ORIGIN: from modern Greek enzumos 'leavened' .

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EOC

abbreviation
(in the UK) Equal Opportunities Commission.

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EP

abbreviation
1. (of a record or compact disc) extended-play.
2. European Parliament.

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epaulette (US also epaulet)

noun
an ornamental shoulder piece on a military uniform.

ORIGIN: French, 'little shoulder' .

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ephemera

plural noun
items of short-lived interest or usefulness, especially those that later acquire value to collectors.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'things lasting only a day' .

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ephemeral

adjective
lasting or living for a very short time.

DERIVATIVES:
ephemerality noun
ephemerally adverb.

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epi- (also ep-)

prefix
1. upon: epigraph.
2. above: epidermis.
3. in addition: epiphenomenon.

ORIGIN: from Greek epi.

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epic

noun
1. a long poem describing the deeds of heroic or legendary figures or the past history of a nation.
2. a long film, book, etc. portraying heroic deeds or covering an extended period of time.

adjective
1. relating to or characteristic of an epic.
2. heroic or grand in scale or character.

DERIVATIVES:
epical adjective
epically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek epikos, from epos 'word, song' .

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epicentre (US epicenter)

noun
the point on the earth's surface vertically above the focus of an earthquake.

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epicure

noun
a person who takes particular pleasure in fine food and drink.

ORIGIN: from Epicurus (see EPICUREAN).

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Epicurean

noun
1. a follower of the Greek philosopher Epicurus (341 270 BC), who taught that pleasure, particularly mental pleasure, was the highest good.
2. (epicurean) an epicure.

adjective
1. relating to Epicurus or his ideas.
2. (epicurean) relating to or suitable for an epicure.

DERIVATIVES:
Epicureanism noun.

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epidemic

noun
1. a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.
2. a sudden, widespread occurrence of something undesirable.

adjective
relating to or of the nature of an epidemic.

ORIGIN: Greek epidmia, from epi 'upon' + dmos 'the people' .

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epidermis

noun
1. the surface layer of an animal's skin, overlying the dermis.
2. the outer layer of tissue in a plant.

DERIVATIVES:
epidermal adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek, from derma 'skin' .

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epidural

adjective
on or around the dura mater of the spinal cord.

noun
an anaesthetic introduced into the space around the dura mater, used especially in childbirth.

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epiglottis

noun
a flap of cartilage at the root of the tongue, which is depressed during swallowing to cover the opening of the windpipe.

ORIGIN: Greek, from gltta 'tongue' .

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epigram

noun
1. a concise and witty saying or remark.
2. a short witty poem.

DERIVATIVES:
epigrammatic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek epigramma, from gramma 'writing' .

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epigraph

noun
1. an inscription on a building, statue, or coin.
2. a short quotation or saying introducing a book or chapter.

ORIGIN: from Greek epigraphein 'write on' .

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epilation

noun
the removal of hair by the roots.

DERIVATIVES:
epilator noun.

ORIGIN: from French épiler, from Latin pilus 'strand of hair' .

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epilepsy

noun
a disorder marked by sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions.

DERIVATIVES:
epileptic adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: Greek epilpsia, from epilambanein 'seize, attack' .

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epilogue (US also epilog)

noun
a section or speech at the end of a book or play serving as a comment on or conclusion to what has happened.

ORIGIN: Greek epilogos, from logos 'speech' .

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epiphany

noun (pl. epiphanies)
1. (Epiphany) the manifestation of Christ to the Magi (Gospel of Matthew, chapter 2).
2. (Epiphany) the festival commemorating this, on 6 January.
3. a moment of sudden and great revelation.

DERIVATIVES:
epiphanic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek epiphainein 'reveal' .

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episcopacy

noun (pl. episcopacies)
1. government of a Church by bishops.
2. (the episcopacy) the bishops of a region or church collectively.

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episcopal

adjective
1. of a bishop or bishops.
2. (of a Church) governed by or having bishops.

DERIVATIVES:
episcopally adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin episcopus 'bishop' , from Greek episkopos 'overseer' .

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Episcopal Church

noun
the Anglican Church in Scotland and the US, with elected bishops.

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episcopalian

adjective
1. of or advocating government of a Church by bishops.
2. of or belonging to an episcopal Church.

noun
1. an advocate of government of a Church by bishops.
2. (Episcopalian) a member of the Episcopal Church.

DERIVATIVES:
episcopalianism noun.

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episcopate

noun
1. the office or term of office of a bishop.
2. (the episcopate) the bishops of a church or region collectively.

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episode

noun
1. an event or a group of events occurring as part of a sequence.
2. each of the separate instalments into which a serialized story or programme is divided.

ORIGIN: Greek epeisodion, from epeisodios 'coming in besides' .

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episodic

adjective
1. occurring as or presented in episodes.
2. occurring at irregular intervals.

DERIVATIVES:
episodically adverb.

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epistemology

noun
the branch of philosophy that deals with knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope.

DERIVATIVES:
epistemic adjective
epistemological adjective
epistemologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek epistm 'knowledge' .

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epistle

noun
1. formal or humorous a letter.
2. (Epistle) a book of the New Testament in the form of a letter from an Apostle.

ORIGIN: Greek epistol, from epistellein 'send news' .

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epistolary

adjective
1. relating to the writing of letters.
2. (of a literary work) in the form of letters.

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epitaph

noun
words written in memory of a person who has died, especially as an inscription on a tombstone.

ORIGIN: Greek epitaphion 'funeral oration' , from ephitaphios 'over or at a tomb' .

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epithet

noun
a word or phrase expressing a quality or attribute of the person or thing mentioned.

ORIGIN: Greek epitheton, from epitithenai 'add' .

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epitome

noun
1. (the epitome of) a perfect example of (a quality or type).
2. a summary of a written work.

ORIGIN: Greek, from epitemnein 'abridge' .

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epitomize (also epitomise)

verb
1. be a perfect example of.
2. archaic summarize (a written work).

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epoch

noun
1. a period of time marked by particular events or characteristics.
2. the beginning of a period of history.
3. Geology a division of time that is a subdivision of a period and is itself subdivided into ages.

DERIVATIVES:
epochal adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek epokh 'stoppage, fixed point of time' .

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epoch-making

adjective
significant; historic.

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eponym

noun
1. a word or name derived from the name of a person.
2. a person after whom a discovery, invention, place, etc. is named.

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eponymous

adjective
1. (of a person) giving their name to something.
2. (of a thing) named after a particular person.

ORIGIN: Greek epnumos, from onoma 'name' .

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epsilon

noun
the fifth letter of the Greek alphabet (E, ), transliterated as ‘e’.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'bare or simple E' , from psilos 'bare' .

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Epsom salts

plural noun
crystals of hydrated magnesium sulphate used as a laxative.

ORIGIN: named after the town of Epsom in Surrey, where the salts were first found occurring naturally.

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equable

adjective
1. calm and even-tempered.
2. not varying or fluctuating greatly.

DERIVATIVES:
equability noun
equably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin aequabilis, from aequare 'make equal' .

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equal

adjective
1. being the same in quantity, size, degree, value, or status.
2. evenly or fairly balanced: an equal contest.
3. (equal to) having the ability or resources to meet (a challenge).

noun
a person or thing that is equal to another.

verb (equalled, equalling; US equaled, equaling)
1. be equal or equivalent to.
2. match or rival.

ORIGIN: Latin aequalis, from aequus 'even, level, equal' .

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equality

noun
the state of being equal.

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equalize (also equalise)

verb
1. make or become equal.
2. level the score in a match by scoring a goal.

DERIVATIVES:
equalization noun.

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equalizer (also equaliser)

noun
1. a thing that has an equalizing effect.
2. a goal that levels the score in a match.

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equally

adverb
1. in an equal manner.
2. in amounts or parts that are equal.
3. to an equal degree.
USAGE - The construction equally as, as in follow-up discussion is equally as important should be avoided: just use either equally or as alone.

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equals sign (also equal sign)

noun
the symbol =.

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equanimity

noun
calmness; composure.

DERIVATIVES:
equanimous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin aequanimitas, from aequus 'equal' + animus 'mind' .

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equate

verb (often equate to/with)
1. consider (one thing) as equal or equivalent to another.
2. be or cause to be the same as or equivalent to.

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equation

noun
1. the process of equating one thing with another.
2. Mathematics a statement that the values of two mathematical expressions are equal (indicated by the sign =).
3. Chemistry a symbolic representation of the changes which occur in a chemical reaction.

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equator

noun
a notional line around the earth equidistant from the poles, dividing the earth into northern and southern hemispheres.

ORIGIN: Latin aequator, in the phrase circulus aequator diei et noctis 'circle equalizing day and night' .

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equatorial

adjective
of, at, or near the equator.

DERIVATIVES:
equatorially adverb.

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equerry

noun (pl. equerries)
1. an officer of the British royal household who attends members of the royal family.
2. historical an officer of the household of a prince or noble who had charge over the stables.

ORIGIN: Old French esquierie 'company of squires, prince's stables' .

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equestrian

adjective
1. relating to horse riding.
2. depicting or representing a person on horseback.

noun (fem. equestrienne)
a person on horseback.

ORIGIN: Latin equester, from eques 'horseman, knight' , from equus 'horse' .

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equestrianism

noun
the skill or sport of horse riding.

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equi-

combining form
equal; equally: equidistant.

ORIGIN: from Latin aequus 'equal' .

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equidistant

adjective
at equal distances.

DERIVATIVES:
equidistance noun
equidistantly adverb.

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equilateral

adjective
having all its sides of the same length.

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equilibrium

noun (pl. equilibria)
1. a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced.
2. the state of being physically balanced.
3. a calm state of mind.

ORIGIN: Latin aequilibrium, from libra 'balance' .

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equine

adjective
1. relating to horses or other members of the horse family.
2. resembling a horse.

noun
a horse or other member of the horse family.

ORIGIN: Latin equinus, from equus 'horse' .

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equinoctial

adjective
1. relating to or at the time of the equinox.
2. at or near the equator.

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equinox

noun
the time or date (twice each year, about 22 September and 20 March) at which the sun crosses the celestial equator and when day and night are of equal length.

ORIGIN: Latin aequinoctium, from aequus 'equal' + nox 'night' .

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equip

verb (equipped, equipping)
1. supply with the items needed for a purpose.
2. prepare (someone) mentally for a situation or task.

ORIGIN: French équiper, probably from an Old Norse word meaning 'to man a ship' .

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equipment

noun
1. the items needed for a particular purpose.
2. the process of supplying these items.

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equipoise

noun
1. balance of forces or interests.
2. a counterbalance or balancing force.

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equitable

adjective
1. fair and impartial.
2. Law valid in equity as distinct from law.

DERIVATIVES:
equitably adverb.

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equitation

noun formal
the art and practice of horse riding.

ORIGIN: Latin, from equitare 'ride a horse' .

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equity

noun (pl. equities)
1. the quality of being fair and impartial.
2. Law a branch of law that developed alongside common law in order to remedy some of its defects in fairness and justice.
3. the value of a mortgaged property after deduction of charges against it.
4. the value of the shares issued by a company.
5. (equities) stocks and shares that carry no fixed interest.

ORIGIN: Latin aequitas, from aequus 'equal' .

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equivalent

adjective (often equivalent to)
1. equal in value, amount, function, meaning, etc.
2. having the same or a similar effect.

noun
a person or thing that is equivalent to another.

DERIVATIVES:
equivalence noun
equivalency noun
equivalently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin aequivalere 'be of equal worth' .

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equivocal

adjective
unclear in meaning or intention; ambiguous.

DERIVATIVES:
equivocally adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin aequus 'equal' + vocare 'to call' .

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equivocate

verb
use ambiguous or evasive language.

DERIVATIVES:
equivocation noun.

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ER

abbreviation
1. Queen Elizabeth. [ORIGIN: from Latin Elizabetha Regina.]
2. N. Amer. emergency room.

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Er

symbol
the chemical element erbium.

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-er [1]

suffix
1. denoting a person or thing that performs a specified action or activity: farmer.
2. denoting a person or thing that has a specified attribute or form: two-wheeler.
3. denoting a person concerned with a specified thing: milliner.
4. denoting a person belonging to a specified place or group: city-dweller.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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-er [2]

suffix
forming the comparative of adjectives (as in bigger) and adverbs (as in faster).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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era

noun
1. a long and distinct period of history.
2. Geology a major division of time that is a subdivision of an aeon and is itself subdivided into periods.

ORIGIN: Latin aera, denoting a number used as a basis of reckoning, plural of aes 'money, counter' .

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eradicate

verb
remove or destroy completely.

DERIVATIVES:
eradication noun
eradicator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin eradicare 'tear up by the roots' , from radix 'root' .

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erase

verb
rub out or obliterate; remove all traces of.

DERIVATIVES:
erasable adjective
erasure noun.

ORIGIN: Latin eradere 'scrape away' .

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eraser

noun
a piece of rubber or plastic used to rub out something written.

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ere

preposition & conjunction literary or archaic
before (in time).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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erect

adjective
1. rigidly upright or straight.
2. (of a body part) enlarged and rigid, especially in sexual excitement.

verb
1. construct (a building, wall, etc.).
2. create or establish (a theory or system).

DERIVATIVES:
erectly adverb
erectness noun
erector noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin erigere 'set up' .

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erectile

adjective
able to become erect.

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erection

noun
1. the action of erecting.
2. a building or other upright structure.
3. an erect state of the penis.

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eremite

noun
a Christian hermit.

DERIVATIVES:
eremitic adjective
eremitical adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin eremita 'hermit' .

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erg

noun Physics
a unit of work or energy, equal to the work done by a force of one dyne when its point of application moves one centimetre in the direction of action of the force.

ORIGIN: from Greek ergon 'work' .

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ergo

adverb
therefore.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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ergonomic

adjective
1. relating to ergonomics.
2. designed to be conducive to efficient use.

DERIVATIVES:
ergonomist noun.

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ergonomics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the study of people's efficiency in their working environment.

ORIGIN: from Greek ergon 'work' , on the pattern of economics.

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Erin

noun archaic or literary
Ireland.

ORIGIN: Irish.

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ERM

abbreviation
Exchange Rate Mechanism.

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ermine

noun (pl. same or ermines)
1. a stoat.
2. the white winter fur of the stoat, used for trimming the ceremonial robes of judges or peers.

ORIGIN: Old French hermine, probably from Latin mus Armenius 'Armenian mouse' .

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erode

verb
1. gradually wear or be worn away.
2. gradually destroy (an abstract quality or state).

DERIVATIVES:
erodible adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin erodere, from rodere 'gnaw' .

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erogenous

adjective
(of a part of the body) sensitive to sexual stimulation.

ORIGIN: from EROS.

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Eros

noun
sexual love or desire.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'sexual love' (also the name of the god of love in Greek mythology).

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erosion

noun
the process or result of eroding or being eroded.

DERIVATIVES:
erosional adjective
erosive adjective.

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erotic

adjective
relating to or tending to arouse sexual desire or excitement.

DERIVATIVES:
erotically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek ertikos, from ers 'sexual love' .

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erotica

plural noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
erotic literature or art.

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eroticism

noun
1. the quality or character or being erotic.
2. sexual desire or excitement.

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eroticize (also eroticise)

verb
give erotic qualities to.

DERIVATIVES:
eroticization noun.

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err

verb
1. be mistaken or incorrect.
2. do wrong.

IDIOMS -
err on the side of display more rather than less of (a specified quality) in one's actions.
to err is human, to forgive divine proverb it is human nature to make mistakes oneself while finding it hard to forgive others.

ORIGIN: Latin errare 'to stray' .

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errand

noun
a short journey made to deliver or collect something, especially on someone else's behalf.

IDIOMS -
errand of mercy a journey or mission carried out to help someone in difficulty or danger.

ORIGIN: Old English, «message, mission».

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errant

adjective
1. chiefly formal or humorous straying from the accepted course or standards.
2. archaic or literary travelling in search of adventure.

DERIVATIVES:
errantry noun.

ORIGIN: sense 1 from Latin errare 'err' ; sense 2 from Old French, 'travelling' , from Latin iterare.

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erratic

adjective
not even or regular in pattern or movement.

DERIVATIVES:
erratically adverb
erraticism noun.

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erratum

noun (pl. errata)
1. an error in printing or writing.
2. (errata) a list of corrected errors added to a publication.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'error' .

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erroneous

adjective
wrong; incorrect.

DERIVATIVES:
erroneously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin erroneus, from errare 'to stray, err' .

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error

noun
1. a mistake.
2. the state of being wrong in conduct or judgement.
3. technical a measure of the estimated difference between the observed or calculated value of a quantity and its true value.

IDIOMS -
see the error of one's ways acknowledge one's wrongdoing.

ORIGIN: Latin, from errare 'to stray, err' .

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ersatz

adjective
1. (of a product) made or used as an inferior substitute for something else.
2. not real or genuine: ersatz emotion.

ORIGIN: German, 'replacement' .

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Erse

noun
the Scottish or Irish Gaelic language.

ORIGIN: early Scots form of IRISH.

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erstwhile

adjective
former.

adverb archaic
formerly.

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erudite

adjective
having or showing knowledge or learning.

DERIVATIVES:
eruditely adverb
erudition noun.

ORIGIN: Latin eruditus, from erudire 'instruct, train' .

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erupt

verb
1. (of a volcano) forcefully eject lava, rocks, ash, or gases.
2. break out suddenly.
3. give vent to feelings in a sudden and noisy way.
4. (of a spot, rash, etc.) suddenly appear on the skin.

DERIVATIVES:
eruptive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin erumpere 'break out' .

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eruption

noun
an act or the action or erupting.

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-ery (also -ry)

suffix forming nouns:
1. denoting a class or kind: greenery.
2. denoting an occupation, a state or condition, or behaviour: archery.
3. denoting a place set aside for an activity or a grouping of things, animals, etc.: rookery.

ORIGIN: from Latin -arius and -ator.

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erythrocyte

noun
a red blood cell, containing the pigment haemoglobin and transporting oxygen to the tissues.

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escalate

verb
1. increase rapidly.
2. become more intense or serious.

DERIVATIVES:
escalation noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «travel on an escalator»: from ESCALATOR.

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escalator

noun
a moving staircase consisting of a circulating belt of steps driven by a motor.

ORIGIN: from ESCALADE, on the pattern of elevator.

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escalope (also escallop)

noun
a thin slice of coated and fried meat, especially veal.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'shell' .

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escapade

noun
an incident involving daring and adventure.

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escape

verb
1. break free from confinement or control.
2. elude or get free from (someone).
3. succeed in eluding (something dangerous or undesirable).
4. fail to be noticed or remembered by.

noun
1. an act of escaping.
2. a means of escaping.
3. (also escape key) Computing a key which interrupts the current operation or converts subsequent characters to a control sequence.

DERIVATIVES:
escapable adjective
escapee noun
escaper noun.

ORIGIN: Old French eschaper, from Latin ex- 'out' + cappa 'cloak' .

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escape clause

noun
a clause in a contract which specifies the conditions under which one party can be freed from an obligation.

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escapement

noun
1. a mechanism in a clock or watch that connects and regulates the motive power.
2. a mechanism in a typewriter that shifts the carriage a small fixed amount to the left after a key is pressed and released.
3. the part of the mechanism in a piano that enables the hammer to fall back as soon as it has struck the string.

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escapism

noun
the seeking of distraction from reality by engaging in entertainment or fantasy.

DERIVATIVES:
escapist noun & adjective.

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escapologist

noun
an entertainer who specializes in breaking free from ropes, handcuffs, and chains.

DERIVATIVES:
escapology noun.

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escarpment

noun
a long, steep slope at the edge of a plateau or separating areas of land at different heights.

ORIGIN: French escarpement, from Italian scarpa 'slope' .

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eschatology

noun
the part of theology concerned with death, judgement, and destiny.

DERIVATIVES:
eschatological adjective
eschatologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek eskhatos 'last' .

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eschew

verb
abstain from.

DERIVATIVES:
eschewal noun.

ORIGIN: Old French eschiver, related to SHY.

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escort

noun
1. a person, vehicle, or group accompanying another to provide protection or as a mark of rank.
2. a person who accompanies a member of the opposite sex to a social event.

verb
accompany as an escort.

ORIGIN: French escorte, from Italian scorta 'conducted, guided' .

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escritoire

noun
a small writing desk with drawers and compartments.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin scriptorium 'room for writing' .

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escudo

noun (pl. escudos)
the basic monetary unit of Portugal and Cape Verde, equal to 100 centavos.

ORIGIN: Portuguese, from Latin scutum 'shield' .

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escutcheon

noun
1. a shield or emblem bearing a coat of arms.
2. a flat piece of metal framing a keyhole, door handle, or light switch.

IDIOMS -
a blot on one's escutcheon a stain on one's reputation or character.

ORIGIN: Old French escuchon, from Latin scutum 'shield' .

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ESE

abbreviation
east-south-east.

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-ese

suffix forming adjectives and nouns:
1. denoting an inhabitant or language of a country or city: Chinese.
2. often derogatory (especially with reference to language) denoting character or style: journalese.

ORIGIN: from Latin -ensis.

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Eskimo

noun (pl. same or Eskimos)
1. a member of a people inhabiting northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland, and eastern Siberia.
2. either of the two main languages of this people (Inuit and Yupik).

adjective
relating to the Eskimos or their languages.
USAGE - The word Eskimo is now regarded by some as offensive: the peoples inhabiting the regions from NW Canada to western Greenland prefer to call themselves Inuit. The term Eskimo, however, is the only term that covers both the Inuit and the Yupik, and is still widely used.
ORIGIN: an Algonquian word, perhaps in the sense «people speaking a different language».

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ESL

abbreviation
English as a second language.

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ESOL

abbreviation
English for speakers of other languages.

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esophagus (Brit. oesophagus)

noun (pl. esophagi or esophaguses)
the part of the alimentary canal which connects the throat to the stomach.

DERIVATIVES:
esophageal adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek oisophagos.

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esoteric

adjective
intended for or understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge.

DERIVATIVES:
esoterically adverb
esotericism noun
esotericist noun.

ORIGIN: Greek esterikos, from es 'within' .

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ESP

abbreviation
extrasensory perception.

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espadrille

noun
a light canvas shoe with a plaited fibre sole.

ORIGIN: French, from Provençal espart 'esparto' .

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especial

adjective
1. notable; special.
2. for or belonging chiefly to one person or thing.

ORIGIN: Latin specialis 'special' .

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especially

adverb
1. in particular.
2. to a great extent; very much.
USAGE - The words especially and specially are not interchangeable, although both can mean ‘particularly’. Only especially means ‘in particular’, as in he despised them all, especially Thomas, and only specially means ‘for a special purpose’, as in the car was specially made for the occasion.

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Esperanto

noun
an artificial language devised in 1887 as an international medium of communication.

DERIVATIVES:
Esperantist noun.

ORIGIN: from Dr Esperanto, a pen name of the inventor of the language, Polish physician Ludwik L. Zamenhof; the literal sense is «one who hopes».

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espionage

noun
the practice of spying or of using spies.

ORIGIN: French, from espion 'a spy' .

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esplanade

noun
a long, open, level area, typically beside the sea, along which people may walk for pleasure.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin explanatus 'levelled' .

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espousal

noun
the action of espousing.

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espouse

verb
adopt or support (a cause, belief, or way of life).

ORIGIN: Old French espouser, from Latin sponsus 'betrothed' .

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espresso (also expresso)

noun (pl. espressos)
strong black coffee made by forcing steam through ground coffee beans.

ORIGIN: from Italian caffè espresso 'pressed out coffee' .

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esprit de corps

noun
a feeling of pride and loyalty uniting the members of a group.

ORIGIN: French, 'spirit of the body' .

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espy

verb (espies, espied) literary
catch sight of.

ORIGIN: Old French espier.

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Esq.

abbreviation
Esquire.

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-esque

suffix
(forming adjectives) in the style of: Kafkaesque.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin -iscus.

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esquire

noun
1. (Esquire) Brit. a polite title appended to a man's name when no other title is used.
2. historical a young nobleman who acted as an attendant to a knight.

ORIGIN: Old French esquier, from Latin scutarius 'shield-bearer' .

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-ess

suffix
forming nouns denoting female gender: abbess.
USAGE - In modern English, feminine forms (e.g. poetess, authoress) are likely to be regarded as old-fashioned or sexist and should be avoided in favour of the ‘neutral’ base form (e.g. poet, author).
ORIGIN: French -esse, from Greek -issa.

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essay

noun
1. a piece of writing on a particular subject.
2. formal an attempt or effort.

verb formal
attempt.

DERIVATIVES:
essayist noun
essayistic adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French essai 'trial' ; the verb is an alteration of ASSAY.

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essence

noun
1. the intrinsic nature of something; the quality which determines something's character.
2. an extract or concentrate obtained from a plant or other substance and used for flavouring or scent.

IDIOMS -
in essence basically; fundamentally.
of the essence critically important.

ORIGIN: Latin essentia, from esse 'be' .

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essential

adjective
1. fundamental; central.
2. absolutely necessary.

noun (essentials)
1. the fundamental elements.
2. things that are absolutely necessary.

DERIVATIVES:
essentially adverb.

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essential oil

noun
a natural oil extracted from a plant.

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-est

suffix
forming the superlative of adjectives (such as shortest) and of adverbs (such as soonest).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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establish

verb
1. set up on a firm or permanent basis.
2. initiate or bring about.
3. (be established) be settled or accepted in a particular place or role.
4. show to be true or certain by determining the facts.
5. (established) recognized by the state as the national Church or religion.
6. (of a plant) take root and grow.

DERIVATIVES:
establisher noun.

ORIGIN: Old French establir, from Latin stabilire 'make firm' .

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establishment

noun
1. the action of establishing or being established.
2. a business organization, public institution, or household.
3. (the Establishment) a group in a society exercising power and influence over matters of policy or opinion, and seen as resisting change.

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estate

noun
1. a property consisting of a large house and extensive grounds.
2. Brit. an area of land and modern buildings developed for residential, industrial, or commercial purposes.
3. a property where crops such as coffee or rubber are cultivated or where wine is produced.
4. a person's money and property in its entirety at the time of their death.
5. (also estate of the realm) (in Britain) one of the three groups constituting Parliament, now the Lords spiritual (the heads of the Church), the Lords temporal (the peerage), and the Commons.
6. archaic or literary a particular state, period, or condition in life.
7. Brit. an estate car.

ORIGIN: Old French estat, from Latin status 'state, condition' .

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estate agency

noun chiefly Brit.
a business that sells and rents out buildings and land for clients.

DERIVATIVES:
estate agent noun.

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estate car

noun Brit.
a car incorporating a large carrying area behind the seats and an extra door at the rear.

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esteem

noun
respect and admiration.

verb
1. respect and admire.
2. formal consider; deem.

ORIGIN: Latin aestimare 'to estimate' .

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ester

noun Chemistry
an organic compound made by replacing the hydrogen of an acid by an alkyl or other organic group.

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esthetic (esp. Brit. aesthetic)

adjective
1. concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty.
2. of pleasing appearance.

noun
a set of principles underlying the work of a particular artist or artistic movement.

DERIVATIVES:
esthetically adverb
estheticism noun
estheticize verb.

ORIGIN: Greek aisthtikos, from aisthesthai 'perceive' .

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estimable

adjective
worthy of great respect.

DERIVATIVES:
estimably adverb.

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estimate

noun
1. an approximate calculation.
2. a written statement indicating the likely price that will be charged for specified work.
3. a judgement or appraisal.

verb
form an estimate of.

DERIVATIVES:
estimation noun
estimator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin aestimare 'determine, appraise' .

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estrange

verb
1. cause to feel less close or friendly.
2. (estranged) (of a husband or wife) no longer living with their spouse.

DERIVATIVES:
estrangement noun.

ORIGIN: Old French estranger, from Latin extraneare 'treat as a stranger' .

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estrogen (Brit. oestrogen)

noun
any of a group of steroid hormones which promote the development and maintenance of female characteristics of the body.

ORIGIN: from OESTRUS.

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estrus (Brit. oestrus)

noun
a recurring period of sexual receptivity and fertility in many female mammals.

DERIVATIVES:
estrous adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek oistros 'gadfly or frenzy' .

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estuary

noun (pl. estuaries)
the tidal mouth of a large river.

DERIVATIVES:
estuarine adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin aestuarium 'tidal part of a shore' , from aestus 'tide' .

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Estuary English

noun
(in the UK) a type of accent containing features of both received pronunciation and London speech.

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ETA

abbreviation
estimated time of arrival.

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eta

noun
the seventh letter of the Greek alphabet (H, ), transliterated as ‘e’ or ‘’.

ORIGIN: Greek.

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e-tailer

noun
a retailer who sells goods via electronic transactions on the Internet.

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et al.

abbreviation
and others.

ORIGIN: Latin et alii.

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etc.

abbreviation
et cetera.

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et cetera (also etcetera)

adverb
and other similar things; and so on.

noun (et ceteras)
unspecified extra items.

ORIGIN: Latin, from et 'and' and cetera 'the rest' .

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etch

verb
1. engrave (metal, glass, or stone) by drawing on a protective layer with a needle, and then covering it with acid to attack the exposed parts.
2. (of an acid or other solvent) corrode the surface of.
3. cut (a text or design) on a surface.
4. cause to be clearly defined: etched in the memory.

DERIVATIVES:
etcher noun.

ORIGIN: Dutch etsen, from German ätzen.

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etching

noun
1. the art or process of etching.
2. a print produced by etching.

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eternal

adjective
1. lasting or existing forever.
2. valid for all time: eternal truths.

IDIOMS -
the Eternal City the city of Rome.
eternal triangle a relationship between three people involving sexual rivalry.

DERIVATIVES:
eternally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin aeternalis, from aevum 'age' .

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eternity

noun (pl. eternities)
1. infinite or unending time.
2. Theology endless life after death.
3. (an eternity) informal an undesirably long period of time.

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ethane

noun Chemistry
a flammable hydrocarbon gas of the alkane series, present in petroleum and natural gas.

ORIGIN: from ETHER.

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ether

noun
1. (also diethyl ether) a volatile, highly flammable liquid used as an anaesthetic and as a solvent.
2. Chemistry any organic compound with an oxygen atom linking two alkyl groups.
3. (also aether) chiefly literary the clear sky; the upper regions of air.
4. (also aether) Physics, historical a substance formerly thought to permeate all space.

DERIVATIVES:
etheric adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek aithr 'upper air' , from aithein 'burn, shine' .

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ethereal (also etherial)

adjective
1. extremely delicate and light.
2. heavenly or spiritual.

DERIVATIVES:
ethereality noun
ethereally adverb.

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Ethernet

noun Computing
a system for connecting a number of computer systems to form a local area network.

ORIGIN: blend of ETHER and NETWORK.

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ethic

noun
a set of moral principles.

ORIGIN: Latin ethice, from Greek h thik tekhn 'the science of morals' .

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ethical

adjective
1. relating to moral principles or the branch of knowledge concerned with these.
2. morally correct.
3. (of a medicine) available only on prescription.

DERIVATIVES:
ethically adverb.

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ethics

plural noun
1. the moral principles governing or influencing conduct.
2. the branch of knowledge concerned with moral principles.

DERIVATIVES:
ethicist noun.

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Ethiopian

noun
a person from Ethiopia.

adjective
relating to Ethiopia.

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ethnic

adjective
1. relating to a group of people having a common national or cultural tradition.
2. referring to origin by birth rather than by present nationality: ethnic Albanians.
3. relating to a non-Western cultural tradition: ethnic music.

DERIVATIVES:
ethnically adverb
ethnicity noun.

ORIGIN: Greek ethnikos 'heathen' , from ethnos 'nation' .

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ethnic cleansing

noun
the mass expulsion or killing of members of an ethnic or religious group in an area by those of another.

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ethnic minority

noun
a group within a community which differs ethnically from the main population.

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ethnocentric

adjective
evaluating other cultures according to the preconceptions of one's own.

DERIVATIVES:
ethnocentrically adverb
ethnocentricity noun
ethnocentrism noun.

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ethnography

noun
the scientific description of peoples and cultures.

DERIVATIVES:
ethnographer noun
ethnographic adjective.

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ethnology

noun
the study of the characteristics of different peoples and the differences and relationships between them.

DERIVATIVES:
ethnologic adjective
ethnological adjective
ethnologist noun.

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ethology

noun
1. the science of animal behaviour.
2. the study of human behaviour from a biological perspective.

DERIVATIVES:
ethological adjective
ethologist noun.

ORIGIN: Greek thologia, from thos 'nature, disposition' .

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ethos

noun
the characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community.

ORIGIN: Greek thos 'nature, disposition' .

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ethyl

noun Chemistry
the alkyl radical —C_2H_5, derived from ethane.

ORIGIN: German, from Äther 'ether' .

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ethylene

noun Chemistry
a flammable hydrocarbon gas of the alkene series, present in natural gas and coal gas.

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etiolated

adjective
(of a plant) pale and weak due to a lack of light.

ORIGIN: from French étieuler 'grow into haulm' .

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etiquette

noun
the code of polite behaviour in a society.

ORIGIN: French, 'list of ceremonial observances of a court' , also 'label, etiquette' , from Old French estiquette (see TICKET).

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Etruscan

noun
1. a person from Etruria, an ancient Italian state that was at its height c.500 BC.
2. the language of Etruria.

adjective
relating to Etruria.

ORIGIN: from Latin Etruscus.

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et seq.

adverb
and what follows (used in page references).

ORIGIN: from Latin et sequens 'and the following' .

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-ette

suffix forming nouns:
1. denoting small size: kitchenette.
2. denoting an imitation or substitute: leatherette.
3. denoting female gender: suffragette.

ORIGIN: Old French.

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etymology

noun (pl. etymologies)
an account of the origins and the developments in meaning of a word.

DERIVATIVES:
etymological adjective
etymologically adverb
etymologist noun.

ORIGIN: Greek etumologia, from etumos 'true' .

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EU

abbreviation
European Union.

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Eu

symbol
the chemical element europium.

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eucalyptus (also eucalypt)

noun (pl. eucalyptuses or eucalypti)
1. an evergreen Australasian tree valued for its wood, oil, gum, and resin.
2. the oil from eucalyptus leaves, used for its medicinal properties.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek eu 'well' + kaluptos 'covered' , because the unopened flower is protected by a cap.

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Eucharist

noun
1. the Christian ceremony commemorating the Last Supper, in which consecrated bread and wine are consumed.
2. the consecrated elements, especially the bread.

DERIVATIVES:
Eucharistic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek eukharistia 'thanksgiving' , from eu 'well' + kharizesthai 'offer graciously' .

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eugenics

plural noun
the science of using controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics in a population.

DERIVATIVES:
eugenic adjective
eugenicist noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek eu 'well' + gens 'born' .

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eulogize (also eulogise)

verb
praise highly.

DERIVATIVES:
eulogist noun
eulogistic adjective.

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eulogy

noun (pl. eulogies)
a speech or piece of writing that praises someone highly.

ORIGIN: Greek eulogia 'praise' .

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eunuch

noun
a man who has been castrated.

ORIGIN: Greek eunoukhos 'bedroom guard' (eunuchs were formerly employed to guard the women's living areas at an oriental court).

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euphemism

noun
a mild or less direct word substituted for one that is harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.

DERIVATIVES:
euphemistic adjective
euphemistically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek euphmismos, from eu 'well' + phm 'speaking' .

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euphonious

adjective
sounding pleasant.

DERIVATIVES:
euphoniously adverb.

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euphonium

noun
a brass musical instrument resembling a small tuba.

ORIGIN: from Greek euphnos 'having a pleasing sound' .

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euphony

noun (pl. euphonies)
1. the quality of being pleasing to the ear.
2. the tendency to make phonetic change for ease of pronunciation.

DERIVATIVES:
euphonic adjective.

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euphoria

noun
a feeling of intense happiness.

DERIVATIVES:
euphoric adjective
euphorically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek, from euphoros 'borne well, healthy' .

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Eurasian

adjective
1. of mixed European (or European-American) and Asian parentage.
2. relating to Eurasia.

noun
a person of Eurasian parentage.

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eureka

exclamation
a cry of joy or satisfaction when one finds or discovers something.

noun
an alloy of copper and nickel used for electrical filament and resistance wire.

ORIGIN: Greek heurka 'I have found it' , said to have been uttered by Archimedes (died 212 BC) when he hit upon a method of determining the purity of gold.

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Euro

adjective informal
European, especially concerned with the European Union.

noun (euro)
the single European currency, introduced in the European Union in 1999.

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Eurocentric

adjective
implicitly regarding European culture as pre-eminent.

DERIVATIVES:
Eurocentrism noun.

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European

noun
1. a person from Europe.
2. a person who is white or of European parentage.

adjective
relating to Europe or the European Union.

DERIVATIVES:
Europeanism noun
Europeanize (also Europeanise) verb.

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European Union

noun
an economic and political association of certain European countries as a unit with internal free trade and common external tariffs.

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Euro-sceptic

noun
a person who is opposed to increasing the powers of the European Union.

DERIVATIVES:
Euro-scepticism noun.

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Eurotrash

noun informal
rich European socialites, especially those living in the United States.

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Eustachian tube

noun Anatomy
a narrow passage leading from the pharynx to the cavity of the middle ear, permitting the equalization of pressure on each side of the eardrum.

ORIGIN: named after the Italian anatomist Bartolomeo Eustachio (died 1574).

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eustasy

noun
a change of sea level throughout the world, caused typically by movements of parts of the earth's crust or melting of glaciers.

DERIVATIVES:
eustatic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek eu 'well' + statikos 'static' .

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euthanasia

noun
the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable disease or in an irreversible coma.

ORIGIN: from Greek eu 'well' + thanatos 'death' .

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evacuate

verb
1. remove from a place of danger to a safer place.
2. leave (a dangerous place).
3. technical remove air, water, or other contents from (a container).
4. empty (the bowels or another bodily organ).

DERIVATIVES:
evacuation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin evacuare, from vacuus 'empty' .

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evacuee

noun
a person evacuated from a place of danger.

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evade

verb
1. escape or avoid, especially by cunning or trickery.
2. avoid giving a direct answer to (a question).
3. escape paying (tax or duty), especially by illegitimate presentation of one's finances.

DERIVATIVES:
evader noun.

ORIGIN: Latin evadere from vadere 'go' .

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evaluate

verb
1. form an idea of the amount or value of; assess.
2. Mathematics find a numerical expression or equivalent for (a formula, function, etc.).

DERIVATIVES:
evaluation noun
evaluative adjective
evaluator noun.

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evanescent

adjective chiefly literary
quickly fading from sight, memory, or existence.

DERIVATIVES:
evanesce verb
evanescence noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin evanescere 'disappear' .

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evangelical

adjective
1. of or according to the teaching of the gospel or Christianity.
2. relating to a tradition within Protestant Christianity emphasizing Biblical authority and personal conversion.
3. fervent in advocating something.

noun
a member of the evangelical tradition in the Christian Church.

DERIVATIVES:
evangelicalism noun
evangelically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek euangelos 'bringing good news' .

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evangelist

noun
1. a person who seeks to convert others to the Christian faith.
2. the writer of one of the four Gospels.
3. a passionate advocate of something.

DERIVATIVES:
evangelism noun
evangelistic adjective.

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evangelize (also evangelise)

verb
1. convert or seek to convert (someone) to Christianity.
2. preach the gospel.

DERIVATIVES:
evangelization noun.

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evaporate

verb
1. turn from liquid into vapour.
2. cease to exist: my goodwill evaporated.

DERIVATIVES:
evaporation noun
evaporative adjective
evaporator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin evaporare, from vapor 'steam, vapour' .

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evaporated milk

noun
thick sweetened milk that has had some of the liquid removed by evaporation.

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evasion

noun
the action or an instance of evading.

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evasive

adjective
1. tending to avoid commitment or self-revelation.
2. directed towards avoidance or escape: evasive action.

DERIVATIVES:
evasively adverb
evasiveness noun.

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eve

noun
1. the day or period of time immediately before an event or occasion.
2. chiefly literary evening.

ORIGIN: short form of EVEN.

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even [1]

adjective
1. flat and smooth; level.
2. equal in number, amount, or value.
3. having little variation in quality; regular.
4. equally balanced: the match was even.
5. (of a person's temper or disposition) placid; calm.
6. (of a number) divisible by two without a remainder.

verb
make or become even.

adverb
used for emphasis: he knows even less than I do.

IDIOMS -
even as at the very same time as.
even if despite the possibility that.
even now (or then)
1. now (or then) as well as before.
2. in spite of what has (or had) happened.
3. at this (or that) very moment.
even so nevertheless.
even though despite the fact that.

DERIVATIVES:
evenly adverb
evenness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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even [2]

noun archaic or literary
evening.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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even-handed

adjective
fair and impartial.

DERIVATIVES:
even-handedly adverb
even-handedness noun.

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evening

noun
the period of time at the end of the day.

adverb (evenings) informal
in the evening; every evening.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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evening primrose

noun
a plant with pale yellow flowers that open in the evening, used for a medicinal oil.

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evening star

noun (the evening star)
the planet Venus, seen shining in the western sky after sunset.

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even money

noun
(in betting) odds offering an equal chance of winning or losing.

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evens

plural noun Brit.
even money.

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evensong

noun
(especially in the Anglican Church) a service of evening prayers, psalms, and canticles.

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event

noun
1. a thing that happens or takes place.
2. a public or social occasion.
3. each of several contests making up a sports competition.

IDIOMS -
in any event (or at all events) whatever happens or may have happened.
in the event
1. as it turned out.
2. (in the event of/that) if the specified thing happens.

DERIVATIVES:
eventless adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin eventus, from evenire 'result, happen' .

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eventer

noun Brit.
a horse or rider that takes part in eventing.

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eventful

adjective
marked by interesting or exciting events.

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eventide

noun archaic or literary
evening.

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eventing

noun
an equestrian sport in which competitors must take part in each of several contests.

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eventual

adjective
occurring at the end of or resulting from a process or period of time.

DERIVATIVES:
eventually adverb.

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eventuality

noun (pl. eventualities)
a possible event or outcome.

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ever

adverb
1. at any time.
2. used in comparisons for emphasis: better than ever.
3. always.
4. increasingly; constantly: ever larger sums.
5. used for emphasis in questions expressing astonishment: why ever did you do it?

IDIOMS -
ever and anon archaic occasionally.
ever so (or such) Brit. informal very; very much.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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evergreen

adjective
1. (of a plant) retaining green leaves throughout the year. Often contrasted with DECIDUOUS.
2. having an enduring freshness or success.

noun
an evergreen plant.

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everlasting

adjective
lasting forever or a very long time.

noun
a flower that retains its shape and colour after being dried.

DERIVATIVES:
everlastingly adverb.

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evermore

adverb archaic or literary
always; forever.

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every

determiner
1. used to refer to all the individual members of a set without exception.
2. used to indicate something happening at specified intervals: every thirty minutes.
3. all possible; the utmost: every effort was made.

IDIOMS -
every bit as (in comparisons) quite as.
every now and again (or every so often) occasionally.
every other each alternate in a series.
every which way informal
1. in all directions.
2. by all available means.

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everybody

pronoun
every person.

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everyday

adjective
1. daily.
2. commonplace.

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Everyman

noun
an ordinary or typical human being.

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everyone

pronoun
every person.

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every one

pronoun
each one.

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everything

pronoun
1. all things, or all the things of a group or class.
2. the most important thing or aspect: money isn't everything.
3. the current situation; life in general.

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everywhere

adverb
1. in or to all places.
2. very common or widely distributed.

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evict

verb
expel (someone) from a property, especially with the support of the law.

DERIVATIVES:
eviction noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin evincere 'overcome, defeat' .

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evidence

noun
1. information or signs indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.
2. Law information used to establish facts in a legal investigation or admissible as testimony in a law court.

verb
be or show evidence of.

IDIOMS -
in evidence noticeable; conspicuous.
turn King's (or Queen's or US state's) evidence Law (of a criminal) give information in court against one's partners in order to receive a less severe punishment.

ORIGIN: Latin evidentia, from evidens 'obvious to the mind or eye' .

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evident

adjective
plain or obvious.

DERIVATIVES:
evidently adverb.

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evidential

adjective formal
of or providing evidence.

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evil

adjective
1. deeply immoral and malevolent.
2. embodying or associated with the devil.
3. extremely unpleasant: an evil smell.

noun
1. extreme wickedness and depravity, especially when regarded as a supernatural force.
2. something harmful or undesirable.

IDIOMS -
the evil eye a gaze superstitiously believed to cause material harm.
the Evil One archaic the Devil.
speak evil of slander.

DERIVATIVES:
evilly adverb
evilness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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evince

verb formal
reveal the presence of; indicate (a quality or feeling).

ORIGIN: Latin evincere 'overcome, defeat' .

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eviscerate

verb formal
disembowel.

DERIVATIVES:
evisceration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin eviscerare, from viscera 'internal organs' .

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evocative

adjective
evoking strong images, memories, or feelings.

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evoke

verb
1. bring or recall to the conscious mind.
2. obtain (a response).
3. invoke (a spirit or deity).

DERIVATIVES:
evocation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin evocare, from vocare 'to call' .

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evolution

noun
1. the process by which different kinds of living organism are believed to have developed, especially by natural selection.
2. gradual development.
3. Chemistry the giving off of a gaseous product or of heat.
4. a pattern of movements or manoeuvres.

DERIVATIVES:
evolutionarily adverb
evolutionary adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'unrolling' , from evolvere (see EVOLVE).

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evolutionist

noun
a person who believes in the theories of evolution and natural selection.

DERIVATIVES:
evolutionism noun.

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evolve

verb
1. develop gradually.
2. (of an organism or biological feature) develop over successive generations by evolution.
3. Chemistry give off (gas or heat).

ORIGIN: Latin evolvere, from volvere 'to roll' .

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ewe

noun
a female sheep.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ewer

noun
a large jug with a wide mouth.

ORIGIN: Old French aiguiere, from Latin aquarius 'of water' .

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ex [1]

preposition
(of goods) sold direct from.

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ex [2]

noun informal
a former husband, wife, or partner in a relationship.

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ex- (also e-; ef- before f)

prefix
1. out: exclude.
2. upward: extol.
3. thoroughly: excruciate.
4. referring to removal or release: excommunicate.
5. forming verbs which indicate inducement of a state: exasperate.
6. referring to a former state: ex-husband.

ORIGIN: Latin ex 'out of' .

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exacerbate

verb
make (something bad) worse.

DERIVATIVES:
exacerbation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exacerbare 'make harsh' .

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exact

adjective
1. not approximated in any way; precise.
2. accurate or correct in all details: an exact replica.
3. tending to be accurate about minor details.

verb
1. demand and obtain (something) from someone.
2. inflict (revenge) on someone.

DERIVATIVES:
exactitude noun
exactness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin exigere 'complete, ascertain, enforce' .

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exacting

adjective
making great demands on one's endurance or skill.

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exaction

noun formal
1. the action of exacting something, especially a payment.
2. a sum of money exacted.

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exactly

adverb
1. in exact terms.
2. used to confirm or agree with what has just been said.

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exaggerate

verb
1. represent as being greater than in reality.
2. (exaggerated) enlarged or altered beyond normal proportions.

DERIVATIVES:
exaggeratedly adverb
exaggeration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exaggerare 'heap up' .

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exalt

verb
1. praise or regard highly.
2. raise to a higher rank or position.

ORIGIN: Latin exaltare, from altus 'high' .

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exaltation

noun
1. extreme happiness.
2. the action of exalting.

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exalted

adjective
1. at a high level.
2. (of an idea) noble; lofty.
3. extremely happy.

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examination

noun
1. a detailed inspection or investigation.
2. a formal test of knowledge or proficiency in a subject or skill.
3. the action of examining.

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examine

verb
1. inspect closely to determine the nature or condition of.
2. test the knowledge or proficiency of.
3. Law formally question (a defendant or witness) in court.

DERIVATIVES:
examinee noun
examiner noun.

ORIGIN: Latin examinare 'weigh, test' .

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example

noun
1. a thing characteristic of its kind or illustrating a general rule.
2. a person or thing regarded in terms of their fitness to be imitated.

IDIOMS -
for example by way of illustration.
make an example of punish as a warning to others.

ORIGIN: Latin exemplum, from eximere 'take out' .

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exasperate

verb
irritate intensely.

DERIVATIVES:
exasperated adjective
exasperating adjective
exasperation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exasperare 'irritate to anger' .

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excavate

verb
1. make (a hole or channel) by digging.
2. extract (material) from the ground by digging.
3. carefully remove earth from (an area) in order to find buried remains.

DERIVATIVES:
excavation noun
excavator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin excavare 'hollow out' .

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exceed

verb
1. be greater in number or size than.
2. go beyond what is stipulated by (a set limit).
3. surpass.

ORIGIN: Latin excedere, from cedere 'go' .

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exceedingly

adverb
1. extremely.
2. archaic to a great extent.

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excel

verb (excelled, excelling)
1. be exceptionally good at an activity or subject.
2. (excel oneself) perform exceptionally well.

ORIGIN: Latin excellere, from celsus 'lofty' .

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excellence

noun
the quality of being excellent.

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Excellency

noun (pl. Excellencies) (His, Your, etc. Excellency)
a title or form of address for certain high officials of state, especially ambassadors, or of the Roman Catholic Church.

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excellent

adjective
extremely good; outstanding.

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except

preposition
not including; other than.

conjunction
used before a statement that forms an exception to one just made.

verb
exclude: present company excepted.

ORIGIN: from Latin excipere 'take out' .

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excepting

preposition
except for; apart from.

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exception

noun
1. a person or thing that is excepted or that does not follow a rule.
2. the action of excepting or the state of being excepted.

IDIOMS -
the exception proves the rule proverb the fact that some cases do not follow a rule proves that the rule applies in all other cases.
take exception to object strongly to; be offended by.

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exceptionable

adjective formal
open to objection; causing disapproval or offence.

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exceptional

adjective
1. unusual; not typical.
2. unusually good.

DERIVATIVES:
exceptionally adverb.

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excerpt

noun
a short extract from a film or piece of music or writing.

verb
take (a short extract) from a text.

ORIGIN: from Latin excerpere 'pluck out' .

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excess

noun
1. an amount that is more than necessary, permitted, or desirable.
2. lack of moderation, especially in eating or drinking.
3. (excesses) outrageous or immoderate behaviour.
4. Brit. a part of an insurance claim to be paid by the insured.

adjective usu.
1. exceeding a prescribed or desirable amount.
2. Brit. required as extra payment.

ORIGIN: Latin excessus, from excedere 'surpass' .

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excess baggage

noun
luggage weighing more than the limit allowed on an aircraft, liable to an extra charge.

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excessive

adjective
more than is necessary, normal, or desirable.

DERIVATIVES:
excessively adverb
excessiveness noun.

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exchange

verb
give something and receive something else in return.

noun
1. an act or the action of exchanging.
2. a short conversation or argument.
3. the giving of money for its equivalent in the currency of another country.
4. a building or institution used for the trading of commodities.
5. a set of equipment that connects telephone lines during a call.

DERIVATIVES:
exchangeable adjective
exchanger noun.

ORIGIN: Old French eschangier, from changer (see CHANGE).

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exchange rate

noun
the value of one currency for the purpose of conversion to another.

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exchequer

noun
1. a royal or national treasury.
2. (Exchequer) Brit. the account at the Bank of England into which tax receipts and other public monies are paid.

ORIGIN: Old French eschequier, from Latin scaccarium 'chessboard' ; modern senses derive from the chequered tablecloth on which accounts were kept by means of counters.

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excise [1]

noun
a tax levied on certain goods, commodities, and licences.

ORIGIN: Dutch excijs.

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excise [2]

verb
1. cut out surgically.
2. remove (a section) from a text or piece of music.

DERIVATIVES:
excision noun.

ORIGIN: Latin excidere 'cut out' .

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excitable

adjective
easily excited.

DERIVATIVES:
excitability noun
excitably adverb.

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excite

verb
1. cause strong feelings of enthusiasm and eagerness in.
2. arouse sexually.
3. give rise to (a feeling or reaction).
4. produce a state of increased energy or activity in (a physical or biological system).

DERIVATIVES:
excitation noun
excitatory adjective ( chiefly Physiology )
excited adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin excitare, from exciere 'call out' .

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excitement

noun
1. a feeling of great enthusiasm and eagerness.
2. something that arouses such a feeling.
3. sexual arousal.

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exciting

adjective
causing excitement.

DERIVATIVES:
excitingly adverb.

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exclaim

verb
cry out suddenly, especially in surprise, anger, or pain.

DERIVATIVES:
exclamation noun
exclamatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin exclamare, from clamare 'to shout' .

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exclamation mark (N. Amer. exclamation point)

noun
a punctuation mark (!) indicating an exclamation.

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exclude

verb
1. deny access to; keep out.
2. remove from consideration.
3. prevent the occurrence of.
4. expel (a pupil) from a school.

DERIVATIVES:
excludable adjective
excluder noun.

ORIGIN: Latin excludere, from claudere 'to shut' .

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excluding

preposition
not taking into account; except.

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exclusion

noun
the process of excluding or state of being excluded.

DERIVATIVES:
exclusionary adjective.

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exclusive

adjective
1. excluding or not admitting other things.
2. restricted to the person, group, or area concerned.
3. high-class and expensive; select.
4. not published or broadcast elsewhere.

noun
an exclusive story or broadcast.

DERIVATIVES:
exclusively adverb
exclusiveness noun
exclusivity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exclusivus, from excludere 'exclude' .

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excommunicate

verb
officially exclude from the sacraments and services of the Christian Church.

adjective
excommunicated.

noun
an excommunicated person.

DERIVATIVES:
excommunication noun.

ORIGIN: Latin excommunicare, from communis 'common to all' .

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excoriate

verb
1. chiefly Medicine damage or remove part of the surface of (the skin).
2. formal censure or criticize severely.

DERIVATIVES:
excoriation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin excoriare 'to skin' .

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excrement

noun
faeces.

DERIVATIVES:
excremental adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin excrementum, from excernere 'sift out' .

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excrescence

noun
1. an abnormal outgrowth on a body or plant.
2. an unattractive addition or feature.

ORIGIN: Latin excrescentia, from excrescere 'grow out' .

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excreta

noun
waste discharged from the body, especially faeces and urine.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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excrete

verb
expel (a substance, especially a product of metabolism) as waste.

DERIVATIVES:
excretion noun
excretory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin excernere 'sift out' .

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excruciating

adjective
1. intensely painful.
2. very embarrassing, awkward, or tedious.

DERIVATIVES:
excruciatingly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin excruciare 'torment' , from crux 'a cross' .

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exculpate

verb formal
show or declare to be not guilty of wrongdoing.

DERIVATIVES:
exculpation noun
exculpatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin exculpare 'free from blame' .

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excursion

noun
a short journey or trip, especially one taken for leisure.

DERIVATIVES:
excursionist noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from excurrere 'run out' .

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excuse

verb
1. seek or serve to justify (a fault or offence).
2. release from a duty or requirement.
3. forgive (a fault or a person committing one).
4. (used in polite formulas) allow (someone) to leave a room or gathering.
5. (excuse oneself) say politely that one is leaving.

noun
1. a defence or justification of a fault or offence.
2. something said to conceal the real reason for an action.
3. (an excuse for) informal a poor or inadequate example of.

IDIOMS -
excuse me
1. a polite apology.
2. chiefly N. Amer. used to ask someone to repeat what they have just said.

DERIVATIVES:
excusable adjective
excusably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin excusare 'to free from blame' .

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ex-directory

adjective Brit.
(of a telephone number) not listed in a telephone directory at the wish of the subscriber.

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execrable

adjective
extremely bad or unpleasant.

DERIVATIVES:
execrably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin execrabilis, from exsecrari 'curse' .

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execrate

verb
1. feel or express great loathing for.
2. archaic curse; swear.

DERIVATIVES:
execration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exsecrari 'curse' .

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execute

verb
1. carry out or put into effect (a plan, order, etc.).
2. carry out a sentence of death on (a condemned person).
3. perform (an activity or manoeuvre).
4. Law make (a legal instrument) valid by signing or sealing it.
5. Law carry out (a judicial sentence, the terms of a will, or other order).
6. Computing run (a file or program).

DERIVATIVES:
executable adjective
execution noun.

ORIGIN: Latin executare, from exsequi 'follow up, carry out, punish' .

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executioner

noun
an official who executes condemned criminals.

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executive

adjective
having the power to execute plans, actions, or laws.

noun
1. a person with senior managerial responsibility in a business organization.
2. (the executive) the branch of a government responsible for executing plans, actions, or laws.
3. an executive committee within an organization.

DERIVATIVES:
executively adverb.

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executor

noun Law
a person appointed by a testator to carry out the terms of their will.

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executrix

noun (pl. executrices or executrixes) Law
a female executor.

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exegesis

noun (pl. exegeses)
critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially of scripture.

DERIVATIVES:
exegetic adjective
exegetical adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek, from exgeisthai 'interpret' .

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exemplar

noun
a person or thing serving as a typical example or appropriate model.

ORIGIN: Latin exemplarium, from exemplum 'example' .

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exemplary

adjective
1. serving as a desirable model; very good.
2. (of a punishment) serving as a warning.

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exemplify

verb (exemplifies, exemplified)
be or give a typical example of.

DERIVATIVES:
exemplification noun.

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exemplum

noun (pl. exempla)
an example or model, especially a moralizing or illustrative story.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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exempt

adjective
free from an obligation or liability imposed on others.

verb
make exempt.

DERIVATIVES:
exemption noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exemptus 'taken out, freed' .

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exercise

noun
1. activity requiring physical effort carried out for the sake of health and fitness.
2. a task set to practise or test a skill.
3. an activity carried out for a specific purpose: a public relations exercise.
4. (exercises) military drills or training manoeuvres.
5. the application of a faculty, right, or process: the exercise of authority.

verb
1. use or apply (a faculty, right, or process).
2. take or subject to exercise.
3. worry or perplex.

DERIVATIVES:
exercisable adjective
exerciser noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exercitium, from exercere 'keep busy, practise' .

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exercise bike

noun
a stationary piece of exercise equipment resembling an ordinary bicycle.

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exercise book

noun Brit.
a booklet with blank pages for students to write in.

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exert

verb
1. apply or bring to bear (a force, influence, or quality).
2. (exert oneself) make a physical or mental effort.

DERIVATIVES:
exertion noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exserere 'put forth' .

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exeunt

verb
(as a stage direction) (actors) leave the stage.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'they go out' .

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exfoliate

verb
1. shed or be shed from a surface in scales or layers.
2. wash or rub (the skin) with a granular substance to remove dead cells.

DERIVATIVES:
exfoliation noun
exfoliative adjective
exfoliator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exfoliare 'strip of leaves' .

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exhale

verb
1. breathe out.
2. give off (vapour or fumes).

DERIVATIVES:
exhalation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exhalare, from halare 'breathe' .

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exhaust

verb
1. tire out completely.
2. use up (resources or reserves) completely.
3. explore (a subject) thoroughly.
4. expel (gas or steam) from an engine or other machine.

noun
1. waste gases or air expelled from an engine or other machine.
2. the system through which such gases are expelled.

DERIVATIVES:
exhauster noun
exhaustible adjective
exhausting adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin exhaurire 'drain out' .

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exhaustion

noun
the action of exhausting or the state of being exhausted.

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exhaustive

adjective
fully comprehensive.

DERIVATIVES:
exhaustively adverb
exhaustiveness noun.

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exhibit

verb
1. publicly display (an item) in an art gallery or museum.
2. show (a quality).
3. show as a sign or symptom.

noun
1. an object or collection of objects on display in an art gallery or museum.
2. Law a document or other object produced in a court as evidence.
3. N. Amer. an exhibition.

DERIVATIVES:
exhibitor noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exhibere 'hold out' .

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exhibition

noun
1. a public display of items in an art gallery or museum.
2. a display or demonstration of a skill or quality.

IDIOMS -
make an exhibition of oneself behave very foolishly in public.

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exhibitionism

noun
1. extravagant behaviour that is intended to attract attention to oneself.
2. Psychiatry a mental condition characterized by the compulsion to display one's genitals in public.

DERIVATIVES:
exhibitionist noun
exhibitionistic adjective.

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exhilarate

verb
cause to feel very happy or animated.

DERIVATIVES:
exhilaratingly adverb
exhilaration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exhilarare 'make cheerful' .

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exhort

verb
strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something.

DERIVATIVES:
exhortation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exhortari, from hortari 'encourage' .

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exhume

verb
dig out (something buried, especially a corpse) from the ground.

DERIVATIVES:
exhumation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exhumare, from humus 'ground' .

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exigency (also exigence)

noun (pl. exigencies)
urgent need or demand.

ORIGIN: Latin exigentia, from exigere 'complete, ascertain, enforce' .

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exigent

adjective formal
pressing; demanding.

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exiguous

adjective formal
very small.

ORIGIN: Latin exiguus 'scanty' .

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exile

noun
1. the state of being barred from one's native country.
2. a person who lives in exile.

verb
expel and bar (someone) from their native country.

ORIGIN: Latin exilium 'banishment' .

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exist

verb
1. have objective reality or being.
2. live, especially under adverse conditions.
3. be found: two conflicting stereotypes exist.

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existence

noun
1. the fact or state of existing.
2. a way of living.

ORIGIN: Latin existentia, from exsistere 'come into being' .

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existent

adjective
existing.

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existential

adjective
1. relating to existence.
2. Philosophy concerned with existentialism.

DERIVATIVES:
existentially adverb.

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existentialism

noun
a philosophical theory which emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent.

DERIVATIVES:
existentialist noun & adjective.

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exit

noun
1. a way out of a building, room, or passenger vehicle.
2. an act of leaving.
3. a place for traffic to leave a major road or roundabout.

verb (exited, exiting)
1. go out of or leave a place.
2. Computing terminate a process or program.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'he or she goes out' , from exire 'go out' .

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exit poll

noun
a poll of people leaving a polling station, asking how they voted.

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exo-

prefix
external; from outside: exoskeleton.

ORIGIN: Greek ex 'outside' .

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exocrine

adjective
(of a gland) secreting hormones or other products through ducts rather than directly into the blood.

ORIGIN: from Greek krinein 'sift' .

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exodus

noun
a mass departure of people, especially emigrants.

ORIGIN: Greek exodos, from hodos 'way' .

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ex officio

adverb & adjective
by virtue of one's position or status.

ORIGIN: from Latin ex 'out of, from' + officium 'duty' .

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exonerate

verb
1. officially absolve from blame.
2. (exonerate from) release (someone) from (a duty or obligation).

DERIVATIVES:
exoneration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exonerare 'free from a burden' .

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exorbitant

adjective
(of a price or amount charged) unreasonably high.

DERIVATIVES:
exorbitance noun
exorbitantly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin exorbitare 'go off the track' .

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exorcize (also exorcise)

verb
drive out (a supposed evil spirit) from a person or place.

DERIVATIVES:
exorcism noun
exorcist noun.

ORIGIN: Greek exorkizein, from horkos 'oath' .

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exoskeleton

noun Zoology
the rigid external covering of the body in insects and some other invertebrate animals.

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exothermic

adjective Chemistry
(of a reaction) accompanied by the release of heat. The opposite of ENDOTHERMIC.

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exotic

adjective
1. originating in or characteristic of a distant foreign country.
2. strikingly colourful or unusual.

noun
an exotic plant or animal.

DERIVATIVES:
exotically adverb
exoticism noun.

ORIGIN: Greek extikos 'foreign' .

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expand

verb
1. make or become larger or more extensive.
2. (expand on) give a fuller version or account of.
3. become less reserved.

DERIVATIVES:
expandable adjective
expander noun
expansible adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin expandere 'spread out' .

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expanse

noun
1. a wide continuous area of something, typically land or sea.
2. the distance to which something expands or can be expanded.

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expansion

noun
1. the action or an instance of expanding.
2. extension of a state's territory by encroachment on that of other nations.

DERIVATIVES:
expansionary adjective.

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expansive

adjective
1. covering a wide area; extensive.
2. relaxed, genial, and communicative.
3. tending towards territorial expansion.

DERIVATIVES:
expansively adverb
expansiveness noun.

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expatiate

verb (usu. expatiate on)
speak or write at length or in detail.

DERIVATIVES:
expatiation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exspatiari 'move beyond one's usual bounds' .

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expatriate

noun
a person who lives outside their native country.

adjective
living outside one's native country.

verb
settle abroad.

DERIVATIVES:
expatriation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin expatriare, from patria 'native country' .

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expect

verb
1. regard as likely to happen.
2. regard (someone) as likely to do or be something.
3. believe that (someone) will arrive soon.
4. require as appropriate or rightfully due.
5. (be expecting) informal be pregnant.

DERIVATIVES:
expectable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin exspectare 'look out for' .

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expectancy

noun (pl. expectancies)
1. hope or anticipation that something will happen.
2. something expected.

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expectant

adjective
1. hoping or anticipating that something is about to happen.
2. (of a woman) pregnant.

DERIVATIVES:
expectantly adverb.

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expectation

noun
1. belief that something will happen or be the case.
2. a thing that is expected to happen.

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expectorant

noun
a medicine which promotes the secretion of sputum by the air passages, used to treat coughs.

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expectorate

verb
cough or spit out (phlegm) from the throat or lungs.

DERIVATIVES:
expectoration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin expectorare 'expel from the chest' .

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expedient

adjective
1. advantageous.
2. advisable on practical rather than moral grounds.

noun
a means of attaining an end.

DERIVATIVES:
expedience noun
expediency noun
expediently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from expedire (see EXPEDITE).

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expedite

verb
cause to happen sooner or be accomplished more quickly.

DERIVATIVES:
expediter (also expeditor) noun.

ORIGIN: Latin expedire 'extricate (originally by freeing the feet), put in order' , from pes 'foot' .

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expedition

noun
1. a journey undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose.
2. formal promptness or speed in doing something.

DERIVATIVES:
expeditionary adjective.

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expeditious

adjective
quick and efficient.

DERIVATIVES:
expeditiously adverb
expeditiousness noun.

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expel

verb (expelled, expelling)
1. force or drive out.
2. force (a pupil) to leave a school.

DERIVATIVES:
expellable adjective
expellee noun
expeller noun.

ORIGIN: Latin expellere, from pellere 'to drive' .

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expend

verb
spend or use up (a resource).

ORIGIN: Latin expendere, from pendere 'weigh, pay' .

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expendable

adjective
1. suitable to be used once only; not worth preserving.
2. able to be sacrificed because of little significance when compared to an overall purpose.

DERIVATIVES:
expendability noun
expendably adverb.

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expenditure

noun
1. the action of spending funds.
2. the amount of money spent.

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expense

noun
1. the cost incurred in or required for something.
2. (expenses) specific costs incurred in the performance of a job or task.
3. something on which money must be spent.

IDIOMS -
at the expense of
1. paid for by.
2. to the detriment of.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin expendere 'weigh or pay out' .

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expense account

noun
an arrangement under which money spent in the course of business is later reimbursed by one's employer.

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expensive

adjective
costing a lot of money.

DERIVATIVES:
expensively adverb
expensiveness noun.

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experience

noun
1. practical contact with and observation of facts or events.
2. knowledge or skill acquired over time.
3. an event or occurrence which leaves an impression on one.

verb
1. encounter or undergo (an event or occurrence).
2. feel (an emotion).

ORIGIN: Latin experientia, from experiri 'try' .

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experienced

adjective
having knowledge or skill in a particular field gained over time.

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experiential

adjective
involving or based on experience and observation.

DERIVATIVES:
experientially adverb.

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experiment

noun
1. a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact.
2. a course of action tentatively adopted without being sure of the outcome.

verb
1. perform a scientific experiment.
2. try out new things.

DERIVATIVES:
experimentation noun
experimenter noun.

ORIGIN: Latin experimentum, from experiri 'try' .

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experimental

adjective
1. based on untested ideas or techniques and not yet established or finalized.
2. of or relating to scientific experiments.
3. (of art, music, etc.) radically new and innovative.

DERIVATIVES:
experimentalism noun
experimentalist noun
experimentally adverb.

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expert

noun
a person who is very knowledgeable about or skilful in a particular area.

adjective
having or involving such knowledge or skill.

DERIVATIVES:
expertly adverb
expertness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin expertus, from experiri 'try' .

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expertise

noun
great skill or knowledge in a particular field.

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expiate

verb
atone for (guilt or sin).

DERIVATIVES:
expiable adjective
expiation noun
expiator noun
expiatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin expiare 'appease by sacrifice' , from pius 'pious' .

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expire

verb
1. (of a document or agreement) come to the end of the period of validity.
2. (of a period of time) come to an end.
3. (of a person) die.
4. technical exhale (air) from the lungs.

DERIVATIVES:
expiration noun
expiratory adjective
expiry noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exspirare 'breathe out' .

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explain

verb
1. make clear by giving a detailed description.
2. give a reason or justification for.
3. (explain oneself) excuse or justify one's motives or conduct.
4. (explain away) minimize the significance of (something awkward) by giving an excuse or justification.

DERIVATIVES:
explainable adjective
explainer noun
explanation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin explanare, from planus 'plain' .

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explanatory

adjective
serving to explain something.

DERIVATIVES:
explanatorily adverb.

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expletive

noun
an oath or swear word.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a word used to fill out a sentence: from Latin expletivus, from explere 'fill out' .

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explicable

adjective
able to be explained or accounted for.

ORIGIN: from Latin explicare 'unfold' .

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explicate

verb
1. analyse and develop (an idea or principle) in detail.
2. analyse (a literary work) in order to reveal its meaning.

DERIVATIVES:
explication noun
explicative adjective
explicator noun
explicatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin explicare 'unfold' .

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explicit

adjective
1. clear and detailed, with no room for confusion or doubt.
2. graphically describing or representing sexual activity.

DERIVATIVES:
explicitly adverb
explicitness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin explicare 'unfold' .

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explode

verb
1. burst or shatter violently as a result of rapid combustion or excessive internal pressure.
2. suddenly give expression to violent emotion.
3. increase suddenly in number or extent.
4. show (a belief or theory) to be false or unfounded.
5. (exploded) (of a diagram) showing parts or components of something in the normal relative positions but slightly separated from each other.

DERIVATIVES:
exploder noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «reject scornfully»: from Latin explodere 'drive out by clapping, hiss off the stage' , from plaudere 'to clap' .

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exploit

verb
1. make good use of (a resource).
2. make use of unfairly; benefit unjustly from the work of.

noun
a bold or daring feat.

DERIVATIVES:
exploitable adjective
exploitation noun
exploitative adjective
exploiter noun
exploitive adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «success, progress»: from Old French esploit, from Latin explicare 'unfold' .

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explore

verb
1. travel through (an unfamiliar area) in order to learn about it.
2. inquire into or discuss in detail.
3. evaluate (a new option or possibility).
4. examine or scrutinize by searching through or touching.

DERIVATIVES:
exploration noun
explorative adjective
exploratory adjective
explorer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin explorare 'search out' , from plorare 'utter a cry' .

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explosion

noun
an act or instance of exploding.

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explosive

adjective
1. able or likely to explode.
2. likely to cause an eruption of anger or controversy.
3. (of an increase) sudden and dramatic.

noun
a substance which can be made to explode.

DERIVATIVES:
explosively adverb
explosiveness noun.

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exponent

noun
1. a promoter of an idea or theory.
2. a person who does a particular thing skilfully.
3. Mathematics the power to which a given quantity is raised (e.g. 3 in 2^3 = 2 x 2 x 2).

ORIGIN: Latin, from exponere 'present, explain' .

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exponential

adjective
1. (of an increase) becoming more and more rapid.
2. Mathematics of or expressed by a mathematical exponent.

DERIVATIVES:
exponentially adverb.

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export

verb
1. send (goods or services) to another country for sale.
2. spread or introduce (ideas or customs) to another country.

noun
1. the exporting of goods or services.
2. an exported commodity, article, or service.

DERIVATIVES:
exportability noun
exportable adjective
exportation noun
exporter noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exportare, from portare 'carry' .

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expose

verb
1. uncover and make visible.
2. reveal the true nature of.
3. (exposed) unprotected from the weather.
4. (expose to) make vulnerable to.
5. subject (photographic film) to light.
6. (expose oneself) publicly and indecently display one's genitals.

DERIVATIVES:
exposer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exponere 'present, explain' , but influenced by expositus 'put or set out' and Old French poser 'to place' .

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exposé

noun
a report in the media that reveals something discreditable.

ORIGIN: French, 'shown, set out' .

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exposition

noun
1. a comprehensive description and explanation of a theory.
2. a large public exhibition of art or trade goods.
3. Music the part of a movement in which the principal themes are first presented.

DERIVATIVES:
expositional adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from exponere 'present, explain' .

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expositor

noun
a person or thing that explains complicated ideas or theories.

DERIVATIVES:
expository adjective.

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expostulate

verb
express strong disapproval or disagreement.

DERIVATIVES:
expostulation noun
expostulatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin expostulare 'demand' .

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exposure

noun
1. the state of being exposed to something harmful.
2. a physical condition resulting from being exposed to severe weather conditions.
3. the action of exposing a photographic film.
4. the quantity of light reaching a photographic film, as determined by shutter speed and lens aperture.
5. the revelation of something secret.
6. the publicizing of information or an event.

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expound

verb
present and explain (a theory or idea) systematically.

DERIVATIVES:
expounder noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exponere 'present, explain' .

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express [1]

verb
1. convey (a thought or feeling) in words or by gestures and conduct.
2. squeeze out (liquid or air).

DERIVATIVES:
expresser noun
expressible adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French expresser, from Latin pressare 'to press' .

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express [2]

adjective
1. operating at high speed.
2. denoting a service in which deliveries are made by a special messenger.

adverb
by express train or delivery service.

noun
1. (also express train) a train that stops at few stations and so travels quickly.
2. a special delivery service.

verb
send by express messenger or delivery.

ORIGIN: extension of EXPRESS.

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express [3]

adjective
1. stated explicitly.
2. specifically identified to the exclusion of anything else.

DERIVATIVES:
expressly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin expressus 'distinctly presented' , from exprimere 'press out, express' .

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expression

noun
1. the action of expressing.
2. the look on someone's face.
3. a word or phrase expressing an idea.
4. Mathematics a collection of symbols expressing a quantity.

DERIVATIVES:
expressional adjective
expressionless adjective.

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expressionism

noun
a style in art, music, or drama in which the artist or writer seeks to express the inner world of emotion rather than external reality.

DERIVATIVES:
expressionist noun & adjective
expressionistic adjective.

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expressive

adjective
1. effectively conveying thought or feeling.
2. (expressive of) conveying (a quality or idea).

DERIVATIVES:
expressively adverb
expressiveness noun
expressivity noun.

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expressway

noun chiefly N. Amer.
an urban motorway.

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expropriate

verb
(of the state) take (property) from its owner for public use or benefit.

DERIVATIVES:
expropriation noun
expropriator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin expropriare, from proprium 'property' .

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expulsion

noun
the action of expelling.

DERIVATIVES:
expulsive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from expellere 'drive out' .

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expunge

verb
obliterate or remove completely.

DERIVATIVES:
expungement noun
expunger noun.

ORIGIN: Latin expungere 'mark for deletion by means of points' , from pungere 'to prick' .

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expurgate

verb
remove matter regarded as obscene or unsuitable from (a text or account).

DERIVATIVES:
expurgation noun
expurgator noun
expurgatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin expurgare 'cleanse thoroughly' .

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exquisite

adjective
1. of great beauty and delicacy.
2. highly refined: exquisite taste.
3. intensely felt; acute.

DERIVATIVES:
exquisitely adverb
exquisiteness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «precise»: from Latin exquirere 'seek out' .

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extant

adjective
still in existence.

ORIGIN: Latin, from exstare 'be visible or prominent' .

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extemporary

adjective
spoken or done without preparation.

DERIVATIVES:
extemporarily adverb
extemporariness noun.

ORIGIN: from EXTEMPORE.

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extempore

adjective & adverb
spoken or done without preparation.

ORIGIN: from Latin ex tempore 'on the spur of the moment' (literally 'out of the time' ).

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extemporize (also extemporise)

verb
improvise.

DERIVATIVES:
extemporization noun.

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extend

verb
1. make larger in area.
2. cause to last longer.
3. occupy a specified area or continue for a specified distance.
4. hold out (one's hand or another part of one's body) towards someone.
5. offer; make available.

DERIVATIVES:
extendability noun
extendable adjective
extendibility noun
extendible adjective
extensibility noun
extensible adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin extendere 'stretch out' .

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extended family

noun
a family which extends beyond the nuclear family to include relatives living close by.

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extender

noun
1. a person or thing that extends something.
2. a substance added to a liquid or soft product to increase its bulk.

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extension

noun
1. the action or process of extending.
2. a part added to a building to enlarge it.
3. an additional period of time.
4. (also extension lead or cable) an additional length of electric cable which can be plugged into a fixed socket and terminates in a further socket.
5. a subsidiary telephone, especially one with its own additional number on a line leading from a main switchboard.

DERIVATIVES:
extensional adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from extendere 'stretch out' .

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extensive

adjective
1. covering a large area.
2. large in amount or scale.

DERIVATIVES:
extensively adverb
extensiveness noun.

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extensor

noun Anatomy
a muscle whose contraction extends a limb or other part of the body.

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extent

noun
1. the area covered by something.
2. size or scale.
3. the degree to which something is the case: everyone compromises to some extent.

ORIGIN: Old French extente, from Latin extendere 'stretch out' .

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extenuate

verb
1. (usu. as adj. extenuating) lessen the seriousness of (an offence) by referring to a factor that helps excuse it.
2. (extenuated) literary thin.

DERIVATIVES:
extenuation noun
extenuatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin extenuare 'make thin' .

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exterior

adjective
1. forming, situated on, or relating to the outside.

noun
the outer surface or structure of something.

DERIVATIVES:
exteriorly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from exter 'outer' .

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exterminate

verb
destroy completely; eradicate.

DERIVATIVES:
extermination noun
exterminator noun
exterminatory adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «drive out»: from Latin exterminare, from terminus 'boundary' .

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external

adjective
1. belonging to, situated on, or forming the outside.
2. coming or derived from a source outside the subject affected.
3. coming from or relating to another country or institution.

noun (externals)
outward features.

DERIVATIVES:
externally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from exter 'outer' .

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externalize (also externalise)

verb
1. give external existence or concrete form to.
2. express (a thought or feeling) in words or actions.

DERIVATIVES:
externalization noun.

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extinct

adjective
1. (of a species or other large group) having no living members.
2. no longer in existence.
3. (of a volcano) not having erupted in recorded history.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «no longer alight»: from Latin exstinguere 'extinguish' .

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extinction

noun
the state or process of being or becoming extinct.

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extinguish

verb
1. put out (a fire or light).
2. put an end to.
3. cancel (a debt) by full payment.
4. Law render (a right or obligation) void.

DERIVATIVES:
extinguishable adjective
extinguisher noun
extinguishment noun ( Law ).

ORIGIN: Latin exstinguere, from stinguere 'quench' .

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extirpate

verb
search out and destroy completely.

DERIVATIVES:
extirpation noun
extirpator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin exstirpare, from stirps 'a stem' .

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extol

verb (extolled, extolling)
praise enthusiastically.

DERIVATIVES:
extoller noun
extolment noun.

ORIGIN: Latin extollere, from tollere 'raise' .

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extort

verb
obtain by force, threats, or other unfair means.

DERIVATIVES:
extorter noun
extortion noun
extortioner noun
extortionist noun
extortive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin extorquere, from torquere 'twist' .

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extortionate

adjective
1. (of a price) much too high.
2. using or given to extortion.

DERIVATIVES:
extortionately adverb.

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extra

adjective
added to an existing or usual amount or number.

adverb
1. to a greater extent than usual.
2. in addition.

noun
1. an item for which an extra charge is made.
2. an extra item.
3. a person engaged temporarily to take part in a crowd scene in a film or play.

ORIGIN: probably a shortening of EXTRAORDINARY.

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extra-

prefix
1. outside; beyond: extramarital.
2. beyond the scope of: extra-curricular.

ORIGIN: Latin extra 'outside' .

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extract

verb
1. remove with care or effort.
2. obtain (money, information, etc.) from someone unwilling to give it.
3. obtain (a substance or resource) from something by a special method.
4. select (a passage from a text, film, or piece of music) for quotation, performance, or reproduction.

noun
1. a short passage taken from a text, film, or piece of music.
2. a preparation containing the active ingredient of a substance in concentrated form.

DERIVATIVES:
extractability noun
extractable adjective
extractive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin extrahere 'draw out' .

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extraction

noun
1. the action of extracting.
2. the ethnic origin of someone's family.

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extractor

noun
1. a machine or device used to extract something.
2. (before another noun ) denoting a fan or other device for extracting odours and stale air.

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extra-curricular

adjective
(of an activity at a school or college) pursued in addition to the normal curriculum.

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extradite

verb
hand over (a person accused or convicted of committing a crime in a foreign state) to the jurisdiction of that state.

DERIVATIVES:
extraditable adjective
extradition noun.

ORIGIN: from French extradition, from tradition 'delivery' .

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extramarital

adjective
(especially of sexual relations) occurring outside marriage.

DERIVATIVES:
extramaritally adverb.

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extramural

adjective
1. Brit. (of a course of study) arranged for people who are not full-time members of a university or other educational establishment.
2. outside the walls or boundaries of a town or city.

DERIVATIVES:
extramurally adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin extra muros 'outside the walls' .

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extraneous

adjective
1. irrelevant or unrelated to the subject.
2. of external origin.

DERIVATIVES:
extraneously adverb
extraneousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin extraneus.

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extraordinaire

adjective
outstanding in a particular capacity: a gardener extraordinaire.

ORIGIN: French.

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extraordinary

adjective
1. very unusual or remarkable.
2. (of a meeting) specially convened rather than being one of a regular series.
3. (of an official) specially employed: Ambassador Extraordinary.

DERIVATIVES:
extraordinarily adverb
extraordinariness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin extraordinarius, from extra ordinem 'outside the normal course of events' .

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extrapolate

verb
1. extend the application of (a method, conclusion, etc.) to different or larger groups.
2. extend (a graph) by inferring unknown values from trends in the known data.

DERIVATIVES:
extrapolation noun
extrapolative adjective
extrapolator noun.

ORIGIN: from EXTRA- + a shortened form of INTERPOLATE.

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extrasensory perception

noun
the supposed faculty of perceiving things by means other than the known senses, e.g. by telepathy.

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extraterrestrial

adjective
of or from outside the earth or its atmosphere.

noun
a hypothetical or fictional being from outer space.

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extravagant

adjective
1. lacking restraint in spending money or using resources.
2. costing a great deal.
3. exceeding what is reasonable or appropriate: extravagant claims.

DERIVATIVES:
extravagance noun
extravagancy noun
extravagantly adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «unusual, unsuitable»: from Latin extravagari 'diverge greatly' .

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extravaganza

noun
an elaborate and spectacular entertainment.

ORIGIN: Italian estravaganza 'extravagance' .

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extra virgin

adjective
denoting a particularly fine grade of olive oil made from the first pressing of the olives.

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extreme

adjective
1. to the highest degree; very great.
2. highly unusual; exceptional.
3. very severe or serious.
4. not moderate, especially politically.
5. furthest from the centre or a given point.
6. (of a sport) performed in a hazardous environment.

noun
1. either of two abstract things that are as different from each other as possible.
2. the most extreme degree: extremes of temperature.

DERIVATIVES:
extremely adverb
extremeness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin extremus 'outermost, utmost' .

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extreme unction

noun
(in the Roman Catholic Church) a former name for the sacrament of anointing of the sick, especially when administered to the dying.

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extremist

noun
a person who holds extreme political or religious views.

DERIVATIVES:
extremism noun.

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extremity

noun (pl. extremities)
1. the furthest point or limit.
2. (extremities) the hands and feet.
3. severity or seriousness.
4. extreme adversity.

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extricate

verb
free from a constraint or difficulty.

DERIVATIVES:
extrication noun.

ORIGIN: Latin extricare 'unravel' , from tricae 'perplexities' .

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extrinsic

adjective
not essential or inherent.

DERIVATIVES:
extrinsically adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin extrinsecus 'outward' .

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extrovert

noun
1. an outgoing, socially confident person.
2. Psychology a person predominantly concerned with external things or objective considerations.

adjective
of or characteristic of an extrovert.

DERIVATIVES:
extroversion noun
extroverted adjective.

ORIGIN: from extro- (variant of EXTRA-) + Latin vertere 'to turn' .

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extrude

verb
1. thrust or force out.
2. shape (a material such as metal or plastic) by forcing it through a die.

DERIVATIVES:
extrudable adjective
extrusion noun.

ORIGIN: Latin extrudere, from trudere 'to thrust' .

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exuberant

adjective
1. lively and cheerful.
2. growing profusely.

DERIVATIVES:
exuberance noun
exuberantly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin exuberare 'be abundantly fruitful' .

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exude

verb
1. discharge or be discharged slowly and steadily.
2. display (an emotion or quality) strongly and openly.

DERIVATIVES:
exudate noun
exudation noun
exudative adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin exsudare, from sudare 'to sweat' .

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exult

verb
show or feel triumphant elation.

DERIVATIVES:
exultancy noun
exultant adjective
exultantly adjective
exultation noun
exulting adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin exsultare, from exsilire 'leap up' .

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eye

noun
1. the organ of sight in humans and animals.
2. a rounded eye-like marking on an animal or bird.
3. a round, dark spot on a potato from which a new shoot grows.
4. the small hole in a needle through which the thread is passed.
5. a small metal loop into which a hook is fitted as a fastener on a garment.
6. Nautical a loop at the top end of a shroud or stay rope.
7. the calm region at the centre of a storm.
8. used to refer to a person's opinion or feelings: to European eyes, the city seems overcrowded.

verb (eyeing or eying)
1. look at closely or with interest.
2. (eye up) informal look at (someone) in a way that reveals a sexual interest.

IDIOMS -
be all eyes be watching eagerly and attentively.
close one's eyes to refuse to acknowledge (something unpleasant).
an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth retaliation in kind is the appropriate way to deal with an offence or crime. [ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to the Book of Exodus, chapter 21.]
give someone the eye informal look at someone with sexual interest.
have an eye for be able to recognize and judge wisely.
have (or keep) one's eye on
1. keep under careful observation.
2. (have one's eye on) aim to acquire.
have (or with) an eye to have (or having) as one's objective.
have eyes in the back of one's head know what is going on around one even when one cannot see it.
keep an eye on keep under careful observation.
keep an eye out (or open) look out for something.
keep one's eyes open (or peeled or Brit. skinned) watch out for something.
make eyes at look at in a way that indicates sexual interest.
one in the eye for a disappointment or setback for.
only have eyes for be exclusively interested in.
open someone's eyes cause someone to realize something.
see eye to eye be in full agreement.
a twinkle (or gleam) in someone's eye something that is as yet no more than an idea or dream.
up to one's eyes informal extremely busy.
what the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over proverb if someone is unaware of an unpleasant fact or situation they can't be troubled by it.
with one's eyes open fully aware of possible difficulties.

DERIVATIVES:
eyed adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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eyeball

noun
the round part of the eye of a vertebrate, within the eyelids and socket.

verb informal, chiefly N. Amer.
stare at closely.

IDIOMS -
eyeball to eyeball face to face with someone, especially in an aggressive way.

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eyebrow

noun
the strip of hair growing on the ridge above a person's eye socket.

IDIOMS -
raise one's eyebrows (or an eyebrow) show surprise or mild disapproval.

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eye-catching

adjective
immediately appealing or noticeable.

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eyeful

noun informal
1. a long steady look.
2. an eye-catching person or thing.

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eyeglass

noun
1. a single lens for correcting or assisting defective eyesight, especially a monocle.
2. (eyeglasses) chiefly N. Amer. another term for GLASSES.

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eyelash

noun
each of the short hairs growing on the edges of the eyelids.

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eyelet

noun
1. a small round hole made in leather or cloth, used for threading a lace, string, or rope through.
2. a metal ring reinforcing such a hole.

ORIGIN: Old French oillet, from oil 'eye' , from Latin oculus.

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eyelid

noun
each of the upper and lower folds of skin which cover the eye when closed.

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eyeliner

noun
a cosmetic applied as a line round the eyes.

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eye-opener

noun informal
an unexpected revelation.

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eyepiece

noun
the lens that is closest to the eye in a microscope or other optical instrument.

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eyeshadow

noun
a coloured cosmetic applied to the eyelids or to the skin around the eyes.

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eyesight

noun
a person's ability to see.

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eye socket

noun
the cavity in the skull which encloses an eyeball with its surrounding muscles.

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eyesore

noun
a thing that is very ugly.

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eye tooth

noun
a canine tooth, especially one in the upper jaw.

IDIOMS -
give one's eye teeth for (or to be or to do) do anything in order to have or to be or do.

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eyewitness

noun
a person who has seen something happen and so can give a first-hand description of it.

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eyrie (US also aerie)

noun
a large nest of an eagle or other bird of prey, typically built high in a tree or on a cliff.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French aire, from Latin area 'level piece of ground' , later 'nest of a bird of prey' .

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F

F [1] (also f)

noun (pl. Fs or F's)
1. the sixth letter of the alphabet.
2. denoting the next item after E in a set.
3. Music the fourth note of the diatonic scale of C major.

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F [2]

abbreviation
1. Fahrenheit.
2. farad(s).
3. (in racing results) favourite.
4. female.
5. Brit. fine (used in describing grades of pencil lead).
6. Franc(s).

symbol
1. the chemical element fluorine.
2. Physics force.

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f

abbreviation
1. Grammar feminine.
2. (in textual references) folio.
3. Music forte.
4. (in racing results) furlong(s).

symbol
1. focal length.
2. Mathematics a function of a specified variable.
3. Electronics frequency.

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FA

abbreviation
(in the UK) Football Association.

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fab

adjective informal
fabulous; wonderful.

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Fabian

noun
a member or supporter of the Fabian Society, an organization of socialists aiming to achieve socialism by non-revolutionary methods.

adjective
1. relating to the Fabians.
2. employing cautious delaying tactics to wear out an enemy.

DERIVATIVES:
Fabianism noun
Fabianist noun.

ORIGIN: from the name of the Roman general Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus (died 203 BC), known for his delaying tactics.

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fable

noun
1. a short story with a moral, typically featuring animals as characters.
2. a supernatural story incorporating elements of myth and legend.
3. myth and legend.

DERIVATIVES:
fabler noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin fabula 'story' .

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fabled

adjective
1. famous.
2. mythical or imaginary.

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fabric

noun
1. material produced by weaving or knitting textile fibres; cloth.
2. a structure or framework, especially the walls, floor, and roof of a building.
3. the essential structure of a system or organization.

ORIGIN: Latin fabrica 'something skilfully produced' .

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fabricate

verb
1. invent, typically with deceitful intent.
2. construct or manufacture (an industrial product).

DERIVATIVES:
fabrication noun
fabricator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin fabricare 'manufacture' .

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fabulous

adjective
1. great; extraordinary.
2. informal wonderful.
3. mythical.

DERIVATIVES:
fabulously adverb
fabulousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin fabulosus 'celebrated in fable' , from fabula 'story' .

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facade

noun
1. the face of a building, especially the front.
2. a deceptive outward appearance.

ORIGIN: French, from face 'face' .

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face

noun
1. the front part of a person's head from the forehead to the chin, or the corresponding part in an animal.
2. an expression on someone's face.
3. the surface of a thing, especially one presented to the view or with a particular function.
4. a vertical or sloping side of a mountain or cliff.
5. an aspect: the unacceptable face of social drinking.

verb
1. be positioned with the face or front towards or in a specified direction.
2. confront and deal with.
3. have (a difficult event or situation) in prospect.
4. (face off) chiefly N. Amer. take up an attitude of confrontation.
5. cover the surface of (something) with a layer of a different material.

IDIOMS -
someone's face fits Brit. someone has the necessary qualities for something.
face the music be confronted with the unpleasant consequences of one's actions.
face to face close together and looking directly at one another.
in the face of when confronted with.
lose (or save) face incur (or avoid) humiliation.
on the face of it apparently.
set one's face against resist with determination.
to one's face openly in one's presence.

DERIVATIVES:
-faced adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin facies 'form, appearance, face' .

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facecloth

noun
1. (Brit. also face flannel) a small towelling cloth for washing one's face.
2. smooth-surfaced woollen cloth.

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faceless

adjective
remote and impersonal.

DERIVATIVES:
facelessness noun.

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facelift

noun
a cosmetic surgical operation to remove unwanted wrinkles by tightening the skin of the face.

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face mask

noun
1. a protective mask covering the face or part of the face.
2. a face pack.

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face pack

noun chiefly Brit.
a cosmetic preparation spread over the face to improve the skin.

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face-saving

adjective
preserving one's reputation or dignity.

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facet

noun
1. one side of something many-sided, especially of a cut gem.
2. an aspect: different facets of the truth.

DERIVATIVES:
faceted adjective.

ORIGIN: French facette 'little face' .

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facetious

adjective
trivially or inappropriately humorous.

DERIVATIVES:
facetiously adverb
facetiousness noun.

ORIGIN: French facétieux, from Latin facetia 'jest' .

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face value

noun
1. the value printed or depicted on a coin, postage stamp, etc.
2. the apparent value or nature of something.

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facial

adjective
of or affecting the face.

noun
a beauty treatment for the face.

DERIVATIVES:
facially adverb.

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facile

adjective
1. ignoring the complexities of an issue; superficial.
2. (of an achievement) easily accomplished.

DERIVATIVES:
facilely adverb
facileness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin facilis 'easy' .

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facilitate

verb
make easy or easier.

DERIVATIVES:
facilitation noun
facilitative adjective
facilitator noun
facilitatory adjective.

ORIGIN: French faciliter, from Latin facilis 'easy' .

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facility

noun (pl. facilities)
1. a building, service, or piece of equipment provided for a particular purpose.
2. a natural ability to do something well and easily.

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facing

noun
1. a piece of material attached to the edge of a garment at the neck, armhole, etc. and turned inside, used to strengthen the edge.
2. an outer layer covering the surface of a wall.

adjective
positioned so as to face.

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facsimile

noun
an exact copy.

verb (facsimiled, facsimileing)
make a copy of.

ORIGIN: from Latin fac! 'make!' and simile, from similis 'like' .

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fact

noun
1. a thing that is indisputably the case.
2. (facts) information used as evidence or as part of a report.

IDIOMS -
before (or after) the fact Law before (or after) the committing of a crime.
a fact of life something that must be accepted, even if unpalatable.
the facts of life information about sexual matters.
in (point of) fact in reality.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «an act», later «a crime»: from Latin factum, from facere 'do' .

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faction

noun
a small dissenting group within a larger one.

DERIVATIVES:
factional adjective
factionalism noun
factionally adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «doing, making»: from Latin facere 'do, make' .

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factious

adjective
relating or inclined to dissension.

DERIVATIVES:
factiously adverb
factiousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin factiosus, from facere 'do, make' .

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factitious

adjective
artificial; contrived.

DERIVATIVES:
factitiously adverb
factitiousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin facticius 'made by art' .

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factor

noun
1. a circumstance, fact, or influence that contributes to a result.
2. Mathematics a number or quantity that when multiplied with another produces a given number or expression.
3. Physiology any of a number of substances in the blood which are involved in coagulation.
4. Biology a gene that determines a hereditary characteristic.
5. a business or land agent.

verb (factor in/out)
include (or exclude) as relevant when making a decision.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «doer»: from Latin facere 'do' .

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factorial Mathematics

noun
the product of an integer and all the integers below it, e.g. 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 (factorial 4, denoted by 4! and equal to 24).

adjective
relating to a factor or factorial.

DERIVATIVES:
factorially adverb.

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factorize (also factorise)

verb Mathematics
resolve or be resolvable into factors.

DERIVATIVES:
factorization noun.

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factory

noun (pl. factories)
a building where goods are manufactured or assembled chiefly by machine.

ORIGIN: Latin factorium 'oil press' .

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factory farming

noun
a system of rearing poultry, pigs, or cattle indoors intensively and under strictly controlled conditions.

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factory floor

noun
the workers in a company or industry, rather than the management.

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factotum

noun (pl. factotums)
an employee who does all kinds of work.

ORIGIN: from Latin fac! 'do!' + totum 'the whole thing' .

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factual

adjective
based on or concerned with fact or facts.

DERIVATIVES:
factuality noun
factually adverb
factualness noun.

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faculty

noun (pl. faculties)
1. an inherent mental or physical power.
2. an aptitude or talent.
3. chiefly Brit. a group of university departments concerned with a major division of knowledge.
4. N. Amer. the teaching or research staff of a university or college.

ORIGIN: Latin facultas, from facilis 'easy' .

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fad

noun
1. a craze.
2. an idiosyncrasy or arbitrary like or dislike.

DERIVATIVES:
faddish adjective
faddism noun
faddist noun.

ORIGIN: probably from FIDDLE-FADDLE.

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faddy

adjective (faddier, faddiest) Brit.
having many likes and dislikes about food; fussy.

DERIVATIVES:
faddily adverb
faddiness noun.

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fade

verb
1. gradually grow faint and disappear.
2. lose or cause to lose colour.
3. (with reference to a film or video image or recorded sound) increase or decrease in clarity or volume.

noun
an act or instance of fading.

ORIGIN: Old French fader, from fade 'dull, insipid' .

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faeces (US feces)

plural noun
waste matter remaining after food has been digested, discharged from the bowels.

DERIVATIVES:
faecal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, plural of faex 'dregs' .

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faff Brit. informal

verb
bustle ineffectually.

noun
ineffectual activity.

ORIGIN: originally dialect in the sense «blow in puffs», describing the wind.

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fag [1] Brit. informal

noun
1. a tiring or unwelcome task.
2. a junior pupil at a public school who does minor chores for a senior pupil.

verb (fagged, fagging)
1. work hard.
2. (of a public-school pupil) act as a fag.
3. (fagged out) exhausted.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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fag [2]

noun N. Amer. informal, derogatory
a male homosexual.

DERIVATIVES:
faggy adjective.

ORIGIN: short for FAGGOT (in sense 3).

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fag [3]

noun Brit. informal
a cigarette.

ORIGIN: from FAG END.

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fag end

noun informal, chiefly Brit.
1. a cigarette end.
2. a useless remnant.

ORIGIN: from obsolete fag «a flap».

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faggot

noun
1. Brit. a ball of seasoned chopped liver, baked or fried.
2. (US fagot) a bundle of sticks bound together as fuel.
3. N. Amer. informal, derogatory a male homosexual.

DERIVATIVES:
faggoty adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French fagot, from Greek phakelos 'bundle' .

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fah (also fa)

noun Music
the fourth note of a major scale, coming after ‘me’ and before ‘soh’.

ORIGIN: the first syllable of famuli, taken from a Latin hymn.

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Fahrenheit

adjective
of or denoting a scale of temperature on which water freezes at 32° and boils at 212°.

ORIGIN: named after the German physicist Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit (1686 1736).

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fail

verb
1. be unsuccessful in an undertaking.
2. be unable to meet the standards set by (a test).
3. judge (a candidate in an examination or test) not to have passed.
4. neglect to do.
5. disappoint expectations: chaos has failed to materialize.
6. stop working properly.
7. become weaker or less good.
8. go out of business.
9. desert or let down.

noun
a mark which is not high enough to pass an examination or test.

IDIOMS -
without fail whatever happens.

ORIGIN: Old French faillir, from Latin fallere 'deceive' .

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failing

noun
a weakness in a person's character.

preposition
if not.

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fail-safe

adjective
1. causing machinery to revert to a safe condition in the event of a breakdown.
2. unlikely or unable to fail.

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failure

noun
1. lack of success.
2. an unsuccessful person or thing.
3. the omission of expected or required action.
4. an instance or the state of not functioning.

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fain archaic

adjective
1. pleased or willing under the circumstances.
2. obliged.

adverb
gladly.

ORIGIN: Old English, «happy»; related to FAWN.

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faint

adjective
1. (of a sight, smell, or sound) barely perceptible.
2. (of a hope, chance, or idea) slight.
3. close to losing consciousness.

verb
briefly lose consciousness because of an insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain.

noun
a sudden loss of consciousness.

DERIVATIVES:
faintly adverb
faintness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin fingere 'mould, contrive' ; related to FEIGN.

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fair [1]

adjective
1. just or appropriate in the circumstances.
2. treating people equally.
3. considerable in size or amount.
4. moderately good.
5. (of hair or complexion) light; blonde.
6. (of weather) fine and dry.
7. Austral./NZ informal complete.
8. archaic beautiful.

adverb
1. in a fair manner.
2. dialect to a high degree.

IDIOMS -
all's fair in love and war proverb in certain highly charged situations, any method of achieving your objective is justifiable.
fair and square
1. with absolute accuracy.
2. honestly and straightforwardly.
fair dinkum see DINKUM.
fair dos Brit. informal used as a request for just treatment or an acceptance that it has been given.
fair enough informal that is reasonable or acceptable.
the fair sex (also the fairer sex) dated or humorous women.
fair's fair informal used as a request for just treatment or an assertion that an arrangement is just.
it's a fair cop informal an admission that the speaker has been caught doing wrong and deserves punishment.

DERIVATIVES:
fairish adjective
fairness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fair [2]

noun
1. a gathering of stalls and amusements for public entertainment.
2. a periodic gathering for the sale of goods.
3. an exhibition to promote particular products.

ORIGIN: Latin feria, from feriae 'holy days' (on which fairs were often held).

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fair copy

noun
written or printed matter transcribed or reproduced after final correction.

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fair game

noun
a person or thing that is considered a reasonable target for criticism or exploitation.

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fairground

noun
an outdoor area where a fair is held.

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fairing

noun
an external metal or plastic structure added to increase streamlining on a high-performance vehicle, boat, or aircraft.

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Fair Isle

noun
a traditional multicoloured geometric design used in woollen knitwear.

ORIGIN: Fair Isle in the Shetlands, where the design was first devised.

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fairly

adverb
1. with justice.
2. moderately.
3. actually; positively.

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fair play

noun
respect for the rules or equal treatment of all concerned.

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fairway

noun
1. the part of a golf course between a tee and a green.
2. a navigable channel in a river or harbour.

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fair-weather friend

noun
a person who stops being a friend in times of difficulty.

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fairy

noun (pl. fairies)
1. a small imaginary being of human form that has magical powers.
2. informal, derogatory a male homosexual.

ORIGIN: Old French faerie 'fairyland' , from fae 'a fairy' , from Latin fata 'the Fates' .

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fairy godmother

noun
a female character in fairy stories who brings unexpected good fortune to the hero or heroine.

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fairy lights

plural noun chiefly Brit.
small coloured electric lights used for decoration, especially on a Christmas tree.

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fairy ring

noun
a ring of grass that is darker in colour than the surrounding grass due to the growth of certain fungi, popularly believed to have been caused by fairies dancing.

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fairy story

noun
1. a children's tale about magical and imaginary beings and lands.
2. an untrue account.

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fairy tale

noun
1. a fairy story.
2. (before another noun ) magical or idealized: a fairy-tale romance.

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fait accompli

noun
a thing that has been done or decided and cannot now be altered.

ORIGIN: French, 'accomplished fact' .

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faith

noun
1. complete trust or confidence.
2. strong belief in a religion.
3. a system of religious belief.

ORIGIN: Old French feid, from Latin fides.

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faithful

adjective
1. remaining loyal and steadfast.
2. remaining sexually loyal to a lover or spouse.
3. true to the facts or the original.

noun (the faithful)
the believers in a particular religion.

DERIVATIVES:
faithfulness noun.

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faithfully

adverb
in a faithful manner.

IDIOMS -
yours faithfully chiefly Brit. a formula for ending a formal letter in which the recipient is not addressed by name.

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faith healing

noun
healing achieved by religious faith and prayer, rather than by medical treatment.

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faithless

adjective
1. disloyal, especially to a spouse or lover.
2. without religious faith.

DERIVATIVES:
faithlessly adverb
faithlessness noun.

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fake

adjective
not genuine; counterfeit.

noun
a person or thing that is not genuine.

verb
1. forge or counterfeit.
2. pretend to feel or suffer from (an emotion or illness).

DERIVATIVES:
faker noun
fakery noun.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain.

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fakir

noun
a Muslim (or, loosely, a Hindu) religious ascetic who lives solely on alms.

ORIGIN: Arabic, «needy man».

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falcon

noun
1. a fast-flying bird of prey with long pointed wings and a notched beak.
2. Falconry the female of such a bird, especially a peregrine. Compare with TERCEL.

ORIGIN: Old French faucon, from Latin falx 'scythe' .

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falconer

noun
a person who keeps, trains, or hunts with falcons or other birds of prey.

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falconry

noun
the keeping and training of falcons or other birds of prey; the sport of hunting with such birds.

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fall

verb (past fell; past part. fallen)
1. move rapidly and without control from a higher to a lower level.
2. collapse to the ground.
3. (fall off) become detached and drop to the ground.
4. hang down.
5. (of someone's face) show dismay or disappointment.
6. be captured or defeated.
7. decrease.
8. pass into a specified state: she fell silent.
9. occur.
10. be classified in the way specified: canals fall within the Minister's brief.
11. (fall to) become the duty of.

noun
1. an act of falling.
2. a downward difference in height between parts of a surface.
3. a thing which falls or has fallen.
4. a waterfall or cascade.
5. a decrease.
6. a defeat or downfall.
7. N. Amer. autumn.

IDIOMS -
fall about Brit. informal laugh uncontrollably.
fall apart (or to pieces) informal lose one's capacity to cope.
fall back retreat.
fall back on have recourse to when in difficulty.
fall for informal
1. fall in love with.
2. be deceived by.
fall foul (or chiefly N. Amer. afoul) of come into conflict with.
fall in (or into) line conform.
fall into place begin to make sense.
fall in with
1. meet by chance and become involved with.
2. agree to.
fall on (or upon)
1. attack fiercely or unexpectedly.
2. (of someone's eyes or gaze) be directed towards.
3. (of a burden or duty) be borne or incurred by.
fall out have an argument.
fall over oneself to do informal be excessively eager to do.
fall short (of)
1. (of a missile) fail to reach its target.
2. be deficient or inadequate.
fall through fail.
take the fall N. Amer. informal receive blame or punishment, typically in the place of another.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fallacy

noun (pl. fallacies)
1. a mistaken belief.
2. a failure in reasoning which makes an argument invalid.

DERIVATIVES:
fallacious adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin fallacia, from fallere 'deceive' .

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fallback

noun
1. an alternative plan for use in an emergency.
2. a reduction.

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fallen
past participle of FALL.
adjective
1. dated (of a woman) regarded as having lost her honour through engaging in an extramarital sexual relationship.
2. killed in battle.

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fall guy

noun informal
a scapegoat.

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fallible

adjective
capable of making mistakes or being wrong.

DERIVATIVES:
fallibility noun
fallibly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin fallibilis, from fallere 'deceive' .

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falling star

noun
a meteor or shooting star.

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Fallopian tube

noun Anatomy
(in a female mammal) either of a pair of tubes along which eggs travel from the ovaries to the uterus.

ORIGIN: named after the Italian anatomist Gabriello Fallopio (1523 62).

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fallout

noun
1. radioactive particles dispersed over a wide area after a nuclear explosion.
2. the adverse results of a situation.

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fallow

adjective
1. (of farmland) ploughed and harrowed but left for a period without being sown.
2. characterized by inactivity.
3. (of a sow) not pregnant.

noun
a piece of fallow land.

DERIVATIVES:
fallowness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fallow deer

noun
a deer with branched antlers, having a white-spotted reddish-brown coat in summer.

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false

adjective
1. not in accordance with the truth or facts.
2. invalid or illegal.
3. deliberately intended to deceive.
4. artificial.
5. not actually so; illusory: a false sense of security.
6. disloyal.

DERIVATIVES:
falsely adverb
falseness noun
falsity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin falsum 'fraud' , from fallere 'deceive' .

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false alarm

noun
a warning given about something that fails to take place.

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falsehood

noun
1. the state of being untrue.
2. a lie.

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false move

noun
an unwise action with potentially dangerous consequences.

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false pretences

plural noun
behaviour intended to deceive.

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false step

noun
1. a slip or stumble.
2. a mistake.

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falsetto

noun (pl. falsettos)
a method of voice production used by male singers, especially tenors, to sing notes higher than their normal range.

ORIGIN: Italian, from falso 'false' .

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falsify

verb (falsifies, falsified)
1. alter (information or evidence) so as to mislead.
2. prove (a statement or theory) to be false.

DERIVATIVES:
falsifiable adjective
falsification noun.

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falter

verb
1. lose strength or momentum.
2. move or speak hesitantly.

DERIVATIVES:
falterer noun
faltering adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from FOLD (which was occasionally used of the faltering of the legs or tongue).

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fame

noun
the state of being famous.

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famed

adjective
famous; well known.

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familiar

adjective
1. well known through long or close association.
2. frequently encountered; common.
3. (familiar with) having a good knowledge of.
4. in close friendship.
5. inappropriately intimate or informal.

noun
1. (also familiar spirit) a spirit supposedly attending and obeying a witch.
2. a close friend or associate.

IDIOMS -
familiarity breeds contempt proverb extensive knowledge of or close association with someone or something leads to a loss of respect for them or it.

DERIVATIVES:
familiarity noun (pl. familiarities)
familiarly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin familiaris, from familia 'household servants, family' .

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familiarize (also familiarise)

verb
1. (familiarize with) make (someone) familiar with.
2. make better known or easier to understand.

DERIVATIVES:
familiarization noun.

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family

noun (pl. families)
1. a group consisting of two parents and their children living together as a unit.
2. a group of people related by blood or marriage.
3. the children of a person or couple.
4. all the descendants of a common ancestor.
5. all the languages derived from a particular early language.
6. a group united by a significant shared characteristic.
7. Biology a principal taxonomic category ranking above genus and below order.

adjective
designed to be suitable for children as well as adults.

IDIOMS -
in the family way informal pregnant.

DERIVATIVES:
familial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin familia 'household servants, family' , from famulus 'servant' .

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family credit

noun
(in the UK) a regular payment by the state to a family with an income below a certain level.

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family name

noun
a surname.

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family planning

noun
the control of the number of children in a family and the intervals between their births by means of contraception.

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family tree

noun
a diagram showing the relationship between people in several generations of a family.

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famine

noun
1. extreme scarcity of food.
2. archaic hunger.

ORIGIN: Old French, from faim 'hunger' , from Latin fames.

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famished

adjective informal
extremely hungry.

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famous

adjective
1. known about by many people.
2. informal magnificent.

DERIVATIVES:
famously adverb
famousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin famosus, from fama 'fame' .

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fan [1]

noun
1. an apparatus with rotating blades that creates a current of air for cooling or ventilation.
2. a hand-held device, typically folding and circular, that is waved so as to cool the user.

verb (fanned, fanning)
1. cool by waving something to create a current of air.
2. (of an air current) increase the strength of (a fire).
3. cause (a belief or emotion) to become stronger.
4. (fan out) spread out from a central point to cover a wide area.

ORIGIN: Latin vannus 'winnowing fan' .

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fan [2]

noun
a person who has a strong interest in or admiration for a particular sport, art form, or famous person.

DERIVATIVES:
fandom noun.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of FANATIC.

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fanatic

noun
1. a person filled with excessive zeal, especially for an extreme political or religious cause.
2. informal a person with an obsessive enthusiasm for a pastime or hobby.

adjective
filled with or expressing excessive zeal.

DERIVATIVES:
fanatical adjective
fanatically adverb
fanaticism noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin fanaticus 'of a temple, inspired by a god' , from fanum 'temple' .

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fan belt

noun
(in a motor-vehicle engine) a belt that drives the radiator fan and usually also the dynamo or alternator.

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fancier

noun
a person who has a special interest in or breeds a particular animal.

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fanciful

adjective
1. over-imaginative and unrealistic.
2. existing only in the imagination.
3. highly ornamental or imaginative in design.

DERIVATIVES:
fancifully adverb
fancifulness noun.

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fancy

verb (fancies, fancied)
1. Brit. informal feel a desire for.
2. Brit. informal find sexually attractive.
3. regard as a likely winner.
4. imagine.
5. used to express surprise: fancy that!

adjective (fancier, fanciest)
elaborate or highly decorated.

noun (pl. fancies)
1. a superficial or transient feeling of attraction.
2. the faculty of imagination.
3. an unfounded or tentative belief or idea.
4. (also fancy cake) a small iced cake or biscuit.

IDIOMS -
take someone's fancy appeal to someone.
take a fancy to become fond of, especially without an obvious reason.

DERIVATIVES:
fanciable adjective (informal )
fancily adverb
fanciness noun.

ORIGIN: contraction of FANTASY.

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fancy dress

noun
a costume worn to make someone look like a famous person, fictional character, or an animal.

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fancy-free

adjective
without emotional commitments.

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fancy man

noun informal, often derogatory
a woman's lover.

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fandango

noun (pl. fandangoes or fandangos)
a lively Spanish dance for two people, typically accompanied by castanets or tambourine.

ORIGIN: Spanish.

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fanfare

noun
1. a short ceremonial tune or flourish played on brass instruments.
2. an elaborate welcome or introduction.

ORIGIN: French.

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fang

noun
1. a large sharp tooth, especially a canine tooth of a dog or wolf.
2. a tooth with which a snake injects poison.
3. the biting mouthpart of a spider.

DERIVATIVES:
fanged adjective.

ORIGIN: from Old Norse, 'capture, grasp' .

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fanlight

noun
a small window, typically semicircular, over a door or another window.

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fanny

noun (pl. fannies)
1. Brit. vulgar slang a woman's genitals.
2. N. Amer. informal a person's bottom.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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fantasia

noun
1. a musical or other composition with a free form and often an improvisatory style.
2. a musical composition based on several familiar tunes.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'fantasy' .

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fantasize (also fantasise)

verb
indulge in daydreaming or speculation about something desired.

DERIVATIVES:
fantasist noun.

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fantastic

adjective
1. imaginative or fanciful; remote from reality.
2. informal extraordinarily good or attractive.

DERIVATIVES:
fantastical adjective
fantastically adverb.

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fantasy

noun (pl. fantasies)
1. the imagining of improbable or impossible things.
2. an idea with no basis in reality.
3. a genre of imaginative fiction involving magic and adventure.

ORIGIN: Greek phantasia 'imagination, appearance' , from phantazein 'make visible' .

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fanzine

noun
a magazine for fans of a particular team, performer, or genre.

ORIGIN: blend of FAN and MAGAZINE.

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FAQ

abbreviation Computing
frequently asked questions.

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far

adverb (further, furthest or farther, farthest)
1. at, to, or by a great distance.
2. over a long way in space or time.
3. by a great deal.

adjective
1. situated at a great distance in space or time.
2. distant from the centre; extreme.
3. more distant than another object of the same kind: the far corner.

IDIOMS -
as far as
1. for as great a distance as.
2. to the extent that.
be a far cry from be very different to.
by far by a great amount.
far and away by a very large amount.
far and wide over a large area.
far be it from (or for) me to used to express reluctance.
far gone
1. in a bad or worsening state.
2. advanced in time.
go far
1. achieve a great deal.
2. be worth or amount to much.
go too far exceed the limits of what is reasonable or acceptable.
(in) so far as (or that) to the extent that.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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farad

noun
the unit of electrical capacitance in the SI system, equal to a capacitance in which one coulomb of charge causes a potential difference of one volt.

ORIGIN: from the name of the English physicist Michael Faraday (1791 1867).

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faraway

adjective
1. distant in space or time.
2. seeming remote; dreamy: a faraway look.

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farce

noun
1. a comic dramatic work or genre using buffoonery and horseplay and typically including ludicrously improbable situations.
2. an absurd event.

ORIGIN: French, 'stuffing' (from the former practice of ‘stuffing’ comic interludes into religious plays).

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farcical

adjective
resembling farce; absurd or ridiculous.

DERIVATIVES:
farcically adverb.

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fare

noun
1. the money a passenger on public transport has to pay.
2. a range of food.

verb
1. perform in a specified way in a particular situation or period.
2. archaic travel.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Far East

noun
China, Japan, and other countries of east Asia.

DERIVATIVES:
Far Eastern adjective.

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farewell

exclamation archaic
goodbye.

noun
an act of parting or of marking someone's departure.

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far-fetched

adjective
unconvincing; implausible.

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far-flung

adjective
distant or remote.

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farm

noun
1. an area of land and its buildings used for growing crops and rearing animals.
2. a farmhouse.
3. an establishment for breeding or growing something, or devoted to a particular thing: a fish farm .

verb
1. make one's living by growing crops or keeping livestock.
2. use (land) for this purpose.
3. breed or grow (a type of livestock or crop) commercially.
4. (farm out) send out or subcontract (work) to others.

DERIVATIVES:
farming noun.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a fixed annual amount payable as rent or tax, later land leased for farming: from Old French ferme, from Latin firmare 'fix, settle' .

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farmer

noun
a person who owns or manages a farm.

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farmhouse

noun
a house attached to a farm.

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farmstead

noun
a farm and its buildings.

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far out

adjective
1. unconventional or avant-garde.
2. informal, dated excellent.

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farrago

noun (pl. farragos or US farragoes)
a confused mixture.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'mixed fodder' , from far 'corn' .

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far-reaching

adjective
having important and extensive effects or implications.

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farrier

noun
a smith who shoes horses.

DERIVATIVES:
farriery noun.

ORIGIN: Old French ferrier, from Latin ferrum 'iron, horseshoe' .

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farrow

noun
a litter of pigs.

verb
(of a sow) give birth to (piglets).

ORIGIN: Old English, «young pig».

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far-seeing

adjective
having shrewd judgement and foresight.

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Farsi

noun
the modern form of the Persian language, spoken in Iran.

ORIGIN: from the Persian word for 'Persia' .

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far-sighted

adjective
1. far-seeing.
2. N. Amer. long-sighted.

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fart informal

verb
1. emit wind from the anus.
2. (fart about/around) waste time on silly or trivial things.

noun
1. an emission of wind from the anus.
2. a boring or contemptible person.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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farthing

noun
1. a former monetary unit and coin of the UK, equal to a quarter of an old penny.
2. the least possible amount: she didn't care a farthing.

ORIGIN: Old English, «fourth».

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farthingale

noun historical
a hooped petticoat or circular pad of fabric around the hips, formerly worn under women's skirts to extend and shape them.

ORIGIN: French verdugale, from Spanish verdugo 'rod, stick' .

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fascia (Brit. also facia except in sense 5)

noun
1. a board covering the ends of rafters or other fittings.
2. a signboard on a shopfront.
3. chiefly Brit. the dashboard of a motor vehicle.
4. (in classical architecture) a long flat surface between mouldings on an architrave.
5. (pl. fasciae) Anatomy a thin sheath of fibrous tissue enclosing a muscle or other organ.

DERIVATIVES:
fascial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'band, door frame' .

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fascinate

verb
irresistibly attract the interest of.

DERIVATIVES:
fascinating adjective
fascinatingly adverb
fascination noun.

ORIGIN: Latin fascinare 'bewitch' , from fascinum 'spell, witchcraft' .

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fascism

noun
1. an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government.
2. extreme right-wing, authoritarian, or intolerant views or practice.

DERIVATIVES:
fascist noun & adjective
fascistic adjective.

ORIGIN: Italian fascismo, from fascio 'bundle, political group' , from Latin fascis 'bundle' .

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fashion

noun
1. a popular trend, especially in dress.
2. the production and marketing of new styles of clothing and cosmetics.
3. a manner of doing something.

verb
make into a particular form or article.

IDIOMS -
after a fashion to a certain extent but not perfectly.
in (or out of) fashion fashionable (or unfashionable).

ORIGIN: Old French façon, from Latin facere 'do, make' .

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fashionable

adjective
characteristic of or influenced by a current popular trend or style.

DERIVATIVES:
fashionability noun
fashionably adverb.

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fast [1]

adjective
1. moving or capable of moving at high speed.
2. taking place or acting rapidly.
3. (of a clock or watch) ahead of the correct time.
4. firmly fixed or attached.
5. (of a dye) not fading in light or when washed.
6. (of photographic film) needing only a short exposure.
7. involving exciting or shocking activities.

adverb
1. at high speed.
2. within a short time.
3. so as to be hard to move; firmly or securely.
4. so as to be hard to wake.

IDIOMS -
pull a fast one informal try to gain an unfair advantage.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fast [2]

verb
abstain from food or drink, especially as a religious observance.

noun
an act or period of fasting.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fast breeder

noun
a breeder reactor in which the neutrons causing fission are not slowed by any moderator.

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fasten

verb
1. close or do up securely.
2. fix or hold in place.
3. (fasten on/upon) single out and concentrate on.
4. (fasten off) secure the end of (a thread) with stitches or a knot.

DERIVATIVES:
fastener noun
fastening noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «make sure, confirm».

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fast food

noun
cooked food sold in snack bars and restaurants as a quick meal.

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fastidious

adjective
1. very attentive to accuracy and detail.
2. very concerned about matters of cleanliness.

DERIVATIVES:
fastidiously adverb
fastidiousness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «disagreeable, distasteful»: from Latin fastidium 'loathing' .

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fastness

noun
1. a secure place well protected by natural features.
2. the ability of a dye to maintain its colour.

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fast track

noun
a rapid route or method.

verb (fast-track)
accelerate the development or progress of.

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fat

noun
1. a natural oily substance in animal bodies, deposited under the skin or around certain organs.
2. such a substance, or a similar one made from plants, used in cooking.
3. Chemistry any of a group of solid natural esters of glycerol and various fatty acids, the main constituents of animal and vegetable fat.

adjective (fatter, fattest)
1. (of a person or animal) having much excess fat.
2. (of food) containing much fat.
3. informal substantial: fat profits.
4. informal very little: fat chance.

IDIOMS -
kill the fatted calf produce one's best food to celebrate, especially at a prodigal's return. [ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15.]
live off the fat of the land have the best of everything.

DERIVATIVES:
fatless adjective
fatly adverb
fatness noun
fattish adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fatal

adjective
1. causing death.
2. leading to failure or disaster.

DERIVATIVES:
fatally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin fatalis, from fatum (see FATE).

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fatalism

noun
1. the belief that all events are predetermined and inevitable.
2. a submissive attitude to events.

DERIVATIVES:
fatalist noun
fatalistic adjective.

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fatality

noun (pl. fatalities)
1. an occurrence of death by accident, in war, or from disease.
2. helplessness in the face of fate.

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fat cat

noun derogatory
a wealthy and powerful businessperson or politician.

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fate

noun
1. the development of events outside a person's control, regarded as predetermined.
2. the course or inevitable outcome of a person's life.
3. (the Fates) Greek & Roman Mythology the three goddesses (Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos) who preside over the birth and life of humans.

verb (be fated)
be destined to happen or act in a particular way.

IDIOMS -
seal someone's fate make it inevitable that something unpleasant will happen to someone.

ORIGIN: Latin fatum 'that which has been spoken' , from fari 'speak' .

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fateful

adjective
having far-reaching and typically disastrous consequences.

DERIVATIVES:
fatefully adverb
fatefulness noun.

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fathead

noun informal
a stupid person.

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father

noun
1. a male parent.
2. an important figure in the origin and early history of something: Pasteur, the father of microbiology .
3. literary a male ancestor.
4. (often as a title or form of address) a priest.
5. (the Father) (in Christian belief) the first person of the Trinity; God.

verb
be the father of.

IDIOMS -
how's your father Brit. informal sexual intercourse.

DERIVATIVES:
fatherhood noun
fatherless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Father Christmas

noun
an imaginary being said to bring presents for children on the night before Christmas Day.

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father-in-law

noun (pl. fathers-in-law)
the father of one's husband or wife.

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fatherland

noun
a person's native country.

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fatherly

adjective
referring to a father, especially in being protective and affectionate.

DERIVATIVES:
fatherliness noun.

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fathom

noun
a unit of length equal to six feet (1.8 metres), used in measuring the depth of water.

verb
1. understand after much thought: I can't fathom him out.
2. measure the depth of.

DERIVATIVES:
fathomable adjective
fathomless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «something which embraces» (the original measurement was based on the span of a person's outstretched arms).

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fatigue

noun
1. extreme tiredness.
2. brittleness in metal or other materials caused by repeated stress.
3. (fatigues) loose-fitting clothing of a sort worn by soldiers.
4. (fatigues) menial non-military tasks performed by a soldier.

verb (fatigues, fatigued, fatiguing)
cause to suffer fatigue.

ORIGIN: from Latin fatigare 'tire out' , from ad fatim 'to bursting, to excess' .

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fatten

verb
make or become fat or fatter.

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fatty

adjective (fattier, fattiest)
1. containing a large amount of fat.
2. Medicine involving abnormal deposition of fat.

noun (pl. fatties) informal
a fat person.

DERIVATIVES:
fattiness noun.

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fatty acid

noun Chemistry
an organic acid whose molecule contains a hydrocarbon chain.

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fatuous

adjective
silly and pointless.

DERIVATIVES:
fatuity noun (pl. fatuities)
fatuously adverb
fatuousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin fatuus 'foolish' .

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fatwa

noun
an authoritative ruling on a point of Islamic law.

ORIGIN: from Arabic, 'decide a point of law' .

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faucet

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a tap.

ORIGIN: Old French fausset, from Provençal falsar 'to bore' .

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fault

noun
1. an unattractive or unsatisfactory feature; a defect or mistake.
2. responsibility for an accident or misfortune.
3. (in tennis) a service that infringes the rules.
4. Geology an extended break in a rock formation, marked by the relative displacement and discontinuity of strata.

verb
1. criticize for inadequacy or mistakes.
2. (be faulted) Geology be broken by a fault or faults.

IDIOMS -
find fault make an adverse criticism or objection, especially unfairly.
to a fault displaying the specified quality to an excessive extent.

DERIVATIVES:
faultless adjective
faultlessly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin fallere 'deceive' .

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faulty

adjective (faultier, faultiest)
having or displaying faults.

DERIVATIVES:
faultily adverb
faultiness noun.

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faun

noun Roman Mythology
a lustful rural god represented as a man with a goat's horns, ears, legs, and tail.

ORIGIN: from the name of the pastoral god Faunus.

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fauna

noun
the animals of a particular region, habitat, or geological period. Compare with FLORA.

DERIVATIVES:
faunal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Fauna, a rural goddess and the sister of Faunus (see FAUN).

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faux pas

noun (pl. same)
a social blunder.

ORIGIN: French, 'false step' .

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favour (US favor)

noun
1. approval or liking.
2. an act of kindness beyond what is due or usual.
3. overgenerous preferential treatment.
4. (one's favours) dated a woman's consent to a man having sexual intercourse with her.
5. archaic a thing such as a badge that is worn as a mark of favour or support.

verb
1. regard or treat with favour.
2. work to the advantage of.
3. (favour with) give (something desired) to.
4. informal resemble (a relative) in facial features.

IDIOMS -
in favour of
1. to be replaced by.
2. in support or to the advantage of.

ORIGIN: Latin favor, from favere 'show kindness to' .

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favourable (US favorable)

adjective
1. expressing approval or consent.
2. to the advantage of someone or something.
3. suggesting a good outcome.

DERIVATIVES:
favourably adverb.

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favourite (US favorite)

adjective
preferred to all others of the same kind.

noun
1. a favourite person or thing.
2. the competitor thought most likely to win.

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favouritism (US favoritism)

noun
the unfair favouring of one person or group at the expense of another.

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fawn [1]

noun
1. a young deer in its first year.
2. a light brown colour.

ORIGIN: Old French faon, from Latin fetus 'offspring' .

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fawn [2]

verb
1. give a servile display of exaggerated flattery or affection.
2. (of an animal, especially a dog) show slavish devotion.

DERIVATIVES:
fawning adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «make or be glad»; related to FAIN.

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fax

noun
1. an exact copy of a document made by electronic scanning and transmitted by telecommunications links.
2. the production or transmission of documents in this way.
3. (also fax machine) a machine for transmitting and receiving such documents.

verb
1. send (a document) by fax.
2. contact by fax.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of FACSIMILE.

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faze

verb informal
disturb or disconcert.

ORIGIN: from dialect feeze «drive off», from Old English.

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FBI

abbreviation
(in the US) Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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FC

abbreviation
Football Club.

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FCO

abbreviation
(in the UK) Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

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FE

abbreviation
(in the UK) further education.

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Fe

symbol
the chemical element iron.

ORIGIN: from Latin ferrum.

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fealty

noun historical
a feudal tenant's or vassal's sworn loyalty to a lord.

ORIGIN: Old French feaulte from Latin fidelitas 'fidelity' .

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fear

noun
1. an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.
2. the likelihood of something unwelcome happening.

verb
1. be afraid of.
2. (fear for) be anxious about.
3. archaic regard (God) with reverence and awe.

IDIOMS -
no fear Brit. informal used as an emphatic expression of denial or refusal.
put the fear of God in (or into) make very frightened.
without fear or favour impartially.

DERIVATIVES:
fearless adjective
fearlessly adverb
fearlessness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «danger».

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fearful

adjective
1. showing or causing fear.
2. informal very great.

DERIVATIVES:
fearfully adverb
fearfulness noun.

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fearsome

adjective
frightening, especially in appearance.

DERIVATIVES:
fearsomely adverb.

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feasible

adjective
1. possible and practical to achieve easily or conveniently.
2. informal likely.

DERIVATIVES:
feasibility noun
feasibly adverb.
USAGE - In formal contexts, the use of feasible to mean ‘likely’ or ‘probable’ should be avoided. This sense, although it has been in use since the 17th century, is regarded as incorrect because it does not relate to the French and Latin origins of the word.
ORIGIN: Old French faisible, from Latin facere 'do, make' .

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feast

noun
1. a large meal, especially a celebratory one.
2. an annual religious celebration.
3. a day dedicated to a particular saint.

verb
1. have a feast.
2. (feast on) eat large quantities of.

IDIOMS -
feast one's eyes on gaze at with pleasure.

DERIVATIVES:
feaster noun.

ORIGIN: Latin festa, from festus 'joyous' .

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feat

noun
an achievement requiring great courage, skill, or strength.

ORIGIN: Old French fait, from Latin factum 'fact' .

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feather

noun
any of the flat appendages growing from a bird's skin, consisting of a partly hollow horny shaft fringed with vanes of barbs.

verb
1. rotate the blades of (a propeller) to lessen the air or water resistance.
2. (feathered) covered or decorated with feathers.

IDIOMS -
a feather in one's cap an achievement to be proud of.
feather one's nest make money illicitly and at someone else's expense.

DERIVATIVES:
feathery adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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feather bed

noun
a bed with a mattress stuffed with feathers.

verb (feather-bed)
provide with excessively favourable economic or working conditions.

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feather-brained

adjective
silly or absent-minded.

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featherweight

noun
1. a weight in boxing intermediate between bantamweight and lightweight.
2. a person or thing not worth serious consideration.

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feature

noun
1. a distinctive attribute or aspect.
2. a part of the face, such as the mouth, making a significant contribution to its overall appearance.
3. a newspaper or magazine article or a broadcast programme devoted to a particular topic.
4. (also feature film) a full-length film intended as the main item in a cinema programme.

verb
1. have as a feature.
2. have as an important actor or participant.
3. be a feature of; take an important part in.

DERIVATIVES:
featured adjective
featureless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French faiture 'form' , from Latin factura, from frangere 'to break' .

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Feb.

abbreviation
February.

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febrile

adjective
1. having or showing the symptoms of a fever.
2. having or showing a great deal of nervous excitement.

ORIGIN: Latin febrilis, from febris 'fever' .

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February

noun (pl. Februaries)
the second month of the year.

ORIGIN: Latin februarius, from februa, the name of a purification feast held in this month.

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feces (Brit. faeces)

plural noun
waste matter remaining after food has been digested, discharged from the bowels.

DERIVATIVES:
fecal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, plural of faex 'dregs' .

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feckless

adjective
1. ineffectual; feeble.
2. unthinking and irresponsible.

DERIVATIVES:
fecklessly adverb
fecklessness noun.

ORIGIN: from Scots and northern English dialect feck, from effeck, variant of EFFECT.

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fecund

adjective
highly fertile; able to produce offspring.

DERIVATIVES:
fecundity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin fecundus.

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Fed

noun US informal
a member of the FBI or other federal agent or official.

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federal

adjective
1. referring to a system of government in which several states form a unity but remain independent in internal affairs.
2. referring to the central government as distinguished from the separate units constituting a federation.
3. (Federal) US historical of the Northern States in the Civil War.

DERIVATIVES:
federalism noun
federalist noun & adjective
federally adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin foedus 'league, covenant' .

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federate

verb
(of a number of states or organizations) organize or be organized on a federal basis.

adjective
relating to such an arrangement.

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federation

noun
1. a federal group of states.
2. an organization within which smaller divisions have some internal autonomy.
3. the action of federating.

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fedora

noun
a soft felt hat with a curled brim and the crown creased lengthways.

ORIGIN: from Fédora (1882), a drama written by the French dramatist Victorien Sardou.

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fed up

adjective informal
annoyed or bored.

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fee

noun
1. a payment made in exchange for advice or services.
2. a charge made for a privilege such as admission.

ORIGIN: originally denoting an estate held on condition of feudal service: from Old French feu, from Latin feodum; related to FEUDAL, FIEF.

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feeble

adjective (feebler, feeblest)
1. lacking physical or mental strength.
2. failing to convince or impress: a feeble excuse.

DERIVATIVES:
feebleness noun
feebly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French fieble, from Latin flebilis 'lamentable' , from flere 'weep' .

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feeble-minded

adjective
1. foolish; stupid.
2. dated having less than average intelligence.

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feed

verb (past and past part. fed)
1. give food to.
2. provide an adequate supply of food for.
3. eat.
4. (feed on/off) derive regular nourishment from (a particular substance).
5. supply with material, power, water, etc.
6. pass gradually through a confined space.
7. prompt (an actor) with (a line).

noun
1. an act of feeding or of being fed.
2. food for domestic animals.
3. a device or pipe for supplying material to a machine.
4. the supply of raw material to a machine or device.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FOOD.

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feedback

noun
1. information given in response to a product, performance etc., used as a basis for improvement.
2. the modification or control of a process or system by its results or effects.
3. the return of a fraction of the output of an amplifier, microphone, or other device to the input, causing distortion or a whistling sound.

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feeder

noun
1. a person or animal that eats a particular food or in a particular manner.
2. a thing that feeds or supplies something.
3. a road or rail route linking outlying districts with a main system.

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feel

verb (past and past part. felt)
1. perceive, examine, or search by touch.
2. be aware of through physical sensation.
3. give a sensation of a particular quality when touched: the wool feels soft.
4. experience (an emotion or sensation).
5. be emotionally affected by.
6. have a belief, attitude, or impression.
7. consider oneself.
8. (feel up to) have the strength or energy to.

noun
1. an act of feeling.
2. the sense of touch.
3. a sensation given by something when touched.
4. an impression given by something.

IDIOMS -
get a feel for become accustomed to.
have a feel for have a sensitive appreciation or understanding of.
make oneself (or one's presence) felt have a noticeable effect.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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feeler

noun
1. an animal organ such as an antenna that is used for testing things by touch.
2. a tentative proposal intended to ascertain someone's attitude or opinion.

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feeling

noun
1. an emotional state or reaction.
2. (feelings) emotional responses or tendencies to respond.
3. strong emotion.
4. the capacity to feel.
5. the sensation of touching or being touched.
6. a belief or opinion.
7. (feeling for) a sensitivity to or intuitive understanding of.

adjective
showing emotion or sensitivity.

DERIVATIVES:
feelingly adverb.

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feign

verb
pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury).

ORIGIN: Old French feindre, from Latin fingere 'mould, contrive' .

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feint [1]

noun
a deceptive or pretended attacking movement, especially in boxing or fencing.

verb
make a feint.

ORIGIN: French feinte, from feindre 'feign' .

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feint [2]

adjective
denoting paper printed with faint lines as a guide for handwriting.

ORIGIN: variant of FAINT.

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feisty

adjective (feistier, feistiest) informal
1. spirited and exuberant.
2. touchy and aggressive.

DERIVATIVES:
feistily adverb
feistiness noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete feist «small dog», from fisting cur or hound, a derogatory term for a lapdog, from fist «break wind».

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feldspar (also felspar)

noun
a pale rock-forming silicate mineral.

ORIGIN: German Feldspat 'field spar' .

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felicitations

plural noun
congratulations.

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felicitous

adjective
well chosen or appropriate.

DERIVATIVES:
felicitously adverb.

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felicity

noun (pl. felicities)
1. complete happiness.
2. the ability to express oneself appropriately.
3. a felicitous feature of a work of literature or art.

ORIGIN: Latin felicitas, from felix 'happy' .

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feline

adjective
referring to a cat or cats.

noun
a cat or other animal of the cat family.

ORIGIN: Latin felinus, from feles 'cat' .

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fell [2]

verb
1. cut down (a tree).
2. knock down.
3. stitch down (the edge of a seam) to lie flat.

DERIVATIVES:
feller noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FALL.

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fell [3]

noun
a hill or stretch of high moorland, especially in northern England.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'hill' .

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fell [4]

adjective literary
of terrible evil or ferocity.

IDIOMS -
in (or at) one fell swoop all in one go. [ORIGIN: from Shakespeare's Macbeth (IV. iii. 219).]

ORIGIN: Old French fel, from felon 'wicked, a wicked person' .

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fellatio

noun
oral stimulation of a man's penis.

DERIVATIVES:
fellate verb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from fellare 'to suck' .

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fellow

noun
1. informal a man or boy.
2. a person in the same position or otherwise associated with another.
3. a thing of the same kind as or otherwise associated with another.
4. a member of a learned society.
5. Brit. an incorporated senior member of a college.

adjective
sharing a particular activity, quality, or condition: a fellow sufferer.

ORIGIN: Old English, «a person who lays down money in a joint enterprise», from Old Norse, 'property, money' .

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fellow feeling

noun
sympathy based on shared experiences.

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fellowship

noun
1. friendliness and companionship based on shared interests.
2. a group of people meeting to pursue a shared interest or aim.
3. the status of a fellow of a college or society.

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fellow-traveller

noun
a non-member of the Communist Party who nevertheless sympathizes with its policies.

DERIVATIVES:
fellow-travelling adjective.

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felon

noun
a person who has committed a felony.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'wicked, a wicked person' , from Latin fello.

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felony

noun (pl. felonies)
a crime, typically one involving violence, regarded in the US and other judicial systems as more serious than a misdemeanour.

DERIVATIVES:
felonious adjective
feloniously adverb.

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felt [1]

noun
cloth made by rolling and pressing wool or another suitable textile accompanied by the application of moisture or heat, which causes the fibres to mat together.

verb
1. mat together or become matted.
2. cover with felt.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FILTER.

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felt-tip pen (also felt-tipped pen)

noun
a pen with a writing point made of felt or tightly packed fibres.

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female

adjective
1. referring to the sex that can bear offspring or produce eggs.
2. relating to or characteristic of women or female animals.
3. (of a plant or flower) having a pistil but no stamens.
4. (of a fitting) manufactured hollow so that a corresponding male part can be inserted.

noun
a female person, animal, or plant.

DERIVATIVES:
femaleness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin femella, from femina 'a woman' .

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feminine

adjective
1. having qualities traditionally associated with women, especially delicacy and prettiness.
2. female.
3. Grammar referring to a gender of nouns and adjectives, conventionally regarded as female.

noun (the feminine)
the female sex or gender.

DERIVATIVES:
femininely adverb
femininity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin femininus, from femina 'woman' .

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feminism

noun
the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of sexual equality.

DERIVATIVES:
feminist noun & adjective.

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feminize (also feminise)

verb
make more feminine or female.

DERIVATIVES:
feminization noun.

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femme fatale

noun (pl. femmes fatales pronunc. same)
an attractive and seductive woman.

ORIGIN: French, 'disastrous woman' .

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femur

noun (pl. femurs or femora) Anatomy
the bone of the thigh or upper hindlimb.

DERIVATIVES:
femoral adjective,

ORIGIN: Latin, 'thigh' .

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fen

noun
1. a low and marshy or frequently flooded area of land.
2. (the Fens) flat low-lying areas of Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk, formerly marshland but now largely drained.

DERIVATIVES:
fenny adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fence

noun
1. a barrier enclosing an area, typically consisting of posts connected by wire, wood, etc.
2. a large upright obstacle in steeplechasing, showjumping, or cross-country.
3. informal a dealer in stolen goods.
4. a guard or guide on a plane or other tool.

verb
1. surround or protect with a fence.
2. informal deal in (stolen goods).
3. practise the sport of fencing.

IDIOMS -
sit on the fence avoid making a decision or commitment.

DERIVATIVES:
fencer noun.

ORIGIN: shortening of DEFENCE.

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fencing

noun
1. the sport of fighting with blunted swords in order to score points.
2. a series of fences.
3. material for making fences.

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fend

verb
1. (fend for oneself) look after and provide for oneself.
2. (fend off) defend oneself from (an attack or attacker).

ORIGIN: shortening of DEFEND.

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fender

noun
1. a low frame bordering a fireplace to keep in falling coals.
2. a cushioning device hung over a ship's side to protect it against impact.
3. N. Amer. the mudguard or area around the wheel well of a vehicle.

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feng shui

noun
(in Chinese thought) a system of laws considered to govern spatial arrangement in relation to the flow of energy, and whose effects are taken into account when designing buildings.

ORIGIN: from the Chinese words for 'wind' and 'water' .

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fennel

noun
an aromatic yellow-flowered plant, with feathery leaves used as herbs or eaten as a vegetable.

ORIGIN: Latin faeniculum, from faenum 'hay' .

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fenugreek

noun
a white-flowered plant of the pea family, with aromatic seeds that are used as a spice.

ORIGIN: from Latin faenum graecum 'Greek hay' (the Romans used the dried plant as fodder).

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feral

adjective
1. (of an animal or plant) in a wild state, especially after having been domesticated.
2. resembling a wild animal.

ORIGIN: from Latin fera 'wild animal' .

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ferment

verb
1. undergo or cause to undergo fermentation.
2. stir up (disorder).

noun
1. agitation and social unrest.
2. dated a fermenting agent or enzyme.

DERIVATIVES:
fermentable adjective
fermenter noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin fermentum 'yeast' , from fervere 'to boil' .

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fermentation

noun
the chemical breakdown of a substance by bacteria, yeasts, or other micro-organisms, especially that involved in the making of beers, wines, and spirits.

DERIVATIVES:
fermentative adjective.

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fern

noun (pl. same or ferns)
a flowerless plant which has feathery or leafy fronds and reproduces by spores released from the undersides of the fronds.

DERIVATIVES:
fernery noun (pl. ferneries)
ferny adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ferocious

adjective
1. savagely fierce, cruel, or violent.
2. informal very great; extreme.

DERIVATIVES:
ferociously adverb
ferociousness noun
ferocity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin ferox 'fierce' .

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-ferous (usu. -iferous)

combining form
having, bearing, or containing (a specified thing): Carboniferous.

ORIGIN: from Latin -fer 'producing' .

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ferret

noun
1. a domesticated albino or brown polecat, used for catching rabbits.
2. informal a search.

verb (ferreted, ferreting)
1. hunt with ferrets.
2. search for something in a place or container.
3. (ferret out) investigate assiduously.

DERIVATIVES:
ferreter noun
ferrety adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French fuiret, from Latin fur 'thief' .

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ferric

adjective Chemistry
of iron with a valency of three.

ORIGIN: from Latin ferrum 'iron' .

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Ferris wheel

noun
a fairground ride consisting of a giant vertical revolving wheel with passenger cars suspended on its outer edge.

ORIGIN: named after the American engineer George W. G. Ferris (1859 96).

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ferroconcrete

noun
concrete reinforced with steel.

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ferrous

adjective
1. (chiefly of metals) containing iron.
2. Chemistry of iron with a valency of two.

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ferrule

noun
1. a ring or cap which strengthens the end of a handle, stick, or tube.
2. a metal band strengthening or forming a joint.

ORIGIN: Old French virelle, from Latin viriae 'bracelets' .

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ferry

noun (pl. ferries)
a boat or ship for conveying passengers and goods, especially as a regular service.

verb (ferries, ferried)
convey by ferry or other transport, especially on short, regular trips.

DERIVATIVES:
ferryman noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, related to FARE.

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fertile

adjective
1. (of soil or land) producing or capable of producing abundant vegetation or crops.
2. (of a person, animal, or plant) able to conceive young or produce seed.
3. productive in generating new ideas.

DERIVATIVES:
fertility noun.

ORIGIN: Latin fertilis, from ferre 'to bear' .

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fertilize (also fertilise)

verb
1. cause (an egg, female animal, or plant) to develop a new individual by introducing male reproductive material.
2. add fertilizer to (soil or land).

DERIVATIVES:
fertilization noun.

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fertilizer (also fertiliser)

noun
a chemical or natural substance added to soil to increase its fertility.

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fervent

adjective
intensely passionate.

DERIVATIVES:
fervency noun
fervently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin fervere 'boil' .

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fervid

adjective
intensely or excessively enthusiastic.

DERIVATIVES:
fervidly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin fervidus, from fervere 'to boil' .

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fervour (US fervor)

noun
intense and passionate feeling.

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festal

adjective
relating to a festival; festive.

ORIGIN: from Latin festa 'feast' .

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fester

verb
1. (of a wound or sore) become septic.
2. (of food or rubbish) become rotten.
3. (of a negative feeling or a problem) intensify, especially through neglect.
4. deteriorate physically and mentally in isolated inactivity.

ORIGIN: from Old French festre, from Latin fistula 'reed, fistula' .

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festival

noun
1. a day or period of celebration, typically for religious reasons.
2. an organized series of concerts, films, etc.

ORIGIN: Latin festivalis, from festa 'feast' .

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festive

adjective
1. relating to a festival.
2. jovially celebratory.

DERIVATIVES:
festively adverb
festiveness noun.

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festivity

noun (pl. festivities)
1. joyful and exuberant celebration.
2. (festivities) celebratory activities or events.

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festoon

noun
1. an ornamental chain or garland of flowers, leaves, or ribbons, hung in a curve.
2. a carved or moulded ornament representing a festoon.

verb
decorate with festoons or other decorations.

ORIGIN: Italian festone 'festive ornament' .

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feta (also feta cheese)

noun
a white salty Greek cheese made from the milk of ewes or goats.

ORIGIN: modern Greek pheta.

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fetal

adjective
1. relating to a fetus.
2. referring to a posture characteristic of a fetus, with the limbs folded in front of the body.

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fetch

verb
1. go for and bring back.
2. cause to come to a place.
3. achieve (a particular price) when sold.
4. (fetch up) informal arrive or come to rest.
5. informal inflict (a blow) on.
6. archaic bring forth (blood or tears).

noun
an act of fetching.

IDIOMS -
fetch and carry run backwards and forwards bringing things to someone in a servile way.

DERIVATIVES:
fetcher noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fête

noun
1. Brit. an outdoor public function to raise funds for a charity or institution, typically involving entertainment and the sale of goods.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a celebration or festival.

verb
honour or entertain lavishly.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin festa 'a feast' .

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fetid (also foetid)

adjective
smelling very unpleasant.

ORIGIN: Latin fetidus, from fetere 'to stink' .

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fetish

noun
1. an inanimate object worshipped for its supposed magical powers.
2. a form of sexual desire in which gratification is focused abnormally on an object, part of the body, or activity.
3. a course of action to which one has an excessive and irrational commitment.

DERIVATIVES:
fetishism noun
fetishist noun
fetishistic adjective
fetishization (also -isation) noun
fetishize (also fetishise) verb.

ORIGIN: French fétiche, from Latin facticius 'made by art' .

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fetlock

noun
a joint of a horse's or other quadruped's leg between the knee and the hoof.

ORIGIN: Germanic, related to FOOT.

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fetor

noun
a strong, foul smell.

ORIGIN: Latin, from fetere 'to stink' .

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fetter

noun
1. a chain or shackle placed around a prisoner's ankles.
2. a restraint or check.

verb
1. restrain with fetters.
2. (be fettered) be restricted.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fettle

noun
condition: in fine fettle.

ORIGIN: Old English, «strip of material».

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fettuccine (also fettucini)

plural noun
pasta made in ribbons.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'little ribbons' .

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fetus (Brit. (in non-technical use) also foetus)

noun (pl. fetuses)
an unborn or unhatched offspring of a mammal, in particular an unborn human more than eight weeks after conception.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'pregnancy, childbirth, offspring' .

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feud

noun
1. a prolonged and bitter quarrel or dispute.
2. a state of prolonged mutual hostility and violence.

verb
take part in a feud.

ORIGIN: Old French feide 'hostility' .

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feudal

adjective
relating or referring to feudalism.

ORIGIN: Latin feudalis, from feodum 'fee' .

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feudalism

noun
the dominant social system in medieval Europe, in which the nobility held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were tenants of and protected by the nobles.

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fever

noun
1. an abnormally high body temperature, usually accompanied by shivering, headache, and in severe instances, delirium.
2. a state of nervous excitement or agitation.

DERIVATIVES:
feverish adjective
feverishly adverb
feverishness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French fievre or Latin febris.

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fevered

adjective
1. having or showing the symptoms of fever.
2. nervously excited or agitated: my fevered imagination.

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feverfew

noun
an aromatic plant with feathery leaves and daisy-like flowers, used as a herbal remedy for headaches.

ORIGIN: Latin febrifuga, from febris 'fever' + fugare 'drive away' .

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fever pitch

noun
a state of extreme excitement.

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few

determiner , pronoun , & adjective
1. (a few) a small number of.
2. not many.

noun (the few)
a select minority.

IDIOMS -
few and far between scarce.
a good few Brit. a fairly large number of.
no fewer than a surprisingly large number of.
not a few a considerable number.
quite a few a fairly large number.
some few some but not many.

USAGE - Fewer, the comparative form of few, should be used with plural nouns, as in there are fewer people here today; use less with nouns denoting things that cannot be counted, as in there is less blossom on this tree. The use of less with a plural noun (less people) is incorrect in standard English.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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fey

adjective
1. unworldly and vague.
2. having clairvoyant powers.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fez

noun (pl. fezzes)
a flat-topped conical red hat, worn by men in some Muslim countries.

ORIGIN: Turkish fes, named after the city of Fez in Morocco.

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ff.

abbreviation
1. folios.
2. following pages.

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fiancé

noun (fem. fiancée pronunc. same)
a person to whom another is engaged to be married.

ORIGIN: French, from fiancer 'betroth' .

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fiasco

noun (pl. fiascos)
a ludicrous or humiliating failure.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'bottle, flask' , used in the phrase far fiasco, literally 'make a bottle' , figuratively 'fail in a performance' .

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fiat

noun
an official order or authorization.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'let it be done' .

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fib

noun
a trivial lie.

verb (fibbed, fibbing)
tell a fib.

DERIVATIVES:
fibber noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from obsolete fible-fable 'nonsense' , a reduplication of FABLE.

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fiber (Brit. fibre)

noun
1. a thread or filament from which a plant or animal tissue, mineral substance, or textile is formed.
2. a substance formed of fibres.
3. dietary material containing substances such as cellulose, that are resistant to the action of digestive enzymes.
4. strength of character: moral fiber.

ORIGIN: Latin fibra 'fibre, entrails' .

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Fibonacci series

noun Mathematics
a series of numbers in which each number (Fibonacci number) is the sum of the two preceding numbers (e.g. the series 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, etc.).

ORIGIN: named after the Italian mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci (c.1170 c.1250).

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fibre (US fiber)

noun
1. a thread or filament from which a plant or animal tissue, mineral substance, or textile is formed.
2. a substance formed of fibres.
3. dietary material containing substances such as cellulose, that are resistant to the action of digestive enzymes.
4. strength of character: moral fibre.

ORIGIN: Latin fibra 'fibre, entrails' .

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fibreboard (US fiberboard)

noun
a building material made of wood or other plant fibres compressed into boards.

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fibreglass (US fiberglass)

noun
1. a reinforced plastic material composed of glass fibres embedded in a resin matrix.
2. a textile fabric made from woven glass filaments.

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fibre optics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the use of thin flexible transparent fibres to transmit light signals, chiefly for telecommunications or for internal inspection of the body.

DERIVATIVES:
fibre-optic adjective.

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fibril

noun technical
a small or slender fibre.

DERIVATIVES:
fibrillar adjective
fibrillary adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin fibrilla 'little fibre' .

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fibrin

noun Biochemistry
an insoluble protein formed as a fibrous mesh during the clotting of blood.

DERIVATIVES:
fibrinoid adjective
fibrinous adjective.

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fibroid

adjective
referring to fibres or fibrous tissue.

noun Medicine
a benign tumour of muscular and fibrous tissues, typically developing in the wall of the womb.

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fibrosis

noun Medicine
the thickening and scarring of connective tissue, usually as a result of injury.

DERIVATIVES:
fibrotic adjective.

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fibrous

adjective
consisting of or characterized by fibres.

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fibula

noun (pl. fibulae or fibulas) Anatomy
the outer and usually smaller of the two bones between the knee and the ankle, parallel with the tibia.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'brooch' , because the shape it makes with the tibia resembles a clasp.

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fickle

adjective
changeable, especially as regards one's loyalties.

DERIVATIVES:
fickleness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «deceitful».

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fiction

noun
1. prose literature, especially novels, describing imaginary events and people.
2. invention as opposed to fact.
3. a false belief or statement, accepted as true for the sake of convenience.

DERIVATIVES:
fictional adjective
fictionality noun
fictionalize (also fictionalise) verb
fictionally adverb
fictionist noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from fingere 'form, contrive' .

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fictitious

adjective
1. not real or true, being imaginary or invented.
2. referring to the characters and events found in fiction.

DERIVATIVES:
fictitiously adverb
fictitiousness noun.

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fiddle

noun
1. informal a violin.
2. informal, chiefly Brit. an act of fraud or cheating.
3. informal an unnecessarily intricate or awkward task.

verb informal
1. touch or fidget with something restlessly or nervously.
2. chiefly Brit. falsify (figures, data, or records).

IDIOMS -
fiddle while Rome burns be concerned with trivial matters while ignoring the serious events going on around one.
fit as a fiddle in very good health.
play second fiddle to take a subordinate role to.

DERIVATIVES:
fiddler noun (informal ).

ORIGIN: Old English fithele 'violin' , from Latin vitulari 'celebrate a festival' .

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fiddlesticks

exclamation informal
nonsense.

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fiddling

adjective informal
annoyingly trivial.

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fiddly

adjective (fiddlier, fiddliest) Brit. informal
complicated and awkward to do or use.

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fidelity

noun
1. continuing faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief.
2. the degree of exactness with which something is copied or reproduced.

ORIGIN: from Latin fidelis 'faithful' .

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fidget

verb (fidgeted, fidgeting)
make small movements through nervousness or impatience.

noun
1. a person who fidgets.
2. (fidgets) mental or physical restlessness.

DERIVATIVES:
fidgety adjective.

ORIGIN: from obsolete or dialect fidge «to twitch».

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fief

noun
1. historical an estate of land held on condition of feudal service.
2. a person's sphere of operation or control.

DERIVATIVES:
fiefdom noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, variant of feu «fee».

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field

noun
1. an area of open land, especially one planted with crops or pasture.
2. a piece of land used for a sport or game.
3. a subject of study or sphere of activity.
4. a region or space with a particular property: a magnetic field.
5. a space or range within which objects are visible from a particular viewpoint or through a piece of apparatus: field of view.
6. (the field) all the participants in a contest or sport.
7. archaic a battle.

verb
1. chiefly Cricket & Baseball attempt to catch or stop the ball and return it after it has been hit.
2. select to play in a game or to stand in an election.
3. try to deal with (a question, problem, etc.).

adjective
1. carried out or working in the natural environment, rather than in a laboratory or office.
2. (of military equipment) light and mobile for use on campaign.

IDIOMS -
hold the field remain the most important.
in the field
1. engaged in combat or manoeuvres.
2. engaged in fieldwork.
play the field informal indulge in a series of casual sexual relationships.
take the field (of a team) go on to a field to begin a game.

DERIVATIVES:
fielder noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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field day

noun
an opportunity for action or success, especially at the expense of others.

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field events

plural noun
athletic sports other than races, such as throwing and jumping events.

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fieldfare

noun
a large grey-headed northern thrush.

ORIGIN: probably from archaic sense of FARE «to travel».

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field glasses

plural noun
binoculars for outdoor use.

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field marshal

noun
the highest rank of officer in the British army.

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field mouse

noun
a common dark brown mouse with a long tail and large eyes.

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field officer

noun
a major, lieutenant colonel, or colonel.

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field sports

plural noun
outdoor sports, especially hunting, shooting, and fishing.

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field test

noun (also field trial)
a test carried out in the environment in which a product is to be used.

verb (field-test)
subject to a field test.

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fieldwork

noun
practical work conducted by a researcher in the field.

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fiend

noun
1. an evil spirit or demon.
2. a very wicked or cruel person.
3. informal an enthusiast or devotee: an exercise fiend.

ORIGIN: Old English, «an enemy, the devil».

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fiendish

adjective
1. extremely cruel or unpleasant.
2. extremely difficult.

DERIVATIVES:
fiendishly adverb
fiendishness noun.

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fierce

adjective
1. violent or aggressive; ferocious.
2. intense.
3. (of a mechanism) having a powerful abruptness of action.

DERIVATIVES:
fiercely adverb
fierceness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin ferus 'untamed' .

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fiery

adjective (fierier, fieriest)
1. resembling or consisting of fire.
2. quick-tempered or passionate.

DERIVATIVES:
fierily adverb
fieriness noun.

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fiesta

noun
1. (in Spanish-speaking countries) a religious festival.
2. a festive occasion.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from Latin festum 'feast' .

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FIFA

abbreviation
Fédération Internationale de Football Association.

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fife

noun
a small shrill flute used with the drum in military bands.

ORIGIN: German Pfeife 'pipe'

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fifteen

cardinal number
1. one more than fourteen; 15. (Roman numeral: xv or XV.)
2. a team of fifteen players, especially in rugby.

DERIVATIVES:
fifteenth ordinal number.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fifth

ordinal number
1. constituting number five in a sequence; 5th.
2. (a fifth/one fifth) each of five equal parts into which something is or may be divided.
3. Music an interval spanning five consecutive notes in a diatonic scale, in particular (also perfect fifth) an interval of three tones and a semitone.

IDIOMS -
take the fifth (in the US) exercise the right guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution to refuse to answer questions in order to avoid incriminating oneself.

DERIVATIVES:
fifthly adverb.

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fifth column

noun
a group within a country at war who are working for its enemies.

DERIVATIVES:
fifth columnist noun.

ORIGIN: from the Spanish Civil War, when General Mola, leading four columns of troops towards Madrid, declared that he had a fifth column inside the city.

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fifty

cardinal number (pl. fifties)
ten less than sixty; 50. (Roman numeral: l or L.)

DERIVATIVES:
fiftieth ordinal number.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fifty-fifty

adjective & adverb
with equal shares or chances.

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fig [1]

noun
a soft pear-shaped fruit with sweet dark flesh and many small seeds.

IDIOMS -
not give (or care) a fig not care at all.

ORIGIN: Old French figue from Latin ficus.

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fig [2]

noun (in phrase full fig) informal
the complete set of clothes appropriate to a particular occasion or profession.

ORIGIN: from obsolete feague «whip», later «liven up».

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fight

verb (past and past part. fought)
1. take part in a violent struggle involving physical force or weapons.
2. engage in (a war or contest).
3. quarrel or argue.
4. (fight off) defend oneself against an attack by.
5. struggle to overcome, eliminate, or prevent.
6. (fight for) try very hard to obtain or do.

noun
an act of fighting.

IDIOMS -
fight fire with fire use the weapons or tactics of one's opponent, even if one finds them distasteful.
fight or flight the instinctive physiological response to a threatening situation, which readies one either to resist forcibly or to run away.
fight shy of avoid through unwillingness.
fight one's way move forward with difficulty.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fighter

noun
1. a person or animal that fights.
2. a fast military aircraft designed for attacking other aircraft.

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fighting chance

noun
a possibility of success if great effort is made.

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fighting fit

adjective
in excellent health.

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fig leaf

noun
a leaf of a fig tree used to conceal the genitals in paintings and sculpture.

ORIGIN: with reference to the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible, who made clothes out of fig leaves after becoming aware of their nakedness.

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figment

noun
a thing believed to be real but existing only in the imagination.

ORIGIN: Latin figmentum, related to fingere 'form, contrive.'

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figurative

adjective
1. not using words literally; metaphorical.
2. Art representing forms that are recognizably derived from life.

DERIVATIVES:
figuratively adverb
figurativeness noun.

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figure

noun
1. a number or numerical symbol.
2. an amount of money.
3. a person's bodily shape, especially that of a woman.
4. a person seen indistinctly.
5. an artistic representation of a human or animal form.
6. a shape defined by one or more lines.
7. a diagram or illustrative drawing.
8. Music a short succession of notes producing a single impression.

verb
1. be a significant part of or contributor to something.
2. calculate arithmetically.
3. (figure out) informal reach an understanding of.
4. informal, chiefly N. Amer. be perfectly understandable: that figures!
5. (figure on) N. Amer. informal count or rely on something happening or being the case.
6. informal, chiefly N. Amer. think; consider.
7. represent in a diagram or picture.

ORIGIN: Latin figura 'figure, form' .

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figurehead

noun
1. a carved bust or full-length figure set at the prow of an old-fashioned sailing ship.
2. a nominal leader without real power.

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figure of speech

noun
a word or phrase used in a non-literal sense for rhetorical or vivid effect.

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figure skating

noun
the sport of skating in prescribed patterns from a stationary position.

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figurine

noun
a small statue of a human form.

ORIGIN: Italian figurina 'small figure' .

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filament

noun
1. a slender thread-like object or fibre.
2. a metal wire in an electric light bulb, which glows white-hot when an electric current is passed through it.
3. Botany the slender part of a stamen that supports the anther.

DERIVATIVES:
filamentary adjective
filamentous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin filamentum, from filare 'to spin' .

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filbert

noun
a cultivated oval hazelnut.

ORIGIN: from French noix de filbert (so named because it is ripe about 20 August, the feast day of St Philibert).

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filch

verb informal
pilfer; steal.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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file [1]

noun
1. a folder or box for keeping loose papers together and in order.
2. Computing a collection of data or programs stored under a single identifying name.
3. a line of people or things one behind another.
4. Military a small detachment of men.
5. Chess a row of squares on a chessboard running away from the player toward the opponent.

verb
1. place in a file.
2. submit (a legal document, application, or charge) to be officially placed on record.
3. walk one behind the other.

DERIVATIVES:
filing noun.

ORIGIN: French fil 'a thread' , from Latin filum.

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file [2]

noun
a tool with a roughened surface or surfaces, used for smoothing or shaping a hard material.

verb
smooth or shape with a file.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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filial

adjective
relating to or due from a son or daughter.

DERIVATIVES:
filially adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin filialis, from filius 'son' , filia 'daughter' .

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filibuster

noun
prolonged speaking which obstructs progress in a legislative assembly.

verb
obstruct legislation with a filibuster.

ORIGIN: French flibustier, first applied to pirates who pillaged the Spanish colonies in the West Indies, influenced by Spanish filibustero; ultimately from Dutch vrijbuiter 'freebooter' .

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filigree (also filagree)

noun
delicate ornamental work of fine gold, silver, or copper wire.

DERIVATIVES:
filigreed adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin filum 'thread' + granum 'seed' ).

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filings

plural noun
small particles rubbed off by a file.

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Filipino

noun (pl. Filipinos; fem. Filipina, pl. Filipinas)
1. a person from the Philippines.
2. the national language of the Philippines.

adjective
relating to Filipinos or their language.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from las Islas Filipinas 'the Philippine Islands' .

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fill

verb
1. make or become full.
2. block up (a hole, gap, etc.).
3. appoint a person to hold (a vacant post).
4. hold and perform the duties of (a position or role).
5. occupy (time).

noun (one's fill)
as much as one wants or can bear.

IDIOMS -
fill in
1. make (a hole) completely full of material.
2. complete (a form) by adding information.
3. inform more fully of a matter.
4. act as a substitute.
fill out
1. put on weight.
2. chiefly N. Amer. fill in (a form).
fill someone's shoes (or boots) informal take over someone's role and fulfil it satisfactorily.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FULL.

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filler

noun
1. something used to fill a gap or cavity, or to increase bulk.
2. an item serving only to fill space or time.

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fillet

noun
1. a fleshy boneless piece of meat from near the loins or the ribs of an animal.
2. a boned side of a fish.
3. a band or ribbon binding the hair.
4. Architecture a narrow flat band separating two mouldings.

verb (filleted, filleting)
1. remove the bones from (a fish).
2. cut into fillets.

ORIGIN: Old French filet 'thread' , from Latin filum.

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filling

noun
a quantity or piece of material that fills or is used to fill something.

adjective
(of food) leaving one with a pleasantly satiated feeling.

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filling station

noun
a petrol station.

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fillip

noun
a stimulus or boost.

ORIGIN: from an archaic sense of the word meaning 'a flick with the fingers' .

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filly

noun (pl. fillies)
1. a young female horse, especially one less than four years old.
2. humorous a lively girl or young woman.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, related to FOAL.

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film

noun
1. a thin flexible strip of plastic or other material coated with light-sensitive emulsion for exposure in a camera.
2. a story or event recorded by a camera as a series of moving images and shown in a cinema or on television.
3. motion pictures considered as an art or industry.
4. material in the form of a very thin flexible sheet.
5. a thin layer covering a surface.

verb
1. make a film of; record on film.
2. become covered with a thin film.

ORIGIN: Old English, «membrane».

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film star

noun
a well-known film actor or actress.

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filmy

adjective (filmier, filmiest)
1. thin and translucent.
2. covered with a thin film.

DERIVATIVES:
filminess noun.

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filo (also phyllo)

noun
a kind of flaky pastry stretched into very thin sheets, used especially in eastern Mediterranean cookery.

ORIGIN: modern Greek phullo 'leaf' .

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Filofax

noun trademark
a loose-leaf notebook for recording appointments, addresses, and notes.

ORIGIN: representing a colloquial pronunciation of file of facts.

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filter

noun
1. a porous device for removing solid particles from a liquid or gas passed through it.
2. a screen, plate, or layer which absorbs some of the light passing through it.
3. Brit. an arrangement at a junction whereby vehicles may turn while traffic waiting to go straight ahead is stopped by a red light.

verb
1. pass through a filter.
2. (often filter in/out/through) move gradually through something or in a specified direction.
3. (of information) gradually become known.

DERIVATIVES:
filterable adjective
filtration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin filtrum 'felt used as a filter' .

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filter tip

noun
a filter attached to a cigarette for removing impurities from the inhaled smoke.

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filth

noun
1. disgusting dirt.
2. obscene and offensive language or printed material.
3. (the filth) Brit. informal, derogatory the police.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FOUL.

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filthy

adjective (filthier, filthiest)
1. disgustingly dirty.
2. obscene and offensive.
3. informal very unpleasant or disagreeable: filthy weather .

adverb informal
extremely: filthy rich.

DERIVATIVES:
filthily adverb
filthiness noun.

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filtrate

noun
a liquid which has passed through a filter.

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fin

noun
1. an external organ on the body of a fish or other aquatic animal, used for propelling, steering, and balancing.
2. an underwater swimmer's flipper.
3. a projection on an aircraft, rocket, or car, for providing aerodynamic stability.

DERIVATIVES:
finned adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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final

adjective
1. coming at the end of a series.
2. reached as the outcome of a process.
3. allowing no further doubt or dispute.

noun
1. the last game in a tournament, which will decide the overall winner.
2. (finals) a series of games constituting the final stage of a competition.
3. (finals) Brit. a series of examinations at the end of a degree course.

ORIGIN: Latin finalis, from finis 'end' .

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finale

noun
the last part of a piece of music, an entertainment, or a public event.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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finalist

noun
1. a participant in a final or finals.
2. a student taking finals.

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finality

noun
the fact or quality of being final.

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finalize (also finalise)

verb
1. complete (a transaction) after discussion of the terms.
2. produce or agree on a finished version of.

DERIVATIVES:
finalization noun.

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finally

adverb
1. after a long time and much difficulty or delay.
2. as a final point or reason.

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finance

noun
1. the management of large amounts of money, especially by governments or large companies.
2. monetary support for an enterprise.
3. (finances) monetary resources.

verb
provide funding for.

ORIGIN: Old French, from finer 'settle a debt' .

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finance company (also finance house)

noun
a company concerned primarily with providing money, e.g. for hire-purchase transactions.

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financial

adjective
1. relating to finance.
2. Austral./NZ informal possessing money.

DERIVATIVES:
financially adverb.

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financial year

noun
a year as reckoned for taxing or accounting purposes, especially the British tax year reckoned from 6 April.

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financier

noun
a person engaged in managing the finances of governments or other large organizations.

ORIGIN: French.

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finch

noun
a seed-eating songbird of a large group including the chaffinch, goldfinch, linnet, etc.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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find

verb (past and past part. found)
1. discover by chance or deliberately.
2. recognize or discover to be present or to be the case.
3. ascertain by research or calculation.
4. Law (of a court) officially declare to be the case.
5. (find against or for) Law (of a court) make a decision against (or in favour of).
6. reach or arrive at by a natural or normal process: water finds its own level.

noun
a valuable or interesting discovery.

IDIOMS -
find one's feet establish oneself in a particular field.
find out
1. discover (information, a fact, etc).
2. detect (someone) in a crime or lie.

DERIVATIVES:
findable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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finder

noun
1. a person who finds someone or something.
2. a small telescope attached to a large one to locate an object for observation.
3. a viewfinder.

IDIOMS -
finders keepers (losers weepers) informal whoever finds something is entitled to keep it.

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finding

noun
a conclusion reached as a result of an inquiry, investigation, or trial.

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fine [1]

adjective
1. of very high quality.
2. satisfactory.
3. in good health and feeling well.
4. (of the weather) bright and clear.
5. (of a thread, filament, or hair) thin.
6. of delicate or intricate workmanship.
7. (of speech or writing) impressive but ultimately insincere: fine words.

adverb informal
in a satisfactory or pleasing manner.

verb
1. clarify (beer or wine) by causing the precipitation of sediment.
2. (usu. fine down) make thinner.

IDIOMS -
cut it fine allow a very small margin of time.
fine feathers make fine birds proverb beautiful clothes or an eye-catching appearance make a person appear similarly beautiful or impressive.
one's finest hour the time of one's greatest success.
fine words butter no parsnips proverb nothing is achieved by empty promises or flattery.
have down to a fine art achieve a high level of skill in (something) through experience.
not to put too fine a point on it to speak bluntly.
one fine day at some unspecified time.

DERIVATIVES:
finely adverb
fineness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French fin, from Latin finire 'finish' .

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fine [2]

noun
a sum of money exacted as a penalty by a court of law or other authority.

verb
punish by a fine.

DERIVATIVES:
fineable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French fin 'end, payment' , from Latin finis 'end' .

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fine art

noun
art intended to be appreciated primarily or solely for its aesthetic content.

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finery

noun
showy clothes or decoration.

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finesse

noun
1. refinement and delicacy.
2. subtle skill in handling or manipulating people or situations.
3. (in bridge and whist) an attempt to win a trick with a card that is not a certain winner.

verb
1. do in a subtle and delicate manner.
2. slyly attempt to avoid blame when dealing with (a situation).
3. play (a card) as a finesse.

ORIGIN: French, related to FINE.

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fine-tooth comb (also fine-toothed comb)

noun (in phrase with a fine-tooth comb)
with a very thorough search or analysis.

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fine-tune

verb
make small adjustments to in order to achieve the best performance.

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finger

noun
1. each of the four slender jointed parts attached to either hand (or five, if the thumb is included).
2. a measure of liquor in a glass, based on the breadth of a finger.
3. an object with the long, narrow shape of a finger.

verb
1. touch or feel with the fingers.
2. identify or choose for a particular purpose.
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. inform on.
4. Music play (a passage) with a particular sequence of positions of the fingers.

IDIOMS -
be all fingers and thumbs Brit. informal be clumsy.
burn one's fingers suffer unpleasant consequences as a result of one's actions.
have a finger in the pie be involved in a matter.
have one's finger on the pulse be aware of the latest trends.
lay a finger on touch (someone), especially with the intention of harming them.
pull one's finger out Brit. informal cease prevaricating and start to act.
put the finger on informal inform on.
put one's finger on identify exactly.
snap (or click) one's fingers make a sharp clicking sound by bending the middle finger against the thumb and suddenly releasing it.

DERIVATIVES:
fingered adjective
fingerless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fingerboard

noun
a flat strip on the neck of a stringed instrument, against which the strings are pressed in order to vary the pitch.

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finger bowl

noun
a small bowl holding water for rinsing the fingers at a meal.

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fingering

noun
a manner or technique of using the fingers to play a musical instrument.

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fingernail

noun
the nail on the upper surface of the tip of each finger.

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fingerprint

noun
a mark made on a surface by a person's fingertip, useful for purposes of identification.

verb
record the fingerprints of.

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fingertip

adjective
using or operated by the fingers.

IDIOMS -
at one's fingertips (especially of information) readily available.

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finial

noun
1. a distinctive section or ornament at the highest point of a roof, pinnacle, or similar structure.
2. an ornament at the top, end, or corner of an object.

ORIGIN: from Latin finis 'end' .

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finicky

adjective
1. fussy.
2. excessively detailed or elaborate.

DERIVATIVES:
finickiness noun.

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finish

verb
1. bring or come to an end.
2. consume or get through the whole or the remainder of (food or drink).
3. (finish with) have nothing more to do with.
4. reach the end of a race or other sporting competition.
5. (finish up) chiefly Brit. end by doing something or being in a particular position.
6. (finish off) kill or comprehensively defeat.
7. complete the manufacture or decoration of (something) by giving it an attractive surface appearance.

noun
1. an end or final stage.
2. the place at which a race or competition ends.
3. the manner in which a manufactured article is finished.

IDIOMS -
a fight to the finish a fight or contest which ends only with the complete defeat of one of the participants.

DERIVATIVES:
finisher noun.

ORIGIN: Latin finire, from finis 'end' .

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finishing school

noun
a private college where girls are prepared for entry into fashionable society.

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finishing touch

noun
a final detail completing and enhancing a piece of work.

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finite

adjective
limited in size or extent.

DERIVATIVES:
finitely adverb
finiteness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin finitus 'finished' .

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Finn

noun
a person from Finland.

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Finnish

noun
the language of the Finns.

adjective
relating to the Finns or their language.

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fir

noun
an evergreen coniferous tree with upright cones and flat needle-shaped leaves.

ORIGIN: probably Old Norse.

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fire

noun
1. the state of burning, in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air and give out bright light, heat, and smoke.
2. an instance of destructive burning.
3. wood or coal burnt in a hearth or stove for heating or cooking.
4. (also electric fire or gas fire) Brit. a domestic heating appliance that uses electricity (or gas) as fuel.
5. a burning sensation.
6. passionate emotion or enthusiasm.
7. the firing of guns.
8. strong criticism.
9. one of the four elements (air, earth, fire, and water) in ancient and medieval philosophy and in astrology.

verb
1. propel (a bullet or projectile) from a gun or other weapon.
2. direct a rapid succession of (questions or statements) towards someone.
3. informal dismiss from a job.
4. supply (a furnace, power station, etc.) with fuel.
5. set fire to.
6. stimulate (the imagination or an emotion).
7. (fire up) fill with enthusiasm.
8. bake or dry (pottery, bricks, etc.) in a kiln.

IDIOMS -
catch fire begin to burn.
fire away informal go ahead.
fire and brimstone the supposed torments of hell.
firing on all (four) cylinders functioning at a peak level.
go through fire (and water) face any peril.
on fire
1. burning.
2. very ex cited.
set fire to (or set on fire) cause to burn.
set the world on fire do something remarkable or sensational.
under fire
1. being shot at.
2. being rigorously criticized.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fire alarm

noun
a device making a loud noise that gives warning of a fire.

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firearm

noun
a rifle, pistol, or other portable gun.

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fireball

noun
1. a ball of flame or fire.
2. a large bright meteor.
3. an energetic or hot-tempered person.

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firebomb

noun
a bomb designed to cause a fire.

verb
attack with a firebomb.

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firebrand

noun
a fervent supporter of a particular cause, especially one who incites unrest.

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firebreak

noun
an obstacle to the spread of fire, e.g. a strip of open space in a forest.

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fire brigade

noun chiefly Brit.
an organized body of people trained and employed to extinguish fires.

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firecracker

noun
a loud, explosive firework.

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fire door

noun
a fire-resistant door to prevent the spread of fire.

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fire drill

noun
a practice of the emergency procedures to be used in case of fire.

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fire engine

noun
a vehicle carrying firefighters and their equipment.

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fire escape

noun
a staircase or other apparatus used for escaping from a building where there is a fire.

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fire extinguisher

noun
a portable device that discharges a jet of liquid, foam, or gas to extinguish a fire.

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firefighter

noun
a person whose job is to extinguish fires.

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firefly

noun
a soft-bodied beetle which glows in the dark.

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fireguard

noun
a protective screen or grid placed in front of an open fire.

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firelighter

noun Brit.
a piece of flammable material used to help start a fire.

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fireman

noun
a male firefighter.

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fireplace

noun
a partially enclosed space at the base of a chimney for a domestic fire.

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firepower

noun
the destructive capacity of guns, missiles, or a military force.

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fireproof

adjective
able to withstand fire or great heat.

verb
make fireproof.

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fire-raiser

noun Brit.
an arsonist.

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fireside

noun
the area round a fireplace, especially as considered to be the focus of domestic life.

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fire station

noun
the headquarters of a fire brigade.

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firestorm

noun
a very intense and destructive fire, fanned by strong currents of air drawn in from the surrounding area.

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firetrap

noun
a building without proper provision for escape in case of fire.

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firewall

noun
1. a wall or partition designed to stop the spread of fire.
2. Computing a part of a computer system or network which is designed to block unauthorized access while permitting outward communication.

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firewater

noun informal
strong alcoholic liquor.

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firewood

noun
wood that is burnt as fuel.

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firework

noun
1. a device containing combustible chemicals that is ignited to produce spectacular effects and explosions.
2. (fireworks) an outburst of anger or a display of brilliance.

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firing line

noun
1. the front line of troops in a battle.
2. a position where one is subject to criticism or blame.

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firing squad

noun
a group of soldiers detailed to shoot a condemned person.

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firm [1]

adjective
1. having an unyielding surface or structure.
2. solidly in place and stable.
3. having steady power or strength: a firm grip.
4. showing resolute determination.
5. fixed or definite: firm plans.

verb
1. make firm.
2. (often firm up) make (an agreement or plan) explicit and definite.

adverb
in a resolute and determined manner.

IDIOMS -
be on firm ground be sure of one's facts or secure in one's position.
a firm hand strict discipline or control.

DERIVATIVES:
firmly adverb
firmness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin firmus.

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firm [2]

noun
a company or business partnership.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a signature, later the name under which the business of a firm was transacted: from Latin firmare 'confirm by signature, settle' .

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firmament

noun literary
the heavens; the sky.

ORIGIN: Latin firmamentum, from firmare 'fix, settle' .

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firmware

noun Computing
permanent software programmed into a read-only memory.

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first

ordinal number
1. coming before all others in time or order; earliest; 1st.
2. before doing something else specified or implied.
3. foremost in position, rank, or importance.
4. informal something never previously achieved or occurring.
5. Brit. a place in the top grade in an examination for a degree.

IDIOMS -
at first at the beginning.
first and foremost more than anything else.
first and last fundamentally.
first of all
1. before doing anything else.
2. most importantly.
first off informal, chiefly N. Amer. as a first point.
first past the post
1. winning a race by being the first to reach the finishing line.
2. Brit. (of an electoral system) in which a candidate or party is selected by achievement of a simple majority.
first thing early in the morning; before anything else.
first things first important matters should be dealt with before other things.
first up informal first of all.
in the first place
1. as the first consideration or point.
2. at the beginning; to begin with.
of the first order (or magnitude) excellent or considerable of its kind.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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first aid

noun
help given to a sick or injured person until full medical treatment is available.

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firstborn

noun
the first child to be born to someone.

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first class

noun
1. a set of people or things grouped together as the best.
2. the best accommodation in an aircraft, train, or ship.
3. Brit. the highest division in the results of the examinations for a university degree.

adjective & adverb (first-class)
relating to the first class.

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first-day cover

noun
an envelope bearing one or more stamps postmarked on their day of issue.

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first-degree

adjective
1. (of burns) affecting only the surface of the skin and causing reddening.
2. Law, chiefly N. Amer. (of crime, especially murder) in the most serious category.

IDIOMS -
first-degree relative a person's parent, sibling, or child.

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first-foot

verb
be the first person to cross someone's threshold in the New Year.

noun
the first person to cross a threshold in such a way.

DERIVATIVES:
first-footer noun.

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first-hand

adjective & adverb
from the original source or personal experience; direct: first-hand knowledge.

IDIOMS -
at first hand directly or from personal experience.

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first lady

noun
the wife of the President of the US or other head of state.

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firstly

adverb
in the first place; first.

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first mate

noun
the officer second in command to the master of a merchant ship.

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first name

noun
a personal name given to someone at birth or baptism and used before a family name.

IDIOMS -
on first-name terms having a friendly and informal relationship.

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first night

noun
the first public performance of a play or show.

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first officer

noun
1. the first mate on a merchant ship.
2. the second in command to the captain on an aircraft.

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first person

noun
the form of a pronoun or verb used to refer to oneself, or to a group including oneself.

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first-rate

adjective
of the best class, quality, or condition; excellent.

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firth

noun
a narrow inlet of the sea.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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fiscal

adjective
1. relating to government revenue, especially taxes.
2. chiefly N. Amer. relating to financial matters.

DERIVATIVES:
fiscally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin fiscalis, from fiscus 'rush basket, purse, treasury' .

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fish [1]

noun (pl. same or fishes)
1. a limbless cold-blooded animal with a backbone, gills and fins, living wholly in water.
2. the flesh of fish as food.
3. informal a person who is strange in a specified way: he's a cold fish.

verb
1. catch fish with a net or hook and line.
2. (fish out) pull or take out of water or a receptacle.
3. grope or feel for something concealed.
4. (fish for) try subtly or deviously to obtain (a response or information).

IDIOMS -
all's fish that comes to the net proverb you can or should take advantage of anything that comes your way.
a big fish an important person.
a big fish in a small pond a person who is important only within a small community.
a fish out of water a person who feels out of place in their surroundings.
have other (or bigger) fish to fry have more important matters to attend to.

DERIVATIVES:
fishing noun.
USAGE - The normal plural of fish is fish, as in he caught two huge fish ; however the older form fishes is still used when referring to different kinds of fish: freshwater fishes of the British Isles .
ORIGIN: Old English.

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fish [2]

noun
1. (also fishplate) a flat connecting or strengthening piece fixed across a joint, e.g. in railway track.
2. a long curved piece of wood lashed to a ship's damaged mast or spar as a temporary repair.

verb
join, strengthen, or mend with a fish.

ORIGIN: probably from French fiche, from ficher 'to fix' .

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fish cake

noun
a patty of shredded fish and mashed potato.

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fisherman

noun
a person who catches fish for a living or for sport.

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fishery

noun (pl. fisheries)
1. a place where fish are reared, or caught in numbers.
2. the occupation or industry of catching or rearing fish.

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fisheye

noun
a very wide-angle lens with a field of vision covering up to 180°, the scale being reduced towards the edges.

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fish finger

noun Brit.
a small oblong piece of flaked or minced fish coated in batter or breadcrumbs.

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fishing line

noun
a long thread of silk or nylon attached to a baited hook and used for catching fish.

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fishing rod

noun
a long, tapering rod to which a fishing line is attached.

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fishmonger

noun
a person or shop that sells fish for food.

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fishnet

noun
an open mesh fabric resembling a fishing net.

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fishtail

noun
a thing resembling a fish's tail in shape or movement.

verb
travel with a side-to-side motion.

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fishwife

noun
a coarse-mannered woman who is prone to shouting.

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fishy

adjective (fishier, fishiest)
1. referring to or resembling a fish or fish.
2. informal arousing feelings of doubt or suspicion.

DERIVATIVES:
fishily adverb
fishiness noun.

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fissile

adjective
1. (of an atom or element) able to undergo nuclear fission.
2. (chiefly of rock) easily split.

ORIGIN: Latin fissilis, from findere 'split, crack' .

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fission

noun
1. the action of splitting or being split into two or more parts.
2. a reaction in which an atomic nucleus splits in two, releasing much energy.
3. Biology reproduction by means of cell division.

verb
undergo fission.

DERIVATIVES:
fissionable adjective.

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fissure

noun
a long, narrow crack.

verb
split; crack.

ORIGIN: Latin fissura, from findere 'to split' .

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fist

noun
a person's hand when the fingers are bent in towards the palm and held there tightly.

IDIOMS -
make a fist of informal do something to the specified degree of success.

DERIVATIVES:
fisted adjective
fistful noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fisticuffs

plural noun
fighting with the fists.

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fit [1]

adjective (fitter, fittest)
1. of a suitable quality, standard, or type to meet the required purpose.
2. in good health, especially through regular physical exercise.
3. (fit to do) informal on the point of doing.
4. Brit. informal sexually attractive.

verb (fitted (US also fit), fitting)
1. be of the right shape and size for.
2. be or make able to occupy a particular position, place, or period of time.
3. fix into place.
4. (often be fitted with) provide with a particular component or article.
5. join together to form a whole.
6. be or make suitable for.
7. (usu. be fitted for) try clothing on (someone) in order to make or alter it to the correct size.

noun
the way in which something fits.

IDIOMS -
fit in
1. be compatible or in harmony.
2. (also fit into) constitute part of a particular situation or larger structure.
fit out (or up) provide with necessary items.
fit to be tied informal very angry.
fit up Brit. informal incriminate (someone) by falsifying evidence against them.
see (or think) fit consider it correct or acceptable.

DERIVATIVES:
fitness noun
fitter noun
fitly adverb.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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fit [2]

noun
1. a sudden attack of convulsions.
2. a sudden attack of coughing, fainting, etc.
3. a sudden burst of intense feeling or activity.

IDIOMS -
in (or by) fits and starts with irregular bursts of activity.

ORIGIN: Old English, «conflict».

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fitful

adjective
active or occurring intermittently; not regular or steady.

DERIVATIVES:
fitfully adverb
fitfulness noun.

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fitment

noun chiefly Brit.
a fixed item of furniture or piece of equipment.

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fitted

adjective
1. made to fill a space or to cover something closely.
2. chiefly Brit. (of a room) equipped with matching units of furniture.
3. attached to or provided with a particular component or article.
4. (fitted for/to do) being fit for or to do.

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fitting

noun
1. an attachment.
2. (fittings) items which are fixed in a building but can be removed when the owner moves.
3. an occasion when one tries on a garment that is being made or altered.

adjective
appropriate; right or proper.

DERIVATIVES:
fittingly adverb
fittingness noun.

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five

cardinal number
one more than four; 5. (Roman numeral: v or V.)

DERIVATIVES:
fivefold adjective & adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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five o'clock shadow

noun
a slight growth of beard visible on a man's chin several hours after he has shaved.

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fiver

noun
1. Brit. informal a five-pound note.
2. N. Amer. a five-dollar bill.

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fix

verb
1. attach or position securely.
2. repair or restore.
3. decide or settle on.
4. make arrangements for.
5. make unchanging, constant or permanent.
6. (fix on) direct or be directed unwaveringly toward.
7. informal deviously influence the outcome of.
8. informal take an injection of a narcotic drug.
9. informal, chiefly N. Amer. provide with food or drink.

noun
1. an act of fixing.
2. informal a difficult or awkward situation.
3. informal a dose of a narcotic drug to which one is addicted.

IDIOMS -
fix up
1. arrange or organize.
2. informal provide with something.
get a fix on determine the position, nature, or facts of.

DERIVATIVES:
fixable adjective
fixer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin fixus 'fixed' , from figere 'fix, fasten' .

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fixate

verb
1. (often be fixated on) cause to be obsessively interested in.
2. direct one's eyes towards.

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fixation

noun
1. the action of fixating or the state of being fixated.
2. an obsessive interest in or feeling about someone or something.
3. the process by which some plants and micro-organisms combine chemically with gaseous nitrogen or carbon dioxide to form non-gaseous compounds.

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fixative

noun
a substance used to fix, protect, or stabilize something.

adjective
(of a substance) used as a fixative.

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fixed assets

plural noun
assets which are purchased for long-term use and are not likely to be converted quickly into cash, such as land, buildings, and equipment.

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fixity

noun
the state of being unchanging or permanent.

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fixture

noun
1. a piece of equipment or furniture which is fixed in position in a building or vehicle.
2. (fixtures) articles attached to a house or land and considered legally part of it so that they normally remain in place when an owner moves.
3. Brit. a sporting event which takes place on a particular date.
4. informal a person or thing that has become established in a particular place.

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fizz

verb
1. (of a liquid) produce bubbles of gas and make a hissing sound.
2. make a buzzing or crackling sound.

noun
1. the action or sound of fizzing.
2. informal an effervescent drink, especially sparkling wine.
3. exuberance.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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fizzle

verb
1. make a feeble hissing or spluttering sound.
2. (fizzle out) end or fail in a weak or disappointing way.

noun
an instance of fizzling.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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fizzy

adjective (fizzier, fizziest)
1. (of a drink) effervescent.
2. exuberant.

DERIVATIVES:
fizzily adverb
fizziness noun.

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fjord (also fiord)

noun
a long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea between high cliffs, found predominantly in Norway.

ORIGIN: Norwegian.

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FL

abbreviation
Florida.

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fl.

abbreviation
1. floruit.
2. fluid.

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flab

noun informal
soft, loose flesh on a person's body; fat.

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flabbergast

verb informal
surprise greatly.

DERIVATIVES:
flabbergasted adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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flabby

adjective (flabbier, flabbiest)
1. (of a part of a person's body) soft, loose, and fleshy.
2. not tightly controlled and therefore ineffective.

DERIVATIVES:
flabbily adverb
flabbiness noun.

ORIGIN: alteration of earlier flappy.

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flaccid

adjective
soft and limp.

DERIVATIVES:
flaccidity noun
flaccidly adverb.

ORIGIN: French flaccide, from Latin flaccus 'flabby' .

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flack N. Amer. informal

noun
a publicity agent.

verb
publicize or promote.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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flag [1]

noun
1. an oblong piece of cloth that is raised on or attached to a pole and used as an emblem or marker.
2. a device or symbol resembling a flag, used as a marker.
3. a small paper badge given to people who donate to a charity appeal.

verb (flagged, flagging)
1. mark for attention.
2. direct or alert by waving a flag or using hand signals.
3. (flag down) signal to (a driver) to stop.

IDIOMS -
fly the flag
1. (of a ship) be registered in a particular country and sail under its flag.
2. represent one's country or demonstrate one's affiliation with a party or organization.
put the flags out celebrate.

ORIGIN: perhaps from obsolete flag «drooping», of unknown origin.

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flag [2]

noun
a flat rectangular or square stone slab, used for paving.

DERIVATIVES:
flagged adjective.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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flag [3]

noun
a plant with long sword-shaped leaves, especially an iris.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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flag [4]

verb (flagged, flagging)
1. become tired or less enthusiastic.
2. (flagging) becoming weaker or less dynamic.

ORIGIN: related to obsolete flag «drooping».

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flag day

noun Brit.
a day on which money is collected in the street for a charity and contributors are given flags to wear.

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flagellate [1]

verb
flog, either as a religious discipline or for sexual gratification.

DERIVATIVES:
flagellation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin flagellare 'whip' .

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flagellate [2] Zoology

noun
any of a large group of protozoans that have one or more flagella used for swimming.

adjective
having one or more flagella.

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flagellum

noun (pl. flagella) Biology
a microscopic whip-like appendage which enables many protozoans, bacteria, and spermatozoa to swim.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'little whip' .

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flageolet

noun
1. a very small flute-like instrument resembling a recorder.
2. a tin whistle.

ORIGIN: French, from Provençal flaujol.

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flagon

1. noun a large container for serving or consuming drinks.
2. a large bottle in which wine or cider is sold, typically holding 1.13 litres (about 2 pints).

ORIGIN: Old French flacon, from Latin flasco.

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flagpole

noun
a pole used for flying a flag.

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flagrant

adjective
conspicuous; blatant.

DERIVATIVES:
flagrancy noun
flagrantly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin flagrare 'blaze' .

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flagship

noun
1. the ship in a fleet which carries the commanding admiral.
2. the best or most important thing owned or produced by an organization.

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flagstone

noun
a flat square or rectangular stone slab, used for paving.

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flail

noun
a tool or machine with a swinging action, used for threshing.

verb
1. swing wildly.
2. (flail around/about) flounder; struggle.

ORIGIN: Latin flagellum 'little whip' .

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flair

noun
1. a natural ability or talent.
2. stylishness.

ORIGIN: French, from flairer 'to smell' .

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flak (also flack)

noun
1. anti-aircraft fire.
2. strong criticism.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of German Fliegerabwehrkanone 'aviator-defence gun' .

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flake [1]

noun
1. a small, flat, very thin piece of something.
2. N. Amer. informal a crazy or eccentric person.

verb
1. come away from a surface in flakes.
2. split into flakes.

ORIGIN: probably Germanic.

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flake [2]

verb (flake out) informal
fall asleep or drop from exhaustion.

ORIGIN: variant of obsolete flack and the verb FLAG.

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flak jacket

noun
a sleeveless jacket made of heavy fabric reinforced with metal, worn as protection against bullets and shrapnel.

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flaky

adjective (flakier, flakiest)
1. breaking or separating easily into flakes.
2. N. Amer. informal crazy or eccentric.

DERIVATIVES:
flakiness noun.

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flambé

adjective (after a noun )
(of food) covered with spirits and set alight briefly.

verb (flambés, flambéed, flambéing)
cover (food) with spirits and set it alight briefly.

ORIGIN: French, 'singed' .

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flamboyant

adjective
1. conspicuously and confidently exuberant.
2. brightly coloured and showy.

DERIVATIVES:
flamboyance noun
flamboyantly adverb.

ORIGIN: French, 'flaming, blazing' .

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flame

noun
1. a hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by something on fire.
2. something thought of as burning fiercely or able to be extinguished: the flame of hope.
3. a brilliant orange-red colour.

verb
1. give off flames.
2. apply a flame to; set alight.
3. (of an intense emotion) appear suddenly and fiercely.
4. (of a person's face) become red with embarrassment or anger.
5. Computing, informal send abusive or acrimonious email messages to.

IDIOMS -
old flame informal a former lover.

ORIGIN: Latin flamma.

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flamenco

noun
a spirited style of Spanish guitar music accompanied by singing and dancing.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'like a gypsy' (literally 'Fleming' ), from Dutch Vlaminc.

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flame-thrower

noun
a weapon that sprays out burning fuel.

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flaming

adjective
1. emitting flames.
2. very hot.
3. of a brilliant orange-red colour.
4. (especially of an argument) passionate.
5. informal expressing annoyance: that flaming dog.

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flamingo

noun (pl. flamingos or flamingoes)
a wading bird with mainly pink or scarlet plumage and a long neck and legs.

ORIGIN: Spanish flamengo, earlier form of flamenco; associated, because of its colour, with Latin flamma 'a flame' .

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flammable

adjective
easily set on fire.

DERIVATIVES:
flammability noun.
USAGE - The words flammable and inflammable have the same meaning. It is, however, safer to use flammable to avoid ambiguity, as the in- prefix of inflammable can give the impression that the word means ‘non-flammable’.

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flan

noun
a baked dish consisting of an open-topped pastry case with a savoury or sweet filling.

ORIGIN: Old French flaon, from Latin flado.

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flange

noun
a projecting rim or piece.

DERIVATIVES:
flanged adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French flanchir 'to bend' .

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flank

noun
1. the side of a person's or animal's body between the ribs and the hip.
2. the side of something such as a building or mountain.
3. the left or right side of a body of people.

verb
be situated on each or on one side of.

ORIGIN: Old French flanc.

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flannel

noun
1. a kind of soft-woven woollen or cotton fabric.
2. (flannels) men's trousers made of woollen flannel.
3. Brit. a small piece of towelling for washing oneself.
4. Brit. informal empty or flattering talk used to avoid dealing with a difficult subject.

verb (flannelled, flannelling; US also flanneled, flanneling) informal, chiefly Brit.
use empty or flattering talk to avoid dealing with a difficult subject.

ORIGIN: probably from Welsh gwlanen 'woollen article' .

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flannelette

noun
a napped cotton fabric resembling flannel.

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flap

verb (flapped, flapping)
1. move or be moved up and down or from side to side.
2. (flap at) strike at with a light blow, a cloth, etc.
3. informal be agitated.

noun
1. a piece of something attached on one side only, that covers an opening.
2. a hinged or sliding section of an aircraft wing, used to control lift.
3. a single flapping movement.
4. informal a panic.

DERIVATIVES:
flappy adjective.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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flapjack

noun
1. Brit. a soft, thick biscuit made from oats and butter.
2. N. Amer. a pancake.

ORIGIN: from FLAP (in the dialect sense «toss a pancake») + JACK.

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flapper

noun informal
a fashionable and unconventional young woman of the 1920s.

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flare

noun
1. a sudden brief burst of flame or light.
2. a device producing a very bright flame as a signal or marker.
3. a gradual widening towards the hem of a garment.
4. (flares) trousers of which the legs widen from the knees down.

verb
1. burn, shine, or be revealed with a sudden intensity.
2. (flare up) suddenly become intense, angry, or violent.
3. gradually become wider at one end.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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flash

verb
1. shine or cause to shine with a bright but brief or intermittent light.
2. move, pass, or send swiftly in a particular direction: the scenery flashed by.
3. display or be displayed briefly or repeatedly.
4. informal display conspicuously so as to impress: they flash their money about.
5. informal (of a man) show one's genitals in public.

noun
1. a sudden brief burst of bright light.
2. a camera attachment that produces a flash of light, for taking photographs in poor light.
3. a sudden or brief manifestation or occurrence: a flash of inspiration.
4. a bright patch of colour.
5. Brit. a coloured patch of cloth worn on a uniform as a distinguishing emblem.

adjective informal
ostentatiously stylish or expensive.

IDIOMS -
flash in the pan a sudden but brief success. [ORIGIN: with allusion to the priming of a firearm, the flash arising from an explosion of gunpowder within the lock.]
in a flash very quickly.

DERIVATIVES:
flasher noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «splash water about»: probably imitative.

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flashback

noun
1. a scene in a film or novel set in a time earlier than the main story.
2. a sudden vivid memory of a past event.

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flashbulb

noun
a bulb for a flashgun.

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flash flood

noun
a sudden local flood resulting from extreme rainfall.

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flashgun

noun
a device which gives a brief flash of intense light, used for taking photographs in poor light.

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flashing

noun
a strip of metal used to seal the junction of a roof with another surface.

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flashlight

noun
1. an electric torch with a strong beam.
2. a flashgun.

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flashpoint

noun
1. a point or place at which anger or violence flares up.
2. Chemistry the temperature at which a flammable compound gives off sufficient vapour to ignite in air.

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flashy

adjective (flashier, flashiest)
ostentatiously stylish.

DERIVATIVES:
flashily adverb
flashiness noun.

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flask

noun
1. a narrow-necked conical or spherical bottle.
2. Brit. a vacuum flask.
3. a hip flask.
4. (also nuclear flask) a lead-lined container for radioactive nuclear waste.

ORIGIN: Latin flasca 'cask or bottle' .

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flat [1]

adjective (flatter, flattest)
1. having a level and even surface.
2. not sloping.
3. with a level surface and little height or depth: a flat cap.
4. (of shoes) without high heels.
5. lacking vitality or interest: a flat voice.
6. (of a sparkling drink) having lost its effervescence.
7. (of something kept inflated) having lost some or all of its air.
8. Brit. (of a battery) having exhausted its charge.
9. (of a fee, charge, or price) unvarying; fixed.
10. (of a negative statement) definite and firm: a flat denial.
11. (of musical sound) below true or normal pitch.
12. (after a noun ) (of a note or key) lower by a semitone than a specified note or key.

adverb
1. in or to a horizontal position.
2. so as to become level and even.
3. informal completely; absolutely: she turned him down flat.
4. emphasizing the speed of an action: in ten minutes flat.

noun
1. the flat part of something.
2. (flats) an area of low level ground, especially near water.
3. informal a flat tyre.
4. (the Flat) Brit. flat racing.
5. an upright section of stage scenery.
6. a musical note lowered a semitone below natural pitch.
7. the sign () indicating this.

IDIOMS -
fall flat fail to produce the intended effect.
flat out as fast or as hard as possible.
on the flat
1. on level ground as opposed to uphill.
2. (on the Flat) (of a horse race) on a course without jumps.

DERIVATIVES:
flatly adverb
flatness noun
flattish adjective.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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flat [2]

noun chiefly Brit.
a set of rooms comprising an individual place of residence within a larger building.

verb (flatted, flatting) Austral./NZ
live in or share a flat.

IDIOMS -
go flatting Austral./NZ leave one's family home to live in a flat.

DERIVATIVES:
flatlet noun.

ORIGIN: alteration of obsolete flet «floor, dwelling»; related to FLAT.

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flatbed

noun
1. (before another noun ) denoting a vehicle with a flat load-carrying area.
2. Computing a scanner, plotter, or other device which keeps paper flat during use.

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flat feet

plural noun
feet with arches that are lower than usual.

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flatfish

noun
a marine fish, such as a plaice or sole, that swims on its side with both eyes on the upper side of its flattened body.

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flat-footed

adjective
1. having flat feet.
2. informal clumsy.

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flat iron

noun historical
an iron heated on a hotplate or fire.

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flatmate

noun Brit.
a person with whom one shares a flat.

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flat race

noun
a horse race over a course with no jumps, as opposed to a steeplechase or hurdles.

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flatten

verb
1. make or become flat or flatter.
2. informal knock down.

DERIVATIVES:
flattener noun.

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flatter

verb
1. praise or compliment insincerely, especially to further one's own interests.
2. (usu. be flattered) cause to feel honoured and pleased.
3. (flatter oneself) believe something favourable about oneself, especially something unfounded.
4. (of clothing or a colour) make attractive.
5. (often as adj. flattering) give an unrealistically favourable impression of: a rather flattering picture.

DERIVATIVES:
flatterer noun.

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flattery

noun (pl. flatteries)
excessive and insincere praise.

ORIGIN: Old French flaterie, from flater 'stroke, flatter' .

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flatulent

adjective
suffering from or marked by an accumulation of gas in the alimentary canal.

DERIVATIVES:
flatulence noun.

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flatworm

noun
a worm of a large group (the phylum Platyhelminthes) which includes the parasitic flukes and tapeworms, distinguished by a simple flattened body lacking blood vessels.

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flaunt

verb
display ostentatiously.
USAGE - It is a common error to use flaunt when flout is intended. Flaunt means ‘display ostentatiously’, while flout means ‘openly disregard (a rule or convention)’.
ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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flautist

noun
a flute player.

ORIGIN: Italian flautista, from flauto 'flute' .

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flavour (US flavor)

noun
1. the distinctive taste of a food or drink.
2. a quality reminiscent of something specified: balconies gave the building a Spanish flavour.
3. chiefly N. Amer. a flavouring.
4. Physics a property of quarks with values designated up, down, charmed, strange, top, and bottom.

verb
give flavour to.

IDIOMS -
flavour of the month a person or thing that is currently popular.

DERIVATIVES:
flavourful adjective
flavourless adjective
flavoursome adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French flaor 'a smell' , perhaps from a blend of Latin flatus 'blowing' and foetor 'stench' .

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flavouring (US flavoring)

noun
a substance used to enhance the flavour of a food or drink.

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flaw

noun
1. a blemish or imperfection.
2. a fundamental weakness or error.

verb (usu. be flawed)
mar or weaken.

DERIVATIVES:
flawless adjective
flawlessly adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «a snowflake», later «a fragment»: perhaps from an Old Norse word meaning 'stone slab' .

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flax

noun
1. a blue-flowered herbaceous plant that is cultivated for its seed (linseed) and for textile fibre made from its stalks.
2. textile fibre obtained from this plant.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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flaxen

adjective
1. literary (especially of hair) of the pale yellow colour of dressed flax.
2. of flax.

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flay

verb
1. strip the skin from (a body or carcass).
2. whip or beat harshly.
3. criticize harshly.

DERIVATIVES:
flayer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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flea

noun
a small wingless jumping insect which feeds on the blood of mammals and birds.

IDIOMS -
(as) fit as a flea in very good health.
a flea in one's ear a sharp reproof.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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flea market

noun
a street market selling second-hand goods.

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fleapit

noun chiefly Brit.
a dingy, dirty place, especially a run-down cinema.

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fleck

noun
1. a very small patch of colour or light.
2. a small particle.

verb (usu. be flecked)
mark or dot with flecks.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old Norse, or from Low German, Dutch vlecke.

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fledge

verb
1. (of a young bird) develop wing feathers that are large enough for flight.
2. bring up (a young bird) until its wing feathers are developed enough for flight.

ORIGIN: from Old English, «ready to fly»; related to FLY.

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fledgling (also fledgeling)

noun
1. a young bird that has just fledged.
2. (before another noun ) new and inexperienced: fledgling democracies.

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flee

verb (flees, fleeing; past and past part. fled)
run away.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fleece

noun
1. the wool coat of a sheep.
2. a soft, warm fabric with a pile, or a garment made from this.

verb informal
defraud, especially by overcharging.

DERIVATIVES:
fleeced adjective
fleecy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fleet [1]

noun
1. a group of ships sailing together.
2. (the fleet) a country's navy.
3. a number of vehicles or aircraft operating together.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fleet [2]

adjective
fast and nimble.

DERIVATIVES:
fleetly adverb
fleetness noun.

ORIGIN: probably from Old Norse.

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fleeting

adjective
lasting for a very short time.

DERIVATIVES:
fleetingly adverb.

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Fleming

noun
1. a Flemish person.
2. a member of the Flemish-speaking people inhabiting northern and western Belgium. Compare with WALLOON.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Flemish

noun
1. (the Flemish) the people of Flanders, a region divided between Belgium, France, and the Netherlands.
2. the Dutch language as spoken in Flanders.

adjective
relating to the Flemish people or language.

ORIGIN: Dutch Vlmisch.

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flesh

noun
1. the soft substance in the body consisting of muscle tissue and fat.
2. the edible pulpy part of a fruit or vegetable.
3. the surface of the human body with reference to its appearance or sensory properties.
4. (the flesh) the physicality of the human body as contrasted with the mind or the soul: pleasures of the flesh.

verb (flesh out)
make more substantial or detailed.

IDIOMS -
go the way of all flesh die or come to an end.
in the flesh in person or (of a thing) in its actual state.
make someone's flesh creep (or crawl) cause someone to feel fear, horror, or disgust.

DERIVATIVES:
fleshless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fleshly

adjective (fleshlier, fleshliest)
relating to the body; sensual.

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fleshpots

plural noun
places providing a hedonistic experience.

ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to the fleshpots of Egypt mentioned in the Book of Exodus).

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flesh wound

noun
a wound that breaks the skin but does not damage bones or vital organs.

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fleshy

adjective (fleshier, fleshiest)
1. having a substantial amount of flesh; plump.
2. (of plant or fruit tissue) soft and thick.
3. resembling flesh.

DERIVATIVES:
fleshiness noun.

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fleur-de-lis (also fleur-de-lys)

noun (pl. fleurs-de-lis pronunc. same) Art & Heraldry
a stylized lily composed of three petals bound together near their bases.

ORIGIN: Old French flour de lys 'flower of the lily' .

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flex [1]

verb
1. bend (a limb or joint).
2. contract or tense (a muscle).
3. warp or bend and then revert to shape.

ORIGIN: Latin flectere 'to bend' .

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flex [2]

noun chiefly Brit.
a flexible insulated cable used for carrying electric current to an appliance.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of FLEXIBLE.

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flexible

adjective
1. capable of bending easily without breaking.
2. able to change or be changed to respond to different circumstances.

DERIVATIVES:
flexibility noun
flexibly adverb.

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flexion (also flection)

noun
the action of bending or the condition of being bent.

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flexitime (N. Amer. also flextime)

noun
a system allowing some flexibility as to when workers put in their allotted hours.

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flibbertigibbet

noun
a frivolous and restless person.

ORIGIN: probably imitative of idle chatter.

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flick

noun
1. a sudden sharp movement up and down or from side to side.
2. the sudden release of a finger or thumb held bent against another finger.
3. informal a cinema film.
4. informal (the flicks) the cinema.

verb
1. make or cause to make a sudden sharp movement.
2. propel with a flick of the fingers.
3. (flick through) look quickly through (a book or a collection of papers).

ORIGIN: symbolic.

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flicker

verb
1. shine or burn unsteadily and intermittently.
2. (of a feeling) be briefly perceptible.
3. make small, quick movements.

noun
1. a flickering movement or light.
2. a brief and transient occurrence of a feeling.

ORIGIN: Old English, «to flutter».

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flick knife

noun Brit.
a knife with a blade that springs out from the handle when a button is pressed.

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flight

noun
1. the action or process of flying.
2. a journey made in an aircraft or in space.
3. the path of a projectile through the air.
4. a series of steps between floors or levels.
5. the action or an act of fleeing: the enemy were in flight.
6. an uninhibited mental journey: a flight of fancy.
7. a flock of birds flying together.
8. an RAF or USAF unit of about six aircraft operating together.
9. the tail of an arrow or dart.

IDIOMS -
in full flight having gained optimum momentum.
take flight
1. (of a bird) take off and fly.
2. flee.

ORIGIN: Old English; related to FLY.

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flight deck

noun
1. the cockpit of a large aircraft.
2. the deck of an aircraft carrier, used as a runway.

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flightless

adjective
(of a bird or insect) naturally unable to fly.

DERIVATIVES:
flightlessness noun.

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flight recorder

noun
an electronic device in an aircraft that records technical details during a flight, used in the event of an accident to discover its cause.

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flighty

adjective (flightier, flightiest)
frivolous and fickle.

DERIVATIVES:
flightiness noun.

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flimsy

adjective (flimsier, flimsiest)
1. weak and insubstantial.
2. (of clothing) light and thin.
3. (of a pretext or account) weak; unconvincing.

noun (pl. flimsies) Brit.
1. very thin paper.
2. a copy of a document, made on very thin paper.

DERIVATIVES:
flimsily adverb
flimsiness noun.

ORIGIN: probably from FLIMFLAM.

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flinch

verb
1. make a quick, nervous movement as an instinctive reaction to fear or pain.
2. (flinch from) avoid through fear or anxiety.

noun
an act of flinching.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «slink or sneak off»: from Old French flenchir 'turn aside' .

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fling

verb (past and past part. flung)
1. throw forcefully; hurl.
2. (fling oneself into) wholeheartedly engage in (an activity or enterprise).
3. move with speed: he flung away to his study.
4. (fling on/off) put on or take off (clothes) carelessly and rapidly.

noun
1. a short period of enjoyment or wild behaviour.
2. a short sexual relationship.
3. a Highland fling.

DERIVATIVES:
flinger noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to an Old Norse word meaning 'flog' .

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flint

noun
1. a hard grey rock consisting of nearly pure silica, occurring chiefly as nodules in chalk.
2. a piece of this rock.
3. a piece of flint or an alloy used with steel to produce an igniting spark, especially in a cigarette lighter.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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flintlock

noun
an old-fashioned type of gun fired by a spark from a flint.

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flinty

adjective (flintier, flintiest)
1. of, containing, or resembling flint.
2. grim and unyielding: a flinty stare.

DERIVATIVES:
flintily adverb
flintiness noun.

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flip

verb (flipped, flipping)
1. turn over with a quick, smooth movement.
2. move, push, or throw with a sudden sharp movement: he flipped a switch.
3. toss (something, especially a coin) so as to turn over in the air.
4. informal suddenly become deranged or very angry.

noun
a flipping action or movement.

adjective
flippant.

exclamation informal
used to express mild annoyance.

IDIOMS -
flip one's lid informal suddenly become deranged or lose one's self-control.

ORIGIN: probably a contraction of FILLIP.

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flip-flop

noun
1. a light sandal with a thong that passes between the big and second toes.
2. Electronics a switching circuit which works by changing between two stable states.

verb
move with a flapping sound or motion.

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flippant

adjective
not showing the proper seriousness or respect.

DERIVATIVES:
flippancy noun
flippantly adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the senses «nimble» and «talkative»: from FLIP.

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flipper

noun
1. a broad, flat limb without fingers, used for swimming by sea animals such as seals and turtles.
2. a flat rubber attachment worn on the foot for underwater swimming.
3. a pivoted arm in a pinball machine.

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flip side

noun informal
1. the B-side of a pop single.
2. the reverse or unwelcome aspect of a situation.

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flirt

verb
1. behave playfully in a sexually enticing manner.
2. (flirt with) experiment casually with (an idea or activity).
3. (flirt with) deliberately risk (danger or death).

noun
a person who habitually flirts.

DERIVATIVES:
flirtation noun
flirtatious adjective
flirty adjective (flirtier, flirtiest) .

ORIGIN: originally in the senses «strike sharply» and «sneer at»: apparently symbolic.

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flit

verb (flitted, flitting)
1. move swiftly and lightly.
2. chiefly Scottish & N. English move house or leave one's home, especially in secrecy.

noun Brit. informal
an act of leaving one's home in secrecy.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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flitter

verb
move quickly in a random manner.

ORIGIN: from FLIT.

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float

verb
1. rest on the surface of a liquid without sinking.
2. move slowly, hover, or be suspended in a liquid or the air.
3. put forward (an idea) as a suggestion or test of reactions.
4. (usu. as adj. floating) remain unsettled in one's opinions, where one lives, etc.
5. offer the shares of (a company) for sale on the stock market for the first time.
6. (with reference to a currency) fluctuate or allow to fluctuate freely in value.

noun
1. a hollow or lightweight object or device designed to float on water, for example one attached to a fishing line signalling the bite of a fish.
2. a floating device which forms part of a valve apparatus controlling a flow of water.
3. Brit. a small vehicle powered by electricity: a milk float.
4. a platform mounted on a truck and carrying a display in a procession.
5. Brit. a sum of money available for minor expenses or to provide change.
6. a hand tool with a rectangular blade used for smoothing plaster.

IDIOMS -
float someone's boat informal appeal to or excite someone.

DERIVATIVES:
floater noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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floating voter

noun
a person who does not consistently vote for the same party.

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floaty

adjective chiefly Brit.
(especially of a woman's garment or a fabric) light and flimsy.

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flocculent

adjective
1. having or resembling tufts of wool.
2. having a loosely clumped texture.

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flock [1]

noun
1. a number of birds moving or resting together.
2. a number of domestic animals, especially sheep, that are kept together.
3. (a flock/flocks) a large number or crowd.
4. a Christian congregation under the charge of a particular minister.

verb
congregate or move in a flock.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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flock [2]

noun
1. a soft material for stuffing cushions and quilts, made of wool refuse or torn-up cloth.
2. powdered wool or cloth, used in making flock wallpaper.
3. a lock or tuft of wool or cotton.

ORIGIN: Latin floccus.

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floe

noun
a sheet of floating ice.

ORIGIN: probably from Norwegian flo 'layer' .

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flog

verb (flogged, flogging)
1. beat with a whip or stick as a punishment.
2. Brit. informal sell or offer for sale.
3. informal focus on or promote to excess.

IDIOMS -
flog a dead horse waste energy on a lost cause or unalterable situation.

DERIVATIVES:
flogger noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps imitative, or from Latin flagellare 'to whip' .

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flood

noun
1. an overflow of a large amount of water over dry land.
2. (the Flood) the biblical flood brought by God upon the earth because of the wickedness of the human race.
3. an overwhelming quantity of things or people appearing at once.
4. an outpouring of tears or emotion.
5. the inflow of the tide.
6. a floodlight.

verb
1. cover or become covered with water in a flood.
2. (of a river) become swollen and overflow its banks.
3. arrive in or overwhelm with very large numbers.
4. fill or suffuse completely: she flooded the room with light.
5. overfill the carburettor of (an engine) with petrol.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FLOW.

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floodgate

noun
1. a gate that can be opened or closed to admit or exclude water, especially the lower gate of a lock.
2. (the floodgates) last restraints holding back a powerful outpouring.

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floodlight

noun
a large, powerful light used to illuminate a stage, sports ground, etc.

verb (past and past part. floodlit) (usu. as adj. floodlit)
illuminate with floodlights.

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flood plain

noun
an area of low-lying ground adjacent to a river that is subject to flooding.

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flood tide

noun
an incoming tide.

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floor

noun
1. the lower surface of a room.
2. a storey of a building.
3. the bottom of the sea, a cave, etc.
4. a minimum level of prices or wages.
5. (the floor) the part of a legislative assembly in which members sit and from which they speak.
6. (the floor) the right to speak in an assembly: other speakers have the floor.

verb
1. provide with a floor.
2. informal knock to the ground.
3. informal baffle completely.

DERIVATIVES:
flooring noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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floorboard

noun
a long plank making up part of a wooden floor.

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floor show

noun
an entertainment presented on the floor of a nightclub or restaurant.

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floozy (also floozie)

noun (pl. floozies) informal
a disreputable or promiscuous girl or woman.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to FLOSSY or to dialect floosy «fluffy».

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flop

verb (flopped, flopping)
1. hang or swing loosely.
2. sit or lie down heavily and clumsily.
3. informal fail totally.

noun
1. a heavy and clumsy fall.
2. informal a total failure.

ORIGIN: variant of FLAP.

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floppy

adjective (floppier, floppiest)
tending to flop; not firm or rigid.

noun (pl. floppies) (also floppy disk) Computing
a flexible removable magnetic disk used for storing data.

DERIVATIVES:
floppily adverb
floppiness noun.

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flora

noun (pl. floras or florae)
1. the plants of a particular region, habitat, or geological period. Compare with FAUNA.
2. the symbiotic bacteria occurring naturally in the intestines: the gut flora.

ORIGIN: Latin flos 'flower' .

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floral

adjective
1. of or decorated with flowers.
2. Botany of flora or floras.

DERIVATIVES:
florally adverb.

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Florentine

adjective
1. relating to the city of Florence in Italy.
2. (florentine) (after a noun ) (of a dish) served on a bed of spinach: eggs florentine.

noun
1. a person from Florence.
2. a biscuit consisting mainly of nuts and preserved fruit, coated on one side with chocolate.

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floret

noun
1. one of the small flowers making up a composite flower head.
2. one of the flowering stems making up a head of cauliflower or broccoli.

ORIGIN: from Latin flos 'flower' + -ET.

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florid

adjective
1. having a red or flushed complexion.
2. elaborately or excessively ornate or intricate: florid prose.

DERIVATIVES:
floridity noun
floridly adverb
floridness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin floridus, from flos 'flower' .

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florin

noun
1. a former British coin worth two shillings.
2. an English gold coin of the 14th century, worth six shillings and eight old pence.
3. a Dutch guilder.

ORIGIN: Italian fiorino 'little flower' (originally referring to a Florentine coin bearing a fleur-de-lis).

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florist

noun
a person who sells and arranges cut flowers.

DERIVATIVES:
floristry noun.

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floruit

verb
used to indicate when a historical figure lived, worked, or was most active.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'he or she flourished' .

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floss

noun
1. the rough silk enveloping a silkworm's cocoon.
2. untwisted silk fibres used in embroidery.
3. (also dental floss) a soft thread used to clean between the teeth.

verb
clean between (one's teeth) with dental floss.

ORIGIN: Old French flosche 'down, nap of velvet' .

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flossy

adjective (flossier, flossiest)
1. of or like floss.
2. N. Amer. informal excessively showy.

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flotation (also floatation)

noun
1. the action of floating or capacity to float.
2. the process of offering a company's shares for sale on the stock market for the first time.

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flotilla

noun
a small fleet of ships or boats.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'small fleet' .

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flotsam

noun
wreckage found floating on the sea. Compare with JETSAM.

IDIOMS -
flotsam and jetsam useless or discarded objects.

ORIGIN: Old French floteson, from floter 'to float' .

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flounce [1]

verb
move in an exaggeratedly impatient or angry manner.

noun
an exaggerated action expressing annoyance or impatience.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Norwegian flunsa 'hurry' , or perhaps symbolic, like bounce.

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flounce [2]

noun
a wide ornamental strip of material gathered and sewn to a skirt or dress; a frill.

DERIVATIVES:
flounced adjective
flouncy adjective.

ORIGIN: from an alteration of obsolete frounce «a fold or pleat», from Old French fronce.

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flounder [1]

verb
1. stagger clumsily in mud or water.
2. have trouble doing or understanding something.
USAGE - On the confusion of flounder and founder, see the note at FOUNDER.
ORIGIN: perhaps a blend of FOUNDER and BLUNDER.

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flounder [2]

noun
a small flatfish of shallow coastal waters.

ORIGIN: Old French flondre.

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flour

noun
a powder obtained by grinding grain, used to make bread, cakes, and pastry.

verb
sprinkle with flour.

ORIGIN: a specific use of FLOWER in the sense «the best part», used originally to mean «the finest quality of ground wheat».

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flourish

verb
1. grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way.
2. be working or at the height of one's career during a specified period.
3. wave about dramatically.

noun
1. a bold or extravagant gesture or action.
2. an ornamental flowing curve in handwriting or scrollwork.
3. an ornate musical passage.
4. a fanfare played by brass instruments.

ORIGIN: Old French florir, from Latin flos 'a flower' .

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floury

adjective
1. covered with flour.
2. (of a potato) having a soft, fluffy texture when cooked.

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flout

verb
1. openly disregard (a rule, law, or convention).
2. archaic mock; scoff.
USAGE - On the confusion of flout and flaunt, see the note at FLAUNT.
ORIGIN: perhaps from Dutch fluiten 'whistle, play the flute, hiss derisively' .

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flow

verb
1. move steadily and continuously in a current or stream.
2. move or issue forth steadily and freely: people flowed into the courtyard.
3. (often as adj. flowing) hang loosely and elegantly.
4. (of the sea or a tidal river) move towards the land; rise.
5. (of a solid) undergo a permanent change of shape under stress, without melting.

noun
1. the action or process of flowing.
2. a steady, continuous stream.
3. the rise of a tide or a river.

IDIOMS -
go with the flow informal be relaxed and accept a situation.
in full flow talking or performing fluently and enthusiastically.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FLOOD.

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flow chart (also flow diagram)

noun
a diagram of a sequence of operations or functions making up a complex process or computer program.

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flower

noun
1. the seed-bearing part of a plant, consisting of reproductive organs typically surrounded by brightly coloured petals and green sepals.
2. (often in phrase in flower) the state or period in which a plant's flowers have developed and opened.
3. (the flower of) the best of (a group).

verb
1. produce flowers.
2. be in or reach a peak of development.

DERIVATIVES:
flowerer noun
flowerless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French flour, flor, from Latin flos.

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flowered

adjective
1. having a floral design.
2. (in combination ) bearing flowers: yellow-flowered japonica.

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flower head

noun
a compact mass of flowers at the top of a stem, especially a dense flat cluster of florets.

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flowerpot

noun
an earthenware or plastic container in which to grow a plant.

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flowery

adjective
1. full of, decorated with, or resembling flowers.
2. (of speech or writing) elaborate.

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flu

noun
influenza or any similar, milder infection.

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fluctuate

verb
rise and fall irregularly in number or amount.

DERIVATIVES:
fluctuation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin fluctuare 'undulate' , from fluere 'to flow' .

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flue

noun
1. a duct in a chimney for smoke and waste gases.
2. a pipe or passage for conveying heat.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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fluent

adjective
1. speaking or writing in an articulate and natural manner.
2. (of a language) used easily and accurately.
3. smoothly graceful and easy: a runner in fluent motion.
4. able to flow freely; fluid.

DERIVATIVES:
fluency noun
fluently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin fluere 'to flow' .

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fluff

noun
1. soft fibres accumulated in small light clumps.
2. the soft fur or feathers of a young mammal or bird.
3. trivial or superficial entertainment or writing.
4. informal a mistake.

verb
1. (usu. fluff up) make fuller and softer by shaking or patting.
2. informal fail to accomplish properly: he fluffed his only line.

ORIGIN: probably a dialect alteration of earlier flue «down, nap, fluff», apparently from Flemish vluwe.

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fluffy

adjective (fluffier, fluffiest)
1. of, like, or covered with fluff.
2. (of food) light in texture.
3. informal frivolous, silly, or vague.

DERIVATIVES:
fluffily adverb
fluffiness noun.

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flugelhorn

noun
a valved brass musical instrument like a cornet but with a broader tone.

ORIGIN: German, from Flügel 'wing' + Horn 'horn' .

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fluid

noun
a substance, such as a liquid or gas, that has no fixed shape and yields easily to external pressure.

adjective
1. able to flow easily.
2. not settled or stable.
3. smoothly elegant or graceful.

DERIVATIVES:
fluidity noun
fluidly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin fluidus, from fluere 'to flow' .

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fluid ounce

noun
1. Brit. a unit of capacity equal to one twentieth of a pint (approximately 0.028 litre).
2. (also fluidounce) US a unit of capacity equal to one sixteenth of a US pint (approximately 0.03 litre).

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fluke

noun
a lucky chance occurrence.

verb
achieve by luck rather than skill.

DERIVATIVES:
fluky (also flukey) adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps a dialect word.

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flume

noun
1. an artificial channel conveying water, typically used for transporting logs.
2. a water slide or chute at a swimming pool or amusement park.

ORIGIN: Latin flumen 'river' , from fluere 'to flow' .

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flummery

noun (pl. flummeries)
1. empty talk or compliments.
2. a sweet dish made with beaten eggs and sugar.

ORIGIN: Welsh llymru.

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flummox

verb informal
perplex; bewilder.

ORIGIN: probably dialect.

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flunk

verb informal, chiefly N. Amer.
1. fail to reach the required standard in (an examination).
2. (flunk out) fail utterly and leave or be dismissed from school or college.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to FUNK or to US flink «be a coward».

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flunkey (also flunky)

noun (pl. flunkeys or flunkies) chiefly derogatory
1. a liveried manservant or footman.
2. a person who performs menial tasks.

ORIGIN: perhaps from FLANK in the sense «a person who stands at one's flank».

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fluoresce

verb
shine or glow brightly due to fluorescence.

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fluorescence

noun
1. light emitted by a substance when it is exposed to radiation such as ultraviolet light or X-rays.
2. the property of emitting light in this way.

ORIGIN: from FLUORSPAR (which fluoresces), on the pattern of opalescence.

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fluorescent

adjective
1. having or showing fluorescence.
2. (of lighting) based on fluorescence from a substance illuminated by ultraviolet light.
3. vividly colourful.

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fluoridate

verb
add traces of fluorides to (something, especially a water supply).

DERIVATIVES:
fluoridation noun.

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fluoride

noun
1. Chemistry a compound of fluorine with another element or group.
2. sodium fluoride or another fluorine-containing salt added to water supplies or toothpaste to reduce tooth decay.

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fluorinate

verb
1. Chemistry introduce fluorine into (a compound).
2. another term for FLUORIDATE.

DERIVATIVES:
fluorination noun.

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fluorine

noun
a poisonous, extremely reactive, pale yellow gaseous chemical element.

ORIGIN: from fluor (see FLUORSPAR).

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fluorite

noun
a mineral form of calcium fluoride.

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flurry

noun (pl. flurries)
1. a small swirling mass of snow, leaves, etc. moved by a sudden gust of wind.
2. a sudden short spell of commotion or excitement.
3. a number of things arriving suddenly and simultaneously.

verb (flurries, flurried)
move in an agitated or excited way.

ORIGIN: from obsolete flurr «fly up, flutter», probably influenced by HURRY.

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flush [1]

verb
1. (of a person's skin or face) become red and hot, typically through illness or emotion.
2. glow or cause to glow with warm colour or light.
3. (be flushed with) be excited or elated by.
4. cleanse (something, especially a toilet) by passing large quantities of water through it.
5. remove or dispose of by flushing with water.
6. drive (a bird or animal, especially a game bird) from cover.
7. force into the open: their task was to flush out the rebels.

noun
1. a reddening of the face or skin.
2. a sudden rush of intense emotion.
3. a period of freshness and vigour: the first flush of youth.
4. an act of flushing.

DERIVATIVES:
flusher noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «spring or fly up»: symbolic.

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flush [2]

adjective
1. completely level or even with another surface.
2. informal having plenty of money.

verb
fill in (a joint) level with a surface.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «perfect, lacking nothing»: probably related to FLUSH.

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flush [3]

noun
(in poker or brag) a hand of cards all of the same suit.

ORIGIN: French flux (formerly flus), from Latin fluxus 'flux' .

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fluster

verb (often as adj. flustered)
make (someone) agitated or confused.

noun
a flustered state.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «make slightly drunk»: perhaps Scandinavian.

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flute

noun
1. a high-pitched wind instrument consisting of a tube with holes along it, usually held horizontally so that the breath can be directed against a fixed edge.
2. Architecture an ornamental vertical groove in a column.
3. a tall, narrow wine glass.

verb
1. speak in a melodious way.
2. make grooves in.

DERIVATIVES:
fluting noun
fluty (also flutey) adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French flahute, probably from Provençal flaüt, perhaps a blend of flaujol 'flageolet' + laüt 'lute' .

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flutist

noun US
a flute player.

ORIGIN: Italian flautista, from flauto 'flute' .

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flutter

verb
1. fly unsteadily by flapping the wings quickly and lightly.
2. move or fall with a light irregular motion.
3. (of a pulse or heartbeat) beat feebly or irregularly.

noun
1. an act or instance of fluttering.
2. a state of tremulous excitement.
3. Brit. informal a small bet.
4. Electronics rapid variation in the pitch or amplitude of a signal, especially of recorded sound.

DERIVATIVES:
fluttery adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fluvial

adjective chiefly Geology
of or found in a river.

ORIGIN: Latin fluvialis, from fluvius 'river' .

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flux

noun
1. continuous change.
2. the action or an instance of flowing.
3. Medicine an abnormal discharge of blood or other matter from or within the body.
4. Physics the total amount of radiation, or of electric or magnetic field lines, passing through an area.
5. a substance mixed with a solid to lower the melting point, especially in soldering or smelting.

verb
treat (a metal object) with a flux to promote melting.

ORIGIN: Latin fluxus, from fluere 'to flow' .

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fly [1]

verb (flies; past flew; past part. flown)
1. (of a winged creature or aircraft) move through the air under control.
2. control the flight of or convey in (an aircraft).
3. move or be hurled quickly through the air.
4. go or move quickly.
5. wave or flutter in the wind.
6. (of a flag) be displayed on a flagpole.
7. (fly into) suddenly go into (a rage or other strong emotion).
8. (fly at) attack verbally or physically.
9. archaic flee.

noun (pl. flies)
1. (Brit. also flies) an opening at the crotch of a pair of trousers, closed with a zip or buttons.
2. a flap of material covering the opening of a tent.
3. (the flies) the space over the stage in a theatre.

IDIOMS -
fly in the face of be openly at variance with (what is usual or expected).
fly a kite informal try something out to test public opinion.
fly off the handle informal lose one's temper suddenly.

DERIVATIVES:
flyable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FLY.

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fly [2]

noun (pl. flies)
1. a flying insect of a large order characterized by a single pair of transparent wings and sucking or piercing mouthparts.
2. used in names of other flying insects, e.g. dragonfly.
3. a fishing bait consisting of a mayfly or other natural or artificial flying insect.

IDIOMS -
a fly in the ointment a minor irritation that spoils the enjoyment of something.
fly on the wall an unnoticed observer.
there are no flies on the person specified is quick and astute.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FLY.

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fly [3]

adjective (flyer, flyest) informal
1. Brit. knowing and clever; worldly-wise.
2. N. Amer. stylish and fashionable.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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flyaway

adjective
(of hair) fine and difficult to control.

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fly-by-night

adjective
unreliable or untrustworthy, especially in business or financial matters.

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flycatcher

noun
a perching bird that catches flying insects.

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flyer (also flier)

noun
1. a person or thing that flies.
2. informal a fast-moving person or thing.
3. a small handbill advertising an event or product.
4. a flying start.

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fly-fishing

noun
the sport of fishing using a rod and an artificial fly as bait.

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flying

adjective
1. moving through or fluttering in the air.
2. hasty; brief: a flying visit.

IDIOMS -
with flying colours with distinction.

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flying fish

noun
a fish of warm seas which leaps out of the water and uses its wing-like pectoral fins to glide for some distance.

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flying picket

noun Brit.
a person who travels to picket a workplace where there is an industrial dispute.

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flying saucer

noun
a disc-shaped flying craft supposedly piloted by aliens.

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flying squad noun

noun Brit.
a division of a police force which is capable of reaching an incident quickly.

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flying start

noun
1. a start of a race in which the competitors are already moving at speed as they pass the starting point.
2. a good beginning giving an advantage over competitors.

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flyleaf

noun (pl. flyleaves)
a blank page at the beginning or end of a book.

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flyover

noun chiefly Brit.
a bridge carrying one road or railway line over another.

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flypaper

noun
sticky, poison-treated strips of paper that are hung indoors to catch and kill flies.

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fly-past

noun Brit.
a ceremonial flight of aircraft past a person or a place.

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fly-post

verb Brit.
put up (advertising posters) in unauthorized places.

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fly-poster

noun Brit.
1. an advertising poster put up in an unauthorized place.
2. a person who fly-posts.

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flyweight

noun
a weight in boxing and other sports intermediate between light flyweight and bantamweight.

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flywheel

noun
a heavy revolving wheel in a machine which is used to increase momentum and thereby provide greater stability or a reserve of available power.

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FM

abbreviation
1. Field Marshal.
2. frequency modulation.

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Fm

symbol
the chemical element fermium.

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fm

abbreviation
fathom(s).

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FO

abbreviation
Foreign Office.

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foal

noun
a young horse or related animal.

verb
(of a mare) give birth to a foal.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FILLY.

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foam

noun
1. a mass of small bubbles formed on or in liquid.
2. a liquid preparation containing many small bubbles: shaving foam.
3. a lightweight form of rubber or plastic made by solidifying foam.

verb
form or produce foam.

IDIOMS -
foam at the mouth informal be very angry.

DERIVATIVES:
foamy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fob [1]

noun
1. a chain attached to a watch for carrying in a waistcoat or waistband pocket.
2. (also fob pocket) a small pocket for carrying a watch.
3. a tab on a key ring.

ORIGIN: probably related to German dialect Fuppe 'pocket' .

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fob [2]

verb (fobbed, fobbing)
1. (fob off) try to deceive (someone) into accepting excuses or something inferior.
2. (fob off on) give (something) inferior to.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to German foppen 'deceive, banter' , or to FOP.

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fob watch

noun
a pocket watch.

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focal

adjective
relating to a focus, especially the focus of a lens.

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focal point

noun
1. the point at which rays or waves meet after reflection or refraction, or the point from which diverging rays or waves appear to proceed.
2. the centre of interest or activity.

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focus

noun (pl. focuses or foci)
1. the centre of interest or activity.
2. the state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition: his face is out of focus.
3. the point at which an object must be situated with respect to a lens or mirror for an image of the object to be well defined.
4. a focal point.
5. an act of focusing on something.
6. the point of origin of an earthquake. Compare with EPICENTRE.
7. Geometry one of the fixed points from which the distances to any point of an ellipse, parabola, or other curve are connected by a linear relation.

verb (focused, focusing or focussed, focussing)
1. adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly.
2. adjust the focus of (a telescope, camera, etc.).
3. (with reference to rays or waves) meet or cause to meet at a single point.
4. (focus on) pay particular attention to.

DERIVATIVES:
focuser noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'domestic hearth' .

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focus group

noun
a group of people assembled to assess a new product, political campaign, television series, etc.

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fodder

noun
1. food for cattle and other livestock.
2. a person or thing regarded only as material to satisfy a need: young people ending up as factory fodder.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FOOD.

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foe

noun formal or literary
an enemy or opponent.

ORIGIN: from Old English, «hostile»; related to FEUD.

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fog

noun
1. a thick cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere at or near the earth's surface which obscures or restricts visibility.
2. a state or cause of perplexity or confusion.
3. Photography cloudiness obscuring the image on a developed negative or print.

verb (fogged, fogging)
1. cover or become covered with steam.
2. bewilder or confuse.
3. Photography make (a film, negative, or print) obscure or cloudy.

ORIGIN: perhaps a back-formation from FOGGY.

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fogey (also fogy)

noun (pl. fogeys or fogies)
a very old-fashioned or conservative person.

DERIVATIVES:
fogeydom noun
fogeyish adjective
fogeyism noun.

ORIGIN: related to earlier slang fogram, of unknown origin.

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foggy

adjective (foggier, foggiest)
1. full of or accompanied by fog.
2. confused.

IDIOMS -
not have the foggiest (idea) informal, chiefly Brit. have no idea at all.

ORIGIN: perhaps from fog 'grass which grows in a field after a crop of hay has been cut' , perhaps from Norwegian fogg.

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foghorn

noun
a device making a loud, deep sound as a warning to ships in fog.

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foible

noun
a minor weakness or eccentricity.

ORIGIN: French, obsolete form of Old French fieble 'feeble' .

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foil [1]

verb
prevent the success of.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «trample down»: perhaps from Old French fouler 'to full cloth, trample' , from Latin fullo 'fuller' .

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foil [2]

noun
1. metal hammered or rolled into a thin flexible sheet.
2. a person or thing that contrasts with and so enhances the qualities of another.

ORIGIN: Latin folium 'leaf' .

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foil [3]

noun
a light, blunt-edged fencing sword with a button on its point.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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foist

verb (foist on)
impose (an unwelcome person or thing) on.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «dishonestly manipulate a dice»: from Dutch dialect vuisten 'take in the hand' .

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fold [1]

verb
1. bend (something) over on itself so that one part of it covers another.
2. (often as adj. folding) be able to be folded into a flatter shape.
3. use (a soft or flexible material) to cover or wrap something in.
4. affectionately clasp in one's arms.
5. informal (of a company) cease trading as a result of financial problems.
6. (fold in/into) mix (an ingredient) gently with (another ingredient).

noun
1. a folded part or thing.
2. a line or crease produced by folding.
3. chiefly Brit. a slight hill or hollow.
4. Geology a bend or curvature of strata.

IDIOMS -
fold one's arms bring one's arms together and cross them over one's chest.

DERIVATIVES:
foldable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fold [2]

noun
1. a pen or enclosure for livestock, especially sheep.
2. (the fold) a group or community with shared aims and values.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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-fold

suffix forming adjectives and adverbs from cardinal numbers:
1. in an amount multiplied by: threefold.
2. consisting of so many parts or facets: twofold.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FOLD.

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folder

noun
1. a folding cover or wallet for storing loose papers.
2. Computing a directory containing related files or documents.

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foliage

noun
leaves of plants collectively.

ORIGIN: Old French feuillage, from Latin folium 'leaf' .

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foliate

adjective
decorated with leaves or a leaf-like pattern.

verb
1. decorate with leaves or a leaf-like pattern.
2. (foliated) chiefly Geology consisting of thin sheets of laminae.

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folic acid

noun
a vitamin of the B complex found especially in leafy green vegetables, liver, and kidney.

DERIVATIVES:
folate noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin folium 'leaf' .

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folio

noun (pl. folios)
1. a sheet of paper folded once to form two leaves (four pages) of a book.
2. a book made up of such sheets.
3. an individual leaf of paper numbered on the front side only.
4. the page number in a printed book.

ORIGIN: Latin, used to mean 'on leaf (as specified)' , from folium 'leaf' .

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folk

plural noun
1. (also folks) informal people in general.
2. (one's folks) one's family, especially one's parents.
3. (also folk music) traditional music of unknown authorship, transmitted orally.
4. (before another noun ) originating from the beliefs, culture, and customs of ordinary people: folk wisdom.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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folk dance

noun
a traditional dance associated with a particular people or area.

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folklore

noun
the traditional beliefs, stories, and customs of a community, passed on by word of mouth.

DERIVATIVES:
folkloric adjective
folklorist noun.

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folk memory

noun
a body of recollections or legends that persists among a people.

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folksy

adjective (folksier, folksiest)
traditional and homely, especially in an artificial way.

DERIVATIVES:
folksiness noun.

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folk tale

noun
a traditional story originally transmitted orally.

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follicle

noun
a small glandular cavity or pouch, especially that in which the root of a hair develops.

DERIVATIVES:
follicular adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin folliculus 'little bag' .

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follow

verb
1. move or travel behind.
2. go after (someone) so as to observe or monitor them.
3. go along (a route or path).
4. come after in time or order.
5. be a logical consequence.
6. (also follow on from) occur as a result of.
7. act according to (an instruction or precept).
8. act according to the lead or example of.
9. take an interest in or pay close attention to.
10. understand the meaning of.
11. practise or undertake (a career or course of action).
12. (follow through) continue (an action or task) to its conclusion.
13. (follow up) pursue or investigate further.

IDIOMS -
follow one's nose
1. trust to one's instincts.
2. go straight ahead.
follow on (of a cricket team) be required to bat again immediately after failing to reach a certain score in their first innings.
follow suit
1. conform to another's actions.
2. (in bridge, whist, and other card games) play a card of the suit led.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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follower

noun
1. a person who follows.
2. a supporter, fan, or disciple.

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following

preposition
coming after or as a result of.

noun
a body of supporters or admirers.

adjective
1. next in time or order.
2. about to be mentioned: the following information.

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follow-the-leader (also follow-my-leader)

noun
a children's game in which the participants must copy the actions and words of a person acting as leader.

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follow-through

noun
the continuing of an action or task to its conclusion.

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follow-up

noun
1. an activity carried out to monitor or further develop earlier work.
2. a work that follows or builds on an earlier work.

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folly

noun (pl. follies)
1. foolishness.
2. a foolish act or idea.
3. an ornamental building with no practical purpose, especially a tower or mock-Gothic ruin.

ORIGIN: Old French folie 'madness' .

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foment

verb
1. instigate or stir up (revolution or strife).
2. archaic bathe (a part of the body) with warm or medicated lotions.

DERIVATIVES:
fomentation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin fomentare, from fomentum 'poultice, lotion' .

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fond

adjective
1. (fond of) having an affection or liking for.
2. affectionate; loving: fond memories.
3. (of a hope or belief) foolishly optimistic; naive.

DERIVATIVES:
fondly adverb
fondness noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete fon «a fool, be foolish», of unknown origin.

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fondant

noun
1. a thick paste made of sugar and water, used in making sweets and icing cakes.
2. a sweet made of fondant.

ORIGIN: French, 'melting' .

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fondle

verb
stroke or caress lovingly or erotically.

noun
an act of fondling.

DERIVATIVES:
fondler noun.

ORIGIN: back-formation from obsolete fondling «much-loved or petted person», from FOND.

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fondue

noun
a dish in which small pieces of food are dipped into melted cheese, a hot sauce, or a hot cooking medium such as oil.

ORIGIN: French, 'melted' .

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font [1]

noun
a receptacle in a church for the water used in baptism.

ORIGIN: Latin fons 'spring, fountain' .

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font [2] (Brit. also fount)

noun Printing
a set of type of a particular face and size.

ORIGIN: originally denoting casting or founding: from French fonte, from fondre 'to melt' .

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food

noun
any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink or that plants absorb to maintain life and growth.

IDIOMS -
food for thought something that warrants serious consideration.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FODDER.

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food chain

noun
a series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food.

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foodie (also foody)

noun (pl. foodies) informal
a person with a strong interest in food; a gourmet.

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food poisoning

noun
illness caused by bacteria or other toxins in food, typically with vomiting and diarrhoea.

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foodstuff

noun
a substance suitable for consumption as food.

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fool [1]

noun
1. a person who acts unwisely.
2. historical a jester or clown.

verb
1. trick or deceive.
2. (fool about/around) act in a joking or frivolous way.
3. (fool around) N. Amer. engage in casual or extramarital sexual activity.

adjective N. Amer. informal
foolish or silly.

IDIOMS -
a fool and his money are soon parted proverb a foolish person spends money carelessly and will soon be penniless.
fools rush in where angels fear to tread proverb people without good sense or judgement will have no hesitation in tackling a situation that even the wisest would avoid.
there's no fool like an old fool proverb the foolish behaviour of an older person seems especially foolish as they are expected to think and act more sensibly than a younger one.

DERIVATIVES:
foolery noun.

ORIGIN: Old French fol 'fool, foolish' , from Latin follis 'bellows, windbag' , by extension 'empty-headed person' .

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fool [2]

noun chiefly Brit.
a cold dessert made of puréed fruit mixed or served with cream or custard.

ORIGIN: perhaps from FOOL.

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foolhardy

adjective (foolhardier, foolhardiest)
recklessly bold or rash.

DERIVATIVES:
foolhardily adverb
foolhardiness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French folhardi, from fol 'foolish' + hardi 'emboldened' .

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foolish

adjective
lacking good sense or judgement; silly or unwise.

DERIVATIVES:
foolishly adverb
foolishness noun.

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foolproof

adjective
incapable of going wrong or being misused.

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foolscap

noun Brit.
a size of paper, about 330 x 200 (or 400) mm.

ORIGIN: said to be named from a former watermark representing a fool's cap.

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fool's gold

noun
a brassy yellow mineral that can be mistaken for gold, especially pyrite.

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fool's paradise

noun
a state of happiness based on not knowing about or ignoring potential trouble.

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foot

noun (pl. feet)
1. the lower extremity of the leg below the ankle, on which a person walks.
2. the base or bottom of something vertical.
3. the end of a bed where the occupant's feet normally rest.
4. a unit of linear measure equal to 12 inches (30.48 cm).
5. Poetry a group of syllables constituting a metrical unit.

verb
1. informal pay (a bill).
2. (foot it) cover a distance on foot.

IDIOMS -
feet of clay a flaw or weakness in a person otherwise revered.
fleet of foot able to walk or move swiftly.
get (or start) off on the right (or wrong) foot make a good (or bad) start at something.
have (or keep) one's feet on the ground be (or remain) practical and sensible.
have (or get) a foot in the door have (or gain) a first introduction to a profession or organization.
have one foot in the grave humorous be very old or ill.
land (or fall) on one's feet have good luck or success.
on (or by) foot walking rather than using a car or other transport.
put one's best foot forward begin with as much effort and determination as possible.
put one's foot down informal
1. adopt a firm policy when faced with opposition or disobedience.
2. Brit. accelerate a motor vehicle by pressing the accelerator pedal.
put one's foot in it informal say or do something tactless or embarrassing.
put a foot wrong make a mistake: he never put a foot wrong with his hosts.
under one's feet in one's way.
under foot on the ground.

DERIVATIVES:
footless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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footage

noun
1. a length of film made for cinema or television.
2. size or length measured in feet.

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foot-and-mouth disease

noun
a contagious viral disease of cattle and sheep, causing ulceration of the hoofs and around the mouth.

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football

noun
1. any of a number of forms of team game involving kicking a ball, in particular (in the UK) soccer or (in the US) American football.
2. a large inflated ball used in such a game.

DERIVATIVES:
footballer noun.

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footbrake

noun
a foot-operated brake lever in a motor vehicle.

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footbridge

noun
a bridge for pedestrians.

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footer [1]

noun
1. a person or thing of a specified number of feet in length or height: a six-footer.
2. a kick of a football performed with a specified foot: a low left-footer.
3. a line of text appearing at the foot of each page of a book or document.

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footer [2]

verb Scottish
fiddle about.

ORIGIN: variant of obsolete foutre «worthless thing», from Old French foutre 'have sexual intercourse with' .

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footfall

noun
1. the sound of a footstep or footsteps.
2. the number of people entering a shop or shopping area in a given time.

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foot fault

noun
(in tennis, squash, etc.) an infringement of the rules made by overstepping the baseline when serving.

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foothill

noun
a low hill at the base of a mountain or mountain range.

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foothold

noun
1. a place where one can lodge a foot to give secure support while climbing.
2. a secure position from which further progress may be made.

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footing

noun
1. (one's footing) a secure grip with one's feet.
2. the basis on which something is established or operates.
3. the foundations of a wall, usually with a course of brickwork wider than the base of the wall.

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footle

verb chiefly Brit.
engage in fruitless activity; mess about.

ORIGIN: perhaps from FOOTER.

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footlights

plural noun
a row of spotlights along the front of a stage at the level of the actors' feet.

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footling

adjective
trivial and irritating.

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footloose

adjective
free to go where one likes and do as one pleases.

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footman

noun
a liveried servant whose duties include admitting visitors and waiting at table.

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footmark

noun
a footprint.

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footnote

noun
an additional piece of information printed at the bottom of a page.

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footpath

noun
a path for people to walk along, especially a right of way in the countryside.

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footprint

noun
the impression left by a foot or shoe on the ground.

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footsie

noun (usu. in phrase play footsie) informal
the action of touching someone's feet lightly with one's own as a playful expression of romantic interest.

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footsore

adjective
having sore feet from much walking.

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footstep

noun
a step taken in walking, especially as heard by another person.

IDIOMS -
follow (or tread) in someone's footsteps do as another person did before.

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footstool

noun
a low stool for resting the feet on when sitting.

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footwear

noun
shoes, boots, and other coverings for the feet.

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footwork

noun
the manner in which one moves one's feet in dancing and sport.

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fop

noun
a man who is excessively concerned with his clothes and appearance.

DERIVATIVES:
foppery noun
foppish adjective
foppishly adverb
foppishness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «fool».

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for

preposition
1. in favour of.
2. affecting or with regard to.
3. on behalf of or to the benefit of.
4. having as a purpose or function.
5. having as a reason or cause.
6. having as a destination.
7. representing.
8. in exchange for.
9. in relation to the expected norm of.
10. indicating the extent of (a distance) or the length of (a period of time).
11. indicating an occasion in a series.

conjunction literary
because; since.

IDIOMS -
be for it Brit. informal be about to be punished or get into trouble.
oh for I long for .

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FORE.

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for-

prefix
1. denoting prohibition: forbid.
2. denoting abstention, neglect, or renunciation: forgive.
3. used as an intensifier: forlorn.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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forage

verb
1. search for food or provisions.
2. obtain (food) by searching.

noun
1. food for horses and cattle.
2. an act of foraging.

DERIVATIVES:
forager noun.

ORIGIN: Old French fourrager, from fuerre 'straw' .

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forage cap

noun
a soldier's peaked cap.

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foray

noun
1. a sudden attack or incursion into enemy territory.
2. a brief but spirited attempt to become involved in a new activity.

verb
make or go on a foray.

DERIVATIVES:
forayer noun.

ORIGIN: from Old French forrier 'forager' .

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forbear [1]

verb (past forbore; past part. forborne)
refrain from doing something.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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forbearance

noun
1. patient self-control and restraint.
2. tolerance.

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forbearing

adjective
patient and restrained.

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forbid

verb (forbidding; past forbade or forbad; past part. forbidden)
1. refuse to allow.
2. order not to do.

IDIOMS -
the forbidden degrees the number of steps of descent from the same ancestor that bar two related people from marrying.
forbidden fruit a thing that is desired all the more because it is not allowed. [ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to the Book of Genesis, chapter 2.]
God (or Heaven) forbid expressing a fervent wish that something does not happen.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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forbidding

adjective
unfriendly or threatening.

DERIVATIVES:
forbiddingly adverb.

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force

noun
1. physical strength or energy as an attribute of action or movement.
2. Physics an influence tending to change the motion of a body or produce motion or stress in a stationary body.
3. coercion backed by the use or threat of violence.
4. mental or moral strength or power.
5. a person or thing regarded as exerting power or influence.
6. an organized body of military personnel, police, or workers.
7. (the forces) Brit. informal the army, navy, and air force.

verb
1. make a way through or into by force.
2. push into a specified position using force.
3. achieve or bring about by effort.
4. make (someone) do something against their will.
5. (force on/upon) impose (something) on.
6. artificially hasten the development or maturity of (a plant).

IDIOMS -
force someone's hand make someone do something.
force the issue compel the making of a decision.
in force
1. in great strength or numbers.
2. (in/into force) in or into effect.

DERIVATIVES:
forceable adjective
forcer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin fortis 'strong' .

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force-feed

verb
force to eat food.

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forceful

adjective
powerful, assertive, or vigorous.

DERIVATIVES:
forcefully adverb
forcefulness noun.

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forcemeat

noun
a mixture of meat or vegetables chopped and seasoned for use as a stuffing or garnish.

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forceps

plural noun
1. a pair of pincers used in surgery or in a laboratory.
2. a large instrument of such a type with broad blades, used to assist in the delivery of a baby.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'tongs, pincers' .

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forcible

adjective
done by force.

DERIVATIVES:
forcibly adverb.

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ford

noun
a shallow place in a river or stream where it can be crossed.

verb
cross at a ford.

DERIVATIVES:
fordable adjective
fordless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FARE.

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fore

adjective
situated or placed in front.

noun
the front part of something, especially a ship.

exclamation
called out as a warning to people in the path of a golf ball.

IDIOMS -
to the fore in or to a conspicuous or leading position.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fore-

combining form
1. (added to verbs) in front: foreshorten.
2. in advance: forebode.
3. (added to nouns) situated in front of: forecourt.
4. the front part of: forebrain.
5. preceding: forefather.

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fore and aft

adverb
1. at the front and rear.
2. backwards and forwards.

adjective
1. backwards and forwards.
2. (of a sail or rigging) set lengthwise, not on the yards.

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forearm [1]

noun
the part of a person's arm extending from the elbow to the wrist or the fingertips.

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forearm [2]

verb (be forearmed)
be prepared in advance for danger or attack.

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forebear (also forbear)

noun
an ancestor.

ORIGIN: from FORE + bear, variant of obsolete beer «someone who exists».

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forebode

verb archaic or literary
act as an advance warning of (something bad).

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foreboding

noun
fearful apprehension.

adjective
ominous.

DERIVATIVES:
forebodingly adverb.

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forecast

verb (past and past part. forecast or forecasted)
predict or estimate (a future event or trend).

noun
a prediction or estimate, especially of the weather or a financial trend.

DERIVATIVES:
forecaster noun.

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forecastle (also fo'c's'le)

noun
the forward part of a ship below the deck, traditionally used as the crew's living quarters.

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foreclose

verb
1. take possession of a mortgaged property as a result of defaults in mortgage payments.
2. rule out or prevent.

DERIVATIVES:
foreclosure noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «bar from escaping», «shut out»: from Old French forclore 'shut out' .

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forecourt

noun
1. an open area in front of a large building or petrol station.
2. Tennis the part of the court between the service line and the net.

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forefather (or foremother)

noun
an ancestor.

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forefinger

noun
the finger next to the thumb.

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forefoot

noun (pl. forefeet)
each of the two front feet of a four-footed animal.

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forefront

noun
the leading position or place.

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forego [2]

verb (foregoes; past forewent; past part. foregone) archaic
precede in place or time.

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foregoing

adjective
previously mentioned.

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foregone
past participle of FOREGO.
adjective archaic
past.

IDIOMS -
a foregone conclusion an easily predictable result.

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foreground

noun
1. the part of a view or image nearest to the observer.
2. the most prominent or important position.

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forehand

noun
(in tennis and other racket sports) a stroke played with the palm of the hand facing in the direction of the stroke.

DERIVATIVES:
forehanded adjective.

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forehead

noun
the part of the face above the eyebrows.

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foreign

adjective
1. of, from, in, or characteristic of a country or language other than one's own.
2. dealing with or relating to other countries.
3. coming or introduced from outside.
4. (foreign to) strange and unfamiliar to.
5. (foreign to) not belonging to or characteristic of.

DERIVATIVES:
foreignness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French forein, forain, from Latin foras, foris 'outside' .

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Foreign and Commonwealth Office (also Foreign Office)

noun
the British government department dealing with foreign affairs.

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foreign body

noun
a piece of extraneous matter in the body.

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foreigner

noun
1. a person from a foreign country.
2. informal a stranger or outsider.

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foreign exchange

noun
the currency of other countries.

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Foreign Legion

noun
a military formation of the French army composed chiefly of non-Frenchmen and originally founded to fight France's colonial wars.

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Foreign Secretary

noun
(in the UK) the government minister who heads the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

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foreknowledge

noun
awareness of something before it happens or exists.

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foreland

noun
1. an area of land in front of a particular feature.
2. a cape or promontory.

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forelock

noun
a lock of hair growing just above the forehead.

IDIOMS -
touch (or tug) one's forelock raise a hand to one's forehead in deference to a person of higher social rank.

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foreman (or forewoman)

noun
1. a worker who supervises other workers.
2. (in a law court) a person who presides over a jury and speaks on its behalf.

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foremast

noun
the mast of a ship nearest the bow.

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foremost

adjective
the most prominent in rank, importance, or position.

adverb
in the first place.

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forenoon

noun N. Amer. or Nautical
the morning.

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forensic

adjective
1. relating to or denoting the application of scientific methods to the investigation of crime.
2. of or relating to courts of law.

noun (forensics)
forensic tests or techniques.

DERIVATIVES:
forensically adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin forensis 'in open court, public' , from forum 'what is out of doors' .

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forensic medicine

noun
the application of medical knowledge to the investigation of crime, particularly in establishing the causes of injury or death.

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foreplay

noun
sexual activity that precedes intercourse.

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forerunner

noun
1. a precursor.
2. archaic an advance messenger.

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foresail

noun
the principal sail on a foremast.

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foresee

verb (foresees, foreseeing; past foresaw; past part. foreseen)
be aware of beforehand; predict.

DERIVATIVES:
foreseeable adjective
foreseeably adverb
foreseer noun.

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foreshadow

verb
be a warning or indication of.

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foreshore

noun
the part of a shore between high- and low-water marks, or between the water and cultivated or developed land.

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foreshorten

verb
1. represent as having less depth or distance than in reality, so as to convey an effect of perspective.
2. shorten or reduce in time or scale.

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foresight

noun
1. ability to predict the future.
2. the application of care and attention to the likely outcome of something or to future needs.
3. the front sight of a gun.

DERIVATIVES:
foresighted adjective.

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foreskin

noun
the retractable roll of skin covering the end of the penis.

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forest

noun
1. a large area covered with trees and undergrowth.
2. historical an area, typically owned by the sovereign and partly wooded, kept for hunting and having its own laws.
3. a mass of vertical or tangled objects.

verb
plant with trees.

DERIVATIVES:
forestation noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin forestis silva 'outside wood' , from foris 'outside' .

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forestall

verb
1. prevent or obstruct (something anticipated) by taking advance action.
2. anticipate and prevent the action of.

DERIVATIVES:
forestaller noun
forestalment noun.

ORIGIN: from Old English, «an ambush».

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forester

noun
1. a person in charge of a forest or skilled in forestry.
2. chiefly archaic a person or animal living in a forest.

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forestry

noun
1. the science or practice of planting, managing, and caring for forests.
2. forests.

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foretaste

noun
a sample or suggestion of something that lies ahead.

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foretell

verb (past and past part. foretold)
predict.

DERIVATIVES:
foreteller noun.

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forethought

noun
careful consideration of what will be necessary or may happen in the future.

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forever

adverb
1. (also for ever) for all future time.
2. a very long time.
3. continually.

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forewarn

verb
warn in advance.

IDIOMS -
forewarned is forearmed proverb prior knowledge of possible dangers or problems gives one a tactical advantage.

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foreword

noun
a short introduction to a book.

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forfeit

verb (forfeited, forfeiting)
1. lose or be deprived of (property or a right or privilege) as a penalty for wrongdoing.
2. lose or give up as a necessary consequence.

noun
1. a fine or penalty for wrongdoing.
2. Law a forfeited right, privilege, or item of property.
3. (forfeits) a game in which trivial penalties are exacted for minor misdemeanours.

adjective
lost or surrendered as a forfeit.

DERIVATIVES:
forfeitable adjective
forfeiter noun
forfeiture noun.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a crime or transgression: from Old French forfet, forfait, from forfaire 'transgress' .

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forge [1]

verb
1. make or shape (a metal object) by heating and hammering the metal.
2. create.
3. produce a fraudulent copy or imitation of (a banknote, work of art, signature, etc.).

noun
1. a blacksmith's workshop.
2. a furnace or hearth for melting or refining metal.

DERIVATIVES:
forgeable adjective
forger noun.

ORIGIN: Old French forger, from Latin fabricare 'fabricate' .

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forge [2]

verb
1. move forward gradually or steadily.
2. (forge ahead) make progress.

ORIGIN: perhaps from a pronunciation of FORCE.

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forgery

noun (pl. forgeries)
1. the action of forging a banknote, work of art, signature, etc.
2. a forged or copied item.

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forget

verb (forgetting; past forgot; past part. forgotten or chiefly US forgot)
1. fail to remember.
2. inadvertently neglect to do something.
3. cease to think of.
4. (forget oneself) neglect to behave appropriately.

DERIVATIVES:
forgettable adjective
forgetter noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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forgetful

adjective
apt or likely not to remember.

DERIVATIVES:
forgetfully adverb
forgetfulness noun.

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forget-me-not

noun
a low-growing plant of the borage family with bright blue flowers.

ORIGIN: translating the Old French name ne m'oubliez mye; said to ensure that the wearer of the flower would never be forgotten by a lover.

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forgive

verb (past forgave; past part. forgiven)
1. stop feeling angry or resentful towards (someone) for an offence or mistake.
2. excuse (an offence, flaw, or mistake).

DERIVATIVES:
forgivable adjective
forgiver noun
forgiving adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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forgiveness

noun
the action of forgiving or the state of being forgiven.

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forgo (also forego)

verb (forgoes; past forwent; past part. forgone)
go without (something desirable).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fork

noun
1. an implement with two or more prongs used for lifting or holding food.
2. a pronged farm or garden tool used for digging or lifting.
3. each of a pair of supports in which a bicycle or motorcycle wheel revolves.
4. the point where a road, path, or river divides into two parts.
5. either of two such parts.

verb
1. divide into two parts.
2. take one route or the other at a fork.
3. dig or lift with a fork.
4. (fork out/up) (or N. Amer. fork over) informal pay money for something, especially reluctantly.

ORIGIN: Latin furca 'pitchfork, forked stick' .

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forked

adjective
having a divided or pronged end.

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forklift truck

noun
a vehicle with a pronged device in front for lifting and carrying heavy loads.

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forlorn

adjective
1. pitifully sad and lonely.
2. unlikely to succeed or be fulfilled.

IDIOMS -
forlorn hope a persistent or desperate hope that is unlikely to be fulfilled. [ORIGIN: from Dutch verloren hoop 'lost troop' , originally denoting a band of soldiers picked to begin an attack, many of whom would not survive.]

DERIVATIVES:
forlornly adverb
forlornness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «depraved, lost».

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form

noun
1. visible shape or configuration.
2. a way in which a thing exists or appears.
3. a type or variety.
4. the customary or correct method or procedure.
5. a printed document with blank spaces for information to be inserted.
6. chiefly Brit. a class or year in a school.
7. the state of a sports player with regard to their current standard of play.
8. details of previous performances by a racehorse or greyhound.
9. a person's mood and state of health: she was on good form.
10. Brit. a long bench without a back.

verb
1. bring together parts to create.
2. go to make up.
3. establish or develop.
4. make or be made into a certain form.

IDIOMS -
in (or Brit. on) form playing or performing well.
off (or Brit. out of) form not playing or performing well.

DERIVATIVES:
formable adjective
formless adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin forma 'a mould or form' .

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formal

adjective
1. done in accordance with rules of convention or etiquette.
2. officially recognized: a formal complaint.
3. of or concerned with outward form rather than content.
4. (of language) characterized by the use of studied grammatical structure and conservative vocabulary.
5. (especially of a garden) arranged in a precise or symmetrical manner.

DERIVATIVES:
formally adverb.

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formaldehyde

noun Chemistry
a colourless pungent gas derived from methanol, used in solution as a preservative for biological specimens.

ORIGIN: blend of FORMIC ACID and ALDEHYDE.

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formalin

noun
a solution of formaldehyde in water.

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formality

noun (pl. formalities)
1. the rigid observance of rules or convention.
2. a thing done simply to comply with convention or regulations.
3. (a formality) a thing done or occurring as a matter of course; an inevitability.

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formalize (also formalise)

verb
1. give legal or official status to.
2. give a definite form to.

DERIVATIVES:
formalization noun.

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format

noun
1. the way in which something is arranged or presented.
2. the shape, size, and presentation of a book, document, etc.
3. the medium in which a sound recording is made available: LP and CD formats.
4. Computing a defined structure for the processing, storage, or display of data.

verb (formatted, formatting)
(especially in computing) arrange or put into a format.

ORIGIN: from Latin formatus liber 'shaped book' .

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formation

noun
1. the action of forming or the process of being formed.
2. a structure or arrangement.
3. a formal arrangement of aircraft in flight or troops.

DERIVATIVES:
formational adjective.

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formative

adjective
serving to form something, especially having a profound influence on a person's development.

DERIVATIVES:
formatively adverb.

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former [1]

adjective
1. having been previously.
2. of or occurring in the past.
3. (the former) denoting the first of two things mentioned.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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former [2]

noun
1. a person or thing that forms something.
2. Brit. a person in a particular school year: a fifth-former.

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formerly

adverb
in the past.

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Formica

noun trademark
a hard durable plastic laminate used for worktops, cupboard doors, etc.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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formic acid

noun Chemistry
an irritant acid present in the fluid emitted by some ants.

ORIGIN: formic from Latin formica 'ant' .

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formidable

adjective
inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, or capable.

DERIVATIVES:
formidably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin formidabilis, from formidare 'to fear' .

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formula

noun (pl. formulae (in senses 1 and 2) or formulas)
1. a mathematical relationship or rule expressed in symbols.
2. (also chemical formula) a set of chemical symbols showing the elements present in a compound and their relative proportions.
3. a fixed form of words, as used conventionally or in particular contexts.
4. a method or procedure for achieving something.
5. (before another noun ) denoting a rule or style followed without originality: a formula fantasy film.
6. a list of ingredients with which something is made.
7. an infant's liquid food preparation based on cow's milk or soya protein.
8. a classification of racing car: formula one.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'small shape or mould' .

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formulaic

adjective
1. constituting or containing a set form of words.
2. produced in accordance with a slavishly followed rule or style: much romantic fiction is formulaic.

DERIVATIVES:
formulaically adverb.

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formulate

verb
1. create or prepare methodically.
2. express (an idea) in a concise or systematic way.

DERIVATIVES:
formulator noun.

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formulation

noun
1. the action of formulating.
2. a material or mixture prepared according to a formula.

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fornicate

verb formal or humorous
have sexual intercourse with someone one is not married to.

DERIVATIVES:
fornication noun
fornicator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from fornix 'vaulted chamber' , later 'brothel' .

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forsake

verb (past forsook; past part. forsaken) chiefly literary
1. abandon.
2. renounce or give up.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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forsooth

adverb archaic or humorous
indeed.

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forswear

verb (past forswore; past part. forsworn) formal
1. agree to give up or do without.
2. (forswear oneself/be forsworn) commit perjury.

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forsythia

noun
an ornamental shrub whose bright yellow flowers appear in early spring before its leaves.

ORIGIN: named after the Scottish botanist William Forsyth (1737 1804).

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fort

noun
a fortified building or strategic position.

IDIOMS -
hold the fort take responsibility for something temporarily.

ORIGIN: from Latin fortis 'strong' .

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forte [1]

noun
a thing at which someone excels.

ORIGIN: French, 'strong' .

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forte [2]

adverb & adjective Music
loud or loudly.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'strong, loud' .

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forth

adverb chiefly archaic
1. out from a starting point and forwards or into view.
2. onwards in time.

IDIOMS -
and so forth and so on.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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forthcoming

adjective
1. about to happen or appear.
2. ready or made available when required: help was not forthcoming.
3. willing to divulge information.

DERIVATIVES:
forthcomingness noun.

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forthright

adjective
direct and outspoken.

DERIVATIVES:
forthrightly adverb
forthrightness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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forthwith

adverb
without delay.

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fortify

verb (fortifies, fortified)
1. provide with defensive works as protection against attack.
2. invigorate or encourage.
3. add spirits to (wine) to make port, sherry, etc.
4. increase the nutritive value of (food) by adding vitamins.

DERIVATIVES:
fortifiable adjective
fortification noun
fortifier noun.

ORIGIN: Latin fortificare, from fortis 'strong' .

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fortissimo

adverb & adjective Music
very loud or loudly.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin fortissimus 'very strong' .

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fortitude

noun
courage and strength in bearing pain or trouble.

ORIGIN: Latin fortitudo, from fortis 'strong' .

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fortnight

noun chiefly Brit.
a period of two weeks.

ORIGIN: Old English, «fourteen nights».

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fortnightly chiefly Brit.

adjective
happening or produced every two weeks.

adverb
every two weeks.

noun (pl. fortnightlies)
a magazine issued every two weeks.

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fortress

noun
a military stronghold, especially a strongly fortified town fit for a large garrison.

ORIGIN: Old French forteresse 'strong place' , from Latin fortis 'strong' .

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fortuitous

adjective
1. happening by chance rather than design.
2. happening by a lucky chance; fortunate.

DERIVATIVES:
fortuitously adverb
fortuitousness noun
fortuity noun (pl. fortuities) .

ORIGIN: Latin fortuitus, from forte 'by chance' .

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fortunate

adjective
1. favoured by or involving good luck.
2. auspicious or favourable.

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fortunately

adverb
it is fortunate that.

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fortune

noun
1. chance as an arbitrary force affecting human affairs.
2. luck, especially good luck.
3. (fortunes) the success or failure of a person or enterprise.
4. a large amount of money or assets.

IDIOMS -
fortune favours the brave proverb a successful person is often one who is willing to take risks.
a small fortune informal a large amount of money.
tell someone's fortune make predictions about a person's future by palmistry or similar divining methods.

ORIGIN: Latin Fortuna, the name of a goddess personifying luck or chance.

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fortune-teller

noun
a person who tells people's fortunes.

DERIVATIVES:
fortune-telling noun.

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forty

cardinal number (pl. forties)
1. ten less than fifty; 40. (Roman numeral: xl or XL.)
2. (the Forties) the central North Sea between Scotland and southern Norway, so called from its prevailing depth of forty fathoms or more.

IDIOMS -
forty winks informal a short daytime sleep.

DERIVATIVES:
fortieth ordinal number.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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forum

noun (pl. forums)
1. a meeting or medium for an exchange of views.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a court or tribunal.
3. (pl. fora) (in ancient Roman cities) a public square or marketplace used for judicial and other business.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'what is out of doors' .

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forward

adverb (also forwards)
1. in the direction that one is facing or travelling.
2. onward so as to make progress.
3. ahead in time.
4. in or near the front of a ship or aircraft.

adjective
1. towards the direction that one is facing or travelling.
2. relating to the future.
3. bold or over-familiar in manner.
4. further advanced than expected or required.
5. situated in or near the front of a ship or aircraft.

noun
an attacking player in football, hockey, or other sports.

verb
1. send (a letter) on to a further destination.
2. dispatch; send.
3. promote.

DERIVATIVES:
forwarder noun
forwardly adverb
forwardness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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forward-looking

adjective
favouring innovation; progressive.

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fosse

noun Archaeology
a long trench or ditch.

ORIGIN: Latin fossa.

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fossil

noun
1. the remains or impression of a prehistoric plant or animal embedded in rock and preserved in petrified form.
2. humorous an antiquated person or thing.

DERIVATIVES:
fossiliferous adjective
fossilization (also fossilisation) noun
fossilize (also fossilise) verb.

ORIGIN: French fossile, from Latin fossilis 'dug up' .

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fossil fuel

noun
a natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.

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foster

verb
1. promote the development of.
2. bring up (a child that is not one's own by birth).
3. Brit. assign (a child) to be fostered.

DERIVATIVES:
fosterage noun
fosterer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «feed, nourish»; related to FOOD.

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foul

adjective
1. having an offensive smell or taste; causing disgust.
2. very disagreeable or unpleasant.
3. morally offensive; wicked or obscene.
4. done contrary to the rules of a sport.
5. polluted or contaminated.
6. (foul with) clogged or choked with.

noun
1. (in sport) an unfair or invalid piece of play.
2. a collision or entanglement in riding, rowing, or running.

verb
1. make foul; pollute.
2. (of an animal) dirty with excrement.
3. (in sport) commit a foul against.
4. (foul up) make a mistake with; spoil.
5. (of a ship) collide with or interfere with the passage of (another).
6. cause (a cable, anchor, etc.) to become entangled or jammed.

DERIVATIVES:
foully adverb
foulness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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foul-mouthed

adjective
habitually using bad language.

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foul play

noun
1. unfair play in a game or sport.
2. criminal or violent activity, especially murder.

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found [2]

verb
1. establish (an institution or organization).
2. (be founded on/upon) be based on (a particular principle or concept).

ORIGIN: Old French fonder, from Latin fundus 'bottom, base' .

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found [3]

verb
1. melt and mould (metal).
2. fuse (materials) to make glass.
3. make by founding.

ORIGIN: French fondre, from Latin fundere 'melt, pour' .

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foundation

noun
1. the lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level.
2. an underlying basis or principle.
3. justification or reason: there was no foundation for the claim.
4. the action of founding an institution or organization.
5. an institution so established.
6. a cream or powder applied to the face as a base for other make-up.

DERIVATIVES:
foundational adjective.

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foundation stone

noun
a stone laid with ceremony to celebrate the founding of a building.

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founder [1]

noun
a person who founds an institution or settlement.

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founder [2]

noun
the owner or operator of a foundry.

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founder [3]

verb
1. (of a ship) fill with water and sink.
2. (of a plan or undertaking) fail.
3. (of a horse) stumble or fall.
USAGE - The words founder and flounder are often confused. In its general use, founder means ‘fail or come to nothing’, while flounder means ‘struggle; be in a state of confusion’.
ORIGIN: Old French fondrer 'submerge, collapse' , from Latin fundus 'bottom, base' .

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founding father

noun
1. a founder.
2. (Founding Father) a member of the convention that drew up the constitution of the US in 1787.

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foundling

noun
an infant that has been abandoned by its parents and is discovered and cared for by others.

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foundry

noun (pl. foundries)
a workshop or factory for casting metal.

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fount [1]

noun
1. a source of a desirable quality.
2. literary a spring or fountain.

ORIGIN: from FOUNTAIN.

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fountain

noun
1. an ornamental structure in a pool or lake from which a jet of water is pumped into the air.
2. literary a natural spring of water.
3. a source of something desirable.

verb
spurt or cascade like a fountain.

ORIGIN: Old French fontaine, from Latin fons 'a spring' .

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fountainhead

noun
an original source.

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fountain pen

noun
a pen with a reservoir or cartridge from which ink flows continuously to the nib.

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four

cardinal number
1. one more than three; 4. (Roman numeral: iv or IV.)
2. Cricket a hit that reaches the boundary after first striking the ground, scoring four runs.
3. a four-oared rowing boat or its crew.

DERIVATIVES:
fourfold adjective & adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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four-letter word

noun
any of several short words regarded as coarse or offensive.

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four-poster (also four-poster bed)

noun
a canopied bed with a post at each corner.

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foursome

noun
a group of four people.

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fourteen

cardinal number
one more than thirteen; 14. (Roman numeral: xiv or XIV.)

DERIVATIVES:
fourteenth ordinal number.

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fourth

ordinal number
1. constituting number four in a sequence; 4th.
2. (a fourth/one fourth) chiefly N. Amer. a quarter.
3. Music an interval spanning four consecutive notes in a diatonic scale, in particular an interval of two tones and a semitone.

IDIOMS -
the fourth estate the press; journalism.

DERIVATIVES:
fourthly adverb.

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four-wheel drive

noun
a transmission system which provides power directly to all four wheels of a vehicle.

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fowl

noun (pl. same or fowls)
1. (also domestic fowl) a domesticated bird derived from a junglefowl and kept for its eggs or flesh; a cock or hen.
2. any domesticated bird, e.g. a turkey or duck.
3. birds collectively, especially as the quarry of hunters.

DERIVATIVES:
fowler noun
fowling noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FLY.

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fox

noun
1. an animal of the dog family with a pointed muzzle, bushy tail, and a reddish coat.
2. informal a cunning or sly person.
3. N. Amer. informal a sexually attractive woman.

verb informal
baffle or deceive.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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foxglove

noun
a tall plant with erect spikes of typically pinkish-purple flowers shaped like the fingers of gloves.

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foxhole

noun
a hole in the ground used by troops as a shelter against enemy fire or as a firing point.

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foxhound

noun
a breed of dog with smooth hair and drooping ears, trained to hunt foxes in packs.

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fox-hunting

noun
the sport of hunting a fox across country with a pack of hounds, carried out by a group of people on foot and horseback.

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foxtrot

noun
a ballroom dance having an uneven rhythm with alternation of slow and quick steps.

verb (foxtrotted, foxtrotting)
dance the foxtrot.

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foxy

adjective (foxier, foxiest)
1. resembling or likened to a fox.
2. informal cunning or sly.
3. N. Amer. informal (of a woman) sexually attractive.

DERIVATIVES:
foxily adverb
foxiness noun.

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foyer

noun
a large entrance hall in a hotel or theatre.

ORIGIN: originally denoting the centre of attention or activity: from French, 'hearth, home' .

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Fr

abbreviation
Father (as a courtesy title of priests).

ORIGIN: from French frère 'brother' .

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fr.

abbreviation
franc(s).

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fracas

noun (pl. same or or US fracases)
a noisy disturbance or quarrel.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian fracassare 'make an uproar' .

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fraction

noun
1. a numerical quantity that is not a whole number (e.g. 1 / 2, 0.5).
2. a small or tiny part, amount, or proportion.
3. Chemistry each of the portions into which a mixture may be separated according to a physical property such as boiling point or solubility.

ORIGIN: Latin, from frangere 'to break' .

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fractional

adjective
1. relating to or expressed as a fraction.
2. small or tiny in amount.
3. Chemistry relating to or denoting the separation of a mixture into fractions.

DERIVATIVES:
fractionally adverb.

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fractious

adjective
1. easily irritated.
2. difficult to control.

DERIVATIVES:
fractiously adverb
fractiousness noun.

ORIGIN: from FRACTION, probably on the pattern of faction, factious.

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fracture

noun
1. the cracking or breaking of a hard object or material.
2. a crack or break, especially in a bone or layer of rock.

verb
1. break or cause to break.
2. (of a group or organization) break up or fragment.

ORIGIN: Latin fractura, from frangere 'to break' .

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fragile

adjective
1. easily broken or damaged.
2. delicate and vulnerable.

DERIVATIVES:
fragilely adverb
fragility noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «morally weak»: from Latin fragilis, from frangere 'to break' .

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fragment

noun
1. a small part broken off or detached.
2. an isolated or incomplete part: a fragment of conversation.

verb
break or cause to break into fragments.

DERIVATIVES:
fragmentary adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin fragmentum, from frangere 'to break' .

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fragmentation

noun
the process of breaking or the state of being broken into fragments.

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fragrance

noun
1. a pleasant, sweet smell.
2. a perfume or aftershave.

DERIVATIVES:
fragranced adjective.

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fragrant

adjective
having a pleasant, sweet smell.

DERIVATIVES:
fragrantly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from fragrare 'smell sweet' .

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frail

adjective
1. weak and delicate.
2. easily damaged or broken.

DERIVATIVES:
frailly adverb
frailness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French fraile, from Latin fragilis 'fragile' .

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frailty

noun (pl. frailties)
1. the condition of being frail.
2. weakness in character or morals.

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frame

noun
1. a rigid structure surrounding a picture, door, etc.
2. (frames) a metal or plastic structure holding the lenses of a pair of glasses.
3. the rigid supporting structure of a vehicle, piece of furniture, or other object.
4. a person's body with reference to its size or build: her slim frame.
5. the underlying structure of a system, concept, or text.
6. a single complete picture in a series forming a cinema or video film.
7. the triangular structure for positioning the red balls in snooker.
8. a single game of snooker.

verb
1. place (a picture or photograph) in a frame.
2. surround so as to create a sharp or attractive image.
3. formulate or construct.
4. informal produce false incriminating evidence against (an innocent person).

IDIOMS -
be in (or out of) the frame
1. be (or not be) eligible.
2. be wanted (or not wanted) by the police.
frame of mind a particular mood.

DERIVATIVES:
framed adjective
frameless adjective
framer noun
framing noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «be useful», later «prepare timber for building».

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frame of reference

noun
1. a set of criteria in relation to which judgements can be made.
2. a system of geometrical axes in relation to which size, position, or motion can be defined.

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frame-up

noun informal
a conspiracy to incriminate someone falsely.

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framework

noun
a supporting or underlying structure.

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franc

noun
the basic monetary unit of France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and several other countries, equal to 100 centimes.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin Francorum Rex 'king of the Franks' , the inscription on 14th-century gold coins.

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franchise

noun
1. an authorization granted by a government or company to an individual or group enabling them to carry out specified commercial activities.
2. a business or service granted such a franchise.
3. the right to vote in public elections.
4. N. Amer. an authorization given by a professional league to own a sports team.
5. N. Amer. informal a team granted such a franchise.

verb
1. grant a franchise to.
2. grant a franchise for (goods or a service).

DERIVATIVES:
franchisee noun
franchiser (also franchisor) noun.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a grant of legal immunity: from Old French, from franc 'free' .

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Franciscan

noun
a monk or nun of a Christian religious order following the rule of the Italian monk St Francis of Assisi (c.1181 1226).

adjective
of St Francis or the Franciscans.

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franglais

noun
a blend of French and English, either French that makes excessive use of English expressions, or unidiomatic French spoken by an English person.

ORIGIN: coined in French, from a blend of français 'French' and anglais 'English' .

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Frank

noun
a member of a Germanic people that conquered Gaul in the 6th century.

DERIVATIVES:
Frankish adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: Old English Franca, perhaps from the name of a weapon and related to franca «javelin»; also related to FRENCH.

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frank [1]

adjective
1. honest and direct, especially when dealing with unpleasant matters.
2. open or undisguised: frank admiration.

DERIVATIVES:
frankness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «free»: from Latin francus 'free' , from Francus 'Frank' (only Franks had full freedom in Frankish Gaul).

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frank [2]

verb
1. stamp an official mark on (a letter or parcel) to indicate that postage has been paid or does not need to be paid.
2. historical sign (a letter or parcel) to ensure delivery free of charge.

noun
a franking mark or signature on a letter or parcel.

DERIVATIVES:
franker noun
franking noun.

ORIGIN: from FRANK, an early sense being «free of obligation».

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Frankenstein (also Frankenstein's monster)

noun
a thing that becomes terrifying or destructive to its maker.

ORIGIN: from Victor Frankenstein, a character in a novel (1818) by Mary Shelley, who creates a manlike monster which eventually destroys him.

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frankfurter

noun
a seasoned smoked sausage made of beef and pork.

ORIGIN: from German Frankfurter Wurst 'Frankfurt sausage' .

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frankincense

noun
an aromatic gum resin obtained from an African tree and burnt as incense.

ORIGIN: from Old French franc encens 'high-quality incense' .

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frankly

adverb
1. in a frank manner.
2. to be frank.

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frantic

adjective
1. distraught with fear, anxiety, etc.
2. done in a hurried and chaotic way.

DERIVATIVES:
frantically adverb
franticness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French frenetique 'violently mad' , from Greek phrenitis (see FRENETIC).

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frappé

adjective
(of a drink) iced or chilled.

noun
a drink served with ice or frozen to a slushy consistency.

ORIGIN: French.

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fraternal

adjective
1. of or like a brother; brotherly.
2. of or denoting a fraternity.
3. (of twins) developed from separate ova and therefore not identical.

DERIVATIVES:
fraternalism noun
fraternally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin fraternalis, from frater 'brother' .

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fraternity

noun (pl. fraternities)
1. a group of people sharing a common profession or interests.
2. N. Amer. a male students' society in a university or college.
3. a religious or masonic society or guild.
4. friendship and mutual support within a group.

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fraternize (also fraternise)

verb (usu. fraternize with)
be on friendly terms.

DERIVATIVES:
fraternization noun.

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fratricide

noun
1. the killing of one's brother or sister.
2. the accidental killing of one's own forces in war.

DERIVATIVES:
fratricidal adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin frater 'brother' + -CIDE.

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Frau

noun (pl. Frauen)
a title or form of address for a married or widowed German woman.

ORIGIN: German.

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fraud

noun
1. wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.
2. a person intending or thing intended to deceive.

DERIVATIVES:
fraudster noun.

ORIGIN: Old French fraude, from Latin fraus 'deceit, injury' .

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fraudulent

adjective
1. done by or involving fraud.
2. deceitful or dishonest.

DERIVATIVES:
fraudulence noun
fraudulently adverb.

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fraught

adjective
1. (fraught with) filled with (something undesirable).
2. causing or affected by anxiety or stress.

ORIGIN: from obsolete fraught «load with cargo», from Dutch vracht 'ship's cargo' ; related to FREIGHT.

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Fräulein

noun
a title or form of address for a young German woman.

ORIGIN: German, from FRAU.

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fray [1]

verb
1. (of a fabric, rope, or cord) unravel or become worn at the edge.
2. (of a person's nerves or temper) show the effects of strain.

ORIGIN: Old French freiier, from Latin fricare 'to rub' .

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fray [2]

noun (the fray)
1. a situation of intense competitive activity.
2. a battle or fight.

ORIGIN: from Old French afrayer 'disturb, startle' .

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frazzle informal

verb
1. (frazzled) completely exhausted.
2. cause to shrivel up with burning.

noun (a frazzle)
1. an exhausted state.
2. a charred or burnt state.

ORIGIN: originally dialect: perhaps a blend of FRAY and obsolete fazle 'ravel out' .

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freak

noun
1. (also freak of nature) a person, animal, or plant which is abnormal or deformed.
2. a very unusual and unexpected event.
3. informal a person who is obsessed with a particular activity or interest: a fitness freak.

verb (usu. freak out) informal
behave or cause to behave in a wild and irrational way.

DERIVATIVES:
freakish adjective.

ORIGIN: probably from a dialect word.

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freaky

adjective (freakier, freakiest) informal
very odd or strange.

DERIVATIVES:
freakily adverb
freakiness noun.

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freckle

noun
a small light brown spot on the skin, caused and made more pronounced by exposure to the sun.

verb
cover or become covered with freckles.

DERIVATIVES:
freckly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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free

adjective (freer, freest)
1. not under the control or in the power of another.
2. permitted to take a specified action.
3. not or no longer confined, obstructed, or fixed.
4. not subject to engagements or obligations.
5. not occupied or in use.
6. (free of/from) not subject to or affected by.
7. available without charge.
8. generous or lavish.
9. frank and unrestrained.
10. not subject to the normal conventions; improvised.
11. (of a translation or interpretation) conveying only the broad sense; not literal.

adverb
without cost or payment.

verb (frees, freed, freeing)
1. make free; release.
2. make available.

IDIOMS -
free and easy informal and relaxed.
a free hand freedom to act completely as one wishes.
a free ride a situation in which someone benefits without having to make a fair contribution.
the free world the non-communist countries of the world, as formerly opposed to the Soviet bloc.
make free with treat without ceremony or proper respect.

DERIVATIVES:
freeness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FRIEND.

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freebie

noun informal
a thing given free of charge.

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freeboard

noun
the height of a ship's side between the waterline and the deck.

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freeborn

adjective
not born in slavery.

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Free Church

noun
a Christian Church which has dissented or seceded from an established Church.

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freedom

noun
1. the power or right to act, speak, or think freely.
2. the state of being free.
3. (freedom from) exemption or immunity from.
4. unrestricted use of something: the dog had the freedom of the house.
5. a special privilege or right of access, especially that of full citizenship of a particular city given to a public figure as an honour.

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freedom fighter

noun
a person who takes part in a revolutionary struggle.

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free enterprise

noun
an economic system in which private business operates in competition and largely free of state control.

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free fall

noun
1. downward movement under the force of gravity.
2. rapid descent or decline without means of stopping.

verb (free-fall)
move under the force of gravity; fall rapidly.

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free-for-all

noun
a disorganized or unrestricted situation or event in which everyone may take part, especially a fight or discussion.

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free-form

adjective
not conforming to a regular or formal structure.

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freehand

adjective & adverb
done manually without the aid of instruments such as rulers.

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freehold

noun
1. permanent and absolute tenure of land or property with freedom to dispose of it at will.
2. chiefly Brit. a piece of land or property held by such tenure.

DERIVATIVES:
freeholder noun.

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free house

noun Brit.
a public house not controlled by a brewery and therefore not restricted to selling particular brands of beer or liquor.

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free kick

noun
(in soccer and rugby) an unimpeded kick of the stationary ball awarded for a foul or infringement by the opposing team.

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freelance

adjective
self-employed and hired to work for different companies on particular assignments.

adverb
earning one's living in such a way.

noun (also freelancer)
a freelance worker.

verb
earn one's living as a freelance.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a mercenary in medieval Europe: from FREE + LANCE.

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freeloader

noun informal
a person who takes advantage of others' generosity without giving anything in return.

DERIVATIVES:
freeload verb.

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free love

noun
the practice of having sexual relations without fidelity to one partner.

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freely

adverb
1. not under the control of another.
2. without restriction or interference.
3. in abundant amounts.
4. openly and honestly.
5. willingly and readily.

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freeman

noun
1. a person who has been given the freedom of a city or borough.
2. historical a person who is not a slave or serf.

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free market

noun
an economic system in which prices are determined by unrestricted competition between privately owned businesses.

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Freemason

noun
a member of an international order established for mutual help and fellowship, which holds elaborate secret ceremonies.

DERIVATIVES:
Freemasony noun.

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free port

noun
1. a port open to all traders.
2. a port area where goods in transit are exempt from customs duty.

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free-range

adjective
(of livestock or their produce) kept or produced in natural conditions, where the animals have freedom of movement.

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freesia

noun
a small plant with fragrant, colourful, tubular flowers, native to southern Africa.

ORIGIN: named after the 19th-century German physician Friedrich H. T. Freese.

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free-standing

adjective
not attached to or supported by another structure.

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freestyle

noun
denoting a contest, race, or type of sport in which there are few restrictions on the style or technique that competitors employ.

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freethinker

noun
a person who questions or rejects accepted opinions, especially those concerning religious belief.

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free trade

noun
international trade left to its natural course without tariffs, quotas, or other restrictions.

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free verse

noun
poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular rhythm.

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free vote

noun chiefly Brit.
a parliamentary division in which members vote independently of party policy.

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freeway

noun N. Amer.
1. a dual-carriageway main road.
2. a toll-free highway.

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freewheel

noun
a bicycle wheel which is able to revolve freely when no power is being applied to the pedals.

verb
1. coast on a bicycle without using the pedals.
2. (freewheeling) cheerily unconcerned.

DERIVATIVES:
freewheeler noun.

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free will

noun
the power to act without the constraints of necessity or fate; the ability to act at one's own discretion.

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freeze

verb (past froze; past part. frozen)
1. (with reference to a liquid) turn or be turned into ice or another solid as a result of extreme cold.
2. become or cause to become blocked or rigid with ice.
3. be or cause to be very cold.
4. store at a very low temperature as a means of preservation.
5. become suddenly motionless or paralysed with fear or shock.
6. (of a computer screen) suddenly become locked.
7. keep or stop at a fixed level or in a fixed state.
8. (freeze out) informal cause (someone) to feel excluded by being hostile or obstructive.

noun
1. an act of freezing.
2. informal a period of very cold weather.

DERIVATIVES:
freezable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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freeze-dry

verb
preserve by rapid freezing followed by subjection to a high vacuum which removes ice by sublimation.

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freeze-frame

noun
1. a single frame forming a motionless image from a film or videotape.
2. the facility or process of stopping a film or videotape to obtain a freeze-frame.

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freezer

noun
a refrigerated cabinet or room for preserving food at very low temperatures.

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freezing

adjective
1. having a temperature below 0°C.
2. informal very cold.
3. (of fog or rain) consisting of droplets which freeze rapidly on contact with a surface.

noun
the freezing point of water (0°C).

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freezing point

noun
the temperature at which a liquid turns into a solid when cooled.

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freight

noun
1. transport of goods in bulk by truck, train, ship, or aircraft.
2. goods transported by freight.

verb
1. transport by freight.
2. (be freighted with) be laden or burdened with.

ORIGIN: Dutch and Low German vrecht, from vracht 'ship's cargo' .

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freighter

noun
1. a large ship or aircraft designed to carry freight.
2. a person who loads, receives, or forwards goods for transport.

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French

adjective
relating to France or its people or language.

noun
the language of France, also used in parts of Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada, in certain countries in Africa and the Caribbean, and elsewhere.

IDIOMS -
excuse (or pardon) my French informal used to apologize for swearing.

DERIVATIVES:
Frenchness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FRANK.

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French Canadian

noun
a Canadian whose native language is French.

adjective
relating to French Canadians.

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French dressing

noun
a salad dressing of vinegar, oil, and seasonings.

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French fries

plural noun chiefly N. Amer.
potatoes deep-fried in thin strips; chips.

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French horn

noun
a brass instrument with a coiled tube, valves, and a wide bell.

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French kiss

noun
a kiss with contact between tongues.

DERIVATIVES:
French kissing noun.

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Frenchman

noun
a man who is French by birth or descent.

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French polish

noun
shellac polish that produces a high gloss on wood.

verb (french-polish)
treat (wood) with French polish.

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French toast

noun
1. bread coated in egg and milk and fried.
2. Brit. bread buttered on one side and toasted on the other.

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French window

noun
each of a pair of glazed doors in an outside wall.

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Frenchwoman

noun
a woman who is French by birth or descent.

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frenetic

adjective
fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way.

DERIVATIVES:
frenetically adverb
freneticism noun.

ORIGIN: Old French frenetique 'violently mad' , from Greek phrenitis 'delirium' .

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frenzy

noun (pl. frenzies)
a state or period of uncontrolled excitement or wild behaviour.

DERIVATIVES:
frenzied adjective
frenziedly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin phrenesia, from Greek phrn 'mind' .

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frequency

noun (pl. frequencies)
1. the rate at which something occurs over a particular period or in a given sample.
2. the fact or state of being frequent.
3. the rate per second of a vibration constituting a wave, e.g. sound, light, or radio waves.
4. the particular waveband at which radio signals are broadcast or transmitted.

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frequency modulation

noun
the modulation of a wave by varying its frequency, used as a means of broadcasting an audio signal by radio.

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frequent

adjective
1. occurring or done many times at short intervals.
2. doing something often; habitual.

verb
visit (a place) often or habitually.

DERIVATIVES:
frequenter noun
frequently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin frequens 'crowded, frequent' .

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fresco

noun (pl. frescoes or frescos)
a painting done on wet plaster on a wall or ceiling, in which the colours become fixed as the plaster dries.

DERIVATIVES:
frescoed adjective.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'cool, fresh' .

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fresh

adjective
1. not previously known or used; new or different.
2. (of food) recently made or obtained; not preserved.
3. recently created and not faded or impaired: the memory was fresh in their minds.
4. (of water) not salty.
5. (of the wind) cool and fairly strong.
6. pleasantly clean, invigorating, and cool: fresh air.
7. full of energy and vigour.
8. informal presumptuous or impudent.

adverb
newly; recently.

DERIVATIVES:
freshly adverb
freshness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «not salt, fit for drinking».

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freshen

verb
1. make or become fresh.
2. chiefly N. Amer. top up (a drink).

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fresher

noun Brit. informal
a first-year student at college or university.

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freshman

noun
a first-year student at university or (N. Amer. ) at high school.

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freshwater

adjective
of or found in fresh water; not of the sea.

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fret [1]

verb (fretted, fretting)
1. be constantly or visibly anxious.
2. gradually wear away by rubbing or gnawing.

noun chiefly Brit.
a state of anxiety.

ORIGIN: Old English, «devour, consume».

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fret [2]

noun Art & Architecture
an ornamental design of vertical and horizontal lines.

verb (fretted, fretting)
decorate with fretwork.

ORIGIN: Old French frete 'trelliswork' .

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fret [3]

noun
each of a sequence of ridges on the fingerboard of some stringed instruments, used for fixing the positions of the fingers.

verb (fretted, fretting)
1. provide with frets.
2. play (a note) while pressing against a fret.

DERIVATIVES:
fretless adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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fretful

adjective
anxious or irritated.

DERIVATIVES:
fretfully adverb
fretfulness noun.

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fretwork

noun
ornamental design done with a fretsaw.

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Freudian

adjective
1. relating to or influenced by the Austrian psychotherapist Sigmund Freud (1856 1939) and his methods of psychoanalysis.
2. susceptible to analysis in terms of unconscious thoughts or desires: a Freudian slip.

noun
a follower of Freud or his methods.

DERIVATIVES:
Freudianism noun.

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Fri.

abbreviation
Friday.

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friable

adjective
easily crumbled.

DERIVATIVES:
friability noun.

ORIGIN: Latin friabilis, from friare 'to crumble' .

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friar

noun
a member of any of certain religious orders of men, especially the four mendicant orders (Augustinians, Carmelites, Dominicans, and Franciscans).

ORIGIN: Old French frere, from Latin frater 'brother' .

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friary

noun (pl. friaries)
a building or community occupied by friars.

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fricassée

noun
a dish of stewed or fried pieces of meat served in a thick white sauce.

DERIVATIVES:
fricasséed adjective.

ORIGIN: French, from fricasser 'cut up and cook in a sauce' .

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friction

noun
1. the resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another.
2. the action of one surface or object rubbing against another.
3. conflict or disagreement.

DERIVATIVES:
frictional adjective
frictionless adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from fricare 'to rub' .

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Friday

noun
the day of the week before Saturday and following Thursday.

adverb
1. chiefly N. Amer. on Friday.
2. (Fridays) on Fridays; each Friday.

ORIGIN: Old English, named after the Germanic goddess Frigga.

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fridge

noun
a refrigerator.

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fridge-freezer

noun chiefly Brit.
an upright unit comprising a separate refrigerator and freezer.

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friend

noun
1. a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations.
2. a familiar or helpful thing.
3. a person who supports a particular cause or organization.
4. (Friend) a Quaker.

IDIOMS -
a friend in need is a friend indeed proverb a person who helps at a difficult time is a person to be relied upon.

DERIVATIVES:
friendless adjective
friendship noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FREE.

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friendly

adjective (friendlier, friendliest)
1. kind and pleasant; of or like a friend.
2. (in combination ) not harmful to a specified thing: environment-friendly.
3. favourable or serviceable.
4. Military of or allied with one's own forces.

noun (pl. friendlies) Brit.
a game or match not forming part of a serious competition.

DERIVATIVES:
friendlily adverb
friendliness noun.

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friendly fire

noun Military
weapon fire coming from one's own side that causes accidental injury or death to one's own forces.

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friendly society

noun
(in the UK) a mutual association providing sickness benefits, life assurance, and pensions.

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Friesian

noun Brit.
an animal of a black-and-white breed of dairy cattle originally from Friesland in the Netherlands.

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frieze

noun
1. a broad horizontal band of sculpted or painted decoration.
2. Architecture the part of an entablature between the architrave and the cornice.

ORIGIN: Latin frisium, from Phrygium opus 'work of Phrygia' .

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frigate

noun
1. a warship with a mixed armament, generally lighter than a destroyer.
2. historical a sailing warship of a size just below that of a ship of the line.

ORIGIN: Italian fregata.

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fright

noun
1. a sudden intense feeling of fear.
2. an experience causing fright; a shock.

IDIOMS -
look a fright informal look ridiculous or grotesque.
take fright suddenly become frightened.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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frighten

verb
1. cause to be afraid.
2. (frighten off) drive away by fear.

DERIVATIVES:
frightened adjective
frightening adjective
frighteningly adverb.

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frightener

noun
a frightening person or thing.

IDIOMS -
put the frighteners on Brit. informal threaten or intimidate.

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frightful

adjective
1. very unpleasant, serious, or shocking.
2. informal terrible; awful.

DERIVATIVES:
frightfully adverb
frightfulness noun.

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frigid

adjective
1. very cold.
2. (of a woman) unable to be sexually aroused.
3. stiff or formal in style.

DERIVATIVES:
frigidity noun
frigidly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin frigidus, from frigere 'be cold' .

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frill

noun
1. a strip of gathered or pleated material used as a decorative edging.
2. a frill-like fringe of feathers, hair, skin, etc. on a bird, reptile, or other animal.
3. (frills) unnecessary extra features or embellishments.

DERIVATIVES:
frilled adjective
frilly adjective.

ORIGIN: from or related to Flemish frul.

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fringe

noun
1. a border of threads, tassels, or twists, used to edge clothing or material.
2. chiefly Brit. the front part of someone's hair, cut so as to hang over the forehead.
3. a natural border of hair or fibres in an animal or plant.
4. the outer or marginal part of something.
5. (before another noun ) not part of the mainstream; unconventional: fringe theatre.

verb
provide with or form a fringe.

DERIVATIVES:
fringing noun
fringy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French frenge, from Latin fimbria 'fibres, shreds' .

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fringe benefit

noun
an additional benefit, especially one given to an employee.

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frippery

noun (pl. fripperies)
1. showy or unnecessary ornament.
2. a tawdry or frivolous thing.

ORIGIN: Old French freperie 'second-hand clothes' , from frepe 'rag' .

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frisbee

noun trademark
a plastic disc designed for skimming through the air as an outdoor game.

ORIGIN: said to be named after the pie tins of the Frisbie bakery in Connecticut.

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frisk

verb
1. pass the hands over (someone) in a search for hidden weapons or drugs.
2. skip or move playfully; frolic.

noun
1. a search by frisking.
2. a playful skip or leap.

ORIGIN: Old French frisque 'alert, lively' .

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frisky

adjective (friskier, friskiest)
playful and full of energy.

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frisson

noun
a sudden strong feeling of excitement or fear; a thrill.

ORIGIN: French.

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fritillary

noun
1. a plant with hanging bell-like flowers.
2. a butterfly with orange-brown wings chequered with black.

ORIGIN: Latin fritillaria, from fritillus 'dice-box' (probably with reference to the chequered corolla of the snake's head fritillary).

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fritter [1]

verb (fritter away)
waste (time, money, or energy) on trifling matters.

ORIGIN: from obsolete fitter «break into fragments».

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fritter [2]

noun
a piece of fruit, vegetable, or meat that is coated in batter and deep-fried.

ORIGIN: Old French friture, from Latin frigere 'fry' .

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frivolous

adjective
1. not having any serious purpose or value.
2. (of a person) carefree and superficial.

DERIVATIVES:
frivolity noun
frivolously adverb
frivolousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin frivolus 'silly, trifling' .

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frizz

verb
(of hair) form into a mass of tight curls.

noun
a mass of tightly curled hair.

ORIGIN: French friser.

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frizzle [1]

verb
fry until crisp or burnt.

ORIGIN: from FRY, probably influenced by SIZZLE.

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frizzle [2]

verb
form (hair) into tight curls.

noun
a tight curl in hair.

ORIGIN: from FRIZZ.

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frizzy

adjective (frizzier, frizziest)
formed of a mass of small, tight, wiry curls.

DERIVATIVES:
frizziness noun.

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frock

noun
1. chiefly Brit. a woman's or girl's dress.
2. a loose outer garment, in particular a long gown with flowing sleeves worn by monks, priests, or clergy.

ORIGIN: Old French froc.

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frock coat

noun
a man's double-breasted, long-skirted coat, now worn chiefly on formal occasions.

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frog [1]

noun
1. a tailless amphibian with a short squat body and very long hind legs for leaping.
2. (Frog) informal, derogatory a French person.

IDIOMS -
have a frog in one's throat informal lose one's voice or find it hard to speak because of hoarseness.

DERIVATIVES:
froggy adjective
froglet noun.

ORIGIN: Old English: sense 2 is partly from alliteration with French and partly from the reputation of the French for eating frogs' legs.

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frog [2]

noun
1. a thing used to hold or fasten something.
2. an ornamental coat fastener consisting of a spindle-shaped button and a loop.

ORIGIN: perhaps a use of FROG, influenced by Italian forchetta or French fourchette 'small fork' , because of the shape.

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frog [3]

noun
an elastic horny pad in the sole of a horse's hoof.

ORIGIN: perhaps from FROG; perhaps also influenced by Italian forchetta or French fourchette (see FROG).

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frogman

noun
a diver equipped with a rubber suit, flippers, and breathing equipment.

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frogmarch

verb
force (someone) to walk forward by pinning their arms from behind.

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frogspawn

noun
a mass of frogs' eggs surrounded by transparent jelly.

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frolic

verb (frolicked, frolicking)
play or move about in a cheerful and lively way.

noun
a playful action or movement.

DERIVATIVES:
frolicker noun.

ORIGIN: from Dutch vrolijk 'merry, cheerful' .

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frolicsome

adjective
lively and playful.

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from

preposition
1. indicating the point in space or time at which a journey, process, or action starts.
2. indicating source or provenance.
3. indicating the starting point of a range.
4. indicating separation, removal, or prevention.
5. indicating a cause.
6. indicating a difference.

IDIOMS -
from time to time occasionally.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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fromage frais

noun
a type of smooth soft fresh cheese.

ORIGIN: French, 'fresh cheese' .

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frond

noun
the leaf or leaf-like part of a palm, fern, or similar plant.

ORIGIN: Latin frons 'leaf' .

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front

noun
1. the side or part of an object that presents itself to view or that is normally seen first.
2. the position directly ahead.
3. the forward-facing part of a person's body.
4. any face of a building, especially that of the main entrance: the west front of the Cathedral.
5. the foremost line of an armed force; the furthest position that an army has reached.
6. Meteorology the boundary of an advancing mass of air.
7. a particular situation or sphere of operation: good news on the jobs front.
8. an organized political group.
9. a deceptive appearance or mode of behaviour.
10. a person or organization serving as a cover for subversive activities.
11. boldness and confidence of manner.

adjective
of or at the front.

verb
1. have the front facing towards.
2. place or be placed at the front of.
3. provide with a front or facing.
4. lead or be at the forefront of.
5. present or host (a television or radio programme).
6. act as a front for.

IDIOMS -
front of house
1. the parts of a theatre in front of the proscenium arch.
2. the business of a theatre that concerns the audience, such as ticket sales.
in front of in the presence of.

DERIVATIVES:
frontward adjective & adverb
frontwards adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin frons 'forehead, front' .

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frontage

noun
1. the facade of a building.
2. a strip or extent of land abutting on a street or waterway.

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frontal

adjective
1. of or at the front.
2. relating to the forehead or front part of the skull.

DERIVATIVES:
frontally adverb.

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front bench

noun
(in the UK) the foremost seats in the House of Commons, occupied by the members of the cabinet and shadow cabinet.

DERIVATIVES:
frontbencher noun.

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front-end

adjective
1. relating to the front, especially of a vehicle.
2. informal (of money) paid or charged at the beginning of a transaction.
3. Computing (of a device or program) directly accessed by the user and allowing access to further devices or programs.

noun Computing
the front-end part of a computer or program.

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frontier

noun
1. a border separating two countries.
2. the extreme limit of settled land beyond which lies wilderness.
3. the extreme limit of understanding or achievement in a particular area.

ORIGIN: Old French frontiere, from Latin frons 'front' .

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frontiersman (or frontierswoman)

noun
a man (or woman) living in the region of a frontier.

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frontispiece

noun
an illustration facing the title page of a book.

ORIGIN: Latin frontispicium 'facade' .

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front line

noun
the military line or part of an army that is closest to the enemy.

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frontman

noun
a person who acts as a front, in particular the leader of a band or the representative of an illegal organization.

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front-runner

noun
the contestant that is leading in a race or other competition.

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front-wheel drive

noun
a transmission system that provides power to the front wheels of a motor vehicle.

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frost

noun
1. a deposit of white ice crystals formed on surfaces when the temperature falls below freezing.
2. a period of cold weather when frost forms.

verb
1. cover or be covered with or as if with frost; freeze.
2. N. Amer. decorate with icing.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to FREEZE.

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frostbite

noun
injury to body tissues, especially the nose, fingers, or toes, caused by exposure to extreme cold.

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frosted

adjective
1. covered with or as if with frost.
2. (of glass) having a translucent textured surface so that it is difficult to see through.

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frosting

noun
1. N. Amer. icing.
2. a roughened matt finish on otherwise shiny material.

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frosty

adjective (frostier, frostiest)
1. (of the weather) very cold with frost forming on surfaces.
2. cold and unfriendly.

DERIVATIVES:
frostily adverb
frostiness noun.

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froth

noun
1. a mass of small bubbles in liquid caused by agitation, fermentation, or salivating.
2. impure matter that rises to the surface of liquid.
3. worthless or insubstantial talk, ideas, or activities.

verb
form, produce, or contain froth.

DERIVATIVES:
frothily adverb
frothy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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frown

verb
1. furrow one's brows in an expression indicating disapproval, displeasure, or concentration.
2. (frown on/upon) disapprove of.

noun
an expression of this type.

DERIVATIVES:
frowning adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French froignier, from froigne 'surly look' .

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frowzy (also frowsy)

adjective (frowzier, frowziest)
scruffy, dingy, and neglected in appearance.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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fructose

noun Chemistry
a simple sugar found chiefly in honey and fruit.

ORIGIN: from Latin fructus 'fruit' .

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frugal

adjective
sparing or economical as regards money or food.

DERIVATIVES:
frugality noun
frugally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin frugalis, from frux 'fruit' .

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fruit

noun
1. the sweet and fleshy product of a tree or other plant that contains seed and can be eaten as food.
2. Botany the seed-bearing structure of a plant, e.g. an acorn.
3. the result or reward of work or activity.
4. informal, derogatory, chiefly N. Amer. a male homosexual.

verb
produce fruit.

IDIOMS -
bear fruit have good results.

ORIGIN: Latin fructus 'enjoyment of produce, harvest' , from frui 'enjoy' .

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fruit bat

noun
a large bat which feeds chiefly on fruit or nectar.

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fruitcake

noun
1. a cake containing dried fruit and nuts.
2. informal an eccentric or mad person.

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fruiterer

noun chiefly Brit.
a retailer of fruit.

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fruit fly

noun
a small fly which feeds on fruit in both its adult and larval stages.

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fruitful

adjective
1. producing much fruit; fertile.
2. producing good results; productive.

DERIVATIVES:
fruitfully adverb
fruitfulness noun.

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fruition

noun
1. the realization or fulfilment of a plan.
2. literary the state or action of producing fruit.

ORIGIN: Latin from frui 'enjoy' .

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fruitless

adjective
1. failing to achieve the desired results; unproductive.
2. not producing fruit.

DERIVATIVES:
fruitlessly adverb
fruitlessness noun.

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fruit machine

noun Brit.
a coin-operated gambling machine that generates combinations of symbols (typically representing fruit), certain combinations winning money for the player.

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fruit salad

noun
a mixture of different types of chopped fruit served in syrup or juice.

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fruity

adjective (fruitier, fruitiest)
1. of, resembling, or containing fruit.
2. (of a voice) mellow, deep, and rich.
3. Brit. informal sexually suggestive.

DERIVATIVES:
fruitiness noun.

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frump

noun
an unattractive woman who wears dowdy old-fashioned clothes.

DERIVATIVES:
frumpy adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a mocking speech or action, later sulkiness: probably from Dutch verrompelen 'wrinkle' .

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frustrate

verb
1. prevent (a plan or action) from progressing or succeeding.
2. prevent (someone) from doing or achieving something.
3. cause to feel dissatisfied or unfulfilled.

DERIVATIVES:
frustrated adjective
frustrating adjective
frustration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin frustrare 'disappoint' , from frustra 'in vain' .

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fry [1]

verb (fries, fried)
1. cook or be cooked in hot fat or oil.
2. informal (of a person) burn or overheat.

noun (pl. fries)
1. a fried dish or meal.
2. (fries) N. Amer. short for FRENCH FRIES.

ORIGIN: Old French frire, from Latin frigere.

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fry [2]

plural noun
young fish, especially when newly hatched.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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fryer

noun
a large, deep container for frying food.

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frying pan (also frypan)

noun
a shallow pan with a long handle, used for frying food.

IDIOMS -
out of the frying pan into the fire from a bad situation to one that is worse.

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fry-up

noun Brit. informal
a dish or meal of fried food.

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ft

abbreviation
foot or feet.

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FTSE index (also FT index)

noun
a figure (published by the Financial Times) indicating the relative prices of shares on the London Stock Exchange.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of Financial Times Stock Exchange.

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fuchsia

noun
1. an ornamental shrub with drooping tubular flowers that are typically of two contrasting colours.
2. a vivid purplish-red colour.

ORIGIN: named after the German botanist Leonhard Fuchs (1501 66).

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fuck vulgar slang

verb
1. have sexual intercourse with.
2. damage or ruin.

noun
an act of sexual intercourse.

exclamation
a strong expression of annoyance or contempt.

IDIOMS -
fuck about (or around) spend time doing unimportant or trivial things.
fuck all Brit. absolutely nothing.
fuck off go away.
fuck up
1. damage or confuse emotionally.
2. do badly or ineptly.

DERIVATIVES:
fucker noun.

ORIGIN: Germanic.

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fuddled

adjective
confused or stupefied, especially with alcohol.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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fuddy-duddy

noun (pl. fuddy-duddies) informal
a person who is very old-fashioned and pompous.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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fudge

noun
1. a soft sweet made from sugar, butter, and milk or cream.
2. (before another noun ) chiefly N. Amer. rich chocolate, used as a sauce or a filling for cakes.
3. an attempt to fudge an issue.

verb
1. present in a vague way, especially to mislead.
2. manipulate (facts or figures) so as to present a desired picture.

ORIGIN: probably from obsolete fadge «to fit».

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fuel

noun
1. material such as coal, gas, or oil that is burned to produce heat or power.
2. food, drink, or drugs as a source of energy.
3. something that acts to inflame argument or intense emotion.

verb (fuelled, fuelling; US fueled, fueling)
1. supply or power with fuel.
2. sustain or inflame.

ORIGIN: Old French fouaille, from Latin focus 'hearth' .

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fuel injection

noun
the direct introduction of fuel under pressure into the combustion units of an internal-combustion engine.

DERIVATIVES:
fuel-injected adjective.

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fug

noun Brit. informal
a warm, stuffy atmosphere.

DERIVATIVES:
fuggy adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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fugitive

noun
a person who has escaped from captivity or is in hiding.

adjective
quick to disappear; fleeting.

ORIGIN: Latin fugitivus, from fugere 'flee' .

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fugue

noun
1. Music a contrapuntal composition in which a short melody or phrase is introduced by one part and successively taken up by others.
2. Psychiatry loss of awareness of one's identity, often coupled with flight from one's usual environment.

ORIGIN: Latin fuga 'flight' .

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führer (also fuehrer)

noun
the title assumed by Hitler as leader of Germany.

ORIGIN: German, 'leader' .

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-ful

suffix
1. (forming adjectives from nouns) full of; having the qualities of: sorrowful.
2. forming adjectives from adjectives or from Latin stems with little change of sense: grateful.
3. (forming adjectives from verbs) apt to; able to; accustomed to: forgetful.
4. forming nouns denoting the amount needed to fill the specified container: bucketful.

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fulcrum

noun (pl. fulcra or fulcrums)
the point against which a lever is placed to get a purchase, or on which it turns or is supported.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'post of a couch' , from fulcire 'prop up' .

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fulfil (US fulfill)

verb (fulfilled, fulfilling)
1. achieve or realize (something desired, promised, or predicted).
2. satisfy or meet (a requirement or condition).
3. (fulfil oneself) gain happiness or satisfaction by fully achieving one's potential.

DERIVATIVES:
fulfilled adjective
fulfilling adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «fill up, make full».

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fulfilment (US fulfillment)

noun
1. satisfaction or happiness as a result of fully developing one's abilities or character.
2. the action of fulfilling.

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full [1]

adjective
1. containing or holding as much or as many as possible; having no empty space.
2. (full of) having a large number or quantity of.
3. not lacking or omitting anything; complete.
4. (full of) unable to stop talking or thinking about.
5. plump or rounded.
6. (of flavour, sound, or colour) strong, rich, or intense.

adverb
1. straight; directly.
2. very.

IDIOMS -
full of oneself very self-satisfied and with an exaggerated sense of self-worth.
full on
1. running at or providing maximum power or capacity.
2. so as to make a direct or significant impact.
full out with maximum effort or power.
full steam (or speed) ahead proceeding with as much speed or energy as possible.
full up filled to capacity.
to the full to the greatest possible extent.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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full [2]

verb
clean, shrink, and felt (cloth) by heat, pressure, and moisture.

ORIGIN: probably from FULLER, influenced by Old French fouler «press hard upon».

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fullback

noun
a player in a defensive position near the goal in a ball game such as soccer.

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full-blooded

adjective
1. of unmixed ancestry.
2. vigorous and wholehearted.

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full-blown

adjective
fully developed; complete.

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full board

noun Brit.
provision of accommodation and all meals at a hotel or guest house.

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full-bodied

adjective
rich and satisfying in flavour or sound.

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fuller

noun
a person whose occupation is fulling cloth.

ORIGIN: Old English fullere, from Latin fullo.

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full-fledged N. Amer.

adjective
1. with fully developed wing feathers and able to fly.

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full-frontal

adjective
with full exposure of the front of the body.

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full house

noun
1. a theatre or meeting that is filled to capacity.
2. a poker hand with three of a kind and a pair.
3. a winning card at bingo.

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full marks

plural noun
the maximum award in an examination or assessment.

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full moon

noun
the phase of the moon in which its whole disc is illuminated.

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fullness (also fulness)

noun
1. the state of being full.
2. richness or abundance.

IDIOMS -
in the fullness of time after a due length of time has elapsed.

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full-scale

adjective
1. (of a model or representation) of the same size as the thing represented.
2. unrestricted in extent or intensity: a full-scale invasion.

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full stop

noun
a punctuation mark (.) used at the end of a sentence or an abbreviation.

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full-time

adjective
occupying the whole of the time available.

adverb
on a full-time basis.

noun (full time)
the end of a sports match.

DERIVATIVES:
full-timer noun.

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fully

adverb
1. completely or entirely.
2. no less or fewer than: fully 65 per cent.

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-fully

suffix
forming adverbs corresponding to adjectives ending in -ful (such as sorrowfully corresponding to sorrowful).

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fully fledged

adjective
1. with fully developed wing feathers and able to fly.
2. Brit. completely developed or established; of full status.

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fulmar

noun
a gull-sized grey and white northern seabird of the petrel family.

ORIGIN: from Old Norse, 'stinking gull' (because of its habit of regurgitating its stomach contents when disturbed).

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fulminate

verb
1. express vehement protest.
2. literary explode violently or flash like lightning.
3. (of a disease or symptom) develop suddenly and severely.

ORIGIN: Latin fulminare 'strike with lightning' , from fulmen 'lightning' .

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fulmination

noun
an expression of vehement protest.

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fulsome

adjective
1. complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree.
2. of large size or quantity; generous or abundant: fulsome details.

DERIVATIVES:
fulsomely adverb
fulsomeness noun.
USAGE - Although the earliest sense of fulsome was ‘abundant’, this is now regarded by many as incorrect; the correct meaning today is said to be ‘excessively flattering’. This gives rise to ambiguity: the possibility that while for one speaker fulsome praise will be a genuine compliment, for others it will be interpreted as an insult.

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fumble

verb
1. use the hands clumsily while doing or handling something.
2. (of the hands) do or handle something clumsily.
3. (fumble about/around) move about clumsily using the hands to find one's way.
4. express oneself or deal with something clumsily or nervously.
5. (in ball games) fail to catch or field (the ball) cleanly.

noun
an act of fumbling.

DERIVATIVES:
fumbler noun
fumbling adjective.

ORIGIN: Low German fommeln or Dutch fommelen.

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fume

noun
a gas or vapour that smells strongly or is dangerous to inhale.

verb
1. emit fumes.
2. expose (something, especially wood) to ammonia fumes in order to produce dark tints.
3. feel great anger.

DERIVATIVES:
fuming adjective
fumy adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin fumus 'smoke' .

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fumigate

verb
disinfect or purify with the fumes of certain chemicals.

DERIVATIVES:
fumigant noun
fumigation noun
fumigator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin fumigare, from fumus 'smoke' .

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fun

noun
1. light-hearted pleasure or amusement.
2. a source of this.
3. playfulness or good humour.

adjective informal
enjoyable.

IDIOMS -
make fun of tease or laugh at in a mocking way.

ORIGIN: from obsolete fun «to cheat or hoax», of unknown origin.

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function

noun
1. an activity that is natural to or the purpose of a person or thing.
2. a large or formal social event or ceremony.
3. a computer operation corresponding to a single instruction from the user.
4. Mathematics a relation or expression involving one or more variables.
5. a variable quantity regarded as depending on another variable; a consequence: depreciation is a function of time.

verb
1. work or operate in a proper or particular way.
2. (function as) fulfil the purpose or task of.

DERIVATIVES:
functionless adjective.

ORIGIN: French fonction, from Latin fungi 'perform' .

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functional

adjective
1. of, relating to, or having a function.
2. designed to be practical and useful, rather than attractive.
3. working or operating.
4. (of a disease) affecting the operation rather than the structure of an organ.

DERIVATIVES:
functionality noun
functionally adverb.

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functionary

noun (pl. functionaries)
an official.

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fund

noun
1. a sum of money saved or made available for a purpose.
2. (funds) financial resources.
3. a large stock.

verb
provide with a fund.

DERIVATIVES:
funding noun.

ORIGIN: Latin fundus 'bottom, piece of landed property' .

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fundamental

adjective
of or serving as a foundation or core; of central importance.

noun
a central or primary rule or principle.

DERIVATIVES:
fundamentally adverb.

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fundamentalism

noun
1. a form of Protestant Christianity which upholds belief in the strict and literal interpretation of the Bible.
2. the strict maintenance of the ancient or fundamental doctrines of any religion or ideology.

DERIVATIVES:
fundamentalist noun & adjective.

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fundamental note

noun Music
the lowest note of a chord.

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fund-raiser

noun
1. a person engaged in seeking financial support for an organization or cause.
2. an event held to generate such financial support.

DERIVATIVES:
fund-raising noun.

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funeral

noun
a ceremony in which a dead person is buried or cremated.

IDIOMS -
it's one's funeral informal it is one's own responsibility (used to imply that an undesirable outcome is possible).

ORIGIN: Latin funeralia, from funus 'funeral, death, corpse' .

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funeral director

noun
an undertaker.

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funeral parlour (also funeral home)

noun
an establishment where the dead are prepared for burial or cremation.

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funerary

adjective
relating to a funeral or the commemoration of the dead.

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funereal

adjective
having the sombre character appropriate to a funeral.

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funfair

noun chiefly Brit.
a fair consisting of rides, sideshows, and other amusements.

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fungicide

noun
a chemical that destroys fungus.

DERIVATIVES:
fungicidal adjective.

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fungus

noun (pl. fungi)
any of a large group of spore-producing organisms which feed on organic matter and include moulds, yeast, mushrooms, and toadstools.

DERIVATIVES:
fungal adjective
fungoid adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, perhaps from Greek spongos 'sponge' .

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funicular

adjective
(of a railway on a steep slope) operated by cable with ascending and descending cars counterbalanced.

noun
a funicular railway.

ORIGIN: from Latin funiculus 'little rope' .

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funk [1] informal

noun (also blue funk)
a state of panic or depression.

verb
avoid out of fear.

ORIGIN: perhaps from FUNK in the informal sense «tobacco smoke», or from obsolete Flemish fonck 'disturbance, agitation' .

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funk [2]

noun
a style of popular dance music of US black origin, having a strong rhythm that typically accentuates the first beat in the bar.

ORIGIN: perhaps from French dialect funkier 'blow smoke on' .

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funky

adjective (funkier, funkiest) informal
1. (of music) having a strong dance rhythm.
2. unconventionally modern and stylish.

DERIVATIVES:
funkily adverb
funkiness noun.

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funnel

noun
1. a utensil that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, used for guiding liquid or powder into a small opening.
2. a metal chimney on a ship or steam engine.

verb (funnelled, funnelling; US funneled, funneling)
guide or move through or as if through a funnel.

ORIGIN: Provençal fonilh, from Latin fundibulum, from infundere 'pour into' .

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funny

adjective (funnier, funniest)
1. causing laughter or amusement.
2. strange; peculiar.
3. arousing suspicion.
4. informal slightly unwell; out of sorts.

noun (funnies) informal
1. amusing jokes.
2. N. Amer. the comic strips in newspapers.

DERIVATIVES:
funnily adverb
funniness noun.

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funny bone

noun informal
the part of the elbow over which the ulnar nerve passes, which may cause numbness and pain if knocked.

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funny farm

noun informal
a psychiatric hospital.

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fun run

noun informal
an uncompetitive run for sponsored runners, held in support of a charity.

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fur

noun
1. the short, soft hair of certain animals.
2. the skin of an animal with fur on it, used in making garments.
3. a coat made from fur.
4. Brit. a coating formed by hard water on the inside surface of a pipe, kettle, etc.
5. a coating formed on the tongue as a symptom of sickness.

verb (furred, furring) Brit.
coat or clog with a deposit.

IDIOMS -
the fur will fly informal there will be a dramatic argument.

DERIVATIVES:
furred adjective.

ORIGIN: from Old French forrer 'to line, sheathe' , from forre 'sheath' .

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furbelow

noun
1. a flounce on a skirt or petticoat.
2. (furbelows) showy trimmings.

ORIGIN: French falbala 'trimming, flounce' .

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furious

adjective
1. extremely angry.
2. full of energy or intensity.

DERIVATIVES:
furiously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin furiosus, from furia 'fury' .

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furl

verb
roll or fold up neatly and securely.

DERIVATIVES:
furled adjective.

ORIGIN: French ferler, from Old French fer, ferm 'firm' + lier 'bind' .

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furlong

noun
an eighth of a mile, 220 yards.

ORIGIN: from the Old English words for «furrow» + «long» (originally denoting the length of a furrow in a common field).

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furlough

noun
leave of absence, especially from military duty.

verb US
grant furlough to.

ORIGIN: Dutch verlof.

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furnace

noun
1. an enclosed chamber in which material can be heated to very high temperatures.
2. a very hot place.

ORIGIN: Latin fornax, from fornus 'oven' .

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furnish

verb
1. provide (a room or building) with furniture and fittings.
2. (furnish with) supply with (equipment or information).
3. be a source of; provide.

DERIVATIVES:
furnished adjective
furnisher noun.

ORIGIN: Old French furnir.

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furniture

noun
1. the movable articles that are used to make a room or building suitable for living or working in, such as tables, chairs, or desks.
2. the small accessories or fittings that are required for a particular task or function: door furniture.

IDIOMS -
a part of the furniture informal a person or thing that has become so familiar as to be unnoticed.

ORIGIN: French fourniture, from fournir 'to furnish' .

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furore (US furor)

noun
an outbreak of public anger or excitement.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin furere 'be mad, rage' .

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furrier

noun
a person who prepares or deals in furs.

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furrow

noun
1. a long, narrow trench made in the ground by a plough.
2. a rut or groove.
3. a deep wrinkle on a person's face.

verb
1. make a furrow in.
2. mark or be marked with furrows.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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furry

adjective (furrier, furriest)
covered with or resembling fur.

DERIVATIVES:
furriness noun.

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further
used as comparative of FAR.
adverb (also farther)
1. at, to, or by a greater distance.
2. over a greater expanse of space or time.
3. beyond the point already reached.
4. at or to a more advanced or desirable stage.
5. in addition; also.

adjective
1. (also farther) more distant in space.
2. additional.

verb
help the progress or development of.

IDIOMS -
further to formal following on from (used especially at the beginning of a letter).

USAGE - Is there any difference between further and farther? In the sense ‘at, to, or by a greater distance’ they may be used interchangeably: she moved further down the train and she moved farther down the train are both correct. However further is a much commoner word, and in addition it is used in certain abstract contexts, for example in references to time, in which it would be unusual to substitute farther, e.g. have you anything further to say? ; without further delay .
ORIGIN: Old English, related to FORTH.

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furtherance

noun
the advancement of a scheme or interest.

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further education

noun Brit.
education below degree level for people above school age.

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furthermore

adverb
in addition; besides.

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furthest (also farthest)
used as superlative of FAR.
adjective
1. situated at the greatest distance.
2. covering the greatest area or distance.

adverb
1. at or by the greatest distance.
2. over the greatest distance or area.
3. to the most extreme or advanced point.

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furtive

adjective
characterized by guilty or evasive secrecy; stealthy.

DERIVATIVES:
furtively adverb
furtiveness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin furtivus, from furtum 'theft' .

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fury

noun (pl. furies)
1. extreme anger.
2. extreme strength or violence in an action or a natural phenomenon.
2. (Fury) Greek Mythology a spirit of punishment, often represented as one of three goddesses.

IDIOMS -
like fury informal with great energy or effort.

ORIGIN: Latin furia, from furere 'be mad, rage' .

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fuse [1]

verb
1. join, blend, or coalesce to form a single entity.
2. melt (a material or object) with intense heat, so as to join it with something else.
3. Brit. (with reference to an electrical appliance) stop or cause to stop working when a fuse melts.
4. provide (a circuit or electrical appliance) with a fuse.

noun
a safety device consisting of a strip of wire that melts and breaks an electric circuit if the current exceeds a safe level.

ORIGIN: from Latin fundere 'pour, melt' .

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fuse [2] (also fuze)

noun
1. a length of material along which a small flame moves to explode a bomb or firework.
2. a device in a bomb that controls the timing of the explosion.

verb
fit a fuse to (a bomb).

ORIGIN: Latin fusus 'spindle' .

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fuse box

noun
a box or board housing the fuses for circuits in a building.

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fuselage

noun
the main body of an aircraft.

ORIGIN: French, from fuseler 'shape into a spindle' .

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fusible

adjective
able to be fused or melted easily.

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fusil

noun historical
a light musket.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a flint: from French, from Latin focus 'hearth, fire' .

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fusilier

noun (Fusilier)
a member of any of several British regiments formerly armed with fusils.

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fusillade

noun
a series of shots fired at the same time or in rapid succession.

ORIGIN: French.

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fusilli

plural noun
pasta pieces in the form of short spirals.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'little spindles' .

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fusion

noun
1. the process or result of fusing.
2. a reaction in which light atomic nuclei fuse to form a heavier nucleus, releasing much energy.
3. music that is a mixture of different styles, especially jazz and rock.

DERIVATIVES:
fusionist noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from fundere 'pour, melt' .

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fuss

noun
1. a display of unnecessary or excessive excitement, activity, or interest.
2. a protest or complaint.

verb
1. show unnecessary or excessive concern about something.
2. Brit. disturb or bother.
3. treat with excessive attention or affection.

IDIOMS -
not be fussed Brit. informal not have strong feelings about something.

ORIGIN: perhaps Anglo-Irish.

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fusspot

noun informal
a fussy person.

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fussy

adjective (fussier, fussiest)
1. fastidious about one's requirements and hard to please.
2. full of unnecessary detail or decoration.

DERIVATIVES:
fussily adverb
fussiness noun.

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fustian

noun
a thick, hard-wearing twilled cloth.

ORIGIN: from Latin pannus fustaneus 'cloth from Fostat' , a suburb of Cairo.

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fusty

adjective (fustier, fustiest)
1. smelling stale, damp, or stuffy.
2. old-fashioned.

DERIVATIVES:
fustiness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French fuste 'smelling of the cask' .

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futile

adjective
producing no useful result; pointless.

DERIVATIVES:
futilely adverb
futility noun.

ORIGIN: Latin futilis 'leaky, futile' .

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futon

noun
a padded unsprung mattress originating in Japan, that can be rolled up.

ORIGIN: Japanese.

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future

noun
1. (the future) time that is still to come.
2. events or conditions occurring or existing in that time.
3. a prospect of success or happiness: I might have a future as an artist.
4. Grammar a tense of verbs expressing events that have not yet happened.
5. (futures) contracts for assets bought at agreed prices but delivered and paid for later.

adjective
1. existing or occurring in the future.
2. planned or destined to hold a specified position: his future wife.
3. Grammar (of a tense) expressing an event yet to happen.

IDIOMS -
in future from now onwards.

ORIGIN: from Latin futurus 'going to be' .

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future perfect

noun Grammar
a tense of verbs expressing expected completion in the future, in English exemplified by will have done.

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Futurism

noun
an artistic movement launched in Italy in 1909, which strongly rejected traditional forms and embraced modern technology.

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futurist

noun
1. (Futurist) an adherent of Futurism.
2. a person who studies the future and makes predictions about it.

adjective
1. (Futurist) relating to Futurism or the Futurists.
2. relating to a vision of the future.

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futuristic

adjective
1. having or involving very modern technology or design.
2. (of a film or book) set in the future.

DERIVATIVES:
futuristically adverb.

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futurity

noun (pl. futurities)
1. the future time.
2. a future event.

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fuzz [1]

noun
1. a frizzy mass of hair or fibre.
2. a blurred image.

verb
make or become fuzzy.

DERIVATIVES:
fuzzed adjective.

ORIGIN: probably Low German or Dutch.

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fuzz [2]

noun (the fuzz) informal
the police.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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fuzzy

adjective (fuzzier, fuzziest)
1. having a frizzy texture or appearance.
2. indistinct or vague.
3. Computing & Logic referring to a form of set theory and logic in which predicates may have degrees of applicability, rather than simply being true or false.

IDIOMS -
warm and fuzzy N. Amer. informal sentimental.

DERIVATIVES:
fuzzily adverb
fuzziness noun.

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F-word

noun euphemistic
the word ‘fuck’.

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FX

abbreviation
visual or sound effects.

ORIGIN: from the pronunciation of the two syllables of effects.

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-fy

suffix
1. (added to nouns) forming verbs denoting making or producing: speechify.
2. denoting transformation or the process of making into: petrify.
3. forming verbs denoting the making of a state defined by an adjective: falsify.
4. forming verbs expressing a causative sense: horrify.

ORIGIN: from Latin -ficare, from facere 'do, make' .

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FYI

abbreviation
for your information.

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G

G [1] (also g)

noun (pl. Gs or G's)
1. the seventh letter of the alphabet.
2. denoting the next item after F in a set.
3. Music the fifth note in the diatonic scale of C major.

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G [2]

abbreviation
1. giga- (10^9).
2. N. Amer. informal grand (a thousand dollars).
3. the force exerted by the earth's gravitational field.

symbol Physics
the gravitational constant (6.67 x 10-11 N m^2 kg-2).

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g

abbreviation
1. Chemistry gas.
2. gram(s).

symbol Physics
the acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m s-2).

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GA

abbreviation
Georgia.

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Ga

symbol
the chemical element gallium.

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gab informal

verb (gabbed, gabbing)
talk at length.

noun
talk; chatter.

IDIOMS -
the gift of the gab the ability to speak with eloquence and fluency.

DERIVATIVES:
gabby adjective (gabbier, gabbiest) .

ORIGIN: from GOB.

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gabble

verb
talk rapidly and unintelligibly.

noun
rapid, unintelligible talk.

DERIVATIVES:
gabbler noun.

ORIGIN: Dutch gabbelen.

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gaberdine

noun
1. a smooth, durable twill-woven worsted or cotton cloth.
2. Brit. a raincoat made of gaberdine.

ORIGIN: Old French gauvardine, perhaps from High German wallevart 'pilgrimage' and originally 'a garment worn by a pilgrim' .

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gable

noun
1. the triangular upper part of a wall at the end of a ridged roof.
2. a gable-shaped canopy over a window or door.

DERIVATIVES:
gabled adjective.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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gad

verb (gadded, gadding) (gad about/around) informal
go around from one place to another seeking pleasure and entertainment.

ORIGIN: from obsolete gadling «wanderer, vagabond», from Germanic.

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gadabout

noun informal
a person who gads about.

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gadfly

noun
1. a fly that bites livestock, especially a horsefly, warble fly, or botfly.
2. an annoying and provocative person.

ORIGIN: from GAD, or obsolete gad 'goad, spike' , from Old Norse.

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gadget

noun
a small mechanical device or tool.

DERIVATIVES:
gadgetry noun.

ORIGIN: probably from French gâchette 'lock mechanism' or from French dialect gagée 'tool' .

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Gael

noun
a Gaelic-speaking person.

ORIGIN: Scottish Gaelic Gaidheal.

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Gaelic

noun
1. (also Scottish Gaelic) a Celtic language spoken in western Scotland, brought from Ireland in the 5th and 6th centuries AD.
2. (also Irish Gaelic) another term for IRISH (the language).

adjective
relating to the Celtic languages and their speakers.

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gaff [1]

noun
1. a stick with a hook or barbed spear, for landing large fish.
2. Sailing a spar to which the head of a fore-and-aft sail is bent.

verb
seize or impale (a fish) with a gaff.

ORIGIN: Provençal gaf 'hook' ; related to GAFFE.

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gaff [2]

noun (in phrase blow the gaff) Brit. informal
reveal a plot or secret.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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gaff [3]

noun Brit. informal
a person's house, flat, or shop.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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gaffe (also gaff)

noun
an embarrassing blunder.

ORIGIN: French, 'boathook' , in colloquial use 'blunder' .

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gaffer

noun Brit.
1. informal an old man.
2. informal a boss.
3. the chief electrician in a film or television production unit.

ORIGIN: probably a contraction of GODFATHER.

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gag [1]

noun
1. a piece of cloth put in or over a person's mouth to prevent them from speaking.
2. a restriction on free speech.

verb (gagged, gagging)
1. put a gag on.
2. choke or retch.

ORIGIN: perhaps imitative of a person choking.

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gag [2]

noun
a joke or funny story or act.

verb
tell jokes.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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gaga

adjective informal
rambling in speech or thought; senile or slightly mad.

ORIGIN: French.

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gage [1] archaic

noun
1. a valued object deposited as a guarantee of good faith.
2. a glove or other object thrown down as a challenge to fight.

verb
offer as a gage.

ORIGIN: Old French; related to WAGE and WED.

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gaggle

noun
1. a flock of geese.
2. informal a disorderly group of people.

ORIGIN: imitative of the noise that a goose makes.

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gaiety (US also gayety)

noun (pl. gaieties)
1. the state or quality of being light-hearted and cheerful.
2. merrymaking; festivity.

ORIGIN: French gaieté.

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gaily

adverb
1. in a light-hearted and cheerful manner.
2. without thinking of the consequences.
3. with a bright appearance.

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gain

verb
1. obtain or secure.
2. reach or arrive at.
3. (gain on) come closer to (a person or thing pursued).
4. increase the amount or rate of (weight, speed, etc.).
5. increase in value.
6. (gain in) improve or advance in (some respect).
7. (of a clock or watch) become fast.

noun
1. a thing that is gained.
2. an increase in wealth or resources.

DERIVATIVES:
gainable adjective
gainer noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «booty»: from Old French gaignier 'to gain' .

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gainful

adjective
serving to increase wealth or resources.

DERIVATIVES:
gainfully adverb
gainfulness noun.

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gainsay

verb (past and past part. gainsaid) formal
deny or contradict; speak against.

DERIVATIVES:
gainsayer noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete gain- 'against' + SAY.

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gait

noun
1. a person's manner of walking.
2. the paces of a horse or dog.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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gaiter

noun
1. a covering of cloth or leather for the ankle and lower leg.
2. chiefly US a shoe or overshoe extending to the ankle or above.

DERIVATIVES:
gaitered adjective.

ORIGIN: French guêtre.

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gal

noun informal, chiefly N. Amer.
a girl or young woman.

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gal.

abbreviation
gallon(s).

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gala

noun
1. a festive entertainment or performance.
2. Brit. a special sports event, especially a swimming competition.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «showy dress»: from Old French gale 'rejoicing' .

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galactic

adjective
1. relating to a galaxy or galaxies.
2. Astronomy measured relative to the galactic equator.

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galaxy

noun (pl. galaxies)
1. a system of millions or billions of stars, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction.
2. (the Galaxy) the galaxy of which the solar system is a part; the Milky Way.
3. a large and impressive group of people or things.

ORIGIN: from Greek galaxias kuklos 'milky vault' (referring to the Milky Way), from gala 'milk' .

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gale

noun
1. a very strong wind.
2. an outburst of laughter.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to an Old Norse word meaning 'mad, frantic' .

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gall [1]

noun
1. bold and impudent behaviour.
2. bitterness or cruelty.
3. an animal's gall bladder.
4. archaic the contents of the gall bladder; bile.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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gall [2]

noun
1. annoyance; irritation.
2. a sore on the skin made by chafing.

verb
1. annoy; irritate.
2. make sore by chafing.

DERIVATIVES:
galling adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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gall [3]

noun
an abnormal growth formed in response to the presence of insect larvae, mites, or fungi on plants and trees.

ORIGIN: Latin galla.

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gall.

abbreviation
gallon(s).

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gallant

adjective
1. brave; heroic.
2. (of a man) charming; chivalrous.
3. archaic of fine appearance; grand.

noun
a man who is charmingly attentive to women.

DERIVATIVES:
gallantly adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «finely dressed»: from Old French galant, from galer 'have fun, make a show' .

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gallantry

noun (pl. gallantries)
1. courageous behaviour.
2. polite attention or respect given by men to women.

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gall bladder

noun
a small sac-shaped organ beneath the liver, in which bile is stored.

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galleon

noun historical
a large square-rigged sailing ship with three or more decks and masts.

ORIGIN: French galion or Spanish galeón.

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gallery

noun (pl. galleries)
1. a room or building for the display or sale of works of art.
2. a balcony or upper floor projecting from a back or side wall inside a hall or church.
3. the highest balcony in a theatre, having the cheapest seats.
4. (the gallery) a group of spectators.
5. a long room or passage forming a portico or colonnade.
6. a horizontal underground passage in a mine.

IDIOMS -
play to the gallery aim to attract popular attention.

DERIVATIVES:
galleried adjective.

ORIGIN: Italian galleria 'gallery' , formerly also 'church porch' , from Latin galeria.

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galley

noun (pl. galleys)
1. historical a low, flat ship with one or more sails and up to three banks of oars, often manned by slaves or criminals.
2. a narrow kitchen in a ship or aircraft.
3. (also galley proof) a printer's proof in the form of long single-column strips.

ORIGIN: Greek galaia; sense 3 is from French galée denoting an oblong tray for holding set-up type.

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Gallic

adjective
1. of or characteristic of France or the French.
2. of or relating to the Gauls.

DERIVATIVES:
Gallicize (also Gallicise) verb.

ORIGIN: Latin Gallicus, from Gallus 'a Gaul' .

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gallimaufry

noun
a jumble or medley.

ORIGIN: archaic French galimafrée 'unappetizing dish' .

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gallivant

verb informal
go from place to place seeking pleasure and entertainment.

ORIGIN: perhaps from GALLANT.

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gallon

noun
1. a unit of volume for liquid measure equal to eight pints: in Britain (also imperial gallon) , equivalent to 4.55 litres; in the US, equivalent to 3.79 litres.
2. (gallons) informal large quantities.

ORIGIN: Old French galon, from Latin galleta 'pail, liquid measure' .

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gallop

noun
1. the fastest pace of a horse or other quadruped, with all the feet off the ground together in each stride.
2. a ride on a horse at a gallop.

verb (galloped, galloping)
1. go or cause to go at the pace of a gallop.
2. proceed at great speed.

DERIVATIVES:
galloper noun.

ORIGIN: Old French galoper; related to WALLOP.

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gallows

plural noun (usu. treated as sing. )
1. a structure consisting of two uprights and a crosspiece, used for hanging a person.
2. (the gallows) execution by hanging.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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gallows humour

noun
grim and ironical humour in a desperate or hopeless situation.

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gallstone

noun
a small, hard crystalline mass formed abnormally in the gall bladder or bile ducts from bile pigments, cholesterol, and calcium salts.

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Gallup poll

noun trademark
an assessment of public opinion by the questioning of a representative sample, used in forecasting voting results in an election.

ORIGIN: named after the American statistician George H. Gallup (1901 84).

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galore

adjective
in abundance: there were prizes galore.

ORIGIN: from Irish go leor 'to sufficiency' .

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galosh

noun
a waterproof rubber overshoe.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a type of clog: from Latin gallica solea 'Gallic shoe' .

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galumph

verb informal
move in a clumsy, ponderous, or noisy manner.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «prance in triumph»: coined by Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking Glass; perhaps a blend of GALLOP and TRIUMPH.

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galvanic

adjective
1. relating to or involving electric currents produced by chemical action.
2. sudden and dramatic.

DERIVATIVES:
galvanically adverb.

ORIGIN: French galvanique, from the name of the Italian physiologist Luigi Galvani (1737 98), known for his discovery of the twitching of frogs' legs in an electric field.

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galvanize (also galvanise)

verb
1. shock or excite into action.
2. (galvanized) (of iron or steel) coated with a protective layer of zinc.

DERIVATIVES:
galvanization noun
galvanizer noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «stimulate by electricity»: from French galvaniser (see GALVANIC).

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galvanometer

noun
an instrument for detecting and measuring small electric currents.

DERIVATIVES:
galvanometric adjective.

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gambit

noun
1. an action or remark calculated to gain an advantage.
2. (in chess) an opening move in which a player makes a sacrifice for the sake of some compensating advantage.

ORIGIN: Italian gambetto 'tripping up' .

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gamble

verb
1. play games of chance for money; bet.
2. bet (a sum of money).
3. take risky action in the hope of a desired result.

noun
1. an act of gambling.
2. a risky undertaking.

DERIVATIVES:
gambler noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete gamel 'play games' , or from the verb GAME.

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gambol

verb (gambolled, gambolling; US gamboled, gamboling)
run or jump about playfully.

noun
an act of gambolling.

ORIGIN: Italian gambata 'trip up' .

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game [1]

noun
1. an activity engaged in for amusement.
2. a form of competitive activity or sport played according to rules.
3. a complete episode or period of play, ending in a final result.
4. a single portion of play, forming a scoring unit within a game.
5. (games) a meeting for sporting contests.
6. the equipment used in playing a board game, computer game, etc.
7. a type of activity or business regarded as a game.
8. a secret plan or trick.
9. wild mammals or birds hunted for sport or food.

adjective
eager and willing to do something new or challenging: they were game for anything.

verb
play at games of chance for money.

IDIOMS -
ahead of the game ahead of one's competitors or peers.
beat someone at their own game use someone's own methods to outdo them.
the game is up the deception or crime is revealed or foiled.
on the game Brit. informal working as a prostitute.
play the game behave in a fair or honourable way; abide by the rules.

DERIVATIVES:
gamely adverb
gameness noun
gamester noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «amusement, fun».

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game [2]

adjective
(of a person's leg) lame.

ORIGIN: originally dialect: of unknown origin.

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game bird

noun
1. a bird shot for sport or food.
2. a bird of a large group that includes pheasants, grouse, quails, guineafowl, etc.

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gamekeeper

noun
a person employed to breed and protect game for a large estate.

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game plan

noun
a planned strategy in sport, politics, or business.

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gamer

noun
1. a participant in a computer or role-playing game.
2. N. Amer. (especially in sporting contexts) a person known for consistently making a strong effort.

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game show

noun
a programme on television in which people compete to win prizes.

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gamesmanship

noun
the art of winning games by using ploys and tactics to gain a psychological advantage.

DERIVATIVES:
gamesman noun.

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gamete

noun Biology
a mature haploid male or female germ cell which is able to unite with another of the opposite sex in sexual reproduction to form a zygote.

DERIVATIVES:
gametic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek gamet 'wife' , gamets 'husband' , from gamos 'marriage' .

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gamine

noun
a girl with a mischievous, boyish charm.

adjective
characteristic of a gamine.

ORIGIN: French.

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gamma

noun
1. the third letter of the Greek alphabet (, ), transliterated as ‘g’.
2. Brit. a third-class mark given for a piece of work.
3. (before another noun ) relating to gamma rays.

ORIGIN: Greek.

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gamma rays (also gamma radiation)

plural noun
penetrating electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength than X-rays.

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gammon

noun
1. ham which has been cured like bacon.
2. the bottom piece of a side of bacon, including a hind leg.

ORIGIN: Old French gambon, from gambe 'leg' .

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gammy

adjective Brit. informal
(especially of a leg) unable to function normally because of injury or chronic pain.

ORIGIN: dialect form of GAME.

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gamut

noun
1. the complete range or scope of something.
2. Music a complete scale of musical notes; the compass or range of a voice or instrument.
3. historical a scale consisting of seven overlapping hexachords, containing all the recognized notes used in medieval music.
4. historical the lowest note in this scale.

IDIOMS -
run the gamut experience, display, or perform the complete range of something.

ORIGIN: from Latin gamma ut (in sense 4): the Greek letter (gamma) was used for bass G, with ut indicating that it was the first note in the lowest of the hexachords.

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gamy (also gamey)

adjective (gamier, gamiest)
1. (of meat) having the strong flavour or smell of game when it is high.
2. chiefly N. Amer. racy or risqué.

DERIVATIVES:
gamily adverb
gaminess noun.

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gander

noun
1. a male goose.
2. informal a look or glance.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to GANNET.

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gang

noun
1. an organized group of criminals or disorderly young people.
2. informal a group of people who regularly meet and do things together.
3. an organized group of people doing manual work.
4. a set of switches, sockets, or other devices grouped together.

verb
1. (gang together) form a group or gang.
2. (gang up) join together in opposition to someone.
3. arrange (electrical devices or machines) together to work in coordination.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'gait, course, going' .

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gang bang

noun informal
1. a gang rape.
2. a sexual orgy.
3. N. Amer. an instance of violence involving members of a criminal gang.

DERIVATIVES:
gang-bang verb
gang banger noun.

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gangling (also gangly)

adjective
(of a person) tall, thin, and awkward.

ORIGIN: Old Norse

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ganglion

noun (pl. ganglia or ganglions) Anatomy & Medicine
1. a structure containing a number of nerve cells, often forming a swelling on a nerve fibre.
2. a well-defined mass of grey matter within the central nervous system.
3. an abnormal benign swelling on a tendon sheath.

DERIVATIVES:
ganglionic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'tumour on or near sinews or tendons' .

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gangplank

noun
a movable plank used to board or disembark from a ship or boat.

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gang rape

noun
the rape of one person by a group of other people.

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gangrene

noun Medicine
localized death and decomposition of body tissue, resulting from either obstructed circulation or bacterial infection.

verb
become affected with gangrene.

DERIVATIVES:
gangrenous adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek gangraina.

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gangster

noun
a member of an organized gang of violent criminals.

DERIVATIVES:
gangsterism noun.

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gangway

noun
1. a raised platform or walkway providing a passage.
2. a movable bridge linking a ship to the shore.
3. Brit. a passage between rows of seats in an auditorium, aircraft, etc.

exclamation
make way!

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ganja

noun
cannabis.

ORIGIN: Hindi.

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gannet

noun
1. a large seabird with mainly white plumage, catching fish by plunge-diving.
2. Brit. informal a greedy person.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to GANDER.

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gantry

noun (pl. gantries)
a bridge-like overhead structure supporting equipment such as a crane or railway signals.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a wooden stand for barrels: probably from GALLON + TREE.

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gap

noun
1. a break or hole in an object or between two objects.
2. a space, interval, or break.

DERIVATIVES:
gapped adjective
gappy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'chasm' ; related to GAPE.

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gape

verb
1. be or become wide open.
2. stare with one's mouth open wide in amazement or wonder.

noun
1. a wide opening.
2. an open-mouthed stare.
3. a widely open mouth or beak.

DERIVATIVES:
gaper noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, related to GAP.

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gap year

noun
a period, typically an academic year, taken by a student as a break from education between leaving school and starting a university or college course.

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garage

noun
1. a building for housing a motor vehicle or vehicles.
2. an establishment which sells fuel or which repairs and sells motor vehicles.

verb
put or keep (a motor vehicle) in a garage.

ORIGIN: French, from garer 'to shelter' .

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garam masala

noun
a spice mixture used in Indian cookery.

ORIGIN: Urdu, 'pungent spice' .

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garb

noun
clothing or dress of a distinctive kind.

verb (usu. be garbed)
dress in distinctive clothes.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian garbo 'elegance' ; related to GEAR.

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garbage

noun chiefly N. Amer.
1. domestic rubbish or waste.
2. something worthless or meaningless.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «offal»: from Old French.

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garble

verb
reproduce (a message or transmission) in a confused and distorted way.

noun
a garbled account or transmission.

DERIVATIVES:
garbler noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «sift out, cleanse»: from an Arabic word meaning «sift».

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Garda

noun
1. the state police force of the Irish Republic.
2. (pl. Gardai) a member of the Irish police force.

ORIGIN: from Irish Garda Siochána 'Civic Guard' .

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garden

noun
1. chiefly Brit. a piece of ground adjoining a house, typically cultivated to provide a lawn and flowerbeds.
2. (gardens) ornamental grounds laid out for public enjoyment.

verb
cultivate or work in a garden.

DERIVATIVES:
gardener noun.

ORIGIN: Old French jardin; related to YARD.

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garden centre

noun
an establishment where plants and gardening equipment are sold.

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garden city

noun
a new town built on a plan incorporating open space and greenery.

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gardenia

noun
a tree or shrub of warm climates, with large fragrant white or yellow flowers.

ORIGIN: named in honour of the Scottish naturalist Dr Alexander Garden (1730 91).

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garden party

noun
a social event held on a lawn in a garden.

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garden-variety

adjective N. Amer.
of the usual or ordinary type; commonplace.

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gargantuan

adjective
enormous.

ORIGIN: from Gargantua, a voracious giant in Rabelais' book of the same name (1534).

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gargle

verb
wash one's mouth and throat with a liquid that is kept in motion by breathing through it with a gurgling sound.

noun
1. an act of gargling.
2. a liquid used for gargling.

ORIGIN: French gargouiller 'gurgle, bubble' , from Old French gargouille 'throat' (see GARGOYLE).

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gargoyle

noun
a grotesque carved human or animal face or figure projecting from the gutter of a building, usually as a spout to carry water clear of a wall.

ORIGIN: Old French gargouille 'throat' , also 'gargoyle' .

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garish

adjective
obtrusively bright and showy; lurid.

DERIVATIVES:
garishly adverb
garishness noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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garland

noun
1. a wreath of flowers and leaves, worn on the head or hung as a decoration.
2. a prize or distinction.
3. archaic a literary anthology.

verb
adorn or crown with a garland.

ORIGIN: Old French garlande.

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garlic

noun
the strong-smelling pungent-tasting bulb of a plant of the onion family, used as a flavouring in cookery.

DERIVATIVES:
garlicky adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, from gr «spear» (because the shape of a clove resembles the head of a spear) + lac «leek».

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garment

noun
an item of clothing.

ORIGIN: Old French garnement 'equipment' , from garnir (see GARNISH).

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garner

verb
1. gather or collect.
2. archaic store; deposit.

noun archaic
a storehouse for corn; a granary.

ORIGIN: Old French gernier, from Latin granarium 'granary' .

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garnet

noun
a deep red semi-precious stone.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Latin granatum, as in pomum granatum 'pomegranate' (literally 'apple having many seeds' ), because the garnet is similar in colour to the pulp of the fruit.

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garnish

verb
1. decorate (something, especially food).
2. Law serve notice on (a third party) for the purpose of legally seizing money belonging to a debtor or defendant.
3. Law seize (money, especially part of a person's salary) to settle a debt or claim.

noun
a decoration for food.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «equip, arm»: from Old French garnir; related to WARN.

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garret

noun
a top-floor or attic room.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «watchtower»: from Old French garite, from garir (see GARRISON).

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garrison

noun
a body of troops stationed in a fortress or town to defend it.

verb
provide (a place) with a garrison.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «safety, means of protection»: from Old French garison, from garir 'defend, provide' .

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garrotte (also garotte; US garrote)

verb
kill by strangulation.

noun
a wire, cord, or apparatus used for garrotting.

ORIGIN: Spanish garrote 'cudgel, garrotte' .

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garrulous

adjective
excessively talkative.

DERIVATIVES:
garrulity noun
garrulously adverb
garrulousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin garrulus, from garrire 'to chatter, prattle' .

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garter

noun
1. a band worn around the leg to keep up a stocking or sock.
2. N. Amer. a suspender for a sock or stocking.

DERIVATIVES:
gartered adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French gartier, from garet 'bend of the knee, calf of the leg' .

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gas

noun (pl. gases or chiefly US gasses)
1. an air-like fluid substance which expands freely to fill any space available, irrespective of its quantity.
2. a flammable substance of this type used as a fuel.
3. a gaseous anaesthetic such as nitrous oxide, used in dentistry.
4. (a gas) informal an entertaining or amusing person or thing.
5. N. Amer. informal gasoline.
6. chiefly N. Amer. flatulence.
7. Mining an explosive mixture of firedamp with air.

verb (gases, gassed, gassing)
1. attack with, expose to, or kill with gas.
2. N. Amer. informal fill the tank of (a motor vehicle) with petrol.
3. informal talk idly; chatter.

DERIVATIVES:
gasification noun
gasify verb
gasser noun.

ORIGIN: invented by the Belgian chemist J. B. van Helmont (1577 1644) to denote an occult principle which he believed to exist in all matter; suggested by Greek khaos 'chaos' .

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gasbag

noun informal
a person who talks idly and excessively.

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gas chamber

noun
an airtight room that can be filled with poisonous gas to kill people or animals.

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gaseous

adjective
relating to or having the characteristics of a gas.

DERIVATIVES:
gaseousness noun.

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gash

noun
a long, deep slash, cut, or wound.

verb
make a gash in.

ORIGIN: from Old French garcer 'to chap, crack' , perhaps from Greek kharassein 'sharpen, scratch, engrave' .

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gasket

noun
a sheet or ring of rubber or other material sealing the junction between two surfaces in an engine or other device.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a cord securing a furled sail to the yard of a sailing ship: perhaps from French garcette 'thin rope' (originally 'little girl' ).

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gaslight

noun
light from lamps in which an incandescent mantle is heated by a jet of burning gas.

DERIVATIVES:
gaslit adjective.

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gas mask

noun
a protective mask used to cover the face as a defence against poison gas.

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gasoline (also gasolene)

noun N. Amer.
petrol.

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gasometer

noun
a large tank in which gas for use as fuel is stored before being distributed to consumers.

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gasp

verb
1. catch one's breath with an open mouth, from pain, breathlessness, or astonishment.
2. (gasp for) strain to obtain (air) by gasping.
3. (be gasping for) informal be desperate to have.

noun
a convulsive catching of breath.

IDIOMS -
the last gasp the point of exhaustion, death, or completion.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'to yawn' .

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gassy

adjective (gassier, gassiest)
1. resembling or full of gas.
2. informal verbose; idly chattering.

DERIVATIVES:
gassiness noun.

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gastric

adjective
of the stomach.

ORIGIN: from Greek gastr 'stomach' .

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gastric flu

noun
a short-lived stomach disorder of unknown cause, popularly attributed to a virus.

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gastric juice

noun
an acid fluid secreted by the stomach glands and active in promoting digestion.

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gastro-enteritis

noun
inflammation of the stomach and intestines, typically resulting from bacterial toxins or viral infection and causing vomiting and diarrhoea.

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gastronomy

noun
the practice or art of choosing, cooking, and eating good food.

DERIVATIVES:
gastronomic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek gastronomia, from gastr 'stomach' .

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gastropod

noun Zoology
any of a large class of molluscs including snails, slugs, and whelks.

ORIGIN: from Greek gastr 'stomach' + pous 'foot' .

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gas turbine

noun
a turbine driven by expanding hot gases produced by burning fuel, as in a jet engine.

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gasworks

plural noun (treated as sing. )
a place where gas is manufactured and processed.

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gate

noun
1. a hinged barrier used to close an opening in a wall, fence, or hedge.
2. an exit from an airport building to an aircraft.
3. a hinged or sliding barrier for controlling the flow of water.
4. the number of people who pay to enter a sports ground for an event.
5. an electric circuit with an output which depends on the combination of several inputs.

verb Brit.
confine (a pupil or student) to school or college.

IDIOMS -
get (or be given) the gate N. Amer. informal be dismissed from a job.

DERIVATIVES:
gated adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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gateau

noun (pl. gateaus or gateaux) chiefly Brit.
a rich cake, typically one containing layers of cream or fruit.

ORIGIN: French.

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gatecrash

verb
enter (a party) without an invitation or ticket.

DERIVATIVES:
gatecrasher noun.

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gatefold

noun
an oversized page in a book or magazine folded to the same size as the other pages but intended to be opened out for reading.

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gatehouse

noun
1. a house standing by the gateway to a country estate.
2. historical a room over a city or palace gate, often used as a prison.

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gatekeeper

noun
an attendant at a gate.

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gateleg table

noun
a table with hinged legs that may be swung out from the centre to support folding leaves.

DERIVATIVES:
gatelegged adjective.

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gatepost

noun
a post on which a gate is hinged or against which it shuts.

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gateway

noun
1. an opening that can be closed by a gate.
2. a frame or arch built around or over a gate.
3. Computing a device used to connect two different networks, especially a connection to the Internet.

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gather

verb
1. come or bring together; assemble or accumulate.
2. harvest (a crop).
3. collect plants, fruits, etc., for food.
4. draw together or towards oneself.
5. develop a higher degree of: the movement is gathering pace.
6. infer; understand.
7. pull and hold together (fabric) in a series of folds by drawing thread through it.

noun (gathers)
a series of folds in fabric, formed by gathering.

IDIOMS -
gather way (of a ship) begin to move.

DERIVATIVES:
gatherer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to TOGETHER.

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gathering

noun
an assembly of people.

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gauche

adjective
socially awkward or unsophisticated.

DERIVATIVES:
gauchely adverb
gaucheness noun.

ORIGIN: French, 'left' .

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gaucho

noun (pl. gauchos)
a cowboy from the South American pampas.

ORIGIN: Latin American Spanish, probably from an American Indian language, meaning «friend».

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gaudy

adjective (gaudier, gaudiest)
extravagantly or tastelessly bright or showy.

DERIVATIVES:
gaudily adverb
gaudiness noun.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French gaudir 'rejoice' , from Latin gaudere.

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gauge (chiefly US also gage)

noun
1. an instrument that measures and gives a visual display of the amount, level, or contents of something.
2. the thickness, size, or capacity of a wire, sheet, tube, bullet, etc., especially as a standard measure.
3. the distance between the rails of a line of railway track.

verb
1. estimate or determine the amount or level of.
2. judge or assess (a situation, mood, etc.).
3. measure the dimensions of with a gauge.
4. (gauged) made in standard dimensions.

DERIVATIVES:
gaugeable adjective
gauger noun.

ORIGIN: Old French.

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gaunt

adjective
1. lean and haggard, especially through suffering, hunger, or age.
2. (of a place) grim or desolate in appearance.

DERIVATIVES:
gauntly adverb
gauntness noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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gauntlet [1]

noun
1. a stout glove with a long loose wrist.
2. a glove worn as part of medieval armour, made of leather with protective steel plates.

IDIOMS -
take up (or throw down) the gauntlet accept (or issue) a challenge. [ORIGIN: from the medieval custom of issuing a challenge by throwing one's gauntlet to the ground; whoever picked it up was deemed to have accepted the challenge.]

ORIGIN: Old French gantelet, from gant 'glove' .

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gauntlet [2] (US also gantlet)

noun (in phrase run the gauntlet)
1. go through an intimidating crowd, place, or experience in order to reach a goal.
2. historical undergo the military punishment of receiving blows while running between two rows of men with sticks.

ORIGIN: alteration of gantlope, from Swedish gata 'lane' + lopp 'course' , associated with GAUNTLET.

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gauze

noun
1. a thin transparent fabric.
2. Medicine thin, loosely woven cloth used for dressing and swabbing wounds.
3. (also wire gauze) a very fine wire mesh.

DERIVATIVES:
gauzy adjective.

ORIGIN: French gaze.

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gavel

noun
a small hammer with which an auctioneer, judge, etc., hits a surface to call for attention or order.

verb (gavelled, gavelling; US gaveled, gaveling)
bring to order by use of a gavel.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a stonemason's mallet: of unknown origin.

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gavotte

noun
a medium-paced French dance, popular in the 18th century.

ORIGIN: Provençal gavoto 'dance of the mountain people' , from Gavot 'a native of the Alps' .

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gawk

verb
stare openly and stupidly.

noun
an awkward or shy person.

DERIVATIVES:
gawker noun
gawkish adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to obsolete gaw 'to gaze' , from an Old Norse word meaning 'heed' .

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gawky

adjective (gawkier, gawkiest)
nervously awkward and ungainly.

DERIVATIVES:
gawkily adverb
gawkiness noun.

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gawp

verb Brit. informal
stare openly in a stupid or rude manner.

DERIVATIVES:
gawper noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of GAPE.

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gay

adjective (gayer, gayest)
1. (especially of a man) homosexual.
2. relating to homosexuals.
3. dated light-hearted and carefree.
4. dated brightly coloured; showy.

noun
a homosexual person, especially a man.

DERIVATIVES:
gayness noun.
USAGE - Gay is now a standard term for ‘homosexual’, and is the term preferred by homosexual men to describe themselves. As a result, it is now very difficult to use gay in its earlier meanings ‘carefree’ or ‘bright and showy’ without arousing a sense of double entendre. Gay in its modern sense typically refers to men, lesbian being the standard term for homosexual women.
ORIGIN: Old French gai.

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gaze

verb
look steadily and intently.

noun
a steady intent look.

DERIVATIVES:
gazer noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to obsolete gaw (see GAWK).

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gazebo

noun (pl. gazebos or gazeboes)
a summer house or similar structure offering a wide view of the surrounding area.

ORIGIN: perhaps humorously from GAZE, in imitation of Latin future tenses ending in -ebo.

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gazelle

noun
a small slender antelope with curved horns and white underparts.

ORIGIN: French, probably from Arabic.

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gazette

noun
a journal or newspaper, especially the official journal of an organization or institution.

verb Brit.
announce or publish in an official gazette.

ORIGIN: from Venetian gazeta de la novità 'a halfpennyworth of news' (with reference to a news-sheet sold for a gazeta, a Venetian coin of small value).

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gazetteer

noun
a geographical index or dictionary.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «journalist» (for whom such an index was provided): from Italian gazzettiere, from gazzetta 'gazette' .

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gazump

verb Brit. informal
deprive (someone whose offer to purchase a house has already been accepted) from proceeding with the purchase by offering or accepting a higher figure.

DERIVATIVES:
gazumper noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'swindle' : from Yiddish, 'overcharge' .

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GB

abbreviation
1. Great Britain.
2. (also Gb) Computing gigabyte(s).

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GBE

abbreviation
Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire.

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GBH

abbreviation Brit.
grievous bodily harm.

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GC

abbreviation
George Cross.

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GCB

abbreviation
Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

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GCE

abbreviation
General Certificate of Education.

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GCHQ

abbreviation
Government Communications Headquarters.

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GCMG

abbreviation
Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George.

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GCSE

abbreviation
(in the UK except Scotland) General Certificate of Secondary Education (the lower of the two main levels of the GCE examination).

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GCVO

abbreviation
Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

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GDP

abbreviation
gross domestic product.

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GDR

abbreviation historical
German Democratic Republic.

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gear

noun
1. a toothed wheel that works with others to alter the relation between the speed of an engine and the speed of the driven parts (e.g. wheels).
2. a particular setting of engaged gears.
3. informal apparatus, equipment, or clothing.

verb
1. design or adjust gears to give a specified speed or power output.
2. (often gear up) make ready; equip or prepare.
3. (gear down or up) change to a lower (or higher) gear.

IDIOMS -
in (or out of) gear with a gear (or no gear) engaged.

ORIGIN: Scandinavian.

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gearbox

noun
a set of gears with its casing, especially in a motor vehicle; the transmission.

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gear lever (also gearstick)

noun Brit.
a lever used to engage or change gear in a motor vehicle.

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gear shift

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a gear lever.

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gearwheel

noun
1. a toothed wheel in a set of gears.
2. (on a bicycle) a cogwheel driven directly by the chain.

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gecko

noun (pl. geckos or geckoes)
a nocturnal lizard with adhesive pads on the feet, found in warm regions.

ORIGIN: from a Malay word imitative of its cry.

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gee [1] (also gee whiz)

exclamation informal, chiefly N. Amer.
a mild expression of surprise, enthusiasm, or sympathy.

ORIGIN: perhaps an abbreviation of JESUS.

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gee [2]

exclamation (gee up)
a command to a horse to go faster.

verb (gees, geed, geeing) (gee up)
command (a horse) to go faster.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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geek

noun informal, chiefly N. Amer.
1. an unfashionable or socially inept person.
2. an obsessive enthusiast.

DERIVATIVES:
geeky adjective.

ORIGIN: from the related English dialect word geck 'fool' .

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geezer

noun informal
a man.

ORIGIN: representing a dialect pronunciation of earlier guiser 'mummer' .

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Geiger counter

noun
a device for measuring radioactivity by detecting and counting ionizing particles.

ORIGIN: named after the German physicist Hans Geiger (1882 1945).

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geisha

noun (pl. same or geishas)
a Japanese hostess trained to entertain men with conversation, dance, and song.

ORIGIN: Japanese, 'entertainer' .

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gel [1]

noun
1. a jelly-like substance containing a cosmetic, medicinal, or other preparation.
2. Chemistry a semi-solid colloidal suspension of a solid dispersed in a liquid.

verb (gelled, gelling)
1. Chemistry form into a gel.
2. smooth (one's hair) with gel.

ORIGIN: from GELATIN.

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gelatin (also gelatine)

noun
1. a virtually colourless and tasteless water-soluble protein prepared from collagen and used in food preparation, in photographic processing, and for making glue.
2. a high explosive consisting chiefly of a gel of nitroglycerine with added cellulose nitrate.

DERIVATIVES:
gelatinize (also gelatinise) verb
gelatinous adjective.

ORIGIN: French gélatine, from Latin gelata 'frozen' ; related to JELLY.

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geld

verb
castrate (a male animal).

ORIGIN: from an Old Norse word meaning 'barren' .

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gelding

noun
a castrated animal, especially a male horse.

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gelignite

noun
a high explosive made from a gel of nitroglycerine and nitrocellulose in a base of wood pulp and sodium or potassium nitrate, used particularly for blasting rock.

ORIGIN: probably from GELATIN + Latin lignis 'wood' .

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gem

noun
1. a precious or semi-precious stone, especially one that has been cut and polished.
2. an outstanding person or thing.

ORIGIN: Latin gemma 'bud, jewel' .

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Gemini

noun
1. Astronomy a northern constellation (the Twins), said to represent the twins Castor and Pollux.
2. Astrology the third sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about 21 May.

DERIVATIVES:
Geminian noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'twins' .

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gemstone

noun
a gem used in a piece of jewellery.

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gen Brit. informal

noun
information.

verb (genned, genning) (gen up)
provide with or obtain information.

ORIGIN: originally in military use: perhaps from general information.

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gendarme

noun
a paramilitary police officer in French-speaking countries.

ORIGIN: French, from gens d'armes 'men of arms' .

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gender

noun
1. Grammar a class (usually masculine, feminine, common, or neuter) into which nouns and pronouns are placed in some languages.
2. the state of being male or female (with reference to social or cultural differences).
3. the members of one or other sex.

DERIVATIVES:
gendered adjective.
USAGE - The words gender and sex both have the sense ‘the state of being male or female’, but they are typically used in slightly different ways: sex tends to refer to biological differences, while gender tends to refer to cultural or social ones.
ORIGIN: Old French gendre, from Latin genus 'birth, family, nation' .

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gene

noun Biology
a distinct sequence of DNA forming part of a chromosome, by which offspring inherit characteristics from a parent.

ORIGIN: German Gen, from Pangen, a supposed ultimate unit of heredity, from Greek pan- 'all' + genos 'race, kind, offspring' .

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genealogy

noun (pl. genealogies)
1. a line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor.
2. the study of lines of descent.

DERIVATIVES:
genealogical adjective
genealogist noun.

ORIGIN: Greek genealogia, from genea 'race, generation' + logos 'account' .

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gene pool

noun
the stock of different genes in an interbreeding population.

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general

adjective
1. affecting or concerning all or most people or things; not specialized or limited.
2. involving only the main features or elements and disregarding exceptions; overall.
3. chief or principal: the general manager.

noun
1. a commander of an army, or an army officer ranking above lieutenant general.
2. short for LIEUTENANT GENERAL or MAJOR GENERAL.

IDIOMS -
in general
1. usually; mainly.
2. as a whole.

ORIGIN: Latin generalis, from genus 'class, race, kind' .

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general anaesthetic

noun
an anaesthetic that affects the whole body and causes a loss of consciousness.

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general election

noun
the election of representatives to a legislature from constituencies throughout the country.

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generalist

noun
a person competent in several different fields or activities.

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generality

noun (pl. generalities)
1. a statement or principle having general rather than specific validity or force.
2. the quality or state of being general.
3. (the generality) the majority.

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generalize (also generalise)

verb
1. make a general or broad statement by inferring from specific cases.
2. make more common or more widely applicable.
3. (generalized) Medicine (of a disease) affecting much or all of the body; not localized.

DERIVATIVES:
generalizable adjective
generalization noun
generalizer noun.

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generally

adverb
1. in most cases.
2. without regard to particulars or exceptions.
3. widely.

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general meeting

noun
a meeting open to all members of an organization.

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general practitioner

noun
a community doctor who treats patients with minor or chronic illnesses.

DERIVATIVES:
general practice noun.

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general-purpose

adjective
having a range of potential uses or functions.

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general staff

noun
the staff assisting a military commander.

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general strike

noun
a strike of workers in all or most industries.

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generate

verb
1. cause to arise or come about.
2. produce (energy, especially electricity).

DERIVATIVES:
generable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin generare 'create' , from genus 'stock, race' .

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generation

noun
1. all of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively.
2. the average period in which children grow up and have children of their own (usually reckoned as about thirty years).
3. a set of members of a family regarded as a single stage in descent.
4. the action of producing or generating.
5. the propagation of living organisms; procreation.

DERIVATIVES:
generational adjective.

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generation gap

noun
a difference in attitudes between people of different generations, leading to lack of understanding.

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generator

noun
1. a person or thing that generates.
2. a dynamo or similar machine for converting mechanical energy into electricity.

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generic

adjective
1. referring to a class or group; not specific.
2. (of goods) having no brand name.
3. Biology relating to a genus.

DERIVATIVES:
generically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin genus 'stock, race' .

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generous

adjective
1. freely giving more than is necessary or expected.
2. kind towards others.
3. larger or more plentiful than is usual.

DERIVATIVES:
generosity noun
generously adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «of noble birth»: from Latin generosus 'noble, magnanimous' .

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genesis

noun
1. the origin or mode of formation of something.
2. (Genesis) the first book of the Bible, which includes the story of the creation of the world.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'generation, creation' , from gignesthai 'be born or produced' .

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gene therapy

noun
the introduction of normal genes into cells in place of missing or defective ones in order to correct genetic disorders.

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genetic

adjective
1. relating to genes or heredity.
2. relating to genetics.
3. relating to origin, or arising from a common origin.

DERIVATIVES:
genetical adjective
genetically adverb.

ORIGIN: from GENESIS.

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genetically modified

adjective
(of an organism) containing genetic material that has been artificially altered so as to produce a desired characteristic.

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genetic code

noun
the means by which DNA and RNA molecules carry genetic information.

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genetic engineering

noun
the deliberate modification of an organism by manipulating its genetic material.

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genetic fingerprinting (also genetic profiling)

noun
the analysis of DNA from samples of body tissues or fluids in order to identify individuals.

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genetics

plural noun
1. (treated as sing. ) the study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics.
2. (treated as sing. or pl. ) the genetic properties or features of an organism.

DERIVATIVES:
geneticist noun.

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genial

adjective
1. friendly and cheerful.
2. literary (of weather) pleasantly mild and warm.

DERIVATIVES:
geniality noun
genially adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin genialis 'nuptial, productive' , from genius (see GENIUS).

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-genic

combining form
1. producing or produced by: carcinogenic.
2. well suited to: photogenic.

ORIGIN: from -GEN + -IC.

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genie

noun (pl. genii or genies)
(in Arabian folklore) a jinn or spirit, especially one capable of granting wishes when summoned.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a guardian or protective spirit: from Latin genius (see GENIUS).

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genital

adjective
referring to the human or animal reproductive organs.

noun (genitals)
a person or animal's external reproductive organs.

ORIGIN: Latin genitalis, from gignere 'beget' .

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genitalia

plural noun formal or technical
the genitals.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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genitive Grammar

adjective
denoting a case indicating possession or close association.

noun
a word in the genitive case.

ORIGIN: from Latin genitivus casus 'case of production or origin' , from gignere 'beget' .

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genius

noun (pl. geniuses)
1. exceptional intellectual or creative power or other natural ability.
2. an exceptionally intelligent or able person.
3. (pl. genii) (in some mythologies) a spirit associated with a person, place, or institution.
4. the prevalent character or spirit of a nation, period, etc.

ORIGIN: Latin, also in the sense 'spirit present at one's birth' , from gignere 'beget' .

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genocide

noun
the deliberate killing of a very large number of people from a particular ethnic group or nation.

DERIVATIVES:
genocidal adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek genos 'race' + -CIDE.

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genome

noun Biology
1. the haploid set of chromosomes of an organism.
2. the complete set of genetic material of an organism.

DERIVATIVES:
genomic adjective.

ORIGIN: blend of GENE and CHROMOSOME.

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genotype

noun Biology
the genetic constitution of an individual organism. Often contrasted with PHENOTYPE.

DERIVATIVES:
genotypic adjective.

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genre

noun
1. a style or category of art or literature.
2. (before another noun ) denoting a style of painting depicting scenes from ordinary life.

ORIGIN: French, 'a kind' , from Latin genus 'birth, family, nation' .

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gent

noun informal
1. a gentleman.
2. (the Gents) Brit. a men's public toilet.

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genteel

adjective
affectedly polite and refined.

DERIVATIVES:
genteelly adverb.

ORIGIN: French gentil 'well-born' .

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gentian

noun
a plant of temperate and mountainous regions with violet or blue trumpet-shaped flowers.

ORIGIN: allegedly named after Gentius, king of Illyria, who discovered the plant's medicinal properties.

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gentian violet

noun
a synthetic violet dye used as an antiseptic.

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Gentile

adjective
not Jewish.

noun
a person who is not Jewish.

ORIGIN: Latin gentilis 'of a family or nation, of the same clan' , from gens, 'family, race' .

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gentility

noun
socially superior or genteel character or behaviour.

ORIGIN: from Old French gentil 'high-born, noble' (see GENTLE).

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gentle

adjective (gentler, gentlest)
1. mild or kind; not rough or violent.
2. not harsh or severe.
3. archaic noble or courteous.

DERIVATIVES:
gentleness noun
gently adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French gentil 'high-born, noble' , from Latin gens 'family, race' .

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gentlefolk

plural noun archaic
people of noble birth or good social position.

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gentleman

noun
1. a courteous or honourable man.
2. a man of good social position, especially one of wealth and leisure.
3. (in polite or formal use) a man.

DERIVATIVES:
gentlemanly adjective.

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gentleman's agreement

noun
an arrangement which is based on trust rather than being legally binding.

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gentrify

verb (gentrifies, gentrified)
renovate and improve (a house or district) so that it conforms to middle-class taste.

DERIVATIVES:
gentrification noun
gentrifier noun.

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gentry

noun (the gentry)
people of good social position, specifically the class next below the nobility.

ORIGIN: Old French genterie, from gentil 'high-born, noble' .

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genuflect

verb
lower one's body briefly by bending one knee to the ground in worship or as a sign of respect.

DERIVATIVES:
genuflection noun.

ORIGIN: Latin genuflectere, from genu 'knee' + flectere 'to bend' .

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genuine

adjective
1. truly what it is said to be; authentic.
2. sincere; honest.

DERIVATIVES:
genuinely adverb
genuineness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin genuinus, from genu 'knee' (with reference to the ancient Roman custom of a father acknowledging paternity of a newborn child by placing it on his knee).

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genus

noun (pl. genera)
1. Biology a principal taxonomic category that ranks above species and below family, denoted by a capitalized Latin name, e.g. Leo.
2. a class of things which have common characteristics.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'birth, race, stock' .

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geo-

combining form
relating to the earth: geocentric.

ORIGIN: from Greek g 'earth' .

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geode

noun
1. a small cavity in rock lined with crystals or other mineral matter.
2. a rock containing such a cavity.

ORIGIN: from Greek geds 'earthy' .

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geodesic

adjective
1. referring to the shortest possible line between two points on a sphere or other curved surface.
2. (of a dome) constructed from struts which follow geodesic lines and form an open framework of triangles and polygons.

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geodesy

noun
the branch of mathematics concerned with the shape and area of the earth or large portions of it.

DERIVATIVES:
geodesist noun.

ORIGIN: Greek gedaisia, from g 'earth' + daiein 'to divide' .

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geographical

adjective
relating to geography.

DERIVATIVES:
geographic adjective
geographically adverb.

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geography

noun
1. the study of the physical features of the earth and of human activity as it relates to these.
2. the relative arrangement of places and physical features.

DERIVATIVES:
geographer noun.

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geology

noun
1. the science which deals with the physical structure and substance of the earth.
2. the geological features of a district.

DERIVATIVES:
geologic adjective
geological adjective
geologically adverb
geologist noun.

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geometric

adjective
1. relating to geometry.
2. (of a design) characterized by or decorated with regular lines and shapes.

DERIVATIVES:
geometrical adjective
geometrically adverb.

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geometric mean

noun
the central number in a geometric progression (e.g. 9 in 3, 9, 27), also calculable as the nth root of a product of n numbers.

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geometric progression (also geometric series)

noun
a sequence of numbers with a constant ratio between each number and the one before (e.g. 1, 3, 9, 27, 81).

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geometry

noun (pl. geometries)
1. the branch of mathematics concerned with the properties and relations of points, lines, surfaces, and solids.
2. the shape and relative arrangement of the parts of something.

DERIVATIVES:
geometrician noun.

ORIGIN: Greek, from g 'earth' + -metrs 'measurer' .

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geomorphology

noun
the study of the physical features of the surface of the earth and their relation to its geological structures.

DERIVATIVES:
geomorphological adjective
geomorphologist noun.

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geopolitics

plural noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
politics, especially international relations, as influenced by geographical factors.

DERIVATIVES:
geopolitical adjective.

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Geordie

noun Brit. informal
a person from Tyneside.

ORIGIN: from the given name George.

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georgette

noun
a thin silk or crêpe dress material.

ORIGIN: named after the French dressmaker Georgette de la Plante (fl. c.1900).

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Georgian

adjective
1. relating to or characteristic of the reigns of the British Kings George I IV (1714 1830).
2. relating to British neoclassical architecture of this period.

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geothermal

adjective
relating to or produced by the internal heat of the earth.

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geranium

noun
1. a herbaceous plant or small shrub of a genus that comprises the cranesbills.
2. (in general use) a cultivated pelargonium.

ORIGIN: Greek geranion, from geranos 'crane' .

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gerbil

noun
a burrowing mouse-like desert rodent.

ORIGIN: Latin gerbillus 'little jerboa' .

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geriatric

adjective
1. relating to old people.
2. informal decrepit or out of date.

noun
an old person, especially one receiving special care.

ORIGIN: from Greek gras 'old age' + iatros 'doctor' .

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geriatrics

plural noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
the branch of medicine or social science concerned with the health and care of old people.

DERIVATIVES:
geriatrician noun.

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germ

noun
1. a micro-organism, especially one which causes disease.
2. a portion of an organism capable of developing into a new one or part of one.
3. an initial stage from which something may develop: the germ of an idea.

ORIGIN: Latin germen 'seed, sprout' .

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German

noun
1. a person from Germany.
2. the language of Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland.

adjective
relating to Germany or German.

DERIVATIVES:
Germanize (also Germanise) verb.

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germane

adjective
relevant to a subject under consideration.

ORIGIN: Latin germanus 'genuine, of the same parents' .

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Germanic

adjective
1. referring to the branch of the Indo-European language family that includes English, German, Dutch, Frisian, and the Scandinavian languages.
2. referring to the peoples of ancient northern and western Europe speaking such languages.
3. characteristic of Germans or Germany.

noun
1. the Germanic languages collectively.
2. the unrecorded ancient language from which these developed.

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German shepherd

noun
a large breed of dog often used as guard dogs or for police work; an Alsatian.

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germicide

noun
a substance which destroys harmful micro-organisms.

DERIVATIVES:
germicidal adjective.

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germinal

adjective
1. relating to a germ cell or embryo.
2. in the earliest stage of development.
3. providing material for future development.

ORIGIN: from Latin germen 'sprout, seed' .

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germinate

verb
(of a seed or spore) begin to grow and put out shoots after a period of dormancy.

DERIVATIVES:
germination noun.

ORIGIN: Latin germinare 'sprout forth, bud' , from germen 'sprout, seed' .

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germ warfare

noun
the use of disease-spreading micro-organisms as a military weapon.

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gerontology

noun
the scientific study of old age and old people.

DERIVATIVES:
gerontological adjective
gerontologist noun.

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gerrymander

verb
manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favour one party or class.

ORIGIN: from the name of Governor Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts + SALAMANDER, from the supposed similarity between a salamander and the shape of a new voting district created when he was in office (1812), which was felt to favour his party.

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gerund

noun Grammar
a verb form which functions as a noun, in English ending in -ing (e.g. asking in do you mind my asking you?).

ORIGIN: Latin gerundum, from gerere 'do' .

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gesso

noun
a hard compound of plaster of Paris or whiting in glue, used in sculpture.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Greek gupsos 'gypsum' .

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Gestapo

noun
the German secret police under Nazi rule.

ORIGIN: German, from Geheime Staatspolizei 'secret state police' .

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gestation

noun
1. the process of carrying or the state of being carried in the womb between conception and birth.
2. the development of a plan or idea over a period of time.

DERIVATIVES:
gestate verb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from gestare 'carry, carry in the womb' .

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gesticulate

verb
gesture dramatically in place of or to emphasize speech.

DERIVATIVES:
gesticulation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin gesticulari, from gestus 'action' .

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gesture

noun
1. a movement of part of the body to express an idea or meaning.
2. an action performed to convey one's feelings or intentions.
3. an action performed for show in the knowledge that it will have no effect.

verb
make a gesture.

DERIVATIVES:
gestural adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin gestura, from gerere 'bear, wield, perform' .

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get

verb (getting; past got; past part. got, N. Amer. or archaic gotten)
1. come to have or hold; receive.
2. succeed in attaining, achieving, or experiencing; obtain.
3. experience, suffer, or be afflicted with.
4. move in order to pick up, deal with, or bring.
5. bring or come into a specified state or condition.
6. catch, apprehend, or thwart.
7. come or go eventually or with some difficulty.
8. move or come into a specified position or state.
9. tend to meet with or find.
10. travel by or catch (a form of transport).
11. begin to be or do something, especially gradually or by chance.
12. strike or wound.
13. informal punish, injure, or kill.
14. used with past participle to form the passive mood.

IDIOMS -
get across manage to communicate (an idea) clearly.
get at
1. reach or gain access to.
2. informal imply.
3. Brit. informal criticize subtly and repeatedly.
get away escape.
get away with escape blame or punishment for.
get back at take revenge on.
get by manage with difficulty to live or accomplish something.
get down N. Amer. informal dance energetically.
get down to begin to do or give serious attention to.
get off
1. informal escape a punishment.
2. go to sleep.
3. (get off with) Brit. informal have a sexual encounter with.
get on
1. manage or make progress with a task.
2. chiefly Brit. have a friendly relationship.
3. (be getting on) informal be old or comparatively old.
get out of contrive to avoid or escape.
get over
1. recover from (an ailment or an unpleasant experience).
2. manage to communicate (an idea or theory).
3. promptly complete (an unpleasant but necessary task).
4. overcome (a difficulty).
get one's own back informal have one's revenge.
get round chiefly Brit.
1. coax or persuade (someone) to do or allow something.
2. deal successfully with (a problem).
get round to chiefly Brit. deal with (a task) in due course.
get through
1. pass or endure (a difficult experience or period).
2. chiefly Brit. use up (a large amount or number of something).
3. make contact by telephone.
4. succeed in communicating with someone.
getting on for chiefly Brit. almost (a specified time, age, or amount).
get to informal annoy or upset by persistent action.
get together gather or assemble socially or to cooperate.
get up
1. rise from bed after sleeping.
2. (of wind or the sea) become strong or agitated.
get up to Brit. informal be involved in (something illicit or surprising).

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'obtain, beget, guess' .

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getaway

noun
an escape or quick departure, especially after committing a crime.

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get-together

noun
an informal gathering.

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get-up

noun informal
a style or arrangement of dress, especially an elaborate or unusual one.

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gewgaw

noun
a showy thing, especially one that is useless or worthless.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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geyser

noun
1. a hot spring in which water intermittently boils, sending a tall column of water and steam into the air.
2. Brit. a gas-fired water heater.

ORIGIN: from the name of a particular spring in Iceland.

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ghastly

adjective (ghastlier, ghastliest)
1. causing great horror or fear.
2. deathly white or pallid.
3. informal very unpleasant.

DERIVATIVES:
ghastliness noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete gast 'terrify' , from Old English; related to and influenced in spelling by GHOST.

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ghee

noun
clarified butter used in Indian cooking.

ORIGIN: from Sanskrit, 'sprinkled' .

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gherkin

noun
a small pickled cucumber.

ORIGIN: Dutch gurkje, from Greek angourion 'cucumber' .

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ghetto

noun (pl. ghettos or ghettoes)
1. a part of a city, especially a slum area, occupied by a minority group.
2. historical the Jewish quarter in a city.

DERIVATIVES:
ghettoize (also ghettoise) verb.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Italian getto 'foundry' (because the first ghetto was established on the site of a foundry in Venice), or from Italian borghetto 'small borough' .

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ghetto blaster

noun informal
a large portable radio and cassette or CD player.

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ghost

noun
1. an apparition of a dead person which is believed to appear to the living.
2. a faint trace: the ghost of a smile.
3. a faint secondary image produced by a fault in an optical system or on a cathode ray screen.

verb
act as ghost writer of.

IDIOMS -
give up the ghost die or stop functioning.

ORIGIN: Old English, «spirit, soul».

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ghosting

noun
the appearance of a secondary image on a television or other display screen.

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ghostly

adjective (ghostlier, ghostliest)
of or like a ghost; eerie and unnatural.

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ghost town

noun
a town with few or no remaining inhabitants.

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ghost train

noun
a miniature train at a funfair that travels through a dark tunnel in which there are eerie effects.

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ghost writer

noun
a person employed to write material for another person, who is the named author.

DERIVATIVES:
ghost-write verb.

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ghoul

noun
1. an evil spirit or phantom, especially one supposed to rob graves and feed on dead bodies.
2. a person morbidly interested in death or disaster.

DERIVATIVES:
ghoulish adjective
ghoulishly adverb
ghoulishness noun.

ORIGIN: Arabic, denoting a desert demon believed to rob graves and devour corpses.

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GHQ

abbreviation
General Headquarters.

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GI

noun (pl. GIs)
a private soldier in the US army.

ORIGIN: originally denoting equipment supplied to US forces: abbreviation of government (or general) issue.

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giant

noun
1. an imaginary or mythical being of human form but superhuman size.
2. an abnormally tall or large person, animal, or plant.
3. Astronomy a star of relatively great size and luminosity.

adjective
of very great size or force; gigantic.

DERIVATIVES:
giantess noun.

ORIGIN: Old French geant, from Greek gigas.

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giant-killer

noun
a person or team that defeats a seemingly much more powerful opponent.

DERIVATIVES:
giant-killing noun.

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gibber

verb
speak rapidly and unintelligibly, typically through fear or shock.

DERIVATIVES:
gibbering adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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gibberish

noun
unintelligible or meaningless speech or writing; nonsense.

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gibbet historical

noun
1. a gallows.
2. an upright post with an arm on which the bodies of executed criminals were left hanging as a warning to others.

verb (gibbeted, gibbeting)
hang up on a gibbet or execute by hanging.

ORIGIN: Old French gibet 'little staff, cudgel, or gallows' .

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gibbon

noun
a small tree-dwelling ape with long, powerful arms, native to the forests of SE Asia.

ORIGIN: French, from an Indian dialect word.

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gibbous

adjective
(of the moon) having the illuminated part greater than a semicircle and less than a circle.

ORIGIN: Latin gibbosus, from gibbus 'hump' .

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giblets

plural noun
the liver, heart, gizzard, and neck of a chicken or other fowl, usually removed before the bird is cooked.

ORIGIN: Old French gibelet 'game bird stew' , probably from gibier 'game hunted for sport' .

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giddy

adjective (giddier, giddiest)
1. having or causing a sensation of whirling and a tendency to fall or stagger; dizzy.
2. excitable and frivolous.

verb (giddies, giddied)
make (someone) feel excited to the point of disorientation.

DERIVATIVES:
giddily adverb
giddiness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «insane» (literally 'possessed by a god' ).

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giddy-up

exclamation
said to induce a horse to start moving or go faster.

ORIGIN: reproducing a pronunciation of get up.

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GIF

noun Computing
1. a popular format for image files, with built-in data compression.
2. (also gif) a file in this format.

ORIGIN: acronym from graphic interchange format.

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gift

noun
1. a thing given willingly to someone without payment; a present.
2. a natural ability or talent.
3. informal a very easy task or unmissable opportunity.

verb
1. give as a gift, especially formally.
2. (gift with) endow (someone) with (an ability or talent).
3. (gifted) having exceptional talent or ability.

IDIOMS -
don't look a gift horse in the mouth proverb don't find fault with something that you have discovered or been given.

DERIVATIVES:
giftedness adjective.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, related to GIVE.

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gift token (also gift voucher)

noun Brit.
a voucher given as a gift which is exchangeable for goods.

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gift wrap

noun
decorative paper for wrapping gifts.

verb (gift-wrap)
wrap (a gift) in decorative paper.

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gig [1]

noun
1. chiefly historical a light two-wheeled carriage pulled by one horse.
2. a light, fast, narrow boat adapted for rowing or sailing.

ORIGIN: apparently from obsolete gig «a flighty girl».

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gig [2] informal

noun
a live performance by a musician or other performer.

verb (gigged, gigging)
perform a gig or gigs.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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giga-

combining form
1. denoting a factor of one thousand million (10^9).
2. Computing denoting a factor of 2^30.

ORIGIN: from Greek gigas 'giant' .

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gigabyte

noun Computing
a unit of information equal to one thousand million (10^9) or (strictly) 2^30 bytes.

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gigantic

adjective
of very great size or extent.

DERIVATIVES:
gigantically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin gigas 'giant' .

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giggle

verb
laugh lightly in a nervous, affected, or silly manner.

noun
1. a laugh of such a kind.
2. informal an amusing person or thing.

DERIVATIVES:
giggler noun
giggly adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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gigolo

noun (pl. gigolos)
1. a young man paid by an older woman to be her escort or lover.
2. a professional male dancing partner.

ORIGIN: French, formed as the masculine of gigole 'dance hall woman' , from colloquial gigue 'leg' .

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gild

verb
1. cover thinly with gold.
2. (gilded) wealthy and privileged: gilded youth.

IDIOMS -
gild the lily try to improve what is already beautiful or excellent. [ORIGIN: misquotation of a line from Shakespeare's King John VI. ii.]

DERIVATIVES:
gilder noun
gilding noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to GOLD.

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gill [1]

noun
1. the paired respiratory organ of fishes and some amphibians.
2. the vertical plates on the underside of mushrooms and many toadstools.
3. (gills) the wattles or dewlap of a fowl.

verb
gut or clean (a fish).

IDIOMS -
green about the gills sickly-looking.
to the gills until completely full.

DERIVATIVES:
gilled adjective.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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gill [2]

noun
a unit of liquid measure, equal to a quarter of a pint.

ORIGIN: Old French gille 'measure or container for wine' , from Latin gillo 'water pot' .

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gill [3]

noun chiefly N. English
1. a deep ravine, especially a wooded one.
2. a narrow mountain stream.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'deep glen' .

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gillie (also ghillie)

noun
(in Scotland) an attendant on a hunting or fishing expedition.

ORIGIN: Scottish Gaelic gille 'lad, servant' .

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gillyflower (also gilliflower)

noun
any of a number of fragrant flowers, such as the wallflower or white stock.

ORIGIN: Old French gilofre, girofle, from Greek karuophullon, from karuon 'nut' + phullon 'leaf' .

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gilt

adjective
covered thinly with gold leaf or gold paint.

noun
1. gold leaf or gold paint applied in a thin layer to a surface.
2. (gilts) fixed-interest loan securities issued by the UK government.

ORIGIN: archaic past participle of GILD.

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gilt-edged

adjective
referring to stocks or securities (such as gilts) that are regarded as extremely reliable investments.

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gimcrack

adjective
showy but flimsy or poorly made.

noun
a cheap and showy ornament.

DERIVATIVES:
gimcrackery noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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gimlet

noun
a small T-shaped tool with a screw-tip for boring holes.

ORIGIN: Old French guimbelet 'little drill' .

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gimmick

noun
a trick or device intended to attract attention rather than fulfil a useful purpose.

DERIVATIVES:
gimmickry noun
gimmicky adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in sense «piece of magicians' apparatus»: of unknown origin.

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gin [1]

noun
1. a clear alcoholic spirit distilled from grain or malt and flavoured with juniper berries.
2. (also gin rummy) a form of the card game rummy.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of genever, a kind of Dutch gin, from Latin juniperus (gin being flavoured with juniper berries).

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gin [2]

noun
1. a machine for separating cotton from its seeds.
2. a machine for raising and moving heavy weights.
3. a trap for catching small game.

verb (ginned, ginning)
treat (cotton) in a gin.

ORIGIN: Old French engin 'engine' .

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ginger

noun
1. a hot, fragrant spice made from the rhizome of a SE Asian plant resembling bamboo.
2. a light reddish-yellow colour.
3. spirit; mettle.

verb
1. flavour with ginger.
2. (ginger up) stimulate or enliven.

DERIVATIVES:
gingery adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin gingiber, from Dravidian.

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ginger ale (also ginger beer)

noun
an effervescent, sometimes alcoholic drink flavoured with ginger.

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gingerbread

noun
cake made with treacle or syrup and flavoured with ginger.

IDIOMS -
take the gilt off the gingerbread make something no longer attractive or desirable.

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gingerly

adverb
in a careful or cautious manner.

adjective
showing great care or caution.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French gensor 'delicate' , from Latin genitus 'well-born' .

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gingham

noun
lightweight plain-woven cotton cloth, typically checked.

ORIGIN: from a Malay word meaning 'striped' .

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gingivitis

noun Medicine
inflammation of the gums.

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ginkgo (also gingko)

noun (pl. ginkgos or ginkgoes)
a deciduous Chinese tree with fan-shaped leaves and yellow flowers.

ORIGIN: Chinese.

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ginormous

adjective Brit. informal
extremely large.

ORIGIN: blend of GIANT and ENORMOUS.

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ginseng

noun
the tuber of an east Asian and North American plant, credited with various tonic and medicinal properties.

ORIGIN: from Chinese 'man' + the name of a kind of herb (because of the supposed resemblance of the forked root to a person).

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giraffe

noun (pl. same or giraffes)
a large mammal with a very long neck and forelegs, the tallest living animal.

ORIGIN: French girafe, from Arabic.

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gird

verb (past and past part. girded or girt) literary
1. encircle or secure with a belt or band.
2. (often in phrase gird one's loins) prepare and strengthen oneself for what is to come.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to GIRDLE and GIRTH.

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girder

noun
a large metal beam used in building bridges and large buildings.

ORIGIN: from GIRD in the archaic sense «brace, strengthen».

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girdle [1]

noun
1. a belt or cord worn round the waist.
2. a woman's elasticated corset extending from waist to thigh.

verb
encircle with a girdle or belt.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to GIRD and GIRTH.

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girl

noun
1. a female child.
2. a young or relatively young woman.
3. a person's girlfriend.
4. dated a female servant.

DERIVATIVES:
girlhood noun
girlish adjective
girlishly adverb.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a child or young person of either sex: perhaps related to Low German gör 'child' .

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girlfriend

noun
1. a person's regular female companion in a romantic or sexual relationship.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a woman's female friend.

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Girl Guide

noun
a member of the Guides Association.

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girlie

noun (also girly) (pl. girlies) informal
a girl or young woman.

adjective
1. (usu. girly) often derogatory like or characteristic of a girl.
2. depicting nude or partially nude young women in erotic poses: girlie magazines.

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giro

noun (pl. giros)
1. a system of electronic credit transfer involving banks, post offices, and public utilities.
2. a cheque or payment by giro, especially a social security payment.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'circulation (of money)' .

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girth

noun
1. the measurement around the middle of something, especially a person's waist.
2. a band attached to a saddle and fastened around a horse's belly.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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gist

noun
the substance or essence of a speech or text.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'he, she, or it lies' , from the legal phrase cest action gist 'this action lies' , denoting there were sufficient grounds to proceed.

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git

noun Brit. informal
an unpleasant or contemptible person.

ORIGIN: variant of GET in the informal or dialect noun sense «a stupid or unpleasant person».

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give

verb (past gave; past part. given)
1. freely transfer the possession of; cause to receive or have.
2. yield as a product or result.
3. carry out (an action).
4. cause to experience or suffer.
5. state or put forward (information or argument).
6. present (an appearance or impression).
7. (give off/out) emit (odour, vapour, etc).
8. produce (a sound).
9. alter in shape under pressure rather than resist or break.
10. concede or yield (something) as valid or deserved in respect of (someone).

noun
capacity to bend or alter in shape under pressure.

IDIOMS -
give oneself airs act pretentiously or snobbishly.
give and take mutual concessions and compromises.
give away
1. reveal (something secret or concealed).
2. (in sport) concede (a goal or advantage) to the opposition.
give the game (or show) away inadvertently reveal something secret.
give in cease fighting or arguing.
give or take informal to within a specified amount.
give out be completely used up or broken.
give rise to cause or induce to happen.
give up
1. cease making an effort; resign oneself to failure.
2. stop the habitual doing or consuming of (something).
3. deliver (a wanted person) to authority.

DERIVATIVES:
giver noun .

ORIGIN: Old English.

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giveaway

noun informal
1. something given free, especially for promotional purposes.
2. something that makes an inadvertent revelation.

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given
past participle of GIVE.
adjective
1. specified or stated.
2. (given to) inclined or disposed to.

preposition
taking into account.

noun
an established fact or situation.

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gizmo

noun (pl. gizmos) informal
a gadget, especially one the speaker cannot name.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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gizzard

noun
1. a muscular, thick-walled part of a bird's stomach for grinding food, typically with grit.
2. a muscular stomach of some fish, insects, molluscs, and other invertebrates.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin gigeria 'cooked entrails of fowl' .

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glacé

adjective
1. (of fruit) having a glossy surface due to preservation in sugar.
2. (of cloth or leather) smooth and highly polished.

ORIGIN: French, 'iced' .

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glacé icing

noun
icing made with icing sugar and water.

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glacial

adjective
1. relating to ice, especially in the form of glaciers.
2. extremely cold or unfriendly; icy.

DERIVATIVES:
glacially adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin glacialis 'icy' , from glacies 'ice' .

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glaciation

noun Geology
1. the condition or result of being glaciated.
2. a glacial period.

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glacier

noun
a slowly moving mass of ice formed by the accumulation of snow on mountains or near the poles.

ORIGIN: French, from glace 'ice' .

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glad

adjective (gladder, gladdest)
1. pleased; delighted.
2. (often glad of) grateful.
3. causing happiness.

DERIVATIVES:
gladly adverb
gladness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «bright, shining».

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gladden

verb
make glad.

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glade

noun
an open space in a wood or forest.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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gladiator

noun
(in ancient Rome) a man trained to fight with weapons against other men or wild animals in an arena.

DERIVATIVES:
gladiatorial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from gladius 'sword' .

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gladiolus

noun (pl. gladioli or gladioluses)
a plant with sword-shaped leaves and spikes of brightly coloured flowers.

ORIGIN: Latin, from gladius 'sword' .

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glad rags

plural noun informal
clothes for a party or special occasion.

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Glam.

abbreviation
Glamorgan.

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glam informal

adjective
glamorous.

noun
glamour.

verb (glammed, glamming) (glam up)
make oneself look glamorous.

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glamorize (also glamorise)

verb
make (something) seem glamorous or desirable, especially spuriously so.

DERIVATIVES:
glamorization noun.

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glamorous

adjective
having glamour.

DERIVATIVES:
glamorously adverb.

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glamour (US also glamor)

noun
an attractive and exciting quality.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «enchantment, magic»: alteration of GRAMMAR, with reference to the occult practices associated with learning in medieval times.

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glam rock

noun
a style of rock music characterized by male performers wearing exaggeratedly flamboyant clothes and make-up.

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glance

verb
1. take a brief or hurried look.
2. strike at an angle and bounce off obliquely.

noun
a brief or hurried look.

DERIVATIVES:
glancing adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French glacier 'to slip' , from glace 'ice' .

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gland

noun
1. an organ of the body which secretes particular chemical substances.
2. a lymph node.

ORIGIN: from Latin glandulae 'throat glands' .

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glandular

adjective
relating to or affecting a gland or glands.

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glandular fever

noun
an infectious viral disease characterized by swelling of the lymph glands and prolonged lassitude.

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glare

verb
1. stare in an angry or fierce way.
2. shine with a strong or dazzling light.
3. (glaring) highly obvious or conspicuous.

noun
1. a fierce or angry stare.
2. strong and dazzling light.

DERIVATIVES:
glaringly adverb
glary adjective.

ORIGIN: from Dutch and Low German glaren 'to gleam or glare' .

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glasnost

noun
(in the former Soviet Union) the policy or practice of more open government.

ORIGIN: Russian glasnost' 'the fact of being public, openness' .

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glass

noun
1. a hard, brittle, usually transparent or translucent substance made by fusing sand with soda and lime.
2. a drinking container made of glass.
3. chiefly Brit. a mirror.
4. a lens or optical instrument, in particular a monocle or a magnifying lens.

verb
cover or enclose with glass.

IDIOMS -
people (who live) in glass houses shouldn't throw stones proverb you shouldn't criticize others when you have similar faults of your own.

DERIVATIVES:
glassful noun
glassware noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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glass-blowing

noun
the craft of making glassware by blowing semi-molten glass through a long tube.

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glasses

plural noun
a pair of lenses set in a frame that rests on the nose and ears, used to correct defective eyesight.

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glass fibre

noun chiefly Brit.
a strong plastic or other material containing embedded glass filaments for reinforcement.

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glasshouse

noun Brit.
1. a greenhouse.
2. military slang a place of detention.

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glasspaper

noun
paper covered with powdered glass, used for smoothing and polishing.

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glass wool

noun
glass in the form of fine fibres used for packing and insulation.

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glassy

adjective (glassier, glassiest)
1. of or resembling glass.
2. (of a person's eyes or expression) showing no interest or animation.

DERIVATIVES:
glassily adverb.

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Glaswegian

noun
a native of Glasgow.

adjective
relating to Glasgow.

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glaucoma

noun Medicine
a condition of increased pressure within the eyeball, causing gradual loss of sight.

ORIGIN: Greek glaukma, from glaukos 'bluish green or grey' (because of the grey-green haze in the pupil).

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glaze

verb
1. fit panes of glass into (a window frame or similar structure).
2. enclose or cover with glass.
3. cover with a glaze.
4. (often glaze over) lose brightness and animation.

noun
1. a glass-like substance fused on to the surface of pottery to form an impervious decorative coating.
2. a thin topcoat of transparent paint used to modify the tone of an underlying colour.
3. a liquid such as milk or beaten egg, used to form a smooth shiny coating on food.

DERIVATIVES:
glazer noun
glazing noun.

ORIGIN: from GLASS.

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glazier

noun
a person whose trade is fitting glass into windows and doors.

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gleam

verb
shine brightly, especially with reflected light.

noun
1. a faint or brief light.
2. a brief or faint show of a quality or emotion.

IDIOMS -
a gleam in someone's eye see EYE.

DERIVATIVES:
gleaming adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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glean

verb
1. collect gradually from various sources.
2. historical gather (leftover grain) after a harvest.

DERIVATIVES:
gleaner noun.

ORIGIN: Latin glennare.

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gleanings

plural noun
things gleaned from various sources rather than acquired as a whole.

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glebe

noun historical
a piece of land serving as part of a clergyman's benefice and providing income.

ORIGIN: Latin gleba 'clod, land, soil' .

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glee

noun
1. great delight.
2. a song for men's voices in three or more parts.

ORIGIN: Old English, «entertainment, music, fun».

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gleeful

adjective
exuberantly or triumphantly joyful.

DERIVATIVES:
gleefully adverb.

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glen

noun
a narrow valley, especially in Scotland or Ireland.

ORIGIN: Scottish Gaelic and Irish gleann.

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glib

adjective (glibber, glibbest)
articulate and voluble but insincere and shallow.

DERIVATIVES:
glibly adverb
glibness noun.

ORIGIN: Germanic.

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glide

verb
1. move with a smooth, quiet, continuous motion.
2. fly without power or in a glider.

noun
an instance of gliding.

DERIVATIVES:
gliding noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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glider

noun
1. a light aircraft designed to fly without using an engine.
2. a person or thing that glides.

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glimmer

verb
shine faintly with a wavering light.

noun
1. a faint or wavering light.
2. a faint sign of a feeling or quality: a glimmer of hope.

DERIVATIVES:
glimmering adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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glimpse

noun
a momentary or partial view.

verb
see briefly or partially.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «shine faintly»: probably Germanic, related to GLIMMER.

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glint

verb
give out or reflect small flashes of light.

noun
a small flash of light, especially a reflected one.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «move quickly or obliquely»: variant of dialect glent, probably Scandinavian.

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glissando

noun (pl. glissandi or glissandos) Music
a continuous slide upwards or downwards between two notes.

ORIGIN: Italian, from French glisser 'to slip, slide' .

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glisten

verb
(of something wet or greasy) shine or sparkle.

noun
a sparkling light reflected from something wet.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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glitch

noun informal
1. a sudden malfunction or irregularity of equipment.
2. an unexpected setback in a plan.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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glitter

verb
1. shine with a bright, shimmering reflected light.
2. (glittering) impressively successful or glamorous: a glittering career.

noun
1. bright, shimmering reflected light.
2. tiny pieces of sparkling material used for decoration.
3. an attractive but superficial quality.

IDIOMS -
all that glitters is not gold proverb the attractive external appearance of something is not a reliable indication of its true nature.

DERIVATIVES:
glittery adjective.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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glitterati

plural noun informal
fashionable people involved in show business or some other glamorous activity.

ORIGIN: blend of GLITTER and LITERATI.

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glitz

noun informal
extravagant but superficial display.

DERIVATIVES:
glitzy adjective.

ORIGIN: from GLITTER, suggested by RITZY.

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gloaming

noun (the gloaming) literary
twilight; dusk.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to GLOW.

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gloat

verb
contemplate one's own success or another's misfortune with smugness or malignant pleasure.

noun
an act of gloating.

DERIVATIVES:
gloater noun
gloating adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «give a sideways or furtive look»: of uncertain origin.

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glob

noun informal
a lump of a semi-liquid substance.

ORIGIN: perhaps a blend of BLOB and GOB.

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global

adjective
1. relating to the whole world; worldwide.
2. relating to or embracing the whole of something, or of a group of things.
3. Computing operating or applying through the whole of a file or program.

DERIVATIVES:
globalist noun
globalize (also globalise) verb
globally adverb.

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global warming

noun
the gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere due to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants.

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globe

noun
1. a spherical or rounded object.
2. (the globe) the earth.
3. a spherical representation of the earth with a map on the surface.

DERIVATIVES:
globose adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin globus.

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globetrotter

noun informal
a person who travels widely.

DERIVATIVES:
globetrotting noun & adjective.

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globular

adjective
1. globe-shaped; spherical.
2. composed of globules.

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globule

noun
a small round particle of a substance; a drop.

ORIGIN: Latin globulus 'little globe' .

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globulin

noun Biochemistry
any of a group of simple proteins found in blood serum and soluble in salt solution.

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glockenspiel

noun
a musical percussion instrument containing tuned metal pieces which are struck with small hammers.

ORIGIN: German, 'bell play' .

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gloom

noun
1. partial or total darkness.
2. a state of depression or despondency.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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gloomy

adjective (gloomier, gloomiest)
1. dark or poorly lit, especially so as to cause fear or depression.
2. causing or feeling depression or despondency.

DERIVATIVES:
gloomily adverb
gloominess noun.

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gloop

noun informal
sloppy or sticky semi-fluid matter.

DERIVATIVES:
gloopy adjective.

ORIGIN: symbolic.

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glorify

verb (glorifies, glorified)
1. describe or represent as admirable, especially unjustifiably or undeservedly.
2. (glorified) represented as or appearing more elevated or special than is the case: a glorified courier.
3. praise and worship (God).

DERIVATIVES:
glorification noun.

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glorious

adjective
1. having or bringing glory.
2. strikingly beautiful or impressive.

DERIVATIVES:
gloriously adverb
gloriousness noun.

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glory

noun (pl. glories)
1. high renown or honour won by notable achievements.
2. magnificence; great beauty.
3. a very beautiful or impressive thing.
4. worship and thanksgiving offered to God.

verb (glory in)
1. take great pride or pleasure in.
2. exult in unpleasantly or boastfully.

IDIOMS -
in one's glory informal in a state of extreme joy or exaltation.

ORIGIN: Latin gloria.

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Glos.

abbreviation
Gloucestershire.

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gloss [1]

noun
1. the shine on a smooth surface.
2. (also gloss paint) a type of paint which dries to a bright shiny surface.
3. a superficially attractive appearance or impression.

verb
1. give a glossy appearance to.
2. (gloss over) try to conceal or pass over by mentioning briefly or misleadingly.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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gloss [2]

noun
a translation or explanation of a word, phrase, or passage.

verb
provide a gloss for.

ORIGIN: alteration of GLOZE, suggested by Latin glossa 'explanation of a difficult word' .

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glossary

noun (pl. glossaries)
an alphabetical list of words relating to a specific subject, text, or dialect, with explanations.

ORIGIN: Latin glossarium, from glossa 'explanation of a difficult word' .

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glossy

adjective (glossier, glossiest)
1. shiny and smooth.
2. superficially attractive and stylish.

noun (pl. glossies) informal
a magazine printed on glossy paper with many colour photographs.

DERIVATIVES:
glossily adverb
glossiness noun.

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glottal

adjective
of or produced by the glottis.

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glottal stop

noun
a consonant formed by the audible release of the airstream after complete closure of the glottis.

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glottis

noun
the part of the larynx consisting of the vocal cords and the slit-like opening between them.

ORIGIN: Greek, from gltta, variant of glssa 'tongue' .

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glove

noun
1. a covering for the hand having separate parts for each finger and the thumb.
2. a padded protective covering for the hand used in boxing and other sports.

IDIOMS -
fit like a glove (of clothes) fit exactly.

DERIVATIVES:
gloved adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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glovebox

noun
1. a glove compartment.
2. a closed chamber with sealed-in gloves for handling radioactive or other hazardous material.

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glove compartment

noun
a small recess for storage in the dashboard of a motor vehicle.

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glove puppet

noun chiefly Brit.
a cloth puppet fitted on the hand and worked by the fingers.

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glow

verb
1. give out steady light without flame.
2. have an intense colour and a slight radiance.
3. convey deep pleasure through one's expression and bearing.

noun
1. a steady radiance of light or heat.
2. a feeling or appearance of warmth.
3. a strong feeling of pleasure or well-being.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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glower

verb
have an angry or sullen look on one's face; scowl.

noun
an angry or sullen look.

ORIGIN: perhaps a Scots variant of dialect glore, or from obsolete glow 'to stare' , both possibly Scandinavian.

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glowing

adjective
expressing great praise: a glowing report.

DERIVATIVES:
glowingly adverb.

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glow-worm

noun
a soft-bodied beetle whose larvalike wingless female emits light to attract males.

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gloxinia

noun
a tropical American plant with large, velvety, bell-shaped flowers.

ORIGIN: named after the 18th-century German botanist Benjamin P. Gloxin.

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glucose

noun
a simple sugar which is an important energy source in living organisms and is a component of many carbohydrates.

ORIGIN: Greek gleukos 'sweet wine' .

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glue

noun
an adhesive substance used for sticking objects or materials together.

verb (glues, glued, gluing or glueing)
1. fasten or join with glue.
2. (be glued to) informal be paying very close attention to.

DERIVATIVES:
gluey adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin glus, from gluten 'glue' .

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glue ear

noun
blocking of the Eustachian tube by mucus, occurring especially in children and causing impaired hearing.

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glue-sniffing

noun
the practice of inhaling intoxicating fumes from the solvents in adhesives.

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glug informal

verb (glugged, glugging)
pour or drink (liquid) with a hollow gurgling sound.

noun
a hollow gurgling sound.

DERIVATIVES:
gluggable adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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glum

adjective (glummer, glummest)
dejected; morose.

DERIVATIVES:
glumly adverb.

ORIGIN: related to dialect glum 'to frown' , variant of GLOOM.

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glut

noun
an excessively abundant supply.

verb (glutted, glutting)
supply or fill to excess.

ORIGIN: probably from Latin gluttire 'to swallow' ; related to GLUTTON.

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glutamate

noun Biochemistry
a salt or ester of an amino acid (glutamic acid) which is a constituent of many proteins.

ORIGIN: from glutamic acid, from GLUTEN + AMINE.

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gluten

noun
a protein present in cereal grains, especially wheat, which is responsible for the elastic texture of dough.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'glue' .

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glutinous

adjective
1. like glue in texture; sticky.
2. excessively sentimental; sickly: glutinous ballads.

DERIVATIVES:
glutinously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin glutinosus, from gluten 'glue' .

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glutton

noun
1. an excessively greedy eater.
2. a person with a great eagerness or capacity for something: a glutton for adventure.

IDIOMS -
a glutton for punishment a person who is always eager to undertake unpleasant tasks.

DERIVATIVES:
gluttonous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin glutto, related to gluttire 'to swallow' and gluttus 'greedy' .

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gluttony

noun
habitual greed or excess in eating.

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glycerol

noun
a colourless, sweet, viscous liquid formed as a by-product in soap manufacture, used as an emollient and laxative.

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GM

abbreviation
1. general manager.
2. genetically modified.
3. George Medal.
4. (of a school) grant-maintained.

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gm

abbreviation
gram(s).

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GMO

abbreviation
genetically modified organism.

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GMT

abbreviation
Greenwich Mean Time.

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gnarled

adjective
knobbly, rough, and twisted, especially with age.

ORIGIN: variant of knarled, from obsolete knarre 'rugged rock or stone' .

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gnarly

adjective (gnarlier, gnarliest)
1. gnarled.
2. N. Amer. informal dangerous, challenging, or unpleasant.

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gnash

verb
grind (one's teeth) together, especially as a sign of anger.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to a Old Norse word meaning 'a gnashing of teeth' .

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gnashers

plural noun Brit. informal
teeth.

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gnat

noun
a small two-winged fly resembling a mosquito.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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gnaw

verb
1. bite at or nibble persistently.
2. cause persistent anxiety or pain.

DERIVATIVES:
gnawingly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English, ultimately imitative.

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gnocchi

plural noun
(in Italian cooking) small dumplings made from potato, semolina, or flour.

ORIGIN: Italian, plural of gnocco, alteration of nocchio 'knot in wood' .

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gnome

noun
1. a legendary dwarfish creature supposed to guard the earth's treasures underground.
2. a small garden ornament in the form of a bearded man with a pointed hat.
3. informal a person having secret or sinister influence, especially in financial matters: the gnomes of Zurich.

DERIVATIVES:
gnomish adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin gnomus, a word used by the Swiss physician Paracelsus (c.1493 1541) as a synonym of Pygmaeus 'pygmy' .

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gnomic

adjective
1. in the form of short, pithy maxims or aphorisms.
2. enigmatic; ambiguous.

DERIVATIVES:
gnomically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek gnm 'thought, opinion'

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Gnosticism

noun
a heretical movement of the 2nd-century Christian Church, teaching that esoteric knowledge (gnosis) of the supreme divine being enabled the redemption of the human spirit.

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GNP

abbreviation
gross national product.

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gnu

noun
a large African antelope with a long head and a beard and mane.

ORIGIN: from Khoikhoi and San, perhaps imitative of the sound made by the animal when alarmed.

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GNVQ

abbreviation
General National Vocational Qualification.

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go

verb (goes, going; past went; past part. gone)
1. move to or from a place.
2. pass into or be in a specified state: her mind went blank.
3. (go to/into) enter into a specified state or course of action: go to sleep.
4. lie or extend in a certain direction.
5. come to an end; cease to exist.
6. disappear or be used up.
7. (of time) pass.
8. pass time in a particular way: they went for months without talking.
9. engage in a specified activity.
10. have a particular outcome.
11. (be going to be/do) used to express a future tense.
12. function or operate.
13. be harmonious or matching.
14. be acceptable or permitted: anything goes.
15. fit into or be regularly kept in a particular place.
16. make a specified sound.
17. informal say.
18. (go by/under) be known or called by (a specified name).

noun (pl. goes) informal
1. an attempt: give it a go.
2. a turn to do or use something.
3. Brit. informal a single item, action, or spell of activity: it costs ten quid a go.
4. spirit or energy.
5. Brit. vigorous activity.

IDIOMS -
go about begin or carry on work at.
go along with agree to.
go at energetically attack or tackle.
go back on fail to keep (a promise).
go down
1. be defeated in a contest.
2. be recorded or remembered in a particular way.
3. obtain a specified reaction: the show went down well.
go for
1. decide on.
2. attempt to gain.
3. attack.
4. apply to.
go halves (or shares) share something equally.
go in for
1. enter (a contest) as a competitor.
2. like or habitually take part in.
going!, gone! an auctioneer's announcement that bidding is closing or closed.
go into
1. investigate or enquire into.
2. (of a whole number) be capable of dividing another, typically without a remainder.
go off
1. (of a gun or bomb) explode or fire.
2. chiefly Brit. (of food) begin to decompose.
3. informal, chiefly Brit. begin to dislike.
go on
1. continue or persevere.
2. take place.
3. proceed to do.
go out
1. be extinguished.
2. (of the tide) ebb.
3. carry on a regular romantic relationship with someone.
go over
1. examine or check the details of.
2. be received in a specified way.
go round chiefly Brit. (chiefly US also go around) be sufficient to supply everybody present.
go through
1. undergo (a difficult experience).
2. examine carefully .
3. informal use up or spend.
go under become bankrupt.
go with
1. give one's consent or agreement to.
2. have a romantic or sexual relationship with.
go without suffer lack or deprivation.
have a go at chiefly Brit. attack or criticize.
have going for one informal be in one's favour or to one's advantage.
make a go of informal be successful in.
no go informal impossible, hopeless, or forbidden.
on the go informal very active or busy.
to go chiefly N. Amer. (of food or drink from a restaurant or cafe) to be eaten or drunk off the premises.
what goes around comes around proverb the consequences of one's actions will have to be dealt with eventually.

ORIGIN: Old English; the form went was originally the past tense of WEND.

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goad

noun
1. a spiked stick used for driving cattle.
2. a thing that stimulates someone into action.

verb
1. provoke to action.
2. urge on with a goad.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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go-ahead informal

noun (the go-ahead)
permission to proceed.

adjective
enterprising and ambitious.

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goal

noun
1. (in soccer, rugby, etc.) a pair of posts linked by a crossbar and forming a space into or over which the ball has to be sent to score.
2. an instance of sending the ball into or over a goal.
3. an aim or desired result.

DERIVATIVES:
goalless adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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goal difference

noun Soccer
the difference between the number of goals scored for and against a team in a series of matches.

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goalie

noun informal
a goalkeeper.

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goalkeeper

noun
a player in soccer or field hockey whose special role is to stop the ball from entering the goal.

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goal kick

noun
1. Soccer a free kick taken by the defending side after attackers send the ball over the byline.
2. Rugby an attempt to kick a goal.

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goal line

noun
a line across a football or hockey field on which the goal is placed or which acts as the boundary beyond which a try or touchdown is scored.

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goalpost

noun
either of the two upright posts of a goal.

IDIOMS -
move the goalposts unfairly alter the conditions or rules of a procedure during its course.

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goat

noun
1. a hardy domesticated mammal that has backward-curving horns and (in the male) a beard.
2. a wild mammal related to this, such as the ibex.
3. informal a lecherous man.
4. Brit. informal a stupid person.

IDIOMS -
get someone's goat informal irritate someone.

DERIVATIVES:
goatish adjective
goaty adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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goatee

noun
a small pointed beard like that of a goat.

DERIVATIVES:
goateed adjective.

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goatherd

noun
a person who tends goats.

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gob [1]

noun informal, chiefly Brit.
a person's mouth.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Scottish Gaelic.

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gob [2] informal

noun
1. a lump or clot of a slimy or viscous substance.
2. (gobs of) N. Amer. a lot of.

verb (gobbed, gobbing) Brit.
spit.

ORIGIN: Old French gobe 'mouthful, lump' , from gober 'to swallow, gulp' .

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gobbet

noun
a piece or lump of flesh, food, or other matter.

ORIGIN: Old French gobet 'little lump or mouthful' .

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gobble [1]

verb (often gobble up)
1. eat hurriedly and noisily.
2. use a large amount of (something) very quickly.

DERIVATIVES:
gobbler noun.

ORIGIN: probably from GOB.

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gobble [2]

verb
(of a turkeycock) make a characteristic swallowing sound in the throat.

DERIVATIVES:
gobbler noun.

ORIGIN: imitative, perhaps influenced by GOBBLE.

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gobbledegook (also gobbledygook)

noun informal
pompous or unintelligible jargon.

ORIGIN: probably imitating a turkey's gobble.

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go-between

noun
an intermediary or negotiator.

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goblet

noun
1. a drinking glass with a foot and a stem.
2. Brit. a receptacle forming part of a liquidizer.

ORIGIN: Old French gobelet 'little cup' .

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goblin

noun
a mischievous, ugly, dwarf-like creature of folklore.

ORIGIN: Old French gobelin, possibly related to German Kobold (denoting a spirit who haunts houses or lives underground) or to Greek kobalos 'mischievous goblin' .

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gobsmacked

adjective Brit. informal
utterly astonished.

DERIVATIVES:
gobsmacking adjective.

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gobstopper

noun chiefly Brit.
a large, hard spherical sweet.

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goby

noun (pl. gobies)
a small marine fish, typically with a sucker on the underside.

ORIGIN: Greek kbios.

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go-cart

noun
1. variant spelling of GO-KART.
2. a handcart.
3. a pushchair.

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God

noun
1. (in Christianity and other monotheistic religions) the creator and supreme ruler of the universe.
2. (god) a superhuman being or spirit worshipped as having power over nature and human fortunes.
3. (god) a greatly admired or influential person.
4. (the gods) informal the gallery in a theatre.

exclamation
used to express surprise, anger, etc. or for emphasis.

IDIOMS -
God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (in Christian doctrine) the persons of the Trinity.
God Save the Queen (or King) the British national anthem.

DERIVATIVES:
godhood noun
godlike adjective
godward adjective & adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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godchild

noun (pl. godchildren)
a person in relation to a godparent.

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god-daughter

noun
a female godchild.

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goddess

noun
1. a female deity.
2. a woman who is adored, especially for her beauty.

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godetia

noun
a North American plant with showy lilac to red flowers.

ORIGIN: named after the Swiss botanist Charles H. Godet (1797 1879).

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godfather

noun
1. a male godparent.
2. the male head of an illegal organization, especially a leader of the American Mafia.

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God-fearing

adjective
earnestly religious.

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godforsaken

adjective
lacking any merit or attraction.

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godhead

noun
1. (the Godhead) God.
2. divine nature.

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godless

adjective
1. not believing in a god or God.
2. profane; wicked.

DERIVATIVES:
godlessness noun.

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godly

adjective (godlier, godliest)
devoutly religious; pious.

DERIVATIVES:
godliness noun.

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godown

noun
(in east Asia, especially India) a warehouse.

ORIGIN: Portuguese gudão, from Tamil.

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godparent

noun
a person who presents a child at baptism and promises to take responsibility for their religious education.

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godsend

noun
something very helpful or opportune.

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godson

noun
a male godchild.

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gofer (also gopher)

noun informal, chiefly N. Amer.
a person who runs errands; a dogsbody.

ORIGIN: from go for (i.e. go and fetch).

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go-getter

noun informal
an aggressively enterprising person.

DERIVATIVES:
go-getting adjective.

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goggle

verb
1. look with wide open eyes.
2. (of the eyes) protrude or open wide.

noun (goggles)
close-fitting protective glasses with side shields.

ORIGIN: probably symbolic of oscillating movement.

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go-go

adjective
1. denoting an unrestrained and erotic style of dancing to popular music.
2. assertively dynamic.

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going

noun
1. the condition of the ground viewed in terms of suitability for horse racing or walking.
2. conditions for, or progress in, an endeavour.

adjective
1. chiefly Brit. existing or available: any jobs going?
2. (of a price) acceptable or current.

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going concern

noun
a thriving business.

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going-over

noun informal
1. a thorough cleaning or inspection.
2. a beating.

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goings-on

plural noun informal
activities of a suspect or unusual nature.

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goitre (US goiter)

noun
a swelling of the neck resulting from enlargement of the thyroid gland.

DERIVATIVES:
goitrous adjective.

ORIGIN: French, or from Old French goitron 'gullet' , both from Latin guttur 'throat' .

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go-kart (also go-cart)

noun
a small racing car with a lightweight or skeleton body.

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gold

noun
1. a yellow precious metal, used in jewellery and decoration and as a monetary medium.
2. a deep lustrous yellow or yellow-brown colour.
3. coins or articles made of gold.
4. wealth.

IDIOMS -
pot (or crock) of gold a large but distant or imaginary reward. [ORIGIN: with allusion to the story of a crock of gold supposedly to be found at the end of a rainbow.]

ORIGIN: Old English.

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goldcrest

noun
a very small warbler with a yellow or orange crest.

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gold-digger

noun informal
a woman who forms relationships with men purely for financial gain.

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gold disc

noun
a framed golden disc awarded to a recording artist or group for sales exceeding a specified figure.

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gold dust

noun
1. fine particles of gold.
2. something rare and very valuable.

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golden

adjective
1. made of or resembling gold.
2. (of a period) very happy and prosperous.
3. excellent: a golden opportunity.

DERIVATIVES:
goldenly adverb.

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golden age

noun
1. an idyllic, often imaginary past time of peace, prosperity, and happiness.
2. the period when a specified art or activity is at its peak.

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golden boy (or golden girl)

noun informal
a very popular or successful young man or woman.

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golden eagle

noun
a large eagle with yellow-tipped head feathers.

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golden goose

noun
a continuing source of wealth or profit that may be exhausted if it is misused.

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golden handshake

noun informal
a payment given to someone who is made redundant or retires early.

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golden jubilee

noun
the fiftieth anniversary of a significant event.

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golden mean

noun
the ideal moderate position between two extremes.

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golden retriever

noun
a breed of retriever with a thick golden-coloured coat.

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goldenrod

noun
a plant with tall spikes of small bright yellow flowers.

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golden rule

noun
a basic principle which should always be followed.

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golden syrup

noun Brit.
a pale treacle.

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golden wedding

noun
the fiftieth anniversary of a wedding.

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goldfield

noun
a district in which gold is found as a mineral.

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goldfinch

noun
a brightly coloured finch with a yellow patch on each wing.

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goldfish

noun
a small reddish-golden carp popular in ponds and aquaria.

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goldfish bowl

noun chiefly Brit.
1. a spherical glass container for goldfish.
2. a place or situation lacking privacy.

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gold leaf

noun
gold beaten into a very thin sheet, used in gilding.

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gold medal

noun
a medal made of or coloured gold, awarded for first place in a race or competition.

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gold mine

noun
1. a place where gold is mined.
2. a source of great wealth or valuable resources.

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gold plate

noun
1. a thin layer of gold applied as a coating to another metal.
2. plates, dishes, etc. made of or plated with gold.

verb (gold-plate)
cover with gold plate.

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gold rush

noun
a rapid movement of people to a newly discovered goldfield.

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goldsmith

noun
a person who makes gold articles.

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gold standard

noun historical
the system by which the value of a currency was defined in terms of gold.

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golf

noun
a game played on an outdoor course, the aim of which is to strike a small, hard ball with a club into a series of small holes with the fewest possible strokes.

verb (usu. as noun golfing)
play golf.

DERIVATIVES:
golfer noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Dutch kolf 'club, bat' .

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golliwog

noun
a soft doll with a black face and fuzzy hair.

ORIGIN: from Golliwogg, the name of a doll character in books by the US writer Bertha Upton (died 1912).

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golly

exclamation informal
used to express surprise or delight.

ORIGIN: euphemism for GOD.

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gonad

noun
a bodily organ that produces gametes; a testis or ovary.

DERIVATIVES:
gonadal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin gonades, plural of gonas, from Greek gon 'generation, seed' .

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gondola

noun
1. a light flat-bottomed boat used on Venetian canals, having a high point at each end and worked by one oar at the stern.
2. a cabin on a ski lift, or suspended from an airship or balloon.

ORIGIN: Venetian Italian.

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gondolier

noun
a person who propels and steers a gondola.

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gone
past participle of GO.
adjective
1. no longer present or in existence.
2. informal in a trance or stupor, especially through alcohol or drugs.
3. informal having reached a specified time in a pregnancy: four months gone.

preposition Brit.
1. (of time) past.
2. (of age) older than.

IDIOMS -
be gone on informal be infatuated with.

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goner

noun informal
a person or thing that is doomed or cannot be saved.

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gong

noun
1. a metal disc with a turned rim, giving a resonant note when struck.
2. Brit. informal a medal or decoration.

verb
sound a gong or make a sound like that of a gong.

ORIGIN: Malay.

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gonna

contraction informal
going to.

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gonorrhoea (US gonorrhea)

noun
a venereal disease involving inflammatory discharge from the urethra or vagina.

ORIGIN: Greek gonorrhoia, from gonos 'semen' + rhoia 'flux' .

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goo

noun informal
1. a sticky or slimy substance.
2. sickly sentiment.

ORIGIN: perhaps from burgoo, a nautical slang term for porridge, from a Persian word meaning 'bruised grain' .

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good

adjective (better, best)
1. to be desired or approved of.
2. having the required qualities; of a high standard.
3. morally right; virtuous.
4. well behaved.
5. enjoyable or satisfying.
6. appropriate.
7. (good for) beneficial to.
8. thorough.
9. at least.

noun
1. that which is morally right or beneficial.
2. (goods) merchandise or possessions.
3. (goods) Brit. freight.

IDIOMS -
as good as very nearly .
be to the good have a specified net profit or advantage.
come up with (or deliver) the goods informal do what is expected or required.
do good
1. act virtuously, especially by helping others.
2. be helpful or beneficial.
for good forever.
the Good Book the Bible.
good for (or on) you! well done!
the Good Shepherd a name for Jesus.
a good word words in recommendation or defence of a person.
in good time
1. with no risk of being late.
2. (also all in good time) in due course but without haste.
make good
1. compensate for (loss, damage, or expense).
2. fulfil (a promise or claim).
3. be successful.
take something in good part not be offended.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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goodbye (US also goodby)

exclamation
used to express good wishes when parting or ending a conversation.

noun (pl. goodbyes; US also goodbys)
an instance of saying ‘goodbye’; a parting.

ORIGIN: contraction of God be with you!

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good faith

noun
honesty or sincerity of intention.

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good-for-nothing

adjective
worthless.

noun
a worthless person.

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Good Friday

noun
the Friday before Easter Sunday, on which the Crucifixion of Christ is commemorated in the Christian Church.

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good-humoured

adjective
genial or cheerful.

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goodish

adjective
1. fairly good.
2. fairly large.

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good-looking

adjective
attractive.

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goodly

adjective (goodlier, goodliest)
1. considerable in size or quantity.
2. archaic attractive, excellent, or virtuous.

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goodness

noun
1. the quality of being good.
2. the nutritious element of food.

exclamation
(as a substitution for ‘God’) expressing surprise, anger, etc.

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goods and chattels

plural noun
all kinds of personal possessions.

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good-tempered

adjective
not easily irritated or made angry.

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goodwill

noun
1. friendly or helpful feelings or attitude.
2. the established reputation of a business regarded as a quantifiable asset.

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good works

plural noun
charitable acts.

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goody

noun (also goodie) (pl. goodies) informal
1. Brit. a good or favoured person, especially a hero in a story or film.
2. (goodies) tasty things to eat.

exclamation
expressing childish delight.

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goody-goody informal

noun
a smugly virtuous person.

adjective
smugly virtuous.

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gooey

adjective (gooier, gooiest) informal
1. soft and sticky.
2. mawkishly sentimental.

DERIVATIVES:
gooeyness noun.

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goof informal, chiefly N. Amer.

noun
1. a mistake.
2. a foolish or stupid person.

verb
1. fool around.
2. make a mistake.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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goofy

adjective (goofier, goofiest) informal
1. chiefly N. Amer. foolish; harmlessly eccentric.
2. having protruding or crooked front teeth.

DERIVATIVES:
goofily adverb
goofiness noun.

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gook

noun N. Amer. informal, offensive
a person of SE Asian descent.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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goolie (also gooly)

noun (pl. goolies) Brit. informal
a testicle.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to a Hindi word meaning 'bullet, ball, pill' .

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goon

noun informal
1. a foolish or eccentric person.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a ruffian or thug.

ORIGIN: perhaps from dialect gooney «stupid person»; later influenced by the American cartoon character 'Alice the Goon' .

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goosander

noun (pl. same or goosanders)
a large merganser (diving duck), the male of which has a dark green head and whitish underparts.

ORIGIN: probably from GOOSE + -ander as in dialect bergander «shelduck».

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goose

noun (pl. geese)
1. a large waterbird with a long neck, short legs, webbed feet, and a short, broad bill.
2. the female of such a bird.
3. informal a foolish person.

verb informal
poke (someone) in the bottom.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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gooseberry

noun (pl. gooseberries)
1. a round edible yellowish-green berry with a hairy skin, growing on a thorny shrub.
2. Brit. informal a third person in the company of two lovers, who would prefer to be alone.

ORIGIN: the first element perhaps from GOOSE, or perhaps from Old French groseille.

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gooseflesh

noun
a pimply state of the skin with the hairs erect, produced by cold or fright.

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goose pimples

plural noun
gooseflesh.

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goose step

noun
a military marching step in which the legs are not bent at the knee.

verb (goose-step)
march with such a step.

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gopher

noun
1. (also pocket gopher) a burrowing American rodent with pouches on its cheeks.
2. N. Amer. informal a ground squirrel.
3. variant spelling of GOFER.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Canadian French gaufre 'honeycomb' (because the gopher ‘honeycombs’ the ground with its burrows).

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Gordian knot

noun (in phrase cut the Gordian knot)
solve a difficult problem in a direct or forceful way.

ORIGIN: from the legendary knot tied by Gordius, king of Gordium, and cut through by Alexander the Great in response to the prophecy that whoever untied it would rule Asia.

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gore [1]

noun
blood that has been shed, especially as a result of violence.

ORIGIN: Old English, «dung, dirt».

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gore [2]

verb
(of an animal such as a bull) pierce or stab with a horn or tusk.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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gore [3]

noun
a triangular or tapering piece of material used in making a garment, sail, or umbrella.

verb (usu. as adj. gored)
shape with a gore or gores.

ORIGIN: Old English, «triangular piece of land».

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gorge

noun
1. a steep, narrow valley or ravine.
2. archaic the contents of the stomach.

verb
eat a large amount greedily.

IDIOMS -
one's gorge rises one is sickened or disgusted.

DERIVATIVES:
gorger noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «throat»: from Old French, 'throat' , from Latin gurges 'whirlpool' .

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gorgeous

adjective
1. beautiful; very attractive.
2. informal very pleasant.

DERIVATIVES:
gorgeously adverb
gorgeousness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French gorgias 'fine, elegant' .

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gorgon

noun
1. Greek Mythology each of three sisters with snakes for hair, who had the power to turn anyone who looked at them to stone.
2. a fierce, frightening, or repulsive woman.

ORIGIN: Greek Gorg, from gorgos 'terrible' .

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Gorgonzola

noun
a rich, strong-flavoured Italian cheese with bluish-green veins.

ORIGIN: named after the Italian village of Gorgonzola.

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gorilla

noun
1. a powerfully built great ape of central Africa, the largest living primate.
2. informal a heavily built aggressive-looking man.

ORIGIN: Greek, representing an alleged African word for a wild or hairy person.

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gormless

adjective Brit. informal
stupid or slow-witted.

DERIVATIVES:
gormlessly adverb
gormlessness noun.

ORIGIN: from dialect gaum «understanding», from an Old Norse word meaning 'care, heed' .

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gorse

noun
a yellow-flowered shrub, the leaves of which have the form of spines.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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gory

adjective (gorier, goriest)
1. involving violence and bloodshed.
2. covered in blood.

IDIOMS -
the gory details humorous explicit details.

DERIVATIVES:
goriness noun.

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gosh

exclamation informal
used to express surprise or give emphasis.

ORIGIN: euphemism for GOD.

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goshawk

noun
a short-winged hawk resembling a large sparrowhawk.

ORIGIN: Old English, «goose-hawk».

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gosling

noun
a young goose.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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gospel

noun
1. the teachings of Christ.
2. (Gospel) the record of Christ's life and teaching in the first four books of the New Testament.
3. (Gospel) each of these books.
4. (also gospel truth) something absolutely true.
5. (also gospel music) a fervent style of black American evangelical religious singing.

ORIGIN: Old English, «good news».

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gossamer

noun
a fine, filmy substance consisting of cobwebs spun by small spiders.

adjective
very fine and insubstantial.

ORIGIN: apparently from GOOSE + SUMMER, perhaps from the time of year around St Martin's day (11 November) when geese were eaten and gossamer is often seen.

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gossip

noun
1. casual conversation or unsubstantiated reports about other people.
2. chiefly derogatory a person who likes talking about other people's private lives.

verb (gossiped, gossiping)
engage in gossip.

DERIVATIVES:
gossiper noun
gossipy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, originally in the sense «godfather or godmother», later «a close friend, a person with whom one gossips»; related to SIB.

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gossip column

noun
a section of a newspaper devoted to gossip about well-known people.

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Goth

noun
1. a member of a Germanic people that invaded the Roman Empire between the 3rd and 5th centuries.
2. (goth) a style of rock music typically having apocalyptic or mystical lyrics.
3. a member of a subculture favouring black clothing and goth music.

ORIGIN: Greek Gothoi, from Gothic.

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Gothic

adjective
1. relating to the ancient Goths or their extinct language.
2. of the style of architecture prevalent in western Europe in the 12th 16th centuries, characterized by pointed arches and elaborate tracery.
3. portentously gloomy or horrifying.
4. (of lettering) derived from the angular style of handwriting with broad vertical downstrokes used in medieval western Europe.

noun
1. the language of the Goths.
2. Gothic architecture.

DERIVATIVES:
Gothicism noun.

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gouache

noun
1. a method of painting using opaque pigments ground in water and thickened with a glue-like substance.
2. paint of this kind.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian guazzo.

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gouge

verb
1. make (a rough hole or indentation) in a surface.
2. (gouge out) cut or force out roughly or brutally.

noun
1. a chisel with a concave blade.
2. an indentation or groove made by gouging.

DERIVATIVES:
gouger noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin gubia, gulbia.

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goulash

noun
a rich Hungarian stew of meat and vegetables, flavoured with paprika.

ORIGIN: from Hungarian gulyás 'herdsman' + hús 'meat' .

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gourd

noun
1. the large hard-skinned fleshy fruit of a climbing or trailing plant.
2. a container made from the hollowed and dried skin of a gourd.

ORIGIN: Old French gourde, from Latin cucurbita.

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gourmand

noun
1. a person who enjoys eating, sometimes to excess.
2. a connoisseur of good food; a gourmet.

ORIGIN: Old French.

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gourmet

noun
1. a connoisseur of good food.
2. (before another noun ) suitable for a gourmet: a gourmet meal.

ORIGIN: French, originally 'wine taster' , influenced by GOURMAND.

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gout

noun
1. a disease in which defective metabolism of uric acid causes arthritis, especially in the smaller bones of the feet.
2. literary a drop or spot.

DERIVATIVES:
gouty adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin gutta 'drop' (because gout was believed to be caused by the dropping of diseased matter from the blood into the joints).

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govern

verb
1. conduct the policy and affairs of (a state, organization, or people).
2. control or influence.
3. constitute a rule, standard, or principle for.
4. Grammar (of a word) require that (another word or group of words) be in a particular case.

DERIVATIVES:
governability noun
governable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French governer, from Greek kubernan 'to steer' .

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governance

noun
the action or manner of governing.

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governess

noun
a woman employed to teach children in a private household.

DERIVATIVES:
governessy adjective.

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government

noun
1. (treated as sing. or pl. ) the governing body of a state.
2. the system by which a state or community is governed.
3. the action or manner of governing a state, organization, or people.

DERIVATIVES:
governmental adjective.

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governor

noun
1. an official appointed to govern a town or region.
2. the elected executive head of a US state.
3. the representative of the British Crown in a colony or in a Commonwealth state that regards the monarch as head of state.
4. the head of a public institution.
5. a member of a governing body.
6. Brit. informal the person in authority.
7. a device automatically regulating the supply of fuel, steam, or water to a machine.

DERIVATIVES:
governorate noun
governorship noun.

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Governor General

noun (pl. Governors General)
the chief representative of the Crown in a Commonwealth country of which the British monarch is head of state.

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gown

noun
1. a long dress worn on formal occasions.
2. a protective garment worn in hospital by surgical staff or patients.
3. a loose cloak indicating one's profession or status, worn by a lawyer, teacher, academic, or university student.
4. the members of a university as distinct from the residents of a town.

verb (be gowned)
be dressed in a gown.

ORIGIN: Old French goune, from Latin gunna 'fur garment' .

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GP

abbreviation
1. general practitioner.
2. Grand Prix.

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gr.

abbreviation
1. grain(s).
2. gram(s).
3. gross.

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grab

verb (grabbed, grabbing)
1. seize suddenly and roughly.
2. informal obtain quickly or opportunistically.
3. informal impress: how does that grab you?

noun
1. a quick sudden attempt to seize.
2. a mechanical device for gripping, lifting, and moving loads.

IDIOMS -
up for grabs informal available.

DERIVATIVES:
grabber noun.

ORIGIN: Low German and Dutch grabben.

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grace

noun
1. elegance of movement.
2. courteous good will: she had the grace to look sheepish.
3. (graces) attractive qualities or behaviour: a horrible character with no saving graces.
4. (in Christian belief) the free and unearned favour of God.
5. a person's favour.
6. a period officially allowed for fulfilment of an obligation.
7. a short prayer of thanks said before or after a meal.
8. (His, Her, or Your Grace) used as forms of description or address for a duke, duchess, or archbishop.

verb
1. lend honour to by one's presence.
2. be an attractive presence in or on.

IDIOMS -
be in someone's good (or bad) graces be regarded by someone with favour (or disfavour).
the (Three) Graces Greek Mythology three beautiful goddesses, daughters of Zeus, believed to personify and bestow charm, grace, and beauty.
with good (or bad) grace in a willing (or reluctant) manner.

ORIGIN: Latin gratia, from gratus 'pleasing, thankful' .

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graceful

adjective
having or showing grace or elegance.

DERIVATIVES:
gracefully adverb
gracefulness noun.

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graceless

adjective
lacking grace, elegance, or charm.

DERIVATIVES:
gracelessly adverb
gracelessness noun.

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grace note

noun Music
an extra note added as an embellishment and not essential to the harmony or melody.

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gracious

adjective
1. courteous, kind, and pleasant.
2. showing the elegance and comfort associated with high social status or wealth.
3. (in Christian belief) showing divine grace.

exclamation
expressing polite surprise.

DERIVATIVES:
graciously adverb
graciousness noun.

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gradation

noun
1. a scale of successive changes, stages, or degrees.
2. a stage in a such a scale.

DERIVATIVES:
gradational adjective.

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grade

noun
1. a specified level of rank, quality, proficiency, or value.
2. a mark indicating the quality of a student's work.
3. N. Amer. (with specifying ordinal number) those pupils in a school who are grouped by age or ability for teaching at a particular level for a year.

verb
1. arrange in or allocate to grades.
2. pass gradually from one level to another.
3. N. Amer. give a grade to (a student or their work).
4. reduce (a road) to an easy gradient.

IDIOMS -
make the grade informal succeed.

ORIGIN: Latin gradus 'step' .

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gradient

noun
1. a sloping part of a road or railway.
2. the degree of a slope, expressed as change of height divided by distance travelled.
3. Physics a change in the magnitude of a property (e.g. temperature) observed in passing from one point or moment to another.

ORIGIN: from GRADE.

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gradual

adjective
1. taking place in stages over an extended period.
2. (of a slope) not steep or abrupt.

DERIVATIVES:
gradually adverb
gradualness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin gradualis, from gradus 'step' .

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graduate

noun
a person who has been awarded a first academic degree, or (N. Amer. ) a high-school diploma.

verb
1. successfully complete a degree, course, or (N. Amer. ) high school.
2. (graduate to) move up to (something more advanced).
3. arrange or mark out in gradations.
4. change gradually.

DERIVATIVES:
graduation noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin graduare 'take a degree' , from gradus 'degree, step' .

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Graeco- (also Greco-)

combining form
Greek; Greek and …: Graeco-Roman.

ORIGIN: Latin Graecus 'Greek' .

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graffiti

plural noun (sing. graffito) (treated as sing. or pl. )
unauthorized writing or drawings on a surface in a public place.

verb
write or draw graffiti on.

DERIVATIVES:
graffitist noun.
USAGE - In Italian the word graffiti is a plural noun and its singular form is graffito. In modern English, however, graffiti is generally treated as if it were a mass noun (with a singular verb), similar to a word like writing.
ORIGIN: Italian, from graffio 'a scratch' .

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graft [1]

noun
1. a shoot from one plant inserted into a slit cut into another to form a new growth.
2. a piece of living bodily tissue that is transplanted surgically to replace diseased or damaged tissue.
3. an operation in which tissue is transplanted.

verb
1. insert or transplant as a graft.
2. incorporate in or attach to something else, especially inappropriately.

ORIGIN: Old French grafe, from Greek graphion 'writing implement' (with reference to the tapered tip of the plant shoot).

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graft [2] Brit. informal

noun
hard work.

verb
work hard.

DERIVATIVES:
grafter noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to the phrase spade's graft «the amount of earth that one stroke of a spade will move».

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graft [3] informal

noun
bribery and other corrupt measures pursued for gain in politics or business.

verb
make money by graft.

DERIVATIVES:
grafter noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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Grail (also Holy Grail)

noun
(in medieval legend) the cup or platter used by Christ at the Last Supper and in which Joseph of Arimathea received Christ's blood, especially as the object of quests by knights.

ORIGIN: Old French graal, from Latin gradalis 'dish' .

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grain

noun
1. wheat or other cultivated cereal used as food.
2. a single seed or fruit of a cereal.
3. a small, hard particle of a substance such as sand.
4. the smallest unit of weight in the troy and avoirdupois systems, equal to 1 / 5760 of a pound troy and 1 / 7000 of a pound avoirdupois (approximately 0.0648 grams).
5. the smallest possible amount: there wasn't a grain of truth in it.
6. the longitudinal arrangement of fibres, particles, or layers in wood, paper, rock, etc.
7. the texture resulting from the grain of wood, rock, etc.
8. a grainy appearance of a photograph or negative.

verb
1. give a rough surface or texture to.
2. form into grains.

IDIOMS -
against the grain contrary to one's nature or instinct.

DERIVATIVES:
grainer noun
grainless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin granum; sense 4 arose because the weight was originally equivalent to that of a grain of wheat.

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grainy

adjective (grainier, grainiest)
1. granular.
2. (of a photograph) showing visible grains of emulsion.
3. (of wood) having prominent grain.

DERIVATIVES:
graininess noun.

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gram (Brit. also gramme)

noun
a metric unit of mass equal to one thousandth of a kilogram.

ORIGIN: French gramme, from Greek gramma 'a small weight' .

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-gram

combining form
forming nouns denoting something written or recorded: anagram.

ORIGIN: from Greek gramma 'thing written, letter of the alphabet' .

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grammar

noun
1. the whole system and structure of a language or of languages in general, usually taken as consisting of syntax and morphology.
2. knowledge and use of the rules or principles of grammar: bad grammar.
3. a book on grammar.
4. the basic elements of an area of knowledge or skill.

ORIGIN: from Greek grammatik tekhn 'art of letters' , from gramma 'letter of the alphabet' .

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grammar school

noun
1. (in the UK, especially formerly) a state secondary school to which pupils are admitted on the basis of ability.
2. US another term for ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

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grammatical

adjective
1. relating to grammar.
2. in accordance with the rules of grammar.

DERIVATIVES:
grammaticality noun
grammatically adverb.

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Grammy

noun (pl. Grammys or Grammies)
an annual award given by the American National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for achievement in the record industry.

ORIGIN: blend of GRAMOPHONE and EMMY.

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gramophone

noun dated, chiefly Brit.
a record player.

ORIGIN: formed by inversion of elements of phonogram «sound recording».

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grampa (also gramps, grampy)

noun dialect or informal
one's grandfather.

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grampus

noun (pl. grampuses)
a killer whale or other cetacean of the dolphin family.

ORIGIN: alteration (by association with GRAND) of Old French grapois, from Latin crassus piscis 'fat fish' .

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gran

noun informal, chiefly Brit.
one's grandmother.

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granary

noun (pl. granaries)
1. a storehouse for threshed grain.
2. a region supplying large quantities of corn.

ORIGIN: Latin granarium.

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granary bread

noun Brit. trademark
a type of brown bread containing whole grains of wheat.

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grand

adjective
1. magnificent and imposing.
2. large, ambitious, or impressive in scope or scale.
3. of the highest importance or rank.
4. dignified, noble, or proud.
5. informal excellent.
6. Law (of a crime) serious. Compare with PETTY (in sense 4).
7. (in combination ) (in names of family relationships) denoting one generation removed in ascent or descent.

noun
1. (pl. same) informal a thousand dollars or pounds.
2. a grand piano.

DERIVATIVES:
grandly adverb
grandness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin grandis 'full-grown, great' .

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grandad (also granddad)

noun
1. informal one's grandfather.
2. (before another noun ) (of a shirt) having a collar in the form of a narrow upright band.

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grandchild

noun
a child of one's son or daughter.

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granddaughter

noun
a daughter of one's son or daughter.

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grande dame

noun
a woman who is influential within a particular sphere.

ORIGIN: French, 'grand lady' .

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grandee

noun
1. a Spanish or Portuguese nobleman of the highest rank.
2. a high-ranking or eminent man.

ORIGIN: from Spanish and Portuguese grande 'grand' .

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grandeur

noun
1. splendour and impressiveness.
2. high rank or social importance.

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grandfather

noun
1. the father of one's father or mother.
2. a founder or originator.

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grandfather clock

noun
a clock in a tall free-standing wooden case, driven by weights.

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grandiloquent

adjective
pompous or extravagant in language, style, or manner.

DERIVATIVES:
grandiloquence noun
grandiloquently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin grandiloquus 'grand-speaking' .

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grandiose

adjective
1. impressive or magnificent, especially pretentiously so.
2. conceived on a very ambitious scale.

DERIVATIVES:
grandiosely adverb
grandiosity noun.

ORIGIN: Italian grandioso, from grande 'grand' .

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grand jury

noun US Law
a jury selected to examine the validity of an accusation prior to trial.

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grandma

noun informal
one's grandmother.

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grand mal

noun
a serious form of epilepsy with muscle spasms and prolonged loss of consciousness. Compare with PETIT MAL.

ORIGIN: French, 'great sickness' .

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grand master

noun
1. (also grandmaster) a chess player of the highest class.
2. (Grand Master) the head of an order of chivalry or of Freemasons.

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grandmother

noun
the mother of one's father or mother.

IDIOMS -
teach one's grandmother to suck eggs presume to advise a more experienced person.

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Grand National

noun
an annual steeplechase held at Aintree, Liverpool.

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grandpa

noun informal
one's grandfather.

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grandparent

noun
a grandmother or grandfather.

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grand piano

noun
a large, full-toned piano which has the body, strings, and soundboard arranged horizontally and is supported by three legs.

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Grand Prix

noun (pl. Grands Prix pronunc. same)
a race forming part of a motor-racing or motorcycling world championship.

ORIGIN: French, 'great or chief prize' .

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grand slam

noun
1. the winning of each of a group of major championships or matches in a particular sport in the same year.
2. Bridge the bidding and winning of all thirteen tricks.

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grandson

noun
the son of one's son or daughter.

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grandstand

noun
the main stand at a racecourse or sports ground.

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grandstand finish

noun
a close or exciting finish to a race or competition.

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grand total

noun
the final amount after everything is added up.

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grand tour

noun
a cultural tour of Europe formerly undertaken by upper-class young men.

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grange

noun Brit.
1. a country house with farm buildings attached.
2. archaic a barn.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin granica villa 'grain house or farm' .

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granite

noun
a very hard rock consisting mainly of quartz, mica, and feldspar.

DERIVATIVES:
granitic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Italian granito 'grained' .

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granny (also grannie)

noun (pl. grannies) informal
one's grandmother.

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granny flat

noun informal
a part of a house made into self-contained accommodation suitable for an elderly relative.

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granny knot

noun
a reef knot with the ends crossed the wrong way and therefore liable to slip.

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grant

verb
1. agree to give or allow (something requested) to.
2. give (something) formally or legally to.
3. agree or admit to (someone) that (something) is true.

noun
1. a sum of money given by a government or public body for a particular purpose.
2. the action of granting something.
3. Law a legal conveyance or formal conferment.

IDIOMS -
take for granted
1. fail to appreciate through over-familiarity.
2. assume that (something) is true.

DERIVATIVES:
grantee noun
granter noun
grantor noun.

ORIGIN: Old French granter 'consent to support' , from Latin credere 'entrust' .

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granted

adverb
admittedly; it is true.

conjunction (granted that)
even assuming that.

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grant-maintained

adjective Brit.
(of a school) funded by central rather than local government, and self-governing.

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gran turismo

noun (pl. gran turismos)
a high-performance model of car.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'great touring' .

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granular

adjective
1. resembling or consisting of granules.
2. having a roughened surface or structure.

DERIVATIVES:
granularity noun.

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granulated

adjective
1. in the form of granules.
2. chiefly Biology having a roughened surface.

DERIVATIVES:
granulation noun.

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granule

noun
a small compact particle of a substance.

ORIGIN: Latin granulum 'little grain' .

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grape

noun
1. a green, purple, or black berry growing in clusters on a vine, eaten as fruit and used in making wine.
2. (the grape) informal wine.

DERIVATIVES:
grapey adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'bunch of grapes' , probably from grap 'hook' (used in harvesting grapes).

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grapefruit

noun (pl. same)
a large round yellow citrus fruit with an acid juicy pulp.

ORIGIN: from GRAPE + FRUIT, probably because the fruits grow in clusters.

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grapeshot

noun historical
ammunition consisting of a number of small iron balls fired together from a cannon.

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grapevine

noun
1. a vine bearing grapes.
2. (the grapevine) informal the circulation of rumours and unofficial information.

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graph

noun
a diagram showing the relation between variable quantities, typically of two variables measured along a pair of lines at right angles.

verb
plot or trace on a graph.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of graphic formula.

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-graph

combining form
1. in nouns denoting something written or drawn in a specified way: autograph.
2. in nouns denoting an instrument that records: seismograph.

ORIGIN: from Greek graphos 'written, writing' .

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graphic

adjective
1. relating to visual art, especially involving drawing, engraving, or lettering.
2. giving vividly explicit detail.
3. of or in the form of a graph.

noun Computing
a visual image displayed on a screen or stored as data.

DERIVATIVES:
graphically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek graphikos, from graph 'writing, drawing' .

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graphic arts

plural noun
visual arts based on the use of line and tone rather than three-dimensional work or the use of colour.

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graphic design

noun
the art of combining text and pictures in advertisements, magazines, or books.

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graphic equalizer

noun
a device for controlling the strength and quality of selected frequency bands.

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graphic novel

noun
a novel in comic-strip format.

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graphics

plural noun (usu. treated as sing. )
1. products of the graphic arts, especially commercial design or illustration.
2. the use of diagrams in calculation and design.

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graphite

noun
a grey form of carbon used as a solid lubricant and as pencil lead.

DERIVATIVES:
graphitic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek graphein 'write' (because of its use in pencils).

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graphology

noun
1. the study of handwriting, especially as used to infer a person's character.
2. Linguistics the study of written and printed symbols and of writing systems.

DERIVATIVES:
graphological adjective
graphologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek graph 'writing' .

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graph paper

noun
paper printed with a network of small squares to assist the drawing of graphs or other diagrams.

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-graphy

combining form in nouns denoting:
1. a descriptive science: geography.
2. a technique of producing images: radiography.
3. a style or method of writing or drawing: calligraphy.
4. writing about (a specified subject): hagiography.
5. a written or printed list: filmography.

DERIVATIVES:
-graphic combining form.

ORIGIN: from or suggested by Greek -graphia 'writing' .

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grapnel

noun
1. a grappling hook.
2. a small anchor with several flukes.

ORIGIN: Old French grapon, related to GRAPE.

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grapple

verb
1. engage in a close fight or struggle without weapons.
2. (grapple with) struggle to deal with or understand.
3. archaic seize with a grapnel.

noun
1. an act of grappling.
2. a grapnel.

DERIVATIVES:
grappler noun.

ORIGIN: from Old French grapil 'small hook' ; related to GRAPE.

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grappling hook (also grappling iron)

noun
a device with iron claws, attached to a rope and used for dragging or grasping.

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grasp

verb
1. seize and hold firmly.
2. comprehend fully.

noun
1. a firm grip.
2. a person's capacity to attain or understand something.

DERIVATIVES:
graspable adjective
grasper noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to GROPE.

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grasping

adjective
greedy.

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grass

noun
1. vegetation consisting of short plants with long narrow leaves, growing wild or cultivated on lawns and pasture.
2. ground covered with grass.
3. informal cannabis.
4. Brit. informal a police informer.

verb
1. cover with grass.
2. (often grass on) Brit. informal inform the police of someone's criminal activity or plans.

IDIOMS -
at grass grazing.
the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence proverb other people's lives or situations always seem better than your own.
not let the grass grow under one's feet not delay in taking action.
put out to grass
1. put (an animal) out to graze.
2. informal force (someone) to retire.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to GREEN and GROW; sense 4 is perhaps related to 19th-century rhyming slang grasshopper «copper».

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grasshopper

noun
a plant-eating insect with long hind legs which are used for jumping and for producing a chirping sound.

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grass roots

plural noun
the most basic level of an activity or organization.

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grass skirt

noun
a skirt made of long grass and leaves, worn by female dancers from some Pacific islands.

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grass snake

noun
a harmless grey-green snake with a yellowish band around the neck.

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grassy

adjective (grassier, grassiest)
covered with or resembling grass.

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grate [1]

verb
1. reduce (food) to small shreds by rubbing it on a grater.
2. make an unpleasant rasping sound.
3. (often grate on) have an irritating effect.

ORIGIN: Old French grater.

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grate [2]

noun
1. the recess of a fireplace or furnace.
2. a metal frame confining fuel in a fireplace or furnace.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin cratis 'hurdle' .

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grateful

adjective
feeling or showing gratitude.

DERIVATIVES:
gratefully adverb.

ORIGIN: from obsolete grate 'pleasing, thankful' , from Latin gratus.

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grater

noun
a device having a surface covered with sharp-edged holes, used for grating food.

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gratify

verb (gratifies, gratified)
1. give pleasure or satisfaction.
2. indulge or satisfy (a desire).

DERIVATIVES:
gratification noun
gratifier noun
gratifying adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin gratificari 'give or do as a favour' , from gratus 'pleasing, thankful' .

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gratin

noun
a dish with a light browned crust of breadcrumbs or melted cheese.

ORIGIN: French, from gratter, earlier grater 'to grate' .

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grating [1]

adjective
1. sounding harsh and unpleasant.
2. irritating.

DERIVATIVES:
gratingly adverb.

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grating [2]

noun
1. a framework of parallel or crossed bars that prevents access through an opening.
2. Optics a set of equally spaced parallel wires or ruled lines, used to produce spectra by diffraction.

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gratis

adverb & adjective
free of charge.

ORIGIN: Latin, from gratia 'grace, kindness' .

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gratitude

noun
thankfulness; appreciation of kindness.

ORIGIN: Latin gratitudo, from gratus 'pleasing, thankful' .

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gratuitous

adjective
1. uncalled for.
2. free of charge.

DERIVATIVES:
gratuitously adverb
gratuitousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin gratuitus 'given freely, spontaneous' .

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gratuity

noun (pl. gratuities)
1. formal a tip given to a waiter, porter, etc.
2. Brit. a sum of money paid to an employee at the end of a period of employment.

ORIGIN: Latin gratuitas 'gift' .

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grave [1]

noun
1. a hole dug in the ground to receive a coffin or corpse.
2. (the grave) death.

IDIOMS -
dig one's own grave do something foolish which causes one's downfall.
turn in one's grave (of a dead person) be likely to have been angry or distressed about something had they been alive.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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grave [2]

adjective
1. giving cause for alarm or concern.
2. solemn.

DERIVATIVES:
gravely adverb
graveness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin gravis 'heavy, serious' .

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grave accent

noun
a mark (`) placed over a vowel in some languages to indicate a feature such as altered sound quality.

ORIGIN: French grave 'heavy, serious' .

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gravel

noun
a loose mixture of small stones and coarse sand, used for paths and roads.

verb (gravelled, gravelling; US graveled, graveling)
cover with gravel.

ORIGIN: Old French, from grave 'shore' .

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gravelly

adjective
1. resembling, containing, or consisting of gravel.
2. (of a voice) deep and rough-sounding.

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graven image

noun
a carved figure of a god used as an idol.

ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to the Book of Exodus, chapter 20.

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gravestone

noun
an inscribed headstone marking a grave.

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graveyard

noun
a burial ground beside a church.

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gravid

adjective
1. technical pregnant.
2. literary full of meaning or a specified quality.

ORIGIN: Latin gravidus 'laden, pregnant' .

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gravitas

noun
dignity or solemnity of manner.

ORIGIN: Latin, from gravis 'serious' .

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gravitate

verb
1. be drawn towards to a place, person, or thing.
2. Physics move, or tend to move, towards a centre of gravity.

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gravitation

noun
1. movement, or a tendency to move, towards a centre of gravity.
2. Physics gravity.

DERIVATIVES:
gravitational adjective
gravitationally adverb.

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gravity

noun
1. the force that attracts a body towards the centre of the earth, or towards any other physical body having mass.
2. extreme importance or seriousness.
3. solemnity of manner.

ORIGIN: Latin gravitas 'weight, seriousness' .

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gravy

noun (pl. gravies)
1. the fat and juices that come out of meat during cooking.
2. a sauce made from these juices together with stock and other ingredients.
3. informal unearned or unexpected money.

ORIGIN: perhaps from a misreading (as gravé) of Old French grané, probably from grain 'spice' .

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gravy boat

noun
a long narrow jug used for serving gravy.

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gravy train

noun informal
a situation in which someone can easily make a lot of money.

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gray

noun Physics
the SI unit of the absorbed dose of ionizing radiation, corresponding to one joule per kilogram.

ORIGIN: named after the English radiobiologist Louis H. Gray (1905 65).

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grayling

noun
an edible silvery-grey freshwater fish with horizontal violet stripes.

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graze [1]

verb
1. (of cattle, sheep, etc.) eat grass in a field.
2. informal eat frequent snacks at irregular intervals.

DERIVATIVES:
grazer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to GRASS.

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graze [2]

verb
1. scrape and break the skin on (part of the body).
2. touch or scrape (something) lightly in passing.

noun
a superficial injury caused by grazing the skin.

ORIGIN: perhaps a specific use of GRAZE.

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grazing

noun
grassland suitable for use as pasture.

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grease

noun
1. a thick oily substance, especially one used as a lubricant.
2. animal fat used or produced in cooking.

verb
smear or lubricate with grease.

IDIOMS -
grease the palm of informal bribe.
like greased lightning informal extremely rapidly.

ORIGIN: Old French graisse, from Latin crassus 'thick, fat' .

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grease monkey

noun informal
a mechanic.

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greasepaint

noun
a waxy substance used as make-up by actors.

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greaseproof

adjective
impermeable to grease.

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greasy

adjective (greasier, greasiest)
1. covered with or resembling grease.
2. effusively polite in a repellently insincere way.

DERIVATIVES:
greasily adverb
greasiness noun.

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greasy spoon

noun informal
a cheap cafe or restaurant serving fried foods.

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great

adjective
1. of an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above average.
2. of ability, quality, or eminence considerably above average.
3. informal excellent.
4. most important: the great thing is the challenge.
5. particularly deserving a specified description: I was a great fan of Hank's.
6. (Greater) (of a city) including adjacent urban areas.
7. (in combination ) (in names of family relationships) referring to one degree further removed upwards or downwards: a great-great-grandfather.

noun
1. a distinguished person.
2. (Greats) the honours course in classics, philosophy, and ancient history at Oxford University.

adverb informal
very well.

IDIOMS -
Great Scott! expressing surprise or amazement. [ORIGIN: arbitrary euphemism for Great God!]

DERIVATIVES:
greatness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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great ape

noun
a large ape of a family closely related to humans, including the gorilla and chimpanzees.

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great-aunt

noun
an aunt of one's father or mother.

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great circle

noun
a circle on the surface of a sphere which lies in a plane passing through the sphere's centre, especially as representing the shortest path between two given points on the sphere.

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greatcoat

noun
a long heavy overcoat.

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Great Dane

noun
a dog of a very large, powerful, short-haired breed.

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greatly

adverb
very much.

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great-uncle

noun
an uncle of one's mother or father.

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Great War

noun
the First World War.

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greave

noun historical
a piece of armour for the shin.

ORIGIN: Old French greve 'shin, greave' .

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grebe

noun
a diving waterbird with a long neck, lobed toes, and a very short tail.

ORIGIN: French.

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Grecian

adjective
relating to ancient Greece, especially its architecture.

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greed

noun
intense and selfish desire for food, wealth, or power.

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greedy

adjective (greedier, greediest)
having or showing greed.

DERIVATIVES:
greedily adverb
greediness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Greek

noun
1. a person from Greece.
2. the ancient or modern language of Greece.

adjective
relating to Greece.

IDIOMS -
beware (or fear) the Greeks bearing gifts proverb if a rival or enemy shows one generosity or kindness, one should be suspicious of their motives. [ORIGIN: with allusion to the warning given by Laocoön to the Trojans in Virgil's Aeneid, against admitting the wooden horse to Troy.]
it's all Greek to me informal I can't understand it at all.

ORIGIN: Greek Graikoi, which according to Aristotle was the prehistoric name of the Hellenes.

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Greek cross

noun
a cross of which all four arms are of equal length.

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Greek Orthodox Church

noun
the Eastern Orthodox Church which uses the Byzantine rite in Greek, in particular the national Church of Greece.

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green

adjective
1. of the colour between blue and yellow in the spectrum; coloured like grass.
2. covered with grass or other vegetation.
3. (Green) concerned with or supporting protection of the environment.
4. (of a plant or fruit) young or unripe.
5. in an untreated or original state; not cured, seasoned, fired, etc.
6. inexperienced or naive.
7. pale and sickly-looking.

noun
1. green colour, pigment, or material.
2. a piece of common grassy land, especially in the centre of a village.
3. an area of smooth, very short grass immediately surrounding a hole on a golf course.
4. (greens) green vegetables.
5. (Green) a member or supporter of an environmentalist group or party.

verb
1. make or become green.
2. make less harmful to the environment.

DERIVATIVES:
greenish adjective
greenness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to GRASS and GROW.

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green belt

noun
an area of open land around a city, on which building is restricted.

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green card

noun
1. (in the UK) an international insurance document for motorists.
2. (in the US) a permit allowing a foreign national to live and work permanently in the US.

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greenery

noun
green foliage or vegetation.

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green-eyed monster

noun (the green-eyed monster) informal, humorous
jealousy personified.

ORIGIN: from Shakespeare's Othello.

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greenfield

adjective
(of a site) previously undeveloped.

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greenfinch

noun
a large finch with green and yellow plumage.

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green fingers

plural noun Brit. informal
natural ability in growing plants.

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greenfly

noun chiefly Brit.
a green aphid.

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greengage

noun
a sweet greenish fruit resembling a small plum.

ORIGIN: named after the English botanist Sir William Gage (1657 1727).

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greengrocer

noun Brit.
a retailer of fruit and vegetables.

DERIVATIVES:
greengrocery noun.

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greenhorn

noun informal, chiefly N. Amer.
an inexperienced or naive person.

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greenhouse

noun
a glass building in which plants that need protection from cold weather are grown.

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greenhouse effect

noun
the trapping of the sun's warmth in a planet's lower atmosphere, due to the greater transparency of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun than to infrared radiation emitted from the planet's surface.

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greenhouse gas

noun
a gas, such as carbon dioxide, that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared.

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green light

noun
1. a green traffic light giving permission to proceed.
2. permission to go ahead with a project.

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green pepper

noun
the mild-flavoured unripe fruit of a sweet pepper.

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green room

noun
a room in a theatre or studio in which performers can relax when they are not performing.

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greenstick fracture

noun
a fracture of the bone, occurring typically in children, in which one side of the bone is broken and the other only bent.

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greensward

noun archaic or literary
grass-covered ground.

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green tea

noun
tea made from unfermented leaves, produced mainly in China and Japan.

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Greenwich Mean Time

noun
the mean solar time at the Greenwich meridian, used as the standard time in a zone that includes the British Isles.

ORIGIN: from Greenwich in London, former site of the Royal Observatory.

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Greenwich meridian

noun
the meridian of zero longitude, passing through Greenwich.

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greenwood

noun archaic
a wood or forest in leaf, especially as a refuge for medieval outlaws.

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greet [1]

verb
1. give a word or sign of welcome when meeting (someone).
2. receive or acknowledge in a specified way.
3. (of a sight or sound) become apparent to (a person arriving somewhere).

DERIVATIVES:
greeter noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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greet [2]

verb Scottish
weep; cry.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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greeting

noun
1. a word or sign of welcome or recognition.
2. (usu. greetings) a formal expression of goodwill.

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greetings card (N. Amer. greeting card)

noun
a decorative card sent to convey good wishes.

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gregarious

adjective
1. fond of company; sociable.
2. (of animals) living in flocks or colonies.

DERIVATIVES:
gregariously adverb
gregariousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin gregarius, from grex 'a flock' .

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Gregorian chant

noun
medieval church plainsong.

ORIGIN: named after St Gregory the Great (c.540 604).

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gremlin

noun
a mischievous sprite regarded as responsible for unexplained mechanical or electrical faults.

ORIGIN: a Second World War term: perhaps suggested by GOBLIN.

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grenade

noun
a small bomb thrown by hand or launched mechanically.

ORIGIN: from Old French pome grenate 'pomegranate' , also the original sense in English; the bomb was regarded as resembling a pomegranate.

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grenadier

noun
1. historical a soldier armed with grenades.
2. (Grenadiers or Grenadier Guards) the first regiment of the royal household infantry.

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grey (US gray)

adjective
1. of a colour intermediate between black and white, as of ashes or lead.
2. (of hair) turning grey or white with age.
3. (of the weather) cloudy and dull; without sun.
4. dull and nondescript: grey, faceless men.
5. not accounted for in official statistics: the grey economy.

noun
grey colour or pigment.

verb
(especially of hair) become grey with age.

DERIVATIVES:
greyish adjective
greyly adverb
greyness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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grey area

noun
an ill-defined area of activity that does not readily conform to an existing category or set of rules.

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greyhound

noun
a swift, slender breed of dog used in racing and coursing.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to an Old Norse word meaning 'bitch' .

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greylag

noun
a large goose with mainly grey plumage, the ancestor of the domestic goose.

ORIGIN: probably from dialect lag 'goose' .

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grey matter

noun
1. the darker tissue of the brain and spinal cord.
2. informal intelligence.

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grey seal

noun
a large North Atlantic seal with a spotted greyish coat.

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grey squirrel

noun
a tree squirrel with mainly grey fur, native to eastern North America and introduced to Britain and elsewhere.

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grid

noun
1. a framework of spaced bars that are parallel to or cross each other.
2. a network of lines that cross each other to form a series of squares or rectangles.
3. a network of cables or pipes for distributing power, especially high-voltage electricity.
4. a pattern of lines marking the starting places on a motor-racing track.

verb
put into or set out as a grid.

ORIGIN: from GRIDIRON.

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griddle

noun
a circular iron plate that is heated and used for cooking food.

verb
cook on a griddle.

ORIGIN: Old French gredil, from Latin craticula 'small hurdle' .

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gridiron

noun
1. a frame of parallel metal bars used for grilling meat or fish over an open fire.
2. a grid pattern, especially of streets.
3. a field for American football, marked with regularly spaced parallel lines.
4. N. Amer. the game of American football.

ORIGIN: alteration of obsolete gredile «griddle», by association with iron.

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gridlock

noun
a traffic jam affecting a whole network of intersecting streets.

DERIVATIVES:
gridlocked adjective.

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grief

noun
1. intense sorrow, especially caused by someone's death.
2. informal trouble or annoyance.

IDIOMS -
come to grief have an accident; meet with disaster.
good grief! an exclamation of surprise or alarm.

ORIGIN: Old French, from grever 'to burden' .

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grievance

noun
a real or imagined cause for complaint.

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grieve

verb
1. suffer grief.
2. cause great distress to.

DERIVATIVES:
griever noun.

ORIGIN: Old French grever 'burden, encumber' , from Latin gravis 'heavy, serious' .

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grievous

adjective formal
(of something bad) very severe or serious.

DERIVATIVES:
grievously adverb
grievousness noun.

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grievous bodily harm

noun Law
serious physical injury inflicted on a person by the deliberate action of another, considered more serious than actual bodily harm.

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griffin (also gryphon or griffon)

noun
a mythical creature with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion.

ORIGIN: Old French grifoun, from Greek grups.

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griffon

noun
1. a dog of a small terrier-like breed.
2. a large vulture with predominantly pale brown plumage.
3. variant spelling of GRIFFIN.

ORIGIN: variant of GRIFFIN.

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grill

noun Brit.
1. a device on a cooker that radiates heat downwards for cooking food.
2. a gridiron used for cooking food on an open fire.
3. a dish of food cooked using a grill.
4. a restaurant serving grilled food.
5. variant form of GRILLE.

verb
1. cook with a grill.
2. informal subject to intense questioning or interrogation.

ORIGIN: Old French graille 'grille' , from Latin craticula 'small hurdle' ; related to CRATE, GRATE, and GRIDDLE.

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grille (also grill)

noun
a grating or screen of metal bars or wires.

ORIGIN: French.

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grilse

noun
a salmon that has returned to fresh water after a single winter at sea.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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grim

adjective (grimmer, grimmest)
1. very serious or gloomy; forbidding.
2. horrifying, depressing, or unappealing.

IDIOMS -
like (or for) grim death with great determination.

DERIVATIVES:
grimly adverb
grimness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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grimace

noun
an ugly, twisted expression on a person's face, expressing disgust, pain, or wry amusement.

verb
make a grimace.

ORIGIN: French, from Spanish grima 'fright' .

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grime

noun
dirt ingrained on a surface.

verb
blacken or make dirty with grime.

ORIGIN: Low German and Dutch.

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grimy

adjective (grimier, grimiest)
covered with or characterized by grime.

DERIVATIVES:
grimily adverb
griminess noun.

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grin

verb (grinned, grinning)
1. smile broadly.
2. grimace grotesquely in a way that reveals the teeth.

noun
a smile or grimace produced by grinning.

IDIOMS -
grin and bear it suffer pain or misfortune in a stoical manner.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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grind

verb (past and past part. ground)
1. reduce to small particles or powder by crushing.
2. sharpen, smooth, or produce by crushing or friction.
3. rub together or move gratingly.
4. (grind down) wear (someone) down with harsh treatment.
5. (grind out) produce (something) slowly and laboriously.
6. (grinding) oppressive and seemingly endless: grinding poverty.
7. (often grind away) work or study hard.
8. informal (of a dancer) rotate the hips.

noun
1. an act or process of grinding.
2. hard dull work: the daily grind.

IDIOMS -
grind to a halt (or come to a grinding halt) stop laboriously and noisily.

DERIVATIVES:
grinder noun
grindingly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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grindstone

noun
1. a thick revolving disc of abrasive material used for sharpening or polishing metal objects.
2. a millstone.

IDIOMS -
keep one's nose to the grindstone work hard and continuously.

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gringo

noun (pl. gringos) informal
(in Latin America) a white English-speaking person.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'foreign, foreigner, or gibberish' .

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grip

verb (gripped, gripping)
1. take and keep a firm hold of; grasp tightly.
2. deeply affect or afflict.
3. hold the attention or interest of.

noun
1. a firm hold.
2. intellectual understanding.
3. a part or attachment by which something is held in the hand.
4. a travelling bag.
5. a stage hand in a theatre.
6. a member of a camera crew responsible for moving and setting up equipment.

IDIOMS -
come (or get) to grips with
1. engage in combat with.
2. begin to deal with or understand.
lose one's grip become unable to understand or control one's situation.

DERIVATIVES:
gripper noun
gripping adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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gripe

verb
1. informal express a trivial complaint; grumble.
2. affect with stomach or intestinal pain.

noun
1. informal a trivial complaint.
2. pain in the stomach or intestines; colic.

ORIGIN: Old English, «grasp, clutch»; related to GRIP and GROPE.

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grisly

adjective (grislier, grisliest)
causing horror or revulsion.

DERIVATIVES:
grisliness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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grist

noun
1. corn that is ground to make flour.
2. malt crushed to make mash for brewing.

IDIOMS -
grist to the mill useful experience or knowledge.

ORIGIN: Old English, 'grinding' .

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gristle

noun
cartilage, especially when found as tough inedible tissue in meat.

DERIVATIVES:
gristly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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grit

noun
1. small loose particles of stone or sand.
2. (also gritstone) a coarse sandstone.
3. courage and resolve.

verb (gritted, gritting)
1. clench (the teeth), especially in order to keep one's resolve.
2. spread grit on (an icy road).

DERIVATIVES:
gritter noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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gritty

adjective (grittier, grittiest)
1. containing or covered with grit.
2. showing courage and resolve.
3. tough and uncompromising: a gritty look at urban life.

DERIVATIVES:
grittily adverb
grittiness noun.

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grizzle

verb informal, chiefly Brit.
(of a child) cry or whimper fretfully.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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grizzled

adjective
having grey or grey-streaked hair.

ORIGIN: from Old French gris 'grey' .

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grizzly bear

noun
a large variety of brown bear often having white-tipped fur, native to western North America.

ORIGIN: grizzly from GRIZZLED.

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groan

verb
1. make a deep inarticulate sound of pain or despair.
2. make a low creaking sound when pressure or weight is applied.
3. (groan beneath/under) be burdened by.

noun
a groaning sound.

DERIVATIVES:
groaner noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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groat

noun historical
an English silver coin worth four old pence.

ORIGIN: from Dutch groot or Low German grte 'great, thick' , hence 'thick penny' .

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grocer

noun
a person who sells food and small household goods.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «a person who sold things by the gross»: from Old French grossier, from Latin grossus 'gross' .

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grocery

noun (pl. groceries)
1. a grocer's shop or business.
2. (groceries) items of food sold in a grocer's shop or supermarket.

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grog

noun
1. spirits (originally rum) mixed with water.
2. informal alcoholic drink.

ORIGIN: said to be from Old Grog, the reputed nickname (because of his grogram cloak) of Admiral Vernon (1684 1757), who ordered diluted (instead of neat) rum to be served out to sailors.

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groggy

adjective (groggier, groggiest)
dazed and unsteady after intoxication, sleep, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
groggily adverb
grogginess noun.

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groin

noun
1. the area between the abdomen and the thigh on either side of the body.
2. informal the region of the genitals.
3. Architecture a curved edge formed by two intersecting vaults.

ORIGIN: perhaps from an Old English word meaning «depression, abyss».

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grommet

noun
1. a protective eyelet in a hole that a rope or cable passes through.
2. a tube surgically implanted in the eardrum to drain fluid from the middle ear.

ORIGIN: originally in sense «circle of rope used as a fastening»: from obsolete French gourmer 'to curb' .

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groom

verb
1. brush and clean the coat of (a horse or dog).
2. give a neat and tidy appearance to.
3. prepare or train for a particular purpose or activity.

noun
1. a person employed to take care of horses.
2. a bridegroom.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «boy», later «man, male servant»: of unknown origin.

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groove

noun
1. a long, narrow cut or depression in a hard material.
2. a spiral track cut in a gramophone record, into which the stylus fits.
3. an established routine or habit.
4. informal a rhythmic pattern in popular or jazz music.

verb
1. make a groove or grooves in.
2. informal dance to or play popular or jazz music.

IDIOMS -
in the groove informal
1. performing confidently.
2. enjoying oneself, especially by dancing.

DERIVATIVES:
grooved adjective.

ORIGIN: Dutch groeve 'furrow, pit' ; related to GRAVE.

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groovy

adjective (groovier, grooviest) informal, dated or humorous
fashionable and exciting.

DERIVATIVES:
groovily adverb
grooviness noun.

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grope

verb
1. feel about or search blindly or uncertainly with the hands.
2. informal feel or fondle (someone) for sexual pleasure, especially against their will.

noun informal
an act of groping someone.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to GRIPE.

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gros point

noun
a type of needlepoint embroidery consisting of stitches crossing two or more threads of the canvas in each direction.

ORIGIN: French, 'large stitch' .

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gross

adjective
1. unattractively large or bloated.
2. vulgar; unrefined.
3. informal very unpleasant; repulsive.
4. complete; blatant: a gross exaggeration.
5. (of income, profit, or interest) without deduction of tax or other contributions; total. Often contrasted with NET.
6. (of weight) including contents or other variable items; overall.

adverb
without tax or other contributions having been deducted.

verb
1. produce or earn (an amount of money) as gross profit or income.
2. (gross up) add deductions such as tax to (a net amount).
3. (gross out) informal, chiefly N. Amer. disgust (someone) with repulsive behaviour or appearance.

noun
1. (pl. same) an amount equal to twelve dozen; 144.
2. (pl. grosses) a gross profit or income.

DERIVATIVES:
grossly adverb
grossness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French gros 'large' , from Latin grossus; sense 1 of the noun is from French grosse douzaine 'large dozen' .

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gross domestic product

noun
the total value of goods produced and services provided within a country during one year.

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gross national product

noun
the total value of goods produced and services provided by a country during one year, equal to the gross domestic product plus the net income from foreign investments.

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grot

noun Brit. informal
something unpleasant, dirty, or of poor quality; rubbish.

ORIGIN: from GROTTY.

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grotesque

adjective
1. comically or repulsively ugly or distorted.
2. shockingly incongruous or inappropriate.

noun
1. a grotesque figure or image.
2. a style of decorative painting or sculpture consisting of the interweaving of human and animal forms with flowers and foliage.

DERIVATIVES:
grotesquely adverb
grotesqueness noun.

ORIGIN: Italian grottesca, from opera or pittura grottesca 'work or painting resembling that found in a grotto' .

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grotesquerie

noun (pl. grotesqueries)
grotesque quality or things.

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grotto

noun (pl. grottoes or grottos)
a small picturesque cave, especially an artificial one in a park or garden.

ORIGIN: Italian grotta, from Greek krupt 'vault' .

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grotty

adjective (grottier, grottiest) Brit. informal
1. unpleasant and of poor quality.
2. unwell.

DERIVATIVES:
grottiness noun.

ORIGIN: from GROTESQUE.

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grouch informal

noun
1. a habitually grumpy person.
2. a complaint or grumble.

verb
complain ill-temperedly; grumble.

ORIGIN: from Old French grouchier 'to grumble, murmur' .

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grouchy

adjective (grouchier, grouchiest)
irritable and bad-tempered; grumpy.

DERIVATIVES:
grouchily adverb
grouchiness noun.

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ground [1]

noun
1. the solid surface of the earth.
2. land of a specified kind: marshy ground.
3. an area of land or sea with a specified use: fishing grounds.
4. (grounds) an area of enclosed land surrounding a large house.
5. (grounds) factors forming a basis for action or the justification for a belief.
6. a prepared surface to which paint or other decoration is applied.
7. (grounds) solid particles, especially of coffee, which form a residue.
8. N. Amer. electrical connection to the earth.

verb
1. prohibit or prevent (a pilot or aircraft) from flying.
2. run (a ship) aground.
3. (usu. be grounded in/on) give a firm theoretical or practical basis to.
4. place on the ground or touch the ground with.
5. informal, chiefly N. Amer. (of a parent) refuse to allow (a child) to go out socially, as a punishment.
6. N. Amer. connect (an electrical device) with the ground.

IDIOMS -
be thick (or thin) on the ground exist in large (or small) numbers or amounts.
break new ground be innovative.
gain ground
1. become more popular or accepted.
2. (usu. gain ground on) get closer to someone being pursued.
get off the ground start happening or functioning successfully.
give (or lose) ground retreat or lose one's advantage.
go to ground (of a fox or ot her animal) enter its earth or burrow.
hold (or stand) one's ground not retreat or lose one's advantage.
on the ground in a place where real, practical work is done.
on one's own ground in one's own territory or area of knowledge.
work (or run) oneself into the ground exhaust oneself by working or running very hard.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ground-breaking

adjective
innovative; pioneering.

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ground control

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
the personnel and equipment that monitor and direct the flight and landing of aircraft or spacecraft.

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ground floor

noun Brit.
the floor of a building at ground level.

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ground frost

noun Brit.
frost formed on the surface of the ground or in the top layer of soil.

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ground glass

noun
1. glass with a smooth ground surface that makes it non-transparent.
2. glass ground into an abrasive powder.

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grounding

noun
basic training or instruction in a subject.

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groundless

adjective
not based on any good reason.

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groundling

noun
a spectator or reader of inferior taste.

ORIGIN: originally a member of the part of a theatre audience that stood in the pit beneath the stage: with reference to Shakespeare's Hamlet III. ii. 11.

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ground rent

noun Brit.
rent paid by the owner of a building to the owner of the land on which it is built.

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ground rule

noun
a basic principle established to govern action or procedure.

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groundsel

noun
a plant of the daisy family with small yellow flowers.

ORIGIN: Old English, probably from two words meaning «pus» + «to swallow» (with reference to its use in poultices).

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groundsheet

noun
a waterproof sheet spread on the ground inside a tent.

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groundsman (N. Amer. groundskeeper)

noun Brit.
a person who maintains a sports ground or the grounds of a large building.

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ground squirrel

noun
a burrowing squirrel of a large group including the chipmunks.

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groundswell

noun
1. a large swell in the sea.
2. a build-up of opinion in a large section of the population.

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groundwater

noun
water held underground in the soil or in pores and crevices in rock.

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groundwork

noun
preliminary or basic work.

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group

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
1. a number of people or things located, gathered, or classed together.
2. a number of musicians who play popular music together.
3. a division of an air force.
4. Chemistry a set of elements occupying a column in the periodic table and having broadly similar properties.
5. Chemistry a combination of atoms having a recognizable identity in a number of compounds.

verb
place in or form a group or groups.

DERIVATIVES:
grouping noun.

ORIGIN: Italian gruppo; related to CROP.

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groupie

noun informal
a young woman who follows a pop group or celebrity, especially in the hope of a sexual relationship with them.

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group therapy

noun
a form of psychiatric therapy in which patients meet to discuss their problems.

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grouse [1]

noun (pl. same)
a medium-sized game bird with a plump body and feathered legs.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Latin gruta or to Old French grue 'crane' .

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grouse [2]

verb
complain pettily; grumble.

noun
a grumble or complaint.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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grout

noun
a mortar or paste for filling crevices, especially the gaps between wall or floor tiles.

verb
fill in with grout.

ORIGIN: perhaps from GROUTS or related to French dialect grouter 'grout a wall' .

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grove

noun
a small wood, orchard, or group of trees.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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grovel

verb (grovelled, grovelling; US groveled, groveling)
1. crouch or crawl abjectly on the ground.
2. act obsequiously to obtain forgiveness or favour.

DERIVATIVES:
groveller noun.

ORIGIN: from an Old Norse word meaning 'face downwards' .

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grow

verb (past grew; past part. grown)
1. (of a living thing) undergo natural development by increasing in size and changing physically.
2. (of a plant) germinate and develop.
3. become larger or greater over a period of time; increase.
4. become gradually or increasingly: we grew braver.
5. (grow up) advance to maturity; become an adult.
6. (grow out of or into) become too large (or large enough) to wear.
7. (grow on) become gradually more appealing to.

DERIVATIVES:
grower noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to GRASS and GREEN.

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growbag

noun Brit.
a bag containing potting compost, in which plants such as tomatoes can be grown.

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growing pains

plural noun
1. pains occurring in the limbs of young children.
2. difficulties experienced in the early stages of an enterprise.

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growl

verb
1. (especially of a dog) make a low guttural sound of hostility in the throat.
2. say something in a low grating voice.
3. make a low or harsh rumbling sound.

noun
a growling sound.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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grown-up

adjective
adult.

noun informal
an adult.

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growth

noun
1. the process of growing.
2. something that has grown or is growing.
3. a tumour or other abnormal formation.

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growth hormone

noun
a hormone which stimulates growth in animal or plant cells.

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growth industry

noun
an industry that is developing particularly rapidly.

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growth ring

noun
a concentric layer of wood, shell, or bone developed during a regular period of growth.

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groyne (US groin)

noun
a low wall or barrier built out into the sea from a beach to prevent erosion and drifting.

ORIGIN: from dialect groin 'snout' , from Latin grunium 'pig's snout' .

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grub

noun
1. the larva of an insect, especially a beetle.
2. informal food.

verb (grubbed, grubbing)
1. dig shallowly in soil.
2. (grub up) dig (something) up.
3. (often grub about/around) search or work clumsily and unmethodically.

DERIVATIVES:
grubber noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Dutch grobbelen, also to GRAVE.

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grubby

adjective (grubbier, grubbiest)
1. dirty; grimy.
2. disreputable; sordid.

DERIVATIVES:
grubbily adverb
grubbiness noun.

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grudge

noun
a persistent feeling of ill will or resentment resulting from a past insult or injury.

verb
1. be resentfully unwilling to grant or allow (something).
2. feel resentful that (someone) has achieved (something).

DERIVATIVES:
grudging adjective.

ORIGIN: variant of obsolete grutch «murmur, grumble»; related to GROUCH.

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gruel

noun
a thin liquid food of oatmeal or other meal boiled in milk or water.

ORIGIN: Old French.

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gruelling (US grueling)

adjective
extremely tiring and demanding.

DERIVATIVES:
gruellingly adverb.

ORIGIN: from obsolete gruel «exhaust, punish», from get one's gruel «receive one's punishment».

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gruesome

adjective
1. causing repulsion or horror; grisly.
2. informal extremely unpleasant.

DERIVATIVES:
gruesomely adverb
gruesomeness noun.

ORIGIN: from Scottish grue «to feel horror, shudder».

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gruff

adjective
1. (of a voice) rough and low in pitch.
2. abrupt or taciturn in manner.

DERIVATIVES:
gruffly adverb
gruffness noun.

ORIGIN: from Flemish and Dutch grof 'coarse, rude' .

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grumble

verb
1. complain or protest in a bad-tempered but muted way.
2. make a low rumbling sound.
3. (grumbling) (of an internal organ) giving intermittent discomfort.

noun
an instance of grumbling; a complaint.

DERIVATIVES:
grumbler noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete grumme, probably of Germanic origin.

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grump informal

noun
1. a grumpy person.
2. a fit of sulking.

verb
act in a sulky, grumbling manner.

ORIGIN: imitative of sounds expressing displeasure.

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grumpy

adjective (grumpier, grumpiest)
bad-tempered and sulky.

DERIVATIVES:
grumpily adverb
grumpiness noun.

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grunge

noun
1. chiefly N. Amer. grime; dirt.
2. a style of rock music characterized by a raucous guitar sound and lazy vocal delivery.
3. a casual style of fashion including loose, layered clothing and ripped jeans.

DERIVATIVES:
grungy adjective.

ORIGIN: originally as grungy: perhaps suggested by GRUBBY and DINGY.

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grunt

verb
1. (of an animal, especially a pig) make a low, short guttural sound.
2. make a low inarticulate sound to express effort or indicate assent.

noun
1. a grunting sound.
2. informal, chiefly N. Amer. a low-ranking soldier or worker.

DERIVATIVES:
grunter noun.

ORIGIN: Old English; sense 2 of the noun is an alteration of ground, from ground man (with reference to unskilled railway work).

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Gruyère

noun
a firm, tangy Swiss cheese.

ORIGIN: named after Gruyère, a district in Switzerland.

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GSM

abbreviation
Global System (or Standard) for Mobile.

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gsm

abbreviation
grams per square metre.

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G-string

noun
a skimpy undergarment covering the genitals, consisting of a narrow strip of cloth attached to a waistband.

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GT

noun
a high-performance car.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of GRAN TURISMO.

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GTi

noun
a GT car with a fuel-injected engine.

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guacamole

noun
a dish of mashed avocado mixed with chilli peppers, tomatoes, etc.

ORIGIN: Nahuatl, 'avocado sauce' .

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guano

noun (pl. guanos)
1. the excrement of seabirds.
2. an artificial fertilizer resembling natural guano.

ORIGIN: Quechua (a language of Peru and neighbouring countries), 'dung' .

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guarantee

noun
1. a formal assurance that certain conditions will be fulfilled, especially that a product will be of a specified quality.
2. something that makes an outcome certain.
3. variant spelling of GUARANTY.
4. less common term for GUARANTOR.

verb (guarantees, guaranteed, guaranteeing)
1. provide a guarantee for something.
2. promise with certainty.
3. provide financial security for; underwrite.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Spanish garante; related to WARRANT.

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guarantor

noun
a person or organization that gives or acts as a guarantee.

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guaranty (also guarantee)

noun (pl. guaranties)
1. an undertaking to answer for the payment of a debt or for the performance of an obligation by another person liable in the first instance.
2. a thing serving as security for such an undertaking.

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guard

verb
1. watch over in order to protect or control.
2. (guard against) take precautions against.

noun
1. a person, especially a soldier, who guards or keeps watch.
2. (treated as sing. or pl. ) a body of soldiers guarding a place or person.
3. (Guards) the household troops of the British army.
4. a defensive posture adopted in a fight.
5. (often in phrase off or on guard) a state of vigilance.
6. a device worn or fitted to prevent injury or damage.
7. Brit. an official who rides on and is in general charge of a train.
8. N. Amer. a prison warder.

IDIOMS -
guard of honour a group of soldiers ceremonially welcoming an important visitor.

ORIGIN: Old French garder, related to WARD.

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guarded

adjective
cautious and having possible reservations.

DERIVATIVES:
guardedly adverb.

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guardhouse (also guardroom)

noun
a building used to accommodate a military guard or to detain military prisoners.

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guardian

noun
1. a defender, protector, or keeper.
2. a person legally responsible for someone unable to manage their own affairs, especially a child whose parents have died.

DERIVATIVES:
guardianship noun.

ORIGIN: Old French garden.

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guardian angel

noun
a spirit believed to watch over and protect a person or place.

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guardsman

noun
1. (in the UK) a soldier of a regiment of Guards.
2. (in the US) a member of the National Guard.

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guard's van

noun Brit.
a carriage or wagon occupied by the guard on a train.

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guava

noun
a tropical American fruit with pink juicy flesh.

ORIGIN: probably from Taino (an extinct Caribbean language).

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gubbins

plural noun Brit. informal
1. (treated as sing. or pl. ) miscellaneous items; paraphernalia.
2. (treated as sing. ) a gadget.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «fragments»: from obsolete gobbon «piece, slice, gob», from Old French.

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gubernatorial

adjective
relating to a governor, particularly of a US state.

ORIGIN: from Latin gubernator 'governor' .

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guck

noun N. Amer. informal
a slimy, dirty, or otherwise unpleasant substance.

ORIGIN: possibly a blend of GOO and MUCK.

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gudgeon [1]

noun
a small freshwater fish often used as bait by anglers.

ORIGIN: Old French goujon, from Latin gobius 'goby' .

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gudgeon [2]

noun
1. a pivot or spindle on which something swings or rotates.
2. the tubular part of a hinge into which the pin fits.
3. a socket at the stern of a boat, into which the rudder is fitted.
4. a pin holding two blocks of stone together.

ORIGIN: Old French goujon, from gouge 'chisel' .

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guelder rose

noun
a shrub with flattened heads of fragrant creamy-white flowers followed by translucent red berries.

ORIGIN: from Dutch geldersche roos 'rose of Gelderland' (a province of the Netherlands).

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Guernsey

noun (pl. Guernseys)
1. a breed of dairy cattle from Guernsey in the Channel Islands, noted for producing rich, creamy milk.
2. (guernsey) a thick sweater made from oiled wool.
3. (guernsey) Austral. a football shirt.

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guerrilla (also guerilla)

noun
a member of a small independent group fighting against the government or regular forces.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'little war' .

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guess

verb
1. estimate or suppose (something) without sufficient information to be sure of being correct.
2. correctly estimate or conjecture.
3. (I guess) informal, chiefly N. Amer. I suppose.

noun
an estimate or conjecture.

DERIVATIVES:
guesser noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Dutch gissen; probably related to GET.

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guesstimate (also guestimate) informal

noun
an estimate based on a mixture of guesswork and calculation.

verb
estimate in such a way.

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guesswork

noun
the process or results of guessing.

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guest

noun
1. a person invited to visit someone's home or take part in a function.
2. a visiting performer invited to take part in an entertainment.
3. a person staying at a hotel or boarding house.

verb informal
appear as a guest.

IDIOMS -
be my guest informal please do!
guest of honour the most important guest at an occasion.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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guest house

noun
a private house offering accommodation to paying guests.

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guest worker

noun
a person with temporary permission to work in another country.

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guff

noun
1. informal trivial or worthless talk or ideas.
2. Scottish an unpleasant smell.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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guffaw

noun
a loud and boisterous laugh.

verb
laugh in such a way.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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guidance

noun
1. advice or information aimed at resolving a problem or difficulty.
2. the directing of the motion or position of something.

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guide

noun
1. a person who advises or shows the way to others.
2. a directing principle or standard.
3. a book providing information on a subject.
4. a structure or marking which directs the motion or positioning of something.
5. (Guide) a member of the Guides Association, a girls' organization corresponding to the Scouts.

verb
1. show or indicate the way to.
2. direct the motion, positioning, or course of.
3. (guided) directed by remote control or internal equipment: a guided missile.

ORIGIN: Old French.

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guidebook

noun
a book of information about a place for visitors or tourists.

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guide dog

noun
a dog that has been trained to lead a blind person.

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guideline

noun
a general rule, principle, or piece of advice.

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guild

noun
1. a medieval association of craftsmen or merchants.
2. an association of people for a common purpose.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to YIELD.

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guilder

noun (pl. same or guilders)
1. the basic monetary unit of the Netherlands, equal to 100 cents.
2. historical a gold or silver coin formerly used in the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria.

ORIGIN: Dutch, from gulden 'golden' .

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guildhall

noun
1. the meeting place of a guild or corporation.
2. Brit. a town hall.
3. (the Guildhall) the hall of the Corporation of the City of London.

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guile

noun
sly or cunning intelligence.

DERIVATIVES:
guileful adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, related to WILE.

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guileless

adjective
lacking guile; innocent and without deception.

DERIVATIVES:
guilelessly adverb.

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guillemot

noun
an auk with a narrow pointed bill, typically nesting on cliff ledges.

ORIGIN: French, from Guillaume 'William' .

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guillotine

noun
1. a machine with a heavy blade sliding vertically in grooves, used for beheading people.
2. a device with a descending or sliding blade used for cutting paper or sheet metal.
3. Brit. (in parliament) a procedure used to limit discussion of a legislative bill by fixing times at which various parts of it must be voted on.

verb
1. execute by guillotine.
2. Brit. (in parliament) apply a guillotine to (a bill or debate).

ORIGIN: named after the French physician Joseph-Ignace Guillotin (1738 1814), who recommended its use for executions in 1789.

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guilt

noun
1. the fact of having committed an offence or crime.
2. a feeling of having done something wrong or failed in an obligation.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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guiltless

adjective
1. having no guilt; innocent.
2. (guiltless of) lacking.

DERIVATIVES:
guiltlessly adverb.

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guilt trip

noun informal
a feeling of guilt, especially when self-indulgent or unjustified.

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guilty

adjective (guiltier, guiltiest)
1. (often guilty of) responsible for a specified wrongdoing, fault, or error.
2. having or showing a feeling of guilt.

DERIVATIVES:
guiltily adverb
guiltiness noun.

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guinea

noun Brit.
1. the sum of £1.05 (21 shillings in pre-decimal currency), used mainly for determining professional fees and auction prices.
2. a former British gold coin with a value of 21 shillings.

ORIGIN: named after Guinea in West Africa (the source of the gold from which the first guineas were minted).

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guineafowl

noun (pl. same)
a large African game bird with slate-coloured, white-spotted plumage.

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guinea pig

noun
1. a tailless South American cavy, domesticated as a pet or laboratory animal.
2. a person or thing used as a subject for experiment.

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guipure

noun
heavy lace consisting of embroidered motifs held together by large connecting stitches.

ORIGIN: French, from guiper 'cover with silk' .

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guise

noun
an external form, appearance, or manner of presentation.

ORIGIN: Old French, related to WISE.

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guitar

noun
a stringed musical instrument with six (or occasionally twelve) strings, played by plucking or strumming with the fingers or a plectrum.

DERIVATIVES:
guitarist noun.

ORIGIN: Spanish guitarra, from Greek kithara, denoting an instrument similar to the lyre.

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Gulag

noun (the Gulag)
a system of harsh labour camps maintained in the Soviet Union 1930 1955.

ORIGIN: Russian, from G(lavnoe) u(pravlenie ispravitel'no-trudovykh) lag(ere) «Chief Administration for Corrective Labour Camps».

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gulch

noun N. Amer.
a narrow, steep-sided ravine.

ORIGIN: perhaps from dialect gulch «to swallow».

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gulf

noun
1. a deep inlet of the sea almost surrounded by land, with a narrow mouth.
2. a deep ravine, chasm, or abyss.
3. a substantial difference between two people, concepts, or situations.

ORIGIN: Italian golfo, from Greek kolpos 'bosom, gulf' .

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Gulf War syndrome

noun
an unexplained medical condition affecting some veterans of the 1991 Gulf War, causing fatigue, chronic headaches, and skin and respiratory disorders.

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gull [1]

noun
a long-winged seabird having white plumage with a grey or black back.

ORIGIN: Celtic.

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gull [2]

verb
fool or deceive (someone).

noun
a person who is fooled or deceived.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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gullet

noun
the passage by which food passes from the mouth to the stomach; the oesophagus.

ORIGIN: Old French goulet 'little throat' .

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gullible

adjective
easily persuaded to believe something; credulous.

DERIVATIVES:
gullibility noun
gullibly adverb.

ORIGIN: from GULL.

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gull-wing

noun
(of a door on a car or aircraft) opening upwards.

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gully

noun (pl. gullies)
1. (also gulley) a water-worn ravine.
2. (also gulley) a gutter or drain.
3. Cricket a fielding position on the off side between point and the slips.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «gullet»: from French goulet (see GULLET).

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gulp

verb
1. swallow (drink or food) quickly or in large mouthfuls.
2. swallow with difficulty in response to strong emotion.

noun
1. an act of gulping.
2. a large mouthful of liquid hastily drunk.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch gulpen, of imitative origin.

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gum [1]

noun
1. a thick sticky substance produced by some trees and shrubs.
2. glue used for sticking paper or other light materials together.
3. chewing gum or bubble gum.
4. a firm, jelly-like sweet.

verb (gummed, gumming)
1. cover or fasten with gum or glue.
2. (gum up) clog up (a mechanism) and prevent it from working properly.

ORIGIN: Old French gomme, from Greek kommi, from Egyptian.

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gum [2]

noun
the firm area of flesh around the roots of the teeth in the upper or lower jaw.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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gum arabic

noun
a gum produced by some kinds of acacia and used as glue and in incense.

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gumboil

noun
a small swelling formed on the gum over an abscess at the root of a tooth.

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gumboot

noun
a long rubber boot; a wellington.

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gumdrop

noun
a firm, jelly-like sweet.

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gummy [1]

adjective (gummier, gummiest)
viscous; sticky.

DERIVATIVES:
gumminess noun.

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gummy [2]

adjective (gummier, gummiest)
toothless: a gummy grin.

DERIVATIVES:
gummily adverb.

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gumption

noun informal
shrewd initiative and resourcefulness.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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gumshield

noun
a pad or plate used by a sports player to protect the teeth and gums.

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gum tree

noun
a tree that produces gum, especially a eucalyptus.

IDIOMS -
up a gum tree Brit. informal in a predicament.

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gun

noun
1. a weapon incorporating a metal tube from which bullets or shells are propelled by explosive force.
2. a device for discharging something (e.g. grease) in a required direction.
3. N. Amer. a gunman: a hired gun.

verb (gunned, gunning)
1. (gun down) shoot with a gun.
2. (gun for) aggressively pursue or act against.
3. informal cause (an engine) to race.

IDIOMS -
go great guns informal proceed forcefully or successfully.
jump the gun informal act before the proper or appropriate time.
stick to one's guns informal refuse to compromise or change.

ORIGIN: perhaps from a familiar form of the Scandinavian name Gunnhildr, from gunnr + hildr, both meaning 'war' .

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gunboat

noun
a small ship armed with guns.

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gunboat diplomacy

noun
foreign policy supported by the use or threat of military force.

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gun carriage

noun
a wheeled support for a piece of artillery.

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gun dog

noun
a dog trained to retrieve game that has been shot.

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gunge Brit. informal

noun
sticky, viscous, and unpleasantly messy material.

verb (gunged, gungeing) (gunge up)
clog or obstruct with gunge.

DERIVATIVES:
gungy adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps suggested by GOO and GUNK.

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gung-ho

adjective
unthinkingly enthusiastic and eager, especially about taking part in fighting or warfare.

ORIGIN: from a Chinese word taken to mean 'work together' and adopted as a slogan by US Marines.

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gunk

noun informal
unpleasantly sticky or messy matter.

ORIGIN: the proprietary name of a US detergent.

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gunman

noun
a man who uses a gun to commit a crime or terrorist act.

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gunmetal

noun
1. a grey corrosion-resistant form of bronze containing zinc.
2. a dull bluish-grey colour.

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gunnel

noun
an elongated marine fish with a dorsal fin running along most of the back.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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gunner

noun
1. a person who operates a gun.
2. a British artillery soldier (an official term for a private).

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gunnery

noun
the design, manufacture, or firing of heavy guns.

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gunplay

noun chiefly N. Amer.
the use of guns.

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gunpoint

noun (in phrase at gunpoint)
while threatening or being threatened with a gun.

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gunpowder

noun
1. an explosive consisting of a powdered mixture of saltpetre, sulphur, and charcoal.
2. a fine green China tea, the leaves of which are rolled up into pellets.

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gunrunner

noun
a person engaged in the illegal sale or importing of firearms.

DERIVATIVES:
gunrunning noun.

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gunship

noun
a heavily armed helicopter.

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gunsight

noun
a device on a gun enabling it to be aimed accurately.

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gunslinger

noun informal
a man who carries a gun.

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gunsmith

noun
a person who makes and sells small firearms.

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gunwale (also gunnel)

noun
the upper edge or planking of the side of a boat.

IDIOMS -
to the gunwales informal so as to be almost overflowing.

ORIGIN: from GUN + WALE (because it was formerly used to support guns).

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guppy

noun (pl. guppies)
a small freshwater fish native to tropical America, widely kept in aquaria.

ORIGIN: named after the Trinidadian clergyman R. J. Lechmere Guppy (1836 1916), who sent the first specimen to the British Museum.

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gurdwara

noun
a Sikh place of worship.

ORIGIN: from Sanskrit words meaning 'teacher' and 'door' .

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gurgle

verb
make or move with a hollow bubbling sound.

noun
a gurgling sound.

ORIGIN: imitative, or from Latin gurgulio 'gullet' .

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Gurkha

noun
1. a member of any of several Nepalese peoples noted for their military prowess.
2. a member of a regiment in the British army established for Nepalese recruits.

ORIGIN: a Nepalese place name.

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gurn (also girn)

verb Brit.
pull a grotesque face.

ORIGIN: dialect variant of GRIN.

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gurnard

noun
a small coastal fish with three finger-like pectoral rays with which it searches for food and walks on the seabed.

ORIGIN: Old French gornart 'grunter' , from Latin grundire, grunnire 'to grunt' .

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guru

noun
1. a Hindu spiritual teacher.
2. each of the ten first leaders of the Sikh religion.
3. an influential teacher or popular expert: a management guru.

ORIGIN: from Sanskrit, 'weighty, grave' .

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gush

verb
1. send out or flow in a rapid and plentiful stream.
2. speak or write effusively.

noun
1. a rapid and plentiful stream.
2. effusiveness.

DERIVATIVES:
gushing adjective.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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gushy

adjective (gushier, gushiest)
excessively effusive.

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gusset

noun
1. a piece of material sewn into a garment to strengthen or enlarge a part of it, e.g. the crotch of an undergarment.
2. a bracket strengthening an angle of a structure.

ORIGIN: Old French gousset 'small pod or shell' .

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gust

noun
1. a brief, strong rush of wind.
2. a burst of rain, sound, emotion, etc.

verb
blow in gusts.

DERIVATIVES:
gusty adjective.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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gusto

noun
enjoyment or vigour.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin gustus 'taste' .

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gut

noun
1. the stomach or belly.
2. Medicine & Biology the intestine.
3. (guts) entrails that have been removed or exposed.
4. (guts) the internal parts or essence of something.
5. (guts) informal courage and determination.
6. (before another noun ) informal instinctive: a gut feeling.
7. fibre from the intestines of animals, used for violin or racket strings.

verb (gutted, gutting)
1. take out the internal organs of (a fish or other animal) before cooking.
2. remove or destroy the internal parts of.

IDIOMS -
bust a gut informal make a strenuous effort.
hate someone's guts informal dislike someone intensely.
have someone's guts for garters informal, humorous used as a threat of punishment.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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gutless

adjective informal
lacking courage or determination.

DERIVATIVES:
gutlessly adverb
gutlessness noun.

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gutsy

adjective (gutsier, gutsiest) informal
1. showing courage and determination.
2. strongly flavoured.
3. greedy.

DERIVATIVES:
gutsiness noun.

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gutted

adjective Brit. informal
bitterly disappointed or upset.

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gutter

noun
1. a shallow trough beneath the edge of a roof, or a channel at the side of a street, for carrying off rainwater.
2. (the gutter) a very poor or squalid environment.
3. technical a groove or channel for flowing liquid.

verb
1. (of a flame) flicker and burn unsteadily.
2. archaic channel or furrow with streams, tears, etc.

ORIGIN: Old French gotiere, from Latin gutta 'a drop' .

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guttering

noun chiefly Brit.
the gutters of a building.

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gutter press

noun chiefly Brit.
newspapers engaging in sensational journalism.

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guttersnipe

noun
a street urchin.

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guttural

adjective
1. (of a speech sound) produced in the throat.
2. (of speech) characterized by guttural sounds.

noun
a guttural consonant (e.g. k, g).

DERIVATIVES:
gutturally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin gutturalis, from guttur 'throat' .

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guv (also guv'nor)

noun Brit. informal
(as a form of address) sir.

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guy [1]

noun
1. informal a man.
2. (guys) N. Amer. informal people of either sex.
3. Brit. a figure representing the Catholic conspirator Guy Fawkes, burnt on a bonfire on 5 November to commemorate a plot to blow up Parliament in 1605.

verb
ridicule.

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guy [2]

noun
a rope or line fixed to the ground to secure a tent.

verb
secure with a guy or guys.

ORIGIN: probably Low German.

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guzzle

verb
eat or drink greedily.

DERIVATIVES:
guzzler noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French gosillier 'chatter, vomit' .

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gybe (US jibe) Sailing

verb
1. change course by swinging the sail across a following wind.
2. (of a sail or boom) swing across the wind.

noun
an act of gybing.

ORIGIN: from obsolete Dutch gijben.

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gym

noun informal
1. a gymnasium.
2. gymnastics.

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gymkhana

noun
an event comprising competitions on horseback, typically for children.

ORIGIN: Urdu, 'racket court' .

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gymnasium

noun (pl. gymnasiums or gymnasia)
a hall or building equipped for gymnastics and other physical exercise.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek gumnasion, from gumnazein 'exercise naked' .

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gymnast

noun
a person trained in gymnastics.

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gymnastics

plural noun (also treated as sing. )
1. exercises involving physical agility, flexibility, and coordination, especially tumbling and acrobatic feats.
2. physical or mental agility or skill: vocal gymnastics.

DERIVATIVES:
gymnastic adjective.

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gymnosperm

noun
a plant of a large group that have seeds unprotected by an ovary or fruit, including conifers and cycads. Compare with ANGIOSPERM.

ORIGIN: from Greek gumnos 'naked' .

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gymslip

noun Brit. dated
a sleeveless belted tunic reaching from the shoulder to the knee, worn by schoolgirls doing physical education.

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gynaecology (US gynecology)

noun
the branch of physiology and medicine concerned with the functions and diseases specific to women and girls, especially those affecting the reproductive system.

DERIVATIVES:
gynaecological adjective
gynaecologically adverb
gynaecologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek gun 'woman, female' .

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gyp [1] (also gip)

noun Brit. informal
pain or discomfort.

ORIGIN: perhaps from gee-up (see GEE).

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gyp [2] informal

verb (gypped, gypping)
cheat or swindle.

noun
a swindle.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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gypsophila

noun
a garden plant with small pink or white flowers.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek gupsos 'chalk, gypsum' + philos 'loving' .

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gypsum

noun
a soft white or grey mineral used to make plaster of Paris and in the building industry.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek gupsos 'chalk' .

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gypsy (also gipsy)

noun (pl. gypsies)
a member of a travelling people with dark skin and hair, speaking the Romany language.

DERIVATIVES:
gypsyish adjective.

ORIGIN: originally gipcyan, short for EGYPTIAN (because gypsies were believed to have come from Egypt).

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gyrate

verb
1. move in a circle or spiral.
2. dance in a wild or suggestive manner.

DERIVATIVES:
gyration noun
gyrator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin gyrare 'revolve' , from Greek guros 'a ring' .

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gyrfalcon

noun
a large arctic falcon, with mainly grey or white plumage.

ORIGIN: probably related to High German gr 'spear' .

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gyrocompass

noun
a compass in which the direction of true north is maintained by a gyroscope rather than magnetism.

ORIGIN: from Greek guros 'a ring' .

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gyroscope

noun
a device, used to provide stability or maintain a fixed orientation, consisting of a wheel or disc spinning rapidly about an axis which is itself free to alter in direction.

DERIVATIVES:
gyroscopic adjective.

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H

H [1] (also h)

noun (pl. Hs or H's)
1. the eighth letter of the alphabet.
2. denoting the next after G in a set.

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H [2]

abbreviation
1. (of a pencil lead) hard.
2. height.
3. Physics henry(s).

symbol
the chemical element hydrogen.

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h

abbreviation
1. (in measuring the height of horses) hand(s).
2. hour(s).
3. Brit. (with reference to sporting fixtures) home.

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ha

abbreviation
hectare(s).

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habeas corpus

noun Law
a writ requiring a person to be brought before a judge or into court, especially to investigate the lawfulness of their detention.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'you shall have the body (in court)' .

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haberdasher

noun
1. Brit. a dealer in dressmaking and sewing goods.
2. N. Amer. a dealer in men's clothing.

DERIVATIVES:
haberdashery noun.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French hapertas, perhaps the name of a fabric.

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habiliment

noun archaic
clothing.

ORIGIN: Old French habillement, from Latin habilis 'able' .

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habit

noun
1. a settled or regular tendency or practice.
2. informal an addiction to drugs.
3. general shape or mode of growth, especially of a plant or mineral.
4. a long, loose garment worn by a member of a religious order.

verb archaic
dress.

ORIGIN: Latin habitus 'condition, appearance' , from habere 'have, consist of' .

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habitable

adjective
suitable to live in.

DERIVATIVES:
habitability noun.

ORIGIN: Latin habitabilis, from habitare 'possess, inhabit' .

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habitat

noun
the natural home or environment of an organism.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'it inhabits' .

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habitation

noun
1. the state or process of inhabiting.
2. formal a house or home.

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habit-forming

adjective
(of a drug) addictive.

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habitual

adjective
1. done constantly or as a habit.
2. regular; usual.

DERIVATIVES:
habitually adverb.

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habituate

verb chiefly Zoology
make or become accustomed to something.

DERIVATIVES:
habituation noun.

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habitué

noun
a resident of or frequent visitor to a place.

ORIGIN: French, 'accustomed' .

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hachures

plural noun
parallel lines used on maps to shade in hills, their closeness indicating steepness of gradient.

DERIVATIVES:
hachured adjective.

ORIGIN: French, from hacher (see HATCH).

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hacienda

noun
(in Spanish-speaking countries) a large estate with a house.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from Latin facienda 'things to be done' .

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hack [1]

verb
1. cut with rough or heavy blows.
2. kick wildly or roughly.
3. use a computer to gain unauthorized access to data.
4. (hack it) informal manage; cope.
5. (hack off) informal annoy.

noun
1. a rough cut or blow.
2. a tool for rough striking or cutting.

DERIVATIVES:
hacker noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hack [2]

noun
1. a writer producing dull, unoriginal work.
2. a horse for ordinary riding, or one that is inferior or let out for hire.
3. a ride on a horse.
4. N. Amer. a taxi.

verb
ride a horse.

DERIVATIVES:
hackery noun.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of HACKNEY.

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hacking cough

noun
a dry, frequent cough.

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hackle

noun
1. (hackles) hairs along an animal's back which rise when it is angry or alarmed.
2. a long, narrow feather on the neck or saddle of a domestic cock or other bird.
3. a steel comb for dressing flax.

IDIOMS -
make someone's hackles rise make someone angry or indignant.

ORIGIN: variant of obsolete hatchel, from Germanic.

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hackney

noun (pl. hackneys) chiefly historical
1. a light horse with a high-stepping trot, used in harness.
2. a horse-drawn vehicle kept for hire.

ORIGIN: probably from Hackney in East London, where horses were pastured.

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hackney carriage

noun Brit.
the official term for a taxi.

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hackneyed

adjective
(of a phrase or idea) unoriginal and trite.

ORIGIN: from the obsolete verb hackney «use a horse for general purposes», later «make commonplace by overuse».

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hacksaw

noun
a saw with a narrow blade set in a frame, used for cutting metal.

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haddock

noun (pl. same)
a silvery-grey fish of North Atlantic coastal waters, popular as a food fish.

ORIGIN: Old French hadoc.

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Hades

noun
1. Greek Mythology the underworld; the abode of the spirits of the dead.
2. informal hell.

ORIGIN: Greek Haids, a name of Pluto, the god of the dead.

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hadn't

contraction
had not.

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haematite (US hematite)

noun
a reddish-black mineral consisting of ferric oxide.

ORIGIN: from Greek haimatits lithos 'blood-like stone' .

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haematology (US hematology)

noun
the study of the physiology of the blood.

DERIVATIVES:
haematological adjective
haematologist noun.

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haemoglobin (US hemoglobin)

noun
a red protein containing iron, responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood of vertebrates.

ORIGIN: a contracted form of haematoglobulin, in the same sense.

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haemophilia (US hemophilia)

noun
a medical condition in which the ability of the blood to clot is severely reduced, causing severe bleeding from even a slight injury.

DERIVATIVES:
haemophilic adjective.

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haemophiliac (US hemophiliac)

noun
a person suffering from haemophilia.

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haemorrhage (US hemorrhage)

noun
1. an escape of blood from a ruptured blood vessel.
2. a damaging loss of something valuable.

verb
1. suffer a haemorrhage.
2. expend in large amounts, seemingly uncontrollably: the business was haemorrhaging cash.

ORIGIN: Greek haimorrhagia, from haima 'blood' + rhgnunai 'burst' .

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haemorrhoid (US hemorrhoid)

noun
a swollen vein or group of veins (piles) in the region of the anus.

ORIGIN: from Greek haimorrhoides phlebes 'bleeding veins' .

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haft

noun
the handle of a knife, axe, or spear.

verb
provide with a haft.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to HEAVE.

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hag

noun
1. an ugly old woman.
2. a witch.

DERIVATIVES:
haggish adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old English.

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haggard

adjective
1. looking exhausted and unwell.
2. (of a hawk) caught and trained as an adult.

ORIGIN: French hagard, perhaps related to HEDGE.

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haggis

noun (pl. same)
a Scottish dish consisting of seasoned sheep's or calf's offal mixed with suet and oatmeal, boiled in a bag traditionally made from the animal's stomach.

ORIGIN: probably from earlier hag 'hack, hew' , from Old Norse.

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haggle

verb
dispute or bargain persistently, especially over a price.

noun
a period of haggling.

DERIVATIVES:
haggler noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «hack, mangle»: from Old Norse.

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hagiography

noun
1. the writing of the lives of saints.
2. a biography idealizing its subject.

DERIVATIVES:
hagiographic adjective
hagiographical adjective.

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hag-ridden

adjective
afflicted by nightmares or anxieties.

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ha-ha

noun
a ditch with a wall on its inner side below ground level, forming a boundary to a park or garden without interrupting the view.

ORIGIN: said to be from the cry of surprise uttered on encountering such an obstacle.

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haiku

noun (pl. same or haikus)
a Japanese poem of seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five.

ORIGIN: Japanese, contraction of a phrase meaning 'light verse' .

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hail [1]

noun
1. pellets of frozen rain falling in showers from cumulonimbus clouds.
2. a large number of things hurled forcefully through the air.

verb (it hails, it is hailing, etc.)
hail falls.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hail [2]

verb
1. call out to (someone) to attract attention.
2. acclaim enthusiastically: he has been hailed as the new James Dean.
3. (hail from) have one's home or origins in.

exclamation archaic
expressing greeting or acclaim.

IDIOMS -
within hail within earshot.

ORIGIN: from obsolete hail «healthy», related to HALE and WHOLE.

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Hail Mary

noun (pl. Hail Marys)
a prayer to the Virgin Mary used chiefly by Roman Catholics.

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hailstone

noun
a pellet of hail.

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hair

noun
1. any of the fine thread-like strands growing from the skin of mammals and other animals, or from the epidermis of a plant.
2. strands of hair collectively, especially on a person's head.
3. a very small quantity or extent.

IDIOMS -
hair of the dog informal an alcoholic drink taken to cure a hangover. [ORIGIN: from hair of the dog that bit you, formerly recommended as a remedy for the bite of a mad dog.]
a hair's breadth a very small margin.
in (or out of) someone's hair informal burdening (or ceasing to burden) someone.
keep your hair on! Brit. informal stay calm.
let one's hair down informal behave wildly or uninhibitedly.
make someone's hair stand on end alarm someone.
not turn a hair remain apparently unmoved.
split hairs make overfine distinctions.

DERIVATIVES:
haired adjective
hairless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hairball

noun
a ball of hair which collects in the stomach of an animal as a result of the animal licking its coat.

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hairband

noun
a band for securing or tying back one's hair.

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hairbrush

noun
a brush for smoothing one's hair.

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haircut

noun
1. the style in which someone's hair is cut.
2. an act of cutting someone's hair.

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hairdo

noun (pl. hairdos) informal
the style of a person's hair.

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hairdresser

noun
a person who cuts and styles hair.

DERIVATIVES:
hairdressing noun.

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hairdryer (also hairdrier)

noun
an electrical device for drying the hair with warm air.

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hairgrip

noun Brit.
a flat hairpin with the ends close together.

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hairline

noun
1. the edge of a person's hair.
2. (before another noun ) very thin or fine: a hairline fracture.

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hairnet

noun
a fine mesh for confining the hair.

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hairpiece

noun
a patch or bunch of false hair used to augment a person's natural hair.

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hairpin

noun
a U-shaped pin for fastening the hair.

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hairpin bend

noun Brit.
a sharp U-shaped bend in a road.

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hair-raising

adjective
extremely alarming, astonishing, or frightening.

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hair shirt

noun
a shirt made of stiff cloth woven from horsehair, formerly worn by penitents and ascetics.

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hairslide

noun Brit.
a clip for keeping a woman's hair in position.

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hair-splitting

noun
the making of overfine distinctions.

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hairspray

noun
a solution sprayed on to hair to keep it in place.

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hairspring

noun
a slender flat coiled spring regulating the movement of the balance wheel in a watch.

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hairstyle

noun
a way in which someone's hair is cut or arranged.

DERIVATIVES:
hairstyling noun
hairstylist noun.

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hair trigger

noun
a firearm trigger set for release at the slightest pressure.

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hairy

adjective (hairier, hairiest)
1. covered with or resembling hair.
2. informal alarming and difficult.

DERIVATIVES:
hairiness noun.

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hajj (also haj)

noun
the pilgrimage to Mecca which all Muslims are expected to make at least once.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'pilgrimage' .

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haka

noun
a ceremonial Maori war dance involving chanting.

ORIGIN: Maori.

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hake

noun
a large-headed elongated food fish with long jaws and strong teeth.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old English, «hook».

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halberd (also halbert)

noun historical
a combined spear and battleaxe.

ORIGIN: High German helmbarde, from helm 'handle' + barde 'hatchet' .

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halcyon

adjective
(of a past time) idyllically happy and peaceful: halcyon days.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a mythical bird (usually identified with a species of kingfisher) said to breed in a nest floating at sea, charming the wind and waves into calm: from Greek alkun 'kingfisher' .

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hale

adjective
(of an old person) strong and healthy.

ORIGIN: Old English, «whole».

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half

noun (pl. halves)
1. either of two equal or corresponding parts into which something is or can be divided.
2. either of two equal periods into which a match or performance is divided.
3. Brit. informal half a pint of beer.
4. informal a half-price fare or ticket.
5. a halfback.

predeterminer & pronoun
an amount equal to a half.

adjective
forming a half.

adverb
1. to the extent of half.
2. partly: half-cooked.

IDIOMS -
at half mast
1. (of a flag) flown halfway down its mast, as a mark of respect for a person who has died.
2. humorous (of clothing) in a lower position than normal.
half a chance informal the slightest opportunity.
half past one (two, etc.) thirty minutes after one (two, etc.) o'clock.
not do things by halves do things thoroughly or extravagantly.
not half
1. not nearly.
2. informal not at all.
3. Brit. informal to an extreme degree.
too by half excessively .

ORIGIN: Old English.

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half-and-half

adverb & adjective
in equal parts.

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half-arsed

adjective vulgar slang
incompetent or inadequate.

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halfback

noun
a player in a ball game whose position is between the forwards and fullbacks.

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half-baked

adjective
incompetently planned or considered.

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half board

noun Brit.
provision of bed, breakfast, and a main meal at a hotel or guest house.

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half-breed

noun offensive
a person of mixed race.

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half-brother (or half-sister)

noun
a brother (or sister) with whom one has only one parent in common.

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half-caste

noun offensive
a person of mixed race.

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half-crown (also half a crown)

noun
a former British coin and monetary unit equal to two shillings and sixpence (121 / 2p).

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half-cut

adjective Brit. informal
drunk.

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half-dozen (also half a dozen)

noun
a group of six.

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half-hardy

adjective
(of a plant) able to grow outdoors except in severe frost.

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half-hearted

adjective
without enthusiasm or energy.

DERIVATIVES:
half-heartedly adverb
half-heartedness noun.

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half hitch

noun
a knot formed by passing the end of a rope round its standing part and then through the loop.

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half holiday

noun
a half day taken as a holiday, especially at school.

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half-hour

noun
1. (also half an hour) a period of thirty minutes.
2. a point in time thirty minutes after a full hour of the clock.

DERIVATIVES:
half-hourly adjective & adverb.

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half-life

noun
the time taken for something to decrease by half, in particular the radioactivity of an isotope.

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half-light

noun
dim light, as at dusk.

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half measure

noun
an inadequate action or policy.

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halfpenny (also ha'penny)

noun (pl. halfpennies (for separate coins); halfpence (for a sum of money) )
a former British coin equal to half an old or new penny.

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halfpennyworth (also ha'p'orth)

noun Brit.
1. as much as could be bought for a halfpenny.
2. (ha'p'orth) informal a negligible amount: he's never been a ha'p'orth of bother.

IDIOMS -
don't spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar proverb don't risk the failure of a large project by trying to economize on trivial things. [ORIGIN: referring to the use of tar to keep flies off sores on sheep (from dialect pronunciation of sheep as ship).]

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half-term

noun Brit.
a short holiday halfway through a school term.

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half-timbered

adjective
having walls with a timber frame and a brick or plaster filling.

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half-time

noun
(in sport) a short interval between two halves of a match.

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half-truth

noun
a statement conveying only part of the truth.

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half-volley

noun
(in sport) a strike or kick of the ball immediately after it bounces.

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halfway

adverb & adjective
1. at or to a point equidistant between two others.
2. (as adverb ) to some extent: halfway decent.

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halfway house

noun
1. the halfway point in a progression.
2. a compromise.
3. a centre for rehabilitating former prisoners or psychiatric patients.

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halfwit

noun informal
a stupid person.

DERIVATIVES:
half-witted adjective.

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halibut

noun (pl. same)
a large marine flatfish, used as food.

ORIGIN: from obsolete haly «holy» + butt «flatfish» (because it was often eaten on holy days).

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halide

noun Chemistry
a binary compound of a halogen with another element or group: silver halide.

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halitosis

noun
unpleasant-smelling breath.

ORIGIN: from Latin halitus 'breath' .

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hall

noun
1. the room or space just inside the front entrance of a house.
2. a large room for meetings, concerts, etc.
3. (also hall of residence) chiefly Brit. a university building in which students live.
4. the dining room of a college, university, or school.
5. Brit. a large country house.
6. the principal living room of a medieval house.
7. N. Amer. a passage in a building.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hallelujah (also alleluia)

exclamation
God be praised.

noun
an utterance of the word ‘hallelujah’.

ORIGIN: Hebrew, 'praise ye the Lord' .

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hallmark

noun
1. a mark stamped on articles of gold, silver, or platinum by the British assay offices, certifying purity.
2. a distinctive feature, especially of excellence.

verb
stamp with a hallmark.

ORIGIN: from Goldsmiths' Hall in London, where articles were tested and stamped.

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Hall of Fame

noun chiefly N. Amer.
the group of people who have excelled in a particular sphere.

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hallow

verb
1. make holy; consecrate.
2. honour as holy.
3. (hallowed) greatly revered.

noun archaic
a saint or holy person.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to HOLY.

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Halloween (also Hallowe'en)

noun
the night of 31 October, the eve of All Saints' Day.

ORIGIN: contraction of All Hallow Even (see HALLOW, EVEN).

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hallucinate

verb
experience a seemingly real perception of something not actually present.

DERIVATIVES:
hallucination noun
hallucinator noun
hallucinatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin hallucinari 'go astray in thought' , from Greek alussein 'be uneasy or distraught' .

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hallucinogen

noun
a drug causing hallucinations.

DERIVATIVES:
hallucinogenic adjective.

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halo

noun (pl. haloes or halos)
1. (in a painting) a circle of light surrounding the head of a holy person.
2. a circle of light round the sun or moon caused by refraction through ice crystals in the atmosphere.

verb (haloes, haloed)
surround with or as if with a halo.

ORIGIN: Greek hals 'disc of the sun or moon' .

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halogen

noun
1. Chemistry any of the group of reactive, non-metallic elements fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine.
2. (before another noun ) using a filament surrounded by halogen vapour: a halogen bulb.

ORIGIN: from Greek hals 'salt' .

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halt [1]

verb
bring or come to an abrupt stop.

noun
1. a suspension of movement or activity.
2. Brit. a minor stopping place on a railway line.

IDIOMS -
call a halt order a stop.

ORIGIN: German halten 'to hold' .

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halt [2] archaic

adjective
lame.

verb
walk with a limp.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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halter

noun
1. a rope or strap placed around the head of an animal and used to lead or tether it.
2. archaic a noose for hanging a person.
3. a strap passing behind the neck by which the bodice of a sleeveless dress or top is held in place.

verb
put a halter on (an animal).

ORIGIN: Old English, related to HELVE.

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halter neck

noun
a style of neckline incorporating a halter.

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halting

adjective
slow and hesitant.

DERIVATIVES:
haltingly adverb.

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halve

verb
1. divide into two parts of equal size.
2. reduce or be reduced by half.

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halyard

noun
a rope used for raising and lowering a sail, yard, or flag on a ship.

ORIGIN: Old French haler.

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ham [1]

noun
1. meat from the upper part of a pig's leg salted and dried or smoked.
2. (hams) the back of the thigh or the thighs and buttocks.

ORIGIN: from a Germanic word meaning 'be crooked' .

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ham [2]

noun
1. an inexpert or unsubtle actor or piece of acting.
2. (also radio ham) informal an amateur radio operator.

verb (hammed, hamming) informal
overact.

ORIGIN: perhaps from the first syllable of AMATEUR.

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hamburger

noun
a small flat cake of minced beef, fried or grilled and typically served in a bread roll.

ORIGIN: German, from the city of Hamburg in Germany.

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ham-fisted

adjective informal
clumsy; awkward.

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hamlet

noun
a small village, especially (in Britain) one without a church.

ORIGIN: Old French hamelet, from hamel 'little village' .

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hammer

noun
1. a tool consisting of a heavy metal head mounted at the end of a handle, used for breaking things and driving in nails.
2. an auctioneer's mallet, tapped to indicate a sale.
3. a part of a mechanism that hits another, e.g. one exploding the charge in a gun.
4. a heavy metal ball attached to a wire for throwing in an athletic contest.

verb
1. hit or beat repeatedly with or as with a hammer.
2. (hammer away) work hard and persistently.
3. (hammer in/into) instil (something) forcefully or repeatedly.
4. (hammer out) laboriously work out (the details of a plan or agreement).
5. (hammer out) play (a tune) loudly and unskilfully, especially on the piano.
6. informal utterly defeat.

IDIOMS -
come (or go) under the hammer be sold at an auction.
hammer and tongs informal enthusiastically or vehemently.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hammer and sickle

noun
the symbols of the industrial worker and the peasant used as the emblem of the former USSR and of international communism.

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hammer drill

noun
a power drill that delivers a rapid succession of blows.

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hammerhead

noun
a shark with flattened blade-like extensions on either side of the head.

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hammer toe

noun
a toe that is bent permanently downwards, typically as a result of pressure from footwear.

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hammock

noun
a wide strip of canvas or rope mesh suspended by two ends, used as a bed.

ORIGIN: from Taino (an extinct Caribbean language).

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hammy

adjective (hammier, hammiest) informal
(of acting or an actor) exaggerated or over-theatrical.

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hamper [1]

noun
1. a basket with a carrying handle and a hinged lid, used for food, cutlery, etc. on a picnic.
2. Brit. a box containing food and drink for a special occasion.

ORIGIN: Old French hanaper 'case for a goblet' , from hanap 'goblet' .

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hamper [2]

verb
hinder or impede the movement or progress of.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to German hemmen 'restrain' .

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hamster

noun
a burrowing rodent with a short tail and large cheek pouches, native to Europe and North Asia.

ORIGIN: High German hamustro 'corn-weevil' .

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hamstring

noun
1. any of five tendons at the back of a person's knee.
2. the great tendon at the back of a quadruped's hock.

verb (past and past part. hamstrung)
1. cripple by cutting the hamstrings.
2. severely restrict; thwart.

ORIGIN: from HAM + STRING.

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hand

noun
1. the end part of the arm beyond the wrist.
2. (before another noun ) operated by or held in the hand.
3. (before another noun or in combination ) done or made manually.
4. a pointer on a clock or watch indicating the passing of units of time.
5. (hands) a person's power or control: taking the law into their own hands.
6. an active role.
7. help in doing something.
8. a person engaging in manual labour.
9. informal a round of applause.
10. the set of cards dealt to a player in a card game.
11. a person's handwriting or workmanship.
12. a pledge of marriage by a woman.
13. a unit of measurement of a horse's height, equal to 4 inches (10.16 cm). [ORIGIN: denoting the breadth of a hand.]

verb
1. give to.
2. hold the hand of, in order to assist.

IDIOMS -
at hand near; readily accessible.
by hand by a person and not a machine.
get (or keep) one's hand in become (or remain) practised in something.
hand down
1. pass (something) on to a successor.
2. announce formally or publicly.
hand in glove in close association.
hand in hand closely associated; together.
hand out distribute among a group.
(from) hand to mouth satisfying only one's immediate needs because of lack of money.
hands down easily and decisive ly.
hands-off not involving or requiring direct intervention.
hands-on involving or offering active participation.
have to hand it to someone informal used to acknowledge the merit or achievement of someone.
in hand
1. in progress; requiring immediate attention.
2. ready for use if required.
in safe hands protected by someone trustworthy.
make (or lose or spend) money hand over fist informal make (or lose or spend) money very rapidly.
many hands make light work proverb a task is soon accomplished if several people help.
on hand
1. present and available.
2. needing to be dealt with.
on someone's hands
1. under the responsibility of the person specified.
2. at someone's disposal.
on the one (or the other) hand used to present factors for (and against).
out of hand
1. not under control.
2. without taking time to think.
to hand within easy reach.
turn one's hand to undertake (an activity different from one's usual occupation).
wait on someone hand and foot attend to someone's needs or requests, especially when excessive.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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handbag

noun Brit.
a small bag used by a woman to carry everyday personal items.

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handball

noun
1. a game similar to fives, in which the ball is hit with the hand in a walled court.
2. Soccer illegal touching of the ball with the hand or arm.

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handbill

noun
a small printed advertisement or other notice distributed by hand.

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handbook

noun
a book giving information such as basic facts or instructions.

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handbrake

noun
a brake operated by hand, used to hold an already stationary vehicle.

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handcraft

verb (handcrafted)
made skilfully by hand.

noun another term for HANDICRAFT.

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handcuff

noun (handcuffs)
a pair of lockable linked metal rings for securing a prisoner's wrists.

verb
put handcuffs on.

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handful

noun
1. a quantity that fills the hand.
2. a small number or amount.
3. informal a person who is difficult to deal with or control.

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hand grenade

noun
a hand-thrown grenade.

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handgun

noun
a gun designed for use by one hand, chiefly either a pistol or a revolver.

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handhold

noun
something for a hand to grip on.

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handicap

noun
1. a condition that markedly restricts a person's ability to function physically, mentally, or socially.
2. a disadvantage imposed on a superior competitor in sports such as golf and horse racing in order to make the chances more equal.
3. the extra weight given as a handicap to a racehorse or other competitor.
4. the number of strokes by which a golfer normally exceeds par for a course.

verb (handicapped, handicapping)
act as a handicap to; place at a disadvantage.

ORIGIN: from the phrase hand in cap, a game in which players showed acceptance or rejection of a disputed object's valuation by bringing their hands either full or empty out of a cap in which forfeit money had been deposited. In the 18th century a similar practice was used to signify agreement or disagreement with an allocation of additional weight to be carried in horse races.

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handicapped

adjective
having a handicap.
USAGE - In the middle decades of the 20th century handicapped was the standard term used in reference to people with physical and mental disabilities. However by the 1980s it had been superseded, in British English, by disabled. It is now regarded as dated, if not actually offensive.

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handicraft

noun
1. a particular skill of making decorative domestic or other objects by hand.
2. an object made using a skill of this kind.

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handiwork

noun
1. (one's handiwork) something that one has made or done.
2. the making of things by hand.

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handkerchief

noun (pl. handkerchiefs or handkerchieves)
a square of cotton or other material for wiping one's nose.

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handle

verb
1. feel or manipulate with the hands.
2. manage or cope with.
3. deal with.
4. control or manage commercially.
5. (handle oneself) conduct oneself.
6. (of a vehicle) respond in a specified way when being driven: the new model does not handle well.

noun
1. the part by which a thing is held, carried, or controlled.
2. a means of understanding, controlling, or approaching a person or situation.
3. informal the name of a person or place.

DERIVATIVES:
handled adjective
handling noun.

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handlebar (also handlebars)

noun
the steering bar of a bicycle, motorbike, or other similar vehicle.

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handler

noun
1. a person who handles a particular type of article or commodity.
2. a person who trains or has charge of an animal.
3. a person who trains or manages another person.

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handmade

adjective
made by hand rather than machine.

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handmaid

noun
1. archaic a female servant.
2. a subservient partner or element.

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hand-me-down

noun
a garment or other item that has been passed on from another person.

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handout

noun
1. an amount of money or other aid given to a needy person or organization.
2. a piece of printed information provided free of charge, especially to accompany a lecture.

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handover

noun chiefly Brit.
an act of handing something over.

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hand-pick

verb
select carefully.

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handprint

noun
the mark left by the impression of a hand.

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handset

noun
1. the part of a telephone that is held up to speak into and listen to.
2. a hand-held control device for a piece of electronic equipment.

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handshake

noun
an act of shaking a person's hand.

DERIVATIVES:
handshaking noun.

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handsome

adjective (handsomer, handsomest)
1. (of a man) good-looking.
2. (of a woman) striking and imposing rather than conventionally pretty.
3. (of a thing) well made, imposing, and of obvious quality.
4. (of an amount) substantial; sizeable.

IDIOMS -
handsome is as handsome does proverb character and behaviour are more important than appearance.

DERIVATIVES:
handsomely adverb
handsomeness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «easy to handle or use», later «apt, clever»: from HAND + -SOME.

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handspring

noun
a jump through the air on to one's hands followed by another on to one's feet.

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handstand

noun
an act of balancing upside down on one's hands.

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hand-to-hand

adjective
(of fighting) at close quarters.

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handwriting

noun
1. writing with a pen or pencil rather than by typing or printing.
2. a person's particular style of writing.

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handwritten

adjective
written with a pen, pencil, or other hand-held implement.

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handy

adjective (handier, handiest)
1. convenient to handle or use; useful.
2. ready to hand.
3. placed or occurring conveniently.
4. skilful.

DERIVATIVES:
handily adverb
handiness noun.

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handyman

noun
a person employed to do general decorating or domestic repairs.

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hang

verb (past and past part. hung except in sense 2)
1. suspend or be suspended from above with the lower part not attached.
2. (past and past part. hanged) kill or be killed by tying a rope attached from above around the neck and removing the support from beneath the feet (used as a form of capital punishment).
3. attach so as to allow free movement about the point of attachment: hanging a door.
4. (of fabric or a garment) fall or drape in a specified way.
5. attach (meat or game) to a hook and leave it until dry, tender, or high.
6. remain static in the air.
7. be present or imminent, especially oppressively.
8. paste (wallpaper) to a wall.

noun
the way in which something hangs or is hung.

exclamation dated
used in expressions as a mild oath.

IDIOMS -
get the hang of informal learn how to operate or do.
hang around
1. loiter; wait around.
2. (hang around with) associate with.
hang back remain behind.
hang fire delay or be delayed in taking action.
hang on
1. hold tightly.
2. informal wait for a short time.
3. be contingent or dependent on.
4. listen closely to.
hang out informal spend time relaxing or enjoying oneself.
hang up end a telephone conversation by cutting the connection.
let it all hang o ut informal be very relaxed or uninhibited.

USAGE - In modern English hang has two past tense and past participle forms: hanged and hung. Sometime after the 16th century hung replaced the earlier form hanged in general contexts, as in they hung out the washing , while hanged was, as it still is, retained for use in reference to execution by hanging, as in the prisoner was hanged .
ORIGIN: Old English.

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hangar

noun
a large building with extensive floor area, typically for housing aircraft.

ORIGIN: French, probably from Germanic words meaning 'hamlet' and 'enclosure' .

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hangdog

adjective
having a dejected or guilty appearance; shamefaced.

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hanger

noun
1. a person who hangs something.
2. (also coat hanger) a shaped piece of wood, plastic, or metal with a hook at the top, for hanging clothes from a rail.

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hanger-on

noun (pl. hangers-on)
a person who associates sycophantically with another person.

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hang-glider

noun
an unpowered flying apparatus for a single person, consisting of a frame with a fabric aerofoil stretched over it from which the operator is suspended.

DERIVATIVES:
hang-glide verb
hang-gliding noun.

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hanging

noun
1. the practice of hanging condemned people as a form of capital punishment.
2. a decorative piece of fabric hung on the wall of a room or around a bed.

adjective
suspended in the air.

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hangman

noun
an executioner who hangs condemned people.

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hangnail

noun
a piece of torn skin at the root of a fingernail.

ORIGIN: alteration of agnail «painful swelling around a nail», from Old English; influenced by HANG.

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hang-out

noun informal
a place one lives in or frequently visits.

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hangover

noun
1. a severe headache or other after-effects caused by drinking an excess of alcohol.
2. a thing that has survived from the past.

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hang-up

noun informal
an emotional problem or inhibition.

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hank

noun
a coil or skein of wool, hair, or other material.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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hanker

verb (hanker after/for/to do)
feel a strong desire for or to do.

ORIGIN: probably related to HANG.

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hanky (also hankie)

noun (pl. hankies) informal
a handkerchief.

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hanky-panky

noun informal, humorous
behaviour considered improper but not seriously so.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of 'hokey-pokey' (see HOKEY-COKEY).

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Hanoverian

adjective
relating to the royal house of Hanover, who ruled as monarchs in Britain from 1714 to 1901.

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Hansard

noun
the official verbatim record of debates in the British, Canadian, Australian, or New Zealand parliament.

ORIGIN: named after the English printer Thomas C. Hansard (1776 1833).

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hansom (also hansom cab)

noun historical
a two-wheeled horse-drawn cab with space for two inside, with the driver seated behind.

ORIGIN: named after the English architect Joseph A. Hansom (1803 82), who patented it.

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Hants

abbreviation
Hampshire.

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Hanukkah (also Chanukkah)

noun
an eight-day Jewish festival of lights held in December, commemorating the rededication of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.

ORIGIN: Hebrew, 'consecration' .

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haphazard

adjective
lacking order or organization.

DERIVATIVES:
haphazardly adverb.

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hapless

adjective
unlucky; unfortunate.

DERIVATIVES:
haplessly adverb.

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haploid

adjective Genetics
(of a cell or nucleus) having a single set of unpaired chromosomes. Compare with DIPLOID.

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happen

verb
1. take place; occur.
2. come about by chance.
3. (happen on) come across by chance.
4. chance to do something or come about.
5. (happen to) be experienced by.
6. (happen to) become of.

IDIOMS -
as it happens actually; as a matter of fact.

ORIGIN: from HAP.

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happening

noun
1. an event or occurrence.
2. a partly improvised or spontaneous artistic or theatrical performance.

adjective informal
fashionable.

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happenstance

noun chiefly N. Amer.
coincidence.

ORIGIN: blend of HAPPEN and CIRCUMSTANCE.

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happy

adjective (happier, happiest)
1. feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.
2. willing to do something.
3. fortunate and convenient: a happy coincidence.
4. (in combination ) informal inclined to use a specified thing excessively or at random: trigger-happy.

DERIVATIVES:
happily adverb
happiness noun.

ORIGIN: from HAP.

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happy-go-lucky

adjective
cheerfully unconcerned about the future.

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happy hour

noun
a period of the day when drinks are sold at reduced prices in a bar or other establishment.

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hara-kiri

noun
ritual suicide by disembowelment with a sword, formerly practised in Japan by samurai.

ORIGIN: from the Japanese words for 'belly' + 'cutting' .

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harangue

verb
criticize at length in an aggressive manner.

noun
a forceful and aggressive speech.

ORIGIN: Latin harenga.

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harass

verb
1. torment (someone) by subjecting them to constant interference or intimidation.
2. make repeated small-scale attacks on (an enemy) in order to wear down resistance.

DERIVATIVES:
harasser noun
harassment noun.
USAGE - The word harass is pronounced either with the stress on the har- or with the stress on the -rass; the first pronunciation, which is the older one, is considered by some people to be the only correct one, especially in British English.
ORIGIN: French harasser, from harer 'set a dog on' .

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harbinger

noun
a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of something.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a person who provides or goes ahead to find lodging: from Old French herbergere, from an obsolete Low German dialect word meaning 'shelter for an army, lodging' .

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harbour (US harbor)

noun
a place on the coast where ships may moor in shelter.

verb
1. keep (a thought or feeling) secretly in one's mind.
2. give a refuge or shelter to.
3. carry the germs of (a disease).

ORIGIN: Old English, «shelter».

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hard

adjective
1. solid, firm, and rigid; not easily broken, bent, or pierced.
2. requiring or demonstrating a great deal of endurance or effort; difficult.
3. (of a person) not showing any signs of weakness; tough.
4. (of information or a subject of study) concerned with precise and verifiable facts.
5. harsh or unpleasant to the senses.
6. done with a great deal of force or strength.
7. (of liquor) strongly alcoholic.
8. (of a drug) potent and addictive.
9. (of pornography) highly obscene and explicit.
10. denoting an extreme faction within a political party.
11. (of water) containing mineral salts.

adverb
1. with a great deal of effort or force.
2. so as to be solid or firm.
3. to the fullest extent possible.

IDIOMS -
be hard put (to it) find it very difficult.
hard and fast (of a rule or distinction) fixed and definitive.
hard at it informal busily working.
hard done by Brit. harshly or unfairly treated.
hard feelings feelings of resentment.
hard going difficult to understand or enjoy.
hard luck (or lines) Brit. informal used to express sympathy or commiserations.
hard of hearing not able to hear well.
hard on (or upon) following soon after.
hard up informal short of money.
play hard to get informal deliberately adopt an uninterested attitude.
put the hard word on Austral./NZ informal ask a favour of.

DERIVATIVES:
hardish adjective
hardness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hardback

noun
a book bound in stiff covers.

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hardbitten

adjective
tough and cynical.

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hardboard

noun
stiff board made of compressed and treated wood pulp.

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hard-boiled

adjective
1. (of an egg) boiled until solid.
2. (of a person) tough and cynical.

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hard cash

noun
negotiable coins and banknotes as opposed to other forms of payment.

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hard copy

noun
a printed version on paper of data held in a computer.

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hard core

noun
1. the most committed or doctrinaire members of a group.
2. popular music that is experimental in nature and typically characterized by high volume and aggressive presentation.
3. pornography of a very explicit kind.
4. Brit. broken bricks and rubble used as a filling or foundation in building.

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hard disk (also hard drive)

noun Computing
a rigid non-removable magnetic disk with a large data storage capacity.

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harden

verb
make or become hard or harder.

DERIVATIVES:
hardened adjective
hardener noun.

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hard hat

noun
a rigid protective helmet, as worn by factory and building workers.

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hard-headed

adjective
tough and realistic.

DERIVATIVES:
hard-headedly adverb
hard-headedness noun.

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hard-hearted

adjective
unfeeling.

DERIVATIVES:
hard-heartedly adverb
hard-heartedness noun.

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hard labour

noun
heavy manual work as a punishment.

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hard line

noun
an uncompromising adherence to a firm policy.

adjective
uncompromising; strict.

DERIVATIVES:
hardliner noun.

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hardly

adverb
1. scarcely; barely.
2. only with great difficulty.
3. no or not (suggesting surprise at or disagreement with a statement).

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hard-nosed

adjective informal
realistic and tough-minded.

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hard-on

noun vulgar slang
an erection of the penis.

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hard palate

noun
the bony front part of the palate.

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hard-pressed

adjective
1. closely pursued.
2. in difficulties.

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hard sell

noun
a policy or technique of aggressive selling or advertising.

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hardship

noun
severe suffering or privation.

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hard shoulder

noun Brit.
a hardened strip alongside a motorway for use in an emergency.

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hardware

noun
1. heavy military equipment such as tanks and missiles.
2. the machines, wiring, and other physical components of a computer.
3. tools, implements, and other items used in the home and in activities such as gardening.

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hardwood

noun
the wood from a broadleaved tree as distinguished from that of conifers.

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hardy

adjective (hardier, hardiest)
1. capable of enduring difficult conditions; robust.
2. (of a plant) able to survive outside during winter.

DERIVATIVES:
hardily adverb
hardiness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French hardi, from hardir 'become bold' .

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hare

noun
a fast-running, long-eared mammal resembling a large rabbit, with very long hind legs.

verb
run with great speed.

IDIOMS -
run with the hare and hunt with the hounds Brit. try to remain on good terms with both sides in a conflict.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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harebell

noun
a plant with slender stems and pale blue bell-shaped flowers.

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hare-brained

adjective
rash; ill-judged.

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Hare Krishna

noun
a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, a religious sect based on the worship of the Hindu god Krishna.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, 'O Vishnu Krishna' , a devotional chant.

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harem

noun
1. the separate part of a Muslim household reserved for women.
2. the wives and concubines collectively of a polygamous man.
3. a group of female animals sharing a single mate.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'prohibited place' .

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haricot

noun
a variety of French bean with small white seeds, which can be dried and used as a vegetable.

ORIGIN: French, perhaps from Aztec ayacotli.

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hark

verb
1. literary listen.
2. (hark at) informal used to draw attention to an ill-advised or foolish remark or action.
3. (hark back) recall an earlier period.

ORIGIN: Germanic.

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harlequin

noun (Harlequin)
a mute character in traditional pantomime, typically masked and dressed in a diamond-patterned costume.

adjective
in varied colours; variegated.

ORIGIN: French, from earlier Herlequin, the leader of a legendary troop of demon horsemen.

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harlot

noun archaic
a prostitute or promiscuous woman.

DERIVATIVES:
harlotry noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'young man, knave' .

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harm

noun
1. physical injury, especially that which is deliberately inflicted.
2. material damage.
3. actual or potential ill effect.

verb
1. physically injure.
2. have an adverse effect on.

IDIOMS -
out of harm's way in a safe place.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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harmful

adjective
causing or likely to cause harm.

DERIVATIVES:
harmfully adverb
harmfulness noun.

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harmless

adjective
not able or likely to cause harm.

DERIVATIVES:
harmlessly adverb
harmlessness noun.

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harmonic

adjective
1. relating to or characterized by harmony.
2. Music relating to or denoting a harmonic or harmonics.

noun Music
an overtone accompanying a fundamental tone at a fixed interval, produced by vibration of a string, column of air, etc. in any of certain fractions of its length.

DERIVATIVES:
harmonically adverb.

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harmonica

noun
a small rectangular wind instrument with a row of metal reeds capable of producing different notes.

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harmonious

adjective
1. tuneful; not discordant.
2. forming a pleasing or consistent whole.
3. free from conflict.

DERIVATIVES:
harmoniously adverb
harmoniousness noun.

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harmonium

noun
a keyboard instrument in which the notes are produced by air driven through metal reeds by foot-operated bellows.

ORIGIN: from Greek harmonios 'harmonious' .

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harmonize (also harmonise)

verb
1. Music add notes to (a melody) to produce harmony.
2. make or be harmonious.

DERIVATIVES:
harmonization noun.

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harmony

noun (pl. harmonies)
1. the combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords and chord progressions having a pleasing effect.
2. the quality of forming a pleasing and consistent whole.
3. agreement or concord.

ORIGIN: Latin harmonia 'joining, concord' , from Greek harmos 'joint' .

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harness

noun
1. a set of straps and fittings by which a horse or other draught animal is fastened to a cart, plough, etc. and is controlled by its driver.
2. a similar arrangement of straps, as for fastening a parachute to a person's body or for restraining a young child.

verb
1. fit with a harness.
2. control and make use of (resources).

IDIOMS -
in harness
1. (of an animal) used for draught work.
2. in the routine of daily work.

ORIGIN: Old French harneis 'military equipment' , from Old Norse.

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harp

noun
a musical instrument consisting of a frame supporting a graduated series of parallel strings, played by plucking with the fingers.

verb (harp on)
talk or write persistently and tediously on a particular topic.

DERIVATIVES:
harper noun
harpist noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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harpoon

noun
a barbed spear-like missile attached to a long rope and thrown by hand or fired from a gun, used for catching whales and other large sea creatures.

verb
spear with a harpoon.

DERIVATIVES:
harpooner noun.

ORIGIN: French harpon, from Greek harp 'sickle' .

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harpsichord

noun
a keyboard instrument similar in shape to a grand piano, with horizontal strings plucked by points operated by depressing the keys.

DERIVATIVES:
harpsichordist noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin harpa 'harp' + chorda 'string' .

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harpy

noun (pl. harpies)
1. Greek & Roman Mythology a rapacious monster usually depicted with a woman's head and body and a bird's wings and claws.
2. a grasping, unscrupulous woman.

ORIGIN: Greek harpuiai 'snatchers' .

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harquebus (also arquebus)

noun historical
an early type of portable gun supported on a tripod or a forked rest.

ORIGIN: French harquebuse, from Low German hake 'hook' + busse 'gun' .

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harridan

noun
a strict, bossy, or belligerent old woman.

ORIGIN: perhaps from French haridelle 'old horse' .

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harrier [1]

noun
a person who harries others.

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harrier [2]

noun
a hound of a breed used for hunting hares.

ORIGIN: from HARE.

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harrier [3]

noun
a long-winged, slender-bodied bird of prey with low hunting flight.

ORIGIN: from an obsolete variant of HARRY.

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harrow

noun
an implement consisting of a heavy frame set with teeth which is dragged over ploughed land to break up or spread the soil.

verb
1. draw a harrow over.
2. (harrowing) very distressing.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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harrumph

verb
1. clear the throat noisily.
2. grumpily express dissatisfaction.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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harry

verb (harries, harried)
1. persistently carry out attacks on (an enemy).
2. persistently harass.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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harsh

adjective
1. unpleasantly rough or jarring to the senses.
2. cruel or severe.
3. (of climate or conditions) difficult to survive in; hostile.

DERIVATIVES:
harshen verb
harshly adverb
harshness noun.

ORIGIN: Low German harsch 'rough' , from haer 'hair' .

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hart

noun
an adult male deer, especially a red deer over five years old.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hartebeest

noun
a large African antelope with a long head and sloping back.

ORIGIN: from Dutch hert 'hart' + beest 'beast' .

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harum-scarum

adjective
reckless; impetuous.

ORIGIN: from HARE and SCARE.

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harvest

noun
1. the process or period of gathering in crops.
2. the season's yield or crop.

verb
gather as a harvest.

DERIVATIVES:
harvestable adjective
harvester noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «autumn».

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harvest mouse

noun
a small mouse with a prehensile tail, nesting among the stalks of growing cereals.

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has-been

noun informal
a person or thing that is outmoded or no longer significant.

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hash [1]

noun
1. a dish of diced cooked meat reheated with potatoes.
2. a jumble; a mess.

verb
make or chop into a hash.

IDIOMS -
make a hash of informal make a mess of.
settle someone's hash informal deal with and subdue someone in no uncertain manner.

ORIGIN: French hacher, from hache 'axe' .

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hash [3]

noun
the symbol #.

ORIGIN: probably an alteration of HATCH.

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hash browns

plural noun chiefly N. Amer.
a dish of chopped and fried cooked potatoes.

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hashish

noun
cannabis.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'dry herb, powdered hemp leaves' .

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hasn't

contraction
has not.

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hasp

noun
a slotted hinged metal plate that forms part of a fastening for a door or lid and is fitted over a metal loop and secured by a pin or padlock.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hassle informal

noun
1. irritating inconvenience.
2. deliberate harassment.

verb
harass; pester.

ORIGIN: originally a dialect word meaning «hack or saw at», of unknown origin.

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haste

noun
excessive speed or urgency of action.

IDIOMS -
more haste, less speed proverb you make better progress with a task if you don't try to do it too quickly.

ORIGIN: Old French.

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hasten

verb
1. be quick to do something; move quickly.
2. cause to happen sooner than anticipated.

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hasty

adjective (hastier, hastiest)
done or acting with haste; hurried.

DERIVATIVES:
hastily adverb
hastiness noun.

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hat

noun
a shaped covering for the head, typically with a brim and a crown.

IDIOMS -
keep something under one's hat keep something a secret.
pass the hat round (or N. Amer. pass the hat) collect contributions of money.
pick out of a hat select at random.
take one's hat off to used to express admiration or praise for.
talk through one's hat informal talk foolishly or ignorantly.
throw one's hat into the ring express willingness to take up a challenge.

DERIVATIVES:
hatful noun
hatless adjective
hatted adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to HOOD.

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hatband

noun
a decorative ribbon encircling a hat, held in position above the brim.

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hatch [1]

noun
1. a small opening in a floor, wall, or roof allowing access from one area to another.
2. a door in an aircraft, spacecraft, or submarine.

IDIOMS -
down the hatch informal used as a toast.

ORIGIN: Old English, denoting the lower half of a divided door.

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hatch [2]

verb
1. (with reference to a young bird, fish, or reptile) emerge or cause to emerge from its egg.
2. (of an egg) open and produce a young animal.
3. conspire to devise (a plot or plan).

noun
a newly hatched brood.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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hatch [3]

verb
(in technical drawing) shade with closely drawn parallel lines.

DERIVATIVES:
hatching noun.

ORIGIN: Old French hacher, from hache 'axe' .

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hatchback

noun
a car with a door across the full width at the back end that opens upwards to provide easy access for loading.

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hatchet

noun
a small axe with a short handle for use in one hand.

IDIOMS -
bury the hatchet end a quarrel or conflict. [ORIGIN: in allusion to an American Indian custom.]

ORIGIN: Old French hachette 'little axe' , from Latin hapia 'axe' .

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hatchet-faced

adjective informal
sharp-featured and grim-looking.

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hatchet job

noun informal
a fierce verbal or written attack.

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hatchet man

noun informal
1. a person employed to carry out controversial or disagreeable tasks.
2. a harsh critic.

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hatchling

noun
a newly hatched young animal.

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hatchway

noun
an opening or hatch, especially in a ship's deck.

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hate

verb
feel intense dislike for or a strong aversion towards.

noun
1. intense dislike; strong aversion.
2. informal a disliked person or thing.
3. (before a noun ) denoting hostile actions motivated by intense dislike or prejudice: a hate campaign.

DERIVATIVES:
hatable (also hateable) adjective
hater noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hateful

adjective
arousing or deserving of hatred.

DERIVATIVES:
hatefully adverb
hatefulness noun.

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hatred

noun
intense hate.

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hat-trick

noun
three successes of the same kind, especially (in soccer) a player scoring three goals in a game or (in cricket) a bowler taking three wickets with successive balls.

ORIGIN: referring originally to the club presentation of a new hat to a bowler taking a hat-trick.

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haughty

adjective (haughtier, haughtiest)
arrogantly superior and disdainful.

DERIVATIVES:
haughtily adverb
haughtiness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French hault 'high' from Latin altus.

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haul

verb
1. pull or drag with effort or force.
2. transport in a truck or cart.

noun
1. a quantity of something obtained, especially illegally.
2. a number of fish caught at one time.
3. a distance to be travelled.

IDIOMS -
haul over the coals see COAL.

DERIVATIVES:
hauler noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the nautical sense «trim sails for sailing closer to the wind».

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haulage

noun
the commercial transport of goods.

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haulier

noun Brit.
a person or company employed in the commercial transport of goods by road.

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haulm

noun
1. a stalk or stem.
2. the stalks or stems of peas, beans, or potatoes collectively.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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haunch

noun
1. the buttock and thigh considered together, in a human or animal.
2. the leg and loin of an animal, as food.

ORIGIN: Old French hanche.

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haunt

verb
1. (of a ghost) manifest itself regularly at (a place).
2. (of a person) frequent (a place).
3. be persistently and disturbingly present in the mind.

noun
a place frequented by a specified person: a favourite haunt of pickpockets.

DERIVATIVES:
haunter noun.

ORIGIN: Old French hanter.

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haunted

adjective
1. (of a place) frequented by a ghost.
2. having or showing signs of mental anguish.

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haunting

adjective
poignant; evocative.

DERIVATIVES:
hauntingly adverb.

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haute couture

noun
the designing and making of high-quality clothes by leading fashion houses.

ORIGIN: French, 'high dressmaking' .

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haute cuisine

noun
high-quality cooking following the style of traditional French cuisine.

ORIGIN: French, 'high cookery' .

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hauteur

noun
proud haughtiness of manner.

ORIGIN: French, from haut 'high' .

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have

verb (has; past and past part. had)
1. possess, own, or hold.
2. experience; undergo: have difficulty.
3. be able to make use of.
4. (have to) be obliged to; must.
5. perform the action indicated by the noun specified: he had a look round.
6. demonstrate (a personal attribute).
7. suffer from (an illness or disability).
8. cause to be in a particular state.
9. cause to be done for one by someone else.
10. place, hold, or keep in a particular position.
11. be the recipient or host of.
12. eat or drink.
13. (not have) refuse to tolerate.
14. (be had) informal be cheated or deceived.

auxiliary verb
used with a past participle to form the perfect, pluperfect, and future perfect tenses, and the conditional mood.

noun (usu. in phrase the haves and the have-nots) informal
people with plenty of money.

IDIOMS -
have had it informal
1. be beyond repair or revival.
2. be unable to tolerate any longer.
have (got) it in for informal behave in a hostile way towards.
have it out informal attempt to resolve a dispute by confrontation.
have on Brit. informal try to make (someone) believe something untrue, especially as a joke.
have up Brit. informal bring before a court to answer for an alleged offence.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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have-a-go

adjective Brit. informal
(of a member of the public) intervening to stop a criminal during the course of a crime.

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haven

noun
1. a place of safety or refuge.
2. a harbour or small port.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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haven't

contraction
have not.

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haver

verb
1. Scottish talk foolishly; babble.
2. Brit. act in an indecisive manner.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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haversack

noun
a small, stout bag carried on the back or over the shoulder.

ORIGIN: obsolete German Habersack, denoting a bag used to carry oats as horse feed, from dialect Haber 'oats' + Sack 'sack, bag' .

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havoc

noun
1. widespread destruction.
2. great confusion or disorder.

IDIOMS -
play havoc with completely disrupt.

ORIGIN: Old French havot; the word was originally used in the phrase cry havoc 'give an army the order havoc' , which was the signal for plundering.

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haw [1]

noun
the red fruit of the hawthorn.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hawk [1]

noun
1. a fast-flying bird of prey with broad rounded wings and a long tail.
2. any bird used in falconry.
3. a person who advocates an aggressive foreign policy.

verb
hunt game with a trained hawk.

DERIVATIVES:
hawkish adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hawk [2]

verb
carry about and offer (goods) for sale in the street.

ORIGIN: probably from HAWKER.

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hawk [3]

verb
1. clear the throat noisily.
2. (hawk up) bring (phlegm) up from the throat.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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hawker

noun
a person who travels about selling goods.

ORIGIN: probably from Low German or Dutch and related to HUCKSTER.

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hawser

noun
a thick rope or cable for mooring or towing a ship.

ORIGIN: from Old French haucier 'to hoist' , from Latin altus 'high' .

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hawthorn

noun
a thorny shrub or tree with white, pink, or red blossom and small dark red fruits (haws).

ORIGIN: Old English, probably with the literal meaning 'hedge thorn' .

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hay

noun
grass that has been mown and dried for use as fodder.

IDIOMS -
hit the hay informal go to bed.
make hay (while the sun shines) make good use of an opportunity while it lasts.

DERIVATIVES:
haying noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to HEW.

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haycock

noun
a conical heap of hay left in the field to dry.

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hay fever

noun
an allergy caused by pollen or dust in which the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose are inflamed, causing sneezing and watery eyes.

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hayloft

noun
a loft over a stable used for storing hay or straw.

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hayrick

noun
a haystack.

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haystack

noun
a large packed pile of hay.

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haywire

adjective informal
erratic; out of control.

ORIGIN: from HAY + WIRE, from the use of hay-baling wire in makeshift repairs.

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hazard

noun
1. a danger or risk.
2. a permanent feature of a golf course which presents an obstruction.
3. literary chance; probability.
4. a gambling game using two dice.

verb
1. venture to say.
2. put at risk of being lost or harmed.

ORIGIN: Old French hasard, from Persian or Turkish, 'dice' .

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hazard lights

plural noun
flashing indicator lights on a vehicle, used to warn that the vehicle is stationary or unexpectedly slow.

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hazardous

adjective
risky; dangerous.

DERIVATIVES:
hazardously adverb
hazardousness noun.

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haze

noun
1. a slight obscuration of the lower atmosphere, typically caused by fine particles of dust, pollutants, etc.
2. a state of obscurity or confusion.

ORIGIN: probably from HAZY.

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hazel

noun
1. a shrub or small tree bearing prominent catkins in spring and edible nuts in autumn.
2. a rich reddish-brown colour.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hazelnut

noun
the round brown edible hard-shelled nut of the hazel.

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hazy

adjective (hazier, haziest)
1. covered by a haze.
2. vague, indistinct, or ill-defined.

DERIVATIVES:
hazily adverb
haziness noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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HB

abbreviation
1. half board.
2. (also hb) hardback.
3. hard black (as a medium grade of pencil lead).

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HE

abbreviation
high explosive.

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He

symbol
the chemical element helium.

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he

pronoun (third person sing. )
1. used to refer to a man, boy, or male animal previously mentioned or easily identified.
2. used to refer to a person or animal of unspecified sex (in modern use, now largely replaced by ‘he or she’ or ‘they’).
3. any person (in modern use, now largely replaced by ‘anyone’ or ‘the person’).

noun
a male; a man.
USAGE - Until recently, he was used to refer to a person of unspecified sex; this use is now regarded as dated and sexist. A solution has been to use he or she, but this can be long-winded if used repeatedly. Use of they as an alternative to he (as in everyone needs to feel that they matter ) has been in use since the 18th century, in contexts where it occurs after an indefinite pronoun such as everyone or someone, and it is now becoming more and more accepted both in speech and in writing.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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head

noun
1. the upper part of the human body, or the front or upper part of the body of an animal, containing the brain, mouth, and sense organs.
2. a person in charge; a director or leader.
3. the front, forward, or upper part or end of something.
4. the cutting or operational end of a tool or mechanism.
5. a person considered as a numerical unit.
6. (treated as pl. ) a number of cattle or game as specified: seventy head of cattle.
7. a compact mass of leaves or flowers at the top of a stem.
8. a component in an audio, video, or information system by which information is transferred from an electrical signal to the recording medium, or vice versa.
9. the flattened or knobbed end of a nail, pin, screw, or match.
10. the source of a river or stream.
11. the foam on top of a glass of beer.
12. (heads) the side of a coin bearing the image of a head.
13. pressure of water or steam in an engine or other confined space: a good head of steam.

adjective
chief; principal.

verb
1. be or act as the head of.
2. give a title or heading to.
3. move in a specified direction.
4. (head off) intercept and turn aside.
5. Soccer shoot or pass (the ball) with the head.

IDIOMS -
be banging one's head against a brick wall be doggedly attempting the impossible.
come to a head reach a crisis.
get one's hea d down Brit. informal
1. sleep.
2. concentrate on the task in hand.
give someone his (or her) head allow someone complete freedom of action.
go to someone's head
1. (of alcohol) make someone slightly drunk.
2. (of success) make someone conceited.
a head for an aptitude for or tolerance of.
one's head off informal talk, laugh, shout, etc. unrestrainedly.
head over heels
1. turning over completely in forward motion, as in a somersault.
2. madly in love.
a head start an advantage granted or gained at the beginning.
keep one's head remain calm.
keep one's head above water avoid succumbing to difficulties.
lose one's head lose self-control; panic.
make head or tail of understand at all.
off (or out of) one's head informal crazy.
off the top of one's head without careful thought or investigation.
over someone's head
1. (also above someone's head) beyond someone's ability to understand.
2. without consultation or involvement.
turn someone's head make someone conceited.

DERIVATIVES:
headed adjective
headless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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headache

noun
1. a continuous pain in the head.
2. informal something that causes worry or trouble.

DERIVATIVES:
headachy adjective.

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headband

noun
a band of fabric worn around the head as a decoration or to keep the hair off the face.

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headbanging

noun
violent rhythmic shaking of the head by fans of heavy metal music.

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headboard

noun
an upright panel at the head of a bed.

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headbutt

verb
attack (someone) using a forceful thrust with the head.

noun
an act of headbutting.

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head case

noun informal
a mentally ill or unstable person.

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headcount

noun
a count of the number of people present or available.

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headdress

noun
an ornamental covering for the head.

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header

noun
1. Soccer a shot or pass made with the head.
2. informal a headlong fall or dive.
3. a brick or stone laid at right angles to the face of a wall.
4. (also header tank) a raised tank of water maintaining pressure in a plumbing system.
5. a line or block of text appearing at the top of each page of a book or document.

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head first

adjective & adverb
1. with the head in front of the rest of the body.
2. without sufficient forethought.

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headgear

noun
hats, helmets, and other items worn on the head.

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heading

noun
1. a title at the head of a page or section of a book.
2. a direction or bearing.
3. the top of a curtain extending above the hooks or wire by which it is suspended.
4. a horizontal passage made in preparation for building a tunnel.

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headland

noun
a narrow piece of land projecting into the sea.

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headlight (also headlamp)

noun
a powerful light at the front of a motor vehicle or railway engine.

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headline

noun
1. a heading at the top of an article or page in a newspaper or magazine.
2. (the headlines) a summary of the most important items of news.

verb
1. provide with a headline.
2. appear as the star performer at (a concert).

DERIVATIVES:
headliner noun.

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headlock

noun
a method of restraining someone by holding an arm firmly around their head.

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headlong

adverb & adjective
1. with the head foremost.
2. in a rush; with reckless haste.

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headman

noun
the chief or leader of a tribe.

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headmaster

noun chiefly Brit.
a male head teacher.

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headmistress

noun chiefly Brit.
a female head teacher.

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head of state

noun
the chief public representative of a country, who may also be the head of government.

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head-on

adjective & adverb
1. with or involving the front of a vehicle.
2. with or involving direct confrontation.

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headphones

plural noun
a pair of earphones joined by a band placed over the head.

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headpiece

noun
a device worn on the head.

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headquarters

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
1. the managerial and administrative centre of an organization.
2. the premises of a military commander and their staff.

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headrest

noun
a padded support for the head on the back of a seat or chair.

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headroom

noun
the space between the top of a vehicle or a person's head and the ceiling or other structure above.

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headscarf

noun (pl. headscarves)
a square of fabric worn as a covering for the head.

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headset

noun
a set of headphones with a microphone attached.

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headship

noun
1. the position of leader or chief.
2. chiefly Brit. the position of head teacher in a school.

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headstone

noun
an inscribed stone slab set up at the head of a grave.

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headstrong

adjective
obstinate and determined.

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head teacher

noun
the teacher in charge of a school.

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head-to-head

adjective & adverb
involving two parties confronting each other.

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headwater

noun
a tributary stream of a river close to or forming part of its source.

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headway

noun
forward movement or progress.

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headwind

noun
a wind blowing from directly in front.

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headword

noun
a word which begins a separate entry in a reference work.

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heady

adjective (headier, headiest)
1. (of alcohol) potent; intoxicating.
2. having a strong or exhilarating effect.

DERIVATIVES:
headily adverb.

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heal

verb
1. make or become sound or healthy again.
2. put right (an undesirable situation).

DERIVATIVES:
healer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WHOLE.

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health

noun
1. the state of being free from illness or injury.
2. a person's mental or physical condition.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WHOLE.

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health centre

noun
an establishment housing local medical services or the practice of a group of doctors.

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health farm

noun
a residential establishment where people seek improved health by dieting, exercise, and treatment.

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health food

noun
natural food that is thought to have health-giving qualities.

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healthful

adjective
having or conducive to good health.

DERIVATIVES:
healthfully adverb
healthfulness noun.

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health service

noun
a public service providing medical care.

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health visitor

noun Brit.
a nurse who visits the homes of the chronically ill or parents with very young children.

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healthy

adjective (healthier, healthiest)
1. having or promoting good health.
2. normal, sensible, or desirable: a healthy balance.
3. of a very satisfactory size or amount: a healthy profit.

DERIVATIVES:
healthily adverb
healthiness noun.

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heap

noun
1. a pile of a substance or of a number of objects.
2. informal a large amount or number: heaps of room.
3. informal an untidy or dilapidated place or vehicle.

verb
1. put in or form a heap.
2. (heap with) load copiously with.
3. (heap on) bestow liberally on: the press heaped abuse on him.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hear

verb (past and past part. heard)
1. perceive (a sound) with the ear.
2. be told or informed of.
3. (have heard of) be aware of the existence of.
4. (hear from) receive a letter or phone call from.
5. listen or pay attention to.
6. Law listen to and judge (a case or plaintiff).

IDIOMS -
hear! hear! used to express wholehearted agreement with something said in a speech.
will (or would) not hear of will (or would) not allow or agree to.

DERIVATIVES:
hearable adjective
hearer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hearing

noun
1. the faculty of perceiving sounds.
2. the range within which sounds may be heard; earshot.
3. an opportunity to state one's case: a fair hearing.
4. an act of listening to evidence, especially a trial before a judge without a jury.

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hearing aid

noun
a small amplifying device worn on the ear by a partially deaf person.

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hearken (also harken)

verb (usu. hearken to) archaic
listen.

ORIGIN: Old English, probably related to HARK.

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hearsay

noun
information which cannot be adequately substantiated; rumour.

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hearse

noun
a vehicle for conveying the coffin at a funeral.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a latticework canopy placed over the coffin of an important person in church: from Old French herce 'harrow, frame' , from Latin hirpex 'rake' .

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heart

noun
1. a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system by rhythmic contraction and dilation.
2. the central, innermost, or vital part: the heart of the city.
3. a person's feeling of or capacity for love or compassion.
4. mood or feeling: a change of heart.
5. courage or enthusiasm.
6. a symbolic representation of a heart with two equal curves meeting at a point at the bottom and a cusp at the top.
7. (hearts) one of the four suits in a pack of playing cards, denoted by a red symbol of a heart.

IDIOMS -
after one's own heart sharing one's tastes.
at heart in one's real nature, in contrast to how one may appear.
break someone's heart overwhelm someone with sadness.
by heart from memory.
close (or dear) to one's heart of deep interest and concern to one.
from the (or the bottom of one's) heart with sincere feeling.
have a heart be merciful.
have a heart of gold have a generous or compassionate nature.
have one's heart in one's mouth be greatly alarmed or apprehensive.
have one's heart in the right place be sincere or well intentioned.
one's heart's desire something that one greatly wishes for.
one's heartstrings used in reference to one's deepest feelings of love or compassion.
in one's heart of hearts in one's innermost feelings.
take to heart take (criticism) seriously and be affected by it.
wear one's hea rt on one's sleeve make one's feelings apparent.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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heartache

noun
emotional anguish or grief.

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heart attack

noun
a sudden occurrence of coronary thrombosis.

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heartbeat

noun
1. a pulsation of the heart.
2. an animating force or influence.
3. a very brief moment of time: I'd go there in a heartbeat.

IDIOMS -
a heartbeat away very close.

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heartbreak

noun
overwhelming distress.

DERIVATIVES:
heartbreaker noun
heartbreaking adjective
heartbroken adjective.

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heartburn

noun
a form of indigestion felt as a burning sensation in the chest, caused by acid regurgitation into the oesophagus.

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hearten

verb
make more cheerful or confident.

DERIVATIVES:
heartening adjective.

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heart failure

noun
severe failure of the heart to function properly, especially as a cause of death.

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heartfelt

adjective
deeply and strongly felt; sincere.

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hearth

noun
1. the floor or surround of a fireplace (often used as a symbol of domestic comfort).
2. the base or lower part of a furnace, where molten metal collects.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hearthrug

noun
a rug laid in front of a fireplace.

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heartily

adverb
1. in a hearty manner.
2. very: heartily sick of them.

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heartland

noun
the central or most important part of a country or area.

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heartless

adjective
completely lacking in feeling or consideration.

DERIVATIVES:
heartlessly adverb
heartlessness noun.

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heart-rending

adjective
very sad or distressing.

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heart-searching

noun
thorough examination of one's feelings and motives.

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heart-throb

noun informal
a man whom women find very attractive.

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heart-to-heart

adjective
(of a conversation) intimate and personal.

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heart-warming

adjective
emotionally rewarding or uplifting.

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heartwood

noun
the dense inner part of a tree trunk, yielding the hardest wood.

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hearty

adjective (heartier, heartiest)
1. enthusiastic and friendly.
2. strong and healthy.
3. (of a feeling or opinion) heartfelt.
4. (of a meal) wholesome and substantial.

DERIVATIVES:
heartiness noun.

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heat

noun
1. the quality of being hot; high temperature.
2. heat seen as a form of energy arising from the random motion of molecules.
3. a source or level of heat for cooking.
4. intensity of feeling, especially of anger or excitement.
5. (the heat) informal intensive and unwelcome pressure: the heat is on.
6. a preliminary round in a race or contest.

verb
1. make or become hot or warm.
2. (heat up) become more intense and exciting.
3. (heated) inflamed with passion or conviction: a heated argument.

IDIOMS -
if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen proverb if you can't cope with the pressures of a situation, you should leave others to deal with it rather than complaining.
in the heat of the moment while temporarily angry or excited and without stopping for thought.
on heat (of a female mammal) in the receptive period of the sexual cycle; in oestrus.

DERIVATIVES:
heatedly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to HOT.

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heater

noun
1. a device for heating something.
2. N. Amer. informal, dated a gun.

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heath

noun
1. chiefly Brit. an area of open uncultivated land, typically on sandy soil and covered with heather, gorse, and coarse grasses.
2. a dwarf shrub with small leathery leaves and small pink or purple bell-shaped flowers, characteristic of heaths and moors.

DERIVATIVES:
heathy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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heathen

noun derogatory
a person who does not belong to a widely held religion (especially Christianity, Judaism, or Islam) as regarded by those who do.

adjective
relating to heathens.

DERIVATIVES:
heathendom noun
heathenish adjective
heathenism noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, probably from a Germanic word meaning «inhabiting open country, savage»; related to HEATH.

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heather

noun
a purple-flowered heath typical of moors and heaths.

DERIVATIVES:
heathery adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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heating

noun
equipment or devices used to provide heat, especially to a building.

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heat-seeking

adjective
(of a missile) able to detect and home in on infrared radiation emitted by a target.

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heatstroke

noun
a feverish condition caused by failure of the body's temperature-regulating mechanism when exposed to excessively high temperatures.

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heatwave

noun
a prolonged period of abnormally hot weather.

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heave

verb (past and past part. heaved or chiefly Nautical hove)
1. lift or haul with great effort.
2. produce (a sigh) noisily.
3. informal throw (something heavy).
4. rise and fall rhythmically or spasmodically.
5. try to vomit; retch.
6. (heave to) Nautical come to a stop.

noun
an act of heaving.

IDIOMS -
heave in sight (or into view) Nautical come into view.

DERIVATIVES:
heaver noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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heave-ho

exclamation
a cry emitted with an action that requires physical effort.

noun (the heave-ho) informal
dismissal.

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heaven

noun
1. a place regarded in various religions as the abode of God or the gods and of the good after death, often depicted as being above the sky.
2. (the heavens) literary the sky.
3. informal a place or state of supreme bliss.
4. (also heavens) used in exclamations as a substitute for ‘God’.

IDIOMS -
the heavens open it suddenly starts to rain very heavily.
in seventh heaven in a state of ecstasy.
move heaven and earth to do make extraordinary efforts to do.

DERIVATIVES:
heavenward adjective & adverb
heavenwards adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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heavenly

adjective
1. of heaven; divine.
2. relating to the sky.
3. informal very pleasing; wonderful.

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heavenly body

noun
a planet, star, or other celestial body.

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heavenly host

noun
a literary or biblical term for the angels.

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heaven-sent

adjective
occurring at a very favourable time.

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heaving

adjective Brit. informal
extremely crowded.

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heavy

adjective (heavier, heaviest)
1. of great weight; difficult to lift or move.
2. of great density; thick or substantial.
3. of more than the usual size, amount, or force.
4. doing something to excess: a heavy smoker.
5. striking or falling with force: a heavy blow.
6. not delicate or graceful; coarse or slow.
7. needing much physical effort.
8. hard to endure.
9. very important or serious.
10. informal strict, harsh, or difficult to deal with: things were getting heavy.
11. (of music, especially rock) having a strong bass component and a forceful rhythm.
12. (of ground) muddy or full of clay.

noun (pl. heavies)
1. something large or heavy of its kind.
2. informal a large, strong man, especially one hired for protection.
3. informal an important person.

IDIOMS -
heavy going a person or situation that is difficult or boring to deal with.

DERIVATIVES:
heavily adverb
heaviness noun
heavyish adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to HEAVE.

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heavy-duty

adjective
designed to withstand demanding use or wear.

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heavy-handed

adjective
clumsy, insensitive, or overly forceful.

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heavy industry

noun
the manufacture of large, heavy articles and materials in bulk.

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heavy metal

noun
1. a metal of relatively high density, or of high relative atomic weight.
2. a type of highly amplified harsh-sounding rock music with a strong beat.

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heavy petting

noun
erotic contact between two people involving stimulation of the genitals but stopping short of intercourse.

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heavyweight

noun
1. a weight in boxing and other sports, typically the heaviest category.
2. informal an important or influential person.

adjective
1. of above-average weight.
2. informal serious, important, or influential.

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hebdomadal

adjective formal
weekly.

ORIGIN: from Greek hebdomas 'the number seven, seven days' .

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Hebraic

adjective
of Hebrew or the Hebrews.

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Hebrew

noun
1. a member of an ancient people living in what is now Israel and Palestine, who established the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
2. the Semitic language of the Hebrews, in its ancient or modern form.
3. old-fashioned and sometimes offensive term for JEW.

ORIGIN: Greek Hebraios, from a Hebrew word understood to mean 'one from the other side (of the river)' .

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heck

exclamation
used for emphasis, or to express surprise, annoyance, etc.

ORIGIN: euphemistic alteration of HELL.

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heckle

verb
interrupt (a public speaker) with derisive comments or abuse.

noun
an instance of heckling.

DERIVATIVES:
heckler noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «dress (flax or hemp) with a comb to split and straighten the fibres»: from a dialect form of HACKLE.

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hectare (abbrev.: ha)

noun
a metric unit of square measure, equal to 10,000 square metres (2.471 acres).

DERIVATIVES:
hectarage noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek hekaton 'hundred' + Latin area 'piece of level ground' .

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hectic

adjective
full of incessant or frantic activity.

DERIVATIVES:
hectically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek hektikos 'habitual' .

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hecto-

combining form
a hundred: hectometre.

ORIGIN: French, from Greek hekaton 'hundred' .

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hectogram (also hectogramme)

noun
a metric unit of mass equal to one hundred grams.

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hector

verb
talk to in a bullying or intimidating way.

DERIVATIVES:
hectoring adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a hero, later a braggart or bully: from the Trojan warrior Hector in Homer's Iliad.

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he'd

contraction
1. he had.
2. he would.

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hedge

noun
1. a fence or boundary formed by closely growing bushes or shrubs.
2. a contract entered into or asset held as a protection against possible financial loss.
3. a word or phrase used to allow for additional possibilities or to avoid over-precise commitment, for example etc.

verb
1. surround with a hedge.
2. limit or qualify by conditions or exceptions.
3. avoid making a definite statement or commitment.
3. protect (an investor or investment) against loss by making compensating contracts or transactions.

IDIOMS -
hedge one's bets avoid committing oneself when faced with a difficult choice.

DERIVATIVES:
hedger noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hedgehog

noun
a small nocturnal insect-eating mammal with a spiny coat, able to roll itself into a ball for defence.

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hedgerow

noun
a hedge of wild shrubs and occasional trees bordering a field.

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hedging

noun
1. the planting or trimming of hedges.
2. bushes and shrubs planted to form hedges.

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hedonism

noun
1. the pursuit of pleasure; sensual self-indulgence.
2. Philosophy the theory that pleasure (in the sense of the satisfaction of desires) is the highest good and proper aim of human life.

DERIVATIVES:
hedonist noun
hedonistic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek hdon 'pleasure' .

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heebie-jeebies

plural noun (the heebie-jeebies) informal
a state of nervous fear or anxiety.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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heed

verb
pay attention to.

noun (usually pay (or take) heed)
careful attention.

DERIVATIVES:
heedful adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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heedless

adjective
showing a reckless lack of care or attention.

DERIVATIVES:
heedlessly adverb
heedlessness noun.

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hee-haw

noun
the loud, harsh cry of a donkey or mule.

verb
make such a cry.

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heel [1]

noun
1. the back part of the foot below the ankle.
2. the part of a shoe or boot supporting the heel.
3. the part of the palm of the hand next to the wrist.
4. informal, dated a contemptible person.

exclamation
a command to a dog to walk close behind its owner.

verb
fit or renew a heel on (a shoe or boot).

IDIOMS -
at (or on) the heels of following closely after.
bring to heel bring under control.
cool (or Brit. kick) one's heels be kept waiting.
take to one's heels run away.
turn (on one's) heel turn sharply.

DERIVATIVES:
heeled adjective
heelless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to HOCK.

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heel [2]

verb
(of a ship) lean over owing to the pressure of wind or an uneven load.

noun
an instance of heeling, or the amount that a ship heels.

ORIGIN: from obsolete heeld, hield «incline», from Germanic.

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heel [3]

verb (heel in)
set (a plant) in the ground and cover its roots; plant temporarily.

ORIGIN: Old English, «cover, hide».

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heft

verb
1. lift or carry (something heavy).
2. lift or hold (something) to test its weight.

ORIGIN: probably from HEAVE, on the pattern of words such as cleft.

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hefty

adjective (heftier, heftiest)
1. large, heavy, and powerful.
2. (of a number or amount) considerable.

DERIVATIVES:
heftily adverb.

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hegemony

noun
dominance, especially by one state or social group over others.

DERIVATIVES:
hegemonic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek hgemonia, from hgemn 'leader' .

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heifer

noun
a cow that has not borne a calf, or has borne only one calf.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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height

noun
1. the measurement of someone or something from head to foot or from base to top.
2. the distance of something above ground or sea level.
3. the quality of being tall or high.
4. a high place or area.
5. the most intense part or period: the height of the attack.
6. an extreme instance or example: the height of folly.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to HIGH.

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heighten

verb
1. make higher.
2. make or become more intense.

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heinous

adjective
utterly abhorrent and wicked: a heinous crime.

DERIVATIVES:
heinously adverb
heinousness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French haineus, from hair 'to hate' .

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heir

noun
1. a person legally entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.
2. a person who continues the work of a predecessor.

DERIVATIVES:
heirship noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin heres.

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heir apparent

noun (pl. heirs apparent)
1. an heir whose claim cannot be set aside by the birth of another heir.
2. a person who is most likely to succeed to the place of another.

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heiress

noun
a female heir, especially to vast wealth.

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heirloom

noun
a valuable object that has belonged to a family for several generations.

ORIGIN: from HEIR + LOOM (in the former senses 'tool, heirloom' ).

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heir presumptive

noun (pl. heirs presumptive)
an heir whose claim may be set aside by the birth of another heir.

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heist informal, chiefly N. Amer.

noun
a robbery.

verb
steal.

ORIGIN: from a local pronunciation of HOIST.

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helical

adjective
having the shape or form of a helix; spiral.

DERIVATIVES:
helically adverb.

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helicopter

noun
a type of aircraft deriving both lift and propulsion from one or two sets of horizontally revolving rotors.

ORIGIN: French hélicoptère, from Greek helix 'spiral' + pteron 'wing' .

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heliograph

noun
1. a signalling device by which sunlight is reflected in flashes from a movable mirror.
2. a message sent by heliograph.
3. a telescopic apparatus for photographing the sun.

DERIVATIVES:
heliographic adjective.

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helipad

noun
a landing and take-off area for helicopters.

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heliport

noun
an airport or landing place for helicopters.

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helium

noun
an inert gaseous chemical element, the lightest member of the noble gas series.

ORIGIN: from Greek hlios 'sun' , because before it was discovered on the earth its existence had been proposed to explain lines in the sun's spectrum.

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helix

noun (pl. helices)
an object with a three-dimensional spiral shape like that of a wire wound uniformly in a single layer around a cylinder or cone.

ORIGIN: Greek.

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hell

noun
1. a place regarded in various religions as a spiritual realm of evil and suffering, often depicted as a place of perpetual fire beneath the earth to which the wicked are sent after death.
2. a state or place of great suffering.

exclamation
used to express annoyance or surprise or for emphasis.

IDIOMS -
all hell breaks (or is let) loose informal suddenly there is pandemonium.
come hell or high water whatever difficulties may occur.
for the hell of it informal just for fun.
get (or give) hell informal receive (or give) a severe reprimand.
hell hath no fury like a woman scorned proverb a woman rejected by a man can be ferociously angry and vindictive.
hell for leather as fast as possible.
hell's bells informal an exclamation of annoyance or anger.
like hell informal very fast, much, hard, etc.
not a hope in hell informal no chance at all.
play hell (or merry hell) informal create havoc or cause damage.
the road to hell is paved with good intentions proverb promises and plans must be put into action, otherwise they are useless.
there will be hell to pay informal serious trouble will result.
until hell freezes over forever.

DERIVATIVES:
hellward adverb & adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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he'll

contraction
he shall or he will.

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hell-bent

adjective
determined to achieve something at all costs.

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Hellenic

adjective
1. Greek.
2. relating to Iron Age and Classical Greek culture.

noun
the Greek language.

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Hellenism

noun
1. the national character or culture of Greece, especially ancient Greece.
2. the study or imitation of ancient Greek culture.

DERIVATIVES:
Hellenist noun
Hellenize (also Hellenise) verb.

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Hellenistic

adjective
relating to Greek culture from the death of Alexander the Great (323BC) to the defeat of Cleopatra and Mark Antony by Octavian in 31BC.

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hellfire

noun
the fire regarded as existing in hell.

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hellhole

noun
an oppressive or unbearable place.

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hellish

adjective
1. of or like hell.
2. informal extremely difficult or unpleasant.

adverb Brit. informal
very; extremely.

DERIVATIVES:
hellishly adverb
hellishness noun.

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hello (also hallo or hullo)

exclamation
1. used as a greeting or to begin a telephone conversation.
2. Brit. used to express surprise or to attract someone's attention.

ORIGIN: related to archaic holla, from French ho 'ho!' + là 'there' .

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hellraiser

noun
a person who causes trouble by violent, drunken, or outrageous behaviour.

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Hell's Angel

noun
a member of a gang of male motorcycle enthusiasts notorious for lawless behaviour.

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helm

noun
1. a tiller or wheel for steering a ship or boat.
2. (the helm) a position of leadership.

verb
1. steer (a boat or ship).
2. manage the running of.

ORIGIN: Old English, probably related to HELVE.

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helmet

noun
a hard or padded protective hat.

DERIVATIVES:
helmeted adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'little helmet' .

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helmsman

noun
a person who steers a boat.

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helot

noun
1. a member of a class of serfs in ancient Sparta, intermediate in status between slaves and citizens.
2. a serf or slave.

ORIGIN: Greek Heiltes, traditionally taken as referring to inhabitants of Helos, an ancient Greek town whose inhabitants were enslaved.

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help

verb
1. make it easier for (someone) to do something.
2. improve (a situation or problem).
3. (help someone to) serve someone with (food or drink).
4. (help oneself) take something without permission.
5. (can/could not help) cannot or could not refrain from.

noun
1. assistance or a source of assistance.
2. a domestic servant or employee.

IDIOMS -
so help me (God) used to emphasize that one means what one is saying.
there is no help for it there is no way of avoiding a situation.

DERIVATIVES:
helper noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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helpful

adjective
1. giving or ready to give help.
2. useful.

DERIVATIVES:
helpfully adverb
helpfulness noun.

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helping

noun
a portion of food served to one person at one time.

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helpless

adjective
1. unable to defend oneself or to act without help.
2. uncontrollable.

DERIVATIVES:
helplessly adverb
helplessness noun.

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helpline

noun
a telephone service providing help with problems.

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helpmate (also helpmeet)

noun
a helpful companion or partner.

ORIGIN: from an erroneous reading of a passage in the Book of Genesis (chapter 2), where Adam's future wife is described as ‘an help meet for him’ (i.e. a suitable helper for him).

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helter-skelter

adjective & adverb
in disorderly haste or confusion.

noun Brit.
a tall spiral slide winding around a tower at a fair.

ORIGIN: perhaps symbolic of running feet or from obsolete skelte «hasten».

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hem

noun
the edge of a piece of cloth or clothing which has been turned under and sewn.

verb (hemmed, hemming)
1. turn under and sew the edge of.
2. (hem in) surround and restrict the space or movement of.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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he-man

noun informal
a very well-built, masculine man.

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hemi-

prefix
half: hemisphere.

ORIGIN: Greek hmi-.

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hemisphere

noun
1. a half of a sphere.
2. a half of the earth, usually as divided into northern and southern halves by the equator, or into western and eastern halves by an imaginary line passing through the poles.
3. (also cerebral hemisphere) each of the two parts of the cerebrum (left and right) in the brain of a vertebrate.

DERIVATIVES:
hemispheric adjective
hemispherical adjective.

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hemline

noun
the level of the lower edge of a garment such as a skirt or coat.

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hemlock

noun
1. a highly poisonous plant of the parsley family, with fern-like leaves and small white flowers.
2. a sedative or poison obtained from hemlock.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hemp

noun
1. (also Indian hemp) the cannabis plant.
2. the fibre of this plant, extracted from the stem and used to make rope, strong fabrics, paper, etc.
3. the drug cannabis.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hen

noun
1. a female bird, especially of a domestic fowl.
2. (hens) domestic fowls of either sex.

IDIOMS -
as rare (or scarce) as hen's teeth extremely rare.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hence

adverb
1. as a consequence; for this reason.
2. from now; in the future.
3. (also from hence) archaic from here.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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henceforth (also henceforward)

adverb
from this or that time on.

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henchman

noun
1. chiefly derogatory a faithful supporter or aide, especially one prepared to engage in underhand practices.
2. historical a squire or page attending a prince or noble.

ORIGIN: from Old English hengest «male horse» + MAN, the original sense being probably «a groom».

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henge

noun
a prehistoric monument consisting of a circle of stone or wooden uprights.

ORIGIN: back-formation from Stonehenge, such a monument in Wiltshire, from two Old English words meaning «stone» + «to hang».

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henna

noun
the powdered leaves of a tropical shrub, used as a reddish-brown dye to colour the hair and decorate the body.

verb (hennas, hennaed, hennaing)
dye with henna.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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hen night

noun Brit. informal
a celebration held for a woman who is about to get married, attended only by women.

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hen party

noun informal
a social gathering of women.

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henpeck

verb (usu. as adj. henpecked)
(of a woman) continually criticize and order about (her husband).

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henry

noun (pl. henries or henrys) Physics
the unit of inductance in the SI system.

ORIGIN: named after the American physicist Joseph Henry (1797 1878).

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hepatic

adjective
relating to the liver.

ORIGIN: Greek hpatikos, from hpar 'liver' .

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hepatitis

noun
a disease in which the liver becomes inflamed and there is jaundice and other symptoms, mainly spread by a series of viruses (hepatitis A, B, and C) transmitted in blood or food.

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hepta-

combining form
seven; having seven: heptathlon.

ORIGIN: Greek hepta 'seven' .

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heptagon

noun
a plane figure with seven straight sides and angles.

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heptathlon

noun
an athletic contest for women that consists of seven separate events.

DERIVATIVES:
heptathlete noun.

ORIGIN: from HEPTA- + Greek athlon 'contest' .

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her

pronoun (third person sing. )
1. used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a female person or animal previously mentioned.
2. referring to a ship, country, or other inanimate thing regarded as female.

possessive determiner
1. belonging to or associated with a female person or animal previously mentioned.
2. (Her) used in titles.

IDIOMS -
her indoors Brit. informal, humorous one's wife.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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herald

noun
1. historical a person who carried official messages, made proclamations, and oversaw tournaments.
2. a person or thing viewed as a sign that something is about to happen.
3. an official employed to oversee state ceremonial, precedence, and the use of armorial bearings.
4. (in the UK) an official of the College of Arms ranking above a pursuivant.

verb
1. signal the imminence of.
2. announce or proclaim.

ORIGIN: Old French herault.

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heraldic

adjective
relating to heraldry.

DERIVATIVES:
heraldically adverb.

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heraldry

noun
1. the system by which coats of arms and other armorial bearings are devised, described, and regulated.
2. armorial bearings or other heraldic symbols.

DERIVATIVES:
heraldist noun.

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herb

noun
1. any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavouring, food, medicine, or perfume.
2. Botany any seed-bearing plant which does not have a woody stem and dies down to the ground after flowering.

DERIVATIVES:
herby adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin herba 'grass, green crops, herb' .

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herbaceous

adjective
relating to herbs (in the botanical sense).

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herbaceous border

noun
a garden border containing mainly perennial flowering plants.

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herbage

noun
herbaceous plants, especially grass used for grazing.

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herbal

adjective
relating to or made from herbs, especially those used in cooking and medicine.

noun
a book that describes herbs and their culinary and medicinal properties.

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herbalism

noun
the study or practice of the medicinal and therapeutic use of plants.

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herbalist

noun
1. a practitioner of herbalism.
2. a dealer in medicinal herbs.

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herbarium

noun (pl. herbaria)
a systematically arranged collection of dried plants.

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herbicide

noun
a toxic substance used to destroy unwanted vegetation.

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herbivore

noun
an animal that feeds on plants.

DERIVATIVES:
herbivorous adjective.

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Herculean

adjective
requiring or having great strength or effort.

ORIGIN: named after the Roman and Greek mythological hero Hercules (famed for his strength).

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herd

noun
1. a large group of animals, especially hoofed mammals, that live or are kept together.
2. derogatory a large group or class of people.

verb
1. move in a large group.
2. keep or look after (livestock).

DERIVATIVES:
herder noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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herdsman

noun
the owner or keeper of a herd of domesticated animals.

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here

adverb
1. in, at, or to this place or position.
2. (usu. here is/are) used when introducing or handing over something or someone.
3. used when indicating a time, point, or situation that has arrived or is happening.

exclamation
used to attract someone's attention.

IDIOMS -
here and now at the present time.
here and there in various places.
here goes said to indicate that one is about to start something difficult or exciting.
here's to used to wish health or success before drinking.
neither here nor there of no importance or relevance.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hereabouts (also hereabout)

adverb
near this place.

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hereafter

adverb formal
1. from now on or at some time in the future.
2. after death.

noun (the hereafter)
life after death.

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hereby

adverb formal
as a result of this.

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hereditary

adjective
1. conferred by, based on, or relating to inheritance.
2. (of a characteristic or disease) able to be passed on genetically from parents to their offspring.

DERIVATIVES:
hereditarily adverb.

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heredity

noun
1. the passing on of physical or mental characteristics genetically from one generation to another.
2. inheritance of a title, office, or right.

ORIGIN: Latin hereditas 'heirship' , from heres 'heir' .

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herein

adverb formal
in this document, book, or matter.

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hereof

adverb formal
of this document.

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heresy

noun (pl. heresies)
1. belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine.
2. opinion profoundly at odds with what is generally accepted.

ORIGIN: Greek hairesis 'choice, sect' .

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heretic

noun
a person believing in or practising heresy.

DERIVATIVES:
heretical adjective
heretically adverb.

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hereto

adverb formal
to this matter or document.

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heretofore

adverb formal
before now.

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hereupon

adverb archaic
after or as a result of this.

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herewith

adverb formal
with this letter.

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heritable

adjective
able to be inherited.

DERIVATIVES:
heritability noun
heritably adverb.

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heritage

noun
1. property that is or may be inherited; an inheritance.
2. valued things such as historic buildings that have been passed down from previous generations.
3. (before another noun ) relating to things of historic or cultural value that are worthy of preservation.

ORIGIN: Old French, from heriter 'inherit' .

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hermaphrodite

noun
1. a person or animal having both male and female sex organs or other sexual characteristics.
2. Botany a plant having stamens and pistils in the same flower.

DERIVATIVES:
hermaphroditic adjective
hermaphroditism noun.

ORIGIN: Greek hermaphroditos, originally the name of the son of Hermes and Aphrodite who became joined in one body with the nymph Salmacis.

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hermetic

adjective
1. (of a seal or closure) complete and airtight.
2. insulated or protected from outside influences.
3. esoteric or cryptic: hermetic poems.

DERIVATIVES:
hermetically adverb
hermeticism noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin Hermes Trismegistus 'thrice-greatest Hermes' , the legendary founder of alchemy and astrology identified with the Greek god Hermes.

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hermit

noun
1. a person living in solitude as a religious discipline.
2. a reclusive or solitary person.

DERIVATIVES:
hermitic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek ermits, from ermos 'solitary' .

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hermitage

noun
the home of a hermit, especially when small and remote.

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hernia

noun (pl. hernias or herniae)
a condition in which part of an organ (typically the intestine) is displaced and protrudes through the wall of the cavity containing it.

DERIVATIVES:
herniated adjective
herniation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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hero

noun (pl. heroes)
1. a person, typically a man, who is admired for their courage or outstanding achievements.
2. the chief male character in a book, play, or film.
3. (in mythology and folklore) a person of superhuman qualities.

ORIGIN: Greek hrs.

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heroic

adjective
1. of or like a hero or heroine; very brave.
2. grand or grandiose in scale or intention: pyramids on a heroic scale.

noun (heroics)
behaviour or talk that is bold or dramatic.

DERIVATIVES:
heroically adverb.

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heroin

noun
a highly addictive painkilling drug derived from morphine, often used illicitly as a narcotic.

ORIGIN: German, from Latin heros 'hero' (because of its effects on the user's self-esteem).

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heroine

noun
1. a woman admired for her courage or outstanding achievements.
2. the chief female character in a book, play, or film.

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heroism

noun
great bravery.

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heron

noun
a large fish-eating wading bird with long legs, a long neck, and a long pointed bill.

ORIGIN: Old French.

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hero worship

noun
excessive admiration for someone.

verb (hero-worship)
admire excessively.

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herpes

noun
a disease caused by a virus, affecting the skin (often with blisters) or the nervous system.

DERIVATIVES:
herpetic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek herps 'shingles, creeping' , from herpein 'to creep' .

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Herr

noun (pl. Herren)
a title or form of address used of or to a German-speaking man, corresponding to Mr and also used before a rank or occupation.

ORIGIN: from High German hrro 'more exalted' .

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herring

noun
a silvery fish which is most abundant in coastal waters and is an important food fish.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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herringbone

noun
a zigzag pattern consisting of columns of short parallel lines, with all the lines in one column sloping one way and all the lines in the next column sloping the other way.

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hers

possessive pronoun
used to refer to a thing or things belonging to or associated with a female person or animal previously mentioned.

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herself

pronoun (third person sing. )
1. (reflexive ) used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a female person or animal previously mentioned as the subject of the clause.
2. (emphatic ) she or her personally.

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Herts.

abbreviation
Hertfordshire.

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hertz

noun (pl. same)
the SI unit of frequency, equal to one cycle per second.

ORIGIN: named after the German physicist H. R. Hertz (1857 94).

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he's

contraction
1. he is.
2. he has.

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hesitant

adjective
slow to act or speak through indecision or reluctance.

DERIVATIVES:
hesitance noun
hesitancy noun
hesitantly adverb.

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hesitate

verb
1. pause in indecision.
2. be reluctant to do something.

IDIOMS -
he who hesitates is lost proverb delay or vacillation may have unfortunate consequences.

DERIVATIVES:
hesitation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin haesitare 'stick fast, leave undecided' .

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hessian

noun
a strong, coarse fabric made from hemp or jute, used especially for sacks and in upholstery.

ORIGIN: from Hesse, a state of western Germany.

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hetero-

combining form
other; different: heterosexual.

ORIGIN: from Greek heteros 'other' .

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heterodox

adjective
not conforming with orthodox standards or beliefs.

DERIVATIVES:
heterodoxy noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek doxa 'opinion' .

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heterogeneous

adjective
diverse in character or content: a heterogeneous collection.

DERIVATIVES:
heterogeneity noun
heterogeneously adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek heteros 'other' + genos 'a kind' .

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heterosexual

adjective
1. sexually attracted to the opposite sex.
2. involving or characterized by such sexual attraction.

noun
a heterosexual person.

DERIVATIVES:
heterosexuality noun
heterosexually adverb.

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het up

adjective informal
angry and agitated.

ORIGIN: from dialect het «heated, hot».

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heuristic

adjective
1. enabling a person to discover or learn something for themselves.
2. Computing proceeding to a solution by trial and error or by rules that are only loosely defined.

noun
1. (heuristics) (usu. treated as sing. ) the study and use of heuristic techniques.
2. a heuristic process or method.

DERIVATIVES:
heuristically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek heuriskein 'to find' .

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hew

verb (past part. hewn or hewed)
1. chop or cut (wood, coal, etc.) with an axe, pick, or other tool.
2. (usu. be hewn) make or shape by hewing a hard material.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hex chiefly N. Amer.

verb
cast a spell on.

noun
1. a magic spell.
2. a witch.

ORIGIN: German hexen.

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hexa- (also hex- before a vowel)

combining form
six; having six: hexagon.

ORIGIN: from Greek hex 'six' .

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hexagon

noun
a plane figure with six straight sides and angles.

DERIVATIVES:
hexagonal adjective.

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hexagram

noun
a six-pointed star formed by two intersecting equilateral triangles.

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hexameter

noun
a line of verse consisting of six metrical feet.

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hey

exclamation
used to attract attention or to express surprise, interest, etc.

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heyday

noun (one's heyday)
the period of one's greatest success, activity, or vigour.

ORIGIN: originally an exclamation of joy or surprise.

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HF

abbreviation Physics
high frequency.

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Hf

symbol
the chemical element hafnium.

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Hg

symbol
the chemical element mercury.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of Latin hydrargyrum.

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hg

abbreviation
hectogram(s).

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HGV

abbreviation Brit.
heavy goods vehicle.

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HI

abbreviation
Hawaii.

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hi

exclamation informal
used as a friendly greeting.

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hiatus

noun (pl. hiatuses)
a pause or gap in continuity.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'gaping' .

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hibernate

verb
(of an animal or plant) spend the winter in a dormant state.

DERIVATIVES:
hibernation noun
hibernator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin hibernare, from hiberna 'winter quarters' .

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Hibernian

adjective
Irish (now chiefly used in names).

noun
an Irish person (now chiefly used in names).

ORIGIN: Latin Hibernia, from Celtic.

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hibiscus

noun
a plant of the mallow family with large brightly coloured flowers.

ORIGIN: Greek hibiskos 'marsh mallow' .

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hiccup (also hiccough (pronounced same))

noun
1. an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm and respiratory organs, with a sudden closure of the glottis and a characteristic gulping sound.
2. a minor difficulty or setback.

verb (hiccuped, hiccuping)
make the sound of a hiccup or series of hiccups.

DERIVATIVES:
hiccupy adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative; the form hiccough arose by association with COUGH.

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hick

noun informal, chiefly N. Amer.
an unsophisticated country-dweller.

ORIGIN: familiar form of the given name Richard.

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hickory

noun
1. a chiefly North American tree which yields tough, heavy wood and bears edible nuts.
2. a stick made of hickory wood.

ORIGIN: from pohickery, the local Virginian name, from Algonquian.

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hidden agenda

noun
an ulterior motive or undivulged plan.

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hide [1]

verb (past hid; past part. hidden)
1. put or keep out of sight.
2. conceal oneself.
3. keep secret.

noun Brit.
a camouflaged shelter used to observe wildlife at close quarters.

IDIOMS -
hide one's light under a bushel keep quiet about one's talents or accomplishments. [ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 15.]

DERIVATIVES:
hider noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hide [2]

noun
the skin of an animal, especially when tanned or dressed.

IDIOMS -
neither hide nor hair of not the slightest trace of.
save one's hide escape from difficulty.
tan (or whip) someone's hide beat or flog someone.

DERIVATIVES:
hided adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hide-and-seek

noun
a children's game in which one or more players hide and the other or others have to look for them.

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hideaway

noun
a hiding place, especially as a retreat from others.

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hidebound

adjective
constrained by tradition or convention; narrow-minded.

ORIGIN: originally referring to malnourished cattle, later to emaciated human beings, hence the sense «narrow in outlook»: from HIDE + BOUND.

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hideous

adjective
1. extremely ugly.
2. extremely unpleasant.

DERIVATIVES:
hideously adverb
hideousness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French hidos, hideus, from hide 'fear' .

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hideout

noun
a hiding place, especially one used by someone who has broken the law.

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hiding [1]

noun
1. a physical beating.
2. informal a severe defeat.

IDIOMS -
be on a hiding to nothing Brit. be unlikely to succeed.

ORIGIN: from HIDE.

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hiding [2]

noun
the action of hiding or the state of being hidden.

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hierarchy

noun (pl. hierarchies)
1. a ranking system ordered according to status or authority.
2. an arrangement according to relative importance or inclusiveness.
3. (the hierarchy) the clergy of the Catholic Church or of an episcopal Church.
4. Theology the traditional system of orders of angels and other heavenly beings.

DERIVATIVES:
hierarchic adjective
hierarchical adjective
hierarchize (also hierarchise) verb.

ORIGIN: Greek hierarkhia, from hierarkhs 'sacred ruler' .

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hieroglyph

noun
a stylized picture of an object representing a word, syllable, or sound, as found in ancient Egyptian and certain other writing systems.

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hieroglyphic

noun (hieroglyphics)
writing consisting of hieroglyphs.

adjective
of or written in hieroglyphs.

DERIVATIVES:
hieroglyphical adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek hierogluphikos, from hieros 'sacred' + gluph 'carving' .

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hi-fi informal

adjective
relating to the reproduction of high fidelity sound.

noun (pl. hi-fis)
a set of equipment for high-fidelity sound reproduction.

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higgledy-piggledy

adverb & adjective
in confusion or disorder.

ORIGIN: probably with reference to the irregular herding together of pigs.

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high

adjective
1. of great vertical extent.
2. of a specified height.
3. far above ground or sea level.
4. extending above the normal level.
5. great in amount, value, size, or intensity.
6. (of a period or movement) at its peak.
7. great in rank or status.
8. morally or culturally superior.
9. (of a sound or note) having a frequency at the upper end of the auditory range.
10. informal euphoric, especially from the effects of drugs or alcohol.
11. (of food) strong-smelling because beginning to go bad.
12. (of game) slightly decomposed and so ready to cook.

noun
1. a high point, level, or figure.
2. an anticyclone.
3. informal a state of euphoria.
4. informal, chiefly N. Amer. high school.

adverb
1. at or to a high or specified level or position.
2. at a high price.
3. (of a sound) at or to a high pitch.

IDIOMS -
from on high from heaven or another remote authority.
high and dry
1. stranded by the sea as it retreats.
2. without resources.
high and low in many different places.
high and mighty informal arrogant.
the high ground a position of superiority.
a high old time informal a most enjoyable time.
it is high time that it is past the time when something should have happened or bee n done.
on one's high horse informal behaving arrogantly or pompously.
run high
1. (of a river) be full and close to overflowing, with a strong current.
2. (of feelings) be intense.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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highball N. Amer.

noun
a long drink consisting of a spirit and a mixer such as soda, served with ice.

verb informal
travel fast.

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highbrow

adjective often derogatory
intellectual or rarefied in taste.

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high chair

noun
a small chair with long legs for a baby or small child, fitted with a tray and used at mealtimes.

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High Church

noun
a tradition within the Anglican Church emphasizing ritual, priestly authority, sacraments, and historical continuity with Catholic Christianity.

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high colour

noun
a flushed complexion.

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high command

noun
the commander-in-chief and associated senior staff of an army, navy, or air force.

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high commission

noun
an embassy of one Commonwealth country in another.

DERIVATIVES:
high commissioner noun.

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high court

noun
1. a supreme court of justice.
2. (in full High Court of Justice) (in England and Wales) the court of unlimited civil jurisdiction forming part of the Supreme Court.
3. (in full High Court of Justiciary) the supreme criminal court of Scotland.

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Higher

noun
(in Scotland) the more advanced of the two main levels of the Scottish Certificate of Education. Compare with ORDINARY GRADE.

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higher education

noun
education provided at universities or similar educational establishments, to degree level or equivalent.

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highest common factor

noun
the highest number that can be divided exactly into each of two or more numbers.

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high explosive

noun
a powerful chemical explosive of the kind used in shells and bombs.

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highfalutin (also highfaluting)

adjective informal
pompous or pretentious.

ORIGIN: perhaps from HIGH + fluting.

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high fidelity

noun
the reproduction of sound with little distortion.

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high five

noun
a gesture of celebration or greeting in which two people slap each other's palms with their arms raised.

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high-flown

adjective
(especially of language) extravagant or grandiose.

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high-flyer (also high-flier)

noun
a very successful person.

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high frequency

noun
(in radio) a frequency of 3 30 megahertz.

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high-handed

adjective
domineering or inconsiderate.

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high-impact

adjective
1. (of plastic or a similar substance) able to withstand great impact without breaking.
2. denoting extremely strenuous aerobic exercises.

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high jinks

plural noun
boisterous fun.

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high jump

noun (the high jump)
an athletic event in which competitors jump as high as possible over a bar of adjustable height.

IDIOMS -
be for the high jump Brit. informal be about to be severely reprimanded.

DERIVATIVES:
high jumper noun.

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highland

noun (also highlands)
1. an area of high or mountainous land.
2. (the Highlands) the mountainous northern part of Scotland.

DERIVATIVES:
highlander noun
highlandman noun.

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Highland cattle

plural noun
a shaggy-haired breed of cattle with long, curved, widely spaced horns.

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Highland dress

noun
the kilt and other clothing in the traditional style of the Scottish Highlands.

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Highland fling

noun
a vigorous solo Scottish dance consisting of a series of complex steps.

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high-level

adjective
1. of relatively high importance.
2. Computing denoting a programming language that has instructions resembling an existing language such as English.

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high life

noun
an extravagant social life as enjoyed by the wealthy.

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highlight

noun
1. an outstanding part of an event or period of time.
2. a bright or reflective area in a painting, picture, or design.
3. (highlights) bright tints in the hair, produced by bleaching or dyeing.

verb
1. draw attention to.
2. mark with a highlighter.
3. create highlights in (hair).

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highlighter

noun
1. a broad marker pen used to overlay transparent fluorescent colour on a part of a text or plan.
2. a cosmetic used to emphasize the cheekbones or other features.

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highly

adverb
1. to a high degree or level.
2. favourably.

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highly strung

adjective Brit.
very nervous and easily upset.

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high-minded

adjective
having strong moral principles.

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highness

noun
1. (His, Your, etc. Highness) a title given to a person of royal rank, or used in addressing them.
2. the state of being high.

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high-octane

adjective
1. denoting petrol having a high octane number and thus good anti-knock properties.
2. powerful or dynamic.

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high-powered

adjective informal
(of a person) dynamic and forceful.

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high priest

noun
1. a chief priest of a non-Christian religion, especially of historic Judaism.
2. (also high priestess) the leader of a cult or movement.

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high-rise

adjective
(of a building) having many storeys.

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high road

noun
1. a main road.
2. N. Amer. a morally superior approach.

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high roller

noun informal, chiefly N. Amer.
a person who gambles or spends large sums of money.

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high school

noun
1. N. Amer. a secondary school.
2. (in the UK except Scotland) used chiefly in names of grammar schools or independent fee-paying secondary schools.

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high seas

plural noun (the high seas)
the open ocean, especially that not within any country's jurisdiction.

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high season

noun Brit.
the most popular time of year for a holiday, when prices are highest.

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high spirits

plural noun
lively and cheerful behaviour or mood.

DERIVATIVES:
high-spirited adjective.

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high spot

noun
the most enjoyable or significant part of an experience or period of time.

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high street

noun Brit.
1. the main street of a town.
2. (before another noun ) (high-street) (of retail goods) catering to the needs of the ordinary public: high-street fashion .

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high table

noun Brit.
a table in a dining hall at which high-ranking people, such as the fellows of a college, sit.

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hightail

verb informal, chiefly N. Amer.
move or travel fast.

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high tea

noun Brit.
a meal eaten in the late afternoon or early evening, typically consisting of a cooked dish and tea.

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high-tech (also hi-tech)

adjective
1. employing, requiring, or involved in high technology.
2. (of architecture and interior design) employing a functional style and industrial materials, such as steel and plastic.

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high technology

noun
advanced technological development, especially in electronics.

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high-tensile

adjective
(of metal) very strong under tension.

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high tide

noun
the state of the tide when at its highest level.

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high water

noun
high tide.

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high-water mark

noun
the level reached by the sea at high tide, or by a lake or river in time of flood.

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highway

noun
1. chiefly N. Amer. a main road.
2. (chiefly in official use) a public road.

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highwayman

noun historical
a man, typically on horseback, who held up and robbed travellers.

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high wire

noun
a high tightrope.

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hijack

verb
1. illegally seize control of (an aircraft, ship, etc.) while it is in transit.
2. take over (something) and use it for a different purpose.

noun
an instance of hijacking.

DERIVATIVES:
hijacker noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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hike

noun
1. a long walk or walking tour.
2. a sharp increase, especially in price.

verb
1. go on a hike.
2. pull or lift up (clothing).
3. increase (a price) sharply.

IDIOMS -
take a hike informal, chiefly N. Amer. go away.

DERIVATIVES:
hiker noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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hilarious

adjective
extremely funny or merry.

DERIVATIVES:
hilariously adverb
hilarity noun.

ORIGIN: Greek hilaros 'cheerful' .

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hill

noun
a naturally raised area of land, not as high or craggy as a mountain.

IDIOMS -
over the hill informal old and past one's best.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hillbilly

noun (pl. hillbillies) N. Amer. informal, chiefly derogatory
an unsophisticated country person, originally one from the Appalachians.

ORIGIN: from HILL + Billy (familiar form of the given name William).

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hillock

noun
a small hill or mound.

DERIVATIVES:
hillocky adjective.

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hill station

noun
a town in the low mountains of the Indian subcontinent, popular as a holiday resort during the hot season.

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hillwalking

noun
the pastime of walking in hilly country.

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hilly

adjective (hillier, hilliest)
having many hills.

DERIVATIVES:
hilliness noun.

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hilt

noun
the handle of a sword, dagger, or knife.

IDIOMS -
to the hilt completely.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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him

pronoun (third person sing. )
used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a male person or animal previously mentioned.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Himalayan

adjective
relating to the Himalayas, a mountain system in southern Asia.

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himself

pronoun (third person sing. )
1. (reflexive ) used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a male person or animal previously mentioned as the subject of the clause.
2. (emphatic ) he or him personally.

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hind [1]

adjective
situated at the back.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old English, 'behind' .

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hind [2]

noun
a female deer.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hinder [1]

verb
delay or impede.

ORIGIN: Old English, «damage»; related to BEHIND.

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hinder [2]

adjective
situated at or towards the back.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old English, «backward».

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Hindi

noun
a language of northern India derived from Sanskrit.

adjective
relating to Hindi.

ORIGIN: Urdu, from a word meaning «India».

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hindmost

adjective
furthest back.

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hindquarters

plural noun
the hind legs and adjoining parts of a four-legged animal.

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hindrance

noun
a thing that hinders.

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hindsight

noun
understanding of a situation or event after it has happened.

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Hindu

noun (pl. Hindus)
a follower of Hinduism.

adjective
relating to Hinduism.

ORIGIN: Urdu, from a word meaning «India».

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Hinduism

noun
a major religious and cultural tradition of the Indian subcontinent, including belief in reincarnation and the worship of a large number of gods and goddesses.

DERIVATIVES:
Hinduize (also Hinduise) verb.

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Hindustani

noun
1. a group of mutually intelligible languages and dialects spoken in NW India, principally Hindi and Urdu.
2. the Delhi dialect of Hindi, widely used throughout India as a lingua franca.

adjective
relating to the culture of NW India.

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hinge

noun
a movable joint or mechanism by which a door, gate, or lid opens and closes or which connects linked objects.

verb (hingeing or hinging)
1. attach or join with a hinge.
2. (hinge on) depend entirely on.

ORIGIN: related to HANG.

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hint

noun
1. a slight or indirect indication.
2. a very small trace.
3. a small piece of practical information.

verb
1. indicate indirectly.
2. (hint at) be a slight indication of.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «occasion, opportunity»: apparently from an Old English word meaning «grasp»; related to HUNT.

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hinterland

noun
1. the remote areas of a country, away from the coast and major rivers.
2. the area around or beyond a major town or port.

ORIGIN: German, from hinter 'behind' + Land 'land' .

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hip [1]

noun
1. a projection of the pelvis and upper thigh bone on each side of the body.
2. (hips) the circumference of the body at the buttocks.
3. the edge formed where two sloping sides of a roof meet.

DERIVATIVES:
hipped adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to HOP.

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hip [2]

noun
the fruit of a rose.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hip [3]

adjective (hipper, hippest) informal
1. fashionable.
2. (hip to) aware of or informed about.

DERIVATIVES:
hipness noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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hip [4]

exclamation
introducing a communal cheer.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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hip bath

noun
a bath shaped to sit rather than lie down in.

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hip bone

noun
a large bone forming the main part of the pelvis on each side of the body.

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hip flask

noun
a small flask for spirits, carried in a hip pocket.

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hip hop

noun
a style of popular music of US black and Hispanic origin, featuring rap with an electronic backing.

ORIGIN: probably from HIP.

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Hippocratic oath

noun
a former oath taken by those beginning medical practice to observe a code of professional behaviour (parts of which are still used in some medical schools).

ORIGIN: with reference to Hippocrates, a Greek physician of the 5th century BC.

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hippodrome

noun
1. a theatre or concert hall.
2. (in ancient Greece or Rome) a course for chariot or horse races.

ORIGIN: Greek hippodromos, from hippos 'horse' + dromos 'race, course' .

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hippopotamus

noun (pl. hippopotamuses or hippopotami)
a large African mammal with a thick skin and massive jaws, living partly on land and partly in water.

ORIGIN: Greek hippopotamos, from hippos ho potamios, 'river horse' .

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hippy [1] (also hippie)

noun (pl. hippies)
(especially in the 1960s) a young person associated with a subculture which advocated peace and free love and adopted an unconventional appearance.

DERIVATIVES:
hippiedom noun
hippiness noun
hippyish adjective.

ORIGIN: from HIP.

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hippy [2]

adjective
(of a woman) having large hips.

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hipster [1] Brit.

adjective
(of a garment) having the waistline at the hips rather than the waist.

noun (hipsters)
trousers with such a waistline.

ORIGIN: from HIP.

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hipster [2]

noun informal
a person who follows the latest trends and fashions.

ORIGIN: from HIP.

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hire

verb
1. chiefly Brit. obtain the temporary use of (something) in return for payment.
2. (hire out) grant the temporary use of (something) in return for payment.
3. employ for wages.
4. obtain the temporary services of (someone) to do a particular job.

noun
1. the action of hiring.
2. N. Amer. a recently recruited employee.

IDIOMS -
for (or on) hire available to be hired.

DERIVATIVES:
hireable (US also hirable) adjective
hirer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hireling

noun chiefly derogatory
a person who is hired, especially for morally dubious or illegal work.

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hire purchase

noun Brit.
a system by which someone pays for a thing in regular instalments while having the use of it.

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hirsute

adjective
having abundant hair on the face or body; hairy.

DERIVATIVES:
hirsuteness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin hirsutus.

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his

possessive determiner
1. belonging to or associated with a male person or animal previously mentioned.
2. (His) used in titles.

possessive pronoun
used to refer to a thing belonging to or associated with a male person or animal previously mentioned.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Hispanic

adjective
relating to Spain or the Spanish-speaking countries of Central and South America.

noun
a Spanish-speaking person, especially one of Latin American descent, living in the US.

DERIVATIVES:
Hispanicize (also Hispanicise) verb.

ORIGIN: Latin Hispanicus, from Hispania 'Spain' .

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hiss

verb
1. make a sharp sibilant sound as of the letter s, often as a sign of disapproval or derision.
2. whisper something in an urgent or angry way.

noun
1. a hissing sound.
2. electrical interference at audio frequencies.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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histamine

noun
a compound which is released by cells in response to injury and in allergic and inflammatory reactions, causing muscle contraction and capillary dilation.

DERIVATIVES:
histaminic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek histos 'web, tissue' and AMINE.

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historian

noun
an expert in history.

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historic

adjective
1. famous or important in history, or potentially so.
2. Grammar (of a tense) used in relating past events.

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historical

adjective
1. of or concerning history.
2. belonging to or set in the past.
3. (of the study of a subject) based on an analysis of its development over a period.

DERIVATIVES:
historically adverb.

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historiography

noun
1. the study of the writing of history and of written histories.
2. the writing of history.

DERIVATIVES:
historiographer noun
historiographic adjective
historiographical adjective.

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history

noun (pl. histories)
1. the study of past events.
2. the past considered as a whole.
3. the past events connected with someone or something.
4. a continuous record of past events or trends.

IDIOMS -
be history informal be dismissed or dead; be finished.
the rest is history the events succeeding those already related are so well known that they need not be recounted again.

ORIGIN: Greek historia 'narrative, history' , from histr 'learned, wise man' .

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histrionic

adjective
1. overly theatrical or melodramatic.
2. formal of or concerning actors or acting.

noun (histrionics)
dramatized behaviour designed to attract attention.

DERIVATIVES:
histrionically adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin histrionicus, from histrio 'actor' .

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hit

verb (hitting; past and past part. hit)
1. direct a blow at (someone or something) with one's hand or a tool or weapon.
2. propel (a ball) with a bat, racket, etc.
3. accidentally strike (part of one's body) against something.
4. (of a moving object or body) come into contact with (someone or something stationary) quickly and forcefully.
5. strike (a target).
6. cause harm or distress to.
7. (hit out) make a strongly worded criticism or attack.
8. informal reach or arrive at.
9. be suddenly and vividly realized by: it hit me that I was successful.
10. (hit on) suddenly discover or think of.

noun
1. an instance of hitting or being hit.
2. a successful and popular film, pop record, person, etc.
3. Computing an instance of identifying an item of data which matches the requirements of a search.
4. informal, chiefly N. Amer. a murder carried out by a criminal organization.
5. informal a dose of a narcotic drug.

IDIOMS -
hit-and-miss done or occurring at random.
hit-and-run denoting a road accident from which the driver responsible escapes rapidly without lending assistance.
hit someone below the belt
1. Boxing give one's opponent an illegal low blow.
2. behave unfairly towards someone.
hit someone for six Brit. affect someone very severely. [ORIGIN: with allusion to a forceful hit that scores six runs in cricket.]
hit the ground running informal start something new at a fast pace and with enthusiasm.
hit it off informal be naturally friendly or well suited.
hit the nail on the head find exactly the right answer.
hit-or-miss as likely to be unsuccessful as successful.
hit the road (or N. Amer. trail) informal set out on a journey.

DERIVATIVES:
hitter noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'come upon, meet with' .

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hitch

verb
1. move into a different position with a jerk.
2. fasten or tether with a rope.
3. informal travel or obtain (a lift) by hitch-hiking.

noun
1. a temporary difficulty.
2. a knot of a kind used to fasten one thing temporarily to another.
3. informal an act of hitch-hiking.
4. N. Amer. informal a period of service.

IDIOMS -
get hitched informal get married.
hitch one's wagon to a star try to succeed by forming a relationship with a successful person.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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hitcher

noun
a hitch-hiker.

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hitch-hike

verb
travel by getting free lifts in passing vehicles.

noun
a journey made by hitch-hiking.

DERIVATIVES:
hitch-hiker noun.

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hither

adverb archaic or literary
to or towards this place.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hither and thither (also hither and yon)

adverb
to and fro.

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hitherto

adverb
until the point in time under discussion.

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hit list

noun
a list of people to be killed for criminal or political reasons.

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hit man

noun informal
a hired assassin.

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hit parade

noun dated
a weekly listing of the current best-selling pop records.

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HIV

abbreviation
human immunodeficiency virus, a retrovirus which causes Aids.

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hive

noun
1. a beehive.
2. a place full of people working hard.

verb
1. place (bees) in a hive.
2. hive off chiefly Brit. transfer (part of a business) to new ownership.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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HIV-positive

adjective
having had a positive result in a blood test for HIV.

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HK

abbreviation
Hong Kong.

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HM

abbreviation
(in the UK) Her (or His) Majesty or Majesty's.

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hm

abbreviation
hectometre or hectometres.

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HMS

abbreviation
Her or His Majesty's Ship.

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HMSO

abbreviation
(in the UK) Her or His Majesty's Stationery Office, which publishes government documents and legislation.

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HNC

abbreviation
(in the UK) Higher National Certificate.

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HND

abbreviation
(in the UK) Higher National Diploma.

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hoar archaic or literary

adjective
grey or grey-haired.

noun
hoar frost.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hoard

noun
1. a store of money or valued objects.
2. an amassed store of useful information.

verb
amass and hide or store away.

DERIVATIVES:
hoarder noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hoarding

noun Brit.
1. a large board used to display advertisements.
2. a temporary board fence around a building site.

ORIGIN: from obsolete hoard in the same sense, probably from Old French hourd.

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hoar frost

noun
a greyish-white feathery deposit of frost.

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hoarse

adjective
(of a voice) rough and harsh.

DERIVATIVES:
hoarsely adverb
hoarsen verb
hoarseness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hoary

adjective (hoarier, hoariest)
1. greyish-white.
2. having grey hair; aged.
3. old and trite.

DERIVATIVES:
hoarily adverb
hoariness noun.

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hoax

noun
a humorous or malicious deception.

verb
deceive with a hoax.

DERIVATIVES:
hoaxer noun.

ORIGIN: probably a contraction of obsolete hocus «trickery», from HOCUS-POCUS.

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hob

noun Brit.
1. the flat top part of a cooker, with hotplates or burners.
2. a flat metal shelf at the side of a fireplace, used for heating pans.
3. a machine tool for cutting gears or screw threads.

ORIGIN: alteration of HUB.

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hobble

verb
1. walk awkwardly, typically because of pain.
2. strap together the legs of (a horse) to prevent it straying.
3. be or cause a problem for.

noun
1. an awkward way of walking.
2. a rope or strap for hobbling a horse.

DERIVATIVES:
hobbler noun.

ORIGIN: probably related to Dutch hobbelen 'rock from side to side' .

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hobby

noun (pl. hobbies)
1. an activity followed regularly for pleasure.
2. historical a very early type of bicycle propelled by the pressure of the rider's feet against the ground.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «small horse», later «toy horse or hobby horse»: from a familiar form of the given name Robin.

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hobby horse

noun
1. a child's toy consisting of a stick with a model of a horse's head at one end.
2. a rocking horse.
3. a person's favourite topic of conversation.

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hobgoblin

noun
a mischievous imp.

ORIGIN: from hob, familiar form of the names Robin and Robert, used in the sense «country fellow».

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hobnail

noun
1. a short heavy-headed nail used to reinforce the soles of boots.
2. a blunt projection, especially in cut or moulded glassware.

DERIVATIVES:
hobnailed adjective.

ORIGIN: from HOB + NAIL.

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hobnob

verb (hobnobbed, hobnobbing) informal
mix socially, especially with those of higher social status.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «drink together, drink each other's health»: from obsolete hob or nob, or hob and nob, probably meaning «give and take».

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hobo

noun (pl. hoboes or hobos) N. Amer.
a vagrant.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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Hobson's choice

noun
a choice of taking what is offered or nothing at all.

ORIGIN: named after Thomas Hobson (1554 1631), a carrier who hired out horses, making the customer take the one nearest the door or none at all.

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hock [1]

noun
1. the joint in the hind leg of a four-legged animal, between the knee and the fetlock.
2. a knuckle of pork or ham.

ORIGIN: variant of an Old English word meaning «heel».

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hock [2]

noun Brit.
a dry white wine from the German Rhineland.

ORIGIN: from German Hochheimer Wein 'wine from Hochheim' .

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hock [3]

verb informal
pawn (an object).

IDIOMS -
in hock
1. having been pawned.
2. in debt.

ORIGIN: from Dutch hok 'hutch, prison, debt' .

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hockey [1]

noun
a game played between two teams of eleven players each, using hooked sticks to drive a small hard ball towards a goal.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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hocus-pocus

noun
1. meaningless talk used to deceive.
2. a form of words used by a conjuror.

ORIGIN: from hax pax max Deus adimax, a pseudo-Latin phrase used as a magic formula by conjurors.

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hod

noun
1. a builder's V-shaped open trough attached to a short pole, used for carrying bricks.
2. a coal scuttle.

ORIGIN: Old French hotte 'pannier' .

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Hodgkin's disease

noun
a malignant disease of lymphatic tissues typically causing enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen.

ORIGIN: named after the English physician Thomas Hodgkin (1798 1866).

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hoe

noun
a long-handled gardening tool with a thin metal blade, used mainly for cutting through weeds at their roots.

verb (hoes, hoed, hoeing)
1. use a hoe to turn (earth) or cut through (weeds).
2. (hoe in) Austral./NZ informal eat eagerly.
3. (hoe into) Austral./NZ informal attack or criticize.

DERIVATIVES:
hoer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French houe; related to HEW.

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hoedown

noun N. Amer.
a lively folk dance.

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hog

noun
1. a pig, especially a castrated male reared for slaughter.
2. informal a greedy person.

verb (hogged, hogging) informal
take or hoard selfishly.

IDIOMS -
go the whole hog informal do something completely or thoroughly.

DERIVATIVES:
hogger noun
hoggery noun
hoggish adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Hogmanay

noun
(in Scotland) New Year's Eve.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French aguillanneuf 'last day of the year, new year's gift' .

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hogshead

noun
1. a large cask.
2. a measure of liquid volume equal to 52.5 imperial gallons (63 US gallons, 238.7 litres) for wine or 54 imperial gallons (64 US gallons, 245.5 litres) for beer.

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hogwash

noun informal
nonsense.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «kitchen swill for pigs».

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hoick Brit. informal

verb
lift or pull with a jerk.

noun
a jerky pull.

ORIGIN: perhaps from HIKE.

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hoi polloi

plural noun derogatory
the common people.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'the many' .

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hoist

verb
1. raise by means of ropes and pulleys.
2. haul or lift up.

noun
1. an act of hoisting.
2. an apparatus for hoisting.
3. the part of a flag nearest the staff.
4. a group of flags raised as a signal.

IDIOMS -
hoist one's flag (of an admiral) take up command.
hoist the flag stake one's claim to territory by displaying a flag.

DERIVATIVES:
hoister noun.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch hijsen or Low German hiesen.

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hoity-toity

adjective
haughty.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «frolicsome, flighty»: from obsolete hoit «indulge in riotous mirth».

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hokey-cokey (US hokey-pokey)

noun
a communal song and dance performed in a circle, involving synchronized shaking of each limb in turn.

ORIGIN: perhaps from HOCUS-POCUS.

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hokum

noun informal
1. nonsense.
2. trite or sentimental material in a film, book, etc.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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hold [1]

verb (past and past part. held)
1. grasp, carry, or support.
2. keep or detain.
3. have in one's possession.
4. contain or be capable of containing.
5. have or occupy (a job or position).
6. have (a belief or opinion).
7. stay or cause to stay at a certain value or level.
8. (hold to) adhere or cause to adhere to (a commitment).
9. continue to follow (a course).
10. arrange and take part in (a meeting or conversation).
11. (hold in) regard (someone or something) with (a specified feeling).
12. N. Amer. informal refrain from adding or using.

noun
1. an act or manner of grasping someone or something.
2. a handhold.
3. a degree of power or control.

IDIOMS -
get hold of
1. grasp.
2. informal find or contact.
hold against allow (a past action) to have a negative influence on one's attitude towards.
hold back hesitate.
hold down informal succeed in keeping (a job).
hold fast
1. remain tightly secured.
2. continue to adhere to a principle.
hold forth talk at length or tediously.
hold good (or true) remain true or valid.
hold it informal wait or stop doing something.
hold off
1. resist (an attacker o r challenge).
2. postpone (an action or decision).
3. (of bad weather) fail to occur.
hold on
1. wait; stop.
2. keep going in difficult circumstances.
hold out
1. resist difficult circumstances.
2. continue to be sufficient.
hold out for continue to demand.
hold over
1. postpone.
2. use (information) to threaten.
hold up
1. delay the progress of.
2. rob using the threat of violence.
3. present as an example.
4. remain strong or vigorous.
no holds barred
1. (in wrestling) with no restrictions on the kinds of holds that are used.
2. without rules or restrictions.
on hold
1. waiting to be connected by telephone.
2. pending.
take hold start to have an effect.

DERIVATIVES:
holder noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hold [2]

noun
a storage space in the lower part of a ship or aircraft.

ORIGIN: from HOLE; the -d was added by association with HOLD.

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holdall

noun Brit.
a large bag with handles and a shoulder strap.

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holding

noun
1. an area of land held by lease.
2. (holdings) financial assets owned by a person or organization.

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hold-up

noun
1. a cause of delay.
2. a robbery conducted with the threat of violence.
3. a stocking held up by an elasticated top.

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hole

noun
1. a hollow space in a solid object or surface.
2. an opening or gap in or passing through something.
3. a cavity on a golf course into which the ball is directed.
4. informal a small, awkward, or unpleasant place or situation.

verb
1. make a hole or holes in.
2. Golf hit (the ball) into a hole.
3. (hole up) informal hide oneself.

IDIOMS -
hole-and-corner secret.
hole-in-one (pl. holes-in-one) Golf a shot that enters the hole from the tee.
make a hole in use a significant amount of.

DERIVATIVES:
holey adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hole in the heart

noun
a congenital defect in the wall between the chambers of the heart, resulting in inadequate circulation of oxygenated blood.

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hole in the wall

noun informal
1. Brit. an automatic cash dispenser installed in an outside wall.
2. a small dingy place.

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holiday chiefly Brit.

noun
1. an extended period of recreation, especially away from home.
2. a day of festivity or recreation when no work is done.

verb
spend a holiday.

ORIGIN: Old English, «holy day».

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holidaymaker

noun Brit.
a tourist.

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holier-than-thou

adjective
offensively self-righteous.

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holiness

noun
1. the state of being holy.
2. (His/Your Holiness) the title of the Pope, Orthodox patriarchs, and the Dalai Lama.

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holler informal

verb
give a loud shout.

noun
a loud shout.

ORIGIN: related to HALLOO.

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hollow

adjective
1. having a hole or empty space inside.
2. concave.
3. (of a sound) echoing.
4. lacking significance or sincerity.

noun
1. a hole or depression.
2. a small valley.

verb (usu. hollow out)
1. make hollow.
2. form by hollowing.

IDIOMS -
beat hollow defeat thoroughly.

DERIVATIVES:
hollowly adverb
hollowness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «cave»; related to HOLE.

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holly

noun
an evergreen shrub with prickly dark green leaves and red berries.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hollyhock

noun
a tall plant of the mallow family, with large showy flowers.

ORIGIN: from HOLY + obsolete hock «mallow».

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holocaust

noun
1. destruction or slaughter on a mass scale.
2. (the Holocaust) the mass murder of Jews under the German Nazi regime in World War II.

ORIGIN: from Greek kaustos 'burnt' .

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Holocene

adjective Geology
relating to or denoting the present epoch (from about 10,000 years ago, following the Pleistocene).

ORIGIN: French, from Greek kainos 'new' .

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hologram

noun
1. a three-dimensional image formed by the interference of light beams from a laser or other coherent light source.
2. a photograph of an interference pattern which, when suitably illuminated, produces a three-dimensional image.

DERIVATIVES:
holographic adjective
holography noun.

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hols

plural noun Brit. informal
holidays.

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holster

noun
a holder for carrying a handgun, typically worn on a belt or under the arm.

verb
put (a gun) into its holster.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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holy

adjective (holier, holiest)
1. dedicated to God or a religious purpose.
2. morally and spiritually excellent and to be revered.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WHOLE.

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holy day

noun
a religious festival.

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Holy Father

noun
the Pope.

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holy of holies

noun
1. historical the inner chamber of the sanctuary in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.
2. a place regarded as most sacred or special.

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Holy Roman Empire

noun
the western part of the Roman empire, as revived by Charlemagne in 800.

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Holy See

noun
the papacy or the papal court.

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Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost)

noun
(in Christianity) the third person of the Trinity; God as spiritually active in the world.

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holy war

noun
a war waged in support of a religious cause.

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holy water

noun
water blessed by a priest and used in religious ceremonies.

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Holy Week

noun
the week before Easter.

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Holy Writ

noun
sacred writings collectively, especially the Bible.

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homage

noun
honour or respect shown publicly.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin homo 'man' ; in medieval times the word denoted the ceremony by which a vassal declared himself to be his feudal lord's ‘man’.

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homburg

noun
a man's felt hat having a narrow curled brim and a lengthwise indentation in the crown.

ORIGIN: named after the German town of Homburg, where such hats were first worn.

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home

noun
1. the place where one lives.
2. an institution for people needing professional care.
3. a place where something flourishes or from which it originated.
4. the finishing point in a race.
5. (in games) the place where a player is free from attack.

adjective
1. relating to one's home.
2. made, done, or intended for use in the home.
3. relating to one's own country.
4. (in sport) denoting a team's own ground.

adverb
1. to or at one's home.
2. to the end or conclusion of something.
3. to the intended or correct position.

verb
1. (of an animal) return by instinct to its territory.
2. (home in on) move or be aimed towards.

IDIOMS -
at home
1. comfortable and at ease.
2. ready to receive visitors.
bring home to make aware of the significance of.
close to home (of a remark) uncomfortably accurate.
drive (or hammer) home stress forcefully.
hit (or strike) home
1. (of words) have the intended effect.
2. (of the significance of a situation) be fully realized.
home and dry chiefly Brit. having achieved one's objective.
home is where the heart is proverb your home will always be the place for which you feel the deepest affection, no matter where you are.

DERIVATIVES:
homeless adjective
homelessness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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home brew

noun
beer or other alcoholic drink brewed at home.

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homecoming

noun
an instance of returning home.

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home economics

plural noun (often treated as sing. )
the study of cookery and household management.

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home farm

noun Brit. & S. African
a farm on an estate that provides produce for the estate owner.

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home-grown

adjective
grown or produced in one's own garden or country.

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Home Guard

noun
the British volunteer force organized in 1940 to defend the UK against invasion.

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home help

noun Brit.
a person employed to help with domestic work.

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homeland

noun
1. a person's native land.
2. an autonomous state occupied by a particular people.
3. historical any of ten partially self-governing areas in South Africa designated for indigenous African peoples.

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homely

adjective (homelier, homeliest)
1. Brit. simple but comfortable.
2. unsophisticated.
3. N. Amer. unattractive.

DERIVATIVES:
homeliness noun.

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homemaker

noun
a person who manages a home.

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home movie

noun
a film made in the home or in a domestic setting by an amateur.

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Home Office

noun
the British government department dealing with law and order, immigration, etc. in England and Wales.

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homeopath (also homoeopath)

noun
a person who practises homeopathy.

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homeopathy (also homoeopathy)

noun
a system of complementary medicine in which disease is treated by minute doses of natural substances that in large quantities would produce symptoms of the disease.

DERIVATIVES:
homeopathic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek homoios 'like' + patheia 'suffering, feeling' .

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homeostasis (also homoeostasis)

noun (pl. homeostases)
the maintenance of a stable equilibrium, especially through physiological processes.

DERIVATIVES:
homeostatic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek homoios 'like' + stasis 'stoppage, standing' .

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home page

noun Computing
an individual's organization's introductory document on the World Wide Web.

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Homeric

adjective
of, or in the style of, the ancient Greek poet Homer (8th century BC) or the epic poems ascribed to him.

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home rule

noun
the government of a place by its own citizens.

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home run

noun Baseball
a hit that allows the batter to make a complete circuit of the bases.

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Home Secretary

noun
(in the UK) the Secretary of State in charge of the Home Office.

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homesick

adjective
feeling upset because one is missing one's home.

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homespun

adjective
1. simple and unsophisticated.
2. (of cloth or yarn) made or spun at home.

noun
cloth of this type.

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homestead

noun
1. a house with surrounding land and outbuildings.
2. N. Amer. historical an area of land (usually 160 acres) granted to a settler as a home.
3. (in South Africa) a hut or cluster of huts occupied by one family or clan.

DERIVATIVES:
homesteader noun
homesteading noun.

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home straight (also home stretch)

noun
the concluding stretch of a racecourse.

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home truth

noun
an unpleasant fact about oneself.

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homeward

adverb (also homewards)
towards home.

adjective
going or leading towards home.

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homework

noun
1. school work that a pupil is required to do at home.
2. preparation for an event or situation.
3. paid work done in one's own home, especially piecework.

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homey (also homy)

adjective (homier, homiest)
1. comfortable and cosy.
2. unsophisticated.

DERIVATIVES:
homeyness (also hominess) noun.

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homicide

noun
murder.

DERIVATIVES:
homicidal adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin homo 'man' + -CIDE.

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homiletic

adjective
of or like a homily.

noun (homiletics) (usu. treated as sing. )
the art of preaching or writing sermons.

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homily

noun (pl. homilies)
1. a talk on a religious subject, intended to be spiritually uplifting rather than giving doctrinal instruction.
2. a tedious moralizing talk.

DERIVATIVES:
homilist noun.

ORIGIN: Greek homilia 'discourse' , from homilos 'crowd' .

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homing

adjective
1. (of a pigeon or other animal) able to return home from a great distance.
2. (of a weapon) able to find and hit a target electronically.

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hominid

noun Zoology
a member of a family of primates which includes humans and their fossil ancestors.

ORIGIN: from Latin homo 'man' .

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Homo

noun
the genus of primates of which modern humans (Homo sapiens) are the present-day representatives.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'man' .

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homo informal, chiefly derogatory

noun (pl. homos)
a homosexual man.

adjective
homosexual.

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homo-

combining form
1. same: homogeneous.
2. relating to homosexual love: homoerotic.

ORIGIN: from Greek homos 'same' .

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homoerotic

adjective
concerning or arousing sexual desire centred on a person of the same sex.

DERIVATIVES:
homoeroticism noun.

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homogeneous

adjective
1. of the same kind.
2. consisting of parts all of the same kind.

DERIVATIVES:
homogeneity noun
homogeneously adverb
homogeneousness noun.

ORIGIN: Greek homogens, from homos 'same' + genos 'race, kind' .

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homogenize (also homogenise)

verb
1. make homogeneous.
2. subject (milk) to a process in which the fat droplets are emulsified and the cream does not separate.

DERIVATIVES:
homogenization noun
homogenizer noun.

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homograph

noun
each of two or more words having the same spelling but different meanings and origins.

DERIVATIVES:
homographic adjective.

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homologous

adjective
1. having the same relation, relative position, or structure.
2. Biology (of organs) similar in position, structure, and evolutionary origin.

DERIVATIVES:
homologize (also homologise) verb
homology noun.

ORIGIN: Greek homologos 'agreeing, consistent' , from homos 'same' + logos 'ratio, proportion' .

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homonym

noun
each of two or more words having the same spelling or pronunciation but different meanings and origins.

DERIVATIVES:
homonymic adjective
homonymous adjective
homonymy noun.

ORIGIN: Greek homnumos 'having the same name' , from homos 'same' + onoma 'name' .

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homophobia

noun
an extreme and irrational aversion to homosexuality and homosexuals.

DERIVATIVES:
homophobe noun
homophobic adjective.

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homophone

noun
each of two or more words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling (e.g. new and knew).

ORIGIN: from Greek phn 'sound, voice' .

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Homo sapiens

noun
the primate species to which modern humans belong.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'wise man' .

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homosexual

adjective
feeling or involving sexual attraction to people of one's own sex.

noun
a homosexual person.

DERIVATIVES:
homosexuality noun
homosexually adverb.

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Hon

abbreviation
1. (in official job titles) Honorary.
2. (in titles of the British nobility, members of parliament, and (in the US) judges) Honourable.

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honcho informal

noun (pl. honchos)
a leader.

verb (honchoes, honchoed) N. Amer.
be in charge of.

ORIGIN: Japanese, 'group leader' .

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hone

verb
1. sharpen with a whetstone.
2. make sharper or more focused or efficient.

noun
a whetstone.

ORIGIN: Old English, «stone».

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honest

adjective
1. free of deceit; truthful and sincere.
2. fairly earned: an honest living.
3. simple and unpretentious.

adverb informal
genuinely; really.

IDIOMS -
make an honest woman of dated or humorous (of a man) marry (a woman) with whom he is having a sexual relationship.

ORIGIN: Latin honestus, from honor 'honour' .

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honestly

adverb
1. in an honest way.
2. really (used for emphasis).

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honest-to-God informal

adjective
genuine; real.

adverb
genuinely; really.

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honest-to-goodness

adjective
genuine and straightforward.

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honesty

noun
1. the quality of being honest.
2. a plant with purple or white flowers and round, flat, translucent seed pods. [ORIGIN: so named from its seed pods, translucency symbolizing lack of deceit.]

IDIOMS -
honesty is the best policy proverb there are often practical as well as moral reasons for being honest.

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honey

noun (pl. honeys)
1. a sweet, sticky yellowish-brown fluid made by bees from flower nectar.
2. chiefly N. Amer. darling; sweetheart.
3. informal an excellent example: it's a honey of a movie.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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honeybee

noun
the common bee.

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honeycomb

noun
1. a structure of hexagonal cells of wax, made by bees to store honey and eggs.
2. a structure of linked cavities.

verb
fill with cavities or tunnels.

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honeydew

noun
a sweet, sticky substance excreted by aphids.

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honeydew melon

noun
a melon of a variety with smooth pale skin and sweet green flesh.

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honeyed

adjective
1. containing or coated with honey.
2. having a warm yellow colour.
3. soothing and soft: honeyed words.

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honeymoon

noun
1. a holiday taken by a newly married couple.
2. an initial period of enthusiasm or goodwill.

verb
spend a honeymoon.

DERIVATIVES:
honeymooner noun.

ORIGIN: originally referring to affection waning like the moon, later denoting the first month after marriage.

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honeypot

noun
1. a container for honey.
2. a place to which many people are attracted.

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honeysuckle

noun
a climbing shrub with fragrant yellow and pink flowers.

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honk

noun
1. the cry of a goose.
2. the sound of a car horn.

verb
1. make or cause to make a honk.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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honky-tonk

noun informal
1. chiefly N. Amer. a cheap or disreputable bar or club.
2. ragtime piano music.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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honor (Brit. honour)

noun
1. high respect.
2. pride and pleasure from being shown respect.
3. a clear sense of what is morally right.
4. a person or thing that brings credit.
5. a thing conferred as a distinction.
6. (honors) a course of degree studies more specialized than for an ordinary pass.
7. (His, Your, etc. Honor) a title of respect for a circuit judge.
8. dated a woman's chastity.
9. Bridge an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten.

verb
1. regard with great respect.
2. pay public respect to.
3. fulfil (an obligation) or keep (an agreement).
4. grace; privilege: the Princess honored the ball with her presence.

IDIOMS -
do the honors informal perform a social duty for others, especially serve food or drink.
in honor of as an expression of respect for.
on one's honor under a moral obligation.
there's honor among thieves proverb dishonest people may have certain standards of behaviour which they will respect.

ORIGIN: Latin honor.

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honorable (Brit. honourable)

adjective
1. bringing or worthy of honour.
2. (Honorable) a title given to certain high officials, members of the nobility, and MPs.

DERIVATIVES:
honorably adverb.

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honorarium

noun (pl. honorariums or honoraria)
a payment for professional services which are given nominally without charge.

ORIGIN: Latin, denoting a gift made on being admitted to public office.

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honorary

adjective
1. (of a title or position) conferred as an honour.
2. Brit. (of an office or its holder) unpaid.

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honorific

adjective
given as a mark of respect.

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honour (US honor)

noun
1. high respect.
2. pride and pleasure from being shown respect.
3. a clear sense of what is morally right.
4. a person or thing that brings credit.
5. a thing conferred as a distinction.
6. (honours) a course of degree studies more specialized than for an ordinary pass.
7. (His, Your, etc. Honour) a title of respect for a circuit judge.
8. dated a woman's chastity.
9. Bridge an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten.

verb
1. regard with great respect.
2. pay public respect to.
3. fulfil (an obligation) or keep (an agreement).
4. grace; privilege: the Princess honoured the ball with her presence.

IDIOMS -
do the honours informal perform a social duty for others, especially serve food or drink.
in honour of as an expression of respect for.
on one's honour under a moral obligation.
there's honour among thieves proverb dishonest people may have certain standards of behaviour which they will respect.

ORIGIN: Latin honor.

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honourable (US honorable)

adjective
1. bringing or worthy of honour.
2. (Honourable) a title given to certain high officials, members of the nobility, and MPs.

DERIVATIVES:
honourably adverb.

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honourable mention

noun
a commendation for a candidate in an examination or competition not awarded a prize.

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honours list

noun
a list of people to be awarded honours.

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hooch (also hootch)

noun informal
alcoholic liquor, especially inferior or illicit whisky.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of Hoochinoo, an Alaskan Indian people who made liquor.

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hood [1]

noun
1. a covering for the head and neck with an opening for the face.
2. Brit. a folding waterproof cover of a vehicle or pram.
3. N. Amer. the bonnet of a vehicle.
4. a protective canopy.

verb
put a hood on or over.

DERIVATIVES:
hooded adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to HAT.

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hood [2]

noun informal, chiefly N. Amer.
a gangster or violent criminal.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of HOODLUM.

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-hood

suffix forming nouns:
1. denoting a condition or quality: womanhood.
2. denoting a collection or group: brotherhood.

ORIGIN: Old English, originally a noun meaning «person, condition, quality».

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hoodlum

noun
a hooligan or gangster.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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hoodoo

noun
1. voodoo.
2. a run or cause of bad luck.

verb (hoodoos, hoodooed)
bring bad luck to.

ORIGIN: originally an alternative US word for VOODOO.

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hoodwink

verb
deceive or trick.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'to blindfold' : from HOOD + an obsolete sense of WINK «close the eyes».

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hooey

noun informal
nonsense.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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hoof

noun (pl. hoofs or hooves)
the horny part of the foot of a horse, cow, etc.

verb informal
1. kick (a ball) powerfully.
2. (hoof it) go on foot.
3. (hoof it) dance.

IDIOMS -
on the hoof
1. (of livestock) not yet slaughtered.
2. informal without great thought or preparation.

DERIVATIVES:
hoofed adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hoofer

noun informal
a professional dancer.

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hoo-ha

noun informal
a commotion.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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hook

noun
1. a piece of curved metal or other material for catching hold of things or hanging things on.
2. a thing designed to catch people's attention.
3. a catchy passage in a song.
4. a curved cutting instrument.
5. a short swinging punch made with the elbow bent and rigid.

verb
1. be or become attached or fastened with a hook.
2. (hook up) link or be linked to electronic equipment.
3. bend into the shape of a hook.
4. catch with a hook.
5. (be hooked) informal be captivated or addicted.
6. (in cricket or golf) hit (the ball) in a curving path.

IDIOMS -
by hook or by crook by any possible means.
get one's hooks into informal get hold of.
hook, line, and sinker entirely.
off the hook
1. informal no longer in trouble.
2. (of a telephone receiver) not on its rest.
sling one's hook Brit. informal leave.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hookah

noun
an oriental tobacco pipe with a long, flexible tube which draws the smoke through water in a bowl.

ORIGIN: Urdu, from Arabic, 'casket, jar' .

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hook and eye

noun
a small metal hook and loop used to fasten a garment.

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hooker

noun
1. Rugby the player in the middle of the front row of the scrum.
2. informal, chiefly N. Amer. a prostitute.

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hook-up

noun
a connection to mains electricity, a communications system, etc.

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hookworm

noun
a parasitic worm which inhabits the intestines and feeds by attaching itself with hook-like mouthparts.

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hooligan

noun
a violent young troublemaker.

DERIVATIVES:
hooliganism noun.

ORIGIN: possibly from Hooligan, the surname of a fictional rowdy Irish family in a music-hall song of the 1890s.

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hoop

noun
1. a rigid circular band.
2. a large ring used as a toy or for circus performers to jump through.
3. chiefly Brit. a metal arch through which the balls are hit in croquet.
4. a contrasting horizontal band on a sports shirt or cap.

verb
bind or encircle with hoops.

IDIOMS -
put someone (or go) through hoops make someone undergo (or be made to undergo) a gruelling test.

DERIVATIVES:
hooped adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hoopla

noun
1. Brit. a game in which rings are thrown in an attempt to encircle a prize.
2. informal unnecessary fuss.

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hoopoe

noun
a salmon-pink bird with a long downcurved bill, a large crest, and black-and-white wings and tail.

ORIGIN: Latin upupa, imitative of the bird's call.

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hooray

exclamation
1. hurrah.
2. Austral./NZ goodbye.

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Hooray Henry

noun (pl. Hooray Henrys or Hooray Henries) Brit. informal
a lively but ineffectual young upper-class man.

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hoot

noun
1. a low musical sound made by owls or a similar sound made by a horn, siren, etc.
2. a shout expressing scorn or disapproval.
3. an outburst of laughter.
4. (a hoot) informal an amusing person or thing.

verb
make or cause to make a hoot.

IDIOMS -
not care (or give) a hoot (or two hoots) informal not care at all.

ORIGIN: perhaps imitative.

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hooter

noun
1. Brit. a siren, steam whistle, or horn.
2. informal a person's nose.

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Hoover Brit.

noun trademark
a vacuum cleaner.

verb (hoover)
clean with a vacuum cleaner.

ORIGIN: named after the American industrialist William H. Hoover (1849 1942).

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hop [1]

verb (hopped, hopping)
1. move by jumping on one foot.
2. (of a bird or animal) move by jumping with two or all feet at once.
3. jump over or on to.
4. informal move or go quickly.
5. (hop it) Brit. informal go away.

noun
1. a hopping movement.
2. a short journey or distance.

IDIOMS -
hopping mad informal extremely angry.
hop, skip (or step) , and jump
1. old-fashioned term for TRIPLE JUMP.
2. informal a short distance.
on the hop Brit. informal
1. unprepared.
2. busy.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hop [2]

noun
1. a climbing plant whose dried flowers (hops) are used in brewing to give a bitter flavour.
2. (hops) Austral./NZ informal beer.

verb (hopped, hopping)
flavour with hops.

DERIVATIVES:
hoppy adjective.

ORIGIN: from Low German or Dutch.

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hope

noun
1. a feeling of expectation and desire for something to happen.
2. a person or thing that gives cause for hope.

verb
1. expect and want something to happen.
2. intend if possible to do something.

IDIOMS -
hope against hope cling to a mere possibility.
hope springs eternal in the human breast proverb it is human nature to always find fresh cause for optimism.
not a (or some) hope informal no chance at all.

DERIVATIVES:
hoper noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hopeful

adjective
feeling or inspiring hope.

noun
a person likely or hoping to succeed.

DERIVATIVES:
hopefulness noun.

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hopefully

adverb
1. in a hopeful manner.
2. it is to be hoped that.
USAGE - The traditional sense of hopefully is ‘in a hopeful manner’. In the 20th century a new use arose, with the meaning ‘it is to be hoped that’. Although this newer use is now very much the dominant one, it is regarded by some people as incorrect.

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hopeless

adjective
1. feeling or causing despair.
2. inadequate; incompetent.

DERIVATIVES:
hopelessly adverb
hopelessness noun.

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hoplite

noun
a heavily armed foot soldier of ancient Greece.

ORIGIN: Greek hoplits, from hoplon 'weapon' .

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hopper

noun
1. a tapering container that discharges its contents at the bottom.
2. a person or thing that hops.

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hopscotch

noun
a children's game of hopping into and over squares marked on the ground to retrieve a marker.

ORIGIN: from HOP + SCOTCH in the sense 'put and end to, stop' , reflecting the pattern of hopping and stopping characteristic of the game.

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horde

noun
1. chiefly derogatory a large group of people.
2. an army or tribe of nomadic warriors.

ORIGIN: Polish horda, from Turkish ordu 'royal camp' .

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horizon

noun
1. the line at which the earth's surface and the sky appear to meet.
2. the limit of a person's mental perception, experience, or interest.
3. Geology & Archaeology a layer or level with particular characteristics or representing a particular period.

IDIOMS -
on the horizon imminent.

ORIGIN: from Greek horizn 'limiting' .

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horizontal

adjective
parallel to the plane of the horizon; at right angles to the vertical.

noun
a horizontal line, plane or structure.

DERIVATIVES:
horizontality noun
horizontally adverb.

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hormone

noun
a substance produced by a living thing and transported in tissue fluids to specific cells or tissues to stimulate them into action.

DERIVATIVES:
hormonal adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek hormn 'setting in motion' .

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hormone replacement therapy

noun
treatment with certain hormones to alleviate menopausal symptoms or osteoporosis.

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horn

noun
1. a hard bony outgrowth, often curved and pointed, found in pairs on the heads of cattle, sheep, and other animals.
2. the substance of which horns are composed.
3. a wind instrument, now usually of brass, conical in shape or wound into a spiral.
4. an instrument sounding a warning or other signal.
5. a pointed projection or extremity.

verb
1. butt or gore with the horns.
2. (horn in) informal interfere.

IDIOMS -
blow (or toot) one's own horn N. Amer. informal boast about oneself or one's achievements.
draw (or pull) in one's horns become less assertive or ambitious.
on the horns of a dilemma faced with a decision involving equally unfavourable alternatives.

DERIVATIVES:
horned adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hornbeam

noun
a deciduous tree with hard pale wood.

ORIGIN: so named because of the tree's hard wood.

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hornbill

noun
a tropical bird with a horn-like structure on its large curved bill.

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hornblende

noun
a dark brown, black, or green mineral present in many rocks.

ORIGIN: German, from Horn 'horn' + Blende, denoting a zinc ore.

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hornet

noun
a kind of large wasp, typically red and yellow or red and black.

IDIOMS -
stir up a hornets' nest provoke opposition or difficulties.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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horn of plenty

noun
a cornucopia.

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hornpipe

noun
1. a lively solo dance traditionally performed by sailors.
2. a piece of music for such a dance.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a wind instrument made of horn, played to accompany dancing: from HORN + PIPE.

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horn-rimmed

adjective
(of glasses) having rims made of horn or a similar substance.

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horny

adjective (hornier, horniest)
1. of or like horn.
2. hard and rough.
3. informal sexually aroused or arousing.

DERIVATIVES:
horniness noun.

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horology

noun
1. the study and measurement of time.
2. the art of making clocks and watches.

DERIVATIVES:
horological adjective
horologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek hra 'time' .

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horoscope

noun
a forecast of a person's future based on the relative positions of the stars and planets at the time of their birth.

ORIGIN: Greek hroskopos, from hra 'time' + skopos 'observer' .

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horrendous

adjective
extremely unpleasant or horrifying.

DERIVATIVES:
horrendously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin horrendus, from horrere (see HORROR).

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horrible

adjective
1. causing or likely to cause horror.
2. informal very unpleasant.

DERIVATIVES:
horribly adverb.

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horrid

adjective
1. causing horror.
2. informal very unpleasant.

DERIVATIVES:
horridly adverb
horridness noun.

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horrific

adjective
causing horror.

DERIVATIVES:
horrifically adverb.

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horrify

verb (horrifies, horrified)
fill with horror.

DERIVATIVES:
horrified adjective
horrifying adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin horrificare.

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horror

noun
1. an intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust.
2. a thing causing such a feeling.
3. intense dismay.
4. informal a bad or mischievous person, especially a child.

ORIGIN: Latin, from horrere 'shudder, (of hair) stand on end' .

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hors d'oeuvre

noun (pl. same or hors d'oeuvres)
a savoury appetizer.

ORIGIN: French, 'outside the work' .

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horse

noun
1. a large four-legged mammal with a flowing mane and tail, used for riding and for pulling heavy loads.
2. an adult male horse, as opposed to a mare or colt.
3. (treated as sing. or pl. ) cavalry.
4. a frame or structure on which something is mounted or supported: a clothes horse.

verb
1. (horse around/about) informal fool about.

IDIOMS -
don't change horses in midstream proverb choose a sensible moment to change your mind.
from the horse's mouth from an authoritative source.
hold one's horses informal wait a moment.
horses for courses Brit. proverb different people are suited to different things or situations.
you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink proverb you can give someone an opportunity, but you can't force them to take it.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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horseback

noun (in phrase on horseback) & adjective
mounted on a horse.

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horsebox

noun Brit.
a motorized vehicle or a trailer for transporting one or more horses.

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horse chestnut

noun
1. a large deciduous tree producing nuts (conkers) enclosed in a spiny case.
2. a conker.

ORIGIN: horse chestnuts are said to have been an Eastern remedy for chest diseases in horses.

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horseflesh

noun
horses considered collectively.

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horsefly

noun
a large fly that inflicts painful bites on horses and other large mammals.

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horsehair

noun
hair from the mane or tail of a horse, used in furniture for padding.

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horse latitudes

plural noun
a belt of calm air and sea occurring in both the northern and southern hemispheres between the trade winds and the westerlies.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain.

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horse laugh

noun
a loud, coarse laugh.

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horseman (or horsewoman)

noun
a rider on horseback, especially a skilled one.

DERIVATIVES:
horsemanship noun.

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horseplay

noun
rough, boisterous play.

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horsepower

noun (pl. same)
an imperial unit of power equal to 550 foot-pounds per second (about 750 watts), especially as a measurement of engine power.

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horseradish

noun
a plant grown for its pungent root which is often made into a sauce.

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horse sense

noun informal
common sense.

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horseshoe

noun
an iron shoe for a horse in the form of an extended circular arc.

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horsewhip

noun
a long whip used for driving and controlling horses.

verb (horsewhipped, horsewhipping)
beat with such a whip.

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horsey (also horsy)

adjective
1. of or resembling a horse.
2. devoted to horses or horse racing.

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hortatory

adjective formal
intended to exhort someone to do something.

ORIGIN: Latin hortatorius, from hortari 'exhort' .

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horticulture

noun
the art or practice of garden cultivation and management.

DERIVATIVES:
horticultural adjective
horticulturalist noun
horticulturist noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin hortus 'garden' .

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hosanna (also hosannah)

noun & exclamation
a biblical cry of praise or joy.

ORIGIN: Greek, from a Hebrew phrase meaning 'save, we pray' .

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hose

noun
1. (Brit. also hosepipe) a flexible tube conveying water.
2. (treated as pl. ) stockings, socks, and tights.

verb
water or spray with a hose.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hosiery

noun
stockings, socks, and tights collectively.

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hospice

noun
1. a home providing care for the sick or terminally ill.
2. archaic a lodging for travellers, especially one run by a religious order.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin hospitium, from hospes 'host' .

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hospitable

adjective
1. showing or inclined to show hospitality.
2. (of an environment) pleasant and favourable for living in.

DERIVATIVES:
hospitably adverb.

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hospital

noun
1. an institution providing medical and surgical treatment and nursing care for sick or injured people.
2. historical a hospice, especially one run by the Knights Hospitallers.

ORIGIN: Latin hospitale, from hospes 'host, guest' .

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hospitality

noun
the friendly and generous treatment of guests or strangers.

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hospitalize (also hospitalise)

verb
admit or cause (someone) to be admitted to hospital for treatment.

DERIVATIVES:
hospitalization noun.

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hospitaller (US hospitaler)

noun
a member of a charitable religious order.

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host [1]

noun
1. a person who receives or entertains guests.
2. the presenter of a television or radio programme.
3. a person, place, or organization that holds and organizes an event to which others are invited.
4. often humorous the landlord or landlady of a pub: mine host raised his glass.
5. Biology an animal or plant on or in which a parasite lives.
6. the recipient of transplanted tissue or a transplanted organ.

verb
act as host at (an event) or for (a television or radio programme).

ORIGIN: Old French hoste, from Latin hospes 'host, guest' .

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host [2]

noun (a host/hosts of)
a large number of.

ORIGIN: Latin hostis 'stranger, enemy' , later 'army' .

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host [3]

noun (the Host)
the bread consecrated in the Eucharist.

ORIGIN: Latin hostia 'victim' .

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hostage

noun
a person seized or held in order to induce others to comply with a demand or condition.

IDIOMS -
a hostage to fortune an act or remark regarded as unwise because it invites trouble in the future.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin obsidatus 'the state of being a hostage' , from obses 'hostage' .

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hostel

noun
an establishment which provides cheap food and lodging for a specific group of people.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin hospitale (see HOSPITAL).

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hostelry

noun (pl. hostelries) archaic or humorous
an inn or pub.

ORIGIN: Old French hostelerie from hostelier 'innkeeper' .

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hostess

noun
1. a female host.
2. a woman employed to welcome and entertain customers at a nightclub or bar.
3. a stewardess on an aircraft, train, etc.

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hostile

adjective
1. antagonistic; opposed.
2. of or belonging to a military enemy.
3. (of a takeover bid) opposed by the company to be bought.

DERIVATIVES:
hostilely adverb
hostility noun (pl. hostilities) .

ORIGIN: Latin hostilis, from hostis 'stranger, enemy' .

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hot

adjective (hotter, hottest)
1. having a high temperature.
2. feeling or producing an uncomfortable sensation of heat.
3. feeling or showing intense excitement, anger, lust, or other emotion.
4. currently popular, fashionable, or interesting.
5. informal (of goods) stolen and difficult to dispose of because easily identifiable.
6. (often hot on) informal very knowledgeable or skilful.
7. (hot on) informal strict about.

verb (hotted, hotting) (hot up) Brit. informal
become or make more intense or exciting.

IDIOMS -
go hot and cold experience a sudden feeling of fear or shock.
have the hots for informal be sexually attracted to.
hot under the collar informal angry or resentful.
in hot water informal in trouble or disgrace.
make it (or things) hot for informal stir up trouble for.

DERIVATIVES:
hotly adverb
hotness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hot air

noun informal
empty or boastful talk.

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hotbed

noun
1. a bed of earth heated by fermenting manure, for raising or forcing plants.
2. an environment promoting the growth of an activity or trend.

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hot-blooded

adjective
lustful; passionate.

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hotchpotch (N. Amer. hodgepodge)

noun
a confused mixture.

ORIGIN: Old French hochepot, from hocher 'to shake' + pot 'pot' .

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hot cross bun

noun
a bun marked with a cross, traditionally eaten on Good Friday.

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hot dog

noun
a hot sausage served in a long, soft roll.

exclamation N. Amer. informal
used to express enthusiastic approval.

verb (hotdog) (hotdogged, hotdogging) N. Amer. informal
perform stunts.

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hotel

noun
an establishment providing accommodation and meals for travellers and tourists.

ORIGIN: French hôtel, from Old French hostel (see HOSTEL).

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hotelier

noun
a person who owns or manages a hotel.

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hot flush (also hot flash)

noun
a sudden feeling of feverish heat, often as a symptom of the menopause.

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hotfoot

adverb
in eager haste.

verb (hotfoot it)
hurry eagerly.

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hothead

noun
an impetuous or quick-tempered person.

DERIVATIVES:
hot-headed adjective.

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hothouse

noun
1. a heated greenhouse.
2. an environment that encourages rapid growth or development.

verb
educate (a child) to a higher level than is usual for their age.

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hotline

noun
a direct telephone line set up for a specific purpose.

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hot pants

plural noun
women's tight, brief shorts.

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hotplate

noun
a flat heated metal or ceramic surface on an electric cooker.

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hotpot (also Lancashire hotpot)

noun Brit.
a casserole of meat and vegetables with a covering layer of sliced potato.

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hot potato

noun informal
a controversial and awkward issue.

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hot rod

noun
a motor vehicle that has been specially modified to give it extra power and speed.

verb (hot-rod)
1. modify (a vehicle or other device) to make it faster or more powerful.
2. drive a hot rod.

DERIVATIVES:
hot-rodder noun.

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hot seat

noun (the hot seat) informal
1. the position of a person who carries full responsibility for something.
2. chiefly N. Amer. the electric chair.

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hotshot

noun informal
an important or exceptionally able person.

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hot spot

noun
1. a small area with a relatively high temperature.
2. a place of significant activity or danger.

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hot stuff

noun informal
1. a person or thing of outstanding talent or interest.
2. a sexually exciting person, book, etc.

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hot-tempered

adjective
easily angered.

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Hottentot

noun & adjective
used to refer to the Khoikhoi peoples of South Africa and Namibia.
USAGE - The word Hottentot is now regarded as offensive with reference to people (where Khoikhoi or, specifically, Nama, are the standard terms) but is still standard when used in the names of some animals and plants.
ORIGIN: Dutch, perhaps a repetitive formula in a Khoikhoi dancing song, transferred by Dutch sailors to the people themselves, or from German hotteren-totteren 'stutter' (with reference to their click language).

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hot ticket

noun informal
a person or thing that is much in demand.

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hot tub

noun
a large tub filled with hot aerated water, used for recreation or physical therapy.

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hot-water bottle (US also hot-water bag)

noun
a flat, oblong rubber container that is filled with hot water and used for warming a bed or part of the body.

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hot-wire

verb informal
start the engine of (a vehicle) by bypassing the ignition switch.

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hound

noun
1. a dog of a breed used for hunting.
2. a person who pursues something eagerly: a publicity hound.

verb
harass or pursue relentlessly.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hour

noun
1. a period of time equal to a twenty-fourth part of a day and night; 60 minutes.
2. a time of day specified as an exact number of hours from midnight or midday.
3. a period set aside for a particular purpose or activity.
4. a point in time.

IDIOMS -
on the hour
1. at an exact hour, or on each hour, of the day or night.
2. after a period of one hour.

ORIGIN: Greek hra 'season, hour' .

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hourglass

noun
a device with two connected glass bulbs containing sand that takes an hour to fall from the upper to the lower bulb.

adjective
shaped like an hourglass.

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hourly

adjective
1. done or occurring every hour.
2. reckoned hour by hour.

adverb
1. every hour.
2. by the hour.

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house

noun
1. a building for human habitation.
2. a building in which animals live or in which things are kept: a reptile house.
3. a building devoted to a particular activity: a house of prayer.
4. a firm or institution: a fashion house.
5. a religious community that occupies a particular building.
6. chiefly Brit. a body of pupils living in the same building at a boarding school.
7. a legislative or deliberative assembly.
8. (the House) (in the UK) the House of Commons or Lords; (in the US) the House of Representatives.
9. a dynasty.
10. (also house music) a style of fast popular dance music.
11. Astrology a twelfth division of the celestial sphere.

adjective
1. (of an animal or plant) kept in, frequenting, or infesting buildings.
2. relating to medical staff resident at a hospital.
3. relating to a firm, institution, or society.

verb
1. provide with shelter or accommodation.
2. provide space for.
3. enclose or encase.

IDIOMS -
get on like a house on fire informal have a very good and friendly relationship.
a house divided cannot stand proverb a group or organization weakened by internal disagreements will be unable to withstand external pressures.
keep house run a household.
on the house at the management's expense.
p ut one's house in order make necessary reforms.

DERIVATIVES:
houseful noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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house arrest

noun
the state of being kept as a prisoner in one's own house.

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houseboat

noun
a boat which is fitted for use as a dwelling.

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housebound

adjective
unable to leave one's house, often due to illness or old age.

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housebreaking

noun
the action of breaking into a building, especially in daytime, to commit a crime.

DERIVATIVES:
housebreaker noun.

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housecoat

noun
a woman's long, loose robe for informal wear around the house.

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housefly

noun
a common small fly occurring in and around human habitation.

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household

noun
a house and its occupants regarded as a unit.

DERIVATIVES:
householder noun.

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household name (also household word)

noun
a famous person or thing.

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house-hunting

noun
the process of seeking a house to buy or rent.

DERIVATIVES:
house-hunter noun.

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house husband

noun
a man who lives with a partner and carries out the household duties traditionally done by a housewife.

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housekeeper

noun
a person, typically a woman, employed to manage a household.

DERIVATIVES:
housekeeping noun.

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house lights

plural noun
the lights in the auditorium of a theatre.

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housemaid

noun
a female domestic employee who cleans rooms.

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housemaid's knee

noun
inflammation of the fluid-filled cavity covering the kneecap, often due to excessive kneeling.

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house martin

noun
a black-and-white bird of the swallow family, nesting on buildings.

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housemaster (or housemistress)

noun
a teacher in charge of a house at a boarding school.

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House of Commons

noun
the elected chamber of Parliament in the UK.

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House of Keys

noun
the elected chamber of Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man.

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House of Lords

1. noun the chamber of Parliament in the UK composed of peers and bishops.
2. a committee of specially qualified members of this chamber, appointed as the ultimate judicial appeal court of England and Wales.

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House of Representatives

noun
the lower house of the US Congress.

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house-proud

adjective
attentive to, or preoccupied with, the care and appearance of one's home.

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Houses of Parliament

plural noun
the Houses of Lords and Commons in the UK regarded together.

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house-train

verb chiefly Brit.
train (a pet) to excrete outside the house.

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house-warming

noun
a party celebrating a move to a new home.

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housewife

noun (pl. housewives)
a married woman whose main occupation is caring for her family and running the household.

DERIVATIVES:
housewifely adjective
housewifery noun.

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housework

noun
regular work done in housekeeping, such as cleaning and cooking.

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housing

noun
1. houses and flats considered collectively.
2. the provision of accommodation.
3. a rigid casing for a piece of equipment.
4. a groove cut in a piece of wood to allow another piece to be attached to it.

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housing estate

noun Brit.
a residential area planned and built as a unit.

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hovel

noun
a small squalid or poorly constructed dwelling.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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hover

verb
1. remain in one place in the air.
2. linger close at hand in an uncertain manner.
3. remain at or near a particular level or in an intermediate state.

noun
an act of hovering.

DERIVATIVES:
hoverer noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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hovercraft

noun (pl. same)
a vehicle or craft that travels over land or water on a cushion of air.

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how

adverb
1. in what way or by what means.
2. in what condition or health.
3. to what extent or degree.
4. the way in which.

IDIOMS -
and how! informal very much so.
how about? would you like?
the how and why the methods and reasons for doing something.
how do you do? a formal greeting.
how many what number.
how much what amount or price.
how now? archaic what is the meaning of this?
how's that? Cricket is the batsman out or not? (said to an umpire).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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howdah

noun
a seat for riding on the back of an elephant, usually having a canopy.

ORIGIN: Urdu, from Arabic, 'litter' .

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however

adverb
1. used to introduce a statement contrasting with a previous one.
2. in whatever way.
3. to whatever extent.

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howitzer

noun
a short gun for firing shells at a high angle.

ORIGIN: Dutch houwitser, from Czech houfnice 'catapult' .

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howl

noun
1. a long doleful cry uttered by an animal.
2. a loud cry of pain, amusement, etc.

verb
make a howling sound.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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howler

noun informal
a ludicrous mistake.

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howling

adjective informal
great: a howling success.

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hoy

exclamation
used to attract someone's attention.

noun Austral.
a game resembling bingo, using playing cards.

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hoyden

noun dated
a boisterous girl.

DERIVATIVES:
hoydenish adjective.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch heiden, denoting a rude man; related to HEATHEN.

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h.p. (also HP)

abbreviation
1. high pressure.
2. Brit. hire purchase.
3. horsepower.

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HQ

abbreviation
headquarters.

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hr

abbreviation
hour.

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HRH

abbreviation Brit.
Her (or His) Royal Highness.

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HRT

abbreviation
hormone replacement therapy.

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HTML

noun Computing
Hypertext Mark-up Language.

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HTTP

abbreviation Computing
Hypertext Transport (or Transfer) Protocol.

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hub

noun
1. the central part of a wheel, rotating on or with the axle.
2. the centre of an activity, region, or network.

ORIGIN: related to HOB.

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hubbub

noun
1. a chaotic din caused by a crowd.
2. a busy, noisy situation.

ORIGIN: perhaps Irish.

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hubby

noun (pl. hubbies) informal
a husband.

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hubris

noun
excessive pride or self-confidence.

DERIVATIVES:
hubristic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek, originally denoting presumption towards or defiance of the gods, leading to nemesis.

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huckster

noun
1. a person who sells small items, either door-to-door or from a stall.
2. N. Amer. a person who uses aggressive selling techniques.

verb chiefly N. Amer.
1. promote or sell aggressively.
2. bargain.

DERIVATIVES:
hucksterism noun.

ORIGIN: probably Low German.

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huddle

verb
1. crowd together.
2. curl one's body into a small space.

noun
a number of people or things crowded together.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «conceal»: perhaps Low German.

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hue

noun
1. a colour or shade.
2. technical the attribute of a colour, dependent on its dominant wavelength, by virtue of which it is discernible as red, green, etc.
3. aspect: men of all political hues.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hue and cry

noun
a loud clamour or public outcry.

ORIGIN: from an Old French legal phrase hu e cri, 'outcry and cry' .

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huff

verb (often huff and puff)
1. exhale noisily.
2. show one's annoyance in an obvious way.

noun
a fit of petty annoyance.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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huffy

adjective (huffier, huffiest)
easily offended.

DERIVATIVES:
huffily adverb
huffiness noun.

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hug

verb (hugged, hugging)
1. squeeze or hold tightly in one's arms.
2. keep close to: a few craft hugged the shore.

noun
an act of hugging.

DERIVATIVES:
huggable adjective.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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huge

adjective (huger, hugest)
extremely large.

DERIVATIVES:
hugely noun
hugeness noun.

ORIGIN: shortening of Old French ahuge, of unknown origin.

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hugger-mugger

adjective
1. confused.
2. secret.

noun
1. confusion.
2. secrecy.

ORIGIN: probably related to HUDDLE and to dialect mucker «hoard money, conceal».

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Huguenot

noun
a French Protestant of the 16th 17th centuries.

ORIGIN: French, alternative (by association with the name of a mayor of Geneva, Besançon Hugues) of eiguenot, from Swiss German Eidgenoss 'confederate' .

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hula (also hula-hula)

noun
a dance performed by Hawaiian women, characterized by undulating hips and symbolic gestures.

ORIGIN: Hawaiian.

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hula hoop (also US trademark Hula-Hoop)

noun
a large hoop spun round the body by gyrating the hips.

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hulk

noun
1. an old ship stripped of fittings and permanently moored.
2. a large or clumsy person or thing.

ORIGIN: Old English, «fast ship».

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hulking

adjective informal
very large or clumsy.

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hull [1]

noun
the main body of a ship or other vessel, including the bottom, sides and deck but not the superstructure, engines, and other fittings.

DERIVATIVES:
hulled adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps the same word as HULL, or related to HOLD.

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hull [2]

noun
1. the outer covering of a fruit or seed.
2. the green calyx of a strawberry or raspberry.

verb
remove the hulls from.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hullabaloo

noun informal
a commotion or uproar.

ORIGIN: reduplication of hallo, hullo, etc.

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hum

verb (hummed, humming)
1. make a low, steady continuous sound like that of a bee.
2. sing with closed lips.
3. informal be in a state of great activity.
4. Brit. informal smell unpleasant.

noun
a low, steady continuous sound.

IDIOMS -
hum and haw (or ha) Brit. be indecisive.

DERIVATIVES:
hummable adjective
hummer noun.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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human

adjective
1. of, relating to, or characteristic of humankind.
2. showing the better qualities of humankind, such as sensitivity.

noun
a human being.

DERIVATIVES:
humanly adjective
humanness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin humanus, from homo 'man, human being' .

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human being

noun
a man, woman, or child of the species Homo sapiens.

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humane

adjective
1. having or showing compassion or benevolence.
2. formal (of a branch of learning) intended to civilize.

DERIVATIVES:
humanely adverb
humaneness noun.

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humanism

noun
1. a rationalistic system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters.
2. a Renaissance cultural movement which turned away from medieval scholasticism and revived interest in ancient Greek and Roman thought.

DERIVATIVES:
humanist noun & adjective
humanistic adjective.

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humanitarian

adjective
concerned with or seeking to promote human welfare.

noun
a humanitarian person.

DERIVATIVES:
humanitarianism noun.

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humanity

noun (pl. humanities)
1. humankind.
2. the condition of being human.
3. compassion or benevolence.
4. (humanities) learning or literature concerned with human culture.

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humanize (also humanise)

verb
1. make more humane.
2. give a human character to.

DERIVATIVES:
humanization noun.

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humankind

noun
human beings considered collectively.

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human nature

noun
the general characteristics, feelings, and traits of people.

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humanoid

adjective
having human characteristics.

noun
a humanoid being.

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human rights

plural noun
rights which are believed to belong justifiably to every person.

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humble

adjective (humbler, humblest)
1. having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance.
2. of low rank.
3. of modest pretensions or dimensions: humble beginnings.

verb
lower in dignity or importance.

IDIOMS -
eat humble pie make a humble apology and accept humiliation. [ORIGIN: humble pie is from a pun based on archaic umbles «offal», considered inferior food.]

DERIVATIVES:
humbly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin humilis 'low, lowly' , from humus 'ground' .

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humbug

noun
1. deceptive or false talk or behaviour.
2. a hypocrite.
3. Brit. a boiled peppermint sweet.

verb (humbugged, humbugging)
deceive; trick.

DERIVATIVES:
humbuggery noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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humdinger

noun informal
a remarkable or outstanding person or thing of its kind.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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humdrum

adjective
dull or monotonous.

noun
monotonous routine.

ORIGIN: probably a reduplication of HUM.

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humerus

noun (pl. humeri) Anatomy
the bone of the upper arm or forelimb, between the shoulder and the elbow.

DERIVATIVES:
humeral adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'shoulder' .

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humid

adjective
marked by a high level of water vapour in the atmosphere.

DERIVATIVES:
humidly adverb
humidity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin humidus, from humere 'be moist' .

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humidify

verb (humidifies, humidified) (often as adj. humidified)
increase the level of moisture in air.

DERIVATIVES:
humidification noun
humidifier noun.

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humiliate

verb
injure the dignity and self-respect of.

DERIVATIVES:
humiliating adjective
humiliation noun
humiliator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin humiliare 'make humble' .

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humility

noun
a humble view of one's own importance.

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hummingbird

noun
a small long-billed tropical American bird able to hover by beating its wings extremely fast.

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hummock

noun
a hillock or mound.

DERIVATIVES:
hummocky adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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hummus

noun
a thick Middle Eastern dip made from ground chickpeas and sesame seeds.
USAGE - Because there are a number of ways in which the original Arabic word may be transliterated into English, there are a number of different English spellings: hummus, houmous, hoummos, and humous are all commonly used, and all are acceptable. Hummus is, however, the most widespread.
ORIGIN: Arabic.

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humor (Brit. humour)

noun
1. the quality of being amusing or comic.
2. a state of mind: her good humor vanished.
3. (also cardinal humor) historical each of four fluids of the body (blood, phlegm, yellow bile or choler, and black bile or melancholy), formerly believed to determine a person's physical and mental qualities.

verb
comply with the wishes or whims of.

IDIOMS -
out of humor in a bad mood.

DERIVATIVES:
humorless adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «bodily fluid», surviving in aqueous humor and vitreous humor: from Latin humor 'moisture' .

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humorist

noun
a humorous writer, performer, or artist.

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humorous

adjective
1. causing amusement.
2. having or showing a sense of humour.

DERIVATIVES:
humorously adverb
humorousness noun.

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humour (US humor)

noun
1. the quality of being amusing or comic.
2. a state of mind: her good humour vanished.
3. (also cardinal humour) historical each of four fluids of the body (blood, phlegm, yellow bile or choler, and black bile or melancholy), formerly believed to determine a person's physical and mental qualities.

verb
comply with the wishes or whims of.

IDIOMS -
out of humour in a bad mood.

DERIVATIVES:
humourless adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «bodily fluid», surviving in aqueous humour and vitreous humour: from Latin humor 'moisture' .

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hump

noun
1. a rounded protuberance found on the back of a camel or other animal or as an abnormality on a person's back.
2. a rounded raised mass of earth or land.

verb
1. informal lift or carry with difficulty.
2. make hump-shaped.
3. vulgar slang have sexual intercourse with.

IDIOMS -
get the hump Brit. informal become annoyed or sulky.
over the hump informal past the most difficult part of something.

DERIVATIVES:
humped adjective
humpless adjective
humpy adjective.

ORIGIN: probably related to Low German humpe 'hump' .

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humpback bridge

noun Brit.
a small road bridge with a steep ascent and descent.

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humus

noun
the organic component of soil, formed by the decomposition of leaves and other plant material.

DERIVATIVES:
humic adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'soil' .

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Hun

noun
1. a member of an Asiatic people who invaded Europe in the 4th 5th centuries.
2. informal, derogatory a German (especially in military contexts during the First and Second World Wars).

ORIGIN: Greek Hounnoi.

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hunch

verb
raise (one's shoulders) and bend the top of one's body forward.

noun
a feeling or guess based on intuition.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «push, shove»: of unknown origin.

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hunchback

noun
1. a deformed back in the shape of a hump, often caused by collapse of a vertebra.
2. often offensive a person with such a deformity.

DERIVATIVES:
hunchbacked adjective.

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hundred

cardinal number
1. ten more than ninety; 100. (Roman numeral: c or C.)
2. (hundreds) informal an unspecified large number.
3. used to express whole hours in the twenty-four-hour system.

noun Brit. historical
a subdivision of a county or shire, having its own court.

IDIOMS -
a (or one) hundred per cent
1. entirely.
2. informal completely fit and healthy: she didn't feel one hundred per cent.
3. informal maximum effort and commitment.

DERIVATIVES:
hundredfold adjective & adverb
hundredth ordinal number.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hundreds and thousands

plural noun Brit.
tiny sugar beads of varying colours used for decorating cakes and desserts.

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hundredweight

noun (pl. same or hundredweights)
1. (also long hundredweight) Brit. a unit of weight equal to 112 lb (about 50.8 kg).
2. (also short hundredweight) US a unit of weight equal to 100 lb (about 45.4 kg).
3. (also metric hundredweight) a unit of weight equal to 50 kg.

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hung
past and past participle of HANG.
adjective
1. having no political party with an overall majority: a hung parliament.
2. (of a jury) unable to agree on a verdict.
3. (hung up) informal emotionally confused or disturbed.

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Hungarian

noun
1. a person from Hungary.
2. the official language of Hungary.

adjective
relating to Hungary.

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hunger

noun
1. a feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by lack of food, coupled with the desire to eat.
2. a strong desire.

verb (hunger after/for)
have a strong desire for.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hunger strike

noun
a prolonged refusal to eat, carried out as a protest by a prisoner.

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hung-over

adjective
suffering from a hangover.

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hungry

adjective (hungrier, hungriest)
1. feeling or showing hunger.
2. (often hungry for) having a strong desire.

DERIVATIVES:
hungrily adverb
hungriness noun.

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hunk

noun
1. a large piece cut or broken from something larger.
2. informal a sexually attractive man.

DERIVATIVES:
hunky adjective.

ORIGIN: probably Dutch or Low German.

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hunker

verb
1. squat or crouch down low.
2. (hunker down) apply oneself seriously to a task.

ORIGIN: probably related to German hocken.

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hunkers

plural noun informal
haunches.

ORIGIN: from HUNKER.

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hunky-dory

adjective informal
excellent.

ORIGIN: hunky from Dutch honk 'home' (in games); the origin of dory is unknown.

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hunt

verb
1. pursue and kill (a wild animal) for sport or food.
2. (also hunt for or after) try to find by diligent searching.
3. (hunt down) pursue and capture (someone).
4. (hunted) appearing alarmed or harassed as if being hunted.
5. (of a device) undergo a cyclic variation in its working speed.

noun
1. an act or the process of hunting.
2. an association of people who meet regularly to hunt animals as a sport.

DERIVATIVES:
hunting noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hunter

noun
1. a person or animal that hunts.
2. a watch with a hinged cover protecting the glass.

DERIVATIVES:
huntress noun.

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huntsman

noun
1. a person who hunts.
2. a hunt official in charge of hounds.

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hurdle

noun
1. one of a series of upright frames which athletes in a race must jump over.
2. (hurdles) a hurdle race.
3. an obstacle or difficulty.
4. a portable rectangular frame used as a temporary fence.

verb
1. run in a hurdle race.
2. jump over (a hurdle or other obstacle) while running.
3. enclose or fence off with hurdles.

DERIVATIVES:
hurdler noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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hurdy-gurdy

noun (pl. hurdy-gurdies)
1. a musical instrument with a droning sound played by turning a handle, with keys worked by the other hand.
2. informal a barrel organ.

ORIGIN: probably imitative of the instrument's sound.

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hurl

verb
1. throw or impel with great force.
2. utter (abuse) vehemently.

noun Scottish informal
a ride in a vehicle.

ORIGIN: probably imitative, but influenced by Low German hurreln.

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hurling

noun
an Irish game resembling hockey, played with a shorter stick with a broader oval blade.

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hurly-burly

noun
busy, boisterous activity.

ORIGIN: from HURL.

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hurrah (also hooray, hurray)

exclamation
used to express joy or approval.

ORIGIN: alteration of HUZZA.

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hurricane

noun
a storm with a violent wind, in particular a tropical cyclone in the Caribbean.

ORIGIN: Spanish huracán, probably from a word in an extinct Caribbean language meaning 'god of the storm' .

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hurricane lamp

noun
an oil lamp with a glass chimney, designed to protect the flame even in high winds.

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hurry

verb (hurries, hurried)
move or act quickly or more quickly.

noun
great haste; urgency.

IDIOMS -
in a hurry
1. rushed; in a rushed manner.
2. informal easily; readily: you won't forget that in a hurry.

DERIVATIVES:
hurried adjective
hurriedly adverb.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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hurt

verb (past and past part. hurt)
1. cause or feel physical pain or injury.
2. cause or feel mental pain or distress.

noun
injury or pain; harm.

ORIGIN: Old French hurter 'to strike' .

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hurtful

adjective
causing mental pain or distress.

DERIVATIVES:
hurtfully adverb.

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hurtle

verb
move or cause to move at great speed, often in a wildly uncontrolled manner.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «strike against»: from HURT.

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husband

noun
a married man considered in relation to his wife.

verb
use (resources) economically.

DERIVATIVES:
husbandless adjective
husbandly adjective.

ORIGIN: original senses included «steward of a household» and «farmer»: from Old Norse.

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husbandry

noun
1. the care, cultivation, and breeding of crops and animals.
2. management and conservation of resources.

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hush

verb
1. make or become quiet.
2. (hush up) suppress public mention of.

noun
a silence.

ORIGIN: from obsolete husht «silent», «be quiet!»

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hush-hush

adjective informal
highly secret or confidential.

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hush money

noun informal
money paid to someone to prevent them from disclosing information.

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husk

noun
1. the dry outer covering of some fruits or seeds.
2. a dry or rough discarded outer layer.

verb
remove the husk from.

ORIGIN: probably from Low German hske 'sheath' , 'little house' .

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husky [1]

adjective (huskier, huskiest)
1. sounding low-pitched and slightly hoarse.
2. strong; hefty.

DERIVATIVES:
huskily adverb
huskiness noun.

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husky [2]

noun (pl. huskies)
a powerful dog of a breed with a thick double coat, used in the Arctic for pulling sledges.

ORIGIN: from a North American dialect word meaning «Eskimo».

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hussar

noun historical (except in titles)
a soldier in a light cavalry regiment which adopted a dress uniform modelled on that of the Hungarian light horsemen of the 15th century.

ORIGIN: Hungarian huszár, from Italian corsaro 'corsair' .

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hussy

noun (pl. hussies) dated or humorous
a promiscuous or immoral girl or woman.

ORIGIN: contraction of HOUSEWIFE.

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hustings

noun (treated as pl. or sing. )
1. a meeting at which candidates in an election address potential voters.
2. (the hustings) political campaigning; electioneering.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'household assembly held by a leader' , from hús 'house' + thing 'assembly, parliament' .

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hustle

verb
1. push roughly; jostle.
2. informal, chiefly N. Amer. obtain illicitly or by forceful action or persuasion.
3. (hustle into) coerce or pressure into.
4. N. Amer. informal engage in prostitution.

noun
1. busy movement and activity.
2. N. Amer. informal a fraud or swindle.

DERIVATIVES:
hustler noun.

ORIGIN: Dutch hutselen 'shake, toss' .

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hut

noun
a small single-storey building of simple or crude construction.

ORIGIN: High German hütte.

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hutch

noun
a box or cage for keeping rabbits or other small domesticated animals.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «storage chest»: from Old French huche, from Latin hutica.

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hyacinth

noun
a plant with a spike of bell-shaped fragrant flowers.

ORIGIN: named after Hyacinthus in Greek mythology: Hyacinthus was a youth loved by the god Apollo but accidentally killed by him, from whose blood Apollo caused a flower to grow.

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hybrid

noun
1. the offspring of two plants or animals of different species or varieties, such as a mule.
2. a thing made by combining two different elements.

DERIVATIVES:
hybridity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin hybrida 'offspring of a tame sow and wild boar, child of a freeman and slave, etc.'

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hybridize (also hybridise)

verb
cross-breed to produce hybrids.

DERIVATIVES:
hybridization noun.

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hydra

noun
a minute freshwater invertebrate animal with a stalk-like tubular body and a ring of tentacles around the mouth.

ORIGIN: named after the Hydra of Greek mythology, a many-headed snake whose heads regrew as they were cut off: the hydra is so named because, if cut into pieces, each section can grow into a whole animal.

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hydrangea

noun
a shrub with large white, blue, or pink flowers, native to Asia and America.

ORIGIN: from Greek hudro- 'water' + angeion 'vessel' (from the cup shape of its seed capsule).

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hydrant

noun
a water pipe with a nozzle to which a fire hose can be attached.

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hydrate

noun Chemistry
a compound in which water molecules are chemically bound to another compound or an element.

verb
cause to absorb or combine with water.

DERIVATIVES:
hydration noun.

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hydraulic

adjective
1. relating to a liquid moving in a confined space under pressure.
2. relating to the science of hydraulics.
3. (of cement) hardening under water.

DERIVATIVES:
hydraulically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek hudraulikos, from hudro- 'water' + aulos 'pipe' .

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hydro

noun (pl. hydros)
1. Brit. a hotel or clinic originally providing hydropathic treatment.
2. a hydroelectric power plant.

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hydro- (also hydr-)

combining form
1. water; relating to water: hydraulic.
2. Medicine affected with an accumulation of serous fluid: hydrocephalus.
3. Chemistry combined with hydrogen: hydrocarbon.

ORIGIN: from Greek hudr 'water' .

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hydrocarbon

noun
a compound of hydrogen and carbon, such as any of those which are the chief components of petroleum and natural gas.

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hydrocephalus

noun
a condition in which fluid accumulates in the brain.

DERIVATIVES:
hydrocephalic adjective
hydrocephaly noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek hudro- 'water' + kephal 'head' .

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hydrochloric acid

noun
a strongly acidic solution of the gas hydrogen chloride.

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hydrodynamics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the science of the forces acting on or exerted by fluids (especially liquids).

DERIVATIVES:
hydrodynamic adjective.

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hydroelectric

adjective
relating to the generation of electricity using flowing water to drive a turbine which powers a generator.

DERIVATIVES:
hydroelectricity noun.

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hydrofoil

noun
1. a boat fitted with structures (known as foils) which lift the hull clear of the water at speed.
2. each of the foils of such a craft.

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hydrogen

noun
a colourless, odourless, highly flammable gas which is the lightest of the chemical elements.

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hydrogen bomb

noun
a nuclear bomb whose destructive power comes from the fusion of isotopes of hydrogen (deuterium and tritium).

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hydrogen peroxide

noun
a colourless viscous liquid used in some disinfectants and bleaches.

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hydrogen sulphide

noun
a colourless poisonous gas with a smell of bad eggs, made by the action of acids on sulphides.

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hydrography

noun
the science of surveying and charting bodies of water.

DERIVATIVES:
hydrographer noun
hydrographic adjective.

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hydrology

noun
the science of the properties and distribution of water on the earth's surface.

DERIVATIVES:
hydrologic adjective
hydrological adjective
hydrologist noun.

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hydrolyse (also hydrolyze)

verb Chemistry
break down (a compound) by chemical reaction with water.

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hydrolysis

noun Chemistry
the chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with water.

DERIVATIVES:
hydrolytic adjective.

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hydrometer

noun
an instrument for measuring the density of liquids.

DERIVATIVES:
hydrometric adjective
hydrometry noun.

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hydropathy

noun
the treatment of illness through the use of water, either internally or externally.

DERIVATIVES:
hydropathic adjective
hydropathist noun.

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hydrophilic

adjective
having a tendency to mix with, dissolve in, or be wetted by water.

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hydrophobia

noun
1. extreme or irrational fear of water, especially as a symptom of rabies.
2. rabies.

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hydrophobic

adjective
1. tending to repel or fail to mix with water.
2. of or suffering from hydrophobia.

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hydroplane

noun
1. a light, fast motor boat.
2. a fin-like attachment which enables a moving submarine to rise or fall in the water.
3. US a seaplane.

verb chiefly N. Amer. another term for AQUAPLANE.

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hydroponics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the growing of plants in sand, gravel, or liquid, with added nutrients but without soil.

DERIVATIVES:
hydroponic adjective
hydroponically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek hudr 'water' + ponos 'labour' .

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hydrosphere

noun
the seas, lakes, and other waters of the earth's surface, considered collectively.

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hydrostatic

adjective
relating to the equilibrium of liquids and the pressure exerted by liquid at rest.

DERIVATIVES:
hydrostatics plural noun.

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hydrotherapy

noun
1. the therapeutic use of exercises in a pool.
2. another term for HYDROPATHY.

DERIVATIVES:
hydrotherapist noun.

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hydrothermal

adjective
relating to the action of heated water in the earth's crust.

DERIVATIVES:
hydrothermally adverb.

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hydrous

adjective
containing water.

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hydroxide

noun
a compound containing the hydroxide ion OH- or the group —OH.

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hyena (also hyaena)

noun
a doglike carnivorous African mammal with long forelimbs and an erect mane.

ORIGIN: Greek huaina 'female pig' (probably because of the resemblance of the hyena's mane to a hog's bristles).

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hygiene

noun
conditions or practices that help to maintain health and prevent disease, especially cleanliness.

ORIGIN: from Greek hugiein tekhn 'art of health' , from hugis 'healthy' .

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hygienic

adjective
promoting or conducive to hygiene; sanitary.

DERIVATIVES:
hygienically adverb.

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hygienist

noun
a specialist in the promotion of hygiene.

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hygrometer

noun
an instrument for measuring humidity.

DERIVATIVES:
hygrometric adjective
hygrometry noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek hugros 'wet' .

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hygroscopic

adjective
tending to absorb moisture from the air.

DERIVATIVES:
hygroscopically adverb.

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hymen

noun
a membrane which partially closes the opening of the vagina and whose presence is traditionally taken to be a mark of virginity.

ORIGIN: Greek humn 'membrane' .

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hymn

noun
a religious song of praise, especially a Christian song in praise of God.

verb
praise or celebrate.

ORIGIN: Greek humnos 'ode or song in praise' .

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hymnal

noun
a book of hymns.

adjective
relating to hymns.

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hymnody

noun
the singing or composition of hymns.

ORIGIN: Greek humnidia, from humnos 'hymn' + id 'song' .

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hype informal

noun
1. extravagant or intensive publicity or promotion.
2. a deception or hoax.

verb
promote or publicize intensively or extravagantly.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «short-change, cheat»: of unknown origin.

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hyper

adjective informal
hyperactive or unusually energetic.

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hyper-

prefix
1. over; beyond; above: hypersonic.
2. excessively; above normal: hyperthyroidism.

ORIGIN: from Greek huper 'over, beyond' .

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hyperactive

adjective
abnormally or extremely active.

DERIVATIVES:
hyperactivity noun.

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hyperbola

noun (pl. hyperbolas or hyperbolae)
a symmetrical open curve formed by the intersection of a cone with a plane at a smaller angle with its axis than the side of the cone.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek huperbol (see HYPERBOLE).

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hyperbole

noun
deliberate exaggeration, not meant to be taken literally.

DERIVATIVES:
hyperbolical adjective
hyperbolically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek huperbol 'excess' , from ballein 'to throw' .

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hyperbolic

adjective
1. (of language) deliberately exaggerated.
2. relating to a hyperbola.

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hypercritical

adjective
excessively and unreasonably critical.

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hyperinflation

noun
monetary inflation occurring at a very high rate.

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hyperlink

noun Computing
a link from a hypertext document to another location, activated by clicking on a highlighted word or image.

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hypermarket

noun chiefly Brit.
a very large supermarket.

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hypermedia

noun Computing
an extension to hypertext providing multimedia facilities, such as sound and video.

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hypersensitive

adjective
abnormally or excessively sensitive.

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hypersonic

adjective
1. relating to speeds of more than five times the speed of sound (Mach 5).
2. relating to sound frequencies above about a thousand million hertz.

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hypertension

noun
abnormally high blood pressure.

DERIVATIVES:
hypertensive adjective.

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hypertext

noun Computing
a system allowing extensive cross-referencing between related sections of text.

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hypertrophy

noun
enlargement of an organ or tissue resulting from an increase in size of its cells.

DERIVATIVES:
hypertrophic adjective
hypertrophied adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek -trophia 'nourishment' .

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hyperventilate

verb
1. breathe at an abnormally rapid rate.
2. be or become overexcited.

DERIVATIVES:
hyperventilation noun.

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hypha

noun (pl. hyphae) Botany
each of the branching filaments that make up the mycelium of a fungus.

ORIGIN: Greek huph 'web' .

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hyphen

noun
the sign (-) used to join words to indicate that they have a combined meaning or that they are grammatically linked, or to indicate word division at the end of a line.

ORIGIN: from Greek huphen 'together' .

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hyphenate

verb
write or separate with a hyphen.

DERIVATIVES:
hyphenation noun.

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hypnosis

noun
the induction of a state of consciousness in which a person loses the power of voluntary action and is highly responsive to suggestion or direction.

ORIGIN: from Greek hupnos 'sleep' .

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hypnotherapy

noun
the use of hypnosis as a therapeutic technique.

DERIVATIVES:
hypnotherapist noun.

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hypnotic

adjective
1. of, producing, or relating to hypnosis.
2. having a compelling or soporific effect.
3. (of a drug) sleep-inducing.

noun
a sleep-inducing drug.

DERIVATIVES:
hypnotically adverb.

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hypnotism

noun
the study or practice of hypnosis.

DERIVATIVES:
hypnotist noun.

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hypnotize (also hypnotise)

verb
produce a state of hypnosis in.

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hypo- (also hyp-)

prefix
1. under: hypodermic.
2. below normal: hypoglycaemia.
3. slightly: hypomanic.

ORIGIN: from Greek hupo 'under' .

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hypocaust

noun
an ancient Roman heating system, comprising a hollow space under the floor into which hot air was directed.

ORIGIN: Greek hupokauston 'place heated from below' .

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hypochondria

noun
abnormal chronic anxiety about one's health.

ORIGIN: Greek hupokhondria, denoting the soft body area below the ribs, originally thought to be the seat of melancholy.

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hypochondriac

noun
a person who is abnormally anxious about their health.

adjective (also hypochondriacal)
related to or affected by hypochondria.

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hypocrisy

noun (pl. hypocrisies)
the practice of claiming to have higher standards or beliefs than is the case.

ORIGIN: Greek hupokrisis 'acting of a theatrical part' .

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hypocrite

noun
a person who is given to hypocrisy.

DERIVATIVES:
hypocritical adjective
hypocritically adverb.

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hypodermic

adjective
1. relating to the region immediately beneath the skin.
2. (of a needle or syringe) used to inject beneath the skin.

noun
a hypodermic syringe or injection.

DERIVATIVES:
hypodermically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek derma 'skin' .

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hypotension

noun
abnormally low blood pressure.

DERIVATIVES:
hypotensive adjective.

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hypotenuse

noun
the longest side of a right-angled triangle, opposite the right angle.

ORIGIN: from Greek hupoteinousa gramm 'subtending line' .

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hypothermia

noun
the condition of having an abnormally low body temperature.

ORIGIN: from Greek therm 'heat' .

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hypothesis

noun (pl. hypotheses)
1. a supposition made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.
2. Philosophy a proposition made as a basis for reasoning.

ORIGIN: Greek hupothesis 'foundation' .

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hypothesize (also hypothesise)

verb
put forward as a hypothesis.

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hypothetical

adjective
1. of, based on, or serving as a hypothesis.
2. supposed but not necessarily real or true.

DERIVATIVES:
hypothetically adverb.

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hyrax

noun
a small short-tailed herbivorous mammal, found in Africa and Arabia.

ORIGIN: Greek hurax 'shrew-mouse' .

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hyssop

noun
1. a small bushy aromatic plant whose leaves are used in cookery and herbal medicine.
2. (in biblical use) a wild shrub whose twigs were used in ancient Jewish rites of purification.

ORIGIN: Greek hysspos, of Semitic origin.

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hysterectomy

noun (pl. hysterectomies)
a surgical operation to remove all or part of the womb.

ORIGIN: from Greek hustera 'womb' .

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hysteria

noun
1. a psychological disorder whose symptoms include volatile emotions and attention-seeking behaviour.
2. exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement.

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hysteric

noun
1. (hysterics) wildly emotional behaviour.
2. (hysterics) informal uncontrollable laughter.
3. a person suffering from hysteria.

adjective
hysterical.

ORIGIN: Greek husterikos 'of the womb' , from hustera 'womb' (hysteria being thought to be associated with the womb).

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hysterical

adjective
1. associated with or suffering from hysteria.
2. wildly uncontrolled.
3. informal extremely funny.

DERIVATIVES:
hysterically adverb.

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Hz

abbreviation
hertz.

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I

I [1] (also i)

noun (pl. Is or I's)
1. the ninth letter of the alphabet.
2. denoting the next after H in a set.
3. the Roman numeral for one.

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I [2]

pronoun (first person sing. )
used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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IA

abbreviation
Iowa.

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iambic Poetry

adjective
of or using iambuses.

noun (iambics)
verse using iambuses.

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iambus (also iamb)

noun (pl. iambuses or iambi) Poetry
a metrical foot consisting of one short (or unstressed) syllable followed by one long (or stressed) syllable.

ORIGIN: Greek iambos 'iambus, lampoon' (because the iambic meter was first used by Greek satirists).

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IBA

abbreviation
Independent Broadcasting Authority.

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Iberian

adjective
relating to Iberia (the peninsula that consists of modern Spain and Portugal).

noun
a person from Iberia.

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ibex

noun (pl. ibexes)
a wild mountain goat with long, thick ridged horns.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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ibid.

adverb
in the same source (referring to a previously cited work).

ORIGIN: abbreviation of Latin ibidem 'in the same place' .

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ibis

noun (pl. ibises)
a large wading bird with a long downcurved bill, long neck, and long legs.

ORIGIN: Greek.

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-ible

suffix forming adjectives:
1. able to be: defensible.
2. suitable for being: edible.
3. causing: horrible.

DERIVATIVES:
-ibility suffix
-ibly suffix.

ORIGIN: Latin -ibilis.

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ibuprofen

noun
a synthetic compound used as a pain-killer and anti-inflammatory drug.

ORIGIN: from elements of the chemical name 2-(4-isobutylphenyl) propionic acid.

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IC

abbreviation
integrated circuit.

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-ic

suffix
1. forming adjectives such as Islamic, terrific.
2. forming nouns such as lyric, mechanic.
3. Chemistry denoting an element in a higher valency: ferric. Compare with -OUS.

ORIGIN: from Latin -icus or Greek -ikos.

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-ical

suffix forming adjectives:
1. corresponding to nouns or adjectives usually ending in -ic (such as comical corresponding to comic).
2. corresponding to nouns ending in -y (such as pathological corresponding to pathology).

DERIVATIVES:
-ically suffix.

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ICBM

abbreviation
intercontinental ballistic missile.

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ice

noun
1. frozen water, a brittle transparent crystalline solid.
2. chiefly Brit. an ice cream or water ice.
3. informal diamonds.

verb
1. decorate with icing.
2. (usu. ice up/over) become covered or blocked with ice.
3. N. Amer. informal clinch (a victory or deal).
4. N. Amer. informal kill.

IDIOMS -
break the ice start conversation at the beginning of a social gathering or between strangers.
on thin ice in a precarious or risky situation.

DERIVATIVES:
iced adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ice age

noun
a period when ice sheets were unusually extensive across the earth's surface, in particular during the Pleistocene period.

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ice axe

noun
a small axe used by climbers for cutting footholds in ice.

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iceberg

noun
a large mass of ice floating in the sea.

IDIOMS -
the tip of the iceberg the small perceptible part of a much larger situation or problem.

ORIGIN: Dutch ijsberg, from ijs 'ice' + berg 'hill' .

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iceberg lettuce

noun
a kind of lettuce having a dense round head of crisp pale leaves.

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icebox

noun
1. a chilled container for keeping food cold.
2. Brit. a compartment in a refrigerator for making and storing ice.
3. US dated a refrigerator.

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ice-breaker

noun
a ship designed for breaking a channel through ice.

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ice cap

noun
a permanent covering of ice over a large area, especially on the polar region of a planet.

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ice cream

noun
a semi-soft frozen dessert made with sweetened and flavoured milk fat.

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ice field

noun
a large permanent expanse of ice, especially in polar regions.

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ice hockey

noun
a form of hockey played on an ice rink between two teams of six skaters.

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Icelandic

noun
the language of Iceland.

adjective
relating to Iceland or its language.

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ice lolly (also iced lolly)

noun Brit.
a piece of flavoured water ice or ice cream on a stick.

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ice pack

noun
a bag filled with ice and applied to the body to reduce swelling or lower temperature.

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ice pick

noun
a small pick used by climbers or for breaking ice.

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ice skate

noun
a boot with a blade attached to the sole, used for skating on ice.

verb (ice-skate)
skate on ice as a sport or pastime.

DERIVATIVES:
ice skater noun
ice skating noun.

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ichneumon

noun
1. a slender parasitic wasp which deposits its eggs in or on the larvae of other insects.
2. the Egyptian mongoose.

ORIGIN: Greek ikhneumn 'tracker' .

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ichthyology

noun
the branch of zoology concerned with fishes.

DERIVATIVES:
ichthyological adjective
ichthyologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek ikhthus 'fish' .

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ichthyosaur (also ichthyosaurus)

noun
a fossil marine reptile with a long pointed head, four flippers, and a vertical tail.

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icicle

noun
a hanging, tapering piece of ice formed by the freezing of dripping water.

ORIGIN: from ICE + dialect ickle «icicle», from Old English.

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icing

noun
a mixture of sugar with liquid or fat, used as a coating or filling for cakes or biscuits.

IDIOMS -
the icing on the cake an attractive but inessential addition or enhancement.

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icing sugar

noun chiefly Brit.
finely powdered sugar used to make icing.

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icon

noun
1. (also ikon) a devotional painting of Christ or another holy figure, typically on wood, venerated in the Byzantine and other Eastern Churches.
2. a person regarded with particular admiration or as a representative symbol.
3. Computing a symbol or graphic representation on a VDU screen of a program, option, or window.

ORIGIN: Greek eikn 'image' .

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iconic

adjective
relating to or of the nature of an icon.

DERIVATIVES:
iconically adverb.

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iconify

verb (iconifies, iconified) Computing
reduce (a window on a VDU screen) to an icon.

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iconoclast

noun
1. a person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions.
2. a person who destroys images used in religious worship, especially one belonging to a movement opposing such images in the Byzantine Church during the 8th and 9th century.

DERIVATIVES:
iconoclasm noun
iconoclastic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek eikn 'image, likeness' + klan 'to break' .

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iconography

noun
1. the use or study of images or symbols in visual arts.
2. the visual images associated with a person or movement.
3. the illustration of a subject by drawings or figures.

DERIVATIVES:
iconographer noun
iconographic adjective.

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icosahedron

noun (pl. icosahedra or icosahedrons)
a three-dimensional shape having twenty plane faces, in particular a regular solid figure with twenty equal triangular faces.

DERIVATIVES:
icosahedral adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek eikosaedros 'twenty-faced' .

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-ics

suffix
(forming nouns) denoting a subject of study or branch of knowledge, or a field of activity: politics.

ORIGIN: from Latin -ica or Greek -ika (plural forms).

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icy

adjective (icier, iciest)
1. covered with or consisting of ice.
2. very cold.
3. very unfriendly or hostile.

DERIVATIVES:
icily adverb
iciness noun.

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ID

abbreviation
1. identification or identity.
2. Idaho.

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I'd

contraction
1. I had.
2. I should or I would.

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id

noun Psychoanalysis
the part of the mind in which innate instinctive impulses and primary processes are manifest. Compare with EGO and SUPEREGO.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'that' .

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-ide

suffix Chemistry forming nouns:
1. denoting binary compounds: chloride.
2. denoting groups of elements: lanthanide.

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idea

noun
1. a thought or suggestion about a possible course of action.
2. a mental impression.
3. a belief.
4. (the idea) the aim or purpose.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'form, pattern' .

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ideal

adjective
1. most suitable; perfect.
2. desirable or perfect but existing only in the imagination.

noun
1. a person or thing regarded as perfect.
2. a principle to be aimed for; a standard of perfection.

DERIVATIVES:
ideally adverb.

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idealism

noun
1. the practice of forming or pursuing ideals, especially unrealistically.
2. (in art or literature) the representation of things in ideal form.

DERIVATIVES:
idealist noun
idealistic adjective
idealistically adverb.

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idealize (also idealise)

verb
regard or represent as perfect or better than in reality.

DERIVATIVES:
idealization noun.

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idée fixe

noun (pl. idées fixes pronunc. same)
an obsession.

ORIGIN: French, 'fixed idea' .

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identical

adjective
1. exactly alike or the same.
2. (of twins) developed from a single fertilized ovum, and therefore of the same sex and usually very similar in appearance.

DERIVATIVES:
identically adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin identicus, from identitas (see IDENTITY).

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identification

noun
1. the action or process of identifying or the fact of being identified.
2. an official document or other proof of one's identity.

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identify

verb (identifies, identified)
1. establish the identity of.
2. recognize or select by analysis.
3. (identify with) regard oneself as sharing the same characteristics or thinking as (someone else).
4. (identify with) associate (someone or something) closely with.

DERIVATIVES:
identifiable adjective
identifiably adverb
identifier noun.

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identikit

noun trademark
a picture of a person sought by the police, reconstructed from typical facial features according to witnesses' descriptions.

adjective often derogatory
very typical and ordinary; having few unique features.

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identity

noun (pl. identities)
1. the fact of being who or what a person or thing is.
2. the characteristics determining this.
3. a close similarity or affinity.
4. Mathematics an equation expressing the equality of two expressions for all values of the variables, e.g. (x + 1)2 = x^2 + 2x + 1.

ORIGIN: Latin identitas, from idem 'same' .

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identity parade

noun Brit.
a group of people assembled so that an eyewitness may identify a suspect for a crime from among them.

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ideogram

noun
a character symbolizing the idea of a thing without indicating the sounds used to say it (e.g. a numeral).

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ideologue

noun
a person who follows an ideology in a dogmatic or uncompromising way.

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ideology

noun (pl. ideologies)
1. a system of ideas and ideals forming the basis of an economic or political theory.
2. the set of beliefs characteristic of a social group or individual.

DERIVATIVES:
ideological adjective
ideologically adverb
ideologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek idea 'form' + -logos (denoting discourse or compilation).

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ides

plural noun
(in the ancient Roman calendar) a day falling roughly in the middle of each month, from which other dates were calculated.

ORIGIN: Latin idus (plural).

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idiocy

noun (pl. idiocies)
extremely stupid behaviour.

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idiom

noun
1. a group of words whose meaning cannot be deduced from those of the individual words (e.g. over the moon).
2. a form of expression natural to a language, person, or group.
3. a characteristic mode of expression in music or art.

ORIGIN: Greek idima 'private property' .

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idiomatic

adjective
1. using or relating to expressions that are natural to a native speaker.
2. appropriate to the style of art or music associated with a particular period or person.

DERIVATIVES:
idiomatically adverb.

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idiosyncrasy

noun (pl. idiosyncrasies)
1. a way of behaving or thinking peculiar to an individual.
2. a distinctive characteristic of a thing.

ORIGIN: Greek idiosunkrasia, from idios 'own' + sun 'with' + krasis 'mixture' .

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idiosyncratic

adjective
characterized by idiosyncrasy; peculiar or individual.

DERIVATIVES:
idiosyncratically adverb.

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idiot

noun
1. informal a stupid person.
2. Medicine, archaic a mentally handicapped person.

ORIGIN: Greek idits 'layman, ignorant person' , from idios 'own' .

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idiotic

adjective
very stupid or foolish.

DERIVATIVES:
idiotically adverb.

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idle

adjective (idler, idlest)
1. avoiding work; lazy.
2. not working or in use.
3. having no purpose or basis: idle threats.

verb
1. spend time doing nothing.
2. (of an engine) run slowly while disconnected from a load or out of gear.

DERIVATIVES:
idleness noun
idler noun
idly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English, «empty, useless».

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idol

noun
1. an image or representation of a god used as an object of worship.
2. a person who is greatly admired: a soccer idol.

ORIGIN: Greek eidlon, from eidos 'form' .

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idolatry

noun
1. worship of idols.
2. adulation.

DERIVATIVES:
idolater noun
idolatrous adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek eidlon 'idol' + -latreia 'worship' .

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idolize (also idolise)

verb
revere or love greatly or excessively.

DERIVATIVES:
idolization noun.

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idyll

noun
1. a blissful or peaceful period or situation.
2. a short description in verse or prose of a picturesque pastoral scene or incident.

ORIGIN: Greek eidullion 'little form' .

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idyllic

adjective
extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque.

DERIVATIVES:
idyllically adverb.

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i.e.

abbreviation
that is to say.

ORIGIN: from Latin id est 'that is' .

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IF

abbreviation
intermediate frequency.

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if

conjunction
1. introducing a conditional clause; on the condition or supposition that.
2. despite the possibility or fact that.
3. whether.
4. every time that; whenever.
5. expressing a polite request or tentative opinion.
6. expressing surprise or regret.

noun
a condition or supposition.

IDIOMS -
if anything used to suggest tentatively that something may be the case.
if only even if for no other reason than.
if so if that is the case.

USAGE - If and whether are more or less interchangeable in sentences like I'll see if he left an address and I'll see whether he left an address, although whether is more formal and more suitable for written use.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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iffy

adjective (iffier, iffiest) informal
1. doubtful.
2. of doubtful quality or legality.

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igloo

noun
a dome-shaped Eskimo house, typically built from blocks of solid snow.

ORIGIN: Inuit, 'house' .

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igneous

adjective Geology
(of rock) having solidified from lava or magma.

ORIGIN: from Latin ignis 'fire' .

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ignite

verb
1. catch fire or set on fire.
2. provoke or inflame (an emotion or situation).

ORIGIN: Latin ignire, from ignis 'fire' .

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igniter

noun
1. a device for igniting a fuel mixture in an engine.
2. a device for causing an electric arc.

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ignition

noun
1. the action of igniting or the state of being ignited.
2. the process of starting the combustion of fuel in the cylinders of an internal-combustion engine.

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ignoble

adjective (ignobler, ignoblest)
1. not honourable.
2. of humble origin or social status.

DERIVATIVES:
ignobly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin ignobilis, from in- 'not' + gnobilis 'noble' .

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ignominious

adjective
deserving or causing public disgrace or shame.

DERIVATIVES:
ignominiously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin ignominiosus, from in- 'not' + a variant of nomen 'name' .

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ignominy

noun
public shame or disgrace.

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ignoramus

noun (pl. ignoramuses)
an ignorant or stupid person.

ORIGIN: originally a formula uttered by a grand jury about an indictment considered to be backed by insufficient evidence to bring before a petty jury: from Latin, 'we do not know' (in legal use 'we take no notice of it' ).

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ignorance

noun
lack of knowledge or information.

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ignorant

adjective
1. lacking knowledge or awareness in general.
2. (often ignorant of) uninformed about or unaware of a specific subject or fact.
3. informal rude; discourteous.

DERIVATIVES:
ignorantly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin ignorare 'not know' .

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ignore

verb
1. disregard intentionally.
2. fail to consider (something significant).

ORIGIN: Latin ignorare 'not know' .

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iguana

noun
a large lizard with a spiny crest along the back.

ORIGIN: Arawak.

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IL

abbreviation
Illinois.

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il-

prefix variant spelling of IN-, IN-
before l.

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ileum

noun (pl. ilea) Anatomy
the third portion of the small intestine, between the jejunum and the caecum.

ORIGIN: Latin, variant of ILIUM.

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iliac

adjective
relating to the ilium or the nearby regions of the lower body.

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ilium

noun (pl. ilia)
the large broad bone forming the upper part of each half of the pelvis.

ORIGIN: Latin, singular of ilia 'flanks, entrails' .

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ilk

noun
1. a type: fascists, racists, and others of that ilk.
2. (of that ilk) Scottish, chiefly archaic of the place or estate of the same name.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to ALIKE.

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I'll

contraction
I shall; I will.

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ill

adjective
1. not in full health; unwell.
2. poor in quality.
3. harmful, hostile, or unfavourable.

adverb
1. badly, wrongly, or imperfectly: ill-chosen.
2. only with difficulty.

noun
1. a problem or misfortune.
2. evil or harm.

IDIOMS -
ill at ease uncomfortable or embarrassed.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'evil, difficult' .

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ill-advised

adjective
unwise or badly thought out.

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ill-bred

adjective
badly brought up or rude.

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ill-disposed

adjective
unfriendly or unsympathetic.

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illegal

adjective
contrary to or forbidden by law.

DERIVATIVES:
illegality noun
illegally adverb.
USAGE - Both illegal and unlawful can mean ‘contrary to or forbidden by law’, but unlawful has a broader meaning ‘not permitted by rules’: thus handball in soccer is unlawful, but not illegal.

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illegible

adjective
not clear enough to be read.

DERIVATIVES:
illegibility noun
illegibly adverb.

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illegitimate

adjective
1. not in accordance with the law or accepted standards.
2. (of a child) born of parents not lawfully married to each other.

DERIVATIVES:
illegitimacy noun
illegitimately adverb.

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ill-fated

adjective
destined to fail or have bad luck.

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ill-favoured (US ill-favored)

adjective
unattractive or offensive.

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ill-gotten

adjective
acquired by illegal or unfair means.

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illiberal

adjective
opposed to liberal principles.

DERIVATIVES:
illiberality noun
illiberally adverb.

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illicit

adjective
forbidden by law, rules, or custom.

DERIVATIVES:
illicitly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin illicitus, from in- 'not' + licitus 'allowed' .

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illiterate

adjective
1. unable to read or write.
2. ignorant in a particular subject or activity; politically illiterate.

DERIVATIVES:
illiteracy noun
illiterately adverb.

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illness

noun
a disease or period of sickness.

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illogical

adjective
lacking sense or sound reasoning.

DERIVATIVES:
illogicality noun (pl. illogicalities)
illogically adverb.

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ill-starred

adjective
unlucky.

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ill-tempered

adjective
irritable or morose.

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ill-treat

verb
act cruelly towards.

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illuminate

verb
1. light up.
2. help to clarify or explain.
3. decorate (a page or initial letter in a manuscript) with gold, silver, or coloured designs.

DERIVATIVES:
illuminative adjective
illuminator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin illuminare 'illuminate' , from lumen 'light' .

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illumination

noun
1. lighting or light.
2. (illuminations) lights used in decorating a building or other structure.
3. the action or process of illuminating.

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illumine

verb literary
light up; illuminate.

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illusion

noun
1. a false or unreal perception or belief.
2. a deceptive appearance or impression.

ORIGIN: Latin, from illudere 'to mock' .

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illusionist

noun
a magician or conjuror.

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illusory

adjective
apparently real but not actually so; deceptive.

DERIVATIVES:
illusorily adverb.

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illustrate

verb
1. provide (a book or periodical) with pictures.
2. make clear by using examples, charts, etc.
3. serve as an example of.

DERIVATIVES:
illustrator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin illustrare 'light up' .

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illustration

noun
1. a picture illustrating a book or periodical.
2. the action or fact of illustrating.
3. an illustrative example.

DERIVATIVES:
illustrational adjective.

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illustrative

adjective
serving as an example or explanation.

DERIVATIVES:
illustratively adverb.

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illustrious

adjective
famous and admired for past achievements.

DERIVATIVES:
illustriousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin illustris 'clear, bright' .

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ill will

noun
animosity.

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I'm

contraction
I am.

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image

noun
1. a representation of the external form of a person or thing in art.
2. a visible impression obtained by a camera, displayed on a video screen, or produced by reflection or refraction.
3. the general impression that a person, organization, or product presents to the public.
4. a picture in the mind.
5. a simile or metaphor.
6. a person or thing closely resembling another.
7. likeness.
8. (in biblical use) an idol.

verb
make or form an image of.

DERIVATIVES:
imageless adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin imago; related to IMITATE.

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imager

noun
an electronic or other device which records images.

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imagery

noun
1. figurative language, especially in a literary work.
2. visual symbolism.
3. visual images collectively.

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imaginable

adjective
possible to be thought of or believed.

DERIVATIVES:
imaginably adverb.

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imaginary

adjective
1. existing only in the imagination.
2. Mathematics expressed in terms of the square root of -1 (represented by i or j): imaginary numbers.

DERIVATIVES:
imaginarily adverb.

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imagination

noun
1. the faculty or action of forming ideas or images in the mind.
2. the ability of the mind to be creative or resourceful.

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imaginative

adjective
having or showing creativity or inventiveness.

DERIVATIVES:
imaginatively adverb
imaginativeness noun.

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imagine

verb
1. form a mental image or concept of.
2. believe (something unreal) to exist.
3. suppose or assume.

DERIVATIVES:
imaginer noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin imaginare 'form an image of' and imaginari 'picture to oneself' , both from imago 'image' .

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imaginings

plural noun
thoughts or fantasies.

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imago

noun (pl. imagos or imagines)
the final and fully developed adult stage of an insect.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'image' .

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imam

noun
1. the person who leads prayers in a mosque.
2. (Imam) a title of various Muslim leaders, especially of one succeeding Muhammad as leader of Shiite Islam.

DERIVATIVES:
imamate noun.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'leader' .

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imbalance

noun
a lack of proportion or balance.

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imbecile

noun informal
a stupid person.

adjective
stupid.

DERIVATIVES:
imbecilic adjective
imbecility noun (pl. imbecilities) .

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «physically weak»: from Latin imbecillus 'without a supporting staff' .

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imbibe

verb
1. formal or humorous drink (alcohol).
2. absorb (ideas or knowledge).

DERIVATIVES:
imbiber noun.

ORIGIN: Latin imbibere, from bibere 'to drink' .

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imbroglio

noun (pl. imbroglios)
a very confused or complicated situation.

ORIGIN: Italian, from imbrogliare 'confuse' .

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imbue

verb (imbues, imbued, imbuing) (often be imbued with)
fill with a feeling or quality.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «saturate»: from Latin imbuere 'moisten' .

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IMF

abbreviation
International Monetary Fund.

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imitate

verb
1. follow as a model.
2. copy (a person's speech or mannerisms), especially for comic effect.
3. reproduce; simulate: synthetic fabrics that imitate silk.

DERIVATIVES:
imitable adjective
imitator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin imitari, related to imago 'image' .

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imitation

noun
1. the action of imitating.
2. a copy.

IDIOMS -
imitation is the sincerest form of flattery proverb copying someone or something is an implicit way of paying them a compliment.

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imitative

adjective
1. following a model.
2. (of a word) reproducing a natural sound (e.g. fizz) or pronounced in a way thought to correspond to the appearance or character of the object or action described (e.g. blob).

DERIVATIVES:
imitatively adverb.

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immaculate

adjective
1. perfectly clean, neat, or tidy.
2. free from flaws or mistakes.
3. Catholic Theology free from sin.

DERIVATIVES:
immaculacy noun
immaculately adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin immaculatus, from in- 'not' + maculatus 'stained' .

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Immaculate Conception

noun
1. (in the Roman Catholic Church) the doctrine that God preserved the Virgin Mary from the taint of original sin from the moment she was conceived.
2. the feast commemorating the Immaculate Conception on December 8th.

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immanent

adjective
1. present within; inherent.
2. (of God) permanently pervading the universe.

DERIVATIVES:
immanence noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin immanere 'remain within' .

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immaterial

adjective
1. unimportant under the circumstances; irrelevant.
2. spiritual rather than physical.

DERIVATIVES:
immateriality noun.

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immature

adjective
1. not fully developed.
2. having or showing emotional or intellectual development appropriate to someone younger.

DERIVATIVES:
immaturely adverb
immaturity noun.

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immeasurable

adjective
too large or extreme to measure.

DERIVATIVES:
immeasurably adverb.

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immediate

adjective
1. occurring or done at once.
2. nearest in time, space, or relationship.
3. most urgent; current.
4. without an intervening medium or agency; direct: a coronary was the immediate cause of death.

DERIVATIVES:
immediacy noun.

ORIGIN: Latin immediatus, from in- 'not' + mediatus 'intervening' .

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immediately

adverb
1. at once.
2. very close in time, space, or relationship.

conjunction chiefly Brit.
as soon as.

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immemorial

adjective
existing from before what can be remembered or found in records: from time immemorial.

DERIVATIVES:
immemorially adverb.

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immense

adjective
extremely large or great.

DERIVATIVES:
immensity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin immensus 'immeasurable' .

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immensely

adverb
to a great extent; extremely.

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immerse

verb
1. dip or submerge in a liquid.
2. (immerse oneself or be immersed) involve oneself deeply in an activity or interest.

ORIGIN: Latin immergere 'dip into' .

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immersion

noun
1. the action of immersing or the state of being immersed.
2. deep involvement.

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immersion heater

noun
an electric heating element that is positioned in the liquid to be heated, typically in a domestic hot-water tank.

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immigrant

noun
a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.

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immigrate

verb
come to live permanently in a foreign country.

DERIVATIVES:
immigration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin immigrare.

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imminent

adjective
about to happen.

DERIVATIVES:
imminence noun
imminently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin imminere 'overhang, impend' .

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immiscible

adjective
(of liquids) not forming a homogeneous mixture when added together.

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immobile

adjective
1. not moving.
2. incapable of moving or being moved.

DERIVATIVES:
immobility noun.

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immobilize (also immobilise)

verb
1. prevent from moving or operating as normal.
2. restrict the movements of (a limb or patient) to allow healing.

DERIVATIVES:
immobilization noun
immobilizer noun.

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immoderate

adjective
lacking moderation; excessive.

DERIVATIVES:
immoderately adverb
immoderation noun.

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immodest

adjective
not humble, decent, or decorous.

DERIVATIVES:
immodestly adverb
immodesty noun.

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immolate

verb
kill or offer as a sacrifice, especially by burning.

DERIVATIVES:
immolation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin immolare 'sprinkle with sacrificial meal' , from mola 'meal' .

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immoral

adjective
not conforming to accepted standards of morality.

DERIVATIVES:
immorality noun (pl. immoralities)
immorally adverb.

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immortal

adjective
1. living forever.
2. deserving to be remembered forever.

noun
1. an immortal being, especially a god of ancient Greece or Rome.
2. a person of enduring fame.

DERIVATIVES:
immortality noun
immortalize (also immortalise) verb.

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immovable (also immoveable)

adjective
1. not able to be moved or changed.
2. Law (of property) consisting of land, buildings, or other permanent items.

DERIVATIVES:
immovability noun
immovably adverb.

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immune

adjective
1. resistant to a particular infection owing to the presence of specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells.
2. relating to such resistance: the immune system.
3. exempt from an obligation or penalty.
4. (often immune to) not susceptible.

ORIGIN: Latin immunis 'exempt from public service or charge' , from in- 'not' + munis 'ready for service' .

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immunity

noun (pl. immunities)
1. the ability of an organism to resist a particular infection.
2. exemption from an obligation or penalty.

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immunize (also immunise)

verb
make immune to infection, typically by inoculation.

DERIVATIVES:
immunization noun.

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immunodeficiency

noun
reduced ability of the immune system to protect the body from infection.

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immunology

noun
the branch of medicine and biology concerned with immunity.

DERIVATIVES:
immunologic adjective
immunological adjective
immunologist noun.

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immunotherapy

noun
the prevention or treatment of disease with substances that stimulate the immune response.

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immure

verb (usu. be immured)
confine or imprison.

DERIVATIVES:
immurement noun.

ORIGIN: Latin immurare, from murus 'wall' .

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immutable

adjective
unchanging or unchangeable.

DERIVATIVES:
immutability noun
immutably adverb.

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imp

noun
1. a small, mischievous devil or sprite.
2. a mischievous child.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a descendant, later an evil person (regarded as a child of the devil): from an Old English word meaning «young shoot, scion», from Greek emphuein 'to implant' .

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impact

noun
1. the action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another.
2. a marked effect or influence.

verb
1. come into forcible contact with another object.
2. (often impact on) have a strong effect.
3. press firmly.

DERIVATIVES:
impactor noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin impingere 'drive something in or at' .

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impair

verb
weaken or damage.

DERIVATIVES:
impairment noun.

ORIGIN: Old French empeirier, from Latin pejorare 'make worse' .

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impala

noun (pl. same)
a graceful antelope of southern and East Africa, with lyre-shaped horns.

ORIGIN: Zulu.

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impale

verb
transfix or pierce with a sharp instrument.

DERIVATIVES:
impalement noun
impaler noun.

ORIGIN: Latin impalare, from palus 'a stake' .

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impalpable

adjective
1. unable to be felt by touch.
2. not easily comprehended.

DERIVATIVES:
impalpably adverb.

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impart

verb
1. communicate (information).
2. give (a quality).

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «give a share of»: from Latin impartire, from pars 'part' .

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impartial

adjective
treating all rivals or disputants equally.

DERIVATIVES:
impartiality noun
impartially adverb.

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impassable

adjective
impossible to travel along or over.

DERIVATIVES:
impassability noun.

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impasse

noun
a deadlock.

ORIGIN: French, from passer 'to pass' .

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impassioned

adjective
filled with or showing great emotion.

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impassive

adjective
not feeling or showing emotion.

DERIVATIVES:
impassively adverb
impassiveness noun
impassivity noun.

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impasto

noun Art
the process or technique of laying on paint or pigment thickly so that it stands out from a surface.

ORIGIN: Italian, from pasta 'a paste' .

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impatient

adjective
1. lacking patience or tolerance.
2. restlessly eager: impatient for change.

DERIVATIVES:
impatience noun
impatiently adverb.

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impeach

verb
1. call into question the integrity or validity of (a practice).
2. Brit. charge with treason or another crime against the state.
3. chiefly US charge (the holder of a public office) with misconduct.

DERIVATIVES:
impeachable adjective
impeachment noun.

ORIGIN: Old French empecher 'impede' , from Latin impedicare 'entangle' , from pes 'foot' .

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impeccable

adjective
in accordance with the highest standards; faultless.

DERIVATIVES:
impeccability noun
impeccably adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «not liable to sin»: from Latin impeccabilis, from peccare 'to sin' .

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impecunious

adjective
having little or no money.

DERIVATIVES:
impecuniosity noun
impecuniousness noun.

ORIGIN: from IN- + Latin pecuniosus 'wealthy' .

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impedance

noun
the effective resistance to an alternating electric current arising from the combined effects of ohmic resistance and reactance.

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impede

verb
delay or block the progress or action of.

ORIGIN: Latin impedire 'shackle the feet of' , from pes 'foot' .

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impediment

noun
1. a hindrance or obstruction.
2. (also speech impediment) a defect in a person's speech, such as a lisp or stammer.

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impedimenta

plural noun
equipment for an activity or expedition, especially when an encumbrance.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'impediments' .

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impel

verb (impelled, impelling)
1. drive, force, or urge to do.
2. drive forward.

DERIVATIVES:
impeller noun.

ORIGIN: Latin impellere, from in- 'towards' + pellere 'to drive' .

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impending

adjective
(especially of something bad or momentous) be about to happen.

ORIGIN: from Latin impendere 'overhang' .

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impenetrable

adjective
1. impossible to get through or into.
2. impossible to understand.
3. impervious to new ideas or influences.

DERIVATIVES:
impenetrability noun
impenetrably adverb.

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impenitent

adjective
not feeling shame or regret.

DERIVATIVES:
impenitence noun
impenitently adverb.

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imperative

adjective
1. of vital importance.
2. giving an authoritative command.
3. Grammar denoting the mood of a verb that expresses a command or exhortation, as in come here!

noun
an essential or urgent thing.

DERIVATIVES:
imperatively adverb
imperativeness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin imperativus 'specially ordered' , from imperare 'to command' .

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imperceptible

adjective
so slight, gradual, or subtle as not to be perceived.

DERIVATIVES:
imperceptibly adverb.

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imperfect

adjective
1. faulty or incomplete.
2. Grammar (of a tense) denoting a past action in progress but not completed at the time in question.

DERIVATIVES:
imperfection noun
imperfectly adverb.

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imperial

adjective
1. relating to an empire or an emperor.
2. characteristic of an emperor; majestic or magnificent.
3. relating to or denoting the system of non-metric weights and measures formerly used for all measures in the UK, and still used for some.

DERIVATIVES:
imperially adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin imperialis, from imperium 'command, empire' .

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imperialism

noun
a policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means.

DERIVATIVES:
imperialist noun & adjective
imperialistic adjective.

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imperil

verb (imperilled, imperilling; US imperiled, imperiling)
put into danger.

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imperious

adjective
arrogant and domineering.

DERIVATIVES:
imperiously adverb
imperiousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin imperiosus, from imperium 'command, empire' .

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impermanent

adjective
not permanent.

DERIVATIVES:
impermanence noun
impermanently adverb.

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impermeable

adjective
not allowing fluid to pass through.

DERIVATIVES:
impermeability noun.

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impersonal

adjective
1. not influenced by or involving personal feelings.
2. featureless and anonymous.
3. not existing as a person.
4. Grammar (of a verb) used only with a formal subject (in English usually it) and expressing an action not attributable to a definite subject (as in it is snowing).

DERIVATIVES:
impersonality noun
impersonally adverb.

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impersonal pronoun

noun
the pronoun it when used without definite reference or antecedent, as in it was snowing.

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impersonate

verb
pretend to be (another person) for entertainment or fraud.

DERIVATIVES:
impersonation noun
impersonator noun.

ORIGIN: from IN- + Latin persona 'person' .

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impertinent

adjective
1. not showing proper respect.
2. formal not pertinent; irrelevant.

DERIVATIVES:
impertinence noun
impertinently adverb.

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imperturbable

adjective
unable to be upset or excited.

DERIVATIVES:
imperturbability noun
imperturbably adverb.

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impervious

adjective
1. not allowing fluid to pass through.
2. (impervious to) unable to be affected by.

DERIVATIVES:
imperviously adverb
imperviousness noun.

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impetigo

noun
a contagious bacterial skin infection forming pustules and yellow crusty sores.

ORIGIN: Latin, from impetere 'to attack' .

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impetuous

adjective
1. acting or done quickly and rashly.
2. moving forcefully or rapidly.

DERIVATIVES:
impetuosity noun
impetuously adverb
impetuousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin impetuosus, from impetere 'to attack' .

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impetus

noun
1. the force or energy with which a body moves.
2. a driving force.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'assault, force' .

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impinge

verb (impinging) (usu. impinge on)
1. have an effect or impact.
2. come into contact; encroach.

DERIVATIVES:
impingement noun.

ORIGIN: Latin impingere 'drive something in or at' .

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impious

adjective
not showing respect or reverence.

DERIVATIVES:
impiously adverb.

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implacable

adjective
1. unable to be appeased.
2. relentless; unstoppable.

DERIVATIVES:
implacability noun
implacably adverb.

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implant

verb
1. insert or fix (tissue or an artificial object) into the body.
2. establish (an idea) in the mind.

noun
a thing implanted.

DERIVATIVES:
implantation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin implantare 'engraft' .

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implausible

adjective
not seeming reasonable or probable.

DERIVATIVES:
implausibility noun
implausibly adverb.

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implement

noun
a tool, utensil, or other piece of equipment, used for a particular purpose.

verb
put into effect.

DERIVATIVES:
implementation noun
implementer noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin implere 'fill up' , later 'employ' .

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implicate

verb
1. show to be involved in a crime.
2. (be implicated in) bear some of the responsibility for.
3. convey (a meaning or intention) indirectly; imply.

DERIVATIVES:
implicative adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin implicare 'fold in, involve, imply' .

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implication

noun
1. the implicit conclusion that can be drawn from something.
2. a likely consequence.
3. the action of implicating or the state of being implicated.

DERIVATIVES:
implicational adjective.

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implicit

adjective
1. implied though not directly expressed.
2. (implicit in) always to be found in.
3. with no qualification or question: implicit faith.

DERIVATIVES:
implicitly adverb
implicitness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin implicitus, from implicare (see IMPLICATE).

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implode

verb
collapse or cause to collapse violently inwards.

DERIVATIVES:
implosion noun
implosive adjective.

ORIGIN: from IN- + Latin plodere, plaudere 'to clap' , on the pattern of explode.

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implore

verb
beg earnestly or desperately.

ORIGIN: Latin implorare 'invoke with tears' .

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imply

verb (implies, implied)
1. indicate by suggestion rather than explicit reference.
2. (of a fact or occurrence) suggest as a logical consequence.
USAGE - The words imply and infer do not mean the same thing. Imply is used with a speaker as its subject, as in he implied that the General had been a traitor, and indicates that the speaker is suggesting something though not making an explicit statement. Infer is used in sentences such as we inferred from his words that the General had been a traitor, and indicates that something in the speaker's words enabled the listeners to deduce that the man was a traitor.
ORIGIN: originally in the sense «entangle»: from Old French emplier, from Latin implicare 'fold in, involve' .

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impolite

adjective
not having or showing good manners.

DERIVATIVES:
impolitely adverb
impoliteness noun.

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impolitic

adjective
failing to possess or display prudence.

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imponderable

adjective
difficult or impossible to assess.

noun
an imponderable factor.

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import

verb
1. bring (goods or services) into a country from abroad.
2. Computing transfer (data) into a file or document.
3. archaic indicate or signify.

noun
1. an imported article or service.
2. the action or process of importing.
3. the implied meaning of something.
4. importance.

DERIVATIVES:
importable adjective
importation noun
importer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin importare 'bring in' .

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important

adjective
1. of great significance or value.
2. having high rank or social status.

DERIVATIVES:
importance noun
importantly adverb.

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importunate

adjective
persistent or pressing.

DERIVATIVES:
importunately adverb
importunity noun (pl. importunities) .

ORIGIN: Latin importunus 'inconvenient' , from Portunus, the god who protected harbours.

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importune

verb
1. harass with persistent requests.
2. (usu. as noun importuning) approach to offer one's services as a prostitute.

ORIGIN: Latin importunari, from importunus (see IMPORTUNATE).

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impose

verb
1. force to be accepted, undertaken, or complied with.
2. (often impose on) take unfair advantage of someone.

ORIGIN: French imposer, from Latin imponere 'inflict, deceive' .

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imposing

adjective
grand and impressive.

DERIVATIVES:
imposingly adverb.

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imposition

noun
1. the action of imposing or process being imposed.
2. something imposed, especially an unfair or resented demand or burden.

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impossible

adjective
1. not able to occur, exist, or be done.
2. very difficult to deal with: an impossible situation.

DERIVATIVES:
impossibility noun (pl. impossibilities)
impossibly adverb.

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impostor (also imposter)

noun
a person who assumes a false identity in order to deceive or defraud.

ORIGIN: Latin, contraction of impositor, from imponere (see IMPOSE).

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imposture

noun
an instance of assuming a false identity.

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impotent

adjective
1. helpless or powerless.
2. (of a man) abnormally unable to achieve an erection or orgasm.

DERIVATIVES:
impotence noun
impotency noun
impotently adverb.

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impound

verb
1. seize and take legal custody of.
2. shut up (domestic animals) in a pound.
3. (of a dam) hold back or confine (water).

DERIVATIVES:
impoundment noun.

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impoverish

verb
1. make poor.
2. exhaust the strength or natural fertility of.

DERIVATIVES:
impoverishment noun.

ORIGIN: Old French empoverir, from povre 'poor' .

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impracticable

adjective
impossible in practice to do or carry out.

DERIVATIVES:
impracticability noun
impracticably adverb.

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impractical

adjective
1. not adapted for use or action; not sensible.
2. chiefly N. Amer. impracticable.

DERIVATIVES:
impracticality noun
impractically adverb.

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imprecation

noun formal
a spoken curse.

ORIGIN: Latin, from imprecari 'invoke (evil)' .

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imprecise

adjective
lacking exactness.

DERIVATIVES:
imprecisely adverb
imprecision noun.

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impregnable

adjective
1. unable to be captured or broken into.
2. unable to be overcome.

DERIVATIVES:
impregnability noun
impregnably adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French imprenable, from in- 'not' + prendre 'take' .

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impregnate

verb
1. (usu. be impregnated with) soak or saturate with a substance.
2. fill with a feeling or quality.
3. make pregnant.

DERIVATIVES:
impregnation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin impregnare 'make pregnant' .

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impresario

noun (pl. impresarios)
a person who organizes and often finances theatrical or musical productions.

ORIGIN: Italian, from impresa 'undertaking' .

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impress

verb
1. make (someone) feel admiration and respect.
2. make a mark or design on using a stamp or seal.
3. (impress on) emphasize (an idea) in the mind of.

noun
1. an act of impressing a mark.
2. an impressed mark.
3. a person's characteristic mark or quality.

ORIGIN: Old French empresser 'press in' .

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impression

noun
1. an idea, feeling, or opinion.
2. an effect produced on someone.
3. an imitation of a person or thing, done to entertain.
4. a mark impressed on a surface.
5. the printing of a number of copies of a publication for issue at one time.
6. chiefly Brit. a particular printed version of a book, especially one reprinted with no or only minor alteration.

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impressionable

adjective
easily influenced.

DERIVATIVES:
impressionability noun.

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Impressionism

noun
1. a style or movement in painting concerned with depicting the visual impression of the moment, especially the shifting effects of light.
2. a literary style that seeks to capture a feeling or experience rather than to achieve accurate depiction.
3. Music a style of composition in which clarity of structure and theme is subordinate to harmonic effects.

DERIVATIVES:
Impressionist noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: from French impressionniste, originally applied unfavourably with reference to Monet's painting Impression: soleil levant (1872).

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impressionist

noun
an entertainer who impersonates famous people.

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impressionistic

adjective
1. based on subjective impressions presented unsystematically.
2. (Impressionistic) in the style of Impressionism.

DERIVATIVES:
impressionistically adverb.

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impressive

adjective
evoking admiration through size, quality, or skill.

DERIVATIVES:
impressively adverb
impressiveness noun.

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imprimatur

noun
1. an official licence issued by the Roman Catholic Church to print an ecclesiastical or religious book.
2. authority or approval.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'let it be printed' .

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imprint

verb
1. (usu. be imprinted) make (a mark) on an object by pressure.
2. make an impression or mark on.
3. (imprint on) (of a young animal) come to recognize (another animal, person, or thing) as a parent.

noun
1. an impressed mark.
2. a printer's or publisher's name and other details in a publication.
3. a brand name under which books are published, typically the name of a former publishing house now part of a larger group.

ORIGIN: Latin imprimere 'impress, imprint' .

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imprison

verb
put or keep in prison.

DERIVATIVES:
imprisonment noun.

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improbable

adjective
not likely to be true or to happen.

DERIVATIVES:
improbability noun (pl. improbabilities)
improbably adverb.

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impromptu

adjective & adverb
unplanned or unrehearsed.

noun (pl. impromptus)
a short piece of instrumental music, especially a solo, reminiscent of an improvisation.

ORIGIN: from Latin in promptu 'in readiness' .

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improper

adjective
1. not conforming with accepted standards of behaviour.
2. unseemly or indecent.

DERIVATIVES:
improperly adverb.

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improper fraction

noun
a fraction in which the numerator is greater than the denominator, such as 5 / 4.

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impropriety

noun (pl. improprieties)
improper behaviour or character.

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improve

verb
1. make or become better.
2. (improve on/upon) achieve or produce something better than.
3. (improving) giving moral or intellectual benefit.

DERIVATIVES:
improvability noun
improvable adjective
improver noun.

ORIGIN: Old French emprower, from prou 'profit' .

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improvement

noun
1. an instance of improving or being improved.
2. the action of improving or being improved.
3. a thing that makes something better or is better than something else.

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improvident

adjective
lacking care for the future.

DERIVATIVES:
improvidence noun
improvidently adverb.

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improvise

verb
1. create and perform (music, drama, or verse) spontaneously or without preparation.
2. make from whatever is available.

DERIVATIVES:
improvisation noun
improvisational adjective
improvisatory adjective
improviser noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin improvisus 'unforeseen' .

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imprudent

adjective
not showing care for the consequences of an action; rash.

DERIVATIVES:
imprudence noun
imprudently adverb.

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impudent

adjective
not showing due respect for another person; impertinent.

DERIVATIVES:
impudence noun
impudently adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'immodest' : from Latin impudens 'shameless' .

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impugn

verb
dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of.

ORIGIN: Latin impugnare 'assail' .

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impulse

noun
1. a sudden strong and unreflective urge to act.
2. a driving force; an impetus.
3. a pulse of electrical energy; a brief current.
4. Physics a force acting briefly on a body and producing a change of momentum.

ORIGIN: Latin impulsus 'a push' , from impellere 'impel' .

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impulsion

noun
1. a strong urge to do something.
2. the force or motive behind an action or process.

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impulsive

adjective
1. acting or done without forethought.
2. Physics acting as an impulse.

DERIVATIVES:
impulsively adverb
impulsiveness noun
impulsivity noun.

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impunity

noun (usu. in phrase with impunity)
exemption from punishment or from the harmful consequences of an action.

ORIGIN: Latin impunitas, from impunis 'unpunished' .

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impure

adjective
1. mixed with foreign matter; adulterated or tainted.
2. morally wrong, especially in sexual matters.
3. contaminated according to ritual prescriptions.

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impurity

noun (pl. impurities)
1. the quality or condition of being impure.
2. a thing which impairs the purity of something.

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impute

verb (usu. impute to)
attribute (something, especially something bad) to someone.

DERIVATIVES:
imputable adjective
imputation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin imputare 'enter in the account' .

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IN

abbreviation
Indiana.

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In

symbol
the chemical element indium.

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in

preposition
1. expressing the situation of being enclosed or surrounded.
2. expressing motion that results in being within or surrounded by something.
3. expressing a period of time during which an event takes place or a situation remains the case.
4. expressing the length of time before a future event is expected to take place.
5. expressing a state, condition, or quality.
6. expressing inclusion or involvement.
7. indicating a person's occupation or profession.
8. indicating the language or medium used.
9. expressing a value as a proportion of (a whole).

adverb
1. expressing movement that results in being enclosed or surrounded.
2. expressing the situation of being enclosed or surrounded.
3. present at one's home or office.
4. expressing arrival at a destination.
5. (of the tide) rising or at its highest level.

adjective informal
fashionable.

IDIOMS -
be in for have good reason to expect (something, typically something unpleasant).
in on privy to (a secret).
in that for the reason that.
in with informal enjoying friendly relations with.
the ins and outs informal all the details.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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in.

abbreviation
inch(es).

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in- [1] (also il- before l; im- before b, m, p; ir- before r)

prefix
1. (added to adjectives) not: infertile.
2. (added to nouns) without; a lack of: inappreciation.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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in- [2] (also il- before l; im- before b, m, p; ir- before r)

prefix
in; into; towards; within: influx.

ORIGIN: representing IN or the Latin preposition in.

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inability

noun
the state of being unable to do something.

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in absentia

adverb
while not present.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'in absence' .

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inaccessible

adjective
1. unable to be reached or used.
2. difficult to understand or appreciate.
3. not open to advances or influence; unapproachable.

DERIVATIVES:
inaccessibility noun
inaccessibly adverb.

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inaccurate

adjective
not accurate.

DERIVATIVES:
inaccuracy noun
inaccurately adverb.

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inaction

noun
lack of action where some is expected or appropriate.

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inactive

adjective
not active, working, or energetic.

DERIVATIVES:
inactivity noun.

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inadequate

adjective
1. insufficient for a purpose.
2. unable to deal with a situation or with life.

DERIVATIVES:
inadequacy noun (pl. inadequacies)
inadequately adverb.

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inadmissible

adjective
1. (especially of evidence in court) not accepted as valid.
2. not to be allowed.

DERIVATIVES:
inadmissibility noun.

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inadvertent

adjective
not resulting from or achieved through deliberate planning.

DERIVATIVES:
inadvertence noun
inadvertently adverb.

ORIGIN: from IN- + Latin advertere 'turn the mind to' .

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inadvisable

adjective
likely to have unfortunate consequences; unwise.

DERIVATIVES:
inadvisability noun.

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inalienable

adjective
unable to be taken away from or given away by the possessor.

DERIVATIVES:
inalienability noun
inalienably adverb.

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inamorato

noun (pl. inamoratos; fem. inamorata, pl. inamoratas)
a person's lover.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'enamoured' .

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inane

adjective
lacking sense or meaning; silly.

DERIVATIVES:
inanely adverb
inanity noun (pl. inanities) .

ORIGIN: Latin inanis 'empty, vain' .

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inanimate

adjective
1. not alive, especially not in the manner of animals and humans.
2. showing no sign of life; lifeless.

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inapplicable

adjective
not relevant or appropriate.

DERIVATIVES:
inapplicability noun.

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inappropriate

adjective
not suitable or appropriate.

DERIVATIVES:
inappropriately adverb
inappropriateness noun.

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inarticulate

adjective
1. unable to speak distinctly or express oneself clearly.
2. unspoken or not expressed in words.
3. without joints or articulations.

DERIVATIVES:
inarticulacy noun
inarticulately adverb
inarticulateness noun.

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inasmuch

adverb (inasmuch as)
1. to the extent that.
2. considering that; since.

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inattentive

adjective
not paying attention.

DERIVATIVES:
inattention noun
inattentively adverb
inattentiveness noun.

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inaudible

adjective
unable to be heard.

DERIVATIVES:
inaudibility noun
inaudibly adverb.

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inaugurate

verb
1. begin or introduce (a system, project, etc.).
2. admit formally to office.
3. officially mark the beginning or first public use of (a building, service, etc).

DERIVATIVES:
inaugural adjective
inauguration noun
inaugurator noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin inauguratus 'consecrated after interpreting omens' , from augurare 'to augur' .

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inauspicious

adjective
not conducive to success; unpromising.

DERIVATIVES:
inauspiciously adverb
inauspiciousness noun.

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inauthentic

noun
not authentic, genuine, or sincere.

DERIVATIVES:
inauthenticity noun.

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inboard

adverb & adjective
within or towards the centre of a ship, aircraft, or vehicle.

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inborn

adjective
existing from birth.

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inbound

adjective & adverb
travelling towards a place, especially when returning to the original point of departure.

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inbred

adjective
1. produced by inbreeding.
2. existing from birth; congenital.

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inbuilt

adjective
existing as an original or essential part.

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Inc.

abbreviation N. Amer.
Incorporated.

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Inca

noun
1. a member of a South American Indian people living in the central Andes before the Spanish conquest in the early 1530s.
2. the supreme ruler of this people.

DERIVATIVES:
Incan adjective.

ORIGIN: Quechua, 'lord, royal person' .

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incalculable

adjective
1. too great to be calculated or estimated.
2. not able to be calculated, estimated, or predicted.

DERIVATIVES:
incalculability noun
incalculably adverb.

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incandescent

adjective
1. glowing as a result of being heated.
2. (of an electric light) containing a filament which glows white-hot when heated by a current passed through it.
3. informal extremely angry.

DERIVATIVES:
incandescence noun
incandescently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin incandescere 'glow' .

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incantation

noun
words said as a magic spell or charm.

DERIVATIVES:
incantatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from incantare 'chant, bewitch' .

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incapable

adjective
1. (incapable of) lacking the ability or required quality to do.
2. unable to behave rationally.

DERIVATIVES:
incapability noun.

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incapacitate

verb
prevent from functioning in a normal way.

DERIVATIVES:
incapacitant noun
incapacitation noun.

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incapacity

noun (pl. incapacities)
1. inability to do something or to manage one's affairs.
2. legal disqualification.

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incarcerate

verb
imprison or confine.

DERIVATIVES:
incarceration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin incarcerare, from carcer 'prison' .

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incarnate

adjective (often after a noun )
1. (of a deity or spirit) embodied in flesh; in human form.
2. represented in the ultimate or most typical form: capitalism incarnate.

verb
1. embody or represent (a deity or spirit) in human form.
2. be the living embodiment of (a quality).

ORIGIN: from Latin incarnare 'make flesh' , from caro 'flesh' .

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incarnation

noun
1. a living embodiment of a deity, spirit, or abstract quality.
2. (the Incarnation) (in Christian theology) the embodiment of God the Son in human flesh as Jesus Christ.
3. (with reference to reincarnation) each of a series of earthly lifetimes or forms.

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incautious

adjective
heedless of potential problems or risks.

DERIVATIVES:
incaution noun
incautiously adverb.

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incendiary

adjective
1. (of a bomb or other device) designed to cause fires.
2. tending to stir up conflict or controversy.

noun (pl. incendiaries)
an incendiary device.

DERIVATIVES:
incendiarism noun.

ORIGIN: Latin incendiarius, from incendium 'conflagration' .

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incense [1]

noun
a gum, spice, or other substance that is burned for the sweet smell it produces.

verb
perfume with incense or a similar fragrance.

ORIGIN: Latin incensum 'something burnt, incense' .

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incense [2]

verb
make very angry.

ORIGIN: Latin incendere 'set fire to' .

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incentive

noun
a thing that motivates or encourages someone to action or increased effort.

DERIVATIVES:
incentivize (also incentivise) verb.

ORIGIN: Latin incentivum 'something that sets the tune or incites' , from incantare 'to chant or bewitch' .

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inception

noun
the establishment or starting point of an institution or activity.

ORIGIN: Latin, from incipere 'begin' .

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incessant

adjective
continuing without pause or interruption.

DERIVATIVES:
incessantly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from in- 'not' + cessare 'cease' .

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incest

noun
sexual relations between people classed as being too closely related to marry each other.

ORIGIN: from Latin in- 'not' + castus 'chaste' .

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incestuous

adjective
1. involving or guilty of incest.
2. (of a relationship or community) excessively close and resistant to outside influence.

DERIVATIVES:
incestuously adverb.

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inch

noun
1. a unit of linear measure equal to one twelfth of a foot (2.54 cm).
2. a quantity of rainfall that would cover a horizontal surface to a depth of one inch.
3. a very small amount or distance: don't yield an inch.

verb
move along slowly and carefully.

IDIOMS -
every inch
1. the whole area or distance.
2. entirely; very much so.
give someone an inch and they will take a mile proverb once concessions have been made to someone they will demand a great deal.
(to) within an inch of one's life almost to the point of death.

ORIGIN: Latin uncia 'twelfth part' : compare with OUNCE.

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inchoate

adjective
1. not fully formed or developed; rudimentary.
2. confused or incoherent.

DERIVATIVES:
inchoately adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin inchoare, variant of incohare 'begin' .

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incidence

noun
1. the occurrence, rate, or frequency of a disease, crime, or other undesirable thing.
2. Physics the intersection of a line or ray with a surface.

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incident

noun
1. an event or occurrence.
2. a violent event, such as an attack.
3. the occurrence of dangerous or exciting events: the plane landed without incident.

adjective
1. (incident to) resulting from.
2. (of light or other radiation) falling on or striking something.
3. Physics relating to incidence.

ORIGIN: from Latin incidere 'fall upon, happen to' .

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incidental

adjective
1. occurring as a minor accompaniment or by chance in connection with something else.
2. (incidental to) liable to happen as a consequence of.

noun
an incidental detail, expense, etc.

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incidentally

adverb
1. by the way.
2. in an incidental manner.

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incidental music

noun
music used in a film or play as a background.

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incinerate

verb
destroy by burning.

DERIVATIVES:
incineration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin incinerare 'burn to ashes' .

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incinerator

noun
an apparatus for incinerating waste material.

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incipient

adjective
beginning to happen or develop.

DERIVATIVES:
incipiently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin incipere 'undertake, begin' .

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incise

verb
1. make a cut or cuts in (a surface).
2. cut (a mark or decoration) into a surface.

ORIGIN: Latin incidere 'cut into' .

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incision

noun
1. a surgical cut in skin or flesh.
2. the action or process of incising.

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incisive

adjective
1. intelligently analytical and concise.
2. (of an action) quick and direct.

DERIVATIVES:
incisively adverb
incisiveness noun.

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incisor

noun
a narrow-edged tooth at the front of the mouth, adapted for cutting.

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incite

verb
1. encourage or stir up (violent or unlawful behaviour).
2. urge or persuade to act in a violent or unlawful way.

DERIVATIVES:
incitement noun
inciter noun.

ORIGIN: Latin incitare, from citare 'rouse' .

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incivility

noun (pl. incivilities)
rude or unsociable speech or behaviour.

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inclement

adjective
(of the weather) unpleasantly cold or wet.

DERIVATIVES:
inclemency noun.

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inclination

noun
1. a natural tendency to act or feel in a particular way.
2. (inclination for/to/towards) an interest in or liking for.
3. a slope or slant.
4. the angle at which a straight line or plane is inclined to another.

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incline

verb
1. (usu. be inclined to/towards/to do) be favourably disposed towards or willing to do.
2. (usu. be inclined to/to do) have a specified tendency or talent.
3. lean or turn away from a given plane or direction, especially the vertical or horizontal.
4. bend (one's head) forwards and downwards.

noun
an inclined surface, slope, or plane.

ORIGIN: Latin inclinare 'to bend towards' .

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inclined plane

noun
a plane inclined at an angle to the horizontal, especially as a means of reducing the force needed to raise a load.

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include

verb
1. comprise or contain as part of a whole.
2. make or treat as part of a whole or set.

ORIGIN: Latin includere 'shut in' .

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including

preposition
containing as part of the whole being considered.

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inclusion

noun
1. the action of including or the state of being included.
2. a person or thing that is included.

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inclusive

adjective
1. including all the expected or required services or items.
2. (inclusive of) containing (a specified element) as part of a whole.
3. (after a noun ) between the limits stated: the ages of 55 to 59 inclusive.
4. not excluding any section of society or any party.

DERIVATIVES:
inclusively adverb
inclusiveness noun.

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incognito

adjective & adverb
having one's true identity concealed.

noun (pl. incognitoos)
an assumed or false identity.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'unknown' .

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incoherent

adjective
1. incomprehensible or confusing in speech or writing.
2. internally inconsistent; illogical.
3. Physics (of light or other waves) having no fixed phase relationship.

DERIVATIVES:
incoherence noun
incoherency noun
incoherently adverb.

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incombustible

adjective
(especially of a building material) not inflammable.

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income

noun
money received, especially on a regular basis, for work or through investments.

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incomer

noun chiefly Brit.
a person who has come to live in an area in which they have not grown up.

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income support

noun
(in the UK and Canada) payment made by the state to people on a low income.

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income tax

noun
tax levied directly on personal income.

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incoming

adjective
1. coming in.
2. (of an official or administration) having just been elected or appointed to succeed another.

noun (incomings)
revenue; income.

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incommensurable

adjective
1. not able to be judged or measured by the same standards.
2. Mathematics (of numbers) in a ratio that cannot be expressed by means of integers.

DERIVATIVES:
incommensurability noun.

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incommensurate

adjective
1. (incommensurate with) out of keeping or proportion with.
2. another term for INCOMMENSURABLE (in sense 1).

DERIVATIVES:
incommensurateness noun.

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incommode

verb formal
cause inconvenience to.

ORIGIN: Latin incommodare, from in- 'not' + commodus 'convenient' .

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incommunicado

adjective & adverb
not able to communicate with other people.

ORIGIN: Spanish incomunicado, from incomunicar 'deprive of communication' .

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incomparable

adjective
1. without an equal in quality or extent.
2. unable to be compared; totally different.

DERIVATIVES:
incomparably adverb.

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incompatible

adjective
1. (of two things) not able to exist or be used together.
2. (of two people) unable to have a harmonious relationship.

DERIVATIVES:
incompatibility noun.

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incompetent

adjective
1. not sufficiently skilful to do something successfully.
2. Law not qualified to act in a particular capacity.

noun
an incompetent person.

DERIVATIVES:
incompetence noun
incompetency noun
incompetently adverb.

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incomplete

adjective
not complete.

DERIVATIVES:
incompletely adverb
incompleteness noun
incompletion noun.

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incomprehensible

adjective
not able to be understood.

DERIVATIVES:
incomprehensibility noun
incomprehensibly adverb
incomprehension noun.

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inconceivable

adjective
not capable of being imagined or grasped mentally.

DERIVATIVES:
inconceivably adverb.

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inconclusive

adjective
not conclusive.

DERIVATIVES:
inconclusively adverb
inconclusiveness noun.

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incongruous

adjective
out of place.

DERIVATIVES:
incongruity noun (pl. incongruities)
incongruously adverb.

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inconsequential

adjective
not important or significant.

DERIVATIVES:
inconsequentiality noun
inconsequentially adverb.

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inconsiderable

adjective
small in size, amount, extent, etc.: a not inconsiderable number.

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inconsiderate

adjective
thoughtlessly causing hurt or inconvenience to others.

DERIVATIVES:
inconsiderately adverb
inconsiderateness noun.

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inconsistent

adjective
not consistent.

DERIVATIVES:
inconsistency noun
inconsistently adverb.

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inconsolable

adjective
not able to be comforted or consoled.

DERIVATIVES:
inconsolably adverb.

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inconspicuous

adjective
not clearly visible or attracting attention.

DERIVATIVES:
inconspicuously adverb
inconspicuousness noun.

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inconstant

adjective
frequently changing; variable or irregular.

DERIVATIVES:
inconstancy noun.

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incontestable

adjective
not able to be disputed.

DERIVATIVES:
incontestably adverb.

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incontinent

adjective
1. lacking voluntary control over urination or defecation.
2. lacking self-restraint; uncontrolled.

DERIVATIVES:
incontinence noun
incontinently adverb.

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incontrovertible

adjective
not able to be denied or disputed.

DERIVATIVES:
incontrovertibly adverb.

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inconvenience

noun
the state or fact of being slightly troublesome or difficult.

verb
cause inconvenience to.

DERIVATIVES:
inconvenient adjective
inconveniently adverb.

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incorporate

verb
1. take in or include as part of a whole.
2. constitute (a company, city, or other organization) as a legal corporation.

adjective
constituted as a legal corporation; incorporated.

DERIVATIVES:
incorporation noun
incorporative adjective
incorporator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin incorporare 'embody' , from corpus 'body' .

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incorporeal

adjective
not composed of matter; having no material existence.

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incorrect

adjective
not in accordance with fact or standards; wrong.

DERIVATIVES:
incorrectly adverb
incorrectness noun.

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incorrigible

adjective
not able to be corrected or reformed.

DERIVATIVES:
incorrigibility noun
incorrigibly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin incorrigibilis, from in- 'not' + corrigibilis 'correctable' .

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incorruptible

adjective
1. not susceptible to corruption, especially by bribery.
2. not subject to death or decay.

DERIVATIVES:
incorruptibility noun.

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increase

verb
make or become greater in size, amount, or degree.

noun
an instance or the action of increasing.

DERIVATIVES:
increasing adjective
increasingly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin increscere, from crescere 'grow' .

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incredible

adjective
1. impossible or hard to believe.
2. informal extraordinarily good.

DERIVATIVES:
incredibility noun
incredibly adverb.

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incredulous

adjective
unwilling or unable to believe.

DERIVATIVES:
incredulity noun
incredulously adverb.

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increment

noun
an increase or addition, especially one of a series on a fixed scale.

DERIVATIVES:
incremental adjective
incrementally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin incrementum, from increscere 'increase' .

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incriminate

verb
make (someone) appear guilty of a crime or wrongdoing.

DERIVATIVES:
incrimination noun
incriminatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin incriminare 'accuse' , from crimen 'crime' .

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incubate

verb
1. (of a bird) sit on (eggs) to keep them warm and bring them to hatching.
2. keep (bacteria, cells, etc.) at a suitable temperature so that they develop.
3. (with reference to an infectious disease) develop slowly without outward or perceptible signs.

DERIVATIVES:
incubation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin incubare 'lie on' .

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incubator

noun
1. an apparatus used to hatch eggs or grow micro-organisms under controlled conditions.
2. an enclosed apparatus providing a controlled and protective environment for the care of premature babies.

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incubus

noun (pl. incubi)
1. a male demon believed to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women.
2. archaic a nightmare.

ORIGIN: Latin incubo 'nightmare' , from incubare 'lie on' .

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inculcate

verb
instil (an idea or habit) by persistent instruction.

DERIVATIVES:
inculcation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin inculcare 'press in' .

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incumbency

noun (pl. incumbencies)
the period during which an office is held.

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incumbent

adjective
1. (incumbent on/upon) necessary for (someone) as a duty.
2. currently holding office.

noun
the holder of an office or post.

ORIGIN: Latin incumbens, from incumbere 'lie or lean on' .

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incur

verb (incurred, incurring)
become subject to (something unpleasant) as a result of one's actions.

ORIGIN: Latin incurrere 'run into or towards' .

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incurable

adjective
not able to be cured.

noun
an incurable person.

DERIVATIVES:
incurability noun
incurably adverb.

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incurious

adjective
not eager to know something; lacking curiosity.

DERIVATIVES:
incuriosity noun
incuriously adverb.

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incursion

noun
an invasion or attack, especially a sudden or brief one.

ORIGIN: Latin, from incurrere 'run into or towards' .

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indebted

adjective
owing money or gratitude.

DERIVATIVES:
indebtedness noun.

ORIGIN: from Old French endetter 'involve in debt' .

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indecent

adjective
1. not conforming with accepted standards of behaviour or morality.
2. not appropriate; unseemly: indecent haste.

DERIVATIVES:
indecency noun
indecently adverb.

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indecent assault

noun
sexual assault that does not involve rape.

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indecent exposure

noun
the crime of intentionally showing one's genitals in public.

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indecipherable

adjective
not able to be read or understood.

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indecisive

adjective
1. not able to make decisions quickly and effectively.
2. not settling an issue: indecisive results.

DERIVATIVES:
indecision noun
indecisively adverb
indecisiveness noun.

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indeed

adverb
1. used to emphasize a statement, description, or response.
2. used to introduce a further and stronger or more surprising point.
3. used in a response to express interest, incredulity, or contempt.

ORIGIN: originally as in deed.

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indefatigable

adjective
never tiring or stopping.

DERIVATIVES:
indefatigably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin indefatigabilis, from fatigare 'wear out' .

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indefensible

adjective
not justifiable by argument.

DERIVATIVES:
indefensibly adverb.

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indefinable

adjective
not able to be defined or described exactly.

DERIVATIVES:
indefinably adverb.

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indefinite

adjective
1. not clearly expressed or defined; vague.
2. lasting for an unknown or unstated length of time.
3. Grammar (of a word, inflection, or phrase) not determining the person or thing referred to.

DERIVATIVES:
indefinitely adverb
indefiniteness noun.

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indefinite article

noun Grammar
a determiner (a and an in English) that introduces a noun phrase and implies that the thing referred to is non-specific.

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indelible

adjective
1. (of ink or a mark) unable to be removed.
2. unable to be forgotten.

DERIVATIVES:
indelibly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin indelebilis, from in- 'not' + delere 'delete' .

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indelicate

adjective
1. lacking sensitive understanding or tact.
2. slightly indecent.

DERIVATIVES:
indelicacy noun
indelicately adverb.

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indemnify

verb (indemnifies, indemnified)
1. compensate (someone) for harm or loss.
2. secure (someone) against legal responsibility for their actions.

DERIVATIVES:
indemnification noun
indemnifier noun.

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indemnity

noun (pl. indemnities)
1. security or protection against a loss or other financial burden.
2. security against or exemption from legal responsibility for one's actions.
3. a sum of money paid as compensation, especially by a country defeated in war.

ORIGIN: Latin indemnitas, from indemnis 'unhurt, free from loss' .

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indent

verb
1. form deep recesses or notches in.
2. position or begin (a line or block of text) further from the margin than the main part of the text.
3. make a requisition or written order for something.

noun
1. Brit. an official order or requisition for goods or stores.
2. a space left by indenting text.
3. an indentation.

DERIVATIVES:
indenter noun
indentor noun.

ORIGIN: Latin indentare, from dens 'tooth' .

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indentation

noun
1. the action of indenting or the state of being indented.
2. a deep recess or notch.

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indenture

noun
1. a formal agreement, contract, or list, formerly one of which copies with indented edges were made for the contracting parties.
2. an agreement binding an apprentice to a master.
3. historical a contract by which a person agreed to work for a set period for a colonial landowner in exchange for passage to the colony.

verb chiefly historical
bind by an indenture.

DERIVATIVES:
indentureship noun.

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independence

noun
the fact or state of being independent.

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independent

adjective
1. free from outside control or influence.
2. (of a country) self governing.
3. not depending on another for livelihood or subsistence.
4. not connected with another; separate.
5. (of broadcasting, a school, etc.) not supported by public funds.

noun
an independent person or body.

DERIVATIVES:
independency noun
independently adverb.

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in-depth

adjective
comprehensive and thorough.

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indescribable

adjective
too unusual, extreme, or indefinite to be adequately described.

DERIVATIVES:
indescribably adverb.

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indestructible

adjective
not able to be destroyed.

DERIVATIVES:
indestructibility noun
indestructibly adverb.

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indeterminate

adjective
1. not exactly known, established, or defined.
2. Mathematics (of a quantity) having no definite or definable value.

DERIVATIVES:
indeterminacy noun
indeterminately adverb.

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index

noun (pl. indexes or especially in technical use indices)
1. an alphabetical list of names, subjects, etc., with references to the places in a book where they occur.
2. an alphabetical list or catalogue of books or documents.
3. an indicator, sign, or measure of something.
4. a number representing the relative value or magnitude of something in terms of a standard: a price index.
5. Mathematics an exponent or other superscript or subscript number appended to a quantity.

verb
1. record in or provide with an index.
2. link the value of (prices, wages, etc.) automatically to the value of a price index.

DERIVATIVES:
indexable adjective
indexation noun
indexer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'forefinger, informer, sign' .

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index finger

noun
the forefinger.

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index-linked

adjective Brit.
adjusted according to the value of a retail price index.

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Indian

noun
1. a person from India.
2. an American Indian.

adjective
1. relating to India.
2. relating to American Indians.

DERIVATIVES:
Indianism noun
Indianize (also Indianise) verb
Indianness noun.
USAGE - American native peoples were called Indian as a result of Christopher Columbus and others believing that, when they reached the east coast of America, they had reached part of India by a new route. The terms Indian and Red Indian are today regarded as old-fashioned, recalling, as they do, the stereotypical portraits of the Wild West. The term American Indian, however, is well established.

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Indian corn

noun
maize.

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Indian file

noun
single file.

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Indian ink

noun
deep black ink used especially in drawing and technical graphics.

ORIGIN: originally applied to Chinese and Japanese pigments imported to Europe via India.

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Indian summer

noun
a period of dry, warm weather occurring in late autumn.

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India rubber

noun
natural rubber.

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indicate

verb
1. point out; show.
2. be a sign or symptom of.
3. state briefly or indirectly.
4. suggest as a desirable or necessary course of action.
5. chiefly Brit. (of a driver) use an indicator to signal an intention to change lanes or turn.

DERIVATIVES:
indication noun.

ORIGIN: Latin indicare, from dicare 'make known' .

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indicative

adjective
1. serving as a sign or indication.
2. Grammar (of a form of a verb) expressing a simple statement of fact, rather than something imagined, wished, or commanded.

noun Grammar
an indicative verb.

DERIVATIVES:
indicatively adverb.

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indicator

noun
1. a thing that indicates a state or level.
2. a gauge or meter of a specified kind.
3. a flashing light on a vehicle to show that it is about to change lanes or turn.
4. Brit. an information board or screen in a railway station, airport, etc.
5. Chemistry a compound which changes colour at a specific pH value or in the presence of a particular substance, and can be used to monitor a chemical change.

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indict

verb
formally accuse or charge with a serious crime.

DERIVATIVES:
indictee noun
indicter noun.

ORIGIN: Latin indicere 'proclaim, appoint' .

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indictable

adjective
(of an offence) chargeable as a serious crime and warranting a trial by jury.

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indictment

noun
1. Law a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime.
2. an indication that a system or situation is bad and deserves to be condemned.

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indifferent

adjective
1. having no particular interest or sympathy; unconcerned.
2. not particularly good; mediocre.

DERIVATIVES:
indifference noun
indifferently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'making no difference' .

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indigenous

adjective
originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.

DERIVATIVES:
indigenously adverb
indigenousness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin indigena 'a native' .

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indigent

adjective
poor; needy.

noun
a needy person.

DERIVATIVES:
indigence noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from indigere 'to lack' .

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indigestible

adjective
1. difficult or impossible to digest.
2. difficult to read or understand.

DERIVATIVES:
indigestibility noun
indigestibly adverb.

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indigestion

noun
pain or discomfort in the stomach caused by difficulty in digesting food.

DERIVATIVES:
indigestive adjective.

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indignation

noun
annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment.

DERIVATIVES:
indignant adjective
indignantly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from indignari 'regard as unworthy' .

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indignity

noun (pl. indignities)
treatment or circumstances that cause one to feel shame or to lose one's dignity.

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indigo

noun (pl. indigos or indigoes)
1. a dark blue dye obtained from a tropical plant.
2. a colour between blue and violet in the spectrum.

ORIGIN: Portuguese, from Greek indikos 'Indian (dye)' .

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indirect

adjective
1. not direct.
2. (of costs) deriving from overhead charges or subsidiary work.
3. (of taxation) levied on goods and services rather than income or profits.

DERIVATIVES:
indirection noun
indirectly adverb
indirectness noun.

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indirect object

noun Grammar
a noun phrase referring to a person or thing that is affected by the action of a transitive verb but is not the primary object (e.g. him in give him the book).

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indirect question

noun Grammar
a question in reported speech (e.g. they asked who I was).

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indiscipline

noun
lack of discipline.

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indiscreet

adjective
too ready to reveal things that should remain secret or private.

DERIVATIVES:
indiscreetly adverb.

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indiscretion

noun
1. indiscreet behaviour.
2. an indiscreet act or remark.

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indiscriminate

adjective
done or acting at random or without careful judgement.

DERIVATIVES:
indiscriminately adverb
indiscriminateness noun.

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indispensable

adjective
absolutely necessary.

DERIVATIVES:
indispensability noun
indispensableness noun
indispensably adverb.

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indisposed

adjective
1. slightly unwell.
2. unwilling.

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indisposition

noun
1. a slight illness.
2. unwillingness.

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indisputable

adjective
unable to be challenged or denied.

DERIVATIVES:
indisputability noun
indisputably adverb.

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indissoluble

adjective
unable to be destroyed; lasting.

DERIVATIVES:
indissolubility noun
indissolubly adverb.

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indistinct

adjective
not clear or sharply defined.

DERIVATIVES:
indistinctly adverb
indistinctness noun.

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indistinguishable

adjective
not able to be identified as different or distinct.

DERIVATIVES:
indistinguishably adverb.

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indium

noun
a soft, silvery-white metallic chemical element resembling zinc, used in some alloys and semiconductor devices.

ORIGIN: from INDIGO (because there are two characteristic indigo lines in its spectrum).

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individual

adjective
1. single; separate.
2. of or for one particular person.
3. striking or unusual; original.

noun
1. a single human being or item as distinct from a group.
2. a distinctive or original person.

DERIVATIVES:
individualize (also individualise) verb
individually adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «indivisible»: from Latin in- 'not' + dividere 'to divide' .

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individualism

noun
1. independence and self-reliance.
2. a social theory favouring freedom of action for individuals.

DERIVATIVES:
individualist noun & adjective
individualistic adjective.

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individuality

noun
1. distinctive quality or character.
2. separate existence.

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indivisible

adjective
1. unable to be divided or separated.
2. (of a number) unable to be divided by another number exactly without leaving a remainder.

DERIVATIVES:
indivisibility noun
indivisibly adverb.

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indoctrinate

verb
cause to accept a set of beliefs uncritically through repeated instruction.

DERIVATIVES:
indoctrination noun
indoctrinator noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «teach or instruct»: from French endoctriner, from doctrine 'doctrine' .

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Indo-European

noun
1. the family of languages spoken over the greater part of Europe and Asia as far as northern India.
3. a speaker of an Indo-European language.

adjective
relating to Indo-European languages.

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indolent

adjective
wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy.

DERIVATIVES:
indolence noun
indolently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from in- 'not' + dolere 'suffer or give pain' .

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indomitable

adjective
impossible to subdue or defeat.

DERIVATIVES:
indomitability noun
indomitableness noun
indomitably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin indomitabilis, from in- 'not' + domitare 'to tame' .

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indoor

adjective
situated, conducted, or used within a building or under cover.

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indubitable

adjective
impossible to doubt; unquestionable.

DERIVATIVES:
indubitably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin indubitabilis, from in- 'not' + dubitare 'to doubt' .

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induce

verb
1. succeed in persuading or leading (someone) to do something.
2. bring about or give rise to.
3. produce (an electric charge or current or a magnetic state) by induction.
4. Medicine bring on (childbirth or abortion) artificially.

DERIVATIVES:
inducer noun
inducible adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin inducere 'lead in' .

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inducement

noun
1. a thing that persuades or leads someone to do something.
2. a bribe.

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induct

verb
1. admit formally to a post or organization.
2. US enlist (someone) for military service.

DERIVATIVES:
inductee noun.

ORIGIN: Latin inducere 'lead in' .

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inductance

noun Physics
the property of an electric conductor or circuit that causes an electromotive force to be generated by a change in the current flowing.

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induction

noun
1. the action or process of inducting someone to a post, organization, etc.
2. the action or process of inducing something.
3. Logic the inference of a general law from particular instances.
4. the production of an electric or magnetic state by the proximity (without contact) of an electrified or magnetized body.
5. the drawing of the fuel mixture into the cylinders of an internal-combustion engine.

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induction coil

noun
a coil for generating intermittent high voltage from a direct current.

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inductive

adjective
1. Logic characterized by the inference of general laws from particular instances.
2. relating to electric or magnetic induction.
3. Physics possessing inductance.

DERIVATIVES:
inductively adverb
inductiveness noun
inductivism noun
inductivist noun & adjective.

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inductor

noun
a circuit component which possesses inductance.

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indulge

verb
1. (indulge in) allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of.
2. satisfy or yield freely to (a desire or interest).
3. allow (someone) to do or have something.

DERIVATIVES:
indulger noun.

ORIGIN: Latin indulgere 'give free rein to' .

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indulgence

noun
1. the action or fact of indulging.
2. a thing that is indulged in; a luxury.
3. the state or attitude of being indulgent or tolerant.
4. an extension of the time in which a bill or debt has to be paid.
5. chiefly historical (in the Roman Catholic Church) the setting aside or cancellation by the Pope of the punishment still due for sins after absolution.

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indulgent

adjective
1. readily indulging someone or overlooking their faults; tolerant or lenient.
2. self-indulgent.

DERIVATIVES:
indulgently adverb.

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industrial

adjective
of, used in, or characterized by industry.

DERIVATIVES:
industrially adverb.

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industrial action

noun Brit.
action taken by employees of a company as a protest, especially striking or working to rule.

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industrial estate (N. Amer. industrial park)

noun chiefly Brit.
an area of land developed as a site for factories and other industrial use.

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industrialism

noun
a social or economic system in which manufacturing industries are prevalent.

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industrialist

noun
a person involved in the ownership and management of industry.

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industrialize (also industrialise)

verb (often as adj. industrialized)
develop industries in (a country or region) on a wide scale.

DERIVATIVES:
industrialization noun.

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industrial relations

plural noun
the relations between management and workers in industry.

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industrious

adjective
diligent and hard-working.

DERIVATIVES:
industriously adverb
industriousness noun.

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industry

noun (pl. industries)
1. economic activity concerned with the processing of raw materials and manufacture of goods in factories.
2. a particular branch of economic or commercial activity.
3. hard work.

ORIGIN: Latin industria 'diligence' .

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-ine

suffix
(forming adjectives) belonging to; resembling: canine.

ORIGIN: from French -in, -ine or Latin -inus.

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inebriate

verb
make drunk; intoxicate.

adjective
drunk; intoxicated.

DERIVATIVES:
inebriation noun
inebriety noun.

ORIGIN: Latin inebriare 'intoxicate' .

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inedible

adjective
not fit for eating.

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ineducable

adjective
considered incapable of being educated.

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ineffable

adjective
1. too great or extreme to be expressed in words.
2. too sacred to be uttered.

DERIVATIVES:
ineffability noun
ineffably adverb

ORIGIN: Latin ineffabilis, from in- 'not' + effari 'utter'

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ineffective

adjective
not producing any or the desired effect.

DERIVATIVES:
ineffectively adverb
ineffectiveness noun.

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ineffectual

adjective
1. not producing any or the desired effect.
2. lacking adequate forcefulness in a role or situation.

DERIVATIVES:
ineffectuality noun
ineffectually adverb
ineffectualness noun.

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inefficient

adjective
not achieving maximum productivity; failing to make the best use of time or resources.

DERIVATIVES:
inefficiency noun
inefficiently adverb.

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inelegant

adjective
lacking elegance or refinement.

DERIVATIVES:
inelegance noun
inelegantly adverb.

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ineligible

adjective
not eligible.

DERIVATIVES:
ineligibility noun
ineligibly adverb.

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ineluctable

adjective
unable to be resisted or avoided; inescapable.

DERIVATIVES:
ineluctability noun
ineluctably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin ineluctabilis, from in- 'not' + eluctari 'struggle out' .

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inept

adjective
incompetent; awkward or clumsy.

DERIVATIVES:
ineptitude noun
ineptly adverb
ineptness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «unsuitable»: from Latin ineptus, from in- 'not' + aptus 'fitted' .

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inequality

noun (pl. inequalities)
lack of equality.

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inequitable

adjective
unfair; unjust.

DERIVATIVES:
inequitably adverb.

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inequity

noun (pl. inequities)
lack of fairness or justice.

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ineradicable

adjective
unable to be destroyed or removed.

DERIVATIVES:
ineradicably adverb.

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inert

adjective
1. lacking the ability or strength to move.
2. chemically inactive.

DERIVATIVES:
inertly adverb
inertness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin iners, 'unskilled, inactive' , from in- 'not' + ars 'skill, art' .

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inertia

noun
1. a tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged.
2. Physics a property of matter by which it continues in its existing state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line, unless changed by an external force.

DERIVATIVES:
inertial adjective.

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inescapable

adjective
unable to be avoided or denied.

DERIVATIVES:
inescapability noun
inescapably adverb.

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inessential

adjective
not absolutely necessary.

noun
an inessential thing.

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inestimable

adjective
too great to be measured.

DERIVATIVES:
inestimably adverb.

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inevitable

adjective
certain to happen; unavoidable.

noun (the inevitable)
a situation that is unavoidable.

DERIVATIVES:
inevitability noun
inevitably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin inevitabilis, from in- 'not' + evitare 'avoid' .

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inexact

adjective
not quite accurate.

DERIVATIVES:
inexactitude noun
inexactly adverb
inexactness noun.

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inexcusable

adjective
too bad to be justified or tolerated.

DERIVATIVES:
inexcusably adverb.

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inexhaustible

adjective
1. (of a supply) never ending; incapable of being used up.
2. tireless.

DERIVATIVES:
inexhaustibility noun
inexhaustibly adverb.

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inexorable

adjective
1. impossible to stop or prevent.
2. impossible to persuade by request or entreaty.

DERIVATIVES:
inexorability noun
inexorably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin inexorabilis, from in- 'not' + exorare 'entreat' .

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inexpensive

adjective
not costing a great deal; cheap.

DERIVATIVES:
inexpensively adverb
inexpensiveness noun.

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inexperience

noun
lack of experience.

DERIVATIVES:
inexperienced adjective.

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inexpert

adjective
lacking skill or knowledge in a particular field.

DERIVATIVES:
inexpertly adverb.

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inexplicable

adjective
unable to be explained or accounted for.

DERIVATIVES:
inexplicability noun
inexplicably adverb.

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inexpressive

adjective
showing no expression.

DERIVATIVES:
inexpressively adverb
inexpressiveness noun.

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in extremis

adverb
1. in an extremely difficult situation.
2. at the point of death.

ORIGIN: Latin, from extremus 'outermost' .

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inextricable

adjective
1. impossible to disentangle or separate.
2. impossible to escape from.

DERIVATIVES:
inextricability noun
inextricably adverb.

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infallible

adjective
1. incapable of making mistakes or being wrong.
2. never failing; always effective.

DERIVATIVES:
infallibility noun
infallibly adverb.

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infamous

adjective
1. well known for some bad quality or deed.
2. morally bad; shocking.

DERIVATIVES:
infamously adverb
infamy noun (pl. infamies) .

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infancy

noun
1. the state or period of early childhood or babyhood.
2. the early stage in the development or growth of something.

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infant

noun
1. a very young child or baby.
2. Brit. a schoolchild between the ages of five and seven.

ORIGIN: Old French enfant, from Latin infans 'unable to speak' .

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infanta

noun historical
a daughter of the ruling monarch of Spain or Portugal, especially the eldest daughter who was not heir to the throne.

ORIGIN: Spanish and Portuguese, from Latin infans (see INFANT).

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infanticide

noun
the killing of an infant.

DERIVATIVES:
infanticidal adjective.

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infantile

adjective
1. of or occurring among infants.
2. derogatory childish.

DERIVATIVES:
infantility noun (pl. infantilities) .

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infantry

noun
foot soldiers collectively.

DERIVATIVES:
infantryman noun.

ORIGIN: Italian infanteria, from infante 'youth, infantryman' .

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infarction

noun
the formation of an infarct.

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infatuate

verb (be infatuated with)
be inspired with an intense passion for.

DERIVATIVES:
infatuation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin infatuare 'make foolish' .

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infect

verb
1. affect with a disease-causing organism.
2. contaminate; affect adversely.

DERIVATIVES:
infector noun.

ORIGIN: Latin inficere 'to taint' .

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infection

noun
1. the process of infecting or the state of being infected.
2. an infectious disease.

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infectious

adjective
1. (of a disease or disease-causing organism) liable to be transmitted through the environment.
2. liable to spread infection.
3. likely to spread to or influence others.

DERIVATIVES:
infectiously adverb
infectiousness noun.

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infer

verb (inferred, inferring)
deduce from evidence and reasoning rather than from explicit statements.

DERIVATIVES:
inferable (also inferrable) adjective.
USAGE - On the use of imply and infer, see the note at IMPLY.
ORIGIN: originally in the sense «bring about, inflict»: from Latin inferre 'bring in, bring about' .

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inference

noun
1. a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning.
2. the process of reaching a conclusion by inferring.

DERIVATIVES:
inferential adjective.

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inferior

adjective
1. lower in rank, status, or quality.
2. of low standard or quality.
3. chiefly Anatomy low or lower in position.
4. (of a letter or symbol) written or printed below the line.

noun
a person lower than another in rank, status, or ability.

DERIVATIVES:
inferiority noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from inferus 'low' .

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infernal

adjective
1. relating to hell or the underworld.
2. informal terrible; awful.

DERIVATIVES:
infernally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin infernus 'below, underground' .

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inferno

noun (pl. infernos)
1. a large uncontrollable fire.
2. (Inferno) hell.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin infernus 'below, underground' ; sense 2 is with reference to The Divine Comedy (c.1309 20) by the Italian poet Dante.

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infertile

adjective
1. unable to reproduce.
2. (of land) unable to sustain crops or vegetation.

DERIVATIVES:
infertility noun.

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infest

verb
(of insects or organisms) be present in large numbers, typically so as to cause damage or disease.

DERIVATIVES:
infestation noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «torment, harass»: from Latin infestare 'assail' .

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infidel

noun chiefly archaic
a person who has no religion or whose religion is not that of the majority.

ORIGIN: Latin infidelis, from in- 'not' + fidelis 'faithful' .

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infidelity

noun (pl. infidelities)
1. the action or state of being sexually unfaithful.
2. lack of religious faith.

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infighting

noun
conflict within a group or organization.

DERIVATIVES:
infighter noun.

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infiltrate

verb
1. surreptitiously and gradually enter or gain access to (an organization or place).
2. permeate or cause to permeate by filtration.

DERIVATIVES:
infiltration noun
infiltrator noun.

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infinite

adjective
1. limitless in space, extent, or size.
2. very great in amount or degree.

DERIVATIVES:
infinitely adverb
infiniteness noun
infinitude noun.

ORIGIN: Latin infinitus.

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infinitesimal

adjective
extremely small.

DERIVATIVES:
infinitesimally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin infinitesimus, from infinitus 'infinite' .

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infinitive

noun
the basic form of a verb, without an inflection binding it to a particular subject or tense (normally occurring in English with the word to, as in to see, to ask).

ORIGIN: from Latin infinitus, from in- 'not' + finitus 'finished, finite' .

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infinity

noun (pl. infinities)
1. the state or quality of being infinite.
2. a very great number or amount.
3. Mathematics a number greater than any assignable quantity or countable number (symbol ).
4. a point in space or time that is or seems infinitely distant.

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infirm

adjective
physically weak.

ORIGIN: Latin infirmus, from in- 'not' + firmus 'firm' .

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infirmary

noun (pl. infirmaries)
a hospital or place set aside for the care of the sick or injured.

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infirmity

noun (pl. infirmities)
physical or mental weakness.

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in flagrante delicto

adverb
in the very act of wrongdoing, especially in an act of sexual misconduct.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'in the heat of the crime' .

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inflame

verb
1. intensify or aggravate.
2. provoke (someone) to strong feelings.
3. cause inflammation in.

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inflammable

adjective
easily set on fire.

noun
a substance which is easily set on fire.

DERIVATIVES:
inflammability noun
inflammableness noun
inflammably adverb.
USAGE - The words inflammable and flammable both mean ‘easily set on fire’. It is, however, safer to use flammable if one wishes to avoid ambiguity, as the in- prefix of inflammable can give the impression that the word means ‘non-flammable’.

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inflammation

noun
a condition in which an area of the skin or body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful, especially as a reaction to injury or infection.

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inflammatory

adjective
1. relating to or causing inflammation.
2. arousing or intended to arouse angry or violent feelings.

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inflatable

adjective
capable of being inflated.

noun
a plastic or rubber object that is inflated before use.

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inflate

verb
1. expand by filling with air or gas.
2. increase by a large or excessive amount.
3. exaggerate.
4. bring about inflation of (a currency) or in (an economy).

ORIGIN: Latin inflare 'blow into' .

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inflation

noun
1. the action of inflating or the condition of being inflated.
2. a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money.

DERIVATIVES:
inflationary adjective
inflationism noun
inflationist noun & adjective.

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inflect

verb
1. Grammar change or be changed by inflection.
2. vary the intonation or pitch of (the voice).
3. technical bend or deflect inwards.

DERIVATIVES:
inflective adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin inflectere, from in- 'into' + flectere 'to bend' .

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inflection (chiefly Brit. also inflexion)

noun
1. Grammar a change in the form of a word (typically the ending) to express a grammatical function or attribute such as tense, mood, person, number, case, and gender.
2. a variation in intonation or pitch of the voice.
3. chiefly Mathematics a change of curvature from convex to concave.

DERIVATIVES:
inflectional adjective
inflectionally adverb
inflectionless adjective.

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inflexible

adjective
1. not able to be altered or adapted.
2. unwilling to change or compromise.
3. not able to be bent; stiff.

DERIVATIVES:
inflexibility noun
inflexibly adverb.

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inflict

verb (inflict on)
1. cause (something unpleasant or painful) to be suffered by.
2. impose (something unwelcome) on.

DERIVATIVES:
infliction noun.

ORIGIN: Latin infligere 'strike against' .

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inflorescence

noun Botany
1. the complete flower head of a plant, including stems, stalks, bracts, and flowers.
2. the process of flowering.

ORIGIN: from Latin inflorescere 'come into flower' .

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influence

noun
1. the power or ability to affect someone's beliefs or actions.
2. a person or thing with such ability or power.
3. the power arising out of status, contacts, or wealth.
4. the power to produce a physical change.

verb
have an influence on.

IDIOMS -
under the influence informal affected by alcoholic drink.

DERIVATIVES:
influencer noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «influx»: from Latin influere 'flow in' .

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influential

adjective
having great influence.

DERIVATIVES:
influentially adverb.

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influenza

noun
a highly contagious infection of the respiratory passages, spread by a virus and causing fever, severe aching, and catarrh.

DERIVATIVES:
influenzal adjective.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'influence, outbreak of an epidemic' , from Latin influere 'flow in' ; the Italian word was applied to an influenza epidemic which began in Italy in 1743, later adopted in England as the name of the disease.

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influx

noun
1. the arrival or entry of large numbers of people or things.
2. an inflow of water into a river, lake, or the sea.

ORIGIN: Latin influxus, from influere 'flow in' .

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inform

verb
1. give facts or information to.
2. (inform on) give incriminating information about (someone) to the police or other authority.
3. give an essential or formative principle or quality to.

ORIGIN: Latin informare 'shape, describe' .

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informal

adjective
1. relaxed, friendly, or unofficial.
2. (of clothes) suitable for everyday wear; casual.
3. referring to the language of everyday speech and writing, rather than that used in official and formal contexts.

DERIVATIVES:
informality noun
informally adverb.

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informant

noun
1. a person who gives information to another.
2. another term for INFORMER.

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information

noun
1. facts or knowledge provided or learned.
2. what is conveyed or represented by a particular sequence of symbols, impulses, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
informational adjective.

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information superhighway

noun
an extensive electronic network such as the Internet, used for the rapid transfer of information in digital form.

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information technology

noun
the study or use of systems such as computers and telecommunications for storing, retrieving, and sending information.

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informative

adjective
providing useful information.

DERIVATIVES:
informatively adverb
informativeness noun.

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informed

adjective
1. having or showing knowledge.
2. (of a judgement) based on a sound understanding of the facts.

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informer

noun
a person who informs on another person to the police or other authority.

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infra-

prefix
below: infrasonic.

ORIGIN: Latin infra 'below' .

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infraction

noun chiefly Law
a violation or infringement of a law or agreement.

DERIVATIVES:
infractor noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from infringere 'infringe' .

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infra dig

adjective informal
beneath one's dignity; demeaning.

ORIGIN: Latin infra dignitatem 'beneath dignity' .

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infrared

noun
electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength just greater than that of red light but less than that of microwaves, emitted particularly by heated objects.

adjective
of or relating to such radiation.

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infrastructure

noun
the basic physical and organizational structures (e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.

DERIVATIVES:
infrastructural adjective.

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infrequent

adjective
not occurring often; rare.

DERIVATIVES:
infrequency noun
infrequently adverb.

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infringe

verb
1. violate (a law, agreement, etc.).
2. encroach on (a right or privilege).

DERIVATIVES:
infringement noun
infringer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin infringere, from in- 'into' + frangere 'to break' .

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infuriate

verb
make irritated or angry.

DERIVATIVES:
infuriating adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin infuriare.

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infuse

verb
1. pervade; fill.
2. instil (a quality) in someone or something.
3. soak (tea, herbs, etc.) to extract the flavour or healing properties.
4. Medicine allow (a liquid) to flow into the bloodstream or a part of the body.

DERIVATIVES:
infuser noun.

ORIGIN: Latin infundere 'pour in' .

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infusion

noun
1. a drink, remedy, or extract prepared by infusing.
2. the action or process of infusing.

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-ing [1]

suffix
1. denoting a verbal action, activity, or result: building.
2. denoting material used for or associated with a process: piping.
3. forming the gerund of verbs (such as painting as in I love painting).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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-ing [2]

suffix
1. forming the present participle of verbs: calling.
2. forming adjectives from nouns: hulking.

ORIGIN: from Latin -ent.

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ingenious

adjective
clever, original, and inventive.

DERIVATIVES:
ingeniously adverb
ingeniousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin ingeniosus, from ingenium 'mind, intellect' ; related to ENGINE.

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ingénue

noun
an innocent or unsophisticated young woman.

ORIGIN: French, from ingénu 'ingenuous' .

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ingenuity

noun
the quality of being ingenious.

ORIGIN: Latin ingenuitas 'ingenuousness' , from ingenuus 'inborn' ; the current meaning arose by confusion of ingenuous with ingenious.

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ingenuous

adjective
innocent and unsuspecting.

DERIVATIVES:
ingenuously adverb
ingenuousness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «noble, generous»: from Latin ingenuus 'native, inborn' .

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ingest

verb
take (food or drink) into the body by swallowing or absorbing it.

DERIVATIVES:
ingestion noun
ingestive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin ingerere 'bring in' .

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inglenook

noun
a space on either side of a large fireplace.

ORIGIN: from dialect ingle «fire, fireplace», perhaps from Irish aingeal 'live ember' + NOOK.

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inglorious

adjective
1. not worthy of honour.
2. not famous or renowned.

DERIVATIVES:
ingloriously adverb
ingloriousness noun.

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ingoing

adjective
going towards or into.

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ingot

noun
a rectangular block of steel, gold, or other metal.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a mould: perhaps from an Old English word meaning «pour, cast».

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ingrain (also engrain)

verb
firmly fix or establish (a habit, belief, or attitude) in a person.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «dye with cochineal», from the old use of grain meaning «kermes, cochineal».

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ingrained (also engrained)

adjective
1. (of a habit or attitude) firmly established.
2. (of dirt) deeply embedded.

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ingrate formal or literary

noun
an ungrateful person.

adjective
ungrateful.

ORIGIN: Latin ingratus, from in- 'not' + gratus 'grateful' .

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ingratiate

verb (ingratiate oneself)
bring oneself into favour with someone by flattering or trying to please them.

DERIVATIVES:
ingratiating adjective
ingratiation noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin in gratiam 'into favour' .

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ingratitude

noun
a discreditable lack of gratitude.

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ingredient

noun
1. any of the substances that are combined to make a particular dish.
2. a component part or element.

ORIGIN: from Latin ingredi 'enter' .

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ingress

noun
1. the action or fact of entering or coming in.
2. a place or means of access.

DERIVATIVES:
ingression noun.

ORIGIN: Latin ingressus, from ingredi 'enter' .

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ingrown

adjective
1. growing or having grown within; innate.
2. (of a toenail) having grown into the flesh.

DERIVATIVES:
ingrowing adjective
ingrowth noun.

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inhabit

verb (inhabited, inhabiting)
live in or occupy.

DERIVATIVES:
inhabitable adjective
inhabitation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin inhabitare, from habitare 'dwell' .

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inhabitant

noun
a person or animal that lives in or occupies a place.

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inhalant

noun
1. a medicinal preparation for inhaling.
2. a solvent or other material producing vapour that is inhaled by drug abusers.

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inhale

verb
breathe in (air, gas, smoke, etc.).

DERIVATIVES:
inhalation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin inhalare.

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inhaler

noun
a portable device for administering a drug which is to be inhaled.

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inherent

adjective
existing in something as a permanent or essential attribute.

DERIVATIVES:
inherently adverb.

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inherit

verb (inherited, inheriting)
1. receive (money, property, or a title) as an heir at the death of the previous holder.
2. derive (a quality or characteristic) from one's parents or ancestors.
3. receive or be left with (a situation, object, etc.) from a predecessor or former owner.

DERIVATIVES:
inheritable adjective
inheritor noun.

ORIGIN: Latin inhereditare 'appoint as heir' .

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inheritance

noun
1. a thing that is inherited.
2. the action of inheriting.

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inheritance tax

noun
(in the UK) tax levied on property and money acquired by gift or inheritance.

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inhibit

verb (inhibited, inhibiting)
1. hinder or restrain (an action or process).
2. make (someone) unable to act in a relaxed and natural way.

DERIVATIVES:
inhibited adjective
inhibitive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin inhibere.

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inhibition

noun
1. the action of inhibiting or process of being inhibited.
2. a feeling that makes one unable to act in a relaxed and natural way.

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inhospitable

adjective
1. (of an environment) harsh and difficult to live in.
2. unwelcoming.

DERIVATIVES:
inhospitableness noun
inhospitably adverb
inhospitality noun.

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in-house

adjective & adverb
within an organization.

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inhuman

adjective
1. lacking positive human qualities; cruel and barbaric.
2. not human in nature or character.

DERIVATIVES:
inhumanly adverb.

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inhumane

adjective
without compassion for misery or suffering; cruel.

DERIVATIVES:
inhumanely adverb.

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inhumanity

noun (pl. inhumanities)
cruel and brutal behaviour.

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inimical

adjective
tending to obstruct or harm; hostile.

DERIVATIVES:
inimically adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin inimicalis, from inimicus 'enemy' .

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inimitable

adjective
impossible to imitate; unique.

DERIVATIVES:
inimitability noun
inimitably adverb.

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iniquity

noun (pl. iniquities)
injustice or immoral behaviour.

DERIVATIVES:
iniquitous adjective
iniquitously adverb
iniquitousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin iniquitas, from iniquus 'not equal or just' .

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initial

adjective
existing or occurring at the beginning.

noun
the first letter of a name or word.

verb (initialled, initialling; N. Amer. initialed, initialing)
mark with one's initials as a sign of approval or endorsement.

DERIVATIVES:
initially adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin initialis, from initium 'beginning' .

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initiate

verb
1. cause (a process or action) to begin.
2. admit with formal ceremony or ritual into a society or group.
3. (initiate into) introduce to (a new activity or skill).

noun
a person who has been initiated.

DERIVATIVES:
initiation noun
initiatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin initiare 'begin' .

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initiative

noun
1. the ability to act independently and with a fresh approach.
2. the power or opportunity to act before others do.
3. a new development or fresh approach to a problem.

IDIOMS -
on one's own initiative without being prompted by others.

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inject

verb
1. introduce into the body with a syringe.
2. administer a drug or medicine to (a person or animal) with a syringe.
3. introduce or feed under pressure into another substance.
4. introduce (a new or different element).

DERIVATIVES:
injectable adjective & noun
injector noun.

ORIGIN: Latin inicere 'throw in' .

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injection

noun
1. an act or the action of injecting or being injected.
2. a substance that is injected.
3. short for FUEL INJECTION.

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in-joke

noun
a joke that is shared exclusively by a small group.

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injudicious

adjective
showing poor judgement; unwise.

DERIVATIVES:
injudiciously adverb
injudiciousness noun.

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injunction

noun
1. Law a judicial order restraining a person from an action, or compelling a person to carry out a certain act.
2. an authoritative warning.

DERIVATIVES:
injunctive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from injungere 'join, attach, impose' .

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injure

verb
1. do physical harm to; wound.
2. offend or hurt.

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injured

adjective
1. harmed or wounded.
2. offended; wronged.

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injurious

adjective
1. causing or likely to cause injury.
2. (of language) maliciously insulting; libellous.

DERIVATIVES:
injuriously adverb
injuriousness noun.

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injury

noun (pl. injuries)
1. an instance of being injured.
2. the fact of being injured; harm or damage.

ORIGIN: Latin injuria 'a wrong' .

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injury time

noun Brit.
(in soccer and other sports) extra playing time allowed to compensate for time lost as a result of injuries.

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injustice

noun
1. lack of justice.
2. an unjust act or occurrence.

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ink

noun
1. a coloured fluid used for writing, drawing, or printing.
2. Zoology a black liquid ejected by a cuttlefish, octopus, or squid to confuse a predator.

verb
1. write or mark with ink.
2. cover (type or a stamp) with ink before printing.

ORIGIN: Old French enque, from Greek enkauston, denoting the purple ink used by Roman emperors for signatures; related to ENCAUSTIC.

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ink-jet printer

noun
a printer in which the characters are formed by minute jets of ink.

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inkling

noun
a slight suspicion; a hint.

ORIGIN: from archaic inkle «say in an undertone».

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inkstand

noun
a stand for ink bottles, pens, and other stationery items.

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inkwell

noun
a container for ink, normally housed in a hole in a desk.

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inky

adjective (inkier, inkiest)
1. as dark as ink.
2. stained with ink.

DERIVATIVES:
inkiness noun.

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inland

adjective & adverb
1. in or into the interior of a country.
2. (as adjective ) chiefly Brit. carried on within the limits of a country; domestic.

noun
the interior of a country or region.

DERIVATIVES:
inlander noun.

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inland revenue

noun Brit.
public revenue consisting of income tax and some other direct taxes.

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in-law

noun
a relative by marriage.

combining form
related by marriage: father-in-law.

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inlay

verb (past and past part. inlaid)
ornament by embedding pieces of a different material in a surface.

noun
1. inlaid decoration.
2. a material or substance used for inlaying.
3. a filling shaped to fit a tooth cavity.

DERIVATIVES:
inlayer noun.

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inlet

noun
1. a small arm of the sea, a lake, or a river.
2. a place or means of entry.
3. (in tailoring and dressmaking) an inserted piece of material.

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in-line skate

noun
a type of roller skate in which the wheels are fixed in a single line along the sole.

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in loco parentis

adverb & adjective
in the place of a parent.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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inlying

adjective
within or near a centre.

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inmate

noun
a person living in an institution such as a prison or hospital.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a lodger or subtenant; probably from INN + MATE.

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in medias res

adverb
into the middle of things; without preamble.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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in memoriam

preposition
in memory of (a dead person).

ORIGIN: Latin.

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inn

noun
a public house, traditionally an establishment also providing food and lodging.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to IN.

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innards

plural noun informal
1. internal organs; entrails.
2. the internal workings of a device or machine.

ORIGIN: representing a dialect pronunciation of INWARDS.

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innate

adjective
inborn; natural.

DERIVATIVES:
innately adverb
innateness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin innatus, from innasci 'be born into' .

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inner

adjective
1. situated inside; close to the centre.
2. mental or spiritual: inner strength.
3. private; not expressed.

noun
an inner part.

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inner city

noun
an area in or near the centre of a city, especially when associated with social and economic problems.

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innermost

adjective
1. furthest in; closest to the centre.
2. (of thoughts) most private and deeply felt.

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inner tube

noun
a separate inflatable tube inside a pneumatic tyre casing.

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innings

noun (pl. same) (treated as sing. ) Cricket
each of the divisions of a game during which one side has a turn at batting.

IDIOMS -
a good innings Brit. informal a long and fulfilling life or career.

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innkeeper

noun chiefly archaic
a person who runs an inn.

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innocent

adjective
1. not guilty of a crime or offence.
2. free from moral wrong; not corrupted.
3. not intended to cause offence; harmless.
4. (innocent of) without experience or knowledge of.

noun
an innocent person.

DERIVATIVES:
innocence noun
innocently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'not harming' , from in- 'not' + nocere 'to hurt' .

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innocuous

adjective
not harmful or offensive.

DERIVATIVES:
innocuously adverb
innocuousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin innocuus, from in- 'not' + nocere 'to hurt' .

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innovate

verb
introduce new methods, ideas, or products.

DERIVATIVES:
innovator noun
innovatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin innovare 'renew, alter' , from novus 'new' .

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innovation

noun
1. the action or process of innovating.
2. a new method, idea, product, etc.

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innovative

adjective
1. featuring new methods; advanced and original: innovative designs.
2. (of a person) original and creative in thinking.

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innuendo

noun (pl. innuendoes or innuendos)
an allusive or oblique remark, typically a suggestive or disparaging one.

ORIGIN: originally used in legal documents, meaning «that is to say»: from Latin, 'by nodding at, by pointing to' , from in- 'towards' + nuere 'to nod' .

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innumerable

adjective
too many to be counted.

DERIVATIVES:
innumerability noun
innumerably adverb.

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innumerate

adjective
without a basic knowledge of mathematics and arithmetic.

noun
an innumerate person.

DERIVATIVES:
innumeracy noun.

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inoculate

verb
1. another term for VACCINATE.
2. introduce (cells or organisms) into a culture medium.

DERIVATIVES:
inoculable adjective
inoculation noun
inoculator noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «graft a bud or shoot»: from Latin inoculare 'engraft' , from oculus 'eye, bud' .

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inoffensive

adjective
not objectionable or harmful.

DERIVATIVES:
inoffensively adverb
inoffensiveness noun.

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inoperable

adjective
1. Medicine not able to be operated on to beneficial effect.
2. not able to be used or operated.
3. impractical; unworkable.

DERIVATIVES:
inoperability noun
inoperably adverb.

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inoperative

adjective
not working or taking effect.

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inordinate

adjective
unusually large; excessive.

DERIVATIVES:
inordinately adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «disorderly»: from Latin inordinatus, from in- 'not' + ordinatus 'set in order' .

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inorganic

adjective
1. not arising from natural growth.
2. Chemistry relating to or denoting compounds which are not organic (broadly, compounds not containing carbon).

DERIVATIVES:
inorganically adverb.

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inpatient

noun
a patient who is staying day and night in a hospital while receiving treatment.

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input

noun
1. what is put or taken in or operated on by any process or system.
2. the action or process of putting or feeding something in.
3. a person's contribution.
4. energy supplied to a device or system; an electrical signal.
5. Electronics a place or device from which energy or information enters a system.

verb (inputting; past and past part. input or inputted)
put (data) into a computer.

DERIVATIVES:
inputter noun.

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inquest

noun
1. a judicial inquiry to ascertain the facts relating to an incident.
2. Brit. an inquiry by a coroner's court into the cause of a death.

ORIGIN: Old French enqueste, from Latin inquirere, from quaerere 'speak' .

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inquisition

noun
1. a period of prolonged and intensive questioning or investigation.
2. the verdict of a coroner's jury.

DERIVATIVES:
inquisitional adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'examination' , from inquirere (see INQUEST).

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inquisitive

adjective
1. eagerly seeking knowledge.
2. prying.

DERIVATIVES:
inquisitively adverb
inquisitiveness noun.

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inquisitor

noun
a person making an inquiry or conducting an inquisition, especially when regarded as harsh or very searching.

DERIVATIVES:
inquisitorial adjective.

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inroad

noun
1. an instance of something being encroached or intruded upon.
2. a hostile attack.

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inrush

noun
a sudden inward rush or flow.

DERIVATIVES:
inrushing adjective & noun.

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insane

adjective
1. in or relating to an unsound state of mind; seriously mentally ill.
2. extremely foolish; irrational.

DERIVATIVES:
insanely adverb
insanity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin insanus, from in- 'not' + sanus 'healthy' .

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insanitary

adjective
so dirty or germ-ridden as to be a danger to health.

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insatiable

adjective
impossible to satisfy.

DERIVATIVES:
insatiability noun
insatiably adverb.

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inscribe

verb
1. write or carve (words or symbols) on a surface.
2. write a dedication to someone in (a book).
3. Geometry draw (a figure) within another so that their boundaries touch but do not intersect.

DERIVATIVES:
inscribable adjective
inscriber noun.

ORIGIN: Latin inscribere, from in- 'into' + scribere 'write' .

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inscription

noun
1. words or symbols inscribed on a monument, in a book, etc.
2. the action of inscribing.

DERIVATIVES:
inscriptional adjective
inscriptive adjective.

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inscrutable

adjective
impossible to understand or interpret.

DERIVATIVES:
inscrutability noun
inscrutably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin inscrutabilis, from in- 'not' + scrutari 'to search' .

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insect

noun
a small invertebrate animal with a head, thorax, and abdomen, six legs, two antennae, and usually one or two pairs of wings.

ORIGIN: from Latin animal insectum 'segmented animal' , from insecare 'cut up or into' .

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insecticide

noun
a substance used for killing insects.

DERIVATIVES:
insecticidal adjective.

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insectivore

noun
1. an animal that feeds on insects and other invertebrates.
2. Zoology a mammal of an order (Insectivora) that includes the shrews, moles, and hedgehogs.

DERIVATIVES:
insectivorous adjective.

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insecure

adjective
1. not confident or assured.
2. not firm or firmly fixed.
3. (of a place) easily broken into; not protected.

DERIVATIVES:
insecurely adverb
insecurity noun.

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inseminate

verb
introduce semen into (a woman or a female animal).

DERIVATIVES:
insemination noun
inseminator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin inseminare 'sow' .

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insensate

adjective
1. lacking physical sensation.
2. lacking sympathy; unfeeling.
3. completely lacking sense or reason.

DERIVATIVES:
insensately adverb.

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insensible

adjective
1. without one's mental faculties; unconscious.
2. numb; without feeling.
3. (insensible of/to) unaware of; indifferent to.
4. too small or gradual to be perceived.

DERIVATIVES:
insensibly adverb
insensibility noun.

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insensitive

adjective
1. showing or feeling no concern for the feelings of others.
2. not sensitive to physical sensation.
3. not appreciative of or able to respond to something.

DERIVATIVES:
insensitively adverb
insensitiveness noun
insensitivity noun.

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inseparable

adjective
unable to be separated or treated separately.

DERIVATIVES:
inseparability noun
inseparably adverb.

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insert

verb
place, fit, or incorporate into.

noun
1. a loose page or section in a magazine.
2. an ornamental section of cloth inserted into a garment.
3. a shot inserted in a film or video.

DERIVATIVES:
insertable adjective
inserter noun.

ORIGIN: Latin inserere 'put in' .

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insertion

noun
1. the action of inserting.
2. an amendment or addition inserted in a text.
3. each appearance of an advertisement in a newspaper or periodical.
4. an insert in a garment.

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in-service

adjective
(of training) intended to take place during the course of employment.

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inset

noun
1. a thing inserted; an insert.
2. a small picture or map inserted within the border of a larger one.

verb (insetting; past and past part. inset or insetted)
1. put in as an inset.
2. decorate with an inset.

DERIVATIVES:
insetter noun.

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inshore

adjective
1. at sea but close to the shore.
2. operating at sea but near the coast.

adverb
towards or closer to the shore.

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inside

noun
1. the inner side or surface of a thing.
2. the inner part; the interior.
3. (insides) informal the stomach and bowels.
4. (the inside) informal a position affording private information.
5. the part of a road furthest from the centre.
6. the side of a bend where the edge is shorter.

adjective
1. situated on or in, or derived from, the inside.
2. (in some sports) denoting positions nearer to the centre of the field.

preposition & adverb
1. situated or moving within.
2. within (the body or mind of a person).
3. informal in prison.
4. (in some sports) closer to the centre of the field than.
5. in less than (the period of time specified).

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inside job

noun informal
a crime committed by or with the assistance of a person associated with the premises where it occurred.

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inside leg

noun
the length of a person's leg or trouser leg from crotch to ankle.

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inside out

adverb
with the inner surface turned outwards.

IDIOMS -
know inside out know very thoroughly.

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insider

noun
a person within an organization, especially someone privy to information unavailable to others.

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insider dealing (also insider trading)

noun
the illegal practice of trading on the stock exchange to one's own advantage through having access to confidential information.

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insidious

adjective
proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, with harmful effect.

DERIVATIVES:
insidiously adverb
insidiousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin insidiosus 'cunning' .

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insight

noun
1. the capacity to gain an accurate and intuitive understanding of something.
2. understanding of this kind.

DERIVATIVES:
insightful adjective.

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insignia

noun (pl. same)
1. a badge or distinguishing mark of authority, office, or membership.
2. literary a token of something.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'signs, badges' , from insignis 'distinguished' .

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insignificant

adjective
having little or no importance or value.

DERIVATIVES:
insignificance noun
insignificancy noun
insignificantly adverb.

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insincere

adjective
not expressing genuine feelings.

DERIVATIVES:
insincerely adverb
insincerity noun (pl. insincerities) .

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insinuate

verb
1. suggest or hint (something bad) in an indirect and unpleasant way.
2. (insinuate oneself into) manoeuvre oneself gradually into (a favourable position).

DERIVATIVES:
insinuating adjective
insinuator noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «enter (a document) on the official register»: from Latin insinuare 'introduce tortuously' , from sinuare 'to curve' .

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insinuation

noun
an unpleasant hint or suggestion.

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insipid

adjective
1. lacking flavour.
2. lacking vigour or interest.

DERIVATIVES:
insipidity noun
insipidly adverb
insipidness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin insipidus, from in- 'not' + sapidus 'tasty, savoury' .

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insist

verb
1. demand or state forcefully, without accepting refusal or contradiction.
2. (insist on) persist in (doing).

ORIGIN: Latin insistere 'persist' , from sistere 'stand' .

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insistent

adjective
1. insisting or very demanding.
2. repeated and demanding attention.

DERIVATIVES:
insistence noun
insistency noun
insistently adverb.

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in situ

adverb & adjective
in the original or appropriate position.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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insole

noun
1. a removable sole worn inside a shoe for warmth or to improve the fit.
2. the fixed inner sole of a boot or shoe.

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insolent

adjective
rude and disrespectful.

DERIVATIVES:
insolence noun
insolently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'immoderate, arrogant' .

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insoluble

adjective
1. impossible to solve.
2. (of a substance) incapable of being dissolved.

DERIVATIVES:
insolubility noun
insolubly adverb.

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insolvent

adjective
1. having insufficient money to pay debts owed.
2. relating to bankruptcy.

noun
an insolvent person.

DERIVATIVES:
insolvency noun.

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insomnia

noun
habitual sleeplessness.

DERIVATIVES:
insomniac noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from insomnis 'sleepless' .

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insomuch

adverb (insomuch that/as)
to the extent that.

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insouciant

adjective
casually unconcerned.

DERIVATIVES:
insouciance noun
insouciantly adverb.

ORIGIN: French, from in- 'not' + souciant 'worrying' .

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inspect

verb
1. look at closely.
2. examine officially.

DERIVATIVES:
inspection noun.

ORIGIN: Latin inspicere 'look into, examine' .

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inspector

noun
1. an official who ensures that regulations are obeyed.
2. a police officer ranking below a chief inspector.

DERIVATIVES:
inspectorate noun
inspectorial adjective
inspectorship noun.

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inspiration

noun
1. the process or quality of being inspired.
2. a person or thing that inspires.
3. a sudden clever or timely idea.
4. the process of inhalation.

DERIVATIVES:
inspirational adjective.

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inspire

verb
1. fill with the urge or ability to do or feel something.
2. create (a feeling) in a person.
3. give rise to.
4. inhale.

DERIVATIVES:
inspirer noun
inspiring adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin inspirare 'breathe or blow into' .

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inspired

adjective
1. showing or characterized by inspiration.
2. (of air or another substance) having been inhaled.

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instability

noun (pl. instabilities)
lack of stability.

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install (also instal)

verb (installed, installing)
1. place or fix (equipment) in position ready for use.
2. establish in a new place, condition, or role.

DERIVATIVES:
installer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin installare, from stallum 'place, stall' .

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installation

noun
1. the action or process of installing or being installed.
2. a large piece of equipment installed for use.
3. a military or industrial establishment.
4. an art exhibit constructed within a gallery.

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instalment (US also installment)

noun
1. a sum of money due as one of several payments made over a period of time.
2. one of several parts of something published or broadcast at intervals.

ORIGIN: Old French estalement, from estaler 'to fix' .

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instance

noun
1. an example or single occurrence of something.
2. a particular case.

verb
cite as an example.

IDIOMS -
for instance as an example.
in the first (or second etc.) instance in the first (or second etc.) place or stage of a proceeding.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «urgent entreaty», later 'example to the contrary' : from Latin instantia 'presence, urgency' , from instare (see INSTANT).

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instant

adjective
1. immediate.
2. urgent; pressing.
3. (of food) processed to allow quick preparation.

noun
1. a precise moment of time.
2. a very short time.

DERIVATIVES:
instantly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from instare 'be present, press upon' .

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instantaneous

adjective
1. occurring or done instantly.
2. Physics existing or measured at a particular instant.

DERIVATIVES:
instantaneity noun
instantaneously adverb
instantaneousness noun.

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instead

adverb
1. as an alternative or substitute.
2. (instead of) in place of.

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instep

noun
the part of a person's foot between the ball and the ankle.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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instigate

verb
1. bring about or initiate.
2. (instigate to/to do) incite (someone) to do.

DERIVATIVES:
instigation noun
instigator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin instigare 'urge, incite' .

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instil (also instill)

verb (instilled, instilling)
1. gradually but firmly establish (an idea or attitude) in someone's mind.
2. put (a liquid) into something in drops.

DERIVATIVES:
instillation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin instillare 'put in by drops' .

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instinct

noun
1. an inborn tendency or impulse to behave in a certain way.
2. a natural ability or skill.

adjective (instinct with) formal
imbued or filled with (a quality).

DERIVATIVES:
instinctual adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin instinctus 'impulse' .

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instinctive

adjective
relating to or prompted by instinct; apparently natural or automatic.

DERIVATIVES:
instinctively adverb.

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institute

noun
an organization for the promotion of science, education, etc.

verb
1. begin or establish.
2. appoint to a position, especially as a cleric.

ORIGIN: from Latin instituere 'establish' .

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institution

noun
1. an important organization or public body, such as a university, bank, hospital, or Church.
2. an organization providing residential care for people with special needs.
3. an established law or custom.
4. informal a well-established and familiar person or thing.
5. the action of instituting.

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institutional

adjective
1. of, in, or like an institution.
2. typical of an institution, especially in being regimented or unimaginative.

DERIVATIVES:
institutionally adverb.

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institutionalize (also institutionalise)

verb
1. establish as a norm in an organization or culture: claims that racism is institutionalized in education.
2. place in a residential institution.
3. (be/become institutionalized) suffer the adverse effects of long-term residence in a residential institution.

DERIVATIVES:
institutionalization noun.

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instruct

verb
1. direct or command.
2. teach.
3. inform of a fact or situation.
4. chiefly Brit. authorize (a solicitor or barrister) to act on one's behalf.

ORIGIN: Latin instruere 'construct, equip, teach' .

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instruction

noun
1. a direction or order.
2. teaching or education.
3. a code in a computer program which defines and carries out an operation.

DERIVATIVES:
instructional adjective.

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instructive

adjective
useful and informative.

DERIVATIVES:
instructively adverb.

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instructor (or instructress)

noun
1. a teacher.
2. N. Amer. a university teacher ranking below assistant professor.

DERIVATIVES:
instructorship noun.

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instrument

noun
1. a tool or implement, especially for precision work.
2. a measuring device, especially in a vehicle or aircraft.
3. (also musical instrument) a device for producing musical sounds.
4. a means of pursuing an aim.
5. a person who is made use of.
6. a formal or legal document.

ORIGIN: Latin instrumentum 'equipment, implement' .

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instrumental

adjective
1. serving as a means of pursuing an aim.
2. (of music) performed on instruments.
3. relating to an implement or measuring device.

noun
a piece of music performed by instruments, with no vocals.

DERIVATIVES:
instrumentality noun
instrumentally adverb.

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instrumentalist

noun
a player of a musical instrument.

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instrumentation

noun
1. the instruments used in a piece of music.
2. the arrangement of a piece of music for particular instruments.
3. measuring instruments collectively.

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insubordinate

adjective
disobedient.

DERIVATIVES:
insubordination noun.

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insubstantial

adjective
1. lacking strength and solidity.
2. imaginary.

DERIVATIVES:
insubstantiality noun
insubstantially adverb.

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insufferable

adjective
1. too extreme to bear; intolerable.
2. unbearably arrogant or conceited.

DERIVATIVES:
insufferableness noun
insufferably adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin sufferre 'suffer' .

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insufficient

adjective
not enough.

DERIVATIVES:
insufficiency noun
insufficiently adverb.

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insular

adjective
1. isolated from outside influences, and often narrow-minded as a result.
2. relating to or from an island.

DERIVATIVES:
insularity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin insularis, from insula 'island' .

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insulate

verb
1. protect by interposing material to prevent loss of heat or intrusion of sound.
2. cover with non-conducting material to prevent the passage of electricity.
3. protect from something unpleasant.

DERIVATIVES:
insulator noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin insula 'island' .

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insulating tape

noun
adhesive tape used to cover exposed electric wires.

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insulation

noun
1. the action of insulating or state of being insulated.
2. material used to insulate something.

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insulin

noun
a hormone produced in the pancreas, which regulates glucose levels in the blood, and the lack of which causes diabetes.

ORIGIN: from Latin insula 'island' (with reference to the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas).

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insult

verb
speak to or treat with disrespect or abuse.

noun
1. an insulting remark or action.
2. a thing so worthless or contemptible as to be offensive: the pay offer is an absolute insult.

ORIGIN: Latin insultare 'jump or trample on' .

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insuperable

adjective
impossible to overcome.

DERIVATIVES:
insuperably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin insuperabilis, from superare 'overcome' .

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insupportable

adjective
1. unable to be supported or justified.
2. intolerable.

DERIVATIVES:
insupportably adverb.

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insurance

noun
1. the action of insuring.
2. the business of providing insurance.
3. money paid for insurance, or as compensation under an insurance policy.
4. a thing providing protection against a possible eventuality.

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insure

verb
1. arrange for compensation in the event of damage to or loss of (property, life, or a person), in exchange for regular payments to a company.
2. secure the payment of (a sum) in this way.
3. (insure against) protect (someone) against (a possible eventuality).
4. another term for ENSURE.

DERIVATIVES:
insurable adjective
insurer noun.

ORIGIN: alteration of ENSURE.

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insurgent

adjective
rising in active revolt.

noun
a rebel or revolutionary.

DERIVATIVES:
insurgence noun
insurgency noun (pl. insurgencies) .

ORIGIN: from Latin insurgere 'rise up' .

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insurmountable

adjective
too great to be overcome.

DERIVATIVES:
insurmountably adverb.

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insurrection

noun
a violent uprising against authority.

DERIVATIVES:
insurrectionary adjective
insurrectionist noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from insurgere 'rise up' .

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intact

adjective
not damaged or impaired.

DERIVATIVES:
intactness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin intactus 'untouched' .

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intaglio

noun (pl. intaglios)
1. an incised or engraved design.
2. a gem with an incised design.

ORIGIN: Italian, from intagliare 'engrave' .

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intake

noun
1. an amount or quantity taken in.
2. an act of taking in.
3. a location or structure through which something is taken in.

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intangible

adjective
1. unable to be touched; not solid or real.
2. vague and abstract.

noun
an intangible thing.

DERIVATIVES:
intangibility noun
intangibly adverb.

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integer

noun
a whole number.

ORIGIN: from Latin, 'intact, whole' , from tangere 'to touch' ; compare with ENTIRE.

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integral

adjective
1. necessary to make a whole complete; fundamental.
2. included as part of a whole.
3. forming a whole; complete.
4. Mathematics of or denoted by an integer or integers.

noun Mathematics
a function of which a given function is the derivative, and which may express the area under the curve of a graph of the function.

DERIVATIVES:
integrally adverb.
USAGE - There are two possible pronunciations for the adjective integral: one with the stress on the in- and the other with the stress on the -teg-. In British English, the second pronunciation is sometimes frowned on, but both are broadly accepted as standard.

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integral calculus

noun Mathematics
the part of calculus concerned with the integrals of functions.

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integrate

verb
1. combine or be combined to form a whole.
2. bring or come into equal participation in an institution or body.
3. Mathematics find the integral of.

DERIVATIVES:
integrable adjective
integrative adjective
integrator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin integrare 'make whole' , from integer 'whole, intact' .

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integrated circuit

noun
an electronic circuit on a small piece of semiconducting material, performing the same function as a larger circuit of discrete components.

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integration

noun
1. the action or process of integrating.
2. the intermixing of peoples or groups previously segregated.

DERIVATIVES:
integrationist noun.

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integrity

noun
1. the quality of being honest and morally upright.
2. the state of being whole or unified.
3. soundness of construction.

ORIGIN: Latin integritas, from integer 'intact, whole' .

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integument

noun
a tough outer protective layer, especially of an animal or plant.

ORIGIN: Latin integumentum, from integere 'to cover' .

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intellect

noun
1. the faculty of reasoning and understanding objectively.
2. a person's mental powers.
3. a clever person.

ORIGIN: Latin intellectus 'understanding' .

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intellectual

adjective
1. relating or appealing to the intellect.
2. having a highly developed intellect.

noun
a person with a highly developed intellect.

DERIVATIVES:
intellectuality noun
intellectually adverb.

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intelligence

noun
1. the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.
2. a person with this ability.
3. the gathering of information of military or political value.
4. information gathered in this way.

ORIGIN: Latin intelligentia, from intelligere 'understand' .

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intelligence quotient

noun
a number representing a person's reasoning ability, compared to the statistical norm, 100 being average.

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intelligent

adjective
1. having intelligence, especially of a high level.
2. (of a device) able to vary its state or action in response to varying situations and past experience.
3. (of a computer terminal) having its own processing capability.

DERIVATIVES:
intelligently adverb.

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intelligentsia

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
intellectuals or highly educated people, regarded as possessing culture and political influence.

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intelligible

adjective
able to be understood.

DERIVATIVES:
intelligibility noun
intelligibly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin intelligibilis, from intelligere 'understand' .

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intemperate

adjective
1. lacking self-control.
2. characterized by excessive indulgence, especially in alcohol.

DERIVATIVES:
intemperance noun
intemperately adverb.

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intend

verb
1. have as one's aim or plan.
2. plan that (something) should be, do, or mean something: the book was intended as a satire.
3. (intend for/to do) design or destine for a particular purpose.
4. (be intended for) be meant for the use of.

DERIVATIVES:
intender noun.

ORIGIN: Latin intendere 'intend, extend, direct' .

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intended

adjective
planned or meant.

noun (one's intended) informal
one's fiancé(e).

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intense

adjective (intenser, intensest)
1. of extreme force, degree, or strength.
2. extremely earnest or serious.

DERIVATIVES:
intensely adverb
intenseness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin intensus 'stretched tightly, strained' , from intendere 'intend' .

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intensify

verb (intensifies, intensified)
make or become more intense.

DERIVATIVES:
intensification noun.

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intensity

noun (pl. intensities)
1. the quality of being intense.
2. chiefly Physics the measurable amount of a property, such as force or brightness.

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intensive

adjective
1. very thorough or vigorous.
2. (of agriculture) aiming to achieve maximum production within a limited area.
3. (in combination ) concentrating on or making much use of something: labour-intensive methods.

DERIVATIVES:
intensively adverb
intensiveness noun.

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intensive care

noun
special medical treatment of a dangerously ill patient.

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intent

noun
intention or purpose.

adjective
1. (intent on/upon) determined to do.
2. (intent on/upon) attentively occupied with.
3. showing earnest and eager attention.

IDIOMS -
to all intents and purposes in all important respects.
with intent Law with the intention of committing a crime.

DERIVATIVES:
intently adverb
intentness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French entent, entente, from Latin intendere 'intend' .

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intention

noun
1. an aim or plan.
2. the action or fact of intending.
3. (one's intentions) a man's plans in respect to marriage.

DERIVATIVES:
intentioned adjective.

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intentional

adjective
deliberate.

DERIVATIVES:
intentionality noun
intentionally adverb.

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inter

verb (interred, interring)
place (a corpse) in a grave or tomb.

ORIGIN: Old French enterrer, from Latin in- 'into' + terra 'earth' .

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inter-

prefix
1. between; among: interbreed.
2. mutually; reciprocally: interaction.

ORIGIN: Latin inter 'between, among' .

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interact

verb
act so as to have a reciprocal effect.

DERIVATIVES:
interactant adjective & noun
interaction noun.

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interactive

adjective
1. influencing each other.
2. (of a computer or other electronic device) allowing a two-way flow of information between it and a user, responding to the user's input.

DERIVATIVES:
interactively adverb
interactivity noun.

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inter alia

adverb
among other things.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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interbreed

verb (past and past part. interbred)
breed or cause to breed with an animal of a different race or species.

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intercede

verb
intervene on behalf of another.

ORIGIN: Latin intercedere, from cedere 'to go' .

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intercept

verb
obstruct and prevent from continuing to a destination.

noun
1. an act of intercepting.
2. Mathematics the point at which a line cuts the axis of a graph.

DERIVATIVES:
interception noun
interceptor noun.

ORIGIN: Latin intercipere 'catch between' .

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intercession

noun
1. the action of interceding.
2. the saying a prayer on behalf of another person.

DERIVATIVES:
intercessor noun
intercessory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from intercedere 'intervene' .

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interchange

verb
1. exchange (things) with each other.
2. put each of (two things) in the other's place.

noun
1. the action of interchanging.
2. an exchange of words.
3. a road junction on several levels so that traffic streams do not intersect.

DERIVATIVES:
interchangeability noun
interchangeable adjective
interchangeably adverb.

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intercity

adjective
existing or travelling between cities.

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intercom

noun
an electrical device allowing one-way or two-way communication.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of intercommunication.

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interconnect

verb
connect with each other.

DERIVATIVES:
interconnection noun.

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intercontinental

adjective
relating to or travelling between continents.

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intercourse

noun
1. communication or dealings between people.
2. sexual intercourse.

ORIGIN: Latin intercursus, from intercurrere 'intervene' .

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intercut

verb (intercutting; past and past part. intercut)
alternate (scenes) with contrasting scenes in a film.

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interdenominational

adjective
relating to more than one religious denomination.

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interdepartmental

adjective
relating to more than one department.

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interdependent

adjective
dependent on each other.

DERIVATIVES:
interdependence noun
interdependency noun.

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interdisciplinary

adjective
relating to more than one branch of knowledge.

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interest

noun
1. the state of wanting to know about something or someone.
2. the quality of exciting curiosity or holding the attention.
3. a subject about which one is concerned or enthusiastic.
4. money paid for the use of money lent.
5. a person's advantage or benefit.
6. a share, right, or stake in property or a financial undertaking.
7. a group having a common concern, especially in politics or business.

verb
1. excite the curiosity or attention of.
2. (interest in) persuade (someone) to undertake or acquire.
3. (interested) not impartial: interested parties.

IDIOMS -
at interest (of money borrowed) on the condition that interest is payable.

DERIVATIVES:
interestedly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin interesse 'differ, be important' .

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interesting

adjective
arousing curiosity or interest.

DERIVATIVES:
interestingly adverb
interestingness noun.

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interface

noun
1. a point where two things meet and interact.
2. chiefly Physics a surface forming a boundary between two portions of matter or space.
3. a device or program enabling a user to communicate with a computer, or for connecting two items of hardware or software.

verb (interface with)
1. interact with.
2. Computing connect with (something) by an interface.

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interfaith

adjective
relating to or between different religions.

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interfere

verb
1. (interfere with) prevent from continuing or being carried out properly.
2. (interfere with) handle or adjust without permission.
3. intervene without invitation or necessity.
4. (interfere with) Brit. euphemistic sexually molest.
5. Physics interact to produce interference.

DERIVATIVES:
interferer noun
interfering adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French s'entreferir 'strike each other' .

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interference

noun
1. the action of interfering or process of being interfered with.
2. disturbance to radio signals caused by unwanted signals from other sources.
3. Physics the combination of two or more waveforms to form a resultant in which the wave motions are either reinforced or cancelled (e.g. the combination of beams of light to form a pattern of light and dark bands).

DERIVATIVES:
interferential adjective.

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interferon

noun
a protein released by animal cells which inhibits virus replication.

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intergalactic

adjective
relating to or situated between galaxies.

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intergovernmental

adjective
relating to or conducted between governments.

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interim

noun (the interim)
the intervening time.

adjective
in or for the intervening time; provisional.

ORIGIN: from Latin, 'meanwhile' .

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interior

adjective
1. situated within or inside; inner.
2. remote from the coast or frontier; inland.
3. relating to a country's internal affairs.
4. existing or occurring in the mind or soul.

noun
1. the interior part.
2. the internal affairs of a country.

DERIVATIVES:
interiorize (also interiorise) verb
interiorly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'inner' .

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interior decoration

noun
the decoration of the interior of a building or room, especially with regard for colour combination and artistic effect.

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interior design

noun
the design or decoration of the interior of a room or building.

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interior monologue

noun
a piece of writing expressing a character's thoughts.

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interject

verb
say abruptly, especially as an interruption.

ORIGIN: Latin interjicere 'interpose' .

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interjection

noun
an exclamation, especially as a part of speech (e.g. ah!, dear me!).

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interlace

verb
1. interweave.
2. (interlace with) mingle or intersperse with.

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interleave

verb
1. insert blank leaves between the pages of (a book).
2. place something between the layers of.

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interlink

verb
join or connect together.

DERIVATIVES:
interlinkage noun.

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interlock

verb
engage with each other by overlapping or fitting together.

noun
1. a device or mechanism for connecting or coordinating the function of components.
2. (also interlock fabric) a fabric with closely interlocking stitches allowing it to stretch.

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interlocutor

noun formal
a person who takes part in a conversation.

DERIVATIVES:
interlocution noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin interloqui 'interrupt (with speech)' .

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interlocutory

adjective
1. Law (of a decree or judgement) given provisionally during the course of a legal action.
2. relating to dialogue.

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interloper

noun
a person who interferes in another's affairs; an intruder.

DERIVATIVES:
interlope verb.

ORIGIN: from INTER- + -loper as in archaic landloper «vagabond», from Dutch landlooper.

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interlude

noun
1. an intervening period of time or activity that contrasts with what goes before or after: a romantic interlude.
2. a pause between the acts of a play.
3. a piece of music played between other pieces or between the verses of a hymn.

ORIGIN: Latin interludium, from inter- 'between' + ludus 'play' .

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intermediary

noun (pl. intermediaries)
a mediator.

adjective
intermediate.

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intermediate

adjective
1. coming between two things in time, place, character, etc.
2. having more than basic knowledge or skills but not yet advanced.

noun
an intermediate person or thing.

verb
mediate.

DERIVATIVES:
intermediacy noun
intermediation noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin inter- 'between' + medius 'middle' .

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interment

noun
the burial of a corpse in a grave or tomb.

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intermezzo

noun (pl. intermezzi or intermezzos)
1. a short connecting instrumental movement in an opera or other musical work.
2. a short piece for a solo instrument.
3. a light dramatic or other performance between the acts of a play.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin intermedium 'interval' .

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interminable

adjective
endless.

DERIVATIVES:
interminably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin interminabilis, from in- 'not' + terminare 'to end' .

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intermingle

verb
mix or mingle together.

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intermission

noun
1. a pause or break.
2. an interval between parts of a play or film.

ORIGIN: Latin, from intermittere 'discontinue, stop' .

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intermittent

adjective
occurring at irregular intervals.

DERIVATIVES:
intermittency noun
intermittently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'ceasing' , from intermittere (see INTERMISSION).

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intermix

verb
mix together.

DERIVATIVES:
intermixable adjective
intermixture noun.

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intern

noun (also interne) chiefly N. Amer.
1. a recent medical graduate receiving supervised training in a hospital and acting as an assistant physician or surgeon.
2. a student or trainee who does a job to gain work experience or for a qualification.

verb
1. confine as a prisoner.
2. chiefly N. Amer. serve as an intern.

DERIVATIVES:
internment noun
internship noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin internus 'inward, internal' .

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internal

adjective
1. of or situated on the inside.
2. inside the body.
3. relating to affairs and activities within a country.
4. existing or used within an organization.
5. in or of one's mind or soul.

noun (internals)
inner parts or features.

DERIVATIVES:
internality noun
internally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin internalis, from internus 'inward, internal' .

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internal-combustion engine

noun
an engine in which power is generated by the expansion of hot gases from the burning of fuel with air inside the engine.

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internal exile

noun
penal banishment from a part of one's own country.

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internalize (also internalise)

verb
make (attitudes or behaviour) part of one's nature by learning or unconscious assimilation.

DERIVATIVES:
internalization noun.

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international

adjective
1. existing or occurring between nations.
2. agreed on or used by all or many nations.

noun
1. Brit. a game or contest between teams representing different countries.
2. a player who has taken part in such a contest.
3. (International) any of four associations founded (1864 1936) to promote socialist or communist action.

DERIVATIVES:
internationality noun
internationally adverb.

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International Date Line

noun
an imaginary North South line through the Pacific Ocean, chiefly along the meridian furthest from Greenwich, to the east of which the date is a day earlier than it is to the west.

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internationalism

noun
1. the advocacy of cooperation and understanding between nations.
2. the state or process of being international.

DERIVATIVES:
internationalist noun.

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internationalize (also internationalise)

verb
make international.

DERIVATIVES:
internationalization noun.

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international law

noun
a body of rules established by custom or treaty and recognized by nations as binding in their relations with one another.

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internecine

adjective
1. destructive to both sides in a conflict.
2. relating to conflict within a group: internecine rivalries.

ORIGIN: Latin internecinus, from inter- 'among' + necare 'to kill' .

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internee

noun
a prisoner.

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Internet

noun
an international information network linking computers, accessible to the public via modem links.

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interpersonal

adjective
relating to relationships or communication between people.

DERIVATIVES:
interpersonally adverb.

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interplanetary

adjective
situated or travelling between planets.

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interplay

noun
the way in which things interact.

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Interpol

noun
an international organization that coordinates investigations made by the police forces of member countries into international crimes.

ORIGIN: from Inter(national) pol(ice).

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interpolate

verb
1. insert or introduce (something different or additional).
2. interject (a remark) in a conversation.
3. insert (words) in a book, especially to give a false impression as to its date.
4. Mathematics insert (an intermediate term) into a series by estimating or calculating it from surrounding known values.

DERIVATIVES:
interpolation noun
interpolator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin interpolare 'refurbish, alter' .

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interpose

verb
1. insert between one thing and another.
2. intervene between parties.
3. say as an interruption.
4. exercise or advance (a veto or objection).

DERIVATIVES:
interposition noun.

ORIGIN: French interposer, from Latin interponere 'put in' .

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interpret

verb (interpreted, interpreting)
1. explain the meaning of.
2. translate orally the words of a person speaking a different language.
3. understand as having a particular meaning or significance.
4. perform (a creative work) in a way that conveys one's understanding of the creator's ideas.

DERIVATIVES:
interpretable adjective
interpretative adjective
interpretive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin interpretari 'explain, translate' .

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interpretation

noun
1. the action of explaining the meaning of something.
2. an explanation or way of explaining.
3. a performer's representation of a creative work.

DERIVATIVES:
interpretational adjective.

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interpreter

noun
a person who interprets foreign speech orally.

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interracial

adjective
existing between or involving different races.

DERIVATIVES:
interracially adverb.

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interregnum

noun (pl. interregnums or interregna)
a period when normal government is suspended, especially between successive reigns or regimes.

ORIGIN: Latin, from inter- 'between' + regnum 'reign' .

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interrelate

verb
relate or connect to one other.

DERIVATIVES:
interrelatedness noun
interrelation noun
interrelationship noun.

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interrogate

verb
1. ask questions of (someone) closely, aggressively, or formally.
2. obtain data or information automatically from (a device, database, etc.).

DERIVATIVES:
interrogation noun
interrogator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin interrogare 'question' .

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interrogative

adjective
1. having the force of a question.
2. Grammar used in questions.

noun
a word used in questions, e.g. how or what.

DERIVATIVES:
interrogatively adverb.

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interrogatory

adjective
questioning.

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interrupt

verb
1. stop the continuous progress of.
2. stop (a person who is speaking) by saying or doing something.
3. break the continuity of (a line, surface, or view).

DERIVATIVES:
interrupter (also interruptor) noun
interruptible adjective
interruption noun
interruptive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin interrumpere 'break, interrupt' .

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intersect

verb
1. divide (something) by passing or lying across it.
2. (of lines, roads, etc.) cross or cut each other.

ORIGIN: Latin intersecare 'cut, intersect' .

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intersection

noun
1. a point or line common to lines or surfaces that intersect.
2. a point at which two roads intersect.

DERIVATIVES:
intersectional adjective.

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intersperse

verb (usu. be interspersed)
1. scatter among or between other things.
2. diversify with other things at intervals.

DERIVATIVES:
interspersion noun.

ORIGIN: Latin interspergere 'scatter between' .

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interstate

adjective
existing or carried on between states, especially of the US.

noun
one of a system of motorways running between US states.

adverb Austral.
from one state to another.

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interstellar

adjective
occurring or situated between stars.

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interstice

noun
a small intervening space.

ORIGIN: Latin interstitium, from intersistere 'stand between' .

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intertwine

verb
twist or twine together.

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interval

noun
1. an intervening time or space.
2. a pause or break.
3. Brit. a pause between parts of a theatrical or musical performance or a sports match.
4. the difference in pitch between two sounds.

DERIVATIVES:
intervallic adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin intervallum 'space between ramparts, interval' .

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intervene

verb
1. come between so as to prevent or alter the result or course of events.
2. (usu. as adj. intervening) occur or be between or among.

DERIVATIVES:
intervener (also intervenor) noun.

ORIGIN: Latin intervenire 'come between' .

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intervention

noun
1. the action or process of intervening.
2. interference by a state in another's affairs.
3. action taken to improve a medical disorder.

DERIVATIVES:
interventional adjective.

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interventionist

adjective
favouring intervention, especially by a government in its domestic economy or by one state in the affairs of another.

noun
an interventionist person.

DERIVATIVES:
interventionism noun.

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interview

noun
1. an occasion on which a journalist or broadcaster puts a series of questions to a person of public interest.
2. an oral examination of an applicant for a job or college place.
3. a session of formal questioning of a person by the police.

verb
hold an interview with.

DERIVATIVES:
interviewee noun
interviewer noun.

ORIGIN: French entrevue, from s'entrevoir 'see each other' .

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interwar

adjective
existing in the period between two wars, especially the two world wars.

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interweave

verb (past interwove; past part. interwoven)
weave or become woven together.

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intestate

adjective
not having made a will before one dies.

noun
a person who has died intestate.

DERIVATIVES:
intestacy noun.

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intestine (also intestines)

noun
the lower part of the alimentary canal from the end of the stomach to the anus.

DERIVATIVES:
intestinal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin intestinum, from intus 'within' .

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intimacy

noun (pl. intimacies)
1. close familiarity or friendship.
2. an intimate act or remark.

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intimate [1]

adjective
1. closely acquainted; familiar.
2. private and personal.
3. euphemistic having a sexual relationship.
4. involving very close connection: an intimate involvement.
5. (of knowledge) detailed.
6. having an informal friendly atmosphere.

noun
a very close friend.

DERIVATIVES:
intimately adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin intimare 'impress, make familiar' , from intimus 'inmost' .

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intimate [2]

verb
1. state or make known.
2. imply or hint.

DERIVATIVES:
intimation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin intimare (see INTIMATE).

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intimidate

verb
frighten or overawe, especially so as to coerce into doing something.

DERIVATIVES:
intimidation noun
intimidator noun
intimidatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin intimidare 'make timid' .

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into

preposition
1. expressing motion or direction to a point on or within.
2. expressing a change of state or the result of an action.
3. indicating the direction towards which someone or something is turned.
4. indicating an object of interest.
5. expressing division.
6. informal taking a lively and active interest in.

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intolerable

adjective
unable to be endured.

DERIVATIVES:
intolerably adverb.

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intolerant

adjective
not tolerant.

DERIVATIVES:
intolerance noun
intolerantly adverb.

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intonation

noun
1. the rise and fall of the voice in speaking.
2. the action of intoning.
3. accuracy of musical pitch.

DERIVATIVES:
intonational adjective.

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intone

verb
say or recite with little rise and fall of the pitch of the voice.

ORIGIN: Latin intonare, from tonus 'tone' .

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intoxicate

verb
1. (of alcoholic drink or a drug) cause (someone) to lose control of their faculties.
2. poison.
3. excite or exhilarate.

DERIVATIVES:
intoxication noun.

ORIGIN: Latin intoxicare, from toxicum 'poison' .

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intra-

prefix
(added to adjectives) on the inside; within: intramural.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'inside' .

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intractable

adjective
1. hard to solve or deal with.
2. stubborn.

DERIVATIVES:
intractability noun
intractably adverb.

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intramural

adjective
1. situated or done within a building.
2. forming part of normal university or college studies.

ORIGIN: from INTRA- + Latin murus 'wall' .

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Intranet

noun Computing
a private communications network created with Internet software.

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intransigent

adjective
refusing to change one's views.

noun
an intransigent person.

DERIVATIVES:
intransigence noun
intransigency noun
intransigently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Spanish los intransigentes (a name adopted by extreme republicans); ultimately from Latin transigere 'come to an understanding' .

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intransitive

adjective
(of a verb) not taking a direct object, e.g. look in look at the sky. The opposite of TRANSITIVE.

DERIVATIVES:
intransitively adverb
intransitivity noun.

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intrauterine

adjective
within the uterus.

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intrauterine device

noun
a contraceptive device fitted inside the uterus and physically preventing the implantation of fertilized ova.

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intravenous

adjective
within or into a vein or veins.

DERIVATIVES:
intravenously adverb.

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in tray

noun chiefly Brit.
a tray on a desk for incoming letters and documents.

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intrepid

adjective
fearless; adventurous.

DERIVATIVES:
intrepidity noun
intrepidly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin intrepidus 'not alarmed' .

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intricacy

noun (pl. intricacies)
1. the quality of being intricate.
2. (intricacies) details.

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intricate

adjective
very complicated or detailed.

DERIVATIVES:
intricately adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin intricare 'entangle' , from tricae 'tricks, puzzles' .

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intrigue

verb (intrigues, intrigued, intriguing)
1. arouse the curiosity or interest of.
2. plot something illicit or harmful.

noun
1. the plotting of something illicit or harmful.
2. a secret love affair.

DERIVATIVES:
intriguer noun
intriguing adjective.

ORIGIN: French intriguer 'tangle, plot' , from Latin intricare 'entangle' .

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intrinsic

adjective
belonging to the basic nature of someone or something; essential.

DERIVATIVES:
intrinsically adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «interior, inner»: from Latin intrinsecus 'inwardly, inwards' .

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intro-

prefix
into; inwards: introvert.

ORIGIN: Latin intro 'to the inside' .

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introduce

verb
1. bring into use or operation for the first time.
2. present (someone) by name to another.
3. (introduce to) bring (a subject) to the attention of (someone) for the first time.
4. insert or bring into.
5. occur at the start of.
6. provide an opening announcement for.
7. present (new legislation) for debate in a legislative assembly.

DERIVATIVES:
introducer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin introducere, from ducere 'to lead' .

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introduction

noun
1. the action of introducing or being introduced.
2. an act of introducing one person to another.
3. a preliminary thing, such as an explanatory section at the beginning of a book.
4. a thing newly brought in.
5. a book or course of study intended to introduce a subject to a person.
6. a person's first experience of a subject or activity.

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introductory

adjective
serving as an introduction; basic or preliminary.

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introspection

noun
the examination of one's own thoughts or feelings.

DERIVATIVES:
introspective adjective
introspectively adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin introspicere 'look into' , or from introspectare 'keep looking into' .

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introvert

noun
1. a shy, reticent person.
2. Psychology a person predominantly concerned with their own thoughts and feelings.

adjective (also introverted)
of or characteristic of an introvert.

DERIVATIVES:
introversion noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin intro- 'to the inside' + vertere 'to turn' .

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intrude

verb
1. come into a place or situation where one is unwelcome or uninvited.
2. introduce into or enter with adverse effect.
3. Geology (of igneous rock) be forced or thrust into (a pre-existing formation).

ORIGIN: Latin intrudere, from trudere 'to thrust' .

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intruder

noun
a person who intrudes, especially into a building with criminal intent.

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intrusion

noun
1. the action of intruding.
2. a thing that intrudes.

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intrusive

adjective
1. intruding or tending to intrude.
2. (of igneous rock) that has been forced when molten into cracks in neighbouring strata.

DERIVATIVES:
intrusively adverb
intrusiveness noun.

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intuit

verb
understand or work out by intuition.

ORIGIN: Latin intueri 'contemplate' .

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intuition

noun
the ability to understand or know something immediately, without conscious reasoning.

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intuitive

adjective
1. instinctive.
2. (chiefly of computer software) easy to use and understand.

DERIVATIVES:
intuitively adverb
intuitiveness noun.

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Inuit

noun
1. (pl. same or Inuits) a member of an indigenous people of northern Canada and parts of Greenland and Alaska.
2. the language of this people.
USAGE - The term Inuit has official status in Canada, and is also used elsewhere as a synonym for Eskimo in general. However, the use of Inuit to include people from Siberia who are not Inupiaq-speakers, is, strictly speaking, not accurate; Eskimo is the only word that covers both groups, and is still widely used.
ORIGIN: Inuit, 'people' .

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inundate

verb (usu. be inundated)
1. flood.
2. overwhelm with things to be dealt with.

DERIVATIVES:
inundation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin inundare 'flood' , from unda 'a wave' .

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inure

verb (usu. be inured to)
accustom to something, especially something unpleasant.

ORIGIN: from an Old French phrase meaning 'in use or practice' .

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invade

verb
1. enter (a country) as or with an army so as to subjugate or occupy it.
2. enter in large numbers, especially intrusively.
3. (of a parasite or disease) attack and spread into (an organism or bodily part).
4. encroach on: his privacy was being invaded.

DERIVATIVES:
invader noun.

ORIGIN: Latin invadere, from vadere 'go' .

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invalid [1]

noun
a person made weak or disabled by illness or injury.

verb (invalided, invaliding) (usu. be invalided)
remove from active service in the armed forces because of injury or illness.

DERIVATIVES:
invalidism noun.

ORIGIN: a special sense of INVALID, with a change of pronunciation.

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invalid [2]

adjective
1. not legally recognized because contravening a regulation or law.
2. not true because based on incorrect information or unsound reasoning.

DERIVATIVES:
invalidate verb
invalidation noun
invalidly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin invalidus 'not strong' .

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invalidity

noun
1. Brit. the condition of being an invalid.
2. the fact of being invalid.

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invaluable

adjective
extremely useful.

DERIVATIVES:
invaluably adverb.

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invariable

adjective
1. never changing.
2. Mathematics (of a quantity) constant.

DERIVATIVES:
invariability noun.

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invariably

adverb
always.

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invariant

adjective
never changing.

noun Mathematics
a function which remains unchanged when a specified transformation is applied.

DERIVATIVES:
invariance noun.

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invasion

noun
1. an instance of invading.
2. the action or process of being invaded.

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invasive

adjective
1. tending to invade or intrude: invasive grasses.
2. (of medical procedures) involving the introduction of instruments or other objects into the body.

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invective

noun
strongly abusive or critical language.

ORIGIN: Latin invectivus 'attacking' , from invehere (see INVEIGH).

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inveigh

verb (inveigh against)
speak or write about with great hostility.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «introduce»: from Latin invehere 'carry in' , invehi 'be carried into, attack' .

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inveigle

verb (usu. inveigle someone into)
persuade by deception or flattery.

DERIVATIVES:
inveiglement noun.

ORIGIN: Old French aveugler 'to blind' .

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invent

verb
1. create or design (a new device, process, etc.).
2. make up (a false story, name, etc.).

DERIVATIVES:
inventor noun.

ORIGIN: Latin invenire 'contrive, discover' .

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invention

noun
1. the action of inventing.
2. something invented.
3. a false story.
4. creative ability.

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inventive

adjective
having or showing creativity or original thought.

DERIVATIVES:
inventively adverb
inventiveness noun.

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inventory

noun (pl. inventories)
1. a complete list of items such as goods in stock or the contents of a building.
2. a quantity of goods in stock.

verb (inventories, inventoried)
make an inventory of.

ORIGIN: Latin inventarium 'a list of what is found' , from invenire 'discover' .

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inverse

adjective
opposite in position, direction, order, or effect.

noun
1. a thing that is the opposite or reverse of another.
2. Mathematics a reciprocal quantity.

DERIVATIVES:
inversely adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin inversus, from invertere 'turn inside out' .

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inverse proportion (also inverse ratio)

noun
a relation between two quantities such that one increases in proportion as the other decreases.

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inversion

noun
1. the action of inverting or the state of being inverted.
2. (also temperature or thermal inversion) a reversal of the normal decrease of air temperature with altitude, or of water temperature with depth.

DERIVATIVES:
inversive adjective.

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invert

verb
put upside down or in the opposite position, order, or arrangement.

DERIVATIVES:
inverter noun
invertible adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin invertere 'turn inside out' .

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invertebrate

noun
an animal having no backbone, such as an arthropod, mollusc, etc.

adjective
relating to such animals.

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inverted comma

noun chiefly Brit.
a quotation mark.

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invest

verb
1. put money into financial schemes, shares, or property with the expectation of achieving a profit.
2. devote (time or energy) to an undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result.
3. (invest in) informal buy (something) whose usefulness will repay the cost.
4. (invest with) endow (someone or something) with (a quality or attribute).
5. confer (a rank or office) on.

DERIVATIVES:
investable (also investible) adjective
investor noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «clothe»: from Latin investire, from vestire 'clothe' ; sense 1 is influenced by Italian investire.

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investigate

verb
1. carry out a systematic or formal inquiry into (an incident or allegation) so as to establish the truth.
2. carry out research into (a subject).
3. make a search or systematic inquiry.

DERIVATIVES:
investigable adjective
investigation noun
investigator noun
investigatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin investigare 'trace out' .

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investigative

adjective
1. of or concerned with investigating.
2. (of journalism or a journalist) investigating and seeking to expose malpractice or the miscarriage of justice.

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investiture

noun
1. the action of formally investing a person with honours or rank.
2. a ceremony at which this takes place.

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investment

noun
1. the action or process of investing.
2. a thing worth buying because it may be profitable or useful in the future.

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inveterate

adjective
1. having a long-standing and firmly established habit or activity: an inveterate gambler.
2. (of a feeling or habit) firmly established.

DERIVATIVES:
inveteracy noun
inveterately adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin inveteratus 'made old' .

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invidious

adjective
unacceptable, unfair, and likely to arouse resentment or anger in others.

DERIVATIVES:
invidiously adverb
invidiousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin invidiosus, from invidia 'hostility' .

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invigilate

verb Brit.
supervise candidates during an examination.

DERIVATIVES:
invigilation noun
invigilator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin invigilare 'watch over' .

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invigorate

verb
give strength or energy to.

DERIVATIVES:
invigorating adjective
invigoration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin invigorare 'make strong' .

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invincible

adjective
too powerful to be defeated or overcome.

DERIVATIVES:
invincibility noun
invincibly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin in- 'not' + vincibilis 'able to be overcome' .

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inviolable

adjective
never to be infringed or dishonoured.

DERIVATIVES:
inviolability noun
inviolably adverb.

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inviolate

adjective
free from injury or violation.

ORIGIN: from Latin in- 'not' + violare 'violate' .

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invisible

adjective
1. unable to be seen, either by nature or because concealed.
2. treated as if unable to be seen; ignored.
3. relating to or denoting earnings which a country makes from the sale of services rather than tangible commodities.

DERIVATIVES:
invisibility noun
invisibly adverb.

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invitation

noun
1. a written or verbal request inviting someone to go somewhere or to do something.
2. the action of inviting.
3. a situation or action inviting a particular outcome or response: his tactics were an invitation to disaster.

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invite

verb
1. ask in a friendly or formal way to go somewhere or to do something.
2. request (something) formally or politely.
3. tend to provoke (a particular outcome or response).

noun informal
an invitation.

DERIVATIVES:
invitee noun
inviter noun.

ORIGIN: Latin invitare.

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inviting

adjective
tempting or attractive.

DERIVATIVES:
invitingly adverb.

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in vitro

adjective & adverb
(of biological processes) taking place in a test tube, culture dish, or elsewhere outside a living organism.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'in glass' .

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invocation

noun
1. the action of invoking.
2. an appeal to a deity or the supernatural.

DERIVATIVES:
invocatory adjective.

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invoice

noun
a list of goods or services provided, with a statement of the sum due.

verb
1. send an invoice to.
2. send an invoice for (goods or services).

ORIGIN: originally the plural of obsolete invoy, from French envoyer 'send' .

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invoke

verb
1. appeal to as an authority or in support of an argument.
2. call on (a deity or spirit) in prayer or as a witness.
3. call earnestly for.
4. summon (a spirit) by charms or incantation.
5. give rise to; evoke.

DERIVATIVES:
invoker noun.

ORIGIN: Latin invocare, from vocare 'to call' .

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involuntary

adjective
1. done without conscious control.
2. (especially of muscles or nerves) concerned in bodily processes that are not under the control of the will.
3. done against someone's will.

DERIVATIVES:
involuntarily adverb
involuntariness noun.

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involve

verb
1. (of a situation or event) include as a necessary part or result.
2. cause to experience or participate in an activity or situation.

DERIVATIVES:
involvement noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the senses «enfold» and «entangle»: from Latin involvere, from volvere 'to roll' .

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involved

adjective
1. connected, typically on an emotional or personal level:
2. difficult to comprehend; complicated.

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invulnerable

adjective
impossible to harm or damage.

DERIVATIVES:
invulnerability noun
invulnerably adverb.

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-in-waiting

combining form
1. denoting a position as attendant to a royal personage: lady-in-waiting.
2. awaiting a turn or about to happen: a political administration-in-waiting.

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inward

adjective
1. directed or proceeding towards the inside.
2. mental or spiritual.

adverb variant of INWARDS.

DERIVATIVES:
inwardly adverb
inwardness noun.

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inward investment

noun
investment made within a country from outside.

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inward-looking

adjective
self-absorbed or insular.

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inwards (also inward)

adverb
1. towards the inside.
2. into or towards the mind, spirit, or soul.

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iodide

noun
a compound of iodine with another element or group.

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iodine

noun
1. a black, crystalline, non-metallic chemical element of the halogen group.
2. an antiseptic solution of iodine in alcohol.

ORIGIN: from Greek ids 'violet-coloured' .

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ion

noun
an atom or molecule with a net electric charge through loss or gain of electrons, either positive (a cation) or negative (an anion).

ORIGIN: Greek, 'going' .

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ionize (also ionise)

verb
convert (an atom, molecule, or substance) into an ion or ions, typically by removing one or more electrons.

DERIVATIVES:
ionizable adjective
ionization noun.

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ionizer

noun
a device which produces ions, especially one used to improve the quality of the air in a room.

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ionosphere

noun
the layer of the atmosphere above the mesosphere, which contains a high concentration of ions and electrons and is able to reflect radio waves.

DERIVATIVES:
ionospheric adjective.

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iota

noun
1. the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet (I, ), transliterated as ‘i’.
2. an extremely small amount: it won't make an iota of difference.

ORIGIN: Greek; sense 2 derives from iota being the smallest letter of the Greek alphabet (compare with JOT).

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IOU

noun
a signed document acknowledging a debt.

ORIGIN: representing the pronunciation of I owe you.

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ipso facto

adverb
by that very fact or act.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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IQ

abbreviation
intelligence quotient.

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IRA

abbreviation
Irish Republican Army.

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Iraqi

noun (pl. Iraqis)
1. a person from Iraq.
2. the form of Arabic spoken in Iraq.

adjective
relating to Iraq.

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irascible

adjective
hot-tempered; irritable.

DERIVATIVES:
irascibility noun
irascibly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin irascibilis, from ira 'anger' .

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irate

adjective
extremely angry.

DERIVATIVES:
irately adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin iratus, from ira 'anger' .

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ire

noun chiefly literary
anger.

ORIGIN: Latin ira.

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iridescent

adjective
showing luminous colours that seem to change when seen from different angles.

DERIVATIVES:
iridescence noun
iridescently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin iris 'rainbow' .

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iris

noun
1. a flat, coloured, ring-shaped membrane behind the cornea of the eye, with an adjustable circular opening (pupil) in the centre.
2. a plant with sword-shaped leaves and purple or yellow flowers.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'rainbow, iris' .

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Irish

noun (also Irish Gaelic)
the Celtic language of Ireland.

adjective
1. relating to Ireland or Irish.
2. offensive illogical or apparently so.

DERIVATIVES:
Irishman noun
Irishness noun
Irishwoman noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Irish coffee

noun
coffee mixed with a dash of Irish whisky and served with cream on top.

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Irish stew

noun
a stew made with mutton, potatoes, and onions.

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Irish wolfhound

noun
a large, greyish hound of a rough-coated breed.

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irk

verb
irritate; annoy.

DERIVATIVES:
irksome adjective
irksomely adverb.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old Norse, 'to work' .

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iron

noun
1. a strong, hard magnetic silvery-grey metal, used in construction and manufacturing.
2. a tool or implement made of iron.
3. a hand-held implement with a flat heated steel base, used to smooth clothes and linen.
4. a golf club used for lofting the ball.
5. (irons) fetters or handcuffs.

verb
1. smooth (clothes) with an iron.
2. (iron out) settle (a difficulty or problem).

IDIOMS -
have many (or other) irons in the fire have a range of options or interests.
an iron hand (or fist) in a velvet glove firmness or ruthlessness cloaked in outward gentleness.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Iron Age

noun
a period that followed the Bronze Age, when weapons and tools came to be made of iron.

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Iron Curtain

noun (the Iron Curtain)
a notional barrier separating the former Soviet bloc and the West prior to the decline of communism in eastern Europe in 1989.

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ironic

adjective
1. using or characterized by irony.
2. happening in the opposite way to what is expected.

DERIVATIVES:
ironical adjective
ironically adverb.

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ironing

noun
clothes and linen that need to be or have just been ironed.

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ironing board

noun
a long, narrow board with folding legs, on which clothes are ironed.

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iron lung

noun
a rigid case fitted over a patient's body, used for administering prolonged artificial respiration by means of mechanical pumps.

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ironmonger

noun Brit.
a retailer of tools and other hardware.

DERIVATIVES:
ironmongery noun.

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ironworks

noun
a place where iron is smelted or iron goods are made.

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irony

noun (pl. ironies)
1. the expression of meaning through the use of language which normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous effect.
2. a state of affairs that appears perversely contrary to what one expects.

ORIGIN: Greek eirneia 'simulated ignorance' .

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irradiate

verb
1. (often be irradiated) expose to radiation.
2. shine light on.

DERIVATIVES:
irradiation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin irradiare 'shine upon' , from radius 'ray' .

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irrational

adjective
not logical or reasonable.

DERIVATIVES:
irrationality noun
irrationally adverb.

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irreconcilable

adjective
1. incompatible: the two points of view were irreconcilable.
2. mutually and implacably hostile.

DERIVATIVES:
irreconcilably adverb.

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irrecoverable

adjective
not able to be recovered or remedied.

DERIVATIVES:
irrecoverably adverb.

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irredeemable

adjective
not able to be saved, improved, or corrected.

DERIVATIVES:
irredeemably adverb.

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irredentist

noun
1. a person advocating the restoration to their country of any territory formerly belonging to it.
2. historical (in 19th-century Italian politics) an advocate of the return to Italy of all Italian-speaking districts subject to other countries.

DERIVATIVES:
irredentism noun.

ORIGIN: Italian irredentista, from irredenta 'unredeemed' .

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irreducible

adjective
not able to be reduced or simplified.

DERIVATIVES:
irreducibly adverb.

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irrefutable

adjective
impossible to deny or disprove.

DERIVATIVES:
irrefutably adverb.

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irregular

adjective
1. not regular in shape, arrangement, or occurrence.
2. contrary to a rule, standard, or convention.
3. not belonging to regular army units.
4. Grammar (of a word) having inflections that do not conform to the usual rules.

noun
a member of an irregular military force.

DERIVATIVES:
irregularity noun (pl. irregularities)
irregularly adverb.

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irrelevant

adjective
not relevant.

DERIVATIVES:
irrelevance noun
irrelevancy noun (pl. irrelevancies)
irrelevantly adverb.

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irreligious

adjective
indifferent or hostile to religion.

DERIVATIVES:
irreligion noun.

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irremediable

adjective
impossible to remedy.

DERIVATIVES:
irremediably adverb.

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irremovable

adjective
incapable of being removed.

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irreparable

adjective
impossible to rectify or repair.

DERIVATIVES:
irreparably adverb.

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irreplaceable

adjective
impossible to replace if lost or damaged.

DERIVATIVES:
irreplaceably adverb.

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irrepressible

adjective
not able to be restrained.

DERIVATIVES:
irrepressibly adverb.

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irreproachable

adjective
beyond criticism.

DERIVATIVES:
irreproachably adverb.

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irresistible

adjective
too tempting or powerful to be resisted.

DERIVATIVES:
irresistibly adverb.

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irresolute

adjective
uncertain.

DERIVATIVES:
irresolutely adverb
irresolution noun.

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irrespective

adjective (irrespective of)
regardless of.

DERIVATIVES:
irrespectively adverb.

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irresponsible

adjective
not showing a proper sense of responsibility.

DERIVATIVES:
irresponsibility noun
irresponsibly adverb.

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irretrievable

adjective
not able to be retrieved.

DERIVATIVES:
irretrievably adverb.

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irreverent

adjective
disrespectful.

DERIVATIVES:
irreverence noun
irreverently adverb.

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irreversible

adjective
impossible to be reversed or altered.

DERIVATIVES:
irreversibility noun
irreversibly adverb.

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irrevocable

adjective
not able to be changed, reversed, or recovered.

DERIVATIVES:
irrevocability noun
irrevocably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin irrevocabilis, from revocare 'revoke' .

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irrigate

verb
1. supply water to (land or crops) by means of channels.
2. Medicine apply a flow of water or medication to (an organ or wound).

DERIVATIVES:
irrigable adjective
irrigation noun
irrigator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin irrigare 'moisten' .

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irritable

adjective
1. easily annoyed or angered.
2. Medicine abnormally sensitive.

DERIVATIVES:
irritability noun
irritableness noun
irritably adverb.

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irritant

noun
1. a substance that irritates part of the body.
2. a source of continual annoyance.

adjective
causing irritation to the body.

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irritate

verb
1. make annoyed or angry.
2. cause inflammation in (a part of the body).

DERIVATIVES:
irritating adjective
irritation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin irritare.

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irrupt

verb
enter forcibly or suddenly.

DERIVATIVES:
irruption noun
irruptive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin irrumpere 'break into' .

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ISA

abbreviation
1. individual savings account.
2. Computing industry standard architecture.

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Islam

noun
1. the monotheistic religion of the Muslims, regarded by them to have been revealed through Muhammad as the Prophet of Allah.
2. the Muslim world.

DERIVATIVES:
Islamist noun
Islamize (also Islamise) verb.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'submission' .

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Islamic

adjective
relating to Islam.

DERIVATIVES:
Islamicize (also Islamicise) verb.

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island

noun
1. a piece of land surrounded by water.
2. a thing that is isolated, detached, or surrounded.

DERIVATIVES:
islander noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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isle

noun literary (except in place names)
an island.

ORIGIN: Old French ile, from Latin insula.

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islet

noun
a small island.

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islets of Langerhans

plural noun
groups of cells in the pancreas that secrete the hormones insulin and glucagon.

ORIGIN: named after the German anatomist Paul Langerhans (1847 88).

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-ism

suffix forming nouns:
1. denoting an action or its result: baptism.
2. denoting a state or quality: barbarism.
3. denoting a system, principle, or ideological movement: Anglicanism.
4. denoting a basis for prejudice or discrimination: racism.
5. denoting a peculiarity in language: colloquialism.
6. denoting a pathological condition: alcoholism.

ORIGIN: Greek -ismos.

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isn't

contraction
is not.

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ISO

abbreviation
International Organization for Standardization.

ORIGIN: from Greek isos 'equal' ; the term is technically not an abbreviation.

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isobar

noun Meteorology
a line on a map connecting points having the same atmospheric pressure.

DERIVATIVES:
isobaric adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek isobaros 'of equal weight' .

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isolate

verb
1. place apart or alone; cut off.
2. Chemistry & Biology obtain or extract (a compound, micro-organism, etc.) in a pure form.
3. cut off the electrical or other connection to (something).

noun
a person or thing that has become isolated.

DERIVATIVES:
isolator noun.

ORIGIN: from ISOLATED.

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isolated

adjective
1. remote; lonely.
2. single; exceptional.

ORIGIN: French isolé, from Latin insulatus 'made into an island' , from insula 'island' .

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isolation

noun
the process or fact of isolating or being isolated.

IDIOMS -
in isolation without relation to others; separately.

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isolationism

noun
a policy of remaining apart from the political affairs of other countries.

DERIVATIVES:
isolationist noun.

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isomer

noun
1. Chemistry each of two or more compounds with the same formula but a different arrangement of atoms and different properties.
2. Physics each of two or more atomic nuclei with the same atomic number and mass number but different energy states.

DERIVATIVES:
isomeric adjective
isomerism noun
isomerize (also isomerise) verb.

ORIGIN: from Greek isomers 'sharing equally' .

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isometric

adjective
1. having equal dimensions.
2. Physiology involving an increase in muscle tension without contraction.
3. (of perspective drawing) in which the three principal dimensions are represented by axes 120° apart.

DERIVATIVES:
isometrically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek isometria 'equality of measure' .

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isomorphic

adjective
corresponding in form and relations.

DERIVATIVES:
isomorphism noun
isomorphous adjective.

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isosceles

adjective
(of a triangle) having two sides of equal length.

ORIGIN: Greek isoskels, from isos 'equal' + skelos 'leg' .

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isotherm

noun
a line on a map or diagram connecting points having the same temperature.

DERIVATIVES:
isothermal adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek isos 'equal' + therm 'heat' .

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isotope

noun Chemistry
each of two or more forms of the same element that contain equal numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei.

DERIVATIVES:
isotopic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek isos 'equal' + topos 'place' , because the isotopes occupy the same place in the periodic table.

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ISP

abbreviation
Internet service provider.

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Israeli

noun (pl. Israelis)
a person from Israel.

adjective
relating to the modern country of Israel.

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Israelite

noun
a member of the ancient Hebrew nation.

adjective
relating to the Israelites.

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issue

noun
1. an important topic for debate or resolution.
2. the action of issuing.
3. each of a regular series of publications.
4. formal or Law children of one's own.

verb (issues, issued, issuing)
1. supply or distribute.
2. formally send out or make known: issue a statement.
3. (issue from) come, go, or flow out from.

IDIOMS -
at issue under discussion.
make an issue of treat too seriously or as a problem.
take issue with challenge.

DERIVATIVES:
issuer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin exire 'go out' .

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-ist

suffix forming personal nouns and some related adjectives:
1. denoting a person who subscribes to a system of beliefs, prejudice or type of discrimination, expressed by nouns ending in -ism: sexist.
2. denoting a member of a profession or business activity: dentist.
3. denoting a person who uses something: flautist.
4. denoting a person who does something expressed by a verb ending in -ize: plagiarist.

ORIGIN: from Greek -ists.

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isthmus

noun (pl. isthmuses)
a narrow strip of land with sea on either side, linking two larger areas of land.

DERIVATIVES:
isthmian adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek isthmos.

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IT

abbreviation
information technology.

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it

pronoun (third person sing. )
1. used to refer to a thing previously mentioned or easily identified.
2. referring to an animal or child of unspecified sex.
3. used to identify a person: it's me.
3. used in the normal subject position in statements about time, distance, or weather: it is raining.
4. used to refer to something specified later in the sentence: it is impossible to get there today.
5. used to emphasize a following part of a sentence: it is the child who is the victim.
6. the situation or circumstances.
7. exactly what is needed or desired.

ORIGIN: Old English, neuter of HE.

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Italian

noun
1. a person from Italy.
2. the language of Italy, descended from Latin.

adjective
relating to Italy or Italian.

DERIVATIVES:
Italianize (also Italianise) verb.

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italic

adjective Printing
1. denoting the sloping typeface used especially for emphasis and in foreign words.
2. denoting a style of handwriting, sloping and with pointed letters, resembling 16th-century Italian handwriting.

noun (also italics)
an italic typeface or letter.

DERIVATIVES:
italicize (also italicise) verb.

ORIGIN: Greek Italikos (in the general sense 'Italian' ), from Italia 'Italy' .

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itch

noun
1. an uncomfortable sensation that causes a desire to scratch the skin.
2. informal an impatient desire.

verb
1. be the site of or experience an itch.
2. informal feel an impatient desire to do something.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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itchy

adjective (itchier, itchiest)
having or causing an itch.

IDIOMS -
have itchy feet informal have a strong urge to travel.

DERIVATIVES:
itchiness noun.

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it'd

contraction
1. it had.
2. it would.

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-ite

suffix
1. forming names denoting people from a country: Israelite.
2. often derogatory denoting followers of a movement: Luddite.
3. forming names of minerals, rocks, or fossil organisms: ammonite.
4. forming names of anatomical or other structures: dendrite.
5. forming names of explosives and other commercial products: dynamite.
6. Chemistry forming names of salts or esters of acids ending in -ous: sulphite.

ORIGIN: from Greek tes.

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item

noun
an individual article or unit.

adverb archaic
(used to introduce each item in a list) also.

IDIOMS -
be an item informal (of a couple) be in a romantic or sexual relationship.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'in like manner, also' .

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itemize (also itemise)

verb
present as a list of individual items or parts.

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itinerant

adjective
travelling from place to place.

noun
an itinerant person.

ORIGIN: from Latin itinerari 'travel' , from iter 'journey, road' .

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itinerary

noun (pl. itineraries)
a planned route or journey.

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-itis

suffix
forming names of inflammatory diseases: cystitis.

ORIGIN: from Greek -its.

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it'll

contraction
1. it shall.
2. it will.

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its

possessive determiner
1. belonging to or associated with a thing previously mentioned or easily identified.
2. belonging to or associated with a child or animal of unspecified sex.
USAGE - A common error in writing is to confuse the possessive its (as in turn the camera on its side) with the contraction it's (short for either it is or it has, as in it's my fault; it's been a hot day).

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it's

contraction
1. it is.
2. it has.

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itself

pronoun (third person sing. )
1. (reflexive ) used to refer to something previously mentioned as the subject of the clause: his horse hurt itself.
2. (emphatic ) used to emphasize a particular thing or animal mentioned.

IDIOMS -
in itself viewed in its essential qualities.

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ITV

abbreviation
Independent Television.

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-ity

suffix
forming nouns denoting quality or condition: humility.

ORIGIN: Latin -itas.

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IUD

abbreviation
intrauterine device.

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I've

contraction
I have.

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IVF

abbreviation
in vitro fertilization.

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ivory

noun (pl. ivories)
1. a hard creamy-white substance composing the main part of the tusks of an elephant, walrus, or narwhal.
2. the creamy-white colour of ivory.
3. (the ivories) informal the keys of a piano.
4. (ivories) informal a person's teeth.

ORIGIN: Old French ivurie, from Latin ebur.

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ivory tower

noun
a state of privileged seclusion or separation from the harsh realities of life.

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ivy

noun
a woody evergreen climbing plant, typically with shiny five-pointed leaves.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Ivy League

noun
a group of long-established and prestigious universities in the eastern US.

ORIGIN: with reference to the ivy traditionally growing over their walls.

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-ize (also -ise)

suffix forming verbs meaning:
1. make or become: privatize.
2. cause to resemble: Americanize.
3. treat in a specified way: pasteurize.
4. treat or cause to combine with a specified substance: carbonize.
5. perform or subject (someone) to a specified practice: hospitalize.
USAGE - The forms -ize and -ise are, in many cases, straightforward spelling variants. However, the -ise spelling is obligatory in certain cases: first, where it forms part of a larger word element, such as -mise in compromise; and second, in verbs corresponding to nouns with -s- in the stem, such as advertise and televise.
ORIGIN: Greek -izein.

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J

J [1] (also j)

noun (pl. Js or J's)
1. the tenth letter of the alphabet.
2. denoting the next after I in a set.

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J [2]

abbreviation
1. (in card games) jack.
2. Physics joule(s).

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jab

verb (jabbed, jabbing)
poke roughly or quickly with something sharp or pointed.

noun
1. a quick, sharp poke or blow.
2. Brit. informal a hypodermic injection, especially a vaccination.

ORIGIN: apparently symbolic.

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jabber

verb
talk rapidly and excitedly but with little sense.

noun
rapid and nonsensical talk.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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jabot

noun
an ornamental ruffle on the front of a shirt or blouse.

ORIGIN: French, originally in the sense 'crop of a bird' .

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jacaranda

noun
a tropical American tree which has blue trumpet-shaped flowers, fern-like leaves, and fragrant wood.

ORIGIN: Tupi-Guarani.

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jack

noun
1. a device for lifting heavy objects.
2. a playing card bearing a representation of a soldier, page, or knave, normally ranking next below a queen.
3. (also jack socket) a socket designed to receive a jack plug.
4. the small white ball at which bowls players aim.
5. a small playing-piece used in tossing and catching games.
6. (jacks) a game played by tossing and catching jacks.
7. a small national flag flown at the bow of a vessel in harbour.
8. the male of various animals, e.g. the donkey.
9. used in names of animals and plants that are smaller than similar kinds, e.g. jack pine.
10. a perch-like marine fish, typically with a row of large spiky scales along each side.

verb
1. (jack up) raise with a jack.
2. (jack up) informal increase by a considerable amount.
3. (jack in/into) log into or connect up (a computer or electronic device).
4. (jack in) Brit. informal give up.
5. (jack up) Austral. give up or refuse to participate.

IDIOMS -
every man jack informal every single person.
jack of all trades (and master of none) a person who can do many different types of work (but has special skill in none).

ORIGIN: from Jack, familiar form of the given name John, used originally to denote an ordinary man.

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jackal

noun
a slender, long-legged wild dog that often hunts or scavenges in packs, found in Africa and southern Asia.

ORIGIN: Turkish çakal.

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jackass

noun
1. a stupid person.
2. a male ass or donkey.

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jackboot

noun
a large leather military boot reaching to the knee.

DERIVATIVES:
jackbooted adjective.

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jackdaw

noun
a small grey-headed crow, noted for its inquisitiveness.

ORIGIN: from JACK + earlier daw (of Germanic origin).

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jacket

noun
1. an outer garment extending to the waist or hips, with sleeves.
2. an outer covering placed around something for protection or insulation.
3. the skin of a potato.

verb (jacketed, jacketing)
cover with a jacket.

ORIGIN: Old French jaquet.

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jacket potato

noun Brit.
a baked potato served with the skin on.

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Jack Frost

noun
a personification of frost.

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jackhammer chiefly N. Amer.

noun
a portable pneumatic hammer or drill.

verb
beat or hammer heavily or loudly and repeatedly.

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jack-in-the-box

noun
a toy consisting of a box containing a figure on a spring which pops up when the lid is opened.

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jackknife

noun (pl. jackknives)
1. a large knife with a folding blade.
2. a dive in which the body is bent at the waist and then straightened.

verb (jackknifed, jackknifing)
1. move (one's body) into a bent or doubled-up position.
2. (of an articulated vehicle) bend into a V-shape in an uncontrolled skidding movement.
3. (of a diver) perform a jackknife.

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jack-o'-lantern

noun
1. a lantern made from a hollowed-out pumpkin or turnip in which holes are cut to represent facial features.
2. archaic a will-o'-the wisp.

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jack plug

noun
a plug consisting of a single shaft used to make a connection which transmits a signal, typically used in sound equipment.

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jackpot

noun
a large cash prize in a game or lottery.

IDIOMS -
hit the jackpot informal
1. win a jackpot.
2. have great or unexpected success.

ORIGIN: originally used in a form of poker, where the pot accumulated until a player could open the bidding with two jacks or better.

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jackrabbit

noun
a North American prairie hare.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of jackass-rabbit, because of its long ears.

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Jack Russell (also Jack Russell terrier)

noun
a terrier of a small working breed with short legs.

ORIGIN: named after the English clergyman Revd John (Jack) Russell (1795 1883), a breeder of such terriers.

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Jack the Lad

noun informal
a brash, cocky young man.

ORIGIN: nickname of Jack Sheppard, 18th-century thief.

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Jacobean

adjective
relating to or characteristic of the reign of James I of England (1603 1625).

noun
a person who lived in the Jacobean period.

ORIGIN: from Latin Jacobus 'James' .

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Jacobin

noun
1. historical a member of a radical democratic club established in Paris in 1789, in the wake of the French Revolution.
2. an extreme political radical.
3. chiefly historical a Dominican friar.

DERIVATIVES:
Jacobinism noun.

ORIGIN: originally denoting the Dominican friars: from Latin Jacobus 'James' , after the church of St Jacques in Paris, near which the friars built their first convent; the latter became the headquarters of the French revolutionary group.

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Jacobite

noun
a supporter of the deposed James II and his descendants in their claim to the British throne after the Revolution of 1688.

DERIVATIVES:
Jacobitism noun.

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jacquard

noun
1. an apparatus consisting of perforated cards, fitted to a loom for the weaving of figured and brocaded fabrics.
2. a fabric made on a jacquard loom.

ORIGIN: named after the French weaver Joseph M. Jacquard (1787 1834).

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jacuzzi

noun (pl. jacuzzis) trademark
a large bath incorporating jets of water to massage the body.

ORIGIN: named after the Italian-born American inventor Candido Jacuzzi (c.1903 86).

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jade

noun
1. a hard stone used for ornaments and jewellery.
2. the light bluish green colour of jade.

ORIGIN: from French le jade, from Spanish piedra de ijada 'stone of the flank' (i.e. stone for colic, which it was believed to cure).

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jaded

adjective
tired out or lacking enthusiasm after having had too much of something.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «disreputable».

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jag

verb (jagged, jagging)
stab, pierce, or prick.

noun
1. a sharp projection.
2. chiefly Scottish a prick or injection.

ORIGIN: perhaps symbolic of sudden movement or unevenness.

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jagged

adjective
with rough, sharp points protruding.

DERIVATIVES:
jaggedly adverb
jaggedness noun.

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jaguar

noun
a large, heavily built cat that has a yellowish-brown coat with black spots, found mainly in Central and South America.

ORIGIN: Tupi-Guarani.

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jail (Brit. also gaol)

noun
a place for the confinement of people accused or convicted of a crime.

verb
put in jail.

DERIVATIVES:
jailer (also gaoler) noun.

ORIGIN: the word came into England from two Old French words, jaiole and gayole (the latter surviving in the spelling gaol): both are from Latin cavea 'cage' .

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jailbait

noun (treated as sing. or pl. ) informal
a young woman, or young women collectively, considered in sexual terms but under the age of consent.

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jailbird

noun informal
a person who is or has repeatedly been in prison.

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jailbreak

noun
an escape from jail.

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jailhouse

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a prison.

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Jainism

noun
an Indian religion founded in the 6th century BC, characterized by non-violence and asceticism.

DERIVATIVES:
Jainist noun.

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jalopy

noun (pl. jalopies) informal
an old car in a dilapidated condition.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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jalousie

noun
a blind or shutter made of a row of angled slats.

ORIGIN: French, 'jealousy' , from Italian geloso 'jealous' , also (by extension) 'screen' , associated with the screening of women from view in the Middle East.

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jam [1]

verb (jammed, jamming)
1. squeeze or pack tightly into a space.
2. push roughly and forcibly into a position.
3. block (something such as a road) through crowding.
4. become or make unable to function due to a part becoming stuck.
5. (jam on) apply forcibly: he jammed on the brakes.
6. make a radio transmission unintelligible by causing interference.
7. informal improvise with other musicians.

noun
1. an instance of jamming.
2. informal an awkward situation or predicament.
3. informal an improvised performance by a group of musicians.

ORIGIN: probably symbolic.

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jam [2]

noun chiefly Brit.
a conserve and spread made from fruit and sugar.

ORIGIN: perhaps from JAM.

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jamb

noun
a side post of a doorway, window, or fireplace.

ORIGIN: Old French jambe 'leg, vertical support' , from Greek kamp 'joint' .

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jamboree

noun
1. a lavish or boisterous celebration or party.
2. a large rally of Scouts or Guides.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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jammy

adjective (jammier, jammiest)
1. covered, filled with, or resembling jam.
2. Brit. informal lucky.

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jam-packed

adjective informal
extremely crowded or full to capacity.

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Jan.

abbreviation
January.

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jangle

verb
1. make or cause to make a ringing metallic sound.
2. (of one's nerves) be set on edge.

noun
an instance of jangling.

DERIVATIVES:
jangly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French jangler.

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janitor

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a caretaker of a building.

DERIVATIVES:
janitorial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from janua 'door' .

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January

noun (pl. Januaries)
the first month of the year.

ORIGIN: from Latin Januarius mensis 'month of Janus' (the Roman god who presided over doors and beginnings).

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japan

noun
a black glossy varnish of a type originating in Japan.

verb (japanned, japanning)
cover with japan.

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Japanese

noun (pl. same)
1. a person from Japan.
2. the language of Japan.

adjective
relating to Japan.

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jape

noun
a practical joke.

verb
say or do something in jest or mockery.

ORIGIN: apparently combining the form of Old French japer 'to yelp, yap' with the sense of Old French gaber 'to mock' .

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japonica

noun
an Asian shrub of the rose family, with bright red flowers followed by edible fruits.

ORIGIN: from Latin, 'Japanese' .

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jar [1]

noun
1. a wide-mouthed cylindrical container made of glass or pottery.
2. Brit. informal a glass of beer.

ORIGIN: French jarre, from Arabic.

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jar [2]

verb (jarred, jarring)
1. send a painful or uncomfortable shock through (a part of the body).
2. strike against something with an unpleasant vibration or jolt.
3. have an unpleasant or incongruous effect.

noun
an instance of jarring.

DERIVATIVES:
jarring adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a disagreement or dispute: probably imitative.

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jardinière

noun
1. an ornamental pot or stand for displaying plants.
2. a garnish of mixed vegetables.

ORIGIN: French, 'female gardener' .

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jargon

noun
words or expressions used by a particular group that are difficult for others to understand.

DERIVATIVES:
jargonistic adjective
jargonize (also jargonise) verb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «twittering, chattering»: from Old French jargoun.

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jasmine (also jessamine)

noun
a shrub or climbing plant with fragrant, often yellow, flowers.

ORIGIN: French jasmin, from Persian.

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jasper

noun
an opaque reddish-brown variety of chalcedony.

ORIGIN: Old French jasp(r)e, from Latin iaspis.

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jaundice

noun
1. Medicine yellowing of the skin due to a bile disorder.
2. bitterness or resentment.

DERIVATIVES:
jaundiced adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French jaunice 'yellowness' .

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jaunt

noun
a short excursion for pleasure.

verb
go on a jaunt.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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jaunty

adjective (jauntier, jauntiest)
having a lively and self-confident manner.

DERIVATIVES:
jauntily adverb
jauntiness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «well-bred, genteel»: from French gentil 'well-born' .

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javelin

noun
a long, light spear thrown in a competitive sport or as a weapon.

ORIGIN: Old French javeline, of Celtic origin.

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jaw

noun
1. each of the upper and lower bony structures in vertebrates forming the framework of the mouth and containing the teeth.
2. (jaws) the grasping, biting, or crushing mouthparts of an invertebrate.
3. (jaws) the gripping parts of a wrench, vice, etc.
4. (jaws) the grasping or destructive power of something: the jaws of death.

verb informal
talk or gossip at length.

DERIVATIVES:
jawed adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French joe 'cheek, jaw' .

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jawbone

noun
a bone of the jaw, especially that of the lower jaw (the mandible).

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jaw-dropping

adjective informal
amazing.

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jay

noun
a noisy bird of the crow family with boldly patterned plumage.

ORIGIN: Latin gaius, gaia, perhaps from the given name Gaius.

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jaywalk

verb chiefly N. Amer.
walk in or across a road without regard for approaching traffic.

DERIVATIVES:
jaywalker noun.

ORIGIN: from JAY in the obsolete sense «silly person».

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jazz

noun
a type of music of black American origin characterized by improvisation, syncopation, and a regular rhythm.

verb (jazz up)
make more lively.

IDIOMS -
and all that jazz informal and such similar things.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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jazzy

adjective (jazzier, jazziest)
1. of or in the style of jazz.
2. bright, colourful, and showy.

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jealous

adjective
1. envious of someone else's achievements or advantages.
2. resentful of someone regarded as a sexual rival.
3. fiercely protective of one's rights or possessions: they kept a jealous eye over their interests.
4. (of God) demanding faithfulness and exclusive worship.

DERIVATIVES:
jealously adverb
jealousy noun.

ORIGIN: Old French gelos, from Latin zelosus 'zealous' .

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jean

noun
1. heavy twilled cotton cloth, especially denim.
2. (jeans) hard-wearing trousers made of denim or other cotton fabric.

ORIGIN: Old French Janne (now Gênes), from Latin Janua 'Genoa' , the place of original production.

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jeep

noun trademark
a small, sturdy motor vehicle with four-wheel drive.

ORIGIN: from the initials GP, standing for general purpose, influenced by 'Eugene the Jeep' , a creature in the Popeye comic strip.

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jeer

verb
make rude and mocking remarks at someone.

noun
a rude and mocking remark.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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Jehovah

noun
a form of the Hebrew name of God used in some translations of the Bible.

ORIGIN: Latin Iehouah, Iehoua, from Hebrew.

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Jehovah's Witness

noun
a member of a fundamentalist Christian sect that denies many traditional Christian doctrines and preaches the Second Coming.

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jejune

adjective
1. naive and simplistic.
2. (of ideas or writings) dull.

ORIGIN: Latin jejunus 'fasting, barren' .

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Jekyll

noun (in phrase a Jekyll and Hyde)
a person displaying alternately good and evil personalities.

ORIGIN: after the central character in Robert Louis Stevenson's story The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886).

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jell (also gel)

verb (jelled, jelling)
1. (of jelly or a similar substance) set or become firmer.
2. take definite form or begin to work well.

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jello (also trademark Jell-O)

noun N. Amer.
a fruit-flavoured gelatin dessert made up from a powder.

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jelly

noun (pl. jellies)
1. chiefly Brit. a dessert consisting of a sweet, fruit-flavoured liquid set with gelatin to form a semi-solid mass.
2. a small sweet made with gelatin.
3. a similar preparation or a substance of a similar semi-solid consistency.
4. Brit. informal term for GELIGNITE.

verb (jellies, jellied) (jellied)
(of food) set in a jelly.

ORIGIN: Old French gelee 'frost, jelly' , from Latin gelare 'freeze' .

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jelly baby

noun Brit.
a jelly sweet in the stylized shape of a baby.

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jelly bean

noun
a jelly sweet in the shape of a bean.

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jellyfish

noun
a free-swimming marine animal with a soft bell- or saucer-shaped body that has stinging tentacles around the edge.

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jemmy (N. Amer. jimmy)

noun (pl. jemmies)
a short crowbar.

verb (jemmies, jemmied) informal
force open (a window or door) with a jemmy.

ORIGIN: familiar form of the given name James.

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je ne sais quoi

noun
a quality that cannot be easily identified.

ORIGIN: French, 'I do not know what' .

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jenny

noun (pl. jennies)
a female donkey or ass.

ORIGIN: familiar form of the given name Janet.

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jeopardize (also jeopardise)

verb
put into a situation in which there is a danger of loss, harm, or failure.

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jeopardy

noun
danger of loss, harm, or failure.

ORIGIN: from Old French ieu parti '(evenly) divided game' , originally used in chess to denote a position in which the chances of winning or losing were evenly balanced.

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jerboa

noun
a desert-dwelling rodent with very long hind legs found from North Africa to central Asia.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Arabic.

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jeremiad

noun
a long, mournful complaint or lamentation; a list of woes.

ORIGIN: French jérémiade, with reference to the Lamentations of Jeremiah in the Old Testament.

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jerk

noun
1. a quick, sharp, sudden movement.
2. Weightlifting the raising of a barbell above the head from shoulder level by an abrupt straightening of the arms and legs.
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. a contemptibly foolish person.

verb
1. move or raise with a jerk.
2. (jerk around) N. Amer. informal deal with dishonestly or unfairly.
3. (jerk off) vulgar slang, chiefly N. Amer. masturbate.

DERIVATIVES:
jerker noun.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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jerkin

noun
a sleeveless jacket.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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jerky

adjective (jerkier, jerkiest)
characterized by abrupt stops and starts.

DERIVATIVES:
jerkily adverb
jerkiness noun.

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Jerry

noun (pl. Jerries) Brit. informal, dated
a German or Germans collectively.

ORIGIN: probably an alteration of GERMAN.

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jerry-built

adjective
badly or hastily built.

DERIVATIVES:
jerry-builder noun.

ORIGIN: sometimes said to be from the name of a firm of builders in Liverpool, or to allude to the walls of Jericho, which fell down at the sound of Joshua's trumpets (Book of Joshua, chapter 6).

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jerrycan (also jerrican)

noun
a large flat-sided metal container for storing or transporting liquids.

ORIGIN: from JERRY + CAN, because such containers were first used in Germany.

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jersey

noun (pl. jerseys)
1. a knitted garment with long sleeves.
2. a distinctive shirt worn by a participant in certain sports.
3. a soft knitted fabric.
4. (Jersey) an animal of a breed of light brown dairy cattle from Jersey in the Channel Islands.

ORIGIN: from Jersey in the Channel Islands, where the fabric was made.

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Jerusalem artichoke

noun
a knobbly tuber with white flesh, eaten as a vegetable.

ORIGIN: alteration of Italian girasole 'sunflower' .

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jest

noun
a joke.

verb
speak or act in a joking manner.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «exploit, heroic deed»: from Old French geste, from Latin gesta 'actions, exploits' .

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jester

noun historical
a professional joker or ‘fool’ at a medieval court.

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Jesuit

noun
a member of the society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic order of priests founded by St Ignatius Loyola and others in 1534.

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Jesuitical

adjective
1. of or concerning the Jesuits.
2. secretive or equivocating, in a manner once associated with Jesuits.

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Jesus (also Jesus Christ)

noun
the central figure of the Christian religion, considered by Christians to be the Christ or Messiah and the Son of God.

exclamation informal
expressing irritation, dismay, or surprise.

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jet [1]

noun
1. a rapid stream of liquid or gas forced out of a small opening.
2. an aircraft powered by jet engines.

verb (jetted, jetting)
1. spurt out in a jet.
2. travel by jet aircraft.

ORIGIN: from French jeter 'to throw' , from Latin jacere.

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jet [2]

noun
1. a hard black semi-precious variety of lignite.
2. (also jet black) a glossy black colour.

ORIGIN: Old French jaiet, from Greek gagats 'from Gagai' , a town in Asia Minor.

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jeté

noun Ballet
a spring from one foot to the other, with the following leg extended backwards while in the air.

ORIGIN: French, from jeter 'to throw' .

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jet engine

noun
an aircraft engine which provides thrust by ejecting a high-speed jet of gas obtained by burning fuel in air.

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jet lag

noun
extreme tiredness and other effects felt by a person after a long flight across different time zones.

DERIVATIVES:
jet-lagged adjective.

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jetsam

noun
unwanted material or goods that have been thrown overboard from a ship and washed ashore. Compare with FLOTSAM.

ORIGIN: originally as jetson; contraction of JETTISON.

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jet set

noun (the jet set) informal
wealthy people who travel widely and frequently for pleasure.

DERIVATIVES:
jet-setter noun
jet-setting adjective.

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jet ski

noun trademark
a small jet-propelled vehicle which skims across the surface of water and is ridden in a similar way to a motorcycle.

verb (jet-ski)
ride on a jet ski.

DERIVATIVES:
jet-skier noun
jet-skiing noun.

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jettison

verb
1. throw or drop from an aircraft or ship.
2. abandon or discard.

ORIGIN: Old French getaison, from Latin jacere 'to throw' .

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jetty

noun (pl. jetties)
1. a landing stage or small pier.
2. a construction built out into the water to protect a harbour, riverbank, etc.

ORIGIN: Old French jetee, from jeter 'to throw' .

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Jew

noun
a member of the people whose traditional religion is Judaism and who trace their origins to the ancient Hebrew people of Israel.

ORIGIN: from the Hebrew form of the name 'Judah' .

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jewel

noun
1. a precious stone, especially a single crystal or a cut and polished piece of a lustrous or translucent mineral.
2. (jewels) pieces of jewellery.
3. a hard precious stone used as a bearing in a watch, compass, etc.
4. a highly valued person or thing.

DERIVATIVES:
jewelled (US jeweled) adjective.

IDIOMS -
the jewel in the crown the most valuable or successful part of something.

ORIGIN: Old French joel, from jeu 'game, play' , from Latin jocus 'jest' .

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jeweller (US jeweler)

noun
a person who makes or sells jewellery.

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jewellery (US also jewelry)

noun
personal ornaments, such as necklaces, rings, or bracelets, that are made from or contain jewels and precious metal.

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Jewess

noun
a Jewish woman or girl.

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Jewish

adjective
relating to, associated with, or denoting Jews or Judaism.

DERIVATIVES:
Jewishness noun.

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Jewry

noun (pl. Jewries)
1. Jews collectively.
2. historical a Jewish quarter in a town or city.

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Jew's harp

noun
a small lyre-shaped musical instrument held between the teeth and struck with a finger.

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Jezebel

noun
a shameless or immoral woman.

ORIGIN: the name of the wife of King Ahab in the Bible.

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jib [1]

noun
1. Sailing a triangular staysail set forward of the mast.
2. the projecting arm of a crane.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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jib [2]

verb (jibbed, jibbing) (usu. jib at)
1. be unwilling to do or accept something.
2. (of a horse) stop and refuse to go on.

DERIVATIVES:
jibber noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to French regimber 'buck, rear' : related to JIBE.

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jibe [1] (also gibe)

noun
an insulting or mocking remark.

verb
make jibes.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French giber 'handle roughly' : related to JIB.

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jiffy (also jiff)

noun informal
a moment.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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jig

noun
1. a lively dance with leaping movements and music in compound time.
2. a device that guides tools and holds materials or parts securely.

verb (jigged, jigging)
1. dance a jig.
2. move up and down with a quick jerky motion.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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jigger

noun
1. a machine or vehicle with a part that rocks or moves to and fro.
2. a person who dances a jig.
3. a small sail set at the stern of a ship.
4. a small tackle consisting of a double and single block with a rope.
5. a measure of spirits or wine.

verb Brit. informal
1. rearrange or tamper with.
2. (jiggered) damaged, broken, or exhausted.

IDIOMS -
I'll be jiggered Brit. informal, dated expressing astonishment.

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jiggle

verb
move lightly and quickly from side to side or up and down.

noun
an instance of jiggling.

DERIVATIVES:
jiggly adjective.

ORIGIN: partly an alteration of JOGGLE, reinforced by JIG.

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jigsaw

noun
1. a puzzle consisting of a picture printed on cardboard or wood and cut into numerous interlocking shapes that have to be fitted together.
2. a machine saw with a fine blade enabling it to cut curved lines in a sheet of wood, metal, etc.

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jihad (also jehad)

noun
a holy war undertaken by Muslims against unbelievers.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'effort' .

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jilt

verb
abruptly break off a relationship with (a lover).

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «deceive, trick»: of unknown origin.

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jimmy (Brit. jemmy)

noun (pl. jimmies)
a short crowbar.

verb (jimmies, jimmied) informal
force open (a window or door) with a jimmy.

ORIGIN: familiar form of the given name James.

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jingle

noun
1. a light, loose ringing sound such as that made by metal objects being shaken together.
2. a short easily remembered slogan, verse, or tune.

verb
make or cause to make a jingle.

DERIVATIVES:
jingler noun
jingly adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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jingoism

noun chiefly derogatory
extreme patriotism, especially in the form of aggressive foreign policy.

DERIVATIVES:
jingoist noun
jingoistic adjective.

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jink

verb
change direction suddenly and nimbly.

noun
a sudden quick change of direction.

ORIGIN: originally Scottish as high jinks, denoting antics at drinking parties.

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jinx

noun
a person or thing that brings bad luck.

verb
bring bad luck to.

ORIGIN: probably a variant of Latin jynx «wryneck» (because the bird was used in witchcraft).

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jitter informal

noun
1. (the jitters) a feeling of raw nervousness.
2. slight, irregular variation in an electrical signal.

verb
1. act nervously.
2. suffer from jitter.

DERIVATIVES:
jitteriness noun
jittery adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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jitterbug

noun
a fast dance performed to swing music, popular in the 1940s.

verb (jitterbugged, jitterbugging)
dance the jitterbug.

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jive

noun
1. a style of lively dance popular in the 1940s and 1950s, performed to swing music or rock and roll.
2. N. Amer. informal exaggerated or misleading talk.

verb
1. dance the jive.
2. N. Amer. informal talk in an exaggerated or misleading way.

DERIVATIVES:
jiver noun.

ORIGIN: originally US, denoting meaningless or misleading speech, later the slang speech associated with black American jazz musicians: of unknown origin.

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job

noun
1. a paid position of regular employment.
2. a task or piece of work.
3. informal a crime, especially a robbery.
4. informal a procedure to improve the appearance of something: a nose job.

verb (jobbed, jobbing)
1. (usu. as adj. jobbing) do casual or occasional work.
2. buy and sell (stocks) on a small scale as a broker-dealer.
3. N. Amer. informal cheat; betray.

IDIOMS -
a good job informal, chiefly Brit. a fortunate fact or circumstance.
jobs for the boys Brit. the practice of giving paid employment to one's friends, supporters, or relations.
just the job Brit. informal exactly what is needed.
on the job
1. while working; at work.
2. Brit. informal engaged in sexual intercourse.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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jobcentre

noun
(in the UK) a government office in a local area, giving information about available jobs and administering benefits to unemployed people.

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jobless

adjective
without a paid job; unemployed.

DERIVATIVES:
joblessness noun.

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job lot

noun
a batch of articles sold or bought at one time, especially at a discount.

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job-share

verb
(of two part-time employees) share a single full-time job.

noun
an arrangement of such a kind.

DERIVATIVES:
job-sharer noun.

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Jock

noun informal, often offensive
a Scotsman.

ORIGIN: Scottish form of the given name Jack.

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jock

noun informal
1. a disc jockey.
2. N. Amer. an enthusiast or participant in a specified activity: a computer jock.

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jockey

noun (pl. jockeys)
a professional rider in horse races.

verb (jockeys, jockeyed)
1. struggle to gain or achieve something.
2. handle or manipulate in a skilful manner.

ORIGIN: from JOCK, originally denoting an ordinary man, later «mounted courier» and «horse dealer».

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jockstrap

noun
a support or protection for the male genitals, worn especially by sportsmen.

ORIGIN: from slang jock «genitals».

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jocose

adjective formal
playful or humorous.

DERIVATIVES:
jocosely adverb
jocoseness noun
jocosity noun (pl. jocosities) .

ORIGIN: Latin jocosus, from jocus 'jest, joke' .

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jocular

adjective
fond of or characterized by joking; humorous.

DERIVATIVES:
jocularity noun
jocularly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin jocularis, from jocus 'jest, joke' .

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jocund

adjective formal
cheerful and light-hearted.

DERIVATIVES:
jocundity noun (pl. jocundities)
jocundly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin jocundus, from jucundus 'pleasant, agreeable' .

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jodhpurs

plural noun
trousers worn for horse riding that are close-fitting below the knee and have reinforced patches on the inside of the leg.

ORIGIN: named after the Indian city of Jodhpur.

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joey

noun (pl. joeys) Austral.
1. a young kangaroo, wallaby, or possum.
2. informal a baby or young child.

ORIGIN: Aboriginal.

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jog

verb (jogged, jogging)
1. run at a steady, gentle pace, especially as a form of exercise.
2. (of a horse) move at a slow trot.
3. (jog along/on) continue in a steady, uneventful way.
4. nudge or knock slightly.
5. trigger; stimulate.

noun
1. a spell of jogging.
2. a gentle running pace.
3. a slight push or nudge.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «stab, pierce»: from JAG.

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jogger

noun
1. a person who jogs.
2. (joggers) tracksuit trousers worn for jogging.

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joggle

verb
move with repeated small bobs or jerks.

noun
a joggling movement.

ORIGIN: from JOG.

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john

noun informal
1. chiefly N. Amer. a toilet.
2. a prostitute's client.

ORIGIN: from the given name John.

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John Bull

noun
a personification of England or the typical Englishman.

ORIGIN: from a character in John Arbuthnot's satire Law is a Bottomless Pit; or, the History of John Bull (1712).

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johnny-come-lately

noun informal
a newcomer or late starter.

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joie de vivre

noun
exuberant enjoyment of life.

ORIGIN: French.

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join

verb
1. link or become linked or connected to.
2. unite to form a whole.
3. become a member or employee of.
4. (join up) become a member of the armed forces.
5. take part in (an activity).
6. come into the company of.

noun
a place where two or more things are joined.

IDIOMS -
join battle formal begin fighting.
join forces combine efforts.

DERIVATIVES:
joinable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French joindre, from Latin jungere 'to join' .

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joiner

noun
1. a person who constructs the wooden components of a building.
2. informal a person who readily joins groups.

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joinery

noun
1. the wooden components of a building collectively.
2. the work of a joiner.

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joint

noun
1. a point at which parts are joined.
2. a structure in a body by which two bones are fitted together.
3. the part of a plant stem from which a leaf or branch grows.
4. Brit. a large piece of meat.
5. informal an establishment of a specified kind: a burger joint.
6. informal a cannabis cigarette.

adjective
1. shared, held, or made by two or more people.
2. sharing in an achievement or activity.

verb
1. provide or fasten with joints.
2. prepare (a board) to be joined to another by planing its edge.
3. point (masonry or brickwork).
4. cut (the body of an animal) into joints.

IDIOMS -
out of joint
1. (of a joint of the body) dislocated.
2. in a state of disorder.

DERIVATIVES:
jointless adjective
jointly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Old French joindre 'to join' .

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joist

noun
a length of timber or steel supporting part of the structure of a building.

DERIVATIVES:
joisted adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French giste 'beam supporting a bridge' , from Latin jacere 'lie down' .

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jojoba

noun
an oil extracted from the seeds of a North American shrub, widely used in cosmetics.

ORIGIN: Mexican Spanish.

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joke

noun
1. a statement made or short story told in order to cause amusement.
2. a trick played for fun.
3. informal a ridiculously inadequate or inappropriate thing.

verb
make jokes.

DERIVATIVES:
jokey (also joky) adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Latin jocus 'jest, wordplay' .

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joker

noun
1. a person who is fond of joking.
2. informal a foolish or inept person.
3. a playing card with the figure of a jester, used as a wild card.
4. US a clause in a bill or document affecting its operation in a way not immediately apparent.

IDIOMS -
the joker in the pack an unpredictable person or factor.

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jollification

noun
merrymaking.

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jollity

noun
1. lively and cheerful activity.
2. the quality of being jolly.

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jolly [1]

adjective (jollier, jolliest)
1. happy and cheerful.
2. lively and entertaining.

verb (jollies, jollied) informal
encourage in a friendly way: he jollied her along.

adverb Brit. informal
very.

noun (pl. jollies) Brit. informal
a party or celebration.

DERIVATIVES:
jollily adverb
jolliness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French jolif 'pretty' , perhaps from an Old Norse word meaning 'Yule' .

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jolly [2] (also jolly boat)

noun (pl. jollies)
a clinker-built ship's boat that is smaller than a cutter.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to YAWL.

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Jolly Roger

noun
a pirate's flag with a white skull and crossbones on a black background.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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jolt

verb
1. push or shake abruptly and roughly.
2. shock (someone) into taking action.

noun
1. an act of jolting.
2. a surprise or shock.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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josh informal

verb
tease playfully; banter.

noun N. Amer.
good-natured banter.

DERIVATIVES:
josher noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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joss stick

noun
a thin stick of a fragrant substance, burnt as incense.

ORIGIN: from joss, denoting a Chinese religious statue or idol: from a Javanese word derived from Latin deus 'god' .

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jostle

verb
1. push or bump against roughly.
2. (jostle for) struggle or compete forcefully for.

noun
the action of jostling.

ORIGIN: from JOUST.

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jot

verb (jotted, jotting)
write quickly.

noun
a very small amount: it made not a jot of difference.

ORIGIN: from Greek ita, the smallest letter of the Greek alphabet (see IOTA).

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jotter

noun Brit.
a small notebook.

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jotting

noun
a brief note.

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joule

noun
the unit of work or energy in the SI system, equal to the work done by a force of one newton when its point of application moves one metre in the direction of action of the force.

ORIGIN: named after the English physicist James P. Joule (1818 89).

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jounce

verb
jolt or bounce.

ORIGIN: probably symbolic.

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journal

noun
1. a newspaper or magazine dealing with a particular subject.
2. a diary or daily record.
3. the part of a shaft or axle that rests on bearings.

ORIGIN: Old French jurnal, from Latin diurnus 'daily' .

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journalese

noun informal
a hackneyed writing style supposedly characteristic of journalists.

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journalism

noun
the activity or profession of being a journalist.

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journalist

noun
a person who writes for newspapers or magazines or prepares news or features to be broadcast on radio or television.

DERIVATIVES:
journalistic adjective.

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journey

noun (pl. journeys)
an act of travelling from one place to another.

verb (journeys, journeyed)
travel.

DERIVATIVES:
journeyer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French jornee 'day, a day's travel, a day's work' , from Latin diurnus 'daily' .

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journeyman

noun
1. a skilled worker who is employed by another.
2. a worker who is reliable but not outstanding.

ORIGIN: from JOURNEY in the obsolete sense 'day's work' (because the journeyman was paid by the day).

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joust

verb
1. (of a medieval knight) engage in a contest in which two opponents on horseback fight with lances.
2. compete for superiority.

noun
a jousting contest.

DERIVATIVES:
jouster noun.

ORIGIN: Old French jouster 'bring together' , from Latin juxta 'near' .

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Jove

noun (in phrase by Jove) dated
used for emphasis or to indicate surprise.

ORIGIN: another name for the Roman god Jupiter.

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jovial

adjective
cheerful and friendly.

DERIVATIVES:
joviality noun
jovially adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin jovialis 'of Jupiter' , with reference to the supposed influence of the planet Jupiter on those born under it.

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jowl

noun
1. the lower part of a cheek, especially when fleshy or drooping.
2. N. Amer. the cheek of a pig as meat.
3. the dewlap of cattle or wattle of birds.

DERIVATIVES:
jowled adjective
jowly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to JAW.

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joy

noun
1. a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
2. a cause of joy.
3. Brit. informal success or satisfaction: you'll get no joy out of her.

DERIVATIVES:
joyless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French joie, from Latin gaudere 'rejoice' .

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joyful

adjective
feeling or causing joy.

DERIVATIVES:
joyfully adverb
joyfulness noun.

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joyous

adjective chiefly literary
full of happiness and joy.

DERIVATIVES:
joyously adverb
joyousness noun.

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joypad

noun
a device for a computer games console which uses buttons to control an image on the screen.

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joyride

noun informal
1. a fast ride in a stolen vehicle.
2. a ride for enjoyment.

DERIVATIVES:
joyrider noun
joyriding noun.

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joystick

noun informal
1. the control column of an aircraft.
2. a lever for controlling the movement of an image on a computer screen.

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JP

abbreviation
Justice of the Peace.

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jubilant

adjective
happy and triumphant.

DERIVATIVES:
jubilance noun
jubilantly adverb.

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jubilation

noun
a feeling of great happiness and triumph.

ORIGIN: from Latin jubilare 'shout for joy' .

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jubilee

noun
1. a special anniversary, especially one celebrating twenty-five or fifty years of something.
2. Jewish History a year of emancipation and restoration, kept every fifty years.

ORIGIN: from Latin jubilaeus annus 'year of jubilee' , from a Hebrew word meaning 'ram's-horn trumpet' , with which the jubilee year was proclaimed.

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Judaic

adjective
relating to Judaism or the ancient Jews.

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Judaism

noun
1. the monotheistic religion of the Jews, based on the Old Testament and the Talmud.
2. Jews collectively.

DERIVATIVES:
Judaist noun.

ORIGIN: Greek Ioudaïsmos, from the Hebrew form of the name «Judah».

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Judas

noun
a person who betrays a friend.

ORIGIN: from Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Christ.

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judas (also judas hole)

noun
a peephole in a door.

ORIGIN: from Judas Iscariot (see JUDAS), because of his association with betrayal.

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judder

verb chiefly Brit.
shake and vibrate rapidly and forcefully.

noun
an instance of juddering.

DERIVATIVES:
juddery adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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judge

noun
1. a public officer appointed to decide cases in a law court.
2. a person who decides the results of a competition.
3. a person able or qualified to give an opinion.

verb
1. form an opinion about.
2. give a verdict on in a law court.
3. decide the results of (a competition).

ORIGIN: Old French juge, from Latin judex, from jus 'law' + dicere 'to say' .

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judgement (also judgment)

noun
1. the ability to make considered decisions or form sensible opinions.
2. an opinion or conclusion.
3. a decision of a law court or judge.

IDIOMS -
against one's better judgement contrary to what one feels to be wise.

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judgemental (also judgmental)

adjective
1. of or concerning the use of judgement.
2. having an excessively critical point of view.

DERIVATIVES:
judgementally adverb.

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Judgement Day

noun
the time of the Last Judgement.

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judicature

noun
1. the administration of justice.
2. (the judicature) judges collectively.

DERIVATIVES:
judicatory adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin judicare 'to judge' .

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judicial

adjective
of, by, or appropriate to a law court or judge.

DERIVATIVES:
judicially adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin judicium 'judgement' .

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judiciary

noun (pl. judiciaries) (usu. the judiciary)
the judicial authorities of a country.

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judicious

adjective
having or done with good judgement.

DERIVATIVES:
judiciously adverb
judiciousness noun.

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judo

noun
a sport of unarmed combat derived from ju-jitsu, using holds and leverage to unbalance the opponent.

ORIGIN: Japanese, 'gentle way' .

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jug

noun
1. Brit. a cylindrical container with a handle and a lip, for holding and pouring liquids.
2. N. Amer. a large container for liquids, with a narrow mouth.
3. (the jug) informal prison.
4. (jugs) vulgar slang a woman's breasts.

verb (jugged, jugging) (usu. as adj. jugged)
stew or boil (a hare or rabbit) in a covered container.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Jug, familiar form of the given names Joan, Joanna, and Jenny.

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juggernaut

noun Brit.
a large heavy vehicle, especially an articulated truck.

ORIGIN: from a Sanskrit word meaning «Lord of the world», in reference to an image of the Hindu god Krishna carried in procession on a heavy chariot.

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juggle

verb
1. continuously toss into the air and catch a number of objects so as to keep at least one in the air at any time.
2. cope with by adroitly balancing (several activities).
3. misrepresent (facts).

noun
an act of juggling.

DERIVATIVES:
juggler noun
jugglery noun.

ORIGIN: Old French jogler, from Latin joculari 'to jest' .

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jugular

adjective
of the neck or throat.

noun
a jugular vein.

ORIGIN: from Latin jugulum 'collarbone, throat' , from jugum 'yoke' .

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jugular vein

noun
any of several large veins in the neck, carrying blood from the head.

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juice

noun
1. the liquid present in fruit or vegetables.
2. a drink made from this liquid.
3. (juices) fluid secreted by the stomach.
4. (juices) liquid coming from meat or other food in cooking.
5. informal electrical energy.
6. informal petrol.
7. (juices) informal one's vitality or creative faculties.
8. N. Amer. informal alcoholic drink.

verb
1. extract the juice from.
2. (juice up) informal, chiefly N. Amer. enliven.
3. (juiced) N. Amer. informal drunk.

ORIGIN: Latin jus 'broth, vegetable juice' .

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juicer

noun
an appliance for extracting juice from fruit and vegetables.

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juicy

adjective (juicier, juiciest)
1. full of juice.
2. informal interestingly scandalous.
3. informal profitable.

DERIVATIVES:
juicily adverb
juiciness noun.

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ju-jitsu (also jiu-jitsu or ju-jutsu)

noun
a Japanese system of unarmed combat and physical training.

ORIGIN: Japanese, 'gentle skill' .

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jukebox

noun
a machine that plays a selected musical recording when a coin is inserted.

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Jul.

abbreviation
July.

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julep

noun
a sweet drink made from sugar syrup.

ORIGIN: Latin julapium, from Persian, «rose water».

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julienne

noun
a portion of food cut into short, thin strips.

ORIGIN: French, from the male given names Jules or Julien.

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July

noun (pl. Julys)
the seventh month of the year.

ORIGIN: from Latin Julius mensis 'month of July' , named after the Roman general Julius Caesar.

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jumble

noun
1. an untidy collection of things.
2. Brit. articles collected for a jumble sale.

verb
mix up in a confused way.

ORIGIN: probably symbolic.

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jumble sale

noun Brit.
a sale of miscellaneous second-hand goods, typically for charity.

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jumbo informal

noun (pl. jumbos)
1. a very large person or thing.
2. a jumbo jet.

adjective
very large.

ORIGIN: probably the second element of MUMBO-JUMBO.

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jumbo jet

noun
a very large airliner carrying several hundred passengers.

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jump

verb
1. push oneself off the ground using the muscles in one's legs and feet.
2. move over, onto, or down from by jumping.
3. move suddenly and quickly.
4. make a sudden involuntary movement in surprise.
5. (jump at/on) accept eagerly.
6. (often jump on) informal attack or criticize suddenly.
7. pass abruptly from one subject or state to another.
8. rise or increase suddenly.
9. (be jumping) informal (of a place) be very lively.
10. vulgar slang, chiefly N. Amer. have sexual intercourse with.

noun
1. an act of jumping.
2. a large or sudden change or increase.
3. an obstacle to be jumped by a horse.

IDIOMS -
get (or have) the jump on informal, chiefly N. Amer. get (or have) an advantage over (someone) due to prompt action.
jump down someone's throat informal respond in a sudden and angry way.
jump out of one's skin informal be startled.
jump the queue (or N. Amer. jump in line)
1. move ahead of one's proper place in a queue of people.
2. take unfair precedence over others.
jump ship (of a sailor) leave a ship without permission.
jump through hoops be made to go through a complicated procedure.
one jump ahead one stage ahead of a rival.

DERIVATIVES:
jumpable adjective.

ORIGIN: probably imitative of the sound of feet landing on the ground.

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jumped-up

adjective informal
considering oneself to be more important than one really is.

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jumper [1]

noun
1. Brit. a pullover or sweater.
2. N. Amer. a pinafore dress.

ORIGIN: probably from dialect jump «short coat», perhaps from Old French jupe 'loose jacket or tunic' , ultimately from Arabic.

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jumper [2]

noun
a person or animal that jumps.

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jump jet

noun
a jet aircraft that can take off and land vertically.

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jump lead

noun Brit.
each of a pair of cables for recharging a battery in a motor vehicle by connecting it to the battery in another.

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jump-start

verb
start (a car with a flat battery) with jump leads or by a sudden release of the clutch while it is being pushed.

noun
an act of jump-starting a car.

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jumpsuit

noun
a garment incorporating trousers and a sleeved top in one piece.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a garment worn when parachuting.

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jumpy

adjective (jumpier, jumpiest) informal
1. anxious and uneasy.
2. stopping and starting abruptly.

DERIVATIVES:
jumpily adverb
jumpiness noun.

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Jun.

abbreviation
June.

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junction

noun
1. a point where two or more things meet or are joined.
2. a place where two or more roads or railway lines meet.
3. Electronics a region of transition in a semiconductor between a part where conduction is mainly by electrons and a part where it is mainly by holes.
4. the action of joining or state of being joined.

ORIGIN: Latin, from jungere 'to join' .

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juncture

noun
1. a particular point in time.
2. a place where things join.

ORIGIN: Latin junctura 'joint' , from jungere 'to join' .

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June

noun
the sixth month of the year.

ORIGIN: from Latin Junius mensis 'month of June' , from Junonius 'sacred to the goddess Juno' .

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jungle

noun
1. an area of land with dense forest and tangled vegetation, typically in the tropics.
2. a very bewildering or competitive place.
3. a style of dance music with very fast electronic drum tracks and slower synthesized bass lines.

IDIOMS -
the law of the jungle the principle that those who are strongest and most selfish will be most successful.

DERIVATIVES:
junglist noun & adjective
jungly adjective.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, 'rough and arid terrain' .

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junior

adjective
1. of or relating to young or younger people.
2. Brit. of, for, or denoting schoolchildren aged 7 11.
3. N. Amer. of or for students in the third year of a four-year course at college or high school.
4. (after a name) denoting the younger of two with the same name in a family.
5. low or lower in rank or status.

noun
1. a person who is a specified number of years younger than someone else: he's five years her junior.
2. Brit. a child at a junior school.
3. N. Amer. a student in the third year at college or high school.
4. (in sport) a young competitor, typically under 16 or 18.
5. N. Amer. informal a nickname for one's son.
6. a person with low rank or status.

DERIVATIVES:
juniority noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from juvenis 'young' .

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juniper

noun
an evergreen shrub or small tree bearing aromatic berry-like cones.

ORIGIN: Latin juniperus.

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junk [1]

noun informal
1. useless or worthless articles; rubbish.
2. heroin.

verb informal
discard unceremoniously.

ORIGIN: originally denoting an old or inferior rope: of unknown origin.

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junk [2]

noun
a flat-bottomed sailing boat with a prominent stem, used in China and the East Indies.

ORIGIN: Malay.

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junket

noun
1. a dish of sweetened curds of milk.
2. informal an extravagant trip or party.

verb (junketed, junketing) informal
take part in an extravagant trip or party.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a cream cheese made in a rush basket: from Old French jonquette 'rush basket' , from Latin juncus 'rush' .

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junk food

noun
food with little nutritional value.

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junkie (also junky)

noun informal
a drug addict.

ORIGIN: from JUNK.

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junk mail

noun informal
unsolicited advertising material sent by post.

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junk shop

noun informal
a shop selling second-hand goods or inexpensive antiques.

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junky informal

adjective
regarded as junk.

noun (pl. junkies) variant spelling of JUNKIE.

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junkyard

noun N. Amer.
a scrapyard.

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junta

noun
a military or political group ruling a country after taking power by force.

ORIGIN: Spanish and Portuguese, 'deliberative or administrative council' , from Latin jungere 'to join' .

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Jurassic

adjective Geology
relating to the second period of the Mesozoic era (between the Triassic and Cretaceous periods, about 208 to 146 million years ago), a time when large reptiles were dominant and the first birds appeared.

ORIGIN: French jurassique, from the Jura Mountains on the border of France and Switzerland.

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jurisdiction

noun
1. the official power to make legal decisions and judgements.
2. the territory or sphere over which the legal authority of a court or other institution extends.
3. a system of law courts.

DERIVATIVES:
jurisdictional adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from jus 'law' + dicere 'say' .

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jurisprudence

noun
1. the theory or philosophy of law.
2. a legal system.

DERIVATIVES:
jurisprudent adjective & noun
jurisprudential adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin jurisprudentia, from jus 'law' + prudentia 'knowledge' .

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jurist

noun
1. an expert in law.
2. N. Amer. a lawyer or a judge.

DERIVATIVES:
juristic adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin jurista, from jus 'law' .

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juror

noun
1. a member of a jury.
2. historical a person taking an oath.

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jury

noun (pl. juries)
1. a body of people (typically twelve) sworn to give a verdict in a legal case on the basis of evidence submitted in court.
2. a body of people judging a competition.

verb (juries, juried) chiefly N. Amer.
judge (an art or craft exhibit).

IDIOMS -
the jury is out a decision has not yet been reached.

ORIGIN: Old French juree 'oath, inquiry' , from Latin jurare 'swear' , from jus 'law' .

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jury-rigged

adjective
1. (of a ship) having makeshift rigging.
2. chiefly N. Amer. makeshift; improvised.

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just

adjective
1. morally right and fair.
2. appropriate or deserved.
3. (of an opinion or appraisal) well founded.

adverb
1. exactly.
2. exactly or nearly at this or that moment.
3. very recently.
4. barely; by a little.
5. simply; only.

IDIOMS -
just in case as a precaution.
just so
1. arranged or done very carefully.
2. formal expressing agreement.

DERIVATIVES:
justly adverb
justness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin justus, from jus 'law, right' .

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justice

noun
1. just behaviour or treatment.
2. the quality of being just.
3. the administration of law or some other authority according to the principles of just behaviour and treatment.
4. a judge or magistrate.

IDIOMS -
bring someone to justice arrest and try someone in court for a crime.
do oneself justice perform as well as one is able.
do someone/thing justice treat or represent someone or something with due fairness.

ORIGIN: Old French justise «administration of the law», from Latin jus 'law, right' .

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Justice of the Peace

noun
(in the UK) a lay magistrate appointed to hear minor cases, grant licences, etc., in a town or county.

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justifiable

adjective
able to be justified.

DERIVATIVES:
justifiability noun
justifiableness noun
justifiably adverb.

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justify

verb (justifies, justified)
1. prove to be right or reasonable.
2. be a good reason for.
3. Printing adjust (text) so that the lines of type fill a given width exactly, forming a straight right edge.

DERIVATIVES:
justification noun
justificatory adjective
justifier noun.

ORIGIN: Latin justificare 'do justice to' .

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jut

verb (jutted, jutting)
extend out, over, or beyond the main body or line of something.

noun
a point that sticks out.

ORIGIN: from JET.

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Jute

noun
a member of a Germanic people that settled in southern Britain in the 5th century.

DERIVATIVES:
Jutish adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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jute

noun
rough fibre made from the stems of a tropical plant, used for making rope or woven into sacking.

ORIGIN: Bengali.

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juvenile

adjective
1. relating to young people, birds, or animals.
2. childish.

noun
1. a young person, bird, or animal.
2. Law a person below the age at which ordinary criminal prosecution is possible (18 in most countries).

DERIVATIVES:
juvenility noun.

ORIGIN: Latin juvenilis, from juvenis 'young, a young person' .

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juvenile delinquency

noun
the habitual committing of criminal acts by a juvenile.

DERIVATIVES:
juvenile deliquent noun.

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juvenilia

plural noun
works produced by an author or artist when young.

ORIGIN: Latin, plural of juvenilis 'juvenile' .

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juxtapose

verb
place close together.

DERIVATIVES:
juxtaposition noun.

ORIGIN: French juxtaposer, from Latin juxta 'next' + French poser 'to place' .

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K

K [1] (also k)

noun (pl. Ks or K's)
1. the eleventh letter of the alphabet.
2. denoting the next item after J in a set.

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K [2]

abbreviation
1. kelvin(s).
2. Computing kilobyte(s).
3. kilometre(s).
4. (in card games and chess) king.
5. Köchel (catalogue of Mozart's works).
6. informal thousand. [ORIGIN: from KILO-.]

symbol
the chemical element potassium. [ORIGIN: from Latin kalium.]

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k

abbreviation
kilo-.

symbol
used to represent a constant in a formula or equation.

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Kabbalah (also Kabbala, Cabbala, Cabala, or Qabalah)

noun
the ancient Jewish tradition of mystical interpretation of the Bible.

DERIVATIVES:
Kabbalism noun
Kabbalist noun
Kabbalistic adjective.

ORIGIN: Hebrew, «tradition».

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kabob (esp. Brit. kebab)

noun
a dish of pieces of meat, fish, or vegetables roasted or grilled on a skewer or spit.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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Kaffir

noun offensive, chiefly S. African
a black African.
USAGE - The word Kaffir was originally simply a descriptive term for a particular ethnic group. Now it is a racially abusive and offensive term, and in South Africa its use is actionable.
ORIGIN: Arabic, «infidel».

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Kafkaesque

adjective
relating to the Czech novelist Franz Kafka (1883 1924) or his nightmarish fictional world.

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kaftan (also caftan)

noun
1. a man's long belted tunic, worn in the Near East.
2. a woman's long loose dress.
3. a loose shirt or top.

ORIGIN: Persian, partly influenced by French cafetan.

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kaiser

noun historical
the German Emperor, the Emperor of Austria, or the head of the Holy Roman Empire.

ORIGIN: German, from Latin Caesar.

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Kalashnikov

noun
a type of rifle or sub-machine gun made in Russia.

ORIGIN: named after the Russian designer Mikhail T. Kalashnikov (born 1919).

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kale

noun
a variety of hardy cabbage producing erect stems with large leaves and no compact head.

ORIGIN: northern English form of COLE.

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kaleidoscope

noun
1. a toy consisting of a tube containing mirrors and pieces of coloured glass or paper, whose reflections produce changing patterns when the tube is rotated.
2. a constantly changing pattern or sequence.

DERIVATIVES:
kaleidoscopic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek kalos 'beautiful' + eidos 'form' + -SCOPE.

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Kama Sutra

noun
an ancient Sanskrit text on the art of love and sexual technique.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, 'love thread' .

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kamikaze

noun
(in the Second World War) a Japanese aircraft loaded with explosives and making a deliberate suicidal crash on an enemy target.

adjective
reckless or potentially self-destructive.

ORIGIN: from the Japanese words for 'divinity' and 'wind' , originally referring to the gale that, in Japanese tradition, destroyed the fleet of invading Mongols in 1281.

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kangaroo

noun
a large Australian marsupial with a long powerful tail and strongly developed hindlimbs that enable it to travel by leaping.

ORIGIN: from an Aboriginal language.

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kangaroo court

noun
an unofficial court formed by a group of people to try someone regarded as guilty of an offence.

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kaolin

noun
a fine soft white clay, used for making china and in medicine as an absorbent substance.

DERIVATIVES:
kaolinize (also kaolinise) verb.

ORIGIN: French, from a Chinese word meaning «high hill», this being the name of a mountain in Jiangxi province where the clay is found.

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kapok

noun
a fine fibrous substance which grows around the seeds of a tropical tree, used as stuffing for cushions, soft toys, etc.

ORIGIN: Malay.

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kaput

adjective informal
broken and useless.

ORIGIN: German kaputt, from French être capot 'be without tricks in a card game' .

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karaoke

noun
a form of entertainment in which people sing popular songs over pre-recorded backing tracks.

ORIGIN: Japanese, 'empty orchestra' .

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karat (Brit. carat)

noun
1. a unit of weight for precious stones and pearls, equivalent to 200 milligrams.
2. a measure of the purity of gold, pure gold being 24 carats.

ORIGIN: French, from Greek keration 'fruit of the carob' (also denoting a unit of weight).

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karate

noun
an oriental system of unarmed combat using the hands and feet to deliver and block blows.

ORIGIN: Japanese, 'empty hand' .

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karma

noun
(in Hinduism and Buddhism) the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as affecting their future fate.

DERIVATIVES:
karmic adjective.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, «action, effect, fate».

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karst

noun Geology
landscape underlain by limestone which has been eroded by dissolution, producing towers, fissures, sinkholes, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
karstic adjective.

ORIGIN: from German der Karst, a limestone region in Slovenia.

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kart

noun
a small unsprung motor-racing vehicle with a tubular frame and a rear-mounted engine.

DERIVATIVES:
karting noun.

ORIGIN: shortening of GO-KART.

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kasbah (also casbah)

noun
1. a North African citadel.
2. the area of old, narrow streets surrounding such a citadel.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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kayak

noun
a canoe of a type used originally by the Inuit, made of a light frame with a watertight covering.

verb (kayaked, kayaking)
travel in a kayak.

ORIGIN: Inuit.

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kayo informal

noun (pl. kayos)
a knockout.

verb (kayoes, kayoed)
knock (someone) out.

ORIGIN: representing the pronunciation of KO.

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kazoo

noun
a simple musical instrument consisting of a pipe with a hole in it, over which is a membrane that vibrates and produces a buzzing sound when the player hums into it.

ORIGIN: apparently imitative of the sound produced.

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KB (also Kb)

abbreviation
kilobyte(s).

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KBE

abbreviation
(in the UK) Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

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KC

abbreviation
King's Counsel.

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kcal

abbreviation
kilocalorie(s).

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KCB

abbreviation
(in the UK) Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.

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KCMG

abbreviation
(in the UK) Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George.

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kea

noun
a New Zealand mountain parrot with a long, narrow bill and mainly olive-green plumage.

ORIGIN: Maori.

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kebab (N. Amer. also kabob)

noun
a dish of pieces of meat, fish, or vegetables roasted or grilled on a skewer or spit.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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kecks

plural noun Brit. informal
trousers.

ORIGIN: phonetic respelling of obsolete kicks.

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kedge

verb
move (a boat) by hauling in a hawser attached at a distance to an anchor.

noun
a small anchor used for such a purpose.

ORIGIN: perhaps a specific use of dialect cadge «bind, tie».

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kedgeree

noun
1. an Indian dish consisting chiefly of rice, split pulses, onions, and eggs.
2. a European dish consisting chiefly of smoked fish, rice, and hard-boiled eggs.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit.

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keel

noun
a lengthwise structure along the base of a ship, in some vessels extended downwards as a ridge to increase stability.

verb (keel over)
1. (of a boat or ship) turn over on its side; capsize.
2. informal fall over; collapse.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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keelboat

noun
1. a yacht built with a permanent keel rather than a centreboard.
2. a large, flat freight boat used on American rivers.

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keelhaul

verb
1. historical punish (someone) by dragging them through the water from one side of a boat to the other, under the keel.
2. humorous punish or reprimand severely.

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keelson (also kelson)

noun
a structure running the length of a ship, that fastens the timbers or plates of the floor to the keel.

ORIGIN: from Low German kiel 'keel of a ship' + swn 'swine' (used as the name of a timber).

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keen [1]

adjective
1. eager; enthusiastic.
2. (keen on) interested in or attracted by.
3. (of a blade) sharp.
4. mentally acute or quick.
5. Brit. (of prices) very low; competitive.

DERIVATIVES:
keenly adverb
keenness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «wise, clever», also «brave, daring».

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keen [2]

verb
1. wail in grief for a dead person.
2. make an eerie wailing sound.

noun
an Irish funeral song accompanied with wailing in lamentation for the dead.

ORIGIN: from Irish caoinim 'I wail' .

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keep

verb (past and past part. kept)
1. have or retain possession of.
2. retain or reserve for use in the future.
3. put or store in a regular place.
4. (of a perishable commodity) remain in good condition.
5. continue in a specified condition, position, or activity: she kept quiet about it.
6. honour, fulfil, or observe (a commitment or undertaking).
7. record or regularly maintain (a note or diary).
8. cause to be late.
9. provide accommodation and food for; support.
10. (kept) supported financially in return for sexual favours.

noun
1. food, clothes, and other essentials for living.
2. the strongest or central tower of a castle.
3. archaic charge; control.

IDIOMS -
for keeps informal permanently; indefinitely.
keep from
1. cause (something) to stay out of.
2. cause (something) to remain a secret from.
3. avoid doing.
4. guard or protect (someone) from.
keep on
1. continue to do.
2. continue to use or employ.
keep to
1. avoid leaving (a path, road, or place).
2. adhere to (a schedule).
3. observe (a promise).
4. confine or restrict oneself to.
keep up
1. move or progress at the same rate as someone or something else.
2. continue (a course of action).
keep up with
1. learn about or be aware of (current events or developments).
2. continue to be in contact with (someone).
keep up with the Joneses strive not to be outdone by one's neighbours or peers.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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keeper

noun
1. a person who manages or looks after something or someone.
2. a goalkeeper or wicketkeeper.
3. an object which protects or secures another.
4. a bar of soft iron placed across the poles of a horseshoe magnet to maintain its strength.

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keep-fit

noun chiefly Brit.
regular exercises to improve personal fitness and health.

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keeping

noun
the action of keeping something.

IDIOMS -
in (or out of) keeping with in (or out of) harmony or conformity with.

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keepsake

noun
a small item kept in memory of the person who gave it or originally owned it.

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keg

noun
1. a small barrel, especially one of less than 10 gallons or (in the US) 30 gallons.
2. (before another noun ) Brit. (of beer) supplied in a keg, to which carbon dioxide has been added.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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kelp

noun
1. a very large brown seaweed having broad fronds divided into strips.
2. the ashes of seaweed used as a source of various salts.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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kelpie

noun
1. a water spirit of Scottish folklore, typically taking the form of a horse.
2. an Australian breed of sheepdog originally bred from a Scottish collie.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Scottish Gaelic cailpeach, colpach 'bullock, colt' .

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kelt

noun
a salmon or sea trout after spawning and before returning to the sea.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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kelvin

noun
the SI base unit of thermodynamic temperature, equal in magnitude to the degree Celsius.

ORIGIN: named after the British physicist William T. Kelvin (1824 1907).

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Kelvin scale

noun
the scale of temperature with absolute zero as zero and the freezing point of water as 273.15 kelvins.

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kempt

adjective
in a neat and clean condition.

ORIGIN: Old English, «combed».

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ken

noun (one's ken)
one's range of knowledge or sight.

verb (kenning; past and past part. kenned or kent) Scottish & N. English
1. know.
2. recognize; identify.

ORIGIN: from Old English, «tell, make known».

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kendo

noun
a Japanese form of fencing with two-handed bamboo swords.

ORIGIN: Japanese, 'sword way' .

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kennel

noun
1. a small shelter for a dog.
2. (kennels) (treated as sing. or pl. ) a boarding or breeding establishment for dogs.

verb (kennelled, kennelling; US kenneled, kenneling)
put or keep (a dog) in a kennel or kennels.

ORIGIN: Old French chenil, from Latin canis 'dog' .

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Kenyan

noun
a person from Kenya.

adjective
relating to Kenya.

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keratin

noun
a fibrous protein forming the main constituent of hair, feathers, hoofs, claws, and horns.

ORIGIN: from Greek keras 'horn' .

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kerb (US curb)

noun
a stone edging to a pavement or raised path.

ORIGIN: variant of CURB.

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kerb-crawling

noun Brit.
the action of driving slowly along the edge of the road in search of a prostitute or to harass female pedestrians.

DERIVATIVES:
kerb-crawler noun.

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kerb drill

noun Brit.
a set of precautions taken before crossing the road, as taught to children.

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kerbing

noun
1. the stones forming a kerb.
2. the action of hitting a kerb with a car tyre.

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kerbstone

noun
a long, narrow stone or concrete block, laid end to end with others to form a kerb.

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kerchief

noun
1. a piece of fabric used to cover the head.
2. a handkerchief.

ORIGIN: Old French cuevrechief, from couvrir 'to cover' + chief 'head' .

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kerfuffle

noun informal, chiefly Brit.
a commotion or fuss.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Scots curfuffle (from fuffle «to disorder»), or related to Irish cior thual 'confusion, disorder' .

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kernel

noun
1. a softer part of a nut, seed, or fruit stone contained within its hard shell.
2. the seed and hard husk of a cereal, especially wheat.
3. the central or most important part of something.

ORIGIN: Old English, 'small corn' .

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kerosene (also kerosine)

noun
a light fuel oil obtained by distilling petroleum, used especially in jet engines and domestic heating boilers; paraffin oil.

ORIGIN: from Greek kros 'wax' .

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kestrel

noun
a small falcon that hunts by hovering with rapidly beating wings.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French crecerelle.

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ketch

noun
a two-masted sailing boat with a mizzenmast stepped forward of the rudder and smaller than its foremast.

ORIGIN: probably from CATCH.

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ketchup (US also catsup)

noun
a spicy sauce made chiefly from tomatoes and vinegar.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Chinese, 'tomato juice' .

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ketone

noun Chemistry
an organic compound containing the group =C=O bonded to two alkyl groups, e.g. acetone.

ORIGIN: from German Aketon 'acetone' .

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kettle

noun
a metal or plastic container with a lid, spout, and handle, used for boiling water.

IDIOMS -
a different kettle of fish informal something altogether different from the one just mentioned.
the pot calling the kettle black used to convey that the criticisms a person is aiming at someone could equally well apply to themselves.
a pretty (or fine) kettle of fish informal an awkward state of affairs.

ORIGIN: Latin catillus 'little pot' .

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kettledrum

noun
a large drum shaped like a bowl, with adjustable pitch.

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key [1]

noun (pl. keys)
1. a small piece of shaped metal which is inserted into a lock and rotated to open or close it.
2. an instrument for grasping and turning a screw, peg, or nut.
3. a lever depressed by the finger in playing an instrument such as the organ, piano, or flute.
4. each of several buttons on a panel for operating a typewriter or computer terminal.
5. a lever operating a mechanical device for making or breaking an electric circuit.
6. a thing providing access or understanding: a key to success.
7. an explanatory list of symbols used in a map or table.
8. a word or system for solving a cipher or code.
9. Music a group of notes based on a particular note and comprising a scale.
10. roughness on a surface, provided to assist adhesion of plaster or other material.
11. the dry winged fruit of an ash, maple, or sycamore.

adjective
of crucial importance: a key figure.

verb (keys, keyed)
1. enter or operate on (data) by means of a computer keyboard.
2. (be keyed up) be nervous, tense, or excited.
3. (key into/in with) be connected or in harmony with.

DERIVATIVES:
keyed adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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key [2]

noun
a low-lying island or reef, especially in the Caribbean.

ORIGIN: Spanish cayo 'reef' .

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keyboard

noun
1. a panel of keys for use with a computer or typewriter.
2. a set of keys on a piano or similar musical instrument.
3. an electronic musical instrument with keys arranged as on a piano.

verb
enter (data) by means of a keyboard.

DERIVATIVES:
keyboarder noun.

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key grip

noun
the person in a film crew who is in charge of the camera equipment.

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keyhole

noun
a hole in a lock into which the key is inserted.

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keyhole surgery

noun
minimally invasive surgery carried out through a very small incision.

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keynote

noun
1. a prevailing tone or central theme.
2. (before another noun ) (of a speech) setting out the central theme of a conference.
3. Music the note on which a key is based.

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keypad

noun
a miniature keyboard or set of buttons for operating a portable electronic device or telephone.

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keypunch

noun
a device for transferring data by means of punched holes or notches on a series of cards or paper tape.

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key ring

noun
a metal ring for holding keys together in a bunch.

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key signature

noun Music
a combination of sharps or flats after the clef at the beginning of each stave, indicating the key of a composition.

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keystone

noun
1. a central stone at the summit of an arch, locking the whole together.
2. the central principle or part of a policy or system.

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keystroke

noun
a single depression of a key on a keyboard.

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keyword

noun
1. a word which acts as the key to a cipher or code.
2. a word or concept of great significance.
3. a significant word mentioned in an index.
4. a word used in an information retrieval system to indicate the content of a document.

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KG

abbreviation
(in the UK) Knight of the Order of the Garter.

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kg

abbreviation
kilogram(s).

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khaki

noun (pl. khakis)
1. a cotton or wool fabric of a dull brownish-yellow colour, used especially in military clothing.
2. a dull brownish-yellow colour.

ORIGIN: from Urdu, 'dust-coloured' .

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khan

noun
a title given to rulers and officials in central Asia, Afghanistan, and certain other Muslim countries.

DERIVATIVES:
khanate noun.

ORIGIN: originally denoting any of the successors of Genghis Khan: from Turkic, 'lord, prince' .

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khazi

noun (pl. khazies) Brit. informal
a toilet.

ORIGIN: Italian casa 'house' .

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kHz

abbreviation
kilohertz.

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kibble

verb
grind or chop (beans, grain, etc.) coarsely.

noun N. Amer.
ground meal shaped into pellets, especially for pet food.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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kibbutz

noun (pl. kibbutzim)
a communal farming settlement in Israel.

ORIGIN: modern Hebrew, 'gathering' .

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kibosh (also kybosh)

noun (in phrase put the kibosh on) informal
put a decisive end to.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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kick

verb
1. strike or propel forcibly with the foot.
2. strike out with the foot or feet.
3. informal succeed in giving up (a habit or addiction).
4. (of a gun) recoil when fired.

noun
1. an instance of kicking.
2. informal a sharp stimulant effect.
3. informal a thrill of pleasurable excitement.

IDIOMS -
kick against express disagreement or frustration with.
kick around (or about)
1. lie unwanted or unexploited.
2. treat (someone) roughly or without respect.
3. discuss (an idea) casually or experimentally.
kick the bucket informal die.
kick in become activated; come into effect.
a kick in the teeth informal a grave setback or disappointment.
kick off (of a football match) be started or resumed by a player kicking the ball from the centre spot.
kick oneself be annoyed with oneself.
kick out informal expel or dismiss.
kick upstairs informal remove (someone) from an influential position by giving them an ostensible promotion.

DERIVATIVES:
kicker noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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kickback

noun
1. a sudden forceful recoil.
2. informal an illicit payment made to someone who has facilitated a transaction or appointment.

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kick-boxing

noun
a form of martial art which combines boxing with elements of karate, in particular kicking with bare feet.

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kick-off

noun
the start or resumption of a football match, in which a player kicks the ball from the centre spot.

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kickstand

noun
a metal rod attached to a bicycle or motorcycle that may be kicked into a vertical position to support the vehicle when it is stationary.

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kick-start

verb
1. start (an engine on a motorcycle) with a downward thrust of a pedal.
2. provide an impetus to start or restart (a process).

noun
1. an act of kick-starting.
2. a device to kick-start an engine.

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kid [1]

noun
1. informal a child or young person.
2. a young goat.

verb (kidded, kidding)
(of a goat) give birth.

IDIOMS -
handle (or treat) with kid gloves deal with very carefully.
kids' stuff informal something that is easy or simple to do.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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kid [2]

verb (kidded, kidding) informal
1. deceive playfully; tease.
2. fool into believing something.

ORIGIN: perhaps from KID, expressing the notion ‘make a child or goat of’.

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kid brother (or kid sister)

noun informal
a younger brother or sister.

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kiddie (also kiddy)

noun (pl. kiddies) informal
a young child.

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kiddiewink

noun Brit. humorous
a small child.

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kidnap

verb (kidnapped, kidnapping; US also kidnaped, kidnaping)
abduct and hold (someone) captive, typically to obtain a ransom.

noun
an instance of kidnapping.

DERIVATIVES:
kidnapper noun.

ORIGIN: from KID + slang nap «nab, seize».

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kidney

noun (pl. kidneys)
1. each of a pair of organs in the abdominal cavity, with one concave and one convex side, that excrete urine.
2. the kidney of a sheep, ox, or pig as food.
3. archaic nature or temperament.

ORIGIN: of obscure origin.

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kidney bean

noun
a kidney-shaped bean, especially a dark red one from a dwarf French bean plant.

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kidney machine

noun
an artificial kidney or dialysis machine.

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kidney stone

noun
a hard mass formed in the kidneys, typically consisting of insoluble calcium compounds.

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kidology

noun Brit. informal
deliberate deception or teasing.

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kilim (also kelim)

noun
a carpet or rug woven without a pile, made in Turkey, Kurdistan, and neighbouring areas.

ORIGIN: Persian.

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kill

verb
1. cause the death of.
2. put an end to.
3. informal overwhelm with an emotion.
4. informal cause pain or anguish to.
5. pass (time).
6. stop (a computing process).
7. (in sport) make (the ball) stop.

noun
1. an act of killing, especially of one animal by another.
2. an animal or animals killed by a hunter or another animal.
3. informal an act of destroying an enemy aircraft or vessel.

IDIOMS -
be in at the kill be present at or benefit from the successful conclusion of an enterprise.
kill two birds with one stone proverb achieve two aims at once.
kill with kindness spoil (someone) with overindulgence.

ORIGIN: probably Germanic and related to QUELL.

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killer

noun
1. a person or thing that kills.
2. informal a formidable person or thing.
3. informal a hilarious joke.

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killer instinct

noun
a ruthless determination to succeed or win.

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killer whale

noun
a large toothed whale with distinctive black-and-white markings and a prominent dorsal fin.

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killing

noun
an act of causing death.

adjective informal
overwhelming or unbearable.

IDIOMS -
make a killing have a great financial success.

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killing field

noun
a place where many people have been killed.

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killjoy

noun
a person who spoils the enjoyment of others through resentful or overly sober behaviour.

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kiln

noun
a furnace or oven for burning, baking, or drying, especially one for firing pottery.

ORIGIN: Latin culina 'kitchen, cooking stove' .

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kilo

noun (pl. kilos)
a kilogram.

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kilo-

combining form
denoting a factor of one thousand (10^3): kilolitre.

ORIGIN: from Greek khilioi 'thousand' .

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kilobyte

noun Computing
a unit of memory or data equal to 1,024 bytes.

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kilocalorie

noun
a unit of energy of one thousand calories (equal to one large calorie).

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kilogram (also kilogramme)

noun
the SI unit of mass, equal to 1,000 grams (approximately 2.205 lb).

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kilohertz

noun
a measure of frequency equivalent to 1,000 cycles per second.

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kilojoule

noun
1,000 joules, especially as a measure of the energy value of foods.

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kilolitre (US kiloliter)

noun
1,000 litres (equivalent to 220 imperial gallons).

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kilometre (US kilometer)

noun
a metric unit of measurement equal to 1,000 metres (approximately 0.62 miles).

DERIVATIVES:
kilometric adjective.
USAGE - The first pronunciation of kilometre, with the stress on the kil- is considered the correct one, especially in British English.

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kiloton (also kilotonne)

noun
a unit of explosive power equivalent to 1,000 tons of TNT.

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kilovolt

noun
1,000 volts.

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kilowatt

noun
1,000 watts.

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kilowatt-hour

noun
a measure of electrical energy equivalent to a power consumption of one thousand watts for one hour.

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kilt

noun
a knee-length skirt of pleated tartan cloth, traditionally worn by men as part of Scottish Highland dress.

verb
1. arrange (a garment or material) in vertical pleats.
2. (kilt up) hoist or tuck up (one's skirt or coat).

DERIVATIVES:
kilted adjective.

ORIGIN: Scandinavian, originally in the sense «tuck up around the body».

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kilter

noun (in phrase out of kilter)
out of harmony or balance.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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kimono

noun (pl. kimonos)
a long, loose Japanese robe having wide sleeves and tied with a sash.

ORIGIN: Japanese, 'wearing thing' .

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kin

noun (treated as pl. )
one's family and relations.

adjective
(of a person) related.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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-kin

suffix
forming diminutive nouns such as catkin.

ORIGIN: from Dutch -kijn, -ken, Low German -kn.

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kind [1]

noun
1. a class or type of people or things having similar characteristics.
2. character; nature.
3. each of the elements (bread and wine) of the Eucharist.

IDIOMS -
in kind
1. in the same way.
2. (of payment) in goods or services as opposed to money.
kind of informal rather.
of a kind hardly or only partly deserving the name.
one of a kind unique.
two (or three, four, etc.) of a kind
1. the same or very similar.
2. (of cards) having the same face value but of a different suit.

USAGE - When using kind to refer to a plural noun, avoid the ungrammatical construction these kind: say these kinds of questions are not relevant rather than these kind of questions are not relevant.
ORIGIN: Old English, related to KIN.

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kind [2]

adjective
1. considerate and generous.
2. archaic affectionate; loving.

ORIGIN: Old English, «natural, native»; in the Middle Ages it meant «well-born or well-bred», and so «courteous, gentle, benevolent».

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kindergarten

noun
a nursery school.

ORIGIN: German, 'children's garden' .

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kindle [1]

verb
1. light (a flame); set on fire.
2. arouse (an emotion).

ORIGIN: from Old Norse, 'candle, torch' .

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kindle [2]

verb
(of a hare or rabbit) give birth.

ORIGIN: probably from KIND.

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kindling

noun
small sticks or twigs used for lighting fires.

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kindly

adverb
1. in a kind manner.
2. please (used in a polite request).

adjective (kindlier, kindliest)
kind; warm-hearted.

IDIOMS -
not take kindly to not welcome or be pleased by.
take kindly like or be pleased by.

DERIVATIVES:
kindliness noun.

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kindness

noun
1. the quality of being kind.
2. a kind act.

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kindred

noun
1. (treated as pl. ) one's family and relations.
2. relationship by blood.

adjective
similar in kind; related.

ORIGIN: Old English, from KIN.

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kindred spirit

noun
a person whose interests or attitudes are similar to one's own.

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kinematics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the branch of mechanics concerned with the motion of objects without reference to the forces which cause the motion.

DERIVATIVES:
kinematic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek kinma 'motion' .

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kinesis

noun (pl. kineses) technical
movement; motion.

ORIGIN: Greek.

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kinetic

adjective
1. relating to or resulting from motion.
2. (of a work of art) depending on movement for its effect.

DERIVATIVES:
kinetically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek kintikos, from kinein 'to move' .

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kinetic energy

noun Physics
energy which a body possesses by virtue of being in motion. Compare with POTENTIAL ENERGY.

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kinetics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
1. the branch of chemistry concerned with the rates of chemical reactions.
2. Physics another term for DYNAMICS (in sense 1).

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king

noun
1. the male ruler of an independent state, especially one who inherits the position by birth.
2. the best or most important person or thing in a sphere or group.
3. a playing card bearing a representation of a king, ranking next below an ace.
4. the most important chess piece, which the opponent has to checkmate in order to win.
5. a piece in draughts with extra capacity for moving, made by crowning an ordinary piece that has reached the opponent's baseline.

DERIVATIVES:
kingly adjective
kingship noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to KIN.

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King Charles spaniel

noun
a small breed of spaniel with a white, black, and tan coat.

ORIGIN: named after King Charles II of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

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kingdom

noun
1. a country, state, or territory ruled by a king or queen.
2. a realm associated with a particular person or thing.
3. the spiritual reign or authority of God.
4. each of the three divisions (animal, vegetable, and mineral) in which natural objects are classified.

IDIOMS -
till (or until) kingdom come informal forever.
to kingdom come informal into the next world.

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kingfisher

noun
a colourful bird with a large head and long sharp beak which dives to catch fish in streams, ponds, etc.

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kingmaker

noun
a person who brings leaders to power through the exercise of political influence.

ORIGIN: used originally with reference to the Earl of Warwick (1428 71), known as Warwick the Kingmaker.

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king of beasts

noun
the lion.

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king of birds

noun
the eagle.

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King of Kings

noun
(in the Christian Church) God.

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kingpin

noun
1. a main or large bolt in a central position.
2. a vertical bolt used as a pivot.
3. a person or thing that is essential to the success of an organization or operation.

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king-sized (also king-size)

adjective
of a larger size than the standard; very large.

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kink

noun
1. a sharp twist or curve in something long and narrow.
2. a flaw or obstacle in a plan or operation.
3. a quirk of character or behaviour.

verb
form a kink.

ORIGIN: Low German kinke, probably from Dutch kinken 'to kink' .

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kinky

adjective (kinkier, kinkiest)
1. having kinks or twists.
2. informal involving or given to unusual sexual behaviour.

DERIVATIVES:
kinkily adverb
kinkiness noun.

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kinsfolk (also kinfolk)

plural noun
(in anthropological or formal use) a person's blood relations, regarded collectively.

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kinship

noun
1. blood relationship.
2. a sharing of characteristics or origins.

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kinsman (also kinswoman)

noun
(in anthropological or formal use) one of a person's blood relations.

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kiosk

noun
1. a small open-fronted hut or cubicle from which newspapers, refreshments, tickets, etc. are sold.
2. Brit. a public telephone booth.

ORIGIN: Turkish kösk 'pavilion' .

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kip informal

noun
1. Brit. a sleep; a nap.
2. a bed or cheap lodging house.
3. Irish a dirty or sordid place.

verb (kipped, kipping) Brit.
sleep.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «brothel»: perhaps related to Danish kippe 'hovel, tavern' .

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kipper

noun
a herring that has been split open, salted, and dried or smoked.

verb
cure (a herring) in such a way.

ORIGIN: Old English, denoting a male salmon in the spawning season.

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kipper tie

noun
a brightly coloured and very wide tie.

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kirby grip (also trademark Kirbigrip)

noun Brit.
a hairgrip consisting of a thin folded and sprung metal strip.

ORIGIN: named after Kirby, Beard, & Co. Ltd, the original manufacturers.

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kirk

noun Scottish & N. English
1. a church.
2. (the Kirk or the Kirk of Scotland) the Church of Scotland.

ORIGIN: from the same Old English root as CHURCH.

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Kirk session

noun
the lowest court in the Church of Scotland.

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kismet

noun
destiny; fate.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'division, portion, lot' .

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kiss

verb
1. touch or caress with the lips as a sign of love, affection, or greeting.
2. Billiards & Snooker (of a ball) lightly touch (another ball).

noun
1. a touch or caress with the lips.
2. Billiards & Snooker a slight touch of a ball against another ball.
3. N. Amer. a small cake, biscuit, or sweet.

IDIOMS -
kiss someone's arse (or N. Amer. ass) vulgar slang behave obsequiously towards someone.
kiss of death an action that ensures the failure of an enterprise.
kiss off N. Amer. informal dismiss rudely or abruptly.
kiss of life
1. mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
2. something that revives a failing enterprise.
kiss of peace a ceremonial kiss signifying unity, especially during the Christian Eucharist.

DERIVATIVES:
kissable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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kiss curl

noun
a small curl of hair on the forehead, at the nape of the neck, or in front of the ear.

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kisser

noun
1. a person who kisses someone.
2. informal a person's mouth.

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kissogram

noun
a novelty greeting delivered by a man or woman who accompanies it with a kiss.

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kit [1]

noun
1. a set of articles or equipment for a specific purpose.
2. Brit. the clothing and other items needed for an activity.
3. a set of all the parts needed to assemble something.
4. Brit. a large basket or box, especially for fish.

verb (kit out)
provide with appropriate clothing or equipment.

IDIOMS -
get one's kit off Brit. informal take off one's clothes.

ORIGIN: Dutch kitte 'wooden container' .

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kit [2]

noun
the young of certain animals, e.g. the beaver, ferret, and mink.

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kitbag

noun
a long, cylindrical canvas bag for carrying a soldier's possessions.

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kitchen

noun
1. a room where food is prepared and cooked.
2. a set of fitments and units installed in a kitchen.

ORIGIN: Old English, ultimately from Latin coquere 'to cook' .

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kitchenette

noun
a small kitchen or part of a room equipped as a kitchen.

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kitchen garden

noun
a garden where vegetables and fruit are grown for domestic use.

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kitchen-sink

adjective
(of drama) realistic in the depiction of drab or sordid subjects.

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kitchenware

noun
kitchen utensils.

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kite

noun
1. a toy consisting of a light frame with thin material stretched over it, flown in the wind at the end of a long string.
2. Brit. informal, dated an aircraft.
3. a long-winged bird of prey with a forked tail and a soaring flight.
4. Geometry a quadrilateral figure having two pairs of equal adjacent sides, symmetrical only about one diagonal.
5. informal a fraudulent cheque, bill, or receipt.

verb
1. fly a kite.
2. informal, chiefly N. Amer. write or use (a fraudulent cheque, bill, or receipt).

IDIOMS -
(as) high as a kite informal intoxicated with drugs or alcohol.
fly a kite informal try something out to test public opinion.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Kitemark

noun trademark
(in the UK) an official kite-shaped mark on goods approved by the British Standards Institution.

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kith

noun (in phrase kith and kin)
one's relations.

ORIGIN: Old English, originally in the senses «knowledge», «one's native land», and «friends and neighbours».

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kitsch

noun
art, objects, or design considered to be excessively garish or sentimental, but appreciated in an ironic or knowing way.

DERIVATIVES:
kitschiness noun
kitschy adjective.

ORIGIN: German.

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kitten

noun
1. a young cat.
2. the young of certain other animals, such as the rabbit and beaver.

verb
give birth to kittens.

IDIOMS -
have kittens Brit. informal be extremely nervous or upset.

ORIGIN: Old French chitoun, from chat 'cat' .

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kittenish

adjective
playful, lively, or flirtatious.

DERIVATIVES:
kittenishly adverb
kittenishness noun.

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kittiwake

noun
a small gull that nests in colonies on sea cliffs and has a loud call that resembles its name.

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kitty [1]

noun (pl. kitties)
1. a fund of money for communal use.
2. a pool of money in some card games.
3. (in bowls) the jack.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a jail: of unknown origin.

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kitty [2]

noun (pl. kitties)
a pet name for a cat.

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kiwi

noun (pl. kiwis)
1. a flightless, tailless New Zealand bird with hair-like feathers and a long downcurved bill.
2. (Kiwi) informal a New Zealander.

ORIGIN: Maori.

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kiwi fruit

noun (pl. same)
the fruit of an Asian climbing plant, with a thin hairy skin, green flesh, and black seeds.

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kJ

abbreviation
kilojoule(s).

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KKK

abbreviation
Ku Klux Klan.

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kl

abbreviation
kilolitre(s).

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Klansman (or Klanswoman)

noun
a member of the Ku Klux Klan, an extremist right-wing secret society in the US.

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klaxon

noun trademark
a vehicle horn or warning hooter.

ORIGIN: the name of the manufacturers.

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Kleenex

noun (pl. same or Kleenexes) trademark
a paper tissue.

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kleptomania

noun
a recurrent urge to steal.

DERIVATIVES:
kleptomaniac noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek klepts 'thief' .

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kludge

noun informal
something hastily or badly put together.

ORIGIN: invented word, perhaps influenced by BODGE and FUDGE.

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klutz

noun informal, chiefly N. Amer.
a clumsy, awkward, or foolish person.

DERIVATIVES:
klutzy adjective.

ORIGIN: Yiddish, 'wooden block' .

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km

abbreviation
kilometre(s).

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knack

noun
1. an acquired or natural skill at performing a task.
2. a tendency to do something.

ORIGIN: probably related to obsolete knack «sharp blow or sound».

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knacker Brit.

noun
1. a person who disposes of dead or unwanted animals.
2. (knackers) vulgar slang testicles.

verb informal
exhaust; wear out.

DERIVATIVES:
knackered adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a harness-maker: possibly from obsolete knack «trinket»; sense 2 may be from dialect knacker «castanet».

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knacker's yard

noun Brit.
a place where old or injured animals are slaughtered.

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knapsack

noun
a soldier's or hiker's bag with shoulder straps, carried on the back.

ORIGIN: Dutch knapzack, probably from German knappen 'to bite' + zak 'sack' .

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knave

noun
1. archaic a dishonest or unscrupulous man.
2. (in cards) a jack.

DERIVATIVES:
knavery noun
knavish adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «boy, servant».

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knead

verb
1. work (dough or clay) with the hands.
2. massage as if kneading.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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knee

noun
1. the joint between the thigh and the lower leg.
2. the upper surface of a person's thigh when sitting.
3. something resembling a knee in shape or position, e.g. an angled piece of wood or metal.

verb (knees, kneed, kneeing)
hit with the knee.

IDIOMS -
at one's mother's knee at an early age.
bend (or bow) one's knee submit.
bring someone to their knees reduce someone to a state of weakness or submission.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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kneecap

noun
the convex bone in front of the knee joint; the patella.

verb
shoot in the knee or leg as a punishment.

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knee-high

adjective & adverb
so high as to reach the knees.

IDIOMS -
knee-high to a grasshopper informal very small or young.

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knee-jerk

noun
an involuntary reflex kick caused by a blow on the tendon just below the knee.

adjective
automatic and unthinking: a kneejerk reaction.

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kneel

verb (past and past part. knelt or chiefly N. Amer. also kneeled)
fall or rest on a knee or the knees.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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kneeler

noun
1. a person who kneels.
2. a cushion or bench for kneeling on.

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knees-up

noun Brit. informal
a lively party.

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knell literary

noun
the sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral.

verb
(of a bell) ring solemnly.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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knickerbocker

noun
1. (knickerbockers) loose-fitting breeches gathered at the knee or calf.
2. (Knickerbocker) informal a New Yorker.

ORIGIN: sense 2 derives from Diedrich Knickerbocker, the pretended author of Washington Irving's History of New York (1809); sense 1 is said to be from the knee breeches worn by Dutch settlers in Irving's book.

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knickers

plural noun Brit.
1. a woman's or girl's undergarment covering the body from the waist or hips to the top of the thighs and having two holes for the legs.
2. N. Amer. knickerbockers.

IDIOMS -
get one's knickers in a twist Brit. informal become upset or angry.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of knickerbockers.

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knick-knack (also nick-nack)

noun
a small worthless object, especially an ornament.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «a petty trick»: reduplication of KNACK.

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knife

noun (pl. knives)
1. a cutting instrument consisting of a blade fixed into a handle.
2. a cutting blade on a machine.

verb
1. stab with a knife.
2. cut like a knife.

IDIOMS -
at knifepoint under threat of injury from a knife.
before you can say knife informal very quickly.
that one could cut with a knife (of an accent or atmosphere) very obvious.
stick the knife into informal treat in a hostile or aggressive manner.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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knife-edge

noun
1. the cutting edge of a knife.
2. a very tense or dangerous situation.
3. (before another noun ) (of creases or pleats) very fine.
4. a steel wedge on which a pendulum or other device oscillates or is balanced.
5. a narrow, sharp mountain ridge.

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knight

noun
1. (in the Middle Ages) a man raised to honourable military rank after service as a page and squire.
2. (in the UK) a man awarded a non-hereditary title by the sovereign and entitled to use ‘Sir’ in front of his name.
3. a chess piece, typically shaped like a horse's head, that moves by jumping to the opposite corner of a rectangle two squares by three.
4. (also knight of the shire) historical a gentleman representing a shire or county in Parliament.

verb
give (a man) the title of knight.

IDIOMS -
knight in shining armour an idealized chivalrous man.

DERIVATIVES:
knighthood noun
knightly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «boy, youth, servant».

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knight errant

noun
a medieval knight wandering in search of chivalrous adventures.

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knit

verb (knitting; past and past part. knitted or (especially in sense 3) knit)
1. make by interlocking loops of yarn with knitting needles or on a machine.
2. make (a plain stitch) in knitting.
3. unite or join together.
4. tighten (one's eyebrows) in a frown.

noun (knits)
knitted garments.

DERIVATIVES:
knitter noun
knitting noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to KNOT.

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knitting needle

noun
a long, thin, pointed rod used as part of a pair for hand knitting.

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knitwear

noun
knitted garments.

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knob

noun
1. a rounded lump or ball at the end or on the surface of something.
2. a ball-shaped handle on a door or drawer.
3. a round button on a machine.
4. a small lump of something.
5. chiefly N. Amer. a prominent round hill.
6. vulgar slang a man's penis.

DERIVATIVES:
knobbed adjective
knobby adjective.

ORIGIN: Low German knobbe 'knot, knob, bud' .

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knobble

noun Brit.
a small lump on something.

DERIVATIVES:
knobbly adjective (knobblier, knobbliest) .

ORIGIN: diminutive of KNOB.

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knock

verb
1. strike a surface noisily to attract attention.
2. collide forcefully with.
3. force to move or fall with a collision or blow.
4. make (a hole, dent, etc.) in something by striking it.
5. informal criticize.
6. (of a motor) make a thumping or rattling noise.

noun
1. a sudden short sound caused by a blow.
2. a blow or collision.
3. a setback.

IDIOMS -
knock about (or around) informal
1. travel or spend time without a specific purpose.
2. happen to be present.
knock back informal consume (a drink) quickly.
knock down
1. (at an auction) confirm (a sale) by a knock with a hammer.
2. informal reduce the price of (an article).
knock it off informal stop doing something.
knock off informal
1. stop work.
2. produce (a piece of work) quickly and easily.
3. Brit. informal steal.
4. kill.
be knocking on informal be growing old.
knock on the head
1. euphemistic kill.
2. Brit. informal put an end to (an idea, plan, etc.).
knock out
1. make unconscious.
2. informal astonish or greatly impress.
3. eliminate from a knockout competition.
4. informal produce (work) at a steady fast rate.
knock spots off Brit. informal easily outdo.
knock together assemble (something) roughly and hastily.
knock up
1. informal, chiefly N. Amer. make (a woman) pregnant.
2. Brit. make (something) hurriedly.
the school of hard knocks painful or difficult but useful life experiences.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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knockabout

adjective
(of comedy) rough and slapstick.

noun
1. US & Austral. a tramp.
2. Austral./NZ a farm or station handyman.

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knock-back

noun informal
a refusal or setback.

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knock-down

adjective
1. informal (of a price) very low.
2. (of furniture) easily dismantled.

noun Austral./NZ informal
an introduction.

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knocker

noun
1. an object hinged to a door and rapped by visitors to attract attention.
2. informal a person who buys or sells from door to door.
3. informal a person who continually finds fault.
4. (knockers) informal a woman's breasts.

IDIOMS -
on the knocker informal
1. Brit. going from door to door.
2. Austral./NZ (of payment) immediately.

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knock-kneed

adjective
having legs that curve inwards at the knee.

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knock-off

noun informal
a copy or imitation.

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knock-on effect

noun chiefly Brit.
a secondary, indirect, or cumulative effect.

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knockout

noun
1. an act of knocking someone out.
2. Brit. a tournament in which the loser in each round is eliminated.
3. informal an extremely attractive or impressive person or thing.

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knock-up

noun Brit.
(in racket sports) a period of practice play before a game.

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knoll

noun
a small hill or mound.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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knot

noun
1. a fastening made by looping a piece of string, rope, etc. on itself and tightening it.
2. a tangled mass in hair, wool, etc.
3. a protuberance in a stem, branch, or root.
4. a hard mass in wood at the intersection of a trunk with a branch.
5. a hard lump of bodily tissue.
6. a small group of people.
7. a unit of speed equivalent to one nautical mile per hour, used of ships, aircraft, or winds.

verb (knotted, knotting)
1. fasten with a knot.
2. tangle.
3. cause (a muscle) to become tense and hard.
4. (of the stomach) tighten as a result of tension.

IDIOMS -
at a rate of knots Brit. informal very fast.
get knotted Brit. informal go away.
tie (up) in knots informal confuse completely.
tie the knot informal get married.

ORIGIN: Old English; sense 7 derives from the former practice of measuring a ship's speed by using a float attached to a long knotted line.

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knot garden

noun
an intricately designed formal garden.

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knothole

noun
a hole in a piece of wood where a knot has fallen out.

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knotty

adjective (knottier, knottiest)
1. full of knots.
2. extremely difficult or intricate.

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know

verb (past knew; past part. known)
1. have knowledge of through observation, inquiry, or information.
2. be absolutely sure of something.
3. be familiar or friendly with.
4. have a good command of (a subject or language).
5. have personal experience of.
6. (usu. be known as) regard as having a specified characteristic or title: the boss was universally known as ‘Sir’.
7. archaic have sexual intercourse with.

IDIOMS -
be in the know be aware of something known only to a few people.
God (or goodness or heaven) knows I have no idea.
know better than be wise enough to avoid doing something.
know no bounds have no limits.
know one's own mind be decisive and certain.
know the ropes have experience of the appropriate procedures.
know what's what informal be experienced and competent in a particular area.
you know informal implying something generally known or known by the listener.

DERIVATIVES:
knowable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «recognize, identify».

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know-all (also know-it-all)

noun informal
a person who behaves as if they know everything.

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know-how

noun
expertise.

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knowing

adjective
1. suggesting that one has secret knowledge.
2. chiefly derogatory experienced or shrewd, especially excessively or prematurely so.

noun
the state of being aware or informed.

IDIOMS -
there is no knowing no one can tell.

DERIVATIVES:
knowingly adverb
knowingness noun.

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knowledge

noun
1. information and skills acquired through experience or education.
2. the sum of what is known.
3. awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation: he denied all knowledge of the incident.

IDIOMS -
come to one's knowledge become known to one.
to (the best of) my knowledge
1. so far as I know.
2. as I know for certain.

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knowledgeable (also knowledgable)

adjective
intelligent and well informed.

DERIVATIVES:
knowledgeably adverb.

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known
past participle of KNOW.
adjective
1. recognized, familiar, or within the scope of knowledge.
2. publicly acknowledged to be: a known criminal.
3. Mathematics (of a quantity or variable) having a value that can be stated.

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know-nothing

noun
an ignorant person.

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knuckle

noun
1. a part of a finger at a joint where the bone is near the surface.
2. a projection of the carpal or tarsal joint of a quadruped.
3. this projection as a joint of meat.

verb
rub or press with the knuckles.

IDIOMS -
knuckle down
1. apply oneself seriously to a task.
2. (also knuckle under) submit.
near the knuckle Brit. informal verging on being indecent or offensive.
rap on (or over) the knuckles rebuke or criticize.

ORIGIN: Low German or Dutch knökel 'little bone' ; the verb knuckle down expressed setting the knuckles down to start a game of marbles.

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knuckleduster

noun
a metal guard worn over the knuckles in fighting to increase the effect of blows.

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knucklehead

noun informal
a stupid person.

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knuckle sandwich

noun informal
a punch in the mouth.

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knurl

noun
a small projecting knob or ridge.

DERIVATIVES:
knurled adjective.

ORIGIN: apparently from High German knorre 'knobbed protuberance' .

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KO [1]

abbreviation
kick-off.

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KO [2]

noun
a knockout in a boxing match.

verb (KO's, KO'd, KO'ing)
knock out in a boxing match.

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koala

noun
a bear-like tree-dwelling Australian marsupial that has thick grey fur and feeds on eucalyptus leaves.

ORIGIN: Dharuk (an Aboriginal language).

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kohl

noun
a black powder used as eye make-up.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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kohlrabi

noun (pl. kohlrabies)
a variety of cabbage with an edible turnip-like swollen stem.

ORIGIN: German, from Latin caulis 'cabbage' + rapum 'turnip' .

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koi

noun (pl. same)
a large common Japanese carp.

ORIGIN: Japanese.

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kook

noun N. Amer. informal
a mad or eccentric person.

DERIVATIVES:
kooky adjective.

ORIGIN: probably from CUCKOO.

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kookaburra

noun
a very large, noisy, Australasian kingfisher that feeds on reptiles and birds.

ORIGIN: Wiradhuri (an Aboriginal language).

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kop

noun Brit.
a high bank of terracing at a soccer ground.

ORIGIN: Afrikaans, from Dutch, 'head' ; the term entered England from Spion Kop in South Africa, site of a Boer War battle.

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kopek (also copeck or kopeck)

noun
a monetary unit of Russia and some other countries of the former USSR, equal to one hundredth of a rouble.

ORIGIN: Russian kopeka 'small lance' (from the figure on the coin (1535) of Tsar Ivan IV, bearing a lance).

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Koran (also Quran or Qur'an)

noun
the Islamic sacred book, believed to be the word of God as dictated to Muhammad and written down in Arabic.

DERIVATIVES:
Koranic adjective.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'recitation' .

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Korean

noun
1. a person from Korea.
2. the language of Korea.

adjective
relating to Korea.

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korma

noun
a mild Indian curry of meat or fish marinaded in yogurt or curds.

ORIGIN: Urdu, from Turkish kavurma.

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kosher

adjective
1. satisfying the requirements of Jewish law with regards to the preparation of food.
2. informal genuine and legitimate.

verb
prepare (food) according to Jewish law.

ORIGIN: Hebrew, 'proper' .

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Kosovar

noun
a person from Kosovo, a province of Serbia whose population is largely of Albanian descent.

DERIVATIVES:
Kosovan noun & adjective.

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kowtow

verb
1. historical kneel and touch the ground with the forehead in submission as part of Chinese custom.
2. be excessively subservient towards someone.

ORIGIN: Chinese.

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kph

abbreviation
kilometres per hour.

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kraal S. African

noun
1. a traditional African village of huts.
2. an enclosure for sheep and cattle.

verb
drive (animals) into a kraal.

ORIGIN: Dutch, from Portuguese curral 'corral' .

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kraft (also kraft paper)

noun
a kind of strong, smooth brown wrapping paper.

ORIGIN: Swedish, 'strength' .

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Kraut

noun informal, offensive
a German.

ORIGIN: shortening of SAUERKRAUT.

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kremlin

noun
1. a citadel within a Russian town.
2. (the Kremlin) the citadel in Moscow, housing the Russian government.

ORIGIN: Russian kreml'.

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krill

plural noun
small shrimp-like planktonic crustaceans which are the principal food of baleen whales.

ORIGIN: Norwegian kril 'small fish fry' .

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krona

noun
1. (pl. kronor pronunc. same) the basic monetary unit of Sweden.
2. (pl. kronur pronunc. same) the basic monetary unit of Iceland.

ORIGIN: Swedish and Icelandic, 'crown' .

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krone

noun (pl. kroner pronunc. same)
the basic monetary unit of Denmark and Norway.

ORIGIN: Danish and Norwegian, 'crown' .

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krugerrand (also Kruger)

noun
a South African gold coin with a portrait of President Kruger on the obverse.

ORIGIN: named after Paul Kruger, President of Transvaal 1883 99.

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krypton

noun
an inert gaseous chemical element, present in trace amounts in the air and used in some kinds of electric light.

ORIGIN: from Greek krupton 'hidden' .

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KS

abbreviation
1. Kansas.
2. Kaposi's sarcoma.

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Kshatriya

noun
a member of the second-highest Hindu caste, that of the military.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, 'rule, authority' .

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KStJ

abbreviation
Knight of the Order of St John.

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KT

abbreviation
(in the UK) Knight of the Order of the Thistle.

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kt

abbreviation
knot(s).

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kudos

noun
praise and honour.
USAGE - Despite appearances, kudos is not a plural form: there is no singular form kudo, and use as a plural, as in he received many kudos for his work , is incorrect.
ORIGIN: Greek.

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kudu

noun (pl. same or kudus)
a striped African antelope, the male of which has long spirally curved horns.

ORIGIN: Afrikaans.

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Ku Klux Klan

noun
an extreme white supremacist secret society in the US.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Greek kuklos 'circle' and CLAN.

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kumquat (also cumquat)

noun
an East Asian citrus-like fruit with an edible sweet rind and acid pulp.

ORIGIN: Chinese, 'little orange' .

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kung fu

noun
a Chinese martial art resembling karate.

ORIGIN: Chinese, from words meaning 'merit' and 'master' .

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Kurd

noun
a member of a mainly pastoral Islamic people living in Kurdistan, a region in the Middle East south of the Caucasus.

ORIGIN: the name in Kurdish.

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kV

abbreviation
kilovolt(s).

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kW

abbreviation
kilowatt(s).

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kWh

abbreviation
kilowatt-hour(s).

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KY

abbreviation
Kentucky.

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kyle

noun Scottish
a narrow sea channel.

ORIGIN: Scottish Gaelic caol 'strait' .

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L

L [1] (also l)

noun (pl. Ls or L's)
1. the twelfth letter of the alphabet.
2. denoting the next after K in a set.
3. the Roman numeral for 50. [ORIGIN: originally a symbol identified with the letter L, because of similarity of form.]

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L [2]

abbreviation
1. (L.) Lake, Loch, or Lough.
2. large (as a clothes size).
3. Brit. learner driver.
4. lire.
5. (in tables of sports results) lost.

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l

abbreviation
1. left.
2. (in horse racing) length(s).
3. (l.) line.
4. litre(s).
5. (l.) archaic pound(s).

symbol
(in mathematical formulae) length.

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£

abbreviation
pound(s).

ORIGIN: the initial letter of Latin libra 'pound, balance' .

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LA

abbreviation
1. Los Angeles.
2. Louisiana.

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La

symbol
the chemical element lanthanum.

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lab

noun informal
a laboratory.

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label

noun
1. a small piece of paper, fabric, etc. attached to an object and giving information about it.
2. the name or trademark of a fashion company.
3. a company that produces recorded music.
4. a classifying name applied to a person or thing.
5. Biology & Chemistry a radioactive isotope, fluorescent dye, or enzyme used to make something identifiable.

verb (labelled, labelling; US labeled, labeling)
1. attach a label to.
2. assign to a category.
3. Biology & Chemistry make (a substance, cell, etc.) identifiable using a label.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'ribbon' .

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labial

adjective chiefly Anatomy & Biology
relating to the lips or a labium.

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labiate

adjective Botany
relating to plants of the mint family (Labiatae), having distinctive two-lobed flowers.

ORIGIN: Latin labiatus, from labium 'lip' .

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labium

noun (pl. labia)
1. (labia) Anatomy the inner and outer folds of the vulva.
2. a fused mouthpart forming the floor of the mouth of an insect.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'lip' .

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labor (Brit. labour)

noun
1. work, especially hard physical work.
2. workers collectively.
3. (Labor) the Labor Party.
4. the process of childbirth.

verb
1. work hard.
2. work at an unskilled manual job.
3. have difficulty despite working hard.
4. move with difficulty.
5. (labor under) be misled by (a mistaken belief).

IDIOMS -
a labor of love a task done for pleasure, not reward.
labor the point elaborate something at excessive length.

ORIGIN: Latin labor 'toil, trouble' .

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laboratory

noun (pl. laboratories)
a room or building for scientific experiments, research, or teaching, or for the manufacture of drugs or chemicals.

ORIGIN: Latin laboratorium, from laborare 'to labour' .

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laborious

adjective
1. requiring considerable time and effort.
2. showing obvious signs of effort.

DERIVATIVES:
laboriously adverb.

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labour (US & Austral. labor)

noun
1. work, especially hard physical work.
2. workers collectively.
3. (Labour) the Labour Party.
4. the process of childbirth.

verb
1. work hard.
2. work at an unskilled manual job.
3. have difficulty despite working hard.
4. move with difficulty.
5. (labour under) be misled by (a mistaken belief).

IDIOMS -
a labour of love a task done for pleasure, not reward.
labour the point elaborate something at excessive length.

ORIGIN: Latin labor 'toil, trouble' .

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labour camp

noun
a prison camp with a regime of hard labour.

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Labour Day

noun
a public holiday held in honour of working people in some countries on 1 May, or (in the US and Canada) on the first Monday in September.

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laboured (US labored)

adjective
1. done with great difficulty.
2. not spontaneous or fluent.

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labourer (US laborer)

noun
a person doing unskilled manual work.

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labour force

noun
the members of a population who are able to work.

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labour-intensive

adjective
needing a large workforce or a large amount of work in relation to output.

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Labour Party

noun
a British left-of-centre political party formed to represent the interests of ordinary working people.

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labour-saving

adjective
designed to reduce or eliminate work.

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Labrador (also Labrador retriever)

noun
a breed of retriever with a black or yellow coat, used as a gun dog or guide dog.

ORIGIN: named after the Labrador Peninsula of eastern Canada, where the breed was developed.

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laburnum

noun
a small hardwood tree with hanging clusters of yellow flowers followed by pods of poisonous seeds.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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labyrinth

noun
1. a complicated irregular network of passages or paths.
2. an intricate and confusing arrangement.
3. a complex fluid-filled bony structure in the inner ear which contains the organs of hearing and balance.

DERIVATIVES:
labyrinthine adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek laburinthos, referring to the maze constructed by Daedalus in Greek mythology to house the Minotaur.

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lac

noun
a resinous substance secreted by an Asian insect (the lac insect), used to make varnish, shellac, etc.

ORIGIN: Hindi or Persian.

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lace

noun
1. a fine open fabric of cotton or silk made by looping, twisting, or knitting thread in patterns.
2. a cord or leather strip used to fasten a shoe or garment.

verb
1. fasten with a lace or laces.
2. entwine.
3. (often be laced with) add an ingredient, especially alcohol, to (a drink or dish) to enhance its flavour or strength.

ORIGIN: Old French laz, from Latin laqueus 'noose' .

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lacerate

verb
tear or deeply cut (the flesh or skin).

DERIVATIVES:
laceration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin lacerare, from lacer 'torn' .

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lachrymal (also lacrimal or lacrymal)

adjective
1. formal or literary connected with weeping or tears.
2. Physiology & Anatomy concerned with the secretion of tears.

ORIGIN: Latin lachrymalis, from lacrima 'tear' .

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lachrymose

adjective formal or literary
1. tearful.
2. inducing tears; sad.

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lacing

noun
1. a laced fastening of a shoe or garment.
2. a dash of spirits added to a drink.

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lack

noun
the state of being without or not having enough of something.

verb (also lack for)
be without or deficient in.

ORIGIN: perhaps partly from Low German lak 'deficiency' , Dutch laken 'lack' .

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lackadaisical

adjective
lacking enthusiasm and thoroughness.

DERIVATIVES:
lackadaisically adverb.

ORIGIN: from the archaic interjection lackaday, lackadaisy.

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lackey

noun (pl. lackeys)
1. a servant.
2. a servile or obsequious person.

ORIGIN: French laquais.

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lacking

adjective
absent or deficient.

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lacklustre (US lackluster)

adjective
1. lacking in vitality, force, or conviction.
2. not shining; dull.

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laconic

adjective
using very few words; terse.

DERIVATIVES:
laconically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek Laknikos, from Lakn 'Laconia, Sparta' , the Spartans being known for their terse speech.

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lacquer

noun
1. a varnish made of shellac or of synthetic substances.
2. the sap of an East Asian tree (the lacquer tree) used as a varnish.
3. decorative wooden ware coated with lacquer.
4. Brit. a chemical substance sprayed on hair to keep it in place.

verb
coat with lacquer.

ORIGIN: from obsolete French lacre 'sealing wax' , from Hindi or Persian (see LAC).

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lacrosse

noun
a team game in which a ball is thrown, carried, and caught with a long-handled stick bearing a net at one end.

ORIGIN: from French (le jeu de) la crosse '(the game of) the hooked stick' .

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lactate

verb
(of a female mammal) secrete milk.

ORIGIN: Latin lactare 'suckle' .

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lactation

noun
1. the secretion of milk by the mammary glands.
2. the suckling of young.

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lacteal

adjective
conveying milk or milky fluid.

noun (lacteals) Anatomy
the lymphatic vessels of the small intestine which absorb digested fats.

ORIGIN: Latin lacteus, from lac 'milk' .

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lactic

adjective
relating to or obtained from milk.

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lactic acid

noun Biochemistry
an organic acid present in sour milk, and produced in the muscles during strenuous exercise.

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lactose

noun Chemistry
a compound sugar present in milk.

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lacto-vegetarian

noun
a person who eats only dairy products and vegetables.

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lacuna

noun (pl. lacunae or lacunas)
1. a gap or missing portion.
2. Anatomy a cavity or depression, especially in bone.

DERIVATIVES:
lacunar adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'pool' .

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lacy

adjective (lacier, laciest)
made of, resembling, or trimmed with lace.

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lad

noun informal
1. a boy or young man.
2. (lads) chiefly Brit. a group of men sharing recreational or working interests.
3. Brit. a boisterously macho or high-spirited man.

DERIVATIVES:
laddish adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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ladder

noun
1. a structure consisting of a series of bars or steps between two uprights, used for climbing up or down.
2. a hierarchical structure.
3. Brit. a vertical strip of unravelled fabric in tights or stockings.

verb Brit.
develop or cause to develop a ladder in tights or stockings.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ladder-back

noun
an upright chair with a back resembling a ladder.

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laden

adjective
heavily loaded or weighed down.

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la-di-da (also lah-di-dah)

adjective informal
pretentious or snobbish.

ORIGIN: imitative of an affected manner of speech.

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ladies' man (also lady's man)

noun informal
a man who enjoys spending time and flirting with women.

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ladies' room

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a women's toilet in a public or institutional building.

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ladle

noun
a large long-handled spoon with a cup-shaped bowl.

verb
1. serve or transfer with a ladle.
2. (ladle out) distribute in large amounts.

DERIVATIVES:
ladleful noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LADE.

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lady

noun (pl. ladies)
1. (in polite or formal use) a woman.
2. a woman of superior social position.
3. (Lady) a title used by peeresses, female relatives of peers, the wives and widows of knights, etc.
4. a courteous or genteel woman.
5. (the Ladies) Brit. a women's public toilet.

IDIOMS -
it isn't over till the fat lady sings there is still time for a situation to change. [ORIGIN: by association with the final aria in tragic opera.]
My Lady a polite form of address to female judges and certain noblewomen.

ORIGIN: Old English, from words meaning «loaf» and «knead»; compare with LORD.

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ladybird

noun
a small beetle with a domed back, typically red or yellow with black spots.

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Lady chapel

noun
a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary in a church or cathedral.

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Lady Day

noun
the feast of the Annunciation, 25 March.

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lady-in-waiting

noun (pl. ladies-in-waiting)
a woman who attends a queen or princess.

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ladykiller

noun informal
a charming man who habitually seduces women.

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ladylike

adjective
appropriate for or typical of a well-mannered woman or girl.

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lady of the night

noun euphemistic
a prostitute.

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ladyship

noun (Her/Your Ladyship)
a respectful form of reference or address to a Lady.

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lady's maid

noun chiefly historical
a maid who attended to the personal needs of her mistress.

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lag [1]

verb (lagged, lagging)
fall behind; follow after a delay.

noun (also time lag)
a period of time between two events; a delay.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'hindmost person' : related to the dialect adjective lag (perhaps from a distortion of LAST, or Scandinavian).

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lag [2]

verb (lagged, lagging)
enclose or cover (a boiler, pipes, etc.) with insulating material.

ORIGIN: from earlier lag «piece of insulating cover».

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lag [3]

noun Brit. informal
a habitual convict.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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lager

noun
a light effervescent beer.

ORIGIN: from German Lagerbier 'beer brewed for keeping' , from Lager 'storehouse' .

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lager lout

noun Brit. informal
a young man who behaves offensively as a result of excessive drinking.

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laggard

noun
a person who falls behind others.

adjective
slower than desired or expected.

DERIVATIVES:
laggardly adjective & adverb.

ORIGIN: from LAG.

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lagging

noun
material providing heat insulation for a boiler, pipes, etc.

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lagoon

noun
1. a stretch of salt water separated from the sea by a low sandbank or coral reef.
2. N. Amer. & Austral./NZ a small freshwater lake near a larger lake or river.

ORIGIN: Italian and Spanish laguna, from Latin lacuna 'pool' .

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lah (also la)

noun Music
the sixth note of a major scale, coming after ‘soh’ and before ‘te’.

ORIGIN: representing (as an arbitrary name for the note) the first syllable of labii, taken from a Latin hymn.

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laid-back

adjective informal
relaxed and easy-going.

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lair

noun
1. a wild animal's resting place.
2. a person's hiding place or den.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LIE.

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laird

noun
(in Scotland) a person who owns a large estate.

DERIVATIVES:
lairdship noun.

ORIGIN: Scots form of LORD.

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laissez-faire

noun
a policy of non-interference, especially abstention by governments from interfering in the workings of the free market.

ORIGIN: French, 'allow to do' .

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laity

noun (the laity)
lay people.

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lake [1]

noun
1. a large area of water surrounded by land.
2. (the Lakes) another name for the LAKE DISTRICT.

DERIVATIVES:
lakelet noun.

ORIGIN: Latin lacus 'pool, lake' .

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lake [2]

noun
1. an insoluble pigment made by combining an organic dye and a mordant.
2. a purplish-red pigment of this kind, originally made with lac.

ORIGIN: variant of LAC.

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Lake District

noun
a region of lakes and mountains in Cumbria.

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Lallans

noun
a distinctive Scottish literary form of English, based on standard older Scots.

ORIGIN: Scots variant of Lowlands.

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lam [1]

verb (lammed, lamming) (often lam into) informal
hit hard or repeatedly.

ORIGIN: perhaps Scandinavian.

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lam [2] N. Amer. informal

noun (in phrase on the lam)
in flight, especially from the police.

verb (lammed, lamming)
flee.

ORIGIN: from LAM.

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lama

noun
1. an honorific title applied to a spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism.
2. a Tibetan or Mongolian Buddhist monk.

ORIGIN: Tibetan, 'superior one' .

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lamb

noun
1. a young sheep.
2. a mild-mannered, gentle, or innocent person.

verb
1. (of a ewe) give birth to lambs.
2. tend (ewes) at lambing time.

DERIVATIVES:
lambing noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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lambada

noun
a fast Brazilian dance which couples perform in close physical contact.

ORIGIN: Portuguese, 'a beating' .

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lambaste (also lambast)

verb
criticize harshly.

DERIVATIVES:
lambasting noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «beat»: from LAM + dated baste, also meaning «beat».

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lambent

adjective literary
glowing or flickering with a soft radiance.

ORIGIN: from Latin lambere 'to lick' .

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Lamb of God

noun
a title of Jesus Christ.

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lame

adjective
1. walking with difficulty as the result of an injury or illness affecting the leg or foot.
2. (of an explanation or excuse) unconvincingly feeble.
3. dull and uninspiring.

verb
make lame.

DERIVATIVES:
lamely adverb
lameness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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lamé

noun
fabric with interwoven gold or silver threads.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin lamina 'thin plate' .

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lame duck

noun
1. an ineffectual or unsuccessful person or thing.
2. N. Amer. a President or administration in the final period of office, after the election of a successor.

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lament

noun
1. a passionate expression of grief.
2. a song, piece of music, or poem expressing grief or regret.

verb
1. mourn (a person's death).
2. (lamented or late lamented) a conventional way of referring to a dead person.
3. express regret or disappointment about.

DERIVATIVES:
lamentation noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin lamenta (plural) 'weeping' .

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lamentable

adjective
deplorable or regrettable.

DERIVATIVES:
lamentably adverb.

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lamina

noun (pl. laminae) technical
a thin layer, plate, or scale of sedimentary rock, organic tissue, or other material.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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laminar

adjective
1. consisting of laminae.
2. Physics (of fluid flow) taking place along unchanging lines, without turbulence.

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laminate

verb
1. overlay (a flat surface) with a layer of protective material.
2. manufacture by placing layer on layer.
3. split into layers or leaves.
4. beat or roll (metal) into thin plates.

noun
a laminated structure or material.

adjective
in the form of a lamina or laminae.

DERIVATIVES:
lamination noun
laminator noun.

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Lammas (also Lammas Day)

noun
the first day of August, formerly observed as harvest festival.

ORIGIN: Old English, 'loaf mass' .

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lammergeier (also lammergeyer)

noun
a long-winged, long-tailed vulture, noted for dropping bones to break them and get at the marrow.

ORIGIN: German, from Lämmer 'lambs' + Geier 'vulture' .

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lamp

noun
1. an electric, oil, or gas device for giving light.
2. an electrical device producing ultraviolet or other radiation, especially for therapeutic purposes.

ORIGIN: Greek lampas 'torch' .

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lampblack

noun
a black pigment made from soot.

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lampoon

verb
publicly satirize or ridicule.

noun
a satirical attack.

ORIGIN: French lampon, said to be from lampons 'let us drink' .

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lamprey

noun (pl. lampreys)
an eel-like jawless fish that has a sucker mouth with horny teeth and a rasping tongue.

ORIGIN: Latin lampreda, probably from lambere 'to lick' + petra 'stone' (because the lamprey attaches itself to stones by its mouth).

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LAN

abbreviation
local area network.

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Lancastrian

noun
1. a person from Lancashire or Lancaster.
2. a follower of the House of Lancaster in the Wars of the Roses.

adjective
relating to Lancashire or Lancaster, or the House of Lancaster.

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lance

noun
1. a long weapon with a wooden shaft and a pointed steel head, formerly used by a horseman in charging.
2. a metal pipe supplying a jet of oxygen to a furnace or to make a very hot flame for cutting.

verb
1. Medicine prick or cut open with a lancet or other sharp instrument.
2. pierce with or as if with a lance.

ORIGIN: Latin lancea.

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lance corporal

noun
a rank of non-commissioned officer in the British army, above private and below corporal.

ORIGIN: on the analogy of obsolete lancepesade, the lowest grade of non-commissioned officer, from Italian lancia spezzata 'broken lance' .

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lanceolate

adjective technical
of a narrow oval shape tapering to a point at each end.

ORIGIN: Latin lanceolatus, from lanceola 'a small lance' .

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lancer

noun
1. a soldier of a cavalry regiment armed or formerly armed with lances.
2. (lancers) (treated as sing. ) a quadrille for eight or sixteen pairs.

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lancet

noun
a small, broad two-edged surgical knife with a sharp point.

ORIGIN: Old French lancette 'small lance' .

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Lancs.

abbreviation
Lancashire.

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Land

noun (pl. Länder)
a province of Germany or Austria.

ORIGIN: German, 'land' .

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land

noun
1. the part of the earth's surface that is not covered by water.
2. an area of ground in terms of its ownership or use.
3. (the land) ground or soil as a basis for agriculture.
4. a country or state.

verb
1. put or go ashore.
2. come or bring down to the ground.
3. bring (a fish) to land with a net or rod.
4. informal succeed in obtaining or achieving (something desirable).
5. (land up) reach a place or destination.
6. (land up with) end up with (an unwelcome situation).
7. (land in) informal put in (a difficult situation).
8. (land with) inflict (something unwelcome) on.
9. informal inflict (a blow) on someone.

IDIOMS -
how the land lies what the state of affairs is.
in the land of the living humorous alive or awake.
the land of Nod humorous a state of sleep. [ORIGIN: punningly, with biblical allusion to the place name Nod (Book of Genesis, chapter 4).]

DERIVATIVES:
landless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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land agent

noun Brit.
1. a person employed to manage an estate on behalf of its owners.
2. a person who deals with the sale of land.

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landau

noun
a four-wheeled enclosed horse-drawn carriage with adjustable covers.

ORIGIN: named after Landau in Germany, where it was first made.

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landed

adjective
1. owning much land, especially through inheritance.
2. consisting of or relating to such land.

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landfall

noun
1. an arrival at land on a sea or air journey.
2. a collapse of a mass of land.

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landfill

noun
1. the disposal of waste material by burying it.
2. waste material used in this way.

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landform

noun
a natural feature of the earth's surface.

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landholder

noun
a landowner.

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landing

noun
1. the action or an instance of coming to or bringing something to land.
2. a place where people and goods can be landed from a boat.
3. a level area at the top of a staircase or between flights of stairs.

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landing craft

noun
a boat specially designed for putting troops and military equipment ashore on a beach.

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landing gear

noun
the undercarriage of an aircraft.

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landing stage

noun
a platform on to which passengers or cargo can be landed from a boat.

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landlady

noun
1. a woman who leases land or property.
2. a woman who keeps lodgings, a boarding house, or (Brit. ) a public house.

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landline

noun
a conventional telecommunications connection by cable laid across land.

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landlocked

adjective
almost or entirely surrounded by land.

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landlord

noun
1. a man (in legal use also a woman) who leases land or property.
2. a man who keeps lodgings, a boarding house, or (Brit. ) a public house.

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landlubber

noun informal
a person unfamiliar with the sea or sailing.

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landmark

noun
1. an object or feature of a landscape or town that is easily seen and recognized from a distance.
2. an event, discovery, or change marking an important stage or turning point.

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land mass

noun
a continent or other large body of land.

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landmine

noun
an explosive mine laid on or just under the surface of the ground.

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landowner

noun
a person who owns land.

DERIVATIVES:
landownership noun
landowning adjective & noun.

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landscape

noun
1. all the visible features of an area of land.
2. a picture representing an area of countryside.
3. the distinctive features of a sphere of intellectual activity: the political landscape.
4. (before another noun ) (of a format of printed matter) wider than it is high. Compare with PORTRAIT.

verb
improve the appearance of (a piece of land) by changing its contours, planting trees and shrubs, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
landscaper noun
landscapist noun.

ORIGIN: Dutch lantscap, from land 'land' + scap (equivalent of -SHIP).

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landscape gardening

noun
the art and practice of laying out grounds in a way which is ornamental or which imitates natural scenery.

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landslide

noun
1. (chiefly Brit. also landslip) the sliding down of a mass of earth or rock from a mountain or cliff.
2. an overwhelming majority of votes for one party in an election.

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landward

adverb (also landwards)
towards land.

adjective
facing towards land as opposed to sea.

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lane

noun
1. a narrow road, especially in a rural area.
2. a division of a road intended to separate single lines of traffic according to speed or direction.
3. each of a number of parallel strips of track or water for competitors in a race.
4. a path or course prescribed for or regularly followed by ships or aircraft.

IDIOMS -
it's a long lane that has no turning proverb change is inevitable.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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language

noun
1. the method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way.
2. the system of communication used by a particular community or country.
3. the phraseology and vocabulary of a particular group: legal language.
4. the manner or style of a piece of writing or speech.
5. Computing a system of symbols and rules for writing programs or algorithms.

IDIOMS -
speak the same language understand one another as a result of shared opinions or values.

ORIGIN: Old French langage, from Latin lingua 'tongue' .

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language laboratory

noun
a room equipped with audio and visual equipment for learning a foreign language.

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languid

adjective
1. disinclined to exert oneself physically.
2. weak or faint from illness or fatigue.

DERIVATIVES:
languidly adverb.

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languish

verb
1. grow weak or feeble.
2. be kept in an unpleasant place or situation: he was languishing in jail.
3. archaic pine with love or grief.

ORIGIN: Old French languir, from Latin languere.

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languor

noun
1. tiredness or inactivity, especially when pleasurable.
2. an oppressive stillness of the air.

DERIVATIVES:
languorous adjective
languorously adverb.

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lank

adjective
1. (of hair) long, limp, and straight.
2. lanky.

ORIGIN: Old English, «thin».

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lanky

adjective (lankier, lankiest)
awkwardly thin and tall.

DERIVATIVES:
lankily adverb
lankiness noun.

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lanolin

noun
a fatty substance found naturally on sheep's wool and used as a base for ointments.

ORIGIN: from Latin lana 'wool' + oleum 'oil' .

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lantern

noun
1. a lamp with a transparent case protecting the flame or electric bulb.
2. the light chamber at the top of a lighthouse.
3. a square, curved, or polygonal structure on the top of a dome or a room, with glazed or open sides.

ORIGIN: Latin lanterna, from Greek lamptr 'lamp' .

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lantern jawed

adjective
having long, thin jaws, giving a drawn look to the face.

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lanthanide

noun
any of the series of fifteen rare-earth elements from lanthanum to lutetium in the periodic table.

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lanyard (also laniard)

noun
1. a rope used to secure or raise and lower something such as a ship's sails.
2. a cord passed round the neck, shoulder, or wrist for holding a whistle or similar object.

ORIGIN: Old French laniere, altered by association with YARD.

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lap [1]

noun
the flat area between the waist and knees of a seated person.

IDIOMS -
fall (or drop) into someone's lap be acquired by or happen to someone without any effort.
in someone's lap as someone's responsibility.
in the lap of the gods open to chance.
in the lap of luxury in conditions of great comfort and wealth.

DERIVATIVES:
lapful noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «fold, flap», later denoting the front of a skirt when held up to carry something.

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lap [2]

noun
1. one circuit of a track or racetrack.
2. a part of a journey or other endeavour: the last lap.
3. an overlapping or projecting part.
4. a single turn of rope, thread, or cable round a drum or reel.

verb (lapped, lapping)
1. overtake (a competitor in a race) to become one or more laps ahead.
2. (lap in) literary enfold (someone or something) protectively in.
3. project beyond or overlap something.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «to fold or wrap»: from LAP.

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lap [3]

verb (lapped, lapping)
1. (of an animal) take up (liquid) with the tongue.
2. (lap up) accept with obvious pleasure.
3. (of water) wash against with a gentle rippling sound.

noun
the action of water lapping.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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lap dancing

noun
erotic dancing in which the dancer performs a striptease near to or on the lap of a paying customer.

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lapdog

noun
1. a small pampered pet dog.
2. a person who is completely under the influence of another.

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lapel

noun
the part on each side of a coat or jacket immediately below the collar which is folded back against the front opening.

ORIGIN: diminutive of LAP.

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lapidary

adjective
1. relating to the engraving, cutting, or polishing of stones and gems.
2. (of language) elegant and concise.

noun (pl. lapidaries)
a person who cuts, polishes, or engraves stones and gems.

ORIGIN: Latin lapidarius, from lapis 'stone' .

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lapis lazuli (also lapis)

noun
1. a bright blue metamorphic rock used in jewellery.
2. ultramarine, originally made by crushing this rock.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'stone of lapis lazuli' , from Persian; related to AZURE.

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lap of honour

noun Brit.
a celebratory circuit of a sports field, track, etc. by the victorious person or team.

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Lapp

noun
1. a member of an indigenous people of the extreme north of Scandinavia.
2. the language of this people.
USAGE - Although the term Lapp is still widely used and is the most familiar term to many people, the people themselves prefer to be called Sami.
ORIGIN: Swedish, perhaps originally a term of contempt and related to High German lappe 'simpleton' .

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lappet

noun
1. a fold or hanging piece of flesh in some animals.
2. a loose or overlapping part of a garment.

ORIGIN: diminutive of LAP.

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lapse

noun
1. a brief failure of concentration, memory, or judgement.
2. a decline from previously high standards.
3. an interval of time.
4. Law the termination of a right or privilege through disuse or failure to follow appropriate procedures.

verb
1. (of a right, privilege, or agreement) become invalid because it is not used, claimed, or renewed.
2. cease to follow the rules and practices of a religion or doctrine.
3. (lapse into) pass gradually into (a different, often worse, state or condition).

ORIGIN: Latin lapsus, from labi 'to slip or fall' .

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laptop

noun
a portable microcomputer suitable for use while travelling.

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lapwing

noun
a large crested plover with a dark green back, black-and-white head and underparts, and a loud call.

ORIGIN: Old English, from words meaning «to leap» and «move from side to side» (because of the way it flies).

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larceny

noun (pl. larcenies)
theft of personal property (in English law replaced as a statutory crime by theft in 1968).

DERIVATIVES:
larcenist noun
larcenous adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French larcin, from Latin latro 'robber' .

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larch

noun
a northern coniferous tree with bunches of deciduous bright green needles and tough wood.

ORIGIN: High German larche, from Latin larix.

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lard

noun
fat from the abdomen of a pig, rendered and clarified for use in cooking.

verb
1. insert strips of fat or bacon in (meat) before cooking.
2. (usu. be larded with) embellish (talk or writing) excessively with esoteric or technical expressions.

DERIVATIVES:
lardy adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin lardum.

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larder

noun
a room or large cupboard for storing food.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a store of meat: from Latin lardarium, from lardum 'lard' .

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large

adjective
1. of considerable or relatively great size, extent, or capacity.
2. pursuing an occupation or activity on a significant scale.
3. of wide range or scope.

verb (large it) Brit. informal
go out and have a good time.

IDIOMS -
at large
1. escaped or not yet captured.
2. as a whole.

DERIVATIVES:
largeness noun
largish adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin larga 'copious' .

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large intestine

noun Anatomy
the caecum, colon, and rectum collectively.

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largely

adverb
on the whole; mostly.

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large-scale

adjective
extensive.

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largesse (also largess)

noun
1. generosity.
2. money or gifts given generously.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin largus 'copious' .

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largo

adverb & adjective Music
in a slow tempo and dignified in style.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin largus 'copious' .

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lariat

noun
a rope used as a lasso or for tethering.

ORIGIN: from Spanish la reata, from la 'the' and reatar 'tie again' .

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lark [1]

noun
a songbird with brown streaky plumage and a song that is delivered on the wing.

IDIOMS -
be up with the lark get out of bed very early in the morning.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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lark [2] informal

noun
1. an amusing adventure or escapade.
2. Brit. an activity regarded as foolish or a waste of time: he's serious about this music lark.

verb
behave in a playful and mischievous way.

DERIVATIVES:
larky adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from dialect lake «play», but compare with SKYLARK in the same sense, which is recorded earlier.

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larkspur

noun
a Mediterranean plant resembling a delphinium, with spikes of spurred flowers.

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larva

noun (pl. larvae)
an active immature form of an insect or other animal that undergoes metamorphosis, e.g. a caterpillar or tadpole.

DERIVATIVES:
larval adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a disembodied spirit: from Latin, 'ghost, mask' .

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laryngitis

noun
inflammation of the larynx.

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larynx

noun (pl. larynges)
the hollow muscular organ forming an air passage to the lungs and containing the vocal cords.

ORIGIN: Greek larunx.

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lasagne

noun
1. pasta in the form of sheets or wide strips.
2. an Italian dish consisting of this baked with meat or vegetables and a cheese sauce.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin lasanum 'chamber pot' .

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lascivious

adjective
feeling or showing an overt or offensive sexual desire.

DERIVATIVES:
lasciviously adverb
lasciviousness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin lascivia 'lustfulness' .

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laser

noun
a device that generates an intense narrow beam of light by stimulating the emission of photons from excited atoms or molecules.

ORIGIN: acronym from light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.

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laserdisc

noun
a disc resembling a large compact disc, used for high-quality video and for interactive multimedia.

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laser printer

noun
a computer printer in which a laser is used to form a pattern of electrically charged dots on a light-sensitive drum, which attracts toner.

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lash

verb
1. beat with a whip or stick.
2. beat forcefully against.
3. (lash out) launch a verbal or physical attack.
4. (of an animal) move (a part of the body, especially the tail) quickly and violently.
5. fasten securely with a cord or rope.
6. (lash out) Brit. spend money extravagantly.

noun
1. a sharp blow or stroke with a whip or stick.
2. the flexible leather part of a whip.
3. an eyelash.

DERIVATIVES:
lasher noun
lashless adjective.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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lashings

plural noun Brit. informal
a copious amount of something, especially food or drink.

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lass (also lassie)

noun chiefly Scottish & N. English
a girl or young woman.

ORIGIN: from Old Norse, 'unmarried' .

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Lassa fever

noun
an acute and often fatal disease transmitted by a virus and occurring chiefly in West Africa.

ORIGIN: named after the village of Lassa in Nigeria, where it was first reported.

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lassitude

noun
physical or mental weariness; lack of energy.

ORIGIN: Latin lassitudo, from lassus 'tired' .

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lasso

noun (pl. lassos or lassoes)
a rope with a noose at one end, used especially in North America for catching cattle.

verb (lassoes, lassoed)
catch with a lasso.

DERIVATIVES:
lassoer noun.

ORIGIN: Spanish lazo, from Latin laqueus 'noose' .

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last [1]

adjective
1. coming after all others in time or order.
2. most recent in time.
3. immediately preceding in order.
4. lowest in importance or rank.
5. (the last) the least likely or suitable.
6. only remaining.

adverb
1. on the last occasion before the present.
2. (in combination ) after all others in order: the last-named film.
3. (in enumerating points) lastly.

noun (pl. same)
1. the last person or thing.
2. (the last of) the only remaining part of.
3. (the last) the end or last moment, especially death.

IDIOMS -
at last (or at long last) in the end; after much delay.
last thing late in the evening, especially just before going to bed.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LATE.

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last [2]

verb
1. continue for a specified period of time.
2. remain operating or usable for a considerable or specified length of time.
3. (of provisions or resources) be sufficient for (someone) for a specified length of time.
4. (often last out) manage to survive or endure.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LAST.

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last [3]

noun
a shoemaker's model for shaping or repairing a shoe or boot.

ORIGIN: Old English, from a base meaning 'follow' .

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last-ditch

adjective
denoting a final desperate attempt to achieve something.

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last-gasp

adjective informal
at the last possible moment.

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lasting

adjective
enduring or able to endure for a long time.

DERIVATIVES:
lastingly adverb
lastingness noun.

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Last Judgement

noun
the judgement of humankind expected in some religious traditions to take place at the end of the world.

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lastly

adverb
in the last place; last.

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last minute (also last moment)

noun
the latest possible time before an event.

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last name

noun
one's surname.

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last post

noun
(in the British armed forces) the second of two bugle calls giving notice of the hour of retiring at night, played also at military funerals and acts of remembrance.

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last rites

plural noun
(in the Christian Church) rites administered to a person who is about to die.

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Last Supper

noun
the supper eaten by Jesus and his disciples on the night before the Crucifixion.

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last word

noun
1. a final or definitive pronouncement.
2. the most modern or advanced example of something: the last word in luxury.

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lat.

abbreviation
latitude.

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latch

noun
1. a bar with a catch and lever used for fastening a door or gate.
2. a spring lock for an outer door, which catches when the door is closed and can only be opened from the outside with a key.

verb
1. fasten with a latch.
2. (latch on) understand.
3. (latch on to) associate oneself enthusiastically with.

IDIOMS -
on the latch (of a door or gate) closed but not locked.

ORIGIN: from Old English, «take hold of, grasp».

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latchkey

noun (pl. latchkeys)
a key of an outer door of a house.

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late

adjective
1. acting, arriving, or happening after the proper or usual time.
2. belonging or taking place far on in a particular time or period.
3. far on in the day or night.
4. (the/one's late) (of a person) no longer alive.
5. (the/one's late) no longer having the specified status; former.
6. (latest) of most recent date or origin.

adverb
1. after the proper or usual time.
2. towards the end of a period.
3. far on in the day or night.
4. (later) at a time in the near future; afterwards.
5. (late of) formerly but not now living or working in (a place).

noun (the latest)
the most recent news or fashion.

IDIOMS -
at the latest no later than the time specified.
of late recently.

DERIVATIVES:
lateness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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latecomer

noun
a person who arrives late.

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lateen sail

noun
a triangular sail on a long yard at an angle of 45° to the mast.

ORIGIN: from French voile Latine 'Latin sail' , so named because it was common in the Mediterranean.

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lately

adverb
recently; not long ago.

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latent

adjective
existing but not yet developed, manifest, or active.

DERIVATIVES:
latency noun
latently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin latere 'be hidden' .

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lateral

adjective
of, at, towards, or from the side or sides.

noun
a lateral part, especially a shoot or branch growing out from the side of a stem.

DERIVATIVES:
laterally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin lateralis, from latus 'side' .

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lateral thinking

noun chiefly Brit.
the solving of problems by an indirect and creative approach.

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latex

noun (pl. latexes or latices)
1. a milky fluid found in many plants, notably the rubber tree, which coagulates on exposure to the air.
2. a synthetic product resembling this, used to make paints, coatings, etc.

ORIGIN: originally denoting various bodily fluids: from Latin, 'liquid, fluid' .

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lath

noun (pl. laths)
a thin, flat strip of wood, especially one of a series forming a foundation for the plaster of a wall.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LATTICE.

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lathe

noun
a machine for shaping wood or metal by means of a rotating drive which turns the piece being worked on against changeable cutting tools.

ORIGIN: probably from Old Danish lad 'structure, frame' .

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lather

noun
1. a frothy white mass of bubbles produced by soap when mixed with water.
2. heavy sweat visible on a horse's coat as a white foam.
3. (a lather) informal a state of agitation or nervous excitement.

verb
1. form or cause to form a lather.
2. rub with soap until a lather is produced.
3. cover or spread liberally with (a substance).
4. informal thrash.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Latin

noun
1. the language of ancient Rome and its empire.
2. a person from a country whose language developed from Latin, e.g. a Latin American.

adjective
1. relating to the Latin language.
2. relating to countries using languages that developed from Latin, especially Latin America.
3. relating to the Western or Roman Catholic Church.

DERIVATIVES:
Latinism noun
Latinist noun
Latinity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin Latinus 'of Latium' (an ancient region in central Italy).

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Latin American

adjective
relating to the parts of the American continent where Spanish or Portuguese is the main national language.

noun
a person from this region.

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Latinate

adjective
(of language) having the character of Latin.

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Latino

noun (pl. Latinos; fem. Latina, pl. Latinas) N. Amer.
a Latin American inhabitant of the United States.

ORIGIN: Latin American Spanish.

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latitude

noun
1. the angular distance of a place north or south of the equator.
2. (latitudes) regions with reference to their temperature and distance from the equator: northern latitudes.
3. scope for freedom of action or thought.

DERIVATIVES:
latitudinal adjective
latitudinally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin latitudo 'breadth' .

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latrine

noun
a toilet, especially a communal one in a camp or barracks.

ORIGIN: Latin latrina, from lavare 'to wash' .

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latte

noun
a drink of frothy steamed milk to which a shot of espresso coffee is added.

ORIGIN: Italian, short for caffè latte 'milk coffee' .

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latter

adjective
1. nearer to the end than to the beginning.
2. recent: in latter years.
3. (the latter) denoting the second or second-mentioned of two people or things.

ORIGIN: Old English, «slower»; related to LATE.

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latter-day

adjective
modern or contemporary, especially when resembling some person or thing of the past: a latter-day Noah.

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Latter-Day Saints

plural noun
the Mormons' name for themselves.

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latterly

adverb
1. recently.
2. in the later stages of a period of time.

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lattice

noun
1. a structure or pattern consisting of strips crossing each other with square or diamond-shaped spaces left between.
2. a regular repeated three-dimensional arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules in a metal or other crystalline solid.

DERIVATIVES:
latticed adjective
latticework noun.

ORIGIN: Old French lattis, from latte 'lath' .

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laud

verb formal
praise highly.

DERIVATIVES:
laudation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin laudare, from laus 'praise' .

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laudable

adjective
deserving praise and commendation.

DERIVATIVES:
laudably adverb.

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laudanum

noun
a solution prepared from opium and formerly used as a narcotic painkiller.

ORIGIN: Latin, perhaps a variant of ladanum 'ladanum' (a gum resin obtained from a rock rose).

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laudatory

adjective
expressing praise and commendation.

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laugh

verb
1. make the sounds and movements that express lively amusement and sometimes also derision.
2. (laugh at) make fun of; ridicule.
3. (laugh off) dismiss by (something) treating it light-heartedly.
4. (be laughing) informal be in a fortunate or successful position.

noun
1. an act of laughing.
2. (a laugh) informal a cause of laughter.

IDIOMS -
have the last laugh be finally vindicated.
he who laughs last laughs longest proverb don't rejoice too soon, in case your delight at your own good fortune is premature.
laugh on the other side of one's face be discomfited after feeling confident or triumphant.
laugh out of court dismiss with contempt as being obviously ridiculous.
laugh up one's sleeve be secretly or inwardly amused.

DERIVATIVES:
laugher noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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laughable

adjective
so ludicrous as to be amusing.

DERIVATIVES:
laughably adverb.

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laughing stock

noun
a person subjected to general ridicule.

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laughter

noun
the action or sound of laughing.

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launch [1]

verb
1. move (a boat or ship) from land into the water.
2. send out or hurl (a rocket or other missile).
3. begin (an enterprise) or introduce (a new product).
4. (launch into) begin energetically and enthusiastically.

noun
an act or instance of launching.

ORIGIN: Old French launcher, variant of lancier 'to lance' .

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launch [2]

noun
1. a large motor boat.
2. historical the largest boat carried on a man-of-war.

ORIGIN: Spanish lancha 'pinnace' , perhaps from a Malay word meaning 'swift' .

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launcher

noun
a structure that holds a rocket or missile during launching.

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launder

verb
1. wash and iron (clothes or linen).
2. informal pass (illegally obtained money) through legitimate businesses or foreign banks to conceal its origins.

DERIVATIVES:
launderer noun.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a person who washes linen: from Latin lavanda 'things to be washed' , from lavare 'to wash' .

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launderette (also laundrette)

noun
an establishment with coin-operated washing machines and dryers for public use.

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laundress

noun
a woman employed to launder clothes and linen.

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laundromat

noun chiefly N. Amer. (trademark in the US)
a launderette.

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laundry

noun (pl. laundries)
1. clothes and linen that need to be washed or that have been newly washed.
2. a room or building where clothes and linen are washed and ironed.

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laureate

noun
1. a person given an award for outstanding creative or intellectual achievement.
2. a poet laureate.

adjective literary
wreathed with laurel as a mark of honour.

DERIVATIVES:
laureateship noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin laurea 'laurel wreath' .

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laurel

noun
1. an aromatic evergreen shrub or small tree with dark green glossy leaves.
2. historical a bay tree.
3. (laurels) a crown woven from bay leaves and awarded as an emblem of victory or mark of honour in classical times.
4. (laurels) honour or praise.

IDIOMS -
look to one's laurels be careful not to lose one's superior position to a rival.
rest on one's laurels be so satisfied with what one has already achieved that one makes no further effort.

ORIGIN: Latin laurus.

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lava

noun
hot molten or semi-fluid rock erupted from a volcano or fissure, or solid rock resulting from cooling of this.

ORIGIN: Italian (originally denoting a stream caused by sudden rain), from Latin lavare 'to wash' .

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lava lamp

noun
a transparent electric lamp containing a viscous liquid in which a suspended waxy substance rises and falls in constantly changing shapes.

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lavatorial

adjective
1. relating to or resembling lavatories.
2. (of conversation or humour) characterized by undue reference to lavatories and excretion.

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lavatory

noun (pl. lavatories)
a toilet.

ORIGIN: Latin lavatorium 'place for washing' , from lavare 'to wash' .

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lavender

noun
1. a small aromatic evergreen shrub of the mint family, with narrow leaves and bluish-purple flowers.
2. a pale blue colour with a trace of mauve.

ORIGIN: Latin lavandula.

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lavender water

noun
a perfume made from distilled lavender.

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laver (also purple laver)

noun
an edible seaweed with thin reddish-purple and green sheet-like fronds.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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lavish

adjective
1. sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious.
2. giving or given in profusion.

verb (usu. lavish on)
give or spend in abundant or extravagant quantities.

DERIVATIVES:
lavishly adverb
lavishness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «profusion»: from Old French lavasse 'deluge of rain' , from Latin lavare 'to wash' .

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law

noun
1. a rule or system of rules recognized by a country or community as regulating the actions of its members and enforced by the imposition of penalties.
2. such rules as a subject of study or as the basis of the legal profession.
3. statute law and the common law.
4. a statement of fact to the effect that a particular natural or scientific phenomenon always occurs if certain conditions are present.
5. a rule defining correct procedure or behaviour in a sport.
6. something having binding force or effect: his word was law.
7. (the law) informal the police.

IDIOMS -
be a law unto oneself behave in an unconventional or unpredictable manner.
lay down the law issue instructions in an authoritative or dogmatic way.
take the law into one's own hands illegally or violently punish someone according to one's own ideas of justice.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'something laid down or fixed' ; related to LAY.

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law-abiding

adjective
obedient to the laws of society.

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lawbreaker

noun
a person who breaks the law.

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law court

noun
a court of law.

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lawful

adjective
conforming to, permitted by, or recognized by law or rules.

DERIVATIVES:
lawfully adverb
lawfulness noun.

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lawless

adjective
not governed by or obedient to laws.

DERIVATIVES:
lawlessly adverb
lawlessness noun.

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law lord

noun
(in the UK) a member of the House of Lords qualified to perform its legal work.

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lawmaker

noun
a legislator.

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lawman

noun
(in the US) a law-enforcement officer, especially a sheriff.

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lawn [1]

noun
an area of mown grass in a garden or park.

DERIVATIVES:
lawned adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French launde 'wooded district, heath' .

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lawn [2]

noun
a fine linen or cotton fabric.

ORIGIN: probably from Laon, a French city important for linen manufacture.

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lawnmower

noun
a machine for cutting the grass on a lawn.

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lawn tennis

noun dated or formal
tennis.

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law of averages

noun
the supposed principle that future events are likely to turn out so that they balance any past deviation from a presumed average.

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lawsuit

noun
a claim or dispute brought to a law court for adjudication.

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lawyer

noun
a person who practises or studies law, especially (in the UK) a solicitor or a barrister or (in the US) an attorney.

DERIVATIVES:
lawyering noun
lawyerly adjective.

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lax

adjective
1. not sufficiently strict, severe, or careful.
2. (of limbs or muscles) relaxed.

DERIVATIVES:
laxity noun
laxly adverb
laxness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin laxus 'loose, lax' .

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laxative

adjective
tending to stimulate or facilitate evacuation of the bowels.

noun
a laxative drug or medicine.

ORIGIN: from Latin laxare 'loosen' .

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lay [1]

verb (past and past part. laid)
1. put down, especially gently or carefully.
2. put down and set in position for use.
3. assign or place: lay the blame.
4. (lay before) present (material) for consideration and action to.
5. (of a female bird, reptile, etc.) produce (an egg) from inside the body.
6. stake (an amount of money) in a wager.
7. cause (a ghost) to stop appearing; exorcize.
8. vulgar slang have sexual intercourse with.

noun
1. the general appearance of an area of land.
2. the position or direction in which something lies.
3. vulgar slang a sexual partner or act of sexual intercourse.

IDIOMS -
lay about one strike out wildly.
lay claim to assert one's right to or possession of.
lay down
1. formulate and enact (a rule or principle).
2. build up a deposit of (a substance).
3. store (wine) in a cellar.
4. pay or wager (money).
lay in/up build up (a stock) in case of need.
lay into informal attack violently.
lay off
1. discharge (a worker) temporarily or permanently because of a shortage of work.
2. informal give up.
lay on chiefly Brit. provide (a service or amenity).
lay something on thick (or with a trowel) informal grossly exaggerate or overemphasize something.
lay open to expose (someone) to the risk of.
lay out
1. construct or arrange (buildings or gardens) according to a plan.
2. arrange and present (material) for printing and publication.
3. prepare (someone) for burial after death.
4. informal spend (a sum of money).
lay to rest
1. bury (a body) in a grave.
2. soothe and dispel (fear, anxiety, etc.).
lay up
1. put out of action through illness or injury.
2. see lay in.
3. take (a ship or other vehicle) out of service.

USAGE - The words lay and lie are often used incorrectly. You lay something, as in they are going to lay the carpet, but you lie down on a bed or other flat surface. The past tense and past participle of lay is laid, as in they laid the groundwork or she had laid careful plans; the past tense of lie is lay (he lay on the floor) and the past participle is lain (she had lain on the bed for hours).
ORIGIN: Old English, related to LIE.

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lay [2]

adjective
1. not ordained into or belonging to the clergy.
2. not having professional qualifications or expert knowledge.

ORIGIN: Latin laicus, from Greek laos 'people' .

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lay [3]

noun
1. a short lyric or narrative poem intended to be sung.
2. literary a song.

ORIGIN: Old French lai.

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layabout

noun derogatory
a person who habitually does little or no work.

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lay-by

noun (pl. lay-bys)
1. Brit. an area at the side of a road where vehicles may pull off the road and stop.
2. Austral./NZ & S. African a system of paying a deposit to secure an article for later purchase.

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layer

noun
1. a sheet or thickness of material, typically one of several, covering a surface.
2. (in combination ) a person or thing that lays something: a cable-layer.
3. a shoot fastened down to take root while attached to the parent plant.

verb (often as adj. layered)
1. arrange or cut in a layer or layers.
2. propagate (a plant) as a layer.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a mason: from LAY.

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layman (or layperson)

noun
1. a non-ordained member of a Church.
2. a person without professional or specialized knowledge.

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lay-off

noun
1. a temporary or permanent discharge of a worker or workers.
2. a temporary break from an activity.

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layout

noun
1. the way in which something, especially a page, is laid out.
2. a thing set out in a particular way.

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lay reader

noun
(in the Anglican Church) a layperson licensed to preach and to conduct some services but not to celebrate the Eucharist.

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laze

verb
spend time relaxing or doing very little.

noun
a spell of lazing.

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lazy

adjective (lazier, laziest)
1. unwilling to work or use energy.
2. showing or characterized by a lack of effort or care.

DERIVATIVES:
lazily adverb
laziness noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Low German lasich 'languid, idle' .

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lazybones

noun (pl. same) informal
a lazy person.

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lazy eye

noun
an eye with poor vision due to underuse, especially the unused eye in a squint.

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lb

abbreviation
pound(s) (in weight).

ORIGIN: from Latin libra.

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lbw

abbreviation Cricket
leg before wicket.

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LCD

abbreviation
1. Electronics & Computing liquid crystal display.
2. Mathematics lowest (or least) common denominator.

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LCM

abbreviation Mathematics
lowest (or least) common multiple.

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LEA

abbreviation
(in the UK) Local Education Authority.

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lea

noun literary
an open area of grassy or arable land.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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leach

verb
remove (a soluble substance) from soil or other material by the action of rainwater or another liquid passing through it.

ORIGIN: Old English, «to water».

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lead [1]

verb (past and past part. led)
1. cause (a person or animal) to go with one, especially by drawing them along or by preceding them to a destination.
2. be a route or means of access: the street led into the square.
3. (lead to) result in.
4. influence to do or believe something: that may lead them to reconsider.
5. be in charge of.
6. have the advantage in a race or game.
7. be superior to (a competitor).
8. have or experience (a particular way of life).
9. (often lead (off) with) begin with a particular action or item.
10. (lead up to) precede or result in.
11. (lead on) deceive (someone) into believing that one is attracted to them.
12. (in card games) play (the first card) in a trick or round of play.

noun
1. the initiative in an action: others followed our lead.
2. (the lead) a position of advantage in a contest; first place.
3. an amount by which a competitor is ahead of the others: a one-goal lead.
4. the chief part in a play or film.
5. (before another noun ) playing the chief part in a musical group: the lead singer.
6. (before another noun ) denoting the principal item in a report or text: the lead article.
7. a clue to be followed in the resolution of a problem.
8. Brit. a strap or cord for restraining and guiding a dog.
9. a wire conveying electric current from a source to an appliance, or connecting two points of a circuit together.
10. (in card games) an act or the right of playing first in a trick or round of play.

IDIOMS -
lead astray cause to act or think foolishly or wrongly.
lead up the garden path informal give misleading clues or signals to.
lead with one's chin informal
1. (of a boxer) leave one's chin unprotected.
2. behave or speak incautiously.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LOAD and LODE.

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lead [2]

noun
1. a heavy bluish-grey soft ductile metallic element.
2. graphite used as the part of a pencil that makes a mark.
3. Printing a blank space between lines of print (originally created by a metal strip).
4. Nautical a lump of lead suspended on a line to determine the depth of water.
5. (leads) Brit. sheets or strips of lead covering a roof.
6. (leads) lead frames holding the glass of a lattice or stained-glass window.

IDIOMS -
go down like a lead balloon (of a speech, proposal, or joke) be poorly received.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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leaded

adjective
1. framed, covered, or weighted with lead.
2. (of petrol) containing tetraethyl lead.

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leaden

adjective
1. dull, heavy, or slow.
2. of the dull grey colour of lead.
3. archaic made of lead.

DERIVATIVES:
leadenly adverb.

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leader

noun
1. a person or thing that leads.
2. a person or thing that is the most successful or advanced in a particular area.
3. the principal player in a music group.
4. Brit. a leading article in a newspaper.
5. (also Leader of the House) Brit. a member of the government officially responsible for initiating business in Parliament.
6. a short strip of non-functioning material at each end of a reel of film or recording tape for connection to the spool.

DERIVATIVES:
leaderless adjective
leadership noun.

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leading

adjective
most important or in first place.

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leading article

noun Brit.
a newspaper article giving the editorial opinion.

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leading light

noun
a person who is prominent or influential in a particular field or organization.

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leading man (or leading lady)

noun
the actor playing the principal part in a play, film, or television show.

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leading question

noun
a question that prompts or encourages the answer wanted.

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lead-up

noun
an event or sequence that leads up to something else.

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leaf

noun (pl. leaves)
1. a flattened, typically green, structure of a plant, that is attached to a stem and is the chief site of photosynthesis and transpiration.
2. the state of having leaves: the trees were in leaf.
3. a single thickness of paper, especially in a book.
4. gold, silver, or other metal in the form of very thin foil.
5. a hinged or detachable part, especially of a table.

verb
1. (of a plant) put out new leaves.
2. (leaf through) turn over (pages or papers), reading them quickly or casually.

IDIOMS -
turn over a new leaf start to act or behave in a better way.

DERIVATIVES:
leafage noun
leafed (also leaved) adjective
leafless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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leaflet

noun
1. a printed sheet of paper containing information or advertising and usually distributed free.
2. a small leaf, especially a component of a compound leaf.

verb (leafleted, leafleting)
distribute leaflets to.

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leafy

adjective (leafier, leafiest)
1. having many leaves.
2. full of trees and shrubs: a leafy avenue.

DERIVATIVES:
leafiness noun.

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league [1]

noun
1. a collection of people, countries, or groups that combine for mutual protection or cooperation.
2. a group of sports clubs which play each other over a period for a championship.
3. a class of quality or excellence: the two men were not in the same league.

verb (leagues, leagued, leaguing)
join in a league or alliance.

IDIOMS -
in league conspiring with another or others.

ORIGIN: Italian lega, from Latin ligare 'to bind' .

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league [2]

noun
a former measure of distance by land, usually about three miles.

ORIGIN: Latin leuga, leuca.

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league table

noun Brit.
1. a list of the competitors in a league ranked according to performance.
2. a list in order of merit or achievement.

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leak

verb
1. accidentally allow contents to escape or enter through a hole or crack.
2. (of liquid, gas, etc.) escape or enter accidentally through a hole or crack.
3. intentionally disclose (secret information).
4. (of secret information) become known.

noun
1. a hole or crack through which contents leak.
2. an instance of leaking.

IDIOMS -
have (or take) a leak informal urinate.

DERIVATIVES:
leakage noun
leaker noun
leaky adjective.

ORIGIN: probably from Low German or Dutch and related to LACK.

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lean [1]

verb (past and past part. leaned or chiefly Brit. leant)
1. be in or move into a sloping position.
2. (lean against/on) incline from the perpendicular and rest against.
3. (lean on) rely on for support.
4. (lean to/towards) incline or be partial to (a view or position).
5. (lean on) informal intimidate into doing something.

noun
a deviation from the perpendicular; an inclination.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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lean [2]

adjective
1. (of a person) having no superfluous fat; thin.
2. (of meat) containing little fat.
3. offering little reward, substance, or nourishment: the lean years.
4. informal (of an industry or company) efficient and with no wastage.
5. (of a vaporized fuel mixture) having a high proportion of air.

noun
the lean part of meat.

DERIVATIVES:
leanly adverb
leanness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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leaning

noun
a tendency or preference: communist leanings.

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lean-to

noun (pl. lean-tos)
a building sharing a wall with a larger building and having a roof that leans against that wall.

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leap

verb (past or past part. leaped or leapt)
1. jump or spring a long way.
2. jump across.
3. move quickly and suddenly.
4. (leap at) accept eagerly.
5. increase dramatically.

noun
1. an instance of leaping.
2. a sudden abrupt change or increase.

IDIOMS -
a leap in the dark a daring step or enterprise with unpredictable consequences.
by (or in) leaps and bounds with startlingly rapid progress.
leap to the eye (or leap out) be immediately apparent.

DERIVATIVES:
leaper noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LOPE.

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leapfrog

noun
a game in which players in turn vault with parted legs over others who are bending down.

verb (leapfrogged, leapfrogging)
1. perform such a vault.
2. progress by overtaking others to move into a leading position.

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leap year

noun
a year, occurring once every four years, which has 366 days including 29 February as an intercalary day.

ORIGIN: probably from the fact that feast days after February in a leap year fell two days later than in the previous year, rather than one day later as in other years, and could be said to have ‘leaped’ a day.

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learn

verb (past and past part. learned or chiefly Brit. learnt)
1. acquire knowledge of or skill in (something) through study or experience or by being taught.
2. become aware of by information or from observation.
3. memorize.
4. archaic or informal teach.

DERIVATIVES:
learnable adjective
learner noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LORE.

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learned

adjective
having or characterized by much knowledge acquired by study.

DERIVATIVES:
learnedly adverb
learnedness noun.

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learning

noun
knowledge or skills acquired through study or by being taught.

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learning curve

noun
the rate of a person's progress in gaining experience or new skills.

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learning difficulties

plural noun
difficulties in acquiring knowledge and skills to the normal level expected of those of the same age, especially because of mental handicap or cognitive disorder.

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lease

noun
a contract by which one party conveys land, property, services, etc. to another for a specified time, in return for payment.

verb
let or rent on lease.

IDIOMS -
a new lease of life a substantially improved prospect of life or use after recovery or repair.

DERIVATIVES:
leasable adjective.

ORIGIN: from Old French lesser, laissier 'let, leave' , from Latin laxus 'loose, lax' .

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leasehold

noun
1. the holding of property by lease.
2. a piece of land or property held by lease.

DERIVATIVES:
leaseholder noun.

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leash

noun
a dog's lead.

verb
put a leash on (a dog).

ORIGIN: from Old French laissier in the specific sense 'let run on a slack lead' (see LEASE).

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least

determiner & pronoun (usu. the least)
smallest in amount, extent, or significance.

adjective
used in names of very small animals and plants: least shrew.

adverb
to the smallest extent or degree.

IDIOMS -
at least
1. not less than.
2. if nothing else.
3. anyway.
at the least (or very least)
1. not less than.
2. taking the most pessimistic or unfavourable view.
least said, soonest mended proverb a difficult situation will be resolved more quickly if there is no more discussion of it.
not in the least not at all.
not least in particular.
to say the least to put it mildly.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LESS.

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leastways (also leastwise)

adverb dialect or informal
at least.

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leather

noun
1. a material made from the skin of an animal by tanning or a similar process.
2. a piece of leather as a polishing cloth.
3. (leathers) leather clothes worn by a motorcyclist.

verb
1. (leathered) cover with leather.
2. informal beat or thrash.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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leatherjacket

noun Brit.
the tough-skinned larva of a large crane fly.

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leathery

adjective
having a tough, hard texture like leather.

DERIVATIVES:
leatheriness noun.

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leave [1]

verb (past and past part. left)
1. go away from.
2. cease living at, attending, or working for: he left home at 16.
3. allow or cause to remain; go away without taking.
4. (be left) remain to be used or dealt with: drink left over from the wedding.
5. cause to be in a particular state or position: leave the door open.
6. let (someone) do something without assistance or interference.
7. (leave to) entrust (a decision, choice, or action) to.
8. deposit (something) to be collected or attended to.
9. have as (a surviving relative) after one's death.
10. bequeath.

IDIOMS -
leave be informal refrain from disturbing or interfering with (someone).
leave go informal remove one's hold or grip.
leave hold of cease holding.
leave much (or a lot) to be desired be highly unsatisfactory.
leave off
1. discontinue or stop.
2. cease to wear.
leave out fail to include.

DERIVATIVES:
leaver noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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leave [2]

noun
1. (also leave of absence) time when one has permission to be absent from work or duty.
2. formal permission: seeking leave to appeal.

IDIOMS -
take one's leave formal say goodbye.
take leave to do formal venture or presume to do.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LIEF and LOVE.

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leaven

noun
1. a substance, typically yeast, added to dough to make it ferment and rise.
2. an influence or quality that modifies or improves something: John's humour was the leaven of his charm.

verb
1. (usu. as adj. leavened) cause (dough or bread) to ferment and rise by adding leaven.
2. modify or improve.

ORIGIN: Latin levamen 'relief' , from levare 'to lift' .

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leave-taking

noun
an act of saying goodbye.

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leavings

plural noun
things that have been left as worthless.

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lech informal, derogatory

noun
1. a lecher.
2. a lecherous urge or desire.

verb
act in a lecherous manner.

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lecher

noun
a lecherous man.

DERIVATIVES:
lechery noun.

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lecherous

adjective
having or showing excessive or offensive sexual desire.

DERIVATIVES:
lecherously adverb
lecherousness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French lecheros, from lechier 'live in debauchery or gluttony' ; related to LICK.

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lectern

noun
a tall stand with a sloping top from which a speaker can read while standing up.

ORIGIN: Latin lectrum, from legere 'to read' .

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lecture

noun
1. an educational talk to an audience, especially one of students in a university.
2. a lengthy reprimand or warning.

verb
1. deliver an educational lecture or lectures.
2. talk seriously or reprovingly to.

ORIGIN: Latin lectura, from legere 'read, choose' .

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lecturer

noun
a person who gives lectures, especially as a teacher in higher education.

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LED

abbreviation
light-emitting diode, a semiconductor diode which glows when a voltage is applied.

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ledge

noun
1. a narrow horizontal surface projecting from a wall, cliff, etc.
2. an underwater ridge, especially one of rocks near the seashore.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a strip of wood or other material fixed across a door or gate: perhaps from an early form of LAY.

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ledger

noun
a book or other collection of financial accounts.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a large bible or breviary: probably from variants of LAY and LIE, influenced by Dutch legger and ligger.

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ledger line (also leger line)

noun Music
a short line added for notes above or below the range of a stave.

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lee

noun
1. shelter from wind or weather given by an object.
2. (also lee side) the sheltered side; the side away from the wind. Contrasted with WEATHER.

ORIGIN: Old English, «shelter».

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leech

noun
1. a parasitic or predatory worm with suckers at both ends, formerly used in medicine for bloodletting.
2. a person who extorts profit from or lives off others.

verb (leech on/off)
habitually exploit or rely on.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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leek

noun
a plant related to the onion, with flat overlapping leaves forming an elongated cylindrical bulb which together with the leaf bases is eaten as a vegetable.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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leer

verb
look or gaze in a lustful or unpleasant way.

noun
a lustful or unpleasant look.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «look sideways or askance»: perhaps from an Old English word meaning «cheek».

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leery

adjective (leerier, leeriest)
cautious or wary.

DERIVATIVES:
leeriness noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete leer «looking askance», from LEER.

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lees

plural noun
the sediment of wine in the barrel; dregs.

ORIGIN: Latin liae.

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leeward

adjective & adverb
on or towards the side sheltered from the wind or towards which the wind is blowing. Contrasted with WINDWARD.

noun
the leeward side.

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leeway

noun
1. the amount of freedom to move or act that is available: we have a lot of leeway in how we do our jobs.
2. the sideways drift of a ship to leeward of the desired course.

IDIOMS -
make up (the) leeway Brit. struggle out of a bad position by recovering lost time.

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left [1]

adjective
1. on, towards, or relating to the side of a human body or of a thing which is to the west when the person or thing is facing north.
2. relating to a left-wing person or group.

adverb
on or to the left side.

noun
1. (the left) the left-hand part, side, or direction.
2. a left turn.
3. a person's left fist, or a blow given with it.
4. (often the Left) (treated as sing. or pl. ) a group or party favouring radical, reforming, or socialist views.

IDIOMS -
have two left feet be clumsy or awkward.
left, right, and centre on all sides.

DERIVATIVES:
leftish adjective
leftmost adjective
leftward adjective & adverb
leftwards adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English, «weak».

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left-field

adjective
unconventional or experimental.

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left hand

noun
1. the hand of a person's left side.
2. the region or direction on the left side.

adjective
1. on or towards the left side.
2. done with or using the left hand.

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left-hand drive

noun
a motor-vehicle steering system with the steering wheel and other controls fitted on the left side, for use in countries where vehicles drive on the right.

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left-handed

adjective
1. using or done with the left hand.
2. turning to the left; towards the left.
3. (of a screw) advanced by turning anticlockwise.
4. ambiguous.

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left-hander

noun
1. a left-handed person.
2. a blow struck with a person's left hand.

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left luggage

noun Brit.
travellers' luggage left in temporary storage at a railway station, bus station, or airport.

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leftover

noun
something, especially food, remaining after the rest has been used.

adjective
remaining; surplus.

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left wing

noun
1. the radical, reforming, or socialist section of a political party or system. [ORIGIN: with reference to the National Assembly in France (1789 91), where the nobles sat to the president's right and the commons to the left.]
2. the left side of a sports team on the field or of an army.

DERIVATIVES:
left-winger noun.

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lefty (also leftie)

noun (pl. lefties) informal
1. a left-wing person.
2. a left-handed person.

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leg

noun
1. each of the limbs on which a person or animal moves and stands.
2. a long, thin support or prop, especially of a chair or table.
3. a section of a journey, process, or race.
4. (in sport) each of two or more games or stages constituting a round or match.
5. (legs) informal sustained momentum or success: some books have legs, others don't.
6. (also leg side) Cricket the half of the field away from which the batsman's feet are pointed when standing to receive the ball. The opposite of OFF.

IDIOMS -
get one's leg over vulgar slang (of a man) have sexual intercourse.
have the legs of Brit. be able to go faster or further than (a rival).
leg before wicket Cricket (of a batsman) adjudged to be out through obstructing the ball with the leg (or other part of the body) when the ball would otherwise have hit the wicket.
leg it informal
1. travel by foot; walk.
2. run away.
not have a leg to stand on have no sound justification for one's arguments or actions.
on one's last legs near the end of life, usefulness, or existence.

DERIVATIVES:
legged adjective
legger noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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legacy

noun (pl. legacies)
1. an amount of money or property left to someone in a will.
2. something handed down by a predecessor.

adjective
(of computer hardware or software) that has been superseded but is difficult to replace because of its wide use.

ORIGIN: originally also denoting the function or office of a legate: from Old French legacie, from Latin legatus 'person delegated' .

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legal

adjective
1. of, based on, or required by the law.
2. permitted by law.

DERIVATIVES:
legally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin legalis, from lex 'law' .

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legal aid

noun
payment from public funds allowed, in cases of need, to help pay for legal advice or proceedings.

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legal eagle (also legal beagle)

noun informal
a lawyer.

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legalese

noun informal
the formal and technical language of legal documents.

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legality

noun (pl. legalities)
1. the quality or state of being legal.
2. (legalities) obligations imposed by law.

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legalize (also legalise)

verb
make legal.

DERIVATIVES:
legalization noun.

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legal tender

noun
coins or banknotes that must be accepted if offered in payment of a debt.

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legate

noun
1. a member of the clergy who represents the Pope.
2. a general or governor of an ancient Roman province, or their deputy.

ORIGIN: Latin legatus, from legare 'depute, delegate, bequeath' .

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legation

noun
1. a diplomatic minister and staff.
2. the official residence of a diplomat.
3. archaic the sending of a papal legate on a mission.

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legato

adverb & adjective Music
in a smooth, flowing manner.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'bound' .

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legend

noun
1. a traditional story popularly regarded as historical but which is not authenticated.
2. an extremely famous or notorious person: a screen legend.
3. an inscription, caption, or key.

adjective
very well known.

ORIGIN: from Latin legenda 'things to be read' , from legere 'read' .

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legendary

adjective
1. of, described in, or based on legends.
2. remarkable enough to be famous.

DERIVATIVES:
legendarily adverb.

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legerdemain

noun
1. skilful use of one's hands when performing conjuring tricks.
2. deception; trickery.

ORIGIN: from French léger de main 'dexterous' (literally 'light of hand' ).

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leggings

plural noun
1. a woman's tight-fitting stretchy garment covering the legs, hips, and bottom.
2. stout protective overgarments for the legs from knee to ankle.

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leggy

adjective (leggier, leggiest)
1. long-legged.
2. (of a plant) having a long and straggly stem or stems.

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legible

adjective
(of handwriting or print) clear enough to read.

DERIVATIVES:
legibility noun
legibly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin legibilis, from legere 'to read' .

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legion

noun
1. a division of 3,000 6,000 men in the ancient Roman army.
2. (a legion/legions of) a vast number of people or things.

adjective
great in number: her fans are legion.

ORIGIN: Latin, from legere 'choose, levy (an army)' .

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legionnaire

noun
1. a member of the Foreign Legion.
2. a member of a national association for former servicemen and servicewomen, such as the Royal British Legion.

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legionnaires' disease

noun
a form of bacterial pneumonia spread chiefly in water droplets through air conditioning and similar systems.

ORIGIN: so named because identified after an outbreak at an American Legion meeting (1976).

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leg iron

noun
a metal band or chain placed around a prisoner's ankle as a restraint.

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legislate

verb
1. make or enact laws.
2. (legislate for/against) make provision for.

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legislation

noun
laws collectively.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'proposing of a law' , from lex 'law' .

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legislative

adjective
1. having the power to make laws.
2. relating to laws or a legislature.

DERIVATIVES:
legislatively adverb.

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legislator

noun
a person who makes laws; a member of a legislative body.

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legislature

noun
the legislative body of a state.

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legitimate

adjective
1. conforming to the law or to rules.
2. able to be defended with logic or justification: a legitimate excuse.
3. (of a child) born of parents lawfully married to each other.
4. (of a sovereign) having a title based on strict hereditary right.

verb
make legitimate.

DERIVATIVES:
legitimacy noun
legitimately adverb
legitimation noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin legitimare 'make legal' .

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legitimize (also legitimatise)

verb
make legitimate.

DERIVATIVES:
legitimization noun.

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legless

adjective
1. having no legs.
2. Brit. informal extremely drunk.

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legroom

noun
space in which a seated person can put their legs.

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legume

noun
1. a leguminous plant grown as a crop.
2. a seed, pod, or other edible part of a leguminous plant, used as food.

ORIGIN: Latin legumen, from legere 'to pick' .

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leguminous

adjective
relating to plants of the pea family, typically having seeds in pods and root nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

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leg warmers

plural noun
a pair of tubular knitted garments covering the legs from ankle to knee or thigh.

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legwork

noun
work that involves tiring or tedious movement from place to place.

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lei

noun
a Polynesian garland of flowers.

ORIGIN: Hawaiian.

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Leics.

abbreviation
Leicestershire.

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leisure

noun
time spent in or free for relaxation or enjoyment.

IDIOMS -
at leisure
1. not occupied; free.
2. in an unhurried manner.
at one's leisure at one's convenience.

DERIVATIVES:
leisured adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French leisir, from Latin licere 'be allowed' .

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leisure centre (or complex)

noun
a public building or complex offering facilities for sport and recreation.

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leisurely

adjective
relaxed and unhurried.

adverb
without hurry.

DERIVATIVES:
leisureliness noun.

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leisurewear

noun
casual clothes worn for leisure activities.

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leitmotif (also leitmotiv)

noun
a recurring theme in a musical or literary composition.

ORIGIN: German Leitmotiv, from leit- 'leading' + Motiv 'motive' .

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lemming

noun
1. a short-tailed Arctic rodent, noted for fluctuating populations and periodic mass migrations.
2. a person who unthinkingly joins a mass movement, especially a headlong rush to destruction.

ORIGIN: Norwegian and Danish.

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lemon

noun
1. a pale yellow oval citrus fruit with thick skin and fragrant, acidic juice.
2. a drink made from or flavoured with lemon juice.
3. a pale yellow colour.
4. informal a feeble or unsatisfactory person or thing.

DERIVATIVES:
lemony adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French limon, from Arabic.

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lemonade

noun
a sweetened drink made from lemon juice or lemon flavouring and still or carbonated water.

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lemon curd

noun
a conserve made from lemons, butter, eggs, and sugar.

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lemon grass

noun
a fragrant tropical grass which yields an oil that smells of lemon, used in Asian cooking and in perfumery and medicine.

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lemon sole

noun
a common flatfish of the plaice family.

ORIGIN: French limande.

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lemur

noun
a tree-dwelling primate with a pointed snout and typically a long tail, found only in Madagascar.

ORIGIN: from Latin lemures 'spirits of the dead' (from the animal's spectre-like face).

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lend

verb (past and past part. lent)
1. grant to (someone) the use of (something) on the understanding that it shall be returned.
2. allow (someone) the use of (a sum of money) under an agreement to pay it back later, typically with interest.
3. contribute or add (a quality) to.
4. (lend oneself to) accommodate or adapt oneself to.
5. (lend itself to) (of a thing) be suitable for.

DERIVATIVES:
lender noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LOAN.

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lending library

noun
a public library from which books may be borrowed for a limited time.

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length

noun
1. the measurement or extent of something from end to end; the greater or greatest of two or more dimensions of a body.
2. the amount of time occupied by something.
3. the quality of being long.
4. the full distance that a thing extends for.
5. the extent of a garment in a vertical direction when worn.
6. the length of a horse, boat, etc., as a measure of the lead in a race.
7. a stretch or piece of something.
8. a degree to which a course of action is taken.

IDIOMS -
at length
1. in detail; fully.
2. after a long time.
the length and breadth of the whole extent of.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LONG.

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lengthen

verb
make or become longer.

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lengthways

adverb
in a direction parallel with a thing's length.

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lengthwise

adverb
lengthways.

adjective
lying or moving lengthways.

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lengthy

adjective (lengthier, lengthiest)
of considerable or unusual duration.

DERIVATIVES:
lengthily adverb.

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lenient

adjective
merciful or tolerant.

DERIVATIVES:
lenience noun
leniency noun
leniently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin lenire 'soothe' , from lenis 'mild, gentle' .

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lens

noun
1. a piece of transparent material with one or both sides curved for concentrating or dispersing light rays.
2. the light-gathering device of a camera, containing a group of compound lenses.
3. Anatomy the transparent elastic structure behind the iris by which light is focused on to the retina of the eye.

DERIVATIVES:
lensed adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'lentil' (because of the similarity in shape).

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Lent

noun
(in the Christian Church) the period preceding Easter, which is devoted to fasting, abstinence, and penitence in commemoration of Christ's fasting in the wilderness.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of LENTEN.

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Lenten

adjective
relating to or appropriate to Lent.

ORIGIN: Old English, «spring, Lent», related to LONG (perhaps with reference to the lengthening of the day in spring).

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lentil

noun
a high-protein pulse which is dried and then soaked and cooked prior to eating.

ORIGIN: Latin lenticula, from lens 'lentil' .

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lento

adverb & adjective Music
slow or slowly.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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Leo

noun
1. Astronomy a large constellation (the Lion), said to represent the lion slain by Hercules.
2. Astrology the fifth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about 23 July.

DERIVATIVES:
Leonian noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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leonine

adjective
of or resembling a lion or lions.

ORIGIN: Latin leoninus, from leo 'lion' .

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leopard

noun
1. (fem. leopardess) a large solitary cat that has a fawn or brown coat with black spots, found in the forests of Africa and southern Asia.
2. (before another noun ) spotted like a leopard.

IDIOMS -
a leopard can't change his spots proverb people can't change their basic nature.

ORIGIN: Greek leopardos, from len 'lion' + pardos 'panther' .

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leotard

noun
a close-fitting, stretchy one-piece garment covering the body to the top of the thighs, worn for dance, gymnastics, and exercise.

ORIGIN: named after the French trapeze artist Jules Léotard (1839 70).

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leper

noun
1. a person suffering from leprosy.
2. a person who is shunned by others.

ORIGIN: Old French lepre, from Greek lepros 'scaly' .

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Lepidoptera

plural noun
an order of insects comprising the butterflies and moths.

DERIVATIVES:
lepidopteran adjective & noun
lepidopterist noun
lepidopterous adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek lepis 'scale' + pteron 'wing' .

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leprechaun

noun
(in Irish folklore) a small, mischievous sprite.

ORIGIN: Old Irish luchorpán, from lu 'small' + corp 'body' .

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leprosy

noun
a contagious bacterial disease that affects the skin, mucous membranes, and nerves, causing discoloration and lumps on the skin and, in severe cases, disfigurement and deformities.

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leprous

adjective
referring to or suffering from leprosy.

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lesbian

noun
a homosexual woman.

adjective
referring to lesbians or lesbianism.

DERIVATIVES:
lesbianism noun.

ORIGIN: from Lesbos, Greek island and home of Sappho (early 7th century BC), who expressed affection for women in her poetry.

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lesion

noun chiefly Medicine
a region in an organ or tissue which has suffered damage through injury or disease.

ORIGIN: from Latin laedere 'injure' .

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less

determiner & pronoun
1. a smaller amount of; not as much.
2. fewer in number.

adverb
to a smaller extent; not so much.

preposition
minus.
USAGE - On the difference in use between less and fewer, see the note at FEW.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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-less

suffix forming adjectives and adverbs:
1. (from nouns) without; free from: flavourless.
2. (from verbs) not affected by or not carrying out the action of the verb: tireless.

ORIGIN: Old English, «devoid of».

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lessee

noun
a person who holds the lease of a property.

ORIGIN: Old French lesse, from lesser 'to let, leave' .

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lessen

verb
make or become less.

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lesser

adjective
not so great, large, or important as the other or the rest.

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lesson

noun
1. a period of learning or teaching.
2. a thing learned.
3. a thing that serves as a warning or encouragement.
4. a passage from the Bible read aloud during a church service.

ORIGIN: Old French leçon, from Latin legere 'read' .

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lessor

noun
a person who leases or lets a property to another.

ORIGIN: Old French, from lesser 'let, leave' .

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lest

conjunction formal
1. with the intention of preventing; to avoid the risk of.
2. because of the possibility of.
USAGE - The word lest takes the subjunctive mood, meaning that the correct construction is she was worrying lest he be attacked (not … lest he was attacked).
ORIGIN: Old English, «whereby less that».

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let [1]

verb (letting; past and past part. let)
1. not prevent or forbid; allow.
2. used in the imperative to express an intention, proposal, or instruction: let's have a drink.
3. used to express an assumption upon which a theory or calculation is to be based.
4. allow someone to have the use of (a room or property) in return for payment.

noun Brit.
a period during which a room or property is rented.

IDIOMS -
let alone not to mention.
let down fail to support or help.
let fly attack physically or verbally.
let go
1. allow to go free.
2. dismiss (an employee).
3. relinquish one's grip on.
let into set (something) back into (a surface).
let oneself go
1. act in an uninhibited way.
2. become careless or untidy in one's habits or appearance.
let off
1. cause (a gun, firework, or bomb) to fire or explode.
2. refrain from punishing.
3. excuse (someone) from a task or obligation.
let on informal divulge information.
let out
1. utter (a sound or cry).
2. make (a garment) looser or larger.
let up informal become less intense.
to let available for rent.

DERIVATIVES:
letting noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «leave behind, leave out»; related to LATE.

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let [2]

noun
(in racket sports) a circumstance under which a service is nullified and has to be retaken, especially (in tennis) when the ball clips the top of the net and falls within bounds.

IDIOMS -
let or hindrance formal obstruction or impediment.
play a let (in racket sports) play a point again because the ball or one of the players has been obstructed.

ORIGIN: Old English, «hinder»; related to LATE.

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let-down

noun
a disappointment.

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lethal

adjective
1. sufficient to cause death.
2. very harmful or destructive.

DERIVATIVES:
lethality noun
lethally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin lethalis, from letum 'death' .

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lethargy

noun
1. a lack of energy and enthusiasm.
2. Medicine a pathological state of sleepiness or deep unresponsiveness.

DERIVATIVES:
lethargic adjective
lethargically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek lthargos 'forgetful' .

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let-off

noun informal
an instance of unexpectedly escaping or avoiding something.

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let's

contraction
let us.

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letter

noun
1. a character representing one or more of the sounds used in speech; any of the symbols of an alphabet.
2. a written, typed, or printed communication, sent by post or messenger.
3. the precise terms of a statement or requirement.
4. (letters) literature.

verb
inscribe or provide with letters.

IDIOMS -
to the letter with adherence to every detail.

DERIVATIVES:
lettering noun.

ORIGIN: Latin litera 'letter of the alphabet' , (plural) 'epistle, literature, culture' .

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letter bomb

noun
an explosive device hidden in a small package and detonated when the package is opened.

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letter box

noun
1. chiefly Brit. a slot in a door through which mail is delivered.
2. (letterbox) a format for presenting widescreen films on a standard television screen, in which the image fills the width but not the height of the screen.

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letterhead

noun
a printed heading on stationery, stating the sender's name and address.

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lettuce

noun
1. a cultivated plant with edible leaves that are eaten in salads.
2. used in names of other plants with edible green leaves, e.g. lamb's lettuce.

ORIGIN: Old French letues, from Latin lactuca, from lac 'milk' (because of its milky juice).

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let-up

noun informal
a pause or reduction in the intensity of something dangerous, difficult, or tiring.

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leucocyte (also leukocyte)

noun Physiology
a colourless cell which circulates in the blood and body fluids and is involved in counteracting foreign substances and disease; a white (blood) cell.

ORIGIN: from Greek leukos 'white' + kutos 'vessel' .

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leukaemia (US leukemia)

noun
a malignant progressive disease in which the bone marrow and other blood-forming organs produce increased numbers of immature or abnormal white cells, suppressing the production of normal blood cells.

DERIVATIVES:
leukaemic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek leukos 'white' + haima 'blood' .

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levee [1]

noun
a formal reception of visitors or guests.

ORIGIN: French, from lever 'to rise' (such receptions were formerly held by a monarch after rising from bed).

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levee [2]

noun
1. an embankment built to prevent the overflow of a river.
2. a ridge of sediment deposited naturally alongside a river.
3. chiefly N. Amer. a landing place; a quay.

ORIGIN: French, from lever 'to lift or rise' .

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level

noun
1. a horizontal plane or line with respect to the distance above or below a given point.
2. a height or distance from the ground or another base.
3. a position or stage on a scale of quantity, extent, rank, or quality.
4. a floor within a multi-storey building.
5. a flat area of land.
6. an instrument giving a line parallel to the plane of the horizon for testing whether things are horizontal.

adjective
1. having a flat, horizontal surface.
2. at the same height as someone or something else.
3. having the same relative position; not in front or behind.
4. calm and steady.

verb (levelled, levelling; US leveled, leveling)
1. make or become level.
2. aim or direct (a weapon, criticism, or accusation).
3. (level with) informal be frank or honest with.

IDIOMS -
be level pegging Brit. be equal in score or achievement during a contest.
a level playing field a situation in which everyone has an equal chance of succeeding.
on the level informal honest; truthful.

DERIVATIVES:
levelly adverb
levelness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French livel, from Latin libra 'scales, balance' .

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level crossing

noun Brit.
a place where a railway and a road cross at the same level.

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level-headed

adjective
calm and sensible.

DERIVATIVES:
level-headedly adverb
level-headedness noun.

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lever

noun
1. a rigid bar resting on a pivot, used to move a load with one end when pressure is applied to the other.
2. a projecting arm or handle that is moved to operate a mechanism.

verb
1. lift or move with a lever.
2. move with a concerted physical effort.

ORIGIN: Old French levier, from lever 'to lift' .

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leverage

noun
1. the exertion of force by means of a lever.
2. the power to influence: political leverage.

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leveret

noun
a young hare in its first year.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin lepus 'hare' .

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leviathan

noun
1. (in biblical use) a sea monster.
2. a very large or powerful thing.

ORIGIN: Hebrew.

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levitate

verb
rise or cause to rise and hover in the air.

DERIVATIVES:
levitation noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin levis 'light' .

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levity

noun
the treatment of a serious matter with humour or lack of respect.

ORIGIN: Latin levitas, from levis 'light' .

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levy

noun (pl. levies)
1. the imposition of a tax, fee, fine, or subscription.
2. a sum of money raised by a levy.
3. archaic a body of enlisted troops.

verb (levies, levied)
1. impose or seize as a levy.
2. archaic enlist for military service.
3. archaic begin to wage (war).

ORIGIN: from Old French lever 'raise' , from Latin levis 'light' .

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lewd

adjective
crude and offensive in a sexual way.

DERIVATIVES:
lewdly adverb
lewdness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «belonging to the laity», later «belonging to the common people, vulgar»: from Old English.

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lexical

adjective
1. relating to the words or vocabulary of a language.
2. relating to a lexicon or dictionary.

DERIVATIVES:
lexically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek lexikos 'of words' .

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lexicography

noun
the practice of compiling dictionaries.

DERIVATIVES:
lexicographer noun
lexicographic adjective.

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lexicon

noun
1. the vocabulary of a person, language, or branch of knowledge.
2. a dictionary.

ORIGIN: from Greek lexikon biblion 'book of words' , from lexis 'word' .

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ley [1]

noun
a piece of land temporarily put down to grass, clover, etc.

ORIGIN: Old English, «fallow»; related to LAY and LIE.

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ley [2] (also ley line)

noun
a supposed straight line connecting three or more ancient sites, associated by some with lines of energy and other paranormal phenomena.

ORIGIN: variant of LEA.

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LF

abbreviation
low frequency.

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LGV

abbreviation Brit.
large goods vehicle.

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liability

noun (pl. liabilities)
1. the state of being liable.
2. a thing for which someone is liable, especially a financial obligation.
3. a person or thing likely to cause one embarrassment or put one at a disadvantage.

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liable

adjective
1. responsible by law; legally answerable.
2. (liable to) subject by law to.
3. (liable to do) likely to do.
4. (liable to) likely to experience (something undesirable).

ORIGIN: perhaps from French lier 'to bind' , from Latin ligare.

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liaise

verb
1. cooperate on a matter of mutual concern.
2. (liaise between) act as a link to assist communication between.

ORIGIN: from LIAISON.

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liaison

noun
1. communication or cooperation between people or organizations.
2. a sexual relationship, especially one that is secret.
3. the binding or thickening agent of a sauce, often based on egg yolks.

ORIGIN: French, from lier 'to bind' .

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liana (also liane)

noun
a woody climbing plant that hangs from trees, especially in tropical rainforests.

ORIGIN: French liane 'clematis, liana' .

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liar

noun
a person who tells lies.

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lib

noun informal
(in the names of political movements) the liberation of a specified group: women's lib.

DERIVATIVES:
libber noun.

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libation

noun
1. the pouring out of a drink as an offering to a deity.
2. a drink poured out as such an offering.
3. humorous an alcoholic drink.

ORIGIN: Latin, from libare 'pour as an offering' .

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Lib Dem

noun informal
(in the UK) Liberal Democrat.

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libel

noun
1. Law the publication of a false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation. Compare with SLANDER.
2. a written defamation.

verb (libelled, libelling; US libeled, libeling) Law
defame by publishing a libel.

DERIVATIVES:
libellous (US also libelous) adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a document: from Latin libellus 'little book' .

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liberal

adjective
1. willing to respect and accept behaviour or opinions different from one's own.
2. (of a society, law, etc.) favourable to individual rights and freedoms.
3. (in a political context) favouring individual liberty, free trade, and moderate reform.
4. (Liberal) (in the UK) relating to the Liberal Democrat party.
5. (especially of an interpretation of a law) not strictly literal.
6. given, used, or giving in generous amounts.
7. (of education) concerned with broadening general knowledge and experience.

noun
1. a person of liberal views.
2. (Liberal) (in the UK) a Liberal Democrat.

DERIVATIVES:
liberalism noun
liberality noun
liberally adverb.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «suitable for a free man»: from Latin liberalis, from liber 'free man' .

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Liberal Democrat

noun
(in the UK) a member of a party formed from the Liberal Party and members of the Social Democratic Party.

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liberalize (also liberalise)

verb
remove or loosen restrictions on (something, typically an economic or political system).

DERIVATIVES:
liberalization noun.

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liberate

verb
1. set free, especially from imprisonment or oppression.
2. (liberated) free from social conventions, especially with regard to sexual roles.

DERIVATIVES:
liberation noun
liberationist noun
liberator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin liberare, from liber 'free' .

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libertarian

noun
1. an adherent of libertarianism.
2. a person who advocates civil liberty.

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libertarianism

noun
an extreme laissez-faire political philosophy advocating only minimal state intervention in the lives of citizens.

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libertine

noun
a man who behaves without moral principles, especially in sexual matters.

DERIVATIVES:
libertinism noun.

ORIGIN: Latin libertinus 'freedman' , from liber 'free' .

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liberty

noun (pl. liberties)
1. the state of being free from oppression or imprisonment.
2. a right or privilege.
3. the power or scope to act as one pleases.
4. informal a presumptuous remark or action.

IDIOMS -
take liberties
1. behave in an unduly familiar manner towards a person.
2. treat something freely, without strict faithfulness to the facts or to an original.
take the liberty do something without first asking permission.

ORIGIN: Latin libertas, from liber 'free' .

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libidinous

adjective
having or showing excessive sexual drive.

ORIGIN: Latin libidinosus, from libido 'desire, lust' .

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libido

noun (pl. libidos)
sexual desire.

DERIVATIVES:
libidinal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'desire, lust' .

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Libra

noun
1. Astronomy a small constellation (the Scales or Balance), said to represent a pair of scales symbolizing justice.
2. Astrology the seventh sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters at the northern autumnal equinox (about 23 September).

DERIVATIVES:
Libran noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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librarian

noun
a person in charge of or assisting in a library.

DERIVATIVES:
librarianship noun.

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library

noun (pl. libraries)
1. a building or room containing a collection of books and periodicals for use by the public or the members of an institution.
2. a private collection of books.
3. a collection of films, recorded music, etc., organized systematically and kept for research or borrowing: a record library.
4. (also software library) Computing a collection of programs and software packages made generally available.

ORIGIN: Latin libraria 'bookshop' , from liber 'book' .

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libretto

noun (pl. libretti or librettos)
the text of an opera or other long vocal work.

DERIVATIVES:
librettist noun.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'small book' .

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licence (US license)

noun
1. a permit from an authority to own or use something, do a particular thing, or carry on a trade.
2. a writer's or artist's conventional freedom to deviate from facts or accepted rules.
3. freedom to behave without restraint.

ORIGIN: Latin licentia 'freedom, licentiousness' , from licere 'be lawful or permitted' .

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license (also licence)

verb
1. grant a licence to.
2. authorize.

DERIVATIVES:
licensable adjective
licenser (also licensor) noun.

ORIGIN: from LICENCE; the spelling -se arose by analogy with pairs such as practice, practise.

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licensee

noun
the holder of a licence, especially to sell alcoholic drinks.

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licentiate

noun
1. the holder of a certificate of competence to practise a particular profession.
2. (in some foreign universities) a degree between that of bachelor and master or doctor.

DERIVATIVES:
licentiateship noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin licentiatus 'having freedom' , from licentia 'freedom' .

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licentious

adjective
promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters.

DERIVATIVES:
licentiously adverb
licentiousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin licentiosus, from licentia 'freedom' .

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lichen

noun
a simple plant consisting of a fungus living in close association with an alga, typically growing as a crust or covering on rocks, walls, and trees.

DERIVATIVES:
lichened adjective
lichenous adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek leikhn.

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lick

verb
1. pass the tongue over (something), typically in order to taste, moisten, or clean it.
2. move lightly and quickly like a tongue.
3. informal defeat comprehensively.

noun
1. an act of licking.
2. informal a small amount or quick application of something: a lick of paint.
3. informal a short phrase or solo in jazz or popular music.

IDIOMS -
at a lick informal at a fast pace.
a lick and a promise informal a hasty wash.
lick someone's boots (or vulgar slang arse) be excessively obsequious towards someone.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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lickspittle

noun
a person who behaves obsequiously to those in power.

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licorice (Brit. liquorice)

noun
a sweet, chewy, aromatic black substance made from the juice of a root and used as a sweet and in medicine.

ORIGIN: Old French licoresse, from Greek glukurrhiza 'sweet root' .

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lid

noun
1. a removable or hinged cover for the top of a container.
2. an eyelid.

DERIVATIVES:
lidded adjective
lidless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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lido

noun (pl. lidos)
a public open-air swimming pool or bathing beach.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'shore' (also the name of a bathing beach near Venice).

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lie [1]

verb (lying; past lay; past part. lain)
1. be in or assume a horizontal or resting position on a supporting surface.
2. be or remain in a specified state.
3. reside or be found.
4. be situated in a specified position or direction.

noun
1. the way, direction, or position in which something lies or comes to rest.
2. the place of cover of an animal or a bird.

IDIOMS -
let lie take no action regarding (a sensitive matter).
lie in state (of the corpse of a person of national importance) be laid in a public place of honour before burial.
lie low keep out of sight; avoid attention.
the lie (N. Amer. lay) of the land
1. the features or characteristics of an area.
2. the current situation or state of affairs.
lie with archaic have sexual intercourse with.
take lying down accept (an insult, setback, or rebuke) without protest.

USAGE - For the correct use of lay and lie, see the note at LAY.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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lie [2]

noun
1. an intentionally false statement.
2. a situation involving deception or founded on a mistaken impression.

verb (lies, lied, lying)
1. tell a lie or lies.
2. (of a thing) present a false impression.

IDIOMS -
give the lie to serve to show that (something assumed to be true) is not true.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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lied

noun (pl. lieder)
a type of German song, typically for solo voice with piano accompaniment.

ORIGIN: German.

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lie detector

noun
an instrument for determining whether a person is telling the truth by testing for physiological changes considered to be associated with lying.

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lie-down

noun chiefly Brit.
a short rest on a bed or sofa.

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liege historical

adjective
referring to the relationship between a feudal superior and a vassal.

noun
1. (also liege lord) a feudal superior or sovereign.
2. a vassal or subject.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin laeticus.

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lie-in

noun chiefly Brit.
a prolonged stay in bed in the morning.

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lieu

noun (in phrase in lieu or in lieu of)
instead (of).

ORIGIN: French, from Latin locus 'place' .

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lieutenant

noun
1. a deputy or substitute acting for a superior.
2. a rank of officer in the British army, above second lieutenant and below captain.
3. a rank of officer in the navy, above sub lieutenant and below lieutenant commander.

DERIVATIVES:
lieutenancy noun (pl. lieutenancies) .

ORIGIN: Old French, 'place-holding' (see LIEU, TENANT).

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life

noun (pl. lives)
1. the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth and functional activity.
2. the existence of an individual human being or animal.
3. a particular type or aspect of people's existence: school life.
4. living things and their activity.
5. a biography.
6. vitality, vigour, or energy.
7. informal a sentence of imprisonment for life.
8. (in various games) each of a specified number of chances each player has before being put out.
9. (before a noun ) (in art) based on a living rather than an imagined form: a life drawing.

IDIOMS -
for the life of me informal however hard I try.
as large as (or larger than) life informal conspicuously present.
not on your life informal emphatically not.
take one's life in one's hands risk being killed.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LIVE.

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lifebelt

noun chiefly Brit.
a ring of buoyant or inflatable material used to help a person who has fallen into water to stay afloat.

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lifeblood

noun
1. literary blood, as being necessary to life.
2. an indispensable factor or force giving something its vitality.

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lifeboat

noun
1. a specially constructed boat launched from land to rescue people in distress at sea.
2. a small boat kept on a ship for use in an emergency.

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life cycle

noun
the series of changes in the life of an organism including reproduction.

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life expectancy

noun
the period that a person may expect to live.

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life force

noun
the force that gives something its life, vitality, or strength.

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life form

noun
any living thing.

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lifeguard

noun
a person employed to rescue bathers who get into difficulty at a beach or swimming pool.

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life imprisonment

noun
a long term of imprisonment (rarely the whole of a person's life), which (in the UK) is now the only sentence for murder and the maximum for any crime.

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life insurance

noun
insurance that pays out a sum of money either on the death of the insured person or after a set period.

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life jacket

noun
a sleeveless buoyant or inflatable jacket for keeping a person afloat in water.

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lifeless

adjective
1. dead or apparently dead.
2. devoid of living things.
3. lacking vigour, vitality, or excitement.

DERIVATIVES:
lifelessly adverb
lifelessness noun.

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lifelike

adjective
accurate in its representation of a living person or thing.

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lifeline

noun
1. a rope or line thrown to rescue someone in difficulties in water or used by sailors to secure themselves to a boat.
2. a thing which is essential for the continued existence of someone or something or which provides a means of escape.
3. (in palmistry) a line on the palm of a person's hand, regarded as indicating how long they will live.

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lifelong

adjective
lasting or remaining in a particular state throughout a person's life.

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life peer (or peeress)

noun
(in the UK) a peer (or peeress) whose title cannot be inherited.

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life raft

noun
an inflatable raft for use in an emergency at sea.

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lifesaver

noun
1. informal a thing that saves one from serious difficulty.
2. Austral./NZ a lifeguard on a beach.

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life sciences

plural noun
the sciences concerned with the study of living organisms, including biology, botany, and zoology.

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life sentence

noun
a punishment of life imprisonment.

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lifespan

noun
the length of time for which a person or animal lives or a thing functions.

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lifestyle

noun
the way in which one lives.

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life support

noun Medicine
maintenance of vital functions following disablement or in an adverse environment.

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life-threatening

adjective
potentially fatal.

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lifetime

noun
1. the duration of a person's life.
2. the duration of a thing or its usefulness.

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lift

verb
1. raise or be raised to a higher position or level.
2. pick up and move to a different position.
3. formally remove or end (a legal restriction, decision, etc.).
4. (lift off) (of an aircraft, spacecraft, etc.) take off, especially vertically.
5. carry off or win (a prize or event).
6. informal steal.

noun
1. Brit. a platform or compartment housed in a shaft for raising and lowering people or things.
2. an act or instance of lifting.
3. a free ride in another person's vehicle.
4. a device for carrying people up or down a mountain.
5. a feeling of increased cheerfulness.
6. upward force exerted by the air on an aerofoil or other structure.

IDIOMS -
lift a finger (or hand) make the slightest effort: he wouldn't lift a finger to help.

DERIVATIVES:
liftable adjective
lifter noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, related to LOFT.

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lift-off

noun
the vertical take-off of a spacecraft, rocket, etc.

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ligament

noun Anatomy
1. a short band of tough, flexible, fibrous tissue which connects two bones or cartilages or holds together a joint.
2. a membranous fold that supports an organ and keeps it in position.

DERIVATIVES:
ligamentous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin ligamentum 'bond' , from ligare 'to bind' .

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ligature

noun
1. a thing used for tying something tightly.
2. a cord used in surgery, especially to tie up a bleeding artery.
3. Music a slur or tie.
4. Printing a character consisting of two or more joined letters, e.g. æ.

verb
bind or connect with a ligature.

ORIGIN: Latin ligatura, from ligare 'to tie' .

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light [1]

noun
1. the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible; electromagnetic radiation from about 390 to 740 nm in wavelength.
2. a source of illumination.
3. a device producing a flame or spark.
4. (lights) traffic lights.
5. an expression in someone's eyes.
6. an area that is brighter or paler than its surroundings.
7. enlightenment.
8. (lights) a person's opinions, standards, and abilities.
9. a window or opening to let light in.

verb (past lit; past part. lit or lighted)
1. provide with light.
2. ignite or be ignited.

adjective
1. having a considerable or sufficient amount of light.
2. (of a colour or object) reflecting a lot of light; pale.

IDIOMS -
bring (or come) to light make (or become) widely known or evident.
in a light in the way specified.
in (the) light of taking (something) into consideration.
light at the end of the tunnel an indication that a period of difficulty is ending.
the light of day general public attention.
the light of someone's life a much loved person.
light up
1. become illuminated.
2. ignite a cigarette, pipe, or cigar before smoking it.
3. make or become animated or happy.
see the light
1. understand or realize something.
2. undergo religious conversion.
throw (or cast or shed) light on help to explain by providing further information.

DERIVATIVES:
lightless adjective
lightness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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light [2]

adjective
1. of little weight.
2. deficient in weight.
3. not strongly or heavily built.
4. relatively low in density, amount, or intensity.
5. carrying or suitable for small loads.
6. gentle or delicate.
7. not profound or serious.
8. (of sleep or a sleeper) easily disturbed.
9. easily borne or done.
10. free from worry.

IDIOMS -
make light of treat as unimportant.
make light work of accomplish quickly and easily.
travel light travel with a minimum load or little luggage.

DERIVATIVES:
lightish adjective
lightly adverb
lightness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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light [3]

verb (past and past part. lit or lighted)
1. (light on/upon) come upon or discover by chance.
2. (light into) N. Amer. informal criticize severely; attack.

ORIGIN: Old English, «descend, alight».

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light bulb

noun
a glass bulb containing inert gas, fitted into a lamp or ceiling socket, which provides light when an electric current is passed through it.

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lighten [1]

verb
1. make or become lighter in weight.
2. make or become less serious.

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lighten [2]

verb
make or become brighter.

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lighter [1]

noun
a device producing a small flame, used to light cigarettes.

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lighter [2]

noun
a flat-bottomed barge used to transfer goods to and from ships in harbour.

ORIGIN: from LIGHT (in the sense 'unload' ), or from Low German luchter.

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light-fingered

adjective
prone to steal.

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light-headed

adjective
dizzy and slightly faint.

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light-hearted

adjective
amusing and entertaining.

DERIVATIVES:
light-heartedly adverb.

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light heavyweight

noun
a weight in boxing and other sports intermediate between middleweight and heavyweight.

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lighthouse

noun
a tower or other structure containing a beacon light to warn ships at sea.

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light industry

noun
the manufacture of small or light articles.

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lighting

noun
1. equipment for producing light.
2. the arrangement or effect of lights.

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lighting-up time

noun Brit.
the time at which motorists are required by law to switch their vehicles' lights on.

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light meter

noun
an instrument measuring the intensity of light, used when taking photographs.

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lightning

noun
1. the occurrence of a high-voltage electrical discharge between a cloud and the ground or within a cloud, accompanied by a bright flash.
2. (before another noun ) very quick: lightning speed.

ORIGIN: from LIGHTEN.

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lightning conductor (also chiefly N. Amer. lightning rod)

noun Brit.
a metal rod or wire fixed in a high and exposed place to divert lightning into the ground.

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light pen

noun
1. Computing a hand-held pen-like photosensitive device used for passing information to a computer.
2. a hand-held device for reading bar codes.

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light pollution

noun
excessive brightening of the night sky by street lights and other man-made sources.

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lights

plural noun
the lungs of sheep, pigs, or bullocks as food for pets.

ORIGIN: from LIGHT (so named because of their lightness).

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lightweight

noun
1. a weight in boxing and other sports intermediate between featherweight and welterweight.
2. informal a person of little importance.

adjective
1. of thin material or build.
2. informal having little importance.

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light year

noun Astronomy
a unit of distance equivalent to the distance that light travels in one year, 9.4607 x 10^12 km (nearly 6 million million miles).

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ligneous

adjective
consisting of or resembling wood.

ORIGIN: Latin ligneus 'relating to wood' .

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lignin

noun Botany
a complex organic polymer deposited in the cell walls of many plants, making them rigid and woody.

ORIGIN: from Latin lignum 'wood' .

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lignite

noun
soft brownish coal, intermediate between bituminous coal and peat.

ORIGIN: from Latin lignum 'wood' .

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like [1]

preposition
1. similar to.
2. in the manner of.
3. in a way appropriate to.
4. in this manner.
5. such as.
6. used to ask about someone's or something's characteristics.

conjunction informal
1. in the same way that.
2. as though.

noun
1. a similar person or thing.
2. (the like) things of the same kind.

adjective
having similar characteristics to another.

adverb informal
used in speech as a meaningless filler.

IDIOMS -
and the like et cetera.
(as) like as not probably.
like so informal in this manner.

USAGE - When writing formal English it is unacceptable to use like to mean ‘as if’, as in he's behaving like he owns the place, and it is better to use as if or as though instead.
ORIGIN: Old Norse; related to ALIKE.

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like [2]

verb
1. find agreeable or satisfactory.
2. wish for; want.

noun (likes)
the things one likes.

ORIGIN: Old English, «be pleasing».

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likeable (also likable)

adjective
pleasant; easy to like.

DERIVATIVES:
likeably adverb.

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likelihood

noun
the state or fact of being likely.

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likely

adjective (likelier, likeliest)
1. such as well might be the case; probable.
2. promising.

adverb
probably.

IDIOMS -
a likely story! used to express disbelief.
as likely as not probably.
not likely! informal certainly not.

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like-minded

adjective
having similar tastes or opinions.

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liken

verb (liken to)
point out the resemblance of (someone or something) to.

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likeness

noun
1. resemblance.
2. outward appearance: humans are made in God's likeness.
3. a portrait or representation.

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likewise

adverb
1. also; moreover.
2. similarly.

ORIGIN: from the phrase in like wise.

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liking

noun
1. a regard or fondness for something.
2. one's taste.

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lilac

noun
1. a shrub or small tree with fragrant violet, pink, or white blossom.
2. a pale pinkish-violet colour.

ORIGIN: from Persian, 'bluish' .

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lilo (also trademark Li-lo)

noun (pl. lilos)
an inflatable mattress used as a bed or for floating on water.

ORIGIN: alteration of lie low.

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lilt

noun
1. a characteristic rising and falling of the voice when speaking.
2. a gentle rhythm in a tune.

verb
speak, sing, or sound with a lilt.

ORIGIN: from obsolete lulte «sound (an alarm)» or «lift up (the voice)»; of unknown origin.

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lily

noun
a bulbous plant with large trumpet-shaped flowers on a tall, slender stem.

ORIGIN: Greek leirion.

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lily-livered

adjective
cowardly.

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lily of the valley

noun
a plant of the lily family, with broad leaves and small white bell-shaped flowers.

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lily pad

noun
a leaf of a water lily.

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lily-white

adjective
1. pure white.
2. totally innocent or pure.

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lima bean

noun
an edible flat whitish bean.

ORIGIN: from Lima, the capital of Peru.

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limb

noun
1. an arm, leg, or wing.
2. a large branch of a tree.
3. a projecting part of a structure, object, or natural feature.

IDIOMS -
life and limb life and bodily faculties.
out on a limb isolated.

DERIVATIVES:
limbed adjective
limbless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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limber

adjective
supple; flexible.

verb (limber up)
warm up in preparation for exercise or activity.

ORIGIN: perhaps from LIMBER in the dialect sense «cart shaft», with allusion to the to-and-fro motion.

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limbo [1]

noun
1. (in some Christian beliefs) the supposed abode of the souls of unbaptized infants, and of the just who died before Christ.
2. an uncertain period of awaiting a decision or resolution.

ORIGIN: from Latin limbus 'hem, border, limbo' .

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limbo [2]

noun (pl. limbos)
a West Indian dance in which the dancer bends backwards to pass under a horizontal bar which is progressively lowered toward the ground.

verb
dance the limbo.

ORIGIN: from LIMBER.

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lime [1]

noun
1. quicklime, slaked lime, or any salt or alkali containing calcium.
2. archaic birdlime.

verb
treat with lime.

DERIVATIVES:
limy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LOAM.

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lime [2]

noun
1. a rounded green citrus fruit similar to a lemon.
2. a bright light green colour.
3. a drink made from lime juice.

ORIGIN: French, from Arabic.

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lime [3] (also lime tree)

noun
a deciduous tree with heart-shaped leaves and yellowish blossom.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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limeade

noun
a drink made from lime juice sweetened with sugar.

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limekiln

noun
a kiln in which quicklime is produced.

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limelight

noun
1. (the limelight) the focus of public attention.
2. an intense white light produced by heating lime in an oxyhydrogen flame, formerly used in theatres.

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limerick

noun
a humorous five-line poem with a rhyme scheme aabba.

ORIGIN: said to be from the chorus ‘will you come up to Limerick?’, sung between improvised verses at a gathering.

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limestone

noun
a hard sedimentary rock composed mainly of calcium carbonate.

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Limey

noun (pl. Limeys) N. Amer. & Austral. informal, chiefly derogatory
a British person.

ORIGIN: from the former enforced consumption of lime juice in the British navy.

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limit

noun
1. a point beyond which something does not or may not pass.
2. a restriction on the size or amount of something.
3. the furthest extent of one's endurance.

verb (limited, limiting)
set or serve as a limit to.

IDIOMS -
be the limit informal be intolerable.
off limits out of bounds.
within limits up to a point.

DERIVATIVES:
limiter noun
limitless adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin limes 'boundary, frontier' .

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limitation

noun
1. a restriction.
2. a defect or failing.
3. (also limitation period) Law a legally specified period beyond which an action may be defeated or a property right is not to continue.

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limited

adjective
1. restricted in size, amount, or extent.
2. not great in ability.
3. (of a monarchy or government) exercised under limitations of power prescribed by a constitution.
4. (Limited) Brit. denoting a limited company.

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limn

verb literary
depict or describe in painting or words.

DERIVATIVES:
limner noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «illuminate a manuscript»: from Latin luminare 'make light' .

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limo

noun (pl. limos) informal
a limousine.

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limousine

noun
a large, luxurious car.

ORIGIN: French, originally denoting a caped cloak worn in the region of Limousin; the car originally had an outside driving seat and an enclosed passenger compartment that was likened to the cloak.

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limp [1]

verb
1. walk with difficulty because of an injured leg or foot.
2. (of a damaged ship or aircraft) proceed with difficulty.

noun
a limping gait.

ORIGIN: related to obsolete limphalt «lame».

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limp [2]

adjective
1. not stiff or firm.
2. without energy or will.

DERIVATIVES:
limply adverb
limpness noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to LIMP.

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limpet

noun
a marine mollusc with a shallow conical shell and a muscular foot for clinging tightly to rocks.

ORIGIN: Latin lampreda 'limpet, lamprey' .

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limpid

adjective
1. (of a liquid or the eyes) clear.
2. (especially of writing or music) clear or melodious.

DERIVATIVES:
limpidity noun
limpidly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin limpidus.

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linchpin (also lynchpin)

noun
1. a pin through the end of an axle keeping a wheel in position.
2. an indispensable person or thing.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Lincs.

abbreviation
Lincolnshire.

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linctus

noun Brit.
thick liquid medicine, especially cough mixture.

ORIGIN: Latin, from lingere 'to lick' .

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linden

noun
a lime tree.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «made of wood from the lime tree»: from Old English.

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line [1]

noun
1. a long, narrow mark or band.
2. a length of cord, wire, etc. serving a purpose.
3. a row or connected series of people or things.
4. a row of written or printed words.
5. a direction, course, or channel.
6. a telephone connection.
7. a railway track or route.
8. a notional limit or boundary.
9. a connected series of military defences facing an enemy force.
10. an arrangement of soldiers or ships in a column or line formation.
11. a wrinkle in the skin.
12. a contour or outline considered as a feature of design or composition.
13. a range of commercial goods.
14. a sphere of activity.
15. (lines) a way of doing something: thinking along the same lines.
16. (lines) the words of an actor's part.
17. (lines) a number of repetitions of a sentence written out as a school punishment.

verb
1. stand or be positioned at intervals along.
2. (line up) arrange in a row.
3. (line up) have (someone or something) prepared.
4. (lined) marked or covered with lines.

IDIOMS -
come (or bring) into line conform (or cause to conform).
the end of the line the point at which one can go no further.
hold the line not yield to pressure.
in line under control.
in line for likely to receive.
in (or o ut of) line with in (or not in) alignment or accordance with.
lay (or put) it on the line speak frankly.
line of fire the expected path of gunfire or a missile.
on the line at serious risk.
out of line informal behaving inappropriately or incorrectly.

ORIGIN: Old English, from Latin linum 'flax' ; later influenced by Old French ligne, from Latin linea.

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line [2]

verb
cover the inner surface of (something) with a layer of different material.

IDIOMS -
line one's pocket make money, especially by dishonest means.

ORIGIN: from obsolete line «flax», with reference to the use of linen for linings.

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lineage

noun
1. ancestry or pedigree.
2. Biology a sequence of species each of which is considered to have evolved from its predecessor.

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lineal

adjective
1. in a direct line of descent or ancestry.
2. linear.

DERIVATIVES:
lineally adverb.

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lineament

noun
1. literary a distinctive feature, especially of the face.
2. Geology a linear feature on the earth's surface.

ORIGIN: Latin lineamentum, from linea 'a line' .

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linear

adjective
1. arranged in or extending along a straight line.
2. consisting of lines or outlines.
3. involving one dimension only.
4. sequential.
5. Mathematics able to be represented by a straight line on a graph.

DERIVATIVES:
linearity noun
linearize (also linearise) verb
linearly adverb.

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line dancing

noun
a type of country and western dancing in which a line of dancers follow a choreographed pattern of steps.

DERIVATIVES:
line-dance verb
line dancer noun.

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line drawing

noun
a drawing based on the use of line rather than shading.

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line manager

noun chiefly Brit.
a manager to whom an employee is directly responsible.

DERIVATIVES:
line management noun.

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linen

noun
1. cloth woven from flax.
2. articles such as sheets or clothes made, or originally made, of linen.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «made of flax»: from Old English.

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linen basket

noun chiefly Brit.
a basket for soiled clothing.

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line-out

noun Rugby Union
a formation of parallel lines of opposing forwards at right angles to the touchline when the ball is thrown in.

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liner [1]

noun
1. a large passenger ship. [ORIGIN: because such a ship belonged to a line, or company, providing passenger ships on particular routes.]
2. a fine paintbrush.
3. a cosmetic for outlining or accentuating a facial feature.

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liner [2]

noun
a lining of a garment, container, etc.

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linesman

noun
1. (in games played on a field or court) an official who assists the referee or umpire in deciding whether the ball is out of play.
2. Brit. a person who repairs and maintains telephone or electricity power lines.

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line-up

noun
1. a group of people or things assembled for a particular purpose.
2. an identity parade.

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ling [1]

noun
a long-bodied edible marine fish of the cod family.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch; related to LONG.

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ling [2]

noun
the common heather.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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-ling

suffix
1. forming nouns from nouns (e.g. hireling, sapling).
2. forming nouns from adjectives and adverbs (e.g. darling, underling).
3. forming diminutive nouns (e.g. gosling).

ORIGIN: Old English; sense 3 from Old Norse.

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linger

verb
1. be slow or reluctant to leave.
2. (linger over) spend a long time over.
3. be slow to fade, disappear, or die.

DERIVATIVES:
lingerer noun
lingering adjective.

ORIGIN: from obsolete leng «prolong», of Germanic origin and related to LONG.

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lingerie

noun
women's underwear and nightclothes.

ORIGIN: French, from linge 'linen' .

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lingo

noun (pl. lingos or lingoes) informal, often humorous
1. a foreign language.
2. the jargon of a particular subject or group.

ORIGIN: probably from Latin lingua 'tongue' .

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lingua franca

noun (pl. lingua francas)
a language used as a common language between speakers whose native languages are different.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'Frankish tongue' , in reference to a language formerly used in the eastern Mediterranean, consisting of Italian mixed with French, Greek, Arabic, and Spanish.

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linguine

plural noun
small ribbons of pasta.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'little tongues' .

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linguist

noun
1. a person skilled in foreign languages.
2. a person who studies linguistics.

ORIGIN: from Latin lingua 'language' .

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linguistic

adjective
relating to language or linguistics.

DERIVATIVES:
linguistically adverb.

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linguistics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the scientific study of language and its structure.

DERIVATIVES:
linguistician noun.

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liniment

noun
an ointment rubbed on the body to relieve pain or bruising.

ORIGIN: Latin linimentum, from linire 'to smear' .

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lining

noun
a layer of different material covering or attached to the inside of something.

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link

noun
1. a relationship or connection between people or things.
2. something that facilitates communication between people.
3. a means of contact or transport between two places.
4. a loop in a chain.

verb
make, form, or suggest a link with or between.

DERIVATIVES:
linker noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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linkage

noun
1. the action of linking or the state of being linked.
2. a system of links.

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links

plural noun
1. (also golf links) (treated as sing. or pl. ) a golf course, especially on grassland near the sea.
2. sandy ground near the sea, covered by coarse grass.

ORIGIN: Old English, «rising ground».

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link-up

noun
1. an instance of two or more people or things linking.
2. a connection enabling people or machines to communicate with each other.

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linnet

noun
a mainly brown and grey finch with a reddish breast and forehead.

ORIGIN: Old French linette, from lin 'flax' (because the bird feeds on flaxseeds).

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lino

noun (pl. linos) informal, chiefly Brit.
linoleum.

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linoleum

noun
a material consisting of a canvas backing thickly coated with a preparation of linseed oil and powdered cork, used as a floor covering.

ORIGIN: from Latin linum 'flax' + oleum 'oil' .

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linseed

noun
the seeds of the flax plant.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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linseed oil

noun
oil extracted from linseed, used especially in paint and varnish.

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lint

noun
1. short, fine fibres which separate from cloth or yarn during processing.
2. Brit. a fabric with a raised nap on one side, used for dressing wounds.
3. the fibrous material of a cotton boll.

DERIVATIVES:
linty adjective.

ORIGIN: originally as lynnet «flax prepared for spinning», perhaps from Old French linette 'linseed' , from lin 'flax' .

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lintel

noun
a horizontal support across the top of a door or window.

DERIVATIVES:
lintelled (US linteled) adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin limen 'threshold' .

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lion

noun (fem. lioness)
1. a large tawny-coloured cat of Africa and NW India, the male of which has a shaggy mane.
2. a brave, strong, or fierce person.
3. a celebrity.

IDIOMS -
the lion's den an intimidating or unpleasant place.
the lion's share the largest part of something.

ORIGIN: Old French liun, from Greek len.

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lion-hearted

adjective
brave and determined.

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lionize (also lionise)

verb
treat as a celebrity.

DERIVATIVES:
lionization noun.

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lip

noun
1. either of the two fleshy parts forming the edges of the mouth opening.
2. the edge of a hollow container or an opening.
3. informal impudent talk.
4. another term for LABIUM.

verb
(of water) lap against.

IDIOMS -
bite one's lip stifle laughter or a retort.
curl one's lip sneer.
pass one's lips be eaten, drunk, or spoken.
pay lip service to express superficial or insincere respect or support for.

DERIVATIVES:
lipless adjective
lipped adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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lipase

noun Biochemistry
an enzyme secreted by the pancreas that promotes the breakdown of fats.

ORIGIN: from Greek lipos 'fat' .

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lip gloss

noun
a glossy cosmetic applied to the lips.

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lipid

noun Chemistry
any of a class of fats that are insoluble in water and include many natural oils, waxes, and steroids.

ORIGIN: from Greek lipos 'fat' .

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liposuction

noun
a technique in cosmetic surgery for removing excess fat from under the skin by suction.

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lippy informal

adjective (lippier, lippiest)
impertinent.

noun (also lippie)
lipstick.

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lip-read

verb
understand speech from observing a speaker's lip movements.

DERIVATIVES:
lip-reader noun.

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lip salve

noun Brit.
a preparation to prevent or relieve sore or chapped lips.

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lipstick

noun
coloured cosmetic applied to the lips from a small solid stick.

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lip-sync (also lip-synch)

noun
the movement of a performer's lips in synchronization with a pre-recorded soundtrack.

verb
perform (a song or speech) in this way.

DERIVATIVES:
lip-syncer noun.

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liquefy (also liquify)

verb (liquifies, liquified)
make or become liquid.

DERIVATIVES:
liquefaction noun
liquefactive adjective
liquefiable adjective
liquefier noun.

ORIGIN: Latin liquefacere.

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liqueur

noun
a strong, sweet flavoured alcoholic spirit.

ORIGIN: French.

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liquid

noun
a substance with a consistency like that of water or oil, i.e. flowing freely but of constant volume.

adjective
1. relating to or being a liquid.
2. clear, like water.
3. (of a sound) pure and flowing.
4. not fixed or stable.
5. (of assets) held in or easily converted into cash.

DERIVATIVES:
liquidly adverb
liquidness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin liquidus, from liquere 'be liquid' .

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liquidate

verb
1. wind up the affairs of (a company) by ascertaining liabilities and apportioning assets.
2. convert (assets) into cash.
3. pay off (a debt).
4. informal eliminate; kill.

DERIVATIVES:
liquidation noun
liquidator noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «set out (accounts) clearly»: from Latin liquidare 'make clear' .

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liquid crystal display

noun
an electronic visual display in which the application of an electric current to a liquid crystal layer makes it opaque.

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liquidity

noun Finance
1. the availability of liquid assets to a market or company.
2. liquid assets.

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liquidize (also liquidise)

verb Brit.
convert (solid food) into a liquid or purée.

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liquidizer (also liquidiser)

noun Brit.
a machine for liquidizing.

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liquid measure

noun
a unit for measuring the volume of liquids.

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liquor

noun
1. alcoholic drink, especially spirits.
2. water used in brewing.
3. liquid that has been produced in or used for cooking.
4. the liquid from which a substance has been crystallized or extracted.

ORIGIN: Latin, related to liquere 'be fluid' .

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liquorice (US licorice)

noun
a sweet, chewy, aromatic black substance made from the juice of a root and used as a sweet and in medicine.

ORIGIN: Old French licoresse, from Greek glukurrhiza 'sweet root' .

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lira

noun (pl. lire)
1. the basic monetary unit of Italy, notionally equal to 100 centesimos.
2. the basic monetary unit of Turkey, equal to 100 kurus.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin libra 'pound' .

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lisp

noun
a speech defect in which s is pronounced like th in thick and z is pronounced like th in this.

verb
speak with a lisp.

DERIVATIVES:
lisper noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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lissom (also lissome)

adjective
slim, supple, and graceful.

DERIVATIVES:
lissomness noun.

ORIGIN: a contraction formed from LITHE + -SOME.

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list [1]

noun
1. a number of connected items or names written consecutively.
2. (lists) historical palisades enclosing an area for a tournament.
3. a selvedge of a piece of fabric.

verb
1. make a list of.
2. include in a list.
3. archaic enlist for military service.

IDIOMS -
enter the lists issue or accept a challenge.

ORIGIN: the origin of the noun is complex: sense 1 entered English from French liste, and developed from an obsolete use of sense 3 denoting a strip of paper; sense 3 itself derives from an Old English word meaning 'a border or edging' ; sense 2 is from Old French lisse.

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list [2]

verb
(of a ship) lean over to one side.

noun
an instance of listing.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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listed

adjective
1. (of a building in the UK) officially designated as being of historical importance and so protected.
2. denoting companies whose shares are quoted on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.

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listen

verb
1. give one's attention to a sound.
2. make an effort to hear something.
3. (listen in) listen to a private conversation.
4. (listen in) listen to a radio broadcast.
5. respond to advice or a request.

noun
an act of listening.

DERIVATIVES:
listener noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «pay attention to».

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listeria

noun
a type of bacterium which infects humans and other animals through contaminated food.

ORIGIN: named after the English surgeon Joseph Lister (1827 1912).

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listing

noun
1. a list or catalogue.
2. an entry in a list.

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listless

adjective
lacking energy or enthusiasm.

DERIVATIVES:
listlessly adverb
listlessness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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list price

noun
the price of an article as listed by the manufacturer.

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litany

noun (pl. litanies)
1. a series of petitions used in church services, usually recited by the clergy and responded to by the people.
2. a tedious recital.

ORIGIN: Greek litaneia 'prayer' , from lit 'supplication' .

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liter (Brit. litre)

noun
a metric unit of capacity, formerly the volume of one kilogram of water under standard conditions, now equal to 1,000 cubic centimetres (about 1.75 pints).

DERIVATIVES:
literage noun.

ORIGIN: French, from Greek litra, a Sicilian monetary unit.

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literacy

noun
the ability to read and write.

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literal

adjective
1. using or interpreting words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or allegory.
2. (of a translation) representing the exact words of the original text.
3. free from distortion.
4. informal absolute (used for emphasis).
5. relating to a letter or letters of the alphabet.

noun Brit. Printing
a misprint of a letter.

DERIVATIVES:
literality noun
literalize (also literalise) verb
literalness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin litera 'letter of the alphabet' .

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literally

adverb
1. in a literal manner or sense.
2. informal used for emphasis (rather than to suggest literal truth).

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literary

adjective
1. concerning the writing, study, or content of literature, especially of the kind valued for quality of form.
2. associated with literary works or formal writing.

DERIVATIVES:
literarily adverb
literariness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «relating to the letters of the alphabet»: from Latin litera 'letter of the alphabet' .

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literary criticism

noun
the art or practice of judging the qualities and character of literary works.

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literate

adjective
1. able to read and write.
2. knowledgeable in a particular field: computer literate.

noun
a literate person.

DERIVATIVES:
literately adverb.

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literati

plural noun
educated people who are interested in literature.

ORIGIN: Latin, plural of literatus 'acquainted with letters' .

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literature

noun
1. written works, especially those regarded as having artistic merit.
2. books and writings on a particular subject.
3. leaflets and other material used to give information or advice.

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lithe

adjective
slim, supple, and graceful.

DERIVATIVES:
lithely adverb
litheness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «gentle, meek, mellow».

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lithium

noun
1. a light, soft, silver-white reactive metallic chemical element.
2. a lithium salt used as a mood-stabilizing drug.

ORIGIN: from Greek lithos 'stone' .

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lithograph

noun
a print made by lithography.

verb
print by lithography.

DERIVATIVES:
lithographic adjective.

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lithography

noun
the process of printing from a flat metal, formerly stone, surface treated so as to repel the ink except where it is required for printing.

DERIVATIVES:
lithographer noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek lithos 'stone' .

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litigate

verb
1. go to law; be a party to a lawsuit.
2. take (a dispute) to a law court.

DERIVATIVES:
litigation noun
litigator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin litigare, from lis 'lawsuit' .

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litigious

adjective
1. concerned with lawsuits or litigation.
2. having a tendency to go to law to settle disputes.

DERIVATIVES:
litigiously adverb
litigiousness noun.

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litmus

noun
a dye obtained from certain lichens that is red under acid conditions and blue under alkaline conditions.

ORIGIN: from Old Norse words meaning 'dye' and 'moss' .

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litmus paper

noun
paper stained with litmus, used as a test for acids or alkalis.

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litmus test

noun
1. a test using litmus.
2. a decisively indicative test.

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litotes

noun
ironical understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary (e.g. I shan't be sorry for I shall be glad).

ORIGIN: Greek, from litos 'plain, meagre' .

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litre (US liter)

noun
a metric unit of capacity, formerly the volume of one kilogram of water under standard conditions, now equal to 1,000 cubic centimetres (about 1.75 pints).

DERIVATIVES:
litreage noun.

ORIGIN: French, from Greek litra, a Sicilian monetary unit.

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litter

noun
1. rubbish left in an open or public place.
2. an untidy collection of things.
3. a number of young born to an animal at one time.
4. (also cat litter) granular absorbent material lining a tray for a cat to urinate and defecate in indoors.
5. straw or other plant matter used as animal bedding.
6. (also leaf litter) decomposing leaves and other matter forming a layer on top of soil.
7. historical a vehicle containing a bed or seat enclosed by curtains and carried by men or animals.
8. a framework with a couch for transporting the sick.

verb
make untidy with discarded articles.

ORIGIN: Old French litiere, from Latin lectus 'bed' .

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litterbug (Brit. also litter lout)

noun informal
a person who carelessly drops rubbish on the ground.

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little

adjective
1. small in size, amount, or degree.
2. (of a person) young or younger.
3. of short distance or duration.
4. trivial, unimportant, or humble.

determiner & pronoun
1. (a little) a small amount of.
2. (a little) a short time or distance.
3. not much.

adverb (less, least)
1. (a little) to a small extent.
2. hardly or not at all.

IDIOMS -
little by little gradually.
little or nothing hardly anything.

DERIVATIVES:
littleness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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little end

noun
(in a piston engine) the smaller end of a connecting rod, attached to the piston.

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Little Englander

noun informal
a person opposed to an international role or policy for Britain.

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little finger

noun
the smallest finger, at the outer side of the hand.

IDIOMS -
twist (or wind or wrap) someone around one's little finger be able to make someone do whatever one wants.

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little people

plural noun
1. the ordinary people of a country or organization.
2. fairies or leprechauns.

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littoral

adjective
relating to the shore of the sea or a lake.

noun
a littoral region.

ORIGIN: Latin littoralis, from litus 'shore' .

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liturgical

adjective
relating to liturgy or public worship.

DERIVATIVES:
liturgically adverb
liturgist noun.

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liturgy

noun (pl. liturgies)
a prescribed form of public worship used in the Christian Church.

ORIGIN: Greek leitourgia 'public service, worship of the gods' .

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live [1]

verb
1. remain alive.
2. be alive at a specified time.
3. spend one's life in a particular way or under particular circumstances: they are living in fear.
4. make one's home in a particular place or with a particular person.
5. (live in/out) reside at (or away from) the place where one works or studies.
6. supply oneself with the means of subsistence: they live by hunting and fishing.
7. (live for) regard as the most important aspect of one's life.
8. survive in someone's mind.

IDIOMS -
live and breathe be devoted to (a subject or activity).
live and let live proverb you should tolerate the opinions and behaviour of others so that they will similarly tolerate your own.
live down succeed in making others forget (something regrettable or embarrassing).
live in the past have outdated ideas and attitudes.
live it up informal lead a life of extravagance and exciting social activity.
live off (or on)
1. depend on or have available as a source of income or support.
2. eat as a major part of one's diet.
live rough live outdoors as a result of being homeless.
live together (of a couple not married to each other) share a home and have a sexual relationship.
live up to fulfil.
live with
1. share a home and have a sexual relationship with (someone to whom one is not married).
2. accept or tolerate (something unpleasant).

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LIFE and LEAVE.

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live [2]

adjective
1. living.
2. (of a musical performance) given in concert; not recorded.
3. (of a broadcast) transmitted at the time of occurrence; not recorded.
4. of current or continuing interest and importance.
5. (of a wire or device) connected to a source of electric current.
6. of, containing, or using undetonated explosive.
7. (of coals) burning.
8. (of yogurt) containing the living micro-organisms by which it is formed.

adverb
as or at an actual event or performance.

IDIOMS -
go live Computing (of a system) become operational.

ORIGIN: shortening of ALIVE.

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liveable (US also livable)

adjective
1. worth living.
2. fit to live in.
3. (liveable with) informal easy to live with.

DERIVATIVES:
liveability noun.

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live action

noun
action in films involving real people or animals, as contrasted with animation or computer-generated effects.

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lived-in

adjective
1. (of a room or building) showing comforting signs of wear and habitation.
2. informal (of a person's face) marked by experience.

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live-in

adjective
1. (of a domestic employee) resident in an employer's house.
2. living with another in a sexual relationship: his live-in girlfriend.
3. (of a course of study, treatment, etc.) residential.

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livelihood

noun
a means of securing the necessities of life.

ORIGIN: Old English, «way of life».

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livelong

adjective literary
(of a period of time) entire: all this livelong day.

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lively

adjective (liveier, liveliest)
1. full of life and energy.
2. (of a place) full of activity.
3. intellectually stimulating or perceptive.

IDIOMS -
look lively informal move more quickly and energetically.

DERIVATIVES:
livelily adverb
liveliness noun.

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liven

verb (liven up)
make or become more lively or interesting.

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liver

noun
1. a large organ in the abdomen that secretes bile and neutralizes toxins.
2. the flesh of an animal's liver as food.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Liverpudlian

noun
1. a person from the city of Liverpool in NW England.
2. the dialect or accent of people from Liverpool.

adjective
relating to Liverpool.

ORIGIN: humorous formation from Liverpool + PUDDLE.

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liver sausage

noun chiefly Brit.
a savoury meat paste in the form of a sausage containing cooked liver, or a mixture of liver and pork.

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liver spot

noun
a small brown spot on the skin.

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liverwort

noun
a small flowerless green plant with leaf-like stems or lobed leaves, lacking true roots and reproducing by spores.

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livery

noun (pl. liveries)
1. a special uniform worn by a servant, an official, or a member of a City Company.
2. a distinctive design and colour scheme used on the vehicles or products of a company.
3. the members of a livery company collectively.

IDIOMS -
at livery (of a horse) kept for the owner and fed and cared for at a fixed charge.

DERIVATIVES:
liveried adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «the dispensing of food, provisions, or clothing to servants»: from Old French livree 'delivered' , from Latin liberare 'liberate' .

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livestock

noun
farm animals regarded as an asset.

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live wire

noun informal
an energetic and lively person.

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livid

adjective
1. informal furiously angry.
2. having a dark inflamed appearance.

DERIVATIVES:
lividity noun
lividly adverb
lividness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin lividus, from livere 'be bluish' .

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living

noun
1. the action of leading one's life; being alive.
2. an income sufficient to live on, or the means of earning it.

adjective
1. alive.
2. (of a language) still spoken and used.
3. for or related to daily life: living quarters.

IDIOMS -
in (or within) living memory within or during a time that is remembered by people still alive.
the living image of an exact copy or likeness of.

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living room

noun
a room in a house for general everyday use.

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living wage

noun
a wage which is high enough to maintain a normal standard of living.

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living will

noun
a written statement detailing a person's desires regarding their medical treatment in circumstances in which they are no longer able to express informed consent.

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lizard

noun
a four-legged reptile with a long body and tail, movable eyelids, and a rough, scaly, or spiny skin.

ORIGIN: Old French lesard, from Latin lacertus 'lizard, sea fish' , also 'muscle' .

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'll

contraction
shall; will.

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llama

noun
a domesticated animal of the camel family found in the Andes, used for carrying loads and valued for its soft woolly fleece.

ORIGIN: Spanish, probably from Quechua.

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LLB

abbreviation
Bachelor of Laws.

ORIGIN: from Latin legum baccalaureus.

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lo

exclamation archaic
used to draw attention to an interesting event.

IDIOMS -
lo and behold used to present a new scene or situation.

ORIGIN: natural exclamation: first recorded in Old English.

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loach

noun
a small, elongated freshwater fish with several barbels near the mouth.

ORIGIN: Old French loche.

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load

noun
1. a heavy or bulky thing being or about to be carried.
2. a weight or source of pressure.
3. the total number or amount carried in a vehicle or container.
4. (a load/loads of) informal a lot of.
5. the amount of work to be done by a person or machine.
6. the amount of power supplied by a source.
7. a burden of responsibility, worry, or grief.

verb
1. put a load on or in.
2. place (a load or large quantity) on or in a vehicle, container, etc.
3. insert (something) into a device so that it will operate.
4. charge (a firearm) with ammunition.
5. bias towards a particular outcome.

IDIOMS -
get a load of informal take a look at (used to draw attention to someone or something).
load the dice against (or in favour of) put at a disadvantage (or advantage).

DERIVATIVES:
loader noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «journey, conveyance»; related to LEAD and LODE.

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loaded

adjective
1. carrying or bearing a load.
2. weighted or biased towards a particular outcome.
3. charged with an underlying meaning.
4. informal wealthy.
5. N. Amer. informal drunk.

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loaf [1]

noun (pl. loaves)
a quantity of bread that is shaped and baked in one piece.

IDIOMS -
half a loaf is better than no bread proverb it is better to accept less than one wants or expects than to have nothing at all.
use one's loaf Brit. informal use one's common sense. [ORIGIN: probably from loaf of bread, rhyming slang for «head».]

ORIGIN: Old English.

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loaf [2]

verb
idle one's time away.

ORIGIN: probably from LOAFER.

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loafer

noun
1. a person who idles their time away.
2. trademark a leather shoe shaped like a moccasin, with a flat heel.

ORIGIN: perhaps from German Landläufer 'tramp' .

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loam

noun
1. a fertile soil of clay and sand containing humus.
2. a paste of clay and water with sand and chopped straw, used in making bricks and plastering walls.

DERIVATIVES:
loaminess noun
loamy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «clay»: related to LIME.

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loan

noun
1. a thing that is borrowed, especially a sum of money that is expected to be paid back with interest.
2. the action of lending.

verb
give as a loan.

IDIOMS -
on loan being borrowed.

DERIVATIVES:
loanable adjective
loanee noun
loaner noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, related to LEND.

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loan shark

noun informal
a moneylender who charges exorbitant rates of interest.

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loath (also loth)

adjective
reluctant; unwilling: I was loath to leave.

ORIGIN: Old English, «hostile».

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loathe

verb
feel hatred or disgust for.

DERIVATIVES:
loather noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LOATH.

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loathsome

adjective
causing hatred or disgust.

DERIVATIVES:
loathsomely adverb
loathsomeness noun.

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lob

verb (lobbed, lobbing)
throw or hit in a high arc.

noun
1. (in soccer or tennis) a ball lobbed over an opponent or a stroke producing this result.
2. (in cricket) a ball bowled with a slow underarm action.

ORIGIN: originally in the senses «cause or allow to hang heavily» and «behave like a lout»: from obsolete lob «lout», «pendulous object», probably from Low German or Dutch.

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lobby

noun (pl. lobbies)
1. a room out of which one or more other rooms or corridors lead, typically forming a small entrance hall.
2. (in the UK) any of several large halls in the Houses of Parliament in which MPs meet members of the public.
3. (also division lobby) each of two corridors in the Houses of Parliament to which MPs retire to vote.
4. a group of people seeking to influence legislators on a particular issue.
5. an organized attempt by members of the public to influence legislators.

verb (lobbies, lobbied)
seek to influence (a legislator).

DERIVATIVES:
lobbyist noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «monastic cloister»: from Latin lobia 'covered walk' .

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lobe

noun
1. a roundish and flattish projecting or hanging part of something.
2. each of the parts of the cerebrum of the brain.

DERIVATIVES:
lobed adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek lobos 'lobe, pod' .

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lobelia

noun
a plant of the bellflower family, with blue or scarlet flowers.

ORIGIN: named after the Flemish botanist Matthias de Lobel (1538 1616).

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lobotomy

noun (pl. lobotomies)
a surgical operation involving incision into the prefrontal lobe of the brain, formerly used to treat mental illness.

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lobster

noun
1. a large marine crustacean with stalked eyes and large pincers.
2. the flesh of this animal as food.

verb
catch lobsters.

ORIGIN: Old English, from Latin locusta 'crustacean, locust' .

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lobster pot

noun
a basket-like trap in which lobsters are caught.

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local

adjective
1. relating to a particular area.
2. relating or belonging to one's neighbourhood.
3. (in technical use) relating to a particular region or part: a local infection.
4. Computing (of a device) that can be accessed without the use of a network.

noun
1. a local person or thing.
2. Brit. informal a pub convenient to a person's home.

DERIVATIVES:
locally adverb
localness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin localis, from locus 'place' .

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local area network

noun
a computer network that links devices within a building or group of adjacent buildings.

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local authority

noun Brit.
an administrative body in local government.

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locale

noun
a place associated with particular events.

ORIGIN: French local 'locality' , respelled to indicate stress on the final syllable.

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local government

noun
the administration of a particular county or district, with representatives elected by those who live there.

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locality

noun (pl. localities)
1. an area or neighbourhood.
2. the position or site of something.

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localize (also localise)

verb
1. (often as adj. localized) restrict or assign to a particular place.
2. make local in character.

DERIVATIVES:
localizable adjective
localization noun.

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local time

noun
time as reckoned in a particular region or time zone.

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locate

verb
1. discover the exact place or position of.
2. (be located) be situated in a particular place.
3. N. Amer. establish oneself or one's business in a specified place.

DERIVATIVES:
locatable adjective
locator noun.

ORIGIN: originally as a legal term meaning «let out on hire»: from Latin locare 'to place' .

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location

noun
1. the action or process of locating.
2. a particular place or position.
3. an actual place in which a film or broadcast is made, as distinct from a simulation in a studio.

DERIVATIVES:
locational adjective.

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loc. cit.

abbreviation
in the passage already cited.

ORIGIN: Latin loco citato.

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loch

noun Scottish
1. a lake.
2. a long, narrow arm of the sea.

ORIGIN: Scottish Gaelic.

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lock [1]

noun
1. a mechanism for keeping a door or container fastened, typically operated by a key.
2. a similar device used to prevent the operation of a vehicle or other machine.
3. a short section of a canal or river with gates and sluices at each end which can be opened or closed to change the water level, used for raising and lowering boats.
4. the turning of the front wheels of a vehicle to change its direction of motion.
5. (in wrestling and martial arts) a hold that prevents an opponent from moving a limb.
6. (also lock forward) Rugby a player in the second row of a scrum.
7. archaic a mechanism for exploding the charge of a gun.

verb
1. fasten or be fastened with a lock.
2. enclose or secure by locking a door.
3. (lock up/away) imprison.
4. make or become rigidly fixed or immovable.
5. (lock in) engage or entangle in: they were locked in a legal battle.
6. (lock on to) locate and then track (a target) by radar or similar means.

IDIOMS -
lock horns engage in conflict.
lock, stock, and barrel including everything. [ORIGIN: referring to the complete mechanism of a firearm.]

DERIVATIVES:
lockable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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lock [2]

noun
1. a section of a person's hair that coils or hangs in a piece.
2. (locks) chiefly literary a person's hair.
3. a tuft of wool or cotton.

DERIVATIVES:
locked adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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locker

noun
a small lockable cupboard or compartment, typically one in a row of several.

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locket

noun
a small ornamental case worn round a person's neck on a chain, ribbon, etc., used to hold an item of sentimental value such as a tiny photograph or a lock of hair.

ORIGIN: Old French locquet 'small latch or lock' ; related to LOCK.

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lockjaw

noun
spasm of the jaw muscles, causing the mouth to remain tightly closed, typically as a symptom of tetanus.

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lockout

noun
the exclusion of employees by their employer from their place of work until certain terms are agreed to.

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locksmith

noun
a person who makes and repairs locks.

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lock-up

noun
1. a makeshift jail.
2. Brit. non-residential premises, such as a garage, that can be locked up.
3. an investment in assets which cannot readily be realized or sold on in the short term.

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loco [1]

noun (pl. locos) informal
a locomotive.

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loco [2]

adjective informal
crazy.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'insane' .

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locomotion

noun
movement or the ability to move from one place to another.

DERIVATIVES:
locomotory adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin loco 'from a place' + motio 'motion' .

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locomotive

noun
a powered railway vehicle used for pulling trains.

adjective
relating to locomotion.

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locum (also locum tenens)

noun
a doctor or cleric standing in for another who is temporarily away.

ORIGIN: from Latin locum tenens 'one holding a place' .

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locus

noun (pl. loci)
1. technical a particular position, point, or place.
2. Mathematics a curve or other figure formed by all the points satisfying a particular condition.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'place' .

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locust

noun
1. a large tropical grasshopper which migrates in vast swarms and is very destructive to vegetation.
2. (also locust tree) a carob tree, false acacia, or similar pod-bearing tree.

ORIGIN: Latin locusta 'locust, crustacean' .

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locution

noun
1. a word or phrase.
2. a person's particular style of speech.

DERIVATIVES:
locutionary adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from loqui 'speak' .

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lode

noun
a vein of metal ore in the earth.

ORIGIN: Old English, «way, course»; related to LOAD.

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lodestar

noun
a star that is used to guide the course of a ship, especially the pole star.

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lodestone (also loadstone)

noun
a piece of magnetite or other naturally magnetized mineral, able to be used as a magnet.

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lodge

noun
1. a small house at the gates of a large house with grounds, occupied by a gatekeeper or other employee.
2. a small country house occupied in season for sports such as hunting and shooting.
3. a porter's quarters at the entrance of a college or other large building.
4. an American Indian tent or other dwelling.
5. a beaver's den.
6. a branch or meeting place of an organization such as the Freemasons.

verb
1. formally present (a complaint, appeal, etc.).
2. make or become firmly fixed in a place.
3. rent accommodation in another person's house.
4. provide with rented accommodation.
5. (lodge in/with) leave (money or a valuable item) for safekeeping in or with.

ORIGIN: Old French loge 'arbour, hut' , from Latin lobia 'covered walk' ; related to LOBBY.

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lodger

noun
a person who pays rent to live in a property with the owner.

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lodging

noun
1. a temporary place of residence.
2. (lodgings) a rented room or rooms, usually in the same residence as the owner.

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lodging house

noun
a private house providing rented accommodation.

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loess

noun Geology
a loosely compacted yellowish-grey deposit of wind-blown sediment.

ORIGIN: from Swiss German lösch 'loose' .

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lo-fi (also low-fi)

adjective
of or employing sound reproduction of a lower quality than hi-fi.

ORIGIN: from an alteration of LOW + -fi on the pattern of hi-fi.

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loft

noun
1. a room or storage space directly under the roof of a house or other building.
2. a large, open area in a warehouse or other large building, that has been converted into living space.
3. a gallery in a church or hall.
4. a shelter with nest holes for pigeons.
5. Golf upward inclination given to the ball in a stroke.
6. the thickness of an insulating material such as that in a sleeping bag.

verb
kick, hit, or throw (a ball or missile) high up.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'air, upper room' .

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lofty

adjective (loftier, loftiest)
1. of imposing height.
2. noble; elevated.
3. haughty and aloof.
4. (of wool and other textiles) thick and resilient.

DERIVATIVES:
loftily adverb
loftiness noun.

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log [1]

noun
1. a part of the trunk or a large branch of a tree that has fallen or been cut off.
2. (also logbook) an official record of events during the voyage of a ship or aircraft.
3. an apparatus for determining the speed of a ship, originally one consisting of a float attached to a knotted line.

verb (logged, logging)
1. enter in a log.
2. achieve (a certain distance, speed, or time).
3. (log in/on or out/off) go through the procedures to begin (or conclude) use of a computer system.
4. cut down (an area of forest) to exploit the wood commercially.

DERIVATIVES:
logger noun
logging noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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loganberry

noun
an edible soft fruit, considered to be a hybrid of a raspberry and an American dewberry.

ORIGIN: from the name of the American horticulturalist John H. Logan (1841 1928).

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logarithm

noun
a quantity representing the power to which a fixed number (the base) must be raised to produce a given number.

ORIGIN: from Greek logos 'reckoning, ratio' + arithmos 'number' .

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logarithmic

adjective
1. relating to or expressed in terms of logarithms.
2. (of a scale) constructed so that successive points along an axis, or graduations which are an equal distance apart, represent values which are in an equal ratio.

DERIVATIVES:
logarithmically adverb.

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logbook

noun
a book containing an official or systematic record of events.

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loggia

noun
a gallery or room with one or more open sides, especially one having one side open to a garden.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'lodge' .

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logic

noun
1. reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity.
2. the ability to reason correctly.
3. (the logic of) the course of action following as a necessary consequence of.
4. a system or set of principles underlying the arrangements of elements in a computer or electronic device so as to perform a specified task.

DERIVATIVES:
logician noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek logik tekhn 'art of reason' .

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logical

adjective
1. of or according to the rules of logic.
2. capable of or showing rational thought.
3. expected or reasonable under the circumstances.

DERIVATIVES:
logicality noun
logically adverb.

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-logical

combining form
in adjectives corresponding chiefly to nouns ending in -logy (such as pharmacological corresponding to pharmacology).

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logistic

adjective
relating to logistics.

DERIVATIVES:
logistical adjective.

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logjam

noun
1. a crowded mass of logs blocking a river.
2. a deadlock.
3. a backlog.

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logo

noun (pl. logos)
an emblematic design adopted by an organization to identify its products.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of LOGOGRAM or LOGOTYPE.

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-logy

combining form
1. (usu. as -ology) denoting a subject of study or interest: psychology.
2. denoting a characteristic of speech or language: eulogy.
3. denoting a type of discourse: trilogy.

ORIGIN: from Greek logos 'word' .

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loin

noun
1. the part of the body on both sides of the spine between the lowest ribs and the hip bones.
2. (loins) literary the region of the sexual organs, regarded as the source of erotic or procreative power.
3. a joint of meat that includes the vertebrae of the loins.

ORIGIN: Old French loigne, from Latin lumbus.

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loincloth

noun
a piece of cloth wrapped round the hips, typically worn by men in some hot countries as their only garment.

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loiter

verb
stand around or move without apparent purpose.

IDIOMS -
loiter with intent English Law, dated stand around with the intention of committing an offence.

DERIVATIVES:
loiterer noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Dutch loteren 'wag about' .

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loll

verb
1. sit, lie, or stand in a lazy, relaxed way.
2. hang loosely.

ORIGIN: probably symbolic of dangling.

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lollipop

noun
1. a large, flat, rounded boiled sweet on the end of a stick.
2. British term for ICE LOLLY.

ORIGIN: perhaps from dialect lolly «tongue» + POP.

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lollipop lady (or lollipop man)

noun Brit. informal
a person employed to help children cross the road safely near a school by holding up a circular sign on a pole to stop the traffic.

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lollop

verb (lolloped, lolloping)
move in an ungainly way in a series of clumsy bounds.

ORIGIN: probably from LOLL, associated with TROLLOP.

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lolly

noun (pl. lollies) informal
1. chiefly Brit. a lollipop.
2. Austral./NZ a boiled sweet.
3. Brit. money.

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Londoner

noun
a person from London.

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lone

adjective
1. having no companions; solitary.
2. lacking the support of others: a lone voice.
3. literary unfrequented and remote.

ORIGIN: shortening of ALONE.

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lonely

adjective (lonelier, loneliest)
1. sad because one has no friends or company.
2. solitary.
3. unfrequented and remote.

DERIVATIVES:
loneliness noun.

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lonely hearts

plural noun
people looking for a lover or friend through the personal columns of a newspaper.

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loner

noun
a person who prefers not to associate with others.

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lonesome

adjective chiefly N. Amer.
lonely.

IDIOMS -
by (or Brit. on) one's lonesome informal all alone.

DERIVATIVES:
lonesomeness noun.

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lone wolf

noun
a person who prefers to act alone.

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long [1]

adjective (longer, longest)
1. of a great distance or duration.
2. relatively great in extent.
3. having a specified length, distance, or duration.
4. (of a ball in sport) travelling a great distance, or further than expected.
5. Phonetics (of a vowel) categorized as long with regard to quality and length (e.g. in standard British English the vowel in food).
6. (of odds or a chance) reflecting or representing a low level of probability.
7. (of a drink) large and refreshing, and in which alcohol, if present, is not concentrated.
8. (long on) informal well supplied with.

noun
a long time.

adverb (longer, longest)
1. for a long time.
2. at a distant time: long ago.
3. throughout a specified period of time: all day long.
4. (with reference to the ball in sport) at, to, or over a great distance.

IDIOMS -
as (or so) long as
1. during the whole time that.
2. provided that.
be long take a long time.
in the long run (or term) eventually.
the long and the short of it all that can or need be said.
long in the tooth rather old. [ORIGIN: originally said of horses, from the recession of the gums with age.]

DERIVATIVES:
longish adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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long [2]

verb (long for/to do)
have a strong wish for or to do.

ORIGIN: Old English, «grow long», also «yearn».

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long.

abbreviation
longitude.

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longboat

noun
1. historical a sizeable boat which could be launched from a large sailing ship.
2. another term for LONGSHIP.

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longbow

noun
a large bow drawn by hand and shooting a long feathered arrow.

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long-distance

adjective
1. travelling or operating between distant places.
2. Athletics denoting a race distance of 6 miles or 10,000 metres (6 miles 376 yds), or longer.

adverb
between distant places.

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long division

noun
division of numbers with details of intermediate calculations written down.

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longevity

noun
long life.

ORIGIN: Latin longaevitas, from longus 'long' + aevum 'age' .

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long face

noun
an unhappy or disappointed expression.

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longhand

noun
ordinary handwriting (as opposed to shorthand, typing, or printing).

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long haul

noun
1. a long distance (with reference to the transport of goods or passengers).
2. a lengthy and difficult task.

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longing

noun
a yearning desire.

adjective
having or showing a yearning desire.

DERIVATIVES:
longingly adverb.

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longitude

noun
the angular distance of a place east or west of a standard meridian, especially the Greenwich meridian.

ORIGIN: Latin longitudo, from longus 'long' .

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longitudinal

adjective
1. running lengthwise.
2. relating to longitude.

DERIVATIVES:
longitudinally adverb.

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long johns

plural noun informal
underpants with closely fitted legs extending to the wearer's ankles.

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long jump

noun (the long jump)
an athletic event in which competitors jump as far as possible along the ground in one leap.

DERIVATIVES:
long jumper noun.

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long-life

adjective
(of perishable goods) treated so as to stay fresh for longer than usual.

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long-playing

adjective
(of a record) 12 inches (about 30 cm) in diameter and designed to rotate at 331 / 3 revolutions per minute.

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long-range

adjective
1. able to be used or be effective over long distances.
2. relating to a period of time far into the future.

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longship

noun
a long, narrow warship with oars and a sail, used by the Vikings.

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longshore

adjective
relating to or moving along the seashore.

ORIGIN: from along shore.

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long shot

noun
a venture or guess that has only the slightest chance of succeeding or being accurate.

IDIOMS -
(not) by a long shot informal (not) by far or at all.

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long-sighted

adjective
unable to see things clearly if they are relatively close to the eyes.

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long-standing

adjective
having existed for a long time.

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long-suffering

adjective
bearing problems or provocation with patience.

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long wave

noun
1. a radio wave of a wavelength above one kilometre (and a frequency below 300 kilohertz).
2. broadcasting using radio waves of 1 to 10 kilometre wavelength.

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longways (also longwise)

adverb
lengthways.

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long-winded

adjective
1. tediously lengthy.
2. archaic capable of doing something for a long time without becoming breathless.

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loo

noun Brit. informal
a toilet.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain: one theory suggests the source is Waterloo, a trade name for iron cisterns in the early 20th century.

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loofah

noun
a fibrous cylindrical object used like a bath sponge, consisting of the dried inner parts of a marrow-like tropical fruit.

ORIGIN: Egyptian Arabic.

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look

verb
1. direct one's gaze in a specified direction.
2. have an outlook in a specified direction.
3. have the appearance or give the impression of being.

noun
1. an act of looking.
2. an expression of a feeling or thought by looking at someone.
3. the appearance of someone or something.
4. (looks) a person's facial appearance considered aesthetically.
5. a style or fashion.

exclamation (also look here!)
used to call attention to what one is going to say.

IDIOMS -
look after take care of.
look at
1. regard in a specified way.
2. examine (a matter) and consider what action to take.
look before you leap proverb one shouldn't act without first considering the possible consequences or dangers.
look down on (also look down one's nose at) regard with a feeling of superiority.
look for attempt to find.
look in make a short visit or call.
look into investigate.
look like informal show a likelihood of.
look lively (or sharp) informal be quick; get moving.
look on watch without getting involved.
look out
1. be vigilant and take notice.
2. Brit. search for and produce (something).
look over inspect (something) to establish its merits.
look to
1. rely on (someone) to do something.
2. hope or expect to do.
3. archaic make sure.
look up
1. improve.
2. search for and find (a piece of information) in a reference work.
3. informal make social contact with.
look up to have a great deal of respect for.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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lookalike

noun
a person or thing that closely resembles another.

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looker

noun
1. a person with a specified appearance: she's not a bad looker.
2. informal a very attractive person.

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look-in

noun informal
a chance of participation or success.

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looking glass

noun
a mirror.

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lookout

noun
1. a place from which to keep watch or view landscape.
2. a person stationed to keep watch.
3. informal, chiefly Brit. a good or bad prospect or outcome.
4. (one's lookout) Brit. informal one's own concern.

IDIOMS -
be on the lookout (or keep a lookout) for
1. be alert to.
2. keep searching for.

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loom [1]

noun
an apparatus for making fabric by weaving yarn or thread.

ORIGIN: Old English, «tool».

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loom [2]

verb
1. appear as a vague form, especially one that is threatening.
2. (of an event regarded as threatening) seem about to happen.

ORIGIN: probably from Low German or Dutch.

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loony informal

noun (pl. loonies)
a mad or silly person.

adjective (loonier, looniest)
mad or silly.

DERIVATIVES:
looniness noun.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of LUNATIC.

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loop

noun
1. a shape produced by a curve that bends round and crosses itself.
2. (also loop-the-loop) a manoeuvre in which an aircraft describes a vertical circle in the air.
3. an endless strip of tape or film allowing continuous repetition.
4. a complete circuit for an electric current.
5. Computing a programmed sequence of instructions that is repeated until or while a particular condition is satisfied.
6. (also loop line) a length of railway track which is connected at either end to the main line.

verb
1. form into a loop or loops; encircle.
2. follow a course that forms a loop or loops.
3. put into or execute a loop of tape, film, or computing instructions.
4. (also loop the loop) circle an aircraft vertically in the air.

IDIOMS -
in (or out of) the loop informal, chiefly N. Amer. aware (or unaware) of information known to only a privileged few.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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loophole

noun
1. an ambiguity or inadequacy in the law or a set of rules.
2. an arrow slit in a wall.

ORIGIN: from obsolete loop «embrasure» + HOLE.

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loopy

adjective (loopier, loopiest) informal
mad or silly.

DERIVATIVES:
loopiness noun.

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loose

adjective
1. not firmly or tightly fixed in place.
2. not held, tied, or packaged together.
3. not bound or tethered.
4. not fitting tightly or closely.
5. not dense or compact.
6. relaxed: her loose, easy stride.
7. careless and indiscreet: loose talk.
8. not strict; inexact.
9. dated promiscuous or immoral.
10. (of the ball in a game) in play but not in any player's possession.

verb
1. unfasten or set free.
2. relax (one's grip).
3. (usu. loose off) discharge; fire.

IDIOMS -
hang (or stay) loose informal, chiefly N. Amer. be relaxed.
on the loose having escaped from confinement.

DERIVATIVES:
loosely adverb
looseness noun.
USAGE - The word loose is sometimes confused with lose; as a verb loose means ‘unfasten or set free’, while lose means ‘cease to have’ or ‘become unable to find’. It is therefore incorrect to say this would cause them to loose 20 percent , the correct version being … to lose 20 per cent.
ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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loose box

noun Brit.
a stable or stall in which a horse is kept without a tether.

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loose cannon

noun
an unpredictable person who is liable to cause unintentional damage.

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loose end

noun
a detail that is not yet settled or explained.

IDIOMS -
be at a loose end (or N. Amer. at loose ends) have nothing specific to do.

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loose-leaf

adjective
(of a notebook or folder) having each sheet of paper separate and removable.

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loosen

verb
1. make or become loose.
2. (loosen up) warm up in preparation for an activity.

IDIOMS -
loosen someone's tongue make someone talk freely.

DERIVATIVES:
loosener noun.

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loot

noun
1. private property taken from an enemy in war or stolen by thieves.
2. informal money.

verb
steal goods from somewhere, especially during a war or riot.

DERIVATIVES:
looter noun.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, 'rob' .

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lop

verb (lopped, lopping)
1. cut off (a branch or limb) from a tree or body.
2. informal remove (something unnecessary or burdensome).

noun (also lop and top)
branches and twigs lopped off trees.

DERIVATIVES:
lopper noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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lope

verb
run with a long bounding stride.

noun
a long bounding stride.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'leap' .

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lop-eared

adjective
(of an animal) having drooping ears.

DERIVATIVES:
lop ears plural noun.

ORIGIN: from archaic lop «hang loosely or limply».

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lopsided

adjective
with one side lower or smaller than the other.

DERIVATIVES:
lopsidedly adverb
lopsidedness noun.

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loquacious

adjective
talkative.

DERIVATIVES:
loquaciously adverb
loquaciousness noun
loquacity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin loquax, from loqui 'to talk' .

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lord

noun
1. a man of noble rank or high office.
2. (Lord) a title given formally to a baron, less formally to a marquess, earl, or viscount, and as a courtesy title to a younger son of a duke or marquess.
3. (the Lords) the House of Lords, or its members collectively.
4. a master or ruler.
5. (Lord) a name for God or Christ.

exclamation (Lord)
used in exclamations expressing surprise or worry, or for emphasis.

verb (lord it over)
act in a superior and domineering manner towards.

IDIOMS -
the Lord's Day Sunday.
the Lord's Prayer the prayer taught by Christ to his disciples, beginning ‘Our Father.’

ORIGIN: Old English, «bread-keeper»; compare with LADY.

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Lord Chamberlain (also Lord Chamberlain of the Household)

noun
(in the UK) the official in charge of the royal household, formerly the licenser of plays.

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Lord Chancellor

noun
(in the UK) the highest officer of the Crown, presiding in the House of Lords, the Chancery Division, or the Court of Appeal.

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Lord Chief Justice

noun
(in the UK) the officer presiding over the Queen's Bench Division and the Court of Appeal.

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Lord Lieutenant

noun
(in the UK) the chief executive authority and head of magistrates in each county.

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lordly

adjective (lordlier, lordliest)
of, characteristic of, or suitable for a lord.

DERIVATIVES:
lordliness noun.

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Lord Mayor

noun
the title of the mayor in London and some other large cities.

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Lord Privy Seal

noun
(in the UK) a senior cabinet minister without specified official duties.

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lordship

noun
1. supreme power or rule.
2. (His/Your etc. Lordship) a form of address to a judge, bishop, or titled man.
3. archaic the authority or state of being a lord.

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Lords spiritual

plural noun
the bishops in the House of Lords.

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Lords temporal

plural noun
the members of the House of Lords other than the bishops.

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lore

noun
a body of traditions and knowledge on a subject: farming lore.

ORIGIN: Old English, «instruction»; related to LEARN.

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lorgnette (also lorgnettes)

noun
a pair of glasses or opera glasses held by a long handle at one side.

ORIGIN: French, from lorgner 'to squint' .

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lorry

noun (pl. lorries) Brit.
a large, heavy motor vehicle for transporting goods or troops.

IDIOMS -
fall off of the back a lorry informal (of goods) be acquired in dubious circumstances.

ORIGIN: perhaps from the given name Laurie.

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lose

verb (past and past part. lost)
1. be deprived of or cease to have or retain.
2. become unable to find.
3. fail to win.
4. earn less (money) than one is spending.
5. waste or fail to take advantage of.
6. (be lost) be destroyed or killed.
7. evade or shake off (a pursuer).
8. (lose oneself in/be lost in) be or become deeply absorbed in.
9. (of a watch or clock) become slow by (a specified amount of time).

IDIOMS -
lose face lose one's credibility.
lose heart become discouraged.
lose it informal lose control of one's temper or emotions.
lose one's mind (or marbles) informal go insane.
lose out be disadvantaged.
lose one's (or the) way become lost.

USAGE - On the confusion of lose and loose, see the note at LOOSE.
ORIGIN: Old English, «perish, destroy», also «become unable to find».

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loser

noun
1. a person or thing that loses or has lost.
2. informal a person who fails frequently.

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losing battle

noun
a struggle in which failure seems certain.

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loss

noun
1. the fact or process of losing something or someone.
2. the feeling of grief after losing a valued person or thing.
3. a person or thing that is badly missed when lost.
4. a defeat in sport.

IDIOMS -
at a loss
1. uncertain or puzzled.
2. making less money than is spent in operation or production.

ORIGIN: Old English, «destruction».

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loss-leader

noun
a product sold at a loss to attract customers.

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lost
past and past participle of LOSE.
IDIOMS -
be lost for words be so surprised or upset that one cannot think what to say.
be lost on fail to be noticed or appreciated by.
get lost! informal go away!

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lost cause

noun
a person or thing that can no longer hope to succeed or be changed for the better.

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lot

pronoun informal
1. (a lot or lots) a large number or amount; a great deal.
2. (the lot) chiefly Brit. the whole number or quantity.

adverb (a lot or lots) informal
a great deal.

noun
1. (treated as sing. or pl. ) informal a particular group or set of people or things.
2. an item or set of items for sale at an auction.
3. a method of deciding something by random selection, especially of one from a number of pieces of paper.
4. a person's destiny, luck, or condition in life.
5. chiefly N. Amer. a plot of land.
6. (also parking lot) N. Amer. a car park.

verb (lotted, lotting)
divide into lots for sale at an auction.

IDIOMS -
draw (or cast) lots decide by lot.
fall to someone's lot become someone's task or responsibility.
throw in one's lot with decide to share the fate of.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Lothario

noun (pl. Lotharios)
a womanizer.

ORIGIN: from a character in Nicholas Rowe's tragedy The Fair Penitent (1703).

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lotion

noun
a thick liquid preparation applied to the skin as a medicine or cosmetic.

ORIGIN: Latin, from lavare 'to wash' .

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lottery

noun (pl. lotteries)
1. a means of raising money by selling numbered tickets and giving prizes to the holders of numbers drawn at random.
2. something whose success is governed by chance.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch loterij, from lot 'lot' .

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lotus

noun
1. a large water lily.
2. (in Greek mythology) a legendary plant whose fruit induces a dreamy forgetfulness and an unwillingness to leave.

ORIGIN: Greek ltos, from Semitic.

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lotus position

noun
a cross-legged position for meditation, with the feet resting on the thighs.

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louche

adjective
disreputable or dubious in a rakish or appealing way.

ORIGIN: French, 'squinting' .

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loud

adjective
1. producing or capable of producing much noise.
2. strong in expression: loud protests.
3. obtrusive or gaudy.

adverb
with a great deal of volume.

IDIOMS -
out loud audibly.

DERIVATIVES:
louden verb
loudly adverb
loudness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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loudhailer

noun chiefly Brit.
a megaphone.

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loudmouth

noun informal
a person who talks too much, especially tactlessly.

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loudspeaker

noun
an apparatus that converts electrical impulses into sound.

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lounge

verb
recline or stand in a relaxed or lazy way.

noun
1. Brit. a sitting room.
2. a public sitting room in a hotel or theatre.
3. a seating area in an airport for waiting passengers.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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lounge bar

noun Brit.
a bar in a pub or hotel that is more comfortable or smarter than the public bar.

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lounger

noun
1. a comfortable chair, especially an outdoor chair that reclines.
2. a person spending their time lazily or in a relaxed way.

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lounge suit

noun Brit.
a man's suit for ordinary day wear.

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lour (also lower)

verb
1. scowl.
2. (of the sky) look dark and threatening.

noun
1. a scowl.
2. a louring appearance of the sky.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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louse

noun
1. (pl. lice) a small wingless parasitic insect which infests human skin and hair.
2. (pl. lice) a related insect which lives on the skin of mammals or birds.
3. (pl. louses) informal a contemptible person.

verb (louse up) informal
spoil (something).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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lousy

adjective (lousier, lousiest)
1. informal very poor or bad.
2. infested with lice.
3. (lousy with) informal teeming with (something undesirable).

DERIVATIVES:
lousily adverb
lousiness noun.

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lout

noun
an uncouth or aggressive man or boy.

DERIVATIVES:
loutish adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from archaic lout «to bow down».

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louvre (US also louver)

noun
1. each of a set of angled slats fixed at regular intervals in a door, shutter, or cover to allow air or light through.
2. a domed structure on a roof, with side openings for ventilation.

DERIVATIVES:
louvred adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French lover, lovier 'skylight' .

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lovable (also loveable)

adjective
inspiring love or affection.

DERIVATIVES:
lovableness noun
lovably adverb.

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lovage

noun
a large edible white-flowered plant of the parsley family.

ORIGIN: Old French luvesche, from Latin ligusticus 'of or from Liguria (in NW Italy)' .

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love

noun
1. an intense feeling of deep affection.
2. a deep romantic or sexual attachment to someone.
3. a great interest and pleasure in something.
4. a person or thing that one loves.
5. (in tennis, squash, etc.) a score of zero. [ORIGIN: apparently from the phrase play for love (i.e. the love of the game, not for money).]

verb
1. feel love for.
2. like very much.
3. (loving) showing love or great care.

IDIOMS -
love me, love my dog proverb if you love someone, you must accept everything about them, even their faults or weaknesses.
make love
1. have sexual intercourse.
2. (make love to) dated pay amorous attention to.
there's no love lost between there is mutual dislike between.

DERIVATIVES:
loveless adjective
lovingly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LEAVE and LIEF.

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love affair

noun
1. a romantic or sexual relationship, especially outside marriage.
2. an intense enthusiasm for something.

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lovebird

noun
1. a very small African or Madagascan parrot, noted for the affectionate behaviour of mated birds.
2. (lovebirds) informal an affectionate couple.

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love bite

noun
a temporary red mark on the skin caused by biting or sucking during sexual play.

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love child

noun
a child born to parents who are not married to each other.

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lovelorn

adjective
unhappy because of unrequited love.

ORIGIN: from LOVE + past participle of obsolete lese «lose».

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lovely

adjective (lovelier, loveliest)
1. exquisitely beautiful.
2. informal very pleasant.

noun (pl. lovelies) informal
a beautiful woman or girl.

DERIVATIVES:
loveliness noun.

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love nest

noun informal
a secluded place where two lovers spend time together.

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lover

noun
1. a person having a sexual or romantic relationship with another.
2. a person who enjoys a specified thing: a music lover.

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lovesick

adjective
pining or feeling weak due to being in love.

DERIVATIVES:
lovesickness noun.

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lovey-dovey

adjective informal
very affectionate or romantic.

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low [1]

adjective
1. of less than average height.
2. situated not far above the ground, horizon, etc.
3. below average in amount, extent, or intensity.
4. lacking importance, prestige, or quality; inferior.
5. (of a sound) deep.
6. (of a sound) not loud.
7. unfavourable: a low opinion.
8. depressed or lacking energy.
9. unscrupulous or dishonest.

noun
1. a low point, level or figure.
2. an area of low barometric pressure.

adverb
1. in or into a low position or state.
2. quietly or at a low pitch.

DERIVATIVES:
lowish adjective
lowness noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, related to LIE.

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low [2]

verb
(of a cow) moo.

noun
a moo.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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lowbrow

adjective informal, chiefly derogatory
not highly intellectual or cultured.

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Low Church

noun
a tradition within the Anglican Church giving relatively little emphasis to ritual and sacraments.

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low-down informal

adjective
mean and unfair.

noun (the low-down)
the relevant information.

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lower [1]

adjective comparative of LOW.
1. less high.
2. Geology & Archaeology older (and hence forming more deeply buried strata): the Lower Cretaceous.
3. (in place names ) situated to the south.

DERIVATIVES:
lowermost adjective.

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lower case

noun
small or non-capital letters.

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lower class

noun
the working class.

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lower house (also lower chamber)

noun
1. the larger, typically elected, body of a parliament with two chambers.
2. (the Lower House) (in the UK) the House of Commons.

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lowest common denominator

noun
1. Mathematics the lowest common multiple of the denominators of several vulgar fractions.
2. the least desirable common feature of members of a group.

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lowest common multiple

noun Mathematics
the lowest quantity that is a multiple of two or more given quantities.

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low frequency

noun
(in radio) 30 300 kilohertz.

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low gear

noun
a gear that causes a wheeled vehicle to move slowly.

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low-key

adjective
modest or restrained.

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lowland

noun
1. (also lowlands) low-lying country.
2. (the Lowlands) the part of Scotland lying south and east of the Highlands.

DERIVATIVES:
lowlander noun.

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low-level

adjective
1. of relatively little importance.
2. Computing denoting a programming language that is close to machine code in form.

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low life

noun
1. disreputable or criminal people or activities.
2. (lowlife) informal a disreputable or criminal person.

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lowlight

noun
1. (lowlights) darker dyed streaks in the hair.
2. informal a disappointing or dull event or feature.

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lowly

adjective (lowlier, lowliest)
1. low in status or importance.
2. (of an organism) primitive or simple.

adverb
to a low degree.

DERIVATIVES:
lowliness noun.

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low-lying

adjective
at low altitude above sea level.

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low-rise

adjective
(of a building) having few storeys.

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low season

noun Brit.
the least popular time of year for a holiday, when prices are lowest.

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low spirits

plural noun
sadness and despondency.

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low tide

noun
the state of the tide when at its lowest level.

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low water

noun
low tide.

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low-water mark

noun
1. the level reached by the sea at low tide.
2. a minimum recorded level or value.

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loyal

adjective
showing firm and constant support or allegiance to a person or institution.

DERIVATIVES:
loyally adverb.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin legalis 'legal' .

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loyalist

noun
1. a person who remains loyal to the established ruler or government.
2. (Loyalist) a supporter of union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

DERIVATIVES:
loyalism noun.

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loyalty

noun (pl. loyalties)
1. the state of being loyal.
2. a strong feeling of support or allegiance.

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lozenge

noun
1. a rhombus or diamond shape.
2. a small medicinal tablet, originally of this shape, sucked to soothe a sore throat.

ORIGIN: Old French losenge, probably from Latin lausiae lapides 'stone slabs' .

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LP

abbreviation
long-playing (gramophone record).

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L-plate

noun Brit.
a sign bearing the letter L, attached to a vehicle to indicate that the driver is a learner.

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LSD

noun
a synthetic crystalline compound, lysergic acid diethylamide, which is a powerful hallucinogenic drug.

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Lt

abbreviation
Lieutenant.

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Ltd

abbreviation Brit.
(after a company name) Limited.

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lubricant

noun
a substance, e.g. oil or grease, for lubricating an engine or component.

adjective
lubricating.

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lubricate

verb
apply oil or grease to (an engine or component) to minimize friction.

DERIVATIVES:
lubrication noun
lubricator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin lubricare 'make slippery' , from lubricus 'slippery' .

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lubricious (also lubricous)

adjective
1. lewd.
2. smooth and slippery with oil or grease.

DERIVATIVES:
lubriciously adverb
lubricity noun.

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lucent

adjective literary
shining.

DERIVATIVES:
lucency noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin lucere 'shine' .

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lucid

adjective
1. clear; easy to understand.
2. showing an ability to think clearly.
3. literary bright or luminous.

DERIVATIVES:
lucidity noun
lucidly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin lucidus, from lux 'light' .

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Lucifer

noun
1. the Devil.
2. literary the planet Venus in the morning.
3. (lucifer) archaic a match.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'light-bringing, morning star' .

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luck

noun
1. success or failure apparently brought by chance.
2. chance considered as a force causing success or failure.
3. good fortune.

verb informal
1. (luck into/upon) chance to find or acquire.
2. (luck out) N. Amer. succeed due to good luck.

IDIOMS -
one's luck is in one is fortunate.
no such luck informal unfortunately not.
try one's luck attempt something risky.
worse luck informal unfortunately.

ORIGIN: Low German lucke.

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luckily

adverb
it is fortunate that.

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luckless

adjective
unfortunate.

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lucky

adjective (luckier, luckiest)
having, bringing, or resulting from good luck.

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lucky dip

noun Brit.
a game in which small prizes are concealed in a container and chosen at random by participants.

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lucrative

adjective
profitable.

DERIVATIVES:
lucratively adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin lucrativus, from lucrari 'to gain' .

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lucre

noun literary
money, especially when gained dishonourably.

ORIGIN: Latin lucrum.

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Luddite

noun
1. a member of any of the bands of English workers who opposed mechanization and destroyed machinery in the early 19th century.
2. a person opposed to industrialization or new technology.

DERIVATIVES:
Luddism noun
Ludditism noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps named after Ned Lud, a participant in the destruction of machinery.

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ludicrous

adjective
absurd; ridiculous.

DERIVATIVES:
ludicrously adverb
ludicrousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin ludicrus, probably from ludicrum 'stage play' .

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ludo

noun Brit.
a board game in which players move counters according to throws of a dice.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'I play' .

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luff

noun Sailing
the edge of a fore-and-aft sail next to the mast or stay.

verb
1. steer (a yacht) nearer the wind.
2. raise or lower (the jib of a crane).

ORIGIN: Old French lof.

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lug [1]

verb (lugged, lugging)
carry or drag with great effort.

noun
a box for transporting fruit.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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lug [2]

noun
1. Scottish & N. English or informal an ear.
2. a projection on an object by which it may be carried or fixed in place.
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. a lout.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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luge

noun
a light toboggan ridden in a sitting or lying position.

verb
ride on a luge.

ORIGIN: Swiss French.

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luggage

noun
suitcases or other bags for a traveller's belongings.

ORIGIN: from LUG.

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lugger

noun
a small ship with two or three masts and a lugsail on each.

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lugubrious

adjective
mournful; sad and dismal.

DERIVATIVES:
lugubriously adverb
lugubriousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin lugubris, from lugere 'mourn' .

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lugworm

noun
a bristle worm living in muddy sand and leaving characteristic worm casts, used as fishing bait.

ORIGIN: from earlier lug 'lugworm' , of unknown origin.

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lukewarm

adjective
1. only moderately warm.
2. unenthusiastic.

ORIGIN: from dialect luke, related to LEE.

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lull

verb
1. calm or send to sleep with soothing sounds or movements.
2. cause to feel deceptively secure.
3. allay (doubts, fears, etc.), typically by deception.
4. (of noise or a storm) abate.

noun
a temporary period of quiet or inactivity.

ORIGIN: imitative of sounds used to quieten a child.

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lullaby

noun (pl. lullabies)
a soothing song sung to send a child to sleep.

ORIGIN: from LULL + bye-bye, a sound used as a refrain in lullabies.

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lumbago

noun
pain in the lower back.

ORIGIN: Latin, from lumbus 'loin' .

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lumbar

adjective
relating to the lower back.

ORIGIN: Latin lumbaris, from lumbus 'loin' .

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lumber

verb
move in a slow, heavy, awkward way.

ORIGIN: perhaps symbolic of clumsy movement.

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lumberjack (also lumberman)

noun
a person who fells trees, cuts them into logs, or transports them.

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lumen

noun Physics
the SI unit of luminous flux, equal to the amount of light emitted per second in a unit solid angle of one steradian from a uniform source of one candela.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'light' .

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luminary

noun (pl. luminaries)
1. a person who inspires or influences others.
2. literary a natural light-giving body, especially the sun or moon.

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luminescence

noun
the emission of light by a substance that has not been heated, as in fluorescence and phosphorescence.

DERIVATIVES:
luminescent adjective.

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luminosity

noun
luminous quality.

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luminous

adjective
1. bright or shining, especially in the dark.
2. Physics relating to visible light.

DERIVATIVES:
luminously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin luminosus, from lumen 'light' .

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lump [1]

noun
1. a compact mass, especially one without a definite or regular shape.
2. a swelling under the skin.
3. informal a heavy, ungainly, or slow-witted person.
4. (the lump) Brit. informal casual employment in the building trade.

verb
1. (often lump together) treat as alike, regardless of particulars.
2. Brit. carry (a heavy load) somewhere with difficulty.

IDIOMS -
a lump in the throat a feeling of tightness in the throat caused by strong emotion.

ORIGIN: perhaps Germanic.

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lump [2]

verb (lump it) informal
accept or tolerate something whether one likes it or not.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'look sulky' : symbolic.

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lumpectomy

noun (pl. lumpectomies)
a surgical operation in which a lump, typically a tumour, is removed from the breast.

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lumpen

adjective
1. lumpy and misshapen.
2. boorish and stupid.
3. (in Marxist contexts) uninterested in revolutionary advancement.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of LUMPENPROLETARIAT.

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lumpish

adjective
1. roughly or clumsily formed.
2. stupid and lethargic.

DERIVATIVES:
lumpishly adverb
lumpishness noun.

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lump sum

noun
a single payment made at one time, as opposed to many instalments.

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lumpy

adjective (lumpier, lumpiest)
1. full of or covered with lumps.
2. (of water) formed by the wind into small waves.

DERIVATIVES:
lumpily adverb
lumpiness noun.

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lunacy

noun (pl. lunacies)
1. insanity (not in technical use).
2. extreme folly.

ORIGIN: from LUNATIC.

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lunar

adjective
of, determined by, or resembling the moon.

ORIGIN: from Latin luna 'moon' .

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lunar eclipse

noun
an eclipse in which the moon passes into the earth's shadow.

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lunar month

noun
1. a month measured between successive new moons (roughly 291 / 2 days).
2. (in general use) four weeks.

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lunatic

noun
1. a person who is mentally ill (not in technical use).
2. an extremely foolish person.

ORIGIN: Latin lunaticus, from luna 'moon' (from the belief that changes of the moon caused intermittent insanity).

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lunatic fringe

noun
an extreme or eccentric minority.

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lunch

noun
a meal eaten in the middle of the day.

verb
eat lunch.

IDIOMS -
out to lunch informal unbalanced or stupid.
there's no such thing as a free lunch proverb it isn't possible to get something for nothing.

DERIVATIVES:
luncher noun.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of LUNCHEON.

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luncheon

noun formal
lunch.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «thick piece, hunk»: possibly from Spanish lonja 'slice' .

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luncheon meat

noun
finely minced cooked pork mixed with cereal, sold in a tin.

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luncheon voucher

noun Brit.
a voucher given to employees and exchangeable for food at restaurants and shops.

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lung

noun
each of the pair of organs within the ribcage into which air is drawn in breathing, so that oxygen can pass into the blood and carbon dioxide be removed.

DERIVATIVES:
lunged adjective
lungful noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LIGHT and LIGHTS.

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lunge

noun
1. a sudden forward movement of the body.
2. a thrust in fencing, in which the leading leg is bent while the back leg remains straightened.

verb (lunging or lungeing)
make a lunge.

ORIGIN: from French allonger 'lengthen' .

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lupin (also lupine pronunc. same)

noun
a plant with deeply divided leaves and tall colourful tapering spikes of flowers.

ORIGIN: Latin lupinus.

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lupine

adjective
of or like a wolf or wolves.

ORIGIN: Latin lupinus, from lupus 'wolf' .

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lurch [1]

noun
a sudden unsteady movement.

verb
make such a movement; stagger.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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lurch [2]

noun (in phrase leave in the lurch)
leave (someone) in a difficult situation without assistance or support.

ORIGIN: French lourche, a game resembling backgammon, used in the phrase demeurer lourche 'be discomfited' .

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lurcher

noun Brit.
a cross-bred dog, typically a retriever, collie, or sheepdog crossed with a greyhound, originally used for hunting and by poachers.

ORIGIN: from obsolete lurch, variant of LURK.

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lure

verb
tempt to do something or to go somewhere.

noun
1. a thing that lures a person or animal to do something.
2. the attractive qualities of a person or thing.
3. a type of bait used in fishing or hunting.
4. Falconry a bunch of feathers with a piece of meat attached to a long string, swung around the head of a falconer to recall a hawk.

ORIGIN: Old French luere.

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lurex

noun trademark
yarn or fabric incorporating a glittering metallic thread.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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lurid

adjective
1. unpleasantly vivid in colour.
2. (of a description) shocking or sensational.

DERIVATIVES:
luridly adverb
luridness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «pale and dismal»: from Latin luridus, related to luror 'wan or yellow colour' .

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lurk

verb
1. be or remain hidden so as to wait in ambush.
2. be present in a latent or barely discernible state.

noun Austral./NZ informal
a dodge or scheme.

DERIVATIVES:
lurker noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from LOUR.

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luscious

adjective
1. having a pleasingly rich, sweet taste.
2. richly verdant or opulent.
3. (of a woman) sexually attractive.

DERIVATIVES:
lusciously adverb
lusciousness noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of obsolete licious, shortened form of DELICIOUS.

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lush [1]

adjective
1. (of vegetation) luxuriant.
2. rich or luxurious.
3. informal sexually attractive.

DERIVATIVES:
lushly adverb
lushness noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French lasche «lax», by association with LUSCIOUS.

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lush [2]

noun informal, chiefly N. Amer.
a drunkard.

ORIGIN: perhaps a humorous use of LUSH.

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lust

noun
1. strong sexual desire.
2. a passionate desire for something.
3. Theology a sensuous appetite regarded as sinful.

verb (usu. lust for/after)
feel lust for someone or something.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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lustful

adjective
filled with lust; lecherous.

DERIVATIVES:
lustfully adverb
lustfulness noun.

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lustre (US luster)

noun
1. a gentle sheen or soft glow.
2. glory or distinction.
3. a thin metallic coating giving an iridescent glaze to ceramics.
4. (also lustreware) ceramics with an iridescent metallic glaze.
5. a fabric or yarn with a sheen.

DERIVATIVES:
lustred adjective
lustreless adjective.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin lustrare 'illuminate' .

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lustrous

adjective
having lustre; shining.

DERIVATIVES:
lustrously adverb
lustrousness noun.

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lusty

adjective (lustier, lustiest)
healthy and strong; vigorous.

DERIVATIVES:
lustily adverb
lustiness noun.

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lute

noun
a stringed instrument with a long neck and a rounded body with a flat front, played by plucking.

ORIGIN: Old French lut, leut, probably from Arabic.

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lutenist (also lutanist)

noun
a lute player.

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Lutheran

noun
1. a follower of the German protestant theologian Martin Luther (1483 1546).
2. a member of the Lutheran Church.

adjective
1. of or characterized by the theology of Martin Luther.
2. relating to the Lutheran Church.

DERIVATIVES:
Lutheranism noun.

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lux

noun (pl. same)
the SI unit of illuminance, equal to one lumen per square metre.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'light' .

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luxe

noun
luxury.

ORIGIN: French.

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luxuriant

adjective
1. (of vegetation) rich and profuse in growth.
2. (of hair) thick and healthy.

DERIVATIVES:
luxuriance noun
luxuriantly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin luxuriare 'grow rankly' , from luxuria 'luxury, rankness' .

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luxuriate

verb (luxuriate in/over)
enjoy as a luxury.

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luxurious

adjective
1. characterized by luxury.
2. giving self-indulgent pleasure.

DERIVATIVES:
luxuriously adverb
luxuriousness noun.

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luxury

noun (pl. luxuries)
1. the state of great comfort and extravagant living.
2. an inessential but desirable item.

adjective
of the nature of a luxury.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «lechery»: from Latin luxuria, from luxus 'excess' .

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LVO

abbreviation
Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order.

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lx

abbreviation Physics
lux.

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-ly

suffix forming adjectives meaning:
1. having the qualities of: brotherly.
2. recurring at intervals of: hourly.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LIKE.

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lychee (also litchi)

noun
a small rounded fruit with sweet white scented flesh, a large stone, and thin rough skin.

ORIGIN: Chinese.

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lychgate

noun
a roofed gateway to a churchyard, formerly used at burials for sheltering a coffin until the clergyman's arrival.

ORIGIN: from Old English lc «body».

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Lycra

noun trademark
an elastic polyurethane fibre or fabric used especially for close-fitting sports clothing.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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lye

noun
a strongly alkaline solution, especially of potassium hydroxide, used for washing or cleansing.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to LATHER.

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lymph

noun
1. a colourless fluid containing white blood cells, which bathes the tissues and drains through the lymphatic system into the bloodstream.
2. fluid exuding from a sore or inflamed tissue.

ORIGIN: Latin lympha, limpa 'water' .

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lymphatic

adjective
1. relating to lymph or its secretion.
2. archaic (of a person) pale, flabby, or sluggish.

noun
a vein-like vessel conveying lymph in the body.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'frenzied, mad' : from Greek numpholptos 'seized by nymphs' ; now associated with LYMPH.

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lymphatic system

noun
the network of vessels through which lymph drains from the tissues into the blood.

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lymph node (also lymph gland)

noun
each of a number of small swellings in the lymphatic system where lymph is filtered and lymphocytes are formed.

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lymphocyte

noun
a form of small leucocyte (white blood cell) with a single round nucleus, occurring especially in the lymphatic system.

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lymphoma

noun (pl. lymphomas or lymphomata)
cancer of the lymph nodes.

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lynch

verb
(of a group) kill (someone) for an alleged offence without a legal trial, especially by hanging.

DERIVATIVES:
lyncher noun.

ORIGIN: from Lynch's law, named after Captain William Lynch, head of a self-constituted judicial tribunal in Virginia c.1780.

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lynx

noun
a wild cat with a short tail and tufted ears.

ORIGIN: Greek lunx.

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lyre

noun
a stringed instrument like a small U-shaped harp with strings fixed to a crossbar, used especially in ancient Greece.

ORIGIN: Greek lura.

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lyric

noun
1. (also lyrics) the words of a song.
2. a lyric poem or verse.

adjective
1. (of poetry) expressing the writer's emotions, usually briefly and in stanzas or recognized forms.
2. (of a singing voice) using a light register.

ORIGIN: Greek lurikos, from lura 'lyre' .

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lyrical

adjective
1. (of literature, art, or music) expressing the writer's emotions in an imaginative and beautiful way.
2. (of poetry) lyric.
3. relating to the words of a popular song.

IDIOMS -
wax lyrical talk in a highly enthusiastic and effusive way.

DERIVATIVES:
lyrically adverb.

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lyricism

noun
an artist's expression of emotion in an imaginative and beautiful way.

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lyricist

noun
a person who writes the words to popular songs.

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M

M [1] (also m)

noun (pl. Ms or M's)
1. the thirteenth letter of the alphabet.
2. the Roman numeral for 1,000. [ORIGIN: from Latin mille.]

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M [2]

abbreviation
1. male.
2. medium.
3. mega-.
4. Monsieur.
5. motorway.

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m

abbreviation
1. married.
2. masculine.
3. Physics mass.
4. Chemistry meta-.
5. metre(s).
6. mile(s).
7. milli-.
8. million(s).
9. minute(s).

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MA

abbreviation
1. Massachusetts.
2. Master of Arts.

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ma

noun informal
one's mother.

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ma'am

noun
madam.

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mac

noun Brit. informal
a mackintosh.

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macabre

adjective
disturbing and horrifying because concerned with death and injury.

ORIGIN: French, from Danse Macabre 'dance of death' , perhaps from Macabé 'a Maccabee' (a member of a 2nd-century BC Jewish sect led by Judas Maccabaeus), with reference to a miracle play depicting the slaughter of the Maccabees.

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macadam

noun
broken stone used with tar or bitumen for surfacing roads and paths.

ORIGIN: named after the British surveyor John L. McAdam (1756 1836).

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macadamia

noun
the round edible nut of an Australian tree.

ORIGIN: named after the Australian chemist John Macadam (1827 65).

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macaque

noun
a medium-sized monkey with a long face and cheek pouches for holding food.

ORIGIN: from Bantu makaku 'some monkeys' .

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macaroni

noun
1. pasta in the form of narrow tubes.
2. (pl. macaronies) an 18th-century British dandy affecting Continental fashions.

ORIGIN: Italian maccaroni, from Greek makaria 'food made from barley' .

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macaroon

noun
a light biscuit made with egg white and ground almonds or coconut.

ORIGIN: French macaron, from Italian maccarone 'macaroni' .

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macaw

noun
a large long-tailed parrot with brightly coloured plumage, native to Central and South America.

ORIGIN: Portuguese macau.

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mace [1]

noun
1. historical a heavy club with a spiked metal head.
2. a staff of office, especially the symbol of the Speaker's authority in the House of Commons.
3. (Mace) trademark an irritant chemical used in an aerosol to disable attackers.

ORIGIN: Old French masse 'large hammer' .

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mace [2]

noun
the reddish outer covering of the nutmeg, dried as a spice.

ORIGIN: Latin macir.

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macerate

verb
soften or break up (food) by soaking in a liquid.

DERIVATIVES:
maceration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin macerare.

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Mach

noun
used with a numeral (as Mach 1, Mach 2, etc.) to indicate the speed of sound, twice the speed of sound, etc.

ORIGIN: named after the Austrian physicist Ernst Mach (1838 1916).

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machete

noun
a broad, heavy knife used as an implement or weapon.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from macho 'hammer' .

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Machiavellian

adjective
cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous.

ORIGIN: from the name of the Italian statesman and writer Niccolò Machiavelli (1469 1527), whose work The Prince (1532) advises that the acquisition and use of power may necessitate unethical methods.

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machinations

plural noun
plots and intrigues; scheming.

ORIGIN: Latin, from machinari 'contrive' .

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machine

noun
1. an apparatus using mechanical power and having several parts, for performing a particular task.
2. an efficient and well-organized group of powerful people.

verb
make or operate on with a machine.

ORIGIN: Greek mkhan, from mkhos 'contrivance' .

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machine code (also machine language)

noun
a computer programming language consisting of instructions which a computer can respond to directly.

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machine gun

noun
an automatic gun that fires bullets in rapid succession for as long as the trigger is pressed.

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machine-readable

adjective
in a form that a computer can process.

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machinery

noun
1. machines collectively, or the components of a machine.
2. the organization or structure of something.

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machine tool

noun
a fixed powered tool for cutting or shaping metal, wood, etc.

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machinist

noun
a person who operates a machine or who makes machinery.

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machismo

noun
strong or aggressive masculine pride.

ORIGIN: Mexican Spanish, from macho 'male' .

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macho

adjective
aggressively masculine.

ORIGIN: Mexican Spanish.

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mackerel

noun
a fast-swimming sea fish with a greenish-blue back, important as a food fish.

ORIGIN: Old French maquerel.

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mackintosh (also macintosh)

noun Brit.
a full-length waterproof coat.

ORIGIN: named after the Scottish inventor Charles Macintosh (1766 1843).

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macramé

noun
the craft of knotting cord or string in patterns to make decorative articles.

ORIGIN: French, from Turkish, 'tablecloth or towel' .

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macro-

combining form
1. long; over a long period: macroevolution.
2. large or large-scale: macrocosm.

ORIGIN: from Greek makros 'long, large' .

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macrobiotic

adjective
(of diet) consisting of pure wholefoods, based on Buddhist principles of the balance of yin and yang.

ORIGIN: from Greek makros 'long' + bios 'life' .

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macrocosm

noun
1. the whole of a complex structure.
2. the universe; the cosmos.

DERIVATIVES:
macrocosmic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek makros kosmos 'big world' .

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macroeconomics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the branch of economics concerned with large-scale or general economic factors, such as interest rates.

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macromolecule

noun Chemistry
a molecule containing a very large number of atoms, such as a protein, nucleic acid, or synthetic polymer.

DERIVATIVES:
macromolecular adjective.

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macron

noun
a written or printed mark (¯) used to indicate a long vowel in some languages, or a stressed vowel in verse.

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macroscopic

adjective
1. visible to the naked eye; not microscopic.
2. relating to large-scale or general analysis.

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mad

adjective (madder, maddest)
1. mentally ill.
2. extremely foolish or ill-advised.
3. showing impulsiveness, confusion, or frenzy.
4. informal very enthusiastic about something.
5. informal very angry.
6. (of a dog) rabid.

DERIVATIVES:
madly adverb
madness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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madam

noun
1. a polite form of address for a woman.
2. Brit. informal a conceited or precocious girl.
3. a female brothel-keeper.

ORIGIN: French ma dame 'my lady' .

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Madame

noun (pl. Mesdames)
a title or form of address for a French-speaking woman.

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madcap

adjective
impulsive or reckless.

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madden

verb
1. drive insane.
2. irritate or annoy greatly.

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madder

noun
a red dye or pigment obtained from the roots of a plant.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Madeira

noun
a fortified white wine from the island of Madeira.

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Madeira cake

noun Brit.
a close-textured, rich kind of sponge cake.

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Mademoiselle

noun (pl. Mesdemoiselles)
a title or form of address for an unmarried French-speaking woman.

ORIGIN: French, from ma 'my' + demoiselle 'damsel' .

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made-up

adjective
1. wearing make-up.
2. invented; untrue.

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madhouse

noun
1. historical a mental institution.
2. informal a scene of extreme confusion or uproar.

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madman

noun
1. a man who is mentally ill.
2. a foolish or reckless person.

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Madonna

noun (the Madonna)
the Virgin Mary.

ORIGIN: Italian, from ma 'my' + donna 'lady' .

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madras

noun
1. a strong cotton fabric, typically patterned with colourful stripes or checks.
2. a hot spiced curry dish.

ORIGIN: named after the Indian city of Madras.

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madrigal

noun
a 16th- or 17th-century part song for several voices, typically unaccompanied.

ORIGIN: Italian madrigale, from Latin carmen matricale 'simple song' .

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maelstrom

noun
1. a powerful whirlpool.
2. a scene of confused movement or upheaval.

ORIGIN: Dutch, from maalen 'grind, whirl' + stroom 'stream' .

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maenad

noun
(in ancient Greece) a female follower of the god Bacchus, traditionally associated with frenzied rites.

ORIGIN: Greek Mainas, from mainesthai 'to rave' .

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maestro

noun (pl. maestri or maestros)
1. a distinguished male conductor or performer of classical music.
2. a distinguished man in any sphere.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'master' .

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MAFF

abbreviation
(in the UK) Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food.

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Mafia

noun
1. (the Mafia) an international criminal organization originating in Sicily.
2. (mafia) a group exerting a hidden sinister influence.

ORIGIN: Italian, originally meaning 'bragging' .

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Mafioso

noun (pl. Mafiosi)
a member of the Mafia.

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magazine

noun
1. a periodical publication containing articles and illustrations.
2. a regular television or radio programme comprising a variety of items.
3. a chamber holding a supply of cartridges to be fed automatically to the breech of a gun.
4. a store for arms, ammunition, and explosives.

ORIGIN: French magasin, from an Arabic word meaning 'storehouse' .

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magenta

noun
1. a light mauvish crimson.
2. the dye fuchsin.

ORIGIN: named after Magenta in Italy, site of a battle (1859) fought shortly before the dye was discovered.

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maggot

noun
a soft-bodied legless larva, especially one of a fly or other insect and found in decaying matter.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of dialect maddock, from Old Norse.

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magic

noun
1. the power of apparently influencing events by using mysterious or supernatural forces.
2. conjuring tricks performed to entertain.
3. mysterious and enchanting quality.
4. informal exceptional skill or talent.

adjective
1. having or apparently having supernatural powers.
2. informal very exciting or good.

verb (magicked, magicking)
move, change, or create by or as if by magic.

DERIVATIVES:
magical adjective
magically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek magik tekhn 'art of a magus' : magi were regarded as magicians.

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magician

noun
1. a person with magical powers.
2. a conjuror.

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magic lantern

noun
a simple form of projector formerly used for showing photographic slides.

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magisterial

adjective
1. very authoritative.
2. domineering; dictatorial.
3. relating to a magistrate.

DERIVATIVES:
magisterially adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin magister 'master' .

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magistracy

noun (pl. magistracies)
1. the office or authority of a magistrate.
2. magistrates collectively.

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magistrate

noun
a civil officer who administers the law, especially one who conducts a court concerned with minor offences and holds preliminary hearings for more serious ones.

ORIGIN: Latin magistratus 'administrator' , from magister 'master' .

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magma

noun
hot fluid or semi-fluid material within the earth's crust from which lava and other igneous rock is formed by cooling.

ORIGIN: Greek, from massein 'knead' .

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magnanimous

adjective
generous or forgiving, especially towards a rival or less powerful person.

DERIVATIVES:
magnanimity noun
magnanimously adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin magnus 'great' + animus 'soul' .

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magnate

noun
a wealthy and influential person, especially in business.

ORIGIN: Latin magnas 'great man' .

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magnesia

noun
1. magnesium oxide.
2. hydrated magnesium carbonate used as an antacid and laxative.

ORIGIN: Greek, denoting a mineral from Magnesia in Asia Minor.

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magnesium

noun
a silvery-white metallic element which burns with a brilliant white flame.

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magnet

noun
1. a piece of iron or other material that has the property of attracting similar objects or aligning itself in an external magnetic field.
2. a person or thing that has a powerful attraction.

ORIGIN: from Greek magns lithos 'lodestone' .

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magnetic

adjective
1. having the property of magnetism.
2. very attractive or alluring.

DERIVATIVES:
magnetically adverb.

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magnetic field

noun
a region around a magnet within which the force of magnetism acts.

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magnetic north

noun
the direction in which the north end of a compass needle will point in response to the earth's magnetic field.

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magnetic pole

noun
1. each of the points near the extremities of the axis of rotation of the earth where a magnetic needle dips vertically.
2. each of the two points of a magnet to and from which the lines of magnetic force are directed.

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magnetic storm

noun
a disturbance of the magnetic field of the earth.

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magnetic tape

noun
tape used in recording sound, pictures, or computer data.

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magnetism

noun
1. the property displayed by magnets and produced by the motion of electric charges, which results in attraction or repulsion between objects.
2. the ability to attract and charm people.

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magnetize (also magnetise)

verb
make magnetic.

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magneto

noun (pl. magnetos)
a small electric generator containing a permanent magnet and used to provided high-voltage pulses, especially (formerly) in the ignition systems of internal-combustion engines.

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Magnificat

noun
the hymn of the Virgin Mary (Gospel of Luke, chapter 1) used as a canticle, especially at vespers and evensong.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'magnifies' , from the opening words, which translate as ‘my soul magnifies the Lord’.

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magnificence

noun
1. the quality of being magnificent.
2. (His/Your etc. Magnificence) a title or form of address for a monarch or other distinguished person.

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magnificent

adjective
1. impressively beautiful, elaborate, or extravagant.
2. very good; excellent.

DERIVATIVES:
magnificently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin magnificus, from magnus 'great' .

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magnify

verb (magnifies, magnified)
1. make (something) appear larger than it is, especially with a lens or microscope.
2. intensify or exaggerate.
3. archaic extol; glorify.

DERIVATIVES:
magnification noun
magnifier noun.

ORIGIN: Latin magnificare, from magnus 'great' .

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magnifying glass

noun
a lens that produces an enlarged image, used to examine small or finely detailed things.

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magnitude

noun
1. great size, extent, or importance.
2. size.
3. Astronomy the brightness of a star, as represented by a number on a logarithmic scale.

ORIGIN: Latin magnitudo, from magnus 'great' .

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magnolia

noun
1. a tree or shrub with large waxy flowers.
2. a pale creamy-white colour like that of magnolia blossom.

ORIGIN: named after the French botanist Pierre Magnol (1638 1715).

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magnum

noun (pl. magnums)
1. a wine bottle of twice the standard size, normally 11 / 2 litres.
2. (trademark in the US) a gun designed to fire cartridges that are more powerful than its calibre would suggest.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'great thing' .

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magnum opus

noun (pl. magnum opuses or magna opera)
a large and important work of art, music, or literature, especially a person's most important work.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'great work' .

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magpie

noun
1. a long-tailed bird of the crow family with pied plumage and a raucous voice.
2. a black-and-white Australian butcher bird with musical calls.
3. a person who obsessively collects things or who chatters idly.

ORIGIN: probably a shortening of dialect maggot the pie, maggoty-pie, from Magot, a former familiar form of the name Marguerite, + Latin pica 'magpie' .

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magus

noun (pl. magi)
1. a member of a priestly class of ancient Persia.
2. a sorcerer.
3. (the Magi) the three wise men from the East who brought gifts to the infant Jesus.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Old Persian.

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Magyar

noun
1. a member of a people predominating in Hungary.
2. the Hungarian language.

ORIGIN: the name in Hungarian.

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maharaja (also maharajah)

noun historical
an Indian prince.

ORIGIN: Hindi, from Sanskrit, 'great raja' .

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maharani

noun
a maharaja's wife or widow.

ORIGIN: Hindi, from Sanskrit, 'great queen' .

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Maharishi

noun
a great Hindu sage or spiritual leader.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, 'great sage or saint' .

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mahatma

noun
(in the Indian subcontinent) a holy person or sage.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, 'great soul' .

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mah-jong (also mah-jongg)

noun
a Chinese game played with 136 or 144 rectangular tiles.

ORIGIN: Chinese dialect, 'sparrows' .

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mahogany

noun
1. hard reddish-brown wood from a tropical tree, used for furniture.
2. a rich reddish-brown colour.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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mahout

noun
(in the Indian subcontinent and SE Asia) a person who works with and rides an elephant.

ORIGIN: Hindi.

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maid

noun
1. a female domestic servant.
2. archaic or literary a girl or young woman.

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maiden

noun
1. archaic or literary a girl or young woman.
2. archaic or literary a virgin.
3. (also maiden over) Cricket an over in which no runs are scored.

adjective
1. (of an older woman) unmarried.
2. first of its kind: a maiden voyage.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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maidenhair fern

noun
a fern with slender-stalked fronds.

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maidenhead

noun archaic
1. a girl's or woman's virginity.
2. the hymen.

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maiden name

noun
the surname of a married woman before her marriage.

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maid of honour

noun
1. an unmarried noblewoman attending a queen or princess.
2. N. Amer. a principal bridesmaid.

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maidservant

noun dated
a female domestic servant.

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mail [1]

noun
1. letters and parcels sent by post.
2. the postal system.
3. email.

verb
1. send by post.
2. send post or email to.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «travelling bag»: from Old French male 'wallet' .

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mail [2]

noun historical
flexible armour made of metal rings or plates.

ORIGIN: Old French maille, from Latin macula 'spot or mesh' ; related to IMMACULATE.

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mailing

noun
something sent by mail, especially a piece of mass advertising.

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mailing list

noun
a list of the names and addresses of people to whom advertising matter or information may be mailed regularly.

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mail order

noun
the ordering of goods by post.

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mailshot

noun Brit.
a piece of advertising material sent to a large number of addresses.

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maim

verb
wound or injure (someone) so that part of the body is permanently damaged.

ORIGIN: Old French mahaignier.

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main

adjective
chief in size or importance.

noun
1. a principal water or gas pipe or electricity cable.
2. (the mains) Brit. public water, gas, or electricity supply through pipes or cables.
3. (the main) archaic or literary the open ocean.

IDIOMS -
by main force through sheer strength.
in the main on the whole.

ORIGIN: from Old English, 'physical force' .

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main drag

noun informal, chiefly N. Amer.
the main street of a town.

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mainframe

noun
1. a large high-speed computer, especially one supporting numerous workstations.
2. the central processing unit and primary memory of a computer.

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mainland

noun
a large continuous extent of land as opposed to offshore islands and detached territories.

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main line

noun
1. a chief railway line.
2. informal a principal vein as a site for a drug injection.

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mainly

adverb
more than anything else; for the most part.

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mainmast

noun
the principal mast of a ship.

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mainspring

noun
1. the principal spring in a watch, clock, etc.
2. a prime source of motivation or support.

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mainstay

noun
1. a stay which extends from the maintop to the foot of the foremast of a sailing ship.
2. the chief support or main part.

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mainstream

noun
normal or conventional ideas, attitudes, or activities.

adjective
belonging to or characteristic of the mainstream.

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maintain

verb
1. cause or enable (a condition or state of affairs) to continue.
2. keep (a building, machine, etc.) in good condition by checking or repairing it regularly.
3. provide with necessities for life or existence.
4. assert to be the case.

ORIGIN: Old French maintenir, from Latin manu tenere 'hold in the hand' .

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maintenance

noun
1. the process of maintaining or being maintained.
2. provision for one's former husband or wife after divorce.

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maisonette

noun
a set of rooms for living in, typically on two storeys of a larger building.

ORIGIN: French maisonnette 'small house' .

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maître d'hôtel

noun (pl. maîtres d'hôtel pronunc. same)
1. the head waiter of a restaurant.
2. the manager of a hotel.

ORIGIN: French, 'master of the house' .

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maize

noun chiefly Brit.
a cereal plant yielding large grains (corn or sweetcorn) set in rows on a cob.

ORIGIN: Spanish maíz, from Taino (an extinct Caribbean language).

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majestic

adjective
impressively beautiful or dignified.

DERIVATIVES:
majestically adverb.

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majesty

noun (pl. majesties)
1. impressive dignity or beauty.
2. royal power.
3. (His, Your, etc. Majesty) a title given to a sovereign or a sovereign's wife or widow.

ORIGIN: Latin majestas, from major 'major' .

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major

adjective
1. important, serious, or significant.
2. greater or more important; main.
3. Music based on intervals of a semitone between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth degrees. Contrasted with MINOR.

noun
1. a rank of officer in the army and the US air force, above captain and below lieutenant colonel.
2. an officer in charge of a section of band instruments.
3. Music a major key, interval, or scale.
4. N. Amer. a student's principal subject or course.
5. N. Amer. a student specializing in a specified subject.

verb (major in) N. Amer. & Austral./NZ
specialize in (a particular subject) at college or university.

ORIGIN: Latin, comparative of magnus 'great' .

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major-domo

noun (pl. major-domos)
the chief steward of a large household.

ORIGIN: Spanish and Italian, from Latin major domus 'highest official of the household' .

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major general

noun
a rank of officer in the army and the US air force, above brigadier or brigadier general and below lieutenant general.

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majority

noun (pl. majorities)
1. the greater number.
2. Brit. the number by which the votes cast for one party or candidate exceed those for the next.
3. the age when a person is legally considered a full adult, usually 18 or 21.
USAGE - Strictly speaking, majority should be used with plural nouns to mean ‘the greater number’, as in the majority of cases. Use with nouns that do not take a plural to mean ‘the greatest part’, as in she ate the majority of the meal, is not considered good English.

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majority rule

noun
the principle that the greater number should exercise greater power.

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majority verdict

noun English Law
a verdict agreed by all but one or two of the members of a jury.

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make

verb (past and past part. made)
1. form by putting parts together or combining substances.
2. cause to be or come about.
3. force to do something.
4. (make into) alter (something) so that it forms (something else).
5. constitute, amount to, or serve as.
6. estimate as or decide on.
7. gain or earn (money or profit).
8. arrive at or achieve.
9. (make it) become successful.
10. prepare to go in a particular direction or do a particular thing: he made towards the car.
11. arrange bedclothes tidily on (a bed) ready for use.

noun
the manufacturer or trade name of a product.

IDIOMS -
have (got) it made informal be in a position where success is certain.
make after pursue.
make away with
1. another way of saying make off with.
2. kill furtively and illicitly.
make do manage with the limited means available.
make for
1. move towards.
2. tend to result in or be received as.
3. (be made for) be eminently suited for.
make it up to compensate for unfair treatment.
make of
1. ascribe (attention or importance) to.
2. understand or derive (advantage) from.
make off leave hurriedly.
make off with carry away illicitly.
make or break be the factor which decides whether (something) will succeed or fail.
make out
1. manage with difficulty to see, hear, or understand.
2. represent as or pretend.
3. draw up (a list or document).
4. informal make progress; fare.
make over
1. transfer the possession of.
2. give (someone) a new image with cosmetics, hairstyling, and clothes.
make sail spread a sail or sails, especially to begin a voyage.
make time find an occasion when time is available to do something.
make up
1. put together or prepare from parts or ingredients.
2. concoct or invent (a story).
3. (also make up for) compensate for.
4. be reconciled after a quarrel.
5. apply cosmetics to.
make up one's mind make a decision.
make way allow room for someone or something else.
on the make informal
1. intent on gain.
2. looking for a sexual partner.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to MATCH.

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make-believe

noun
a state of fantasy or pretence.

adjective
imitating something real; pretend.

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makeover

noun
a complete transformation of a person's appearance with cosmetics, hairstyling, and clothes.

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maker

noun
1. a person or thing that makes something.
2. (our, the, etc. Maker) God.

IDIOMS -
meet one's Maker chiefly humorous die.

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makeshift

adjective
interim and temporary.

noun
a temporary substitute or device.

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make-up

noun
1. cosmetics applied to the face.
2. composition or constitution.
3. Printing the arrangement of type, illustrations, etc. on a printed page.

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makeweight

noun
1. something put on a scale to make up the required weight.
2. an extra person or thing needed to complete something.

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making

noun
1. the process of making something.
2. (makings) the necessary qualities.

IDIOMS -
be the making of bring about the success or favourable development of.

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mal-

combining form
1. in an unpleasant degree: malodorous.
2. in a faulty or improper manner: malfunction.
3. not: maladroit.

ORIGIN: from Latin male 'badly' .

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malachite

noun
a bright green copper-containing mineral.

ORIGIN: Old French melochite, from Greek malakh 'mallow' .

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maladjusted

adjective
failing to cope with the demands of a normal social environment.

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maladroit

adjective
inefficient or ineffective; clumsy.

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malady

noun (pl. maladies)
a disease or ailment.

ORIGIN: from Old French malade 'ill' .

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malaise

noun
a general feeling of unease, ill health, or low spirits.

ORIGIN: French.

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malapropism (US also malaprop)

noun
the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one (e.g. ‘dance a flamingo’ instead of flamenco).

ORIGIN: from the name of the character Mrs Malaprop in Richard Sheridan's play The Rivals (1775).

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malaria

noun
a disease characterized by recurrent attacks of fever, caused by a blood parasite transmitted by mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical regions.

DERIVATIVES:
malarial adjective.

ORIGIN: from Italian mala aria 'bad air' (the disease was formerly attributed to unhealthy vapours given off by marshes).

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malarkey

noun informal
nonsense.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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Malay

noun
1. a member of a people inhabiting Malaysia and Indonesia.
2. the Austronesian language of the Malays.

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Malayan

noun another term for MALAY.

adjective
relating to Malays or Malaya (now part of Malaysia).

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malcontent

noun
a discontented person.

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male

adjective
1. relating to the sex that can fertilize or inseminate the female to give rise to offspring.
2. relating to or characteristic of men.
3. (of a plant or flower) bearing stamens but lacking functional pistils.
4. (of a fitting) manufactured to fit inside a corresponding female part.

noun
a male person, animal, or plant.

DERIVATIVES:
maleness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French masle, from Latin masculus, from mas 'a male' .

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malediction

noun
a curse.

ORIGIN: from Latin maledicere 'speak evil of' .

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malefactor

noun formal
a person who commits a crime or some other wrong.

ORIGIN: from Latin malefacere 'do wrong' .

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malevolent

adjective
wishing evil to others.

DERIVATIVES:
malevolence noun
malevolently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from male 'ill' + velle 'to wish' .

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malformation

noun
abnormality of shape or form in a part of the body.

DERIVATIVES:
malformed adjective.

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malfunction

verb
(of a piece of equipment or machinery) fail to function normally.

noun
a failure of this type.

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malice

noun
the desire to do harm to someone; ill will.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin malus 'bad' .

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malicious

adjective
characterized by malice; intending or intended to do harm.

DERIVATIVES:
maliciously adverb
maliciousness noun.

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malign

adjective
harmful or evil.

verb
speak ill of.

DERIVATIVES:
malignity noun
malignly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin malignus 'tending to evil' .

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malignancy

noun (pl. malignancies)
1. the presence of a malignant tumour; cancer.
2. a cancerous growth.
3. the quality of being malign or malevolent.

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malignant

adjective
1. harmful; malevolent.
2. (of a tumour) tending to invade normal tissue or to recur after removal; cancerous. Contrasted with BENIGN.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «likely to rebel against God or authority»: from Latin malignare 'contrive maliciously' .

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malinger

verb
exaggerate or feign illness in order to escape duty or work.

DERIVATIVES:
malingerer noun.

ORIGIN: from French malingre 'weak, sickly' .

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mall

noun
1. a large enclosed shopping area from which traffic is excluded.
2. a sheltered walk or promenade.

ORIGIN: probably a shortening of PALL-MALL: from The Mall in St James's Park, London, former site of a pall-mall alley.

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mallard

noun
a common duck, the male of which has a dark green head and white collar.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'wild drake' , from masle 'male' .

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malleable

adjective
1. able to be hammered or pressed into shape without breaking or cracking.
2. easily influenced.

DERIVATIVES:
malleability noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin malleus 'a hammer' .

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mallet

noun
1. a hammer with a large wooden head.
2. a long-handled wooden stick with a head like a hammer, for hitting a croquet or polo ball.

ORIGIN: Old French maillet, from Latin malleus 'hammer' .

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mallow

noun
a herbaceous plant with pink or purple flowers.

ORIGIN: Latin malva; related to MAUVE.

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malmsey

noun
a sweet fortified Madeira wine.

ORIGIN: from Monemvasia, a port in Greece; malmsey was formerly a strong, sweet white wine imported from Greece.

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malnourished

adjective
suffering from malnutrition.

DERIVATIVES:
malnourishment noun.

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malnutrition

noun
lack of proper nutrition.

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malodorous

adjective
smelling very unpleasant.

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malpractice

noun
improper, illegal, or negligent professional activity or treatment.

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malt

noun
barley or other grain that has been steeped, germinated, and dried, used for brewing or distilling.

verb
1. convert (grain) into malt.
2. (malted) mixed with malt or a malt extract.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to MELT.

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Malthusian

adjective
relating to the theory of the English economist Thomas Malthus (1766 1834) that, if unchecked, the population tends to increase at a greater rate than its means of subsistence.

noun
an adherent of Malthus.

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maltose

noun
a sugar produced by the breakdown of starch, e.g. by enzymes found in malt and saliva.

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maltreat

verb
treat badly or brutally.

DERIVATIVES:
maltreatment noun.

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malt whisky

noun
whisky made only from malted barley and not blended with grain whisky.

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mama (also mamma)

noun dated or N. Amer.
one's mother.

ORIGIN: imitative of a child's first syllables ma, ma.

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mamba

noun
a large, agile, highly venomous African snake.

ORIGIN: Zulu.

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mambo

noun (pl. mambos)
a Latin American dance similar to the rumba.

ORIGIN: American Spanish.

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mammal

noun
a warm-blooded vertebrate animal that has hair or fur, secretes milk, and (typically) bears live young.

DERIVATIVES:
mammalian adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin mamma 'breast' .

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mammary

adjective
relating to the human female breasts or the milk-secreting organs of other mammals.

noun (pl. mammaries) informal
a breast.

ORIGIN: from Latin mamma 'breast' .

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mammogram

noun
an image obtained by mammography.

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mammography

noun
a technique using X-rays to diagnose and locate tumours of the breasts.

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Mammon

noun
wealth regarded as an evil influence or false object of worship.

ORIGIN: New Testament Greek mamnas, from an Aramaic word meaning 'riches' ; see Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6 and Gospel of Luke, chapter 16.

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mammoth

noun
a large extinct form of elephant with a hairy coat and long curved tusks.

adjective
huge; enormous.

ORIGIN: Russian.

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man

noun (pl. men)
1. an adult human male.
2. a male member of a workforce, team, etc.
3. a husband or lover.
4. a person.
5. human beings in general.
6. a figure or token used in a board game.

verb (manned, manning)
provide (a place or machine) with the personnel to run, operate, or defend it.

exclamation informal, chiefly N. Amer.
used for emphasis or to express surprise, admiration, or delight.

IDIOMS -
every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost proverb everyone should (or does) look after their own interests rather than considering those of others.
man about town a fashionable and sociable man.
man and boy from childhood.
the man in the street the average man.
man of the cloth a clergyman.
man of God a clergyman.
man of letters a male scholar or author.
man of straw (also straw man)
1. a person who is a sham.
2. a person undertaking a financial commitment without adequate means.
to a man without exception.

USAGE - Traditionally the word man has been used to refer not only to adult males but also to human beings in general. There is a historical explanation for this: in Old English the principal sense of man was ‘a human being’, and the words wer and wif were used to refer specifically to ‘a male person’ and ‘a female person’ respectively. Subsequently, man replaced wer as the normal term for ‘a male person’, but at the same time the older sense ‘a human being’ remained in use. The generic use of man to refer to ‘human beings in general’ is now widely regarded as old-fashioned or sexist. Acceptable alternatives include the the human race or humankind.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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-man

combining form
1. in nouns denoting a man of a specified nationality or origin (Frenchman).
2. in nouns denoting a person belonging to a specified group or having a specified occupation or role (chairman).
3. a ship of a specified kind (merchantman).
USAGE - Traditionally, the form -man was combined with other words to create a term denoting an occupation or role, as in fireman and chairman. As the role of women in society has changed, many of these terms ending in -man have come to be regarded as sexist and outdated. As a result, there has been a gradual shift away from -man compounds except where referring to a specific male person. Alternative neutral terms which are now well-established include firefighter, police officer, and chair/chairperson.

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manacle

noun
a metal band or chain fastened around a person's hands or ankles to restrict their movement.

verb
fetter with a manacle or manacles.

ORIGIN: Old French manicle 'handcuff' , from Latin manus 'hand' .

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manage

verb
1. be in charge of; run.
2. supervise (staff).
3. administer and regulate (resources).
4. succeed in doing or dealing with.
5. succeed despite difficulties; cope.
6. be free to attend (an appointment).

DERIVATIVES:
manageable adjective
managing adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «put (a horse) through the paces of the manège»: from Italian maneggiare, from Latin manus 'hand' .

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management

noun
1. the process of managing.
2. the managers of an organization.

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manager

noun
1. a person who manages an organization, group of staff, or sports team.
2. a person in charge of the business affairs of a sports player, actor, or performer.

DERIVATIVES:
managerial adjective
managership noun.

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manageress

noun
a female manager.

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mañana

adverb
tomorrow, or at some time in the future.

ORIGIN: Spanish.

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man-at-arms

noun archaic
a soldier.

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manatee

noun
a sea cow of tropical Atlantic coasts, with a rounded tail flipper.

ORIGIN: Carib.

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Mancunian

noun
a person from Manchester.

adjective
relating to Manchester.

ORIGIN: from Mancunium, the Latin name for Manchester.

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mandala

noun
an intricate circular motif symbolizing the universe in Hinduism and Buddhism.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, 'disc, circle' .

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mandarin

noun
1. (Mandarin) the standard literary and official form of Chinese.
2. a high-ranking official in the former imperial Chinese civil service.
3. a powerful official or senior bureaucrat.
4. (also mandarine) a small citrus fruit with a loose yellow-orange skin.

ORIGIN: Hindi mantr 'counsellor' ; sense 4 perhaps derives from the colour of the fruit being likened to the official's yellow robes.

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mandate

noun
1. an official order or authorization.
2. the authority to carry out a policy, regarded as given by the electorate to a party or candidate that wins an election.
3. historical a commission from the League of Nations to a member state to administer a territory.

verb
1. give (someone) authority to act in a certain way.
2. make compulsory.

ORIGIN: Latin mandatum 'something commanded' .

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mandatory

adjective
required by law or mandate; compulsory.

DERIVATIVES:
mandatorily adverb.

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mandible

noun
1. the lower jawbone.
2. either of the upper and lower parts of a bird's beak.
3. either half of the crushing organ in an insect's mouthparts.

ORIGIN: from Latin mandere 'to chew' .

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mandolin

noun
1. a musical instrument resembling a lute, having paired metal strings plucked with a plectrum.
2. (also mandoline) a kitchen utensil consisting of a frame with adjustable blades, for slicing vegetables.

DERIVATIVES:
mandolinist noun.

ORIGIN: Italian mandolino 'little mandola' (a mandola being an early form of mandolin).

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mandrake

noun
a plant with a forked fleshy root supposedly resembling the human form, used in herbal medicine and magic.

ORIGIN: Latin mandragora; the form mandrake developed by association with man, because of the forked shape of the root (formerly believed to shriek when pulled from the earth), and with drake in its Old English sense «dragon».

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mandrel

noun
1. a shaft or spindle in a lathe to which work is fixed while being turned.
2. a cylindrical rod round which metal or other material is forged or shaped.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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mandrill

noun
a large West African baboon with a red and blue face, the male having a blue rump.

ORIGIN: probably from MAN + DRILL.

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mane

noun
1. a growth of long hair on the neck of a horse, lion, or other mammal.
2. a person's long flowing hair.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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maneuver (Brit. manoeuvre)

noun
1. a physical movement or series of moves requiring skill and care.
2. a carefully planned scheme or action.
3. (maneuvers) a large-scale military exercise.

verb (maneuvered, maneuvering)
1. perform a physical manoeuvre.
2. carefully manipulate in order to achieve an end.

ORIGIN: French manœuvrer, from Latin manus 'hand' + operari 'to work' .

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man Friday

noun
a male helper or follower.

ORIGIN: a character in Daniel Defoe's novel Robinson Crusoe (1719).

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manful

adjective
brave and resolute.

DERIVATIVES:
manfully adverb.

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manga

noun
Japanese cartoons, comic books, and animated films with a science-fiction or fantasy theme.

ORIGIN: Japanese, from man 'indiscriminate' + ga 'picture' .

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manganese

noun
a hard grey metallic element used in special steels and magnetic alloys.

ORIGIN: Italian, alteration of magnesia.

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mange

noun
a skin disease in some animals (occasionally communicable to humans) caused by mites, characterized by severe itching and hair loss.

ORIGIN: from Old French mangier 'eat' .

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manger

noun
a long trough from which horses or cattle feed.

ORIGIN: Old French mangeure, from Latin manducare 'chew' .

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mangetout

noun (pl. same or mangetouts pronunc. same) chiefly Brit.
a variety of pea with an edible pod.

ORIGIN: French, 'eat all' .

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mangle [1]

noun chiefly Brit.
a machine having two or more cylinders turned by a handle, between which wet laundry is squeezed to remove excess moisture.

ORIGIN: from Greek manganon 'axis, engine' .

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mangle [2]

verb
destroy or severely damage by tearing or crushing.

ORIGIN: Old French mahaignier 'maim' .

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mango

noun (pl. mangoes or mangos)
a fleshy oval yellowish-red tropical fruit.

ORIGIN: Portuguese manga.

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mangold

noun
a variety of beet with a large root, grown as feed for farm animals.

ORIGIN: German Mangoldwurzel.

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mangosteen

noun
a tropical fruit with juicy white segments of flesh inside a thick reddish-brown rind.

ORIGIN: Malay.

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mangrove

noun
a tree or shrub which grows in tropical coastal swamps and has tangled roots that grow above ground and form dense thickets.

ORIGIN: probably from Taino (an extinct Caribbean language); also associated with GROVE.

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mangy (also mangey)

adjective (mangier, mangiest)
1. having mange.
2. in poor condition; shabby.

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manhandle

verb
1. move (a heavy object) with effort.
2. handle roughly by dragging or pushing.

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manhole

noun
a covered opening allowing access to a sewer or other underground structure.

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manhood

noun
1. the state or period of being a man rather than a child.
2. the men of a country or society.
3. the qualities traditionally associated with men, such as strength and sexual potency.

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mania

noun
1. mental illness marked by periods of excitement, delusions, and overactivity.
2. an obsession.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'madness' .

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-mania

combining form
1. referring to a specified type of mental abnormality or obsession: kleptomania.
2. denoting extreme enthusiasm or admiration: bibliomania.

DERIVATIVES:
-maniac combining form.

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maniac

noun
1. a person exhibiting extremely wild or violent behaviour.
2. informal an obsessive enthusiast.

DERIVATIVES:
maniacal adjective
maniacally adverb.

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manic

adjective
1. relating to or affected by mania.
2. showing wild excitement and energy.

DERIVATIVES:
manically adverb.

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manic depression

noun
a mental disorder marked by alternating periods of elation and depression.

DERIVATIVES:
manic-depressive adjective & noun.

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manicure

noun
a cosmetic treatment of the hands and nails.

verb
1. give a manicure to.
2. (manicured) (of a lawn or garden) neatly trimmed and maintained.

DERIVATIVES:
manicurist noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin manus 'hand' + cura 'care' .

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manifest [1]

adjective
clear and obvious.

verb
1. show or demonstrate.
2. become apparent.
3. (of a ghost) appear.

DERIVATIVES:
manifestly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin manifestus 'caught in the act, flagrant' .

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manifest [2]

noun
1. a document listing a ship's contents, cargo, crew, and passengers.
2. a list of passengers or cargo in an aircraft.
3. a list of the wagons forming a freight train.

verb
record in a manifest.

ORIGIN: Italian manifesto 'manifesto' .

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manifestation

noun
1. a sign or embodiment of something.
2. the materialization of a god or spirit.

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manifesto

noun (pl. manifestos)
a public declaration of policy and aims.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin manifestus 'caught in the act, flagrant' .

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manifold

adjective formal or literary
1. many and various.
2. having many different forms.

noun
1. a pipe or chamber branching into several openings.
2. (in an internal-combustion engine) the part conveying air and fuel from the carburettor to the cylinders or leading from the cylinders to the exhaust pipe.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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manikin (also mannikin)

noun
1. a very small person.
2. a jointed model of the human body.

ORIGIN: Dutch manneken 'little man' .

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Manila (also Manilla)

noun
1. (also Manila hemp) a plant fibre used for rope, matting, paper, etc.
2. strong brown paper, originally made from Manila hemp.
3. a cigar or cheroot made in Manila.

ORIGIN: from Manila, the capital of the Philippines; the plant yielding the fibre is native to the Philippines.

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manipulate

verb
1. handle or control with dexterity.
2. examine or treat (a part of the body) by feeling or moving it with the hand.
3. control or influence cleverly or unscrupulously.
4. alter or present (data) so as to mislead.

DERIVATIVES:
manipulable adjective
manipulation noun
manipulator noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin manipulus 'handful' .

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manipulative

adjective
1. tending to manipulate others cleverly or unscrupulously.
2. relating to manipulation of an object or part of the body.

DERIVATIVES:
manipulatively adverb
manipulativeness noun.

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mankind

noun
human beings collectively; the human race.

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manky

adjective (mankier, mankiest) Brit. informal
1. inferior; worthless.
2. grimy; dirty.

ORIGIN: probably from obsolete mank 'mutilated, defective' .

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manly

adjective (manlier, manliest)
1. possessing qualities traditionally associated with men, such as courage and strength.
2. befitting a man.

DERIVATIVES:
manliness noun.

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man-made

adjective
made or caused by human beings.

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manna

noun
1. (in the Bible) the substance miraculously supplied as food to the Israelites in the wilderness (Exod. 16).
2. an unexpected and freely given benefit.
3. a sweet edible laxative gum obtained from a tree.

ORIGIN: Hebrew and Arabic, referring to a sweet substance exuded from the tamarisk tree.

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manned

adjective
having a human crew.

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mannequin

noun
a dummy used to display clothes in a shop window.

ORIGIN: French, from Dutch manneken 'little man' ; related to MANIKIN.

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manner

noun
1. a way in which something is done or happens.
2. a person's outward bearing or way of behaving towards others.
3. (manners) polite social behaviour.
4. a style in literature or art.
5. literary a kind or sort.

IDIOMS -
all manner of many different kinds of.
in a manner of speaking in some sense.
to the manner born naturally at ease in a specified job or situation. [ORIGIN: with allusion to Shakespeare's Hamlet I. iv. 17.]

ORIGIN: from Latin manuarius 'of the hand' , from manus 'hand' .

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mannered

adjective
1. behaving in a specified way: well-mannered.
2. (of an artistic style) marked by highly distinctive or exaggerated features.

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mannerism

noun
1. a habitual gesture or way of speaking or behaving.
2. the use of a highly distinctive style in art, literature, or music.
3. (Mannerism) a style of 16th-century Italian art characterized by distortions in scale and perspective.

DERIVATIVES:
mannerist noun & adjective.

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mannerly

adjective
well-mannered; polite.

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mannish

adjective
(of a woman) having an appearance and characteristics that are associated with men.

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manoeuvrable (US maneuverable)

adjective
(of a craft or vessel) able to be manoeuvred easily while in motion.

DERIVATIVES:
manoeuvrability noun.

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manoeuvre (US maneuver)

noun
1. a physical movement or series of moves requiring skill and care.
2. a carefully planned scheme or action.
3. (manoeuvres) a large-scale military exercise.

verb (manoeuvred, manoeuvring)
1. perform a physical manoeuvre.
2. carefully manipulate in order to achieve an end.

ORIGIN: French manœuvrer, from Latin manus 'hand' + operari 'to work' .

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man-of-war (also man-o'-war)

noun historical
an armed sailing ship.

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manometer

noun
an instrument for measuring the pressure acting on a column of fluid.

ORIGIN: from Greek manos 'thin, rare, rarefied' .

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manor

noun
1. a large country house with lands.
2. chiefly historical a unit of land consisting of a lord's demesne and lands rented to tenants.

DERIVATIVES:
manorial adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French maner 'dwelling' , from Latin manere 'remain' .

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manpower

noun
the number of people working or available for work or service.

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manqué

adjective
that might have been; unfulfilled: an actor manqué.

ORIGIN: French, from manquer 'to lack' .

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mansard

noun
a roof having four sides, in each of which the lower part of the slope is steeper than the upper part.

ORIGIN: named after the 17th-century French architect François Mansart.

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manse

noun
a house provided for the minister in the Presbyterian and some other churches.

ORIGIN: Latin mansus 'house, dwelling' .

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manservant

noun
a male servant.

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mansion

noun
a large, impressive house.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'place where someone stays' , from manere 'remain' .

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manslaughter

noun
the crime of killing a person without intention to do so.

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mantel (also mantle)

noun
a mantelpiece or mantelshelf.

ORIGIN: specialized use of MANTLE.

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mantelpiece

noun
1. a structure surrounding a fireplace.
2. a mantelshelf.

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mantelshelf

noun
a shelf forming the top of a mantelpiece.

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mantilla

noun
(in Spain) a lace or silk scarf worn by women over the hair and shoulders.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'little mantle or shawl' .

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mantis (also praying mantis)

noun (pl. same or mantises)
a slender predatory insect with a triangular head, typically waiting motionless for prey with its forelegs folded like hands in prayer.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'prophet' .

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mantle

noun
1. a woman's loose sleeveless cloak or shawl.
2. a close covering, such as that of snow.
3. (also gas mantle) a mesh cover fixed round a gas jet to give an incandescent light when heated.
4. an important role or responsibility that passes from one person to another. [ORIGIN: with allusion to the passing of Elijah's cloak (his mantle) to Elisha (2 Kings 2:13).]
5. Geology the region of the earth's interior between the crust and the core, consisting of hot, dense silicate rocks.

verb literary
cloak, envelop, or suffuse.

ORIGIN: Latin mantellum 'cloak' .

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mantra

noun
1. (originally in Hinduism and Buddhism) a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation.
2. a Vedic hymn.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, 'instrument of thought' .

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manual

adjective
1. made or worked with the hands.
2. using or working with the hands: a manual worker.

noun
1. a book giving instructions or information.
2. an organ keyboard played with the hands not the feet.

DERIVATIVES:
manually adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin manualis, from manus 'hand' .

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manufacture

verb
1. make (something), especially on a large scale using machinery.
2. (manufactured) made or produced in a merely mechanical way.
3. invent or fabricate (evidence or a story).

noun
the process of manufacturing.

DERIVATIVES:
manufacturable adjective
manufacturer noun.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian manifattura, influenced by Latin manu factum 'made by hand' .

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manure

noun
animal dung used for fertilizing land.

verb
apply manure to.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «cultivate (land)»: from Old French manouvrer (see MANOEUVRE).

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manuscript

noun
1. a handwritten book, document, or piece of music.
2. a text submitted for printing and publication.

ORIGIN: from Latin manu 'by hand' + scriptus 'written' .

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Manx

noun
the Celtic language formerly spoken in the Isle of Man, still used for some ceremonial purposes.

adjective
relating to the Isle of Man.

ORIGIN: from Old Irish Manu 'Isle of Man' + -skr (equivalent of -ISH).

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Manx cat

noun
a breed of cat that has no tail.

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many

determiner , pronoun , & adjective (more, most)
a large number of.

noun (the many)
the majority of people.

IDIOMS -
a good (or great) many a large number.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Maoism

noun
the communist doctrines of Mao Zedong (1893 1976), Chinese head of state 1949 59, as formerly practised in China.

DERIVATIVES:
Maoist noun & adjective.

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Maori

noun (pl. same or Maoris)
1. a member of the aboriginal people of New Zealand.
2. the Polynesian language of this people.

ORIGIN: Maori.

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map

noun
1. a flat diagram of an area of land or sea showing physical features, cities, roads, etc.
2. a diagram or collection of data showing the arrangement, distribution, or sequence of something.

verb (mapped, mapping)
1. represent or record on a map.
2. (map out) plan in detail.

IDIOMS -
off the map very distant or remote.
put on the map bring to prominence.
wipe off the map obliterate totally.

ORIGIN: Latin mappa 'sheet, napkin' .

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maple

noun
a tree or shrub with lobed leaves, winged fruits, and syrupy sap.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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maple syrup

noun
sugary syrup produced from the sap of a maple tree.

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maquis

noun (pl. same)
1. (the Maquis) the French resistance movement during the German occupation of France in the Second World War.
2. dense evergreen scrub characteristic of coastal regions in the Mediterranean.

ORIGIN: French, 'brushwood' .

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Mar.

abbreviation
March.

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mar

verb (marred, marring)
harm the appearance or quality of.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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marabou

noun
1. an African stork with a massive bill and large neck pouch.
2. down feathers from marabou used as trimming for hats or clothing.

ORIGIN: French, from Arabic, 'holy man' .

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maraca

noun
a hollow gourd or gourd-shaped container filled with small beans, stones, etc., shaken as a percussion instrument.

ORIGIN: Portuguese, from Tupi.

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maraschino cherry

noun
a cherry preserved in maraschino.

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marathon

noun
1. a long-distance running race, strictly one of 26 miles 385 yards (42.195 km).
2. a long-lasting and difficult task.

ORIGIN: from Marathn in Greece, the scene of a victory over the Persians in 490 BC; the modern race is based on the tradition that a messenger ran from Marathon to Athens (22 miles) with the news.

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maraud

verb
make a plundering raid.

DERIVATIVES:
marauder noun.

ORIGIN: from French maraud 'rogue' .

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marble

noun
1. a hard form of limestone, typically variegated or mottled, which may be polished and is used in sculpture and building.
2. a small ball of coloured glass used as a toy.
3. (marbles) (treated as sing. ) a game in which marbles are rolled along the ground.
4. (one's marbles) informal one's mental faculties.

verb
give (something) the appearance of marble.

DERIVATIVES:
marbled adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek marmaros 'shining stone' .

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marbling

noun
1. colouring or marking that resembles marble.
2. streaks of fat in lean meat.

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marcasite

noun
1. a semi-precious stone consisting of iron pyrites.
2. a piece of polished metal cut as a gem.

ORIGIN: Latin marcasita, from Arabic.

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March

noun
the third month of the year.

ORIGIN: from Latin Martius mensis 'month of Mars' .

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march

verb
1. walk in a military manner with a regular measured tread.
2. proceed quickly and with determination.
3. force (someone) to walk somewhere quickly.
4. take part in an organized procession to make a protest.

noun
1. an act of marching.
2. a procession organized as a protest.
3. a piece of music written to accompany marching.

IDIOMS -
on the march
1. engaged in marching.
2. making progress.

DERIVATIVES:
marcher noun.

ORIGIN: French marcher 'to walk' .

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March hare

noun informal
a brown hare in the breeding season, noted for its leaping, boxing, and chasing in circles.

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marching orders

noun
1. instructions for troops to depart.
2. informal a dismissal.

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marchioness

noun
1. the wife or widow of a marquess.
2. a woman holding the rank of marquess in her own right.

ORIGIN: Latin marchionissa, 'female ruler of a border territory' .

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Mardi Gras

noun
a carnival held in some countries on Shrove Tuesday.

ORIGIN: French, 'fat Tuesday' , alluding to the last day of feasting before the fast and penitence of Lent.

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mare

noun
the female of a horse or other equine animal.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mare's nest

noun
1. a muddle.
2. an illusory discovery.

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margarine

noun
a butter substitute made from vegetable oils or animal fats.

ORIGIN: French, from Greek margaron 'pearl' (because of the lustre of the crystals of esters from which it was first made).

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margin

noun
1. an edge or border.
2. the blank border on each side of the print on a page.
3. the furthest reach or limit.
4. an amount above or below a given level.

IDIOMS -
margin of error a small amount allowed for in case of miscalculation or change of circumstances.

ORIGIN: Latin margo 'edge' .

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marginal

adjective
1. relating to or situated at or in a margin.
2. of minor importance.
3. (of a decision or distinction) very narrow.
4. chiefly Brit. (of a parliamentary seat) having a small majority.

noun chiefly Brit.
a marginal parliamentary seat.

DERIVATIVES:
marginality noun.

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marginalia

plural noun
notes written or printed in the margin of a book or manuscript.

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marginalize (also marginalise)

verb
treat as marginal or peripheral.

DERIVATIVES:
marginalization noun.

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marginally

adverb
to only a limited extent; slightly.

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marigold

noun
a plant of the daisy family with yellow or orange flowers.

ORIGIN: from the given name Mary + dialect gold, referring to the corn or garden marigold in Old English.

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marijuana

noun
cannabis.

ORIGIN: Latin American Spanish.

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marina

noun
a purpose-built harbour with moorings for yachts and small boats.

ORIGIN: Italian or Spanish, from Latin mare 'sea' .

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marinade

noun
a mixture of ingredients such as oil, vinegar, and herbs, in which food is soaked before cooking in order to flavour or soften it.

verb another term for MARINATE.

ORIGIN: French, from Spanish marinar 'pickle in brine' , ultimately from Latin mare 'sea' .

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marinate

verb
soak in a marinade.

DERIVATIVES:
marination noun.

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marine

adjective
1. relating to the sea.
2. relating to shipping or naval matters.

noun
a member of a body of troops trained to serve on land or sea, in particular (in the UK) a member of the Royal Marines or (in the US) a member of the Marine Corps.

IDIOMS -
tell that to the marines a scornful expression of disbelief. [ORIGIN: referring to the horse marines, an imaginary corps of cavalrymen employed to serve as marines (thus out of their element).]

ORIGIN: Latin marinus, from mare 'sea' .

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mariner

noun formal or literary
a sailor.

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marionette

noun
a puppet worked by strings.

ORIGIN: French, from the given name Marion.

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marital

adjective
relating to marriage or the relations between husband and wife.

DERIVATIVES:
maritally adverb.
USAGE - Do not confuse marital, which means ‘relating to marriage’ with martial ‘of war’.
ORIGIN: from Latin maritus 'husband' .

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maritime

adjective
1. relating to shipping or other activity taking place at sea.
2. living or found in or near the sea.
3. (of a climate) moist and temperate owing to the influence of the sea.

ORIGIN: Latin maritimus, from mare 'sea' .

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marjoram

noun
1. (also sweet marjoram) an aromatic plant of the mint family, used as a herb in cooking.
2. (also wild marjoram) another term for OREGANO.

ORIGIN: Latin majorana.

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mark [1]

noun
1. a small area on a surface having a different colour from its surroundings.
2. something that indicates position or acts as a pointer.
3. a line, figure, or symbol made to identify or record something.
4. a sign or indication of a quality or feeling.
5. a characteristic feature or property of something.
6. a level or stage.
7. a point awarded for a correct answer or for proficiency in an examination.
8. a particular model or type of a vehicle or machine.

verb
1. make a mark on.
2. write a word or symbol on (an object) in order to identify it.
3. indicate the position of.
4. (mark out) distinguish or delineate.
5. indicate or acknowledge (a significant event).
6. (mark up or down) increase or reduce the indicated price of (an item).
7. assess and give a mark to (written work).
8. notice or pay careful attention to.
9. Brit. (in team games) stay close to (an opponent) in order to prevent them getting or passing the ball.

IDIOMS -
be quick off the mark be fast in responding.
make a mark have a lasting or significant effect.
mark time
1. (of troops) march on the spot without moving forward.
2. engage temporarily in routine activities.
near (or close) to the mark almost accurate.
off (or wide of) the mark incorrect or inaccurate.
on the mark correct; accurat e.
on your marks be ready to start (used to instruct competitors in a race).
up to the mark up to the required standard or normal level.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mark [2]

noun
the basic monetary unit of Germany, equal to 100 pfennig.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, probably related to MARK.

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marked

adjective
1. having a visible mark or other identifying feature.
2. clearly noticeable.
3. singled out as a target for attack: a marked man.

DERIVATIVES:
markedly adverb
markedness noun.

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marker

noun
1. an object used to indicate a position, place, or route.
2. a felt-tip pen with a broad tip.
3. (in team games) a player who marks an opponent.
4. a person who marks a test or examination.

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market

noun
1. a regular gathering for the purchase and sale of food, livestock, or other commodities.
2. an outdoor space or large hall where vendors sell their goods.
3. a particular area of commercial or competitive activity.
4. demand for a particular commodity or service.

verb (marketed, marketing)
advertise or promote.

IDIOMS -
on the market available for sale.

DERIVATIVES:
marketable adjective
marketer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin mercatus, from mercari 'buy' .

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marketeer

noun
a person who sells goods or services in a market.

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market garden

noun
a place where vegetables and fruit are grown for sale.

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marketing

noun
the promotion and selling of products or services.

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marketplace

noun
1. an open space where a market is held.
2. a competitive or commercial arena.

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market research

noun
the activity of gathering information about consumers' needs and preferences.

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market town

noun
a town of moderate size where a regular market is held.

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market value

noun
the amount for which something can be sold in an open market.

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marking

noun
1. an identification mark.
2. (also markings) a pattern of marks on an animal's fur, feathers, or skin.

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marksman

noun
a person skilled in shooting.

DERIVATIVES:
marksmanship noun.

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mark-up

noun
1. the amount added to the cost price of goods to cover overheads and profit.
2. Computing a set of codes assigned to different elements of a text.

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marl [1]

noun
an unconsolidated sedimentary rock or soil consisting of clay and lime, formerly used as fertilizer.

ORIGIN: Old French marle, from Latin marga, of Celtic origin.

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marl [2]

noun
a mottled yarn or fabric.

ORIGIN: shortening of marbled.

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marlin

noun
a large, edible, fast-swimming fish of warm seas, with a pointed snout.

ORIGIN: from MARLINSPIKE (with reference to its pointed snout).

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marlinspike (also marlinespike)

noun
a pointed metal tool used by sailors to separate strands of rope or wire.

ORIGIN: from marl «fasten with marline» (rope made of two strands), from Dutch marlen 'keep binding' .

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marmalade

noun
a preserve made from citrus fruit, especially bitter oranges.

ORIGIN: Portuguese marmelada 'quince jam' , from marmelo 'quince' .

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marmoreal

adjective literary
made of or resembling marble.

ORIGIN: Latin marmoreus, from marmor 'marble' .

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marmoset

noun
a small tropical American monkey with a silky coat and a long tail.

ORIGIN: Old French marmouset 'grotesque image' .

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marmot

noun
a heavily built burrowing rodent.

ORIGIN: French marmotte, from Latin mus montanus 'mountain mouse' .

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maroon [1]

noun
1. a dark brownish-red colour.
2. chiefly Brit. a firework that makes a loud bang, used as a signal or warning.

ORIGIN: from French marron 'chestnut' ; sense 2 is so named because the firework makes the noise of a chestnut bursting in the fire.

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maroon [2]

verb (be marooned)
be abandoned alone in an inaccessible place.

ORIGIN: from Maroon, a member of a group of black people descended from runaway slaves and living in parts of Suriname and the West Indies, from Spanish cimarrón 'runaway slave' .

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marque

noun
a make of car, as distinct from a specific model.

ORIGIN: French, from marquer 'to brand' .

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marquee

noun
1. chiefly Brit. a large tent used for social or commercial functions.
2. N. Amer. a roof-like projection over the entrance to a theatre, hotel, or other building.
3. (before another noun ) N. Amer. leading; pre-eminent: a marquee player.

ORIGIN: from MARQUISE (formerly a synonym for marquee), taken as a plural; sense 3 is with allusion to the practice of billing the name of an entertainer over the entrance to a theatre.

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marquess

noun
a British nobleman ranking above an earl and below a duke. Compare with MARQUIS.

ORIGIN: variant of MARQUIS.

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marquetry

noun
inlaid work made from small pieces of variously coloured wood, used for the decoration of furniture.

ORIGIN: from French marqueter 'become variegated' .

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marquis

noun
1. (in some European countries) a nobleman ranking above a count and below a duke. Compare with MARQUESS.
2. variant spelling of MARQUESS.

ORIGIN: Old French marchis.

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marquise

noun
1. the wife or widow of a marquis, or a woman holding the rank of marquis in her own right.
2. a ring set with a pointed oval gem or cluster of gems.

ORIGIN: French, feminine of MARQUIS.

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marriage

noun
1. the formal union of a man and a woman, by which they become husband and wife.
2. a combination of two or more elements.

IDIOMS -
marriage of convenience a marriage concluded primarily to achieve a practical purpose.

ORIGIN: Old French mariage, from marier 'marry' .

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marriageable

adjective
fit or suitable for marriage.

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married

adjective
united by marriage.

noun (marrieds)
married people.

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marrow

noun
1. Brit. a long gourd with a thin green skin and white flesh, eaten as a vegetable.
2. (also bone marrow) a soft fatty substance in the cavities of bones, in which blood cells are produced.

IDIOMS -
to the marrow to one's innermost being.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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marrowbone

noun
a bone containing edible marrow.

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marry

verb (marries, married)
1. take as one's wife or husband in marriage.
2. join (two people) in marriage.
3. (marry into) become a member of (a family) by marriage.
4. join together; combine harmoniously.

IDIOMS -
marry in haste, repent at leisure proverb those who rush impetuously into marriage may spend a long time regretting doing so.

ORIGIN: Old French marier, from Latin maritus, 'married, husband' .

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marsh

noun
an area of low-lying land which is flooded in wet seasons or at high tide and typically remains waterlogged.

DERIVATIVES:
marshy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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marshal

noun
1. an officer of the highest rank in the armed forces of some countries.
2. chiefly historical a high-ranking officer of state.
3. (in the US) a federal or municipal law officer.
4. an official responsible for supervising public events.
5. (in the UK) an official accompanying a judge on circuit.

verb (marshalled, marshalling; US marshaled, marshaling)
1. assemble (a group of people, especially soldiers) in order.
2. bring together (facts, information, etc.) in an organized way.
3. direct the movement of (an aircraft) on the ground at an airport.

ORIGIN: Old French mareschal 'farrier, commander' , from Latin mariscalcus.

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marshalling yard

noun
a large railway yard in which freight wagons are organized into trains.

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marshmallow

noun
a spongy sweet made from a mixture of sugar, albumen, and gelatin.

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marsh mallow

noun
a tall pink-flowered plant growing in marshes, whose roots were formerly used to make marshmallow.

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marsh marigold

noun
a plant with large yellow flowers which grows in damp ground and shallow water.

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marsupial

noun
a mammal, such as a kangaroo or a wombat, whose young are born incompletely developed and are carried and suckled in a pouch on the mother's belly.

ORIGIN: from Greek marsupion 'little purse' .

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mart

noun
a trade centre or market.

ORIGIN: Dutch, variant of marct 'market' .

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marten

noun
a weasel-like forest mammal that is hunted for fur in some countries.

ORIGIN: from Old French peau martrine 'marten fur' , from Germanic.

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martial

adjective
of or appropriate to war; warlike.

DERIVATIVES:
martially adverb.
USAGE - On the confusion of martial and marital, see the note at MARITAL.
ORIGIN: from Latin martialis, from Mars, the name of the Roman god of war.

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martial arts

plural noun
various sports or skills, mainly of Japanese origin, which originated as forms of self-defence or attack, such as judo, karate, and kung fu.

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martial law

noun
military government, involving the suspension of ordinary law.

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Martian

adjective
relating to the planet Mars.

noun
a supposed inhabitant of Mars.

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martin

noun
used in names of small short-tailed swallows, e.g. house martin.

ORIGIN: probably from the name of St Martin of Tours.

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martinet

noun
a strict disciplinarian.

ORIGIN: named after Jean Martinet, 17th-century French drill master.

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martingale

noun
1. a strap or set of straps running from the noseband or reins to the girth of a horse, used to prevent the horse from raising its head too high.
2. a gambling system that involves a continual doubling of the stakes.

ORIGIN: French, from an Arabic word meaning 'the fastening' .

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martyr

noun
1. a person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs.
2. a person who exaggerates their difficulties in order to obtain sympathy or admiration.

verb
make a martyr of.

DERIVATIVES:
martyrdom noun.

ORIGIN: Greek martur 'witness' .

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marvel

verb (marvelled, marvelling; US marveled, marveling)
be filled with wonder.

noun
a person or thing that causes a feeling of wonder.

ORIGIN: Old French merveille, from Latin mirabilis 'wonderful' , from mirari 'wonder at' .

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marvellous (US marvelous)

adjective
1. causing great wonder; extraordinary.
2. extremely good or pleasing.

DERIVATIVES:
marvellously adverb.

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Marxism

noun
the political and economic theories of Karl Marx (1818 83) and Friedrich Engels (1820 95), later developed by their followers to form the basis for the theory and practice of communism.

DERIVATIVES:
Marxist noun & adjective.

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marzipan

noun
a sweet paste of ground almonds, sugar, and egg whites, used to coat cakes or to make confectionery.

ORIGIN: from Italian marzapane, perhaps from Arabic.

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masala

noun
a mixture of spices ground into a paste or powder and used in Indian cookery.

ORIGIN: Urdu, from Arabic, 'ingredients, materials' .

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mascara

noun
a cosmetic for darkening and thickening the eyelashes.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'mask' .

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mascot

noun
a person, animal, or object that is identified with a person, group, team, etc. and supposed to bring good luck.

ORIGIN: French mascotte, from Provençal masco 'witch' .

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masculine

adjective
1. relating to men; male.
2. having the qualities or appearance traditionally associated with men.
3. Grammar referring to a gender of nouns and adjectives conventionally regarded as male.

DERIVATIVES:
masculinity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin masculus 'male' .

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maser

noun
a form of laser generating a beam of microwaves.

ORIGIN: acronym from microwave amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation.

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mash

noun
1. a soft mass made by crushing a substance into a pulp.
2. bran mixed with hot water, given as a warm food to horses.
3. Brit. informal boiled and mashed potatoes.
4. (in brewing) a mixture of powdered malt and hot water, which is left standing until the sugars dissolve to form the wort.

verb
1. reduce or beat to a mash.
2. (in brewing) mix (powdered malt) with hot water to form wort.
3. Brit. informal (with reference to tea) brew or infuse.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mask

noun
1. a covering for all or part of the face, worn as a disguise, for protection or hygiene, or for theatrical effect.
2. a respirator used to filter inhaled air or to supply gas for inhalation.
3. a likeness of a person's face moulded or sculpted in clay or wax.
4. a face pack.

verb
1. cover with a mask.
2. conceal or disguise.
3. cover so as to protect during a process such as painting.

DERIVATIVES:
masked adjective.

ORIGIN: French masque, from Italian maschera or mascara, probably from Latin masca 'witch, spectre' , but influenced by an Arabic word meaning 'buffoon' .

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masking tape

noun
adhesive tape used in painting to cover areas on which paint is not wanted.

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masochism

noun
the tendency to derive pleasure from one's own pain or humiliation.

DERIVATIVES:
masochist noun
masochistic adjective.

ORIGIN: named after Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1835 95), the Austrian novelist who described it.

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mason

noun
1. a builder and worker in stone.
2. (Mason) a Freemason.

ORIGIN: Old French masson.

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Masonic

adjective
relating to Freemasons.

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masonry

noun
1. stonework.
2. (Masonry) Freemasonry.

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masque

noun
a form of dramatic entertainment popular in the 16th and 17th centuries, consisting of dancing and acting performed by masked players.

ORIGIN: probably from masker 'person wearing a mask' , influenced by French masque 'mask' .

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masquerade

noun
1. a false show or pretence.
2. a masked ball.

verb
1. pretend to be someone that one is not.
2. be disguised or passed off as something else.

ORIGIN: French mascarade, from Italian maschera 'mask' .

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Mass

noun
1. the Christian Eucharist or Holy Communion, especially in the Roman Catholic Church.
2. a musical setting of parts of the liturgy used in the Mass.

ORIGIN: Latin missa, from mittere 'dismiss' , perhaps from the last words of the service, Ite, missa est 'Go, it is the dismissal' .

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mass

noun
1. a body of matter with no definite shape.
2. a large number of people or objects gathered together.
3. (before another noun ) done by or affecting large numbers: a mass exodus.
4. (the masses) the ordinary people.
5. (the mass of) the majority of.
6. (a mass of) a large amount of.
7. Physics the quantity of matter which a body contains, as measured by its acceleration under a given force or by the force exerted on it by a gravitational field.

verb
assemble into a single body or mass.

ORIGIN: Latin massa, from Greek maza 'barley cake' .

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massacre

noun
1. a brutal slaughter of a large number of people.
2. informal a very heavy defeat.

verb
1. brutally kill (a large number of people).
2. informal inflict a heavy defeat on.

ORIGIN: French.

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massage

noun
the rubbing and kneading of parts of the body with the hands to relieve tension or pain.

verb
1. give a massage to.
2. manipulate (figures) to give a more acceptable result.
3. gently flatter (someone's ego).

ORIGIN: French, probably from Portuguese amassar 'knead' , from massa 'dough' .

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massage parlour

noun
1. an establishment in which massage is provided for payment.
2. euphemistic a brothel.

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masseur

noun (fem. masseuse)
a person who provides massage professionally.

ORIGIN: French, from masser 'to massage' .

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massif

noun
a compact group of mountains.

ORIGIN: from French, 'massive' .

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massive

adjective
1. large and heavy or solid.
2. exceptionally large, intense, or severe.
3. forming a solid or continuous mass.

DERIVATIVES:
massively adverb
massiveness noun.

ORIGIN: French massif, from Latin massa 'mass' .

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mass market

noun
an unrestricted arena of commercial activity in which goods are produced in large quantities for the broad population.

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mass noun

noun
a noun denoting something which cannot be counted, in English usually a noun which has no plural form and is not used with a or an, e.g. luggage, happiness. Contrasted with COUNT NOUN.

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mass number

noun Physics
the total number of protons and neutrons in a nucleus.

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mass-produced

adjective
produced in large quantities by an automated mechanical process.

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mast [1]

noun
1. a tall upright post or spar on a boat, generally carrying a sail or sails.
2. any tall upright post, especially a flagpole or a television or radio transmitter.

IDIOMS -
before the mast historical serving as an ordinary seaman (quartered in the forecastle).
nail one's colours to the mast declare openly and firmly what one believes.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mast [2]

noun
the fruit of beech and other forest trees, especially as food for pigs.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mastectomy

noun (pl. mastectomies)
a surgical operation to remove a breast.

ORIGIN: from Greek mastos 'breast' .

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master

noun
1. a man in a position of authority, control, or ownership.
2. a skilled practitioner of a particular art or activity.
3. the head of a college or school.
4. chiefly Brit. a male schoolteacher.
5. a person who holds a second or further degree.
6. an original film, recording, or document from which copies can be made.
7. a title prefixed to the name of a boy.

adjective
1. (of an artist) having great skill or proficiency: a master painter.
2. skilled in a particular trade and able to teach others: a master builder.
3. main; principal.

verb
1. acquire complete knowledge or skill in.
2. gain control of; overcome.
3. make a master copy of (a film or record).

ORIGIN: Latin magister.

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masterclass

noun
a class given to students by a musician regarded as a master.

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masterful

adjective
1. powerful and able to control others.
2. performed or performing very skilfully.

DERIVATIVES:
masterfully adverb.
USAGE - Strictly, there is a distinction between masterful and masterly: both mean ‘very skilful’, but only masterful means ‘powerful and able to control others’.

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master key

noun
a key that opens several locks, each of which also has its own key.

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masterly

adjective
performed or performing very skilfully.

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mastermind

noun
1. a person with outstanding intellect.
2. a person who plans and directs a complex scheme or enterprise.

verb
be the mastermind of.

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master of ceremonies

noun
a person in charge of procedure at a state occasion, formal event, or entertainment, who introduces the speakers or performers.

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masterpiece

noun
a work of outstanding skill.

ORIGIN: originally referring to a piece of work by a craftsman accepted as qualification for membership of a guild as an acknowledged master.

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mastery

noun
1. comprehensive knowledge or command of a subject or skill.
2. control or superiority.

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masthead

noun
1. the highest part of a ship's mast.
2. the name of a newspaper or magazine printed at the top of the first or editorial page.

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mastic

noun
1. an aromatic gum from the bark of a Mediterranean tree, used in making varnish and chewing gum and as a flavouring.
2. a putty-like waterproof filler and sealant used in building.

ORIGIN: Greek mastikh, from mastikhan 'grind the teeth' .

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masticate

verb
chew (food).

DERIVATIVES:
mastication noun.

ORIGIN: Latin masticare, from Greek mastikhan 'grind the teeth' .

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mastiff

noun
a dog of a large, strong breed with drooping ears and pendulous lips.

ORIGIN: Old French mastin, from Latin mansuetus 'tame' .

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mastodon

noun
a large extinct elephant-like mammal of the Miocene to Pleistocene epochs.

ORIGIN: from Greek mastos 'breast' + odous 'tooth' (with reference to nipple-shaped tubercles on the crowns of its molar teeth).

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mastoid

noun
1. (also mastoid process) Anatomy a conical projection of the temporal bone behind the ear, to which neck muscles are attached, and which has air spaces linked to the middle ear.
2. (mastoids) (treated as sing. ) informal mastoiditis.

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masturbate

verb
stimulate one's genitals with one's hand for sexual pleasure.

DERIVATIVES:
masturbation noun
masturbator noun
masturbatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin masturbari.

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mat

noun
1. a thick piece of material placed on the floor and used as protection from dirt or as a decorative rug.
2. a piece of resilient material for landing on in gymnastics or similar sports.
3. a small piece of material placed on a surface to protect it from the heat or moisture of an object placed on it.
4. a thick, untidy layer of hairy or woolly material.

IDIOMS -
on the mat informal being reprimanded by someone in authority.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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matador

noun
a bullfighter whose task is to kill the bull.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'killer' .

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match [1]

noun
1. a contest in which people or teams compete against each other.
2. an equal contender.
3. an exact equivalent.
4. a corresponding pair.
5. a potential husband or wife.
6. a marriage.

verb
1. correspond or cause to correspond; make or be harmonious.
2. be equal to.
3. place in competition with another.

ORIGIN: Old English, 'mate, companion' .

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match [2]

noun
1. a short, thin stick tipped with a mixture that ignites when rubbed against a rough surface, used to light a fire.
2. historical a piece of wick or cord which burned uniformly, used for lighting gunpowder.

ORIGIN: Old French meche.

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matchbox

noun
a small box in which matches are sold.

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matchless

adjective
unequalled; incomparable.

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matchmaker

noun
a person who tries to bring about marriages or relationships between other people.

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match play

noun
golf in which the score is reckoned by holes won.

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match point

noun
(in tennis) a point which if won by one of the players will also win them the match.

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matchstick

noun
1. the stem of a match.
2. (before another noun ) drawn using thin straight lines: matchstick men.

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mate [1]

noun
1. Brit. informal a friend or companion.
2. (in combination ) a fellow member or occupant: his teammates.
3. the sexual partner of an animal.
4. an assistant.
5. an officer on a merchant ship subordinate to the master.

verb
1. (of animals or birds) come together for breeding.
2. join or connect mechanically.

ORIGIN: Low German, 'comrade' .

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matelot

noun Brit. informal
a sailor.

ORIGIN: French, from Dutch mattenoot 'bed companion' (because sailors had to share hammocks).

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mater

noun Brit. informal, dated
mother.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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material

noun
1. the matter from which something is or can be made.
2. items needed for doing or creating something.
3. cloth or fabric.

adjective
1. consisting of or referring to physical objects rather than ideas or spirit.
2. important; essential; relevant.

DERIVATIVES:
materiality noun
materially adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin materia 'matter' , from mater 'mother' .

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materialism

noun
1. a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values.
2. Philosophy the doctrine that nothing exists except matter and its movements and modifications.

DERIVATIVES:
materialist noun & adjective
materialistic adjective.

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materialize (also materialise)

verb
1. become actual fact; happen.
2. appear in bodily form.

DERIVATIVES:
materialization noun.

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maternal

adjective
1. relating to or characteristic of a mother.
2. related through the mother's side of the family.

DERIVATIVES:
maternally adverb.

ORIGIN: French maternel, from Latin mater 'mother' .

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maternity

noun
1. motherhood.
2. (before another noun ) relating to the period during pregnancy and shortly after childbirth: maternity clothes.

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matey

adjective (matier, matiest) Brit. informal
familiar and friendly.

DERIVATIVES:
mateyness (also matiness) noun
matily adverb.

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mathematics

plural noun (usu. treated as sing. )
the branch of science concerned with number, quantity, and space, either as abstract ideas (pure mathematics) or as applied to physics, engineering, and other subjects (applied mathematics).

DERIVATIVES:
mathematical adjective
mathematically adverb
mathematician noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek mathma 'science' , from manthanein 'learn' .

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matinee

noun
an afternoon performance in a theatre or cinema.

ORIGIN: originally referring to performances in the morning, later extended to any performance earlier than the evening: from French matin 'morning' .

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matins

noun
a service of morning prayer, especially in the Anglican Church.

ORIGIN: Old French matines 'mornings' , from Latin Matuta, goddess of the dawn.

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matriarch

noun
1. a woman who is the head of a family or tribe.
2. a powerful older woman.

DERIVATIVES:
matriarchal adjective
matriarchy noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin mater 'mother' , on the false analogy of patriarch.

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matricide

noun
1. the killing of one's mother.
2. a person who kills their mother.

DERIVATIVES:
matricidal adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin mater 'mother' + -cidium 'killing' .

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matriculate

verb
enrol or be enrolled at a college or university.

DERIVATIVES:
matriculation noun
.
ORIGIN: Latin matriculare, from matricula 'register' , diminutive of matrix.

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matrimony

noun
the state or ceremony of being married.

DERIVATIVES:
matrimonial adjective
.
ORIGIN: Latin matrimonium, from mater 'mother' .

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matrix

noun (pl. matrices or matrixes)
1. an environment or material in which something develops.
2. a mould in which something is cast or shaped.
3. Mathematics a rectangular array of quantities in rows and columns that is manipulated according to particular rules.
4. a grid-like array of elements; a lattice.
5. a mass of fine-grained rock in which gems, crystals, or fossils are embedded.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'womb' , from mater 'mother' .

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matron

noun
1. a woman in charge of domestic and medical arrangements at a boarding school.
2. a dignified or staid married woman.
3. Brit., dated a woman in charge of nursing in a hospital.
4. chiefly US a female prison officer.

DERIVATIVES:
matronly adjective.
USAGE - In sense 3, the official term is now senior nursing officer.
ORIGIN: Latin matrona, from mater 'mother' .

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matron of honour

noun
a married woman attending the bride at a wedding.

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matt (also matte)

adjective
not shiny; dull and flat.

noun
1. a matt colour, paint, or finish.
2. a sheet of cardboard placed on the back of a picture, as a mount or to form a border.

ORIGIN: French mat.

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matted

adjective
(of hair or fur) tangled into a thick mass.

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matter

noun
1. physical substance or material in general, as distinct from mind and spirit; (in physics) that which occupies space and possesses mass.
2. an affair or situation under consideration; a topic.
3. (the matter) the reason for a problem.
4. written or printed material.
5. Logic the particular content of a proposition, as distinct from its form.
6. Law something to be tried or proved in court; a case.

verb
be important or significant.

IDIOMS -
as a matter of fact in reality; in fact.
for that matter and indeed also.
in the matter of as regards.
a matter of
1. no more than (a specified period).
2. a question of.
a matter of course the natural or expected thing.
no matter
1. regardless of.
2. it is of no importance.

ORIGIN: Latin materia, from mater 'mother' .

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matter-of-fact

adjective
1. concerned only with factual content.
2. unemotional and practical.

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matting

noun
material used for mats, especially coarse fabric woven from a natural fibre.

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mattock

noun
an agricultural tool similar to a pickaxe, but with one arm of the head curved like an adze and the other like a chisel edge.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mattress

noun
a fabric case filled with soft, firm, or springy material used for sleeping on.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'carpet or cushion' .

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maturation

noun
1. the action or process of maturing.
2. the formation of pus in a boil, abscess, etc.

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mature

adjective
1. fully grown or physically developed; adult.
2. like an adult in mental or emotional development.
3. (of thought or planning) careful and thorough.
4. (of certain foodstuffs or drinks) ready for consumption; full-flavoured.
5. (of a bill) due for payment.

verb
1. become mature.
2. (of an insurance policy, security, etc.) reach the end of its term and hence become payable.

DERIVATIVES:
maturely adverb
.
ORIGIN: Latin maturus 'timely, ripe' .

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maturity

noun
1. the state, fact, or period of being mature.
2. the time when an insurance policy, security, etc. matures.

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matutinal

adjective formal
of or occurring in the morning.

ORIGIN: Latin matutinus 'early' .

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maudlin

adjective
self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental.

ORIGIN: from the name of Mary Magdalen in the Bible, typically depicted weeping.

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maul

verb
1. wound by scratching and tearing.
2. handle or treat savagely or roughly.

noun Rugby Union
a loose scrum formed around a player with the ball off the ground.

ORIGIN: from Latin malleus 'hammer' .

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maunder

verb
move, talk, or act in a rambling or aimless manner.

ORIGIN: perhaps from obsolete maunder 'to beg' .

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Maundy

noun
a public ceremony on the Thursday before Easter (Maundy Thursday) at which the British monarch distributes specially minted coins (Maundy money) to a group of people.

ORIGIN: Old French mande, from Latin mandatum novum 'new commandment' (referring to Christ's words in the Gospel of John, chapter 13).

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mausoleum

noun (pl. mausolea or mausoleums)
a building housing a tomb or tombs.

ORIGIN: Greek Mausleion, from Mauslos, the name of a king of the 4th century BC to whose tomb the name was originally applied.

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mauve

noun
a pale purple colour.

ORIGIN: French, 'mallow' , from Latin malva.

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maverick

noun
1. an unorthodox or independent-minded person.
2. N. Amer. an unbranded calf or yearling.

ORIGIN: from Samuel A. Maverick, a 19th-century Texas rancher who did not brand his cattle.

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maw

noun
the jaws or throat, especially of a voracious animal.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mawkish

adjective
1. sentimental in a feeble or sickly way.
2. archaic or dialect having a faint sickly flavour.

ORIGIN: from obsolete mawk 'maggot' .

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max

abbreviation
maximum.

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maxi

noun (pl. maxis)
a skirt or coat reaching to the ankle.

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maxilla

noun (pl. maxillae)
1. Anatomy the bone of the upper jaw.
2. Zoology (in arthropods) each of a pair of chewing mouthparts.

DERIVATIVES:
maxillary adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'jaw' .

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maxim

noun
a short statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct.

ORIGIN: from Latin propositio maxima 'most important proposition' .

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maximize (also maximise)

verb
1. make as great or large as possible.
2. make the best use of.

DERIVATIVES:
maximization noun
maximizer noun.

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maximum

noun (pl. maxima or maximums)
the greatest amount, size, or intensity possible or attained.

adjective
greatest in amount, size, or intensity.

DERIVATIVES:
maximal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'greatest thing' .

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May

noun
1. the fifth month of the year.
2. (may) the hawthorn or its blossom.

ORIGIN: from Latin Maius mensis 'month of the goddess Maia' .

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may

modal verb (3rd sing. present may; past might)
1. expressing possibility.
2. expressing permission.
3. expressing a wish or hope.

IDIOMS -
be that as it may nevertheless.

USAGE - When expressing or asking permission, may is regarded as more correct (and more polite) than can, so that it is better to say May we leave now? rather than Can we leave now? The verb can should be used to express ability or capability ( can he move? = is he physically able to move?; may he move? = is he allowed to move?).
ORIGIN: Old English.

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Maya

noun (pl. same or Mayas)
a member of a Central American people whose civilization died out c.900 AD.

DERIVATIVES:
Mayan adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: the name in Maya.

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maybe

adverb
perhaps; possibly.

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May Day

noun
1 May, celebrated as a springtime festival or as a day honouring workers.

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Mayday

noun
an international radio distress signal used by ships and aircraft.

ORIGIN: from the pronunciation of French m'aidez 'help me' .

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mayfly

noun
a slender insect with transparent wings which lives as an adult for only a very short time.

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mayhem

noun
violent disorder; chaos.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «the crime of maliciously injuring someone»: from Old French, related to MAIM.

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mayn't

contraction
may not.

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mayonnaise

noun
a thick creamy dressing made from egg yolks, oil, and vinegar.

ORIGIN: French, meaning 'from Port Mahon' (the capital of Minorca).

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mayor

noun
the elected head of a city or borough council.

DERIVATIVES:
mayoral adjective
mayorship noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin major 'greater' .

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mayoralty

noun (pl. mayoralties)
the period or term of office of a mayor.

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mayoress

noun
1. the wife of a mayor.
2. a woman elected as mayor.

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maypole

noun
a decorated pole with long ribbons attached to the top, traditionally used for dancing round on May Day.

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maze

noun
1. a puzzle consisting of a network of paths and walls or hedges through which one has to find a way.
2. a confusing mass of information.

ORIGIN: originally denoting delirium or delusion: related to AMAZE.

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mazel tov

exclamation
(among Jews) congratulations; good luck.

ORIGIN: modern Hebrew, 'good star' .

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mazurka

noun
a lively Polish dance in triple time.

ORIGIN: Polish, referring to a woman from the province of Mazovia.

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MB

abbreviation
1. Bachelor of Medicine. [ORIGIN: Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus.]
2. Manitoba.
3. (also Mb) Computing megabyte(s).

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MBA

abbreviation
Master of Business Administration.

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MBE

abbreviation
Member of the Order of the British Empire.

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MC

abbreviation
1. Master of Ceremonies.
2. (in the US) Member of Congress.
3. Military Cross.

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MCC

abbreviation
Marylebone Cricket Club.

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McCarthyism

noun
a campaign against alleged communists in the US government and other institutions carried out under Senator Joseph McCarthy from 1950 4.

DERIVATIVES:
McCarthyite adjective & noun.

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McCoy

noun (in phrase the real McCoy) informal
the real thing; the genuine article.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain: perhaps from the real Mackay, an advertising slogan used by the whisky distillers G. Mackay and Co.; the form McCoy may come from the name of the American inventor Elijah McCoy.

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MD

abbreviation
1. Doctor of Medicine. [ORIGIN: Latin Medicinae Doctor.]
2. Brit. Managing Director.
3. Maryland.

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Md

symbol
the chemical element mendelevium.

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MDF

abbreviation
medium density fibreboard.

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MDMA

abbreviation
methylenedioxymethamphetamine, the drug Ecstasy.

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ME

abbreviation
1. Maine.
2. myalgic encephalitis.

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me [1]

pronoun (first person sing. )
1. used as the object of a verb or preposition or after ‘than’, ‘as’, or the verb ‘to be’, to refer to the speaker himself or herself.
2. N. Amer. informal to or for myself.
USAGE - The pronoun me should be used as the object of a verb or preposition, as in John hates me or Come with me! It is wrong to use me as the subject of a verb, as in John and me went to the shops ; in this case I should be used instead.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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me [2] (also mi)

noun Music
the third note of a major scale, coming after ‘ray’ and before ‘fah’.

ORIGIN: mi, an arbitrary name for the note, taken from the first syllable of mira, in a Latin hymn.

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mea culpa

noun
an acknowledgement that one is at fault.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'by my fault' .

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mead

noun
an alcoholic drink of fermented honey and water.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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meadow

noun
1. an area of grassland, especially one used for hay.
2. a piece of low ground near a river.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to MOW.

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meadowsweet

noun
a tall meadow plant with heads of creamy-white fragrant flowers.

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meagre (US meager)

adjective
1. lacking in quantity or quality.
2. lean; thin.

DERIVATIVES:
meagreness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French maigre, from Latin macer.

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meal [1]

noun
1. any of the regular daily occasions when food is eaten.
2. the food eaten on such an occasion.

IDIOMS -
make a meal of Brit. informal carry out (a task) with unnecessary effort.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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meal [2]

noun
1. the edible part of any grain or pulse ground to powder; flour.
2. any powdery substance made by grinding.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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meal ticket

noun
a person or thing that is exploited as a source of income.

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mealy

adjective (mealier, mealiest)
1. of, like, or containing meal.
2. pale in colour.

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mealy-mouthed

adjective
reluctant to speak frankly.

ORIGIN: perhaps from German Mehl im Maule behalten 'carry meal in the mouth' (i.e. be unstraightforward in speech), or related to Latin mel 'honey' .

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mean [1]

verb (past and past part. meant)
1. intend to express or refer to.
2. (of a word) have as its explanation in the same language or its equivalent in another language.
3. intend to occur or be the case.
4. have as a consequence.
5. intend or design for a particular purpose.
6. be of specified importance.

IDIOMS -
mean business be in earnest.
mean well have good intentions, but not always carry them out.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mean [2]

adjective
1. unwilling to give or share; not generous.
2. unkind or unfair.
3. vicious or aggressive.
4. poor in quality and appearance; inferior.
5. dated of low birth or social class.
6. informal excellent.

DERIVATIVES:
meanly adverb
meanness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «common to two or more persons»: from Old English.

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mean [3]

noun
1. the average or central value of a set of quantities.
2. something in the middle of two extremes.

adjective
1. calculated as a mean.
2. equally far from two extremes.

ORIGIN: Latin medianus 'middle' .

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meander

verb
1. follow a winding course.
2. wander in a leisurely or aimless way.

noun
a winding bend of a river or road.

ORIGIN: Greek, from the name of the winding river Maeander in SW Turkey.

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meaning

noun
1. what is meant by a word, idea, or action.
2. worthwhile quality; purpose.

adjective
expressive.

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meaningful

adjective
1. having meaning.
2. worthwhile.
3. expressive.

DERIVATIVES:
meaningfully adverb
meaningfulness noun.

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meaningless

adjective
having no meaning or significance.

DERIVATIVES:
meaninglessly adverb
meaninglessness noun.

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means

plural noun (also treated as sing. )
1. an agent or method for achieving a result.
2. financial resources; income.
3. substantial resources; wealth.

IDIOMS -
by all means of course.
by means of by using.
by no means certainly not.
a means to an end a thing that is not valued in itself but is useful in achieving an aim.

ORIGIN: plural of MEAN, the early sense being 'intermediary' .

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meantime

adverb (also in the meantime)
meanwhile.

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meanwhile

adverb
1. (also in the meanwhile) in the intervening period of time.
2. at the same time.

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measles

plural noun (treated as sing. )
an infectious disease spread by a virus, causing fever and a red rash.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch masel 'spot' .

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measly

adjective (measlier, measliest) informal
ridiculously small or few.

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measure

verb
1. determine the size, amount, or degree of (something) by comparison with a standard unit.
2. be of (a specified size).
3. (measure out) take an exact quantity of.
4. (measure up) reach the required or expected standard.

noun
1. a means of achieving a purpose.
2. a legislative bill.
3. a standard unit used to express size, amount, or degree.
4. a measuring device marked with such units.
5. (a measure of) a certain amount or degree of.
6. (a measure of) an indication of the extent or quality of.
7. (measures) a group of rock strata.
8. a metrical unit or group in poetry.

IDIOMS -
for good measure as an amount or item beyond that which is strictly required.
have the measure of understand the character or abilities of.

DERIVATIVES:
measurable adjective
measurably adverb
.
ORIGIN: Latin mensura, from metiri 'to measure' .

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measured

adjective
1. slow and regular in rhythm.
2. carefully considered and restrained.

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measureless

adjective literary
having no limits.

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measurement

noun
1. the action of measuring.
2. an amount, size, or extent found by measuring.
3. a standard unit used in measuring.

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meat

noun
1. the flesh of an animal as food.
2. the main substance or chief part: let's get to the meat of the matter.

IDIOMS -
easy meat informal a person who is easily overcome or outwitted.
one man's meat is another man's poison proverb things liked or enjoyed by one person may be distasteful to another.

ORIGIN: Old English, «food», «article of food».

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meatball

noun
a ball of minced or chopped meat.

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meat loaf

noun
minced or chopped meat baked in the shape of a loaf.

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meaty

adjective (meatier, meatiest)
1. resembling or full of meat.
2. fleshy or muscular.
3. substantial.

DERIVATIVES:
meatiness noun.

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Mecca

noun
a place which attracts many people of a particular group or with a particular interest.

ORIGIN: from the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims.

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mechanic

noun
a skilled worker who repairs and maintains machinery.

ORIGIN: Greek, from mkhan 'machine' .

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mechanical

adjective
1. relating to or operated by a machine or machinery.
2. lacking thought or spontaneity.
3. relating to physical forces or motion.

DERIVATIVES:
mechanically adverb.

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mechanical engineering

noun
the branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction, and use of machines.

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mechanics

plural noun
1. (treated as sing. ) the branch of study concerned with motion and forces producing motion.
2. machinery or working parts.
3. the physical or practical aspects of something.

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mechanism

noun
1. a piece of machinery.
2. the way in which something works or is brought about.

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mechanize (also mechanise)

verb
equip with or make reliant on machines or automatic devices.

DERIVATIVES:
mechanization noun.

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medal

noun
a metal disc with an inscription or design, awarded for achievement or to commemorate an event.

ORIGIN: Latin medalia 'half a denarius' .

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medallion

noun
1. a piece of jewellery in the shape of a medal, worn as a pendant.
2. a decorative oval or circular painting, panel, or design.

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medallist (US medalist)

noun
a person awarded a medal.

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meddle

verb
interfere in something that is not one's concern.

DERIVATIVES:
meddler noun
meddlesome adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin miscere 'to mix' .

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media

noun
1. the means of mass communication, especially television, radio, and newspapers collectively.
2. plural of MEDIUM.
USAGE - The word media comes from the Latin plural of medium. In the normal sense ‘television, radio, and the press collectively’, it often behaves as a collective noun (for example like staff), and can be used with either a singular or a plural verb. Although some people regard the singular use as incorrect, it is now generally accepted in standard English.

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medial

adjective
situated in the middle.

DERIVATIVES:
medially adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «relating to the average»: from Latin medialis, from medius 'middle' .

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median

adjective
1. technical situated in the middle.
2. referring to the middle term (or mean of the middle two terms) of a series of values arranged in order of magnitude.

noun
1. a median value.
2. Geometry a straight line drawn from one of the angles of a triangle to the middle of the opposite side.

ORIGIN: Latin medianus, from medius 'middle' .

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mediate

verb
1. try to settle a dispute between two other parties.
2. technical be a medium for (a process or effect).

DERIVATIVES:
mediation noun
mediator noun
.
ORIGIN: Latin mediare 'place in the middle' .

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medic

noun informal
a medical practitioner or student.

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medical

adjective
relating to the science or practice of medicine.

noun
an examination to assess a person's physical health.

DERIVATIVES:
medically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin medicus 'physician' .

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medicament

noun
a medicine.

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medicate

verb
1. administer medicine or a drug to.
2. (medicated) containing a medicinal substance.

ORIGIN: Latin medicari 'administer remedies to' .

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medication

noun
1. a medicine or drug.
2. treatment with medicines.

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medicinal

adjective
1. having healing properties.
2. relating to medicines.

DERIVATIVES:
medicinally adverb.

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medicine

noun
1. the science or practice of the treatment and prevention of disease.
2. a drug or other preparation taken by mouth in order to treat or prevent disease.

IDIOMS -
give someone a dose of their own medicine treat someone in the same unpleasant way that they treated others.

ORIGIN: from Latin medicus 'physician' .

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medicine man

noun
(among North American Indians) a shaman.

ORIGIN: from medicine in the sense 'spell or charm believed to have healing or magical power' .

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medieval (also mediaeval)

adjective
1. relating to the Middle Ages.
2. informal very old-fashioned or outdated.

DERIVATIVES:
medievalize (also medievalise) verb
medievally adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin medium aevum 'middle age' .

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medievalist (also medievalist)

noun
a scholar of medieval history or literature.

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medina

noun
the old quarter of a North African town.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'town' .

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mediocre

adjective
of only average or fairly low quality.

ORIGIN: Latin mediocris 'of middle height or degree' (literally 'somewhat rugged or mountainous' ), from medius 'middle' + ocris 'rugged mountain' .

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mediocrity

noun (pl. mediocrities)
1. the quality or state of being mediocre.
2. a person of mediocre ability.

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meditate

verb
1. focus one's mind for a time for spiritual purposes or for relaxation.
2. (meditate on/about) think carefully about.

ORIGIN: Latin meditari 'contemplate' , related to METE.

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meditation

noun
1. the action or practice of meditating.
2. a discourse expressing considered thoughts on a subject.

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meditative

adjective
involving or absorbed in meditation.

DERIVATIVES:
meditatively adverb.

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Mediterranean

adjective
relating to the Mediterranean Sea or the countries around it.

ORIGIN: Latin mediterraneus 'inland' , from medius 'middle' + terra 'land' .

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medium

noun (pl. media or mediums)
1. a means by which something is expressed, communicated, or achieved.
2. a substance through which a force or other influence is transmitted.
3. a form of storage for computer software, such as magnetic tape or disks.
4. a liquid with which pigments are mixed to make paint.
5. (pl. mediums) a person claiming to be able to communicate between the dead and the living.
6. the middle state between two extremes.

adjective
between two extremes; average.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'middle' .

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medium wave

noun chiefly Brit.
a radio wave of a frequency between 300 kilohertz and 3 megahertz.

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medlar

noun
a small brown apple-like fruit.

ORIGIN: Old French medler, from Greek mespil.

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medley

noun (pl. medleys)
1. a varied mixture.
2. a collection of songs or other musical items performed as a continuous piece.

ORIGIN: originally denoting hand-to-hand combat, also cloth made of variegated wool: from Old French medlee 'melee' , from Latin misculare 'to mix' .

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medulla

noun
1. Anatomy a distinct inner region of an organ or tissue.
2. Botany the soft internal tissue of a plant.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'pith or marrow' .

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medulla oblongata

noun
the part of the spinal cord extending into the brain.

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meek

adjective
quiet, gentle, and submissive.

DERIVATIVES:
meekly adverb
meekness noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'soft, gentle' .

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meerkat

noun
a small southern African mongoose.

ORIGIN: Dutch, 'sea cat' : the name originally applied to a kind of monkey, perhaps with the notion 'from overseas' .

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meerschaum

noun
1. a soft white clay-like material.
2. a tobacco pipe with a bowl made from meerschaum.

ORIGIN: German, 'sea foam' .

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meet [1]

verb (past and past part. met)
1. come together with at the same place and time.
2. see or be introduced to for the first time.
3. come into contact with; touch or join.
4. encounter (a situation).
5. (meet with) receive (a reaction).
6. fulfil or satisfy (a requirement).

noun
a gathering or meeting, especially for races or foxhunting.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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meet [2]

adjective archaic
suitable or proper.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «made to fit»; related to METE.

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meeting

noun
1. an organized gathering of people for a discussion or other purpose.
2. a coming together of two or more people.

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mega

adjective informal
1. very large.
2. excellent.

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mega-

combining form
1. large.
2. denoting a factor of one million (10^6).

ORIGIN: Greek megas 'great' .

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megabucks

plural noun informal
a huge sum of money.

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megabyte

noun Computing
a unit of information equal to one million or (strictly) 1,048,576 bytes.

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megahertz

noun (pl. same)
a unit of frequency equal to one million hertz.

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megalith

noun
a large stone that forms a prehistoric monument or part of one.

DERIVATIVES:
megalithic adjective.

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megalomania

noun
1. obsession with the exercise of power.
2. the delusion that one has great power or importance.

DERIVATIVES:
megalomaniac noun & adjective.

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megaphone

noun
a large cone-shaped device for amplifying and directing the voice.

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megastar

noun informal
a very famous entertainer or sports player.

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megaton

noun
a unit of explosive power equivalent to one million tons of TNT.

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megawatt

noun
a unit of electrical or other power equal to one million watts.

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meiosis

noun (pl. meioses)
1. Biology a type of cell division that results in daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell. Compare with MITOSIS.
2. another term for LITOTES.

DERIVATIVES:
meiotic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek meisis 'lessening' .

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melamine

noun
a hard plastic used chiefly for laminated coatings.

ORIGIN: from German melam (an arbitrary formation denoting an organic chemical compound), + AMINE.

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melancholia

noun
severe depression.

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melancholy

noun
deep and long-lasting sadness.

adjective
sad or depressed.

DERIVATIVES:
melancholic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek melankholia, from melas 'black' + khol 'bile' , an excess of which was formerly believed to cause depression.

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melange

noun
a varied mixture.

ORIGIN: French mélange, from mêler 'to mix' .

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melanin

noun
a dark pigment in the hair and skin, responsible for tanning of skin exposed to sunlight.

ORIGIN: from Greek melas 'black' .

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melanoma

noun
a form of skin cancer which develops in melanin-forming cells.

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meld

verb
blend; combine.

ORIGIN: perhaps a blend of MELT and WELD.

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melee

noun
1. a confused fight.
2. a disorderly mass.

ORIGIN: French mêlée; related to MEDLEY.

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mellifluous

adjective
pleasingly smooth and musical to hear.

DERIVATIVES:
mellifluously adverb
mellifluousness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin mel 'honey' + fluere 'to flow' .

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mellow

adjective
1. pleasantly smooth or soft in sound, taste, or colour.
2. relaxed and good-humoured.

verb
make or become mellow.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to MEAL.

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melodeon

noun
1. a small accordion.
2. a small organ similar to the harmonium.

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melodic

adjective
1. relating to melody.
2. pleasant-sounding.

DERIVATIVES:
melodically adverb.

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melodious

adjective
pleasant-sounding; tuneful.

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melodrama

noun
1. a sensational play with exaggerated characters and exciting events.
2. behaviour or events resembling melodrama.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a play, especially of a romantic or sensational nature, interspersed with songs and music: from Greek melos 'music' + French drame 'drama' .

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melodramatic

adjective
like a melodrama; overdramatic or sensationalized.

DERIVATIVES:
melodramatically adverb.

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melody

noun (pl. melodies)
1. a sequence of notes that is musically satisfying; a tune.
2. the main part in harmonized music.

ORIGIN: from Greek melos 'song' .

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melon

noun
a large round fruit with sweet pulpy flesh and many seeds.

ORIGIN: Greek, from mlon 'apple' + pepn 'gourd' .

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melt

verb
1. make or become liquid by heating.
2. gradually disappear or disperse.
3. become or make more tender or loving.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to MALT.

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meltdown

noun
1. an accident in a nuclear reactor in which the fuel overheats and melts the reactor core.
2. a disastrous collapse or breakdown.

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melting point

noun
the temperature at which a solid will melt.

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melting pot

noun
1. a place where different peoples, styles, etc., are mixed together and influence each other.
2. a changing and uncertain situation.

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member

noun
1. a person or organization belonging to a group or society.
2. a part of a complex structure.
3. archaic a part of the body, especially a limb.

DERIVATIVES:
membership noun.

ORIGIN: Latin membrum 'limb' .

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membrane

noun
1. a skin-like covering or sheet in an organism or cell.
2. a thin skin-like sheet of material.

DERIVATIVES:
membraneous adjective
membranous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from membrum 'limb' .

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memento

noun (pl. mementos or mementoes)
an object kept as a reminder.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'remember!'

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memento mori

noun (pl. same)
an object kept as a reminder that death is inevitable.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'remember (that you have) to die' .

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memo

noun (pl. memos) informal
a memorandum.

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memoir

noun
1. a historical account or biography written from personal knowledge.
2. (memoirs) an account written by a public figure of their life and experiences.

ORIGIN: French mémoire 'memory' .

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memorabilia

plural noun
objects kept or collected because of their associations with memorable people or events.

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memorable

adjective
worth remembering or easily remembered.

DERIVATIVES:
memorably adverb.

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memorandum

noun (pl. memoranda or memorandums)
1. a written message in business or diplomacy.
2. a note recording something.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'something to be brought to mind' .

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memorial

noun
an object or structure established in memory of a person or event.

adjective
in memory of someone.

DERIVATIVES:
memorialist noun
memorialize (also memorialise) verb.

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memorize (also memorise)

verb
learn by heart.

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memory

noun (pl. memories)
1. the faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information.
2. a person or thing remembered.
3. the length of time over which people's memory extends.
4. a computer's equipment or capacity for storing data or program instructions for retrieval.

IDIOMS -
in memory of so as to commemorate.

ORIGIN: Old French memorie, from Latin memoria.

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memsahib

noun Indian, dated
a respectful form of address for a married white woman.

ORIGIN: from an Indian pronunciation of ma'am + SAHIB.

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menace

noun
1. a dangerous or troublesome person or thing.
2. a threatening quality.

verb
put at risk; threaten.

DERIVATIVES:
menacing adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin minax 'threatening' .

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ménage à trois

noun
an arrangement in which a married couple and the lover of one of them live together.

ORIGIN: French, 'household of three' .

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menagerie

noun
a collection of wild animals kept in captivity for showing to the public.

ORIGIN: French, from ménage 'household' .

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menaquinone

noun Biochemistry
vitamin K, a compound produced by intestinal bacteria and essential for the blood-clotting process.

ORIGIN: from its chemical name.

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mend

verb
1. restore to the correct or working condition.
2. improve.

noun
a repair in a material.

IDIOMS -
mend (one's) fences make peace with a person.
on the mend improving in health or condition.

DERIVATIVES:
mendable adjective
mender noun.

ORIGIN: shortening of AMEND.

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mendacious

adjective
untruthful.

DERIVATIVES:
mendaciously adverb
mendacity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin mendax 'lying' .

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mendicant

adjective
1. habitually engaged in begging.
2. (of a religious order) originally dependent on alms.

noun
1. a beggar.
2. a member of a mendicant order.

ORIGIN: from Latin mendicus 'beggar' .

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menfolk

plural noun
the men of a family or community considered collectively.

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menhir

noun
a tall upright prehistoric stone erected as a monument.

ORIGIN: from Breton men 'stone' + hir 'long' .

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menial

adjective
(of work) requiring little skill and lacking prestige.

noun
a person with a menial job.

ORIGIN: Old French, from mesnee 'household' .

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meninges

plural noun (sing. meninx)
the three membranes that enclose the brain and spinal cord.

ORIGIN: from Greek mninx 'membrane' .

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meningitis

noun
a disease in which the meninges become inflamed owing to infection with a bacterium or virus.

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meniscus

noun (pl. menisci)
1. Physics the curved upper surface of a liquid in a tube.
2. a thin lens convex on one side and concave on the other.

ORIGIN: Greek mniskos 'crescent' .

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menopause

noun
the ceasing of menstruation or the period in a woman's life (typically between 45 and 50) when this occurs.

DERIVATIVES:
menopausal adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek mn 'month' + PAUSE.

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menorah

noun
a candelabrum used in Jewish worship, typically with eight branches.

ORIGIN: Hebrew.

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menses

plural noun
blood discharged from the uterus at menstruation.

ORIGIN: Latin, plural of mensis 'month' .

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menstrual

adjective
of or relating to menstruation.

ORIGIN: Latin menstrualis, from mensis 'month' .

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menstruate

verb
(of a non-pregnant woman) discharge blood from the lining of the womb at intervals of about one lunar month.

DERIVATIVES:
menstruation noun.

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mensuration

noun
1. measurement.
2. the part of geometry concerned with ascertaining lengths, areas, and volumes.

ORIGIN: Latin, from mensurare 'to measure' .

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-ment

suffix
1. forming nouns expressing the means or result of an action: treatment.
2. forming nouns from adjectives: merriment.

ORIGIN: from French or Latin.

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mental

adjective
1. of, done by, or occurring in the mind.
2. relating to disorders or illnesses of the mind.
3. informal mad.

DERIVATIVES:
mentally adverb.
USAGE - The use of mental in sense 2 (e.g. as in mental hospital) is now regarded as old-fashioned, even offensive, and has been largely replaced by psychiatric in both general and official use. The terms mental handicap and mentally handicapped have now fallen out of favour and have been replaced in official contexts by terms such as learning difficulties.
ORIGIN: from Latin mens 'mind' .

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mental age

noun
a person's mental ability expressed as the age at which an average person reaches the same ability.

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mental block

noun
an inability to recall something or to perform a mental action.

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mental handicap

noun
intellectual capacity that is underdeveloped to an extent which prevents normal function in society.

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mentality

noun (pl. mentalities)
1. a characteristic way of thinking.
2. the capacity for intelligent thought.

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menthol

noun
a mint-tasting substance found chiefly in peppermint oil, used as a flavouring and in decongestants.

DERIVATIVES:
mentholated adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin mentha 'mint' .

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mention

verb
1. refer to briefly.
2. refer to by name as being noteworthy.

noun
1. a reference to someone or something.
2. a formal acknowledgement of something noteworthy.

IDIOMS -
be mentioned in dispatches Brit. be commended for one's actions by name in an official military report.
mention someone in one's will leave a legacy to someone.

ORIGIN: Latin, related to MIND.

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mentor

noun
1. an experienced and trusted adviser.
2. an experienced person in an organization or institution who trains and counsels new employees or students.

ORIGIN: from the name of Mentor, the adviser of the young Telemachus in Homer's Odyssey.

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menu

noun
1. a list of dishes available in a restaurant.
2. the food available or to be served in a restaurant or at a meal.
3. Computing a list of commands or facilities displayed on screen.

ORIGIN: French, 'detailed list' .

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MEP

abbreviation
Member of the European Parliament.

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mercantile

adjective
relating to trade or commerce.

ORIGIN: from Italian mercante 'merchant' .

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mercenary

adjective
motivated chiefly by the desire for gain.

noun (pl. mercenaries)
a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army.

ORIGIN: from Latin mercenarius 'hireling' , from merces 'reward' .

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mercer

noun chiefly historical
a dealer in textile fabrics, especially silk and other fine materials.

ORIGIN: Old French mercier, from Latin merx 'goods' .

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merchandise

noun
goods for sale.

verb (also merchandize)
promote the sale of.

DERIVATIVES:
merchandiser noun.

ORIGIN: from Old French marchand 'merchant' .

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merchant

noun
1. a wholesale trader.
2. N. Amer. & Scottish a retail trader.
3. informal, chiefly derogatory a person fond of a particular activity: a speed merchant.

adjective
(of ships, sailors, or shipping activity) involved with commerce.

ORIGIN: Old French marchant, from Latin mercari 'to trade' , from merx 'merchandise' .

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merchantable

adjective
saleable.

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merchant bank

noun chiefly Brit.
a bank dealing in commercial loans and investment.

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merchantman

noun
a ship conveying merchandise.

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merchant navy (US merchant marine)

noun
a country's commercial shipping.

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merciful

adjective
1. showing mercy.
2. giving relief from suffering.

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mercifully

adverb
1. in a merciful manner.
2. to one's great relief.

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merciless

adjective
showing no mercy.

DERIVATIVES:
mercilessly adverb
mercilessness noun.

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mercurial

adjective
1. subject to sudden changes of mood.
2. of or containing the element mercury.

ORIGIN: Latin mercurialis 'relating to the god Mercury' , from Mercurius 'Mercury' .

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mercury

noun
a heavy silvery-white liquid metallic element used in some thermometers and barometers.

DERIVATIVES:
mercuric adjective
mercurous adjective.

ORIGIN: from Mercury, the Roman messenger of the gods.

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mercy

noun (pl. mercies)
1. compassion or forgiveness shown towards an enemy or offender in one's power.
2. something to be grateful for.
3. (before another noun ) motivated by compassion: a mercy killing.

exclamation archaic
used to express surprise or fear.

IDIOMS -
at the mercy of in the power of; defenceless against.

ORIGIN: Latin merces 'reward, pity' .

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mere [1]

adjective
1. that is nothing more than what is specified.
2. (the merest) the smallest or slightest.

ORIGIN: Latin merus 'pure, undiluted' .

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mere [2]

noun chiefly literary
a lake or pond.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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merely

adverb
just; only.

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meretricious

adjective
showily but falsely attractive.

ORIGIN: from Latin meretrix 'prostitute' , from mereri 'be hired' .

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merganser

noun
a fish-eating diving duck with a long, thin serrated and hooked bill.

ORIGIN: from Latin mergus 'diver' + anser 'goose' .

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merge

verb
1. combine or be combined into a whole.
2. blend gradually into something else.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «immerse oneself in an activity»: from Latin mergere 'to dip, plunge' .

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merger

noun
a merging of two things, especially companies, into one.

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meridian

noun
1. a circle of constant longitude passing through a given place on the earth's surface and the poles.
2. Astronomy a circle passing through the celestial poles and the zenith of a given place on the earth's surface.
3. any of twelve pathways in the body, believed by practitioners of Chinese medicine to be a channel for vital energy.

ORIGIN: from Latin meridianum 'noon' (because the sun crosses a meridian at noon).

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meringue

noun
1. beaten egg whites and sugar baked until crisp.
2. a small cake made of meringue.

ORIGIN: French.

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merino

noun (pl. merinos)
1. a breed of sheep with long, fine wool.
2. a soft woollen or wool-and-cotton material, originally of merino wool.

ORIGIN: Spanish.

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meristem

noun
a region of plant tissue consisting of actively dividing cells.

ORIGIN: from Greek meristos 'divisible' .

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merit

noun
1. superior quality; excellence.
2. a good point or quality.

verb (merited, meriting)
deserve.

ORIGIN: Latin meritum 'due reward' , from mereri 'earn, deserve' .

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meritocracy

noun (pl. meritocracies)
1. government or leadership by people of great merit.
2. a society governed by meritocracy.

DERIVATIVES:
meritocratic adjective.

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meritorious

adjective
deserving reward or praise.

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merlin

noun
a small dark falcon.

ORIGIN: Old French merilun.

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mermaid

noun
a mythical sea creature with a woman's head and trunk and a fish's tail.

ORIGIN: from MERE (in the obsolete sense 'sea' ) + MAID.

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merriment

noun
gaiety and fun.

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merry

adjective (merrier, merriest)
1. cheerful and lively.
2. Brit. informal slightly drunk.

IDIOMS -
make merry indulge in merriment.

DERIVATIVES:
merrily adjective
merriness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «pleasing, delightful».

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merry-go-round

noun
1. a revolving machine with model horses or cars on which people ride for amusement.
2. a continuous cycle of activities or events.

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merrymaking

noun
fun; festivity.

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mesa

noun
an isolated flat-topped hill with steep sides.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'table' .

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mesh

noun
1. material made of a network of wire or thread.
2. the spacing of the strands of a net.
3. a complex or constricting situation.

verb
1. (mesh with) be in harmony with.
2. become entangled or entwined.
3. (of a gearwheel) lock together with another.

ORIGIN: probably from Old English.

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mesmeric

adjective
causing one to become transfixed and unaware of one's surroundings; hypnotic.

DERIVATIVES:
mesmerically adverb.

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mesmerism

noun
1. historical a therapeutic technique involving hypnotism.
2. hypnotism.

DERIVATIVES:
mesmerist noun.

ORIGIN: named after the Austrian physician Franz A. Mesmer (1734 1815).

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mesmerize (also mesmerise)

verb
capture the whole attention of; fascinate.

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meso-

combining form
middle; intermediate: mesomorph.

ORIGIN: from Greek mesos 'middle' .

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Mesolithic

adjective
relating to the middle part of the Stone Age, between the end of the glacial period and the beginnings of agriculture.

ORIGIN: from Greek mesos 'middle' + lithos 'stone' .

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Mesopotamian

adjective
relating to Mesopotamia, an ancient region of what is now Iraq.

noun
a person from Mesopotamia.

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mesosphere

noun
the region of the earth's atmosphere above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere.

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Mesozoic

adjective Geology
relating to the era between the Palaeozoic and Cenozoic eras, about 245 to 65 million years ago, with evidence of the first mammals, birds, and flowering plants.

ORIGIN: from Greek mesos 'middle' + zion 'animal' .

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mess

noun
1. a dirty or untidy state.
2. a state of confusion or difficulty.
3. a portion of semi-solid food.
4. euphemistic a domestic animal's excrement.
5. a place providing meals and recreational facilities for members of the armed forces.

verb
1. make untidy or dirty.
2. (mess about/around) behave in a silly or playful way.
3. (mess with) informal meddle with.
4. eat communally in an armed forces' mess.
5. (of a domestic animal) defecate.

ORIGIN: Old French mes 'portion of food' , from Latin missum 'something put on the table' .

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message

noun
1. a verbal or written communication.
2. a significant point or central theme.

verb
send a message to, especially by email.

IDIOMS -
get the message informal understand what is meant.
on (or off) message (of a politician) stating (or deviating from) the official party line.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin mittere 'send' .

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messenger

noun
a person who carries a message.

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messiah

noun
1. (the Messiah) the promised liberator of the Jewish nation prophesied in the Hebrew Bible.
2. (the Messiah) Jesus regarded by Christians as the Messiah of these prophecies.
3. a leader or saviour.

ORIGIN: Hebrew, 'anointed' .

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messianic

adjective
1. relating to the Messiah.
2. inspired by belief in a messiah.

DERIVATIVES:
messianism noun.

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messy

adjective (messier, messiest)
1. untidy or dirty.
2. confused and difficult to deal with.

DERIVATIVES:
messily adverb
messiness noun.

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Met

abbreviation informal
meteorological.

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meta- (also met- before a vowel or h)

combining form forming words referring to:
1. a change of position or condition: metamorphosis.
2. position behind, after, or beyond: metacarpus.
3. something of a higher or second-order kind: metalanguage.

ORIGIN: from Greek meta 'with, across, or after' .

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metabolism

noun
the chemical processes in a living organism by which food is used for tissue growth or energy production.

DERIVATIVES:
metabolic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek metabol 'change' .

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metabolize (also metabolise)

verb
process or be processed by metabolism.

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metacarpus

noun (pl. metacarpi)
the group of five bones of the hand between the wrist and the fingers.

DERIVATIVES:
metacarpal adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: Greek metakarpion.

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metal

noun
1. a solid material which is typically hard, shiny, malleable, fusible, and ductile, with good electrical and thermal conductivity, e.g. iron, copper, and gold.
2. (also road metal) broken stone used in road-making.

ORIGIN: Greek metallon 'mine, quarry, or metal' .

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metal detector

noun
an electronic device that gives an audible signal when it is close to metal.

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metallic

adjective
1. of or resembling metal.
2. (of sound) sharp and ringing.

DERIVATIVES:
metallically adverb.

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metallurgy

noun
the science concerned with the properties, production, and purification of metals.

DERIVATIVES:
metallurgical adjective
metallurgist noun.

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metalwork

noun
1. the art of making things from metal.
2. metal objects collectively.

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metamorphic

adjective
(of rock) having undergone transformation by heat, pressure, or other natural agencies.

DERIVATIVES:
metamorphism noun.

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metamorphose

verb
1. change completely in form or nature.
2. (of an insect or amphibian) undergo metamorphosis.
3. subject (rock) to metamorphism.

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metamorphosis

noun (pl. metamorphoses)
1. the transformation of an insect or amphibian from an immature form or larva to an adult form in distinct stages.
2. a change in form or nature.

ORIGIN: Greek, from metamorphoun 'transform, change shape' .

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metaphor

noun
1. a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable (e.g. food for thought).
2. a thing symbolic of something else.

ORIGIN: from Greek, from metapherein 'to transfer' .

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metaphorical (also metaphoric)

adjective
of the nature of or relating to metaphor.

DERIVATIVES:
metaphorically adverb.

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metaphysical

adjective
1. relating to metaphysics.
2. transcending physical matter.
3. referring to a group of 17th century English poets (in particular John Donne, George Herbert, Andrew Marvell, and Henry Vaughan) known for their subtlety of thought and complex imagery.

DERIVATIVES:
metaphysically adverb.

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metaphysics

plural noun (usu. treated as sing. )
1. philosophy concerned with abstract concepts such as the nature of existence or of truth and knowledge.
2. informal abstract talk; mere theory.

DERIVATIVES:
metaphysician noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek ta meta ta phusika 'the things after the Physics' , referring to the sequence of Aristotle's works.

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metatarsus

noun (pl. metatarsi)
the bones of the foot, between the ankle and the toes.

DERIVATIVES:
metatarsal adjective & noun.

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metathesis

noun (pl. metatheses) Grammar
the transposition of sounds or letters in a word.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'transposition' .

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mete

verb (mete out)
deal out or allot (justice, punishment, etc.).

ORIGIN: Old English, measure; related to MEET.

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meteor

noun
a small body of matter from outer space that becomes incandescent as a result of friction with the earth's atmosphere and appears as a shooting star.

ORIGIN: from Greek, from meteros 'lofty' .

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meteoric

adjective
1. relating to meteors or meteorites.
2. (of progress or development) very rapid.

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meteorite

noun
a piece of rock or metal that has fallen to the earth from space.

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meteoroid

noun
a small body that would become a meteor if it entered the earth's atmosphere.

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meteorology

noun
the study of atmospheric processes and phenomena, especially for weather forecasting.

DERIVATIVES:
meteorological adjective
meteorologist noun.

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meter [1]

noun
a device that measures and records the quantity, degree, or rate of something.

verb
measure with a meter.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «person who measures»: from METE.

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meter [2] (Brit. metre)

noun
the fundamental unit of length in the metric system, equal to 100 centimetres (approx. 39.37 inches).

ORIGIN: French, from Greek metron 'measure' .

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meter [3] (Brit. metre)

noun
1. the rhythm of a piece of poetry, determined by the number and length of feet in a line.
2. the basic rhythmic pattern of a piece of music.

ORIGIN: Greek metron 'measure' .

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-meter

combining form
1. in names of measuring instruments: thermometer.
2. in nouns referring to lines of poetry with a specified number of measures: hexameter.

ORIGIN: from Greek metron 'measure' .

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methadone

noun
a powerful synthetic painkiller, used as a substitute for morphine and heroin in the treatment of addiction.

ORIGIN: from its chemical name.

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methane

noun
a colourless, odourless flammable gas which is the main constituent of natural gas.

ORIGIN: from METHYL.

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methanol

noun
a poisonous flammable alcohol, used to make methylated spirit.

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methinks

verb (past methought) archaic or humorous
it seems to me.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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method

noun
1. a way of doing something.
2. orderliness of thought or behaviour.

ORIGIN: Greek methodos 'pursuit of knowledge' .

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method acting

noun
an acting technique in which an actor tries to identify completely with a character's emotions.

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methodical (also methodic)

adjective
characterized by method or order.

DERIVATIVES:
methodically adverb.

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Methodist

noun
a member of a Christian Protestant denomination originating in the 18th-century evangelistic movement of Charles and John Wesley.

adjective
relating to Methodists or Methodism.

DERIVATIVES:
Methodism noun.

ORIGIN: probably from the notion of following a specified ‘method’ of Bible study.

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methodology

noun (pl. methodologies)
a system of methods used in a particular field.

DERIVATIVES:
methodological adjective
methodologist noun.

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meths

noun Brit. informal
methylated spirit.

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methyl

noun Chemistry
the radical —CH_3, derived from methane.

ORIGIN: from Greek methu 'wine' + hul 'wood' .

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methyl alcohol

noun
methanol.

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methylated spirit (also methylated spirits)

noun
alcohol for use as a solvent or fuel, made unfit for drinking by the addition of methanol and a violet dye.

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meticulous

adjective
very careful and precise.

DERIVATIVES:
meticulously adverb
meticulousness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «fearful», later «overcareful about detail»: from Latin meticulosus 'fearful' .

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métier

noun
1. a trade, profession, or occupation.
2. a person's strength or special ability.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin ministerium 'service' .

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metonym

noun
a word or expression used as a substitute for something with which it is closely associated, e.g. Washington for the US government.

DERIVATIVES:
metonymic adjective
metonymy noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek metnumia 'change of name' .

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metre [1] (US meter)

noun
the fundamental unit of length in the metric system, equal to 100 centimetres (approx. 39.37 inches).

ORIGIN: French, from Greek metron 'measure' .

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metre [2] (US meter)

noun
1. the rhythm of a piece of poetry, determined by the number and length of feet in a line.
2. the basic rhythmic pattern of a piece of music.

ORIGIN: Greek metron 'measure' .

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metric

adjective
relating to or using the metric system.

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metrical

adjective
1. of or composed in poetic metre.
2. of or involving measurement.

DERIVATIVES:
metrically adverb.

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metricate

verb
convert to a metric system of measurement.

DERIVATIVES:
metrication noun.

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metric system

noun
the decimal measuring system based on the metre, litre, and gram as units of length, capacity, and weight or mass.

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metric ton (also metric tonne)

noun
a unit of weight equal to 1,000 kilograms (2,205 lb).

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metro

noun (pl. metros)
an underground railway system in a city, especially Paris.

ORIGIN: French, abbreviation of métropolitain, from Chemin de Fer Métropolitain 'Metropolitan Railway' .

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metronome

noun
a musicians' device that marks time at a selected rate by giving a regular tick.

DERIVATIVES:
metronomic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek metron 'measure' + nomos 'law' .

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metropolis

noun
the principal city of a country or region.

ORIGIN: Greek, from mtr 'mother' + polis 'city' .

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metropolitan

adjective
1. relating to a metropolis.
2. relating to the parent state of a colony.
3. Christian Church relating to a metropolitan or his see.

noun
1. Christian Church a bishop having authority over the bishops of a province.
2. an inhabitant of a metropolis.

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mettle

noun
spirit and resilience in the face of difficulty.

IDIOMS -
be on one's mettle be ready to show one's ability or courage.

ORIGIN: variant spelling of METAL.

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mew

verb
(of a cat or gull) make a characteristic high-pitched crying noise.

noun
a mewing noise.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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mewl

verb
1. cry feebly or querulously.
2. mew.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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mews

noun (pl. same) Brit.
a row of houses or flats converted from stables in a small street or square.

ORIGIN: from MEW: first referring to the royal stables on the site of the hawk mews at Charing Cross, London.

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Mexican

noun
a person from Mexico.

adjective
relating to Mexico.

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Mexican wave

noun
an effect resembling a moving wave produced by successive sections of a stadium crowd standing, raising their arms, lowering them, and sitting down again.

ORIGIN: because first observed at the 1986 soccer World Cup in Mexico City.

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meze (also mezze)

noun (pl. same or mezes)
(in Turkish, Greek, and Middle Eastern cookery) a selection of hot and cold hors d'oeuvres.

ORIGIN: Turkish, 'appetizer' .

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mezzanine

noun
1. a low storey between two others, typically between the ground and first floors.
2. N. Amer. the lowest balcony of a theatre or the front rows of the balcony.

ORIGIN: from Italian mezzano 'middle' .

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mezzo (also mezzo-soprano)

noun (pl. mezzos)
a female singer with a voice pitched between soprano and contralto.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin medius 'middle' .

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Mg

symbol
the chemical element magnesium.

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mg

abbreviation
milligram(s).

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Mgr

abbreviation
1. (mgr) manager.
2. Monseigneur.
3. Monsignor.

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MHz

abbreviation
megahertz.

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MI

abbreviation
Michigan.

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mi.

abbreviation
mile(s).

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MI5

abbreviation
Military Intelligence section 5, the former name for the UK governmental agency responsible for internal security and counter-intelligence on British territory (now officially named the Security Service).

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MI6

abbreviation
Military Intelligence section 6, the former name for the UK governmental agency responsible for counter-intelligence overseas (now officially named the Secret Intelligence Service).

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miaow (also meow)

noun
the characteristic cry of a cat.

verb
make a miaow.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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miasma

noun literary
1. an unpleasant or unhealthy vapour.
2. an oppressive or unpleasant atmosphere.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'defilement' .

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mic

noun informal
a microphone.

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mica

noun
a silicate mineral found as minute shiny scales in granite and other rocks.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'crumb' .

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Michaelmas

noun
the day of the Christian festival of St Michael, 29 September.

ORIGIN: Old English, «Saint Michael's Mass», referring to the Archangel Michael.

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mickey

noun (take the mickey) informal, chiefly Brit.
tease or ridicule someone.

DERIVATIVES:
mickey-taking noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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Mickey Mouse

adjective informal
ineffective or insignificant.

ORIGIN: from the name of the character created by the American cartoonist Walt Disney (1901 66).

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micro

noun (pl. micros)
a microcomputer or microprocessor.

adjective
extremely small or small-scale.

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micro-

combining form
1. very small or of reduced size: microchip.
2. denoting a factor of one millionth (10-6): microfarad.

ORIGIN: from Greek mikros 'small' .

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microbe

noun
a micro-organism, especially a bacterium causing disease or fermentation.

DERIVATIVES:
microbial adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek mikros 'small' + bios 'life' .

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microbiology

noun
the scientific study of micro-organisms.

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microchip

noun
a tiny wafer of semiconducting material used to make an integrated circuit.

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microcircuit

noun
a minute electric circuit, especially an integrated circuit.

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microclimate

noun
the climate of a very small or restricted area.

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microcomputer

noun
a small computer with a microprocessor as its central processor.

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microcosm

noun
1. a thing regarded as encapsulating in miniature the characteristics of something much larger.
2. humankind regarded as the epitome of the universe.

DERIVATIVES:
microcosmic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek mikros kosmos 'little world' .

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microdot

noun
1. a photograph, especially of a printed document, reduced to a very small size.
2. a tiny tablet of LSD.

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microelectronics

plural noun (usu. treated as sing. )
the design, manufacture, and use of microchips and microcircuits.

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microfiche

noun
a flat piece of film containing greatly reduced photographs of the pages of a newspaper, book, etc.

ORIGIN: from Greek mikros 'small' + French fiche 'slip of paper, index card' .

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microfilm

noun
a length of film containing greatly reduced photographs of a newspaper, book, etc.

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microgram

noun
one millionth of a gram.

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microlight

noun chiefly Brit.
a very small, light, one- or two-seater aircraft.

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microlitre (US also microliter)

noun
one millionth of a litre.

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micrometer

noun
a gauge which measures small distances or thicknesses.

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micrometre (US micrometer)

noun
one millionth of a metre.

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micron

noun
one millionth of a metre.

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micro-organism

noun
a microscopic organism, especially a bacterium, virus, or fungus.

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microphone

noun
an instrument for converting sound waves into electrical energy which may then be amplified, transmitted, or recorded.

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microprocessor

noun
an integrated circuit containing all the functions of a central processing unit of a computer.

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microscope

noun
an optical instrument for magnifying very small objects.

ORIGIN: from Greek mikros 'small' + skopein 'look at' .

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microscopic

adjective
1. so small as to be visible only with a microscope.
2. informal very small.
3. relating to a microscope.

DERIVATIVES:
microscopically adverb.

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microscopy

noun
the use of a microscope.

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microsecond

noun
one millionth of a second.

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microsurgery

noun
intricate surgery performed using miniaturized instruments and a microscope.

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microwave

noun
1. an electromagnetic wave with a wavelength in the range 0.001 0.3 m, shorter than that of a normal radio wave but longer than those of infrared radiation.
2. (also microwave oven) an oven that uses microwaves to cook or heat food.

verb
cook (food) in a microwave oven.

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mid

adjective
of or in the middle part or position of a range.

preposition literary
in the middle of; amid.

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mid-

combining form
1. referring to the middle of: midsection.
2. in the middle; medium; half: midway.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Midas touch

noun
the ability to make a lot of money out of anything one undertakes.

ORIGIN: from Midas, king of Phrygia, who in Greek mythology was given by Dionysus the power to turn everything he touched into gold.

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midday

noun
the middle of the day; noon.

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midden

noun
a dunghill or refuse heap.

ORIGIN: Scandinavian.

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middle

adjective
1. at an equal distance from the extremities of something; central.
2. intermediate in rank, quality, or ability.

noun
1. a middle point or position.
2. informal a person's waist and stomach.

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middle age

noun
the period between youth and old age, about 45 to 60.

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middle-aged

adjective
of middle age.

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Middle Ages

plural noun
the period of European history from the fall of the Roman Empire in the West (5th century) to the fall of Constantinople (1453), or, more narrowly, from c.1000 to 1453.

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Middle America

noun
the conservative middle classes of the United States, characterized as inhabiting the Midwest.

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middle C

noun Music
the C near the middle of the piano keyboard, written on the first ledger line below the treble stave or the first ledger line above the bass stave.

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middle class

noun
the social group between the upper and working classes; professional and business people.

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middle distance

noun
1. the part of a real or painted landscape between the foreground and the background.
2. Athletics a race distance between 800 and 5,000 metres.

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middle ear

noun
the air-filled central cavity of the ear, behind the eardrum.

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Middle East

noun
an area of SW Asia and northern Africa, stretching from the Mediterranean to Pakistan, in particular Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

DERIVATIVES:
Middle Eastern adjective.

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Middle England

noun
the conservative middle classes in England.

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Middle English

noun
the English language from c.1150 to c.1470.

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middle ground

noun
an area of compromise or possible agreement between two extreme positions.

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middleman

noun
1. a person who buys goods from producers and sells them to retailers or consumers.
2. a person who arranges business or political deals between other people.

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middle name

noun
a person's name placed after the first name and before the surname.

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middle of the road

adjective
1. moderate.
2. conventional and unadventurous.

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middleweight

noun
a weight in boxing and other sports intermediate between welterweight and light heavyweight.

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middling

adjective
moderate or average.

adverb informal
fairly or moderately.

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Middx

abbreviation
Middlesex.

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midfield

noun
1. (chiefly in soccer) the central part of the field.
2. the players who play in a central position between attack and defence.

DERIVATIVES:
midfielder noun.

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midge

noun
1. a small two-winged fly that forms swarms near water, of which many kinds feed on blood.
2. informal a small person.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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midget

noun
1. an extremely small person.
2. (before another noun ) extremely small: a midget submarine.

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MIDI

noun
a standard for interconnecting electronic musical instruments and computers.

ORIGIN: from musical instrument digital interface.

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midi

noun (pl. midis)
a woman's calf-length skirt, dress, or coat.

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midi system

noun Brit.
a set of compact stacking hi-fi equipment components.

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midland

noun
1. the middle part of a country.
2. (the Midlands) the inland counties of central England.

adjective (also midlands)
of or in a midland or the Midlands.

DERIVATIVES:
midlander noun.

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midlife

noun
the central period of a person's life, between around 45 and 60 years old.

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midnight

noun
twelve o'clock at night; the middle of the night.

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midnight blue

noun
a very dark blue.

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midnight sun

noun
the sun when seen at midnight during the summer within either the Arctic or Antarctic Circle.

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midriff

noun
the front of the body between the chest and the waist.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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midship

noun
the middle part of a ship or boat.

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midst archaic or literary

preposition
in the middle of.

noun
the middle point or part.

IDIOMS -
in our (or your, their, etc.) midst among us (or you or them).

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midstream

noun
the middle of a stream or river.

IDIOMS -
in midstream part-way through an activity, speech, etc.

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midsummer

noun
1. the middle part of summer.
2. the summer solstice.

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Midsummer Day (also Midsummer's Day)

noun
24 June.

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midterm

noun
the middle of a period of office, an academic term, or a pregnancy.

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midway

adverb & adjective
in or towards the middle.

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midweek

noun
the middle of the week.

adjective & adverb
in the middle of the week.

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midwife

noun
a nurse who is trained to assist women in childbirth.

DERIVATIVES:
midwifery noun.

ORIGIN: probably from obsolete mid «with» + WIFE (in the sense «woman»).

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midwinter

noun
1. the middle part of winter.
2. the winter solstice.

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mien

noun
a person's look or manner.

ORIGIN: probably from French mine 'expression' .

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miffed

adjective informal
offended or irritated.

ORIGIN: perhaps imitative.

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might [1]

modal verb (3rd sing. present might) past of MAY.
1. used to express possibility or make a suggestion.
2. used politely or tentatively in questions and requests.

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might [2]

noun
great power or strength.

IDIOMS -
with might and main with all one's strength or power.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to MAY.

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mightn't

contraction
might not.

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mighty

adjective (mightier, mightiest)
1. possessing great power or strength.
2. informal very large.

adverb informal, chiefly N. Amer.
extremely.

DERIVATIVES:
mightily adverb
mightiness noun.

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migraine

noun
a recurrent throbbing headache, typically affecting one side of the head and often accompanied by nausea and disturbed vision.
USAGE - The standard pronunciation of migraine in British English is , which is closer to the pronunciation of the original word in French. However, many people in Britain say , and this pronunciation is standard in the US.
ORIGIN: French, from Greek hmikrania, from hmi- 'half' + kranion 'skull' .

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migrant

noun
1. an animal that migrates.
2. a worker who moves from one place to another to find work.

adjective
tending to migrate or having migrated.

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migrate

verb
1. (of an animal) move from one habitat to another according to the seasons.
2. move to settle in a new area in order to find work.
3. Computing transfer from one system to another.

DERIVATIVES:
migration noun
migratory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin migrare 'move, shift' , the root also of EMIGRATE and IMMIGRATE.

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mikado

noun historical
a title given to the emperor of Japan.

ORIGIN: Japanese, from mi 'august' + kado 'gate' .

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mike informal

noun
a microphone.

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mil [1]

abbreviation informal
millions.

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mil [2]

noun
one thousandth of an inch.

ORIGIN: from Latin millesimum 'thousandth' .

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milady

noun historical or humorous
used to address or refer to an English noblewoman.

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milch

adjective
(of a domestic mammal) giving or kept for milk.

ORIGIN: from Old English -milce in thrimilce «May» (when cows could be milked three times a day).

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milch cow

noun
a source of easy profit.

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mild

adjective
1. gentle and not easily provoked.
2. of moderate severity, intensity, or effect.
3. not sharp or strong in flavour.
4. (of weather) moderately warm; less cold than expected.

noun Brit.
a kind of dark beer not strongly flavoured with hops.

DERIVATIVES:
mildish adjective
mildly adverb
mildness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mildew

noun
a coating of minute fungi on plants or damp organic material such as paper or leather.

verb
affect with mildew.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mild steel

noun
steel containing a small percentage of carbon, that is strong and tough but not readily tempered.

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mile

noun
1. (also statute mile) a unit of linear measure equal to 1,760 yards (approximately 1.609 kilometres).
2. (miles) informal a very long way.

adverb (miles) informal
by a great amount or a long way.

IDIOMS -
be miles away informal be lost in thought.
go the extra mile try particularly hard to achieve something.
run a mile informal run rapidly away; flee.
stand (or stick) out a mile informal be very obvious or incongruous.

ORIGIN: from Latin milia, plural of mille 'thousand' ; a Roman «mile» consisted of 1,000 paces (approximately 1,620 yards).

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mileage (also milage)

noun
1. a number of miles travelled or covered.
2. informal actual or potential benefit or advantage.

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milestone

noun
1. a stone set up beside a road to mark the distance in miles to a particular place.
2. an event marking a significant new development or stage.

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milieu

noun (pl. milieux or milieus)
a person's social environment.

ORIGIN: French, from mi 'mid' + lieu 'place' .

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militant

adjective
favouring confrontational methods in support of a cause.

noun
a militant person.

DERIVATIVES:
militancy noun
militantly adverb.

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militarism

noun
the belief that a country should maintain and readily use strong armed forces.

DERIVATIVES:
militarist noun & adjective.

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militaristic

adjective
characterized by militarism.

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militarize (also militarise)

verb
1. equip with military resources.
2. give a military character to.

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military

adjective
relating to or characteristic of soldiers or armed forces.

noun (the military)
the armed forces of a country.

DERIVATIVES:
militarily adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin militaris, from miles 'soldier' .

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Military Cross

noun
(in the UK and Commonwealth) a decoration awarded for distinguished active service on land (originally for officers).

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military honours

plural noun
ceremonies performed by troops as a mark of respect at the burial of a member of the armed forces.

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Military Medal

noun
(in the UK and Commonwealth) a decoration awarded for distinguished active service on land (originally for enlisted men).

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military police

noun
a body responsible for disciplinary duties in the armed forces.

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militate

verb (militate against)
be a powerful or conclusive factor in preventing.
USAGE - On the confusion between militate and mitigate, see the note at MITIGATE.
ORIGIN: Latin militare 'wage war' , from miles 'soldier' .

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militia

noun
1. a military force raised from the civilian population to supplement a regular army in an emergency.
2. a rebel force opposing a regular army.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'military service' .

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militiaman

noun
a member of a militia.

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milk

noun
1. an opaque white fluid produced by female mammals for the nourishment of their young.
2. the milk of cows as a food and drink for humans.
3. the milk-like juice of certain plants, such as the coconut.

verb
1. draw milk from (a cow or other animal).
2. exploit or defraud over a period of time.
3. take full advantage of (a situation).

IDIOMS -
it's no use crying over spilt milk proverb there is no point in regretting something which has already happened.
milk and honey prosperity and abundance.
milk of human kindness care and compassion for others. [ORIGIN: from Shakespeare's Macbeth.]

ORIGIN: Old English.

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milk chocolate

noun
solid chocolate made with the addition of milk.

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milk float

noun Brit.
an open-sided electrically powered van used for delivering milk to houses.

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milkmaid

noun chiefly archaic
a girl or woman who works in a dairy.

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milkman

noun
a man who delivers milk to houses.

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milk round

noun Brit.
1. a regular milk delivery along a fixed route.
2. a series of visits to universities and colleges by recruiting staff from large companies.

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milk run

noun
a routine, uneventful journey, especially by aircraft.

ORIGIN: RAF slang in the Second World War for a sortie that was as simple as a milkman's round.

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milkshake

noun
a cold drink made from milk whisked with ice cream.

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milksop

noun
a timid and indecisive person.

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milk tooth

noun
a temporary tooth in a child or young mammal.

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milky

adjective
1. containing milk.
2. of a soft white colour or clouded appearance.

DERIVATIVES:
milkily adverb
milkiness noun.

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Milky Way

noun
the galaxy of which our solar system is a part, visible at night as a faint band of light crossing the sky.

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mill

noun
1. a building equipped with machinery for grinding grain into flour.
2. a device or piece of machinery for grinding grain or other solid substances.
3. a building fitted with machinery for a manufacturing process.

verb
1. grind in a mill.
2. cut or shape (metal) with a rotating tool.
3. produce regular ribbed markings on the edge of (a coin).
4. (mill about/around) move around in a confused mass.

IDIOMS -
go (or put) through the mill undergo (or cause to undergo) an unpleasant experience.

ORIGIN: Latin mola 'grindstone, mill' .

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millenary

noun (pl. millenaries)
1. a period of a thousand years.
2. a thousandth anniversary.

adjective
consisting of a thousand.

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millennial

adjective
relating to a millennium.

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millennium

noun (pl. millennia or millenniums)
1. a period of a thousand years, especially when calculated from the traditional date of the birth of Christ.
2. (the millennium) the point at which one period of a thousand years ends and another begins.
3. (the millennium) Christian Theology the prophesied thousand-year reign of Christ at the end of the age.
4. an anniversary of a thousand years.
USAGE - The correct spelling is millennium, with two ns. The spelling with one n is a common error, formed by confusion with other words such as millenarian, correctly spelled with only one n. The differences in spelling are explained by different origins. Millennium was formed by analogy with words like biennium, while millenarian was formed on the Latin milleni ‘a thousand each’.
ORIGIN: from Latin mille 'thousand' + annus 'year' .

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millennium bug

noun
an inability in older computing software to deal correctly with dates of 1 January 2000 or later.

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miller

noun
a person who owns or works in a grain mill.

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millesimal

adjective
relating to division into thousandths; thousandth.

ORIGIN: Latin millesimus, from mille 'thousand' .

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millet

noun
a cereal which bears a large crop of small seeds, used to make flour or alcoholic drinks.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin milium.

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milli-

combining form
a thousand, especially a factor of one thousandth (10-3): milligram.

ORIGIN: from Latin mille 'thousand' .

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millibar

noun
one thousandth of a bar, a unit of atmospheric pressure equivalent to 100 pascals.

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milligram (also milligramme)

noun
one thousandth of a gram.

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millilitre (US milliliter)

noun
one thousandth of a litre.

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millimetre (US millimeter)

noun
one thousandth of a metre.

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milliner

noun
a person who makes or sells women's hats.

DERIVATIVES:
millinery noun.

ORIGIN: from the name of the Italian city Milan, originally meaning «native of Milan», later «a vendor of fancy goods from Milan».

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million

cardinal number (pl. millions or (with numeral or quantifying word) same)
1. the number equivalent to the product of a thousand and a thousand; 1,000,000 or 10^6.
2. (also millions) informal a very large number or amount.

DERIVATIVES:
millionth ordinal number.

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millionaire

noun (fem. millionairess)
a person whose assets are worth one million pounds or dollars or more.

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millipede

noun
a small invertebrate animal (an arthropod) with an elongated body composed of many segments, most of which bear two pairs of legs.

ORIGIN: from Latin mille 'thousand' + pes 'foot' .

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millisecond

noun
one thousandth of a second.

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millpond

noun
1. the pool created by a mill dam, providing the head of water that powers a watermill.
2. a very still and calm stretch of water.

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millstone

noun
1. each of a pair of circular stones used for grinding grain.
2. a burden of responsibility.

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mill wheel

noun
a wheel used to drive a watermill.

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milometer (also mileometer)

noun Brit.
an instrument on a vehicle for recording the number of miles travelled.

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milord

noun historical or humorous
used to address or refer to an English nobleman.

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mime

noun
1. the expression of action, character, or emotion by gesture alone, especially as a form of theatrical performance.
2. (in ancient Greece and Rome) a simple farcical drama including mimicry.
3. a performer of mime.

verb
1. use mime to act out.
2. pretend to sing or play an instrument as a recording is being played.

ORIGIN: Greek mimos.

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mimeograph

noun
a duplicating machine which produces copies from a stencil, now superseded by the photocopier.

ORIGIN: from Greek mimeomai 'I imitate' .

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mimesis

noun
1. imitative representation of the real world in art and literature.
2. Biology mimicry of another animal or plant.

ORIGIN: Greek, from mimeisthai 'to imitate' .

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mimetic

adjective
relating to or practising mimesis or mimicry.

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mimic

verb (mimicked, mimicking)
1. imitate in order to entertain or ridicule.
2. (of an animal or plant) take on the appearance of (another) to deter predators or for camouflage.
3. replicate the effects of.

noun
1. a person skilled in mimicking.
2. an animal or plant that mimics.

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mimicry

noun
1. imitation of someone or something to entertain or ridicule.
2. Biology the close external resemblance of an animal or plant to another.

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mimosa

noun
1. an acacia tree with delicate fern-like leaves and yellow flowers.
2. a plant of a genus that includes the sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica).

ORIGIN: probably from Latin mimus 'mime' (because the plant seemingly mimics an animal's sensitivity to touch).

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mimsy

adjective
rather feeble and prim.

ORIGIN: a nonsense word coined by Lewis Carroll from MISERABLE and FLIMSY.

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min.

abbreviation
1. minimum.
2. minute(s).

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minaret

noun
a slender tower of a mosque, with a balcony from which Muslims are called to prayer.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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minatory

adjective formal
threatening.

ORIGIN: from Latin minari 'threaten' .

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mince

verb
1. cut up or shred (meat) into very small pieces.
2. walk in an affected manner with short, quick steps and swinging hips.

noun chiefly Brit.
minced meat.

IDIOMS -
mince (one's) words voice one's disapproval delicately or gently.

DERIVATIVES:
mincer noun
mincing adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French mincier, from Latin minutia 'smallness' .

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mincemeat

noun
a mixture of currants, raisins, apples, candied peel, sugar, spices, and suet.

IDIOMS -
make mincemeat of informal defeat decisively.

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mind

noun
1. the faculty of consciousness and thought.
2. a person's intellect or memory.
3. a person identified with their intellectual faculties.
4. a person's attention or will.

verb
1. be distressed or annoyed by; object to.
2. remember or take care to do.
3. give attention to; watch out for.
4. take care of temporarily.
5. (be minded) be inclined to do.
6. (also mind you) introducing a qualification to a previous statement.

IDIOMS -
be in (or of) two minds be unable to decide between alternatives.
be of one mind share the same opinion.
give someone a piece of one's mind rebuke someone.
have a (or a good or half a) mind to do be inclined to do.
have in mind
1. be thinking of.
2. intend to do.
in one's mind's eye in one's imagination.
mind one's Ps & Qs be careful to be polite and avoid giving offence. [ORIGIN: perhaps referring to the care a young pupil must pay in differentiating the tailed letters p and q.]
never mind
1. do not be concerned or distressed.
2. let alone.
out of one's mind having lost control of one's mental faculties.
put one in mind of remind one of.
to my mind in my opinion.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mind-bending

adjective informal
altering one's state of mind.

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mind-blowing

adjective informal
overwhelmingly impressive.

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mind-boggling

adjective informal
overwhelming.

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minded

adjective
inclined to think in a particular way: liberal-minded.

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minder

noun
1. a person employed to look after someone or something.
2. informal a bodyguard.

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mindful

adjective
1. (mindful of/that) aware of or recognizing that.
2. formal inclined or intending to do something.

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mind game

noun
a series of actions planned for its psychological effect on another.

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mindless

adjective
1. acting or done without justification and with no concern for the consequences.
2. (mindless of) not thinking of or concerned about.
3. (of an activity) simple and repetitive.

DERIVATIVES:
mindlessly adverb
mindlessness noun.

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mind-numbing

adjective
so extreme or intense as to prevent normal thought.

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mindset

noun
a habitual way of thinking.

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mine [1]

possessive pronoun
referring to a thing or things belonging to or associated with the speaker.

possessive determiner archaic
(used before a vowel) my.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to ME.

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mine [2]

noun
1. an excavation in the earth for extracting coal or other minerals.
2. an abundant source.
3. a type of bomb placed on or in the ground or water, which detonates on contact.
4. historical a passage tunnelled under the wall of a besieged fortress, in which explosives were placed.

verb
1. obtain from a mine.
2. excavate for coal or other minerals.
3. lay a mine or mines on or in.

ORIGIN: Old French.

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minefield

noun
1. an area planted with explosive mines.
2. a subject or situation presenting unseen hazards.

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miner

noun
a person who works in a mine.

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mineral

noun
1. a solid inorganic substance of natural occurrence, such as copper and silicon.
2. an inorganic substance needed by the human body for good health, such as calcium and iron.
3. a substance obtained by mining.
4. (minerals) Brit. fizzy soft drinks.

ORIGIN: Latin minera 'ore' .

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mineralogy

noun
the scientific study of minerals.

DERIVATIVES:
mineralogical adjective
mineralogist noun.

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mineral water

noun
water having some dissolved salts naturally present.

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mineshaft

noun
a deep, narrow shaft that gives access to a mine.

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minestrone

noun
an Italian soup containing vegetables and pasta.

ORIGIN: from Italian minestrare 'serve at table' .

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minesweeper

noun
a warship equipped for detecting and removing or destroying tethered explosive mines.

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Ming

adjective
(of Chinese porcelain) made during the Ming dynasty (1368 1644), characterized by elaborate designs and vivid colours.

ORIGIN: Chinese, 'clear or bright' .

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mingle

verb
1. mix together.
2. move around and chat at a social function.

ORIGIN: from obsolete meng «mix or blend».

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mingy

adjective informal
mean; ungenerous.

ORIGIN: perhaps a blend of MEAN and STINGY.

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mini

adjective
miniaturized; very small of its kind.

noun (pl. minis)
a very short skirt or dress.

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mini-

combining form
very small or minor of its kind; miniature: minibus.

ORIGIN: from MINIATURE, reinforced by MINIMUM.

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miniature

adjective
of a much smaller size than normal.

noun
1. a thing that is much smaller than normal.
2. a very small and minutely detailed portrait.
3. a picture or decorated letter in an illuminated manuscript.

DERIVATIVES:
miniaturize (also miniaturise) verb.

ORIGIN: from Latin minium 'red lead, vermilion' (which was used to mark particular words in manuscripts).

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miniaturist

noun
an artist who paints miniatures.

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minibar

noun
a refrigerator in a hotel room containing a selection of drinks.

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minibus

noun
a small bus for about ten to fifteen passengers.

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minicab

noun Brit.
a car that is available for hire as a taxi but can only be ordered in advance.

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minicomputer

noun
a computer of medium power, more than a microcomputer but less than a mainframe.

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minidisc

noun
a disc similar to a small CD but able to record sound or data as well as play it back.

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minim

noun
1. Music, chiefly Brit. a note having the time value of two crotchets or half a semibreve, represented by a ring with a stem.
2. one sixtieth of a fluid drachm, about one drop of liquid.

ORIGIN: from Latin minimus 'smallest' .

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minimal

adjective
1. of a minimum amount, quantity, or degree.
2. Art characterized by the use of simple forms or structures.
3. Music characterized by the repetition and gradual alteration of short phrases.

DERIVATIVES:
minimally adverb.

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minimalist

noun
1. an advocate or practitioner of minimal art or music.
2. an advocate of moderate political reform.

adjective
1. relating to minimal art or music.
2. advocating moderate political reform.

DERIVATIVES:
minimalism noun.

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minimize (also minimise)

verb
1. reduce to the smallest possible amount or degree.
2. represent or estimate at less than the true value.

DERIVATIVES:
minimization noun
minimizer noun.

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minimum

noun (pl. minima or minimums)
the least or smallest amount, extent, or intensity possible or recorded.

adjective
smallest or lowest in amount, extent, or intensity.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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minimum wage

noun
the lowest wage permitted by law or by agreement.

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minion

noun
a servile or unimportant follower of a powerful person.

ORIGIN: from French mignon 'pretty, dainty, sweet' ; the term was originally used in a derogatory way to refer to a homoerotic relationship between a male minion and his patron.

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miniseries

noun
a television drama shown in a small number of episodes.

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miniskirt

noun
a very short skirt.

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minister

noun
1. a head of a government department.
2. a diplomatic agent, usually ranking below an ambassador, representing a state or sovereign in a foreign country.
3. a member of the clergy, especially in the Presbyterian and Nonconformist Churches.
4. archaic a person or thing used to achieve or convey something: ministers of death.

verb
1. (minister to) attend to the needs of.
2. archaic provide.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'servant' , from minus 'less' .

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ministerial

adjective
relating to a minister or ministers.

DERIVATIVES:
ministerially adverb.

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Minister of State

noun
(in the UK) a government minister ranking below a Secretary of State.

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Minister of the Crown

noun
(in the UK and Canada) a member of the cabinet.

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Minister without Portfolio

noun
a government minister with cabinet status but not in charge of a specific department of state.

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ministration

noun
1. (ministrations) chiefly formal or humorous the provision of assistance or care.
2. the services of a minister of religion or of a religious institution.
3. the action of administering the sacrament.

DERIVATIVES:
ministrant noun.

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ministry

noun (pl. ministries)
1. a government department headed by a minister.
2. a period of government under one Prime Minister.
3. the work or office of a minister of religion.

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miniver

noun
white fur used for lining or trimming clothes.

ORIGIN: from Old French menu vair 'little vair' (vair being the fur of a red squirrel, used in medieval times as a trimming or lining for garments).

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mink

noun
a semiaquatic stoat-like carnivore widely farmed for its fur.

ORIGIN: Swedish.

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minnow

noun
1. a small freshwater fish of the carp family.
2. a small or unimportant person.

ORIGIN: probably from Old English, influenced by Old French menu 'small, minnow' .

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Minoan

adjective
relating to a Bronze Age civilization centred on Crete (c.3000 1050 BC).

ORIGIN: named after the legendary Cretan king Minos, to whom a palace excavated at Knossos was attributed.

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minor

adjective
1. having little importance, seriousness, or significance.
2. Music having or based on intervals of a semitone between the second and third degrees, and (usually) the fifth and sixth, and the seventh and eighth. Contrasted with MAJOR.
3. Brit. dated (added to a surname in public schools) indicating the younger of two brothers.

noun
1. a person under the age of full legal responsibility.
2. Music a minor key, interval, or scale.
3. N. Amer. a student's subsidiary subject or course.

verb (minor in) N. Amer.
study or qualify in as a subsidiary subject.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'smaller, less' .

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minority

noun (pl. minorities)
1. the smaller number or part; a number or part representing less than half of the whole.
2. a relatively small group of people differing from the majority in race, religion, language, etc.
3. the state or period of being a minor.

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minster

noun
a large or important church, typically one of cathedral status in the north of England that was built as part of a monastery.

ORIGIN: from Greek monastrion 'monastery' .

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minstrel

noun
a medieval singer or musician.

ORIGIN: Old French menestral 'entertainer, servant' , from Latin ministerialis 'officer' .

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mint [1]

noun
1. an aromatic plant, several kinds of which are used as culinary herbs.
2. the flavour of mint, especially peppermint.
3. a peppermint sweet.

DERIVATIVES:
minty adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek minth.

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mint [2]

noun
1. a place where money is coined.
2. (a mint) informal a large sum of money.

adjective
in pristine condition; as new.

verb
1. make (a coin) by stamping metal.
2. produce for the first time.

ORIGIN: from Latin moneta 'money' .

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minuet

noun
a stately ballroom dance in triple time, popular in the 18th century.

verb (minueted, minueting)
dance a minuet.

ORIGIN: from French menuet 'fine, delicate' .

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minus

preposition
1. with the subtraction of.
2. (of temperature) falling below zero by: minus 40° centigrade.
3. informal lacking: he was minus a finger.

adjective
1. (before a number) below zero; negative.
2. (after a grade) slightly below: C minus.
3. having a negative electric charge.

noun
1. (also minus sign) the symbol -, indicating subtraction or a negative value.
2. informal a disadvantage.

ORIGIN: Latin, neuter of minor 'less' .

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minuscule

adjective
1. extremely tiny.
2. in lower-case letters, as distinct from capitals or uncials.
USAGE - The correct spelling is minuscule rather than miniscule.
ORIGIN: from Latin minuscula littera 'somewhat smaller letter' .

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minute [1]

noun
1. a period of time equal to sixty seconds or a sixtieth of an hour.
2. (a minute) informal a very short time.
3. (also arc minute or minute of arc) a sixtieth of a degree of angular measurement.

IDIOMS -
up to the minute up to date.

ORIGIN: from Latin pars minuta prima 'first very small part' .

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minute [2]

adjective (minutest)
1. extremely small.
2. precise and meticulous.

DERIVATIVES:
minutely adverb
minuteness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin minutus 'lessened, made small' .

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minute [3]

noun
1. (minutes) a summarized record of the points discussed at a meeting.
2. an official memorandum.

verb
1. record or note (the points discussed at a meeting).
2. send a minute to.

ORIGIN: French minute, from the notion of a rough copy in ‘small writing’.

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minutiae (also minutia)

plural noun
small or precise details.

ORIGIN: Latin, from minutia 'smallness' .

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minx

noun humorous or derogatory
an impudent, cunning, or boldly flirtatious girl or young woman.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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Miocene

adjective Geology
relating to the fourth epoch of the Tertiary period (23.3 to 5.2 million years ago), a time when the first apes appeared.

ORIGIN: from Greek mein 'less' + kainos 'new' .

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miracle

noun
1. an extraordinary and welcome event attributed to a divine agency.
2. a remarkable and very welcome occurrence.
3. an outstanding example, specimen, or achievement.

ORIGIN: Latin miraculum 'object of wonder' .

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miracle play

noun
a mystery play.

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miraculous

adjective
1. having the character of a miracle.
2. very surprising and welcome.

DERIVATIVES:
miraculously adverb.

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mirage

noun
1. an optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions, especially the appearance of a sheet of water in a desert or on a hot road caused by the refraction of light by heated air.
2. something illusory.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin mirare 'look at' ; cf. MIRROR.

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MIRAS

abbreviation
(in the UK) mortgage interest relief at source.

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mire

noun
1. a stretch of swampy or boggy ground.
2. a difficult situation from which it is hard to escape.

verb (be mired)
1. become stuck in or covered with mud.
2. be in difficulties.

ORIGIN: Old Norse; related to MOSS.

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mirror

noun
1. a surface, typically of glass coated with a metal amalgam, which reflects a clear image.
2. something accurately representing something else.

verb
1. show a reflection of.
2. correspond to.

ORIGIN: Old French mirour, from Latin mirare 'look at' ; compare with MIRAGE.

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mirror image

noun
an image which is identical in form to another but has the structure reversed, as if seen in a mirror.

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mirth

noun
amusement, especially as expressed in laughter.

DERIVATIVES:
mirthful adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to MERRY.

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miry

adjective
very muddy or boggy.

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mis-

prefix
1. (added to verbs and their derivatives) wrongly, badly, or unsuitably: mismanage.
2. occurring in some nouns expressing a sense with negative force: misadventure.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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misadventure

noun
1. (also death by misadventure) Law death caused accidentally during the performance of a legal act without negligence or intent to harm.
2. a mishap.

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misalliance

noun
an unsuitable or unhappy alliance or marriage.

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misanthrope (also misanthropist)

noun
a person who dislikes and avoids other people.

DERIVATIVES:
misanthropic adjective
misanthropy noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek misein 'to hate' + anthrpos 'man' .

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misapprehension

noun
a mistaken belief.

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misappropriate

verb
dishonestly or unfairly take for one's own use.

DERIVATIVES:
misappropriation noun.

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misbegotten

adjective
1. badly conceived, designed, or planned.
2. contemptible.
3. archaic (of a child) illegitimate.

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misbehave

verb
behave badly.

DERIVATIVES:
misbehaviour noun.

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miscalculate

verb
calculate or assess wrongly.

DERIVATIVES:
miscalculation noun.

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miscarriage

noun
1. the spontaneous expulsion of a fetus from the womb before it is able to survive independently.
2. an unsuccessful outcome; a failure.

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miscarriage of justice

noun
a failure of a court or judicial system to fulfil the objective of justice.

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miscarry

verb (miscarries, miscarried)
1. have a miscarriage.
2. (of a plan) fail.

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miscast

verb (past and past part. miscast) (be miscast)
(of an actor) be given an unsuitable role.

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miscellaneous

adjective
1. of various types.
2. composed of things of different kinds.

DERIVATIVES:
miscellaneously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin miscellus 'mixed' , from miscere 'to mix' .

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miscellany

noun (pl. miscellanies)
a collection of different things; a mixture.

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mischance

noun
bad luck.

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mischief

noun
1. playful misbehaviour.
2. harm or injury caused by someone or something.

IDIOMS -
do someone a mischief informal injure someone.

ORIGIN: Old French meschief, from meschever 'come to an unfortunate end' .

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mischievous

adjective
1. causing or disposed to mischief.
2. intended to cause trouble.

DERIVATIVES:
mischievously adverb
mischievousness noun.

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miscible

adjective
(of liquids) capable of being mixed together.

ORIGIN: from Latin miscere 'to mix' .

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misconceive

verb
1. fail to understand correctly.
2. (be misconceived) be badly judged or planned.

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misconception

noun
a false or mistaken idea or belief.

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misconduct

noun
unacceptable or improper behaviour.

verb (misconduct oneself)
behave in an improper manner.

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misconstruction

noun
the action of misconstruing something.

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misconstrue

verb (misconstrues, misconstrued, misconstruing)
interpret wrongly.

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miscreant

noun
1. a person who behaves badly or unlawfully.
2. archaic a heretic.

adjective
behaving badly or unlawfully.

ORIGIN: Old French mescreant, from mescreire 'disbelieve' .

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misdeed

noun
a wrongful act.

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misdemeanour (US misdemeanor)

noun
1. a minor wrongdoing.
2. Law a non-indictable offence, regarded in the US (and formerly the UK) as less serious than a felony.

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misdiagnose

verb
diagnose incorrectly.

DERIVATIVES:
misdiagnosis noun.

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misdial

verb (misdialled, misdialling; US misdialed, misdialing)
dial a telephone number incorrectly.

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misdirect

verb
direct or instruct wrongly.

DERIVATIVES:
misdirection noun.

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mise en scène

noun
1. the arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a play.
2. the setting of an event.

ORIGIN: French, 'putting on stage' .

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miser

noun
a person who hoards wealth and spends as little as possible.

ORIGIN: from Latin, 'wretched' .

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miserable

adjective
1. wretchedly unhappy or depressed.
2. causing unhappiness or discomfort.
3. morose and humourless.
4. pitiably small or inadequate.
5. Austral./NZ & Scottish miserly.

DERIVATIVES:
miserableness noun
miserably adverb.

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misericord

noun
a ledge projecting from the underside of a hinged seat in a choir stall, giving support to someone standing when the seat is folded up.

ORIGIN: from Latin misericors 'compassionate' , from misereri 'to pity' + cor 'heart' .

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miserly

adjective
1. having the characteristics of a miser.
2. (of a quantity) pitiably small.

DERIVATIVES:
miserliness noun.

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misery

noun (pl. miseries)
1. wretched unhappiness.
2. a cause of this.
3. Brit. informal a person who is constantly miserable.

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misfire

verb
1. (of a gun) fail to fire properly.
2. (of an internal-combustion engine) fail to ignite the fuel correctly.
3. fail to produce the intended result.

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misfit

noun
1. a person whose behaviour or attitude sets them apart from others.
2. something that does not fit or fits badly.

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misfortune

noun
1. bad luck.
2. an unfortunate event.

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misgivings

plural noun
feelings of doubt or apprehension.

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misgovern

verb
govern unfairly or poorly.

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misguided

adjective
showing faulty judgement or reasoning.

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mishandle

verb
handle unwisely or wrongly.

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mishap

noun
an unlucky accident.

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mishear

verb (past and past part. misheard)
hear incorrectly.

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mishit

verb (mishitting; past and past part. mishit)
hit or kick (a ball) badly.

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mishmash

noun
a confused mixture.

ORIGIN: reduplication of MASH.

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misinform

verb
give false or inaccurate information to.

DERIVATIVES:
misinformation noun.

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misinterpret

verb (misinterpreted, misinterpreting)
interpret wrongly.

DERIVATIVES:
misinterpretation noun.

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misjudge

verb
1. form an incorrect opinion of.
2. judge wrongly.

DERIVATIVES:
misjudgement (also misjudgment) noun.

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mislay

verb (past and past part. mislaid)
lose (an object) by temporarily forgetting where one has left it.

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mislead

verb (past and past part. misled)
give the wrong impression to.

DERIVATIVES:
misleading adjective.

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mismanage

verb
manage badly or wrongly.

DERIVATIVES:
mismanagement noun.

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mismatch

noun
1. a failure to correspond or match.
2. an unequal sporting contest.

verb
match unsuitably or incorrectly.

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misnomer

noun
1. an inaccurate or misleading name.
2. the wrong use of a name or term.

ORIGIN: from Old French mesnommer 'misname' , from Latin nomen 'name' .

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misogynist

noun
a man who hates women.

DERIVATIVES:
misogynistic adjective.

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misogyny

noun
hatred of women.

ORIGIN: from Greek misos 'hatred' + gun 'woman' .

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misplace

verb
put in the wrong place.

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misplaced

adjective
1. incorrectly placed.
2. unwise or inappropriate.

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misprint

noun
an error in printed text.

verb
print incorrectly.

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mispronounce

verb
pronounce wrongly.

DERIVATIVES:
mispronunciation noun.

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misquote

verb
quote inaccurately.

DERIVATIVES:
misquotation noun.

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misread

verb (past and past part. misread)
read or interpret wrongly.

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misrepresent

verb
give a false or misleading account of.

DERIVATIVES:
misrepresentation noun.

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misrule

noun
1. unfair or inefficient government.
2. disruption of peace; disorder.

verb
govern badly.

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miss [1]

verb
1. fail to hit, reach, or come into contact with.
2. be too late for.
3. fail to notice, hear, or understand.
4. fail to be present.
5. avoid.
6. (miss out) omit.
7. notice or feel the loss or absence of.

noun
1. a failure to hit, catch, or reach something.
2. an unsuccessful record or film.

IDIOMS -
give something a miss Brit. informal decide not to do or have something.
a miss is as good as a mile proverb the fact of failure or escape is not affected by the narrowness of the margin.
miss the boat informal be too slow to take advantage of something.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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miss [2]

noun
1. (Miss) a title prefixed to the name of an unmarried woman or girl.
2. (Miss) used as a form of address to a teacher.
3. derogatory or humorous a girl or young woman.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of mistress.

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missal

noun
a book of the texts used in the Catholic Mass.

ORIGIN: from Latin missa 'Mass' .

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misshapen

adjective
not having the normal or natural shape.

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missile

noun
1. an object which is forcibly propelled at a target.
2. a weapon that is self-propelled or directed by remote control, carrying conventional or nuclear explosive.

ORIGIN: Latin, from mittere 'send' .

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missing

adjective
1. absent and of unknown whereabouts.
2. not present when expected or supposed to be.

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missing link

noun
a hypothetical fossil form intermediate between humans and apes.

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mission

noun
1. an important assignment, typically involving travel abroad.
2. an organization or institution involved in a long-term assignment abroad.
3. a military or scientific expedition.
4. the vocation of a religious organization to spread its faith.
5. a strongly felt aim or calling.

ORIGIN: Latin, from mittere 'send' .

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missionary

noun (pl. missionaries)
a person sent on a religious mission.

adjective
of or characteristic of a missionary or religious mission.

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mission statement

noun
a summary of the aims and values of an organization.

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missive

noun formal or humorous
a letter.

ORIGIN: Latin missivus, from mittere 'send' .

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misspell

verb (past and past part. misspelt or misspelled)
spell wrongly.

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misspend

verb (past and past part. misspent)
spend foolishly or wastefully.

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missus (also missis)

noun
1. informal or humorous a person's wife.
2. informal a form of address to a woman.

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missy

noun (pl. missies)
an affectionate or disparaging form of address to a young girl.

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mist

noun
1. a cloud of tiny water droplets in the atmosphere, limiting visibility to a lesser extent than fog.
2. a condensed vapour settling on a surface.

verb
cover or become covered with mist.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mistake

noun
1. a thing that is incorrect.
2. an error of judgement.

verb (past mistook; past part. mistaken)
1. be wrong about.
2. (mistake for) confuse (someone or something) with.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'take in error' .

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mistaken

adjective
1. wrong in one's opinion or judgement.
2. based on a misunderstanding or faulty judgement.

DERIVATIVES:
mistakenly adverb.

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mister

noun
1. variant form of MR.
2. informal a form of address to a man.

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mistime

verb
choose an inappropriate moment to do or say.

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mistle thrush

noun
a large thrush with a spotted breast and harsh rattling call.

ORIGIN: so named because of the bird's fondness for mistletoe berries.

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mistletoe

noun
an evergreen parasitic plant which grows on broadleaf trees and bears white berries in winter.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mistral

noun
a strong, cold north-westerly wind that blows through the Rhône valley and southern France.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin magistralis ventus 'master wind' .

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mistreat

verb
treat badly or unfairly.

DERIVATIVES:
mistreatment noun.

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mistress

noun
1. a woman in a position of authority, control, or ownership.
2. a woman skilled in a particular subject or activity.
3. a woman (other than a wife) having a sexual relationship with a married man.
4. chiefly Brit. a female schoolteacher.
5. (Mistress) archaic Mrs.

ORIGIN: Old French maistresse, from maistre 'master' .

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mistrial

noun
a trial made invalid through an error in proceedings.

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mistrust

verb
have no trust in.

noun
lack of trust.

DERIVATIVES:
mistrustful adjective.

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misty

adjective (mistier, mistiest)
1. full of or covered with mist.
2. indistinct or dim in outline.

DERIVATIVES:
mistily adverb
mistiness noun.

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misunderstand

verb (past and past part. misunderstood)
fail to understand correctly.

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misunderstanding

noun
1. a failure to understand.
2. a disagreement.

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misuse

verb
1. use wrongly.
2. treat badly or unfairly.

noun
the action of misusing something.

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mite [1]

noun
a minute arachnid, several kinds of which are parasitic.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mite [2]

noun
1. a small child or animal.
2. a very small amount.

adverb (a mite) informal
slightly.

ORIGIN: Dutch (originally referring to a small Flemish copper coin of low value).

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mitigate

verb
1. make less severe, serious, or painful.
2. (mitigating) (of a fact or circumstance) lessening the gravity or culpability of an action.

DERIVATIVES:
mitigation noun.
USAGE - The words mitigate and militate are often confused; mitigate means ‘make (something bad) less severe’, while militate is used in constructions with against to mean ‘be a powerful factor in preventing’.
ORIGIN: Latin mitigare 'soften, alleviate' .

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mitochondrion

noun (pl. mitochondria) Biology
a structure found in large numbers in most cells, in which respiration and energy production occur.

DERIVATIVES:
mitochondrial adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek mitos 'thread' + khondrion 'small granule' .

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mitosis

noun (pl. mitoses) Biology
a type of cell division in which daughter cells have the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus. Compare with MEIOSIS.

ORIGIN: from Greek mitos 'thread' .

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mitre (US miter)

noun
1. a tall cleft headdress that tapers to a point at front and back, worn by bishops and senior abbots.
2. a joint made between two pieces of wood or other material at an angle of 90°, in which the line of the join bisects this angle.

verb
join by means of a mitre.

ORIGIN: Greek mitra 'belt or turban' .

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mitt

noun
1. a mitten.
2. a fingerless glove.
3. informal a person's hand.

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mitten

noun
a glove having a single section for all four fingers, with a separate section for the thumb.

ORIGIN: Old French mitaine, perhaps from mite, a pet name for a cat (because mittens were often made of fur).

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mix

verb
1. combine or be combined to form a whole.
2. make by mixing ingredients.
3. combine (signals or soundtracks) into one to produce a recording.
4. (mix up) spoil the order or arrangement of.
5. (mix up) confuse (a person or thing) with another.
6. associate with others socially.

noun
1. a mixture.
2. the proportion of different people or things constituting a mixture.
3. a version of a recording mixed in a different way from the original.

IDIOMS -
be mixed up in (or with) be involved in or with (dubious actions or people).

ORIGIN: back-formation from MIXED.

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mixed

adjective
1. consisting of different kinds, qualities or elements.
2. of or for members of both sexes.

ORIGIN: Latin mixtus, from miscere 'to mix' .

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mixed bag

noun
a diverse assortment.

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mixed economy

noun
an economic system combining private and state enterprise.

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mixed farming

noun
farming of both crops and livestock.

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mixed grill

noun
a dish of various grilled meats.

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mixed marriage

noun
a marriage between people of different races or religions.

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mixed metaphor

noun
a combination of incompatible metaphors (e.g. this tower of strength will forge ahead).

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mixer

noun
1. a machine or device for mixing things.
2. a person considered in terms of their ability to mix socially.
3. a soft drink that can be mixed with alcohol.
4. (in recording and cinematography) a device for merging input signals to produce a combined output.

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mixer tap

noun
a single tap through which both hot and cold water can be drawn simultaneously.

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mixture

noun
1. a substance made by mixing other substances together.
2. (a mixture of) a combination of different things in which the components are individually distinct.
3. the charge of gas or vapour mixed with air admitted to the cylinder of an internal-combustion engine.

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mix-up

noun informal
a confusion or misunderstanding.

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mizzen (also mizen)

noun
1. (also mizzenmast) the mast aft of a ship's mainmast.
2. (also mizzensail) a sail on a mizzenmast.

ORIGIN: from Italian mezzano 'middle' .

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ml

abbreviation
1. mile or miles.
2. millilitre or millilitres.

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Mlle

abbreviation (pl. Mlles)
Mademoiselle.

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MM

abbreviation
1. Messieurs.
2. Military Medal.

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mm

abbreviation
millimetre or millimetres.

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Mme

abbreviation (pl. Mmes)
Madame.

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MMR

abbreviation
measles, mumps, and rubella (a vaccination given to children).

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MN

abbreviation
Minnesota.

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Mn

symbol
the chemical element manganese.

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mnemonic

noun
a pattern of letters or words formulated as an aid to memory.

adjective
1. aiding or designed to aid the memory.
2. relating to the power of memory.

ORIGIN: from Greek mnmn 'mindful' .

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MO

abbreviation
1. Medical Officer.
2. Missouri.
3. modus operandi.
4. money order.

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Mo

symbol
the chemical element molybdenum.

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mo

noun informal, chiefly Brit.
a moment.

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moa

noun
a large extinct flightless bird resembling the emu, formerly found in New Zealand.

ORIGIN: Maori.

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moan

noun
1. a low mournful sound, usually expressive of suffering.
2. informal a trivial complaint.

verb
1. utter or make a moan.
2. informal complain; grumble.

DERIVATIVES:
moaner noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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moat

noun
a deep, wide defensive ditch surrounding a castle or town, typically filled with water.

DERIVATIVES:
moated adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French mote 'mound' .

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mob

noun
1. a disorderly crowd of people.
2. Brit. informal a group of people.
3. (the Mob) N. Amer. the Mafia.
4. (the mob) informal, derogatory the ordinary people.
5. Austral./NZ a flock or herd of animals.

verb (mobbed, mobbing)
1. crowd round or into in an unruly way.
2. (of birds or animals) crowd round so as to harass (a predator).

ORIGIN: from Latin mobile vulgus 'excitable crowd' .

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mobile

adjective
1. able to move or be moved freely or easily.
2. (of a shop, library, etc.) accommodated in a vehicle so as to travel around.
3. able or willing to move between occupations, places of residence, or social classes.
4. (of the features of the face) readily changing expression.

noun
1. a decorative structure suspended so as to turn freely in the air.
2. a mobile phone.

IDIOMS -
upwardly (or downwardly) mobile moving to a higher (or lower) social class.

ORIGIN: Latin mobilis, from movere 'to move' .

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mobile home

noun
a large caravan used as permanent living accommodation.

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mobile phone

noun
a portable telephone using a cellular radio system.

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mobility

noun
the quality of being mobile.

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mobilize (also mobilise)

verb
1. prepare and organize (troops) for active service.
2. organize (people or resources) for a particular task.
3. make mobile.

DERIVATIVES:
mobilization noun
mobilizer noun.

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Möbius strip

noun
a surface with one continuous side formed by joining the ends of a rectangle after twisting one end through 180°.

ORIGIN: named after the German mathematician August F. Möbius.

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mobster

noun informal
a gangster.

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moccasin

noun
1. a soft leather shoe with the sole turned up and sewn to the upper, originally worn by North American Indians.
2. a venomous American pit viper.

ORIGIN: Virginia Algonquian.

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mocha

noun
1. a fine-quality coffee.
2. a drink or flavouring made with this, typically with chocolate added.
3. a soft leather made from sheepskin.

ORIGIN: named after Mocha, a port on the Red Sea, from where the coffee and leather were first shipped.

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mock

verb
1. tease scornfully; ridicule.
2. mimic contemptuously.

adjective
1. not authentic or real.
2. (of an examination, battle, etc.) arranged for training or practice.

noun (mocks) Brit. informal
examinations taken in school as training for public examinations.

DERIVATIVES:
mocking adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French mocquer 'deride' .

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mockery

noun (pl. mockeries)
1. ridicule.
2. an absurd representation of something.

IDIOMS -
make a mockery of cause to appear foolish or absurd.

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mockingbird

noun
a long-tailed American songbird, noted for its mimicry of the calls of other birds.

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mock orange

noun
a bushy shrub (philadelphus) with white flowers whose perfume resembles that of orange blossom.

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mock turtle soup

noun
imitation turtle soup made from a calf's head.

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mock-up

noun
a model or replica of a machine or structure for instructional or experimental purposes.

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MOD

abbreviation
(in the UK) Ministry of Defence.

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mod

adjective informal
modern.

noun Brit.
(especially in the 1960s) a young person of a group characterized by a stylish appearance and the riding of motor scooters.

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modal

adjective
1. relating to mode or form as opposed to substance.
2. Grammar relating to the mood of a verb.
3. Music using melodies or harmonies based on modes other than the ordinary major and minor scales.

DERIVATIVES:
modality noun
modally adverb.

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modal verb

noun Grammar
an auxiliary verb expressing necessity or possibility, e.g. must, shall, will.

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mod cons

plural noun
modern conveniences, i.e. the amenities and appliances characteristic of a well-equipped modern house.

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mode

noun
1. a way in which something occurs or is done.
2. a style in clothes, art, etc.
3. Music a set of notes forming a scale and from which melodies and harmonies are constructed.
4. Statistics the value that occurs most frequently in a given data set.

ORIGIN: originally in the musical sense: from Latin modus 'measure, manner' .

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model

noun
1. a three-dimensional representation of a person or thing, typically on a smaller scale.
2. (in sculpture) a figure made in clay or wax which is then reproduced in a more durable material.
3. something used as an example.
4. a simplified mathematical description of a system or process, used to assist calculations and predictions.
5. an excellent example of a quality.
6. a person employed to display clothes by wearing them.
7. a person employed to pose for an artist.
8. a particular design or version of a product.

verb (modelled, modelling; US modeled, modeling)
1. fashion or shape (a figure) in clay, wax, etc.
2. (in drawing, painting, etc.) cause to appear three-dimensional.
3. devise a mathematical model of.
4. (model on) use as an example for something else.
5. display (clothes) by wearing them.
6. work as a model.

DERIVATIVES:
modeller noun.

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modem

noun
a device for interconverting digital and analogue signals, especially to enable a computer to be connected to a telephone line.

ORIGIN: blend of modulator and demodulator.

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moderate

adjective
1. average in amount, intensity, or degree.
2. (of a political position) not radical or extreme.

noun
a person with moderate views.

verb
1. make or become less extreme or intense.
2. review (examination papers or results) to ensure consistency of marking.
3. preside over (a deliberative body or a debate).

DERIVATIVES:
moderately adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin moderare 'reduce, control' ; related to MODEST.

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moderation

noun
1. the avoidance of extremes in one's actions or opinions.
2. the process of moderating.

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moderator

noun
1. an arbitrator or mediator.
2. a chairman of a debate.
3. a person who moderates examination papers.

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modern

adjective
1. relating to the present or to recent times.
2. characterized by or using the most up-to-date techniques or equipment.
3. (in art, architecture, etc.) marked in style or content by a significant departure from traditional values.

noun
a person who advocates a departure from traditional styles or values.

DERIVATIVES:
modernity noun
modernly adverb
modernness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin modernus, from modo 'just now' .

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modernism

noun
1. modern ideas, methods, or styles.
2. a movement in the arts or religion that aims to break with traditional forms or ideas.

DERIVATIVES:
modernist noun & adjective
modernistic adjective.

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modernize (also modernise)

verb
adapt to the requirements of current times; make modern.

DERIVATIVES:
modernization noun
modernizer noun.

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modest

adjective
1. unassuming in the estimation of one's abilities or achievements.
2. relatively moderate, limited, or small.
3. decent; decorous.

DERIVATIVES:
modestly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin modestus 'keeping due measure' , related to modus 'measure' .

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modesty

noun
the quality or state of being modest.

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modicum

noun
a small quantity of something.

ORIGIN: from Latin modicus 'moderate' , from modus 'measure' .

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modification

noun
1. the action of modifying.
2. a change made.

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modifier

noun
1. a person or thing that modifies.
2. Grammar a word that qualifies the sense of a noun (e.g. good and family in a good family house).

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modify

verb (modifies, modified)
make partial changes to.

ORIGIN: Latin modificare, from modus 'measure' .

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modish

adjective
fashionable.

DERIVATIVES:
modishly adverb
modishness noun.

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modular

adjective
1. employing or involving modules.
2. Mathematics of or relating to a modulus.

DERIVATIVES:
modularity noun.

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modulate

verb
1. exert a controlling influence on; regulate.
2. vary the strength, tone, or pitch of (one's voice).
3. adjust the amplitude or frequency of (an oscillation or signal).
4. Music change from one key to another.

DERIVATIVES:
modulation noun
modulator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin modulari 'measure' .

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module

noun
1. each of a set of parts or units that can be used to construct a more complex structure.
2. each of a set of independent units of study or training forming part of a course.
3. an independent self-contained unit of a spacecraft.

ORIGIN: Latin modulus, from modus 'measure' .

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modulus

noun (pl. moduli)
1. Mathematics the magnitude of a number irrespective of whether it is positive or negative.
2. a constant factor relating a physical effect to the force producing it.

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modus operandi

noun (pl. modi operandi)
a way of operating or doing something.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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modus vivendi

noun (pl. modi vivendi)
1. a way of living.
2. an arrangement allowing conflicting parties to coexist peacefully.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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moggie (also moggy)

noun (pl. moggies) Brit. informal
a cat.

ORIGIN: variant of Maggie, familiar form of the given name Margaret.

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Mogul (also Moghul or Mughal)

noun
1. a member of the Muslim dynasty of Mongol origin which ruled much of India in the 16th 19th centuries.
2. (mogul) informal an important or powerful person.

ORIGIN: Persian, 'Mongol' .

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mohair

noun
a yarn or fabric made from the hair of the angora goat.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'cloth made of goat's hair' (literally 'choice, select' ).

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Mohican

noun
a hair style in which the sides of the head are shaved and a central strip of hair is made to stand erect.

ORIGIN: erroneously associated with the American Indian people; compare with HURON.

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moiety

noun (pl. moieties)
1. formal a half.
2. technical each of two parts into which a thing is or can be divided.

ORIGIN: Old French moite, from Latin medius 'mid, middle' .

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moire (also moiré)

noun
silk fabric treated to give it an appearance like that of rippled water.

ORIGIN: from French moire 'mohair' (the treatment originally being used on mohair fabric).

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moist

adjective
slightly wet; damp.

DERIVATIVES:
moisten verb
moistly adverb
moistness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French moiste, from Latin mucidus 'mouldy' .

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moisture

noun
water or other liquid diffused in a small quantity as vapour, within a solid, or condensed on a surface.

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moisturize (also moisturise)

verb
make (something, especially skin) less dry.

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moisturizer (also moisturiser)

noun
a cosmetic preparation for moisturizing the skin.

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molar [1]

noun
a grinding tooth at the back of a mammal's mouth.

ORIGIN: from Latin mola 'millstone' .

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molar [2]

adjective
acting on or by means of large masses or units.

ORIGIN: from Latin moles 'mass' .

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molasses

noun
1. a thick, dark brown liquid obtained from raw sugar during the refining process.
2. N. Amer. golden syrup.

ORIGIN: from Latin mellacium 'must' , from mel 'honey' .

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mold [1] (Brit. mould)

noun
1. a hollow container used to give shape to molten or hot liquid material when it cools and hardens.
2. something made in this way, especially a jelly or mousse.
3. a distinctive type, style, or character.

verb
1. form (an object) out of a malleable substance.
2. give a shape to (a malleable substance).
3. influence the development of.

IDIOMS -
break the mold end a restrictive pattern of events or behaviour by doing things differently.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French modle, from Latin modus 'measure' .

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mold [2] (Brit. mould)

noun
a furry growth of minute fungi occurring typically in moist warm conditions on organic matter.

ORIGIN: probably from obsolete moul «grow mouldy».

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mold [3] (Brit. mould)

noun chiefly Brit.
soft loose earth, especially when rich in organic matter.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to MEAL.

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moldy (Brit. mouldy)

adjective (moldier, moldiest)
1. covered with or smelling of mould.
2. informal boring or worthless.

DERIVATIVES:
moldiness noun.

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mole [1]

noun
1. a small burrowing insect-eating mammal with dark velvety fur, a long muzzle, and very small eyes.
2. a spy who manages to achieve an important position within the security defences of a country.
3. someone within an organization who anonymously betrays confidential information.

ORIGIN: Germanic.

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mole [2]

noun
a small dark blemish on the skin where there is a high concentration of melanin.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mole [3]

noun
1. a large solid structure serving as a pier, breakwater, or causeway.
2. a harbour formed by a mole.

ORIGIN: Latin moles 'mass' .

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mole [4]

noun Chemistry
the SI unit of amount of substance, equal to the quantity containing as many elementary units as there are atoms in 0.012 kg of carbon-12.

ORIGIN: from German Molekul 'molecule' .

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molecular

adjective
relating to or consisting of molecules.

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molecule

noun
a group of atoms chemically bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a compound that can take part in a chemical reaction.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin molecula 'small mass' , from moles 'mass' .

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molehill

noun
a small mound of earth thrown up by a burrowing mole.

IDIOMS -
make a mountain out of a molehill exaggerate the importance of a minor problem.

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moleskin

noun
1. the skin of a mole used as fur.
2. a thick, strong cotton fabric with a shaved pile surface.

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molest

verb
1. pester or harass in a hostile way.
2. assault or abuse sexually.

DERIVATIVES:
molestation noun
molester noun.

ORIGIN: Latin molestare 'annoy' , from molestus 'troublesome' .

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moll

noun informal
1. a gangster's female companion.
2. a prostitute.

ORIGIN: familiar form of the given name Mary.

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mollify

verb (mollifies, mollified)
1. appease the anger or anxiety of.
2. reduce the severity of.

DERIVATIVES:
mollification noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin mollis 'soft' .

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mollusc (US mollusk)

noun Zoology
an invertebrate animal of a large group including snails, slugs, and mussels, with a soft unsegmented body and often an external shell.

DERIVATIVES:
molluscan adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin mollis 'soft' .

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mollycoddle

verb
treat indulgently or overprotectively.

noun
an effeminate man or boy.

ORIGIN: from molly «girl» (see MOLL) + CODDLE.

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Molotov cocktail

noun
a crude incendiary device consisting of a bottle of flammable liquid ignited by means of a wick.

ORIGIN: named after the Soviet statesman Vyacheslav Molotov, who organized the production of similar grenades in World War II.

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molten

adjective
(especially of metal and glass) liquefied by heat.

ORIGIN: archaic past participle of MELT.

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molto

adverb Music
very.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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mom

noun N. Amer. informal
one's mother.

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moment

noun
1. a brief period of time.
2. an exact point in time.
3. formal importance.
4. Physics a turning effect produced by a force on an object, expressed as the product of the force and the distance from its line of action to a given point.

IDIOMS -
have one's (or its) moments be very good at times.
moment of truth a time of crisis or test. [ORIGIN: from a Spanish phrase, referring originally to the final sword-thrust in a bullfight.]
of the moment currently popular, famous, or important.

ORIGIN: Latin momentum (see MOMENTUM).

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momentarily

adverb
1. for a very short time.
2. N. Amer. very soon.

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momentary

adjective
very brief or short-lived.

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momentous

adjective
of great importance or significance.

DERIVATIVES:
momentously adverb
momentousness noun.

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momentum

noun (pl. momenta)
1. impetus gained by movement or progress.
2. Physics the quantity of motion of a moving body, equal to the product of its mass and velocity.

ORIGIN: Latin movimentum, from movere 'to move' .

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Mon.

abbreviation
Monday.

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monarch

noun
1. a sovereign head of state.
2. a large migratory orange and black butterfly.

DERIVATIVES:
monarchic adjective
monarchical adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek monos 'alone' + arkhein 'to rule' .

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monarchism

noun
support for the principle of monarchy.

DERIVATIVES:
monarchist noun & adjective.

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monarchy

noun (pl. monarchies)
1. government by a monarch.
2. a state with a monarch.

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monastery

noun (pl. monasteries)
a community of monks living under religious vows.

ORIGIN: Greek monastrion, from monazein 'live alone' .

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monastic

adjective
1. relating to monks or nuns or their communities.
2. resembling monks or their way of life, especially in being austere or reclusive.

DERIVATIVES:
monastically adverb
monasticism noun.

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Monday

noun
the day of the week before Tuesday and following Sunday.

ORIGIN: Old English, «day of the moon», from Latin lunae dies.

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monetarism

noun
the theory that inflation is best controlled by limiting the supply of money circulating in an economy.

DERIVATIVES:
monetarist noun & adjective.

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monetary

adjective
relating to money or currency.

DERIVATIVES:
monetarily adverb.

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money

noun
1. a medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes.
2. wealth.
3. payment or financial gain.
4. (moneys or monies) formal sums of money.

IDIOMS -
for my money informal in my opinion.
money for old rope (or money for jam) Brit. informal money or reward earned for little or no effort.
money talks proverb wealth gives power and influence to those who possess it.
put one's money where one's mouth is informal take action to support one's statements.

ORIGIN: Latin moneta 'mint, money' , originally a title of the goddess Juno, in whose temple in ancient Rome money was minted.

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moneybags

noun informal
a wealthy person.

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moneyed

adjective
having much money; affluent.

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money-grubbing

adjective informal
greedily concerned with making money; grasping.

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money order

noun
a printed order for payment of a specified sum, issued by a bank or post office.

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money spider

noun
a very small black spider.

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money-spinner

noun chiefly Brit.
a thing that brings in a large profit.

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money supply

noun
the total amount of money in circulation or in existence in a country.

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-monger

combining form
1. referring to a dealer or trader in a specified commodity (fishmonger).
2. chiefly derogatory referring to a person engaging in a particular activity (rumour-monger).

ORIGIN: from Latin mango 'dealer' .

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Mongol

noun
1. a person from Mongolia.
2. (mongol) offensive a person with Down's syndrome.

DERIVATIVES:
mongolism noun (offensive ).
USAGE - The term mongol was adopted in the late 19th century to refer to a person suffering from Down's syndrome, owing to the similarity of some of the physical symptoms of the disorder with the normal facial characteristics of East Asian people. In modern English, this use is now unacceptable and considered offensive; it has therefore mostly been replaced by the term Down's syndrome.

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Mongoloid

adjective
1. relating to the broad division of humankind including the indigenous peoples of east Asia, SE Asia, and Arctic North America.
2. (mongoloid) offensive affected with Down's syndrome.

noun
a person of a Mongoloid physical type.
USAGE - The term Mongoloid belongs to a set of terms introduced by 19th-century anthropologists attempting to categorize human races. Such terms are associated with outdated notions of racial types, and so are now potentially offensive and best avoided.

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mongoose

noun (pl. mongooses)
a small carnivorous mammal with a long body and tail, native to Africa and Asia.

ORIGIN: Marathi (a central Indian language).

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mongrel

noun
1. a dog of no definable breed.
2. offensive a person of mixed descent.
3. something of mixed origin or nature.

ORIGIN: apparently related to MINGLE and AMONG.

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moniker (also monicker)

noun informal
a name.

DERIVATIVES:
monikered adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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monitor

noun
1. a person or device that monitors something.
2. a television used to view a picture from a particular camera or a display from a computer.
3. a loudspeaker used by performers to hear what is being played or recorded.
4. a school pupil with disciplinary or other special duties.
5. (also monitor lizard) a large tropical lizard.

verb
keep under observation, especially so as to regulate, record, or control.

ORIGIN: from Latin monere 'warn' .

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monk

noun
a man belonging to a religious community typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

DERIVATIVES:
monkish adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek monakhos 'solitary' .

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monkey

noun (pl. monkeys)
1. a small to medium-sized primate typically having a long tail and living in trees in tropical countries.
2. a mischievous child.
3. Brit. informal a sum of £500.

verb (monkeys, monkeyed)
1. (monkey about/around) behave in a silly or playful way.
2. (monkey with) tamper with.

IDIOMS -
make a monkey of (or out of) make a fool of.
not give a monkey's informal not care at all.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin, perhaps from Low German.

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monkey business

noun informal
mischievous or underhand behaviour.

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monkey nut

noun Brit.
a peanut.

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monkey puzzle

noun
a coniferous tree with branches covered in spirals of tough spiny leaves.

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monkey wrench

noun
a spanner with large adjustable jaws.

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monkfish

noun
1. an anglerfish, especially when used as food.
2. an angel shark.

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mono

adjective
1. monophonic.
2. monochrome.

noun
1. monophonic reproduction.
2. monochrome reproduction.

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mono- (also mon- before a vowel)

combining form
1. one; alone; single (monochromatic).
2. Chemistry (forming names of compounds) containing one atom or group of a specified kind.

ORIGIN: from Greek monos 'alone' .

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monochrome

noun
representation or reproduction in black and white or in varying tones of one colour.

adjective
consisting of or displaying images in black and white or in varying tones of one colour.

ORIGIN: from Greek monokhrmatos 'of a single colour' .

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monocle

noun
a lens worn to improve sight in one eye.

ORIGIN: from Latin monoculus 'one-eyed' .

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monocotyledon

noun
a flowering plant whose seeds have a single cotyledon.

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monocular

adjective
with, for, or using one eye.

noun
an optical instrument for viewing distant objects with one eye.

ORIGIN: Latin monoculus 'having one eye' .

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monogamy

noun
the state of having only one husband, wife, or sexual partner at any one time.

DERIVATIVES:
monogamist noun
monogamous adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek monos 'single' + gamos 'marriage' .

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monogram

noun
a motif of two or more interwoven letters, typically a person's initials.

DERIVATIVES:
monogrammed adjective.

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monograph

noun
a scholarly written study of a single subject.

DERIVATIVES:
monographic adjective.

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monolingual

adjective
speaking or expressed in only one language.

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monolith

noun
1. a large single upright block of stone, especially a pillar or monument.
2. a massive and indivisible organization or institution.

ORIGIN: from Greek monos 'single' + lithos 'stone' .

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monolithic

adjective
1. formed of a single large block of stone.
2. massive and uniform or indivisible.

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monologue

noun
1. a long speech by one actor in a play or film.
2. a long, tedious speech by one person during a conversation.

ORIGIN: from Greek monologos 'speaking alone' .

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monomania

noun
obsessive preoccupation with one thing.

DERIVATIVES:
monomaniac noun.

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monomer

noun Chemistry
a molecule that can be linked to other identical molecules to form a polymer.

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monophonic

adjective
(of sound reproduction) using only one transmission channel. Compare with STEREOPHONIC.

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monoplane

noun
an aircraft with one pair of wings.

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monopolize (also monopolise)

verb
take exclusive control or use of.

DERIVATIVES:
monopolization noun.

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monopoly

noun (pl. monopolies)
1. the exclusive possession or control of the supply of a commodity or service.
2. an organization having a monopoly, or a commodity or service controlled by one.
3. exclusive possession or control of something.

ORIGIN: Greek monoplion, from monos 'single' + plein 'sell' .

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monorail

noun
a railway in which the track consists of a single rail.

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monosaccharide

noun
a sugar (e.g. glucose) that cannot be broken down to give a simpler sugar.

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monosodium glutamate

noun
a compound made by the breakdown of vegetable protein and used as a flavour enhancer in food.

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monosyllabic

adjective
1. consisting of one syllable.
2. using brief words because reluctant to converse.

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monosyllable

noun
a word of one syllable.

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monotheism

noun
the belief that there is a single god.

DERIVATIVES:
monotheist noun & adjective
monotheistic adjective.

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monotone

noun
a continuing sound that is unchanging in pitch.

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monotonous

adjective
1. tedious because repetitious.
2. without variation of tone or pitch.

DERIVATIVES:
monotonously adverb
monotony noun.

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monoxide

noun Chemistry
an oxide containing one atom of oxygen.

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Monseigneur

noun (pl. Messeigneurs)
a title or form of address for a French-speaking prince, cardinal, archbishop, or bishop.

ORIGIN: French, 'my lord' .

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Monsieur

noun (pl. Messieurs)
a title or form of address for a French-speaking man, corresponding to Mr or sir.

ORIGIN: French, 'my lord' .

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Monsignor

noun (pl. Monsignori)
the title of various senior Roman Catholic priests and officials.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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monsoon

noun
1. a seasonal prevailing wind in the region of the Indian subcontinent and SE Asia, bringing rain when blowing from the south-west.
2. the rainy season (typically May to September) accompanying the south-west monsoon.

DERIVATIVES:
monsoonal adjective.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'season' .

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mons pubis

noun
the rounded mass of fatty tissue lying over the joint of the pubic bones.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'mount of the pubes' .

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monster

noun
1. a large, ugly, and frightening imaginary creature.
2. an inhumanly cruel or wicked person.
3. (before another noun ) informal extraordinarily large.

ORIGIN: Latin monstrum 'divine portent or warning, monster' , from monere 'warn' .

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monstrance

noun
(in the Roman Catholic Church) a receptacle in which the consecrated Host is displayed for veneration.

ORIGIN: from Latin monstrare 'to show' .

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monstrosity

noun (pl. monstrosities)
1. something outrageously or offensively wrong.
2. a grossly malformed animal, plant, or bodily part.

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monstrous

adjective
1. very large and ugly or frightening.
2. outrageously evil or wrong.

DERIVATIVES:
monstrously adverb
monstrousness noun.

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montage

noun
1. the technique of making a picture or film by putting together pieces from other pictures or films.
2. a picture or film resulting from this.

ORIGIN: French, from monter 'to mount' .

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month

noun
1. each of the twelve named periods into which a year is divided.
2. a period of time between the same dates in successive calendar months.
3. a period of 28 days or four weeks.

IDIOMS -
a month of Sundays informal a very long time.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to MOON (since in many early civilizations the calendar month was calculated as beginning with the new moon).

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monthly

adjective
done, produced, or occurring once a month.

adverb
once a month.

noun (pl. monthlies)
1. a magazine published once a month.
2. (monthlies) informal a menstrual period.

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monty

noun (the full monty) Brit. informal
the full amount expected, desired, or possible.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin; perhaps from the full Montague Burton, apparently meaning «Sunday-best three-piece suit» (from the name of a tailor), or in reference to «the full cooked English breakfast» insisted upon by Field Marshal Montgomery (1887 1976).

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monument

noun
1. a statue or structure erected to commemorate a person or event.
2. a structure or site of historical importance.
3. an enduring and memorable example or reminder.

ORIGIN: Latin monumentum, from monere 'remind' .

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monumental

adjective
1. very large or impressive.
2. of or serving as a monument.

DERIVATIVES:
monumentality noun
monumentally adverb.

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moo

verb (moos, mooed)
make the characteristic deep vocal sound of cattle.

noun (pl. moos)
such a sound.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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mooch

verb Brit. informal
loiter in a bored or listless way.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «to hoard», later (in English dialect) 'play truant to pick blackberries' : probably from Old French muscher 'hide, skulk' .

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mood

noun
1. a temporary state of mind.
2. a fit of bad temper or depression.
3. the atmosphere of a work of art.
4. Grammar a form or category of a verb expressing fact, command, question, wish, or conditionality.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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moody

adjective (moodier, moodiest)
1. given to sudden bouts of gloominess or sullenness.
2. giving a melancholy or mysterious impression.

DERIVATIVES:
moodily adverb
moodiness noun.

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moon

noun
1. (also Moon) the natural satellite of the earth, orbiting it every 28 days and shining by reflected light from the sun.
2. a natural satellite of any planet.
3. literary or humorous a month.

verb
1. (usu. moon about/around) behave or move in a listless or dreamy manner.
2. informal expose one's buttocks to someone as an insult or joke.

IDIOMS -
over the moon Brit. informal delighted.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to MONTH.

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moon-faced

adjective
having a round face.

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moonlight

noun
the light of the moon.

verb (past and past part. moonlighted) informal
do a second job, especially at night, without declaring it for tax purposes.

DERIVATIVES:
moonlighter noun
moonlit adjective.

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moonscape

noun
a rocky and barren landscape resembling the moon's surface.

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moonshine

noun informal
1. foolish talk or ideas.
2. chiefly N. Amer. illicitly distilled or smuggled liquor.

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moonstone

noun
a pearly white semi-precious form of feldspar.

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moony

adjective (moonier, mooniest)
dreamy, especially through being in love.

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Moor

noun
a member of a NW African Muslim people of mixed Berber and Arab descent.

DERIVATIVES:
Moorish adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek Mauros 'inhabitant of Mauretania' (an ancient region of N. Africa).

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moor [1]

noun
a stretch of open uncultivated upland.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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moor [2]

verb
1. make fast (a boat) by attaching it by cable or rope to the shore or to an anchor.
2. be secured somewhere in this way.

ORIGIN: probably from Germanic.

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moorhen

noun
an aquatic bird with mainly blackish plumage and a red and yellow bill.

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mooring (also moorings)

noun
1. a place where a boat is moored.
2. the ropes or cables by which a boat is moored.

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moose

noun (pl. same) N. Amer.
1. a large northern deer with palmate antlers and a growth of skin hanging from the neck.
2. (also wapiti) a red deer of a large North American subspecies.

ORIGIN: from Abnaki (an American Indian language).

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moot

adjective
subject to debate or uncertainty: a moot point.

verb
put forward for discussion.

noun
1. (in Anglo-Saxon and medieval England) a legislative or judicial assembly.
2. Law a mock trial set up to examine a hypothetical case as an academic exercise.

ORIGIN: Old English, «assembly or meeting»; related to MEET.

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mop

noun
1. a bundle of thick loose strings or a sponge attached to a handle, used for wiping floors.
2. a thick mass of disordered hair.

verb (mopped, mopping)
1. clean or soak up by wiping.
2. (mop up) clear up or put an end to.

ORIGIN: perhaps ultimately related to Latin mappa 'napkin' .

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mope

verb
be listless and in low spirits.

ORIGIN: perhaps Scandinavian.

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moped

noun
a light motorcycle with an engine capacity below 50 cc.

ORIGIN: from Swedish trampcykel med motor och pedaler 'pedal cycle with motor and pedals' .

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moraine

noun
a mass of rocks and sediment carried down and deposited by a glacier.

ORIGIN: from French dialect morre 'snout' .

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moral

adjective
1. concerned with the principles of right and wrong behaviour and the goodness or badness of human character.
2. conforming to accepted standards of behaviour.
3. psychological rather than physical or practical: moral support.

noun
1. a lesson about right or wrong that can be derived from a story or experience.
2. (morals) standards of behaviour, or principles of right and wrong.

DERIVATIVES:
morally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin moralis, from mos 'custom' .

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morale

noun
the level of a person's or group's confidence and spirits.

ORIGIN: French moral, respelled to preserve the final stress in pronunciation.

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moralist

noun
1. a person who teaches or promotes morality.
2. a person who behaves morally.

DERIVATIVES:
moralistic adjective.

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morality

noun (pl. moralities)
1. principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behaviour.
2. moral behaviour.
3. the extent to which an action is right or wrong.
4. a system of values and moral principles.

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morality play

noun
a play presenting a moral lesson and having personified qualities as the main characters, popular in the 15th and 16th centuries.

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moralize (also moralise)

verb
1. comment on moral issues, especially disapprovingly.
2. improve the morals of.
3. interpret as giving moral lessons.

DERIVATIVES:
moralization noun
moralizer noun.

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moral victory

noun
a defeat that can be interpreted as a victory in moral terms.

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morass

noun
1. an area of muddy or boggy ground.
2. a complicated or confused situation.

ORIGIN: Dutch moeras, from Latin mariscus.

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moratorium

noun (pl. moratoriums or moratoria)
1. a temporary prohibition of an activity.
2. Law a legal authorization to debtors to postpone payment.

ORIGIN: Latin, from morari 'to delay' .

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moray (also moray eel)

noun
an eel-like predatory fish of warm seas.

ORIGIN: Portuguese moréia from Greek muraina.

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morbid

adjective
1. having or showing an unhealthy interest in unpleasant subjects, especially death and disease.
2. Medicine of the nature of or indicative of disease.

DERIVATIVES:
morbidity noun
morbidly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin morbus 'disease' .

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mordant

adjective
(especially of humour) sharply sarcastic.

noun
1. a substance that combines with a dye and thereby fixes it in a material.
2. a corrosive liquid used to etch the lines on a printing plate.

ORIGIN: from Latin mordere 'to bite' .

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more

determiner & pronoun
a greater or additional amount or degree.

adverb
1. forming the comparative of adjectives and adverbs.
2. to a greater extent.
3. again.
4. (more than) extremely.

IDIOMS -
more and more at an increasing rate.
more or less to a certain extent.
no more
1. nothing further.
2. no further.
3. (be no more) no longer exist.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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moreish

adjective Brit. informal
so pleasant to eat that one wants more.

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morel

noun
an edible fungus having a brown oval or pointed cap with an irregular honeycombed surface.

ORIGIN: French morille, from Dutch morilje.

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morello

noun (pl. morellos)
a kind of sour dark cherry used in cooking.

ORIGIN: from Italian, 'blackish' .

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moreover

adverb
as a further matter; besides.

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mores

plural noun
the customs and conventions of a community.

ORIGIN: Latin, plural of mos 'custom' .

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morgue

noun
1. a mortuary.
2. informal a newspaper's files of miscellaneous information kept for reference.

ORIGIN: French, originally the name of a building in Paris where bodies were kept until identified.

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moribund

adjective
1. at the point of death.
2. in terminal decline; lacking vigour.

ORIGIN: Latin moribundus, from mori 'to die' .

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Mormon

noun
a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a religion founded in the US in 1830 by Joseph Smith Jr.

DERIVATIVES:
Mormonism noun.

ORIGIN: the name of a prophet to whom Smith attributed The Book of Mormon, a collection of supposed revelations.

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morn

noun literary
morning.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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morning

noun
1. the period of time between midnight and noon, especially from sunrise to noon.
2. sunrise.

adverb (mornings) informal
every morning.

ORIGIN: from MORN, on the pattern of evening.

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morning-after pill

noun
a contraceptive pill that is effective within about thirty-six hours after intercourse.

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morning glory

noun
a climbing plant of the convolvulus family with trumpet-shaped flowers.

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morning sickness

noun
nausea occurring in the mornings during early pregnancy.

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morning star

noun
a planet, especially Venus, when visible in the east before sunrise.

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moron

noun informal
a stupid person.

DERIVATIVES:
moronic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek mros 'foolish' .

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morose

adjective
sullen and ill-tempered.

DERIVATIVES:
morosely adverb
moroseness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin morosus 'peevish' .

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morph

verb
(in computer animation) change smoothly and gradually from one image to another.

ORIGIN: from METAMORPHOSIS.

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morphia

noun dated
morphine.

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morphine

noun
a narcotic drug obtained from opium and used medicinally to relieve pain.

ORIGIN: named after the Roman god of sleep, Morpheus.

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morris dancing

noun
traditional English folk dancing performed outdoors by groups of dancers wearing costumes with small bells attached and carrying handkerchiefs or sticks.

ORIGIN: from Moorish (see MOOR).

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morrow

noun (the morrow) archaic or literary
the following day.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to MORN.

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Morse (also Morse code)

noun
a code in which letters are represented by combinations of long and short light or sound signals.

ORIGIN: named after its American inventor Samuel F. B. Morse (1791 1872).

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morsel

noun
a small piece of food; a mouthful.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'little bite' .

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mortal

adjective
1. subject to death.
2. causing death.
3. (of fear, pain, etc.) intense.
4. (of conflict or an enemy) lasting until death; never to be reconciled.
5. without exception; imaginable: every mortal thing.
6. Christian Theology (of a sin) regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace. Often contrasted with VENIAL.

noun
a human being.

DERIVATIVES:
mortally adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin mors 'death' .

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mortality

noun
1. the state of being mortal.
2. death, especially on a large scale.
3. (also mortality rate) the number of deaths in a given area or period, or from a particular cause.

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mortar

noun
1. a mixture of lime with cement, sand, and water, used to bond bricks or stones.
2. a cup-shaped receptacle in which substances are crushed or ground with a pestle.
3. a short cannon for firing shells at high angles.

verb
1. fix or bond using mortar.
2. attack with shells fired from a mortar.

ORIGIN: Latin mortarium 'receptacle in which substances are crushed or ground' ; sense 1 is probably a transferred use of sense 2, the mortar being mixed in a trough or other receptacle,

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mortar board

noun
1. an academic cap with a stiff, flat square top and a tassel.
2. a small square board held horizontally by a handle on the underside, used for holding mortar.

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mortgage

noun
1. a legal agreement by which a person takes out a loan using as security real property (usually a house which is being purchased).
2. an amount of money borrowed or lent under such an agreement.

verb
transfer the title to (a property) to a creditor as security for the payment of a loan.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'dead pledge' .

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mortgagee

noun
the lender in a mortgage.

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mortgagor

noun
the borrower in a mortgage.

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mortician

noun chiefly N. Amer.
an undertaker.

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mortify

verb (mortifies, mortified)
1. cause to feel embarrassed or humiliated.
2. subdue (physical urges) by self-denial or discipline.
3. be affected by gangrene or necrosis.

DERIVATIVES:
mortification noun
mortifying adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French mortifier, from Latin mors 'death' .

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mortise (also mortice)

noun
a hole or recess designed to receive a corresponding projection (a tenon) so that the two are held together.

verb
1. join by a mortise and tenon.
2. cut a mortise in.

ORIGIN: Old French mortaise.

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mortise lock

noun
a lock set into the framework of a door in a recess or mortise.

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mortuary

noun (pl. mortuaries)
a room or building in which dead bodies are kept until burial or cremation.

adjective
relating to burial or tombs.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a gift claimed by a parish priest from a deceased person's estate, later meaning «a funeral»: from Latin mortuus 'dead' .

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Mosaic

adjective
of or associated with the biblical Hebrew prophet Moses.

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mosaic

noun
a picture or pattern produced by arranging together small variously coloured pieces of stone, tile, or glass.

DERIVATIVES:
mosaicist noun.

ORIGIN: French mosaïque, from Latin musivum 'decoration with small square stones' .

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mosey informal

verb (moseys, moseyed)
walk or move in a leisurely manner.

noun
a leisurely walk.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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mosque

noun
a Muslim place of worship.

ORIGIN: French, from Arabic.

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mosquito

noun (pl. mosquitoes)
a small slender fly, some kinds of which transmit parasitic diseases through the bite of the bloodsucking female.

ORIGIN: Spanish and Portuguese, 'little fly' .

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mosquito net

noun
a fine net hung across a door or window or around a bed to keep mosquitoes away.

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moss

noun
1. a small flowerless green plant which grows in low carpets or rounded cushions in damp habitats and reproduces by means of spores.
2. Scottish & N. English a peat bog.

DERIVATIVES:
mossy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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most

determiner & pronoun
1. greatest in amount or degree.
2. the majority of.

adverb
1. to the greatest extent.
2. forming the superlative of adjectives and adverbs.
3. very.
4. N. Amer. informal almost.

IDIOMS -
at (the) most not more than.
for the most part in most cases; usually.
make the most of use or represent to the best advantage.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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-most

suffix
forming superlative adjectives and adverbs from prepositions and other words indicating relative position (e.g. innermost).

ORIGIN: Old English, related to MOST.

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mostly

adverb
1. on the whole; mainly.
2. usually.

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Most Reverend

noun
the title of an Anglican archbishop or an Irish Roman Catholic bishop.

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MOT

noun
(in the UK) a compulsory annual test of motor vehicles of more than a specified age.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of Ministry of Transport.

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mote

noun
a speck.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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motel

noun
a roadside hotel for motorists.

ORIGIN: blend of MOTOR and HOTEL.

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motet

noun
a short piece of sacred choral music.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'little word' .

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moth

noun
a chiefly nocturnal insect resembling a butterfly but holding its wings flat when at rest and generally having feathery antennae.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mothball

noun
a small ball of naphthalene or camphor, placed among stored clothes to deter clothes moths.

verb
1. store (clothes) among or in mothballs.
2. put into storage or on hold indefinitely.

IDIOMS -
in mothballs in storage or on hold.

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moth-eaten

adjective
damaged or apparently damaged by clothes moths; shabby or threadbare.

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mother

noun
1. a female parent.
2. (Mother) (especially as a title or form of address) the head of a female religious community.
3. informal an extreme or very large example of: the mother of all traffic jams.

verb
look after kindly and protectively, sometimes excessively so.

DERIVATIVES:
motherhood noun
motherless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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motherboard

noun
a printed circuit board containing the main components of a microcomputer.

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mother country

noun
a country in relation to its colonies.

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Mothering Sunday

noun Brit.
the fourth Sunday in Lent, traditionally a day for honouring one's mother.

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mother-in-law

noun (pl. mothers-in-law)
the mother of one's husband or wife.

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motherland

noun
one's native country.

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motherly

adjective
of or characteristic of a mother, especially in being caring, protective, and kind.

DERIVATIVES:
motherliness noun.

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mother-of-pearl

noun
a smooth pearly substance lining the shells of oysters, abalones, and certain other molluscs.

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Mother's Day

noun
a day of the year on which children honour their mothers (in Britain Mothering Sunday, and in North America the second Sunday in May).

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Mother Superior

noun
the head of a female religious community.

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mother tongue

noun
a person's native language.

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motif

noun
1. a single or repeated image forming a design.
2. a dominant or recurrent theme in an artistic, musical, or literary work.
3. a decorative device applied to a garment or textile.

ORIGIN: French.

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motion

noun
1. the action of moving.
2. a movement or gesture.
3. a piece of moving mechanism.
4. a formal proposal put to a legislature or committee.
5. Brit. an emptying of the bowels.
6. Brit. a piece of excrement.

verb
direct (someone) with a gesture.

IDIOMS -
go through the motions do something in a perfunctory way.

DERIVATIVES:
motional adjective
motionless adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin movere 'to move' .

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motion picture

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a cinema film.

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motivate

verb
1. provide with a motive for doing something.
2. stimulate the interest of.

DERIVATIVES:
motivator noun.

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motivation

noun
1. the reason or reasons behind one's actions or behaviour.
2. enthusiasm.

DERIVATIVES:
motivational adjective.

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motive

noun
1. a factor inducing a person to act in a particular way.
2. a motif.

adjective
producing physical or mechanical motion.

DERIVATIVES:
motiveless adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin motivus, from movere 'to move' .

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motive power

noun
the energy used to drive machinery.

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mot juste

noun (pl. mots justes pronunc. same) (the mot juste)
the most appropriate word or expression.

ORIGIN: French, 'appropriate word' .

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motley

adjective
incongruously varied in appearance or character.

noun
a varied mixture.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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motocross

noun
cross-country racing on motorcycles.

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motor

noun
1. a machine that supplies motive power for a vehicle or other device.
2. Brit. informal a car.

adjective
1. giving or producing motion or action.
2. Physiology relating to muscular movement or the nerves activating it.

verb informal, chiefly Brit.
travel in a car.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'mover' , from movere 'to move' .

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motorbike

noun
a motorcycle.

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motorboat

noun
a boat powered by a motor.

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motorcade

noun
a procession of motor vehicles.

ORIGIN: from MOTOR, on the pattern of cavalcade.

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motor car

noun chiefly Brit.
a car.

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motorcycle

noun
a two-wheeled vehicle that is powered by a motor.

DERIVATIVES:
motorcycling noun
motorcyclist noun.

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motorist

noun
the driver of a car.

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motor racing

noun
the sport of racing in specially developed fast cars.

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motor vehicle

noun
a road vehicle powered by an internal-combustion engine.

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motorway

noun Brit.
a road designed for fast traffic, typically with three lanes in each direction.

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motte

noun historical
a mound forming the site of a castle or camp.

ORIGIN: French, 'mound' , related to MOAT.

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mottle

noun
a mottled marking.

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mottled

adjective
marked with patches of a different colour.

ORIGIN: probably from MOTLEY.

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motto

noun (pl. mottoes or mottos)
a short sentence or phrase encapsulating a belief or ideal.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'word' .

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moue

noun
a pout.

ORIGIN: French.

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mould [1] (US mold)

noun
1. a hollow container used to give shape to molten or hot liquid material when it cools and hardens.
2. something made in this way, especially a jelly or mousse.
3. a distinctive type, style, or character.

verb
1. form (an object) out of a malleable substance.
2. give a shape to (a malleable substance).
3. influence the development of.

IDIOMS -
break the mould end a restrictive pattern of events or behaviour by doing things differently.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French modle, from Latin modus 'measure' .

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mould [2] (US mold)

noun
a furry growth of minute fungi occurring typically in moist warm conditions on organic matter.

ORIGIN: probably from obsolete moul «grow mouldy».

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mould [3] (US mold)

noun chiefly Brit.
soft loose earth, especially when rich in organic matter.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to MEAL.

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moulder (US molder)

verb
slowly decay.

ORIGIN: perhaps from MOULD.

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moulding (US molding)

noun
a moulded strip of wood, stone, or plaster as a decorative architectural feature.

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mouldy (US moldy)

adjective (mouldier, mouldiest)
1. covered with or smelling of mould.
2. informal boring or worthless.

DERIVATIVES:
mouldiness noun.

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moult (US molt)

verb
shed old feathers, hair, or skin, to make way for a new growth.

noun
a period of moulting.

ORIGIN: from Latin mutare 'to change' : see MUTATE.

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mound

noun
1. a raised mass of earth or other compacted material.
2. a small hill.
3. a heap or pile.

verb
heap up into a mound.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'boundary hedge or fence' : of obscure origin.

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mount [1]

verb
1. climb up or on to.
2. get up on (an animal or bicycle) to ride it.
3. (be mounted) be on horseback; be provided with a horse.
4. increase in size, number, or intensity.
5. organize and initiate.
6. put or fix in place or on a support.
7. set in or attach (a picture) to a backing.

noun
1. (also mounting) something on which an object is mounted for support or display.
2. a horse used for riding.

IDIOMS -
mount guard keep watch.

DERIVATIVES:
mountable adjective
mounted adjective.

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mount [2]

noun archaic or in place names
a mountain or hill.

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mountain

noun
1. a mass of land rising abruptly and to a large height from the surrounding level.
2. a large pile or quantity.
3. a surplus stock of a commodity.

IDIOMS -
if the mountain won't come to Muhammad, Muhammad must go to the mountain proverb if someone won't do as you wish or a situation can't be arranged to suit you, you must accept it and change your plans accordingly. [ORIGIN: with allusion to a well-known story about Muhammad told by Francis Bacon (Essays xii).]
move mountains achieve spectacular and apparently impossible results.

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mountain ash

noun
a rowan tree.

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mountain bike

noun
a sturdy bicycle with broad deep-treaded tyres and multiple gears, originally intended for riding on mountainous terrain.

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mountaineering

noun
the sport or activity of climbing mountains.

DERIVATIVES:
mountaineer noun.

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mountain goat

noun
a goat that lives on mountains, proverbial for its agility.

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mountain lion

noun N. Amer.
a puma.

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mountainous

adjective
1. having many mountains.
2. huge; enormous.

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mountebank

noun
a swindler.

ORIGIN: originally meaning 'a person who sold patent medicines in public places' : from Italian monta in banco! 'climb on the bench!' , with allusion to the raised platform used by mountebanks to attract an audience.

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Mountie

noun informal
a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

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mourn

verb
feel deep sorrow following the death or loss of.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mourner

noun
a person who attends a funeral as a relative or friend of the dead person.

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mournful

adjective
feeling, showing, or causing sadness or grief.

DERIVATIVES:
mournfully adverb
mournfulness noun.

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mourning

noun
1. the experience or expression of deep sorrow for someone who has died.
2. black clothes conventionally worn in a period of mourning.

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mouse

noun (pl. mice)
1. a small rodent with a pointed snout, relatively large ears and eyes, and a long thin tail.
2. a timid and quiet person.
3. (pl. also mouses) Computing a small hand-held device which controls cursor movements on a computer screen, with buttons which are pressed to control functions.

verb
hunt for or catch mice.

DERIVATIVES:
mouser noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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moussaka

noun
a Greek dish of minced lamb layered with aubergines and tomatoes and topped with a cheese sauce.

ORIGIN: Turkish, 'that which is fed liquid' (i.e. a dish to which liquid is added during cooking).

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mousse

noun
1. a sweet or savoury dish made as a smooth light mass in which the main ingredient is whipped with cream or egg white.
2. an aerated or light preparation for the skin or hair.

ORIGIN: French, 'moss or froth' .

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moustache (US also mustache)

noun
a strip of hair left to grow above a man's upper lip.

DERIVATIVES:
moustached adjective.

ORIGIN: French, from Greek mustax.

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mousy (also mousey)

adjective (mousier, mousiest)
1. of or like a mouse.
2. (of hair) of a dull, light brown colour.
3. timid and ineffectual.

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mouth

noun
1. the opening in the body of most animals through which food is taken and sounds are emitted.
2. an opening or entrance to a structure that is hollow, concave, or almost completely enclosed.
3. the place where a river enters the sea.
4. informal impudent talk.

verb
1. move the lips as if to form (words).
2. say in an insincere or pompous way.
3. (mouth off) informal talk in an opinionated or abusive way.
4. take in or touch with the mouth.

IDIOMS -
be all mouth (and no trousers) informal tend to talk boastfully but not to act on one's words.
keep one's mouth shut informal say nothing, especially to avoid revealing a secret.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mouthful

noun
1. a quantity of food or drink that fills or can be put in the mouth.
2. a long or complicated word or phrase.

IDIOMS -
give someone a mouthful Brit. informal talk to someone in an angry or abusive way.

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mouth organ

noun
a harmonica.

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mouthpart

noun
any of the appendages surrounding the mouth of an insect or other arthropod and adapted for feeding.

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mouthpiece

noun
1. a part of a musical instrument, telephone, etc. that is designed to be put in or against the mouth.
2. a person or publication expressing the views of another person or an organization.

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mouth-to-mouth

adjective
(of artificial respiration) in which a person breathes into someone's lungs through their mouth.

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mouthwash

noun
an antiseptic liquid for rinsing the mouth or gargling.

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mouth-watering

adjective
1. smelling or looking delicious.
2. very attractive or tempting.

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mouthy

adjective (mouthier, mouthiest) informal
inclined to talk a lot, especially in an impudent way.

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movable (also moveable)

adjective
1. capable of being moved.
2. denoting a religious feast day occurring on a different date each year.
3. Law (of property) of the nature of a chattel, as distinct from land or buildings.

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move

verb
1. go or cause to go in a specified direction or manner.
2. change or cause to change position.
3. change one's place of residence.
4. change from one state, sphere, or activity to another.
5. take or cause to take action.
6. make progress.
7. provoke compassion, affection, or other feelings in.
8. propose for discussion and resolution at a meeting or legislative assembly.
9. empty (the bowels).

noun
1. an instance of moving.
2. an action taken towards achieving a purpose.
3. a manoeuvre in a sport or game.
4. a player's turn during a board game.

IDIOMS -
get a move on informal hurry up.
make a move
1. take action.
2. Brit. set off; leave somewhere.
make a move on (or put the moves on) informal make a proposition of a sexual nature to.
move in (or out) start (or cease) living or working in a place.
move in/within be socially active in (a particular sphere) or among (a particular group).

DERIVATIVES:
mover noun.

ORIGIN: Latin movere.

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movement

noun
1. an act of moving.
2. the process of moving or the state of being moved.
3. a group of people working to advance a shared cause.
4. a series of organized actions to advance a shared cause.
5. a trend or development.
6. (movements) a person's activities during a particular period of time.
7. Music a principal division of a musical work.
8. the moving parts of a mechanism, especially a clock or watch.

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movie

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a cinema film.

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moving

adjective
1. in motion.
2. arousing strong emotion.

DERIVATIVES:
movingly adverb.

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mow

verb (past part. mowed or mown)
1. cut down or trim (grass or a cereal crop) with a machine or scythe.
2. (mow down) kill by gunfire or by knocking down with a motor vehicle.

DERIVATIVES:
mower noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mozzarella

noun
a firm white Italian cheese made from buffalo's or cow's milk.

ORIGIN: Italian, from mozzare 'cut off' .

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mozzie (also mossie)

noun (pl. mozzies) informal, chiefly Austral./NZ
a mosquito.

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MP

abbreviation
1. Member of Parliament.
2. military police.

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mpg

abbreviation
miles per gallon.

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mph

abbreviation
miles per hour.

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Mr

noun
1. a title used before a man's surname or full name.
2. a title used to address the male holder of an office.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of MASTER.

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Mrs

noun
a title used before a married woman's surname or full name.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of MISTRESS.

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MS

abbreviation
1. manuscript.
2. Mississippi.
3. multiple sclerosis.

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Ms

noun
a title used before the surname or full name of a woman regardless of her marital status (a neutral alternative to Mrs or Miss).

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MSc

abbreviation
Master of Science.

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MS-DOS

abbreviation Computing, trademark
Microsoft disk operating system.

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MSP

abbreviation
Member of the Scottish Parliament.

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MT

abbreviation
Montana.

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Mt

abbreviation (in place names )
Mount.

symbol
the chemical element meitnerium.

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mu

noun
the twelfth letter of the Greek alphabet (M, µ), transliterated as ‘m’.

symbol (µ)
‘micro-’ in abbreviations for units, e.g. µg for microgram.

ORIGIN: Greek.

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much

determiner & pronoun (more, most)
1. a large amount.
2. indicating that someone or something is a poor specimen: I'm not much of a gardener.

adverb
1. to a great extent; a great deal.
2. for a large part of one's time; often.

IDIOMS -
a bit much informal somewhat excessive or unreasonable.
(as) much as even though.
so much the better (or worse) that is even better (or worse).
too much too difficult or exhausting to tolerate.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to MICKLE.

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muchness

noun (in phrase (much) of a muchness)
very similar.

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muck

noun
1. dirt or rubbish.
2. manure.

verb
1. (muck up) informal spoil.
2. (muck about/around) Brit. informal behave in a silly or aimless way.
3. (muck about/around with) Brit. informal interfere with.
4. (muck in) Brit. informal share tasks or accommodation.
5. (muck out) chiefly Brit. remove manure and other dirt from (a stable).

IDIOMS -
Lord (or Lady) Muck Brit. informal a socially pretentious man (or woman).
where there's muck there's brass proverb dirty or unpleasant activities are also lucrative.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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muckraking

noun
the action of searching out and publicizing scandal about famous people.

ORIGIN: coined by President Theodore Roosevelt in a speech (1906) alluding to the man with the muck rake in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.

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mucky

adjective (muckier, muckiest)
1. covered with or consisting of muck; dirty.
2. sordid or indecent.

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mucous

adjective
relating to or covered with mucus.

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mucous membrane

noun
a mucus-secreting tissue lining many body cavities and tubular organs, including the respiratory passages.

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mucus

noun
1. a slimy substance secreted by the mucous membranes and glands of animals for lubrication, protection, etc.
2. mucilage from plants.

ORIGIN: Latin, related to Greek mussesthai 'blow the nose' , mukter 'nose, nostril' .

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mud

noun
1. soft, sticky matter consisting of mixed earth and water.
2. damaging information or allegations.

IDIOMS -
drag through the mud slander or criticize publicly.
(here's) mud in your eye! informal used as a toast.
one's name is mud informal one is in disgrace or unpopular.

ORIGIN: probably from Low German mudde.

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muddle

verb
1. bring into a disordered or confusing state.
2. confuse or perplex (someone).
3. (muddle up) confuse (two or more things) with each other.
4. (muddle along/through) cope more or less satisfactorily.

noun
a muddled state.

DERIVATIVES:
muddled adjective
muddly adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «wallow in mud»: perhaps from Dutch modden 'dabble in mud' .

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muddle-headed

adjective
disorganized or confused.

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muddy

adjective (muddier, muddiest)
1. covered in, full of, or reminiscent of mud.
2. clouded; not bright or clear.

verb (muddies, muddied)
1. cause to become muddy.
2. make unclear.

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mudflap

noun
a flap hung behind the wheel of a vehicle to protect against mud and stones thrown up from the road.

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mudflat

noun
a stretch of muddy land left uncovered at low tide.

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mudguard

noun
a curved strip fitted over a wheel of a bicycle or motorcycle to protect against water and dirt thrown up from the road.

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mud pack

noun
a paste applied to the face to improve the condition of the skin.

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mud-slinging

noun informal
the casting of insults and accusations.

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muesli

noun (pl. mueslis)
a mixture of oats and other cereals, dried fruit, and nuts, eaten with milk at breakfast.

ORIGIN: Swiss German.

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muezzin

noun
a man who calls Muslims to prayer from the minaret of a mosque.

ORIGIN: from Arabic, 'proclaim' .

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muff [1]

noun
1. a short tube made of fur or other warm material into which the hands are placed for warmth.
2. vulgar slang a woman's genitals.

ORIGIN: Dutch mof.

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muff [2] informal

verb
handle clumsily; bungle.

noun
a mistake or failure, especially a failure to catch a ball cleanly.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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muffin

noun
1. (N. Amer. English muffin) a thick, flattened bread roll made from yeast dough and eaten split, toasted, and buttered.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a small domed cake.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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muffle

verb
1. wrap or cover for warmth.
2. make (a sound) quieter or less distinct by covering its source.

ORIGIN: from Old French moufle 'thick glove' .

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muffler

noun
1. a wrap or scarf worn around the neck and face.
2. a device for deadening the sound of a drum or other instrument.
3. N. Amer. a silencer for a motor vehicle exhaust.

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mufti [1]

noun (pl. muftis)
a Muslim legal expert empowered to give rulings on religious matters.

ORIGIN: from Arabic, 'decide a point of law' .

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mufti [2]

noun
civilian clothes when worn by military or police staff.

ORIGIN: perhaps from MUFTI.

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mug [1]

noun
1. a large cylindrical cup with a handle.
2. informal a person's face.
3. Brit. informal a stupid or gullible person.
4. US informal a thug.

verb (mugged, mugging)
1. attack and rob (someone) in a public place.
2. informal make faces before an audience or a camera.

IDIOMS -
a mug's game informal an activity likely to be unsuccessful or dangerous.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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mug [2]

verb (mugged, mugging) (mug up) Brit. informal
learn or study (a subject) quickly and intensively, especially for an exam.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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mugger

noun
a person who attacks and robs another in a public place.

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muggins

noun (pl. same or mugginses) Brit. informal
a foolish and gullible person.

ORIGIN: perhaps a use of the surname Muggins, with allusion to MUG.

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muggy

adjective (muggier, muggiest)
(of the weather) unpleasantly warm and humid.

ORIGIN: from dialect mug 'mist, drizzle' .

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mugshot

noun informal
a photograph of a person's face made for an official purpose, especially police records.

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mulatto

noun (pl. mulattoes or mulattos)
a person with one white and one black parent.

adjective
relating to such a person.

ORIGIN: Spanish mulato 'young mule, mulatto' .

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mulberry

noun
1. a dark red or white fruit resembling the loganberry.
2. a dark red or purple colour.

ORIGIN: Latin morum 'mulberry' .

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mulch

noun
a mass of leaves, bark, or compost spread around or over a plant for protection or to enrich the soil.

verb
cover with or apply mulch.

ORIGIN: probably from dialect mulch «soft».

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mule [1]

noun
1. the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse, typically sterile.
2. a hybrid plant or animal, especially a sterile one.
3. a stupid or obstinate person.
4. informal a courier for illegal drugs.
5. historical a kind of spinning machine producing yarn on spindles.

ORIGIN: Latin mulus, mula.

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mule [2]

noun
a slipper or light shoe without a back.

ORIGIN: French, 'slipper' .

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muleteer

noun
a person who drives mules.

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mulish

adjective
stubborn (like a mule).

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mull [1]

verb (mull over)
think about at length.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain.

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mull [2]

verb
warm (wine or beer) and add sugar and spices to it.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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mull [3]

noun
(in Scottish place names) a promontory.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Scottish Gaelic or Icelandic.

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mullah

noun
a Muslim learned in Islamic theology and sacred law.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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mullet

noun
any of various chiefly marine fish that are widely caught for food.

ORIGIN: Greek mullos.

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mulligatawny

noun
a spicy meat soup originally made in India.

ORIGIN: Tamil, 'pepper water' .

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mullion

noun
a vertical bar between the panes of glass in a window.

DERIVATIVES:
mullioned adjective.

ORIGIN: probably an altered form of obsolete monial, from Old French moinel 'middle' .

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multi-

combining form
more than one; many (multicultural).

ORIGIN: from Latin multus 'much, many' .

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multicoloured (also multicolour; US -colored, -color)

adjective
having many colours.

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multicultural

adjective
relating to or constituting several cultural or ethnic groups.

DERIVATIVES:
multiculturalism noun
multiculturalist noun & adjective.

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multifaceted

adjective
having many facets or aspects.

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multifarious

adjective
having great variety and diversity; many and varied.

ORIGIN: Latin multifarius.

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multilateral

adjective
involving three or more participants.

DERIVATIVES:
multilateralism noun
multilaterally adverb.

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multilingual

adjective
in or using several languages.

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multimedia

adjective
using more than one medium of expression or communication.

noun Computing
an extension of hypertext allowing the provision of audio and video material.

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multimillion

adjective
consisting of several million.

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multimillionaire

noun
a person with assets worth several million pounds or dollars.

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multinational

adjective
1. including or involving several countries or nationalities.
2. operating in several countries.

noun
a company operating in several countries.

DERIVATIVES:
multinationally adverb.

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multiparty

adjective
of or involving several political parties.

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multiple

adjective
1. having or involving several parts or elements.
2. numerous and varied.
3. (of a disease or injury) complex in its nature or effect; affecting several parts of the body.

noun
1. a number that may be divided by another a certain number of times without a remainder.
2. chiefly Brit. a shop with several branches.

ORIGIN: Latin multiplus.

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multiple-choice

adjective
(of a question in an examination) accompanied by several possible answers, from which the candidate must choose the correct one.

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multiplex

adjective
1. consisting of many elements in a complex relationship.
2. (of a cinema) having several separate screens within one building.
3. involving simultaneous transmission of several messages along a single channel of communication.

noun
1. a multiplex system or signal.
2. a multiplex cinema.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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multiplicand

noun
a quantity which is to be multiplied by another (the multiplier).

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multiplication

noun
1. the process of multiplying.
2. Mathematics the process of combining matrices, vectors, or other quantities under specific rules to obtain their product.

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multiplication sign

noun
the sign x, used to indicate that one quantity is to be multiplied by another.

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multiplication table

noun
a list of multiples of a particular number, typically from 1 to 12.

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multiplicity

noun (pl. multiplicities)
a large number or variety.

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multiplier

noun
1. a quantity by which a given number (the multiplicand) is to be multiplied.
2. a device for increasing the intensity of an electric current, force, etc. to a measurable level.

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multiply [1]

verb (multiplies, multiplied)
1. obtain from (a number) another which contains the first number a specified number of times.
2. increase in number or quantity.
3. increase in number by reproducing.

ORIGIN: Latin multiplicare.

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multiply [2]

adverb
in different ways or respects.

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multi-purpose

adjective
having several purposes.

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multiracial

adjective
consisting of or relating to people of many races.

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multi-storey

adjective
(of a building) having several storeys.

noun Brit. informal
a multi-storey car park.

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multitasking

noun Computing
the execution of more than one program or task simultaneously.

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multi-track

adjective
relating to or made by the mixing of several separately recorded tracks of sound.

verb
record using multi-track recording.

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multitude

noun
1. a large number of people or things.
2. (the multitude) the mass of ordinary people.

ORIGIN: Latin multitudo, from multus 'many' .

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mum [1]

noun Brit. informal
one's mother.

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mum [2]

adjective (keep mum) informal
remain silent so as not to reveal a secret.

IDIOMS -
mum's the word do not reveal a secret.

ORIGIN: imitative of a sound made with closed lips.

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mumble

verb
1. say something indistinctly and quietly.
2. bite or chew with toothless gums.

noun
a quiet and indistinct utterance.

ORIGIN: from MUM.

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mumbo-jumbo

noun informal
language or ritual causing or intended to cause confusion or bewilderment.

ORIGIN: from Mumbo Jumbo, the supposed name of an African idol.

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mummify

verb (mummifies, mummified)
1. (especially in ancient Egypt) preserve (a body) as a mummy.
2. dry up (a body) and so preserve it.

DERIVATIVES:
mummification noun.

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mummy [1]

noun (pl. mummies) Brit. informal
one's mother.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of earlier MAMMY.

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mummy [2]

noun (pl. mummies)
(especially in ancient Egypt) a body that has been preserved for burial by embalming and wrapping in bandages.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'embalmed body' , perhaps from a Persian word meaning 'wax' .

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mumps

plural noun (treated as sing. )
an infectious disease spread by a virus, causing swelling of the salivary glands at the sides of the face.

ORIGIN: from obsolete mump 'grimace' .

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munch

verb
eat steadily and audibly.

ORIGIN: imitative of the sound of eating.

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munchies

plural noun informal
1. snacks or small items of food.
2. (the munchies) a sudden strong desire for food.

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mundane

adjective
1. lacking interest or excitement.
2. of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one.

DERIVATIVES:
mundanely adverb
mundaneness noun
mundanity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin mundus 'world' .

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municipal

adjective
relating to a municipality.

DERIVATIVES:
municipally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin municipalis, from municipium 'free city' + capere 'take' .

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municipality

noun (pl. municipalities)
a town or district that has local government.

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munificent

adjective
very generous.

DERIVATIVES:
munificence noun
munificently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin munificus, from munus 'gift' .

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munitions

plural noun
military weapons, ammunition, equipment, and stores.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'fortification' , from munire 'fortify' .

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mural

noun
a painting executed directly on a wall.

adjective
on, like, or relating to a wall.

ORIGIN: from Latin murus 'wall' .

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murder

noun
1. the unlawful premeditated killing of one person by another.
2. informal a very difficult or unpleasant situation or experience.

verb
1. kill unlawfully and with premeditation.
2. informal spoil by poor performance.
3. informal, chiefly Brit. consume (food or drink) with relish.

IDIOMS -
get away with murder informal succeed in doing whatever one chooses without being punished.
murder will out murder cannot remain undetected.
scream blue murder informal protest noisily.

DERIVATIVES:
murderer noun
murderess noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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murderous

adjective
1. capable of, intending, or involving murder or extreme violence.
2. informal extremely arduous or unpleasant.

DERIVATIVES:
murderously adverb
murderousness noun.

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murk

noun
darkness or fog causing poor visibility.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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murky

adjective (murkier, murkiest)
1. dark and gloomy.
2. (of water) dirty or cloudy.
3. deliberately obscure so as to conceal dishonesty or immorality.

DERIVATIVES:
murkily adverb
murkiness noun.

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murmur

noun
1. a quietly spoken utterance.
2. a low continuous background noise.
3. a subdued complaint.
4. Medicine a recurring sound heard in the heart through a stethoscope and usually indicating disease or damage.

verb
1. say something in a murmur.
2. make a low continuous sound.
3. complain in a subdued way.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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Murphy's Law

noun
a supposed law of nature, to the effect that anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

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muscle

noun
1. a band of fibrous tissue in the body that has the ability to contract, producing movement in or maintaining the position of a part of the body.
2. power or strength.

verb (muscle in/into) informal
interfere forcibly in (another's affairs).

DERIVATIVES:
muscly adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin musculus, diminutive of mus 'mouse' (some muscles being thought to be mouse-like in form).

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muscle-bound

adjective
having over-developed muscles.

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muscovado

noun
unrefined sugar made from sugar cane.

ORIGIN: from Portuguese mascabado açúcar 'sugar of the lowest quality' .

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Muscovite

noun
1. a native or citizen of Moscow.
2. (muscovite) a silver-grey form of mica.

adjective
relating to Moscow.

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muscular

adjective
1. of or affecting the muscles.
2. having well-developed muscles.

DERIVATIVES:
muscularity noun
muscularly adverb.

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muscular dystrophy

noun
a hereditary condition marked by progressive weakening and wasting of the muscles.

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musculature

noun
the muscular system or arrangement of a body or an organ.

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muse [1]

noun
1. (Muse) (in Greek and Roman mythology) each of nine goddesses who preside over the arts and sciences.
2. a woman who is the inspiration for a creative artist.

ORIGIN: Greek mousa.

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muse [2]

verb
1. be absorbed in thought.
2. say to oneself in a thoughtful manner.

ORIGIN: Old French muser 'meditate, waste time' .

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museum

noun
a building in which objects of interest or significance are stored and exhibited.

ORIGIN: Greek mouseion 'seat of the Muses' .

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museum piece

noun Brit.
an old-fashioned or useless person or object.

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mush

noun
1. a soft, wet, pulpy mass.
2. cloying sentimentality.

verb
reduce to mush.

ORIGIN: apparently a variant of MASH.

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mushroom

noun
1. a spore-producing body of a fungus, typically having the form of a domed cap at the top of a stalk and often edible.
2. a pale pinkish-brown colour.

verb
increase or develop rapidly.

ORIGIN: Old French mousseron.

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mushroom cloud

noun
a mushroom-shaped cloud of dust and debris formed after a nuclear explosion.

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mushy

adjective (mushier, mushiest)
1. in the form of mush.
2. cloyingly sentimental.

DERIVATIVES:
mushiness noun.

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music

noun
1. the art of combining vocal or instrumental sounds in a pleasing way.
2. the sound so produced.
3. the written or printed signs representing such sound.

IDIOMS -
music to one's ears something very pleasant to hear or learn.

ORIGIN: Old French musique, from Greek mousik tekhn 'art of the Muses' .

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musical

adjective
1. relating to or accompanied by music.
2. fond of or skilled in music.
3. pleasant-sounding.

noun
a play or film in which singing and dancing play an essential part.

DERIVATIVES:
musicality noun
musically adverb.

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musical box

noun Brit.
a small box which plays a tune when the lid is opened.

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musical chairs

plural noun
1. a party game in which players compete for a decreasing number of chairs when the accompanying music is stopped.
2. a situation in which people frequently exchange jobs or positions.

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musical comedy

noun
a musical.

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music centre

noun Brit.
a combined radio, cassette player, and record or compact disc player.

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music hall

noun
1. a form of variety entertainment popular in Britain c.1850 1918.
2. a theatre where such entertainment took place.

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musician

noun
a person who plays a musical instrument or is otherwise musically gifted.

DERIVATIVES:
musicianly adjective
musicianship noun.

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musicology

noun
the study of music as an academic subject.

DERIVATIVES:
musicological adjective
musicologist noun.

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musk

noun
1. a strong-smelling substance secreted by the male musk deer, used as an ingredient in perfumery.
2. (also musk plant) a musk-scented plant related to the monkey flower.

DERIVATIVES:
muskiness noun
musky adjective (muskier, muskiest) .

ORIGIN: Persian, perhaps from a Sanskrit word meaning 'scrotum' (because of the similarity in shape of a musk deer's musk bag).

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musk deer

noun
a small East Asian deer, the male of which produces musk in an abdominal sac.

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musket

noun historical
a light gun with a long barrel, typically smooth-bored and fired from the shoulder.

ORIGIN: French mousquet, from Italian moschetto 'crossbow bolt' .

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musketeer

noun historical
1. a soldier armed with a musket.
2. a member of the household troops of the French king in the 17th and 18th centuries.

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musk ox

noun
a large heavily built goat-antelope with a thick shaggy coat, native to the tundra of North America and Greenland.

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muskrat

noun
a large semiaquatic North American rodent with a musky smell, valued for its fur.

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Muslim (also Moslem)

noun
a follower of Islam.

adjective
relating to Muslims or Islam.

ORIGIN: Arabic, related to ISLAM.

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muslin

noun
lightweight cotton cloth in a plain weave.

ORIGIN: Italian mussolina, from Mussolo 'Mosul' (the place in Iraq where it was formerly made).

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musquash

noun
1. Brit. the fur of the muskrat.
2. archaic a muskrat.

ORIGIN: from Abnaki (an American Indian language of Maine and Quebec).

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muss informal, chiefly N. Amer.

verb
make untidy or messy.

noun
a mess or muddle.

ORIGIN: apparently a variant of MESS.

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mussel

noun
1. a marine mollusc with a dark brown or purplish-black shell.
2. a freshwater mollusc, some kinds of which produce small pearls.

ORIGIN: Latin musculus 'muscle' .

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must [1]

modal verb (past had to or in reported speech must)
1. be obliged to; should.
2. expressing insistence.
3. expressing an opinion about something that is very likely.

noun informal
something that should not be overlooked or missed.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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must [2]

noun
grape juice before or during fermentation.

ORIGIN: from Latin mustus 'new' .

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must [3]

noun
mustiness or mould.

ORIGIN: back-formation from MUSTY.

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mustache (esp. Brit. moustache)

noun
a strip of hair left to grow above a man's upper lip.

DERIVATIVES:
mustached adjective.

ORIGIN: French, from Greek mustax.

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mustachios

plural noun
a long or elaborate moustache.

ORIGIN: Italian mostaccio.

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mustang

noun
a small lightly built feral horse of the south-western US.

ORIGIN: from a blend of Spanish mestengo and mostrenco, both meaning 'wild or masterless cattle' .

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mustard

noun
1. a hot-tasting yellow or brown paste made from the crushed seeds of a plant, eaten with meat or used in cooking.
2. a brownish yellow colour.

ORIGIN: Old French moustarde, from Latin mustum 'must' (because mustard was originally prepared with grape must).

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mustard gas

noun
a liquid whose vapour causes severe irritation and blistering, used in chemical weapons.

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muster

verb
1. bring (troops) together, especially for inspection or in preparation for battle.
2. (of people) gather together.
3. summon up (a feeling or attitude).
4. Austral./NZ round up (livestock).

noun
1. an instance of mustering troops.
2. Austral./NZ a rounding up of livestock.

IDIOMS -
pass muster be accepted as satisfactory.

ORIGIN: Old French moustrer, from Latin monstrare 'to show' .

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mustn't

contraction
must not.

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musty

adjective (mustier, mustiest)
1. having a stale or mouldy smell or taste.
2. unoriginal or outdated.

DERIVATIVES:
mustiness noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of moisty 'moist' .

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mutable

adjective
liable to change.

DERIVATIVES:
mutability noun.

ORIGIN: Latin mutabilis, from mutare 'to change' .

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mutant

adjective
resulting from or showing the effect of mutation.

noun
a mutant form.

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mutate

verb
undergo mutation.

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mutation

noun
1. the process or an instance of changing.
2. a change in genetic structure which results in a variant form and may be transmitted to subsequent generations.
3. a distinct form resulting from such a change.

DERIVATIVES:
mutational adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from mutare 'to change' .

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mute

adjective
1. refraining from speech or temporarily speechless.
2. dated lacking the power of speech.
3. (of a letter) not pronounced.

noun
1. dated a person without the power of speech.
2. historical a professional attendant or mourner at a funeral.
3. a clamp placed over the bridge of a stringed instrument to deaden the resonance of the strings.
4. a pad or cone placed in the opening of a wind instrument.

verb
1. deaden or muffle the sound of.
2. reduce the strength or intensity of.
3. (muted) (of colour or lighting) not bright; subdued.

DERIVATIVES:
mutely adverb
muteness noun.
USAGE - To describe a person without the power of speech as mute (especially as in deaf mute) is today likely to cause offence. Since there are no accepted alternative terms in general use, the solution may be to use a longer construction, such as she is both deaf and unable to speak .
ORIGIN: Latin mutus.

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mute swan

noun
the commonest Eurasian swan, having an orange-red bill with a black knob at the base.

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mutilate

verb
1. inflict a violent and disfiguring injury on (someone).
2. inflict serious damage on (something).

DERIVATIVES:
mutilation noun
mutilator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin mutilare 'maim' .

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mutineer

noun
a person who mutinies.

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mutinous

adjective
tending to mutiny; rebellious.

DERIVATIVES:
mutinously adverb.

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mutiny

noun (pl. mutinies)
an open rebellion against authority, especially by soldiers or sailors against their officers.

verb (mutinies, mutinied)
engage in mutiny; rebel.

ORIGIN: from French mutin 'mutineer, rebellious' .

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mutt

noun informal
1. humorous or derogatory a dog, especially a mongrel.
2. a stupid or incompetent person.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of MUTTONHEAD.

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mutter

verb
1. say in a barely audible voice.
2. talk or grumble in secret or in private.

noun
a barely audible utterance.

ORIGIN: imitative of the sound of muttering.

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mutton

noun
the flesh of mature sheep used as food.

IDIOMS -
mutton dressed as lamb Brit. informal, derogatory a middle-aged or old woman dressed in a style suitable for a much younger woman.

ORIGIN: Old French moton, from Latin multo, probably of Celtic origin.

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mutual

adjective
1. experienced or done by each of two or more parties towards the other or others.
2. (of two or more parties) having the same specified relationship to each other.
3. held in common by two or more parties.
4. (of a building society or insurance company) owned by its members and dividing its profits between them.

DERIVATIVES:
mutuality noun
mutually adverb.
USAGE - Traditionally it has been held that the only correct use of mutual is in describing a reciprocal relationship, as in mutual respect (sense 1). The use of mutual to mean ‘held in common’ (sense 3), has been thought incorrect, although it has a long and respectable history (e.g. in the title of Dickens's novel Our Mutual Friend) and is now generally accepted as standard English.
ORIGIN: Old French mutuel, from Latin mutuus 'mutual, borrowed' .

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muzak

noun trademark
recorded light background music played in public places.

ORIGIN: alteration of MUSIC.

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muzzle

noun
1. the projecting part of an animal's face, including the nose and mouth.
2. a guard fitted over an animal's muzzle to stop it biting or feeding.
3. the open end of the barrel of a firearm.

verb
1. put a muzzle on (an animal).
2. prevent (someone) expressing their opinions freely.

ORIGIN: Latin musum.

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muzzy

adjective (muzzier, muzziest)
1. dazed or confused.
2. blurred or indistinct.

DERIVATIVES:
muzzily adverb
muzziness noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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MW

abbreviation
1. medium wave.
2. megawatt(s).

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MY

abbreviation
motor yacht.

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my

possessive determiner
1. belonging to or associated with the speaker.
2. used in various expressions of surprise.

IDIOMS -
My Lady (or Lord) a polite form of address to certain titled people.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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myalgia

noun
pain in a muscle or group of muscles.

DERIVATIVES:
myalgic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek mus 'muscle' + algos 'pain' .

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mycelium

noun (pl. mycelia) Botany
a network of fine white filaments (hyphae) constituting the vegetative part of a fungus.

ORIGIN: from Greek muks 'fungus' .

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mycology

noun
the scientific study of fungi.

DERIVATIVES:
mycological adjective
mycologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek muks 'fungus' .

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mycoprotein

noun
protein derived from fungi, especially as produced for human consumption.

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mynah (also mynah bird)

noun
a southern Asian or Australasian starling with a loud call, some kinds of which can mimic human speech.

ORIGIN: Hindi.

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myopia

noun
1. short-sightedness.
2. lack of foresight or intellectual insight.

DERIVATIVES:
myopic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek muein 'shut' + ps 'eye' .

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myriad literary

noun
1. (also myriads) an indefinitely great number.
2. (in classical times) a unit of ten thousand.

adjective
innumerable.

ORIGIN: Greek murias, from murioi '10,000' .

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myriapod

noun Zoology
a centipede, millipede, or other arthropod having an elongated body with numerous leg-bearing segments.

ORIGIN: from Greek murioi '10,000' + pous 'foot' .

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myrrh

noun
a fragrant gum resin obtained from certain trees and used in perfumery, medicines, and incense.

ORIGIN: Greek murra, of Semitic origin.

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myrtle

noun
an evergreen shrub with glossy aromatic foliage and white flowers followed by purple-black oval berries.

ORIGIN: Greek murtos.

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myself

pronoun (first person sing. )
1. (reflexive ) used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself as the object of a verb or preposition when he or she is the subject of the clause.
2. (emphatic ) I or me personally.
3. literary term for I.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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mysterious

adjective
1. difficult or impossible to understand, explain, or identify.
2. deliberately enigmatic.

DERIVATIVES:
mysteriously adverb
mysteriousness noun.

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mystery

noun (pl. mysteries)
1. something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain.
2. secrecy or obscurity.
3. a novel, play, or film dealing with a puzzling crime.
4. (mysteries) the secret rites of an ancient or tribal religion.
5. chiefly Christian Theology a religious belief based on divine revelation.
6. an incident in the life of Jesus or of a saint as a focus of devotion in the Roman Catholic Church.

ORIGIN: Greek mustrion, related to MYSTIC.

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mystery play

noun
a popular medieval play based on biblical stories or the lives of the saints.

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mystery tour

noun Brit.
a pleasure excursion to an unspecified destination.

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mystic

noun
a person who seeks by contemplation and self-surrender to attain unity with the Deity and reach truths beyond human understanding.

adjective
mystical.

ORIGIN: Greek musts 'initiated person' , from muein 'close the eyes or lips' or 'initiate' .

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mystical

adjective
1. relating to mystics or mysticism.
2. having a spiritual significance that transcends human understanding.
3. inspiring a sense of spiritual mystery, awe, and fascination.

DERIVATIVES:
mystically adverb.

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mysticism

noun
1. the beliefs or state of mind characteristic of mystics.
2. vague or ill-defined religious or spiritual belief.

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mystify

verb (mystifies, mystified)
1. utterly bewilder.
2. make obscure or mysterious.

DERIVATIVES:
mystification noun
mystifying adjective.

ORIGIN: French mystifier, from mystique 'mystic' or from mystère 'mystery' .

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mystique

noun
1. a fascinating aura of mystery, awe, and power.
2. an air of secrecy surrounding an activity or subject, making it impressive or baffling to the layperson.

ORIGIN: French.

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myth

noun
1. a traditional story concerning the early history of a people or explaining a natural or social phenomenon, typically involving the supernatural.
2. a widely held but false belief.
3. a fictitious person or thing.

ORIGIN: Greek muthos.

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mythical

adjective
1. occurring in or characteristic of myths or folk tales.
2. fictitious.

DERIVATIVES:
mythic adjective
mythically adverb.

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mythological

adjective
1. relating to or found in mythology; mythical.
2. fictitious.

DERIVATIVES:
mythologically adverb.

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mythology

noun (pl. mythologies)
1. a collection of myths.
2. a set of widely held but exaggerated or fictitious stories or beliefs.
3. the study of myths.

DERIVATIVES:
mythologist noun.

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myxomatosis

noun
a highly infectious and usually fatal disease of rabbits, spread by a virus and causing inflammation and discharge around the eyes.

ORIGIN: from Greek muxa 'slime, mucus' .

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N

N [1] (also n)

noun (pl. Ns or N's)
the fourteenth letter of the alphabet.

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N [2]

abbreviation
1. (used in recording moves in chess) knight. [ORIGIN: representing the pronunciation of kn-.]
2. (chiefly in place names) New.
3. Physics newton(s).
4. North or Northern.

symbol
the chemical element nitrogen.

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n

abbreviation
1. nano- (10-9).
2. Grammar neuter.
3. Grammar noun.

symbol
an unspecified or variable number.

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'n (also 'n')

contraction informal
and (e.g. rock 'n roll).

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Na

symbol
the chemical element sodium.

ORIGIN: from Latin natrium.

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n/a

abbreviation
1. not applicable.
2. not available.

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nab

verb (nabbed, nabbing) informal
1. catch (a wrong-doer).
2. take or grab suddenly.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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nacho

noun (pl. nachos)
a small piece of tortilla topped with melted cheese, peppers, etc.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Mexican Spanish Nacho, familiar form of Ignacio, first name of the chef credited with creating the dish, or from Spanish nacho 'flat-nosed' .

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nacre

noun
mother-of-pearl.

DERIVATIVES:
nacreous adjective.

ORIGIN: French.

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nadir

noun
1. Astronomy the point on the celestial sphere directly opposite the zenith and below an observer.
2. the lowest or most unsuccessful point.

ORIGIN: from Arabic, 'opposite to the zenith.' .

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naevus (US nevus)

noun (pl. naevi)
a birthmark or a mole on the skin.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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naff Brit. informal

verb
1. (naff off) go away.
2. (naffing) used to emphasize annoyance.

adjective
lacking taste or style.

DERIVATIVES:
naffness noun.

ORIGIN: the verb is a euphemism for FUCK; the origin of the adjective is unknown.

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NAFTA (also Nafta)

abbreviation
North American Free Trade Agreement.

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nag [1]

verb (nagged, nagging)
1. harass (someone) constantly to do something to which they are averse.
2. be persistently worrying or painful to.

noun
a persistent feeling of anxiety.

ORIGIN: originally dialect in the sense «gnaw»: perhaps Scandinavian or Low German.

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nag [2]

noun informal, often derogatory
a horse, especially an old or decrepit one.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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naiad

noun (pl. naiads or naiades)
(in classical mythology) a water nymph.

ORIGIN: Greek Naias, from naein 'to flow' .

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naif

adjective
naive.

noun
a naive person.

ORIGIN: French.

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nail

noun
1. a small metal spike with a broadened flat head, hammered in to join things together or to serve as a hook.
2. a horny covering on the upper surface of the tip of the finger and toe in humans and other primates.

verb
1. fasten with a nail or nails.
2. informal detect or catch (someone, especially a suspected criminal).
3. (nail down) extract a firm commitment from.
4. (nail down) identify precisely.

IDIOMS -
a nail in the coffin an action or event likely to have a detrimental or destructive effect.
on the nail (of payment) without delay.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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nail-biting

adjective
causing great anxiety or tension.

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nail file

noun
a small file or emery board for smoothing and shaping the fingernails and toenails.

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nail polish (also nail varnish)

noun
a glossy coloured substance applied to the fingernails or toenails.

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naive (also naïve)

adjective
1. lacking experience, wisdom, or judgement.
2. (of art or an artist) produced in or adopting a simple, childlike style which deliberately rejects sophisticated techniques.

DERIVATIVES:
naively adverb.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin nativus 'native, natural' .

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naivety (also naiveté)

noun
1. lack of experience, wisdom, or judgement.
2. innocence or unsophistication.

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naked

adjective
1. without clothes.
2. (of an object) without the usual covering or protection.
3. not concealed; undisguised: naked aggression.
4. exposed to harm; vulnerable.

IDIOMS -
the naked eye vision unassisted by a telescope, microscope, or other optical instrument.
naked of devoid of.

DERIVATIVES:
nakedly adverb
nakedness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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namby-pamby

adjective
lacking courage or vigour; feeble.

noun (pl. namby-pambies)
a namby-pamby person.

ORIGIN: fanciful formation from the name of Ambrose Philips (1674 1749), an English pastoral poet ridiculed for his insipid verse.

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name

noun
1. a word or words by which someone or something is known, addressed, or referred to.
2. a famous person.
3. a reputation, especially a good one: he made a name for himself in the theatre.
4. (in the UK) an insurance underwriter belonging to a Lloyd's syndicate.

verb
1. give a name to.
2. identify or mention by name.
3. specify (a sum, time, or place).
4. appoint or nominate: she was named Prime Minister.

IDIOMS -
call names insult (someone) verbally.
have to one's name in one's possession.
in all but name existing in practice but not formally recognized as such.
in someone's name
1. formally registered as belonging to or reserved for someone.
2. on behalf of someone.
in the name of for the sake of.
name the day arrange the date for a specific occasion, especially a wedding.
name names mention specific names, especially in accusation.
the name of the game informal the main purpose or most important aspect of a situation.

DERIVATIVES:
nameable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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namecheck

verb
publicly mention the name of, especially in acknowledgement or for publicity purposes.

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name-dropping

noun
the casual mention of famous people as if one knows them, so as to impress.

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nameless

adjective
1. having no name.
2. not identified by name; anonymous.
3. too horrific or unpleasant to be described.

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namely

adverb
that is to say.

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namesake

noun
a person or thing with the same name as another.

ORIGIN: from the phrase for the name's sake.

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nan [1]

noun Brit. informal
one's grandmother.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of NANNY, or a child's pronunciation of GRAN.

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nan [2] (also naan)

noun
a type of leavened Indian bread of a flattened teardrop shape.

ORIGIN: Urdu and Persian.

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nanny

noun (pl. nannies)
1. a woman employed to look after a child in its own home.
2. (before another noun ) interfering and overprotective: the nanny state.
3. (also nanny goat) a female goat.

verb (nannies, nannied)
be overprotective towards.

ORIGIN: familiar form of the name Ann.

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nano-

combining form
1. denoting a factor of one thousand millionth (10-9): nanosecond.
2. extremely small; submicroscopic: nanomachine.

ORIGIN: from Greek nanos 'dwarf' .

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nanosecond

noun
one thousand millionth of a second.

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nanotechnology

noun
technology on an atomic or molecular scale, concerned with dimensions of less than 100 nanometres.

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nap [1]

noun
a short sleep, especially during the day.

verb (napped, napping)
have a nap.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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nap [2]

noun
short raised fibres on the surface of certain fabrics, especially velvet.

ORIGIN: Dutch or Low German noppe.

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napalm

noun
a highly flammable jelly-like form of petrol, used in incendiary bombs and flame-throwers.

ORIGIN: from naphthenic and palmitic acids (compounds used in its manufacture).

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nape

noun
the back of a person's neck.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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naphtha

noun
a flammable oil distilled from coal, shale, or petroleum.

ORIGIN: Greek.

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napkin

noun
1. a square piece of cloth or paper used at a meal to wipe the fingers or lips and to protect garments.
2. Brit. dated a baby's nappy.

ORIGIN: from Old French nappe 'tablecloth' + -KIN.

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nappy

noun (pl. nappies) Brit.
a piece of absorbent material wrapped round a baby's bottom and between its legs to absorb and retain urine and faeces.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of NAPKIN.

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narcissism

noun
excessive or erotic interest in oneself and one's physical appearance.

DERIVATIVES:
narcissist noun
narcissistic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Narcissus, a beautiful youth in Greek mythology who fell in love with his reflection in a pool.

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narcissus

noun (pl. narcissi or narcissuses)
a daffodil with a flower that has white or pale outer petals and a shallow orange or yellow centre.

ORIGIN: Greek narkissos, perhaps from nark 'numbness' , with reference to its narcotic effects.

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narcotic

noun
1. an addictive drug, especially an illegal one, affecting mood or behaviour.
2. Medicine a drug which induces drowsiness, stupor, or insensibility and relieves pain.

adjective
relating to narcotics.

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nark informal

noun
1. chiefly Brit. a police informer.
2. Austral./NZ an annoying person or thing.

verb chiefly Brit.
annoy.

ORIGIN: Romany nk 'nose' .

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narrate

verb
1. give an account of.
2. provide a commentary for (a film, television programme, etc.).

DERIVATIVES:
narration noun
narrator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin narrare.

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narrative

noun
1. an account of connected events; a story.
2. the narrated part of a literary work, as distinct from dialogue.

adjective
in the form of a narrative or concerned with narration.

DERIVATIVES:
narratively adverb.

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narrow

adjective (narrower, narrowest)
1. of small width in comparison to length.
2. limited in extent, amount, or scope.
3. barely achieved: a narrow escape.

verb
1. become or make narrower.
2. (narrow down) reduce (the number of possibilities or options).

noun (narrows)
a narrow channel connecting two larger areas of water.

DERIVATIVES:
narrowly adverb
narrowness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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narrowboat

noun Brit.
a canal boat less than 7 ft (2.1 metres) wide and steered with a tiller rather than a wheel.

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narrow-minded

adjective
unwilling to listen to or tolerate the views of others; prejudiced.

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narwhal

noun
a small Arctic whale, the male of which has a long spirally twisted tusk.

ORIGIN: Danish narhval, perhaps from an Old Norse word meaning 'corpse' , with reference to the whale's skin colour.

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NASA

abbreviation
(in the US) National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

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nasal

adjective
1. relating to the nose.
2. (of a speech sound) pronounced by the breath resonating in the nose, e.g. m, n, ng, or French en, un.
3. (of speech) characterized by resonance in the nose as well as the mouth.

DERIVATIVES:
nasally adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin nasus 'nose' .

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nascent

adjective
just coming into existence and beginning to develop.

ORIGIN: from Latin nasci 'be born' .

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nasturtium

noun
a trailing garden plant with round leaves and bright orange, yellow, or red flowers.

ORIGIN: Latin, apparently from naris 'nose' + torquere 'to twist' (referring to its pungent scent).

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nasty

adjective (nastier, nastiest)
1. unpleasant, disgusting, or repugnant.
2. spiteful, violent, or bad-tempered.
3. likely to cause or having caused harm; dangerous or serious: a nasty bang on the head.

noun (pl. nasties) informal
a nasty person or thing.

DERIVATIVES:
nastily adverb
nastiness noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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natal

adjective
relating to the place or time of one's birth.

ORIGIN: Latin natalis, from nasci 'be born' .

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nation

noun
a large body of people united by common descent, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular state or territory.

ORIGIN: Latin, from nasci 'be born' .

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national

adjective
1. relating to or characteristic of a nation.
2. owned, controlled, or financially supported by the state.

noun
a citizen of a particular country.

DERIVATIVES:
nationally adverb.

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national curriculum

noun
a curriculum of study laid down to be taught in state schools.

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national debt

noun
the total amount of money which a country's government has borrowed.

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national grid

noun Brit.
1. the network of high-voltage power lines between major power stations.
2. the metric system of geographical coordinates used in maps of the British Isles.

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National Insurance

noun
(in the UK) a system of compulsory payments by employees and employers to provide state assistance for people who are sick, unemployed, or retired.

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nationalism

noun
1. patriotic feeling, often to an excessive degree.
2. advocacy of political independence for a particular country.

DERIVATIVES:
nationalist noun & adjective
nationalistic adjective.

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nationality

noun (pl. nationalities)
1. the status of belonging to a particular nation.
2. an ethnic group forming a part of one or more political nations.

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nationalize (also nationalise)

verb
transfer (an industry or business) from private to state ownership or control.

DERIVATIVES:
nationalization noun.

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national park

noun
an area of environmental importance or natural beauty protected by the state and accessible to the public.

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national service

noun
a period of compulsory service in the armed forces during peacetime.

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nationwide

adjective & adverb
throughout the whole nation.

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native

noun
1. a person born in a specified place.
2. a local inhabitant.
3. an indigenous animal or plant.
4. dated, offensive a non-white original inhabitant of a country as regarded by European colonists or travellers.

adjective
1. associated with a person's place of birth.
2. (of a plant or animal) of indigenous origin or growth.
3. of the indigenous inhabitants of a place.
4. in a person's character; innate: native wit.
USAGE - In contexts such as a native of Boston the use of the noun native is quite acceptable. But when used as a noun without qualification, as in this dance is a favourite with the natives , it has an old-fashioned feel and, because of its associations with a colonial European attitude to non-white people in remote places, it may cause offence.
ORIGIN: Latin nativus, from nasci 'be born' .

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Native American

noun
a member of any of the indigenous peoples of North and South America and the Caribbean Islands.

adjective
relating to these peoples.
USAGE - In the US, Native American is now the current accepted term in many contexts. See also AMERICAN INDIAN.

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native speaker

noun
a person who has spoken the language in question from earliest childhood.

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nativity

noun (pl. nativities)
1. a person's birth.
2. (the Nativity) the birth of Jesus Christ.

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NATO (also Nato)

abbreviation
North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

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natter informal

verb
chat casually and at length.

noun
a lengthy chat.

ORIGIN: originally dialect, in the sense «grumble, fret»: imitative.

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natterjack toad

noun
a small toad with a bright yellow stripe down its back.

ORIGIN: perhaps from NATTER (because of its loud croak) + JACK.

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natty

adjective (nattier, nattiest) informal
smart and fashionable.

DERIVATIVES:
nattily adverb
nattiness noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to NEAT.

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natural

adjective
1. existing in or derived from nature; not made, caused by, or processed by humankind.
2. in accordance with nature; normal or to be expected: a natural death.
3. born with a particular skill or quality: a natural leader.
4. relaxed and unaffected.
5. (of a parent or child) related by blood.
6. archaic illegitimate.
7. Music (of a note) not sharpened or flattened.

noun
1. a person with an innate gift or talent.
2. an off-white colour.
3. Music a natural note or a sign () denoting one.
4. archaic a person mentally handicapped from birth.

DERIVATIVES:
naturalness noun.

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natural gas

noun
flammable gas, consisting largely of methane, occurring naturally underground and used as fuel.

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natural history

noun
the scientific study of animals or plants, especially as concerned with observation rather than experiment.

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naturalism

noun
an artistic or literary movement or style based on the highly detailed and unidealized depiction of daily life.

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naturalist

noun
1. an expert in or student of natural history.
2. an exponent or practitioner of naturalism.

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naturalistic

adjective
1. derived from or imitating real life or nature.
2. based on the theory of naturalism.

DERIVATIVES:
naturalistically adverb.

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naturalize (also naturalise)

verb
1. admit (a foreigner) to the citizenship of a country.
2. introduce (a non-native plant or animal) into a region and establish it in the wild.
3. alter (an adopted foreign word) so that it conforms more closely to the adopting language.

DERIVATIVES:
naturalization noun.

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natural law

noun
1. a body of unchanging moral principles regarded as inherent in all human beings and forming a basis for human conduct.
2. an observable law relating to natural phenomena.

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naturally

adverb
1. in a natural manner.
2. of course.

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natural selection

noun
the evolutionary process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

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nature

noun
1. the physical world, including plants, animals, the landscape, and natural phenomena, as opposed to humans or human creations.
2. the inherent qualities or characteristics of a person or thing.
3. a kind, sort, or class: topics of a religious nature.
4. hereditary characteristics as an influence on or determinant of personality. Often contrasted with NURTURE.

IDIOMS -
in the nature of things inevitable or inevitably.

DERIVATIVES:
natured adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin natura 'birth, nature, quality' , from nasci 'be born' .

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nature reserve

noun
an area of land managed so as to preserve its flora, fauna, and physical features.

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nature trail

noun
a signposted path through the countryside designed to draw attention to natural features.

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naturism

noun
nudism.

DERIVATIVES:
naturist noun & adjective.

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naught

pronoun archaic
nothing.

noun N. Amer.
nought.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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naughty

adjective (naughtier, naughtiest)
1. (especially of a child) disobedient; badly behaved.
2. informal mildly rude or indecent.

DERIVATIVES:
naughtily adverb
naughtiness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «possessing nothing»: from NAUGHT.

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nausea

noun
1. a feeling of sickness with an inclination to vomit.
2. disgust or revulsion.

ORIGIN: Greek nausia 'seasickness' , from naus 'ship' .

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nauseate

verb
cause to feel sick or disgusted.

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nauseous

adjective
1. affected with nausea.
2. causing nausea.

DERIVATIVES:
nauseously adverb.

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nautical

adjective
of or concerning sailors or navigation; maritime.

DERIVATIVES:
nautically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek nautikos, from nauts 'sailor' .

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nautical mile

noun
a unit used in measuring distances at sea, equal to 1,852 metres (approximately 2,025 yards).

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nautilus

noun (pl. nautiluses or nautili)
a swimming mollusc with a spiral shell and numerous short tentacles around the mouth.

ORIGIN: Greek nautilos 'sailor' .

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naval

adjective
of or relating to a navy or navies.

ORIGIN: Latin navalis, from navis 'ship' .

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nave [1]

noun
the central part of a church apart from the side aisles, chancel, and transepts.

ORIGIN: Latin navis 'ship' .

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nave [2]

noun
the hub of a wheel.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to NAVEL.

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navel

noun
the small hollow in the centre of a person's belly caused by the detachment of the umbilical cord.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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navel-gazing

noun
absorption in oneself or a single issue.

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navel orange

noun
a variety of orange having a navel-like depression at the top containing a small secondary fruit.

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navigable

adjective
of sufficient depth or width to be used by boats and ships.

DERIVATIVES:
navigability noun.

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navigate

verb
1. plan and direct the route or course of a ship, aircraft, or other form of transport.
2. sail or travel over.
3. guide (a vessel or vehicle) over a specified route.

ORIGIN: Latin navigare 'to sail' .

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navigation

noun
1. the process or activity of navigating.
2. the passage of ships.

DERIVATIVES:
navigational adjective.

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navigator

noun
1. a person who navigates a ship, aircraft, etc.
2. historical a person who explores by sea.
3. Computing a browser program for accessing data on the World Wide Web or another information system.

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navvy

noun (pl. navvies) Brit. dated
a labourer employed in the excavation and construction of a road or railway.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of NAVIGATOR in the former sense «builder of a navigation» (a dialect word for a canal).

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navy

noun (pl. navies)
1. the branch of a state's armed services which conducts military operations at sea.
2. (also navy blue) a dark blue colour.

ORIGIN: Old French navie 'ship, fleet' , from Latin navis 'ship' .

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nay

adverb
1. or rather: it will take months, nay years.
2. archaic or dialect no.

noun
a negative answer.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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Nazi

noun (pl. Nazis)
1. historical a member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party.
2. derogatory a person with extreme racist or authoritarian views.

DERIVATIVES:
Nazism noun.

ORIGIN: German, representing the pronunciation of Nati- in Nationalsozialist.

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NB

abbreviation
1. New Brunswick.
2. nota bene.

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Nb

symbol
the chemical element niobium.

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nb

abbreviation Cricket
no-ball.

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NC

abbreviation
1. network computer.
2. North Carolina.

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NCO

abbreviation
non-commissioned officer.

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ND

abbreviation
North Dakota.

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Nd

symbol
the chemical element neodymium.

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NE

abbreviation
1. Nebraska.
2. north-east or north-eastern.

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Ne

symbol
the chemical element neon.

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Neanderthal

noun
1. (also Neanderthal man) an extinct human living in ice age Europe between c.120,000 35,000 years ago.
2. informal an uncivilized or uncouth man.

ORIGIN: from Neanderthal, a region in Germany where remains of Neanderthal man were found.

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neap (also neap tide)

noun
a tide just after the first or third quarters of the moon when there is least difference between high and low water.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Neapolitan

noun
a person from the Italian city of Naples.

adjective
1. relating to Naples.
2. (of ice cream) made in layers of different colours and flavours.

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near

adverb
1. at or to a short distance in space or time.
2. almost.

preposition (also near to)
1. at or to a short distance in space or time from.
2. close to (a state or in terms of resemblance).

adjective
1. at a short distance away in space or time.
2. close to being: a near disaster.
3. closely related.
4. located on the nearside of a vehicle.

verb
approach.

DERIVATIVES:
nearness noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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nearby

adjective & adverb
not far away.

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Near East

noun
the countries of SW Asia between the Mediterranean and India (including the Middle East).

DERIVATIVES:
Near Eastern adjective.

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nearly

adverb
very close to; almost.

IDIOMS -
not nearly nothing like; far from.

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near miss

noun
1. a narrowly avoided collision.
2. a bomb or shot that just misses its target.

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nearside

noun chiefly Brit.
1. the side of a vehicle nearest the kerb.
2. the left side of a horse.

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near-sighted

adjective
short-sighted.

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neat

adjective
1. tidy or carefully arranged.
2. done with or demonstrating skill or efficiency.
3. (of a drink of spirits) not diluted or mixed with anything else.
4. N. Amer. informal excellent.

DERIVATIVES:
neatly adverb
neatness noun.

ORIGIN: French net, from Latin nitidus 'shining' ; related to NET.

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neaten

verb
make neat.

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neath

preposition literary
beneath.

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nebula

noun (pl. nebulae or nebulas) Astronomy
a cloud of gas or dust in outer space, visible in the night sky either as a bright patch or as a dark silhouette against other glowing matter.

DERIVATIVES:
nebular adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'mist' .

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nebulizer (also nebuliser)

noun
a device for producing a fine spray of liquid, used for example for inhaling a medicinal drug.

DERIVATIVES:
nebulize (also nebulise) verb.

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nebulous

adjective
1. in the form of a cloud or haze; hazy.
2. vague or ill-defined: nebulous concepts.
3. Astronomy relating to a nebula or nebulae.

DERIVATIVES:
nebulosity noun.

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necessarily

adverb
as a necessary result; inevitably.

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necessary

adjective
1. required to be done, achieved, or present; needed.
2. that must be; inevitable: a necessary result.

noun
1. (necessaries) the basic requirements of life, such as food and warmth.
2. (the necessary) informal the action, item, or money required.

ORIGIN: Latin necessarius, from necesse 'be needful' .

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necessitate

verb
1. make necessary as a result.
2. force or compel to do something.

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necessitous

adjective
lacking the necessities of life; poor.

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necessity

noun (pl. necessities)
1. the state or fact of being required or indispensable.
2. an indispensable thing.
3. a situation enforcing a particular course: created more by necessity than design.

IDIOMS -
necessity is the mother of invention proverb when the need for something becomes imperative, you are forced to find ways of getting or achieving it.

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neck

noun
1. the part of the body connecting the head to the rest of the body.
2. a narrow connecting or end part, such as the part of a bottle near the mouth.
3. the part of a violin, guitar, or other instrument that bears the fingerboard.
4. the length of a horse's head and neck as a measure of its lead in a race.
5. informal impudence or nerve: he had the neck to charge me full fare.

verb
1. informal kiss and caress amorously.
2. Brit. informal swallow (a drink).

IDIOMS -
get (or catch) it in the neck informal be severely criticized or punished.
neck and neck level in a race or competition.
neck of the woods informal a particular locality.
up to one's neck in informal heavily or busily involved in.

DERIVATIVES:
neckless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «nape of the neck».

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neckerchief

noun
a square of cloth worn round the neck.

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necklace

noun
an ornamental chain or string of beads, jewels, or links worn round the neck.

verb
(in South Africa) kill by placing a tyre soaked with petrol round a victim's neck and setting it alight.

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necklet

noun
a close-fitting, typically rigid ornament worn around the neck.

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neckline

noun
the edge of a woman's garment at or below the neck.

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necktie

noun N. Amer. or dated
a tie worn around the neck.

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necromancy

noun
1. prediction of the future by allegedly communicating with the dead.
2. witchcraft or black magic.

DERIVATIVES:
necromancer noun
necromantic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek nekros 'corpse' .

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necrophilia

noun
sexual intercourse with or attraction towards corpses.

DERIVATIVES:
necrophiliac noun.

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necropolis

noun
a cemetery, especially a large ancient one.

ORIGIN: from Greek nekros 'corpse' + polis 'city' .

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necrosis

noun Medicine
the death of most or all of the cells in an organ or tissue due to disease, injury, or failure of the blood supply.

DERIVATIVES:
necrotic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek nekros 'corpse' .

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nectar

noun
1. a sugary fluid produced by flowers to encourage pollination by insects, made into honey by bees.
2. (in Greek and Roman mythology) the drink of the gods.
3. a delicious drink.

DERIVATIVES:
nectarivorous adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek nektar.

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nectarine

noun
a variety of peach with smooth, brightly coloured skin and rich firm flesh.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «nectar-like»: from NECTAR.

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née

adjective (masc. né)
born (used in citing a person's former name, especially a married woman's maiden name): Mrs. Hargreaves, née Liddell.

ORIGIN: French.

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need

verb
1. require (something) because it is essential or very important.
2. expressing necessity or obligation: need I say more?

noun
1. circumstances in which a thing or course of action is required.
2. a thing that is wanted or required.
3. a state of poverty, distress, or misfortune.

IDIOMS -
needs must when the Devil drives proverb sometimes you have to do something you would rather not.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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needful

adjective
1. formal necessary; requisite.
2. archaic needy.

noun (the needful) informal
what is necessary.

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needle

noun
1. a very thin pointed piece of metal with a hole or eye for thread at the blunter end, used in sewing.
2. a similar, larger instrument without an eye, used in knitting, crochet, etc.
3. the pointed hollow end of a hypodermic syringe.
4. a stylus used to play records.
5. a thin pointer on a dial, compass, etc.
6. the thin, sharp, stiff leaf of a fir or pine tree.
7. Brit. informal hostility or antagonism provoked by rivalry.

verb
1. prick or pierce with or as with a needle.
2. informal provoke or annoy by continual criticism.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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needlecord

noun Brit.
fine-ribbed corduroy fabric.

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needlepoint

noun
1. closely stitched embroidery worked over canvas.
2. (also needlelace) lace made by hand using a needle rather than bobbins.

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needless

adjective
unnecessary; avoidable.

IDIOMS -
needless to say of course.

DERIVATIVES:
needlessly adverb.

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needlewoman

noun
a woman who has particular sewing skills.

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needlework

noun
sewing or embroidery.

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needn't

contraction
need not.

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needy

adjective (needier, neediest)
1. lacking the necessities of life; very poor.
2. needing emotional support; insecure.

DERIVATIVES:
neediness noun.

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ne'er

contraction literary or dialect
never.

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ne'er-do-well

noun
a person who is lazy and irresponsible.

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nefarious

adjective
wicked or criminal.

ORIGIN: from Latin nefas 'wrong' .

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negate

verb
1. make ineffective; nullify.
2. deny the existence of.
3. Grammar make (a clause, sentence, etc.) negative in meaning.

ORIGIN: Latin negare 'deny' .

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negation

noun
1. the contradiction or denial of something.
2. the absence or opposite of something actual or positive: evil is not merely the negation of goodness.
3. Mathematics replacement of positive by negative.

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negative

adjective
1. characterized by the absence rather than the presence of distinguishing features: a negative test result.
2. expressing or implying denial, disagreement, or refusal.
3. pessimistic, undesirable, or unwelcome.
4. (of a quantity) less than zero.
5. of, containing, producing, or denoting the kind of electric charge carried by electrons.
6. (of a photographic image) showing light and shade or colours reversed from those of the original.
7. Grammar stating that something is not the case.

noun
1. a word or statement expressing denial, refusal, or negation.
2. a negative photographic image from which positive prints may be made.

verb
1. reject, veto, or contradict.
2. make ineffective; neutralize.

DERIVATIVES:
negatively adverb
negativity noun.

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neglect

verb
1. fail to give proper care or attention to.
2. fail to do something.

noun
1. the state of being neglected.
2. the action of neglecting.

ORIGIN: Latin neglegere 'disregard' .

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neglectful

adjective
failing to give proper care or attention.

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negligee

noun
a woman's light, filmy dressing gown.

ORIGIN: French, 'given little thought or attention' .

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negligence

noun
1. lack of proper care and attention.
2. Law breach of a duty of care which results in damage.

DERIVATIVES:
negligent adjective.

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negligible

adjective
so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering.

DERIVATIVES:
negligibly adverb.

ORIGIN: obsolete French, from négliger 'to neglect' .

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negotiable

adjective
1. open to discussion or modification.
2. able to be traversed; passable.
3. (of a document) able to be transferred or assigned to the legal ownership of another person.

DERIVATIVES:
negotiability noun.

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negotiate

verb
1. try to reach an agreement or compromise by discussion.
2. obtain or bring about by negotiating.
3. find a way over or through (an obstacle or difficult path).
4. transfer (a cheque, bill, etc.) to the legal ownership of another.

DERIVATIVES:
negotiation noun
negotiator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin negotiari 'do in the course of business' .

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Negress

noun
a woman or girl of black African origin.
USAGE - The term Negress is now regarded as old-fashioned or even offensive; black is the preferred term.

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Negritude

noun
the quality, fact, or awareness of being of black African origin.

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Negro

noun (pl. Negroes)
a member of a dark-skinned group of peoples originally native to Africa south of the Sahara.
USAGE - The term Negro is now regarded as old-fashioned or even offensive; black is the preferred term.
ORIGIN: from Latin niger 'black' .

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neigh

noun
a characteristic high whinnying sound made by a horse.

verb
utter a neigh.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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neighbour (US neighbor)

noun
1. a person living next door to or very near to another.
2. a person or place in relation to others next to it.

verb
be situated next to or very near (another).

DERIVATIVES:
neighbourly adjective.

ORIGIN: from the Old English words for «near» and «inhabitant, peasant, farmer».

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neighbourhood (US neighborhood)

noun
1. a district or community within a town or city.
2. the area surrounding a particular place, person, or object.

IDIOMS -
in the neighbourhood of approximately.

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neighbourhood watch

noun
a scheme of systematic local vigilance by householders to discourage crime, especially burglary.

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neither

determiner & pronoun
not the one nor the other of two people or things; not either.

adverb
1. used before the first of two (or occasionally more) alternatives (the others being introduced by ‘nor’) to indicate that they are each untrue or each do not happen.
2. used to introduce a further negative statement.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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nelly

noun (pl. nellies) informal
1. a silly person.
2. derogatory an effeminate homosexual man.

IDIOMS -
not on your nelly Brit. certainly not. [ORIGIN: originally as not on your Nelly Duff, rhyming slang for «puff» (i.e. breath of life).]

ORIGIN: from the given name Nelly.

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nematode

noun Zoology
a worm of a group with slender, unsegmented, cylindrical bodies (including the roundworms, threadworms, and eelworms).

ORIGIN: from Greek nma 'thread' .

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nem. con.

adverb
with no one dissenting; unanimously.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of Latin nemine contradicente.

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nemesis

noun (pl. nemeses)
1. an inescapable agent of retribution: inflationary excess brought its nemesis in subsequent deflation.
2. retribution caused by such an agent.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'retribution' , personified as the goddess of divine punishment.

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neo-

combining form
1. new: neonate.
2. a new or revived form of: neoclassicism.

ORIGIN: from Greek neos 'new' .

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neoclassical (also neoclassic)

adjective
relating to the revival of a classical style in the arts.

DERIVATIVES:
neoclassicism noun
neoclassicist noun & adjective.

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Neolithic

adjective
relating to the later part of the Stone Age, when ground or polished stone weapons and implements prevailed.

ORIGIN: from NEO- + Greek lithos 'stone' .

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neologism

noun
a newly coined word or expression.

ORIGIN: from NEO- + Greek logos 'word' .

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neon

noun
1. an inert gaseous element giving an orange glow when electricity is passed through it, used in fluorescent lighting.
2. (before another noun ) very bright or fluorescent in colour: bold neon colours.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'something new' .

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neonatal

adjective
relating to newborn children.

DERIVATIVES:
neonatology noun.

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neophyte

noun
1. a person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief.
2. a novice in a religious order, or a newly ordained priest.

ORIGIN: from Greek neophutos 'newly planted' .

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neoprene

noun
a synthetic substance resembling rubber.

ORIGIN: from NEO- + prene (perhaps from PROPYL + -ENE).

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nephew

noun
a son of one's brother or sister, or of one's brother-in-law or sister-in-law.

ORIGIN: Old French neveu, from Latin nepos 'grandson, nephew' .

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nephritis

noun
inflammation of the kidneys.

ORIGIN: from Greek nephros 'kidney' .

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ne plus ultra

noun (the ne plus ultra)
the perfect or most extreme example.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'not further beyond' , the supposed inscription on the Pillars of Hercules (at the Strait of Gibraltar) prohibiting passage by ships.

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nepotism

noun
favouritism shown to relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.

DERIVATIVES:
nepotistic adjective.

ORIGIN: Italian nepotismo, from nipote 'nephew' (with reference to privileges bestowed on the ‘nephews’ of popes, often really their illegitimate sons).

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nerd

noun informal
a person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious.

DERIVATIVES:
nerdish adjective
nerdy adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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Nereid

noun Greek Mythology
any of the sea nymphs, daughters of the old sea god Nereus.

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nerve

noun
1. a fibre or bundle of fibres in the body that transmits impulses of sensation between the brain or spinal cord and other parts of the body.
2. (nerves or one's nerve) steadiness and courage in a demanding situation: the journey tested her nerves to the full.
3. (nerves) nervousness.
4. informal impudence or audacity.

verb (nerve oneself)
brace oneself for a demanding situation.

IDIOMS -
get on someone's nerves informal irritate someone.
touch (or hit) a (raw) nerve refer to a sensitive topic.

ORIGIN: Latin nervus; related to Greek neuron (see NEURON).

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nerve cell

noun
a neuron.

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nerve centre

noun
1. a group of connected nerve cells performing a particular function.
2. the control centre of an organization or operation.

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nerve gas

noun
a poisonous vapour which disrupts the transmission of nerve impulses, causing death or disablement.

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nerveless

adjective
1. lacking vigour or feeling.
2. confident.
3. Anatomy & Biology lacking nerves or nervures.

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nerve-racking (also nerve-wracking)

adjective
stressful; frightening.

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nervous

adjective
1. easily agitated or alarmed.
2. apprehensive or anxious.
3. relating to or affecting the nerves.

DERIVATIVES:
nervously adverb
nervousness noun.

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nervous breakdown

noun
a period of mental illness resulting from severe depression or stress.

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nervous system

noun
the network of nerve cells and fibres which transmits nerve impulses between parts of the body.

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nervy

adjective (nervier, nerviest)
1. chiefly Brit. nervous or tense.
2. N. Amer. informal bold or impudent.

DERIVATIVES:
nervily adverb
nerviness noun.

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ness

noun
a headland or promontory.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to NOSE.

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-ness

suffix
1. forming nouns denoting a state or condition: liveliness.
2. forming nouns denoting something in a certain state: wilderness.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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nest

noun
1. a structure made by a bird for laying eggs and sheltering its young.
2. a place where an animal or insect breeds or shelters.
3. a place filled with undesirable people or things: a nest of spies.
4. a set of similar objects of graduated sizes, fitting together for storage.

verb
1. use or build a nest.
2. fit (an object or objects) inside a larger one.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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nest egg

noun
1. a sum of money saved for the future.
2. a real or artificial egg left in a nest to induce hens to lay there.

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nestle

verb
1. settle comfortably within or against something.
2. (of a place) lie in a sheltered position.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to NEST.

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nestling

noun
a bird that is too young to leave the nest.

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net [1]

noun
1. an open-meshed material of twine or cord.
2. a piece or structure of net for catching fish or insects.
3. a fine fabric with a very open weave.
4. (the net) the goal in football.
5. (nets) (in cricket) a practice area enclosed by net.
6. a trap.
7. a system for selecting or recruiting someone.
8. a communications or computer network.
9. (the Net) the Internet.

verb (netted, netting)
1. catch or obtain with or as if with a net.
2. (in sport) score (a goal).
3. cover with a net.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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net [2] (Brit. also nett)

adjective
1. (of an amount, value, or price) remaining after a deduction of tax or other contributions. Often contrasted with GROSS.
2. (of a price) to be paid in full.
3. (of a weight) excluding that of the packaging.
4. (of an effect or result) overall.

verb (netted, netting)
acquire (a sum) as clear profit.

ORIGIN: originally in the senses «clean» and «smart»: from French net 'neat' .

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netball

noun
a team game in which goals are scored by throwing a ball through a netted hoop.

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nether

adjective
lower in position.

DERIVATIVES:
nethermost adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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nether regions

plural noun
1. (also netherworld) hell; the underworld.
2. euphemistic a person's genitals and bottom.

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net profit

noun
the actual profit after working expenses have been paid.

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netting

noun
fabric made of net.

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nettle

noun
a plant having jagged leaves covered with stinging hairs.

verb
annoy.

IDIOMS -
grasp the nettle Brit. tackle a difficulty boldly.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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network

noun
1. an arrangement of intersecting horizontal and vertical lines.
2. a complex system of railways, roads, etc.
3. a group of broadcasting stations that connect to broadcast a programme simultaneously.
4. a number of interconnected computers, operations, etc.
5. a group of people who interact together.

verb
1. connect as or operate with a network.
2. Brit. broadcast on a network.
3. interact with others to exchange information and develop contacts.

DERIVATIVES:
networker noun.

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neural

adjective
relating to a nerve or the nervous system.

DERIVATIVES:
neurally adverb.

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neuralgia

noun
intense pain along the course of a nerve, especially in the head or face.

DERIVATIVES:
neuralgic adjective.

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neuritis

noun Medicine
inflammation of a peripheral nerve or nerves.

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neuro-

combining form
relating to nerves or the nervous system.

ORIGIN: from Greek neuron 'nerve, sinew, tendon' .

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neurology

noun
the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the nervous system.

DERIVATIVES:
neurological adjective
neurologist noun.

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neuron (also neurone)

noun
a specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses.

DERIVATIVES:
neuronal adjective.
USAGE - In scientific sources the standard spelling is neuron. The spelling neurone is found only in non-technical sources.
ORIGIN: Greek neuron 'sinew, tendon, nerve' .

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neurosis

noun (pl. neuroses)
a relatively mild mental illness not caused by organic disease and involving symptoms such as depression, anxiety, obsessive behaviour, or hypochondria.

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neurosurgery

noun
surgery performed on the nervous system.

DERIVATIVES:
neurosurgeon noun
neurosurgical adjective.

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neurotic

adjective
1. having, caused by, or relating to neurosis.
2. informal abnormally sensitive, anxious, or obsessive.

noun
a neurotic person.

DERIVATIVES:
neurotically adverb
neuroticism noun.

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neurotransmitter

noun Physiology
a chemical substance released from a nerve fibre and bringing about the transfer of an impulse to another nerve, muscle, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
neurotransmission noun.

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neuter

adjective
1. Grammar (of a noun) not masculine, feminine, or common.
2. (of an animal) lacking developed sexual organs, or having had them removed.
3. (of a plant or flower) having neither functional pistils nor stamens.

noun Grammar
a neuter word.

verb
1. castrate or spay.
2. make ineffective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'neither' .

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neutral

adjective
1. impartial or unbiased.
2. having no strongly marked characteristics.
3. Chemistry neither acid nor alkaline; having a pH of about 7.
4. electrically neither positive nor negative.

noun
1. an impartial or unbiased state or person.
2. a neutral colour or shade.
3. a disengaged position of gears.
4. an electrically neutral point, terminal, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
neutrality noun
neutrally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin neutralis 'of neuter gender' .

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neutralize (also neutralise)

verb
1. make ineffective by applying an opposite force or effect.
2. make chemically neutral.
3. disarm (a bomb).
4. euphemistic kill or destroy.

DERIVATIVES:
neutralization noun.

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neutrino

noun (pl. neutrinos)
a subatomic particle with a mass close to zero and no electric charge.

ORIGIN: Italian, from neutro 'neutral' .

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neutron

noun
a subatomic particle of about the same mass as a proton but without an electric charge.

ORIGIN: from NEUTRAL.

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neutron bomb

noun
a nuclear weapon that produces large numbers of neutrons rather than heat or blast, causing harm to life but not property.

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never

adverb
1. not ever.
2. not at all.
3. Brit. informal (expressing surprise) definitely or surely not.

IDIOMS -
never a one not one.
the never-never Brit. informal hire purchase.
never-never land an imaginary perfect place. [ORIGIN: the name of the ideal country in J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan (1904).]
well I never! informal expressing great surprise.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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nevermore

adverb literary
never again.

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nevertheless

adverb
in spite of that.

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nevus (Brit. naevus)

noun (pl. nevi)
a birthmark or a mole on the skin.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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new

adjective
1. not existing before; made, introduced, or discovered recently or now for the first time.
2. not previously used or owned.
3. (often new to) seen, experienced, or acquired recently or now for the first time.
4. (new to/at) inexperienced at or unaccustomed to.
5. reinvigorated, restored, or reformed.
6. (in place names) discovered or founded later than and named after.

adverb
newly.

DERIVATIVES:
newness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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New Age

noun
a broad movement characterized by alternative approaches to traditional Western culture, involving spirituality, mysticism, environmentalism, etc.

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newborn

adjective
1. recently born.
2. regenerated.

noun
a newborn child or animal.

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newcomer

noun
1. a person who has recently arrived.
2. a novice.

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newel

noun
1. the central supporting pillar of a spiral or winding staircase.
2. (also newel post) the top or bottom supporting post of a stair rail.

ORIGIN: Old French nouel 'knob' , from Latin nodus 'knot' .

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newfangled

adjective derogatory
newly developed and unfamiliar.

ORIGIN: from dialect newfangle 'liking what is new' .

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Newfoundland

noun
a dog of a very large breed with a thick coarse coat.

ORIGIN: named after Newfoundland in Canada.

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newly

adverb
1. recently.
2. again; afresh.
3. in a new or different manner.

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newly-wed

noun
a recently married person.

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new man

noun
a man who rejects sexist attitudes and the traditional male role.

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new maths (N. Amer. new math)

plural noun (usu. treated as sing. )
a system of teaching mathematics to children, with emphasis on investigation by them and on set theory.

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new moon

noun
the phase of the moon when it first appears as a slender crescent.

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news

noun
1. newly received or noteworthy information about recent events.
2. (the news) a broadcast or published news report.
3. (news to) informal information not previously known to.

IDIOMS -
no news is good news proverb without information to the contrary you can assume that all is well.

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news agency

noun
an organization that collects and distributes news items.

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newsagent

noun Brit.
a person or shop selling newspapers, magazines, etc.

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newscast

noun
a broadcast news report.

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newscaster

noun
a newsreader.

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news conference

noun
a press conference.

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newsflash

noun
a single item of important news broadcast separately and often interrupting other programmes.

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newsgroup

noun
a group of Internet users who exchange email on a topic of mutual interest.

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newsletter

noun
a bulletin issued periodically to those in a particular group.

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newspaper

noun
a daily or weekly publication consisting of folded unstapled sheets and containing news, articles, and advertisements.

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newspeak

noun
ambiguous euphemistic language used in political propaganda.

ORIGIN: the name of an artificial official language in George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949).

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newsprint

noun
cheap, low-quality absorbent printing paper used for newspapers.

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newsreader

noun Brit.
a person who reads out broadcast news bulletins.

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newsreel

noun
a short cinema film of news and current affairs.

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newsroom

noun
the area in a newspaper or broadcasting office where news is processed.

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news-stand

noun
a stand for the sale of newspapers.

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newsworthy

adjective
noteworthy as news.

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newsy

adjective informal
full of news.

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newt

noun
a small slender-bodied amphibian with a well-developed tail.

ORIGIN: from an ewt (from Old English efeta 'eft' ), interpreted (by wrong division) as a newt.

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New Testament

noun
the second part of the Christian Bible, recording the life and teachings of Christ and his earliest followers.

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newton

noun Physics
the SI unit of force, equal to the force that would give a mass of one kilogram an acceleration of one metre per second per second.

ORIGIN: named after the English scientist Sir Isaac Newton (1642 1727).

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new town

noun
a planned urban centre created in an undeveloped or rural area.

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new wave

noun
a style of rock music popular in the late 1970s, deriving from punk.

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New World

noun
North and South America regarded collectively, in contrast to Europe, Asia, and Africa.

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new year

noun
1. the calendar year just begun or about to begin.
2. the period immediately before and after 31 December.

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New Year's Day

noun
1 January.

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New Year's Eve

noun
31 December.

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New Zealander

noun
a person from New Zealand.

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next

adjective
1. coming immediately after the present one in time, space, or order.
2. (of a day of the week) nearest (or the nearest but one) after the present.

adverb
1. immediately afterwards.
2. following in the specified order: the next oldest.

noun
the next person or thing.

IDIOMS -
next of kin a person's closest living relative or relatives.
next to
1. beside.
2. following in order or importance.
3. almost.
4. in comparison with.
the next world (in some religious beliefs) the place where one goes after death.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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next door

adverb & adjective
in or to the next house or room.

IDIOMS -
next door to
1. in the next house or room to.
2. almost.

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nexus

noun (pl. same or nexuses)
1. a connection.
2. a connected group or series.
3. the central and most important point.

ORIGIN: Latin, from nectere 'bind' .

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NF

abbreviation
1. National Front.
2. Newfoundland.

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NGO

abbreviation
non-governmental organization.

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NH

abbreviation
New Hampshire.

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NHS

abbreviation
(in the UK) National Health Service.

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NI

abbreviation
1. (in the UK) National Insurance.
2. Northern Ireland.

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Ni

symbol
the chemical element nickel.

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nib

noun
1. the pointed end part of a pen, which distributes the ink.
2. (nibs) shelled and crushed coffee or cocoa beans.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «beak, nose»: probably from Dutch nib or Low German nibbe, related to NEB.

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nibble

verb
1. take small bites out of.
2. gently bite at.
3. gradually erode.
4. show cautious interest in a project.

noun
1. an instance of nibbling.
2. a small piece of food bitten off.
3. (nibbles) informal small savoury snacks.

ORIGIN: probably Low German or Dutch.

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nibs

noun (his nibs) informal
a mock title used to refer to a self-important man.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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Nicam

noun
a digital system used in British television to provide video signals with high-quality stereo sound.

ORIGIN: acronym from near instantaneously companded audio multiplex.

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nice

adjective
1. pleasant; agreeable; satisfactory.
2. good-natured; kind.
3. (nice and ) satisfactory in terms of the quality described.
4. fine or subtle: a nice distinction.
5. archaic fastidious.

DERIVATIVES:
nicely adverb
niceness noun.

ORIGIN: original senses included «stupid» and «coy, reserved»: from Latin nescius 'ignorant' .

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nicety

noun (pl. niceties)
1. a fine detail or distinction.
2. accuracy.
3. a detail of etiquette.

IDIOMS -
to a nicety precisely.

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niche

noun
1. a shallow recess, especially one in a wall to display an ornament.
2. (one's niche) a comfortable or suitable position in life.
3. a specialized but profitable corner of the market.
4. Ecology a role taken by a type of organism within its community.

ORIGIN: French, 'recess' , from Latin nidus 'nest' .

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nick

noun
1. a small cut or notch.
2. (the nick) Brit. informal prison or police station.
3. Brit. informal condition: in good nick.
4. the junction between the floor and side walls in a squash court.

verb
1. make a nick or nicks in.
2. Brit. informal steal.
3. Brit. informal arrest.

IDIOMS -
in the nick of time only just in time.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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nickel

noun
1. a silvery-white metallic chemical element resembling iron, used in alloys.
2. N. Amer. informal a five-cent coin.

verb (nickelled, nickelling; US nickeled, nickeling)
coat with nickel.

ORIGIN: from German Kupfernickel, the copper-coloured ore from which nickel was first obtained, from Kupfer 'copper' + Nickel 'demon' (with reference to the ore's failure to yield copper).

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nicker

noun (pl. same) Brit. informal
a pound sterling.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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nickname

noun
a familiar or humorous name for a person or thing.

verb
give a nickname to.

ORIGIN: from an eke-name (eke meaning «addition»: see EKE), misinterpreted (by wrong division) as a neke name.

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nicotine

noun
a toxic oily liquid which is the chief active constituent of tobacco.

ORIGIN: named after Jaques Nicot, a 16th-century diplomat who introduced tobacco to France.

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nicotinic acid

noun Biochemistry
a vitamin of the B complex which occurs in milk, wheat germ, meat, and other foods.

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niece

noun
a daughter of one's brother or sister, or of one's brother-in-law or sister-in-law.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin neptis 'granddaughter' .

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niff Brit. informal

noun
an unpleasant smell.

verb
stink.

DERIVATIVES:
niffy adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from SNIFF.

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nifty

adjective (niftier, niftiest) informal
particularly good, effective, or stylish.

DERIVATIVES:
niftily adverb.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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niggardly

adjective
ungenerous or meagre.

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nigger

noun offensive
a black person.

IDIOMS -
a nigger in the woodpile dated a hidden cause of trouble.

USAGE - The word nigger has had strong offensive connotations since the 17th century. Recently, however, it has begun to be used by black people as a mildly disparaging or ironically affectionate way of referring to other black people. Despite this, when used by white people it remains strongly offensive, and should be avoided.
ORIGIN: from Spanish negro 'black' .

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niggle

verb
1. cause slight but persistent annoyance, discomfort, or anxiety.
2. find fault with in a petty way.

noun
a trifling worry, dispute, or criticism.

DERIVATIVES:
niggly adjective.

ORIGIN: apparently Scandinavian.

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nigh

adverb , preposition , & adjective archaic
near.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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night

noun
1. the time from sunset to sunrise.
2. the darkness of night.
3. literary nightfall.
4. an evening.

adverb (nights) informal
at night.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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nightcap

noun
1. historical a cap worn in bed.
2. a hot or alcoholic drink taken at bedtime.

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nightclub

noun
a club that is open at night, usually having a bar and disco.

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nightdress

noun
a light, loose garment worn by a woman or girl in bed.

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nightfall

noun
dusk.

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nightie

noun informal
a nightdress.

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nightingale

noun
a small brownish migratory thrush noted for its rich melodious song, often heard at night.

ORIGIN: Old English, from NIGHT and a base meaning 'sing' .

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nightlife

noun
social activities or entertainment available at night.

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night light

noun
a lamp or candle providing a dim light during the night.

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nightly

adjective
1. happening or done every night.
2. happening, done, or existing in the night.

adverb
every night.

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nightmare

noun
1. a frightening or unpleasant dream.
2. a very unpleasant experience or prospect.

DERIVATIVES:
nightmarish adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a female evil spirit thought to lie upon and suffocate sleepers: from Old English mære «incubus».

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night owl (also night bird)

noun informal
a person who is habitually active or wakeful at night.

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night school

noun
an institution providing evening classes.

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nightshirt

noun
a long shirt worn in bed.

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nightspot

noun informal
a nightclub.

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nightwatchman

noun
1. a person who guards a building at night.
2. Cricket an inferior batsman sent in to bat near the end of a day's play.

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nihilism

noun
1. the rejection of all religious and moral principles.
2. Philosophy extreme scepticism, maintaining that nothing has a real existence.

DERIVATIVES:
nihilist noun
nihilistic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin nihil 'nothing' .

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nil

noun
nothing; zero.

adjective
non-existent.

ORIGIN: Latin, contraction of nihil 'nothing' .

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nimble

adjective (nimbler, nimblest)
quick and agile in movement, action, or thought.

DERIVATIVES:
nimbly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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nimbus

noun (pl. nimbi or nimbuses)
1. a large grey rain cloud.
2. a luminous cloud or a halo surrounding a supernatural being or saint.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'cloud, aureole' .

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Nimby

noun (pl. Nimbys) informal
a person who objects to the siting of unpleasant developments in their neighbourhood.

ORIGIN: acronym from not in my back yard.

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nincompoop

noun
a stupid person.

ORIGIN: perhaps from the given name Nicholas, or from the name of the Pharisee Nicodemus, known for his naive questioning of Christ.

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nine

cardinal number
1. one less than ten; 9. (Roman numeral: ix or IX.)
2. (the Nine) Greek Mythology the nine Muses.

IDIOMS -
dressed (up) to the nines dressed very smartly or fancily.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ninepins

plural noun (usu. treated as sing. )
the traditional form of the game of skittles, using nine pins.

IDIOMS -
go down (or drop or fall) like ninepins succumb in large numbers.

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nineteen

cardinal number
one more than eighteen; 19. (Roman numeral: xix or XIX.)

DERIVATIVES:
nineteenth ordinal number.

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ninety

cardinal number (pl. nineties)
ten less than one hundred; 90. (Roman numeral: xc or XC.)

DERIVATIVES:
ninetieth ordinal number.

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ninny

noun (pl. ninnies) informal
a foolish and weak person.

ORIGIN: perhaps from INNOCENT.

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ninth

ordinal number
1. constituting number nine in a sequence; 9th.
2. (a ninth/one ninth) each of nine equal parts into which something is divided.
3. Music an interval spanning nine consecutive notes in a diatonic scale.

DERIVATIVES:
ninthly adverb.

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niobium

noun
a silver-grey metallic chemical element.

ORIGIN: from Niobe, daughter of Tantalus in Greek mythology (because the element was first found in the substance tantalite).

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Nip

noun informal, offensive
a Japanese person.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of Nipponese, from Nippon (the Japanese name for Japan).

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nip [1]

verb (nipped, nipping)
1. pinch, squeeze, or bite sharply.
2. (of cold or frost) cause pain or harm to.
3. Brit. informal go quickly.

noun
1. an act of nipping.
2. a feeling of biting cold.

IDIOMS -
nip in the bud suppress or destroy at an early stage.

ORIGIN: probably Low German or Dutch.

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nip [2]

noun
a small quantity or sip of spirits.

ORIGIN: probably an abbreviation of archaic nipperkin «small measure».

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nip and tuck

adverb & adjective
closely contested; neck and neck.

noun informal
a cosmetic surgical operation.

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nipper

noun
1. informal a child.
2. (nippers) pliers, pincers, or a similar tool.
3. the claw of a crab or lobster.

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nipple

noun
1. the small projection in which the mammary ducts of female mammals terminate and from which milk can be secreted.
2. the corresponding vestigial structure in a male.
3. a small projection on a machine from which oil or other fluid is dispensed.
4. a short section of pipe with a screw thread at each end for coupling.

ORIGIN: perhaps a diminutive of NEB.

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nippy

adjective (nippier, nippiest) informal
1. quick; nimble.
2. chilly.

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nirvana

noun
1. the ultimate goal of Buddhism, a state in which there is no suffering or desire, and no sense of self.
2. a state of perfect happiness.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, from a word meaning 'be extinguished' .

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Nissen hut

noun chiefly Brit.
a tunnel-shaped hut of corrugated iron with a cement floor.

ORIGIN: named after the British engineer Peter N. Nissen (1871 1930).

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nit

noun informal
1. the egg or young form of a parasitic insect, especially the egg of a human head louse.
2. Brit. a stupid person.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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niterie

noun (pl. niteries) informal
a nightclub.

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nit-picking

noun informal
fussy or pedantic fault-finding.

DERIVATIVES:
nit-pick verb
nit-picker noun.

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nitrate

noun
a salt or ester of nitric acid.

verb
treat with nitric acid.

DERIVATIVES:
nitration noun.

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nitric acid

noun
a colourless or pale yellow acid with strong corrosive and oxidizing properties.

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nitrify

verb (nitrifies, nitrified)
convert (ammonia or another nitrogen compound) into nitrites or nitrates.

DERIVATIVES:
nitrification noun.

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nitrite

noun
a salt or ester of nitrous acid.

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nitrogen

noun
a colourless, odourless, relatively unreactive gaseous chemical element, forming about 78 per cent of the earth's atmosphere.

DERIVATIVES:
nitrogenous adjective.

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nitroglycerine (also nitroglycerin)

noun
an explosive yellow liquid made from glycerol, used in dynamite.

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nitrous

adjective
of or containing nitrogen.

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nitrous acid

noun
an unstable, weak acid made by the action of acids on nitrites.

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nitrous oxide

noun
a colourless gas with a sweetish odour, used as an anaesthetic.

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nitty-gritty

noun informal
the most important aspects or practical details of a matter.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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nitwit

noun informal
a silly or foolish person.

ORIGIN: apparently from NIT + WIT.

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nix informal

pronoun
nothing.

exclamation
1. expressing denial or refusal.
2. Brit. dated used as a warning that a person in authority is approaching.

verb
put an end to; cancel.

ORIGIN: German, colloquial variant of nichts 'nothing' .

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NJ

abbreviation
New Jersey.

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NM

abbreviation
New Mexico.

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nm

abbreviation
1. nanometre.
2. (also n.m.) nautical mile.

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NNE

abbreviation
north-north-east.

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NNW

abbreviation
north-north-west.

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no

determiner
1. not any.
2. quite the opposite of.
3. hardly any.

exclamation
used to give a negative response.

adverb
1. (with comparative ) not at all.
2. Scottish not.

noun (pl. noes)
a negative answer or decision, especially in voting.

IDIOMS -
no longer not now as formerly.
no through road a street where passage is blocked or prohibited.
not take no for an answer persist in spite of refusals.
no two ways about it no possible doubt about something.
no way informal under no circumstances; not at all.
or no or not.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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no.

abbreviation
number.

ORIGIN: from Latin numero, from numerus.

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nob

noun Brit. informal
a person of wealth or high social position.

DERIVATIVES:
nobby adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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no-ball

noun Cricket
an unlawfully delivered ball, counting as an extra run to the batting side if not scored from.

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nobble

verb Brit. informal
1. try to influence or thwart by underhand or unfair methods.
2. tamper with (a racehorse) to prevent it from winning a race.
3. accost or seize.
4. obtain dishonestly or steal.

ORIGIN: probably from dialect knobble, knubble «knock, strike with the knuckles».

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Nobel Prize

noun
any of six international prizes awarded annually for outstanding work in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, economics, and the promotion of peace.

ORIGIN: named after the Swedish chemist and engineer Alfred Nobel (1833 96), who endowed the prizes.

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nobility

noun
1. the quality of being noble.
2. the aristocracy.

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noble

adjective (nobler, noblest)
1. belonging to the aristocracy.
2. having fine personal qualities or high moral principles.
3. imposing; magnificent.

noun
1. (especially in former times) a person of noble rank or birth.
2. a former English gold coin.

IDIOMS -
the noble art (or science) (of self-defence) chiefly archaic boxing.

DERIVATIVES:
nobly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin nobilis 'noted, high-born' .

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noble gas

noun Chemistry
any of the gaseous elements helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon, which form compounds with difficulty or not at all.

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nobleman (or noblewoman)

noun
a man (or woman) who belongs to the aristocracy; a peer (or peeress).

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nobody

pronoun
no person; no one.

noun (pl. nobodies)
a person of no importance or authority.

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no-claims bonus

noun Brit.
a reduction in an insurance premium when no claim has been made during an agreed preceding period.

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nocturnal

adjective
done, occurring, or active at night.

DERIVATIVES:
nocturnally adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin nocturnus 'of the night' .

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nocturne

noun
1. Music a short composition of a romantic nature.
2. Art a picture of a night scene.

ORIGIN: French.

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nod

verb (nodded, nodding)
1. lower and raise one's head slightly and briefly in greeting, assent, or understanding, or as a signal.
2. let one's head fall forward when drowsy or asleep.
3. (nod off) informal fall asleep.
4. make a mistake due to a momentary lack of attention.
5. Soccer head (the ball) without great force.
6. (nod through) informal approve (something) by general agreement and without discussion.

noun
1. an act of nodding.
2. a gesture of acknowledgement or concession.

IDIOMS -
be on nodding terms know someone slightly.
give someone/thing the nod
1. select or approve someone or something.
2. give someone a signal.
a nodding acquaintance a slight acquaintance.
a nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse said to convey that a hint or suggestion has been understood without the need of further explanation.
on the nod Brit. informal
1. by general agreement and without discussion.
2. dated on credit.

ORIGIN: perhaps Low German.

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noddle

noun informal, dated
a person's head.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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node

noun technical
1. a point in a network at which lines intersect or branch.
2. a computer or other device attached to a network.
3. Botany the part of a plant stem from which one or more leaves emerge.
4. Anatomy a small mass of distinct tissue.
5. Physics & Mathematics a point at which the amplitude of vibration of a wave is zero.

DERIVATIVES:
nodal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin nodus 'knot' .

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nodule

noun
1. a small swelling or aggregation of cells in the body.
2. a swelling on a root of a leguminous plant, containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
3. a small rounded lump of matter distinct from its surroundings.

DERIVATIVES:
nodular adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin nodulus 'little knot' .

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Noel

noun
Christmas.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin natalis 'relating to birth' .

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noggin

noun informal
1. a person's head.
2. a small quantity of alcoholic drink, typically a quarter of a pint.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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no-go area

noun Brit.
an area to which entry is dangerous, impossible, or forbidden.

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Noh (also No)

noun
traditional Japanese masked drama with dance and song.

ORIGIN: Japanese.

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no-hoper

noun informal
a person who is not expected to be successful.

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noise

noun
1. a sound, especially one that is loud, unpleasant, or disturbing.
2. continuous or repeated loud, confused sounds.
3. (noises) conventional remarks expressing some emotion or purpose.
4. technical irregular fluctuations accompanying and tending to obscure an electrical signal.

verb
1. (usu. be noised about) dated talk about or make known publicly.
2. literary make much noise.

IDIOMS -
noises off
1. sounds made offstage to be heard by the audience of a play.
2. distracting or intrusive background noise.

DERIVATIVES:
noiseless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin nausea 'nausea, seasickness' .

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noisette

noun
1. a small round piece of meat.
2. a chocolate made with hazelnuts.

ORIGIN: French, 'little nut' .

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noisome

adjective literary
1. having an extremely offensive smell.
2. disagreeable; unpleasant.

ORIGIN: from obsolete noy (shortened form of ANNOY).

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noisy

adjective (noisier, noisiest)
full of or making a lot of noise.

DERIVATIVES:
noisily adverb
noisiness noun.

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nomad

noun
1. a member of a people continually moving to find fresh pasture for its animals and having no permanent home.
2. a wanderer.

DERIVATIVES:
nomadism noun.

ORIGIN: Greek nomas, from nemein 'to pasture' .

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nomadic

adjective
having the life of a nomad; wandering.

DERIVATIVES:
nomadically adverb.

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no-man's-land

noun
1. disputed ground between two opposing armies.
2. a piece of unowned land or wasteland.

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nom de plume

noun (pl. noms de plume pronunc. same)
a pen name.

ORIGIN: French.

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nomenclature

noun
1. the selecting of names for things in a particular field.
2. a body or system of names.
3. formal the term or terms applied to someone or something.

DERIVATIVES:
nomenclatural adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin nomenclatura, from nomen 'name' + clatura 'calling, summoning' .

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nominal

adjective
1. existing in name only.
2. relating to or consisting of names.
3. (of a sum of money) very small; far below the real value or cost.
4. Grammar relating to or functioning as a noun.

DERIVATIVES:
nominally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin nominalis, from nomen 'name' .

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nominal value

noun
1. the face value of a coin, note, etc.
2. the price of a share, bond, or stock when it was issued, rather than its current market value.

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nominate

verb
1. put forward as a candidate for election or for an honour or award.
2. appoint to a job or position.
3. specify formally.

DERIVATIVES:
nomination noun
nominator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin nominare 'to name' .

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nominative

adjective
1. Grammar denoting a case of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives expressing the subject of a verb.
2. of or appointed by nomination as distinct from election.

noun Grammar
a word in the nominative case.

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nominee

noun
1. a person who is nominated.
2. a person or company in whose name a company, stock, etc. is registered.

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non-

prefix
expressing negation or absence: non-recognition.
USAGE - The prefixes non- and un- both have the meaning ‘not’, but tend to be used with a difference of emphasis, non- being weaker and more neutral than un-. For example, unnatural implies that something is not natural in a bad way, whereas non-natural is neutral.
ORIGIN: Latin, 'not' .

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nonagenarian

noun
a person between 90 and 99 years old.

ORIGIN: Latin nonagenarius, from nonaginta 'ninety' .

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nonagon

noun
a plane figure with nine straight sides and angles.

DERIVATIVES:
nonagonal adjective.

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non-aligned

adjective
(chiefly during the cold war) neutral towards the superpowers: non-aligned countries.

DERIVATIVES:
non-alignment noun.

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nonce

adjective
(of a word or expression) coined for one occasion.

IDIOMS -
for the nonce for the present; temporarily.

ORIGIN: from obsolete then anes «the one (purpose)» from then «the» + ane «one», altered by wrong division.

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nonchalant

adjective
casually calm and relaxed.

DERIVATIVES:
nonchalance noun
nonchalantly adverb.

ORIGIN: French, 'not being concerned' .

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non-combatant

noun
a person who is not engaged in fighting during a war, especially a civilian, army chaplain, or army doctor.

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non-commissioned

adjective
(of a military officer) not holding a rank conferred by a commission.

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non-committal

adjective
not displaying commitment to a definite opinion or policy.

DERIVATIVES:
non-committally adverb.

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non compos mentis

adjective
not in one's right mind.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'not having control of one's mind' .

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non-conductor

noun
a substance that does not conduct heat or electricity.

DERIVATIVES:
non-conducting adjective.

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nonconformist

noun
1. a person who does not conform to prevailing ideas or established practice.
2. (Nonconformist) a member of a Protestant Church which dissents from the established Church of England.

adjective
not conforming to prevailing ideas or established practice.

DERIVATIVES:
nonconformism noun
nonconformity noun.

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non-contributory

adjective
1. (of a pension) funded by regular payments by the employer, not the employee.
2. (of a state benefit) paid irrespective of taxes or other contributions made by recipients.

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nondescript

adjective
lacking distinctive or interesting characteristics.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «not previously described scientifically»: from NON- + obsolete descript «described, engraved».

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none

pronoun
1. not any.
2. no one.

adverb (none the) (with comparative )
by no amount: none the wiser.
USAGE - Some traditionalists maintain that none can only take a singular verb (as in none of them is coming tonight rather than none of them are coming tonight ). However, none is descended from Old English nn meaning ‘not one’, and has been used for around a thousand years with either a singular or a plural verb, depending on the context and the emphasis needed.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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nonentity

noun (pl. nonentities)
1. an unimportant person or thing.
2. non-existence.

ORIGIN: Latin nonentitas 'non-existence' .

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nonetheless (also none the less)

adverb
in spite of that; nevertheless.

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non-event

noun
an unexpectedly insignificant or uninteresting occasion.

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non-existent

adjective
not existing or not real or present.

DERIVATIVES:
non-existence noun.

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non-ferrous

adjective
(of metal) other than iron or steel.

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non-fiction

noun
prose writing that is informative or factual rather than fictional.

DERIVATIVES:
non-fictional adjective.

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non-flammable

adjective
not catching fire easily.

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non-functional

adjective
1. having no function.
2. not in working order.

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non-governmental

adjective
not belonging to or associated with any government.

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non-intervention

noun
the policy of not becoming involved in the affairs of others.

DERIVATIVES:
non-interventionist adjective & noun.

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non-invasive

adjective
1. (of medical procedures) not involving the introduction of instruments into the body.
2. not tending to spread undesirably.

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non-member

noun
a person, country, etc. that is not a member of a particular organization.

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no-no

noun (pl. no-nos) informal
a thing that is not possible or acceptable.

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no-nonsense

adjective
simple and straightforward; sensible.

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nonpareil

adjective
unrivalled.

noun
an unrivalled person or thing.

ORIGIN: French, 'not equal' .

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non-person

noun
a person regarded as non-existent or insignificant.

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nonplussed

adjective
1. surprised and confused.
2. N. Amer. informal unperturbed.
USAGE - In standard English nonplussed means ‘surprised and confused’. A new meaning, ‘not disconcerted; unperturbed’, has developed recently in North American English, probably on the assumption that the prefix non- must have a negative meaning; this is not yet accepted as standard usage.
ORIGIN: from Latin non plus 'not more' .

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non-profit

adjective
not making or intended to make a profit.

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non-proliferation

noun
the prevention of an increase or spread of something, especially possession of nuclear weapons.

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non-resident

adjective
1. not living in a particular country or a place of work.
2. Computing (of software) not kept permanently in memory.

noun
a person not living in a particular place.

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nonsense

noun
1. words that make no sense.
2. foolish or unacceptable behaviour.
3. an absurd or unthinkable scheme, situation, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
nonsensical adjective
nonsensically adverb.

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non sequitur

noun
a conclusion that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'it does not follow' .

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non-specific

adjective
not specific; indefinite.

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non-standard

adjective
1. not average, normal, or usual.
2. (of language) not of the form accepted as standard.

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non-starter

noun
1. a person or animal that fails to take part in a race.
2. informal something that has no chance of succeeding.

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non-stick

adjective
(of a pan or surface) covered with a substance that prevents food sticking to it during cooking.

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non-stop

adjective
1. continuing without stopping or pausing.
2. having no intermediate stops on the way to a destination.

adverb
without stopping or pausing.

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non-verbal

adjective
not involving or using words or speech.

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non-white

adjective
(of a person) not white or not of predominantly European origin.

noun
a non-white person.

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noodle

noun (usu. noodles)
a very thin, long strip of pasta or a similar flour paste.

ORIGIN: German Nudel.

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nook

noun
a corner or recess offering seclusion or security.

IDIOMS -
every nook and cranny every part of something.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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nooky (also nookie)

noun informal
sexual activity or intercourse.

ORIGIN: perhaps from NOOK.

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noon

noun
twelve o'clock in the day; midday.

ORIGIN: from Latin nona hora 'ninth hour' , originally referring to the ninth hour from sunrise, i.e. approximately 3 p.m.

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noonday

noun
the middle of the day.

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no one

pronoun
no person; not a single person.

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noose

noun
a loop with a running knot which tightens as the rope or wire is pulled, used especially to hang offenders or trap animals.

verb
catch or hold with a noose.

IDIOMS -
put one's head in a noose bring about one's own downfall.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French nous, from Latin nodus 'knot' .

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nor

conjunction & adverb
1. and not; and not either.
2. archaic or dialect than.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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nor'

abbreviation
north: nor'west.

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Nordic

adjective
1. relating to Scandinavia, Finland, and Iceland.
2. referring to a tall, blonde physical type associated with northern Europe.

noun
a native of Scandinavia, Finland, or Iceland.

ORIGIN: French nordique, from nord 'north' .

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norm

noun
1. (the norm) the usual or standard thing.
2. a required or acceptable standard.

ORIGIN: Latin norma 'precept, rule, carpenter's square' .

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normal

adjective
1. conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected.
2. technical intersecting a given line or surface at right angles.

noun
1. the normal state or condition.
2. technical a line at right angles to a given line or surface.

DERIVATIVES:
normalcy noun (chiefly N. Amer. )
normality noun
normally adverb.

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normalize (also normalise)

verb
bring to a normal or standard state.

DERIVATIVES:
normalization noun.

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Norman

noun
1. a member of a people of mixed Frankish and Scandinavian origin who settled in Normandy in the 10th century and who conquered England in 1066.
2. (also Norman French) the northern form of Old French spoken by the Normans.
3. a person from modern Normandy.

adjective
1. relating to the Normans or Normandy.
2. of the style of Romanesque architecture used in Britain under the Normans.

ORIGIN: Old French Normant, from an Old Norse word meaning 'Northman' .

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normative

adjective formal
relating to a standard or norm.

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Norse historical

noun
1. an ancient or medieval form of Norwegian or a related Scandinavian language.
2. (treated as pl. ) Norwegians or Scandinavians.

adjective
relating to Norway or Scandinavia.

DERIVATIVES:
Norseman noun.

ORIGIN: Dutch noordsch, from noord 'north' .

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north

noun
1. the direction in which a compass needle normally points, towards the horizon on the left-hand side of a person facing east.
2. the northern part of a country, region, or town.

adjective
1. lying towards, near, or facing the north.
2. (of a wind) blowing from the north.

adverb
to or towards the north.

IDIOMS -
north by east (or west) between north and north-north-east (or north-north-west).

DERIVATIVES:
northbound adjective & adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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North American

noun
a person from North America, especially a citizen of the US or Canada.

adjective
relating to North America.

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Northants

abbreviation
Northamptonshire.

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north-east

noun
1. the point of the horizon midway between north and east.
2. the north-eastern part of a country, region, or town.

adjective
1. lying towards, near, or facing the north-east.
2. (of a wind) from the north-east.

adverb
to or towards the north-east.

DERIVATIVES:
north-eastern adjective.

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north-easterly

adjective & adverb
in a north-eastward position or direction.

noun
a wind blowing from the north-east.

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north-eastward

adverb (also north-eastwards)
towards the north-east.

adjective
situated in, directed towards, or facing the north-east.

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northerly

adjective & adverb
1. in a northward position or direction.
2. (of a wind) blowing from the north.

noun
a north wind.

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northern

adjective
1. situated in, directed towards, or facing the north.
2. (usu. Northern) living in, coming from, or characteristic of the north.

DERIVATIVES:
northernmost adjective.

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northerner

noun
a person from the north of a region or country.

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Northern Lights

plural noun
the aurora borealis.

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north-north-east

noun
the compass point or direction midway between north and north-east.

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north-north-west

noun
the compass point or direction midway between north and north-west.

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North Star

noun
the Pole Star.

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Northumb.

abbreviation
Northumberland.

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northward

adjective
in a northerly direction.

adverb (also northwards)
towards the north.

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north-west

noun
1. the point of the horizon midway between north and west.
2. the north-western part of a country, region, or town.

adjective
1. lying towards, near, or facing the north-west.
2. (of a wind) from the north-west.

adverb
to or towards the north-west.

DERIVATIVES:
north-western adjective.

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north-westerly

adjective & adverb
in a north-westward position or direction.

noun
a wind blowing from the north-west.

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north-westward

adverb (also north-westwards)
towards the north-west.

adjective
situated in, directed towards, or facing the north-west.

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Norwegian

noun
1. a person from Norway.
2. the Scandinavian language spoken in Norway.

adjective
relating to Norway.

ORIGIN: from Latin Norvegia 'Norway' .

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nose

noun
1. the facial part projecting above the mouth, containing the nostrils and used in breathing and smelling.
2. the front end of an aircraft, car, or other vehicle.
3. the sense of smell.
4. an instinctive talent for detecting something.
5. an act of looking around or prying.
6. the aroma of a wine.

verb
1. (of an animal) thrust its nose against or into something.
2. look around or pry into something.
3. make one's way slowly forward.
4. smell or sniff (something).

IDIOMS -
by a nose (of a victory) by a very narrow margin.
cut off one's nose to spite one's face disadvantage oneself through a wilful attempt to gain an advantage.
get up someone's nose informal irritate or annoy someone.
keep one's nose clean informal stay out of trouble.
keep one's nose out of refrain from interfering in.
nose to tail (of vehicles) moving or standing close behind one another.
on the nose
1. informal, chiefly N. Amer. precisely.
2. informal (of betting) on a horse to win (as opposed to being placed).
put someone's nose out of joint informal offend someone or hurt their pride.
turn one's nose up at informal show distaste or contempt for.
under someone's nose informal directly in front of someone.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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nosebag

noun
a bag containing fodder, hung from a horse's head and into which it can reach to eat.

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nosebleed

noun
an instance of bleeding from the nose.

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nosedive

noun
1. a steep downward plunge by an aircraft.
2. a sudden dramatic deterioration.

verb
make a nosedive.

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nosegay

noun
a small sweet-scented bunch of flowers.

ORIGIN: from GAY in the obsolete sense «ornament».

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nosh informal

noun
food.

verb
eat enthusiastically or greedily.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a snack bar: from Yiddish.

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no-show

noun
a person who has made a reservation or appointment but neither keeps nor cancels it.

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nosh-up

noun Brit. informal
a large meal.

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nostalgia

noun
sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past.

DERIVATIVES:
nostalgic adjective
nostalgically adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «acute homesickness»: from Latin, from Greek nostos 'return home' + algos 'pain' .

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nostril

noun
either of two external openings of the nose that admit air to the lungs and smells to the olfactory nerves.

ORIGIN: Old English, «nose hole».

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nostrum

noun
1. a quack medicine.
2. a favourite method for bringing about reform.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'something of our own making' .

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nosy (also nosey)

adjective (nosier, nosiest) informal
too inquisitive about other people's affairs.

DERIVATIVES:
nosily adverb
nosiness noun.

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nosy parker

noun
an overly inquisitive person.

ORIGIN: from a 1907 picture postcard caption, ‘The adventures of Nosey Parker’, referring to a peeping Tom in Hyde Park.

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not

adverb
1. used to form or express a negative.
2. less than: not ten feet away.

ORIGIN: contraction of NOUGHT.

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notable

adjective
worthy of attention or notice.

noun
a famous or important person.

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notably

adverb
1. in particular.
2. in a notable way.

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notary (in full notary public)

noun (pl. notaries)
a person authorized to perform certain legal formalities, especially to draw up or certify contracts, deeds, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
notarial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin notarius 'secretary' .

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notation

noun
1. a system of written symbols used to represent numbers, amounts, or elements in a field such as music or mathematics.
2. a note or annotation.

DERIVATIVES:
notate verb
notational adjective.

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notch

noun
1. an indentation or incision on an edge or surface.
2. a point or degree in a scale.

verb
1. make notches in.
2. (notch up) score or achieve.

ORIGIN: Old French.

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note

noun
1. a brief written record of facts, topics, or thoughts, used as an aid to memory.
2. a short written message or document.
3. Brit. a banknote.
4. a single tone of definite pitch made by a musical instrument or voice, or a symbol representing this.
5. a bird's song or call.
6. a particular quality or tone expressing a mood or attitude.
7. a basic component of a fragrance or flavour.

verb
1. pay attention to.
2. record in writing.

IDIOMS -
hit the right (or wrong) note say or do something in the right (or wrong) way.
of note important.
take note pay attention.

ORIGIN: from Latin nota 'a mark' and notare 'to mark' .

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notebook

noun
1. a small book for writing notes in.
2. a portable computer smaller than a laptop.

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noted

adjective
well known.

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notepad

noun
1. a pad of paper for writing notes on.
2. a pocket-sized personal computer in which text is input using a stylus.

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notepaper

noun
paper for writing letters on.

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noteworthy

adjective
interesting or significant.

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nothing

pronoun
1. not anything.
2. something of no importance or concern.
3. nought.

adverb
not at all.

IDIOMS -
for nothing
1. without payment or charge.
2. to no purpose.
nothing but only.
nothing doing informal
1. there is no prospect of success or agreement.
2. nothing is happening.
sweet nothings words of affection exchanged by lovers.
think nothing of it do not apologize or feel bound to show gratitude.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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nothingness

noun
1. the absence or ending of existence.
2. insignificance.

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notice

noun
1. attention; observation.
2. advance notification or warning.
3. a formal declaration of one's intention to end an agreement, typically one concerning employment or tenancy.
4. a displayed sheet or placard giving news or information.
5. a small published announcement or advertisement.
6. a short published review.

verb
1. become aware of.
2. (be noticed) be recognized as noteworthy.
3. archaic remark on.

IDIOMS -
at short (or a moment's) notice with little warning.
put someone on notice (or serve notice) warn someone of something about or likely to occur.
take (no) notice (of) pay (no) attention (to).

ORIGIN: Latin notitia, from notus 'known' .

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noticeable

adjective
easily seen; clear or apparent.

DERIVATIVES:
noticeably adverb.

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notifiable

adjective
(of an infectious disease) that must be officially reported.

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notify

verb (notifies, notified)
inform, typically in a formal or official manner.

DERIVATIVES:
notification noun.

ORIGIN: Latin notificare 'make known' .

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notion

noun
1. a concept or belief.
2. an impulse or desire.
3. a vague awareness or understanding.
4. (notions) chiefly N. Amer. items used in sewing, such as buttons and pins.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'idea' .

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notional

adjective
hypothetical or imaginary.

DERIVATIVES:
notionally adverb.

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notorious

adjective
famous for some bad quality or deed.

DERIVATIVES:
notoriety noun
notoriously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin notorius, from notus 'known' .

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Notts.

abbreviation
Nottinghamshire.

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notwithstanding

preposition
in spite of.

adverb
nevertheless.

conjunction
although.

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nougat

noun
a sweet made from sugar or honey, nuts, and egg white.

ORIGIN: French, from Provençal noga 'nut' .

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nought

noun
the digit 0.

pronoun variant spelling of NAUGHT.

IDIOMS -
noughts and crosses a game in which two players seek to complete a row of either three noughts or three crosses drawn alternately in the spaces of a grid of nine squares.

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noun

noun Grammar
a word (other than a pronoun) used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things (common noun) , or to name a particular one of these (proper noun) .

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin nomen 'name' .

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noun phrase

noun Grammar
a word or group of words that function in a sentence as subject, object, or prepositional object.

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nourish

verb
1. provide with the food or other substances necessary for growth and health.
2. keep (a feeling or belief) in one's mind for a long time.

ORIGIN: Old French norir, from Latin nutrire.

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nourishment

noun
1. the food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition.
2. the action of nourishing.

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nous

noun
1. Brit. informal practical intelligence.
2. Philosophy the mind or intellect.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'mind, intelligence' .

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nouveau riche

noun (treated as pl. )
people who have recently acquired wealth, typically those perceived as lacking good taste.

ORIGIN: French, 'new rich' .

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nouvelle cuisine

noun
a modern style of cookery that emphasizes fresh, wholesome ingredients and the presentation of the dishes.

ORIGIN: French, 'new cookery' .

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Nov.

abbreviation
November.

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nova

noun (pl. novae or novas) Astronomy
a star suddenly increasing in brightness and then slowly returning to normal.

ORIGIN: Latin, from novus 'new' (because such stars were thought to be newly formed).

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novel [1]

noun
a fictitious prose narrative of book length.

ORIGIN: from Italian novella storia 'new story' .

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novel [2]

adjective
interestingly new or unusual.

ORIGIN: Latin novellus, from novus 'new' .

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novelette

noun chiefly derogatory
a short novel, typically a light romantic one.

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novelist

noun
a writer of novels.

DERIVATIVES:
novelistic adjective.

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novella

noun
a short novel or long short story.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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novelty

noun (pl. novelties)
1. the quality of being novel.
2. a new or unfamiliar thing.
3. a small and inexpensive toy or ornament.
4. (before another noun ) intended to be amusingly striking or unusual: a novelty teapot.

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November

noun
the eleventh month of the year.

ORIGIN: Latin, from novem 'nine' (being originally the ninth month of the Roman year).

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novena

noun
(in the Roman Catholic Church) a form of worship consisting of special prayers or services on nine successive days.

ORIGIN: Latin, from novem 'nine' .

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novice

noun
1. a person new to and inexperienced in a job or situation.
2. a person who has entered a religious order and is under probation, before taking vows.
3. a racehorse that has not yet won a major prize or reached a qualifying level of performance.

ORIGIN: Latin novicius, from novus 'new' .

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novitiate (also noviciate)

noun
1. the period or state of being a novice.
2. a religious novice.
3. a place housing religious novices.

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now

adverb
1. at the present time.
2. at or from this precise moment.
3. under the present circumstances.

conjunction
as a consequence of the fact.

IDIOMS -
now and again (or then) from time to time.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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nowadays

adverb
at the present time, in contrast with the past.

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nowhere

adverb
not in or to any place.

pronoun
1. no place.
2. a place that is remote or uninteresting.

IDIOMS -
from (or out of) nowhere appearing or happening suddenly and unexpectedly.
get (or go) nowhere make no progress.
nowhere near not nearly.

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nowt

pronoun & adverb N. English
nothing.

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noxious

adjective
harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant.

ORIGIN: from Latin noxa 'harm' .

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nozzle

noun
a spout used to control a jet of liquid or gas.

ORIGIN: from NOSE.

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NS

abbreviation
1. (in calculating dates) New Style.
2. Nova Scotia.

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ns

abbreviation
nanosecond.

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NSPCC

abbreviation
(in the UK) National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

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NSW

abbreviation
New South Wales.

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NT

abbreviation
1. National Trust.
2. New Testament.
3. Northern Territory.
4. Northwest Territories.

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-n't

contraction
not, used with auxiliary verbs (e.g. can't).

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nth

adjective
1. Mathematics denoting an unspecified term in a series.
2. denoting the last or latest item in a long series.

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nuance

noun
a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, colour, etc.

verb (usu. be nuanced)
give nuances to.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin nubes 'cloud' .

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nub

noun
1. (the nub) the crux or central point of a matter.
2. a small lump or protuberance.

DERIVATIVES:
nubby adjective.

ORIGIN: apparently from dialect knub 'protuberance' , from Low German.

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nubile

adjective
(of a girl or woman) youthful but sexually mature and attractive.

DERIVATIVES:
nubility noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin nubilis 'marriageable' .

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nuclear

adjective
1. relating to a nucleus.
2. using energy released in the fission or fusion of atomic nuclei.
3. possessing or involving nuclear weapons.

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nuclear family

noun
a couple and their dependent children, regarded as a basic social unit.

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nuclear fuel

noun
a substance that will undergo nuclear fission and can be used as a source of nuclear energy.

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nuclear physics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the science of atomic nuclei and their interactions, especially in the generation of nuclear energy.

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nuclear power

noun
power generated by a nuclear reactor.

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nuclear waste

noun
radioactive waste material, especially from the use or reprocessing of nuclear fuel.

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nucleate

verb (usu. as adj. nucleated)
1. form a nucleus.
2. form around a central area.

adjective chiefly Biology
having a nucleus.

DERIVATIVES:
nucleation noun.

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nucleic acid

noun Biochemistry
a complex organic substance, especially DNA or RNA, whose molecules consist of long chains of nucleotides.

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nucleus

noun (pl. nuclei)
1. the central and most important part of an object or group.
2. Physics the positively charged central core of an atom, containing nearly all its mass.
3. Biology a structure present in most cells, containing the genetic material.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'kernel, inner part' , from nux 'nut' .

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nude

adjective
wearing no clothes.

noun
a naked human figure as a subject in art or photography.

DERIVATIVES:
nudity noun
.
ORIGIN: Latin nudus 'plain, explicit' .

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nudge

verb
1. prod with one's elbow to attract attention.
2. touch or push lightly.
3. give gentle encouragement to.

noun
a light touch or push.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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nudist

noun
a person who goes naked wherever possible.

DERIVATIVES:
nudism noun.

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nugatory

adjective
1. worthless.
2. useless or invalid.

ORIGIN: Latin nugatorius, from nugari 'to trifle' .

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nugget

noun
1. a small lump of gold or other precious metal found ready-formed in the earth.
2. a small but valuable fact.

ORIGIN: apparently from dialect nug «lump», of unknown origin.

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nuisance

noun
a person or thing causing inconvenience or annoyance.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'hurt' , from Latin nocere 'to harm' .

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nuke informal

noun
a nuclear weapon.

verb
attack or destroy with nuclear weapons.

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null

adjective
1. (usu. in phrase null and void) having no legal force; invalid.
2. having or associated with the value zero.
3. having no positive substance.

noun
1. a dummy letter in a cipher.
2. Electronics a condition in which no signal is generated.

verb Electronics
cancel out.

ORIGIN: Latin nullus 'none' .

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nullify

verb (nullifies, nullified)
1. make null and void.
2. cancel out.

DERIVATIVES:
nullification noun.

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nullity

noun (pl. nullities)
1. the state of being null.
2. a thing that is null.

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numb

adjective
deprived of the power of sensation.

verb
make numb.

DERIVATIVES:
numbly adverb
numbness noun

ORIGIN: from obsolete nomen «taken», from Germanic.

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number

noun
1. a quantity or value expressed by a word, symbol, or figure.
2. a quantity or amount of something countable.
3. (a number of) several.
4. a single issue of a magazine.
5. a song, dance, or other musical item.
6. informal an item of clothing of a particular type, regarded with approval: a little black number.
7. a grammatical classification of words that consists typically of singular and plural.

verb
1. amount to.
2. mark with a number or give a number to.
3. count or estimate.
4. include as a member of a group.

IDIOMS -
by numbers following simple instructions identified or as if identified by numbers.
have someone's number informal understand a person's real motives or character.
someone's days are numbered someone will not survive for much longer.
someone's number is up informal someone is finished or doomed to die.
without number too many to count.

DERIVATIVES:
numberless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French nombre, from Latin numerus.

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number cruncher

noun informal
1. a computer for performing complicated calculations.
2. often derogatory a statistician or other person dealing with numerical data.

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number one

noun informal
1. oneself.
2. the foremost person or thing.
3. a first lieutenant in the navy.

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number plate

noun Brit.
a sign on the front and rear of a vehicle displaying its registration number.

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numbskull (also numskull)

noun informal
a stupid or foolish person.

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numeral

noun
a figure, word, or group of figures denoting a number.

adjective
of or denoting a number.

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numerate

adjective
having a good basic knowledge of arithmetic.

DERIVATIVES:
numeracy noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin numerus 'a number' , on the pattern of literate.

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numeration

noun
the action or process of numbering or calculating.

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numerator

noun
the number above the line in a vulgar fraction showing how many of the parts indicated by the denominator are taken, e.g. 2 in 2 / 3.

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numerical

adjective
of, relating to, or expressed as a number or numbers.

DERIVATIVES:
numerically adverb.

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numerology

noun
the branch of knowledge concerned with the occult significance of numbers.

DERIVATIVES:
numerological adjective
numerologist noun.

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numerous

adjective
1. many.
2. consisting of many members.

DERIVATIVES:
numerously adverb.

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numinous

adjective
having a strong religious or spiritual quality.

ORIGIN: from Latin numen (see NUMEN).

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numismatic

adjective
of or relating to coins or medals.

DERIVATIVES:
numismatically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek nomisma 'current coin' .

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nun

noun
1. a member of a female religious community, typically one living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
2. a pigeon of a breed with a crest on its neck.

ORIGIN: Latin nonna, feminine of nonnus 'monk' .

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nuncio

noun (pl. nuncios)
(in the Roman Catholic Church) a papal ambassador to a foreign government or court.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin nuntius 'messenger' .

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nunnery

noun (pl. nunneries)
a religious house of nuns.

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nuptial

adjective
1. of or relating to marriage or weddings.
2. Zoology relating to breeding.

noun (nuptials)
a wedding.

ORIGIN: Latin nuptialis, from nuptiae 'wedding' .

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nurse

noun
1. a person trained to care for the sick or infirm.
2. dated a person employed or trained to take charge of young children.

verb
1. give medical and other attention to.
2. feed or be fed at the breast.
3. treat or hold carefully or protectively.
4. harbour (a belief or feeling) for a long time.

DERIVATIVES:
nursing noun.

ORIGIN: Old French nourice, from Latin nutrire 'nourish' .

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nursemaid

noun
a woman or girl employed to look after a young child or children.

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nursery

noun (pl. nurseries)
1. a room in a house for the special use of young children.
2. (also day nursery) a nursery school.
3. a place where young plants and trees are grown for sale or for planting elsewhere.

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nurseryman

noun
a worker in or owner of a plant or tree nursery.

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nursery nurse

noun Brit.
a person trained to look after young children and babies in nurseries, crèches, etc.

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nursery rhyme

noun
a simple traditional song or poem for children.

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nursery school

noun
a school for young children, mainly between the ages of three and five.

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nursing home

noun
a small private institution for the elderly providing residential accommodation with health care.

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nurture

verb
1. rear and encourage the development of (a child).
2. cherish (a hope, belief, or ambition).

noun
1. the action or process of nurturing.
2. upbringing, education, and environment as a factor determining personality. Often contrasted with NATURE.

ORIGIN: Old French noureture 'nourishment' , from Latin nutrire 'feed, cherish' .

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nut

noun
1. a fruit consisting of a hard or tough shell around an edible kernel.
2. the hard kernel of such a fruit.
3. a small flat piece of metal or other material, typically square or hexagonal, with a threaded hole through it for screwing on to a bolt.
4. informal a crazy or eccentric person.
5. informal an obsessive enthusiast: a football nut.
6. informal a person's head.
7. a small lump of coal or other material.
8. (nuts) vulgar slang a man's testicles.

verb (nutted, nutting) informal
butt with one's head.

IDIOMS -
do one's nut Brit. informal be extremely angry or agitated.
nuts and bolts informal the basic practical details.
a tough (or hard) nut to crack informal a problem or an opponent that is hard to solve or overcome.

DERIVATIVES:
nutty adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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nutcase

noun informal
a mad or foolish person.

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nutmeg

noun
a spice made from the seed of a tropical tree native to the Moluccas.

ORIGIN: partial translation of Old French nois muguede 'musky nut' .

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nutrient

noun
a substance that provides nourishment essential for life and growth.

ORIGIN: from Latin nutrire 'nourish' .

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nutriment

noun
nourishment; sustenance.

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nutrition

noun
1. the process of taking in and assimilating nutrients.
2. the branch of science concerned with this process.

DERIVATIVES:
nutritional adjective
nutritionist noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from nutrire 'nourish' .

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nutritious

adjective
full of nutrients; nourishing.

DERIVATIVES:
nutritiously adverb.

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nutritive

adjective
1. of or relating to nutrition.
2. nutritious.

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nuts

adjective informal
mad.

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nutshell

noun
the hard woody covering around the kernel of a nut.

IDIOMS -
in a nutshell in the fewest possible words.

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nutter

noun Brit. informal
a mad or eccentric person.

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nuzzle

verb
rub or push against gently with the nose and mouth.

ORIGIN: from NOSE.

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NV

abbreviation
Nevada.

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NVQ

abbreviation
(in the UK) National Vocational Qualification.

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NW

abbreviation
1. north-west.
2. north-western.

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NY

abbreviation
New York.

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NYC

abbreviation
New York City.

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nylon

noun
1. a tough, lightweight, elastic synthetic polymer with a protein-like chemical structure.
2. fabric or yarn made of such polymers.
3. (nylons) nylon stockings or tights.

ORIGIN: an invented word.

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nymph

noun
1. a mythological spirit of nature imagined as a beautiful maiden.
2. literary a beautiful young woman.
3. an immature form of an insect such as a dragonfly.

DERIVATIVES:
nymphal adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek numph 'nymph, bride' .

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nymphet

noun
an attractive and sexually mature young girl.

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nympho

noun (pl. nymphos) informal
a nymphomaniac.

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nymphomania

noun
uncontrollable or excessive sexual desire in a woman.

DERIVATIVES:
nymphomaniac noun.

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NZ

abbreviation
New Zealand.

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O

O [1] (also o)

noun (pl. Os or O's)
1. the fifteenth letter of the alphabet.
2. (also oh) zero, especially when spoken).
3. a human blood type (in the ABO system) lacking both the A and B antigens.

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O [2]

symbol
the chemical element oxygen.

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O [3]

exclamation
1. archaic spelling of OH.
2. used before a name in the vocative.

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oaf

noun
a stupid, boorish, or clumsy man.

DERIVATIVES:
oafish adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «elf's child, changeling», later «idiot child»: from Old Norse, 'elf' .

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oak

noun
1. a large tree which bears acorns and typically has lobed leaves and hard durable wood.
2. a smoky flavour or nose characteristic of wine aged in oak barrels.

IDIOMS -
great oaks from little acorns grow proverb something of small or modest proportions may grow into something very large or impressive.

DERIVATIVES:
oaken adjective (archaic )
oaky adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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oak apple

noun
a spongy spherical gall which forms on oak trees, caused by wasp larvae.

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oakum

noun chiefly historical
loose fibre obtained by untwisting old rope, used especially in caulking wooden ships.

ORIGIN: Old English, «off-combings».

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OAP

abbreviation Brit.
old-age pensioner.

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oar

noun
a pole with a flat blade, used for rowing or steering a boat.

IDIOMS -
put one's oar in informal give an opinion without being asked.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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oarsman (or oarswoman)

noun
a rower.

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oasis

noun (pl. oases)
1. a fertile spot in a desert where water rises to ground level.
2. an area or period of calm in the midst of a difficult or hectic place or situation.

ORIGIN: Greek, from Egyptian.

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oast house

noun
a building containing an oast, typically conical in shape with a cowl on top.

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oat

noun
a cereal plant with a loose branched cluster of florets, cultivated in cool climates.

IDIOMS -
feel one's oats N. Amer. informal feel lively and energetic.
get one's oats Brit. informal have sexual intercourse.
sow one's wild oats go through a period of wild or promiscuous behaviour while young.

DERIVATIVES:
oaty adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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oatcake

noun
a savoury oatmeal biscuit.

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oath

noun (pl. oaths)
1. a solemn promise, especially one that calls on a deity as a witness.
2. an obscene or blasphemous utterance.

IDIOMS -
under (or on) oath having sworn to tell the truth, especially in a court of law.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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oatmeal

noun
meal made from ground oats, used in making porridge and oatcakes.

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ob- (also oc- before c; of- before f; op- before p)

prefix forming words meaning:
1. to, towards: obverse.
2. against: opponent.
3. finality; completeness: obsolete.
4. technical in a direction or manner contrary to the usual.

ORIGIN: Latin ob 'towards, against, in the way of' .

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obdurate

adjective
stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.

DERIVATIVES:
obduracy noun
obdurately adverb
obdurateness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin obduratus, from durare 'harden' .

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OBE

abbreviation
Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

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obedient

adjective
willing to obey an order or submit to another's authority.

DERIVATIVES:
obedience noun
obediently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin oboedire 'obey' .

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obeisance

noun
1. deferential respect or homage.
2. a gesture expressing this, such as a bow.

DERIVATIVES:
obeisant adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French obeissance, from obeir 'obey' .

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obelisk

noun
a tapering stone pillar of square or rectangular cross section, set up as a monument or landmark.

ORIGIN: Greek obeliskos 'small pointed pillar' .

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obese

adjective
very fat.

DERIVATIVES:
obesity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin obesus.

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obey

verb
1. submit to the authority of.
2. carry out (an order).
3. behave in accordance with (a principle or law).

ORIGIN: Old French obeir, from Latin oboedire, from audire 'hear' .

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obfuscate

verb
make unclear or unintelligible.

DERIVATIVES:
obfuscation noun
obfuscatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin obfuscare 'darken' .

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obituary

noun (pl. obituaries)
an announcement that someone has died, especially as published in a newspaper in the form of a brief biography.

ORIGIN: from Latin obitus 'death' .

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object

noun
1. a material thing that can be seen and touched.
2. a person or thing to which an action or feeling is directed.
3. a goal or purpose.
4. Grammar a noun or noun phrase governed by a transitive verb or by a preposition.

verb
express disapproval or opposition.

IDIOMS -
no object not influencing or restricting choices or decisions: money is no object.

DERIVATIVES:
objector noun.

ORIGIN: Latin objectum 'thing presented to the mind' .

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objectify

verb (objectifies, objectified)
1. express (something abstract) in a concrete form.
2. degrade to the status of an object.

DERIVATIVES:
objectification noun.

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objection

noun
1. an expression of disapproval or opposition.
2. the action of challenging or disagreeing: a letter of objection.

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objectionable

adjective
arousing distaste or opposition.

DERIVATIVES:
objectionableness noun
objectionably adverb.

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objective

adjective
1. not influenced by personal feelings or opinions.
2. not dependent on the mind for existence; actual.
3. Grammar relating to a case of nouns and pronouns used for the object of a transitive verb or a preposition.

noun
1. a goal or aim.
2. the lens in a telescope or microscope nearest to the object observed.

DERIVATIVES:
objectively adverb
objectivity noun
objectivize (also objectivise) verb.

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object lesson

noun
a striking practical example of a principle or ideal.

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objet d'art

noun (pl. objets d'art pronunc. same)
a small decorative or artistic object.

ORIGIN: French, 'object of art' .

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oblate

adjective Geometry
(of a spheroid) flattened at the poles. Often contrasted with PROLATE.

ORIGIN: Latin oblatus 'carried inversely' .

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oblation

noun
1. a thing presented or offered to a god.
2. Christian Church the presentation of bread and wine to God in the Eucharist.

DERIVATIVES:
oblational adjective
oblatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from offerre 'to offer' .

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obligate

verb
1. compel legally or morally.
2. US commit (assets) as security.

adjective Biology
restricted to a particular function or mode of life.

ORIGIN: Latin obligare, from ligare 'to bind' .

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obligation

noun
1. an act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound.
2. the condition of being morally or legally bound to do something.
3. a debt of gratitude for a service or favour.

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obligatory

adjective
1. required by a legal or other rule; compulsory.
2. (of a ruling) having binding force.

DERIVATIVES:
obligatorily adverb.

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oblige

verb
1. compel legally or morally.
2. perform a service or favour for.
3. (be obliged) be indebted or grateful.

ORIGIN: Latin obligare, from ligare 'to bind' .

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obliging

adjective
willing to do a service or kindness; helpful.

DERIVATIVES:
obligingly adverb.

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oblique

adjective
1. neither parallel nor at right angles; slanting.
2. not explicit or direct.
3. Geometry (of a line, plane figure, or surface) inclined at other than a right angle.

noun Brit. another term for SLASH (in sense 3).

DERIVATIVES:
obliquely adverb
obliqueness noun
obliquity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin obliquus.

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obliterate

verb
1. destroy completely.
2. blot out or erase.

DERIVATIVES:
obliteration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin obliterare 'strike out, erase' , from littera 'letter' .

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oblivion

noun
1. the state of being unaware of what is happening around one.
2. the state of being forgotten.
3. destruction or extinction.

ORIGIN: Latin, from oblivisci 'forget' .

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oblivious

adjective
not aware of what is happening around one.

DERIVATIVES:
obliviously adverb
obliviousness noun.

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oblong

adjective
having a rectangular shape.

noun
an oblong object or flat figure.

ORIGIN: Latin oblongus 'longish' .

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obloquy

noun
1. strong public condemnation.
2. disgrace brought about by public condemnation.

ORIGIN: from Latin obloqui 'speak against' .

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obnoxious

adjective
extremely unpleasant.

DERIVATIVES:
obnoxiously adverb
obnoxiousness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «vulnerable»: from Latin obnoxius 'exposed to harm' .

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oboe

noun
a woodwind instrument of treble pitch, played with a double reed and having an incisive tone.

DERIVATIVES:
oboist noun.

ORIGIN: Italian, or from French hautbois, from haut 'high' + bois 'wood' .

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obscene

adjective
1. offending accepted standards of decency; offensive or disgusting.
2. morally repugnant through being excessive: obscene pay rises.

DERIVATIVES:
obscenely adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin obscaenus 'ill-omened, abominable' .

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obscenity

noun (pl. obscenities)
1. the state or quality of being obscene.
2. an obscene action, image, or expression.

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obscurantism

noun
the practice of preventing the facts or full details of something from becoming known.

DERIVATIVES:
obscurantist noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin obscurare 'make dark' .

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obscure

adjective (obscurer, obscurest)
1. not discovered or known about; uncertain.
2. not well known.
3. not clearly expressed or easily understood.
4. hard to make out; indistinct.

verb
conceal or make unclear.

DERIVATIVES:
obscuration noun
obscurely adverb
obscurity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin obscurus 'dark' .

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obsequies

plural noun
funeral rites.

ORIGIN: Latin, from exsequiae 'funeral rites' , influenced by obsequium 'dutiful service' .

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obsequious

adjective
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree.

DERIVATIVES:
obsequiously adverb
obsequiousness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin obsequium 'compliance' , from obsequi 'follow, comply with' .

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observance

noun
1. compliance with the requirements of law, morality, or ritual.
2. (observances) acts performed for religious or ceremonial reasons.

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observant

adjective
1. quick to notice things.
2. observing the rules of a religion.

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observation

noun
1. the action or process of closely observing or monitoring.
2. the ability to notice significant details.
3. a comment based on something one has seen, heard, or noticed.

DERIVATIVES:
observational adjective.

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observatory

noun (pl. observatories)
a room or building housing an astronomical telescope or other scientific equipment for the study of natural phenomena.

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observe

verb
1. notice; perceive.
2. watch attentively; monitor.
3. make a remark; say.
4. fulfil or comply with.

DERIVATIVES:
observable adjective
observer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin observare 'to watch' .

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obsess

verb
1. (usu. be obsessed) fill the mind of (someone) continually and disturbingly.
2. informal, chiefly N. Amer. be preoccupied in this way.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «haunt, possess», referring to an evil spirit: from Latin obsidere 'besiege' .

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obsession

noun
1. the state of being obsessed.
2. an idea or thought that intrudes on someone's mind.

DERIVATIVES:
obsessional adjective.

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obsessive

adjective
1. obsessed with someone or something.
2. affecting the mind continually and disturbingly.

DERIVATIVES:
obsessively adverb
obsessiveness noun.

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obsidian

noun
a dark glass-like volcanic rock formed by the rapid solidification of lava without crystallization.

ORIGIN: Latin obsidianus, error for obsianus, from Obsius, the name (in Pliny) of the discoverer of a similar stone.

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obsolescent

adjective
becoming obsolete.

DERIVATIVES:
obsolesce verb
obsolescence noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin obsolescere 'fall into disuse' .

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obsolete

adjective
1. no longer produced or used; out of date.
2. Biology rudimentary or vestigial.

ORIGIN: Latin obsoletus 'grown old, worn out' , from obsolescere 'fall into disuse' .

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obstacle

noun
a thing that blocks one's way or hinders progress.

ORIGIN: Latin obstaculum, from obstare 'impede' .

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obstetrician

noun
a physician or surgeon qualified to practise in obstetrics.

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obstetrics

plural noun
the branch of medicine and surgery concerned with childbirth.

DERIVATIVES:
obstetric adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin obstetrix 'midwife' , from obstare 'be present' .

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obstinate

adjective
1. stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action.
2. hard to deal with or overcome: an obstinate problem.

DERIVATIVES:
obstinacy noun
obstinately adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin obstinatus, from obstinare 'persist' .

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obstreperous

adjective
noisy and difficult to control.

DERIVATIVES:
obstreperously adverb
obstreperousness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin obstrepere, from strepere 'make a noise' .

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obstruct

verb
1. be in the way of; block.
2. prevent or hinder.

DERIVATIVES:
obstructive adjective
obstructor noun.

ORIGIN: Latin obstruere, from struere 'pile up' .

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obstruction

noun
1. the action of obstructing or the state of being obstructed.
2. a thing that obstructs.

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obtain

verb
1. come into possession of; get.
2. formal be prevalent, customary, or established.

DERIVATIVES:
obtainable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin obtinere.

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obtrude

verb
1. become obtrusive.
2. impose or force on someone.

ORIGIN: Latin obtrudere, from trudere 'to push' .

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obtrusive

adjective
noticeable or prominent in an unwelcome or intrusive way.

DERIVATIVES:
obtrusively adverb
obtrusiveness noun.

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obtuse

adjective
1. annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand.
2. (of an angle) more than 90° and less than 180°.
3. not sharp-pointed or sharp-edged; blunt.

DERIVATIVES:
obtusely adverb
obtuseness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin obtusus, from obtundere 'beat against' .

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obverse

noun
1. the side of a coin or medal bearing the head or principal design.
2. the opposite or counterpart of a fact or truth.

adjective
1. denoting the obverse of a coin or medal.
2. corresponding to something as its opposite or counterpart.

DERIVATIVES:
obversely adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin obversus, from obvertere 'turn towards' .

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obviate

verb
1. remove (a need or difficulty).
2. avoid; prevent.

DERIVATIVES:
obviation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin obviare, from via 'way' .

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obvious

adjective
1. easily perceived or understood; clear.
2. derogatory predictable and lacking in subtlety.

DERIVATIVES:
obviously adverb
obviousness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «frequently encountered»: from Latin ob viam 'in the way' .

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ocarina

noun
a small wind instrument with holes for the fingers, typically having the shape of a bird.

ORIGIN: Italian, from oca 'goose' (referring to its shape).

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occasion

noun
1. a particular event, or the time at which it takes place.
2. a suitable or opportune time.
3. a special event or celebration.
4. formal reason or justification: we have occasion to rejoice.

verb formal
cause.

IDIOMS -
on occasion from time to time.
rise to the occasion perform well in response to a special situation.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'juncture, reason' , from occidere 'go down, set' .

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occasional

adjective
1. occurring infrequently or irregularly.
2. produced on or intended for particular occasions: occasional verse.

DERIVATIVES:
occasionally adverb.

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Occident

noun (the Occident) formal or literary
the countries of the West.

ORIGIN: from Latin occidere 'go down, set' , with reference to the setting of the sun.

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occidental

adjective
relating to the countries of the West.

noun (Occidental)
a person from the West.

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occiput

noun Anatomy
the back of the head.

DERIVATIVES:
occipital adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from caput 'head' .

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occlude

verb
1. stop, close up, or obstruct.
2. Chemistry (of a solid) absorb and retain (a gas or impurity).
3. (of a tooth) come into contact with another in the opposite jaw.

ORIGIN: Latin occludere.

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occluded front

noun
a composite weather front produced when a cold front catches up with a warm front, so that the warm air in between them is forced upwards.

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occult

noun (the occult)
supernatural beliefs, practices, or phenomena.

adjective
1. relating to the occult.
2. beyond ordinary knowledge or experience; esoteric.
3. Medicine (of a disease or process) present but not readily discernible.

verb
1. cut off from view by interposing something.
2. Astronomy (of a celestial body) conceal (another body) from view.

DERIVATIVES:
occultation noun
occultism noun
occultist noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin occulere 'conceal' .

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occupancy

noun
1. the action or fact of occupying a place.
2. the proportion of accommodation occupied or used.

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occupant

noun
1. a person who occupies a place at a given time.
2. the holder of a position or office.

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occupation

noun
1. a job or profession.
2. the action, state, or period of occupying or being occupied.
3. a way of spending time.

DERIVATIVES:
occupational adjective
occupationally adverb.

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occupational therapy

noun
the use of particular activities as an aid to recovery from physical or mental illness.

DERIVATIVES:
occupational therapist noun.

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occupy

verb (occupies, occupied)
1. live or have one's place of business in.
2. take control of (a place) by military conquest or settlement.
3. enter and stay in (a building) without authority.
4. fill or take up (a space, time or position).
5. keep busy, active, or preoccupied.

DERIVATIVES:
occupier noun.

ORIGIN: Latin occupare 'seize' .

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occur

verb (occurred, occurring)
1. happen; take place.
2. exist or be found to be present.
3. (occur to) come into the mind of.

ORIGIN: Latin occurrere 'go to meet, present itself' .

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occurrence

noun
1. the fact or frequency of something occurring.
2. a thing that occurs; an incident or event.

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ocean

noun
1. a very large expanse of sea; in particular, each of the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Antarctic Oceans.
2. (the ocean) chiefly N. Amer. the sea.

ORIGIN: Greek keanos 'great stream encircling the earth's disc' .

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oceanic

adjective
1. relating to the ocean.
2. (Oceanic) Oceanian.

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oceanography

noun
the branch of science concerned with the physical and biological properties and phenomena of the sea.

DERIVATIVES:
oceanographer noun
oceanographic adjective.

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ocelot

noun
a medium-sized striped and spotted wild cat, native to South and Central America.

ORIGIN: French, from a Nahuatl word meaning 'field tiger' .

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ochre (US also ocher)

noun
an earthy pigment containing ferric oxide, varying from light yellow to brown or red.

DERIVATIVES:
ochreous adjective
ochrous adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek khra.

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o'clock

adverb
used to specify the hour when telling the time.

ORIGIN: contraction of of the clock.

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Oct.

abbreviation
October.

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octagon

noun
a plane figure with eight straight sides and eight angles.

DERIVATIVES:
octagonal adjective.

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octahedron

noun (pl. octahedra or octahedrons)
a three-dimensional shape having eight plane faces, in particular eight equal triangular faces.

DERIVATIVES:
octahedral adjective.

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octane

noun Chemistry
a liquid hydrocarbon present in petroleum spirit.

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octave

noun
1. Music a series of eight notes occupying the interval between (and including) two notes, one having twice or half the pitch of the other.
2. Music the interval between two such notes, or the notes themselves sounding together.
3. a group or stanza of eight lines.

ORIGIN: originally referring to a period of eight days following and including a Church festival; from Latin octava dies 'eighth day' .

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octavo

noun (pl. octavos)
a size of book page that results from folding each printed sheet into eight leaves (sixteen pages).

ORIGIN: from Latin in octavo 'in an eighth' .

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octet

noun
1. a group of eight musicians.
2. a musical composition for eight voices or instruments.
3. a group of eight lines of verse.

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October

noun
the tenth month of the year.

ORIGIN: from Latin octo 'eight' , October being originally the eighth month of the Roman year.

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octogenarian

noun
a person who is between 80 and 89 years old.

ORIGIN: from Latin octoginta 'eighty' .

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octopus

noun (pl. octopuses)
a mollusc with eight sucker-bearing arms, a soft body, beak-like jaws, and no internal shell.

DERIVATIVES:
octopoid adjective.
USAGE - The standard plural in English of octopus is octopuses. However, since the word comes from Greek, the Greek plural form octopodes is still occasionally used. The plural form octopi, formed according to rules for Latin plurals, is incorrect.
ORIGIN: Greek, from okt 'eight' + pous 'foot' .

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ocular

adjective
of or connected with the eyes or vision.

noun
an eyepiece.

ORIGIN: Latin ocularis, from oculus 'eye' .

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oculist

noun
a person who specializes in the medical treatment of diseases or defects of the eye; an ophthalmologist.

ORIGIN: French oculiste, from Latin oculus 'eye' .

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OD informal

verb (OD's, OD'd, OD'ing)
take an overdose of a drug.

noun
an overdose.

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odalisque

noun historical
a female slave or concubine in a harem.

ORIGIN: French, from Turkish oda 'chamber' + lik 'function' .

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odd

adjective
1. unusual or unexpected; strange.
2. (of whole numbers such as 3 and 5) having one left over as a remainder when divided by two.
3. (in combination ) in the region of: fifty-odd years.
4. occasional: we have the odd drink together.
5. spare; unoccupied: an odd five minutes.
6. detached from a pair or set.

IDIOMS -
odd one out a person or thing differing in some way from the other members of a group or set.
odds and ends miscellaneous articles or remnants.

DERIVATIVES:
oddly adverb
oddness noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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oddball

noun informal
a strange or eccentric person.

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oddity

noun (pl. oddities)
1. the quality of being strange.
2. a strange person or thing.

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oddment

noun
an item or remnant from a larger piece or set.

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odds

plural noun
1. the ratio between the amounts staked by the parties to a bet, based on the expected probability either way.
2. (the odds) the chances of something happening or being the case.
3. (the odds) the balance of advantage; superiority in strength, power, or resources: she clung to the lead against all the odds.

IDIOMS -
at odds in conflict or at variance.
it makes no odds informal, chiefly Brit. it does not matter.
lay (or give) odds offer a bet with odds favourable to the other better.
over the odds Brit. (especially of a price) above what is generally considered acceptable.
take odds offer a bet with odds unfavourable to the other better.

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odds-on

adjective
1. (especially of a horse) rated at evens or less to win.
2. very likely to happen or succeed.

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ode

noun
a poem expressing noble feelings, often addressed to a person or celebrating an event.

ORIGIN: Greek id 'song' , from aeidein 'sing' .

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odious

adjective
extremely unpleasant; repulsive.

DERIVATIVES:
odiously adverb
odiousness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin odium 'hatred' .

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odium

noun
general or widespread hatred or disgust.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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odoriferous

adjective
having an odour.

ORIGIN: from Latin odorifer 'odour-bearing' .

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odour (US odor)

noun
1. a distinctive smell.
2. a lingering quality or impression.

IDIOMS -
be in good (or bad) odour informal be in or out of favour.

DERIVATIVES:
odorous adjective
odourless adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin odor.

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odyssey

noun (pl. odysseys)
a long eventful journey.

DERIVATIVES:
odyssean adjective.

ORIGIN: the title of a Greek epic poem attributed to Homer, describing the adventures of Odysseus.

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OECD

abbreviation
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

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oedema (US edema)

noun
an excess of watery fluid in the cavities or tissues of the body.

DERIVATIVES:
oedematous adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek oidma, from oidein 'to swell' .

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Oedipus complex

noun
(in Freudian theory) the complex of emotions aroused in a young child by an unconscious sexual desire for the parent of the opposite sex.

DERIVATIVES:
Oedipal adjective.

ORIGIN: by association with Oedipus in Greek mythology, who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother.

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oesophagus (US esophagus)

noun (pl. oesophagi or oesophaguses)
the part of the alimentary canal which connects the throat to the stomach.

DERIVATIVES:
oesophageal adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek oisophagos.

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oestrogen (US estrogen)

noun
any of a group of steroid hormones which promote the development and maintenance of female characteristics of the body.

ORIGIN: from OESTRUS.

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oestrus (US estrus)

noun
a recurring period of sexual receptivity and fertility in many female mammals.

DERIVATIVES:
oestrous adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek oistros 'gadfly or frenzy' .

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oeuvre

noun
the body of work of an artist, composer, author, etc.

ORIGIN: French.

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of

preposition
1. expressing the relationship between a part and a whole.
2. belonging to; coming from.
3. expressing the relationship between a scale or measure and a value.
4. made from.
5. expressing the relationship between a direction and a point of reference.
6. expressing the relationship between a general category and something which belongs to such a category.
7. N. Amer. expressing time in relation to the following hour.
USAGE - It is incorrect to write the word of instead of have in constructions such as I could have told you (not I could of told you ). This common mistake is made because the pronunciation of have in unstressed contexts is the same as that of of, so the two words are confused when it comes to writing them down.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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off

adverb
1. away from the place in question.
2. so as to be removed or separated.
3. starting a journey or race.
4. so as to bring to an end or be discontinued.
5. (of an electrical appliance or power supply) not functioning or so as to cease to function.
6. having specified material goods or wealth: badly off.

preposition
1. moving away and often down from.
2. situated or leading in a direction away from.
3. so as to be removed, separated, or absent from.
4. informal having a temporary dislike of.

adjective
1. unsatisfactory or inadequate: an off day.
2. (of food) no longer fresh.
3. located on the side of a vehicle that is normally furthest from the kerb.
4. Brit. informal annoying or unfair.
5. Brit. informal unwell.

noun
1. (also off side) Cricket the half of the field towards which the batsman's feet are pointed when standing to receive the ball. The opposite of LEG.
2. Brit. informal the start of a race or journey.

verb informal N. Amer.
kill; murder.

IDIOMS -
off and on intermittently.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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offal

noun
1. the entrails and internal organs of an animal used as food.
2. decaying or waste matter.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch afval, from af 'off' + vallen 'to fall' .

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offbeat

adjective
1. Music not coinciding with the beat.
2. informal unconventional; unusual.

noun Music
any of the normally unaccented beats in a bar.

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off-colour

adjective
1. Brit. slightly unwell.
2. slightly indecent or obscene.

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offcut

noun
a piece of waste material that is left behind after cutting a larger piece.

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offence (US offense)

noun
1. an illegal act; a breach of a law or rule.
2. resentment or hurt.
3. the action of making a military attack.
4. N. Amer. the attacking team in a sport.

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offend

verb
1. cause to feel hurt or resentful.
2. be displeasing to.
3. commit an act that is illegal or that goes against an accepted principle.

DERIVATIVES:
offender noun.

ORIGIN: Latin offendere 'strike against' .

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offensive

adjective
1. causing offence.
2. involved or used in active attack.
3. chiefly N. Amer. relating to the team in possession of the ball or puck in a game.

noun
a military campaign of attack.

IDIOMS -
be on the offensive be ready to act aggressively.

DERIVATIVES:
offensively adverb
offensiveness noun.

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OFFER

abbreviation
(in the UK) Office of Electricity Regulation.

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offer

verb
1. present for acceptance, refusal, or consideration.
2. express willingness to do something for someone.
3. provide (access or opportunity).
4. present (a prayer or sacrifice) to a deity.
5. (offer up) place in the desired position for fixing.

noun
1. an expression of readiness to do or give something.
2. an amount of money that someone is willing to pay for something.
3. a specially reduced price.
4. a proposal of marriage.

IDIOMS -
on offer
1. available.
2. for sale at a reduced price.

DERIVATIVES:
offerer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin offerre 'bestow, present' .

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offering

noun
1. a small gift or donation.
2. a religious sacrifice.

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offertory

noun (pl. offertories) Christian Church
1. the offering of the bread and wine at the Eucharist.
2. a collection of money made at a religious service.

ORIGIN: Latin offertorium.

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offhand

adjective
ungraciously nonchalant or cool in manner.

adverb
without previous consideration.

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office

noun
1. a room, set of rooms, or building used as a place for non-manual work.
2. a position of authority or service.
3. tenure of an official position.
4. (offices) service done for others: the good offices of the rector.
5. (also Divine Office) Christian Church the services of prayers and psalms said daily by Catholic priests or other clergy.
6. (offices) Brit. dated the parts of a large house given over to household work or to storage.

ORIGIN: Latin officium 'performance of a task' , from opus 'work' + facere 'do' .

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officer

noun
1. a person holding a position of authority, especially a member of the armed forces who holds a commission or a member of the police force.
2. a holder of a public, civil, or ecclesiastical office.

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official

adjective
1. relating to an authority or public body and its activities and responsibilities.
2. having the approval or authorization of such a body.

noun
a person holding public office or having official duties.

DERIVATIVES:
officialdom noun
officially adverb.

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official birthday

noun
(in the UK) a day in June chosen for the observance of the sovereign's birthday.

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officialese

noun
formal and wordy language considered to be characteristic of official documents.

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official secret

noun Brit.
a piece of information that is important for national security and is officially classified as confidential.

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officiate

verb
1. act as an official.
2. perform a religious service or ceremony.

DERIVATIVES:
officiation noun
officiator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin officiare 'perform divine service' .

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officious

adjective
asserting authority or interfering in an overbearing way.

DERIVATIVES:
officiously adverb
officiousness noun.

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offing

noun
the more distant part of the sea in view.

IDIOMS -
in the offing likely to happen or appear soon.

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off-key

adjective & adverb
1. Music not in the correct key or of the correct pitch.
2. inappropriate.

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off-licence

noun Brit.
a shop selling alcoholic drink for consumption elsewhere.

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off-limits

adjective
out of bounds.

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off-line

adjective
not connected to a computer.

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offload

verb
1. unload (a cargo).
2. rid oneself of.

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off-peak

adjective & adverb
at a time when demand is less.

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off-piste

adjective & adverb Skiing
away from prepared ski runs.

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offprint

noun
a printed copy of an article that originally appeared as part of a larger publication.

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off-putting

adjective
unpleasant or disconcerting.

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off season

noun
a time of year when a particular activity is not engaged in or a business is quiet.

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offset

noun
1. a consideration or amount that diminishes or balances the effect of a contrary one.
2. the amount by which something is out of line.
3. a side shoot from a plant serving for propagation.
4. a method of printing in which ink is transferred from a plate or stone to a uniform rubber surface and from that to the paper.

verb (offsetting; past and past part. offset)
1. counterbalance; compensate for.
2. place out of line.
3. transfer an impression by means of offset printing.

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offshoot

noun
1. a side shoot on a plant.
2. a thing that develops from something else.

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offshore

adjective & adverb
1. situated at sea some distance from the shore.
2. (of the wind) blowing towards the sea from the land.
3. relating to the business of extracting oil or gas from the seabed.
4. made, situated, or registered abroad.
5. relating to a foreign country.

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offside

adjective & adverb
(in games such as football) occupying a position on the field where playing the ball or puck is not allowed.

noun
1. the fact of being offside.
2. chiefly Brit. the side of a vehicle furthest from the kerb.
3. the right side of a horse.

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offspring

noun (pl. same)
a person's child or children, or the young of an animal.

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offstage

adjective & adverb
(in a theatre) not on the stage and so not visible to the audience.

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off-white

noun
a white colour with a grey or yellowish tinge.

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Ofgas

abbreviation
(in the UK) Office of Gas Supply.

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Ofsted

abbreviation
(in the UK) Office for Standards in Education.

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OFT

abbreviation
(in the UK) Office of Fair Trading.

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oft (also oft-times)

adverb archaic or literary
often.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Oftel

abbreviation
(in the UK) Office of Telecommunications.

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often (also archaic or N. Amer. oftentimes)

adverb (oftener, oftenest)
1. frequently.
2. in many instances.
USAGE - The comparative and superlative forms oftener and oftenest are not incorrect, but are rarely used now in British English, the more usual constructions being more often and most often. However oftener and oftenest do occur more frequently in North American English. The form oftentimes, which developed as an extension of oft-times, is also archaic in British English although still used in North America.

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Ofwat

abbreviation
(in the UK) Office of Water Services.

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ogle

verb
stare at lecherously.

noun
a lecherous look.

DERIVATIVES:
ogler noun.

ORIGIN: probably from Low German or Dutch.

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ogre

noun (fem. ogress)
1. (in folklore) a man-eating giant.
2. a cruel or terrifying person.

DERIVATIVES:
ogreish (also ogrish) adjective.

ORIGIN: French.

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OH

abbreviation
Ohio.

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oh [1]

exclamation
1. expressing surprise, disappointment, joy, or other emotion.
2. used to acknowledge something that has just been said.

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ohm

noun
the SI unit of electrical resistance, transmitting a current of one ampere when subjected to a potential difference of one volt. (Symbol: .)

ORIGIN: named after the German physicist G. S. Ohm (1789 1854).

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OHMS

abbreviation
on Her (or His) Majesty's Service.

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-oid

suffix forming adjectives and nouns:
1. Zoology denoting an animal belonging to a higher taxon with a name ending in -oidea: hominoid.
2. denoting form or resemblance: asteroid.

DERIVATIVES:
-oidal suffix.

ORIGIN: Greek -oeids; related to eidos 'form' .

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OIEO

abbreviation Brit.
offers in excess of.

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oik (also oick)

noun informal
an uncouth or obnoxious person.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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oil

noun
1. a viscous liquid obtained from petroleum, used especially as a fuel or lubricant.
2. any of various viscous liquids which are insoluble in water and are obtained from animals or plants.
3. Chemistry any of a group of natural esters of glycerol and various fatty acids, which are liquid at room temperature.
4. (also oils) oil paint.

verb
lubricate, coat, or impregnate with oil.

ORIGIN: Old French oile, from Latin oleum 'oil, olive oil' .

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oilcan

noun
a can with a long nozzle used for applying oil to machinery.

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oilcloth

noun
cotton fabric treated with oil to make it waterproof.

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oilfield

noun
an area of land or seabed underlain by strata yielding significant quantities of mineral oil.

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oil-fired

adjective
(especially of a heating system or power station) using oil as fuel.

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oil paint

noun
a paste made with ground pigment and a drying oil such as linseed oil, used by artists.

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oil platform

noun
a structure designed to stand on the seabed to provide a stable base above water for the drilling and regulation of oil wells.

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oil rig

noun
an oil platform.

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oilseed

noun
any of a number of seeds from cultivated crops yielding oil, e.g. rape, peanut, or cotton.

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oilskin

noun
1. heavy cotton cloth waterproofed with oil.
2. (oilskins) a set of garments made of oilskin.

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oil slick

noun
a film or layer of oil floating on an expanse of water.

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oil well

noun
an artificially made well or shaft in rock from which mineral oil is drawn.

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oily

adjective (oilier, oiliest)
1. containing, covered with, or soaked in oil.
2. resembling oil.
3. (of a person) unpleasantly smooth and ingratiating.

DERIVATIVES:
oiliness noun.

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oink

noun
the characteristic grunting sound of a pig.

verb
make such a sound.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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ointment

noun
a smooth substance that is rubbed on the skin for medicinal purposes.

ORIGIN: Old French oignement, from Latin unguentum, from unguere 'anoint' .

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OK [1] (also okay) informal

exclamation
1. expressing agreement or acquiescence.
2. introducing an utterance.

adjective
1. satisfactory, but not especially good.
2. permissible.

adverb
in a satisfactory manner or to a satisfactory extent.

noun
an authorization or approval.

verb (OK's, OK'd, OK'ing)
give approval to.

ORIGIN: probably an abbreviation of orl korrect, humorous form of all correct, popularized as a slogan during President Van Buren's re-election campaign of 1840 in the US; his nickname Old Kinderhook (derived from his birthplace) provided the initials.

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OK [2]

abbreviation
Oklahoma.

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okapi

noun (pl. same or okapis)
a large mammal of the giraffe family that lives in the rainforests of northern Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo), having a dark chestnut coat with stripes on the hindquarters and upper legs.

ORIGIN: a local word.

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okra

noun
the long ridged seed pods of a tropical plant of the mallow family, eaten as a vegetable.

ORIGIN: a West African word.

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old

adjective (older, oldest)
1. having lived for a long time; no longer young.
2. made or built long ago.
3. possessed or used for a long time.
4. dating from far back; long-established or known.
5. former; previous.
6. of a specified age.
7. informal expressing affection, familiarity, or contempt: good old Mum.

IDIOMS -
of old
1. in or belonging to the past.
2. for a long time.
the old days a period in the past.
the old country the native country of a person who has gone to live abroad.
the old school the traditional form or type: a gentleman of the old school.
you can't put an old head on young shoulders proverb you can't expect a young person to have the wisdom or maturity associated with older people.

DERIVATIVES:
oldish adjective
oldness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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old age

noun
1. the later part of normal life.
2. the state of being old.

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old-age pensioner

noun
an old person, especially one receiving a retirement pension.

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old boy

noun
1. a former male pupil of a school.
2. informal an elderly man.
3. an affectionate form of address to a man or boy.

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old boy network (also old boys' network)

noun
an informal system through which men use their positions of influence to help others who went to the same school or university, or who share a similar social background.

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olde (also olde worlde)

adjective pseudo-archaic
old-fashioned in a way that is intended to be attractively quaint.

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olden

adjective
of a former age.

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Old English

noun
the language of the Anglo-Saxons (up to about 1150), an inflected language with a Germanic vocabulary.

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Old English sheepdog

noun
a large sheepdog of a breed with a shaggy blue-grey and white coat.

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old-fashioned

adjective
1. relating to styles or views that are no longer current.
2. disapproving: he gave her an old-fashioned look.

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Old French

noun
the French language up to c.1400.

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old girl

noun
1. a former female pupil of a school.
2. informal an elderly woman.
3. an affectionate term of address to a girl or woman.

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Old Glory

noun US informal
the US national flag.

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old gold

noun
a dull brownish-gold colour.

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old guard

noun
the original or long-standing members of a group, regarded as being unwilling to accept change.

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old hand

noun
a person with a lot of experience.

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old hat

adjective informal
tediously familiar or out of date.

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old lady

noun
1. an elderly woman.
2. (one's old lady) informal one's mother, wife, or girlfriend.

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old maid

noun
1. derogatory a single woman regarded as too old for marriage.
2. a prim and fussy person.
3. a card game in which players collect pairs and try not to be left with an odd penalty card, typically a queen.

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old man

noun
1. an elderly man.
2. (one's old man) informal one's father, husband, or male partner.
3. Brit. informal an affectionate form of address between men or boys.

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old master

noun
a great artist of former times, especially of the 13th 17th century in Europe.

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Old Nick

noun
an informal name for the Devil.

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Old Norse

noun
the North Germanic language of medieval Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Sweden, from which the modern Scandinavian languages are derived.

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Old Testament

noun
the first part of the Christian Bible, comprising thirty-nine books and corresponding approximately to the Hebrew Bible.

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old-time

adjective
pleasingly traditional or old-fashioned.

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old-timer

noun informal
a very experienced or long-serving person.

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old wives' tale

noun
a widely held traditional belief that is now thought to be unscientific or incorrect.

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old woman

noun
1. an elderly woman.
2. (one's old woman) informal one's mother, wife, or female partner.
3. derogatory a fussy or timid person.

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Old World

noun
Europe, Asia, and Africa, regarded collectively as the part of the world known before the discovery of the Americas.

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oleaginous

adjective
1. oily or greasy.
2. exaggeratedly complimentary; obsequious.

ORIGIN: Latin oleaginus 'of the olive tree' .

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oleander

noun
an evergreen shrub grown in warm countries for its clusters of white, pink, or red flowers, that are poisonous if eaten.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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O level

noun historical
(in the UK except Scotland) the lower of the two main levels of the GCE examination.

ORIGIN: short for ORDINARY LEVEL.

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olfaction

noun
the sense of smell.

DERIVATIVES:
olfactive adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin olfactus 'a smell' .

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olfactory

adjective
relating to the sense of smell.

ORIGIN: from Latin olfacere 'to smell' .

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oligarch

noun
a ruler in an oligarchy.

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oligarchy

noun (pl. oligarchies)
1. a small group of people having control of a state.
2. a state governed by such a group.

DERIVATIVES:
oligarchic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek oligoi 'few' + arkhein 'to rule' .

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Oligocene

adjective Geology
relating to the third epoch of the Tertiary period (35.4 to 23.3 million years ago), a time when the first primates appeared.

ORIGIN: from Greek oligos 'few' + kainos 'new' .

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olive

noun
1. a small oval fruit with a hard stone and bitter flesh, green when unripe and bluish black when ripe.
2. the small evergreen tree which yields this fruit.
3. (also olive green) a greyish-green colour like that of an unripe olive.
4. a slice of beef or veal made into a roll with stuffing inside and stewed.
5. a metal ring or fitting tightened under a threaded nut to form a seal.

adjective
(of a person's complexion) yellowish brown; sallow.

ORIGIN: Latin oliva, from Greek elaion 'oil' .

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olive branch

noun
an offer of reconciliation.

ORIGIN: in allusion to the story of Noah in the Book of Genesis, in which a dove returns with an olive branch after the Flood.

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Olympiad

noun
1. a staging of the ancient or modern Olympic Games.
2. a period of four years between Olympic Games, used by the ancient Greeks in dating events.

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Olympian

adjective
1. associated with Mount Olympus in NE Greece, traditional home of the Greek gods.
2. superior and aloof like a god.
3. relating to the Olympic Games.

noun
1. any of the twelve Greek gods regarded as living on Mount Olympus.
2. a very superior or exalted person.
3. a competitor in the Olympic Games.

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Olympic

adjective
relating to ancient Olympia or the Olympic Games.

noun (the Olympics)
the Olympic Games.

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Olympic Games

plural noun
1. a sports festival held every four years in different countries, instigated in 1896.
2. an ancient Greek festival with athletic, literary, and musical competitions, held at Olympia every four years.

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OM

abbreviation
(in the UK) Order of Merit.

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om

noun Hinduism & Tibetan Buddhism
a mystic syllable, considered the most sacred mantra.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, sometimes regarded as three sounds, a-u-m, symbolic of the three major Hindu deities.

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ombudsman

noun
an official appointed to investigate individuals' complaints against bad or dishonest administration, especially that of public authorities.

ORIGIN: Swedish, 'legal representative' .

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omega

noun
1. the last letter of the Greek alphabet (, ), transliterated as ‘o’ or ‘’.
2. the last of a series; the final development.

ORIGIN: from Greek mega 'the great O' .

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omelette (US also omelet)

noun
a dish of beaten eggs cooked in a frying pan and usually served with a savoury topping or filling.

IDIOMS -
one can't make an omelette without breaking eggs proverb one cannot always accomplish something without risking bad effects elsewhere.

ORIGIN: French, from lemele 'knife blade' .

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omen

noun
1. an event regarded as a sign of future good fortune or evil.
2. prophetic significance: a bird of evil omen.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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ominous

adjective
giving the worrying impression that something bad is going to happen.

DERIVATIVES:
ominously adverb
ominousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin ominosus, from omen 'omen' .

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omission

noun
1. the action of leaving something out.
2. a failure to do something.
3. something that has been left out or not done.

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omit

verb (omitted, omitting)
1. leave out or exclude.
2. fail to do.

DERIVATIVES:
omissible adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin omittere 'let go' .

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omni-

combining form
1. all; of all things: omnifarious.
2. in all ways or places: omnipresent.

ORIGIN: from Latin omnis 'all' .

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omnibus

noun
1. a volume containing several works previously published separately.
2. a single edition of two or more consecutive programmes previously broadcast separately.
3. dated a bus.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'for all' .

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omnidirectional

adjective Telecommunications
receiving signals from or transmitting in all directions.

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omnipotent

adjective
having unlimited or very great power.

DERIVATIVES:
omnipotence noun.

ORIGIN: Latin omnipotens.

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omnipresent

adjective
1. (of God) present everywhere at the same time.
2. widely or constantly encountered.

DERIVATIVES:
omnipresence noun.

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omniscient

adjective
knowing everything.

DERIVATIVES:
omniscience noun
omnisciently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin omnisciens, from scire 'to know' .

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omnivore

noun
an omnivorous animal.

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omnivorous

adjective
1. feeding on a variety of food of both plant and animal origin.
2. indiscriminate in taking in or using whatever is available.

DERIVATIVES:
omnivorously adverb.

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ON

abbreviation
Ontario.

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on

preposition
1. in contact with and supported by (a surface).
2. on to.
3. in the possession of.
4. forming a distinctive part of the surface of.
5. about; concerning.
6. as a member of (a committee, jury, etc.).
7. having (the thing mentioned) as a target, aim, or focus.
8. stored in or broadcast by.
9. in the course of or while travelling in.
10. indicating the day or time when something takes place.
11. engaged in.
12. regularly taking (a drug or medicine).
13. paid for by.
14. added to.

adverb
1. in contact with and supported by a surface.
2. (of clothing) being worn.
3. further forward; with continued movement or action.
4. taking place or being presented.
5. (of an electrical appliance or power supply) functioning.
6. on duty or on stage.

noun (also on side) Cricket
the leg side.

IDIOMS -
be on about Brit. informal talk about tediously and at length.
be on at Brit. informal nag or grumble at.
be on to informal
1. be close to uncovering an illegal or undesirable activity engaged in by (someone).
2. (be on to something) have an idea that is likely to lead to an important discovery.
on and on continually; at tedious length.
on to moving to a location on the surface of or aboard.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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onager

noun
a wild ass of a race native to northern Iran.

ORIGIN: Greek onagros 'wild ass' .

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once

adverb
1. on one occasion or for one time only.
2. at all; on even one occasion: he never once complained.
3. formerly.
4. multiplied by one.

conjunction
as soon as; when.

IDIOMS -
all at once
1. suddenly.
2. all at the same time.
at once
1. immediately.
2. simultaneously.
for once (or this once) on this occasion only.
once again (or more) one more time.
once and for all (or once for all) now and for the last time; finally.
once (or every once) in a while occasionally.
once or twice a few times.
once upon a time at some time in the past.

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once-over

noun informal
a rapid inspection, search, or piece of work.

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oncoming

adjective
approaching from the front; moving towards one.

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one

cardinal number
1. the lowest cardinal number; 1. (Roman numeral: i or I.)
2. single, or a single person or thing.
3. (before a person's name) a certain.
4. informal, chiefly N. Amer. a noteworthy example of.
5. identical; the same.

pronoun
1. used to refer to a person or thing previously mentioned or easily identified.
2. a person of a specified kind.
3. (third person sing. ) used to refer to the speaker, or any person, as representing people in general.

IDIOMS -
at one in agreement or harmony.
one after another (or the other) following one another in quick succession.
one and all everyone.
one and only unique; single.
one another each other.
one by one separately and in succession.
one day at a particular but unspecified time in the past or future.
one or another (or the other) a particular but unspecified one out of a set of items.
one or two informal a few.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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one-armed bandit

noun informal
a fruit machine operated by pulling a long handle at the side.

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one-dimensional

adjective
lacking depth; superficial.

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one-horse race

noun
a contest in which one competitor is clearly superior to all the others.

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one-liner

noun informal
a short joke or witty remark.

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one-man band

noun
1. a street entertainer who plays many instruments at the same time.
2. a person who runs a business alone.

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oneness

noun
1. the state of being unified, whole, or in harmony.
2. the state of being one in number.

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one-night stand (also one-nighter)

noun
1. informal a sexual relationship lasting only one night.
2. a single performance of a play or show in a particular place.

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one-off informal, chiefly Brit.

adjective
done, made, or happening only once.

noun
1. something done, made, or happening only once.
2. a unique or remarkable person.

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onerous

adjective
1. involving an oppressive amount of effort and difficulty.
2. Law involving heavy obligations.

ORIGIN: Latin onerosus, from onus 'burden' .

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oneself

pronoun (third person sing. )
1. (reflexive ) used as the object of a verb or preposition when this is the same as the subject of the clause and the subject is ‘one’.
2. (emphatic ) used to emphasize that one does something individually or unaided.
3. in one's normal and individual state of body or mind.

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one-sided

adjective
1. unfairly biased.
2. (of a contest or conflict) grossly unequal.
3. occurring on or having one side only.

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one-time

adjective
former.

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one-track mind

noun informal
a mind preoccupied with one subject, especially sex.

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one-trick pony

noun informal
a person or thing with only one special feature, talent, or area of expertise.

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one-two

noun
1. a pair of punches in quick succession with alternate hands.
2. chiefly Soccer a move in which a player plays a short pass to a teammate and moves forward to receive an immediate return pass.

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one-upmanship

noun informal
the technique of gaining an advantage or feeling of superiority over someone else.

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one-way

adjective
moving or allowing movement in one direction only.

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ongoing

adjective
continuing; still in progress.

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onion

noun
an edible bulb used as a vegetable, having a pungent taste and smell and composed of several concentric layers.

IDIOMS -
know one's onions informal be very knowledgeable.

DERIVATIVES:
oniony adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French oignon, from Latin unio.

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online

adjective & adverb
1. controlled by or connected to a computer.
2. in or into operation or existence.

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onlooker

noun
a non-participating observer; a spectator.

DERIVATIVES:
onlooking adjective.

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only

adverb
1. and no one or nothing more besides.
2. no longer ago than.
3. not until.
4. with the negative or unfortunate result that.

adjective
1. alone of its or their kind; single or solitary.
2. alone deserving consideration.

conjunction informal
except that.

IDIOMS -
only just
1. by a very small margin.
2. very recently.
only too to an extreme or regrettable extent.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to ONE.

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o.n.o.

abbreviation Brit.
or nearest offer.

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onomatopoeia

noun
1. the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named (e.g. cuckoo, sizzle).
2. the use of such words for rhetorical effect.

DERIVATIVES:
onomatopoeic adjective
onomatopoeically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek onomatopoiia 'word-making' .

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onrush

noun
a surging rush forward.

DERIVATIVES:
onrushing adjective.

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onset

noun
1. the beginning of something, especially something unpleasant.
2. archaic a military attack.

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onshore

adjective & adverb
1. situated or occurring on land.
2. (of the wind) blowing from the sea towards the land.

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onside

adjective & adverb
1. (in sport) not offside.
2. informal in or into a position of agreement.

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onslaught

noun
1. a fierce or destructive attack.
2. an overwhelmingly large quantity of people or things.

ORIGIN: Dutch aenslag, from aen 'on' + slag 'blow' .

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onstage

adjective & adverb
(in a theatre) on the stage and so visible to the audience.

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ontology

noun Philosophy
the branch of metaphysics concerned with the nature of being.

DERIVATIVES:
ontological adjective
ontologist noun.

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onus

noun
a burden, duty, or responsibility.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'load or burden' .

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onward

adverb (also onwards)
1. in a continuing forward direction; ahead.
2. so as to make progress or become more successful.

adjective
moving forward.

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-onym

combining form forming nouns:
1. denoting a type of name: pseudonym.
2. denoting a word having a specified relationship to another: antonym.

ORIGIN: from Greek onoma 'name' .

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onyx

noun
a semi-precious variety of agate with different colours in layers.

ORIGIN: Greek onux 'fingernail, onyx' .

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oodles

plural noun informal
a very great number or amount.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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oompah

noun informal
the rhythmical sound of deep-toned brass instruments in a band.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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oomph (also umph)

noun informal
the quality of being exciting, energetic, or sexually attractive.

ORIGIN: perhaps imitative.

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oops

exclamation informal
used to show recognition of a mistake or minor accident.

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ooze

verb
1. slowly trickle or seep out.
2. give a powerful impression of: she oozes sex appeal.

noun
1. the sluggish flow of a fluid.
2. wet mud or slime, especially that found at the bottom of a river, lake, or sea.
3. an infusion of oak bark or other vegetable matter, used in tanning.

DERIVATIVES:
oozy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «juice or sap».

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OP

abbreviation
1. observation post.
2. (in the Roman Catholic Church) Order of Preachers (Dominican). [ORIGIN: Latin Ordo Praedicatorum.]
3. organophosphate(s).

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Op. (also op.)

abbreviation Music
(before a number given to each work of a particular composer) opus.

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op

noun informal
1. a surgical operation.
2. (ops) military operations.
3. a radio or telephone operator.

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opacity

noun
the condition of being opaque.

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opal

noun
a quartz-like gemstone that is typically semi-transparent and shows many small points of shifting colour against a pale or dark ground.

ORIGIN: Latin opalus, probably from a Sanskrit word meaning 'precious stone' .

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opalescent

adjective
showing many small points of shifting colour against a pale or dark ground.

DERIVATIVES:
opalescence noun.

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opaque

adjective (opaquer, opaquest)
1. not able to be seen through; not transparent.
2. difficult or impossible to understand.

noun Photography
a substance for producing opaque areas on negatives.

DERIVATIVES:
opaquely adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin opacus 'darkened' .

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op. cit.

adverb
in the work already cited.

ORIGIN: from Latin opere citato.

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OPEC

abbreviation
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

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open

adjective
1. allowing access, passage, or view; not closed, fastened, or restricted.
2. exposed to view or attack; not covered or protected.
3. (open to) vulnerable or subject to.
4. spread out, expanded, or unfolded.
5. officially admitting customers or visitors; available for business.
6. (of an offer or opportunity) still available.
7. frank and communicative.
8. not finally settled; still admitting of debate.
9. (often open to) accessible, receptive, or available.
10. (open to) admitting of; making possible.
11. Music (of a string) allowed to vibrate along its whole length.
12. Phonetics (of a vowel) produced with a relatively wide opening of the mouth and the tongue kept low.
13. (of an electric circuit) having a break in the conducting path.

verb
1. make or become open.
2. spread out; unfold or be unfolded.
3. formally begin or establish.
4. make available or more widely known.
5. (open on to/into) give access to.
6. (open out/up) become more communicative or confiding.
7. break the conducting path of (an electric circuit).

noun
1. (the open) fresh air or open countryside.
2. (Open) a championship or competition with no restrictions on who may compete.

IDIOMS -
the open air a free or unenclosed space outd oors.
in open court in a court of law, before the judge and the public.
in (or into) the open not concealed or secret.
open-and-shut admitting no doubt or dispute; straightforward.
open up (or open fire) begin shooting.

DERIVATIVES:
openable adjective
openness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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opencast (N. Amer. open-pit)

adjective Brit.
(of mining) in which coal or ore is extracted from a level near the earth's surface, rather than from shafts.

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open day

noun Brit.
a day when members of the public may visit a place or institution to which they do not usually have access.

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open-ended

adjective
having no predetermined limit or boundary.

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opener

noun
1. a device for opening something.
2. a person or thing that opens or begins, for example the first goal in a match or a cricketer who opens the batting.

IDIOMS -
for openers informal to start with; first of all.

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open-handed

adjective
1. (of a blow) delivered with the palm of the hand.
2. generous.

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open-hearted

adjective
unrestrainedly warm and kind.

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open-heart surgery

noun
surgery in which the heart is exposed and the blood made to bypass it.

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open house

noun
1. a place or situation in which all visitors are welcome.
2. N. Amer. an open day.

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opening

noun
1. an aperture or gap.
2. a beginning; an initial part.
3. a ceremony at which a building, show, etc. is declared to be open.
4. an opportunity to achieve something.
5. an available job or position.

adjective
coming at the beginning; initial.

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open letter

noun
a letter addressed to a particular person but intended for publication in a newspaper or journal.

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openly

adverb
without concealment or deception; frankly or honestly.

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open market

noun
an unrestricted market with free access by and competition of buyers and sellers.

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open marriage

noun
a marriage in which both partners agree that each may have sexual relations with others.

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open mind

noun
a mind willing to consider new ideas.

DERIVATIVES:
open-minded adjective.

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open-necked

adjective
(of a shirt) worn with the collar unbuttoned and without a tie.

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open-plan

adjective
having large rooms with few or no internal dividing walls.

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open prison

noun Brit.
a prison with the minimum of restrictions on prisoners' movements and activities.

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open question

noun
a matter that is not yet decided or cannot be decided.

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open sandwich

noun
a sandwich without a top slice of bread.

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open season

noun
the annual period when restrictions on the killing of certain types of wildlife are lifted.

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open secret

noun
a supposed secret that is in fact known to many people.

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open-topped (also open-top)

adjective
(of a vehicle) having no roof, or having a folding or detachable roof.

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open verdict

noun Law
a verdict of a coroner's jury affirming that a suspicious death has occurred but not specifying the cause.

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openwork

noun
ornamental work in cloth, leather, etc. with regular patterns of openings and holes.

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opera [1]

noun
1. a dramatic work set to music for singers and instrumentalists.
2. a building for the performance of opera.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin, 'labour, work' .

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operable

adjective
1. able to be operated.
2. able to be treated by means of a surgical operation.

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opera glasses

plural noun
small binoculars for use at the opera or theatre.

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opera house

noun
a theatre for the performance of opera.

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operate

verb
1. (of a machine, process, etc.) be in action; function.
2. control the functioning of (a machine or process).
3. (with reference to an organization) manage or be managed.
4. (of an armed force) conduct military activities.
5. be in effect.
6. perform a surgical operation.

ORIGIN: Latin operari, from opus 'work' .

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operatic

adjective
1. relating to or characteristic of opera.
2. extravagantly theatrical.

DERIVATIVES:
operatically adverb.

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operatics

plural noun (often treated as sing. )
the production or performance of operas.

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operating system

noun
the low-level software that supports a computer's basic functions.

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operating theatre (N. Amer. operating room)

noun
a room in which surgical operations are performed.

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operation

noun
1. the action or process of operating.
2. an act of surgery performed on a patient.
3. a concerted action involving a number of people, especially members of the armed forces or the police.
4. a business organization; a company.
5. Mathematics a process in which a number, quantity, expression, etc., is altered or manipulated according to set formal rules.

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operational

adjective
1. in or ready for use.
2. relating to the operation of an organization.

DERIVATIVES:
operationally adverb.

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operations room

noun
a room from which military or police operations are directed.

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operative

adjective
1. functioning; having effect.
2. (of a word) having the most relevance or significance in a phrase.
3. relating to surgery.

noun
1. a worker, especially a skilled one.
2. a private detective or secret agent.

DERIVATIVES:
operatively adverb.

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operator

noun
1. a person who operates equipment or a machine.
2. a person who works at the switchboard of a telephone exchange.
3. a person or company that runs a business or enterprise.
4. informal a person who acts in a specified, especially manipulative, way: a smooth operator.
5. Mathematics a symbol or function denoting an operation (e.g. x, +).

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operculum

noun (pl. opercula) Zoology
1. a flap of skin protecting a fish's gills, typically stiffened by bony plates.
2. a plate that closes the aperture of a gastropod mollusc's shell.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'lid, covering' .

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operetta

noun
a short opera on a light or humorous theme.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'little opera' .

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ophthalmia

noun Medicine
inflammation of the eye, especially conjunctivitis.

ORIGIN: Greek, from ophthalmos 'eye' .

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ophthalmic

adjective
relating to the eye and its diseases.

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ophthalmic optician

noun Brit.
an optician qualified to prescribe and dispense glasses and contact lenses and to detect eye diseases.

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ophthalmology

noun
the study and treatment of disorders and diseases of the eye.

DERIVATIVES:
ophthalmological adjective
ophthalmologist noun.

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opiate

adjective
relating to, resembling, or containing opium.

noun
1. a drug derived from or related to opium.
2. something that induces a false and unrealistic sense of contentment.

DERIVATIVES:
opiated adjective.

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opine

verb formal
hold and state as one's opinion.

ORIGIN: Latin opinari 'think, believe' .

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opinion

noun
1. a view or judgement not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.
2. the beliefs or views of people in general: public opinion.
3. an estimation of quality or worth.
4. a formal statement of advice by an expert or professional.

IDIOMS -
a matter of opinion something not capable of being proven either way.

ORIGIN: Latin, from opinari 'think, believe' .

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opinionated

adjective
assertively dogmatic in one's views.

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opinion poll

noun
an assessment of public opinion by questioning of a representative sample.

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opium

noun
1. an addictive drug prepared from the juice of a poppy, used as a narcotic and in medicine as a painkiller.
2. something that induces a false and unrealistic sense of contentment.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek opion 'poppy juice' .

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opossum

noun
1. an American marsupial which has a naked prehensile tail and hind feet with an opposable thumb.
2. Austral./NZ a possum.

ORIGIN: Algonquian, 'white dog' .

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opponent

noun
1. a person who competes with or fights another in a contest, game, or argument.
2. a person who disagrees with or resists a proposal or practice.

ORIGIN: from Latin opponere 'set against' .

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opportune

adjective
done or occurring at an especially convenient or appropriate time.

DERIVATIVES:
opportunely adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin opportunus, from ob- 'in the direction of' + portus 'harbour' , originally describing the wind driving towards the harbour, hence the idea «seasonable».

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opportunist

noun
a person who takes advantage of opportunities as and when they arise, regardless of planning or principle.

adjective
opportunistic.

DERIVATIVES:
opportunism noun.

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opportunistic

adjective
1. exploiting immediate opportunities, especially in an unplanned or selfish way.
2. Medicine (of an infection) occurring when the immune system is depressed.

DERIVATIVES:
opportunistically adverb.

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opportunity

noun (pl. opportunities)
1. a favourable time or set of circumstances for doing something.
2. a career opening: job opportunities.

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opposable

adjective Zoology
(of the thumb of a primate) capable of facing and touching the other digits on the same hand.

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oppose

verb
1. (also be opposed to) disapprove of, resist, or be hostile to.
2. compete with or fight.
3. (opposed) (of two or more things) contrasting or conflicting.
4. (opposing) opposite.

DERIVATIVES:
opposer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French opposer, from Latin opponere 'set against' .

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opposite

adjective
1. situated on the other or further side; facing.
2. completely different.
3. being the other of a contrasted pair.
4. (of angles) between opposite sides of the intersection of two lines.

noun
an opposite person or thing.

adverb
in an opposite position.

preposition
1. in a position opposite to.
2. co-starring beside.

DERIVATIVES:
oppositely adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin oppositus, from opponere 'set against' .

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opposite number

noun
a person's counterpart in another organization or country.

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opposite sex

noun (the opposite sex)
women in relation to men or vice versa.

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opposition

noun
1. resistance or dissent.
2. a group of opponents.
3. (the Opposition) Brit. the principal parliamentary party opposed to that in office.
4. a contrast or antithesis.
5. Astronomy the apparent position of two celestial objects that are directly opposite each other in the sky.

DERIVATIVES:
oppositional adjective.

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oppress

verb
1. keep in subjection and hardship.
2. cause to feel distressed or anxious.

DERIVATIVES:
oppression noun
oppressor noun.

ORIGIN: Old French oppresser, from Latin opprimere 'press against' .

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oppressive

adjective
1. harsh and authoritarian.
2. weighing heavily on the mind or spirits.
3. (of weather) close and sultry.

DERIVATIVES:
oppressively adverb
oppressiveness noun.

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opprobrious

adjective
highly scornful.

DERIVATIVES:
opprobriously adverb.

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opprobrium

noun
1. harsh criticism or scorn.
2. public disgrace arising from shameful conduct.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'infamy' .

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opt

verb
make a choice.

IDIOMS -
opt out
1. choose not to participate.
2. Brit. (of a school or hospital) decide to withdraw from local authority control.

ORIGIN: Latin optare 'choose, wish' .

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optic

adjective
relating to the eye or vision.

noun
1. a lens or similar component in an optical instrument.
2. Brit. trademark a device fastened to the neck of an inverted bottle for measuring out spirits.

ORIGIN: Greek optikos, from optos 'seen' .

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optical

adjective
relating to vision, light, or optics.

DERIVATIVES:
optically adverb.

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optical fibre

noun
a thin glass fibre through which light can be transmitted.

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optical illusion

noun
a thing that deceives the eye by appearing to be other than it is.

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optician

noun
a person qualified to prescribe and dispense glasses and contact lenses, and to detect eye diseases (ophthalmic optician), or to make and supply glasses and contact lenses (dispensing optician).

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optic nerves

plural noun Anatomy
the pair of nerves transmitting impulses from the eyes to the brain.

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optics

plural noun (usu. treated as sing. )
the branch of science concerned with vision and the behaviour of light.

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optimal

adjective
best or most favourable.

DERIVATIVES:
optimality noun
optimally adverb.

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optimism

noun
1. hopefulness and confidence about the future or success of something.
2. Philosophy the doctrine that this world is the best of all possible worlds.

DERIVATIVES:
optimist noun
optimistic adjective
optimistically adverb.

ORIGIN: French optimisme, from Latin optimum (see OPTIMUM).

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optimize (also optimise)

verb
make the best or most effective use of (a situation or resource).

DERIVATIVES:
optimization noun
optimizer noun.

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optimum

adjective
most likely to lead to a favourable outcome.

noun (pl. optima or optimums)
the most favourable conditions for growth, reproduction, or success.

ORIGIN: from Latin, 'best thing' .

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option

noun
1. a thing that is or may be chosen.
2. the freedom or right to choose.
3. a right to buy or sell something at a specified price within a set time.

IDIOMS -
keep (or leave) one's options open not commit oneself.

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optional

adjective
available to be chosen but not obligatory.

DERIVATIVES:
optionality noun
optionally adverb.

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optometrist

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a person who practises optometry; an opthalmic optician.

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optometry

noun
the occupation of measuring eyesight, prescribing corrective lenses, and detecting eye disease.

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opulent

adjective
ostentatiously rich and luxurious.

DERIVATIVES:
opulence noun
opulently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin opulens 'wealthy, splendid' .

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opus

noun (pl. opuses or opera)
1. Music a separate composition or set of compositions.
2. an artistic work, especially one on a large scale.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'work' .

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OR

abbreviation
Oregon.

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or

conjunction
1. used to link alternatives.
2. introducing a synonym or explanation of a preceding word or phrase.
3. otherwise.
4. literary either.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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-or [1]

suffix
(forming nouns) denoting a person or thing performing the action of a verb: escalator.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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-or [2]

suffix
forming nouns denoting a state or condition: terror.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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oracle

noun
1. (in ancient Greece or Rome) a priest or priestess who acted as a medium for divine advice or prophecy.
2. an infallible authority.

ORIGIN: Latin oraculum, from orare 'speak' .

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oracular

adjective
1. relating to an oracle.
2. hard to interpret.
3. holding or claiming the authority of an oracle.

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oral

adjective
1. spoken rather than written.
2. relating to the mouth.
3. done or taken by the mouth.

noun
a spoken examination or test.

DERIVATIVES:
orally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin oralis, from os 'mouth' .

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Orange

adjective
relating to Orangemen or their Order.

ORIGIN: named after the Protestant king William of Orange (William III of Great Britain and Ireland, 1650 1702).

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orange

noun
1. a large round citrus fruit with a tough bright reddish-yellow rind.
2. a drink made from or flavoured with orange juice.
3. a bright reddish-yellow colour.

adjective
reddish yellow.

DERIVATIVES:
orangey (also orangy) adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French orenge, from Arabic.

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orangeade

noun Brit.
a fizzy soft drink flavoured with orange.

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Orangeman

noun
a member of the Orange Order.

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Orange Order

noun
a Protestant political society in Northern Ireland.

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orangery

noun (pl. orangeries)
a building like a large conservatory where orange trees are grown.

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orange stick

noun
a thin pointed stick for manicuring the fingernails.

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orang-utan (also -utang)

noun
a large tree-dwelling ape with long red hair, native to Borneo and Sumatra.

ORIGIN: Malay, 'forest person' .

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orate

verb
make a long or pompous speech.

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oration

noun
a formal speech, especially one given on a ceremonial occasion.

ORIGIN: Latin, from orare 'speak, pray' .

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orator

noun
a proficient public speaker.

DERIVATIVES:
oratorial adjective.

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oratorio

noun (pl. oratorios)
a large-scale musical work on a religious theme for orchestra and voices.

ORIGIN: Italian, from the musical services held in the church of the Oratory of St Philip Neri in Rome.

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oratory [1]

noun (pl. oratories)
a small chapel for private worship.

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oratory [2]

noun
1. formal public speaking.
2. rhetorical or eloquent language.

DERIVATIVES:
oratorical adjective.

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orb

noun
1. a spherical object or shape.
2. a golden globe with a cross on top, forming part of the regalia of a monarch.

ORIGIN: Latin orbis 'ring' .

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orbicular

adjective
1. technical having the shape of a flat ring or disc.
2. literary spherical or rounded.

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orbit

noun
1. the regularly repeated elliptical course of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star or planet.
2. a field of activity or influence.
3. the path of an electron round an atomic nucleus.
4. Anatomy the eye socket.

verb (orbited, orbiting)
move in orbit round (a star or planet).

ORIGIN: Latin orbita 'course, track' .

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orbital

adjective
1. relating to an orbit or orbits.
2. Brit. (of a road) passing round the outside of a town.

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orchard

noun
a piece of enclosed land planted with fruit trees.

ORIGIN: Old English, from Latin hortus 'garden' + the base of YARD.

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orchestra

noun
1. (treated as sing. or pl. ) a large group of musicians with string, woodwind, brass, and percussion sections.
2. (also orchestra pit) the part of a theatre where the orchestra plays, typically in front of the stage and on a lower level.
3. N. Amer. the stalls in a theatre.
4. the semicircular space in front of an ancient Greek theatre stage where the chorus danced and sang.

DERIVATIVES:
orchestral adjective
orchestrally adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek orkhstra, from orkheisthai 'to dance' .

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orchestrate

verb
1. arrange or score (music) for orchestral performance.
2. direct (a situation) to produce a desired effect.

DERIVATIVES:
orchestration noun
orchestrator noun.

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orchid

noun
a plant of a large family with complex showy flowers.

DERIVATIVES:
orchidaceous adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek orkhis 'testicle' (because of the shape of the tuber).

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ordain

verb
1. make (someone) a priest or minister.
2. order officially.
3. (of God or fate) decide in advance.

ORIGIN: Latin ordinare, from ordo 'order' .

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ordeal

noun
1. a prolonged painful or horrific experience.
2. an ancient test of guilt or innocence in which the accused was subjected to severe pain, survival of which was taken as divine proof of innocence.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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order

noun
1. the arrangement of people or things according to a particular sequence or method.
2. a state in which everything is in its correct place.
3. a state in which the laws and rules regulating public behaviour are observed.
4. an authoritative command or direction.
5. a request for something to be made, supplied, or served.
6. the prescribed procedure followed in a meeting, law court, or religious service.
7. quality or nature: poetry of the highest order.
8. a social class or system.
9. a rank in the Christian ministry.
10. (orders or holy orders) the rank of an ordained minister of the Church.
11. a society of monks, nuns, or friars (or formerly knights) living under the same rule.
12. an institution founded by a monarch to honour good conduct: the Order of the Garter.
13. Biology a principal taxonomic category that ranks below class and above family.
14. any of the five classical styles of architecture (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan, and Composite).

verb
1. give an order.
2. request that (something) be made, supplied, or served.
3. arrange methodically.

IDIOMS -
in order
1. in the correct condition for operation or use.
2. appropriate in the circumstances.
in order for (or that) so that.
in order to with the purpose of doing.
of (or in or on) the order of approximately.
on order (of goods) requested but not yet received.
the order of the day
1. the prevailing state of affairs.
2. the day's business to be considered in a meeting or parliament.
out of order
1. not working properly or at all.
2. Brit. informal unacceptable or wrong.

ORIGIN: Latin ordo 'row, series' .

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orderly

adjective
1. neatly and methodically arranged.
2. well behaved.

noun (pl. orderlies)
1. a hospital attendant responsible for cleaning and other non-medical tasks.
2. a soldier who carries orders or performs minor tasks for an officer.

DERIVATIVES:
orderliness noun.

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order of magnitude

noun
1. a class in a system of classification determined by size, typically in powers of ten.
2. size or quantity.

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ordinal

adjective
1. relating to order in a series.
2. Biology relating to a taxonomic order.

noun Christian Church, chiefly historical
a book with the forms of service used at ordinations.

ORIGIN: Latin ordinalis 'relating to order' .

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ordinal number

noun
a number defining a thing's position in a series, such as ‘first’ or ‘second’.

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ordinance

noun formal
1. an authoritative order.
2. a religious rite.
3. N. Amer. a by-law.

ORIGIN: Old French ordenance, from Latin ordinare 'arrange, ordain' .

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ordinary

adjective
1. with no distinctive features; normal or usual.
2. (of a judge, archbishop, or bishop) exercising authority by virtue of office and not by delegation.

noun (pl. ordinaries)
1. (Ordinary) those parts of a Roman Catholic service, especially the Mass, which do not vary from day to day.
2. a rule or book laying down the order of divine service.
3. Heraldry any of the simplest principal charges used in coats of arms.

IDIOMS -
out of the ordinary unusual.

DERIVATIVES:
ordinarily adverb
ordinariness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin ordinarius 'orderly' , from ordo 'order' .

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ordinary grade

noun
(in Scotland) the lower of the two main levels of the Scottish Certificate of Education examination. Compare with HIGHER.

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ordinate

noun Mathematics
a straight line from a point on a graph drawn parallel to the vertical axis and meeting the other; the y-coordinate.

ORIGIN: from Latin linea ordinata applicata 'line applied parallel' .

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ordination

noun
the action of ordaining someone as a priest or minister.

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ordnance

noun
1. mounted guns; cannon.
2. US munitions.
3. a government department dealing with military stores and materials.

ORIGIN: variant of ORDINANCE.

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Ordnance Survey

noun
(in the UK) an official survey organization preparing large-scale detailed maps of the whole country.

ORIGIN: originally prepared by the government department dealing with military stores and materials.

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Ordovician

adjective Geology
relating to the second period of the Palaeozoic era (between the Cambrian and Silurian periods), about 510 to 439 million years ago, a time when the first vertebrates appeared.

ORIGIN: from Ordovices, the Latin name of an ancient British tribe in North Wales.

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ordure

noun
excrement; dung.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin horridus 'rough, horrible, shaggy' .

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ore

noun
a naturally occurring material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be extracted.

ORIGIN: Old English, «unwrought metal».

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øre

noun (pl. same)
a monetary unit of Denmark and Norway, equal to one hundredth of a krone.

ORIGIN: Danish and Norwegian.

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öre

noun (pl. same)
a monetary unit of Sweden, equal to one hundredth of a krona.

ORIGIN: Swedish.

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oregano

noun
an aromatic plant with small purple flowers and leaves used as a herb in cookery.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from Greek origanon.

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organ

noun
1. a distinct part of an animal or plant adapted for a particular function, for example the heart or kidneys.
2. a large musical keyboard instrument with rows of pipes supplied with air from bellows.
3. a smaller keyboard instrument producing similar sounds electronically.
4. a newspaper or periodical which puts forward the views of a political party or movement.
5. euphemistic a man's penis.

DERIVATIVES:
organist noun.

ORIGIN: Greek organon 'tool, sense organ' .

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organdie (US also organdy)

noun
a fine, translucent, stiff cotton muslin.

ORIGIN: French organdi.

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organelle

noun Biology
an organized or specialized structure within a cell.

ORIGIN: Latin organella 'little tool' .

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organic

adjective
1. relating to or derived from living matter.
2. not involving or produced with chemical fertilizers or other artificial chemicals.
3. Chemistry relating to or denoting compounds containing carbon and chiefly or ultimately of biological origin.
4. relating to or affecting a bodily organ or organs.
5. (of the elements of a whole) harmoniously related.
6. characterized by natural development.

DERIVATIVES:
organically adverb.

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organism

noun
1. an individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form.
2. a whole with interdependent parts.

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organization (also organisation)

noun
1. the action of organizing.
2. a systematic arrangement or approach.
3. an organized body of people with a particular purpose, e.g. a business.

DERIVATIVES:
organizational adjective
organizationally adverb.

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organize (also organise)

verb
1. arrange systematically; order.
2. Brit. make arrangements or preparations for.
3. form (people) into a trade union or other political group.

DERIVATIVES:
organizer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin organizare, from organum 'instrument, tool' .

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organza

noun
a thin, stiff, transparent dress fabric made of silk or a synthetic yarn.

ORIGIN: probably from Lorganza, a US trademark.

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orgasm

noun
the climax of sexual excitement, characterized by intensely pleasurable sensations centred in the genitals.

verb
have an orgasm.

ORIGIN: Greek orgasmos, from organ 'swell or be excited' .

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orgasmic

adjective
1. relating to orgasm.
2. informal very enjoyable.

DERIVATIVES:
orgasmically adverb.

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orgiastic

adjective
relating to or resembling an orgy.

DERIVATIVES:
orgiastically adverb.

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orgy

noun (pl. orgies)
1. a wild party with excessive drinking and indiscriminate sexual activity.
2. excessive indulgence in a specified activity: an orgy of killing.

ORIGIN: from Greek orgia 'secret rites or revels' .

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oriel

noun
a large upper-storey bay with a window (an oriel window), supported by brackets or on corbels.

ORIGIN: Old French oriol 'gallery' .

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orient

noun (the Orient) literary
the countries of the East, especially east Asia.

adjective literary
oriental.

verb
1. align or position relative to the points of a compass or other specified positions.
2. (orient oneself) find one's position in relation to unfamiliar surroundings.
3. tailor to specified circumstances.

ORIGIN: from Latin oriens 'rising or east' , from oriri 'to rise' .

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oriental

adjective
of, from, or characteristic of the Far East.

noun often offensive
a person of Far Eastern descent.

DERIVATIVES:
orientalism noun
orientalist noun
orientalize (also orientalise) verb
orientally adverb.
USAGE - The term oriental is now regarded as old-fashioned and potentially offensive as a term denoting people from the Far East. In US English, Asian is the standard accepted term in modern use; in British English, where Asian tends to denote people from the Indian subcontinent, specific terms such as Chinese or Japanese are more likely to be used.

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orientation

noun
1. the action of orienting.
2. a relative position.
3. a person's attitude or inclination, especially as regards political or sexual matters.

DERIVATIVES:
orientational adjective.

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orienteering

noun
a competitive sport in which runners have to find their way across rough country with the aid of a map and compass.

DERIVATIVES:
orienteer noun & verb.

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orifice

noun
an opening, particularly one in the body such as a nostril.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin os 'mouth' + facere 'make' .

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origami

noun
the Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes and figures.

ORIGIN: Japanese, from words meaning 'fold' + 'paper' .

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origin

noun
1. the point where something begins or arises.
2. a person's social background or ancestry.
3. Mathematics a fixed point from which coordinates are measured.

ORIGIN: Latin origo, from oriri 'to rise' .

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original

adjective
1. existing from the beginning; first or earliest.
2. produced first-hand; not a copy.
3. inventive or novel.

noun
the earliest form of something, from which copies can be made.

DERIVATIVES:
originally adverb.

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originality

noun
1. the ability to think independently or creatively.
2. the quality of being new or unusual.

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original sin

noun
(in Christian theology) the tendency to evil of all human beings, held to be a consequence of the Fall.

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originate

verb
1. have a specified beginning.
2. create or initiate.

DERIVATIVES:
origination noun
originator noun.

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oriole

noun
a brightly coloured tree-dwelling bird with a musical call.

ORIGIN: Latin oriolus, from aureus 'golden' .

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orison

noun literary
a prayer.

ORIGIN: Old French oreison, from Latin oration 'discourse, prayer' .

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ormolu

noun
a gold-coloured alloy of copper, zinc, and tin used in decoration.

ORIGIN: from French or moulu 'powdered gold' .

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ornament

noun
1. an object designed to add beauty to something.
2. decorative items collectively; decoration.
3. (ornaments) Music embellishments made to a melody.

DERIVATIVES:
ornamentation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin ornamentum, from ornare 'adorn' .

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ornamental

adjective
serving or intended as an ornament.

noun
a plant grown for its attractive appearance.

DERIVATIVES:
ornamentally adverb.

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ornate

adjective
elaborately or highly decorated.

DERIVATIVES:
ornately adverb
ornateness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin ornare 'adorn' .

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ornithology

noun
the scientific study of birds.

DERIVATIVES:
ornithological adjective
ornithologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek ornis 'bird' .

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orotund

adjective
1. (of the voice) resonant and impressive.
2. (of writing or style) pompous.

ORIGIN: from Latin ore rotundo 'with rounded mouth' .

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orphan

noun
a child whose parents are dead.

verb (usu. be orphaned)
make an orphan.

ORIGIN: from Greek orphanos 'bereaved' .

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orphanage

noun
a residential institution for the care and education of orphans.

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ortho-

combining form
1. straight; rectangular; upright: orthodontics.
2. correct: orthography.

ORIGIN: from Greek orthos 'straight, right' .

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orthodontics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the treatment of irregularities in the teeth and jaws.

DERIVATIVES:
orthodontic adjective
orthodontist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek odous 'tooth' .

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orthodox

adjective
1. conforming with traditional or generally accepted beliefs.
2. conventional; normal.
3. (Orthodox) relating to Orthodox Judaism or the Orthodox Church.

DERIVATIVES:
orthodoxly adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek orthodoxos, from doxa 'opinion' .

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Orthodox Church

noun
a Christian Church acknowledging the authority of the patriarch of Constantinople.

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Orthodox Judaism

noun
a branch of Judaism which teaches strict adherence to rabbinical interpretation of Jewish law and its traditional observances.

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orthodoxy

noun (pl. orthodoxies)
1. orthodox theory, doctrine, or practice.
2. the state of being orthodox.
3. the whole community of Orthodox Jews or Orthodox Christians.

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orthography

noun (pl. orthographies)
the conventional spelling system of a language.

DERIVATIVES:
orthographic adjective.

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orthopaedics (US orthopedics)

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the branch of medicine concerned with the correction of deformities of bones or muscles.

DERIVATIVES:
orthopaedic adjective
orthopaedist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek paideia 'rearing of children' .

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orthoptics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the study or treatment of irregularities of the eyes, especially those of the eye muscles.

DERIVATIVES:
orthoptic adjective
orthoptist noun.

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orthotics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the branch of medicine concerned with the provision and use of artificial supports or braces.

DERIVATIVES:
orthotic adjective & noun
orthotist noun.

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Orwellian

adjective
relating to the work of the British novelist George Orwell (1903 50), especially the totalitarian state depicted in Nineteen Eighty-four.

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-ory [1]

suffix
(forming nouns) denoting a place for a particular function: dormitory.

ORIGIN: Latin -oria, -orium.

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-ory [2]

suffix
forming adjectives relating to or involving a verbal action: compulsory.

ORIGIN: Latin -orius.

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Oscar

noun (trademark in the US)
the nickname for a gold statuette given as an Academy award.

ORIGIN: one speculative explanation claims that the statuette reminded an executive director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of her uncle Oscar.

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oscillate

verb
1. move or swing back and forth at a regular rate.
2. waver between extremes of opinion or emotion.

DERIVATIVES:
oscillation noun
oscillator noun
oscillatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin oscillare 'to swing' .

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oscilloscope

noun
a device for viewing oscillations by a display on the screen of a cathode ray tube.

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-ose [1]

suffix
(forming adjectives) having a specified quality: bellicose.

ORIGIN: Latin -osus.

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-ose [2]

suffix Chemistry
forming names of sugars and other carbohydrates: cellulose.

ORIGIN: from (gluc)ose.

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osier

noun
a small willow with long flexible shoots used in basketwork.

ORIGIN: Old French.

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-osis

suffix (pl. -oses)
denoting a process, condition, or pathological state: metamorphosis.

ORIGIN: Greek.

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-osity

suffix
forming nouns from adjectives ending in -ose (such as verbosity from verbose) and from adjectives ending in -ous (such as pomposity from pompous).

ORIGIN: French -osité or Latin -ositas.

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osmoregulation

noun Biology
the maintenance of constant osmotic pressure in the fluids of an organism by the control of water and salt concentrations.

DERIVATIVES:
osmoregulatory adjective.

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osmosis

noun
1. Biology & Chemistry a process by which molecules of a solvent pass through a semipermeable membrane from a less concentrated solution into a more concentrated one.
2. the gradual assimilation of ideas.

DERIVATIVES:
osmotic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek smos 'a push' .

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osmotic pressure

noun Chemistry
the pressure that would have to be applied to a pure solvent to prevent it from passing into a given solution by osmosis.

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osprey

noun (pl. ospreys)
a large fish-eating bird of prey with a white underside and crown.

ORIGIN: apparently from Latin ossifraga, from os 'bone' + frangere 'to break' .

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osseous

adjective chiefly Zoology & Medicine
consisting of or turned into bone.

ORIGIN: Latin osseus 'bony' .

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ossicle

noun Anatomy
a very small bone, especially one of those which transmit sounds within the middle ear.

ORIGIN: Latin ossiculum 'little bone' .

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ossify

verb (ossifies, ossified)
1. turn into bone or bony tissue.
2. cease developing; become inflexible.

DERIVATIVES:
ossification noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin os 'bone' .

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ostensible

adjective
apparently true, but not necessarily so.

DERIVATIVES:
ostensibly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin ostensibilis, from ostendere 'stretch out to view' .

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ostentation

noun
flamboyant display which is intended to impress.

DERIVATIVES:
ostentatious adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin ostendere 'stretch out to view' .

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osteo-

combining form
of or relating to the bones: osteoporosis.

ORIGIN: from Greek osteon 'bone' .

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osteoarthritis

noun Medicine
degeneration of joint cartilage, causing pain and stiffness.

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osteopathy

noun
a system of complementary medicine involving the manipulation of the skeleton and musculature.

DERIVATIVES:
osteopath noun
osteopathic adjective.

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osteoporosis

noun
a medical condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile, typically as a result of hormonal changes, or deficiency of calcium or vitamin D.

DERIVATIVES:
osteoporotic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek poros 'passage, pore' .

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ostler (also hostler)

noun historical
a man employed at an inn to look after customers' horses.

ORIGIN: Old French hostelier 'innkeeper' , from hostel (see HOSTEL).

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ostracize (also ostracise)

verb
exclude from a society or group.

DERIVATIVES:
ostracism noun.

ORIGIN: Greek ostrakizein, from ostrakon 'shell or potsherd' (on which names were written in voting to banish unpopular citizens).

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ostrich

noun
1. a large flightless swift-running African bird with a long neck and long legs.
2. a person who refuses to accept unpleasant truths. [ORIGIN: from the popular belief that ostriches bury their heads in the sand if pursued.]

ORIGIN: Old French ostriche, from Latin avis 'bird' + struthio, from Greek strouthos 'sparrow or ostrich' .

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OT

abbreviation
1. occupational therapist; occupational therapy.
2. Old Testament.

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OTC

abbreviation
1. (in the UK) Officers' Training Corps.
2. over the counter.

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other

adjective & pronoun
1. used to refer to a person or thing that is different from one already mentioned or known.
2. additional.
3. alternative of two.
4. those not already mentioned.
5. (usu. the Other) Philosophy & Sociology that which is distinct from, different from, or opposite to something or oneself.

IDIOMS -
no other archaic nothing else.
the other day (or night, week, etc.) a few days (or nights, weeks, etc.) ago.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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other half

noun Brit. informal
one's wife, husband, or partner.

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otherness

noun
the quality or fact of being different.

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otherwise

adverb
1. in different circumstances; or else.
2. in other respects.
3. in a different way.
4. alternatively.

adjective
in a different state or situation.

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other woman

noun
the mistress of a married man.

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other-worldly

adjective
1. relating to an imaginary or spiritual world.
2. unworldly.

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otiose

adjective
serving no practical purpose; pointless.

ORIGIN: Latin otiosus, from otium 'leisure' .

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OTT

abbreviation Brit. informal
over the top.

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otter

noun
a semiaquatic fish-eating mammal with an elongated body, dense fur, and webbed feet.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Ottoman

adjective historical
1. relating to the Turkish dynasty of Osman I (Othman I), founded in c.1300.
2. relating to the Ottoman Empire ruled by the successors of Osman I.
3. Turkish.

noun (pl. Ottomans)
a Turk, especially of the Ottoman period.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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ottoman

noun (pl. ottomans)
a low upholstered seat without a back or arms, typically serving also as a box.

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OU

abbreviation
(in the UK) Open University.

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oubliette

noun
a secret dungeon with access only through a trapdoor in its ceiling.

ORIGIN: French, from oublier 'forget' .

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ouch

exclamation
used to express pain.

ORIGIN: natural exclamation.

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ought

modal verb (3rd sing. present and past ought)
1. used to indicate duty or correctness.
2. used to indicate something that is probable.
3. used to indicate a desirable or expected state.
4. used to give or ask advice.
USAGE - The standard construction for the negative is he ought not to have gone . The constructions he didn't ought to have gone and he hadn't ought to have gone are found in dialect but are not acceptable in standard modern English. The reason for this is that the verb ought is a modal verb and therefore behaves differently from ordinary verbs in certain constructions, such as the formation of a negative.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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oughtn't

contraction
ought not.

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Ouija board

noun trademark
a board with letters, numbers, and other signs around its edge, to which a pointer moves, supposedly in answer to questions at a seance.

ORIGIN: from French oui 'yes' + German ja 'yes' .

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ounce

noun
1. a unit of weight of one sixteenth of a pound avoirdupois (approximately 28 grams).
2. a unit of one twelfth of a pound troy or apothecaries' measure, equal to 480 grains (approximately 31 grams).
3. a very small amount.

ORIGIN: Latin uncia 'twelfth part (of a pound or foot)' ; compare with INCH.

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our

possessive determiner
1. belonging to or associated with the speaker and one or more others.
2. belonging to or associated with people in general.
3. used in formal contexts by a royal person to refer to something belonging to himself or herself.
4. informal, chiefly N. English used with a name to refer to a relative or friend of the speaker.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Our Father

noun
1. God.
2. the Lord's Prayer.

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Our Lady

noun
the Virgin Mary.

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Our Lord

noun
God or Jesus.

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ours

possessive pronoun
used to refer to something belonging to or associated with the speaker and one or more others.

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ourself

pronoun (first person pl. )
used instead of ‘ourselves’, typically when ‘we’ refers to people in general.

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ourselves

pronoun (first person pl. )
1. used as the object of a verb or preposition when this is the same as the subject of the clause and the subject is the speaker and one or more other people considered together.
2. (emphatic ) we or us personally.

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-ous

suffix forming adjectives:
1. characterized by: mountainous.
2. Chemistry denoting an element in a lower valency: sulphurous. Compare with -IC.

ORIGIN: Latin -osus.

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oust

verb
drive out or expel from a position or place.

ORIGIN: Old French ouster 'take away' , from Latin obstare 'oppose, hinder' .

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out

adverb
1. moving away from a place, especially from one that is enclosed to one that is open.
2. away from one's usual base or residence.
3. outdoors.
4. so as to be revealed, heard, or known.
5. at or to an end: the romance fizzled out.
6. at a specified distance away from the target.
7. to sea, away from the land.
8. (of the tide) falling or at its lowest level.
9. no longer in prison.

preposition non-standard contraction of out of.

adjective
1. not at home or one's place of work.
2. in existence, use, or the public domain.
3. open about one's homosexuality.
4. not possible or worth considering.
5. no longer existing, current, or prevalent.
6. unconscious.
7. mistaken.
8. (of the ball in tennis, squash, etc.) outside the playing area.
9. Cricket & Baseball no longer batting.

verb informal
reveal the homosexuality of.

IDIOMS -
out and about engaging in normal activity after an illness.
out for intent on having.
out of
1. from.
2. not having (something).
out of it informal
1. not included.
2. unaware of what is happening.
out to do keenly striving to do.
out with it say what you are thinking.

USAGE - It is better to write out of rather than simply out in constructions such as he threw it out of the window .
ORIGIN: Old English.

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out-

prefix
1. to the point of surpassing or exceeding: outperform.
2. external; separate; from outside: outbuildings.
3. away from; outward: outpost.

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outage

noun
a period when a power supply or other service is not available.

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out and out

adjective
absolute.

adverb
completely.

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outback

noun (the outback)
a remote or sparsely populated inland area, especially in Australia.

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outbid

verb (outbidding; past and past part. outbid)
bid more for something than.

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outboard

adjective & adverb
1. on, towards, or near the outside of a ship or aircraft.
2. (of a motor) portable and attachable to the outside of the stern of a boat.

noun
1. an outboard motor.
2. a boat with such a motor.

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outbound

adjective & adverb
outward bound.

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outbreak

noun
a sudden or violent occurrence of war, disease, etc.

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outbuilding

noun
a smaller detached building in the grounds of a main building.

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outburst

noun
a sudden violent occurrence or release of something.

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outcast

noun
a person rejected by their society or social group.

adjective
rejected or cast out.

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outclass

verb
be far superior to.

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outcome

noun
a consequence.

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outcrop

noun
a part of a rock formation that is visible on the surface.

verb (outcropped, outcropping)
appear as an outcrop.

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outcry

noun (pl. outcries)
a strong expression of public disapproval.

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outdated

adjective
obsolete.

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outdistance

verb
leave (a competitor or pursuer) far behind.

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outdo

verb (outdoes, outdoing; past outdid; past part. outdone)
be superior to in action or performance.

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outdoor

adjective
1. done, situated, or used outdoors.
2. liking the outdoors.

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outdoors

adverb
in or into the open air.

noun
any area outside buildings or shelter.

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outer

adjective
1. outside; external.
2. further from the centre or the inside.

noun Brit.
the division of a target furthest from the bullseye.

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outermost

adjective
furthest from the centre.

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outer space

noun
the physical universe beyond the earth's atmosphere.

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outface

verb
disconcert or defeat by bold confrontation.

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outfall

noun
the place where a river or drain empties into the sea, a river, or a lake.

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outfit

noun
1. a set of clothes worn together.
2. informal a group of people undertaking a particular activity together.

verb (outfitted, outfitting) (usu. be outfitted)
provide with an outfit of clothes.

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outfitter (also outfitters)

noun Brit. dated
a shop selling men's clothing.

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outflank

verb
1. move round the side of (an enemy) so as to outmanoeuvre them.
2. outwit.

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outflow

noun
1. the action of flowing or moving out.
2. something, such as water or money, that flows or moves out.

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outfox

verb informal
defeat with superior cunning.

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outgoing

adjective
1. friendly and confident.
2. leaving an office or position.
3. going out or away from a place.

noun Brit. (outgoings)
one's regular expenditure.

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outgrow

verb (past outgrew; past part. outgrown)
1. grow too big for.
2. leave behind as one matures.
3. grow faster or taller than.

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outgrowth

noun
1. something that grows out of something else.
2. a natural development or result.

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outgun

verb (outgunned, outgunning)
have more or better weaponry than.

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outhouse

noun
a smaller building built on to or in the grounds of a house.

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outing

noun
1. a short trip taken for pleasure.
2. informal a public appearance in something, especially a sporting fixture.
3. the practice of revealing someone's homosexuality.

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outlandish

adjective
bizarre or unfamiliar.

ORIGIN: Old English, «not native».

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outlast

verb
last longer than.

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outlaw

noun
1. a fugitive from the law.
2. historical a person deprived of the benefit and protection of the law.

verb
1. make illegal; ban.
2. historical deprive of the benefit and protection of the law.

DERIVATIVES:
outlawry noun.

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outlay

noun
an amount of money spent.

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outlet

noun
1. a pipe or hole through which water or gas may escape.
2. a point from which goods are sold or distributed.
3. an output socket in an electrical device.
4. a means of expressing one's talents, energy, or emotions.
5. the mouth of a river.

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outlier

noun
1. a thing detached from a main body or system.
2. Geology a younger rock formation among older rocks.

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outline

noun
1. a line or lines enclosing or indicating the shape of an object in a sketch or diagram.
2. the contours or outer edges of an object.
3. a general plan showing essential features but no detail.

verb
1. draw or define the outer edge or shape of.
2. give a summary of.

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outlive

verb
live or last longer than.

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outlook

noun
1. a person's point of view or attitude to life.
2. a view.
3. the prospect for the future.

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outlying

adjective
situated far from a centre.

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outmanoeuvre

verb
1. evade by moving faster or more skilfully.
2. use skill and cunning to gain an advantage.

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outmoded

adjective
old-fashioned.

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outnumber

verb
be more numerous than.

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out-of-body experience

noun
a sensation of being outside one's body, typically of observing oneself from a distance.

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out of date

adjective
1. old-fashioned.
2. no longer valid.

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outpace

verb
go faster than.

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outpatient

noun
a patient attending a hospital for treatment without staying overnight.

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outperform

verb
perform better than.

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outplay

verb
play better than.

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outpost

noun
1. a small military camp at a distance from the main army.
2. a remote part of a country or empire.

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outpouring

noun
1. something that streams out rapidly.
2. an outburst of strong emotion.

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output

noun
1. the amount of something produced.
2. the process of producing something.
3. the power, energy, etc. supplied by a device or system.
4. Electronics a place where power or information leaves a system.

verb (outputting; past and past part. output or outputted)
(of a computer) produce or supply (data).

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outrage

noun
1. an extremely strong reaction of anger or indignation.
2. an extremely cruel, immoral, or shocking act.

verb
1. arouse outrage in.
2. violate (a standard, law, etc.) flagrantly.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin ultra 'beyond' .

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outrageous

adjective
1. shockingly bad or excessive.
2. very bold and unusual.

DERIVATIVES:
outrageously adverb
outrageousness noun.

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outrank

verb
1. have a higher rank than.
2. be better or more important than.

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outré

adjective
unusual and typically rather shocking.

ORIGIN: French, 'exceeded' .

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outreach

verb
reach further than.

noun
1. the extent or length of reaching out.
2. an organization's involvement with the community.

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outrider

noun
a person in a vehicle or on horseback who escorts or guards another vehicle.

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outrigger

noun
1. a spar or framework projecting from or over a boat's side.
2. a stabilizing float fixed parallel to a canoe or small ship.
3. a boat fitted with an outrigger.

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outright

adverb
1. altogether.
2. openly.
3. immediately.

adjective
1. open and direct.
2. complete.

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outrun

verb (outrunning; past outran; past part. outrun)
1. run or travel faster or further than.
2. exceed.

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outsell

verb (past and past part. outsold)
be sold in greater quantities than.

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outset

noun
the start or beginning.

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outshine

verb (past and past part. outshone)
1. shine more brightly than.
2. be much better than.

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outside

noun
1. the external side or surface of something.
2. the external appearance of someone or something.
3. the part of a path nearer to a road.
4. the side of a curve where the edge is longer.

adjective
1. situated on or near the outside.
2. not of or belonging to a particular group.
3. (in hockey, soccer, etc.) denoting positions nearer to the sides of the field.

preposition & adverb
1. situated or moving beyond the boundaries of.
2. (in hockey, soccer, etc.) closer to the side of the field than.
3. beyond the limits or scope of.
4. not being a member of.

IDIOMS -
at the outside at the most.
an outside chance a remote possibility.
outside of informal, chiefly N. Amer.
1. beyond the boundaries of.
2. apart from.

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outsider

noun
1. a person who does not belong to a particular group.
2. a competitor thought to have little chance of success.

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outsize

adjective (also outsized)
exceptionally large.

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outskirts

plural noun
the outer parts of a town or city.

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outsmart

verb
defeat with superior intelligence.

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outsource

verb
1. obtain by contract from an outside supplier.
2. contract (work) out.

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outspoken

adjective
frank in stating one's opinions.

DERIVATIVES:
outspokenness noun.

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outspread

adjective
fully extended or expanded.

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outstanding

adjective
1. exceptionally good.
2. clearly noticeable.
3. not yet dealt with or paid.

DERIVATIVES:
outstandingly adverb.

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outstay

verb
stay beyond the limit of (one's expected or permitted time).

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outstretch

verb
extend or stretch out.

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outstrip

verb (outstripped, outstripping)
1. move faster than and overtake.
2. exceed; surpass.

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out-take

noun
a sequence of a film or recording rejected in editing.

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out tray

noun
a tray on a desk for letters and documents that have been dealt with.

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outvote

verb
defeat by gaining more votes.

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outward

adjective
1. of, on, or from the outside.
2. going out or away from a place.

adverb
outwards.

DERIVATIVES:
outwardly adverb.

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outward bound

adjective
going away from home.

noun (Outward Bound) trademark
an organization providing outdoor activities for young people.

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outwards

adverb
towards the outside; away from the centre or a place.

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outweigh

verb
be heavier, greater, or more significant than.

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outwit

verb (outwitted, outwitting)
deceive by greater ingenuity.

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outwith

preposition Scottish
outside; beyond.

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ouzo

noun
a Greek aniseed-flavoured spirit.

ORIGIN: modern Greek.

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oval

adjective
having a rounded and slightly elongated outline; egg-shaped.

noun
1. an oval object or design.
2. an oval sports field or track.
3. a ground for Australian Rules football.

ORIGIN: Latin ovalis, from ovum 'egg' .

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Oval Office

noun
the office of the US President in the White House.

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ovarian

adjective
relating to the ovaries.

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ovary

noun (pl. ovaries)
1. a female reproductive organ in which ova or eggs are produced.
2. Botany the base of the carpel of a flower, containing one or more ovules.

ORIGIN: Latin ovarium, from ovum 'egg' .

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ovate

adjective
oval; egg-shaped.

ORIGIN: Latin ovatus.

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ovation

noun
an enthusiastic and sustained round of applause, cheering, etc.

ORIGIN: Latin, from ovare 'exult' .

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oven

noun
1. an enclosed compartment in which food is cooked or heated.
2. a small furnace or kiln.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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oven glove

noun
a padded glove for handling hot dishes from an oven.

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ovenproof

adjective
suitable for use in an oven.

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oven-ready

adjective
(of food) sold as a prepared dish, ready for cooking in an oven.

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ovenware

noun
ovenproof dishes.

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over

preposition
1. extending upwards from or above.
2. above so as to cover or protect.
3. expressing movement or a route across.
4. beyond and falling or hanging from.
5. expressing duration.
6. at a higher level, layer, or intensity than.
7. higher or more than.
8. expressing authority or control.
9. on the subject of.

adverb
1. expressing movement or a route across an area.
2. beyond and falling or hanging from a point.
3. in or to the place indicated.
4. expressing action and result.
5. finished.
6. expressing repetition of a process.

noun Cricket
a sequence of six balls bowled by a bowler from one end of the pitch.

IDIOMS -
be over be no longer affected by.
over against
1. adjacent to.
2. in contrast with.
over and above in addition to.
over and out indicating that a message on a two-way radio has finished.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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over-

prefix
1. excessively: overambitious.
2. completely: overjoyed.
3. upper; outer; extra: overcoat.
4. over; above: overcast.

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overachieve

verb
do better than expected.

DERIVATIVES:
overachievement noun
overachiever noun.

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overact

verb
act a role in an exaggerated manner.

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overactive

adjective
excessively active.

DERIVATIVES:
overactivity noun.

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overall

adjective
1. inclusive of everything; total.
2. taking everything into account.

adverb
taken as a whole.

noun (also overalls) Brit.
a loose-fitting garment worn over ordinary clothes for protection.

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overambitious

adjective
excessively ambitious.

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overanxious

adjective
excessively anxious.

DERIVATIVES:
overanxiety noun.

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overarch

verb
1. form an arch over.
2. (overarching) all-embracing.

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overarm

adjective & adverb
(of a throw, stroke with a racket, etc.) made with the hand brought forward and down from above shoulder level.

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overawe

verb (usu. be overawed)
subdue or inhibit with a sense of awe.

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overbalance

verb
1. fall or cause to fall due to loss of balance.
2. outweigh.

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overbearing

adjective
unpleasantly overpowering.

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overbite

noun
the overlapping of the lower teeth by the upper.

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overblown

adjective
1. excessive or exaggerated.
2. (of a flower) past its prime.

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overboard

adverb
from a ship into the water.

IDIOMS -
go overboard
1. be very enthusiastic.
2. go too far.

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overbook

verb
accept more reservations for (a flight or hotel) than there is room for.

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overburden

verb
burden excessively.

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overcast

adjective
1. cloudy; dull.
2. edged with stitching to prevent fraying.

verb (past and past part. overcast)
stitch over (a raw edge) to prevent fraying.

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overcautious

adjective
excessively cautious.

DERIVATIVES:
overcaution noun.

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overcharge

verb
charge too high a price.

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overcoat

noun
1. a long warm coat.
2. a top, final layer of paint or varnish.

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overcome

verb (past overcame; past part. overcome)
1. succeed in dealing with (a problem).
2. defeat.
3. (usu. be overcome) (of an emotion) overwhelm.

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overcommit

verb (overcommits, overcommitting, overcommitted) (overcommit oneself)
undertake to do more than one is capable of.

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overcompensate

verb
take excessive measures to compensate for something.

DERIVATIVES:
overcompensation noun
overcompensatory adjective.

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overconfident

adjective
excessively confident.

DERIVATIVES:
overconfidence noun.

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overcook

verb
cook for too long.

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overcrowd

verb
fill beyond what is usual or comfortable.

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overdevelop

verb (overdeveloped, overdeveloping)
develop to excess.

DERIVATIVES:
overdevelopment noun.

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overdo

verb (overdoes; past overdid; past part. overdone)
1. do (something) excessively or in an exaggerated manner.
2. (overdo it/things) exhaust oneself.
3. use or add too much of.
4. (overdone) overcooked.

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overdose

noun
an excessive and dangerous dose of a drug.

verb
take an overdose.

DERIVATIVES:
overdosage noun.

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overdraft

noun
a deficit in a bank account caused by drawing more money than the account holds.

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overdrawn

adjective
1. (of a bank account) in a state in which the amount of money withdrawn exceeds the amount held.
2. having an overdrawn bank account.

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overdress

verb
dress too elaborately or formally.

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overdrive

noun
1. a gear in a motor vehicle providing a gear ratio higher than that of the usual top gear.
2. a state of high or excessive activity.

verb
drive or work to exhaustion.

DERIVATIVES:
overdriven adjective.

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overdue

adjective
not having arrived, happened, or been done at the expected or required time.

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overeager

adjective
excessively eager.

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overeat

verb (past overate; past part. overeaten)
eat too much.

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over-egg

verb (in phrase over-egg the pudding)
go too far in doing something; exaggerate.

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overemphasize (also overemphasise)

verb
place excessive emphasis on.

DERIVATIVES:
overemphasis noun.

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overenthusiasm

noun
excessive enthusiasm.

DERIVATIVES:
overenthusiastic adjective.

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overestimate

verb
form too high an estimate of.

noun
an excessively high estimate.

DERIVATIVES:
overestimation noun.

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overexcite

verb
excite excessively.

DERIVATIVES:
overexcitable adjective
overexcitement noun.

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overexert

verb (overexert oneself)
exert oneself excessively.

DERIVATIVES:
overexertion noun.

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overexpose

verb
expose too much.

DERIVATIVES:
overexposure noun.

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overfamiliar

adjective
1. too well known.
2. inappropriately informal.

DERIVATIVES:
overfamiliarity noun.

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overfeed

verb (past and past part. overfed)
feed too much.

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overfill

verb
fill to excess.

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overflow

verb
1. flow over the brim of a receptacle.
2. be excessively full or crowded.
3. (overflow with) be very full of (an emotion).

noun
1. the overflowing of a liquid.
2. the excess not able to be accommodated by a space.
3. (also overflow pipe) an outlet for excess water.

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overground

adverb & adjective
on or above the ground.

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overgrown

adjective
1. covered with plants that have been allowed to grow wild.
2. grown too large.

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overgrowth

noun
excessive growth.

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overhand

adjective & adverb
1. overarm.
2. with the palm downward or inward.

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overhang

verb (past and past part. overhung)
jut out or hang over.

noun
an overhanging part.

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overhaul

verb
1. examine and repair.
2. Brit. overtake.

noun
an act of overhauling.

ORIGIN: originally in nautical use in the sense «release (rope tackle) by slackening».

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overhead

adverb
above one's head; in the sky.

adjective
1. situated overhead.
2. (of a driving mechanism) above the object driven.
3. (of an expense) incurred in the upkeep or running of premises or a business.

noun
1. an overhead cost or expense.
2. a transparency for use with an overhead projector.

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overhead projector

noun
a device that projects an enlarged image of a transparency by means of an overhead mirror.

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overhear

verb (past and past part. overheard)
hear accidentally or secretly.

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overheat

verb
1. make or become too hot.
2. Economics (of an economy) show marked inflation when increased demand results in rising prices.

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overindulge

verb
1. have too much of something enjoyable.
2. gratify the wishes of (someone) to an excessive extent.

DERIVATIVES:
overindulgence noun
overindulgent adjective.

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overjoyed

adjective
extremely happy.

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overkill

noun
1. the amount by which destruction or the capacity for destruction exceeds what is necessary.
2. excessive treatment or action; too much of something.

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overland

adjective & adverb
by land.

verb Austral./NZ historical
1. drive (livestock) over a long distance.
2. travel a long distance by land.

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overlap

verb (overlapped, overlapping)
1. extend over so as to cover partly.
2. partly coincide.

noun
an overlapping part or amount.

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overlay

verb (past and past part. overlaid) (often be overlaid with)
1. coat the surface of.
2. lie on top of.
3. (of a quality or feeling) become more prominent than (a previous one).

noun
1. a covering.
2. a transparent sheet over artwork or a map, giving additional detail.
3. Computing replacement of a block of stored instructions or data with another.

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overleaf

adverb
on the other side of the page.

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overlie

verb (overlying; past overlay; past part. overlain)
lie on top of.

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overload

verb
1. load excessively.
2. put too great a demand on.

noun
an excessive amount.

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overlook

verb
1. fail to notice.
2. ignore or disregard.
3. have a view of from above.

noun N. Amer.
a commanding position or view.

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overlord

noun
a ruler, especially a feudal lord.

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overly

adverb
excessively.

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overmuch

adverb , determiner , & pronoun
too much.

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overnight

adverb
1. for the duration of a night.
2. during the course of a night.
3. suddenly.

adjective
1. for use overnight.
2. done or happening overnight.
3. sudden.

verb
1. stay overnight.
2. N. Amer. convey (goods) overnight.

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overpass

noun
a bridge by which a road or railway line passes over another.

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overpay

verb (past and past part. overpaid)
pay too much.

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overplay

verb
overemphasize.

IDIOMS -
overplay one's hand spoil one's chance of success through excessive confidence.

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overpower

verb
1. defeat with superior strength.
2. be too intense for.

DERIVATIVES:
overpowering adjective.

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overprice

verb
charge too high a price for.

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overproduce

verb
1. produce an excess of.
2. record or produce (a song or film) in an excessively elaborate way.

DERIVATIVES:
overproduction noun.

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overprotective

adjective
excessively protective.

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overqualified

adjective
too highly qualified.

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overrate

verb
rate more highly than is deserved.

DERIVATIVES:
overrated adjective.

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overreach

verb (overreach oneself)
fail through being too ambitious or trying too hard.

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overreact

verb
react more emotionally or forcibly than is justified.

DERIVATIVES:
overreaction noun.

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override

verb (past overrode; past part. overridden)
1. use one's authority to reject or cancel.
2. interrupt the action of (an automatic function).
3. be more important than.
4. overlap.
5. travel or move over.

noun
1. the action or process of overriding.
2. a device on a machine for overriding an automatic function.
3. an excess or increase on a budget, salary, or cost.

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overriding

adjective
1. more important than any other considerations.
2. extending or moving over.

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overrule

verb
reject or disallow by exercising one's superior authority.

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overrun

verb (overrunning; past overran; past part. overrun)
1. spread over or occupy in large numbers.
2. move or extend over or beyond.
3. exceed (an expected or allowed time or cost).

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overseas

adverb
in or to a foreign country.

adjective
relating to a foreign country.

noun
foreign countries regarded collectively.

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oversee

verb (oversees; past oversaw; past part. overseen)
supervise.

DERIVATIVES:
overseer noun.

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oversexed

adjective
having unusually strong sexual desires.

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overshadow

verb
1. tower above and cast a shadow over.
2. cast a feeling of sadness over.
3. appear more prominent, important, or successful than.

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overshoe

noun
a protective shoe worn over a normal shoe.

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overshoot

verb (past and past part. overshot)
1. move or travel past unintentionally.
2. exceed (a financial target or limit).

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oversight

noun
an unintentional failure to notice or do something.

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oversimplify

verb (oversimplifies, oversimplified)
simplify (something) so much that a distorted impression of it is given.

DERIVATIVES:
oversimplification noun.

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oversized (also oversize)

adjective
bigger than the usual size.

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oversleep

verb (past and past part. overslept)
sleep longer or later than one has intended.

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overspend

verb (past and past part. overspent)
spend too much.

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overspill

noun Brit.
a surplus population moving from an overcrowded area to live elsewhere.

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overstate

verb
exaggerate or state too emphatically.

DERIVATIVES:
overstatement noun.

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overstay

verb
stay longer than the duration or limits of.

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overstep

verb (overstepped, overstepping)
go beyond (a set or accepted limit).

IDIOMS -
overstep the mark go beyond what is intended or acceptable.

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overstretch

verb
1. stretch too much.
2. be too demanding of.

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oversubscribed

adjective
1. (of something for sale) applied for in greater quantities than are available.
2. (of a course or institution) having more applications than available places.

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overt

adjective
done or shown openly.

DERIVATIVES:
overtly adverb
overtness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'opened' , from Latin aperire 'to open' .

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overtake

verb (past overtook; past part. overtaken)
1. catch up with and pass while travelling in the same direction.
2. become greater or more successful than.
3. come suddenly or unexpectedly upon.

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overthrow

verb (past overthrew; past part. overthrown)
1. remove forcibly from power.
2. put an end to through force.
3. throw (a ball) further than the intended distance.

noun
1. a defeat or removal from power.
2. a throw which sends a ball past its intended recipient or target.

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overtime

noun
1. time worked in addition to one's normal working hours.
2. N. Amer. extra time played at the end of a tied game.

adverb
in addition to normal working hours.

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overtone

noun
1. a musical tone which is a part of the harmonic series above a fundamental note, and may be heard with it.
2. a subtle or subsidiary quality, implication, or connotation.

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overture

noun
1. an orchestral piece at the beginning of a musical work.
2. an independent orchestral composition in one movement.
3. an introduction to something more substantial.
4. (overtures) approaches made with the aim of opening negotiations or establishing a relationship.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «aperture»: from Old French, from Latin apertura 'aperture' .

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overturn

verb
1. turn over and come to rest upside down.
2. abolish, invalidate, or reverse (a decision, system, belief, etc.).

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overuse

verb
use too much.

noun
excessive use.

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overview

noun
a general review or summary.

verb
give an overview of.

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overweening

adjective
1. showing excessive confidence or pride.
2. excessive; immoderate.

ORIGIN: from archaic ween 'think or suppose' , from Old English.

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overweight

adjective
above a normal, desirable, or permitted weight.

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overwhelm

verb
1. submerge beneath a huge mass.
2. defeat completely; overpower.
3. have a strong emotional effect on.

DERIVATIVES:
overwhelming adjective.

ORIGIN: from archaic whelm 'engulf or submerge' , from Old English.

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overwinter

verb
1. spend the winter in a specified place.
2. (of an insect, plant, etc.) live or survive through the winter.
3. maintain through the winter.

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overwork

verb
1. work or cause to work too hard.
2. use (a word or idea) too much and so make it weaker in effect.

noun
excessive work.

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overwrite

verb (past overwrote; past part. overwritten)
1. write on top of (other writing).
2. Computing destroy (data) or the data in (a file) by entering new data in its place.
3. write too elaborately or ornately.
4. (in insurance) accept more risk than the premium income limits allow.

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overwrought

adjective
1. in a state of nervous excitement or anxiety.
2. (of a piece of writing or a work of art) too elaborate or complicated.

ORIGIN: archaic past participle of OVERWORK.

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overzealous

adjective
overly enthusiastic or energetic.

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oviduct

noun Anatomy & Zoology
the tube through which an ovum or egg passes from an ovary.

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oviform

adjective
egg-shaped.

ORIGIN: from Latin ovum 'egg' .

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ovine

adjective
relating to sheep.

ORIGIN: Latin ovinus, from ovis 'sheep' .

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oviparous

adjective Zoology
producing young by means of eggs which are hatched after they have been laid by the parent, as in birds. Compare with VIVIPAROUS.

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ovoid

adjective
1. (of a solid or a three-dimensional surface) more or less egg-shaped.
2. (of a plane figure) oval.

noun
an ovoid body or surface.

ORIGIN: Latin ovoides, from ovum 'egg' .

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ovulate

verb
discharge ova or ovules from the ovary.

DERIVATIVES:
ovulation noun.

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ovule

noun Botany
the part of the ovary of seed plants that contains the female germ cell and after fertilization becomes the seed.

DERIVATIVES:
ovular adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin ovulum 'little egg' .

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ovum

noun (pl. ova)
a mature female reproductive cell, which can divide to give rise to an embryo usually only after fertilization by a male cell.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'egg' .

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owe

verb
1. be required to pay (money or goods) to (someone) in return for something received.
2. be morally obliged to show (gratitude, respect, etc.) or to offer (an explanation) to (someone).
3. (owe something to) have something because of.
4. be indebted to someone or something for: I owe my life to you.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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owing

adjective
yet to be paid or supplied.

IDIOMS -
owing to because of or on account of.

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owl

noun
a nocturnal bird of prey with large eyes, a hooked beak, and typically a loud hooting call.

ORIGIN: Old English, ultimately imitative of the bird's call.

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owlish

adjective
1. like an owl, especially in being wise or solemn.
2. (of glasses or eyes) resembling the large round eyes of an owl.

DERIVATIVES:
owlishly adverb.

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own

adjective & pronoun
1. (with a possessive) belonging or relating to the person specified.
2. done or produced by the person specified.
3. particular to the person or thing specified; individual.

verb
1. possess.
2. formal admit or acknowledge that something is the case.
3. (own up) admit to having done something wrong or embarrassing.

IDIOMS -
be one's own man (or woman) act independently.
come into its (or one's) own become fully effective.
hold one's own retain a position of strength in a challenging situation.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to OWE.

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own brand

noun Brit.
a product manufactured specially for a retailer and bearing the retailer's name.

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owner

noun
a person who owns something.

DERIVATIVES:
ownership noun.

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owner-occupier

noun Brit.
a person who owns the house or flat in which they live.

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own goal

noun
(in soccer) a goal scored when a player accidentally strikes or deflects the ball into their own team's goal.

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ox

noun (pl. oxen)
1. a domesticated bovine animal kept for milk or meat; a cow or bull.
2. a castrated bull, especially as a draught animal.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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oxbow

noun
1. a loop formed by a horseshoe bend in a river.
2. the U-shaped collar of an ox-yoke.

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Oxbridge

noun
Oxford and Cambridge universities regarded together.

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ox-eye daisy

noun
a daisy which has large white flowers with yellow centres.

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oxhide

noun
leather made from the hide of an ox.

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oxidation

noun Chemistry
the process of oxidizing or the result of being oxidized.

DERIVATIVES:
oxidative adjective.

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oxide

noun Chemistry
a compound of oxygen with another element or group.

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oxidize (also oxidise)

verb
1. cause to combine with oxygen.
2. Chemistry cause to undergo a reaction in which electrons are lost to another substance or molecule. The opposite of REDUCE.

DERIVATIVES:
oxidization noun
oxidizer noun.

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Oxon

abbreviation
1. Oxfordshire.
2. (in degree titles) of Oxford University.

ORIGIN: from Oxonia, Latinized form of Oxford from its old form Oxenford.

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Oxonian

adjective
relating to Oxford or Oxford University.

noun
1. a person from Oxford.
2. a member of Oxford University.

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oxtail

noun
the tail of an ox (used in making soup).

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oxter

noun Scottish & N. English
a person's armpit.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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oxygen

noun
a colourless, odourless, gaseous chemical element, forming about 20 per cent of the earth's atmosphere and essential to life.

ORIGIN: from French principe oxygène 'acidifying constituent' (because at first it was held to be the essential component of acids).

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oxygenate

verb
supply, treat, or enrich with oxygen.

DERIVATIVES:
oxygenated adjective
oxygenation noun.

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oxymoron

noun
a figure of speech or expressed idea in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction (e.g. bittersweet).

DERIVATIVES:
oxymoronic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek oxumros 'pointedly foolish' .

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oyez (also oyes)

exclamation
a call given by a public crier or a court officer to command silence and attention before an announcement.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'hear!' , from Latin audire 'to hear' .

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oyster

noun
1. a bivalve marine mollusc with a rough, flattened, irregularly oval shell, several kinds of which are farmed for food or pearls.
2. a shade of greyish white.
3. an oval morsel of meat on each side of the backbone in poultry.

IDIOMS -
the world is one's oyster one is able to enjoy a broad range of opportunities. [ORIGIN: from Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor (II. ii. 5).]

ORIGIN: Old French oistre, from Greek ostreon.

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oystercatcher

noun
a wading bird with black or black-and-white plumage and a strong orange-red bill, feeding chiefly on shellfish.

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Oz

noun & adjective informal
Australia or Australian.

ORIGIN: from the abbreviation of Australia.

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oz

abbreviation
ounce(s).

ORIGIN: Italian onza 'ounce' .

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ozone

noun
1. a pungent, toxic form of oxygen with three atoms in its molecule, formed in electrical discharges or by ultraviolet light.
2. informal fresh invigorating air.

ORIGIN: German Ozon, from Greek ozein 'to smell' .

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ozone-friendly

adjective
(of manufactured products) not containing chemicals that are destructive to the ozone layer.

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ozone hole

noun
a region of marked thinning of the ozone layer in high latitudes, chiefly in winter, due to CFCs and other atmospheric pollutants.

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ozone layer

noun
a layer in the earth's stratosphere at an altitude of about 10 km (6.2 miles) containing a high concentration of ozone, which absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth from the sun.

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P

P [1] (also p)

noun (pl. Ps or P's)
the sixteenth letter of the alphabet.

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P [2]

abbreviation
1. (in tables of sports results) games played.
2. (on road signs and street plans) parking.

symbol
the chemical element phosphorus.

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p

abbreviation
1. page.
2. Brit. penny or pence.

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PA

abbreviation
1. Pennsylvania.
2. Brit. personal assistant.
3. public address.

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Pa

abbreviation
pascal(s).

symbol
the chemical element protactinium.

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pa

noun informal
father.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of PAPA.

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p.a.

abbreviation
per annum.

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pace [1]

noun
1. a single step taken when walking or running.
2. a gait of a horse, especially one of the recognized trained gaits.
3. speed or rate of motion, development, or change.

verb
1. walk at a steady speed, especially without a particular destination and as an expression of anxiety.
2. measure (a distance) by walking it and counting the number of steps taken.
3. lead (another runner in a race) in order to establish a competitive speed.
4. (pace oneself) do something at a restrained and steady rate or speed.
5. move or develop (something) at a particular rate or speed.
6. (of a trained horse) move with a distinctive lateral gait in which both legs on the same side are lifted together.

IDIOMS -
keep pace with move or progress at the same speed as.
off the pace behind the leader in a race or contest.
put someone through their paces make someone demonstrate their abilities.
stand (or stay) the pace be able to keep up with others.

ORIGIN: Latin passus 'stretch (of the leg)' .

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pace [2]

preposition
with due respect to.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'in peace' .

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pacemaker

noun
1. (also pacesetter) a competitor who sets the pace at the beginning of a race or competition.
2. an artificial device for stimulating and regulating the heart muscle.

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pachyderm

noun
a very large mammal with thick skin, especially an elephant, rhinoceros, or hippopotamus.

ORIGIN: Greek pakhudermos, from pakhus 'thick' + derma 'skin' .

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pacific

adjective
1. peaceful in character or intent.
2. (Pacific) relating to the Pacific Ocean.

noun (the Pacific)
the Pacific Ocean.

DERIVATIVES:
pacifically adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin pacificus 'peacemaking' , from pax 'peace' .

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pacifier

noun
1. a person or thing that pacifies.
2. N. Amer. a baby's dummy.

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pacifism

noun
the belief that disputes should be settled by peaceful means and that war and violence are unjustifiable.

DERIVATIVES:
pacifist noun & adjective.

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pacify

verb (pacifies, pacified)
1. quell the anger or agitation of.
2. bring peace to (a country or warring factions).

DERIVATIVES:
pacification noun.

ORIGIN: Latin pacificare, from pax 'peace' .

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pack [1]

noun
1. a cardboard or paper container and the items inside it.
2. Brit. a set of playing cards.
3. a collection of related documents.
4. a group of animals that live and hunt together.
5. chiefly derogatory a group or set of similar things or people.
6. (the pack) the main body of competitors following the leader in a race or competition.
7. Rugby a team's forwards considered as a group.
8. (Pack) an organized group of Cub Scouts or Brownies.
9. a rucksack.
10. pack ice.
11. a hot or cold pad of absorbent material, used for treating an injury.

verb
1. fill (a suitcase or bag) with clothes and other items needed for travel.
2. place in a container for transport or storage.
3. be capable of being folded up for transport or storage.
4. cram a large number of things into.
5. (packed or Brit. packed out) crowded or filled with people.
6. cover, surround, or fill.
7. informal carry (a gun).
8. Rugby (of players) form a scrum.

IDIOMS -
pack a punch
1. hit with skill or force.
2. have a powerful effect.
pack in informal give up (an activity or job).
pack someone off informal send someone somewhere peremptorily or without much notice.
pa ck up Brit. informal (of a machine) break down.
send someone packing informal dismiss someone peremptorily.

DERIVATIVES:
packable adjective
packer noun.

ORIGIN: Low German pak.

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pack [2]

verb
fill (a jury or committee) with people likely to support a particular verdict or decision.

ORIGIN: probably from obsolete pact «enter into an agreement with».

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package

noun
1. an object or group of objects wrapped in paper or packed in a box.
2. N. Amer. a packet.
3. (also package deal) a set of proposals or terms offered or agreed as a whole.
4. informal a package holiday.
5. Computing a collection of related programs or subroutines.

verb
1. put into a box or wrapping.
2. present in a favourable way.
3. combine (various products) for sale as one unit.
4. commission and produce (an illustrated book) to sell as a complete product to publishers.

DERIVATIVES:
packaged adjective
packager noun.

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package holiday (also package tour)

noun
a holiday organized by a travel agent, with arrangements for transport and accommodation made at an inclusive price.

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packaging

noun
materials used to wrap or protect goods.

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pack animal

noun
1. an animal used to carry loads.
2. an animal that lives and hunts in a pack.

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pack drill

noun
a military punishment of marching up and down carrying full equipment.

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packed lunch

noun
a cold lunch carried in a bag or box to work or school or on an excursion.

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packet

noun
1. a paper or cardboard container.
2. Computing a block of data transmitted across a network.
3. (a packet) informal, chiefly Brit. a large sum of money.

verb (packeted, packeting)
wrap up in a packet.

ORIGIN: from PACK.

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packhorse

noun
a horse used to carry loads.

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pack ice

noun
(in polar seas) an expanse of large pieces of floating ice driven together into a mass.

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packing

noun
1. material used to protect fragile goods in transit.
2. material used to seal a join or assist in lubricating an axle.

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packing case

noun
a large, strong box used for transportation or storage.

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pact

noun
a formal agreement between individuals or parties.

ORIGIN: Latin pactum 'something agreed' .

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pacy (also pacey)

adjective (pacier, paciest)
fast-moving.

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pad [1]

noun
1. a thick piece of soft or absorbent material.
2. the fleshy underpart of an animal's foot or of a human finger.
3. a protective guard worn over a part of the body by a sports player.
4. a number of sheets of blank paper fastened together at one edge.
5. a flat-topped structure or area used for helicopter take-off and landing or for rocket-launching.
6. informal a person's home.

verb (padded, padding)
1. fill or cover with a pad or padding.
2. (pad out) lengthen (a speech or piece of writing) with unnecessary material.
3. chiefly N. Amer. defraud by adding false items to (an expenses claim or bill).

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «bundle of straw to lie on»: the senses may not be of common origin; the meaning «underpart of an animal's foot» is perhaps related to Low German pad 'sole of the foot' .

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pad [2]

verb (padded, padding)
walk with steady steps making a soft, dull sound.

noun
the sound of such steps.

ORIGIN: Low German padden.

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padding

noun
1. soft material such as foam or cloth used to pad or stuff something.
2. superfluous material in a book, speech, etc. introduced in order to make it reach a desired length.

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paddle [1]

noun
1. a short pole with a broad blade at one or both ends, used to propel a small boat through the water.
2. a paddle-shaped implement for stirring or mixing.
3. a short-handled bat such as that used in table tennis.
4. each of the boards fitted round the circumference of a paddle wheel or mill wheel.
5. the fin or flipper of an aquatic mammal or bird.

verb
1. propel (a boat) with a paddle or paddles.
2. (of a bird or other animal) swim with short fast strokes.

DERIVATIVES:
paddler noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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paddle [2]

verb
walk with bare feet in shallow water.

noun
a spell of paddling.

DERIVATIVES:
paddler noun.

ORIGIN: of obscure origin; compare with Low German paddeln 'tramp about' .

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paddle steamer (also paddle boat)

noun
a boat powered by steam and propelled by paddle wheels.

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paddle wheel

noun
a large steam-driven wheel with paddles round its circumference, attached to the side or stern of a ship and propelling the ship by its rotation.

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paddling pool

noun
a shallow artificial pool for children to paddle in.

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paddock

noun
1. a small field or enclosure for horses.
2. an enclosure adjoining a racecourse or track where horses or cars are gathered and displayed before a race.
3. Austral./NZ a field or plot of land enclosed by fencing or defined by natural boundaries.

verb
keep or enclose (a horse) in a paddock.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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Paddy

noun (pl. Paddies) informal, chiefly offensive
an Irishman.

ORIGIN: familiar form of the Irish given name Padraig.

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paddy [1]

noun (pl. paddies)
1. a field where rice is grown.
2. rice still in the husk.

ORIGIN: Malay.

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paddy [2]

noun Brit. informal
a fit of temper.

ORIGIN: from PADDY; associated with obsolete paddywhack «Irishman given to brawling».

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padlock

noun
a detachable lock hanging by a pivoted hook on the object fastened.

verb
secure with a padlock.

ORIGIN: pad- is of unknown origin.

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paean

noun
a song of praise or triumph.

ORIGIN: Greek paian 'hymn of thanksgiving to Apollo' ; the hymn addressed Apollo by the name Paian, originally the Homeric name of the physician of the gods.

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paediatrics (US pediatrics)

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the branch of medicine concerned with children and their diseases.

DERIVATIVES:
paediatric adjective
paediatrician noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek pais 'child' + iatros 'physician' .

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paedophile (US pedophile)

noun
a person who is sexually attracted to children.

DERIVATIVES:
paedophilia noun
paedophiliac adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek pais 'child' .

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paella

noun
a Spanish dish of rice, saffron, chicken, seafood, and vegetables, traditionally cooked in a large shallow pan.

ORIGIN: Catalan, from Latin patella 'pan' .

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pagan

noun
a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions.

adjective
relating to pagans or their beliefs.

DERIVATIVES:
paganism noun.

ORIGIN: Latin paganus 'rustic' , later 'civilian' (i.e. a person who was not a ‘soldier’ in Christ's army).

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page [1]

noun
1. one side of a leaf of a book, magazine, or newspaper, or the material written or printed on it.
2. both sides of such a leaf considered as a single unit.
3. Computing a section of data displayed on a screen at one time.
4. a particular episode considered as part of a longer history.

verb
1. (page through) leaf through.
2. Computing move through and display (text) one page at a time.

ORIGIN: Latin pagina, from pangere 'fasten' .

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page [2]

noun
1. a boy or young man employed in a hotel or club to run errands, open doors, etc.
2. a young boy attending a bride at a wedding.
3. historical a boy in training for knighthood, ranking next below a squire in the personal service of a knight.
4. historical a man or boy employed as the personal attendant of a person of rank.

verb
summon over a public address system or by means of a pager.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Greek paidion 'small boy' .

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pageant

noun
1. a public entertainment consisting of a procession of people in elaborate costumes, or an outdoor performance of a historical scene.
2. (also beauty pageant) N. Amer. a beauty contest.
3. historical a scene erected on a fixed stage or moving vehicle as a public show.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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pageantry

noun
elaborate display or ceremony.

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pageboy

noun
1. a page in a hotel or attending a bride at a wedding.
2. a woman's hairstyle consisting of a shoulder-length bob with the ends rolled under.

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pager

noun
a small radio device which bleeps or vibrates to inform the wearer that someone wishes to contact them or that it has received a short text message.

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paginate

noun
assign numbers to the pages of a book, journal, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
pagination noun.

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pagoda

noun
a Hindu or Buddhist temple or other sacred building, typically having a many-tiered tower.

ORIGIN: Portuguese pagode.

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paid
past and past participle of PAY.
IDIOMS -
put paid to informal stop abruptly; destroy.

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paid-up

adjective
1. with all subscriptions or charges paid in full.
2. committed to a cause, group, etc.: a fully paid-up postmodernist.

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pail

noun
a bucket.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain.

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pain

noun
1. a strongly unpleasant bodily sensation such as is caused by illness or injury.
2. mental suffering or distress.
3. (also pain in the neck or vulgar slang pain in the arse) informal an annoying or tedious person or thing.
4. (pains) great care or trouble.

verb
cause pain to.

IDIOMS -
on (or under) pain of on penalty of.

ORIGIN: Old French peine, from Latin poena 'penalty, pain' .

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pained

adjective
showing or suffering pain, especially mental pain.

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painful

adjective
1. affected with or causing pain.
2. informal very bad: their attempts at reggae are painful.

DERIVATIVES:
painfully adverb
painfulness noun.

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painkiller

noun
a medicine for relieving pain.

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painless

adjective
1. not causing pain.
2. involving little effort or stress.

DERIVATIVES:
painlessly adverb
painlessness noun.

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painstaking

adjective
very careful and thorough.

DERIVATIVES:
painstakingly adverb.

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paint

noun
1. a coloured substance which is spread over a surface to give a thin decorative or protective coating.
2. dated cosmetic make up.

verb
1. apply paint to.
2. apply (a liquid) to a surface with a brush.
3. depict or produce with paint.
4. give a description of.

IDIOMS -
paint the town red informal go out and enjoy oneself flamboyantly.

ORIGIN: from Old French peindre, from Latin pingere 'to paint' .

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paintball

noun
a combat game in which participants shoot capsules of paint at each other with air guns.

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paintbox

noun
a box holding a palette of dry paints for painting pictures.

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paintbrush

noun
a brush for applying paint.

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painter [1]

noun
1. an artist who paints pictures.
2. a person who paints buildings.

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painter [2]

noun
a rope attached to the bow of a boat for tying it to a quay.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain.

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painterly

adjective
1. of or appropriate to a painter; artistic.
2. (of a painting) characterized by qualities of colour, stroke, and texture rather than of line.

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painting

noun
1. the action of painting.
2. a painted picture.

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paint shop

noun
the part of a factory where goods are painted.

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paintwork

noun chiefly Brit.
painted surfaces in a building or on a vehicle.

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pair

noun
1. a set of two things used together or regarded as a unit.
2. an article consisting of two joined or corresponding parts.
3. two people or animals related in some way or considered together.
4. two opposing members of a parliament who absent themselves from voting by mutual arrangement.

verb
1. join or connect to form a pair.
2. (pair off/up) form a couple.

ORIGIN: Old French paire, from Latin par 'equal' .

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paisley

noun
a distinctive intricate pattern of curved feather-shaped figures based on an Indian pine cone design.

ORIGIN: named after the town of Paisley in Scotland, where a cloth incorporating this design was made.

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pajamas (Brit. pyjamas)

plural noun
1. a suit of loose trousers and jacket for sleeping in.
2. loose trousers with a drawstring waist, worn by both sexes in some Asian countries.

ORIGIN: from the Persian words for 'leg' + 'clothing' .

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Paki

noun (pl. Pakis) Brit. informal, offensive
a Pakistani.

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Pakistani

noun
a person from Pakistan.

adjective
relating to Pakistan.

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PAL

abbreviation
phase alternate line (the television broadcasting system used in most of Europe).

ORIGIN: so named because the colour information in alternate lines is inverted in phase.

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pal informal

noun
a friend.

verb (palled, palling) (pal up)
form a friendship.

ORIGIN: Romany, 'brother, mate' , from Sanskrit.

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palace

noun
a large, impressive building forming the official residence of a sovereign, president, archbishop, etc.

ORIGIN: Old French paleis, from Latin Palatium, the name of the Palatine hill in Rome, where the house of the emperor was situated.

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palace coup (also palace revolution)

noun
the non-violent overthrow of a sovereign or government by senior officials within the ruling group.

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palaeo- (US paleo-)

combining form
older or ancient: Palaeolithic.

ORIGIN: from Greek palaios 'ancient' .

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Palaeocene (US Paleocene)

adjective Geology
relating to the earliest epoch of the Tertiary period (between the Cretaceous period and the Eocene epoch, about 65 to 56.5 million years ago), a time of rapid development of mammals.

ORIGIN: from Greek palaios 'ancient' + kainos 'new' .

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palaeography (US paleography)

noun
the study of ancient writing systems and manuscripts.

DERIVATIVES:
palaeographer noun
palaeographic adjective.

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Palaeolithic (US Paleolithic)

adjective Archaeology
relating to the early phase of the Stone Age, up to the end of the glacial period.

ORIGIN: from Greek palaios 'ancient' + lithos 'stone' .

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palaeontology (US paleontology)

noun
the branch of science concerned with fossil animals and plants.

DERIVATIVES:
palaeontological adjective
palaeontologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek palaios 'ancient' + onta 'beings' .

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Palaeozoic (US Paleozoic)

adjective Geology
relating to the era between the Precambrian aeon and the Mesozoic era, about 570 to 245 million years ago, which ended with the rise to dominance of the reptiles.

ORIGIN: from Greek palaios 'ancient' + z 'life' .

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palanquin (also palankeen)

noun
(in India and the East) a covered litter for one passenger.

ORIGIN: Portuguese palanquim, from Sanskrit, 'bed, couch' .

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palatable

adjective
1. pleasant to taste.
2. (of an action or proposal) acceptable.

DERIVATIVES:
palatability noun
palatably adverb.

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palate

noun
1. the roof of the mouth, separating the cavities of the mouth and nose in vertebrates.
2. a person's ability to distinguish between and appreciate different flavours.
3. a person's taste or liking.

ORIGIN: Latin palatum.

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palatial

adjective
resembling a palace, especially in being spacious or grand.

DERIVATIVES:
palatially adverb.

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palatinate

noun historical
1. a territory under the jurisdiction of a Count Palatine.
2. (the Palatinate) the territory of the German Empire ruled by the Count Palatine of the Rhine.

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palatine

adjective chiefly historical
1. (of an official or feudal lord) having local authority that elsewhere belongs only to a sovereign.
2. (of a territory) subject to such authority.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin palatinus 'of the palace' .

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palaver informal

noun
1. prolonged and tedious fuss or discussion.
2. dated a parley or improvised conference between two sides.

verb
talk unnecessarily at length.

ORIGIN: Portuguese palavra 'word' , from Latin parabola 'comparison' .

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pale [1]

adjective
1. of a light shade or hue; approaching white.
2. (of a person's face) having little colour, through shock, fear, illness, etc.
3. unimpressive or inferior: a pale imitation.

verb
1. become pale in one's face.
2. seem or become less important.

DERIVATIVES:
palely adverb
paleness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin pallidus.

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pale [2]

noun
1. a wooden stake used with others to form a fence.
2. a boundary.
3. archaic or historical an area within set boundaries or subject to a particular jurisdiction.
4. Heraldry a broad vertical stripe down the middle of a shield.

IDIOMS -
beyond the pale outside the boundaries of acceptable behaviour.

ORIGIN: Old French pal, from Latin palus 'stake' .

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paleo- (Brit. palaeo-)

combining form
older or ancient: Paleolithic.

ORIGIN: from Greek palaios 'ancient' .

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palette

noun
1. a thin board on which an artist lays and mixes colours.
2. the range of colours used by an artist.
3. the range of tonal colour in a musical piece.

ORIGIN: French, 'little shovel' .

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palette knife

noun
1. a thin steel blade with a handle for mixing colours or applying or removing paint.
2. Brit. a kitchen knife with a long, blunt, flexible, round-ended blade.

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palimpsest

noun
1. a parchment or other surface on which writing has been applied over earlier writing which has been erased.
2. something reused or altered but still bearing visible traces of its earlier form: the house is a palimpsest of the taste of successive owners.

ORIGIN: from Greek palin 'again' + psstos 'rubbed smooth' .

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palindrome

noun
a word or sequence that reads the same backwards as forwards, e.g. madam.

DERIVATIVES:
palindromic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek palindromos 'running back again' .

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paling

noun
1. a fence made from stakes.
2. a stake used in such a fence.

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palisade

noun
1. a fence of stakes or iron railings forming an enclosure or defence.
2. (palisades) US a line of high cliffs.

ORIGIN: French palissade, from Latin palus 'stake'

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pall [1]

noun
1. a cloth spread over a coffin, hearse, or tomb.
2. a dark cloud of smoke, dust, etc.
3. an enveloping air of gloom or fear.
4. an ecclesiastical pallium.

ORIGIN: Latin pallium 'covering, cloak' .

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pall [2]

verb
become less appealing or interesting through familiarity.

ORIGIN: shortening of APPAL.

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Palladian

adjective
in the neoclassical style of the Italian architect Andrea Palladio (1508 80), especially with reference to English architecture of the 18th century.

DERIVATIVES:
Palladianism noun.

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pall-bearer

noun
a person helping to carry or escorting a coffin at a funeral.

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pallet [1]

noun
1. a straw mattress.
2. a crude or makeshift bed.

ORIGIN: Old French paillete, from Latin palea 'straw' .

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pallet [2]

noun
1. a portable platform on which goods can be moved, stacked, and stored.
2. a flat wooden blade with a handle, used to shape clay or plaster.
3. an artist's palette.

DERIVATIVES:
palletize (also palletise) verb.

ORIGIN: French, 'little blade' , from Latin pala 'spade' .

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palliasse

noun
a straw mattress.

ORIGIN: French paillasse, from Latin palea 'straw' .

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palliate

verb
1. make (the symptoms of a disease) less severe without removing the cause.
2. make (something bad) less severe.

DERIVATIVES:
palliation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin palliare 'to cloak' .

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palliative

adjective
relieving pain or alleviating a problem without dealing with the cause.

noun
a palliative remedy or medicine.

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pallid

adjective
1. pale, especially because of poor health.
2. feeble or insipid.

ORIGIN: Latin pallidus 'pale' .

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pallor

noun
an unhealthy pale appearance.

ORIGIN: Latin, from pallere 'be pale' .

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pally

adjective (pallier, palliest) informal
having a close, friendly relationship.

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palm [1]

noun
1. (also palm tree) an evergreen tree with a crown of very long feathered or fan-shaped leaves, growing in warm regions.
2. a leaf of a palm awarded as a prize or viewed as a symbol of victory.

ORIGIN: Latin palma 'palm (of a hand)' , its leaf being likened to a spread hand.

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palm [2]

noun
the inner surface of the hand between the wrist and fingers.

verb
1. conceal (a small object) in the hand, especially as part of a trick.
2. (palm off) sell or dispose of (something) by misrepresentation or fraud.
3. (palm off) informal persuade (someone) to accept something by deception.
4. deflect (a ball) with the palm of the hand.

IDIOMS -
in the palm of one's hand under one's control or influence.
read someone's palm tell someone's fortune by looking at the lines on their palm.

ORIGIN: Latin palma.

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palmate

adjective chiefly Botany & Zoology
shaped like an open hand with a number of lobes resembling fingers.

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palmetto

noun (pl. palmettos)
an American palm with large fan-shaped leaves.

ORIGIN: Spanish palmito 'small palm' .

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palmistry

noun
the supposed interpretation of a person's character or prediction of their future by examining the hand.

DERIVATIVES:
palmist noun.

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Palm Sunday

noun
the Sunday before Easter, on which Christ's entry into Jerusalem is celebrated by processions in which branches of palms are carried.

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palmtop

noun
a computer small and light enough to be held in one hand.

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palmy

adjective (palmier, palmiest)
comfortable and prosperous: the palmy days of the 1970s.

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palomino

noun (pl. palominos)
a pale golden or tan-coloured horse with a white mane and tail.

ORIGIN: Latin American Spanish, from Spanish, 'young pigeon' .

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palp

noun Zoology
each of a pair of elongated segmented feelers near the mouth of an arthropod.

ORIGIN: Latin palpus, from palpare 'to feel' .

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palpable

adjective
1. able to be touched or felt.
2. so intense as to be almost touched or felt: a palpable sense of loss.

DERIVATIVES:
palpably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin palpabilis, from palpare 'feel, touch gently' .

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palpate

verb
examine (a part of the body) by touch, especially for medical purposes.

DERIVATIVES:
palpation noun.

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palpitate

verb
1. (of the heart) beat rapidly or irregularly.
2. shake; tremble.

ORIGIN: Latin palpitare 'tremble, throb' .

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palpitation

noun
1. throbbing or trembling.
2. (palpitations) a noticeably rapid, strong, or irregular heartbeat.

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palsy

noun (pl. palsies) dated
paralysis, especially when accompanied by involuntary tremors.

verb (be palsied)
be affected with palsy.

ORIGIN: Old French paralisie, from Latin paralysis.

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paltry

adjective (paltrier, paltriest)
1. (of an amount) very small or meagre.
2. petty; trivial.

DERIVATIVES:
paltriness noun.

ORIGIN: probably from dialect pelt «rubbish».

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pampas

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
large treeless plains in South America.

ORIGIN: Quechua, 'plain' .

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pampas grass

noun
a tall South American grass with silky flowering plumes.

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pamper

verb
indulge (someone) with a great deal of attention and comfort; spoil.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «cram with food»: probably from Low German or Dutch.

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pamphlet

noun
a small booklet or leaflet containing information or arguments about a single subject.

verb (pamphleted, pamphleting)
distribute pamphlets to.

ORIGIN: from Pamphilet, the familiar name of the 12th-century Latin love poem Pamphilus, seu de Amore.

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pamphleteer

noun
a writer of pamphlets, especially controversial political ones.

DERIVATIVES:
pamphleteering noun.

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pan [1]

noun
1. a metal container for cooking food in.
2. a bowl fitted at either end of a pair of scales.
3. Brit. the bowl of a toilet.
4. a shallow bowl in which gravel and mud is shaken and washed by people seeking gold.
5. a hollow in the ground in which water collects or in which salt is deposited after evaporation.
6. a part of the lock that held the priming in old types of gun.
7. a steel drum.

verb (panned, panning)
1. informal criticize severely.
2. (pan out) informal end up or conclude.
3. wash gravel in a pan to separate out (gold).

IDIOMS -
go down the pan informal fail or be totally useless.

ORIGIN: Old English, perhaps from Latin patina 'dish' .

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pan [2]

verb (panned, panning)
swing (a video or film camera) to give a panoramic effect or follow a subject.

noun
a panning movement.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of PANORAMA.

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pan-

combining form
including everything or everyone, especially the whole of a continent, people, etc: pan-African.

ORIGIN: Greek, from pas 'all' .

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panacea

noun
a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases.

ORIGIN: Greek panakeia, from panaks 'all-healing' .

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panache

noun
flamboyant confidence of style or manner.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a tuft or plume of feathers: from French, from Latin pinnaculum 'little feather' .

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panama

noun
a man's wide-brimmed hat of straw-like material, originally made from the leaves of a tropical palm tree.

ORIGIN: named after the country of Panama.

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panatella

noun
a long thin cigar.

ORIGIN: Latin American Spanish panatela 'long thin biscuit' .

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pancake

noun
1. a thin, flat cake of batter, fried and turned in a pan.
2. theatrical make-up consisting of a flat solid layer of compressed powder.

verb
1. (of an aircraft) make a pancake landing.
2. informal flatten or become flattened.

IDIOMS -
(as) flat as a pancake completely flat.

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Pancake Day

noun
Shrove Tuesday, when pancakes are traditionally eaten.

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pancake race

noun
a race in which each competitor must toss a pancake from a pan as they run.

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panchromatic

adjective
(of black-and-white photographic film) sensitive to all visible colours of the spectrum.

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pancreas

noun (pl. pancreases)
a large gland behind the stomach which secretes digestive enzymes into the duodenum.

DERIVATIVES:
pancreatic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek pan 'all' + kreas 'flesh' .

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panda

noun
1. (also giant panda) a large black-and-white bear-like mammal native to bamboo forests in China.
2. (also red panda) a raccoon-like Himalayan mammal with thick reddish-brown fur and a bushy tail.

ORIGIN: Nepali.

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pandemic

adjective
(of a disease) prevalent over a whole country or large part of the world.

noun
an outbreak of such a disease.

ORIGIN: from Greek pan 'all' + dmos 'people' .

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pandemonium

noun
wild and noisy disorder or confusion; uproar.

ORIGIN: originally meaning «the place of all demons», in Milton's Paradise Lost: from Greek pan 'all' + daimn 'demon' .

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pander

verb (pander to)
gratify or indulge (an immoral or distasteful desire or habit).

noun dated
a pimp or procurer.

ORIGIN: from Pandare, a character in Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde who acts as a lovers' go-between.

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Pandora's box

noun
a process that once begun generates many complicated problems.

ORIGIN: from Pandora in Greek mythology, who was sent to earth with a jar or box of evils and contrary to instructions opened it, letting the evils escape.

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p. & p.

abbreviation Brit.
postage and packing.

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pane

noun
1. a single sheet of glass in a window or door.
2. a sheet or page of stamps.

ORIGIN: Latin pannus 'piece of cloth' .

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panegyric

noun
a speech or text in praise of someone or something.

DERIVATIVES:
panegyrical adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek pangurikos 'of public assembly' .

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panel

noun
1. a distinct, usually rectangular section of a door, vehicle, garment, etc.
2. a flat board on which instruments or controls are fixed.
3. a small group of people brought together to investigate or decide on a matter.
4. chiefly N. Amer. a jury, or a list of available jurors.

DERIVATIVES:
panelled (US paneled) adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «piece of parchment or cloth», later «list»: from Latin pannus 'piece of cloth' .

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panel beater

noun Brit.
a person whose job is to beat out the bodywork of motor vehicles.

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panel game

noun Brit.
a broadcast quiz played by a team of people.

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panelling (US paneling)

noun
panels collectively, when used to decorate a wall.

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panellist (US panelist)

noun
a member of a panel, especially in a broadcast game or discussion.

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panel pin

noun Brit.
a light, thin nail with a very small head.

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pan-fry

verb (pan-fries, pan-frying, pan-fried)
fry in a pan in shallow fat.

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pang

noun
a sudden sharp pain or painful emotion.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of PRONG.

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pangolin

noun
an insect-eating mammal whose body is covered with horny overlapping scales.

ORIGIN: Malay, 'roller' (from the animal's habit of rolling into a ball).

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panic

noun
1. sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety.
2. informal frenzied hurry to do something.

verb (panicked, panicking)
feel or cause to feel panic.

DERIVATIVES:
panicky adjective.

ORIGIN: from the name of the Greek god Pan, noted for causing terror.

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panic attack

noun
a sudden overwhelming feeling of acute and disabling anxiety.

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panic button

noun
a button for summoning help in an emergency.

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panicle

noun Botany
a loose branching cluster of flowers, as in oats.

ORIGIN: Latin panicula, from panus 'ear of millet' .

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panic stations

plural noun (treated as sing. ) Brit. informal
a state of alarm or emergency.

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pannier

noun
1. a bag or box fitted on either side of the rear wheel of a bicycle or motorcycle.
2. a basket, especially each of a pair carried by a beast of burden.
3. historical part of a skirt looped up round the hips and supported on a frame.

ORIGIN: Old French panier, from Latin panarium 'bread basket' .

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panoply

noun
a complete or impressive collection or display.

DERIVATIVES:
panoplied adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'complete protection' , later 'complete set of arms or suit of armour' : from Greek pan 'all' + hopla 'arms' .

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panorama

noun
1. an unbroken view of a surrounding region.
2. a complete survey of a subject or sequence of events.

DERIVATIVES:
panoramic adjective
panoramically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek pan 'all' + horama 'view' .

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pan pipes

plural noun
a musical instrument made from a row of short pipes fixed together.

ORIGIN: from the name of the Greek rural god Pan.

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pansy

noun
1. a plant of the viola family, with flowers in rich colours.
2. informal, derogatory an effeminate or homosexual man.

ORIGIN: French pensée 'thought, pansy' .

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pant

verb
1. breathe with short, quick breaths, typically from exertion or excitement.
2. (usu. pant for) long for or to do something.

noun
a short, quick breath.

ORIGIN: Old French pantaisier 'be agitated, gasp' , from Greek phantasioun 'cause to imagine' .

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pantaloons

plural noun
1. women's baggy trousers gathered at the ankles.
2. historical men's close-fitting breeches fastened below the calf or at the foot.

ORIGIN: from Pantalone, a character in Italian commedia dell'arte represented as a foolish old man wearing pantaloons.

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pantechnicon

noun Brit.
a large van for transporting furniture.

ORIGIN: from Greek pan 'all' + tekhnikon 'piece of art' , originally the name of a London bazaar selling artistic work, later converted into a furniture warehouse.

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pantheism

noun
1. the belief that God can be identified with the universe, or that the universe is a manifestation of God.
2. rare worship that admits or tolerates all gods.

DERIVATIVES:
pantheist noun
pantheistic adjective.

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pantheon

noun
1. all the gods of a people or religion collectively.
2. an ancient temple dedicated to all the gods.
3. a collection of particularly famous or important people.

ORIGIN: originally referring especially to a circular temple in Rome: from Greek pan 'all' + theion 'holy' .

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panther

noun
1. a leopard, especially a black one.
2. N. Amer. a puma or a jaguar.

ORIGIN: Greek panthr.

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panties

plural noun informal
legless underpants worn by women and girls; knickers.

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pantile

noun
a roof tile curved to form an S-shaped section, fitted to overlap its neighbour.

ORIGIN: from PAN + TILE.

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panto

noun (pl. pantos) Brit. informal
a pantomime.

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pantomime

noun
1. Brit. a theatrical entertainment involving music, topical jokes, and slapstick comedy, usually produced around Christmas.
2. informal a ridiculous or confused action or situation.

verb
express or represent by extravagant and exaggerated mime.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'actor using mime' , later 'entertainment in which performers mime' : from Greek pantomimos 'imitator of all' .

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pantry

noun (pl. pantries)
a small room or cupboard in which food, crockery, and cutlery are kept.

ORIGIN: from Old French paneter 'baker' , from Latin panis 'bread' .

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pants

plural noun
1. Brit. underpants or knickers.
2. chiefly N. Amer. trousers.
3. Brit. informal rubbish; nonsense.

IDIOMS -
catch someone with their pants (or trousers) down informal catch someone in an embarrassingly unprepared state.
fly (or drive) by the seat of one's pants informal rely on instinct rather than logic or knowledge.
scare (or bore etc.) the pants off informal make extremely scared, bored, etc.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of PANTALOONS.

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pantyhose (also pantihose)

plural noun N. Amer.
women's thin nylon tights.

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pap [1]

noun
1. bland soft or semi-liquid food suitable for babies or invalids.
2. (in Africa and the Caribbean) maize porridge.
3. worthless or trivial reading matter or entertainment.

ORIGIN: probably from Latin pappare 'eat' .

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pap [2]

noun archaic or dialect
a woman's breast or nipple.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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papa

noun N. Amer. or dated
one's father.

ORIGIN: French, from Greek papas.

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papacy

noun (pl. papacies)
the pope's office or tenure.

ORIGIN: from Latin papa 'pope' .

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papal

adjective
relating to the pope or the papacy.

DERIVATIVES:
papally adverb.

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paparazzo

noun (pl. paparazzi)
a freelance photographer who pursues celebrities to get photographs of them.

ORIGIN: Italian, the name of a character in Fellini's film La Dolce Vita (1960).

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papaya

noun
a tropical fruit like an elongated melon, with edible orange flesh and small black seeds.

ORIGIN: Spanish and Portuguese, from Carib.

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paper

noun
1. material manufactured in thin sheets from the pulp of wood or other fibrous substances, used for writing or printing on or as wrapping material.
2. (papers) sheets of paper covered with writing or printing; documents.
3. (before another noun ) officially documented but having no real existence or use: a paper profit.
4. a newspaper.
5. a government report or policy document.
6. an essay or dissertation read at a seminar or published in a journal.
7. a set of examination questions.

verb
1. cover with wallpaper.
2. (paper over) disguise (an awkward problem) instead of resolving it.
3. theatrical slang fill (a theatre) by giving out free tickets.

IDIOMS -
on paper
1. in writing.
2. in theory rather than in reality.

DERIVATIVES:
paperless adjective
papery noun.

ORIGIN: Old French papir, from Latin papyrus 'paper-reed' (see PAPYRUS).

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paperback

noun
a book bound in stiff paper or flexible card.

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paper boy (or paper girl)

noun
a boy (or girl) who delivers newspapers to people's homes.

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paper clip

noun
a piece of bent wire or plastic used for holding several sheets of paper together.

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paperknife

noun
a blunt knife used for opening envelopes.

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paper money

noun
money in the form of banknotes.

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paper round (N. Amer. paper route)

noun
a job of regularly delivering newspapers.

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paper-thin

adjective
very thin or insubstantial.

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paper tiger

noun
a person or thing that appears threatening but is ineffectual.

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paperweight

noun
a small, heavy object for keeping loose papers in place.

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paperwork

noun
routine work involving written documents.

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papier mâché

noun
a malleable mixture of paper and glue that becomes hard when dry.

ORIGIN: French, 'chewed paper' .

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papilla

noun (pl. papillae)
1. a small rounded protuberance on a part or organ of the body.
2. a small fleshy projection on a plant.

DERIVATIVES:
papillary adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'nipple' .

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papilloma

noun (pl. papillomas or papillomata) Medicine
a small wart-like growth, usually benign.

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papillon

noun
a dog of a toy breed with ears suggesting the form of a butterfly.

ORIGIN: French, 'butterfly' .

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papist chiefly derogatory

noun
1. a Roman Catholic.
2. a supporter of the papacy.

adjective
1. Roman Catholic.
2. supporting the papacy.

DERIVATIVES:
papism noun
papistry noun.

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pappy

noun (pl. pappies)
a child's word for father.

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paprika

noun
a deep orange-red powdered spice made from certain varieties of sweet pepper.

ORIGIN: Hungarian.

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papyrus

noun (pl. papyri or papyruses)
1. a material prepared in ancient Egypt from the pithy stem of a water plant, used for writing or painting on.
2. the tall aquatic sedge from which papyrus was obtained.

ORIGIN: Greek papuros.

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par

noun
1. Golf the number of strokes a first-class player should normally require for a particular hole or course.
2. (usu. in phrases above or below or under par) the usual or expected level or amount.
3. Stock Exchange the face value of a share or other security.

verb (parred, parring) Golf
play (a hole) in par.

IDIOMS -
on a par with equal to.
par for the course what is normal or expected in any given circumstances.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'equal' , also 'equality' .

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para

noun informal
a paratrooper.

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para- (also par-)

prefix
1. beside; adjacent to: parathyroid.
2. beyond or distinct from, but comparable to: paramilitary.

ORIGIN: from Greek para 'beside, beyond' .

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parable

noun
a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.

ORIGIN: Latin parabola 'comparison, discourse, allegory' , from Greek parabol (see PARABOLA).

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parabola

noun (pl. parabolas or parabolae)
a symmetrical open plane curve of the kind formed by the intersection of a cone with a plane parallel to its side.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek parabol 'placing side by side' .

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parabolic

adjective
1. of or like a parabola or part of one.
2. of or expressed in parables.

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paracetamol

noun (pl. same or paracetamols) Brit.
a synthetic compound used to relieve pain and reduce fever.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of its chemical name.

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parachute

noun
a cloth canopy which allows a person or heavy object attached to it to descend slowly when dropped from a high position.

verb
drop or cause to drop by parachute.

DERIVATIVES:
parachutist noun.

ORIGIN: from French para- 'protection against' + chute 'fall' .

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parade

noun
1. a public procession.
2. a formal march or gathering of troops for inspection or display.
3. a series or succession.
4. a boastful or ostentatious display.
5. Brit. a public square, promenade, or row of shops.

verb
1. walk, march, or display in a parade.
2. display (something) publicly in order to impress or attract attention.
3. (parade as) appear falsely as.

ORIGIN: French, 'a showing' , from Latin parare 'prepare' .

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parade ground

noun
a place where troops gather for parade.

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paradiddle

noun Music
a simple drum roll consisting of four even strokes.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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paradigm

noun
1. a typical example, pattern, or model of something.
2. a conceptual model underlying the theories and practice of a scientific subject.
3. Grammar a table of all the inflected forms of a word, serving as a model for other words of the same conjugation or declension.

DERIVATIVES:
paradigmatic adjective
paradigmatically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek paradeigma, from paradeiknunai 'show side by side' .

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paradise

noun
1. (in some religions) heaven as the place where the good live after death.
2. the Garden of Eden.
3. an ideal or idyllic place or state.

DERIVATIVES:
paradisal adjective
paradisiacal (also paradisical) adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French paradis, from Greek paradeisos 'royal park' .

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paradox

noun
1. a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that may in fact be true.
2. a person or thing that combines contradictory features or qualities.

DERIVATIVES:
paradoxical adjective
paradoxically adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «statement contrary to accepted opinion»: from Greek paradoxon 'contrary opinion' .

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paraffin

noun
1. (Brit. paraffin wax) a flammable waxy solid obtained from petroleum or shale and used for sealing and waterproofing and in candles.
2. (also paraffin oil or liquid paraffin) Brit. a liquid fuel made similarly, especially kerosene.
3. Chemistry old-fashioned term for ALKANE.

ORIGIN: German, from Latin parum 'little' + affinis 'related' (from its low reactivity).

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paragliding

noun
a sport in which a person glides through the air by means of a wide parachute after jumping from or being hauled to a height.

DERIVATIVES:
paraglide verb
paraglider noun.

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paragon

noun
1. a model of excellence or of a particular quality.
2. a perfect diamond of 100 carats or more.

ORIGIN: Italian paragone 'touchstone' .

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paragraph

noun
a distinct section of a piece of writing, beginning on a new line and often indented.

ORIGIN: French paragraphe, from Greek paragraphos 'short stroke marking a break in sense' .

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paragraph mark

noun
a symbol (usually §) used to mark a new paragraph or as a reference mark.

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parakeet (also parrakeet)

noun
a small parrot with predominantly green plumage and a long tail.

ORIGIN: Old French paroquet, Italian parrocchetto, and Spanish periquito; related to PARROT.

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paralegal chiefly N. Amer.

adjective
relating to auxiliary aspects of the law.

noun
a person trained in subsidiary legal matters but not fully qualified as a lawyer.

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parallax

noun
1. the apparent difference in the position of an object when viewed from different positions, e.g. through the viewfinder and the lens of a camera.
2. Astronomy the angular difference in the apparent positions of a star observed from opposite sides of the earth's orbit.

DERIVATIVES:
parallactic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek parallaxis 'a change' .

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parallel

adjective
1. (of lines, planes, or surfaces) side by side and having the same distance continuously between them.
2. occurring or existing at the same time or in a similar way; corresponding: a parallel universe.
3. Computing involving the simultaneous performance of operations.

noun
1. a person or thing that is similar or comparable to another.
2. a similarity or comparison.
3. (also parallel of latitude) each of the imaginary parallel circles of constant latitude on the earth's surface.
4. Printing two parallel lines (||) as a reference mark.

verb (paralleled, paralleling)
1. run or lie parallel to.
2. be similar or corresponding to.

IDIOMS -
in parallel
1. taking place at the same time and having some connection.
2. (of electrical components or circuits) connected to common points at each end, so that the current is divided between them.

DERIVATIVES:
parallelism noun.

ORIGIN: Greek paralllos, from para- 'alongside' + alllos 'one another' .

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parallel bars

plural noun
a pair of parallel rails on posts, used in gymnastics.

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parallelogram

noun
a plane figure with four straight sides and opposite sides parallel.

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Paralympics

plural noun (usu. treated as sing. )
an international athletic competition for disabled athletes.

DERIVATIVES:
Paralympic adjective.

ORIGIN: blend of paraplegic and Olympics.

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paralyse (chiefly US also paralyze)

verb
1. cause (a person or part of the body) to become partly or wholly incapable of movement.
2. bring to a standstill by causing disruption.

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paralysis

noun (pl. paralyses)
1. the loss of the ability to move part or most of the body.
2. inability to act or function.

ORIGIN: Greek paralusis, from paraluesthai 'be disabled at the side' .

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paralytic

adjective
1. relating to paralysis.
2. informal, chiefly Brit. extremely drunk.

DERIVATIVES:
paralytically adverb.

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paramedic

noun
a person who is trained to do medical work, especially emergency first aid, but is not a fully qualified doctor.

DERIVATIVES:
paramedical adjective.

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parameter

noun
1. a measurable or quantifiable characteristic of a system.
2. Mathematics a quantity which is fixed for the case in question but may vary in other cases.
3. a limit or boundary which defines the scope of a process or activity.

DERIVATIVES:
parametric adjective
parametrically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek para- 'beside' + metron 'measure' .

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paramilitary

adjective
organized on similar lines to a military force.

noun (pl. paramilitaries)
a member of a paramilitary organization.

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paramount

adjective
1. more important than anything else; supreme.
2. having supreme power.

DERIVATIVES:
paramountcy noun.

ORIGIN: from Old French par 'by' + amont 'above' .

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paramour

noun archaic or derogatory
a lover, especially the illicit partner of a married person.

ORIGIN: from Old French par amour 'by love' .

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paranoia

noun
1. a mental condition characterized by delusions of persecution, unwarranted jealousy, or exaggerated self-importance.
2. unjustified suspicion and mistrust of others.

DERIVATIVES:
paranoiac (also paranoic) adjective & noun
paranoiacally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek para 'irregular' + noos 'mind' .

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paranoid

adjective
of, characterized by, or suffering from paranoia.

noun
a person who is paranoid.

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paranormal

adjective
supposedly beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding.

DERIVATIVES:
paranormally adverb.

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parapet

noun
1. a low protective wall along the edge of a roof, bridge, or balcony.
2. a protective wall or bank along the top of a military trench.

ORIGIN: French, or from Italian parapetto, 'chest-high wall' .

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paraphernalia

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
miscellaneous articles, especially the equipment needed for a particular activity.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'property owned by a married woman' : from Latin, from Greek parapherna 'property apart from a dowry' .

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paraphrase

verb
express the meaning of (something) using different words.

noun
a rewording of a passage.

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paraplegia

noun
paralysis of the legs and lower body.

DERIVATIVES:
paraplegic adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: Greek, from paraplssein 'strike at the side' .

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parapsychology

noun
the study of mental phenomena which are outside the sphere of orthodox psychology (such as hypnosis or telepathy).

DERIVATIVES:
parapsychological adjective
parapsychologist noun.

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paraquat

noun
a toxic fast-acting herbicide.

ORIGIN: from PARA- + QUATERNARY.

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parasailing

noun
the sport of gliding through the air wearing an open parachute while being towed by a motor boat.

DERIVATIVES:
parasail noun & verb.

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parascending

noun Brit.
paragliding or parasailing.

DERIVATIVES:
parascend verb
parascender noun.

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parasite

noun
1. an organism which lives in or on another organism and benefits at the other's expense.
2. derogatory a person who lives off or exploits others.

DERIVATIVES:
parasitism noun
parasitology noun.

ORIGIN: Greek parasitos 'person eating at another's table' .

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parasitic

adjective
1. (of an organism) living as a parasite.
2. resulting from infestation by a parasite.
3. derogatory habitually relying on or exploiting others.

DERIVATIVES:
parasitical adjective
parasitically adverb.

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parasitize (also parasitise)

verb
infest or exploit as a parasite.

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parasol

noun
1. a light umbrella used to give shade from the sun.
2. (also parasol mushroom) a tall mushroom with a broad scaly greyish-brown cap.

ORIGIN: Italian parasole, from para- 'protecting against' + sole 'sun' .

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paratroops

plural noun
troops equipped to be dropped by parachute from aircraft.

DERIVATIVES:
paratrooper noun.

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par avion

adverb
by airmail.

ORIGIN: French, 'by aeroplane' .

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parboil

verb
partly cook by boiling.

ORIGIN: Latin perbullire 'boil thoroughly' , confused with PART.

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parcel

noun
1. an object or collection of objects wrapped in paper in order to be carried or sent by post.
2. a quantity or amount of something, in particular land.

verb (parcelled, parcelling; US parceled, parceling)
1. make (something) into a parcel by wrapping it.
2. (parcel out) divide (something) into portions and then distribute it.

ORIGIN: Old French parcelle, from Latin particula 'small part' .

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parch

verb
1. make dry through intense heat.
2. (parched) informal extremely thirsty.
3. roast (corn, peas, etc.) lightly.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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parchment

noun
1. a stiff material made from the skin of a sheep or goat, formerly used for writing on.
2. (also parchment paper) stiff translucent paper treated to resemble parchment.
3. informal a diploma or other formal document.

ORIGIN: Old French parchemin, from a blend of Latin pergamina 'writing material from Pergamum' and Parthica pellis 'Parthian skin' (a kind of scarlet leather).

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pardon

noun
1. the action of forgiving or being forgiven for an error or offence.
2. a remission of the legal consequences of an offence or conviction.
3. Christian Church, historical an indulgence.

verb
1. forgive or excuse (a person, error, or offence).
2. give (an offender) a pardon.

exclamation
used to ask a speaker to repeat something because one did not hear or understand it.

DERIVATIVES:
pardonable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin perdonare 'concede, remit' .

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pare

verb
1. trim by cutting away the outer edges of.
2. (often pare away/down) reduce or diminish in a number of small successive stages.

ORIGIN: Old French parer, from Latin parare 'prepare' .

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parent

noun
1. a father or mother.
2. an animal or plant from which younger ones are derived.
3. an organization or company which owns or controls a number of subsidiaries.
4. archaic a forefather or ancestor.

verb
be or act as a parent to.

DERIVATIVES:
parental adjective
parentally adverb
parenthood noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin parere 'bring forth' .

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parentage

noun
the identity and origins of one's parents; lineage.

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parenthesis

noun (pl. parentheses)
1. a word or phrase inserted as an explanation or afterthought, in writing usually marked off by brackets, dashes, or commas.
2. (parentheses) a pair of round brackets () used to include such a word or phrase.

ORIGIN: Greek, from parentithenai 'put in beside' .

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parenthetic

adjective
relating to or inserted as a parenthesis.

DERIVATIVES:
parenthetical adjective
parenthetically adverb.

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par excellence

adjective (after a noun )
better or more than all others of the same kind: a designer par excellence.

ORIGIN: French, 'by excellence' .

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pariah

noun
1. an outcast.
2. historical a member of a low caste or of no caste in southern India.

ORIGIN: from a Tamil word meaning 'hereditary drummers' (pariahs were drummers because they were not allowed to join in with religious processions).

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parings

plural noun
thin strips pared off from something.

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parish

noun
1. (in the Christian Church) a small administrative district with its own church and clergy.
2. (also civil parish) Brit. the smallest unit of local government in rural areas.

ORIGIN: Old French paroche, from Greek paroikia 'staying temporarily' .

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parish council

noun
the administrative body in a civil parish.

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parishioner

noun
a person who lives in a particular Church parish.

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parish register

noun
a book recording christenings, marriages, and burials at a parish church.

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Parisian

adjective
relating to Paris.

noun
a person from Paris.

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Parisienne

noun
a Parisian girl or woman.

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parity

noun
1. equality or equivalence.
2. Mathematics the fact of being an even or an odd number.

ORIGIN: Latin paritas, from par 'equal' .

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park

noun
1. a large public garden in a town, used for recreation.
2. a large area of woodland and pasture attached to a country house.
3. an area devoted to a specified purpose: a wildlife park.
4. an area in which vehicles may be parked.
5. (the park) Brit. informal a football pitch.

verb
1. stop and leave (a vehicle) temporarily.
2. informal leave (something) in a convenient place until required.
3. (park oneself) informal sit down.

ORIGIN: Old French parc, from Latin parricus.

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parka

noun
1. a large windproof hooded jacket.
2. a hooded jacket made of animal skin, worn by Eskimos.

ORIGIN: Russian.

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parking meter

noun
a machine next to a parking space in a street, into which coins are inserted to pay for parking a vehicle.

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parking ticket

noun
a notice informing a driver of a fine imposed for parking illegally.

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Parkinson's disease

noun
a progressive disease of the brain and nervous system marked by involuntary trembling, muscular rigidity, and slow, imprecise movement.

DERIVATIVES:
Parkinsonism noun.

ORIGIN: named after the English surgeon James Parkinson (1755 1824).

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parkland (also parklands)

noun
open land consisting of fields and scattered groups of trees.

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parky

adjective Brit. informal
chilly.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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parlance

noun
a way of using words associated with a particular subject: medical parlance.

ORIGIN: Old French, from parler 'speak' .

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parley

noun (pl. parleys)
a meeting between opponents or enemies to discuss terms for an armistice.

verb (parleys, parleyed)
hold a parley.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French parlee 'spoken' .

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parliament

noun
1. (Parliament) (in the UK) the highest legislature, consisting of the Sovereign, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons.
2. a similar body in other countries.

ORIGIN: Old French parlement 'speaking' .

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parliamentarian

noun
1. a member of parliament who is well versed in parliamentary procedures and debates.
2. historical a supporter of Parliament in the English Civil War; a Roundhead.

adjective
relating to parliament or parliamentarians.

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parliamentary

adjective
relating to, enacted by, or suitable for a parliament.

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parliamentary private secretary

noun
(in the UK) a Member of Parliament assisting a government minister.

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parlour (US parlor)

noun
1. dated a sitting room.
2. a room in a public building, monastery, etc. for receiving guests or private conversation.
3. a shop or business providing specified goods or services: an ice-cream parlour.
4. a room or building equipped for milking cows.

ORIGIN: Old French parlur 'place for speaking' , from Latin parlare 'speak' .

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parlour game

noun
an indoor game, especially a word game.

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parlourmaid

noun historical
a maid employed to wait at table.

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parlous

adjective archaic or humorous
dangerously uncertain; precarious.

ORIGIN: contraction of PERILOUS.

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Parma ham

noun
a strongly flavoured Italian cured ham, eaten uncooked and thinly sliced.

ORIGIN: named after the Italian city of Parma.

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Parmesan

noun
a hard, dry Italian cheese used chiefly in grated form.

ORIGIN: from Italian Parmigiano 'of Parma' .

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parochial

adjective
1. relating to a parish.
2. having a narrow outlook or scope.

DERIVATIVES:
parochialism noun.

ORIGIN: Latin parochialis, from Greek paroikia (see PARISH).

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parody

noun (pl. parodies)
1. an amusingly exaggerated imitation of the style of a writer, artist, or genre.
2. a feeble imitation.

verb (parodies, parodied)
produce a parody of.

DERIVATIVES:
parodic adjective
parodist noun.

ORIGIN: Greek paridia 'burlesque poem or song' .

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parole

noun
1. the temporary or permanent release of a prisoner before the expiry of a sentence, on the promise of good behaviour.
2. historical a prisoner of war's word of honour not to escape or, if released, to act as a non-belligerent.

verb
release (a prisoner) on parole.

DERIVATIVES:
parolee noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'word' , from Latin parabola 'speech' .

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paroxysm

noun
a sudden attack or outburst: a paroxysm of weeping.

DERIVATIVES:
paroxysmal adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek paroxusmos, from paroxunein 'exasperate' .

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parquet

noun
flooring composed of wooden blocks arranged in a geometric pattern.

DERIVATIVES:
parquetry noun.

ORIGIN: French, 'small compartment, wooden flooring' .

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parr

noun (pl. same)
a young salmon or trout up to two years old.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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parricide

noun
1. the killing of a parent or other near relative.
2. a person who commits parricide.

DERIVATIVES:
parricidal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin parricidium, with unknown first element associated with Latin pater 'father' and parens 'parent' .

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parrot

noun
a mainly tropical bird with brightly coloured plumage and a strong downcurved hooked bill, some kinds of which are able to mimic human speech.

verb (parroted, parroting)
repeat mechanically.

ORIGIN: probably from French dialect perrot, diminutive of the male name Pierre 'Peter' .

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parrot-fashion

adverb
repeated without thought or understanding.

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parry

verb (parries, parried)
1. ward off (a weapon or attack) with a countermove.
2. avoid answering (a question) directly.

noun (pl. parries)
an act of parrying.

ORIGIN: probably from French parer 'ward off' .

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parse

verb
1. analyse (a sentence) into its component parts and describe their syntactic roles.
2. Computing analyse (text) into logical syntactic components.

DERIVATIVES:
parser noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French pars 'parts' .

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parsec

noun
a unit of astronomical distance equal to about 3.25 light years, corresponding to the distance at which the radius of the earth's orbit subtends an angle of one second of arc.

ORIGIN: blend of PARALLAX and SECOND.

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parsimony

noun
extreme unwillingness to spend money or use resources.

DERIVATIVES:
parsimonious adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin parsimonia, parcimonia, from parcere 'be sparing' .

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parsley

noun
a herb with crinkly or flat leaves, used for seasoning or garnishing food.

ORIGIN: Greek petroselinon, from petra 'rock' + selinon 'parsley' .

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parsnip

noun
the long tapering cream-coloured root of a plant of the parsley family, eaten as a vegetable.

ORIGIN: Old French pasnaie, from Latin pastinaca; the change in ending was influenced by NEEP.

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parson

noun
1. (in the Church of England) a parish priest.
2. informal any clergyman.

ORIGIN: Latin persona 'person' , later 'rector' .

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parsonage

noun
a church house provided for a parson.

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parson's nose

noun informal
the piece of fatty flesh at the rump of a cooked fowl.

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part

noun
1. a piece or segment which is combined with others to make up a whole.
2. some but not all of something.
3. a specified fraction of a whole.
4. a measure allowing comparison between the amounts of different ingredients used in a mixture.
5. a role played by an actor or actress.
6. a person's contribution to an action or situation.
7. (parts) informal a region.
8. Music a melody or other constituent of harmony assigned to a particular voice or instrument.
9. (parts) abilities: a man of many parts.

verb
1. move apart or divide to leave a central space.
2. leave or cause to leave someone's company.
3. (part with) give up possession of; hand over.

adverb
partly: part jazz, part blues.

IDIOMS -
be part and parcel of be an essential element of.
for my (or his, her, etc.) part as far as I am (or he, she, etc. is) concerned.
in part to some extent.
on the part of used to ascribe responsibility for something to someone.
part company go in different directions.
take part join in or be involved in an activity.
take the part of give support and encouragement to.

ORIGIN: Latin pars; the verb is from Latin partire 'divide, share' .

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partake

verb (past partook; past part. partaken) formal
1. (partake in) participate in (an activity).
2. (partake of) be characterized by.
3. (partake of) eat or drink.

ORIGIN: from earlier partaker «person who takes a part».

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parterre

noun
a group of flower beds laid out in a formal pattern.

ORIGIN: French, from par terre 'on the ground' .

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part exchange

noun Brit.
a transaction in which an article that one already owns is given as part of the payment for a more expensive one, with the balance in money.

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parthenogenesis

noun Biology
reproduction from an ovum without fertilization, especially in some invertebrates and lower plants.

DERIVATIVES:
parthenogenetic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek parthenos 'virgin' + genesis 'creation' .

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partial

adjective
1. existing only in part; incomplete.
2. favouring one side in a dispute above the other; biased.
3. (partial to) having a liking for.

DERIVATIVES:
partiality noun
partially adverb.

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participate

verb
take part.

DERIVATIVES:
participant noun
participation noun
participative adjective
participator noun
participatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin participare 'share in' .

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participle

noun Grammar
a word formed from a verb (e.g. going, gone, being, been) and used as an adjective or noun (as in burnt toast, good breeding) or used to make compound verb forms (is going, has been).

DERIVATIVES:
participial adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin participium 'sharing' .

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particle

noun
1. a minute portion of matter.
2. Physics a component of the physical world smaller than an atom, e.g. an electron, proton, neutrino, or photon.
3. Grammar a minor function word that has comparatively little meaning and does not inflect, e.g. in, up, off, or over, used with verbs to make phrasal verbs.

ORIGIN: Latin particula 'little part' .

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particoloured (US particolored)

adjective
partly of one colour, partly of another or others.

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particular

adjective
1. relating to an individual member of a specified group or class.
2. more than is usual; special: particular care.
3. fastidious about something.

noun
a detail.

IDIOMS -
in particular especially.

ORIGIN: Latin particularis, from particula 'small part' .

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particularly

adverb
1. more than is usual; especially or very.
2. in particular; specifically.

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particulate

adjective
relating to or in the form of minute particles.

noun (particulates)
matter in such a form.

ORIGIN: from Latin particula 'particle' .

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parting

noun
1. the action or an act of parting.
2. Brit. a line of scalp revealed by combing the hair away in opposite directions on either side.

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parting shot

noun
a cutting remark made at the moment of departure.

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partisan

noun
1. a strong, often uncritical, supporter of a party, cause, or person.
2. a member of an armed group fighting secretly against an occupying force.

adjective
prejudiced.

DERIVATIVES:
partisanship noun.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian partigiano, from parte 'part' .

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partition

noun
1. a structure dividing a space into parts, especially a light interior wall.
2. division into parts, especially the division of a country into self-governing parts.

verb
1. divide into parts.
2. divide or separate (a room or part of a room) with a partition.

DERIVATIVES:
partitionist noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from partiri 'divide into parts' .

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partitive Grammar

adjective
(of a grammatical construction) indicating that only a part of a whole is referred to (e.g. a slice of bacon, some of the children).

noun
a noun or pronoun used as the first term in such a construction.

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partly

adverb
to some extent; not completely.

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partner

noun
1. a person who takes part in an undertaking with another or others, especially in a business with shared risks and profits.
2. either of two people doing something as a couple or pair.
3. either member of a married couple or of an established unmarried couple.

verb
be the partner of.

ORIGIN: Old French parcener, from Latin partitio 'partition' .

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partnership

noun
1. the state of being a partner or partners.
2. an association of two or more people as partners.

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part of speech

noun
a category to which a word is assigned in accordance with its syntactic functions, e.g. noun, pronoun, adjective, verb.

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partridge

noun (pl. same or partridges)
a short-tailed game bird with mainly brown plumage.

ORIGIN: Old French perdriz, from Latin perdix.

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part-time

adjective & adverb
for only part of the usual working day or week.

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parturient

adjective technical
about to give birth; in labour.

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parturition

noun formal or technical
the action of giving birth; childbirth.

ORIGIN: Latin, from parturire 'be in labour' .

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part-way

adverb
part of the way.

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party

noun (pl. parties)
1. a social gathering of invited guests.
2. a formally organized political group that puts forward candidates for local or national office.
3. a group of people taking part in an activity or trip.
4. a person or group forming one side in an agreement or dispute.
5. informal, dated a person: an old party came in to clean.

verb (parties, partied) informal
enjoy oneself at a party or other lively gathering.

IDIOMS -
be party (or a party) to be involved in.

ORIGIN: Old French partie, from Latin partiri 'divide into parts' .

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party line

noun
1. a policy or policies officially adopted by a political party.
2. a telephone line shared by two or more subscribers.

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party politics

plural noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
politics that relate to political parties rather than to the public good.

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party-pooper

noun informal
a person who throws gloom over social enjoyment.

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party wall

noun
a wall common to two adjoining buildings or rooms.

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parvenu

noun chiefly derogatory
a person from a humble background who has recently acquired wealth, influence, or celebrity.

ORIGIN: from French, 'arrived' .

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pascal

noun
the SI unit of pressure, equal to one newton per square metre.

ORIGIN: named after the French scientist Blaise Pascal (1623 62).

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paschal

adjective
1. relating to Easter.
2. relating to the Jewish Passover.

ORIGIN: from Latin pascha 'feast of Passover' , from Hebrew.

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pas de deux

noun (pl. same)
a dance for a couple.

ORIGIN: French, 'step of two' .

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pasha (also pacha)

noun historical
the title of a Turkish officer of high rank.

ORIGIN: Turkish.

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pashmina

noun
1. fine-quality material made from goat's wool.
2. a shawl made from this material.

ORIGIN: from a Persian word meaning 'wool, down' .

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paso doble

noun (pl. paso dobles)
a fast-paced ballroom dance based on a Latin American marching style.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'double step' .

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pasque flower

noun
a spring-flowering plant with purple flowers and fern-like foliage.

ORIGIN: French passe-fleur; later associated with archaic pasque «Easter».

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pass [1]

verb
1. move or go onward, past, through, or across.
2. change from one state or condition to another.
3. transfer (something) to someone.
4. kick, hit, or throw (the ball) to a teammate.
5. (of time) go by.
6. occupy or spend (time).
7. be done or said: not another word passed between them.
8. come to an end.
9. be successful in (an examination, test, or course).
10. declare to be satisfactory.
11. approve or put into effect (a proposal or law) by voting.
12. utter (remarks) or pronounce (a judgement or sentence).
13. forgo one's turn or an opportunity to do or have something.
14. discharge (urine or faeces) from the body.

noun
1. an act of passing.
2. a success in an examination.
3. an official document authorizing the holder to have access to, use, or do something.
4. informal an amorous or sexual advance.
5. a particular state of affairs.
6. Computing a single scan through a set of data or a program.

IDIOMS -
come to a pretty pass reach a regrettable state of affairs.
pass as/for be accepted as.
pass away euphemistic die.
pass one's eye over read cursorily.
pass off
1. happen or be carried through in a specified (usually satisfactory) way.
2. evade or lightly dismiss (an awkward remark).
pass off as falsely represent (something) as.
pass out
1. become unconscious.
2. Brit. complete one's initial training in the armed forces.
pass over
1. ignore the claims of (someone) to advancement.
2. avoid mentioning or considering.
pass up refrain from taking up (an opportunity).

DERIVATIVES:
passer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French passer, from Latin passus 'pace' .

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pass [2]

noun
a route over or through mountains.

IDIOMS -
sell the pass Brit. betray a cause.

ORIGIN: variant of PACE, influenced by PASS and French pas.

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passable

adjective
1. acceptable, but not outstanding.
2. able to be travelled along or on.

DERIVATIVES:
passably adverb.

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passage

noun
1. the action or process of passing.
2. a way through something; a passageway.
3. a journey by sea or air.
4. the right to pass through somewhere: a permit for safe passage.
5. a short section from a text, musical composition, etc.

IDIOMS -
work one's passage work in return for a free place on a voyage.

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passageway

noun
a corridor or other narrow passage between buildings or rooms.

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passata

noun
a thick paste made from sieved tomatoes.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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passbook

noun
a book issued by a bank or building society to an account holder, recording transactions.

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passé

adjective
no longer fashionable; out of date.

ORIGIN: French, 'gone by' .

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passenger

noun
1. a person travelling in a vehicle, ship, or aircraft other than the driver, pilot, or crew.
2. a member of a team who does very little effective work.

ORIGIN: from Old French passager 'passing, transitory' .

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passer-by

noun (pl. passers-by)
a person who happens to be walking past something or someone.

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passerine

adjective
denoting birds of a large group (the order Passeriformes) distinguished by having feet adapted for perching and including all songbirds.

ORIGIN: from Latin passer 'sparrow' .

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passim

adverb
(of references) at various places throughout the text.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'everywhere' .

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passing

adjective
1. done quickly and casually.
2. (of a resemblance or similarity) slight.

noun
1. the ending of something.
2. euphemistic a person's death.

IDIOMS -
in passing briefly and casually.

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passion

noun
1. very strong emotion.
2. intense sexual love.
3. an outburst of very strong emotion.
4. an intense enthusiasm for something.
4. (the Passion) the suffering and death of Jesus.

DERIVATIVES:
passionless adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from pati 'suffer' .

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passionate

adjective
showing or caused by passion.

DERIVATIVES:
passionately adverb.

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passion flower

noun
a climbing plant with a flower whose component parts are said to suggest objects associated with Christ's Crucifixion.

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passion fruit

noun
the edible purple fruit of some species of passion flower.

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passion play

noun
a play about Christ's crucifixion.

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passive

adjective
1. accepting or allowing what happens or what others do, without active response or resistance.
2. Grammar (of verbs) in which the subject undergoes the action of the verb (e.g. they were killed as opposed to the active form he killed them).
3. (of a circuit or device) containing no source of energy or electromotive force.
4. Chemistry unreactive because of a thin inert surface layer of oxide.

noun Grammar
a passive form of a verb.

DERIVATIVES:
passively adverb
passiveness noun
passivity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin passivus, from pati 'suffer' .

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passive resistance

noun
non-violent opposition to authority, especially a refusal to cooperate with legal requirements.

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passive smoking

noun
the involuntary inhaling of smoke from other people's cigarettes, cigars, or pipes.

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pass key

noun
1. a key given only to those who are officially allowed access.
2. a master key.

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Passover

noun
the major Jewish spring festival, commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

ORIGIN: from pass over, with reference to the exemption of the Israelites from the death of their firstborn (Book of Exodus, chapter 12).

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passport

noun
1. an official government document certifying the holder's identity and citizenship and entitling them to travel abroad under its protection.
2. a thing that enables someone to do or achieve something: qualifications are a passport to success.

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password

noun
a secret word or phrase used to gain admission.

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past

adjective
1. gone by in time and no longer existing.
2. (of time) that has gone by.
3. Grammar (of a tense) expressing a past action or state.

noun
1. a past period or the events in it.
2. a person's or thing's history or earlier life.
3. Grammar a past tense or form of a verb.

preposition
1. beyond in time or space.
2. in front of or from one side to the other of.
3. beyond the scope, limits, or power of.

adverb
1. so as to pass from one side to the other.
2. used to indicate the passage of time.

IDIOMS -
not put it past believe to be capable of doing something wrong or rash.
past it informal too old to be any good at anything.

ORIGIN: variant of passed, past participle of PASS.

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pasta

noun
dough formed into various shapes (e.g. spaghetti, lasagne), cooked as part of a dish or in boiling water and served with a savoury sauce.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'paste' .

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paste

noun
1. a thick, soft, moist substance.
2. an adhesive made from water and starch, used especially for sticking paper.
3. a hard glassy substance used in making imitation gems.
4. a mixture of kaolin and water, used for making porcelain.

verb
1. coat or stick with paste.
2. Computing insert (a section of text) into a document.
3. informal beat or defeat severely.

ORIGIN: Latin pasta 'paste' , probably from Greek past 'barley porridge' .

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pasteboard

noun
thin board made by pasting together sheets of paper.

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pastel

noun
1. a crayon made of powdered pigments bound with gum or resin.
2. a picture created using pastels.
3. a pale shade of a colour.

adjective
(of a colour) pale.

DERIVATIVES:
pastellist (also pastelist) noun.

ORIGIN: Italian pastello, from pasta 'paste' .

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pasteurize (also pasteurise)

verb
make (milk or other food) safe to eat by destroying most of the micro-organisms in it, especially by heating.

DERIVATIVES:
pasteurization noun.

ORIGIN: named after the French chemist Louis Pasteur (1822 95).

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pastiche

noun
an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period.

DERIVATIVES:
pasticheur noun.

ORIGIN: Italian pasticcio, from Latin pasta 'paste' .

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pastille

noun
1. a small sweet or lozenge.
2. a small pellet of aromatic paste burnt as a perfume or deodorizer.

ORIGIN: Latin pastillus 'little loaf, lozenge' .

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pastime

noun
an activity done regularly for enjoyment; a hobby.

ORIGIN: from PASS + TIME.

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past master

noun
a person who is experienced or expert in an activity.

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pastor

noun
a minister in charge of a Christian church or congregation, especially in some non-episcopal churches.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'shepherd' .

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pastoral

adjective
1. relating to the farming or grazing of sheep or cattle.
2. (of a literary, artistic, or musical work) portraying country life, especially in an idealized form.
3. relating to the giving of spiritual guidance by a member of the clergy.
4. relating to a teacher's responsibility for the general well-being of pupils or students.

noun
a pastoral poem, picture, or piece of music.

DERIVATIVES:
pastoralism noun.

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past participle

noun Grammar
the form of a verb, typically ending in -ed in English, which is used in forming perfect and passive tenses and sometimes as an adjective, e.g. looked in have you looked?, lost in lost property.

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pastrami

noun
highly seasoned smoked beef.

ORIGIN: Yiddish.

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pastry

noun (pl. pastries)
1. a dough of flour, fat, and water, used as a base and covering in baked dishes such as pies.
2. a cake consisting of sweet pastry with a cream, jam, or fruit filling.

ORIGIN: from PASTE.

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pasturage

noun
1. land used for pasture.
2. the pasturing of animals.

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pasture

noun
1. land covered with grass, suitable for grazing cattle or sheep.
2. grass growing on such land.

verb
put (animals) to graze in a pasture.

IDIOMS -
pastures new somewhere offering new opportunities. [ORIGIN: suggested by ‘Tomorrow to fresh woods and pastures new’ (Milton's Lycidas).]
put out to pasture force to retire.

ORIGIN: Latin pastura 'grazing' , from pascere 'graze' .

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pasty [1] (also pastie)

noun (pl. pasties) chiefly Brit.
a folded pastry case filled with seasoned meat and vegetables.

ORIGIN: Old French pastee, from Latin pasta 'paste' .

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pasty [2]

adjective (pastier, pastiest)
1. of or like paste.
2. (of a person's skin) unhealthily pale.

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pat [1]

verb (patted, patting)
1. tap quickly and gently with the flat of the hand.
2. mould or position with gentle taps.

noun
1. an act of patting.
2. a compact mass of a soft substance.

IDIOMS -
a pat on the back an expression of congratulation or encouragement.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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pat [2]

adjective
prompt but glib or unconvincing: a pat answer.

adverb
conveniently or opportunely.

IDIOMS -
have off (or down) pat have (something) memorized perfectly.

ORIGIN: apparently originally 'as if with a pat' ; related to PAT.

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patch

noun
1. a piece of material used to mend a hole or strengthen a weak point.
2. a small area differing in colour, composition, or texture from its surroundings.
3. a small plot of land: a cabbage patch.
4. Brit. informal a brief period of time: a bad patch.
5. Brit. informal an area for which someone is responsible or in which they operate.
6. a shield worn over a sightless or injured eye.
7. an adhesive piece of drug-impregnated material worn on the skin so that the drug may be gradually absorbed.
8. a temporary electrical or telephone connection.
9. Computing a small piece of code inserted to correct or enhance a program.

verb
1. mend, strengthen, or protect by means of a patch.
2. (patch up) informal treat (injuries) or repair (something) hastily or temporarily.
3. (patch up) informal settle (a quarrel or dispute).
4. (patch together) assemble hastily.
5. connect by a temporary electrical, radio, or telephonic connection.

IDIOMS -
not a patch on Brit. informal greatly inferior to.

DERIVATIVES:
patcher noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French dialect pieche 'piece' .

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patchwork

noun
1. needlework in which small pieces of cloth in different designs are sewn edge to edge.
2. a thing composed of many different elements: a patchwork of educational courses.

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patchy

adjective (patchier, patchiest)
1. existing or happening in small, isolated areas: patchy fog.
2. uneven in quality; inconsistent.

DERIVATIVES:
patchily adverb
patchiness noun.

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pate

noun archaic or humorous
a person's head.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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pâté

noun
a rich savoury paste made from finely minced or mashed meat, fish, or other ingredients.

ORIGIN: French, from Old French paste 'pie of seasoned meat' .

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pâté de foie gras

noun
a pâté made from fatted goose liver.

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patella

noun (pl. patellae) Anatomy
the kneecap.

DERIVATIVES:
patellar adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'small dish' .

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patent

noun
a government licence giving an individual or body the sole right to make, use, or sell an invention for a set period.

adjective
1. easily recognizable; obvious.
2. made and marketed under a patent.

verb
obtain a patent for.

DERIVATIVES:
patentable adjective
patently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin patere 'lie open' ; see also LETTERS PATENT.

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patentee

noun
a person or body that obtains or holds a patent.

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patent leather

noun
glossy varnished leather.

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patent medicine

noun
a medicine made and marketed under a patent and available without prescription.

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pater

noun Brit. informal, dated
father.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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paterfamilias

noun (pl. patresfamilias)
the male head of a family or household.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'father of the family' .

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paternal

adjective
1. of, like, or appropriate to a father.
2. related through the father.

DERIVATIVES:
paternally adverb.

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paternalism

noun
the policy of restricting the freedom and responsibilities of subordinates or dependents in their supposed best interest.

DERIVATIVES:
paternalist noun & adjective
paternalistic adjective.

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paternity

noun
1. the state of being a father.
2. descent from a father.

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paternity suit

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a court case held to establish the identity of a child's father.

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paternoster

noun
(in the Roman Catholic Church) the Lord's Prayer, especially in Latin.

ORIGIN: from Latin pater noster 'our father' , the first words of the Lord's Prayer.

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path

noun
1. a way or track laid down for walking or made by continual treading.
2. the direction in which a person or thing moves.
3. a course of action or conduct.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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path-breaking

adjective
pioneering; innovative.

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pathetic

adjective
1. arousing pity.
2. informal miserably inadequate.
3. archaic relating to the emotions.

DERIVATIVES:
pathetically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek pathtikos 'sensitive' , from pathos 'suffering' .

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patho-

combining form
relating to disease: pathology.

ORIGIN: from Greek pathos 'suffering, disease' .

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pathological (US pathologic)

adjective
1. of or caused by a disease.
2. informal compulsive: a pathological liar.
3. relating to pathology.

DERIVATIVES:
pathologically adverb.

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pathology

noun
1. the branch of medicine concerned with the causes and effects of diseases.
2. the typical behaviour of a disease.

DERIVATIVES:
pathologist noun.

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pathos

noun
a quality that evokes pity or sadness.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'suffering' .

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pathway

noun
1. a path or its course.
2. a sequence of changes or events constituting a progression.

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-pathy

combining form
1. denoting feelings: telepathy.
2. denoting disorder in a part of the body: neuropathy.
3. denoting curative treatment: hydropathy.

ORIGIN: from Greek patheia 'suffering, feeling' .

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patience

noun
1. the capacity to tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without becoming angry or upset.
2. chiefly Brit. a card game for one player.

ORIGIN: Latin patientia, from pati 'suffer' .

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patient

adjective
having or showing patience.

noun
a person receiving or registered to receive medical treatment.

DERIVATIVES:
patiently adverb.

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patina

noun
1. a green or brown film on the surface of old bronze.
2. a sheen on wooden furniture produced by age and polishing.
3. a superficial covering or appearance gained over time: rugs with a patina of cigarette ash.

DERIVATIVES:
patinated adjective
patination noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'shallow dish' .

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patio

noun (pl. patios)
1. a paved outdoor area adjoining a house.
2. a roofless inner courtyard in a Spanish or Spanish-American house.

ORIGIN: Spanish.

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patio door

noun
a large glass sliding door leading to a patio, garden, or balcony.

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patisserie

noun
1. a shop where pastries and cakes are sold.
2. pastries and cakes collectively.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin pasticium 'pastry' .

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patois

noun (pl. same)
the dialect of a region, differing in various respects from the standard language of the country.

ORIGIN: French, 'rough speech' .

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patriarch

noun
1. the male head of a family or tribe.
2. a biblical figure regarded as a father of the human race, especially Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their forefathers, or the sons of Jacob.
3. a powerful or respected older man.
4. a high-ranking bishop in certain Christian churches.
5. the head of an independent Orthodox Church.

DERIVATIVES:
patriarchal adjective
patriarchate noun.

ORIGIN: Greek patriarkhs, from patria 'family' + arkhs 'ruling' .

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patriarchy

noun (pl. patriarchies)
1. a form of social organization in which the father or eldest male is the head of the family and descent is reckoned through the male line.
2. a system of society in which men hold most or all of the power.

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patrician

noun
1. an aristocrat.
2. a member of the nobility in ancient Rome.

adjective
relating to or characteristic of aristocrats; upper-class.

ORIGIN: Latin patricius 'having a noble father' , from pater 'father' .

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patricide

noun
1. the killing of one's father.
2. a person who kills their father.

ORIGIN: Latin patricidium, alteration of parricidium 'parricide' .

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patrimony

noun (pl. patrimonies)
1. property inherited from one's father or male ancestor.
2. heritage.

ORIGIN: Latin patrimonium, from pater 'father' .

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patriot

noun
a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it.

DERIVATIVES:
patriotic adjective
patriotically adverb
patriotism noun.

ORIGIN: Latin patriota 'fellow countryman' , from Greek patris 'fatherland' .

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patrol

noun
1. a person or group sent to keep watch over an area, especially a detachment of guards or police.
2. the action of patrolling an area.
3. a military or naval expedition to carry out reconnaissance.

verb (patrolled, patrolling)
keep watch over (an area) by regularly walking or travelling around it.

DERIVATIVES:
patroller noun.

ORIGIN: from French patrouiller 'paddle in mud' .

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patron

noun
1. a person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, cause, etc.
2. a regular customer of a restaurant, hotel, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
patroness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin patronus 'protector of clients, defender' , from pater 'father' .

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patronage

noun
1. support given by a patron.
2. the power to control appointments to office or the right to privileges.
3. a patronizing manner.
4. the regular custom attracted by a restaurant, hotel, etc.

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patronize (also patronise)

verb
1. treat condescendingly.
2. be a patron of.

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patron saint

noun
the protecting or guiding saint of a person or place.

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patsy

noun (pl. patsies) informal, chiefly N. Amer.
a person who is taken advantage of, especially by being cheated or blamed for something.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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patter [1]

verb
1. make a repeated light tapping sound.
2. run with quick light steps.

noun
a repeated light tapping sound.

ORIGIN: from PAT.

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patter [2]

noun
1. rapid continuous talk, such as that used by a comedian or salesman.
2. the jargon of a profession or social group.

verb
talk trivially and at length.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «recite rapidly»: from PATERNOSTER (from the rapid and mechanical way in which the prayer was often said).

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pattern

noun
1. a repeated decorative design.
2. a regular or discernible form or order in which a series of things occur: working patterns.
3. a model, design, or set of instructions for making something.
4. an example for others to follow.
5. a model from which a mould is made for a casting.
6. a sample of cloth or wallpaper.

verb
1. decorate with a pattern.
2. give a regular or discernible form to.

ORIGIN: from PATRON in the former sense «something serving as a model», from the idea of a patron giving an example to be copied.

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patty

noun (pl. patties)
1. N. Amer. a small flat cake of minced food, especially meat.
2. a small pie or pasty.

ORIGIN: alteration of French pâté.

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paucity

noun
smallness or insufficiency of supply or quantity.

ORIGIN: from Latin paucus 'few' .

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paunch

noun
a large or protruding abdomen or stomach.

verb
disembowel (an animal).

DERIVATIVES:
paunchy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French paunche, from Latin pantex 'intestines' .

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pauper

noun
1. a very poor person.
2. historical a recipient of public charity.

DERIVATIVES:
pauperism noun
pauperize (also pauperise) verb.

ORIGIN: from Latin, 'poor' .

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pause

noun
1. a temporary stop in action or speech.
2. Music a mark () over a note or rest that is to be lengthened by an unspecified amount.

verb
stop temporarily.

IDIOMS -
give pause (or give pause for thought) to cause to stop and think before doing something.

ORIGIN: Greek pausis, from pausein 'to stop' .

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pave

verb
cover (a piece of ground) with flat stones or bricks.

IDIOMS -
pave the way for create the circumstances to enable (something) to happen.

DERIVATIVES:
paver noun
paving noun.

ORIGIN: Old French paver.

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pavement

noun
1. Brit. a raised paved or asphalted path for pedestrians at the side of a road.
2. N. Amer. the hard surface of a road or street.
3. Geology a horizontal expanse of bare rock with cracks or joints.

ORIGIN: Latin pavimentum 'trodden down floor' .

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pavilion

noun
1. Brit. a building at a sports ground used for changing and taking refreshments.
2. a summer house or other decorative shelter in a park or large garden.
3. a marquee with a peak and crenellated decorations, used at a show or fair.
4. a temporary display stand or other structure at a trade exhibition.

ORIGIN: Old French pavillon, from Latin papilio 'butterfly or tent' .

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pavlova

noun
a dessert consisting of a meringue base or shell filled with whipped cream and fruit.

ORIGIN: named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova (1881 1931).

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paw

noun
1. an animal's foot having claws and pads.
2. informal a person's hand.

verb
1. feel or scrape with a paw or hoof.
2. informal touch or handle clumsily or lasciviously.

ORIGIN: Old French poue.

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pawl

noun
1. a pivoted bar or lever whose free end engages with the teeth of a cogwheel or ratchet, allowing it to move or turn in one direction only.
2. each of a set of short stout bars used to prevent a capstan, windlass, or winch from recoiling.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Low German and Dutch pal.

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pawn [1]

noun
1. a chess piece of the smallest size and value.
2. a person used by others for their own purposes.

ORIGIN: Old French poun, from Latin pedo 'foot soldier' .

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pawn [2]

verb
deposit (an object) with a pawnbroker as security for money lent.

noun
the state of being pawned: everything was in pawn.

ORIGIN: from Old French pan 'pledge, security' .

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pawnbroker

noun
a person licensed to lend money at interest on the security of an article deposited with him or her.

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pawnshop

noun
a pawnbroker's shop.

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pawpaw (also papaw)

noun
1. a papaya.
2. US the sweet oblong yellow fruit of a North American tree.

ORIGIN: Spanish and Portuguese papaya, from Carib.

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pay

verb (past and past part. paid)
1. give (someone) money due for work, goods, or an outstanding debt.
2. give (a sum of money) thus owed.
3. be profitable or advantageous: crime doesn't pay.
4. suffer a loss or misfortune as a consequence of an action: someone's got to pay for all that grief.
5. give (attention, respect, or a compliment) to.
6. give what is due or deserved to.
7. make (a visit or a call) to.

noun
money paid for work.

IDIOMS -
he who pays the piper calls the tune proverb the person providing the money for something has the right to determine how it's spent.
hit (or strike) pay dirt N. Amer. informal find or reach a source of profit. [ORIGIN: from pay dirt in the sense «ground containing a profitable amount of ore».]
pay back take revenge on.
pay dearly suffer for a misdemeanour or failure.
pay one's last respects show respect towards a dead person by attending their funeral.
pay off
1. dismiss with a final payment.
2. informal yield good results.
pay out let out (a rope) by slackening it.
pay through the nose informal pay much more than a fair price.

DERIVATIVES:
payer noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «pacify», the notion of «payment» deriving from the sense of «pacifying» a creditor: from Old French payer 'appease' , from Lati n pax 'peace' .

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payable

adjective
1. that must be paid.
2. able to be paid.

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pay channel

noun
a television channel for which viewers pay a subscription fee additional to that already paid for a cable or satellite service.

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PAYE

abbreviation
(in the UK) pay as you earn, a system whereby an employer deducts income tax from an employee's wages.

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payee

noun
a person to whom money is paid or to be paid.

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paying guest

noun
a lodger.

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payload

noun
1. the part of a vehicle's load which earns revenue; passengers and cargo.
2. an explosive warhead carried by an aircraft or missile.
3. the load carried by a spacecraft.

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paymaster

noun
1. a person who pays another and therefore controls them.
2. an official who pays troops or workers.

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payment

noun
1. the action of paying or the process of being paid.
2. an amount paid or payable.

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pay-off

noun informal
1. a payment, especially a bribe.
2. the return on investment or on a bet.
3. a final outcome.

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payola

noun chiefly N. Amer.
bribery in return for the unofficial promotion of a product in the media.

ORIGIN: from PAY + -ola as in Victrola, a make of gramophone; the term originally referred to the bribery of a disc jockey to promote a record.

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payphone

noun
a public telephone operated by coins or by a credit or prepaid card.

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payroll

noun
a list of a company's employees and the amount of money they are to be paid.

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Pb

symbol
the chemical element lead.

ORIGIN: from Latin plumbum.

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pb

abbreviation
paperback.

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PC

abbreviation
1. personal computer.
2. police constable.
3. (also pc) politically correct; political correctness.

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p.c.

abbreviation
per cent.

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PCB

abbreviation
1. Electronics printed circuit board.
2. Chemistry polychlorinated biphenyl.

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PE

abbreviation
1. physical education.
2. Prince Edward Island.

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pea

noun
1. a spherical green seed eaten as a vegetable.
2. the climbing leguminous plant which has pods containing peas.

ORIGIN: from PEASE, which was interpreted as being plural but in fact meant «pea» in Old English; from Greek pison.

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peace

noun
1. freedom from disturbance; tranquillity.
2. freedom from or the ending of war.
3. (the peace) Christian Church an action such as a handshake, signifying unity, performed during the Eucharist.

IDIOMS -
at peace
1. free from anxiety or distress.
2. euphemistic dead.
hold one's peace remain silent.
keep the peace refrain or prevent others from disturbing civil order.
make (one's) peace become reconciled.

ORIGIN: Old French pais, from Latin pax.

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peaceable

adjective
1. inclined to avoid war.
2. free from conflict; peaceful.

DERIVATIVES:
peaceably adverb.

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peaceful

adjective
1. free from disturbance; calm.
2. not involving war or violence.
3. inclined to avoid conflict.

DERIVATIVES:
peacefully adverb
peacefulness noun.

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peacekeeping

noun
the active maintenance of a truce, especially by an international military force.

DERIVATIVES:
peacekeeper noun.

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peace offering

noun
a conciliatory gift.

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peacetime

noun
a period when a country is not at war.

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peach [1]

noun
1. the round stone fruit of a tree native to China, with juicy yellow flesh and downy yellow skin flushed with red.
2. a pinkish-orange colour.
3. informal an exceptionally good or attractive person or thing.

DERIVATIVES:
peachy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French pesche, from Latin persicum malum 'Persian apple' .

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peach [2]

verb (peach on) informal
inform on.

ORIGIN: related to IMPEACH.

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peacock

noun
a large crested pheasant of which the male has very long tail feathers with eye-like markings that can be fanned out in display.

ORIGIN: Old English, from Latin pavo 'peacock' + COCK.

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peafowl

noun
a peacock or peahen.

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pea green

noun
a bright green colour.

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peahen

noun
a female peafowl, which has drabber colours and a shorter tail than the male.

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peak

noun
1. the pointed top of a mountain.
2. a mountain with a pointed top.
3. a stiff brim at the front of a cap.
4. the point of highest activity, achievement, intensity, etc.

verb
reach a highest point or maximum.

adjective
maximum; characterized by maximum activity or demand.

ORIGIN: probably from peaked, a variant of picked, a dialect word meaning «pointed».

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peaked [1]

adjective
(of a cap) having a peak.

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peaked [2]

adjective
pale from illness or fatigue.

ORIGIN: from archaic peak 'to decline in health and spirits' .

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peaky

adjective (peakier, peakiest)
pale from illness or fatigue.

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peal

noun
1. a loud or prolonged ringing of a bell or bells.
2. a loud repeated or reverberating sound of thunder or laughter.
3. a set of bells.

verb
ring or resound in a peal.

ORIGIN: shortening of APPEAL.

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peanut

noun
1. the oval edible seed of a plant native to South America, whose seeds develop in underground pods.
2. (peanuts) informal a paltry sum of money.

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peanut butter

noun
a spread made from ground roasted peanuts.

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pear

noun
a yellowish-green or brownish-green edible fruit, narrow at the stalk and wider towards the tip.

IDIOMS -
go pear-shaped Brit. informal go wrong. [ORIGIN: RAF slang.]

ORIGIN: Old English, from Latin pirum.

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pearl [1]

noun
1. a hard, shiny spherical mass, typically white or bluish-grey, formed within the shell of an oyster or other mollusc and highly prized as a gem.
2. a thing of great worth.
3. a very pale bluish grey or white colour.

verb
1. literary form pearl-like drops.
2. (pearling) diving or fishing for pearl oysters.

IDIOMS -
cast pearls before swine offer valuable things to people who do not appreciate them.

ORIGIN: Old French perle.

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pearl barley

noun
barley reduced to small round grains by grinding.

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pearlescent

adjective
having a lustre resembling that of mother-of-pearl.

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pearl onion

noun
a very small onion used for pickling.

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pearly

adjective (pearlier, pearliest)
like a pearl in lustre or colour.

noun (pearlies) Brit.
1. a pearly king's or queen's clothes or pearl buttons.
2. informal a person's teeth.

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Pearly Gates

plural noun informal
the gates of heaven.

ORIGIN: from a reference in the Book of Revelation to twelve gates, each fashioned from a single pearl.

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peasant

noun
1. a poor smallholder or agricultural labourer of low social status.
2. informal an ignorant, rude, or unsophisticated person.

DERIVATIVES:
peasantry noun.

ORIGIN: Old French paisent, from pais 'country' .

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pease

plural noun archaic
peas.

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pease pudding

noun chiefly Brit.
a dish of split peas boiled with onion and carrot and mashed to a pulp.

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pea-shooter

noun
a toy weapon consisting of a small tube out of which dried peas are blown.

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pea-souper

noun Brit.
a very thick yellowish fog.

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peat

noun
partly decomposed vegetable matter forming a deposit on acidic, boggy ground, dried for use in gardening and as fuel.

DERIVATIVES:
peaty adjective.

ORIGIN: Anglo-Latin peta.

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pebble

noun
1. a small stone made smooth and round by the action of water or sand.
2. (before another noun ) informal with very thick lenses: pebble glasses.

DERIVATIVES:
pebbly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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pebble-dash

noun
mortar with pebbles in it, used as a coating for external walls.

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pecan

noun
a smooth pinkish-brown nut like a walnut, obtained from a hickory tree of the southern US.

ORIGIN: from an American Indian.

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peccadillo

noun (pl. pecadilloes or pecadillos)
a minor sin or fault.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from Latin peccare 'to sin' .

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peccary

noun (pl. peccaries)
a gregarious piglike mammal found from the south-western US to Paraguay.

ORIGIN: Carib.

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peck [1]

verb
1. (of a bird) strike or bite with its beak.
2. kiss lightly or perfunctorily.
3. (peck at) informal eat (food) listlessly or daintily.
4. type slowly and laboriously.

noun
1. an act of pecking.
2. a light or perfunctory kiss.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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peck [2]

noun
a measure of capacity for dry goods, equal to a quarter of a bushel (2 imperial gallons = 9.092 l, or 8 US quarts = 8.81 l).

ORIGIN: Old French pek.

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pecker

noun N. Amer. vulgar slang
a man's penis.

IDIOMS -
keep your pecker up Brit. informal remain cheerful. [ORIGIN: pecker probably in the sense «beak».]

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pecking order

noun
a hierarchy of status among members of a group, originally as observed among hens.

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peckish

adjective informal
hungry.

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pectin

noun
a soluble jelly-like substance present in ripe fruits, used as a setting agent in jams and jellies.

ORIGIN: from Greek pektos 'congealed' .

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pectoral

adjective
of, on, or relating to the breast or chest.

noun
1. a pectoral muscle.
2. an ornamental breastplate.

ORIGIN: Latin pectoralis, from pectus 'breast, chest' .

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pectoral muscle

noun
each of four large paired muscles which cover the front of the ribcage.

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peculiar

adjective
1. strange or odd.
2. (peculiar to) belonging exclusively to.
3. formal particular.

noun
a parish or church exempt from the jurisdiction of the diocese in which it lies, and subject to the direct jurisdiction of the monarch or an archbishop.

DERIVATIVES:
peculiarly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin peculiaris 'of private property' , from peculium 'property' .

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peculiarity

noun (pl. pecularities)
1. an unusual or distinctive feature or habit.
2. the state of being peculiar.

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pecuniary

adjective formal
of or relating to money.

ORIGIN: Latin pecuniarius, from pecunia 'money' .

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pedagogue

noun formal or humorous
a teacher, especially a strict or pedantic one.

ORIGIN: Greek paidaggos, denoting a slave who accompanied a child to school, from pais 'boy' + aggos 'guide' .

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pedagogy

noun
the profession, science, or theory of teaching.

DERIVATIVES:
pedagogic (also pedagogical) adjective.

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pedal

noun
1. each of a pair of foot-operated levers for powering a bicycle or other vehicle.
2. a foot-operated throttle, brake, or clutch control.
3. a foot-operated lever on a piano, organ, etc. for sustaining or softening the tone.
4. Music a pedal note.

verb (pedalled, pedalling; US pedaled, pedaling)
1. move (a bicycle, pedalo, etc.) by working the pedals.
2. use the pedals of a piano, organ, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
pedaller (US pedaler) noun.
USAGE - Confusion can arise between the words pedal and peddle. Pedal is a noun denoting a foot-operated lever; as a verb it means ‘move (a bicycle or similar) by means of pedals’. Peddle is a verb meaning ‘sell (goods)’. The associated noun from pedal is pedaller (US pedaler), and the noun from peddle is pedlar or peddler.
ORIGIN: French pédale, from Latin pedalis 'a foot in length' .

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pedalo

noun (pl. pedalos or pedaloes) Brit.
a small pedal-operated pleasure boat.

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pedal pusher

noun
1. (pedal pushers) women's calf-length trousers.
2. informal a cyclist.

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pedant

noun
a person excessively concerned with minor detail or with displaying technical knowledge.

DERIVATIVES:
pedantic adjective
pedantically adverb
pedantry noun.

ORIGIN: French pédant, probably related to PEDAGOGUE.

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peddle

verb
1. sell (goods) by going from place to place.
2. sell (an illegal drug or stolen item).
3. derogatory promote (an idea) persistently or widely.
USAGE - On the confusion between pedal and peddle, see the note at PEDAL.
ORIGIN: from PEDLAR.

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pederasty

noun
sexual intercourse between a man and a boy.

DERIVATIVES:
pederast noun
pederastic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek paiderastia, from pais 'boy' + erasts 'lover' .

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pedestal

noun
1. the base or support on which a statue, obelisk, or column is mounted.
2. each of the two supports of a kneehole desk or table.
3. the supporting column of a washbasin or toilet pan.

ORIGIN: Italian piedestallo, from piè 'foot' + di 'of' + stallo 'stall' .

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pedestrian

noun
a person walking rather than travelling in a vehicle.

adjective
dull; uninspired.

DERIVATIVES:
pedestrianly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin pedester 'going on foot' .

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pediatrics (Brit. paediatrics)

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the branch of medicine concerned with children and their diseases.

DERIVATIVES:
pediatric adjective
pediatrician noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek pais 'child' + iatros 'physician' .

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pedicure

noun
a cosmetic treatment of the feet and toenails.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin pes 'foot' + curare 'attend to' .

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pedigree

noun
1. the record of descent of an animal, showing it to be pure-bred.
2. a person's lineage or ancestry.
3. the history or provenance of a person or thing.

ORIGIN: from Old French pé de grue 'crane's foot' , a mark used to denote succession in pedigrees.

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pediment

noun Architecture
the triangular upper part of the front of a classical building, typically set over a portico.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of PYRAMID.

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pedlar (also peddler)

noun
1. a travelling trader who sells small goods.
2. a person who sells illegal drugs or stolen goods.
3. a person who promotes an idea or view.

ORIGIN: perhaps from dialect ped «pannier».

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pedometer

noun
an instrument for estimating the distance travelled on foot by recording the number of steps taken.

ORIGIN: from Latin pes 'foot' .

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pee informal

verb (pees, peed, peeing)
urinate.

noun
1. an act of urinating.
2. urine.

ORIGIN: euphemistic use of the initial letter of PISS.

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peek

verb
1. look quickly or furtively.
2. stick out slightly so as to be just visible.

noun
a quick or furtive look.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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peekaboo

noun
a game played with a young child, which involves hiding and suddenly reappearing, saying ‘peekaboo’.

adjective
1. (of a garment) made of transparent fabric or having a pattern of small holes.
2. (of a hairstyle) concealing one eye with a fringe or wave.

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peel

verb
1. remove the outer covering or skin from (a fruit, vegetable, etc.).
2. (of a surface or object) lose parts of its outer layer or covering in small strips or pieces.

noun
the outer covering or rind of a fruit or vegetable.

DERIVATIVES:
peelings plural noun.

IDIOMS -
peel off
1. (also peel away) remove (a thin outer covering).
2. remove (an article of clothing).
3. leave a formation or group by veering away.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «plunder»: from Latin pilare 'to strip hair from' , from pilus 'hair' .

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peeler [1]

noun
a utensil for peeling fruit and vegetables.

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peeler [2]

noun Brit. informal, archaic
a police officer.

ORIGIN: from the name of the British Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel (1788 1850) who established the Metropolitan Police.

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peen (also pein)

noun
the rounded or wedge-shaped end of a hammer head opposite the face.

verb
strike with a peen.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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peep [1]

verb
1. look quickly and furtively.
2. (peep out) come slowly or partially into view.

noun
1. a quick or furtive look.
2. a momentary or partial view of something.

ORIGIN: symbolic.

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peep [2]

noun
a weak or brief high-pitched sound.

verb
make a peep.

IDIOMS -
not a peep not the slightest utterance or complaint.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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peephole

noun
a small hole in a door through which callers may be identified.

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peeping Tom

noun
a person who gains sexual pleasure from secretly watching people undress or engage in sexual activity.

ORIGIN: the name of the tailor said to have watched Lady Godiva ride naked through Coventry.

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peep show

noun
a form of entertainment in which pictures are viewed through a lens or hole set into a box.

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peer [1]

verb
1. look with difficulty or concentration.
2. be just visible.

ORIGIN: perhaps a variant of dialect pire or perhaps partly from a shortening of APPEAR.

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peer [2]

noun
1. a member of the nobility in Britain or Ireland, comprising the ranks of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron.
2. a person of the same age, status, or ability as another specified person.

IDIOMS -
without peer unrivalled.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin par 'equal' .

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peerage

noun
1. the title and rank of peer or peeress.
2. (the peerage) peers collectively.

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peeress

noun
1. a woman holding the rank of a peer in her own right.
2. the wife or widow of a peer.

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peer group

noun
a group of people of approximately the same age, status, and interests.

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peerless

adjective
unequalled or unrivalled.

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peeve informal

verb
annoy; irritate.

noun
a cause of annoyance.

ORIGIN: from PEEVISH.

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peevish

adjective
irritable.

DERIVATIVES:
peevishly adverb
peevishness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «foolish, mad, spiteful»: of unknown origin.

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peewit

noun Brit.
the lapwing.

ORIGIN: imitative of the bird's call.

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peg

noun
1. a short projecting pin or bolt used for hanging things on, securing something in place, or marking a position.
2. a clip for holding things together or hanging up clothes.
3. chiefly Indian a measure of spirits.
4. a point or limit on a scale.
5. informal a person's leg.

verb (pegged, pegging)
1. fix, attach, or mark with a peg or pegs.
2. fix (a price, rate, etc.) at a particular level.
3. (peg out) informal die.
4. (peg away) informal work hard over a long period.

IDIOMS -
off the peg chiefly Brit. (of clothes) ready-made.
a square peg in a round hole a person in a situation unsuited to their abilities or character.
take someone down a peg or two make someone less arrogant.

ORIGIN: probably Low German.

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peg leg

noun informal
a wooden leg.

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peignoir

noun
a woman's light dressing gown or negligee.

ORIGIN: French, from peigner 'to comb' (because the garment was originally worn while combing the hair).

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pejorative

adjective
expressing contempt or disapproval.

DERIVATIVES:
pejoratively adverb.

ORIGIN: French péjoratif, from Latin pejorare 'make worse' .

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Pekinese (also Pekingese)

noun (pl. same)
a lapdog of a short-legged breed with long hair and a snub nose.

adjective
relating to Beijing (Peking).

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pelargonium

noun
a shrubby plant cultivated for its red, pink, or white flowers.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek pelargos 'stork' , apparently on the pattern of geranium.

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pelican

noun
a large waterbird with a long bill and an extensible throat pouch for scooping up fish.

ORIGIN: Greek pelekan, probably from pelekus 'axe' (with reference to its bill).

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pelican crossing

noun
(in the UK) a pedestrian crossing with traffic lights operated by pedestrians.

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pelisse

noun historical
1. a woman's ankle-length cloak with armholes or sleeves.
2. a fur-lined cloak, especially as part of a hussar's uniform.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin pellicia vestis 'garment of fur' .

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pellagra

noun
a disease characterized by dermatitis, diarrhoea, and mental disturbance, caused by a dietary deficiency.

ORIGIN: Italian, from pelle 'skin' .

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pellet

noun
1. a small, rounded, compressed mass of a substance.
2. a piece of small shot or other lightweight bullet.
3. a small mass of bones and feathers regurgitated by a bird of prey.

verb (pelleted, pelleting)
1. form into pellets.
2. hit with or as if with pellets.

DERIVATIVES:
pelletize (also pelletise) verb.

ORIGIN: Old French pelote 'metal ball' , from Latin pila 'ball' .

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pell-mell

adjective & adverb
in a confused, rushed, or disorderly way.

ORIGIN: French pêle-mêle, from mesler 'to mix' .

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pellucid

adjective
1. translucently clear.
2. easily understood.

ORIGIN: Latin pellucidus, from perlucere 'shine through' .

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pelmet

noun
a narrow border fitted across the top of a door or window to conceal the curtain fittings.

ORIGIN: probably from French palmette 'small palm leaf' .

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pelota

noun
a Basque or Spanish ball game played in a walled court with basket-like rackets.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'ball' .

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pelt [1]

verb
1. hurl missiles at.
2. (pelt down) (chiefly of rain) fall very heavily.
3. run very quickly.

IDIOMS -
(at) full pelt as fast as possible.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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pelt [2]

noun
1. the skin of an animal with the fur, wool, or hair still on it.
2. the raw skin of a sheep or goat, stripped and ready for tanning.

ORIGIN: either from Latin pellis 'skin' , or from PELTRY.

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pelvic girdle

noun
(in vertebrates) the enclosing structure formed by the pelvis.

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pelvis

noun (pl. pelvises or pelves)
1. the large bony frame at the base of the spine to which the lower limbs are attached.
2. (renal pelvis) the broadened top part of the ureter into which the kidney tubules drain.

DERIVATIVES:
pelvic adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'basin' .

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Pembs.

abbreviation
Pembrokeshire.

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pen [1]

noun
1. an instrument for writing or drawing with ink.
2. an electronic device used with a writing surface to enter commands into a computer.
3. the tapering internal shell of a squid.

verb (penned, penning)
write or compose.

IDIOMS -
the pen is mightier than the sword proverb writing is more effective than military power or violence.

ORIGIN: Latin penna 'feather' (pens were originally made from a quill feather).

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pen [2]

noun
1. a small enclosure for farm animals.
2. a covered dock for a submarine or other warship.

verb (penned, penning)
1. put or keep in a pen.
2. (pen up/in) confine (someone) in a restricted space.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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pen [3]

noun
a female swan.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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penal

adjective
1. relating to the punishment of offenders under the legal system.
2. extremely severe: penal rates of interest.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin poena 'pain, penalty' .

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penalize (also penalise)

verb
1. subject to a penalty or punishment.
2. Law make (an action) legally punishable.
3. put in an unfavourable position.

DERIVATIVES:
penalization noun.

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penalty

noun (pl. penalties)
1. a punishment imposed for breaking a law, rule, or contract.
2. something unpleasant suffered as a result of an action or circumstance: feeling cold is one of the penalties of old age.
3. a penalty kick or shot.

IDIOMS -
under (or on) penalty of under the threat of.

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penalty area (also penalty box)

noun Soccer
the rectangular area marked out in front of each goal, within which a foul by a defender involves the award of a penalty kick.

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penalty kick

noun
1. Soccer a free shot at the goal awarded to the attacking team after a foul within an area around the goal.
2. Rugby a place kick awarded to a team after an offence by an opponent.

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penance

noun
1. voluntary self-punishment expressing repentance for wrongdoing.
2. a sacrament in which a member of the Church confesses sins to a priest and is given absolution.
3. a religious duty imposed as part of this sacrament.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin paenitentia 'repentance' .

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penchant

noun
a strong liking or inclination: a penchant for champagne.

ORIGIN: French, 'leaning, inclining' .

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pencil

noun
an instrument for writing or drawing, typically consisting of a thin stick of graphite enclosed in wood or a cylindrical case.

verb (pencilled, pencilling; US penciled, penciling)
1. write, draw, or colour with a pencil.
2. (pencil in) arrange or note down provisionally.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a fine paintbrush: from Old French pincel, from Latin penis 'tail' .

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pendant

noun
1. a piece of jewellery that hangs from a necklace chain.
2. a light designed to hang from the ceiling.

adjective
hanging downwards.

ORIGIN: from Old French, 'hanging' .

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pendent

adjective
1. hanging down.
2. pending.

DERIVATIVES:
pendency noun.

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pending

adjective
1. awaiting decision or settlement.
2. about to happen.

preposition
until.

ORIGIN: anglicized spelling of PENDANT.

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pendulous

adjective
hanging down; drooping.

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pendulum

noun
a weight hung from a fixed point so that it can swing freely, especially one regulating the mechanism of a clock.

DERIVATIVES:
pendular adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'thing hanging down' .

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penetrate

verb
1. force a way into or through.
2. infiltrate (an enemy organization or a competitor's market).
3. understand or gain insight into.
4. (penetrating) (of a sound) clearly heard through or above other sounds.
5. (of a man) insert the penis into the vagina or anus of (a sexual partner).

DERIVATIVES:
penetrable adjective
penetration noun
penetrative adjective
penetrator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin penetrare 'go into' .

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penfriend

noun
a person with whom one becomes friendly by exchanging letters.

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penguin

noun
a flightless black and white seabird of the southern hemisphere, with wings used as flippers.

ORIGIN: originally denoting the great auk: of unknown origin.

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penicillin

noun
an antibiotic produced naturally by certain blue moulds and now usually prepared synthetically.

ORIGIN: from Latin penicillum 'paintbrush' .

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peninsula

noun
a long, narrow piece of land projecting out into a sea or lake.

DERIVATIVES:
peninsular adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from paene 'almost' + insula 'island' .

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penis

noun (pl. penises or penes)
the male organ of copulation and urination.

DERIVATIVES:
penile adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'tail' .

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penitent

adjective
feeling sorrow and regret for having done wrong.

noun
a person who repents or submits to penance.

DERIVATIVES:
penitence noun
penitential adjective
penitently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin paenitere 'repent' .

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penitentiary

noun (pl. penitentiaries)
1. (in North America) a prison for people convicted of serious crimes.
2. (in the Roman Catholic Church) a priest appointed to administer penance.

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penknife

noun
a small knife with a blade which folds into the handle.

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penlight

noun
a small electric torch shaped like a pen.

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pen name

noun
a literary pseudonym.

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pennant

noun
1. a tapering flag flown at the masthead of a ship in commission.
2. a long triangular or swallow-tailed flag.
3. N. Amer. a flag identifying a sports team, club, etc.

ORIGIN: blend of PENDANT and PENNON.

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penne

plural noun
pasta in the form of short wide tubes.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'quills' .

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penniless

adjective
without money; destitute.

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penny

noun (pl. pennies (for separate coins); pence (for a sum of money))
1. a British bronze coin worth one hundredth of a pound.
2. a former British coin worth one twelfth of a shilling and 240th of a pound.
3. N. Amer. informal a one-cent coin.

IDIOMS -
a bad penny always turns up proverb someone or something unwelcome will always reappear.
in for a penny, in for a pound willing to see an undertaking through, however much this entails.
look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves proverb if you concentrate on saving small amounts of money, you'll soon amass a large amount.
not a penny no money at all.
pennies from heaven unexpected benefits.
the penny dropped informal someone has finally realized something.
penny wise and pound foolish economical in small matters but extravagant in large ones.
two (or ten) a penny plentiful and thus of little value.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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penny dreadful

noun historical or humorous
a cheap, sensational comic or storybook.

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penny-farthing

noun Brit.
an early type of bicycle with a very large front wheel and a small rear wheel.

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penny-pinching

adjective
unwilling to spend money; miserly.

noun
miserliness.

DERIVATIVES:
penny-pincher noun.

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pennywort

noun
a plant with small rounded leaves, growing in crevices or marshy places.

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pennyworth

noun
1. an amount of something worth a penny.
2. (one's pennyworth) Brit. one's contribution to a discussion.

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pen pal

noun informal
a penfriend.

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pen-pusher

noun informal
a clerical worker.

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pension [1]

noun
1. a regular payment made to retired people and to some widows and disabled people, either by the state or from an investment fund.
2. chiefly historical a regular payment made to a royal favourite or to an artist or scholar.

verb (pension off)
dismiss (someone) from employment and pay them a pension.

DERIVATIVES:
pensionable adjective
pensioner noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'payment' , from pendere 'to pay' .

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pension [2]

noun
a small hotel or boarding house in France and other European countries.

ORIGIN: French.

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pensive

adjective
engaged in deep thought.

DERIVATIVES:
pensively adverb
pensiveness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French pensif, from Latin pensare 'ponder' .

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penta-

combining form
five; having five: pentagon.

ORIGIN: Greek pente 'five' .

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pentacle

noun
a pentagram.

ORIGIN: Latin pentaculum.

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pentagon

noun
1. a plane figure with five straight sides and five angles.
2. (the Pentagon) the headquarters of the US Department of Defense, near Washington DC.

DERIVATIVES:
pentagonal adjective.

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pentagram

noun
a five-pointed star drawn using a continuous line, often used as a mystic and magical symbol.

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pentameter

noun
a line of verse consisting of five metrical feet, or (in Greek and Latin verse) of two halves each of two feet and a long syllable.

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Pentateuch

noun
the first five books of the Old Testament and Hebrew Scriptures (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).

ORIGIN: Greek, from penta- 'five' + teukhos 'implement, book' .

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pentathlon

noun
an athletic event comprising five different events for each competitor, in particular (modern pentathlon) a men's event involving fencing, shooting, swimming, riding, and cross-country running.

DERIVATIVES:
pentathlete noun.

ORIGIN: Greek, from pente 'five' + athlon 'contest' .

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pentatonic

adjective Music
of or referring to a scale of five notes.

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Pentecost

noun
1. the Christian festival celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his Ascension, held on Whit Sunday.
2. the Jewish festival of Shavuoth.

ORIGIN: from Greek pentkost hmera 'fiftieth day' (because the Jewish festival is held on the fiftieth day after the second day of Passover).

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Pentecostal

adjective
1. relating to Pentecost.
2. (in Christian use) emphasizing baptism in the Holy Spirit, evidenced by ‘speaking in tongues’, prophecy, healing, and exorcism.

DERIVATIVES:
Pentecostalism noun
Pentecostalist adjective & noun.

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penthouse

noun
1. a flat on the top floor of a tall building.
2. archaic an outhouse built on the side of a building.

ORIGIN: Old French apentis, from Latin appendicium 'appendage' , changed by association with house.

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penultimate

adjective
last but one.

ORIGIN: from Latin paene 'almost' + ultimus 'last' .

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penumbra

noun (pl. penumbrae or penumbras)
the partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an object.

DERIVATIVES:
penumbral adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin paene 'almost' + umbra 'shadow' .

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penurious

adjective formal
1. extremely poor.
2. parsimonious.

DERIVATIVES:
penuriously adverb.

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penury

noun
extreme poverty.

ORIGIN: Latin penuria.

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peon

noun
1. an unskilled Spanish-American worker.
2. (in the Indian subcontinent and SE Asia) a person of low rank.

ORIGIN: from Portuguese peão and Spanish peón, from Latin pedo 'walker, foot soldier' .

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peony (also paeony)

noun
a herbaceous or shrubby plant cultivated for its showy flowers.

ORIGIN: Greek painia, from Pain, the physician of the gods.

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people

plural noun
1. human beings in general or considered collectively.
2. (the people) the mass of citizens; the populace.
3. (one's people) one's relatives, or one's employees or supporters.
4. (pl. peoples) (treated as sing. or pl. ) the members of a particular nation, community, or ethnic group.

verb
1. (usu. be peopled) inhabit.
2. fill with a particular group of inhabitants.

ORIGIN: Old French poeple, from Latin populus 'populace' .

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people carrier

noun
a motor vehicle with three rows of seats.

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PEP

abbreviation Brit.
personal equity plan.

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pep informal

noun
liveliness.

verb (pepped, pepping) (pep up)
make more lively.

DERIVATIVES:
peppy adjective.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of PEPPER.

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pepper

noun
1. a pungent, hot-tasting powder made from peppercorns, used to flavour food.
2. a capsicum.

verb
1. sprinkle or season with pepper.
2. (usu. be peppered with) scatter liberally over or through.
3. hit repeatedly with small missiles or gunshot.

DERIVATIVES:
peppery adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek peperi, from Sanskrit.

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peppercorn

noun
the dried berry of a climbing vine, used whole as a spice or crushed or ground to make pepper.

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peppermint

noun
1. a plant of the mint family which produces aromatic leaves and oil, used as a flavouring in food.
2. a sweet flavoured with peppermint oil.

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pepperoni

noun
beef and pork sausage seasoned with pepper.

ORIGIN: Italian peperone 'chilli' .

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pepper pot

noun Brit.
a container with a perforated top for sprinkling pepper.

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pepper spray

noun
an aerosol spray containing irritant oils derived from cayenne pepper, used as a disabling weapon.

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pep pill

noun informal
a pill containing a stimulant drug.

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pepsin

noun
the chief digestive enzyme in the stomach, which breaks down proteins into polypeptides.

ORIGIN: from Greek pepsis 'digestion' .

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pep talk

noun informal
a talk intended to make someone feel more courageous or enthusiastic.

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peptic

adjective
relating to digestion.

ORIGIN: Greek peptikos 'able to digest' .

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peptic ulcer

noun
an ulcer in the lining of the stomach or duodenum.

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peptide

noun Biochemistry
a compound consisting of two or more linked amino acids.

ORIGIN: German Peptid, from Polypeptid 'polypeptide' .

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per

preposition
1. for each.
2. by means of.
3. (as per) in accordance with.
4. Heraldry divided by a line in the direction of.

IDIOMS -
as per usual as usual.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'through, by means of' .

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per-

prefix
1. through; all over: pervade.
2. completely; very: perfect.
3. Chemistry having the maximum proportion of some element in combination: peroxide.

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peradventure archaic or humorous

adverb
perhaps.

noun
uncertainty or doubt.

ORIGIN: from Old French per (or par) auenture 'by chance' .

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perambulate

verb
1. formal walk or travel from place to place.
2. Brit. historical walk round (a parish, forest, etc.) in order to officially assert and record its boundaries.

DERIVATIVES:
perambulation noun
perambulatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin perambulare 'walk about' .

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per annum

adverb
for each year.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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per capita (also per caput)

adverb & adjective
for each person; in relation to people taken individually.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'by heads' .

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perceive

verb
1. become aware or conscious of through the senses.
2. regard as.

DERIVATIVES:
perceivable adjective
perceiver noun.

ORIGIN: Old French perçoivre, from Latin percipere 'seize, understand' .

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per cent

adverb
by a specified amount in or for every hundred.

noun
one part in every hundred.

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percentage

noun
1. a rate, number, or amount in each hundred.
2. a proportion of a larger sum of money granted as an allowance or commission.
3. any proportion or share in relation to a whole.

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percentile

noun Statistics
1. each of 100 equal groups into which a population can be divided according to the distribution of values of a particular variable.
2. each of the 99 intermediate values of a variable which divide a frequency distribution into 100 such groups.

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perceptible

adjective
able to be perceived.

DERIVATIVES:
perceptibly adverb.

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perception

noun
1. the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses.
2. the process of perceiving.
3. a way of understanding or interpreting something.
4. intuitive understanding and insight.

ORIGIN: Latin, from percipere 'seize, understand' .

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perceptive

adjective
having or showing acute insight.

DERIVATIVES:
perceptively adverb
perceptiveness noun.

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perch [1]

noun
1. a branch, bar, etc. on which a bird rests or roosts.
2. a high or narrow seat or resting place.

verb
1. sit, rest, or place somewhere.
2. (be perched) (of a building) be situated above or on the edge of something.

ORIGIN: from Old French perche, from Latin pertica 'measuring rod, pole' .

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perch [2]

noun (pl. same or perches)
a freshwater fish with a high spiny dorsal fin and dark vertical bars.

ORIGIN: Old French perche, from Greek perk.

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perchance

adverb archaic or literary
by some chance; perhaps.

ORIGIN: from Old French par cheance 'by chance' .

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percipient

adjective
having a perceptive understanding.

noun
(especially in philosophy or with reference to psychic phenomena) a person who is able to perceive things.

DERIVATIVES:
percipience noun
percipiently adverb.

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percolate

verb
1. filter through a porous surface or substance.
2. (of information or ideas) spread gradually through a group of people.
3. prepare (coffee) in a percolator.

DERIVATIVES:
percolation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin percolare 'strain through' .

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percolator

noun
a machine for making coffee, consisting of a pot in which boiling water is circulated through a small chamber that holds the ground beans.

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percussion

noun
1. (before another noun ) (of a musical instrument) played by being struck or shaken.
2. percussion instruments forming a band or section of an orchestra.
3. the striking of one solid object with or against another.

DERIVATIVES:
percussionist noun
percussive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from percutere 'strike forcibly' .

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percussion cap

noun
a small amount of explosive powder contained in metal or paper and exploded by striking.

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perdition

noun
(in Christian theology) a state of eternal damnation into which a sinful person who has not repented passes after death.

ORIGIN: Latin, from perdere 'destroy' .

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peregrinations

plural noun archaic or humorous
travel or wandering from place to place.

DERIVATIVES:
peregrinate verb.

ORIGIN: from Latin peregrinari 'travel abroad' .

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peregrine

noun
a powerful falcon with a bluish-grey back and wings and pale underparts, that breeds chiefly on mountains and coastal cliffs.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'pilgrim falcon' , because falconers' birds were caught full-grown on migration, not taken from the nest.

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peremptory

adjective
1. insisting on immediate attention or obedience; brusque and imperious.
2. Law not open to appeal or challenge; final.

DERIVATIVES:
peremptorily adverb
peremptoriness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin peremptorius 'deadly, decisive' .

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perennial

adjective
1. lasting through a year or several years.
2. (of a plant) living for several years. Compare with ANNUAL, BIENNIAL.
3. lasting or doing something for a long time or for ever.

noun
a perennial plant.

DERIVATIVES:
perennially adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin perennis 'lasting the year through' .

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perfect

adjective
1. having all the required elements, qualities, or characteristics.
2. free from any flaw; faultless.
3. complete; absolute: it made perfect sense.
4. Grammar (of a tense) denoting a completed action or a state or habitual action which began in the past, formed in English with have or has and the past participle, as in they have eaten.
5. Mathematics (of a number) equal to the sum of its positive divisors, e.g. the number 6, whose divisors (1, 2, 3) also add up to 6.

verb
1. make perfect.
2. bring to completion.

DERIVATIVES:
perfecter noun
perfectible adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin perfectus 'completed' .

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perfection

noun
1. the process of perfecting or the state of being perfect.
2. a perfect person or thing.

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perfectionism

noun
1. refusal to accept any standard short of perfection.
2. Philosophy the doctrine that religious, moral, social, or political perfection is attainable.

DERIVATIVES:
perfectionist noun & adjective.

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perfectly

adverb
1. in a perfect way.
2. absolutely; completely.

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perfect pitch

noun
the ability to recognize the pitch of a note or produce any given note.

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perfidious

adjective literary
deceitful and untrustworthy: a perfidious lover.

DERIVATIVES:
perfidiously adverb
perfidiousness noun.

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perfidy

noun literary
deceitfulness; untrustworthiness.

ORIGIN: Latin perfidia, from perfidus 'treacherous' .

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perforate

verb
pierce and make a hole or holes in.

DERIVATIVES:
perforation noun
perforator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin perforare 'pierce through' .

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perforce

adverb formal
necessarily; inevitably.

ORIGIN: from Old French par force 'by force' .

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perform

verb
1. carry out, accomplish, or fulfil (an action, task, or function).
2. work, function, or do something to a specified standard.
3. present entertainment to an audience.
4. (of an investment) yield a profitable return.

DERIVATIVES:
performable adjective
performer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French parfournir.

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performance

noun
1. the action or process of performing.
2. an act of performing a play, concert, song, etc.
3. informal a display of exaggerated behaviour; a fuss.
4. the capabilities of a machine or product.

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performance art

noun
an art form that combines visual art with dramatic performance.

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performing arts

plural noun
forms of creative activity that are performed in front of an audience, such as drama, music, and dance.

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perfume

noun
1. a fragrant liquid used to give a pleasant smell to one's body.
2. a pleasant smell.

verb
1. give a pleasant smell to.
2. impregnate with perfume or a sweet-smelling ingredient.

DERIVATIVES:
perfumed adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting pleasant-smelling smoke used in fumigation: from French parfum, from obsolete Italian parfumare 'to smoke through' .

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perfunctory

adjective
carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection.

DERIVATIVES:
perfunctorily adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin perfunctorius 'careless' .

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pergola

noun
an arched structure forming a framework for climbing or trailing plants.

ORIGIN: Latin pergula 'projecting roof' .

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perhaps

adverb
1. expressing uncertainty or possibility.
2. used when making a polite request or suggestion.

ORIGIN: from PER + HAP.

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peri-

prefix
1. round; about: pericardium.
2. Astronomy denoting the point nearest to a specified celestial body: perihelion.

ORIGIN: Greek peri 'about, around' .

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pericardium

noun (pl. pericardia) Anatomy
the membrane enclosing the heart.

DERIVATIVES:
pericardial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek peri 'around' + kardia 'heart' .

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pericarp

noun Botany
the part of a fruit formed from the wall of the ripened ovary.

ORIGIN: from Greek peri- 'around' + karpos 'fruit' .

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peril

noun
a situation of serious and immediate danger.

IDIOMS -
at one's peril at one's own risk.
in (or at) peril of
1. very likely to suffer from.
2. at risk of losing or injuring.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin periculum 'danger' .

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perilous

adjective
full of danger or risk.

DERIVATIVES:
perilously adverb
perilousness noun.

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perimeter

noun
1. the continuous line forming the boundary of a closed figure.
2. the outermost parts or boundary of an area or object.
3. an instrument for measuring a person's field of vision.

DERIVATIVES:
perimetric adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek peri- 'around' + metron 'measure' .

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period

noun
1. a length or portion of time.
2. a distinct portion of time with particular characteristics.
3. a major division of geological time, forming part of an era.
4. a lesson in a school.
5. (also menstrual period) a monthly flow of blood and other material from the lining of the uterus, occurring in women of child-bearing age when not pregnant.
6. chiefly N. Amer. a full stop.
7. Physics the interval of time between recurrences of a phenomenon.

adjective
belonging to or characteristic of a past historical time: period furniture.

ORIGIN: originally denoting the time during which something runs its course: from Greek periodos 'orbit, recurrence, course' .

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periodic

adjective
appearing or occurring at intervals.

DERIVATIVES:
periodicity noun.

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periodical

adjective
1. occurring or appearing at intervals.
2. (of a magazine or newspaper) published at regular intervals.

noun
a periodical magazine or newspaper.

DERIVATIVES:
periodically adverb.

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periodic table

noun
a table of the chemical elements arranged in order of atomic number, usually in rows, with elements having similar atomic structure appearing in vertical columns.

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period piece

noun
an object or work that is set in or reminiscent of an earlier historical period.

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peripatetic

adjective
1. travelling from place to place.
2. working or based in a succession of places.

DERIVATIVES:
peripatetically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek peripattikos 'walking up and down' .

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peripheral

adjective
1. relating to or situated on the periphery.
2. of secondary importance; marginal.
3. (of a device) able to be attached to and used with a computer, though not an integral part of it.
4. Anatomy near the surface of the body.

noun Computing
a peripheral device.

DERIVATIVES:
peripherality noun
peripherally adverb.

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periphery

noun (pl. peripheries)
1. the outer limits or edge of an area or object.
2. a marginal or secondary position, part, or aspect.

ORIGIN: Greek periphereia 'circumference' .

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periphrasis

noun (pl. periphrases)
the use of indirect and roundabout language; circumlocution.

DERIVATIVES:
periphrastic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek peri- 'around' + phrazein 'declare' .

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periscope

noun
a tube attached to a set of mirrors or prisms, by which an observer in a submerged submarine or behind an obstacle can see things that are otherwise out of sight.

DERIVATIVES:
periscopic adjective.

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perish

verb
1. die.
2. suffer complete ruin or destruction.
3. rot or decay.
4. (be perished) Brit. be suffering from extreme cold.

IDIOMS -
perish the thought informal may the thought or idea prove unfounded.

ORIGIN: Latin perire 'pass away' .

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perishable

adjective
(of food) likely to rot quickly.

noun (perishables)
perishable foodstuffs.

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perishing

adjective Brit. informal
1. extremely cold.
2. dated used for emphasis or to express annoyance.

DERIVATIVES:
perishingly adverb.

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peristalsis

noun
the contraction and relaxation of the muscles of the intestines, creating wave-like movements which push the contents of the intestines forward.

DERIVATIVES:
peristaltic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek peristallein 'wrap around' .

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peritoneum

noun (pl. peritoneums or peritonea)
the membrane lining the cavity of the abdomen and covering the abdominal organs.

DERIVATIVES:
peritoneal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from peritonos 'stretched round' .

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peritonitis

noun
inflammation of the peritoneum.

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periwinkle [1]

noun
a plant with flat five-petalled flowers and glossy leaves.

ORIGIN: Latin pervinca.

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perjure

verb (perjure oneself) Law
commit perjury.

DERIVATIVES:
perjurer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin perjurare 'swear falsely' .

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perjury

noun Law
the offence of deliberately telling an untruth in court when under oath.

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perk [1]

verb (perk up)
make or become more cheerful or lively.

ORIGIN: originally in the senses «perch» and «be lively»): perhaps from Old French percher 'to perch' .

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perk [2]

noun informal
a benefit or privilege to which an employee is entitled.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of PERQUISITE.

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perky

adjective (perkier, perkiest)
1. cheerful and lively.
2. cheeky.

DERIVATIVES:
perkily adverb
perkiness noun.

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perm [1]

noun (also permanent wave)
a method of setting the hair in waves or curls and treating it with chemicals so that the style lasts for several months.

verb
treat (the hair) in such a way.

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perm [2] Brit. informal

noun
a permutation, especially a selection of a specified number of matches in a football pool.

verb
make a selection of (so many) from a larger number.

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permafrost

noun
a thick subsurface layer of soil that remains below freezing point throughout the year.

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permanent

adjective
lasting or intending to last indefinitely; not temporary.

DERIVATIVES:
permanence noun
permanency noun
permanently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin permanere 'remain to the end' .

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permeable

adjective
allowing liquids or gases to pass through; capable of being permeated.

DERIVATIVES:
permeability noun.

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permeate

verb
spread throughout; pervade.

DERIVATIVES:
permeation noun
permeator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin permeare 'pass through' .

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Permian

adjective Geology
of or relating to the last period of the Palaeozoic era (between the Carboniferous and Triassic periods), about 290 to 245 million years ago, a time when reptiles proliferated and many marine animals became extinct.

ORIGIN: from Perm, a Russian province with extensive deposits from this period.

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permissible

adjective
allowable; permitted.

DERIVATIVES:
permissibility noun.

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permission

noun
authorization; consent.

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permissive

adjective
1. allowing or characterized by freedom of behaviour, especially in sexual matters.
2. Law allowed but not obligatory; optional.

DERIVATIVES:
permissively adverb
permissiveness noun.

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permit

verb (permitted, permitting)
1. give permission to (someone) or for (something).
2. make possible.
3. (permit of) formal allow for; admit of.

noun
an official document giving permission to do something.

ORIGIN: Latin permittere, from mittere 'send, let go' .

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permutation

noun
1. each of several possible ways in which a set or number of things can be ordered or arranged.
2. Mathematics the action of changing the arrangement of a set of items.
3. Brit. a selection of a specified number of matches in a football pool.

DERIVATIVES:
permutational adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from permutare 'change completely'

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pernicious

adjective
having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.

DERIVATIVES:
perniciously adverb
perniciousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin perniciosus 'destructive' .

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pernickety

adjective informal, chiefly Brit.
1. fussy; over-fastidious.
2. requiring a precise or careful approach.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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perorate

verb formal
1. speak at length.
2. sum up and conclude a speech.

ORIGIN: Latin perorare 'speak at length' .

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peroration

noun
the concluding part of a speech; the summing up.

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peroxide

noun
1. Chemistry a compound containing two oxygen atoms bonded together.
2. hydrogen peroxide, especially as used as a bleach for the hair.

verb
bleach (hair) with peroxide.

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perpendicular

adjective
1. at an angle of 90° to a given line, plane, or surface.
2. at an angle of 90° to the ground; vertical.
3. (Perpendicular) of the latest stage of English Gothic church architecture (late 14th to mid 16th centuries), characterized by broad arches and elaborate fan vaulting.

noun
a perpendicular line.

DERIVATIVES:
perpendicularity noun
perpendicularly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin perpendicularis, from perpendiculum 'plumb line' .

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perpetrate

verb
carry out or commit (a bad or illegal action).

DERIVATIVES:
perpetration noun
perpetrator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin perpetrare 'perform' .

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perpetual

adjective
1. never ending or changing.
2. occurring repeatedly; seemingly continual.

DERIVATIVES:
perpetually adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin perpetualis, from perpetuus 'continuing throughout' .

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perpetuate

verb
cause to continue indefinitely.

DERIVATIVES:
perpetuation noun
perpetuator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin perpetuare 'make permanent' .

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perpetuity

noun (pl. perpetuities)
1. the state or quality of lasting forever.
2. a bond or other security with no fixed maturity date.

IDIOMS -
in (or for) perpetuity for ever.

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perplex

verb
cause to feel baffled; puzzle greatly.

DERIVATIVES:
perplexity noun (pl. perplexities) .

ORIGIN: from Latin perplexus 'entangled' .

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perquisite

noun
1. formal a special right or privilege enjoyed as a result of one's position.
2. historical a thing which has served its primary use and to which a subordinate or employee has a customary right.

ORIGIN: Latin perquisitum 'acquisition' .

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per se

adverb
by or in itself or themselves.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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persecute

verb
1. subject to prolonged hostility and ill-treatment.
2. persistently harass or annoy.

DERIVATIVES:
persecution noun
persecutor noun.

ORIGIN: Old French persecuter, from Latin persequi 'follow with hostility' .

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persevere

verb
continue in a course of action in spite of difficulty or lack of success.

DERIVATIVES:
perseverance noun.

ORIGIN: Latin perseverare 'abide by strictly' .

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Persian

noun
1. a person from Persia (now Iran).
2. the language of ancient Persia or modern Iran.
3. a long-haired breed of domestic cat with a broad round head and stocky body.

adjective
relating to Persia or Iran.

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persiflage

noun formal
light mockery or banter.

ORIGIN: from French persifler 'to banter' .

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persimmon

noun
an edible fruit resembling a large tomato, with very sweet flesh.

ORIGIN: Algonquian.

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persist

verb
1. continue doing something in spite of difficulty or opposition.
2. continue to exist.

ORIGIN: Latin persistere 'continue steadfastly' .

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persistent

adjective
1. persisting or having a tendency to persist.
2. continuing or recurring; prolonged.
3. Botany & Zoology (of a horn, leaf, etc.) remaining attached instead of falling off in the normal manner.

DERIVATIVES:
persistence noun
persistently adverb.

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person

noun (pl. people or persons)
1. a human being regarded as an individual.
2. an individual's body: concealed on his person.
3. Grammar a category used in the classification of pronouns, verb forms, etc. according to whether they indicate the speaker (first person) , the person spoken to (second person) , or a third party (third person) .
4. Christian Theology each of the three modes of being of God, namely the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

IDIOMS -
in person physically present.

USAGE - The words people and persons can both be used as the plural of person but they are not used in exactly the same way. People is by far the commoner of the two words and is used in most ordinary contexts. Persons, on the other hand, tends to be restricted to official or formal contexts, as in this vehicle is authorized to carry twenty persons .
ORIGIN: Latin persona 'actor's mask, character in a play' , later 'human being' .

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-person

combining form
used as a neutral alternative to -man in nouns denoting status, authority, etc.: salesperson.

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persona

noun (pl. personas or personae)
1. Psychoanalysis the aspect of a person's character that is presented to or perceived by others.
2. a role or character adopted by an author or actor.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'mask, character played by an actor' .

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personable

adjective
having a pleasant appearance and manner.

DERIVATIVES:
personably adverb.

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personage

noun
a person (used to express their importance or elevated status).

ORIGIN: Old French, reinforced by Latin personagium 'effigy' .

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personal

adjective
1. of, affecting, or belonging to a particular person.
2. involving the presence or action of a particular individual.
3. concerning a person's private rather than professional life.
4. making inappropriate or offensive reference to a person's character or appearance.
5. relating to a person's body.
6. Grammar of one of the three persons.
7. existing as a self-aware entity, not as an abstraction or an impersonal force: a personal God.

noun (personals) chiefly N. Amer.
advertisements or messages in the personal column of a newspaper.

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personal assistant

noun
a secretary or administrative assistant working for one particular person.

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personal column

noun
a section of a newspaper devoted to private advertisements or messages.

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personal computer

noun
a microcomputer designed for use by one person at a time.

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personal equity plan

noun
(in the UK) a scheme whereby individuals may invest a limited sum each year in British companies without liability for tax on dividends or capital gains.

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personal identification number

noun
a number allocated to an individual and used to validate electronic transactions.

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personality

noun (pl. personalities)
1. the characteristics or qualities that form an individual's character.
2. qualities that make someone interesting or popular.
3. a celebrity.

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personalize (also personalise)

verb
1. design or produce (something) to meet someone's individual requirements.
2. make (something) identifiable as belonging to a particular person.
3. cause (an issue or argument) to become concerned with personalities or feelings.
4. personify.

DERIVATIVES:
personalization noun.

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personally

adverb
1. in person.
2. from one's own viewpoint; subjectively.

IDIOMS -
take personally interpret (a remark or action) as directed against oneself and be upset or offended by it.

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personal organizer

noun
a loose-leaf notebook with a diary and address book.

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personal pronoun

noun
each of the pronouns in English (I, you, he, she, it, we, they, me, him, her, us, and them) that show contrasts of person, gender, number, and case.
USAGE - I, we, they, he, and she are subjective personal pronouns, which means they are used as the subject of the sentence, often coming before the verb ( she lives in Paris ). Me, us, them, him, and her, on the other hand, are objective personal pronouns, which means that they are used as the object of a verb or preposition ( John hates me ). This explains why it is incorrect to say John and me went to the shops : the personal pronoun is in subject position, so it must be I. Where a personal pronoun is used alone, however, the traditional analysis starts to break down. It is sometimes claimed that statements such as she's younger than me and I've not been here as long as her are incorrect and that the correct forms are she's younger than I and I've not been here as long as she . This is based on the assumption that than and as are conjunctions and so the personal pronoun is still subjective even though there is no verb (in full form it would be she's younger than I am ). Yet for most native speakers the supposed ‘correct’ form sounds stilted and is almost never used. It would perhaps be more accurate to say that objective personal pronouns are now used in all cases where the pronoun is not explicitly subjective, and it is therefore acceptable to say she's taller than him and I didn't do as well as her .

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personal property

noun Law
all of someone's property except land and buildings. Compare with REAL PROPERTY.

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personal stereo

noun
a small portable cassette or compact disc player, used with headphones.

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persona non grata

noun (pl. personae non gratae)
an unacceptable or unwelcome person.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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personify

verb (personifies, personified)
1. represent (a quality or concept) by a figure in human form.
2. attribute a personal nature or human characteristics to (something non-human).
3. represent or embody (a quality or concept) in a physical form.

DERIVATIVES:
personification noun.

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personnel

plural noun
people employed in an organization or engaged in an undertaking.

ORIGIN: from French, 'personal' .

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perspective

noun
1. the art of representing three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface so as to convey the impression of height, width, depth, and relative distance.
2. a view or prospect.
3. a particular way of regarding something.
4. understanding of the relative importance of things.

DERIVATIVES:
perspectival adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'optics' : from Latin perspectiva ars 'science of optics' .

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perspex

noun trademark
a tough transparent plastic used as a substitute for glass.

ORIGIN: from Latin perspicere 'look through' .

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perspicacious

adjective
having a ready insight into and understanding of things.

DERIVATIVES:
perspicaciously adverb
perspicacity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin perspicax 'seeing clearly' .

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perspicuous

adjective
1. clearly expressed and easily understood; lucid.
2. expressing things clearly.

DERIVATIVES:
perspicuity noun
perspicuously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin perspicuus 'transparent, clear' .

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perspiration

noun
1. sweat.
2. the process of perspiring.

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perspire

verb
give out sweat through the pores of the skin.

ORIGIN: Latin perspirare, from spirare 'breathe' .

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persuade

verb
1. induce (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument.
2. cause (someone) to believe something.

DERIVATIVES:
persuadable adjective
persuader noun.

ORIGIN: Latin persuadere, from suadere 'advise' .

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persuasion

noun
1. the process of persuading or of being persuaded.
2. a belief or set of beliefs.
3. a group or sect holding a particular belief.

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persuasive

adjective
1. good at persuading someone to do or believe something.
2. providing sound reasoning or argument.

DERIVATIVES:
persuasively adverb
persuasiveness noun.

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pert

adjective
1. attractively lively or cheeky.
2. (of a bodily feature or garment) neat and suggestive of jauntiness.

DERIVATIVES:
pertly adverb
pertness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «manifest»: from Latin apertus 'opened' .

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pertain

verb
1. be appropriate, related, or applicable.
2. chiefly Law belong as a part, appendage, or accessory.
3. be in effect or existence at a particular place or time.

ORIGIN: Latin pertinere 'extend to, have reference to' .

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pertinacious

adjective formal
stubborn; persistent.

DERIVATIVES:
pertinaciously adverb
pertinacity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin pertinax 'holding fast' .

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pertinent

adjective
relevant; appropriate.

DERIVATIVES:
pertinence noun
pertinently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin pertinere 'extend to, have reference to' .

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perturb

verb
1. make anxious or unsettled.
2. alter the normal or regular state or path of.

ORIGIN: Latin perturbare, from turbare 'disturb' .

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perturbation

noun
1. anxiety; uneasiness.
2. the action of perturbing a system, moving object, or process.

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peruse

verb formal
read or examine thoroughly or carefully.

DERIVATIVES:
perusal noun
peruser noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'use up, wear out' : perhaps from PER- + USE.

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perv (also perve) informal

noun
1. a sexual pervert.
2. Austral./NZ a lecherous look.

verb Austral./NZ
gaze lecherously.

DERIVATIVES:
pervy adjective.

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pervade

verb
spread or be present throughout; suffuse.

DERIVATIVES:
pervasion noun.

ORIGIN: Latin pervadere 'go or come through' .

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pervasive

adjective
spreading widely through something; widespread.

DERIVATIVES:
pervasively adverb
pervasiveness noun.

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perverse

adjective
1. showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave unacceptably.
2. contrary to that which is accepted or expected.
3. sexually perverted.

DERIVATIVES:
perversely adverb
perverseness noun
perversity noun (pl. perversities) .

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perversion

noun
1. the action of perverting.
2. abnormal or unacceptable sexual behaviour.

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pervert

verb
1. alter from an original meaning or state to a corruption of what was first intended.
2. lead away from what is right, natural, or acceptable.

noun
a person with abnormal or unacceptable sexual behaviour.

ORIGIN: Latin pervertere 'turn about' .

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perverted

adjective
sexually abnormal and unacceptable.

DERIVATIVES:
pervertedly adverb.

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pervious

adjective
allowing water to pass through; permeable.

ORIGIN: Latin pervius 'having a passage through' .

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peseta

noun
the basic monetary unit of Spain, equal to 100 centimos.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'little weight' .

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pesky

adjective (peskier, peskiest) informal
annoying.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to PEST.

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pessary

noun (pl. pessaries)
1. a small soluble medicinal or contraceptive block inserted into the vagina.
2. a device inserted into the vagina to support the uterus.

ORIGIN: Latin pessarium, from Greek pessos 'oval stone' .

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pessimism

noun
1. lack of hope or confidence in the future.
2. Philosophy a belief that this world is as bad as it could be or that evil will ultimately prevail over good.

DERIVATIVES:
pessimist noun
pessimistic adjective
pessimistically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin pessimus 'worst' .

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pest

noun
1. a destructive animal that attacks crops, food, or livestock.
2. informal an annoying person or thing.

ORIGIN: French peste or Latin pestis 'plague' .

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pester

verb
trouble or annoy with persistent requests or interruptions.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'overcrowd or impede' , later 'infest' : from French empestrer 'encumber' .

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pesticide

noun
a substance for destroying insects or other pests.

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pestilence

noun archaic
a fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague.

ORIGIN: Latin pestilentia, from pestis 'a plague' .

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pestilent

adjective
1. deadly.
2. informal, dated annoying.
3. archaic harmful to morals or public order.

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pestilential

adjective
1. relating to or tending to cause infectious diseases.
2. of the nature of a pest.
3. informal annoying.

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pestle

noun
a heavy tool with a rounded end, used for crushing and grinding substances in a mortar.

ORIGIN: Latin pistillum, from pinsere 'to pound' .

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pesto

noun
a sauce of crushed basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil, served with pasta.

ORIGIN: Italian, from pestare 'pound, crush' .

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pet [1]

noun
1. a domestic or tamed animal or bird kept for companionship or pleasure.
2. a person treated with special favour.
3. used as an affectionate form of address.

adjective
1. relating to or kept as a pet.
2. favourite or particular: my pet hate.

verb (petted, petting)
1. stroke or pat (an animal).
2. caress sexually.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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pet [2]

noun
a fit of sulking or bad temper.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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petal

noun
each of the segments of the corolla of a flower.

ORIGIN: Greek petalon 'leaf' .

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pétanque

noun
a game similar to boule, played chiefly in Provence.

ORIGIN: French, from Provençal pèd tanco 'foot fixed (to the ground)' , describing the start position.

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petard

noun historical
a small bomb made of a metal or wooden box filled with powder.

IDIOMS -
be hoist with (or by) one's own petard have one's schemes against others backfiring on one. [ORIGIN: from Shakespeare's Hamlet (III. iv. 207); hoist is in the sense «lifted and removed».]

ORIGIN: French, from péter 'break wind' .

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peter

verb (usu. peter out)
diminish or come to an end gradually.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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petersham

noun
a corded tape used for stiffening in making dresses and hats.

ORIGIN: named after the English army officer Lord Petersham (1790 1851).

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petiole

noun Botany
the stalk that joins a leaf to a stem.

ORIGIN: Latin petiolus 'little foot, stalk' .

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petit bourgeois

adjective
of or characteristic of the lower middle class, especially in being conventional and conservative.

noun (pl. petits bourgeois pronunc. same)
a petit bourgeois person.

ORIGIN: French, 'little citizen' .

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petite

adjective
(of a woman) attractively small and dainty.

ORIGIN: French, feminine of petit 'small' .

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petite bourgeoisie (also petit bourgeoisie)

noun
the lower middle class.

ORIGIN: French, 'little townsfolk' .

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petit four

noun (pl. petits fours)
a very small fancy cake, biscuit, or sweet.

ORIGIN: French, 'little oven' .

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petition

noun
1. a formal written request, typically one signed by many people, appealing to authority concerning a cause.
2. an appeal or request.
3. Law an application to a court for a writ, judicial action, etc.

verb
make or present a petition to.

DERIVATIVES:
petitioner noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from petere 'aim at, seek, lay claim to' .

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petit mal

noun
a mild form of epilepsy with only momentary spells of unconsciousness. Compare with GRAND MAL.

ORIGIN: French, 'little sickness' .

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petit point

noun
embroidery on canvas, using small diagonal stitches.

ORIGIN: French, 'little stitch' .

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pet name

noun
a name used to express fondness or familiarity.

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petrel

noun
a seabird of a kind that typically flies far from land.

ORIGIN: from the name of St Peter, because of the bird's habit of flying low with legs dangling, and so appearing to walk on the water (as did St Peter in the Gospel of Matthew).

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Petri dish

noun
a shallow transparent dish with a flat lid, used for the culture of micro-organisms.

ORIGIN: named after the German bacteriologist Julius R. Petri (1852 1922).

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petrify

verb (petrifies, petrified)
1. change (organic matter) into stone by encrusting or replacing its original substance with a mineral deposit.
2. paralyse with fear.
3. deprive of vitality.

DERIVATIVES:
petrifaction noun
petrification noun.

ORIGIN: Latin petrificare, from petra 'rock' .

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petrochemical

adjective
1. relating to the chemical properties and processing of petroleum and natural gas.
2. relating to the chemistry of rocks.

noun
a chemical obtained from petroleum and natural gas.

ORIGIN: sense 1 from PETROLEUM; sense 2 from Greek petros 'stone' , petra 'rock' .

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petrol

noun Brit.
1. refined petroleum used as fuel in motor vehicles.
2. (also petrol blue) a shade of intense greenish or greyish blue.

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petrol bomb

noun Brit.
a crude bomb consisting of a bottle containing petrol and a cloth wick.

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petroleum

noun
a hydrocarbon oil found in rock strata and extracted and refined to produce fuels including petrol, paraffin, and diesel oil; oil.

ORIGIN: Latin, from petra 'rock' + oleum 'oil' .

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petroleum jelly

noun
a translucent solid mixture of hydrocarbons, used as a lubricant or ointment.

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petticoat

noun
1. a woman's light, loose undergarment in the form of a skirt or dress.
2. (before another noun ) informal, often derogatory associated with women: petticoat government.

ORIGIN: from obsolete petty coat «small coat».

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pettifogging

adjective
petty; trivial.

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pettish

adjective
petulant.

DERIVATIVES:
pettishly adverb
pettishness noun.

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petty

adjective (pettier, pettiest)
1. trivial.
2. mean; small-minded.
3. minor.
4. Law (of a crime) of lesser importance. Compare with GRAND.

DERIVATIVES:
pettily adverb
pettiness noun.

ORIGIN: from the pronunciation of French petit 'small' .

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petty cash

noun
an accessible store of money for expenditure on small items.

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petulant

adjective
childishly sulky or bad-tempered.

DERIVATIVES:
petulance noun
petulantly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin petulans 'impudent' .

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petunia

noun
a South American plant with white, purple, or red funnel-shaped flowers.

ORIGIN: Guarani, 'tobacco' (to which these plants are related).

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pew

noun
1. (in a church) a long bench with a back.
2. Brit. informal a seat.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a raised, enclosed place for particular worshippers: from Old French puye 'balcony' , from Latin podium 'elevated place' .

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pewter

noun
a grey alloy of tin with copper and antimony (formerly, tin and lead).

ORIGIN: Old French peutre.

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pfennig

noun
a monetary unit of Germany, equal to one hundredth of a mark.

ORIGIN: German, related to PENNY.

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PG

abbreviation
(in film classification) parental guidance, indicating that some scenes may be considered unsuitable for children.

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pH

noun Chemistry
a figure expressing acidity or alkalinity (7 is neutral, lower values are more acid and higher values more alkaline).

ORIGIN: from p representing German Potenz 'power' + H, the symbol for hydrogen.

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phaeton

noun
1. historical a light, open four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage.
2. US a vintage touring car.

ORIGIN: from Phaethn, son of the sun god Helios in Greek mythology, who was allowed to drive the solar chariot for a day with fatal results.

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phagocyte

noun
a type of body cell which engulfs and absorbs bacteria and other small particles.

DERIVATIVES:
phagocytic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek phago- 'eating' + kutos 'vessel' .

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phalanx

noun (pl. phalanxes)
1. a group of similar people or things.
2. a body of troops or police officers in close formation.
3. (pl. phalanges) Anatomy a bone of the finger or toe.

ORIGIN: Greek.

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phallic

adjective
relating to or resembling a phallus or erect penis.

DERIVATIVES:
phallically adverb.

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phallus

noun (pl. phalli or phalluses)
1. a penis, especially when erect.
2. a representation of an erect penis symbolizing fertility or potency.

DERIVATIVES:
phallicism noun.

ORIGIN: Greek phallos.

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phantasm

noun literary
an illusion or apparition.

DERIVATIVES:
phantasmal adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek phantasma, from phantazein 'make visible' .

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phantasmagoria

noun
a sequence of real or imaginary images like that seen in a dream.

DERIVATIVES:
phantasmagoric adjective
phantasmagorical adjective.

ORIGIN: originally the name of a London exhibition (1802) of optical illusions: probably from French fantasmagorie, from fantasme 'phantasm' .

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phantom

noun
1. a ghost.
2. a figment of the imagination.
3. (before another noun ) not really existing; illusory.

ORIGIN: Greek phantasma (see PHANTASM).

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pharaoh

noun
a ruler in ancient Egypt.

DERIVATIVES:
pharaonic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek Phara, from an Egyptian word meaning 'great house' .

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Pharisee

noun
1. a member of an ancient Jewish sect noted for their strict observance of the traditional and written law.
2. a self-righteous or hypocritical person.

DERIVATIVES:
Pharisaic adjective
Pharisaical adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek Pharisaios, from an Aramaic word meaning 'separated ones' .

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pharmaceutical

adjective
relating to medicinal drugs.

noun
a compound manufactured for use as a medicinal drug.

DERIVATIVES:
pharmaceutically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek pharmakeutikos, from pharmakon 'drug' .

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pharmacist

noun
a person qualified to prepare and dispense medicinal drugs.

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pharmacology

noun
the branch of medicine concerned with the uses, effects, and action of drugs.

DERIVATIVES:
pharmacologic adjective
pharmacological adjective
pharmacologist noun.

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pharmacy

noun (pl. pharmacies)
1. a place where medicinal drugs are prepared or sold.
2. the science or practice of preparing and dispensing medicinal drugs.

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pharynx

noun (pl. pharynges)
the membrane-lined cavity behind the nose and mouth, connecting them to the oesophagus.

ORIGIN: Greek pharunx.

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phase

noun
1. a distinct period or stage in a process of change or development.
2. each of the aspects of the moon or a planet, according to the amount of its illumination.
3. Physics the relationship between the cycles of an oscillating system and a fixed reference point or another system.
4. Chemistry a distinct and homogeneous form of matter separated by its surface from other forms.

verb
1. carry out in gradual stages.
2. (phase in/out) gradually introduce or withdraw (something).

IDIOMS -
in (or out of) phase in (or out of) synchrony.

ORIGIN: French, from Greek phasis 'appearance' .

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PhD

abbreviation
Doctor of Philosophy.

ORIGIN: from Latin philosophiae doctor.

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pheasant

noun
a large long-tailed game bird, the male of which typically has showy plumage.

ORIGIN: Greek phasianos 'bird of Phasis' , a river in the Caucasus from which the bird is said to have spread westwards.

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phenol

noun Chemistry
1. a toxic white crystalline solid obtained from coal tar. Also called CARBOLIC ACID.
2. any compound with a hydroxyl group linked directly to a benzene ring.

DERIVATIVES:
phenolic adjective.

ORIGIN: from French phène 'benzene' .

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phenomenal

adjective
1. extraordinary.
2. perceptible by the senses or through immediate experience.

DERIVATIVES:
phenomenally adverb.

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phenomenon

noun (pl. phenomena)
1. a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause is in question.
2. Philosophy the object of a person's perception.
3. a remarkable person or thing.
USAGE - The word phenomenon comes from Greek, and its plural form is phenomena. In standard English it is a mistake to treat phenomena as if it were a singular form.
ORIGIN: Greek phainomenon 'thing appearing to view' .

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phenotype

noun Biology
the observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.

ORIGIN: from Greek phainein 'to show' .

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pheromone

noun
a chemical substance released by an animal and causing a response in others of its species.

ORIGIN: from Greek pherein 'convey' + HORMONE.

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phial

noun
a small cylindrical glass bottle, typically for medicines.

ORIGIN: Greek phial, denoting a broad flat container.

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philander

verb
(of a man) enter into casual sexual relationships with women.

DERIVATIVES:
philanderer noun.

ORIGIN: earlier as in the sense «man, husband», often used in literature as the given name of a lover: from Greek philandros 'fond of men' .

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philanthropist

noun
a person who seeks to help others, especially by donating money to good causes.

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philanthropy

noun
the desire to help others, especially through donation of money to good causes.

DERIVATIVES:
philanthropic adjective
philanthropically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek philanthrpia, from philanthrpos 'man-loving' .

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philately

noun
the collection and study of postage stamps.

DERIVATIVES:
philatelic adjective
philatelist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek philo- 'loving' + ateleia 'exemption from payment' , used to mean a franking mark or postage stamp exempting the recipient from payment.

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-phile

combining form
denoting a person or thing having a fondness for or tendency towards a specified thing: bibliophile.

ORIGIN: from Greek philos 'loving' .

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philharmonic

adjective
(in the names of orchestras) devoted to music.

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-philia

combining form
denoting fondness, especially an abnormal love for or inclination towards something: paedophilia.

DERIVATIVES:
-philiac combining form
-philic combining form
-philous combining form.

ORIGIN: from Greek philia 'fondness' .

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philippic

noun
a bitter verbal attack or denunciation.

ORIGIN: from Greek philippikos, the name given to Demosthenes' speeches against Philip II of Macedon, and Cicero's against Mark Antony.

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Philistine

noun
1. a member of a people of ancient Palestine who came into conflict with the Israelites.
2. (philistine) a person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts.

DERIVATIVES:
philistinism noun.

ORIGIN: Greek Philistinos, from Hebrew.

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Phillips

adjective trademark
referring to a screw with a cross-shaped slot for turning, or a corresponding screwdriver.

ORIGIN: the name of the American manufacturer Henry F. Phillips (died 1958).

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philo- (also phil- before a vowel or h)

combining form
denoting a liking for a specified thing: philology.

ORIGIN: from Greek philein 'to love' or philos 'loving' .

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philology

noun
1. the study of the structure, historical development, and relationships of a language or languages.
2. chiefly N. Amer. literary or classical scholarship.

DERIVATIVES:
philological adjective
philologist noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «love of learning»: from Greek philologia.

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philosopher

noun
a person engaged or learned in philosophy.

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philosopher's stone

noun
a mythical substance supposed to change any metal into gold or silver.

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philosophical

adjective
1. relating to the study of philosophy.
2. calm in difficult circumstances.

DERIVATIVES:
philosophic adjective
philosophically adverb.

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philosophize (also philosophise)

verb
theorize about fundamental or serious issues.

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philosophy

noun (pl. philosophies)
1. the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence.
2. the theories of a particular philosopher.
3. a theory or attitude that guides one's behaviour.
4. the study of the theoretical basis of a branch of knowledge or experience.

ORIGIN: Greek philosophia 'love of wisdom' .

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philtre (US philter)

noun
a love potion.

ORIGIN: Greek philtron, from philein 'to love' .

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phlebitis

noun Medicine
inflammation of the walls of a vein.

ORIGIN: from Greek phleps 'vein' .

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phlegm

noun
1. the thick viscous substance secreted by the mucous membranes of the respiratory passages.
2. (in medieval science and medicine) one of the four bodily humours, believed to be associated with a calm or apathetic temperament.
3. calmness of temperament.

DERIVATIVES:
phlegmy adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek phlegma 'inflammation' , from phlegein 'to burn' .

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phlegmatic

adjective
unemotional and stolidly calm.

DERIVATIVES:
phlegmatically adverb.

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phloem

noun Botany
the tissue in plants which conducts food materials downwards from the leaves.

ORIGIN: from Greek phloos 'bark' .

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-phobe

combining form
denoting a person having a fear or dislike of a specified thing: homophobe.

ORIGIN: from Greek phobos 'fear' .

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phobia

noun
an extreme or irrational fear of something.

DERIVATIVES:
phobic adjective & noun.

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-phobia

combining form
extreme or irrational fear or dislike of a specified thing: arachnophobia.

DERIVATIVES:
-phobic combining form.

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phoenix

noun
(in classical mythology) a unique bird that periodically burned itself on a funeral pyre and was born again from the ashes.

ORIGIN: Greek phoinix 'Phoenician, reddish purple, or phoenix' .

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phone

noun
1. a telephone.
2. (phones) informal headphones or earphones.

verb
telephone.

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-phone

combining form
1. denoting an instrument using or connected with sound: megaphone.
2. denoting a person who uses a specified language: francophone.

ORIGIN: from Greek phn 'sound, voice' .

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phone book

noun
a telephone directory.

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phonecard

noun
a prepaid card allowing the user to make calls on a public telephone.

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phone-in

noun
a radio or television programme during which listeners or viewers telephone the studio and participate.

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phoneme

noun Phonetics
any of the distinct units of sound that distinguish one word from another, e.g. p, b, d, and t in pad, pat, bad, and bat.

ORIGIN: Greek phnma 'sound, speech' , from phnein 'speak' .

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phonetic

adjective Phonetics
1. of or relating to speech sounds.
2. (of a system of writing) having a direct correspondence between symbols and sounds.

DERIVATIVES:
phonetically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek phntikos, from phnein 'speak' .

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phonetics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the study and classification of speech sounds.

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phoney (also phony) informal

adjective (phonier, phoniest)
not genuine.

noun (pl. phoneys or phonies)
a fraudulent person or thing.

DERIVATIVES:
phonily adverb.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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phonic

adjective
relating to speech sounds.

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phono-

combining form
relating to sound: phonograph.

ORIGIN: from Greek phn 'sound, voice' .

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phonograph

noun
1. Brit. an early form of gramophone.
2. N. Amer. a record player.

DERIVATIVES:
phonographic adjective.

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phonology

noun
the system of contrastive relationships among the fundamental speech sounds of a language.

DERIVATIVES:
phonological adjective.

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phosphate

noun Chemistry
a salt or ester of phosphoric acid.

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phosphor

noun
1. a synthetic fluorescent or phosphorescent substance.
2. old-fashioned term for PHOSPHORUS.

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phosphorescence

noun
1. light emitted by a substance without combustion or perceptible heat.
2. Physics the emission of radiation in a similar manner to fluorescence but continuing after excitation ceases.

DERIVATIVES:
phosphoresce verb
phosphorescent adjective.

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phosphoric

adjective
relating to or containing phosphorus.

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phosphoric acid

noun Chemistry
a crystalline acid obtained by treating phosphates with sulphuric acid.

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phosphorus

noun
a poisonous non-metallic chemical element existing as a yellowish waxy solid which ignites spontaneously in air and glows in the dark, and as a less reactive form used in making matches.

DERIVATIVES:
phosphorous adjective.
USAGE - The correct spelling for the noun referring to the chemical element is phosphorus, while the correct spelling for the adjective is phosphorous.
ORIGIN: Greek phsphoros, from phs 'light' + -phoros '-bringing' .

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photo

noun (pl. photos)
a photograph.

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photo-

combining form
1. relating to light.
2. relating to photography.

ORIGIN: sense 1 from Greek phs 'light' .

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photocall

noun Brit.
an occasion on which famous people pose for photographers by arrangement.

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photochemistry

noun
the branch of chemistry concerned with the chemical effects of light.

DERIVATIVES:
photochemical adjective.

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photocopier

noun
a machine for making photocopies.

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photocopy

noun (pl. photocopies)
a photographic copy of something produced by a process involving the action of light on a specially prepared surface.

verb (photocopies, photocopied)
make a photocopy of.

DERIVATIVES:
photocopiable adjective.

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photoelectric

adjective
characterized by or involving the emission of electrons from a surface by the action of light.

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photoelectric cell

noun
a device using a photoelectric effect to generate current.

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photo finish

noun
a close finish of a race in which the winner is identifiable only from a photograph of competitors crossing the line.

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photofit

noun Brit.
a picture of a person made from composite photographs of facial features.

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photogenic

adjective
1. looking attractive in photographs.
2. Biology producing or emitting light.

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photograph

noun
a picture made with a camera, in which an image is focused on to film and then made visible and permanent by chemical treatment.

verb
take a photograph of.

DERIVATIVES:
photographer noun
photographic adjective.

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photography

noun
the taking and processing of photographs.

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photogravure

noun
an image produced from a photographic negative transferred to a metal plate and etched in.

ORIGIN: French, 'photo-engraving' .

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photojournalism

noun
the communicating of news by photographs.

DERIVATIVES:
photojournalist noun.

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photometer

noun
an instrument measuring the intensity of light.

DERIVATIVES:
photometric adjective
photometry noun.

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photomontage

noun
a picture consisting of numerous photographs placed together or overlapping.

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photon

noun Physics
a particle representing a quantum of light or other electromagnetic radiation.

DERIVATIVES:
photonic adjective.

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photo opportunity

noun
a photocall.

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photosensitive

adjective
responding to light.

DERIVATIVES:
photosensitivity noun.

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photostat

noun trademark
1. a type of machine for making photocopies on special paper.
2. a copy made by a photstat.

verb (photostatted, photostatting)
copy with a photostat.

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photosynthesis

noun
the process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize nutrients from carbon dioxide and water.

DERIVATIVES:
photosynthesize (also photosynthesise) verb
photosynthetic adjective.

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phototropism

noun Biology
the orientation of a plant or other organism either towards or away from a source of light.

DERIVATIVES:
phototropic adjective.

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phrasal verb

noun Grammar
an idiomatic phrase consisting of a verb and an adverb or preposition, as in break down or see to.

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phrase

noun
1. a small group of words standing together as a conceptual unit.
2. Music a group of notes forming a distinct unit within a longer passage.
3. an idiomatic or pithy expression.

verb
put into a particular form of words.

DERIVATIVES:
phrasal adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek phrasis, from phrazein 'declare, tell' .

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phrase book

noun
a book listing useful expressions in a foreign language and their translations.

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phraseology

noun (pl. phraseologies)
a particular or characteristic mode of expression.

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phrasing

noun
division of music into phrases.

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phrenology

noun chiefly historical
the study of the shape and size of the cranium as a supposed indication of character.

DERIVATIVES:
phrenologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek phrn 'mind' .

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phylum

noun (pl. phyla) Zoology
a principal taxonomic category that ranks above class and below kingdom.

ORIGIN: Greek phulon 'race' .

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physic archaic

noun
medicinal drugs or medical treatment.

ORIGIN: Latin physica, from Greek phusik epistm 'knowledge of nature' .

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physical

adjective
1. relating to the body as opposed to the mind.
2. relating to things perceived through the senses as opposed to the mind.
3. involving bodily contact or activity.
4. relating to physics or the operation of natural forces.

noun
a medical examination to determine a person's bodily fitness.

DERIVATIVES:
physicality noun
physically adverb.

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physical chemistry

noun
the branch of chemistry concerned with the application of the techniques and theories of physics to the study of chemical systems.

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physical education

noun
instruction in physical exercise and games, especially in schools.

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physical geography

noun
the branch of geography concerned with natural features.

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physical sciences

plural noun
the sciences concerned with the study of inanimate natural objects, including physics, chemistry, and astronomy.

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physical therapy

noun US
the treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by physical methods such as massage and exercise.

DERIVATIVES:
physical therapist noun.

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physician

noun
a person qualified to practise medicine.

IDIOMS -
physician, heal thyself proverb before attempting to correct others, make sure that you aren't guilty of the same faults yourself. [ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 4.]

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physics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
1. the branch of science concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy.
2. the physical properties and phenomena of something.

DERIVATIVES:
physicist noun.

ORIGIN: Latin physica 'natural things' .

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physio

noun (pl. physios) informal
physiotherapy or a physiotherapist.

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physiognomy

noun (pl. physiognomies)
a person's facial features or expression, especially when regarded as indicative of character.

ORIGIN: Greek phusiognmonia, from phusis 'nature' + gnmn 'judge or interpreter' .

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physiology

noun
1. the branch of biology concerned with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts.
2. the way in which a living organism or bodily part functions.

DERIVATIVES:
physiological adjective
physiologist noun.

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physiotherapy (US physical therapy)

noun
the treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by physical methods such as massage and exercise.

DERIVATIVES:
physiotherapist noun.

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physique

noun
the form, size, and development of a person's body.

ORIGIN: French, 'physical' (used as a noun).

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phytoplankton

noun Biology
plankton consisting of microscopic plants.

ORIGIN: from Greek phuton 'a plant' .

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pi

noun
1. the sixteenth letter of the Greek alphabet (, ), transliterated as ‘p’.
2. the numerical value of the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter (approximately 3.14159).

ORIGIN: Greek: sense 2 from the initial letter of periphereia 'circumference' .

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pianissimo

adverb & adjective Music
very soft or softly.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'softest' .

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piano [1]

noun (pl. pianos)
a large keyboard musical instrument with metal strings, which are struck by hammers when the keys are depressed.

DERIVATIVES:
pianist noun.

ORIGIN: Italian, abbreviation of PIANOFORTE.

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piano [2]

adverb & adjective Music
soft or softly.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'soft' .

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piano accordion

noun
an accordion with the melody played on a small vertical keyboard like that of a piano.

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pianola

noun trademark
a piano equipped to be played automatically with a roll of perforated paper which controls the movement of the keys to produce a particular tune.

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piazza

noun
a public square or marketplace.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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pic

noun informal
a picture, photograph, or film.

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picador

noun
(in bullfighting) a person on horseback who goads the bull with a lance.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from picar 'to prick' .

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picaresque

adjective
relating to fiction dealing with the adventures of a dishonest but appealing hero.

ORIGIN: Spanish picaresco, from pícaro 'rogue' .

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piccalilli

noun (pl. piccalillies or piccalillis)
a pickle of chopped vegetables, mustard, and hot spices.

ORIGIN: probably from a blend of PICKLE and CHILLI.

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piccaninny (US pickaninny)

noun (pl. picaninnies) offensive
a small black child.

ORIGIN: from Spanish pequeño or Portuguese pequeno 'little' .

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piccolo

noun (pl. piccolos)
a small flute sounding an octave higher than the ordinary one.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'small flute' .

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pick [1]

verb
1. (often pick up) take hold of and move.
2. remove (a flower or fruit) from where it is growing.
3. choose from a number of alternatives.
4. remove unwanted matter from (one's nose or teeth) with a finger or a pointed instrument.

noun
1. an act of selecting something.
2. (the pick of) informal the best person or thing in a particular group.

IDIOMS -
pick and choose select only the best from among a number of alternatives.
pick at
1. repeatedly pull at (something) with one's fingers.
2. eat in small amounts.
pick someone's brains informal obtain information by questioning someone with expertise.
pick a fight provoke an argument or fight.
pick holes in find fault with.
pick a lock open a lock with an instrument other than the proper key.
pick off shoot (one of a group) from a distance.
pick on single out for unfair treatment.
pick out
1. distinguish from among a group.
2. play (a tune) slowly or with difficulty on a guitar or similar instrument.
pick over (or pick through) sort through (a number of items) carefully.
pick someone's pockets steal something from a person's pocket.
pick up
1. go to collect.
2. improve or increase.
3. informal casually strike up a relationship with (someone) as a sexual overture.
4. return to (an earlier point or topic).
5. obtain, acquire, or learn.
6. become aware of or sensitive to.
7. detect or receive (a signal or sound).
pick one's way walk slowly and carefully.

DERIVATIVES:
picker noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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pick [2] (also pickaxe)

noun
1. a tool consisting of a curved iron bar with one or both ends pointed, mounted at right angles to its handle, used for breaking up hard ground or rock.
2. a plectrum.

ORIGIN: variant of PIKE.

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picket

noun
1. a person or group of people standing outside a workplace trying to persuade others not to enter during a strike.
2. a soldier or small body of troops sent out to watch for the enemy.
3. a pointed wooden stake driven into the ground.

verb (picketed, picketing)
act as a picket outside (a workplace).

ORIGIN: originally denoting a pointed stake, on which a soldier was required to stand on one foot as a military punishment: from French piquet 'pointed stake' .

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pickings

plural noun
1. profits or gains, especially those made effortlessly or dishonestly.
2. scraps or leftovers.

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pickle

noun
1. a relish consisting of vegetables or fruit preserved in vinegar, brine, or mustard.
2. liquid used to preserve food or other perishable items.
3. (a pickle) informal a difficult situation.

verb
1. preserve (food) in pickle.
2. (pickled) informal drunk.

ORIGIN: Dutch or Low German pekel.

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pick-me-up

noun informal
a thing that makes one feel more energetic or cheerful.

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pickpocket

noun
a person who steals from people's pockets.

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pickup

noun
1. (also pickup truck) a small van or truck with low sides.
2. an act of picking up or collecting a person or goods.
3. an improvement.
4. a device on an electric guitar which converts sound vibrations into electrical signals for amplification.
5. the cartridge of a record player, carrying the stylus.

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picky

adjective (pickier, pickiest) informal
fastidious, especially excessively so.

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picnic

noun
a packed meal eaten outdoors, or an occasion when such a meal is eaten.

verb (picnicked, picnicking)
have or take part in a picnic.

IDIOMS -
be no picnic informal be difficult or unpleasant.

DERIVATIVES:
picnicker noun.

ORIGIN: French pique-nique.

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Pict

noun
a member of an ancient people inhabiting northern Scotland in Roman times.

ORIGIN: Latin Picti, perhaps from pingere 'to paint or tattoo' .

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pictograph (also pictogram)

noun
1. a pictorial symbol for a word or phrase.
2. a pictorial representation of statistics on a chart, graph, or computer screen.

DERIVATIVES:
pictographic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin pingere 'to paint' .

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pictorial

adjective
of or expressed in pictures; illustrated.

noun
a newspaper or periodical with pictures as a main feature.

DERIVATIVES:
pictorially adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin pictorius, from pictor 'painter' .

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picture

noun
1. a painting, drawing, or photograph.
2. an image on a television screen.
3. a cinema film.
4. (the pictures) the cinema.
5. an impression formed from an account or description.
6. informal a state of being fully informed: in the picture.

verb
1. represent in a picture.
2. form a mental image of.

IDIOMS -
be (or look) a picture
1. be beautiful.
2. look amusingly startled.
(as) pretty as a picture very pretty.

ORIGIN: Latin pictura, from pingere 'to paint' .

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picture postcard

noun
1. a postcard with a picture on one side.
2. (before another noun ) (of a view) prettily picturesque.

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picturesque

adjective
visually attractive in a quaint or charming manner.

DERIVATIVES:
picturesquely adverb
picturesqueness noun.

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picture window

noun
a large window consisting of one pane of glass.

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piddle

verb informal
1. urinate.
2. (piddle about/around) spend time in trifling activities.
3. (piddling) pathetically trivial.

ORIGIN: probably from a blend of PISS and PUDDLE.

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pidgin

noun
a grammatically simplified form of a language with elements taken from local languages, used for communication between people not sharing a common language.

ORIGIN: Chinese alteration of English business.

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pie

noun
a baked dish of savoury or sweet ingredients encased in or topped with pastry.

IDIOMS -
pie in the sky informal a pleasant prospect that is very unlikely to be realized.

ORIGIN: probably the same word as obsolete pie 'magpie' , the various combinations of ingredients being compared to objects randomly collected by a magpie.

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piebald

adjective
(of a horse) having irregular patches of two colours, typically black and white.

noun
a piebald horse.

ORIGIN: from pie in magpie + bald in the obsolete sense «streaked with white».

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piece

noun
1. a portion separated from or regarded distinctly from the whole.
2. an item used in constructing something or forming part of a set.
3. a musical or written work.
4. a figure or token used to make moves in a board game.
5. a coin of specified value.
6. informal, chiefly N. Amer. a firearm.

verb (piece together)
assemble from individual parts.

IDIOMS -
go to pieces become so nervous or upset that one is unable to function normally.
in one piece unharmed or undamaged.
(all) of a piece entirely consistent.
piece by piece in slow and small stages.
piece of work informal a person of a specified kind, especially an unpleasant one.
say one's piece give one's opinion or make a prepared statement.
tear (or pull) to pieces criticize harshly.

ORIGIN: Old French.

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pièce de résistance

noun
the most important or remarkable feature of a creative work.

ORIGIN: French, 'piece (i.e. means) of resistance' .

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piecemeal

adjective & adverb
done piece by piece over a period of time.

ORIGIN: from PIECE + an Old English word meaning «measure, quantity taken at one time».

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piecework

noun
work paid for according to the amount produced.

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pie chart

noun
a diagram in which a circle is divided into sectors that each represent a proportion of the whole.

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pied

adjective
having two or more different colours.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «black and white like a magpie».

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pie-eyed

adjective informal
very drunk.

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pier

noun
1. a structure leading out to sea and used as a landing stage for boats or as a place of entertainment.
2. Brit. a long narrow structure projecting from an airport terminal and giving access to an aircraft.
3. the pillar of an arch or supporting a bridge.
4. a wall between windows or other adjacent openings.

ORIGIN: Latin pera.

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pierce

verb
1. make a hole in or through with a sharp object.
2. force or cut a way through.
3. (piercing) very sharp, cold, or high-pitched.

DERIVATIVES:
piercer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French percer, from Latin pertundere 'bore through' .

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pietà

noun
a picture or sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding the dead body of Christ.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin pietas 'dutifulness' .

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piety

noun (pl. pieties)
1. the quality of being pious or reverent.
2. a conventional belief accepted unthinkingly.

ORIGIN: Latin pietas, from pius 'dutiful' .

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piffle

noun informal
nonsense.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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piffling

adjective informal
trivial; unimportant.

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pig

noun
1. a domesticated mammal with sparse bristly hair and a flat snout, kept for its meat.
2. a wild animal related to the domestic pig.
3. informal a greedy, dirty, or unpleasant person.
4. informal, derogatory a police officer.
5. an oblong mass of iron or lead from a smelting furnace.

verb (pigged, pigging) informal
gorge oneself with food.

IDIOMS -
make a pig of oneself informal overeat.
make a pig's ear of Brit. informal handle ineptly.
a pig in a poke something that is bought or accepted without first being seen or assessed.

DERIVATIVES:
piglet noun.

ORIGIN: probably from the first part of an Old English word meaning 'acorn' or 'pig bread' (i.e. food for pigs).

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pigeon

noun
a stout bird with a small head, short legs, and a cooing voice.

ORIGIN: Old French pijon 'young bird' , from Latin pipio, 'young cheeping bird' .

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pigeon-chested (also pigeon-breasted)

adjective
having a narrow, projecting chest.

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pigeonhole

noun
1. a small recess for a domestic pigeon to nest in.
2. each of a set of small compartments where letters or messages may be left for individuals.
3. a category to which someone or something is assigned.

verb
assign to a particular category, especially a restrictive one.

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pigeon-toed

adjective
having the toes or feet turned inwards.

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piggery

noun (pl. piggeries)
1. a farm or enclosure where pigs are kept.
2. behaviour regarded as characteristic of pigs, especially greed or unpleasantness.

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piggish

adjective
resembling a pig, especially in being unpleasant.

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piggy

noun (pl. piggies)
a child's word for a pig or piglet.

adjective
resembling a pig, especially in features or appetite.

IDIOMS -
piggy in the middle chiefly Brit.
1. a game in which two people attempt to throw a ball to each other without a third person in the middle catching it.
2. a person who is placed in an awkward situation between two others.

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piggyback

noun
a ride on someone's back and shoulders.

adverb
on the back and shoulders of another person.

verb
carry by or as if by means of a piggyback.

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piggy bank

noun
a money box, especially one shaped like a pig.

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pig-headed

adjective
stupidly obstinate.

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pig iron

noun
crude iron as first obtained from a smelting furnace.

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pigment

noun
1. the natural colouring matter of animal or plant tissue.
2. a substance used for colouring or painting.

verb
colour with or as if with pigment.

DERIVATIVES:
pigmentary adjective
pigmentation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin pigmentum, from pingere 'to paint' .

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pigskin

noun
leather made from the hide of a domestic pig.

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pigsty

noun (pl. pigsties)
1. a pen or enclosure for a pig or pigs.
2. a very dirty or untidy house or room.

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pigswill

noun
kitchen refuse and scraps fed to pigs.

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pigtail

noun
a plaited lock of hair worn singly at the back or on each side of the head.

DERIVATIVES:
pigtailed adjective.

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pike [1]

noun (pl. same)
a long-bodied predatory freshwater fish with long teeth.

ORIGIN: from PIKE (because of the fish's pointed jaw).

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pike [2]

noun historical
a weapon with a pointed metal head on a long wooden shaft.

ORIGIN: French pique, from piquer 'pierce' , from pic 'pick, pike' .

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pike [3]

noun
a jackknife position in diving or gymnastics.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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pikestaff

noun historical
the wooden shaft of a pike.

IDIOMS -
(as) plain as a pikestaff very obvious. [ORIGIN: the phrase is an altered version of as plain as a packstaff, the staff being that of a pedlar, on which he rested his pack of wares.]

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pilaf (also pilaff, pilau , pulao)

noun
a Middle Eastern or Indian dish of spiced rice or wheat and often meat and vegetables.

ORIGIN: Turkish.

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pilaster

noun
a rectangular column, especially one projecting from a wall.

ORIGIN: Latin pilastrum, from pila 'pillar' .

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pilchard

noun
a small marine food fish of the herring family.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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pile [1]

noun
1. a heap of things laid or lying one on top of another.
2. informal a large amount.
3. a large imposing building.

verb
1. place (things) one on top of the other.
2. (pile up) form a pile or very large quantity.
3. (pile on) informal intensify or exaggerate for effect.
4. (pile into/out of) get into or out of (a vehicle) in a disorganized manner.

IDIOMS -
make a pile informal make a lot of money.

ORIGIN: Latin pila 'pillar, pier' .

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pile [2]

noun
a heavy stake or post driven into the ground to support foundations.

ORIGIN: Old English, «dart, arrow», also «pointed stake».

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pile [3]

noun
the soft projecting surface of a carpet or a fabric, consisting of many small threads.

ORIGIN: Latin pilus 'hair' .

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piledriver

noun
1. a machine for driving piles into the ground.
2. Brit. informal a forceful act, blow, or shot.

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piles

plural noun
haemorrhoids.

ORIGIN: probably from Latin pila 'ball' (because of the globular form of external haemorrhoids).

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pile-up

noun informal
1. a crash involving several vehicles.
2. an accumulation of a specified thing.

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pilfer

verb
steal (things of little value).

DERIVATIVES:
pilferage noun.

ORIGIN: Old French pelfrer 'to pillage' .

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pilgrim

noun
a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons.

ORIGIN: Provençal pelegrin, from Latin peregrinus 'foreign' ; related to PEREGRINE.

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pilgrimage

noun
a pilgrim's journey.

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pill

noun
1. a small round mass of solid medicine for swallowing whole.
2. (the Pill) a contraceptive pill.

verb
(of knitted fabric) form small balls of fluff on its surface.

IDIOMS -
a bitter pill an unpleasant or painful necessity.
sugar (or sweeten) the pill make an unpleasant or painful necessity more palatable.

ORIGIN: Latin pilula 'little ball' .

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pillage

verb
rob or steal with violence, especially in wartime.

noun
the action of pillaging.

DERIVATIVES:
pillager noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from piller 'to plunder' .

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pillar

noun
1. a tall vertical structure used as a support for a building or as an ornament.
2. a person or thing providing reliable support.

IDIOMS -
from pillar to post from one place to another in an unsatisfactory manner.

DERIVATIVES:
pillared adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin pila 'pillar' .

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pillar box

noun
(in the UK) a large red cylindrical public postbox.

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pillbox

noun
1. a small box for holding pills.
2. a hat of a similar shape.
3. a small, partly underground, concrete fort used as an outpost.

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pillion

noun
a seat for a passenger behind a motorcyclist.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a woman's light saddle, or a cushion attached to a saddle for an additional passenger: from Irish pillín 'small cushion' .

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pillock

noun Brit. informal
a stupid person.

ORIGIN: from obsolete pillicock «penis».

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pillory

noun (pl. pillories)
a wooden framework with holes for the head and hands, in which offenders were formerly imprisoned and exposed to public abuse.

verb (pillories, pilloried)
1. put in a pillory.
2. attack or ridicule publicly.

ORIGIN: Old French pilori, perhaps related to a Catalan word meaning 'peephole' .

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pillow

noun
a rectangular cloth bag stuffed with feathers or other soft materials, used to support the head when lying or sleeping.

verb
support (one's head) as if on a pillow.

DERIVATIVES:
pillowy adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin pulvinus 'cushion' .

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pillowcase

noun
a removable cloth cover for a pillow.

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pillow talk

noun
intimate conversation in bed.

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pilot

noun
1. a person who operates the flying controls of an aircraft.
2. a person with local knowledge qualified to take charge of a ship entering or leaving a harbour.
3. something done or produced as an experiment or test before wider introduction.

verb (piloted, piloting)
1. act as a pilot of (an aircraft or ship).
2. test (a scheme, project, etc.) before introducing it more widely.

DERIVATIVES:
pilotage noun.

ORIGIN: Latin pilotus, from Greek pdon 'oar' .

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pilot light

noun
1. a small gas burner kept alight permanently to light a larger burner when needed.
2. an electric indicator light or control light.

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pimiento (also pimento)

noun (pl. pimientos)
a red sweet pepper.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from Latin pigmentum 'pigment' , later 'spice' .

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pimp

noun
1. a man who controls prostitutes and arranges clients for them, taking a percentage of their earnings in return.
2. Austral. informal a telltale or informer.

verb
1. act as a pimp.
2. (pimp on) Austral. informal inform on.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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pimple

noun
a small, hard inflamed spot on the skin.

DERIVATIVES:
pimpled adjective
pimply adjective.

ORIGIN: related to an Old English word meaning «break out in pustules».

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PIN (also PIN number)

abbreviation
personal identification number.

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pin

noun
1. a thin piece of metal with a sharp point at one end and a round head at the other, used for fastening pieces of cloth, paper, etc.
2. a metal projection from a plug or an integrated circuit.
3. a small brooch or badge.
4. Medicine a steel rod used to join the ends of fractured bones while they heal.
5. Golf a stick with a flag placed in a hole to mark its position.
6. a metal peg in a hand grenade that prevents its explosion.
7. a skittle in bowling.
8. (pins) informal legs.

verb (pinned, pinning)
1. attach or fasten with a pin or pins.
2. hold someone firmly so they are unable to move.
3. (pin down) force (someone) to be specific about their intentions.
4. (pin down) restrict the actions of (an enemy) by firing at them.
5. (pin on) fix (blame or responsibility) on.

IDIOMS -
pin one's ears back listen carefully.
pin one's hopes (or faith) on rely heavily on.

ORIGIN: Latin pinna 'point, tip, edge' .

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pinafore

noun
1. (also pinafore dress) a collarless, sleeveless dress worn over a blouse or jumper.
2. Brit. a woman's loose sleeveless garment worn over clothes to keep them clean.

ORIGIN: from PIN + AFORE (because the term originally denoted an apron with a bib pinned on the front of a dress).

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pinball

noun
a game in which small metal balls are shot across a sloping board and score points by striking targets.

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pince-nez

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
a pair of eyeglasses with a nose clip instead of earpieces.

ORIGIN: French, 'that pinches the nose' .

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pincer

noun
1. (pincers) a tool made of two pieces of metal with blunt concave jaws arranged like the blades of scissors, used for gripping and pulling things.
2. a front claw of a lobster or similar crustacean.

ORIGIN: from Old French pincier 'to pinch' .

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pinch

verb
1. grip (the flesh) tightly between finger and thumb.
2. (of a shoe) hurt (a foot) by being too tight.
3. tighten (the lips or a part of the face).
4. informal, chiefly Brit. steal.
5. informal arrest.
6. live in a frugal way.

noun
1. an act of pinching.
2. an amount of an ingredient that can be held between fingers and thumb.

IDIOMS -
at (or N. Amer. in) a pinch if absolutely necessary.
feel the pinch experience financial hardship.

ORIGIN: Old French pincier 'to pinch' .

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pincushion

noun
1. a small pad for holding pins.
2. optical distortion in which straight lines along the edge of a screen or lens bulge towards the centre.

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pine [1]

noun (also pine tree)
an evergreen coniferous tree having clusters of long needle-shaped leaves.

ORIGIN: Latin pinus.

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pine [2]

verb
1. suffer a mental and physical decline, especially because of a broken heart.
2. (pine for) miss and long for the return of.

ORIGIN: Old English, from Latin poena 'punishment' .

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pineapple

noun
a large juicy tropical fruit consisting of edible yellow flesh surrounded by a tough segmented skin and topped with a tuft of leaves.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a pine cone: from PINE + APPLE.

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pine cone

noun
the conical or rounded woody fruit of a pine tree.

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pine marten

noun
a tree-dwelling weasel-like mammal with a dark brown coat.

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pine nut

noun
the edible seed of various pine trees.

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ping

noun
an abrupt high-pitched ringing sound.

verb
make or cause to make such a sound.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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ping-pong

noun informal
table tennis.

ORIGIN: imitative of the sound of a bat striking a ball.

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pinhead

noun
1. the flattened head of a pin.
2. informal a stupid person.

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pinhole

noun
a very small hole.

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pinhole camera

noun
a camera with a pinhole aperture and no lens.

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pinion [1]

noun
the outer part of a bird's wing including the flight feathers.

verb
1. tie or hold the arms or legs of.
2. cut off the pinion of (a bird) to prevent flight.

ORIGIN: Old French pignon, from Latin pinna, penna 'feather' .

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pinion [2]

noun
a small cogwheel or spindle engaging with a large cogwheel.

ORIGIN: French pignon (earlier pignol), from Latin pinea 'pine cone' .

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pink [1]

adjective
1. of a colour intermediate between red and white, as of coral or salmon.
2. informal, often derogatory left-wing.
3. relating to or associated with homosexuals: the pink economy.

noun
1. pink colour, pigment, or material.
2. (the pink) informal the best condition or degree.
3. informal, often derogatory a left-wing person.

DERIVATIVES:
pinkish adjective
pinky adjective.

ORIGIN: from PINK.

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pink [2]

noun
a plant with sweet-smelling pink or white flowers and slender grey-green leaves.

ORIGIN: perhaps short for pink eye, «small or half-shut eye».

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pink [3]

verb
cut a scalloped or zigzag edge on.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «pierce or nick slightly»: compare with Low German pinken 'strike, peck' .

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pinkie

noun informal
the little finger.

ORIGIN: partly from Dutch pink.

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pinking shears

plural noun
shears with a serrated blade, used to cut a zigzag edge in fabric.

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pin money

noun
a small sum of money for spending on inessentials.

ORIGIN: originally denoting an allowance to a woman from her husband for dress and other personal expenses.

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pinna

noun (pl. pinnae) Anatomy
the external part of the ear; the auricle.

ORIGIN: Latin, from penna 'feather, wing, fin' .

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pinnace

noun chiefly historical
a small boat forming part of the equipment of a larger vessel.

ORIGIN: French pinace, probably from Latin pinus 'pine tree' .

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pinnacle

noun
1. a high pointed piece of rock.
2. a small pointed turret built as an ornament on a roof.
3. the most successful point.

ORIGIN: Latin pinnaculum, from pinna 'wing, point' .

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pinnate

adjective Botany & Zoology
having leaflets or other parts arranged on either side of a stem or axis like the vanes of a feather.

ORIGIN: Latin pinnatus 'feathered' .

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pinny

noun (pl. pinnies) informal
a pinafore.

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pinpoint

noun
a tiny dot or point.

adjective
absolutely precise.

verb
find or locate exactly.

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pinprick

noun
1. a prick caused by a pin.
2. a very small dot or amount.

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pins and needles

plural noun (treated as sing. )
a tingling sensation in a limb recovering from numbness.

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pinstripe

noun
a very narrow stripe in cloth, used especially for formal suits.

DERIVATIVES:
pinstriped adjective.

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pint

noun
1. a unit of liquid or dry capacity equal to one eighth of a gallon, in Britain equal to 0.568 litre and in the US equal to 0.473 litre (for liquid measure) or 0.551 litre (for dry measure).
2. Brit. informal a pint of beer.

ORIGIN: Old French pinte, of unknown origin.

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pintail

noun
a duck with a long pointed tail.

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pintle

noun
a pin or bolt on which a rudder turns.

ORIGIN: Old English, «penis».

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pint-sized

adjective informal
very small.

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pin-tuck

noun
a very narrow ornamental tuck in a garment.

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pin-up

noun
a poster featuring a sexually attractive person.

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pinwheel

noun
1. a small cogwheel in which the teeth are formed by pins set into the rim.
2. a small Catherine wheel.

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pioneer

noun
1. a person who explores or settles in a new region.
2. a developer of new ideas or techniques.
3. a member of an infantry group preparing roads or terrain for the main body of troops.

verb
be a pioneer of.

ORIGIN: French pionnier 'foot soldier' .

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pious

adjective
1. devoutly religious.
2. making a hypocritical display of virtue.
3. (of a hope) sincere but unlikely to be fulfilled.

DERIVATIVES:
piously adverb
piousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin pius 'dutiful' .

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pip [1]

noun
a small hard seed in a fruit.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of PIPPIN.

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pip [2]

noun (the pips) Brit.
a series of short high-pitched sounds used as a signal on the radio or within the telephone system.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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pip [3]

noun
1. Brit. a star indicating rank on the shoulder of an army officer's uniform.
2. any of the spots on a playing card, dice, or domino.
3. an image of an object on a radar screen.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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pip [4]

noun
a disease of poultry or other birds causing thick mucus in the throat and white scale on the tongue.

IDIOMS -
give someone the pip informal, dated make someone angry or depressed.

ORIGIN: Dutch pippe, probably from Latin pituita 'slime' .

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pip [5]

verb (pipped, pipping) Brit. informal
1. (be pipped) be defeated by a small margin or at the last moment.
2. dated hit or wound with a gun.

IDIOMS -
pip at the post defeat at the last moment.

ORIGIN: from PIP or PIP.

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pipe

noun
1. a tube used to convey water, gas, oil, etc.
2. a device for smoking tobacco, consisting of a narrow tube that opens into a small bowl in which the tobacco is burned, the smoke being drawn through the tube to the mouth.
3. a wind instrument consisting of a single tube with holes along its length that are covered by the fingers to produce different notes.
4. one of the cylindrical tubes by which notes are produced in an organ.
5. (pipes) bagpipes.
6. a high-pitched cry or song, especially that of a bird.

verb
1. convey through a pipe.
2. transmit (music, a programme, a signal, etc.) by wire or cable.
3. play (a tune) on a pipe.
4. sing or say in a high, shrill voice.
5. decorate with piping.

IDIOMS -
pipe down informal stop talking; be less noisy.
pipe up say something suddenly.
put that in one's pipe and smoke it informal one will have to accept a particular fact, even if it is unwelcome.

ORIGIN: from Latin pipare 'to peep, chirp' .

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pipe cleaner

noun
a piece of wire covered with fibre, used to clean a tobacco pipe.

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piped music

noun
pre-recorded background music played through loudspeakers.

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pipe dream

noun
an unattainable or fanciful hope or scheme.

ORIGIN: referring to a dream experienced when smoking an opium pipe.

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pipeline

noun
1. a long pipe for conveying oil, gas, etc. over a distance.
2. (in surfing) the hollow formed by the breaking of a large wave.
3. Computing a linear sequence of specialized modules used for pipelining.

verb
1. convey by a pipeline.
2. Computing execute using the technique of pipelining.

IDIOMS -
in the pipeline in the process of being developed.

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pipe organ

noun
an organ using pipes instead of or as well as reeds.

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piper

noun
a person who plays a pipe or bagpipes.

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pipette

noun
a slender tube used in a laboratory for handling small quantities of liquid, the liquid being drawn into the tube by suction.

verb
pour or draw off using a pipette.

ORIGIN: French, 'little pipe' .

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piping

noun
1. lengths of pipe.
2. lines of icing or cream, used to decorate cakes and desserts.
3. thin cord covered in fabric and inserted along the length of a seam or hem for decoration.

IDIOMS -
piping hot (of food or water) very hot. [ORIGIN: with reference to the whistling sound made by very hot liquid or food.]

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pipistrelle

noun
a small insect-eating bat.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin vespertilio 'bat' , from vesper 'evening' .

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pipit

noun
a ground-dwelling songbird of open country, typically having brown streaky plumage.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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pippin

noun
a red and yellow dessert apple.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a seed of a fruit: from Old French pepin.

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pipsqueak

noun informal
an insignificant or contemptible person.

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piquant

adjective
1. having a pleasantly sharp taste or appetizing flavour.
2. pleasantly stimulating or exciting.

DERIVATIVES:
piquancy noun
piquantly adverb.

ORIGIN: French, 'stinging, pricking' .

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pique

noun
irritation or resentment arising from hurt pride.

verb (piques, piqued, piquing)
1. stimulate (interest or curiosity).
2. (be piqued) feel hurt and irritated or resentful.

ORIGIN: French piquer 'prick, irritate' .

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piqué

noun
firm fabric woven in a ribbed or raised pattern.

ORIGIN: French, 'backstitched' .

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piquet

noun
a trick-taking card game for two players.

ORIGIN: French.

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piracy

noun
1. the practice of attacking and robbing ships at sea.
2. the unauthorized use or reproduction of another's work.

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piranha

noun
a freshwater fish with very sharp teeth that it uses to tear flesh from prey.

ORIGIN: Portuguese, from two Tupi words meaning 'fish' and 'tooth' .

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pirate

noun
1. a person who attacks and robs ships at sea.
2. (before another noun ) denoting a text, film, recording, etc. that has been reproduced and used for profit without permission: pirate videos.
3. (before another noun ) denoting an organization that is broadcasting without official authorization: a pirate radio station.

verb
1. dated rob or plunder (a ship).
2. reproduce (a film, recording, etc.) for profit without permission.

DERIVATIVES:
piratic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek peirats, from peirein 'to attempt, attack' .

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pirouette

noun
(in ballet) an act of spinning on one foot.

verb
perform a pirouette.

ORIGIN: French, 'spinning top' .

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piscatorial (also piscatory)

adjective formal
relating to fishing.

ORIGIN: from Latin piscator 'fisherman' , from piscis 'fish' .

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Pisces

noun
1. Astronomy a large constellation (the Fish or Fishes), said to represent a pair of fishes tied together by their tails.
2. Astrology the twelfth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about 20 February.

DERIVATIVES:
Piscean noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, plural of piscis 'fish' .

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piscina

noun (pl. piscinas or piscinae)
1. a stone basin near the altar in some churches, for draining water used in the Mass.
2. (in ancient Roman architecture) a bathing pool.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'fish pond' .

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piscine

adjective
relating to fish.

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piss vulgar slang

verb
urinate.

noun
1. urine.
2. an act of urinating.

IDIOMS -
be on the piss Brit. be engaged in a heavy drinking session.
piss about/around Brit. mess around.
piss off go away.
piss someone off annoy someone.
take the piss Brit. tease or mock.

DERIVATIVES:
pisser noun.

ORIGIN: Old French pisser.

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piss artist

noun Brit. vulgar slang
1. a drunkard.
2. an incompetent person.

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pissed

adjective vulgar slang
1. Brit. drunk.
2. (pissed off or N. Amer. pissed) very annoyed.

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piss-up

noun Brit. vulgar slang
a heavy drinking session.

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pistachio

noun (pl. pistachios)
a small nut with an edible pale green kernel, the seed of an Asian tree.

ORIGIN: Greek pistakion, from Old Persian.

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piste

noun
a course or run for skiing.

ORIGIN: French, 'racetrack' .

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pistil

noun Botany
the female organs of a flower, comprising the stigma, style, and ovary.

ORIGIN: Latin pistillum 'pestle' .

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pistol

noun
a small firearm designed to be held in one hand.

ORIGIN: French pistole, from Czech pit'ala, originally in the sense 'whistle' , hence 'a firearm' by the resemblance in shape.

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pistol-whip

verb (pistol-whips, pistol-whipping, pistol-whipped)
hit or beat with the butt of a pistol.

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piston

noun
1. a disc or short cylinder fitting closely inside a tube in which it moves up and down against a liquid or gas, used to derive or impart motion in an internal-combustion engine or pump.
2. a valve in a brass instrument, depressed to alter the pitch of a note.

ORIGIN: Italian pistone, variant of pestone 'large pestle' .

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pit [1]

noun
1. a large hole in the ground.
2. a mine or excavation for coal, chalk, etc.
3. a hollow or indentation in a surface.
4. a sunken area in a workshop floor allowing access to a car's underside.
5. an area at the side of a track where racing cars are serviced and refuelled.
6. an orchestra pit.
7. a part of the floor of an exchange in which a particular stock or commodity is traded.
8. chiefly historical an enclosure in which animals are made to fight.
9. (the pit) literary hell.
10. (the pits) informal a very bad place or situation.
11. Brit. informal a person's bed.

verb (pitted, pitting)
1. (pit against) set in conflict or competition with.
2. make a hollow or indentation in the surface of.

IDIOMS -
the pit of the stomach the region of the lower abdomen.

DERIVATIVES:
pitted adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, from Latin puteus 'well, shaft' .

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pit [2] chiefly N. Amer.

noun
the stone of a fruit.

verb (pitted, pitting)
remove the pit from (fruit).

ORIGIN: apparently from Dutch; related to PITH.

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pit-a-pat (also pitapat)

adverb
with a sound like quick light taps.

noun
a sound of this kind.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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pit bull terrier

noun
an American variety of bull terrier, noted for its ferocity.

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pitch [1]

noun
1. the degree of highness or lowness in a sound or tone, as governed by the rate of vibrations producing it.
2. the steepness of a roof.
3. a particular level of intensity.
4. Brit. an area of ground marked out or used for play in an outdoor team game.
5. a form of words used to persuade or influence: a sales pitch.
6. Brit. a place where a street vendor or performer stations themselves.
7. a swaying or oscillation of a ship, aircraft, or vehicle around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the direction of motion.

verb
1. set at a particular musical pitch.
2. throw or fall heavily or roughly.
3. set or aim at a particular level, target, or audience.
4. set up and fix in position.
5. (pitch in) informal join in enthusiastically with a task or activity.
6. (pitch up) informal arrive.
7. (of a moving ship, aircraft, or vehicle) rock or oscillate around a lateral axis, so that the front moves up and down.
8. (often as adj. pitched) (with reference to a roof) slope or cause to slope downwards.

IDIOMS -
make a pitch make an attempt at or bid for something.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to an Old English word meaning «stigmata».

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pitch [2]

noun
a sticky resinous black or dark brown substance which hardens on cooling, obtained by distilling tar or turpentine and used for waterproofing.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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pitch-black (also pitch-dark)

adjective
completely dark.

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pitchblende

noun
a form of the mineral uraninite occurring in brown or black pitch-like masses and containing radium.

ORIGIN: German Pechblende, from Pech 'pitch' + Blende, denoting a zinc ore.

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pitched battle

noun
a battle in which the time and place are determined beforehand, rather than a casual or chance skirmish.

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pitcher [1]

noun
a large jug.

ORIGIN: Old French pichier 'pot' , from Latin picarium.

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pitcher [2]

noun Baseball
the player who pitches the ball.

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pitchfork

noun
a farm tool with a long handle and two sharp metal prongs, used for lifting hay.

verb
1. lift with a pitchfork.
2. thrust suddenly into an unexpected and difficult situation.

ORIGIN: from obsolete pickfork, influenced by PITCH in the sense 'throw' .

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piteous

adjective
deserving or arousing pity.

DERIVATIVES:
piteously adverb
piteousness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French piteus, from Latin pietas 'dutifulness' .

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pitfall

noun
1. a hidden or unsuspected danger or difficulty.
2. a covered pit for use as a trap.

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pith

noun
1. spongy white tissue lining the rind of citrus fruits.
2. spongy tissue in the stems and branches of many plants.
3. the true nature or essence of something.
4. vigorous and concise expression.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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pithead

noun
the top of a mineshaft and the area around it.

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pith helmet

noun
a head covering made from the dried pith of the sola or a similar plant, used for protection from the sun.

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pithy

adjective (pithier, pithiest)
1. (of a fruit or plant) containing much pith.
2. (of language or style) terse and vigorously expressive.

DERIVATIVES:
pithily adverb
pithiness noun.

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pitiable

adjective
1. deserving or arousing pity.
2. contemptibly poor or small.

DERIVATIVES:
pitiably adverb.

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pitiful

adjective
1. deserving or arousing pity.
2. very small or poor; inadequate.

DERIVATIVES:
pitifully adverb
pitifulness noun.

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pitiless

adjective
showing no pity; harsh or cruel.

DERIVATIVES:
pitilessly adverb
pitilessness noun.

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piton

noun
a peg or spike driven into a crack to support a climber or a rope.

ORIGIN: French, 'eye bolt' .

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pit stop

noun
a brief stop at a pit for servicing and refuelling cars during a motor race.

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pitta (also chiefly N. Amer. pita)

noun
flat hollow unleavened bread which can be split open to hold a filling.

ORIGIN: Modern Greek, 'cake or pie' .

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pittance

noun
a very small or inadequate amount of money.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a small bequest to a religious establishment to provide extra food and wine for a festival: from Old French pitance, from Latin pietas 'pity' .

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pitter-patter

noun
a sound as of quick light steps or taps.

adverb
with this sound.

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pituitary gland (also pituitary body)

noun
a pea-sized gland attached to the base of the brain, important in controlling growth and development.

ORIGIN: Latin pituitarius 'secreting phlegm' .

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pity

noun (pl. pities)
1. a feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the sufferings of others.
2. a cause for regret or disappointment.

verb (pities, pitied)
feel pity for.

IDIOMS -
for pity's sake informal used to express impatience or make an urgent appeal.
more's the pity informal used to express regret.

ORIGIN: Old French pite 'compassion' , from Latin pietas 'piety' .

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pivot

noun
1. the central point, pin, or shaft on which a mechanism turns or oscillates.
2. a person or thing playing a central part in an activity or organization.

verb (pivoted, pivoting)
1. turn on or as if on a pivot.
2. (pivot on) depend on.

DERIVATIVES:
pivotable adjective.

ORIGIN: French.

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pivotal

adjective
1. fixed on or as if on a pivot.
2. of crucial or central importance.

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pixel

noun Electronics
a minute area of illumination on a display screen, one of many from which an image is composed.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of picture element.

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pixie (also pixy)

noun (pl. pixies)
a supernatural being in folklore, typically portrayed as a tiny man with pointed ears and a pointed hat.

DERIVATIVES:
pixieish adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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pizza

noun
a dish of Italian origin, consisting of a flat, round base of dough baked with a topping of tomatoes, cheese, and other ingredients.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'pie' .

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pizzazz (also pizazz or pzazz)

noun informal
a combination of vitality and style.

ORIGIN: said to have been invented by Diana Vreeland, fashion editor of Harper's Bazaar in the 1930s.

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pizzeria

noun
a place where pizzas are sold.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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pizzicato Music

adverb & adjective
plucking the strings of a violin or other stringed instrument with one's finger.

noun (pl. pizzicatos or pizzicati)
this technique of playing.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'pinched' .

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pl.

abbreviation
1. (also Pl.) place.
2. plural.

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placard

noun
a sign for public display, either posted on a wall or carried during a demonstration.

verb
cover with placards.

ORIGIN: Old French placquart, from plaquier 'to plaster, lay flat' .

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placate

verb
make less angry or hostile: calm or appease.

DERIVATIVES:
placatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin placare.

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place

noun
1. a particular position or location.
2. a portion of space occupied by or set aside for someone or something.
3. a vacancy or available position.
4. a position in a sequence or hierarchy.
5. the position of a figure in a series indicated in decimal notation.
6. (in place names) a square or short street.
7. informal a person's home.

verb
1. put in a particular position or situation.
2. find an appropriate place or role for.
3. allocate or award a specified position in a sequence or hierarchy.
4. (be placed) Brit. achieve a specified position in a race.
5. remember the relevant background or circumstances of.
6. arrange for the implementation of (an order, bet, etc.).
7. Rugby & American Football score (a goal) by a place kick.

IDIOMS -
go places informal
1. travel.
2. be increasingly successful.
in one's place in one's appropriate (but inferior) position or status.
in place
1. working or ready to work.
2. N. Amer. on the spot; not travelling any distance.
in place of instead of.
out of place
1. not in the proper position.
2. in a setting where one is or feels incongruous.
put someone in his (or her) place deflate or humiliate someone regarded as being arrogant.
take place occur.
take one's place take up one's usual or recognized position.
take the place of replace.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Greek plateia hodos 'broad way' .

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placebo

noun (pl. placebos)
1. a medicine prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient rather than for any physiological effect.
2. a substance that has no therapeutic effect, used as a control in testing new drugs.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'I shall be acceptable or pleasing' .

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placement

noun
1. the action of placing or the fact of being placed.
2. a temporary posting of someone in a workplace, especially to gain work experience.

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place name

noun
the name of a geographical location, such as a town, lake, or mountain.

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placenta

noun (pl. placentae or placentas)
a flattened circular organ in the uterus of a pregnant mammal, nourishing and maintaining the fetus through the umbilical cord.

DERIVATIVES:
placental adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek plakous 'flat cake' .

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placer

noun
a deposit of sand or gravel in the bed of a river or lake, containing particles of valuable minerals.

ORIGIN: Latin American Spanish, 'deposit, shoal' .

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placid

adjective
not easily upset or excited; calm.

DERIVATIVES:
placidity noun
placidly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin placidus, from placere 'to please' .

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placing

noun
1. the action of placing or the fact of being placed.
2. a ranking given to a competitor.

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placket

noun
1. an opening in a garment, covering fastenings or for access to a pocket.
2. a flap of material used to strengthen such an opening.

ORIGIN: from PLACARD in an obsolete sense «garment worn under an open coat».

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plagiarize (also plagiarise)

verb
take (the work or idea of someone else) and pass it off as one's own.

DERIVATIVES:
plagiarism noun
plagiarist noun
plagiarizer noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin plagiarius 'kidnapper' , from Greek plagion 'a kidnapping' .

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plague

noun
1. a contagious disease spread by bacteria and characterized by fever and delirium.
2. an unusually and unpleasantly large quantity of insects or animals.

verb (plagues, plagued, plaguing)
1. cause continual trouble or distress to.
2. pester or harass continually.

ORIGIN: Latin plaga 'stroke, wound' .

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plaice

noun (pl. same)
a brown flatfish with orange spots, commercially important as a food fish.

ORIGIN: Old French plaiz, from Greek platus 'broad' .

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plaid

noun
fabric woven in a chequered or tartan design.

ORIGIN: Scottish Gaelic plaide 'blanket' .

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plain

adjective
1. not decorated or elaborate; simple or ordinary.
2. without a pattern; in only one colour.
3. unmarked; without identification.
4. easy to perceive or understand; clear.
5. (of language) clearly expressed; direct.
6. (of a woman or girl) not beautiful or attractive.
7. sheer; simple: plain stupidity.
8. (of a knitting stitch) made by putting the needle through the front of the stitch from left to right. Compare with PURL.

adverb informal
1. simply: that's plain stupid.
2. clearly; unequivocally.

noun
a large area of flat land with few trees.

DERIVATIVES:
plainly adverb
plainness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin planus 'flat, plain' .

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plain chocolate

noun Brit.
dark, slightly bitter, chocolate without added milk.

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plain clothes

plural noun
ordinary clothes rather than uniform, especially when worn by police officers.

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plain flour

noun Brit.
flour that does not contain a raising agent.

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plain sailing

noun
smooth and easy progress.

ORIGIN: probably from plane sailing, denoting the practice of determining a ship's position on the theory that it is moving on a plane.

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plainsong (also plainchant)

noun
unaccompanied medieval church music sung in free rhythm corresponding to the accentuation of the words.

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plaintiff

noun Law
a person who brings a case against another in a court of law. Compare with DEFENDANT.

ORIGIN: Old French plaintif 'plaintive' .

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plaintive

adjective
sounding sad and mournful.

DERIVATIVES:
plaintively adverb
plaintiveness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from plaindre 'complain' .

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plait

noun Brit.
a single length of hair, rope, or other material made up of three or more interlaced strands.

verb
form into a plait or plaits.

ORIGIN: Old French pleit 'a fold' , from Latin plicare 'to fold' .

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plan

noun
1. a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something.
2. an intention or decision about what one is going to do.
3. a scheme for the regular payment of contributions towards a pension, insurance policy, etc.
4. a map or diagram.
5. a scale drawing of a horizontal section of a building.

verb (planned, planning)
1. decide on and arrange in advance.
2. (plan for) make preparations for.
3. make a plan of (something to be made or built).

DERIVATIVES:
planner noun.

ORIGIN: French, from earlier plant 'ground plan, plane surface' .

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planar

adjective Mathematics
relating to or in the form of a plane.

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plane [1]

noun
1. a flat surface on which a straight line joining any two points would wholly lie.
2. a level of existence or thought.

adjective
1. completely level or flat.
2. relating to two-dimensional surfaces or magnitudes.

verb
1. soar without moving the wings; glide.
2. (of a boat, surfboard, etc.) skim over the surface of water.

ORIGIN: Latin planum 'flat surface' , from planus 'plain' .

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plane [2]

noun
an aeroplane.

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plane [3] (also planer)

noun
a tool consisting of a block with a projecting steel blade, used to smooth a wooden surface by paring shavings from it.

verb
smooth with a plane.

ORIGIN: Latin plana, from planare 'make level' .

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plane [4] (also plane tree)

noun
a tall spreading tree with maple-like leaves and a peeling bark.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Greek platanos, from platus 'broad' .

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planet

noun
1. a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit round a star.
2. (the planet) the earth.
3. chiefly Astrology & historical a celestial body distinguished from the fixed stars by having an apparent motion of its own (including the moon and sun).

DERIVATIVES:
planetary adjective
planetology noun.

ORIGIN: Greek plants 'wanderer, planet' , from planan 'wander' .

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planetarium

noun (pl. planetariums or planetaria)
a building in which images of stars, planets, and constellations are projected onto a domed ceiling.

ORIGIN: Latin, from planetarius 'relating to the planets' .

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plangent

adjective chiefly literary
(of a sound) loud and resonant, with a mournful tone.

DERIVATIVES:
plangency noun
plangently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin plangere 'to lament' .

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plank

noun
1. a long, flat piece of timber, used in flooring.
2. a fundamental part of a political or other programme.

IDIOMS -
walk the plank (formerly) be forced by pirates to walk blindfold along a plank over the side of a ship to one's death in the sea.

DERIVATIVES:
planked adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin planca 'board' , from plancus 'flat-footed' .

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planking

noun
planks collectively, especially when used for flooring or as part of a boat.

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plankton

noun
small and microscopic organisms living in the sea or fresh water, consisting chiefly of diatoms, protozoans, and small crustaceans.

DERIVATIVES:
planktic adjective
planktonic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek planktos 'wandering' , from plazein 'wander' .

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planning

noun
1. the process of making plans for something.
2. the control of urban development by a local government authority.

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planning permission

noun Brit.
formal permission from a local authority for the erection or alteration of buildings.

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plant

noun
1. a living organism (such as a tree, grass, or fern) that absorbs water and inorganic substances through its roots and makes nutrients in its leaves by photosynthesis.
2. a place where an industrial or manufacturing process takes place.
3. machinery used in an industrial or manufacturing process.
4. a person placed in a group as a spy or informer.
5. a thing put among someone's belongings to incriminate or discredit them.

verb
1. place (a seed, bulb, or plant) in the ground so that it can grow.
2. (plant out) transfer (a seedling or young plant) from a protected container to the open ground.
3. place or fix in a specified position.
4. secretly place (a bomb).
5. put or hide (something) among someone's belongings as a plant.
6. send (someone) to join a group to act as a spy or informer.
7. establish (an idea) in someone's mind.

DERIVATIVES:
plantlet noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin planta 'sprout, cutting' and plantare 'plant, fix in place' .

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Plantagenet

noun
a member of the English royal dynasty which ruled from 1154 until 1485.

ORIGIN: from Latin planta genista 'sprig of broom' , said to be worn as a crest by and given as a nickname to Geoffrey, count of Anjou, the father of Henry II.

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plantain [1]

noun
a low-growing plant, typically with a rosette of leaves and a slender green flower spike.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin planta 'sole of the foot' (because of its broad leaves that grow along the ground).

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plantain [2]

noun
a type of banana containing high levels of starch and little sugar, which is harvested green and widely used as a cooked vegetable in the tropics.

ORIGIN: probably by assimilation of a South American word to the Spanish plá(n)tano 'plane tree' .

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plantation

noun
1. a large estate on which crops such as coffee, sugar, and tobacco are grown.
2. an area in which trees have been planted.

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planter

noun
1. a manager or owner of a plantation.
2. a decorative container in which plants are grown.

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plaque

noun
1. an ornamental tablet fixed to a wall in commemoration of a person or event.
2. a sticky deposit on teeth in which bacteria proliferate.
3. Medicine a small raised patch on or within the body, caused by local damage or deposition of material.
4. a flat counter used in gambling.

ORIGIN: French, from Dutch plakken 'to stick' .

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plasma

noun
1. the colourless fluid part of blood, lymph, or milk, in which corpuscles or fat globules are suspended.
2. Physics a gas of positive ions and free electrons with little or no overall electric charge.
3. a bright green translucent ornamental variety of quartz.
4. (also plasm) cytoplasm or protoplasm.

DERIVATIVES:
plasmatic adjective
plasmic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek, from plassein 'to shape' .

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plaster

noun
1. a soft mixture of lime with sand or cement and water for spreading on walls and ceilings to form a smooth hard surface when dried.
2. (also plaster of Paris) a hard white substance made by adding water to powdered gypsum, used for setting broken bones and making sculptures and casts.
3. (also sticking plaster) an adhesive strip of material for covering cuts and wounds.

verb
1. cover with plaster; apply plaster to.
2. coat thickly; daub.
3. make (hair) lie flat by applying liquid to it.

DERIVATIVES:
plasterer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin plastrum, from Greek emplastron 'daub, salve' ; sense 2 of the noun derives from the fact that the gypsum originally came from Paris.

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plasterboard

noun
board made of plaster set between two sheets of paper, used to line interior walls and ceilings.

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plastered

adjective informal
very drunk.

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plastic

noun
1. a synthetic material made from organic polymers, that can be moulded into shape while soft and then set into a rigid or slightly elastic form.
2. informal credit cards or other plastic cards that can be used as money.

adjective
1. made of plastic.
2. easily shaped or moulded.
3. relating to moulding or modelling in three dimensions.
4. artificial; unnatural.

DERIVATIVES:
plastically adverb
plasticity noun.

ORIGIN: Greek plastikos, from plassein 'to mould' .

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plasticine (also Plasticine)

noun trademark
a soft modelling material.

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plasticky

adjective
1. resembling plastic.
2. artificial or of inferior quality.

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plastic surgery

noun
the reconstruction or repair of parts of the body by the transfer of tissue, either in the treatment of injury or for cosmetic reasons.

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plate

noun
1. a flat dish from which food is eaten or served.
2. bowls, cups, and other utensils made of gold or silver.
3. a thin, flat piece of metal used to join or strengthen or forming part of a machine.
4. a small, flat piece of metal bearing a name or inscription and fixed to a wall or door.
5. a sheet of metal or other material bearing an image of type or illustrations, from which multiple copies are printed.
6. a printed photograph or illustration in a book.
7. Botany & Zoology a thin, flat organic structure or formation.
8. Geology each of the several rigid pieces of the earth's lithosphere which together make up the earth's surface.
9. a horizontal timber laid along the top of a wall to support the ends of joists or rafters.

verb
cover (a metal object) with a thin coating of a different metal.

IDIOMS -
be handed something on a plate informal acquire something with little or no effort.
on one's plate chiefly Brit. occupying one's time or energy.

DERIVATIVES:
plater noun.

ORIGIN: from Old French plat 'platter' or plate 'sheet of metal' , from Greek platus 'flat' .

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plateau

noun (pl. plateaux or plateaus)
1. an area of fairly level high ground.
2. a state or period of little or no change following a period of activity or progress.

verb (plateaus, plateaued, plateauing)
reach a plateau.

ORIGIN: French, from plat 'level' .

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plate glass

noun
thick fine-quality glass used for shop windows and doors, originally cast in plates.

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platelet

noun Physiology
a small colourless disc-shaped cell fragment without a nucleus, found in large numbers in blood and involved in clotting.

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platen

noun
1. a plate in a small letterpress printing press which presses the paper against the type.
2. a cylindrical roller in a typewriter against which the paper is held.

ORIGIN: French platine 'flat piece' , from plat 'flat' .

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platform

noun
1. a raised level surface on which people or things can stand.
2. a raised structure along the side of a railway track where passengers get on and off trains.
3. a raised structure standing in the sea from which oil or gas wells can be drilled.
4. the declared policy of a political party or group.
5. an opportunity for the expression or exchange of views.
6. a very thick sole on a shoe.
7. Computing a standard for the hardware of a computer system, which determines the kinds of software it can run.

ORIGIN: French plateforme 'ground plan' , literally 'flat shape' .

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platinum

noun
1. a precious silvery-white metallic chemical element used in jewellery and in some electrical and laboratory apparatus.
2. (before another noun ) greyish-white or silvery like platinum.

ORIGIN: Spanish platina, from plata 'silver' .

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platinum disc

noun
a framed platinum disc awarded to a recording artist for sales of a record exceeding a specified high figure.

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platitude

noun
a remark or statement that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful.

DERIVATIVES:
platitudinize (also platitudinise) verb
platitudinous adjective.

ORIGIN: French, from plat 'flat' .

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Platonic

adjective
1. of or associated with the Greek philosopher Plato (c.429 c.347 BC) or his ideas.
2. (platonic) (of love or friendship) intimate and affectionate but not sexual.

DERIVATIVES:
platonically adverb.

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platoon

noun
a subdivision of a company of soldiers, usually commanded by a subaltern or lieutenant and divided into three sections.

ORIGIN: French peloton 'platoon' , literally 'small ball' .

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platter

noun
1. a large flat serving dish.
2. the rotating metal disc forming the turntable of a record player.
3. Computing a rigid rotating disk on which data is stored in a disk drive; a hard disk.

IDIOMS -
be handed something on a (silver) platter informal acquire something with little or no effort.

ORIGIN: Old French plater, from plat; related to PLATE.

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platypus (also duck-billed platypus)

noun (pl. platypuses)
a semiaquatic egg-laying Australian mammal with a sensitive pliable bill like that of a duck and webbed feet with venomous spurs.

ORIGIN: from Greek platupous 'flat-footed' .

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plaudits

plural noun
praise; enthusiastic approval.

ORIGIN: from Latin plaudite 'applaud!' (said by ancient Roman actors at the end of a play).

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plausible

adjective
1. seeming reasonable or probable.
2. skilled at producing persuasive or deceptive arguments: a plausible liar.

DERIVATIVES:
plausibility noun
plausibly adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «deserving applause»: from Latin plaudere 'applaud' .

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play

verb
1. engage in games or other activities for enjoyment rather than for a serious or practical purpose.
2. take part in (a sport or contest).
3. compete against.
4. take a specified position in a sports team.
5. represent (a character) in a play or film.
6. perform on or have the skill to perform on (a musical instrument).
7. produce (notes) from a musical instrument; perform (a piece of music).
8. move (a piece) or display (a playing card) in one's turn in a game.
9. make (a record player, radio, etc.) produce sounds.
10. be cooperative: he needs financial backing, but the banks won't play.
11. move lightly and quickly; flicker.

noun
1. games and other activities engaged in for enjoyment.
2. the progress of a sporting match.
3. a move or manoeuvre in a sport or game.
4. the state of being active, operative, or effective: luck came into play.
5. a dramatic work for the stage or to be broadcast.
6. the ability or freedom of movement in a mechanism.
7. light and constantly changing movement.

IDIOMS -
be played out drained of strength or life.
make great play of ostentatiously draw attention to.
make a play for informal attempt to attract or attain.
play both ends against the middle keep one's options open by supporting opposing sides.
play about (or around)
1. behave in a casual or irresponsible way.
2. informal (of a married person) have an affair.
play-act engage in pretence in an attention-seeking manner.
play along
1. perform a piece of music at the same time as it is playing on a tape or record.
2. pretend to cooperate.
play by ear
1. perform (music) without having to read from a score.
2. (play it by ear) informal proceed instinctively according to circumstances rather than according to rules or a plan.
play down disguise the importance or significance of.
play fast and loose behave irresponsibly or immorally.
play for time use excuses or unnecessary manoeuvres to gain time.
play into someone's hands act in such a way as unintentionally to give someone an advantage.
play off bring (two or more people or parties) into conflict for one's own advantage.
play on exploit (someone's weak or vulnerable point).
a play on words a pun.
play (or play it) safe avoid taking risks.
play up
1. emphasize the extent or importance of.
2. (play up to) humour or flatter.
3. Brit. informal fail to function properly; cause problems.
play with
1. treat inconsiderately for one's own amusement.
2. tamper with.
play with fire take foolish risks.

DERIVATIVES:
playable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «to exercise».

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playback

noun
the replaying of previously recorded sound or moving images.

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playboy

noun
a wealthy man who spends his time seeking pleasure.

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player

noun
1. a person taking part in a sport or game.
2. a person who is involved and influential in an activity.
3. a person who plays a musical instrument.
4. a device for playing compact discs, cassettes, etc.
5. an actor.

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player-manager

noun
a person who both plays in a sports team and manages it.

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playful

adjective
1. fond of games and amusement.
2. intended for amusement; light-hearted.

DERIVATIVES:
playfully adverb
playfulness noun.

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playground

noun
an outdoor area provided for children to play on.

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playgroup (also playschool)

noun Brit.
a regular play session for pre-school children, organized by parents.

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playhouse

noun
1. a theatre.
2. a toy house for children to play in.

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playing card

noun
each of a set of rectangular pieces of card with numbers and symbols on one side (usually 52 cards divided into four suits), used to play various games.

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playing field

noun
a field used for outdoor team games.

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playlist

noun
a list of recorded songs or pieces of music chosen to be broadcast on a radio station.

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playmaker

noun
a player in a team game who leads attacks or brings teammates into attacking positions.

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playmate

noun
a friend with whom a child plays.

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play-off

noun
an additional match played to decide the outcome of a contest.

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playpen

noun
a small portable enclosure in which a baby or small child can play safely.

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plaything

noun
1. a toy.
2. a person who is treated as amusing but unimportant.

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playwright

noun
a person who writes plays.

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plaza

noun
1. a public square or similar open space in a built-up area.
2. N. Amer. a shopping centre.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'place' .

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plc (also PLC)

abbreviation Brit.
public limited company.

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plea

noun
1. a request made in an urgent and emotional manner.
2. Law a formal statement by or on behalf of a defendant, stating guilt or innocence in response to a charge, offering an allegation of fact, or claiming that a point of law should apply.
3. Law an excuse or claim of mitigating circumstances.

ORIGIN: Old French plait, plaid 'agreement, discussion' , from Latin placere 'to please' .

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plea-bargaining

noun Law
an arrangement between prosecutor and defendant whereby the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge in the expectation of leniency.

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plead

verb (past and past part. pleaded or N. Amer., Scottish, or dialect pled)
1. make an emotional appeal.
2. present and argue for (a position), especially in court or in another public context.
3. Law state formally in court whether one is guilty or not guilty of the offence with which one is charged.
4. Law invoke (a reason or a point of law) as an accusation or defence.
5. offer or present as an excuse for doing or not doing something.

DERIVATIVES:
pleader noun.

ORIGIN: Old French plaidier 'go to law' , from plaid 'agreement, discussion' (see PLEA).

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pleading

noun
1. the action of making an emotional or earnest appeal.
2. Law a formal statement of the cause of an action or defence.

adjective
earnestly appealing.

DERIVATIVES:
pleadingly adverb.

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pleasant

adjective
1. giving a sense of happy satisfaction or enjoyment.
2. friendly and likeable.

DERIVATIVES:
pleasantly adverb
pleasantness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French plaisant, from plaisir 'please' .

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pleasantry

noun (pl. pleasantries)
1. an inconsequential remark made as part of a polite conversation.
2. a mildly amusing joke.

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please

verb
1. cause to feel happy and satisfied.
2. wish or desire: do as you please.
3. (please oneself) take only one's own wishes into consideration.
4. (if you please) used in polite requests or to express indignation.

adverb
used in polite requests or questions, or to accept an offer.

DERIVATIVES:
pleasing adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French plaisir, from Latin placere.

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pleased

adjective
1. feeling or showing pleasure and satisfaction.
2. (pleased to do) willing or glad to do.

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pleasurable

adjective
pleasing; enjoyable.

DERIVATIVES:
pleasurably adverb.

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pleasure

noun
1. a feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment.
2. an event or activity from which one derives enjoyment.
3. (before another noun ) intended for entertainment rather than business: pleasure boats.
4. sensual gratification.

verb
give pleasure (especially of a sexual nature) to.

IDIOMS -
at one's pleasure formal as and when someone wishes.

ORIGIN: from Old French plaisir 'to please' .

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pleat

noun
a fold in a garment or other item made of cloth, held by stitching the top or side.

verb
fold or form into pleats.

ORIGIN: variant of PLAIT.

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pleb

noun informal, derogatory
a member of the lower social classes.

DERIVATIVES:
plebby adjective.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of PLEBEIAN.

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plebeian

noun
1. (in ancient Rome) a commoner.
2. a member of the lower social classes.

adjective
1. relating to the plebeians of ancient Rome.
2. lower-class or lacking in refinement.

ORIGIN: from Latin plebs 'the common people' .

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plebiscite

noun
1. the direct vote of all the members of an electorate on an important public question.
2. (in ancient Rome) a law enacted by the plebeians' assembly.

DERIVATIVES:
plebiscitary adjective.

ORIGIN: French plébiscite, from Latin plebs 'the common people' + scitum 'decree' .

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plectrum

noun (pl. plectrums or plectra)
a thin flat piece of plastic or tortoiseshell used to pluck the strings of a guitar or similar musical instrument.

ORIGIN: Greek plktron 'something with which to strike' , from plssein 'to strike' .

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pledge

noun
1. a solemn promise or undertaking.
2. Law a thing that is given as security for the fulfilment of a contract or the payment of a debt and is liable to forfeiture in the event of failure.
3. (the pledge) a solemn undertaking to abstain from alcohol.
4. a thing given as a token of love, favour, or loyalty.
5. archaic the drinking of a person's health; a toast.

verb
1. solemnly undertake to do or give something.
2. Law give as security on a loan.
3. archaic drink to the health of.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a person acting as surety for another: from Old French plege, from Latin plebium.

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Pleistocene

adjective Geology
relating to the first epoch of the Quaternary period (between the Pliocene and Holocene epochs, from 1.64 million to about 10,000 years ago), a time which included the ice ages and the appearance of humans.

ORIGIN: from Greek pleistos 'most' + kainos 'new' .

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plenary

adjective
1. unqualified; absolute.
2. (of a meeting at a conference or assembly) to be attended by all participants.

noun
a plenary meeting.

ORIGIN: Latin plenus 'full' .

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plenipotentiary

noun (pl. plenipotentiaries)
a person appointed by a government to act on its behalf with full and independent power.

adjective
1. having full power to take independent action.
2. (of power) absolute.

ORIGIN: from Latin plenus 'full' + potentia 'power' .

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plenitude

noun formal
1. an abundance.
2. the condition of being full or complete.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin plenus 'full' .

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plenteous

adjective literary
plentiful.

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plentiful

adjective
existing in or yielding great quantities; abundant.

DERIVATIVES:
plentifully adverb.

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plenty

pronoun
a large or sufficient amount or quantity.

noun
a situation in which food and other necessities are available in sufficiently large quantities.

adverb informal
fully; sufficiently.

ORIGIN: Old French plente, from Latin plenus 'full' .

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plenum

noun
1. an assembly of all the members of a group or committee.
2. Physics a space completely filled with matter, or the whole of space so regarded.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'full space' .

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plethora

noun
an excessive amount of: a plethora of complaints.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek plthein 'be full' .

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pleura

noun (pl. pleurae) Anatomy
each of a pair of membranes lining the thorax and enveloping the lungs.

DERIVATIVES:
pleural adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'side of the body, rib' .

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pleurisy

noun
inflammation of the pleurae, causing pain during breathing.

DERIVATIVES:
pleuritic adjective.

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plexus

noun (pl. same or plexuses)
1. Anatomy a network of nerves or vessels in the body.
2. an intricate network or web-like formation.

DERIVATIVES:
plexiform adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'plaited formation' , from plectere 'to plait' .

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pliable

adjective
1. easily bent; flexible.
2. easily influenced or swayed.

DERIVATIVES:
pliability noun.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin plicare 'to bend or fold' .

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pliant

adjective
pliable.

DERIVATIVES:
pliancy noun
pliantly adverb.

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plié Ballet

noun
a movement in which a dancer bends the knees and straightens them again, having the feet turned right out and heels firmly on the ground.

ORIGIN: French, 'bent' .

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pliers

plural noun
pincers with parallel flat jaws, used for gripping small objects or bending wire.

ORIGIN: from French plier 'to bend' .

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plight [1]

noun
a dangerous or difficult situation.

ORIGIN: Old French plit 'fold' .

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plight [2]

verb archaic
1. solemnly pledge or promise (faith or loyalty).
2. (be plighted to) be engaged to be married to.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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plimsoll (also plimsole)

noun Brit.
a light rubber-soled canvas sports shoe.

ORIGIN: probably from the resemblance of the side of the sole to a PLIMSOLL LINE.

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Plimsoll line

noun
a marking on a ship's side showing the limit of legal submersion when loaded with cargo.

ORIGIN: named after the English politician Samuel Plimsoll, responsible for the Merchant Shipping Act of 1876.

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plink

verb
1. emit a short, sharp, metallic ringing sound.
2. chiefly N. Amer. shoot at (a target) casually.

noun
a plinking sound.

DERIVATIVES:
plinky adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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plinth

noun
1. a heavy base supporting a statue or vase.
2. Architecture the lower square slab at the base of a column.

ORIGIN: Greek plinthos 'tile, brick, squared stone' .

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Pliocene

adjective Geology
relating to the last epoch of the Tertiary period (between the Miocene and Pleistocene epochs, 5.2 to 1.64 million years ago), a time when the first hominids appeared.

ORIGIN: from Greek plein 'more' + kainos 'new' .

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PLO

abbreviation
Palestine Liberation Organization.

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plod

verb (plodded, plodding)
1. walk doggedly and slowly with heavy steps.
2. work slowly and perseveringly at a dull task.

noun
1. a slow, heavy walk.
2. (also PC Plod) Brit. informal a police officer.

DERIVATIVES:
plodder noun.

ORIGIN: probably symbolic of a heavy gait.

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plonk [1] informal

verb
1. set down heavily or carelessly.
2. play unskilfully on a musical instrument.

noun
a sound as of something being set down heavily.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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plonk [2]

noun Brit. informal
cheap wine.

ORIGIN: originally Australian: probably an alteration of blanc in French vin blanc 'white wine' .

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plonker

noun Brit. informal
a foolish or inept person.

ORIGIN: originally a dialect word meaning «something large of its kind»: from PLONK.

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plop

noun
a sound as of a small, solid object dropping into water without a splash.

verb (plopped, plopping)
fall or drop with such a sound.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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plot

noun
1. a secret plan to do something illegal or harmful.
2. the main sequence of events in a play, novel, or film.
3. a small piece of ground marked out for building, gardening, etc.
4. a graph showing the relation between two variables.
5. chiefly US a diagram, chart, or map.

verb (plotted, plotting)
1. secretly make plans to carry out (something illegal or harmful).
2. devise the plot of (a play, novel, or film).
3. mark (a route or position) on a chart or graph.

DERIVATIVES:
plotless adjective
plotter noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «small piece of ground»; sense 1 is associated with Old French complot 'dense crowd, secret project' .

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plough (US plow)

noun
1. a large farming implement with one or more blades fixed in a frame, drawn over soil to turn it over and cut furrows.
2. (the Plough) a prominent formation of seven stars in the constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear).

verb
1. turn up (earth) with a plough.
2. (plough through/into) (of a vehicle) move in a fast or uncontrolled manner through or into.
3. advance or progress laboriously or forcibly.
4. (of a ship or boat) travel through (an area of water).
5. (plough in) invest (money) in a business.

DERIVATIVES:
ploughable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ploughman's lunch

noun Brit.
a meal of bread and cheese with pickle and salad.

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ploughshare

noun
the main cutting blade of a plough.

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plover

noun
a short-billed wading bird, typically found by water but sometimes frequenting grassland.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin pluvia 'rain' .

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plow (Brit. plough)

noun
1. a large farming implement with one or more blades fixed in a frame, drawn over soil to turn it over and cut furrows.
2. (the Plow) a prominent formation of seven stars in the constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear).

verb
1. turn up (earth) with a plough.
2. (plow through/into) (of a vehicle) move in a fast or uncontrolled manner through or into.
3. advance or progress laboriously or forcibly.
4. (of a ship or boat) travel through (an area of water).
5. (plow in) invest (money) in a business.

DERIVATIVES:
plowable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ploy

noun
a cunning manoeuvre to gain an advantage.

ORIGIN: originally Scots and northern English in the sense «pastime»: of unknown origin.

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pluck

verb
1. take hold of (something) and quickly remove it from its place.
2. pull out (a hair, feather, etc.)
3. pull the feathers from (a bird's carcass) to prepare it for cooking.
4. pull at or twitch.
5. sound (a stringed musical instrument) with one's finger or a plectrum.
6. (pluck up) summon up (courage) in order to do something frightening.

noun
1. spirited and determined courage.
2. the heart, liver, and lungs of an animal as food.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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plucky

adjective (pluckier, pluckiest)
determined and courageous in the face of difficulties.

DERIVATIVES:
pluckily adverb
pluckiness noun.

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plug

noun
1. a piece of solid material fitting tightly into a hole and blocking it up.
2. a device consisting of an insulated casing with metal pins that fit into holes in a socket to make an electrical connection.
3. informal an electrical socket.
4. informal a piece of publicity promoting a product or event.
5. a piece of tobacco cut from a larger cake for chewing.
6. Fishing a lure with one or more hooks attached.

verb (plugged, plugging)
1. block or fill in (a hole or cavity).
2. (plug in) connect (an electrical appliance) to the mains by means of a socket.
3. (plug into) have or gain access to (an information system or area of activity).
4. informal promote (a product or event) by mentioning it publicly.
5. informal shoot or hit.
6. (plug away) informal proceed steadily and laboriously with a task.

DERIVATIVES:
plugger noun.

ORIGIN: Dutch and Low German plugge.

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plughole

noun Brit.
a hole at the lowest point of a bath or sink, through which the water drains away.

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plug-in

noun Computing
a module or piece of software which can be added to an existing system to give extra features.

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plum

noun
1. an oval fleshy fruit which is purple, reddish, or yellow when ripe, containing a flattish pointed stone.
2. a reddish-purple colour.
3. (before another noun ) informal highly desirable: a plum job.

IDIOMS -
have a plum in one's mouth Brit. have an upper-class accent.

ORIGIN: Latin prunum.

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plumage

noun
a bird's feathers.

ORIGIN: Old French, from plume 'feather' .

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plumb [1]

verb
1. measure (the depth of water).
2. explore or experience fully or to extremes.
3. test (an upright surface) to determine the vertical.

noun
a lead ball or other heavy object attached to a line for finding the depth of water or determining the vertical on an upright surface.

adverb informal
1. exactly: plumb in the centre.
2. N. Amer. extremely or completely.

adjective
vertical.

ORIGIN: Latin plumbum 'lead' .

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plumb [2]

verb (plumb in)
install (a bath, washing machine, etc.) and connect it to water and drainage pipes.

ORIGIN: from PLUMBER.

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plumber

noun
a person who fits and repairs the pipes and fittings of water supply, sanitation, or heating systems.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a person dealing in and working with lead: from Old French plommier, from Latin plumbum 'lead' .

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plumbing

noun
1. the system of pipes, tanks, and fittings required for the water supply, heating, and sanitation in a building.
2. the work of installing and maintaining such a system.

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plumb line

noun
a line with a plumb attached to it.

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plume

noun
1. a long, soft feather or arrangement of feathers.
2. a long spreading cloud of smoke or vapour.
3. Geology a column of magma rising by convection in the earth's mantle.

verb
1. (plumed) decorated with feathers.
2. (of smoke or vapour) spread out in a plume.

ORIGIN: Latin pluma 'down' .

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plummet

verb (plummeted, plummeting)
1. fall or drop straight down at high speed.
2. decrease rapidly in value or amount.

noun
1. a steep and rapid fall or drop.
2. a plumb bob or plumb line.

ORIGIN: from Old French plommet 'small sounding lead' , from plomb 'lead' .

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plummy

adjective (plummier, plummiest)
1. resembling a plum.
2. Brit. informal (of a person's voice) typical of the English upper classes.
3. Brit. informal choice; highly desirable.

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plump [1]

adjective
1. full and rounded in shape.
2. rather fat.

verb (plump up)
make or become full and round.

DERIVATIVES:
plumpish adjective
plumpness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «blunt, forthright»: related to Dutch plomp, Low German plump 'blunt, obtuse' .

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plump [2]

verb
1. set or sit down heavily or unceremoniously.
2. (plump for) decide in favour of (one of two or more possibilities).

adverb informal
with a sudden or heavy fall.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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plum tomato

noun
a plum-shaped variety of tomato.

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plumy

adjective
resembling or decorated with feathers.

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plunder

verb
enter forcibly and steal goods from, especially during war or civil disorder.

noun
1. the action of plundering.
2. goods obtained by plundering.

DERIVATIVES:
plunderer noun.

ORIGIN: German plündern, 'rob of household goods' , from High German plunder 'household effects' .

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plunge

verb
1. fall or move suddenly and uncontrollably.
2. jump or dive quickly and energetically.
3. (plunge in) embark impetuously on (a course of action).
4. (be plunged into) suddenly bring into a specified condition or state: the area was was plunged into darkness.
5. push or thrust quickly.

noun
an act or instance of plunging.

IDIOMS -
take the plunge informal commit oneself to a bold course of action after consideration.

ORIGIN: Old French plungier 'thrust down' , from Latin plumbum 'lead, plummet' .

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plunge pool

noun
1. a deep basin at the foot of a waterfall formed by the action of the falling water.
2. a small, deep swimming pool.

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plunger

noun
1. a part of a device or mechanism that works with a plunging or thrusting movement.
2. a device consisting of a rubber cup on a long handle, used to clear blocked pipes by means of suction.

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plunk informal

verb
1. play a keyboard or pluck a stringed instrument in an inexpressive way.
2. US hit (someone) abruptly.
3. chiefly N. Amer. set down heavily or abruptly.

noun
1. a plunking sound.
2. US a heavy blow.
3. N. Amer. an act of setting something down heavily.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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pluperfect

adjective Grammar
(of a tense) denoting an action completed prior to some past point of time, formed in English by had and the past participle (as in he had gone by then).

ORIGIN: from Latin plus quam perfectum 'more than perfect' (referring to the perfect tense).

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plural

adjective
1. more than one in number.
2. Grammar (of a word or form) denoting more than one.

noun Grammar
a plural word or form.

DERIVATIVES:
plurally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin pluralis, from plus 'more' .

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pluralism

noun
1. a political system of power-sharing among a number of political parties.
2. the existence or toleration of a diversity of ethnic groups or differing cultures and views within a society.
3. Philosophy a theory or system that recognizes more than one ultimate principle.
4. the holding of more than one ecclesiastical office or position at the same time by one person.

DERIVATIVES:
pluralist noun & adjective
pluralistic adjective.

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plurality

noun (pl. pluralities)
1. the fact or state of being plural.
2. a large number of people or things.
3. US the number of votes cast for a candidate who receives more than any other but does not receive an absolute majority.

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pluralize (also pluralise)

verb
1. make more numerous.
2. give a plural form to (a word).

DERIVATIVES:
pluralization noun.

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plus

preposition
1. with the addition of.
2. informal together with.

adjective
1. (after a number or amount) at least: $500,000 plus.
2. (after a grade) rather better than: B plus.
3. (before a number) above zero; positive: plus 60 degrees centigrade.
4. having a positive electric charge.

noun
1. a plus sign.
2. informal an advantage.

conjunction informal
furthermore; also.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'more' .

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plus fours

plural noun
men's baggy knickerbockers reaching below the knee, formerly worn for hunting and golf.

ORIGIN: so named because the overhang at the knee required an extra four inches of material.

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plush

noun
a rich fabric of silk, cotton, or wool, with a long, soft nap.

adjective informal
expensively luxurious.

DERIVATIVES:
plushy adjective.

ORIGIN: obsolete French pluche, from Latin pilus 'hair' .

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plutocracy

noun (pl. plutocracies)
1. government by the wealthy.
2. a society governed by the wealthy.
3. an elite or ruling class whose power derives from their wealth.

DERIVATIVES:
plutocratic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek ploutos 'wealth' + kratos 'strength, authority' .

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plutocrat

noun often derogatory
a person whose power derives from their wealth.

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plutonium

noun
a radioactive metallic element formed by the radioactive decay of uranium and used as a fuel in nuclear reactors and as an explosive in atomic weapons.

ORIGIN: from the planet Pluto, on the pattern of neptunium (Pluto being the next planet beyond Neptune).

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ply [1]

noun (pl. plies)
1. a thickness or layer of a folded or laminated material.
2. each of a number of multiple layers or strands of which something is made.

ORIGIN: French pli 'fold' , from Latin plicare 'to fold' .

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ply [2]

verb (plies, plied)
1. work steadily with (a tool) or at (one's job).
2. (of a vessel or vehicle) travel regularly over a route, typically for commercial purposes.
3. (ply with) provide (someone) with (food or drink) in a continuous or insistent way.
4. (ply with) direct (numerous questions) at (someone).

ORIGIN: shortening of APPLY.

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plywood

noun
thin strong board consisting of two or more layers of wood glued together.

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PM

abbreviation
1. post-mortem.
2. Prime Minister.

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Pm

symbol
the chemical element promethium.

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p.m.

abbreviation
after noon.

ORIGIN: from Latin post meridiem.

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PMS

abbreviation
premenstrual syndrome.

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PMT

abbreviation chiefly Brit.
premenstrual tension.

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pneumatic

adjective
containing or operated by air or gas under pressure.

DERIVATIVES:
pneumatically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek pneumatikos, from pneuma 'wind' .

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pneumococcus

noun (pl. pneumococci)
a bacterium associated with pneumonia and some forms of meningitis.

DERIVATIVES:
pneumococcal adjective.

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pneumonia

noun
a lung infection in which the air sacs fill with pus.

DERIVATIVES:
pneumonic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek pneumn 'lung' .

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PO

abbreviation
1. postal order.
2. Post Office.

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Po

symbol
the chemical element polonium.

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poach [1]

verb
cook by simmering in a small amount of liquid.

ORIGIN: Old French pochier (earlier in the sense 'enclose in a bag' ), from poche 'bag, pocket' .

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poach [2]

verb
1. illegally take (game or fish) from private or protected areas.
2. take or acquire in an unfair or clandestine way.

ORIGIN: apparently related to POKE; perhaps also partly from Old French pochier (see POACH).

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poacher

noun
a pan for poaching eggs or other food.

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pock

noun
a pockmark.

DERIVATIVES:
pocked adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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pocket

noun
1. a small bag sewn into or on clothing, used for carrying small articles.
2. a small, isolated patch, group, or area.
3. (one's pocket) informal one's financial resources.
4. a pouch-like storage compartment in a suitcase, car door, etc.
5. an opening at the corner or on the side of a billiard table into which balls are struck.

adjective
of a suitable size for carrying in a pocket.

verb (pocketed, pocketing)
1. put into one's pocket.
2. take for oneself, especially dishonestly.
3. Billiards & Snooker drive (a ball) into a pocket.

IDIOMS -
in (or out of) pocket having gained (or lost) money in a transaction.
in someone's pocket dependent on someone, especially financially, and therefore under their influence.
line one's pocket make money, especially dishonestly.
put one's hand in one's pocket spend or provide one's own money.

DERIVATIVES:
pocketable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French pokete 'little bag' , from poke 'pouch' .

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pocketbook

noun
1. Brit. a notebook.
2. US a wallet, purse, or handbag.

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pocket knife

noun
a penknife.

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pocket money

noun Brit.
1. a small regular allowance given to a child by their parents.
2. a small amount of money for minor expenses.

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pockmark

noun
1. a pitted scar or mark on the skin left by a pustule or spot.
2. a mark or pitted area disfiguring a surface.

verb
cover or disfigure with pockmarks.

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pod [1]

noun
1. a long seed-case of a leguminous plant such as the pea.
2. a self-contained or detachable unit on an aircraft or spacecraft.

verb (podded, podding)
1. remove (peas or beans) from their pods prior to cooking.
2. (of a plant) bear or form pods.

ORIGIN: from dialect podware, podder «field crops», of unknown origin.

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pod [2]

noun
a small herd or school of marine animals, especially whales.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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podgy

adjective (podgier, podgiest) Brit. informal
rather fat; chubby.

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podium

noun (pl. podiums or podia)
1. a small platform on which a person may stand to be seen by an audience.
2. N. Amer. a lectern.

ORIGIN: Greek podion 'little foot' .

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poem

noun
a literary composition in verse, typically concerned with the expression of feelings or imaginative description.

ORIGIN: Grek poma, variant of poima 'fiction, poem' , from poiein 'create' .

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poesy

noun archaic or literary
poetry.

ORIGIN: Greek posis, poisis 'making, poetry' .

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poet

noun
1. a person who writes poems.
2. a person possessing special powers of imagination or expression.

DERIVATIVES:
poetess noun.

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poetic (also poetical)

adjective
relating to or of the nature of poetry.

DERIVATIVES:
poetically adverb.

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poetic justice

noun
fitting or deserved punishment or reward.

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poetic licence

noun
departure from convention or factual accuracy for artistic effect.

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Poet Laureate

noun (pl. Poets Laureate)
a poet appointed by the British sovereign to write poems for royal and official occasions.

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poetry

noun
1. poems collectively or as a literary genre.
2. a quality of beauty and emotional intensity regarded as characteristic of poetry.

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po-faced

adjective Brit.
humourless and disapproving.

ORIGIN: perhaps from po 'chamber pot' , influenced by poker-faced.

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pogo stick

noun
a toy for bouncing around on, consisting of a spring-loaded pole with a handle at the top and rests for the feet near the bottom.

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pogrom

noun
an organized massacre of an ethnic group, originally that of Jews in Russia or eastern Europe.

ORIGIN: Russian, 'devastation' .

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poignant

adjective
evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret.

DERIVATIVES:
poignancy noun
poignantly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Old French poindre 'to prick' , from Latin pungere.

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poinsettia

noun
a small shrub with large showy scarlet bracts surrounding the small yellow flowers.

ORIGIN: named after the American diplomat and botanist Joel R. Poinsett (1779 1851).

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point

noun
1. the tapered, sharp end of a tool, weapon, or other object.
2. a particular spot, place, or moment.
3. an item, detail, or idea in a discussion, text, etc.
4. (the point) the most significant or relevant factor or element.
5. advantage or purpose: what's the point of it all?
6. a positive feature or characteristic.
7. a unit of scoring or of measuring value, achievement, or extent.
8. a full stop or a decimal point.
9. a very small dot or mark on a surface.
10. (in geometry) something having position but not spatial extent, magnitude, dimension, or direction.
11. each of thirty-two directions marked at equal distances round a compass.
12. a narrow piece of land jutting out into the sea.
13. (points) Brit. a junction of two railway lines, with a pair of linked tapering rails that can be moved sideways to allow a train to pass from one line to the other.
14. Printing a unit of measurement for type sizes and spacing (in the UK and US 0.351 mm, in Europe 0.376 mm).
15. Brit. a socket in a wall for connecting a device to an electrical supply or communications network.
16. each of a set of electrical contacts in the distributor of a motor vehicle.
17. Cricket a fielding position on the off side near the batsman.

verb
1. direct someone's attention in a particular direction by extending one's finger.
2. direct or aim (something).
3. face in or indicate a particular direction.
4. (point out) make someone aware of (a fact or circumstance).
5. (often point to) cite or function as evidence.
6. (point up) reveal the true nature or importance of.
7. give a sharp, tapered point to.
8. fill in or repair the joints of (brickwork or tiling) with smoothly finished mortar or cement.

IDIOMS -
a case in point an example that illustrates what is being discussed.
make a point of make a special effort to do something.
on the point of on the verge or brink of.
score points deliberately make oneself appear superior by making clever remarks.
take someone's point chiefly Brit. accept the validity of someone's idea or argument.
up to a point to some extent.

ORIGIN: partly from Old French pointe, from Latin puncta 'pricking' ; partly from Old French point, from Latin punctum 'something that is pricked' .

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point-blank

adjective
1. (of a shot or missile) fired from very close to its target.
2. without explanation or qualification.

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point duty

noun Brit.
the duties of a police officer stationed at a junction to control traffic.

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pointed

adjective
1. having a sharpened or tapered tip or end.
2. (of a remark or look) clearly directed and unambiguous in intent.

DERIVATIVES:
pointedly adverb.

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pointer

noun
1. a long, thin piece of metal on a scale or dial which moves to give a reading.
2. a rod used for pointing to features on a map or chart.
3. a hint or tip.
4. a breed of dog that on scenting game stands rigid looking towards it.
5. Computing a cursor or a link.

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pointillism

noun
a technique of neo-Impressionist painting using tiny dots of various pure colours, which become blended in the viewer's eye.

DERIVATIVES:
pointillist noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: from French pointiller 'mark with dots' .

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pointing

noun
mortar or cement used to fill the joints of brickwork or tiling.

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pointless

adjective
having little or no sense or purpose.

DERIVATIVES:
pointlessly adverb
pointlessness noun.

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point of order

noun (pl. points of order)
a query in a formal debate or meeting as to whether correct procedure is being followed.

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point of view

noun (pl. points of view)
1. a particular attitude or way of considering a matter.
2. the position from which something or someone is observed.

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point-to-point

noun (pl. point-to-points)
an amateur cross-country steeplechase for horses used in hunting.

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poise

noun
1. graceful and elegant bearing.
2. composure and dignity of manner.

verb
1. be or cause to be balanced or suspended.
2. (poised) composed and elegant or self-assured.
3. (be poised to do) be ready and prepared to do.

ORIGIN: Old French pois, from Latin pensum 'weight' .

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poison

noun
1. a substance that causes death or injury when introduced into or absorbed by a living organism.
2. a destructive or corrupting influence.

verb
1. administer poison to.
2. contaminate with poison.
3. corrupt or prove harmful to.

DERIVATIVES:
poisoner noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'magic potion' , from Latin potio 'potion' .

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poisoned chalice

noun
something offered which is apparently appealing or beneficial but which is likely to prove a source of problems to the recipient.

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poisonous

adjective
1. producing or of the nature of poison.
2. extremely unpleasant or malicious.

DERIVATIVES:
poisonously adverb.

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poison pen letter

noun
an anonymous letter that is libellous or abusive.

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poke

verb
1. jab or prod with a finger or a sharp object.
2. make (a hole) by jabbing or prodding.
3. (poke about/around) look or search around a place.
3. (often poke out) thrust out or protrude in a particular direction.

noun
an act of poking.

IDIOMS -
poke fun at tease or make fun of.
poke one's nose into informal take an intrusive interest in.
take a poke at informal hit, punch, or criticize.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain.

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poker [1]

noun
a metal rod with a handle, used for prodding and stirring an open fire.

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poker [2]

noun
a card game in which the players bet on the value of the hands dealt to them, sometimes using bluff.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to German pochen 'to brag' , Pochspiel 'bragging game' .

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poker face

noun
an impassive expression that hides one's true feelings.

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poky (also pokey)

adjective (pokier, pokiest)
1. (of a room or building) uncomfortably small and cramped.
2. N. Amer. annoyingly slow.

ORIGIN: from POKE (in the sense 'confine' .

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polar

adjective
1. relating to the North or South Poles of the earth or their adjacent area.
2. having an electrical or magnetic field.
3. directly opposite in character or tendency.

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polar bear

noun
a large white arctic bear which lives mainly on the pack ice.

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polarity

noun (pl. polarities)
1. the state of having poles or opposites.
2. the direction of a magnetic or electric field.

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polarize (also polarise)

verb
1. divide into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of beliefs.
2. Physics restrict the vibrations of (a transverse wave, especially light) to one direction.
3. give magnetic or electric polarity to.

DERIVATIVES:
polarization noun.

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Polaroid

noun trademark
1. a composite material with the property of polarizing light, produced in thin plastic sheets.
2. (Polaroids) sunglasses with lenses of polaroid.
3. a type of camera that produces a finished print rapidly after each exposure.
4. a photograph taken with such a camera.

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polder

noun
a piece of land reclaimed from the sea or a river, especially in the Netherlands.

ORIGIN: Dutch.

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Pole

noun
a person from Poland.

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pole [1]

noun
1. a long, slender rounded piece of wood or metal, typically used as a support.
2. a wooden shaft at the front of a cart or carriage drawn by animals and attached to their yokes or collars.

verb
propel (a boat) with a pole.

IDIOMS -
up the pole Brit. informal mad.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to Latin palus 'stake' .

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pole [2]

noun
1. either of the two locations (North Pole or South Pole) on the earth which are the ends of the axis of rotation.
2. Geometry each of the two points at which the axis of a circle cuts the surface of a sphere.
3. each of the two opposite points of a magnet at which magnetic forces are strongest.
4. the positive or negative terminal of an electric cell or battery.
5. each of two opposed principles or ideas.

IDIOMS -
be poles apart have nothing in common.

ORIGIN: Greek polos 'pivot, axis, sky' .

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poleaxe (US also poleax)

noun
1. a battleaxe.
2. a butcher's axe used to slaughter animals.

verb
1. kill or knock down with or as if with a poleaxe.
2. shock greatly.

ORIGIN: from POLL + AXE.

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polecat

noun
1. a weasel-like mammal with dark brown fur and an unpleasant smell.
2. N. Amer. a skunk.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French pole 'chicken' + CAT.

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polemic

noun
1. a strong verbal or written attack.
2. (also polemics) the practice of engaging in controversial debate.

adjective (also polemical)
of or involving disputatious or controversial debate.

DERIVATIVES:
polemicist noun
polemicize (also polemicise) verb.

ORIGIN: Greek polemikos, from polemos 'war' .

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polenta

noun
(in Italian cookery) maize flour or a dough made from this, which is boiled and then fried or baked.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'pearl barley' .

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pole position

noun
the most favourable position at the start of a motor race.

ORIGIN: from the use of pole in horse racing to mean the starting position next to the inside boundary fence.

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Pole Star

noun
a fairly bright star located within one degree of the celestial north pole, in the constellation Ursa Minor.

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pole vault

noun
an athletic event in which competitors attempt to vault over a high bar with the aid of an extremely long flexible pole.

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police

noun (treated as pl. )
1. a civil force responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of public order.
2. members of such a force.

verb
1. maintain law and order in (an area), with or as with a police force.
2. regulate, administer, or control.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «public order»: from Latin politia 'policy, government' .

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policeman (or policewoman)

noun
a member of a police force.

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police officer

noun
a policeman or policewoman.

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police state

noun
a totalitarian state in which political police secretly supervise and control citizens' activities.

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police station

noun
the office of a local police force.

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policy [1]

noun (pl. policies)
1. a course or principle of action adopted or proposed by an organization or individual.
2. archaic prudent or expedient conduct or action.

ORIGIN: Greek politeia 'citizenship' , from polis 'city' .

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policy [2]

noun (pl. policies)
a contract of insurance.

ORIGIN: French police 'bill of lading, contract of insurance' .

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poliomyelitis

noun
an infectious disease, caused by a virus, that affects the central nervous system and can cause temporary or permanent paralysis.

ORIGIN: from Greek polios 'grey' + muelos 'marrow' .

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Polish

noun
the language of Poland.

adjective
relating to Poland.

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polish

verb
1. make smooth and shiny by rubbing.
2. improve or refine.
3. (polish off) finish or consume quickly.

noun
1. a substance used to make something smooth and shiny when rubbed in.
2. an act of polishing.
3. smoothness or glossiness produced by polishing.
4. refinement or elegance.

DERIVATIVES:
polisher noun.

ORIGIN: Latin polire.

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politburo

noun (pl. politburos)
the principal policy-making committee of a communist party, especially that of the former USSR.

ORIGIN: from Russian politicheskoe byuro 'political bureau' .

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polite

adjective (politer, politest)
1. courteous and well-mannered.
2. cultured and refined: polite society.

DERIVATIVES:
politely adverb
politeness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin politus 'polished, made smooth' , from polire 'to polish' .

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politic

adjective
1. (of an action) sensible and wise in the circumstances.
2. (also politick) archaic prudent and shrewd.

verb (politicked, politicking) often derogatory
engage in political activity.

ORIGIN: Greek politikos, from polits 'citizen' .

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political

adjective
1. relating to the government or public affairs of a country.
2. related to or interested in politics.
3. chiefly derogatory acting in the interests of status within an organization rather than on principle.

DERIVATIVES:
politically adverb.

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political correctness

noun
the avoidance of terms or behaviour considered to be discriminatory or offensive to certain groups of people.

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politically correct (or incorrect)

adjective
exhibiting (or failing to exhibit) political correctness.

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political prisoner

noun
a person imprisoned for their political beliefs or actions.

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political science

noun
the study of political activity and behaviour.

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politician

noun
1. a person who is professionally involved in politics, especially as a holder of an elected office.
2. chiefly US a person who acts in a manipulative and devious way, typically to gain advancement.

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politicize (also politicise)

verb
1. make politically aware or politically active.
2. engage in or talk about politics.

DERIVATIVES:
politicization noun.

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politics

plural noun (usu. treated as sing. )
1. the activities associated with governing a country or area, and with the political relations between states.
2. a particular set of political beliefs or principles.
3. activities aimed at gaining power within an organization: office politics.
4. the principles relating to or inherent in a sphere or activity, especially when concerned with power and status: the politics of gender.

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polity

noun (pl. polities)
1. a form or process of civil government or constitution.
2. a state as a political entity.

ORIGIN: Greek politeia 'citizenship, government' .

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polka

noun
a lively dance of Bohemian origin in duple time.

ORIGIN: Czech pulka 'half-step' .

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polka dot

noun
each of a number of round dots repeated to form a regular pattern.

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poll

noun
1. the process of voting in an election.
2. a record of the number of votes cast.
3. dialect a person's head.

verb
1. record the opinion or vote of.
2. (of an electoral candidate) receive a specified number of votes.
3. Telecommunications & Computing check the status of (a device), especially as part of a repeated cycle.
4. cut the horns off (an animal, especially a young cow).

ORIGIN: perhaps from Low German.

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pollack (also pollock)

noun
an edible greenish-brown fish of the cod family.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Celtic.

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pollard

verb
cut off the top and branches of (a tree) to encourage new growth.

noun
a tree that has been pollarded.

ORIGIN: from POLL.

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pollen

noun
a powdery substance discharged from the male part of a flower, containing the fertilizing agent.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'fine powder' .

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pollen count

noun
an index of the amount of pollen in the air.

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pollinate

verb
deposit pollen in and fertilize (a flower or plant).

DERIVATIVES:
pollination noun
pollinator noun.

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pollster

noun
a person who conducts or analyses opinion polls.

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poll tax

noun
a tax levied on every adult, without reference to their income or resources.

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pollute

verb
1. contaminate with harmful or poisonous substances.
2. corrupt.

DERIVATIVES:
pollutant adjective & noun
polluter noun
pollution noun.

ORIGIN: Latin polluere 'pollute, defile' .

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polo

noun
a game similar to hockey, played on horseback with a long-handled mallet.

ORIGIN: Balti, 'ball' .

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polonaise

noun
a slow stately dance of Polish origin in triple time.

adjective
(of a dish, especially a vegetable dish) garnished with chopped hard-boiled egg yolk, breadcrumbs, and parsley.

ORIGIN: from French, 'Polish' .

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polo neck

noun Brit.
a high, close-fitting, turned-over collar on a sweater.

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polo shirt

noun
a casual short-sleeved shirt with a collar and two or three buttons at the neck.

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poltergeist

noun
a supernatural being supposedly responsible for physical disturbances such as throwing objects about.

ORIGIN: German, from poltern 'create a disturbance' + Geist 'ghost' .

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poltroon

noun archaic or literary
an utter coward.

ORIGIN: Italian poltrone, perhaps from poltro 'lazy' .

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poly-

combining form
1. many; much: polychrome.
2. Chemistry forming names of polymers: polyester.

ORIGIN: from Greek polus 'much' , polloi 'many' .

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polyandry

noun
polygamy in which a woman has more than one husband.

DERIVATIVES:
polyandrous adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek anr 'male' .

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polyanthus

noun (pl. same)
a cultivated hybrid of the wild primrose and primulas.

ORIGIN: from Greek anthos 'flower' .

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polychromatic

adjective
multicoloured.

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polychrome

adjective
painted, printed, or decorated in several colours.

noun
varied colouring.

DERIVATIVES:
polychromy noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek khrma 'colour' .

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polyester

noun
a synthetic resin in which the polymer units are linked by ester groups, used chiefly to make textile fibres.

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polygamy

noun
the practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time.

DERIVATIVES:
polygamist noun
polygamous adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek polugamos 'often marrying' .

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polyglot

adjective
knowing, using, or written in several languages.

noun
a person who knows or uses several languages.

ORIGIN: Greek poluglttos 'many-tongued' .

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polygon

noun Geometry
a plane figure with at least three straight sides and angles, and typically five or more.

DERIVATIVES:
polygonal adjective.

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polygraph

noun
a machine for recording changes in a person's physiological characteristics, such as pulse and breathing rates, used especially as a lie detector.

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polygyny

noun
polygamy in which a man has more than one wife.

DERIVATIVES:
polygynous adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek gun 'woman' .

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polyhedron

noun (pl. polyhedra or polyhedrons) Geometry
a solid figure with many plane faces, typically more than six.

DERIVATIVES:
polyhedral adjective.

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polymath

noun
a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning.

DERIVATIVES:
polymathic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek polumaths 'having learned much' .

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polymer

noun Chemistry
a substance with a molecular structure formed from many identical small molecules bonded together.

DERIVATIVES:
polymeric adjective
polymerize (also polymerise) verb.

ORIGIN: from Greek polumeros 'having many parts' .

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polyp

noun
1. Zoology the sedentary form of an organism such as a sea anemone or coral, in some cases forming a distinct stage in the animal's life-cycle.
2. Medicine a small growth protruding from a mucous membrane.

DERIVATIVES:
polypoid adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: Greek polupous 'cuttlefish, polyp' , from polu- 'many' + pous 'foot' .

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polyphonic

adjective
1. having many sounds or voices.
2. Music (especially of vocal music) in two or more parts each having a melody of its own; contrapuntal.

DERIVATIVES:
polyphony noun (pl. polyphonies) .

ORIGIN: from Greek polu- 'many' + phn 'voice, sound' .

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polyrhythm

noun Music
the use of two or more different rhythms simultaneously.

DERIVATIVES:
polyrhythmic adjective.

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polystyrene

noun
a synthetic resin which is a polymer of styrene.

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polysyllabic

adjective
having more than one syllable.

DERIVATIVES:
polysyllable noun.

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polytechnic

noun
an institution of higher education offering courses at degree level or below (little used after 1992, when British polytechnics became able to call themselves ‘universities’).

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polytheism

noun
the belief in or worship of more than one god.

DERIVATIVES:
polytheist noun
polytheistic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek polutheos 'of many gods' .

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polythene

noun chiefly Brit.
a tough, light, flexible plastic made by polymerizing ethylene, chiefly used for packaging.

ORIGIN: contraction of polyethylene.

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polyunsaturated

adjective
referring to fats whose molecules contain several double or triple bonds, believed to be less healthy in the diet than monounsaturated fats.

DERIVATIVES:
polyunsaturates plural noun.

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polyurethane

noun
a synthetic resin in which the polymer units are linked by urethane groups.

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polyvinyl acetate

noun
a synthetic resin made by polymerizing vinyl acetate, used chiefly in paints and adhesives.

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pomade

noun
a scented preparation for dressing the hair.

verb (pomaded)
dressed with pomade.

ORIGIN: French pommade, from Latin pomum 'apple' (from which it was formerly made).

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pomander

noun
a ball or perforated container of mixed aromatic substances used to perfume a room or cupboard or (formerly) carried as protection against infection.

ORIGIN: from Latin pomum de ambra 'apple of ambergris' .

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pomegranate

noun
a round tropical fruit with a tough golden-orange outer skin and sweet red flesh containing many seeds.

ORIGIN: from Latin pomum granatum 'apple having many seeds' .

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pomelo (also pummelo)

noun (pl. pomelos)
a large citrus fruit similar to a grapefruit, with a thick yellow skin and bitter pulp.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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Pomeranian

noun
a small dog of a breed with long silky hair, a pointed muzzle, and pricked ears.

ORIGIN: from Pomerania, a region of central Europe.

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pommel

noun
1. the upward curving or projecting front part of a saddle.
2. a rounded knob on the end of the handle of a sword, dagger, or old-fashioned gun.

verb (pommelled, pommelling; US pommeled, pommeling)
pummel.

ORIGIN: Old French pomel, from Latin pomum 'fruit, apple' .

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Pommy (also Pommie)

noun (pl. Pommies) Austral./NZ informal, derogatory
a British person.

ORIGIN: said by some to be short for pomegranate, as a near rhyme to immigrant.

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pomp

noun
1. ceremony and splendid display.
2. (pomps) archaic vain and boastful display.

ORIGIN: Greek pomp 'procession, pomp' , from pempein 'send' .

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pompom (also pompon)

noun
1. a small woollen ball attached to a garment for decoration.
2. a dahlia, chrysanthemum, or aster with small tightly clustered petals.

ORIGIN: French pompon 'tuft, topknot' .

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pompous

adjective
affectedly grand, solemn, or self-important.

DERIVATIVES:
pomposity noun
pompously adverb.

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ponce Brit. informal

noun
1. a man who lives off a prostitute's earnings.
2. derogatory an effeminate man.

verb
1. (ponce about/around) behave in an affected or ineffectual way.
2. (ponce off) ask for or obtain (something to which one is not entitled) from (someone).

DERIVATIVES:
poncey (also poncy) adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from POUNCE.

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poncho

noun (pl. ponchos)
a garment made of a thick piece of woollen cloth with a slit in the middle for the head.

ORIGIN: Latin American Spanish.

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pond

noun
1. a fairly small body of still water.
2. (the pond) humorous the Atlantic ocean.

ORIGIN: alteration of POUND.

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ponder

verb
consider carefully.

ORIGIN: Latin ponderare 'weigh' , from pondus 'weight' .

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ponderous

adjective
1. slow and clumsy because of great weight.
2. dull or laborious.

DERIVATIVES:
ponderously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin ponderosus, from pondus 'weight' .

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pondweed

noun
a submerged aquatic plant of still or running water.

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pong Brit. informal

noun
a strong, unpleasant smell.

verb
smell strongly and unpleasantly.

DERIVATIVES:
pongy adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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poniard

noun historical
a small, slim dagger.

ORIGIN: French poignard, from Latin pugnus 'fist' .

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pontiff

noun
the Pope.

ORIGIN: Latin pontifex 'high priest' , from pons 'bridge' + -fex, from facere 'to make' .

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pontifical

adjective
1. papal.
2. characterized by a pompous air of infallibility.

DERIVATIVES:
pontifically adverb.

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pontificate

verb
1. express one's opinions in a pompous and dogmatic way.
2. (in the Roman Catholic Church) officiate as bishop, especially at Mass.

noun (also Pontificate)
(in the Roman Catholic Church) the office or term of office of pope or bishop.

DERIVATIVES:
pontificator noun.

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pontoon [1]

noun Brit.
a card game in which players try to acquire cards with a value totalling twenty-one.

ORIGIN: probably an alteration of French vingt-et-un 'twenty-one' .

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pontoon [2]

noun
1. a flat-bottomed boat or hollow metal cylinder used with others to support a temporary bridge or floating landing stage.
2. a bridge or landing stage supported by pontoons.
3. a large flat-bottomed barge or lighter equipped for careening ships and salvage work.

ORIGIN: French ponton, from Latin pons 'bridge' .

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pony

noun (pl. ponies)
1. a horse of a small breed, especially one below 15 hands.
2. Brit. informal twenty-five pounds sterling.

ORIGIN: probably from French poulenet 'small foal' .

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ponytail

noun
a hairstyle in which the hair is drawn back and tied at the back of the head.

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pony-trekking

noun Brit.
the leisure activity of riding across country on a pony or horse.

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pooch

noun informal
a dog.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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poodle

noun
1. a breed of dog with a curly coat that is usually clipped.
2. Brit. a servile or obsequious person.

ORIGIN: German Pudelhund, from puddeln 'splash in water' (the poodle being a water-dog).

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poof (also pouf, poofter)

noun Brit. informal, derogatory
an effeminate or homosexual man.

DERIVATIVES:
poofy adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of puff in the obsolete sense «braggart».

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pooh (also poo) informal

exclamation
1. expressing disgust at an unpleasant smell.
2. expressing impatience or contempt.

noun
1. excrement.
2. an act of defecating.

verb
defecate.

ORIGIN: natural exclamation.

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pooh-pooh

verb informal
dismiss as being foolish or impractical.

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pool [1]

noun
1. a small area of still water.
2. (also swimming pool) an artificial pool for swimming in.
3. a small, shallow patch of liquid lying on a surface.
4. a deep place in a river.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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pool [2]

noun
1. a shared supply of vehicles, people, commodities, or funds to be drawn on when needed.
2. the total amount of players' stakes in gambling or sweepstakes.
3. (the pools or football pools) a form of gambling on the results of football matches, the winners receiving large sums accumulated from entry money.
4. a game played on a billiard table using 16 balls.
5. an arrangement between competing commercial ventures to fix prices and share business so as to eliminate competition.

verb
1. put (money or other assets) into a common fund.
2. share for the benefit of all.

ORIGIN: French poule 'stake, kitty' , associated with POOL.

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poop (also poop deck)

noun
a raised deck at the stern of a ship, especially a sailing ship.

ORIGIN: Latin puppis 'stern' .

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poor

adjective
1. lacking sufficient money to live at a comfortable or normal standard.
2. of a low or inferior standard or quality.
3. (poor in) lacking in.
4. deserving pity or sympathy.

IDIOMS -
the poor man's an inferior or cheaper substitute for the thing specified.
poor relation a person or thing that is considered inferior to others of the same type.
take a poor view of regard with disapproval.

ORIGIN: Old French poure, from Latin pauper.

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poorly

adverb
in a poor manner.

adjective chiefly Brit.
unwell.

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pootle

verb Brit. informal
move or travel in a leisurely manner.

ORIGIN: blend of TOOTLE and poodle in the same sense.

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pop [1]

verb (popped, popping)
1. make or cause to make a sudden short explosive sound.
2. go or come quickly or unexpectedly.
3. put or place quickly.
4. (of a person's eyes) open wide and appear to bulge.
5. informal take or inject (a drug).

noun
1. a sudden short explosive sound.
2. informal, dated or N. Amer. fizzy soft drink.

IDIOMS -
have (or take) a pop at informal attack.
pop off (or Brit. pop one's clogs) informal die.
pop the question informal propose marriage.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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pop [2]

noun (also pop music)
popular modern commercial music, typically with a strong melody and beat.

adjective
1. relating to pop music.
2. often derogatory (especially of a scientific or academic subject) made accessible to the general public.

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pop art

noun
art based on modern popular culture and the mass media.

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popcorn

noun
maize kernels which swell up and burst open when heated and are then eaten as a snack.

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pope

noun (the Pope)
the Bishop of Rome as head of the Roman Catholic Church.

IDIOMS -
is the Pope (a) Catholic? informal used to indicate that something is blatantly obvious.

ORIGIN: Greek papas 'bishop, patriarch' , variant of pappas 'father' .

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popery

noun derogatory, chiefly archaic
Roman Catholicism.

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pop-eyed

adjective informal
having bulging or staring eyes.

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popgun

noun
a child's toy gun which shoots a harmless pellet or cork.

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popinjay

noun dated
a vain or foppish person.

ORIGIN: Old French papingay 'parrot' , from Arabic.

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popish

adjective derogatory
Roman Catholic.

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poplar

noun
a tall, slender tree, often grown in shelter belts or for wood and pulp.

ORIGIN: Latin populus.

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poplin

noun
a plain-woven fabric, typically a lightweight cotton, with a corded surface.

ORIGIN: obsolete French papeline, perhaps from Italian papalina 'papal' , because first made in the town of Avignon (residence of popes in exile, 1309 77).

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poppadom (also poppadum or popadom)

noun
(in Indian cookery) a large disc of unleavened spiced bread made from ground lentils fried in oil.

ORIGIN: Tamil.

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popper

noun
1. Brit. informal a press stud.
2. informal a small vial of amyl nitrite used for inhalation, which makes a popping sound when opened.

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poppet

noun Brit. informal
an endearingly sweet or pretty child.

ORIGIN: Latin puppa 'girl, doll' ; related to PUPPET.

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poppy

noun
a plant with showy flowers (typically red, pink, or yellow) and large seed capsules, and including species which produce drugs such as opium and codeine.

ORIGIN: Old English, from Latin papaver.

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poppycock

noun informal
nonsense.

ORIGIN: Dutch dialect pappekak, from pap 'soft' + kak 'dung' .

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popster

noun informal
a pop musician.

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populace

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
the general public.

ORIGIN: Italian popolaccio 'common people' .

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popular

adjective
1. liked or admired by many or by a particular group.
2. intended for or suited to the taste or means of the general public: the popular press.
3. (of a belief or attitude) widely held among the general public.
4. (of political activity) carried on by the people as a whole.

DERIVATIVES:
popularity noun
popularly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin popularis, from populus 'people' .

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popularize (also popularise)

verb
1. make popular.
2. make (something scientific or academic) accessible or interesting to the general public.

DERIVATIVES:
popularization noun
popularizer noun.

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populate

verb
1. form the population of.
2. cause people to settle in.

ORIGIN: Latin populare 'supply with people' .

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population

noun
1. all the inhabitants of a place.
2. a particular group within this.
3. the action of populating an area.
4. Biology a community of interbreeding organisms.

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populist

noun
a member or supporter of a political party who seeks to appeal to or represent the interests and views of ordinary people.

adjective
relating to populists.

DERIVATIVES:
populism noun.

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populous

adjective
having a large population.

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pop-up

noun
1. (of a book or greetings card) containing folded pictures that rise up to form a three-dimensional scene or figure when opened.
2. (of an electric toaster) operating so as to push up a piece of toast when it is ready.
3. Computing (of a menu or other utility) able to be superimposed on the screen being worked on and suppressed rapidly.

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porcelain

noun
1. a white vitrified translucent ceramic.
2. articles made of this.

ORIGIN: Italian porcellana 'cowrie shell' , hence 'chinaware' (from its resemblance to the polished surface of cowrie shells).

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porch

noun
1. a covered shelter projecting over the entrance of a building.
2. N. Amer. a veranda.

ORIGIN: Old French porche, from Latin porticus 'colonnade' .

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porcine

adjective
relating to or resembling a pig or pigs.

ORIGIN: Latin porcinus, from porcus 'pig' .

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porcupine

noun
a large rodent with defensive spines or quills on the body and tail.

ORIGIN: from Latin porcus 'pig' + spina 'thorn' .

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pore [1]

noun
a minute opening in the skin or other surface through which gases, liquids, or microscopic particles may pass.

ORIGIN: Greek poros 'passage, pore' .

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pore [2]

verb
1. (pore over/through) be absorbed in the reading or study of.
2. (pore on/over) archaic ponder.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to PEER.

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pork

noun
the flesh of a pig used as food, especially when uncured.

ORIGIN: Latin porcus 'pig' .

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porker

noun
1. a young pig raised and fattened for food.
2. informal, derogatory a fat person.

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pork pie

noun
a raised pie made with minced, cooked pork, eaten cold.

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pork-pie hat

noun
a hat with a flat crown and a brim turned up all round.

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porky

adjective (porkier, porkiest)
1. informal fleshy or fat.
2. of or resembling pork.

noun (pl. porkies) (also porky-pie) Brit. rhyming slang
a lie.

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porn (also porno) informal

noun
pornography.

adjective
pornographic.

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pornography

noun
printed or visual material intended to stimulate sexual excitement.

DERIVATIVES:
pornographer noun
pornographic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek pornographos 'writing about prostitutes' .

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porous

adjective
(of a rock or other material) having minute spaces through which liquid or air may pass.

DERIVATIVES:
porosity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin porus 'pore' .

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porphyry

noun (pl. porphyries)
a hard, typically reddish igneous rock containing crystals of feldspar.

ORIGIN: Greek porphurits, from porphura 'purple' .

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porpoise

noun
a small toothed whale with a blunt rounded snout.

ORIGIN: Old French porpois, from Latin porcus 'pig' + piscis 'fish' .

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porridge

noun
1. a dish consisting of oatmeal or another cereal boiled with water or milk.
2. Brit. informal time spent in prison.

ORIGIN: alteration of POTTAGE.

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port [1]

noun
1. a town or city with a harbour.
2. a harbour.

IDIOMS -
any port in a storm proverb in difficult circumstances one welcomes any source of relief or escape.
port of call a place where a ship or person stops on a journey.

ORIGIN: Latin portus 'harbour' .

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port [2] (also port wine)

noun
a sweet dark red fortified wine from Portugal.

ORIGIN: shortened form of Oporto, a port in Portugal from which the wine is shipped.

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port [3]

noun
the side of a ship or aircraft that is on the left when one is facing forward. The opposite of STARBOARD.

verb
turn (a ship or its helm) to port.

ORIGIN: probably originally the side turned towards the port.

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port [4]

noun
1. an opening in the side of a ship for boarding or loading.
2. a porthole.
3. an opening for the passage of steam, liquid, or gas.
4. an opening in the body of an aircraft or in a wall or armoured vehicle through which a gun may be fired.
5. Electronics a socket in a computer network into which a device can be plugged.

ORIGIN: Latin porta 'gate' .

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portable

adjective
1. able to be easily carried or moved.
2. (of a loan or pension) capable of being transferred or adapted.
3. Computing (of software) able to be ported.

noun
a portable object.

DERIVATIVES:
portability noun.

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portage

noun
1. the carrying of a boat or its cargo between two navigable waters.
2. a place at which this is necessary.

verb
carry (a boat or its cargo) between navigable waters.

ORIGIN: French, from porter 'carry' .

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portal

noun
1. a doorway, gate, or gateway, especially a large and imposing one.
2. Computing an Internet site providing a directory of links to other sites.

ORIGIN: from Latin porta 'door, gate' .

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portcullis

noun
a strong, heavy grating that can be lowered to block a gateway.

ORIGIN: from Old French porte coleice 'sliding door' .

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portend

verb
be a sign or warning that (something momentous or disastrous) is likely to happen.

ORIGIN: Latin portendere 'foretell, presage' .

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portent

noun
1. a sign or warning that something momentous or disastrous is likely to happen.
2. archaic an exceptional or wonderful person or thing.

ORIGIN: Latin portentum 'omen, token' .

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portentous

adjective
1. of or like a portent; ominous.
2. excessively solemn.

DERIVATIVES:
portentously adverb
portentousness noun.

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porter [1]

noun
1. a person employed to carry luggage and other loads.
2. a hospital employee who moves equipment or patients.
3. dark brown bitter beer brewed from charred or browned malt. [ORIGIN: so called because it was originally made for porters.]
4. N. Amer. a sleeping-car attendant.

DERIVATIVES:
porterage noun.

ORIGIN: Old French porteour, from Latin portare 'carry' .

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porter [2]

noun Brit.
an employee in charge of the entrance of a large building.

ORIGIN: Old French portier, from Latin porta 'gate, door' .

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portfolio

noun (pl. portfolios)
1. a thin, flat case for carrying drawings, maps, etc.
2. a set of pieces of creative work intended to demonstrate a person's ability.
3. a range of investments held.
4. the position and duties of a Minister or Secretary of State.

ORIGIN: Italian portafogli, from portare 'carry' + foglio 'leaf' .

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porthole

noun
1. a small window on the outside of a ship or aircraft.
2. historical an opening for firing a cannon through.

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portico

noun (pl. porticoes or porticos)
a roof supported by columns at regular intervals, typically attached as a porch to a building.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin porticus 'porch' .

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portion

noun
1. a part or a share.
2. an amount of food suitable for or served to one person.
3. archaic a person's destiny or lot.
4. archaic a dowry.

verb
1. divide into portions and share out.
2. archaic give a dowry to.

ORIGIN: Latin, from pro portione 'in proportion' .

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portly

adjective (portlier, portliest)
(especially of a man) rather fat.

DERIVATIVES:
portliness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «stately or dignified»: from PORT in the archaic sense 'bearing' .

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portmanteau

noun (pl. portmanteaus or portmanteaux)
1. a large travelling bag made of stiff leather and opening into two equal parts.
2. (before another noun ) consisting of two or more aspects or qualities: a portmanteau movie.

ORIGIN: French portemanteau, from porter 'carry' + manteau 'mantle' .

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portmanteau word

noun
a word blending the sounds and combining the meanings of two others, e.g. brunch from breakfast and lunch.

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portrait

noun
1. an artistic representation of a person, especially one depicting only the face or head and shoulders.
2. a written or filmed description.
3. a format of printed matter which is higher than it is wide. Compare with LANDSCAPE.

DERIVATIVES:
portraitist noun
portraiture noun.

ORIGIN: French, from Old French portraire 'portray' .

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portray

verb
1. depict in a work of art or literature.
2. describe in a particular way.
3. (of an actor) play the part of.

DERIVATIVES:
portrayal noun
portrayer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French portraire, from traire 'to draw' .

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Portuguese

noun (pl. same)
1. a person from Portugal.
2. the Romance language of Portugal and Brazil.

adjective
relating to Portugal.

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pose

verb
1. present or constitute (a problem, danger, question, etc.).
2. assume a particular position in order to be photographed, painted, or drawn.
3. (pose as) pretend to be.
4. behave affectedly in order to impress.

noun
1. a position assumed in order to be painted, drawn, or photographed.
2. a way of behaving adopted in order to impress or give a false impression.

ORIGIN: Old French poser, from Latin pausare 'to pause' .

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poser

noun
1. a person who poses; a poseur.
2. a puzzling question or problem.

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poseur

noun (fem. poseuse)
a person who behaves affectedly in order to impress.

ORIGIN: French.

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posh informal

adjective
1. elegant or stylishly luxurious.
2. chiefly Brit. upper-class.

adverb Brit.
in an upper-class way.

verb (posh up) Brit.
smarten (something) up.

DERIVATIVES:
poshly adverb
poshness noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from obsolete slang posh «a dandy»; there is no evidence for the well-known theory that posh is formed from the initials of port out starboard home (referring to the more comfortable accommodation, out of the heat of the sun, on ships between England and India).

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posit

verb (posited, positing)
1. put forward as fact or as a basis for argument.
2. put in position; place.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'placed' , from ponere.

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position

noun
1. a place where someone or something is located or has been put.
2. the correct place.
3. a way in which someone or something is placed or arranged.
4. a situation or set of circumstances.
5. high rank or social standing.
6. a job.
7. a point of view or attitude.
8. a place where part of a military force is posted.

verb
put or arrange in a particular position.

DERIVATIVES:
positional adjective
positionally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from ponere 'to place' .

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positive

adjective
1. characterized by the presence rather than the absence of distinguishing features.
2. expressing or implying affirmation, agreement, or permission.
3. constructive, optimistic, or confident.
4. with no possibility of doubt; certain.
5. (of a quantity) greater than zero.
6. of, containing, or producing the kind of electric charge opposite to that carried by electrons.
7. (of a photographic image) showing light and shade or colours true to the original.
8. Grammar (of an adjective or adverb) expressing a quality in its basic, primary degree. Contrasted with COMPARATIVE and SUPERLATIVE.

noun
a positive quality, attribute, or image.

DERIVATIVES:
positively adverb
positiveness noun
positivity noun.

ORIGIN: originally referring to laws as being formally «laid down»: from Old French positif, from Latin ponere 'to place' .

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positivism

noun Philosophy
a system recognizing only that which can be scientifically verified or logically proved, and therefore rejecting metaphysics and theism.

DERIVATIVES:
positivist noun & adjective
positivistic adjective.

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positron

noun Physics
a subatomic particle with the same mass as an electron and a numerically equal but positive charge.

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posse

noun
1. N. Amer. historical a body of men summoned by a sheriff to enforce the law.
2. (also posse comitatus) Brit. historical the men of a county forming a body whom the sheriff could summon to repress a riot or for other purposes. [ORIGIN: Latin comitatus 'of the county' .]
3. informal a group of people with a common characteristic, interest, or purpose.

ORIGIN: from Latin, 'be able' , later 'power' .

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possess

verb
1. have as property; own.
2. (also be possessed of) have as an ability, quality, or characteristic.
3. (of a demon or spirit) have complete power over.
4. (of an emotion, idea, etc.) dominate the mind of.

IDIOMS -
what possessed you? used to express surprise at an extremely unwise action.

DERIVATIVES:
possessor noun
possessory adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French possesser, from Latin possidere 'occupy, hold' .

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possession

noun
1. the state of possessing something.
2. a thing owned or possessed.
3. the state of being possessed by a demon, emotion, etc.
4. (in sport) temporary control of the ball by a player or team.

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possessive

adjective
1. demanding someone's total attention and love.
2. unwilling to share one's possessions.
3. Grammar expressing possession.

DERIVATIVES:
possessively adverb
possessiveness noun.

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possessive determiner

noun Grammar
a determiner indicating possession, for example my.

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possessive pronoun

noun Grammar
a pronoun indicating possession, for example mine.

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possibility

noun (pl. possibilities)
1. a thing that is possible.
2. the state or fact of being possible.
3. (possibilities) unspecified qualities of a promising nature.

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possible

adjective
1. capable of existing, happening, or being achieved.
2. that may be so, but that is not certain or probable.

noun
1. a possible candidate for a job or member of a team.
2. (the possible) that which is likely or achievable.

ORIGIN: Latin possibilis, from posse 'be able' .

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possibly

adverb
1. perhaps.
2. in accordance with what is possible.

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possum

noun
1. a tree-dwelling Australasian marsupial.
2. N. Amer. informal an opossum.

IDIOMS -
play possum
1. pretend to be unconscious or dead (as an opossum does when threatened).
2. feign ignorance.

ORIGIN: shortening of OPOSSUM.

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post [1]

noun
1. a long, sturdy, upright piece of timber or metal used as a support or a marker.
2. (the post) a starting post or winning post.

verb
1. display (a notice) in a public place.
2. announce or publish.
3. achieve or record (a particular score or result).

ORIGIN: Latin postis 'doorpost' .

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post [2]

noun chiefly Brit.
1. the official service or system that delivers letters and parcels.
2. letters and parcels delivered.
3. a single collection or delivery of post.

verb
1. chiefly Brit. send via the postal system.
2. (in bookkeeping) enter (an item) in a ledger.

IDIOMS -
keep posted keep (someone) informed of the latest developments or news.

ORIGIN: originally denoting one of a series of couriers who carried mail on horseback between stages: from French poste, from Latin ponere 'to place' .

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post [3]

noun
1. a place where someone is on duty or where an activity is carried out.
2. a job.

verb
1. station in a particular place.
2. send to a place to take up an appointment.

ORIGIN: Italian posto, from Latin ponere 'to place' .

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post-

prefix
after in time or order: post-date.

ORIGIN: Latin post 'after, behind' .

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postage

noun
1. the sending of letters and parcels by post.
2. the amount required to send something by post.

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postage stamp

noun
an adhesive stamp applied to a letter or parcel to indicate the amount of postage paid.

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postal

adjective
relating to or carried out by post.

IDIOMS -
go postal US informal go mad, especially from stress. [ORIGIN: with reference to cases in which postal employees have run amok and shot colleagues.]

DERIVATIVES:
postally adverb.

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postal order

noun Brit.
an order for payment of a specified sum to a named person, issued by the Post Office.

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postbox

noun
a large public box into which letters are posted for collection by the post office.

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postcard

noun
a card for sending a message by post without an envelope.

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postcode

noun Brit.
a group of letters and numbers added to a postal address to assist the sorting of mail.

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post-coital

adjective
occurring or done after sexual intercourse.

DERIVATIVES:
post-coitally adverb.

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post-date

verb
1. assign a date later than the actual one to (a document or event).
2. occur or come at a later date than.

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postdoctoral

adjective
(of research) undertaken after the completion of a doctorate.

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poster

noun
a large printed picture or notice used for decoration or advertisement.

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poste restante

noun Brit.
a department in a post office that keeps letters until they are collected by the person they are addressed to.

ORIGIN: French, 'mail remaining' .

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posterior

adjective
1. chiefly Anatomy further back in position; of or nearer the rear or hind end. The opposite of ANTERIOR.
2. formal coming after in time or order; later.

noun humorous
a person's buttocks.

ORIGIN: Latin, from posterus 'following' .

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posterity

noun
all future generations of people.

ORIGIN: Old French posterite, from Latin posterus 'following' .

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postern

noun
a back or side entrance.

ORIGIN: Old French posterne, from Latin posterus 'following' .

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postgraduate

adjective
relating to study undertaken after completing a first degree.

noun
a person engaged in postgraduate study.

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post-haste

adverb
with great speed.

ORIGIN: from the direction ‘haste, post, haste’, formerly given on letters.

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posthumous

adjective
occurring, awarded, or appearing after the death of the originator.

DERIVATIVES:
posthumously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin postumus 'last' , later associated with humus 'ground' .

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postilion (also postillion)

noun
the rider of the leading nearside horse of a team or pair drawing a coach, when there is no coachman.

ORIGIN: French postillon, from Italian postiglione 'post boy' .

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post-Impressionism

noun
a late 19th-century and early 20th-century style of art in which colour, line, and form were used to express the emotional response of the artist.

DERIVATIVES:
post-Impressionist noun & adjective.

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post-industrial

adjective
(of an economy or society) no longer relying on heavy industry.

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posting

noun chiefly Brit.
an appointment to a job, especially one abroad or in the armed forces.

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postman (or postwoman)

noun Brit.
a person who is employed to deliver or collect post.

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postmark

noun
an official mark stamped on a letter or parcel, giving the date of posting and cancelling the postage stamp.

verb
stamp with a postmark.

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postmaster (or postmistress)

noun
a person in charge of a post office.

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postmodernism

noun
a style and concept in the arts characterized by distrust of theories and ideologies and by the drawing of attention to conventions.

DERIVATIVES:
postmodern adjective
postmodernist noun & adjective
postmodernity noun.

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post-mortem

noun
1. an examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death.
2. an analysis of an event made after it has occurred.

adjective
happening after death.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'after death' .

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post-natal

adjective
occurring in or relating to the period after childbirth.

DERIVATIVES:
post-natally adverb.

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post office

noun
1. the public department or corporation responsible for postal services and (in some countries) telecommunications.
2. a building where postal business is transacted.

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post office box

noun
a numbered box in a post office where letters for a person or organization are kept until called for.

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postpone

verb
arrange for (something) to take place at a time later than that first scheduled.

DERIVATIVES:
postponement noun.

ORIGIN: Latin postponere, from post 'after' + ponere 'to place' .

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postprandial

adjective
1. formal or humorous during or relating to the period after a meal.
2. Medicine occurring after a meal.

ORIGIN: from Latin prandium 'a meal' .

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postscript

noun
an additional remark at the end of a letter, following the signature.

ORIGIN: Latin postscriptum, from postscribere 'write under, add' .

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postulant

noun
a candidate seeking admission into a religious order.

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postulate

verb
1. suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of (something) as a basis for reasoning or belief.
2. nominate or elect to an ecclesiastical office subject to the sanction of a higher authority.

noun
a thing postulated.

DERIVATIVES:
postulation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin postulare 'ask' .

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posture

noun
1. a particular position of the body.
2. the way in which a person holds their body.
3. an approach or attitude towards something.

verb
behave in a way that is intended to impress or mislead others.

DERIVATIVES:
postural adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin positura 'position' .

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posy

noun (pl. posies)
a small bunch of flowers.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «motto or line of verse inscribed inside a ring»: contraction of POESY.

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pot [1]

noun
1. a rounded or cylindrical container, especially one of ceramic, used for storage or cooking.
2. a flowerpot.
3. (the pot) the total sum of the bets made on a round in poker, brag, etc.
4. Billiards & Snooker a shot in which a player strikes a ball into a pocket.
5. (chiefly in rugby) an attempt to score a goal with a kick.

verb (potted, potting)
1. plant in a pot.
2. preserve (food) in a sealed pot or jar.
3. make pottery.
4. Billiards & Snooker strike (a ball) into a pocket.
5. score (a goal).
6. informal hit or kill by shooting.

IDIOMS -
go to pot informal deteriorate through neglect.
a watched pot never boils proverb time seems to drag endlessly when you're waiting anxiously for something to happen.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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pot [2]

noun informal
cannabis.

ORIGIN: probably from Mexican Spanish potiguaya 'cannabis leaves' .

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potable

adjective formal
drinkable.

DERIVATIVES:
potability noun.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin potare 'to drink' .

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potash

noun
an alkaline potassium compound, especially potassium carbonate or hydroxide.

ORIGIN: from pot-ashes, because originally obtained by leaching vegetable ashes and evaporating the solution in iron pots.

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potassium

noun
a soft silvery-white reactive metallic element of the alkali-metal group.

ORIGIN: from POTASH.

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potato

noun
a starchy plant tuber which is cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

ORIGIN: Spanish patata 'sweet potato' , from Taino (an extinct Caribbean language).

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pot belly

noun
a protruding stomach.

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potboiler

noun informal
a book, film, etc. produced purely to make the writer or artist a living by catering to popular taste.

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poteen

noun chiefly Irish
illicitly made whisky.

ORIGIN: from Irish fuisce poitín 'little pot of whisky' .

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potent

adjective
1. having great power, influence, or effect.
2. (of a male) able to achieve an erection or to reach an orgasm.

DERIVATIVES:
potency noun
potently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin posse 'be powerful, be able' .

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potentate

noun
a monarch or ruler.

ORIGIN: Latin potentatus 'dominion' .

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potential

adjective
having the capacity to develop into something in the future.

noun
1. qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness.
2. (often potential for/to do) the possibility of something happening or of someone doing something in the future.
3. Physics the quantity determining the energy of mass in a gravitational field or of charge in an electric field.

DERIVATIVES:
potentiality noun
potentially adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin potentialis, from potentia 'power' .

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potential energy

noun Physics
energy possessed by a body by virtue of its position or state. Compare with KINETIC ENERGY.

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potentiometer

noun
an instrument for measuring or adjusting an electromotive force.

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pothole

noun
1. a deep natural underground cave formed by the eroding action of water.
2. a hole in a road surface.

verb Brit.
explore underground potholes as a pastime.

DERIVATIVES:
potholed adjective
potholer noun
potholing noun.

ORIGIN: from dialect pot «pit».

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potion

noun
a liquid with healing, magical, or poisonous properties.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'drink, poisonous draught' , related to potare 'to drink' .

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pot luck

noun
the chance that whatever is available will prove to be good or acceptable.

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pot-pourri

noun (pl. pot-pourris)
1. a mixture of dried petals and spices placed in a bowl to perfume a room.
2. a mixture of things; a medley.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a stew made of different kinds of meat: from French, 'rotten pot' .

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potshot

noun
a shot aimed unexpectedly or at random.

ORIGIN: originally a shot at an animal intended for the pot, i.e. for food, rather than for display (which would require skilled shooting).

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pottage

noun archaic
soup or stew.

ORIGIN: Old French potage 'that which is put into a pot' ; compare with POTAGE and PORRIDGE.

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potted

adjective
1. grown or preserved in a pot.
2. (of an account) put into a short, accessible form.

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potter [1]

verb
1. occupy oneself in a leisurely but pleasant manner.
2. move or go in a casual, unhurried way.

noun
a spell of pottering.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «poke repeatedly»: from dialect pote «to push, kick, or poke».

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potter [2]

noun
a person who makes ceramic ware.

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potter's wheel

noun
a horizontal revolving disc on which wet clay is shaped into pots, bowls, etc.

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pottery

noun (pl. potteries)
1. articles made of fired clay.
2. the craft or profession of making such ware.
3. a factory or workshop where such ware is made.

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potting shed

noun
a shed used for potting plants and storing garden tools and supplies.

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potty [1]

adjective (pottier, pottiest) informal, chiefly Brit.
1. foolish; crazy.
2. extremely enthusiastic about someone or something.

DERIVATIVES:
pottiness noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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potty [2]

noun (pl. potties) informal
a receptacle for a child to urinate or defecate into.

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pouch

noun
1. a small flexible bag, typically carried in a pocket or attached to a belt.
2. a pocket-like receptacle in an animal's body, especially that in which marsupials carry their young.

verb
put, make, or form into a pouch.

DERIVATIVES:
pouched adjective
pouchy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French poche 'bag' .

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pouffe (also pouf)

noun
a cushioned footstool or low seat with no back.

ORIGIN: French.

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poulterer

noun Brit.
a dealer in poultry.

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poultice

noun
a soft moist mass of flour, plant material, etc., applied to the skin to relieve inflammation.

verb
apply a poultice to.

ORIGIN: from Latin puls 'pottage, pap' .

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poultry

noun
chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese; domestic fowl.

ORIGIN: Old French pouletrie, from poulet 'pullet' .

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pounce

verb
1. spring or swoop suddenly so as to seize or attack.
2. take swift advantage of a mistake or sign of weakness.

noun
an act of pouncing.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a tool for punching, later a claw or talon: origin uncertain.

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pound [1]

noun
1. a unit of weight equal to 16 oz avoirdupois (0.4536 kg), or 12 oz troy (0.3732 kg).
2. (also pound sterling) (pl. pounds sterling) the basic monetary unit of the UK, equal to 100 pence.
3. another term for PUNT.
4. the basic monetary unit of several Middle Eastern countries, equal to 100 piastres.
5. the basic monetary unit of Cyprus, equal to 100 cents.
6. a monetary unit of the Sudan, equal to one tenth of a dinar.

IDIOMS -
one's pound of flesh something to which one is strictly entitled, but which it is ruthless to demand. [ORIGIN: with allusion to Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice.]

DERIVATIVES:
pounder noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, from Latin libra pondo, denoting a Roman ‘pound weight’ of 12 ounces.

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pound [2]

verb
1. strike or hit heavily and repeatedly.
2. walk or run with heavy steps.
3. beat of throb with a strong regular rhythm.
4. (pound out) produce (a document or piece of music) with heavy strokes on a keyboard or instrument.
5. crush or grind into a powder or paste.
6. informal defeat resoundingly.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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pound [3]

noun
1. a place where stray dogs or illegally parked vehicles may officially be taken and kept until claimed.
2. archaic a trap or prison.

ORIGIN: uncertain.

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poundage

noun Brit.
1. a commission of a particular amount of the sum involved in a transaction.
2. a percentage of the total earnings of a business, paid as wages.
3. weight.

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pour

verb
1. flow or cause to flow in a steady stream.
2. (of rain) fall heavily.
3. prepare and serve (a drink).
4. come or go in a steady stream.
5. (pour out) express (one's feelings) in an unrestrained way.

IDIOMS -
it never rains but it pours proverb misfortunes or difficult situations tend to arrive all at the same time.
pour oil on troubled waters try to calm a dispute with placatory words.

DERIVATIVES:
pourer noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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pout

verb
push one's lips forward as an expression of petulant annoyance or in order to make oneself look sexually attractive.

noun
a pouting expression.

DERIVATIVES:
pouty adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Swedish dialect puta 'be inflated' .

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poverty

noun
1. the state of being extremely poor.
2. the state of being insufficient in amount.

ORIGIN: Old French poverte, from Latin pauper 'poor' .

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poverty trap

noun Brit.
a situation in which an increase in someone's income is offset by a consequent loss of state benefits.

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POW

abbreviation
prisoner of war.

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powder

noun
1. fine dry particles produced by the grinding, crushing, or disintegration of a solid substance.
2. a cosmetic in this form applied to a person's face.
3. dated a medicine in this form.
4. loose, dry, newly fallen snow.
5. gunpowder.

verb
1. sprinkle or cover with powder.
2. make into a powder.

IDIOMS -
keep one's powder dry remain cautious and alert.
take a powder N. Amer. informal depart quickly.

DERIVATIVES:
powdery adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French poudre, from Latin pulvis 'dust' .

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powder blue

noun
a soft, pale blue.

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powder keg

noun
1. a barrel of gunpowder.
2. a potentially explosive situation.

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powder puff

noun
a soft pad for applying powder to the face.

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powder room

noun euphemistic
a women's toilet in a public building.

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power

noun
1. the ability to do something or act in a particular way.
2. the capacity to influence other people or the course of events.
3. a right or authority given or delegated to a person or body.
4. political authority or control.
5. physical strength or force.
6. a country viewed in terms of its international influence and military strength: a world power.
7. capacity or performance of an engine or other device.
8. energy that is produced by mechanical, electrical, or other means.
9. Physics the rate of doing work, measured in watts or horse power.
10. Mathematics the product obtained when a number is multiplied by itself a certain number of times.

verb
1. supply with power.
2. (power up/down) switch (a device) on or off.
3. move or cause to move with speed or force.

IDIOMS -
do someone a power of good informal be very beneficial to someone.
the powers that be the authorities. [ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to Epistle to the Romans, chapter 13.]

DERIVATIVES:
powered adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French poeir, from Latin posse 'be able' .

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powerboat

noun
a fast motor boat.

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power cut

noun
a temporary withdrawal or failure of an electrical power supply.

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powerful

adjective
having power.

adverb chiefly dialect
very.

DERIVATIVES:
powerfully adverb.

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powerhouse

noun
a person or thing having great energy or power.

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powerless

adjective
without ability, influence, or power.

DERIVATIVES:
powerlessly adverb
powerlessness noun.

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power plant

noun
1. a power station.
2. an apparatus which provides power for a machine, building, etc.

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power station

noun
an installation where electrical power is generated.

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power steering

noun
steering aided by power from the vehicle's engine.

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powwow

noun
1. a North American Indian ceremony involving feasting and dancing.
2. informal a meeting for discussion among friends or colleagues.

verb informal
hold a powwow.

ORIGIN: Narragansett, 'magician' .

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pox

noun
1. any disease caused by a virus and producing a rash of pimples that become pus-filled and leave pockmarks on healing.
2. (the pox) historical smallpox.
3. (the pox) informal syphilis.

IDIOMS -
a pox on archaic expressing anger with someone.

ORIGIN: alteration of pocks, plural of POCK.

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poxy

adjective (poxier, poxiest) informal, chiefly Brit.
of poor quality; worthless.

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pp

abbreviation
1. (pp.) pages.
2. (also p.p.) per procurationem (used when signing a letter on someone else's behalf). [ORIGIN: from Latin, 'through the agency of' .]
3. Music pianissimo.

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PPE

abbreviation
philosophy, politics, and economics.

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ppm

abbreviation
1. part(s) per million.
2. Computing page(s) per minute.

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PPS

abbreviation
1. post (additional) postscript.
2. Brit. Parliamentary Private Secretary.

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PPV

abbreviation
pay-per-view.

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PR

abbreviation
1. proportional representation.
2. public relations.

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Pr

symbol
the chemical element praseodymium.

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practicable

adjective
able to be done or put into practice successfully.

DERIVATIVES:
practicability noun
practicably adverb.
USAGE - Although they are related, practicable and practical do not mean exactly the same thing: practicable means ‘able to be done successfully’, whereas the closest senses of practical are ‘likely to be effective, feasible’ and ‘suitable for a particular purpose’.

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practical

adjective
1. of or concerned with practice rather than theory.
2. likely to be effective in real circumstances; feasible.
3. suitable for a particular purpose.
4. realistic in approach.
5. skilled at manual tasks.
6. so nearly the case that it can be regarded as so; virtual.

noun Brit.
an examination or lesson involving the practical application of theories and procedures.

ORIGIN: from Greek praktikos 'concerned with action' .

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practicality

noun (pl. practicalities)
1. the quality or state of being practical.
2. (practicalities) the aspects of a situation that involve action or experience rather than theories or ideas.

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practical joke

noun
a trick played on someone in order to make them look foolish and to amuse others.

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practically

adverb
1. in a practical way.
2. virtually; almost.

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practice [1]

noun
1. the actual application of a plan or method, as opposed to the theories relating to it.
2. the customary way of doing something.
3. the practising of a profession.
4. the business or premises of a doctor or lawyer.
5. the action or process of practising something so as to become proficient in it.

verb US see PRACTICE.
USAGE - It should be noted that practice is the spelling for the noun, and in America for the verb as well; practise is the British spelling of the verb.
ORIGIN: from PRACTISE, on the pattern of pairs such as advise, advice.

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practice [2] (Brit. practise)

verb
1. perform (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly in order to improve or maintain proficiency in it.
2. carry out or perform (an activity or custom) habitually or regularly.
3. be engaged in (a particular profession).
4. observe the teaching and rules of (a religion).
5. archaic scheme or plot for an evil purpose.

ORIGIN: Old French practiser, from Latin practicare 'perform, carry out' .

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practise (US practice)

verb
1. perform (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly in order to improve or maintain proficiency in it.
2. carry out or perform (an activity or custom) habitually or regularly.
3. be engaged in (a particular profession).
4. observe the teaching and rules of (a religion).
5. archaic scheme or plot for an evil purpose.

ORIGIN: Old French practiser, from Latin practicare 'perform, carry out' .

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practitioner

noun
a person engaged in an art, discipline, or profession, especially medicine.

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pragmatic

adjective
1. dealing with things in a practical rather than theoretical way.
2. relating to philosophical or political pragmatism.

DERIVATIVES:
pragmatically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek pragmatikos 'relating to fact' .

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pragmatism

noun
1. a pragmatic attitude or policy.
2. Philosophy an approach that evaluates theories or beliefs in terms of the success of their practical application.

DERIVATIVES:
pragmatist noun.

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prairie

noun
(in North America) a large open area of grassland.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin pratum 'meadow' .

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praise

verb
1. express warm approval of or admiration for.
2. express respect and gratitude towards (a deity).

noun
1. the expression of approval or admiration.
2. the expression of respect and gratitude as an act of worship.

IDIOMS -
praise be expressing relief, joy, or gratitude.

ORIGIN: Old French preisier 'to prize, praise' , from Latin pretium 'price' .

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praiseworthy

adjective
deserving of praise.

DERIVATIVES:
praiseworthily adverb
praiseworthiness noun.

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praline

noun
a smooth sweet substance made from nuts boiled in sugar, used as a filling for chocolates.

ORIGIN: named after Marshal de Plessis-Praslin (1598 1675), the French soldier whose cook invented it.

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pram

noun Brit.
a four-wheeled carriage for a baby, pushed by a person on foot.

ORIGIN: contraction of PERAMBULATOR.

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prance

verb
1. (of a horse) move with high springy steps.
2. walk with ostentatious, exaggerated movements.

noun
an act of prancing.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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prang Brit. informal

verb
crash (a motor vehicle or aircraft).

noun
a collision or crash.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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prank

noun
a practical joke or mischievous act.

DERIVATIVES:
prankish adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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prankster

noun
a person fond of playing pranks.

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prat

noun informal
1. Brit. an incompetent or stupid person.
2. a person's bottom.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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prate

verb
talk foolishly or at tedious length.

ORIGIN: from Dutch or Low German praten, probably imitative.

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pratfall

noun informal
a fall on to one's bottom.

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prattle

verb
talk at length in a foolish or inconsequential way.

noun
foolish or inconsequential talk.

ORIGIN: Low German pratelen, related to PRATE.

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prawn

noun
a marine crustacean which resembles a large shrimp.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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praxis

noun
1. practice, as distinguished from theory.
2. custom.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'doing' .

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pray

verb
1. address a prayer to God or another deity.
2. wish or hope earnestly for a particular outcome.

adverb formal or archaic
used in polite requests or questions: pray continue.

ORIGIN: Old French preier, from Latin precari 'entreat' .

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prayer

noun
1. a request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or another deity.
2. (prayers) a religious service at which people gather to pray together.
3. an earnest hope or wish.

IDIOMS -
not have a prayer informal have no chance.

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prayerful

adjective
1. characterized by the use of prayer.
2. given to praying; devout.

DERIVATIVES:
prayerfully adverb.

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pre-

prefix
before (in time, place, order, degree, or importance): pre-adolescent.

ORIGIN: from Latin prae-.

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preach

verb
1. deliver a religious address to an assembled group of people.
2. earnestly advocate (a principle).
3. (preach at) give moral advice to (someone) in a self-righteous way.

DERIVATIVES:
preacher noun.

ORIGIN: Old French prechier, from Latin praedicare 'proclaim' .

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preachy

adjective
giving moral advice in a self-righteous way.

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preamble

noun
a preliminary statement; an introduction.

ORIGIN: Old French preambule, from Latin praeambulus 'going before' .

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pre-arrange

verb
arrange or agree in advance.

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prebendary

noun (pl. prebendaries)
1. an honorary canon.
2. historical a canon whose income came from a prebend.

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Precambrian

adjective Geology
relating to the earliest aeon of the earth's history, preceding the Cambrian period and ending about 570 million years ago, a time when living organisms first appeared.

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precarious

adjective
1. not securely held or in position; likely to fall.
2. dependent on chance; uncertain.

DERIVATIVES:
precariously adverb
precariousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin precarius 'obtained by entreaty' , from prex 'prayer' .

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precast

adjective
(especially of concrete) cast in its final shape before positioning.

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precaution

noun
1. a measure taken in advance to prevent something undesirable from happening.
2. (precautions) informal contraception.

DERIVATIVES:
precautionary adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from praecavere 'beware of in advance' .

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precede

verb
1. come or go before in time, order, or position.
2. (precede with) preface or introduce (something) with.

DERIVATIVES:
preceding adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin praecedere 'go before' .

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precedence

noun
1. the condition of preceding others in importance, order, or rank.
2. an acknowledged or legally determined right to such precedence.

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precedent

noun
1. an earlier event or action serving as an example or guide.
2. Law a previous case or legal decision that may or must be followed in subsequent similar cases.

adjective
preceding in time, order, or importance.

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precentor

noun
1. a person who leads a congregation in its singing or (in a synagogue) prayers.
2. a minor canon who administers the musical life of a cathedral.

ORIGIN: Latin praecentor, from praecinere 'sing before' .

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precept

noun
1. a general rule regulating behaviour or thought.
2. a writ or warrant.
3. Brit. an order issued by one local authority to another specifying the rate of tax to be charged on its behalf.

ORIGIN: Latin praeceptum 'something advised' .

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precession

noun
1. the slow movement of the axis of a spinning body around another axis.
2. Astronomy the slow retrograde motion of the equinoctial points along the ecliptic, resulting in the earlier occurrence of equinoxes each year.

DERIVATIVES:
precess verb
precessional adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin praecedere 'go before' .

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precinct

noun
1. the area within the walls or boundaries of a place.
2. an enclosed or defined area of ground around a cathedral, church, or college.
3. Brit. a specially designated area in a town, especially one closed to traffic.
4. N. Amer. a district of a city or town as defined for policing or electoral purposes.

ORIGIN: Latin praecinctum, from praecingere 'encircle' .

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precious

adjective
1. having great value.
2. greatly loved or treasured.
3. ironic considerable: a precious lot you know!
4. derogatory affectedly concerned with elegant or refined language or manners.

IDIOMS -
precious little (or few) informal extremely little (or few).

DERIVATIVES:
preciously adverb
preciousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin pretiosus, from pretium 'price' .

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precious metal

noun
a valuable metal such as gold, silver, or platinum.

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precious stone

noun
a highly attractive and valuable piece of mineral, used in jewellery.

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precipice

noun
a tall and very steep rock face or cliff.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «headlong fall»: from Latin praecipitium, from praeceps 'steep, headlong' .

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precipitate

verb
1. cause (something bad) to happen unexpectedly or prematurely.
2. cause to move suddenly and with force.
3. Chemistry cause (a substance) to be deposited in solid form from a solution.
4. cause (moisture or dust) to be deposited from the atmosphere or from a vapour or suspension.

adjective
done, acting, or occurring suddenly or without careful consideration.

noun Chemistry
a substance precipitated from a solution.

DERIVATIVES:
precipitately adverb
precipitator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin praecipitare 'throw headlong' .

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precipitation

noun
1. rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to or condenses on the ground.
2. Chemistry the action or process of precipitating.
3. archaic sudden and unthinking action.

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precipitous

adjective
1. dangerously high or steep.
2. (of a change in a condition or situation) sudden and dramatic.
3. hasty; precipitate.

DERIVATIVES:
precipitously adverb.

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precis

noun (pl. same)
a summary of a text or speech.

verb (precises, precised, precising)
make a precis of.

ORIGIN: from French, 'precise' .

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precise

adjective
1. marked by exactness of expression or detail.
2. very attentive to detail.
3. exact; particular: at that precise moment.

DERIVATIVES:
precisely adverb
preciseness noun.
USAGE - Strictly speaking, precise does not mean the same as accurate. Accurate means ‘correct in all details’, while precise contains a notion of trying to specify details exactly: if you say ‘It's 4.04 and 12 seconds’ you are being precise, but not necessarily accurate (your watch might be slow).
ORIGIN: Old French prescis, from Latin praecidere 'cut short' .

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precision

noun
1. the quality or condition of being precise.
2. (before another noun ) very accurate: a precision instrument.

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preclude

verb
prevent (something) from happening or (someone) from doing something.

DERIVATIVES:
preclusion noun.

ORIGIN: Latin praecludere 'shut off, impede' .

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precocious

adjective
having developed certain abilities or inclinations at an earlier age than usual.

DERIVATIVES:
precociously adverb
precociousness noun
precocity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin praecox, from praecoquere 'ripen fully' .

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precognition

noun
foreknowledge of an event, especially through supposed paranormal means.

DERIVATIVES:
precognitive adjective.

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preconceived

adjective
(of an idea or opinion) formed before having evidence for its truth or usefulness.

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preconception

noun
a preconceived idea or prejudice.

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precondition

noun
a condition that must be fulfilled before other things can happen or be done.

verb
bring into a desired or necessary state beforehand.

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precursor

noun
a person or thing that comes before another of the same kind.

DERIVATIVES:
precursory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin praecursor, from praecurrere 'precede' .

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pre-date

verb
exist or occur at a date earlier than.

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predator

noun
1. an animal that preys on others.
2. a person who exploits others.

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predatory

adjective
1. (of an animal) naturally preying on others.
2. seeking to exploit others.

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predecease

verb formal
die before (another person).

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predecessor

noun
1. a person who held a job or office before the current holder.
2. a thing that has been followed or replaced by another.

ORIGIN: Latin praedecessor, from prae 'beforehand' + decessor 'retiring officer' .

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predestination

noun
(in Christian theology) the doctrine, associated particularly with Calvinism, that God has ordained all that will happen.

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predestine

verb
1. (of God) destine (someone) for a particular fate or purpose.
2. determine (an outcome) in advance by divine will or fate.

DERIVATIVES:
predestined adjective.

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predetermine

verb
1. establish or decide in advance.
2. predestine.

DERIVATIVES:
predetermination noun.

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predeterminer

noun Grammar
a word or phrase that occurs before a determiner, for example both or a lot of.

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predicament

noun
1. a difficult situation.
2. Philosophy each of the ten categories in Aristotelian logic.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «category», later «state of being»: from Latin praedicamentum 'something predicated' .

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predicate

noun
1. Grammar the part of a sentence or clause containing a verb and stating something about the subject (e.g. went home in John went home).
2. Logic something which is affirmed or denied concerning an argument of a proposition.

verb
1. Grammar & Logic assert (something) about the subject of a sentence or an argument of proposition.
2. (predicate on/upon) found or base (something) on.

DERIVATIVES:
predication noun.

ORIGIN: Latin praedicatum, from praedicare 'make known beforehand, declare' .

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predicative

adjective
1. Grammar (of an adjective or noun) forming or contained in the predicate, as old in the dog is old (but not in the old dog). Contrasted with ATTRIBUTIVE.
2. Logic acting as a predicate.

DERIVATIVES:
predicatively adverb.

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predict

verb
state that (a specified event) will happen in the future.

DERIVATIVES:
predictive adjective
predictor noun.

ORIGIN: Latin praedicere 'make known beforehand, declare' .

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predictable

adjective
1. able to be predicted.
2. derogatory always behaving or occurring in the way expected.

DERIVATIVES:
predictability noun
predictably adverb.

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prediction

noun
1. a thing predicted; a forecast.
2. the action of predicting.

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predilection

noun
a preference or special liking for something.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin praediligere 'prefer' .

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predispose

verb
make liable or inclined to a specified attitude, action, or condition.

DERIVATIVES:
predisposition noun.

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predominant

adjective
1. present as the strongest or main element.
2. having the greatest control or power.

DERIVATIVES:
predominance noun
predominantly adverb.

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predominate

verb
1. be the strongest or main element.
2. have or exert control or power.

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pre-eminent

adjective
surpassing all others.

DERIVATIVES:
pre-eminence noun
pre-eminently adverb.

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pre-empt

verb
1. take action in order to prevent (something) happening or (someone) from doing something.
2. obtain or take in advance.

DERIVATIVES:
pre-emptive adjective
pre-emptor noun.

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preen

verb
1. (of a bird) tidy and clean its feathers with its beak.
2. devote effort to making oneself look attractive.
3. (preen oneself) congratulate or pride oneself.

ORIGIN: probably related to obsolete prune, from Latin ungere 'anoint' .

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prefab

noun informal
a prefabricated building.

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preface

noun
1. an introduction to a book, stating its subject, scope, or aims.
2. the preliminary part of a speech.

verb
1. provide with a preface.
2. (preface with/by) begin (a speech or event) with or by doing something.

DERIVATIVES:
prefatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin praefari 'speak before' .

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prefect

noun
1. chiefly Brit. a senior pupil authorized to enforce discipline in a school.
2. a chief officer, magistrate, or regional governor in certain countries.

DERIVATIVES:
prefectoral adjective
prefectorial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin praefectus, from praeficere 'set in authority over' .

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prefecture

noun
1. a district under the government of a prefect.
2. a prefect's office, tenure, or residence.

DERIVATIVES:
prefectural adjective.

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prefer

verb (preferred, preferring)
1. like (someone or something) better than another or others; tend to choose.
2. formal submit (a charge or information) for consideration.
3. archaic promote to a prestigious position.

ORIGIN: Latin praeferre 'bear or carry before' .

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preferable

adjective
more desirable or suitable.

DERIVATIVES:
preferability noun.

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preferably

adverb
ideally; if possible.

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preference

noun
1. a greater liking for one alternative over another or others.
2. a thing preferred.
3. favour shown to one person over another or others.

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preferential

adjective
1. of or involving preference or partiality.
2. (of a creditor) having a claim for repayment which will be met before those of other creditors.

DERIVATIVES:
preferentially adverb.

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preferment

noun
promotion or appointment to a position or office.

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prefigure

verb
1. be an early indication or version of.
2. archaic imagine beforehand.

DERIVATIVES:
prefiguration noun
prefigurative adjective
prefigurement noun.

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prefix

noun
1. a word, letter, or number placed before another.
2. an element placed at the beginning of a word to alter its meaning (e.g. non-, re-) or (in some languages) as an inflection.
3. a title placed before a name (e.g. Mr).

verb
1. add as a prefix.
2. add a prefix to.

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pregnancy

noun (pl. pregnancies)
the condition or period of being pregnant.

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pregnant

adjective
1. (of a woman or female animal) having a child or young developing in the uterus.
2. full of meaning or significance.

ORIGIN: Latin praegnans, probably from prae 'before' + the base of gnasci 'be born' .

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prehensile

adjective
(chiefly of an animal's limb or tail) capable of grasping.

ORIGIN: from Latin prehendere 'to grasp' .

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prehistoric

adjective
relating to prehistory.

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prehistory

noun
1. the period of time before written records.
2. the events or conditions leading up to a particular phenomenon.

DERIVATIVES:
prehistorian noun.

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pre-industrial

adjective
before industrialization.

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prejudge

verb
form a judgement on (an issue or person) prematurely and without having adequate information.

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prejudice

noun
1. preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or experience.
2. unjust behaviour formed on such a basis.
3. chiefly Law harm that may result from some action or judgement.

verb
1. give rise to prejudice in (someone); make biased.
2. chiefly Law cause harm to (a state of affairs).

IDIOMS -
without prejudice Law without detriment to any existing right or claim.

ORIGIN: Latin praejudicium, from prae 'in advance' + judicium 'judgement' .

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prejudicial

adjective
harmful to someone or something.

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prelate

noun formal or historical
a bishop or other high ecclesiastical dignitary.

ORIGIN: Latin praelatus 'civil dignitary' .

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preliminary

adjective
preceding or done in preparation for something fuller or more important.

noun (pl. preliminaries)
1. a preliminary action or event.
2. a preliminary round in a sporting competition.

ORIGIN: Latin praeliminaris, from prae 'before' + limen 'threshold' .

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prelude

noun
1. an action or event serving as an introduction to something more important.
2. a piece of music serving as an introduction to a longer piece.
3. the introductory part of a poem or other literary work.

verb
serve as a prelude or introduction to.

ORIGIN: Latin praeludium, from praeludere 'play beforehand' .

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premarital

adjective
occurring or existing before marriage.

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premature

adjective
1. occurring or done before the proper time.
2. (of a baby) born before the end of the full term of gestation.

DERIVATIVES:
prematurely adverb
prematurity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin praematurus 'very early' .

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premeditated

adjective
(of an action, especially a crime) planned in advance.

DERIVATIVES:
premeditation noun.

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premenstrual

adjective
of, occurring, or experienced before menstruation.

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premenstrual syndrome

noun
a complex of symptoms (including emotional tension and fluid retention) experienced by some women prior to menstruation.

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premier

adjective
first in importance, order, or position.

noun
a Prime Minister or other head of government.

DERIVATIVES:
premiership noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin primarius 'principal' .

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premiere

noun
the first performance of a musical or theatrical work or the first showing of a film.

verb
give the premiere of.

ORIGIN: French, feminine of premier (see PREMIER).

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premise

noun (Brit. also premiss)
1. Logic a previous statement from which another is inferred.
2. an underlying assumption.

verb (premise on/upon)
base (an argument, theory, etc.) on.

ORIGIN: Old French premisse, from Latin. praemissa propositio 'proposition set in front' .

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premises

plural noun
a house or building, together with its land and outbuildings, occupied by a business or considered in an official context.

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premium

noun (pl. premiums)
1. an amount paid for a contract of insurance.
2. a sum added to an ordinary price or other payment.
3. (before another noun ) (of a commodity) superior and more expensive.

IDIOMS -
at a premium
1. scarce and in demand.
2. above the usual price.
put (or place) a premium on regard as particularly valuable.

ORIGIN: Latin praemium 'booty, reward' , from prae 'before' + emere 'buy, take' .

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Premium Bond (also Premium Savings Bond)

noun
(in the UK) a government security offering no interest or capital gain but entered in regular draws for cash prizes.

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premolar (also premolar tooth)

noun
a tooth situated between the canines and molar teeth.

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premonition

noun
a strong feeling that something is about to happen.

DERIVATIVES:
premonitory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from praemonere 'forewarn' .

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prenatal

adjective
before birth.

DERIVATIVES:
prenatally adverb.

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preoccupation

noun
1. the state of being preoccupied.
2. a matter that preoccupies someone.

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preoccupy

verb (preoccupies, preoccupied)
dominate the mind of (someone) to the exclusion of other thoughts.

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prep

noun informal
1. Brit. (especially in a private school) school work done outside lessons.
2. a period set aside for this.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of PREPARATION.

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pre-packed (also pre-packaged)

adjective
(of goods) packed or wrapped on the site of production or before sale.

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preparation

noun
1. the action of preparing or the state of being prepared.
2. something done to prepare for an event or undertaking.
3. a specially made up substance, especially a medicine or food.

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preparatory

adjective
1. serving as or carrying out preparation.
2. Brit. relating to education in a preparatory school.

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preparatory school

noun
1. Brit. a private school for pupils between the ages of seven and thirteen.
2. N. Amer. a private school that prepares pupils for college or university.

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prepare

verb
1. make ready for use or consideration.
2. make or get ready to do or deal with something.
3. (be prepared to do) be willing to do.
4. make (a substance) by chemical reaction.

DERIVATIVES:
preparer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin praeparare, from prae 'before' + parare 'make ready' .

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preparedness

noun
a state of readiness, especially for war.

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prepay

verb (past and past part. prepaid)
pay for in advance.

DERIVATIVES:
prepayment noun.

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preponderant

adjective
predominant in influence, number, or importance.

DERIVATIVES:
preponderance noun
preponderantly adverb.

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preponderate

verb
be preponderant.

ORIGIN: Latin praeponderare 'weigh more' .

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preposition

noun Grammar
a word governing a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element, as in ‘she arrived after dinner’ and ‘what did you do it for?’.

DERIVATIVES:
prepositional adjective.

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prepossessing

adjective
attractive or appealing in appearance.

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preposterous

adjective
utterly absurd or ridiculous.

DERIVATIVES:
preposterously adverb
preposterousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin praeposterus 'reversed, absurd' .

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pre-pubescent

adjective
relating to or in the period preceding puberty.

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prepuce

noun Anatomy
1. technical term for FORESKIN.
2. the fold of skin surrounding the clitoris.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin praeputium.

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prequel

noun
a story or film containing events which precede those of an existing work.

ORIGIN: from PRE- + SEQUEL.

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Pre-Raphaelite

noun
a member of a group of English 19th-century artists who sought to emulate the style of Italian artists from before the time of Raphael.

adjective
1. relating to the Pre-Raphaelites.
2. (of women) suggesting Pre-Raphaelite painting in appearance, typically with long auburn hair and pale skin.

DERIVATIVES:
Pre-Raphaelitism noun.

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prerequisite

adjective
required as a prior condition.

noun
a prerequisite thing.

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prerogative

noun
1. a right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class.
2. (in UK law) the right of the sovereign, theoretically unrestricted but usually delegated to government or the judiciary.

ORIGIN: Latin praerogativa 'the verdict of the political division which was chosen to vote first in the assembly' .

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presage

verb
be a sign or warning of (an imminent event).

noun
an omen or portent.

ORIGIN: Latin praesagire 'forebode' .

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Presbyterian

adjective
relating to a Protestant Church or denomination governed by elders all of equal rank.

noun
a member of a Presbyterian Church.

DERIVATIVES:
Presbyterianism noun.

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presbytery

noun (pl. presbyteries)
1. (treated as sing. or pl. ) a body of Church elders.
2. the house of a Roman Catholic parish priest.
3. chiefly Architecture the eastern part of a church chancel.

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prescient

adjective
having knowledge of events before they take place.

DERIVATIVES:
prescience noun
presciently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin praescire 'know beforehand' .

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prescribe

verb
1. recommend and authorize the use of (a medicine or treatment).
2. state authoritatively that (an action or procedure) should be carried out.
USAGE - On the confusion between prescribe and proscribe, see the note at PROSCRIBE.
ORIGIN: Latin praescribere 'direct in writing' .

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prescription

noun
1. an instruction written by a medical practitioner authorizing a patient to be issued with a medicine or treatment.
2. the action of prescribing.
3. an authoritative recommendation or ruling.
4. (also positive prescription) Law the establishment of a claim founded on the basis of long usage or custom.

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prescriptive

adjective
1. relating to the imposition of a rule or method.
2. (of a right, title, etc.) legally established by long usage.

DERIVATIVES:
prescriptivism noun
prescriptivist noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin praescriptivus 'relating to a legal exception' , from praescribere 'direct in writing' .

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presence

noun
1. the state or fact of being present.
2. the impressive manner or appearance of a person.
3. a person or thing that is present but not seen.
4. a group of soldiers or police stationed in a particular place: the USA would maintain a presence in the region.

IDIOMS -
make one's presence felt have a strong influence on a situation.
presence of mind the ability to remain calm and take quick, sensible action in the face of sudden difficulty.

ORIGIN: Latin praesentia 'being at hand' .

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present [1]

adjective
1. being or occurring in a particular place.
2. existing or occurring now.
3. Grammar (of a tense or participle) expressing an action now going on or habitually performed, or a condition now existing.

noun
1. (the present) the period of time now occurring.
2. Grammar a present tense or form of a verb.

IDIOMS -
at present now.
for the present for now; temporarily.
these presents Law, formal this document.

ORIGIN: Latin praesens 'being at hand' , from praeesse 'be before' .

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present [2]

verb
1. give formally or ceremonially.
2. offer for acceptance or consideration.
3. formally introduce (someone) to someone else.
4. put (a show or exhibition) before the public.
5. introduce and appear in (a television or radio show).
6. be the cause of (a problem).
7. exhibit (a particular appearance) to others.
8. (present oneself) appear formally before others.
9. (present with) Medicine (of a patient) come forward for medical examination for (a particular condition or symptom).

IDIOMS -
present arms hold a rifle vertically in front of the body as a salute.

ORIGIN: Latin praesentare 'place before' .

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presentable

adjective
clean, smart, or decent enough to be seen in public.

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presentation

noun
1. the action or an instance of presenting or being presented.
2. the manner or style in which something is presented.

DERIVATIVES:
presentational adjective
presentationally adverb.

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presenter

noun
a person who introduces and appears in a television or radio programme.

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presentiment

noun
an intuitive feeling or foreboding about the future.

ORIGIN: obsolete French présentiment, from Latin praesentientire 'perceive beforehand' .

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presently

adverb
1. after a short time; soon.
2. at the present time; now.

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present participle

noun Grammar
the form of a verb, ending in -ing in English, which is used in forming continuous tenses (e.g. I'm thinking), as a noun (e.g. good thinking), and as an adjective (e.g. running water).

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preservation

noun
1. the action of preserving.
2. the state of being preserved, especially to a specified degree.

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preservative

noun
a substance used to preserve foodstuffs or other materials against decay.

adjective
acting to preserve something.

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preserve

verb
1. maintain in its original or existing state.
2. keep safe from harm or injury.
3. keep alive (a memory or quality).
4. treat (food) to prevent its decomposition.
5. prepare (fruit) for long-term storage by boiling it with sugar.

noun
1. a foodstuff made with fruit preserved in sugar.
2. something regarded as reserved for a particular person or group.
3. a place where game is protected and kept for private hunting.

DERIVATIVES:
preservable adjective
preserver noun.

ORIGIN: Latin praeservare, from prae- 'before' + servare 'to keep' .

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preset

verb (presetting; past and past part. preset)
set (a value that controls the operation of a device) in advance of its use.

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preside

verb
1. be in a position of authority in a meeting, court, etc.
2. (preside over) be in charge of (a situation).

ORIGIN: Latin praesidere, from prae 'before' + sedere 'sit' .

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presidency

noun (pl. presidencies)
1. the office or status of president.
2. the period of this.

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president

noun
1. the elected head of a republican state.
2. the head of a society, council, or other organization.
3. Christian Church the celebrant at a Eucharist.

DERIVATIVES:
presidential adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin praesidere 'preside' .

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presidium (also praesidium)

noun
a standing executive committee in a communist country.

ORIGIN: Russian prezidium, from Latin praesidere 'preside' .

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press [1]

verb
1. move into a position of contact with something by exerting continuous physical force.
2. exert continuous physical force on (something), especially to operate a device.
3. apply pressure to (something) to flatten or shape it.
4. move in a specified direction by pushing.
5. (press on/ahead) continue in one's action.
6. forcefully put forward (an opinion or claim).
7. make strong efforts to persuade or force to do something.
8. extract (juice or oil) by crushing or squeezing fruit, vegetables, etc.
9. (of time) be short.
10. (be pressed to do) have difficulty doing.
11. Weightlifting raise (a weight) by gradually pushing it upwards from the shoulders.

noun
1. a device for applying pressure in order to flatten or shape something or to extract juice or oil.
2. a printing press.
3. (the press) (treated as sing. or pl. ) newspapers or journalists collectively.
4. coverage in newspapers and magazines.
5. a printing or publishing business.
6. a closely packed mass of people or things.

IDIOMS -
go to press go to be printed.
press (the) flesh informal, chiefly N. Amer. greet people by shaking hands.

ORIGIN: Latin pressare 'keep pressing' .

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press [2]

verb
1. (press into) put to a specified use, especially as a makeshift measure.
2. historical force to enlist in the army or navy.

ORIGIN: alteration of obsolete prest «pay given on enlistment» (by association with PRESS), from Latin praestare 'provide' .

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press conference

noun
a meeting held with journalists in order to make an announcement or answer questions.

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press gang

noun historical
a body of men employed to enlist men forcibly into service in the army or navy.

verb (press-gang)
force into service.

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pressing

adjective
1. requiring quick or immediate action or attention.
2. expressing something strongly or persistently.

noun
an object made by moulding under pressure.

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press release

noun
an official statement issued to journalists.

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press stud

noun Brit.
a small fastener engaged by pressing its two halves together.

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press-up

noun Brit.
an exercise in which a person lies facing the floor and raises their body by pressing down on their hands.

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pressure

noun
1. the continuous physical force exerted on or against an object by something in contact with it.
2. the use of persuasion or intimidation to make someone do something.
3. a feeling of stressful urgency.
4. the force per unit area exerted by a fluid against a surface.

verb
attempt to persuade or coerce into doing something.

ORIGIN: Latin pressura, from pressare 'to press' .

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pressure cooker

noun
an airtight pot in which food can be cooked quickly under steam pressure.

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pressure group

noun
a group that tries to influence public policy in the interest of a particular cause.

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pressurize (also pressurise)

verb
1. produce or maintain raised pressure artificially in.
2. attempt to persuade or coerce into doing something.

DERIVATIVES:
pressurization noun.

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prestidigitation

noun formal
sleight of hand performed as entertainment.

DERIVATIVES:
prestidigitator noun.

ORIGIN: French, from preste 'nimble' + Latin digitus 'finger' .

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prestige

noun
respect and admiration attracted through a perception of high achievements or quality.

DERIVATIVES:
prestigious adjective.

ORIGIN: French, 'illusion, glamour' .

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presto

adverb & adjective Music
in a quick tempo.

exclamation (Brit. also hey presto)
announcing the successful completion of a conjuring trick or other surprising achievement.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'quick, quickly' .

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prestressed

adjective
strengthened by the application of stress during manufacture, especially (of concrete) by means of tensioned rods or wires inserted before setting.

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presumably

adverb
as may reasonably be presumed.

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presume

verb
1. suppose that something is probably the case.
2. take for granted.
2. be arrogant enough to do something.
4. (presume on/upon) unjustifiably regard (something) as entitling one to privileges.

DERIVATIVES:
presumable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin praesumere 'anticipate' .

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presumption

noun
1. an act or instance of presuming something to be the case.
2. an idea that is presumed to be true.
3. arrogant or disrespectful behaviour.
4. chiefly Law an attitude adopted towards something in the absence of contrary factors.

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presumptuous

adjective
failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate.

DERIVATIVES:
presumptuously adverb
presumptuousness noun.

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presuppose

verb
1. require as a precondition of possibility or coherence.
2. tacitly assume to be the case.

DERIVATIVES:
presupposition noun.

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pretence (US pretense)

noun
1. an act or the action of pretending.
2. affected and ostentatious behaviour.
3. (pretence to) a claim, especially a false or ambitious one.

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pretend

verb
1. make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not.
2. engage in an imaginative game.
3. simulate (an emotion or quality).
2. (pretend to) lay claim to (a quality or title).

adjective informal
imaginary; make-believe.

ORIGIN: Latin praetendere 'stretch forth, claim' .

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pretender

noun
a person who claims or aspires to a title or position.

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pretension

noun
1. (pretension to) a claim or assertion of a claim to.
2. (pretensions) aspirations or claims to a specified status or quality: literary pretensions.
3. pretentiousness.

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pretentious

adjective
attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed.

DERIVATIVES:
pretentiously adverb
pretentiousness noun.

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preternatural

adjective
beyond what is normal or natural.

DERIVATIVES:
preternaturally adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin praeter 'past, beyond' .

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pretext

noun
an ostensible or false reason used to justify an action.

ORIGIN: Latin praetextus 'outward display' , from praetexere 'to disguise' .

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prettify

verb (prettifies, prettified)
make superficially pretty.

DERIVATIVES:
prettification noun.

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pretty

adjective (prettier, prettiest)
1. attractive in a delicate way without being truly beautiful.
2. informal used ironically to express displeasure: he led me a pretty dance.

adverb informal
to a moderately high degree; fairly.

noun (pl. pretties) informal
a pretty thing; a trinket.

IDIOMS -
be sitting pretty informal be in an advantageous position.
a pretty penny informal a large sum of money.

DERIVATIVES:
prettily adverb
prettiness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «cunning, crafty», later «clever, skilful, pleasing».

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pretzel

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a crisp biscuit baked in the shape of a knot or stick and flavoured with salt.

ORIGIN: German.

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prevail

verb
1. prove more powerful; be victorious.
2. (prevail on/upon) persuade to do something.
3. be widespread or current.

DERIVATIVES:
prevailing adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin praevalere 'have greater power' .

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prevailing wind

noun
a wind from the predominant or most usual direction.

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prevalent

adjective
widespread in a particular area at a particular time.

DERIVATIVES:
prevalence noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin praevalere (see PREVAIL).

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prevaricate

verb
avoid giving a direct answer when asked a question.

DERIVATIVES:
prevarication noun
prevaricator noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «transgress»: from Latin praevaricari 'walk crookedly, deviate' .

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prevent

verb
1. keep from happening or arising.
2. stop (someone) from doing something.

IDIOMS -
prevention is better than cure proverb it's easier to stop something happening in the first place than to repair the damage after it has happened.

DERIVATIVES:
preventable adjective
prevention noun.

ORIGIN: Latin praevenire 'precede, hinder' .

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preventer

noun
1. a person or thing that prevents something.
2. Sailing an extra line rigged to support a piece of rigging or to prevent the boom from gybing.

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preventive

adjective
designed to prevent something from occurring.

noun
a preventive medicine or other treatment.

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preview

noun
1. a viewing or display of something before it is acquired or becomes generally available.
2. a publicity article or trailer of a forthcoming film, book, etc.

verb
provide or have a preview of (a product, film, etc.).

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previous

adjective
1. existing or occurring before in time or order.
2. informal over-hasty.

IDIOMS -
previous to before.

DERIVATIVES:
previously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin praevius 'going before' .

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prey

noun
1. an animal hunted and killed by another for food.
2. a person who is easily exploited or harmed.
3. a person vulnerable to distressing emotions.

verb (prey on/upon)
1. hunt and kill for food.
2. take advantage of; exploit.
3. cause constant distress to.

ORIGIN: Old French preie, from Latin praeda 'booty' .

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priapic

adjective
1. phallic.
2. Medicine having a persistently erect penis.

DERIVATIVES:
priapism noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek Priapos, a god of fertility.

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price

noun
1. the amount of money expected, required, or given in payment for something.
2. something endured in order to achieve an objective.
3. the odds in betting.

verb
decide the price of.

IDIOMS -
at any price no matter what is involved.
at a price requiring great expense or involving unwelcome consequences.
a price on someone's head a reward offered for someone's capture or death.
what price ?
1. what has or would become of ?
2. what is the chance of ?

ORIGIN: Old French pris, from Latin pretium 'value, reward' .

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priceless

adjective
1. so precious that its value cannot be determined.
2. informal very amusing or absurd.

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pricey

adjective (pricier, priciest) informal
expensive.

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prick

verb
1. press briefly or puncture with a sharp point.
2. feel a sensation as though a sharp point were sticking into one.
3. (often prick up) (chiefly of a horse or dog) make (the ears) stand erect when alert.
4. (prick out) plant (seedlings) in small holes made in the earth.

noun
1. an act of pricking something.
2. a sharp pain caused by being pierced with a fine point.
3. a small hole or mark made by pricking.
4. vulgar slang a man's penis.
5. vulgar slang a man regarded as stupid, unpleasant, or contemptible.

IDIOMS -
kick against the pricks hurt oneself by persisting in useless resistance. [ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to Acts of the Apostles, chapter 9.]

DERIVATIVES:
pricker noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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prickle

noun
1. a short spine or pointed outgrowth on the surface of a plant or on the skin of an animal.
2. a tingling or mildly painful sensation on the skin.

verb
experience or produce a prickle.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to PRICK.

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prickly

adjective (pricklier, prickliest)
1. covered in or resembling prickles.
2. having or causing a prickling sensation.
3. ready to take offence.

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prickly pear

noun
a cactus with flattened, jointed stems which produces prickly, pear-shaped fruits.

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pride

noun
1. a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from achievements, qualities, or possessions.
2. a cause or source of such a feeling.
3. consciousness of one's own dignity.
4. the quality of having an excessively high opinion of oneself.
5. a group of lions forming a social unit.

verb (pride oneself on/upon)
be especially proud of (a quality or skill).

IDIOMS -
pride goes (or comes) before a fall proverb if you're too self-important, something will happen to make you look foolish.
pride of place the most prominent or important position.

DERIVATIVES:
prideful adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to PROUD.

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priest

noun
1. an ordained minister of the Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican Church, authorized to perform certain ceremonies.
2. a person who performs ceremonies in a non-Christian religion.

DERIVATIVES:
priesthood noun
priestly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to PRESBYTER.

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priestess

noun
a female priest of a non-Christian religion.

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prig

noun
a self-righteously moralistic person.

DERIVATIVES:
priggish adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «tinker, petty thief», later «disliked person»: of unknown origin.

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prim

adjective (primmer, primmest)
feeling or showing disapproval of anything improper; stiffly correct.

DERIVATIVES:
primly adverb
primness noun.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French prin, 'excellent, delicate' , from Latin primus 'first' .

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prima ballerina

noun
the chief female dancer in a ballet or ballet company.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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primacy

noun
the fact of being primary or pre-eminent.

ORIGIN: Latin primatia, from primas 'of the first rank' .

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prima donna

noun
1. the chief female singer in an opera or opera company.
2. a very temperamental and self-important person.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'first lady' .

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prima facie

adjective & adverb Law
at first sight; accepted as so until proved otherwise.

ORIGIN: Latin, from primus 'first' + facies 'face' .

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primal

adjective
1. basic; primitive; primeval.
2. Psychology relating to feelings or behaviour postulated to form the origins of emotional life: primal fears.

ORIGIN: Latin primalis, from primus 'first' .

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primarily

adverb
for the most part; mainly.

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primary

adjective
1. of chief importance; principal.
2. earliest in time or order.
3. relating to education for children between the ages of about five and eleven.

noun (pl. primaries)
(in the US) a preliminary election to appoint delegates to a party conference or to select candidates for an election.

ORIGIN: Latin primarius, from primus 'first' .

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primary care

noun
health care provided in the community by medical practitioners and specialist clinics.

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primary colour

noun
any of a group of colours from which all others can be obtained by mixing.

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primate

noun
1. a mammal of an order including monkeys, apes, and humans.
2. Christian Church the chief bishop or archbishop of a province.

ORIGIN: from Latin primas 'of the first rank' , from primus 'first' .

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prime [1]

adjective
1. of first importance; main.
2. of the best possible quality; excellent.
3. (of a number) divisible only by itself and one (e.g. 2, 3, 5, 7).

noun
1. a time of greatest vigour or success in a person's life.
2. a prime number.
3. Printing a symbol (') written as a distinguishing mark or to denote minutes or feet.
4. Christian Church a service traditionally said at the first hour of the day (i.e. 6 a.m.), but now little used.

ORIGIN: from Latin prima hora 'first hour' from primus 'first' .

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prime [2]

verb
1. make (something, especially a firearm or bomb) ready for use or action.
2. introduce liquid into (a pump) to facilitate its working.
3. prepare (someone) for a situation by giving them relevant information.
4. cover (a surface) with primer.

IDIOMS -
prime the pump stimulate growth or success by supplying money.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «fill, load»: probably from Latin primus 'first' .

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prime minister

noun
the head of an elected government; the principal minister of a sovereign or state.

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primer [1]

noun
a substance painted on a surface as a preparatory coat.

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primer [2]

noun
a book providing a basic introduction to a subject or used for teaching reading.

ORIGIN: from Latin primarius liber 'primary book' and primarium manuale 'primary manual' .

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prime time

noun
the time at which a radio or television audience is expected to be greatest.

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primeval (also primaeval)

adjective
1. of the earliest time in history.
2. (of behaviour or emotion) instinctive and unreasoning.

ORIGIN: Latin primaevus, from primus 'first' + aevum 'age' .

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primitive

adjective
1. relating to the earliest times in history or stages in development.
2. denoting a preliterate, non-industrial society of simple organization.
3. offering an extremely basic level of comfort or convenience.
4. (of behaviour or emotion) instinctive and unreasoning.

noun
1. a person belonging to a primitive society.
2. a painter employing a simple, naive style that deliberately rejects subtlety or conventional techniques.

DERIVATIVES:
primitively adverb
primitiveness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin primitivus 'first of its kind' , from primus 'first' .

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primogeniture

noun
1. the state of being the firstborn child.
2. a rule of inheritance by the firstborn child.

ORIGIN: Latin primogenitura, from primo 'first' + genitura 'birth, begetting' .

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primordial

adjective
existing at or from the beginning of time; primitive.

ORIGIN: Latin primordialis 'first of all' .

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primp

verb
make minor adjustments to (one's hair, clothes, or make-up).

ORIGIN: related to PRIM.

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primrose

noun
1. a woodland and hedgerow plant which produces pale yellow flowers.
2. a pale yellow colour.

IDIOMS -
primrose path the pursuit of pleasure, especially when bringing disastrous consequences. [ORIGIN: with allusion to Shakespeare's Hamlet I. iii. 50.]

ORIGIN: probably related to Latin prima rosa 'first rose' .

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primula

noun
a plant of a genus that includes primroses, cowslips, and polyanthuses.

ORIGIN: Latin, from primulus 'little first flower' .

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Primus

noun trademark
a portable cooking stove that burns vaporized oil.

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prince

noun
1. a son or other close male relative of a monarch.
2. a male monarch of a small state.
3. (in some European countries) a nobleman.

DERIVATIVES:
princedom noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin princeps 'first, chief, sovereign' .

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prince consort

noun
the husband of a reigning female sovereign who is himself a prince.

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princeling

noun
1. chiefly derogatory the ruler of a small principality or domain.
2. a young prince.

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princely

adjective
1. relating to or suitable for a prince.
2. (of a sum of money) generous.

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princess

noun
1. a daughter or other close female relative of a monarch.
2. the wife or widow of a prince.
3. a female monarch of a small state.

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principal

adjective
1. first in order of importance; main.
2. denoting an original sum of money invested or lent.

noun
1. the most important person in an organization or group.
2. the head of a school or college.
3. a sum of money lent or invested, on which interest is paid.
4. a person for whom another acts as a representative.
5. Law a person directly responsible for a crime.

DERIVATIVES:
principalship noun.
USAGE - The words principal and principle are pronounced in the same way but they do not have the same meaning. Principal is normally an adjective meaning ‘main or most important’, whereas principle is normally used as a noun meaning ‘a basis of a system of thought or belief’.
ORIGIN: Latin principalis 'first, original' , from princeps 'first, chief' .

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principal boy

noun Brit.
a woman who takes the leading male role in a pantomime.

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principality

noun (pl. principalities)
1. a state ruled by a prince.
2. (the Principality) Brit. Wales.

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principally

adverb
for the most part; chiefly.

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principle

noun
1. a fundamental truth or proposition serving as the foundation for belief or action.
2. a rule or belief governing one's personal behaviour.
3. morally correct behaviour and attitudes.
4. a general scientific theorem or natural law.
5. a fundamental source or basis of something.
6. Chemistry an active or characteristic constituent of a substance.

IDIOMS -
in principle in theory.
on principle because of one's adherence to a particular belief.

ORIGIN: Latin principium 'source' , from princeps 'first, chief' .

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principled

adjective
acting in accordance with morality.

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print

verb
1. produce (books, newspapers, etc.) by a process involving the transfer of text or designs to paper.
2. produce (text or a picture) in such a way.
3. produce a paper copy of (information stored on a computer).
4. produce (a photographic print) from a negative.
5. write clearly without joining the letters.
6. mark with a coloured design.

noun
1. the text appearing in a book, newspaper, etc.
2. an indentation or mark left on a surface by pressure.
3. a printed picture or design.
4. a photograph printed on paper from a negative or transparency.
5. a copy of a motion picture on film.
6. a piece of fabric or clothing with a coloured pattern or design.

IDIOMS -
in print
1. (of a book) available from the publisher.
2. in published form.
out of print (of a book) no longer available from the publisher.

DERIVATIVES:
printable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French preinte 'pressed' , from Latin premere 'to press' .

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printed circuit

noun
an electronic circuit based on thin strips of a conductor on an insulating board.

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printer

noun
1. a person whose job is commercial printing.
2. a machine for printing text or pictures.

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printing

noun
1. the production of books, newspapers, etc.
2. a single impression of a book.
3. handwriting in which the letters are written separately.

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printing press

noun
a machine for printing from type or plates.

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printout

noun Computing
a page of printed material from a computer's printer.

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prior [1]

adjective
existing or coming before in time, order, or importance.

IDIOMS -
prior to before.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'former, elder' .

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prior [2]

noun (fem. prioress)
1. (in an abbey) the person next in rank below an abbot (or abbess).
2. the head of a house of friars (or nuns).

ORIGIN: Latin prior (see PRIOR).

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prioritize (also prioritise)

verb
1. designate or treat as most important.
2. determine the relative importance of (items or tasks).

DERIVATIVES:
prioritization noun.

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priority

noun (pl. priorities)
1. the condition of being regarded as more important.
2. a thing regarded as more important than others.
3. the right to proceed before other traffic.

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priory

noun (pl. priories)
a monastery or nunnery governed by a prior or prioress.

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prise (US prize)

verb
1. use force in order to open or move apart.
2. (prise out of/from) obtain (something) from (someone) with effort or difficulty.

ORIGIN: from Old French prise 'a grasp, taking hold' .

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prism

noun
1. a piece of glass or other transparent material of regular shape, used to separate white light into a spectrum of colours.
2. Geometry a solid geometric figure whose two ends are similar, equal, and parallel rectilinear figures, and whose sides are parallelograms.

ORIGIN: Greek prisma 'thing sawn' , from prizein 'to saw' .

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prismatic

adjective
1. relating to or having the form of a prism.
2. (of colours) formed, separated, or distributed by or as by a prism.

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prison

noun
a building for the confinement of criminals or those awaiting trial.

ORIGIN: Old French prisun, from Latin prehendere 'lay hold of' .

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prison camp

noun
a camp where prisoners of war or political prisoners are kept.

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prisoner

noun
1. a person legally committed to prison.
2. a person captured and kept confined.
3. a person trapped by circumstances.

IDIOMS -
take no prisoners be ruthlessly aggressive in the pursuit of one's objectives.

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prisoner of conscience

noun
a person imprisoned for their political or religious views.

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prisoner of war

noun
a person captured and imprisoned by the enemy in war.

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prissy

adjective (prissier, prissiest)
fussily respectable; prim.

DERIVATIVES:
prissily adverb
prissiness noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps a blend of PRIM and SISSY.

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pristine

adjective
1. in its original condition.
2. clean and fresh as if new.

ORIGIN: Latin pristinus 'former' .

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privacy

noun
a state in which one is not observed or disturbed by others.

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private

adjective
1. for or belonging to one particular person or group only.
2. (of a service or industry) provided by an individual or commercial company rather than the state.
3. (of thoughts, feelings, etc.) not to be shared or revealed.
4. (of a person) not choosing to share their thoughts and feelings.
5. (of a person) having no official or public position.
6. not connected with one's work or official position: the president visited the country in a private capacity.
7. (of a place) secluded.

noun
1. the lowest rank in the army, below lance corporal.
2. (privates) informal short for PRIVATE PARTS.

IDIOMS -
in private with no one else present.

DERIVATIVES:
privately adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin privatus 'withdrawn from public life' from privus 'single, individual' .

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private company

noun Brit.
a company whose shares may not be offered to the public for sale.

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private detective (also private investigator)

noun
a freelance detective carrying out investigations for private clients.

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private enterprise

noun
business or industry managed by independent companies rather than the state.

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privateer

noun chiefly historical
an armed ship owned by private individuals, holding a government commission and authorized for use in war.

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private eye

noun informal
a private detective.

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private means

plural noun Brit.
income derived from investments, property, etc., rather than from employment.

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private member

noun
(in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) a member of a parliament who is not a minister or does not hold government office.

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private parts

plural noun euphemistic
a person's genitals.

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private practice

noun
1. the work of a doctor, lawyer, etc. who is self-employed.
2. Brit. medical practice that is not part of the National Health Service.

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private school

noun
1. Brit. an independent school supported mainly by the payment of fees.
2. N. Amer. a school supported mainly by private individuals.

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private secretary

noun
1. a secretary who deals with the personal concerns of their employer.
2. a civil servant acting as an aide to a senior government official.

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private sector

noun
the part of the national economy not under direct state control.

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privation

noun
a state in which essentials such as food and warmth are lacking.

ORIGIN: Latin, from privare 'bereave, deprive' .

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privatize (also privatise)

verb
transfer (a business or industry) from public to private ownership.

DERIVATIVES:
privatization noun.

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privet

noun
a shrub with small white flowers and poisonous black berries.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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privilege

noun
1. a special right, advantage, or immunity for a particular person or group.
2. an opportunity to do something regarded as a special honour: she had the privilege of giving the opening lecture.
3. the right to say or write something without the risk of punishment, especially in parliament.

DERIVATIVES:
privileged adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin privilegium 'bill or law affecting an individual' , from privus 'private' + lex 'law' .

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privy

adjective (privy to)
sharing in the knowledge of (something secret).

noun (pl. privies)
a toilet in a small shed outside a house.

DERIVATIVES:
privily adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French prive 'private' , also 'private place' , from Latin privatus 'withdrawn from public life' .

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Privy Council

noun
a body of advisers appointed by a sovereign or a Governor General.

DERIVATIVES:
privy counsellor (also privy councillor) noun.

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prix fixe

noun
a meal of several courses costing a fixed price.

ORIGIN: French, 'fixed price' .

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prize [1]

noun
1. a thing given as a reward to a winner or in recognition of an outstanding achievement.
2. something of great value that is worth struggling to achieve.

adjective
1. having been or likely to be awarded a prize.
2. outstanding of its kind.

verb
value highly.

ORIGIN: Old French preisier 'praise' .

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prize [2] (Brit. prise)

verb
1. use force in order to open or move apart.
2. (prize out of/from) obtain (something) from (someone) with effort or difficulty.

ORIGIN: from Old French prise 'a grasp, taking hold' .

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prizefight

noun
a boxing match for prize money.

DERIVATIVES:
prizefighter noun.

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pro [1]

noun (pl. pros) informal
a professional.

adjective
professional.

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pro [2]

noun (pl. pros) (usu. in phrase pros and cons)
an advantage or argument in favour of something.

preposition & adverb
in favour of.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'for, on behalf of' .

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pro- [1]

prefix
1. favouring; supporting: pro-choice.
2. acting as a substitute for: proconsul.
3. denoting motion forwards, out, or away: propel.

ORIGIN: Latin pro 'in front of, on behalf of, instead of, on account of' .

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pro- [2]

prefix
before in time, place, or order: proactive.

ORIGIN: Greek pro 'before' .

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proactive

adjective
creating or controlling a situation rather than just responding to it.

DERIVATIVES:
proactively adverb.

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pro-am

adjective
involving professionals and amateurs.

noun
a pro-am event.

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probability

noun (pl. probabilities)
1. the extent to which something is probable.
2. a probable or most probable event.

IDIOMS -
in all probability most probably.

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probable

adjective
likely to happen or be the case.

noun
a person likely to become or do something.

ORIGIN: Latin probabilis, from probare 'to test, demonstrate' .

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probably

adverb
almost certainly; as far as one knows or can tell.

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probate

noun
1. the official proving of a will.
2. a verified copy of a will with a certificate as handed to the executors.

ORIGIN: Latin probatum 'something proved' .

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probation

noun
1. Law the release of an offender from detention, subject to a period of good behaviour under supervision.
2. the process of testing the character or abilities of a person in a certain role.

DERIVATIVES:
probationary adjective.

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probationer

noun
1. a person serving a probationary period in a job or position.
2. an offender on probation.

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probation officer

noun
a person who supervises offenders on probation.

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probe

noun
1. a blunt-ended surgical instrument for exploring a wound or part of the body.
2. a small measuring or testing device, especially an electrode.
3. an investigation.
4. (also space probe) an unmanned exploratory spacecraft.

verb
1. physically explore or examine.
2. enquire into closely.

DERIVATIVES:
prober noun
probing adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin proba 'proof' , later 'examination' , from probare 'to prove' .

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probity

noun
honesty and decency.

ORIGIN: Latin probitas, from probus 'good' .

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problem

noun
1. an unwelcome or harmful matter needing to be dealt with.
2. a thing that is difficult to achieve.
3. Physics & Mathematics an inquiry starting from given conditions to investigate or demonstrate something.

ORIGIN: Greek problma, from proballein 'put forth' .

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problematic

adjective
presenting a problem.

DERIVATIVES:
problematical adjective
problematically adverb.

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pro bono publico

adverb & adjective
1. for the public good.
2. (usu. pro bono) chiefly N. Amer. denoting legal work undertaken without charge.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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proboscis

noun (pl. probosces, proboscides, or proboscises)
1. the nose of a mammal, especially when long and mobile like an elephant's trunk.
2. an elongated sucking organ or mouthpart of an insect or worm.

ORIGIN: Greek proboskis 'means of obtaining food' .

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proboscis monkey

noun
a monkey native to the forests of Borneo, the male of which has a large dangling nose.

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procedure

noun
1. an established or official way of doing something.
2. a series of actions conducted in a certain manner.

DERIVATIVES:
procedural adjective
procedurally adverb.

ORIGIN: French procédure, from Latin procedere (see PROCEED).

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proceed

verb
1. begin a course of action.
2. go on to do something.
3. (of an action) carry on or continue.
4. move forward.
5. Law start a lawsuit against someone.

ORIGIN: Latin procedere, from pro- 'forward' + cedere 'go' .

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proceedings

plural noun
1. an event or a series of activities with a set procedure.
2. Law action taken in a court to settle a dispute.
3. a report of a set of meetings or a conference.

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proceeds

plural noun
money obtained from an event or activity.

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process [1]

noun
1. a series of actions or steps towards achieving a particular end.
2. a natural series of changes: the ageing process.
3. Law a summons to appear in court.
4. Biology & Anatomy a natural appendage or outgrowth on or in an organism.
5. (before another noun ) Printing relating to printing using ink in three colours (cyan, magenta, and yellow) and black.

verb
1. perform a series of operations to change or preserve.
2. Computing operate on (data) by means of a program.
3. deal with, using an established procedure.

ORIGIN: Latin processus 'progression, course' , from procedere (see PROCEED).

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process [2]

verb
walk in procession.

ORIGIN: from PROCESSION.

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procession

noun
1. a number of people or vehicles moving forward in an orderly fashion.
2. the action of moving in such a way.
3. a relentless succession of people or things.

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processor

noun
1. a machine that processes something.
2. Computing a central processing unit.

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pro-choice

adjective
advocating the right of a woman to choose to have an abortion.

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proclaim

verb
1. announce officially or publicly.
2. declare (someone) officially or publicly to be.
3. indicate clearly.

DERIVATIVES:
proclamation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin proclamare 'cry out' .

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proclivity

noun (pl. proclivities)
a tendency to do or choose something regularly; an inclination or predisposition.

ORIGIN: Latin proclivitas, from proclivis 'inclined' .

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procrastinate

verb
delay or postpone action.

DERIVATIVES:
procrastination noun
procrastinator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin procrastinare 'defer till the morning' .

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procreate

verb
produce young.

DERIVATIVES:
procreation noun
procreative adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin procreare 'generate, bring forth' .

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proctor

noun Brit.
a disciplinary officer at certain universities.

ORIGIN: contraction of PROCURATOR.

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procurator

noun Law
1. an agent representing others in a court in countries retaining Roman civil law.
2. (in Scotland) a lawyer practising before the lower courts.

ORIGIN: Latin procurator 'administrator, finance agent' .

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procurator fiscal

noun (pl. procurators fiscal or procurator fiscals)
(in Scotland) a local coroner and public prosecutor.

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procure

verb
1. obtain.
2. Law persuade or cause to do something.

DERIVATIVES:
procurable adjective
procurement noun.

ORIGIN: Latin procurare 'take care of, manage' .

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procurer

noun (fem. procuress)
1. a person who obtains a woman as a prostitute for another person.
2. Law a person who causes someone to do something or something to happen.

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Prod (also Proddie, Proddy)

noun informal, offensive
(especially in Ireland) a Protestant.

ORIGIN: abbreviation representing a pronunciation.

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prod

verb (prodded, prodding)
1. poke with a finger or pointed object.
2. stimulate or persuade to do something.

noun
1. a poke.
2. a stimulus or reminder.
3. a pointed implement, typically used as a goad.

ORIGIN: perhaps symbolic, or a blend of POKE and dialect brod 'to goad, prod' .

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prodigal

adjective
1. wastefully extravagant.
2. lavish.

noun
1. a prodigal person.
2. (also prodigal son) a person who leaves home to lead a prodigal life but returns repentant. [ORIGIN: with allusion to the parable in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15.]

DERIVATIVES:
prodigality noun
prodigally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin prodigalis, from prodigus 'lavish' .

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prodigious

adjective
impressively large.

DERIVATIVES:
prodigiously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin prodigiosus, from prodigium 'portent' .

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prodigy

noun (pl. prodigies)
1. a person, especially a young one, with exceptional abilities.
2. an outstanding example of a quality.
3. an amazing or unusual thing: omens and prodigies.

ORIGIN: Latin prodigium 'portent' .

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produce

verb
1. make, manufacture, or create.
2. cause to happen or exist.
3. show or provide for inspection or use.
4. administer the financial and managerial aspects of (a film or broadcast) or the staging of (a play).
5. supervise the making of (a musical recording).

noun
things that have been produced or grown: dairy produce.

DERIVATIVES:
producer noun
producible adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin producere 'bring forth, extend, produce' .

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product

noun
1. an article or substance manufactured for sale.
2. a result of an action or process.
3. a substance produced during a natural, chemical, or manufacturing process.
4. Mathematics a quantity obtained by multiplying quantities together.

ORIGIN: Latin productum 'something produced' .

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production

noun
1. the action of producing or the process of being produced.
2. the amount of something produced.
3. a film, record, or play, viewed in terms of its making or staging.

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production line

noun
an assembly line.

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productive

adjective
1. producing or able to produce large amounts of goods or crops.
2. achieving or producing a significant amount or result.

DERIVATIVES:
productively adverb
productiveness noun.

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productivity

noun
1. the state or quality of being productive.
2. the effectiveness of productive effort.

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profane

adjective
1. secular rather than religious.
2. not respectful of religious practice.
3. (of language) blasphemous or obscene.

verb
treat with irreverence.

DERIVATIVES:
profanation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin profanus 'outside the temple, not sacred' .

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profanity

noun (pl. profanities)
1. profane language or behaviour.
2. an oath or swear word.

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profess

verb
1. claim that one has (a quality or feeling).
2. affirm one's faith in or allegiance to (a religion).

ORIGIN: Latin profiteri 'declare publicly' .

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professed

adjective
1. (of a quality or feeling) claimed openly but often falsely.
2. self-acknowledged.

DERIVATIVES:
professedly adverb.

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profession

noun
1. a paid occupation, especially one involving training and a formal qualification.
2. (treated as sing. or pl. ) a body of people engaged in a profession.
3. an open but typically false claim.
4. a declaration of belief in a religion.

IDIOMS -
the oldest profession humorous prostitution.

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professional

adjective
1. relating to or belonging to a profession.
2. engaged in an activity as a paid occupation rather than as an amateur.
3. worthy of or appropriate to a professional person; competent.

noun
1. a professional person.
2. a person having impressive competence in a particular activity.

DERIVATIVES:
professionalize (also professionalise) verb
professionally adverb.

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professionalism

noun
the competence or skill expected of a professional.

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professor

noun
1. a university academic of the highest rank.
2. N. Amer. a university teacher.
3. a person who affirms a faith in or allegiance to something.

DERIVATIVES:
professorial adjective
professorship noun.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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proffer

verb
offer for acceptance.

ORIGIN: Old French proffrir, from Latin pro- 'before' + offerre 'to offer' .

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proficient

adjective
competent; skilled.

DERIVATIVES:
proficiency noun
proficiently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin proficere 'to advance' .

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profile

noun
1. an outline of something, especially a face, as seen from one side.
2. a short descriptive article about someone.
3. the extent to which a person or organization attracts public notice: her high profile as an opera star.

verb
1. describe in a short article.
2. (be profiled) appear in outline.

IDIOMS -
in profile as seen from one side.
keep a low profile remain inconspicuous.

DERIVATIVES:
profiler noun.

ORIGIN: obsolete Italian profilo 'a drawing or border' , from profilare, from Latin filum 'thread' .

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profit

noun
1. a financial gain, especially the difference between an initial outlay and the subsequent amount earned.
2. advantage; benefit.

verb (profited, profiting)
benefit, especially financially.

DERIVATIVES:
profitless adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin profectus 'progress, profit' , from proficere 'to advance' .

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profitable

adjective
1. (of a business or activity) yielding profit or financial gain.
2. beneficial; useful: he'd had a profitable day.

DERIVATIVES:
profitability noun
profitably adverb.

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profit and loss account

noun
an account to which incomes and gains are credited and expenses and losses debited, so as to show the net profit or loss.

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profiteer

verb (often as noun profiteering)
make an excessive or unfair profit.

noun
a person who profiteers.

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profiterole

noun
a small ball of choux pastry filled with cream and covered with chocolate sauce.

ORIGIN: French, 'small profit' .

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profit margin

noun
the amount by which revenue from sales exceeds costs in a business.

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profit-sharing

noun
a system in which the people who work for a company receive a direct share of its profits.

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profligate

adjective
1. recklessly extravagant or wasteful.
2. licentious; dissolute.

noun
a profligate person.

DERIVATIVES:
profligacy noun.

ORIGIN: Latin profligatus 'dissolute' , from profligare 'overthrow, ruin' .

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pro forma

adverb
as a matter of form or politeness.

adjective
done or produced as a matter of form.

noun
a standard document or form.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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profound

adjective (profounder, profoundest)
1. very great or intense.
2. showing great knowledge or insight.
3. demanding deep study or thought.
4. archaic very deep.

DERIVATIVES:
profoundly adverb
profoundness noun
profundity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin profundus 'deep' .

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profuse

adjective
1. plentiful; abundant.
2. archaic extravagant.

DERIVATIVES:
profusely adverb
profuseness noun
profusion noun.

ORIGIN: Latin profusus 'lavish, spread out' .

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progenitor

noun
1. an ancestor or parent.
2. the originator of an artistic, political, or intellectual movement.

DERIVATIVES:
progenitorial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from progignere 'beget' .

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progeny

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
offspring.

ORIGIN: Old French progenie, from Latin progignere 'beget' .

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progesterone

noun Biochemistry
a steroid hormone released by the corpus luteum that stimulates the uterus to prepare for pregnancy.

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progestogen

noun Biochemistry
a steroid hormone that maintains pregnancy and prevents further ovulation.

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prognosis

noun (pl. prognoses)
a forecast, especially of the likely course of a disease or ailment.

ORIGIN: Greek, from pro- 'before' + gignskein 'know' .

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prognostic

adjective
predicting the likely course of a disease or ailment.

DERIVATIVES:
prognostically adverb.

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prognosticate

verb
foretell; prophesy.

DERIVATIVES:
prognostication noun
prognosticator noun.

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programmatic

adjective
of the nature of or according to a programme, schedule, or method.

DERIVATIVES:
programmatically adverb.

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programme (US program)

noun
1. a planned series of events.
2. a radio or television broadcast.
3. a set of related measures or activities with a long-term aim.
4. a sheet or booklet detailing items or performers at an event.
5. (program) a series of coded software instructions to control the operation of a computer or other machine.

verb (programmed, programming; US programed, programing)
1. (program) provide (a computer) with a program.
2. cause to behave in a predetermined way.
3. arrange according to a plan or schedule.

DERIVATIVES:
programmable adjective
programmer noun.

ORIGIN: Greek programma, from prographein 'write publicly' .

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progress

noun
1. forward movement towards a destination.
2. development towards a better, more complete, or more modern condition.
3. Brit. archaic a state journey or official tour.

verb
move or develop towards a destination or a more advanced condition.

ORIGIN: Latin progressus 'an advance' , from progredi 'move forward' .

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progression

noun
1. a gradual movement or development towards a destination or a more advanced state.
2. a succession.
3. a sequence of numbers following a mathematical rule.

DERIVATIVES:
progressional adjective.

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progressive

adjective
1. proceeding gradually or in stages.
2. favouring innovation or social reform.
3. (of tax) increasing as a proportion of the sum taxed as that sum increases.
4. (of a card game or dance) involving successive changes of partner.
5. archaic engaging in or constituting forward motion.

noun
a person advocating social reform.

DERIVATIVES:
progressively adverb
progressiveness noun.

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prohibit

verb (prohibited, prohibiting)
1. formally forbid by law, rule, etc.
2. make impossible; prevent.

DERIVATIVES:
prohibitory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin prohibere 'keep in check' .

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prohibition

noun
1. the action of prohibiting.
2. an order that forbids.
3. (Prohibition) the prevention by law of the manufacture and sale of alcohol in the US from 1920 to 1933.

DERIVATIVES:
Prohibitionist noun.

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prohibitive

adjective
1. serving to forbid, restrict, or prevent.
2. (of a price or charge) excessively high.

DERIVATIVES:
prohibitively adverb.

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project

noun
1. an enterprise carefully planned to achieve a particular aim.
2. a piece of research work by a school or college student.
3. N. Amer. a government-subsidized estate or block of homes.

verb
1. estimate or forecast on the basis of present trends.
2. plan.
3. extend outwards beyond something else; protrude.
4. throw or cause to move forward or outward.
5. cause (light, shadow, or an image) to fall on a surface.
6. present, promote, or display (a view or image).
7. (project on to) attribute (an emotion) to (another person), especially unconsciously.
8. Geometry draw straight lines through (a figure) to produce a corresponding figure on a surface or line.
9. represent (the earth's surface, the heavens, etc.) on a plane surface.

ORIGIN: Latin projectum 'something prominent' , from proicere 'throw forth' .

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projectile

noun
a missile fired or thrown at a target.

adjective
1. relating to a projectile.
2. propelled with great force.

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projection

noun
1. an estimate or forecast based on present trends.
2. the projecting of an image, sound, etc.
3. a mental image viewed as reality.
4. the unconscious transfer of one's own desires or emotions to another person.
5. a protruding thing.
6. a map or diagram made by projecting a given figure, area, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
projective adjective
projectionist noun.

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projector

noun
an apparatus for projecting slides or film on to a screen.

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prolapse

noun
1. a slipping forward or down of a part or organ of the body.
2. a prolapsed part or organ.

verb
undergo prolapse.

ORIGIN: from Latin prolabi 'slip forward' .

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prolate

adjective Geometry
(of a spheroid) lengthened in the direction of a polar diameter. Often contrasted with OBLATE.

ORIGIN: Latin prolatus 'carried forward' .

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prole informal, derogatory

noun
a member of the working class.

adjective
working class.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of PROLETARIAT.

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proletarian

adjective
relating to the proletariat.

noun
a member of the proletariat.

ORIGIN: Latin proletarius (from proles 'offspring' ), denoting a person without wealth, who served the state only by producing offspring.

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proletariat

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
1. workers or working-class people.
2. the lowest class of citizens in ancient Rome.

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pro-life

adjective
seeking to ban abortion and euthanasia.

DERIVATIVES:
pro-lifer noun.

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proliferate

verb
reproduce rapidly; increase rapidly in number.

DERIVATIVES:
proliferation noun
proliferative adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin prolificus (see PROLIFIC).

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prolific

adjective
1. producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring.
2. (of an artist, author, etc.) producing many works.
3. plentiful.

DERIVATIVES:
prolifically adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin prolificus, from proles 'offspring' .

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prolix

adjective
(of speech or writing) tediously lengthy.

DERIVATIVES:
prolixity noun
prolixly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin prolixus 'poured forth, extended' .

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prologue (US prolog)

noun
1. an introductory section or scene in a literary, dramatic, or musical work.
2. an event or action leading to another.

ORIGIN: Greek prologos, from pro- 'before' + logos 'saying' .

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prolong

verb
1. extend the duration of.
2. technical extend in spatial length.

DERIVATIVES:
prolongation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin prolongare.

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prolonged

adjective
continuing for a long time; lengthy.

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prom

noun informal
1. Brit. short for PROMENADE (in sense 1).
2. Brit. a promenade concert.
3. N. Amer. a formal dance, especially one at a high school or college.

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promenade

noun
1. a paved public walk, especially one along a seafront.
2. a leisurely walk, ride, or drive in a public place.
3. N. Amer. old-fashioned term for PROM (in sense 3).

verb
take a promenade.

ORIGIN: French, from se promener 'to walk' .

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promenade concert

noun Brit.
a concert of classical music at which part of the audience stands in an area without seating.

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promenade deck

noun
an upper, open-air deck on a passenger ship.

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Promethean

adjective
daring or skilful like Prometheus, a demigod in Greek mythology who stole fire from the gods and gave it to the human race.

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prominence

noun
1. the state of being prominent.
2. a thing that projects or protrudes.

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prominent

adjective
1. important; famous.
2. protuberant.
3. particularly noticeable.

DERIVATIVES:
prominently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin prominere 'jut out' .

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promiscuous

adjective
1. having or characterized by many transient sexual relationships.
2. indiscriminate or casual: a promiscuous mixing of styles.

DERIVATIVES:
promiscuity noun
promiscuously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin promiscuus 'indiscriminate' .

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promise

noun
1. an assurance that one will do something or that something will happen.
2. potential excellence.

verb
1. make a promise.
2. give good grounds for expecting.
3. (promise oneself) firmly intend.

ORIGIN: Latin promissum, from promittere 'put forth, promise' .

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promised land

noun
1. (the Promised Land) (in the Bible) the land of Canaan, promised to Abraham and his descendants (Book of Genesis, chapter 12).
2. a place or situation where great happiness is expected.

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promising

adjective
showing great potential.

DERIVATIVES:
promisingly adverb.

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promissory note

noun
a signed document containing a written promise to pay a stated sum.

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promo

noun (pl. promos) informal
a promotional film, video, etc.

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promontory

noun (pl. promontories)
1. a point of high land jutting out into the sea or a lake.
2. Anatomy a protuberance on an organ or other bodily structure.

ORIGIN: Latin promontorium, influenced by mons 'mountain' .

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promote

verb
1. further the progress of (a cause, venture, or aim); support.
2. publicize (a product or celebrity).
3. raise to a higher position or rank.
4. transfer (a sports team) to a higher division.

ORIGIN: Latin promovere 'move forward' .

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promoter

noun
1. the organizer of a sporting event or theatrical production.
2. a supporter of a cause or aim.

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promotion

noun
1. activity that supports or encourages.
2. the publicizing of a product or celebrity.
3. (promotions) the activity or business of organizing such publicity.
4. elevation to a higher position or rank.
5. the transfer of a sports team to a higher division.

DERIVATIVES:
promotional adjective.

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prompt

verb
1. cause or bring about.
2. (prompt to/to do) cause (someone) to take a course of action.
3. assist or encourage (a hesitating speaker).
4. supply a forgotten word or line to (an actor).

noun
1. an act of prompting.
2. a word or phrase used in prompting an actor.
3. a prompter.
4. Computing a word or symbol on a VDU screen to show that input is required.

adjective
done or acting without delay.

adverb Brit.
exactly or punctually: 12 o'clock prompt.

DERIVATIVES:
promptly adverb
promptness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin promptus 'brought to light' , also 'prepared, ready' , from promere 'to produce' .

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prompter

noun
a person who prompts the actors during the performance of a play.

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promulgate

verb
1. promote or make widely known.
2. put (a law or decree) into effect by official proclamation.

DERIVATIVES:
promulgation noun
promulgator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin promulgare 'expose to public view' , from mulgere 'cause to come forth' (literally 'to milk' ).

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prone

adjective
1. (prone to/to do) likely or liable to suffer from, do, or experience (something unfortunate).
2. lying flat, especially face downwards.
3. archaic with a downward slope or direction.

DERIVATIVES:
proneness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin pronus 'leaning forward' .

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prong

noun
1. each of two or more projecting pointed parts on a fork or other article.
2. each of the separate parts of an attack or operation.

verb
pierce or stab with a fork.

DERIVATIVES:
pronged adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Low German prange 'pinching instrument' .

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pronominal

adjective
relating to or serving as a pronoun.

DERIVATIVES:
pronominally adverb.

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pronoun

noun
a word used instead of a noun to indicate someone or something already mentioned or known, e.g. I, she, this.

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pronounce

verb
1. make the sound of (a word or part of a word).
2. declare or announce.
3. (pronounce on) pass judgement or make a decision on.

DERIVATIVES:
pronounceable adjective
pronouncement noun
pronouncer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin pronuntiare, from nuntiare 'announce' .

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pronounced

adjective
very noticeable.

DERIVATIVES:
pronouncedly adverb.

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pronto

adverb informal
promptly.

ORIGIN: Spanish.

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pronunciation

noun
the way in which a word is pronounced.
USAGE - The word pronunciation is often pronounced incorrectly with the second syllable rhyming with bounce, whereas it should be pronounced with the second syllable rhyming with dunce.

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proof

noun
1. evidence establishing a fact or the truth of a statement.
2. the proving of the truth of a statement.
3. a series of stages in the resolution of a mathematical or philosophical problem.
3. archaic a test or trial.
4. Printing a trial impression of a page used for making corrections before final printing.
5. a trial photographic print.
6. a specially struck specimen coin.
7. the strength of distilled alcoholic liquor, relative to proof spirit taken as a standard of 100.

adjective (in combination )
resistant: bulletproof.

verb
1. make waterproof.
2. make a proof of (a printed work).
3. proof-read (a text).

IDIOMS -
the proof of the pudding is in the eating proverb the real value of something can be judged only from practical experience or results.

ORIGIN: Old French proeve, from Latin probare 'to test, prove' .

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proof positive

noun
final or absolute proof of something.

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proof-read

verb
read (printer's proofs or other material) and mark any errors.

DERIVATIVES:
proof-reader noun.

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prop [1]

noun
1. a pole or beam used as a temporary support.
2. a source of support or assistance.
3. (also prop forward) Rugby a forward at either end of the front row of a scrum.

verb (propped, propping)
1. support with a prop.
2. lean (something) against something else.
3. (prop up) support or assist (someone) to stop them failing or declining.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch proppe 'support (for vines)' .

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prop [2]

noun
a portable object used on the set of a play or film.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of PROPERTY.

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propaganda

noun
information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a committee of Roman Catholic cardinals responsible for foreign missions: from Latin congregatio de propaganda fide 'congregation for propagation of the faith' .

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propagandist chiefly derogatory

noun
a person who spreads propaganda.

adjective
consisting of or spreading propaganda.

DERIVATIVES:
propagandize (also propagandise) verb.

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propagate

verb
1. breed by natural processes from the parent stock.
2. promote (an idea, knowledge, etc.) widely.
3. transmit in a particular direction.

DERIVATIVES:
propagation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin propagare 'multiply from layers or shoots' .

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propane

noun
a flammable hydrocarbon gas present in natural gas and used as bottled fuel.

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propel

verb (propelled, propelling)
drive or push forwards.

ORIGIN: Latin propellere 'to drive forward' .

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propellant

noun
1. a compressed fluid in which the active contents of an aerosol are dispersed.
2. an explosive that fires bullets from a firearm.
3. a substance used to provide thrust in a rocket engine.

adjective (also propellent)
capable of propelling.

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propeller

noun
a revolving shaft with two or more angled blades, for propelling a ship or aircraft.

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propeller shaft

noun
a shaft transmitting power from an engine to a propeller or to the wheels of a vehicle.

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propelling pencil

noun
a pencil with a thin lead that may be extended as the point is worn away.

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propensity

noun (pl. propensities)
an inclination or tendency.

ORIGIN: from Latin propensus 'inclined' .

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proper

adjective
1. truly what something is said or regarded to be; genuine.
2. (after a noun ) strictly so called: the World Cup proper.
3. suitable or appropriate; correct.
4. respectable, especially excessively so.
5. (proper to) belonging or relating exclusively to.
6. Heraldry in the natural colours.

adverb Brit. informal or dialect
thoroughly.

ORIGIN: Old French propre, from Latin proprius 'one's own, special' .

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proper fraction

noun
a fraction that is less than one, with the numerator less than the denominator.

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properly

adverb
1. in a proper manner.
2. in the strict sense.
3. informal, chiefly Brit. completely.

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proper noun (also proper name)

noun
a name for an individual person, place, or organization, having an initial capital letter.

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property

noun (pl. properties)
1. a thing or things belonging to someone.
2. a building and the land belonging to it.
3. Law the right to the possession, use, or disposal of something; ownership.
4. a characteristic: a perfumed oil with calming properties.
5. old-fashioned term for PROP.

ORIGIN: Latin proprietas, from proprius 'one's own, special' .

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prophecy

noun (pl. prophecies)
1. a prediction.
2. the faculty or practice of prophesying.

ORIGIN: Greek prophteia, from prophts 'spokesman' .

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prophesy

verb (prophesies, prophesied)
1. predict.
2. speak or write by divine inspiration.

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prophet

noun (fem. prophetess)
1. an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God.
2. a person who predicts the future.
3. a person who advocates a new belief or theory.

IDIOMS -
a prophet is not without honour save in his own country proverb a person's gifts and talents are rarely appreciated by those close to him. [ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 13.]

ORIGIN: Greek prophts 'spokesman' .

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prophetic

adjective
1. accurately predicting the future.
2. relating to or characteristic of a prophet or prophecy.

DERIVATIVES:
prophetical adjective
prophetically adverb.

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prophylactic

adjective
intended to prevent disease.

noun
1. a preventative medicine or course of action.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a condom.

ORIGIN: Greek prophulaktikos, from phulassein 'to guard' .

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propinquity

noun
1. nearness in time or space.
2. technical close kinship.

ORIGIN: Latin propinquitas, from propinquus 'near' .

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propitiate

verb
win or regain the favour of; appease.

DERIVATIVES:
propitiatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin propitiare 'make favourable' , from propitius 'favourable, gracious' .

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propitious

adjective
1. favourable.
2. archaic favourably disposed towards someone.

DERIVATIVES:
propitiously adverb
propitiousness noun.

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proponent

noun
a person who advocates a theory, proposal, or project.

ORIGIN: from Latin proponere 'put forward' .

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proportion

noun
1. a part, share, or number considered in relation to a whole.
2. the ratio of one thing to another.
3. the correct or pleasing relation of things or between the parts of a whole.
4. (proportions) dimensions; size.

verb formal
adjust so as to have a particular or suitable relationship to something else.

IDIOMS -
in (or out of) proportion
1. according (or not according) to a particular relationship in size, amount, or degree.
2. regarded without (or with) exaggeration.
sense of proportion the ability to judge the relative importance of things.

DERIVATIVES:
proportioned adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from pro portione 'in respect of a share' .

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proportional

adjective
corresponding in size or amount to something else.

DERIVATIVES:
proportionality noun
proportionally adverb.

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proportional representation

noun
an electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them.

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proposal

noun
1. a plan or suggestion.
2. the action of proposing something.
3. an offer of marriage.

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propose

verb
1. put forward (an idea or plan) for consideration by others.
2. nominate for an office or position.
3. put forward (a motion) to a legislature or committee.
4. plan or intend.
5. make an offer of marriage to someone.

DERIVATIVES:
proposer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin proponere 'put forward' .

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proposition

noun
1. a statement expressing a judgement or opinion.
2. a proposed scheme or plan.
3. informal an offer of sexual intercourse.
4. a matter or person to be dealt with: it's a tough proposition.
5. Mathematics a formal statement of a theorem or problem.

verb informal
make an offer, especially of sexual intercourse, to.

DERIVATIVES:
propositional adjective.

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propound

verb
put forward (an idea, theory, etc.) for consideration.

DERIVATIVES:
propounder noun.

ORIGIN: Latin proponere 'put forward' .

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proprietary

adjective
1. relating to or characteristic of an owner or ownership.
2. (of a product) marketed under a registered trade name.

ORIGIN: from Latin proprietarius 'proprietor' , from proprietas 'property' .

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proprietary name (also proprietary term)

noun
a name of a product or service registered as a trademark.

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proprietor

noun (fem. proprietress)
1. the owner of a business.
2. a holder of property.

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proprietorial

adjective
1. relating to an owner.
2. possessive.

DERIVATIVES:
proprietorially adverb.

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propriety

noun (pl. proprieties)
1. correctness of behaviour or morals.
2. appropriateness; rightness.
3. (proprieties) the details or rules of conventionally accepted behaviour.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «peculiarity, essential quality»: from Latin proprietas 'property' .

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propulsion

noun
the action of propelling or driving forward.

DERIVATIVES:
propulsive adjective.

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pro rata

adjective
proportional.

adverb
proportionally.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'according to the rate' .

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prosaic

adjective
1. having the style of prose.
2. commonplace; unromantic.

DERIVATIVES:
prosaically adverb.

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proscenium

noun (pl. prosceniums or proscenia)
1. the part of a stage in front of the curtain.
2. (also proscenium arch) an arch framing the opening between the stage and the auditorium.

ORIGIN: Greek prosknion, from pro 'before' + skn 'stage' .

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proscribe

verb
1. forbid, especially by law.
2. denounce or condemn.
3. historical outlaw (someone).

DERIVATIVES:
proscription noun
proscriptive adjective.
USAGE - The words proscribe and prescribe are often confused. Proscribe is a rather formal word meaning ‘condemn or forbid’, whereas prescribe is a much commoner word that means either ‘issue a medical prescription’ or ‘recommend with authority’.
ORIGIN: originally in the sense «post up the name of (an outlaw etc.)»: from Latin proscribere 'publish by writing' .

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prose

noun
ordinary written or spoken language, without metrical structure.

verb
talk tediously.

ORIGIN: from Latin prosa oratio 'straightforward discourse' .

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prosecute

verb
1. institute legal proceedings against (someone) or with reference to (a crime).
2. continue (a course of action) with a view to completion.
3. archaic carry on (a trade or pursuit).

DERIVATIVES:
prosecutable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin prosequi 'pursue, accompany' .

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prosecution

noun
1. the prosecuting of someone in respect of a criminal charge.
2. (the prosecution) (treated as sing. or pl. ) the party prosecuting someone in a lawsuit.
3. the continuation of a course of action.

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prosecutor

noun
1. a person, especially a public official, who prosecutes someone.
2. a lawyer who conducts the case against a defendant.

DERIVATIVES:
prosecutorial adjective.

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proselyte

noun
1. a convert from one opinion, religion, or party to another.
2. a Gentile who has converted to Judaism.

DERIVATIVES:
proselytism noun.

ORIGIN: Greek prosluthos 'stranger, convert' .

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proselytize (also proselytise)

verb
convert from one religion, belief, or opinion to another.

DERIVATIVES:
proselytizer noun.

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prosody

noun
1. the patterns of rhythm and sound used in poetry.
2. the theory or study of these patterns, or the rules governing them.
3. the patterns of stress and intonation in a language.

DERIVATIVES:
prosodic adjective
prosodist noun.

ORIGIN: Greek prosidia 'song sung to music, tone of a syllable' , from id 'song' .

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prospect

noun
1. the possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring.
2. a mental picture of a future or anticipated event.
3. (prospects) chances or opportunities for success.
4. a potential customer or person likely to be successful.
5. an extensive view of landscape.

verb
search for mineral deposits, especially by means of drilling and excavation.

DERIVATIVES:
prospector noun.

ORIGIN: Latin prospectus 'view' , from prospicere 'look forward' .

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prospective

adjective
expected or likely to happen or be in the future.

DERIVATIVES:
prospectively adverb.

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prospectus

noun (pl. prospectuses)
a printed booklet advertising a school or university or giving details of a share offer.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'view, prospect' .

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prosper

verb
succeed or flourish, especially financially.

ORIGIN: Latin prosperare, from prosperus 'doing well' .

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prosperous

adjective
successful or flourishing, especially financially.

DERIVATIVES:
prosperity noun
prosperously adverb.

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prostate

noun
a gland surrounding the neck of the bladder in male mammals and releasing a fluid component of semen.

DERIVATIVES:
prostatic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek prostats 'one that stands before' .

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prosthesis

noun (pl. prostheses)
an artificial body part.

DERIVATIVES:
prosthetic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek, from prostithenai 'add' .

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prosthetics

plural noun
1. artificial body parts; prostheses.
2. pieces of flexible material applied to actors' faces to transform their appearance.
3. (treated as sing. ) the branch of surgery concerned with the making and fitting of artificial body parts.

DERIVATIVES:
prosthetist noun.

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prostitute

noun
a person, typically a woman, who engages in sexual activity for payment.

verb (often prostitute oneself)
1. offer (someone) as a prostitute.
2. put to an unworthy or corrupt use for the sake of gain.

DERIVATIVES:
prostitution noun.

ORIGIN: Latin prostituere 'expose publicly, offer for sale' .

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prostrate

adjective
1. lying stretched out on the ground with one's face downwards.
2. completely overcome with distress or exhaustion.
3. Botany growing along the ground.

verb
1. (prostrate oneself) throw oneself flat on the ground in reverence or submission.
2. (be prostrated) be completely overcome with stress or exhaustion.

DERIVATIVES:
prostration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin prosternere 'throw down' .

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protagonist

noun
1. the leading character in a drama, film, or novel.
2. a prominent figure in a real situation.
3. an advocate or champion of a cause or idea.

ORIGIN: Greek prtagnists, from prtos 'first in importance' + agnists 'actor' .

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protean

adjective
tending or able to change or adapt; variable or versatile.

ORIGIN: from the Greek sea god Proteus, who was able to change shape at will.

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protect

verb
1. keep safe from harm or injury.
2. Economics shield (a domestic industry) from competition by imposing import duties on foreign goods.
3. (protected) (of a threatened plant or animal species) safeguarded through legislation against collecting or hunting.

ORIGIN: Latin protegere 'cover in front' .

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protection

noun
1. the action of protecting or the state of being protected.
2. a person or thing that protects.
3. the payment of money to criminals to prevent them from attacking oneself or one's property.

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protectionism

noun Economics
the theory or practice of shielding a country's domestic industries from foreign competition by taxing imports.

DERIVATIVES:
protectionist noun & adjective.

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protective

adjective
serving, intended, or wishing to protect.

noun Brit.
1. a thing that protects.
2. dated a condom.

DERIVATIVES:
protectively adverb
protectiveness noun.

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protector

noun
1. a person or thing that protects.
2. (Protector) historical a regent in charge of a kingdom during the minority, absence, or incapacity of the sovereign.

DERIVATIVES:
protectress noun.

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protectorate

noun
1. a state that is controlled and protected by another.
2. (Protectorate) historical the position or period of office of a Protector, in particular that of Oliver Cromwell and his son Richard as heads of state in England 1653 9.

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protégé

noun (fem. protégée)
a person who is guided and supported by an older and more experienced person.

ORIGIN: French, 'protected' .

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protein

noun
any of a class of organic compounds forming structural components of body tissues and constituting an important part of the diet.

ORIGIN: from Greek prteios 'primary' .

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pro tem

adverb & adjective
for the time being.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of Latin pro tempore.

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protest

noun
1. a statement or action expressing disapproval or objection.
2. an organized public demonstration objecting to an official policy or course of action.

verb
1. express an objection to what someone has said or done.
2. take part in a public protest.
3. state emphatically in response to an accusation or criticism: she protested her innocence.

DERIVATIVES:
protester (also protestor) noun.

ORIGIN: Latin protestari 'assert formally' , from testis 'a witness' .

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Protestant

noun
a member or follower of any of the Western Christian Churches that are separate from the Roman Catholic Church in accordance with the principles of the Reformation.

adjective
relating to or belonging to any of the Protestant Churches.

DERIVATIVES:
Protestantism noun.

ORIGIN: Protestants are so called after the declaration (Latin protestatio) of Martin Luther and his supporters dissenting from the decision of the Diet of Spires (1529), which reaffirmed the edict of the Diet of Worms against the Reformation.

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protestation

noun
1. an emphatic declaration that something is or is not the case.
2. an objection or protest.

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protium

noun Chemistry
the common, stable isotope of hydrogen, as distinct from deuterium and tritium.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek prtos 'first' .

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proto-

combining form
1. original; primitive: prototype.
2. first; relating to a precursor: protozoon.

ORIGIN: from Greek prtos 'first' .

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protocol

noun
1. the official procedure or system of rules governing affairs of state or diplomatic occasions.
2. the accepted code of behaviour in a particular situation.
3. the original draft of a diplomatic document, especially of the terms of a treaty.
4. a formal record of scientific experimental observations.
5. Computing a set of rules governing the exchange or transmission of data between devices.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «original note of an agreement»: from Greek prtokollon 'first page, flyleaf' .

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proton

noun Physics
a stable subatomic particle occurring in all atomic nuclei, with a positive electric charge equal in magnitude to that of an electron.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'first thing' .

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protoplasm

noun Biology
the material comprising the living part of a cell, including the cytoplasm, nucleus, and other organelles.

DERIVATIVES:
protoplasmic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek prtoplasma, from protos 'first' + plasma (see PLASMA).

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prototype

noun
1. a first or preliminary form from which other forms are developed or copied.
2. a typical example of something.

DERIVATIVES:
prototypical adjective
prototypically adverb.

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protozoan

noun
a single-celled microscopic animal such as an amoeba.

adjective
relating to protozoans.

ORIGIN: from Greek protos 'first' + zion 'animal' .

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protract

verb
prolong; draw out.

DERIVATIVES:
protracted adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin protrahere 'prolong' .

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protractor

noun
an instrument for measuring angles, typically in the form of a flat semicircle marked with degrees along the curved edge.

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protrude

verb
extend beyond or above a surface.

DERIVATIVES:
protrusion noun.

ORIGIN: Latin protrudere 'to thrust forward' .

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protuberance

noun
1. a thing that protrudes.
2. the state of protruding.

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protuberant

adjective
protruding; bulging.

ORIGIN: from Latin protuberare 'swell out' .

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proud

adjective
1. (often proud of) feeling pride or satisfaction in one's own or another's achievements.
2. having or showing a high opinion of oneself.
3. conscious of one's own dignity.
4. (often proud of) slightly projecting from a surface.
5. literary imposing; splendid.

IDIOMS -
do proud informal
1. cause to feel pleased or satisfied.
2. treat or entertain very well.

DERIVATIVES:
proudly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French prud 'valiant' , from Latin prodesse 'be of value' .

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prove

verb (past part. proved or proven)
1. demonstrate by evidence or argument the truth or existence of.
2. show or be seen to be: the scheme has proved a great success.
3. (prove oneself) demonstrate one's abilities or courage.
4. Law establish the genuineness and validity of (a will).
5. subject (a gun) to a testing process.
6. (of bread dough) rise through the action of yeast.

DERIVATIVES:
provable adjective.
USAGE - Prove has two past participles, proved and proven, which can be used more or less interchangeably. However, proven is always used when the word is an adjective coming before the noun: a proven talent, not a proved talent.
ORIGIN: Old French prover, from Latin probare 'test, approve, demonstrate' .

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provenance

noun
1. the origin or earliest known history of something.
2. a record of ownership of a work of art or an antique.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin provenire 'come from' .

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Provençal

noun
1. a person from Provence.
2. the language of Provence.

adjective
relating to Provence.

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provender

noun
1. animal fodder.
2. archaic or humorous food.

ORIGIN: Old French provendre, from Latin praebenda 'things to be supplied' .

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proverb

noun
a short saying stating a general truth or piece of advice.

ORIGIN: Latin proverbium, from verbum 'word' .

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proverbial

adjective
1. referred to in a proverb or idiom.
2. well known, especially so as to be stereotypical.

DERIVATIVES:
proverbially adverb.

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provide

verb
1. make available for use; supply.
2. (provide with) equip or supply (someone) with.
3. (provide for) make adequate preparation or arrangements for.
4. stipulate in a will or other legal document.

DERIVATIVES:
provider noun.

ORIGIN: Latin providere 'foresee, attend to' .

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provided

conjunction
on the condition or understanding that.

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providence

noun
1. the protective care of God or of nature as a spiritual power.
2. timely preparation for future eventualities.

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provident

adjective
making or indicating timely preparation for the future.

DERIVATIVES:
providently adverb.

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providential

adjective
1. occurring at a favourable time; opportune.
2. involving divine foresight or interference.

DERIVATIVES:
providentially adverb.

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providing

conjunction
on the condition or understanding that.

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province

noun
1. a principal administrative division of a country or empire.
2. (the provinces) the whole of a country outside the capital, especially when regarded as lacking in sophistication or culture.
3. (one's province) an area in which one has special knowledge, interest, or responsibility.

ORIGIN: Latin provincia 'charge, province' .

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provincial

adjective
1. relating to a province or the provinces.
2. unsophisticated or narrow-minded.

noun
1. an inhabitant of a province.
2. an inhabitant of the regions outside the capital city of a country.

DERIVATIVES:
provincialism noun
provinciality noun
provincially adverb.

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proving ground

noun
an area or situation in which a person or thing is tested or proved.

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provision

noun
1. the action of providing or supplying.
2. something supplied or provided.
3. (provision for/against) arrangements for future eventualities or requirements.
4. (provisions) supplies of food, drink, or equipment, especially for a journey.
5. a condition or requirement in a legal document.

verb
supply with provisions.

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provisional

adjective
1. arranged or existing for the present, possibly to be changed later.
2. (Provisional) relating to the unofficial wings of the IRA and Sinn Fein.

noun (Provisional)
a member of the Provisional wing of the IRA or Sinn Fein.

DERIVATIVES:
provisionality noun
provisionally adverb.

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proviso

noun (pl. provisos)
a condition attached to an agreement.

ORIGIN: from Latin proviso quod 'it being provided that' .

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provocation

noun
1. the action of provoking.
2. action or speech that provokes.

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provocative

adjective
1. deliberately causing annoyance or anger.
2. deliberately arousing sexual desire or interest.

DERIVATIVES:
provocatively adverb
provocativeness noun.

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provoke

verb
1. stimulate or cause (a strong or unwelcome reaction or emotion) in someone.
2. deliberately annoy or anger.
3. incite to do or feel something, especially by arousing anger.

ORIGIN: Latin provocare 'to challenge' .

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provost

noun
1. Brit. the position of head in certain university colleges and public schools.
2. N. Amer. a senior administrative officer in certain universities.
3. Scottish a mayor.
4. the head of a chapter in a cathedral.
5. historical the chief magistrate of a European town.

ORIGIN: Old English, from Latin propositus, praepositus 'head, chief' .

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prow

noun
the pointed front part of a ship; the bow.

ORIGIN: Old French proue, from Greek prira.

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prowess

noun
1. skill or expertise in a particular activity or field.
2. bravery in battle.

ORIGIN: Old French proesce, from prou 'valiant' .

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prowl

verb
move about stealthily or restlessly as if in search of prey.

noun
an act of prowling.

DERIVATIVES:
prowler noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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proximate

adjective
1. closest in space, time, or relationship.
2. nearly accurate; approximate.

DERIVATIVES:
proximately adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin proximatus 'drawn near' , from proximus 'nearest' .

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proximity

noun
nearness in space, time, or relationship.

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proxy

noun (pl. proxies)
1. the authority to represent someone else, especially in voting.
2. a person authorized to act on behalf of another.
3. a figure used to represent the value of something in a calculation.

ORIGIN: contraction of PROCURACY.

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Prozac

noun trademark
fluoxetine, a drug which reduces the uptake of serotonin in the brain and is taken to treat depression.

ORIGIN: an invented name.

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prude

noun
a person who is easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity.

DERIVATIVES:
prudish adjective
prudery noun.

ORIGIN: from French prudefemme 'good woman and true' .

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prudent

adjective
acting with or showing care and thought for the future.

DERIVATIVES:
prudence noun
prudently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin prudens, from providens 'foreseeing' .

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prudential

adjective
involving or showing care and forethought.

DERIVATIVES:
prudentially adverb.

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prune [1]

noun
1. a plum preserved by drying and having a black, wrinkled appearance.
2. informal a disagreeable person.

ORIGIN: Greek prounon 'plum' .

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prune [2]

verb
1. trim (a tree, shrub, or bush) by cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems.
2. remove superfluous or unwanted parts from.

noun
an instance of pruning.

DERIVATIVES:
pruner noun.

ORIGIN: Old French proignier, possibly from Latin rotundus 'round' .

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prurient

adjective
having or encouraging an excessive interest in sexual matters.

DERIVATIVES:
prurience noun
pruriency noun
pruriently adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «having a craving»: from Latin prurire 'itch, long, be wanton' .

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Prussian

noun
a person from the former German kingdom of Prussia.

adjective
relating to Prussia.

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pry [1]

verb (pries, pried)
enquire too intrusively into a person's private affairs.

DERIVATIVES:
prying adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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PS

abbreviation
1. Police Sergeant.
2. postscript.
3. private secretary.

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psalm

noun
a religious song or hymn, in particular any of those contained in the biblical Book of Psalms.

DERIVATIVES:
psalmist noun.

ORIGIN: Greek psalmos 'song sung to harp music' .

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psalter

noun
a copy of the biblical Psalms.

ORIGIN: Greek psaltrion 'stringed instrument' .

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pseud

noun informal
a pretentious person; a poseur.

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pseudo

adjective
not genuine; fake, pretentious, or insincere.

noun (pl. pseudos)
a pretentious or insincere person.

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pseudo- (also pseud- before a vowel)

combining form
1. false; not genuine: pseudonym.
2. resembling or imitating: pseudo-hallucination.

ORIGIN: from Greek pseuds 'false' , pseudos 'falsehood' .

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pseudonym

noun
a fictitious name, especially one used by an author.

ORIGIN: from Greek pseuds 'false' + onoma 'name' .

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pseudonymous

adjective
writing or written under a false name.

DERIVATIVES:
pseudonymity noun
pseudonymously adverb.

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psi

noun
1. the twenty-third letter of the Greek alphabet (, ), transliterated as ‘ps’.
2. supposed psychic faculties or phenomena.

ORIGIN: Greek.

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p.s.i.

abbreviation
pounds per square inch.

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psoriasis

noun
a skin disease marked by red, itchy, scaly patches.

DERIVATIVES:
psoriatic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek, from psrian 'to itch' .

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psych

verb
1. (psych up) informal mentally prepare (someone) for a testing task or occasion.
2. (psych out) intimidate (an opponent or rival) by appearing very confident or aggressive.

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psyche

noun
the human soul, mind, or spirit.

ORIGIN: Greek psukh 'breath, life, soul' .

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psychedelic

adjective
1. (of drugs) producing hallucinations and apparent expansion of consciousness.
2. (of rock music) characterized by musical experimentation and drug-related lyrics.
3. having an intense, vivid colour or a swirling abstract pattern.

DERIVATIVES:
psychedelically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek psyche 'soul' + dlos 'clear, manifest' .

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psychiatrist

noun
a medical practitioner specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.

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psychiatry

noun
the branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of mental illness and emotional disturbance.

DERIVATIVES:
psychiatric adjective
psychiatrically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek psukh 'soul, mind' + iatreia 'healing' .

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psychic

adjective
1. relating to faculties or phenomena that are apparently inexplicable by natural laws, especially those involving telepathy or clairvoyance.
2. (of a person) appearing or considered to be telepathic or clairvoyant.
3. relating to the soul or mind.

noun
1. a person considered or claiming to have psychic powers; a medium.
2. (psychics) (treated as sing. or pl. ) the study of psychic phenomena.

DERIVATIVES:
psychical adjective
psychically adverb.

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psycho

noun (pl. psychos) informal
a psychopath.

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psycho-

combining form
relating to the mind or psychology: psychometrics.

ORIGIN: from Greek psukh 'breath, soul, mind' .

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psychoanalysis

noun
a method of treating mental disorders by investigating the conscious and unconscious elements in the mind and bringing repressed fears and conflicts into the conscious mind.

DERIVATIVES:
psychoanalyse (US psychoanalyze) verb
psychoanalyst noun
psychoanalytic adjective.

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psychological

adjective
1. of, affecting, or arising in the mind.
2. relating to psychology.

DERIVATIVES:
psychologically adverb.

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psychological warfare

noun
actions intended to reduce an opponent's morale.

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psychology

noun
1. the scientific study of the human mind and its functions.
2. the mental characteristics or attitude of a person.
3. the mental factors governing a situation or activity.

DERIVATIVES:
psychologist noun.

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psychometrics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the science of measuring mental capacities and processes.

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psychometry

noun
1. the supposed ability to discover facts about an event or person from inanimate objects associated with them.
2. another term for PSYCHOMETRICS.

DERIVATIVES:
psychometric adjective
psychometrist noun.

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psychopath

noun
a person suffering from chronic mental disorder with abnormal or violent social behaviour.

DERIVATIVES:
psychopathic adjective.

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psychosis

noun (pl. psychoses)
a severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality.

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psychosomatic

adjective
1. (of a physical illness) caused or aggravated by a mental factor such as internal conflict or stress.
2. relating to the interaction of mind and body.

DERIVATIVES:
psychosomatically adverb.

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psychotherapy

noun
the treatment of mental disorder by psychological rather than medical means.

DERIVATIVES:
psychotherapeutic adjective
psychotherapist noun.

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psychotic

adjective
relating to or suffering from a psychosis.

noun
a psychotic person.

DERIVATIVES:
psychotically adverb.

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PT

abbreviation
physical training.

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Pt

abbreviation
1. Part.
2. (pt) pint.
3. (in scoring) point.
4. Printing point (as a unit of measurement).
5. (Pt.) Point (on maps).
6. (pt) port (a side of a ship or aircraft).

symbol
the chemical element platinum.

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PTA

abbreviation
1. parent teacher association.
2. (in the UK) Passenger Transport Authority.

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ptarmigan

noun
a grouse of northern mountains and the Arctic, having grey and black plumage which changes to white in winter.

ORIGIN: Scottish Gaelic tàrmachan.

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Pte

abbreviation
Private (in the army).

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pterodactyl

noun
a pterosaur of the late Jurassic period, with a long slender head and neck.

ORIGIN: from Greek pteron 'wing' + daktulos 'finger' .

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pterosaur

noun
a fossil warm-blooded flying reptile of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, with membranous wings supported by a greatly lengthened fourth finger.

ORIGIN: from Greek pteron 'wing' + sauros 'lizard' .

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PTO

abbreviation
please turn over.

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Ptolemaic system (also Ptolemaic theory)

noun
the formerly held theory that the earth is the stationary centre of the universe.

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pub Brit.

noun
1. an establishment for the sale and consumption of beer and other drinks.
2. Austral. a hotel.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of PUBLIC HOUSE.

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pub crawl

noun Brit. informal
a tour taking in several pubs, with one or more drinks at each.

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pube

noun informal
a pubic hair.

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puberty

noun
the period during which adolescents reach sexual maturity and become capable of reproduction.

DERIVATIVES:
pubertal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin pubertas, from puber 'adult' , related to pubes (see PUBES).

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pubes

noun
1. (pl. same) the lower part of the abdomen at the front of the pelvis, covered with hair from puberty.
2. plural of PUBIS.
3. informal plural of PUBE.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'pubic hair, groin, genitals' .

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pubescence

noun
1. the time when puberty begins.
2. Botany & Zoology soft down on the leaves and stems of plants or on animals, especially insects.

DERIVATIVES:
pubescent adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin pubescere 'reach puberty' .

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pubic

adjective
relating to the pubes or pubis.

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pubis

noun (pl. pubes)
either of a pair of bones forming the two sides of the pelvis.

ORIGIN: from Latin os pubis 'bone of the pubes' .

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public

adjective
1. of, concerning, or available to the people as a whole.
2. of or involved in the affairs of the community, especially in government or entertainment.
3. done, perceived, or existing in open view.
4. of or provided by the state rather than an independent, commercial company.

noun
1. (the public) (treated as sing. or pl. ) ordinary people in general; the community.
2. (one's public) the people who watch or are interested in an artist, writer, or performer.

IDIOMS -
go public
1. become a public company.
2. reveal details about a previously private concern.
in public in view of other people; when others are present.
the public eye the state of being known or of interest to people in general, especially through the media.

DERIVATIVES:
publicly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin publicus, blend of poplicus 'of the people' and puber 'adult' .

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public address system

noun
a system of microphones, amplifiers, and loudspeakers used to amplify speech or music.

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publican

noun
1. Brit. a person who owns or manages a pub.
2. Austral. a person who owns or manages a hotel.
3. (in ancient Roman and biblical times) a tax collector.

ORIGIN: Latin publicanus, from publicum 'public revenue' .

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publication

noun
1. the action or process of publishing something.
2. a book or journal that is published.

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public bar

noun Brit.
the more plainly furnished bar in a pub.

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public company

noun
a company whose shares are traded freely on a stock exchange.

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public enemy

noun
a notorious wanted criminal.

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publicist

noun
a person responsible for publicizing a product or celebrity.

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publicity

noun
1. notice or attention given to someone or something by the media.
2. material or information used for advertising or promotional purposes.

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publicize (also publicise)

verb
1. make widely known.
2. give out publicity about; advertise or promote.

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public limited company

noun
(in the UK) a company with shares offered to the public subject to conditions of limited liability.

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public nuisance

noun Brit.
1. an act that is illegal because it interferes with the rights of the public generally.
2. informal an obnoxious or dangerous person or group.

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public relations

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the professional maintenance of a favourable public image by an organization or famous person.

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public school

noun
1. (in the UK) a private fee-paying secondary school.
2. (chiefly in North America) a school supported by public funds.

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public sector

noun
the part of an economy that is controlled by the state.

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public servant

noun
a person who works for the state or for local government.

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public transport

noun
buses, trains, and other forms of transport that are available to the public, charge set fares, and run on fixed routes.

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public utility

noun
an organization supplying the community with electricity, gas, water, or sewerage.

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publish

verb
1. prepare and issue (a book, newspaper, piece of music, etc.) for public sale.
2. print in a book, newspaper, or journal so as to make generally known.
3. announce formally.
4. Law communicate (a libel) to a third party.

DERIVATIVES:
publishable adjective
publishing noun.

ORIGIN: Latin publicare 'make public' .

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publisher

noun
1. a company or person that prepares and issues books, newspapers, journals, or music for sale.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a newspaper proprietor.

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puce

noun
a dark red or purple-brown colour.

ORIGIN: French, 'flea, flea-colour' .

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puck

noun
a black disc made of hard rubber, used in ice hockey.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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pucker

verb
tightly gather or contract into wrinkles or small folds.

noun
a wrinkle or small fold.

ORIGIN: probably from POKE and POCKET (suggesting the formation of small purse-like gatherings).

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pudding

noun
1. a dessert, especially a cooked one.
2. chiefly Brit. the dessert course of a meal.
3. a baked or steamed savoury dish made with suet and flour or batter.
4. the intestines of a pig or sheep stuffed with oatmeal, spices, and meat and boiled.
5. informal a fat person.

IDIOMS -
in the pudding club Brit. informal pregnant.

DERIVATIVES:
puddingy adjective.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French boudin 'black pudding' , from Latin botellus 'sausage, small intestine' .

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pudding basin

noun
1. a deep round bowl used for cooking steamed puddings.
2. (before another noun ) (of a hairstyle) produced or seemingly produced by cutting round the edge of a pudding basin inverted on a person's head.

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puddle

noun
1. a small pool of liquid, especially of rainwater on the ground.
2. clay and sand mixed with water and used as a watertight covering or lining for embankments or canals.

verb
1. cover with or form puddles.
2. (puddle about/around) informal occupy oneself in a disorganized or unproductive way.
3. line or cover with puddle.
4. knead (clay and sand) into puddle.
5. (usu. as noun puddling) historical stir (molten iron) with iron oxide in a furnace, to produce wrought iron.

DERIVATIVES:
puddler noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «small ditch».

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pudendum

noun (pl. pudenda)
a person's external genitals, especially a woman's.

ORIGIN: from Latin pudenda membra 'parts to be ashamed of' .

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pudgy

adjective (pudgier, pudgiest) informal
fat or flabby.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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puerile

adjective
childishly silly and trivial.

DERIVATIVES:
puerility noun (pl. puerilities) .

ORIGIN: Latin puerilis, from puer 'boy' .

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puerperal fever

noun
fever caused by uterine infection following childbirth.

ORIGIN: from Latin puer 'child, boy' + parus 'bearing' .

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puff

noun
1. a short burst of breath or wind, or a small quantity of vapour or smoke sent out by such a burst.
2. an act of drawing quickly on a pipe, cigarette, or cigar.
3. a light pastry case, typically filled with cream or jam.
4. informal breath: out of puff.
5. informal an overly enthusiastic review or promotional feature.

verb
1. breathe in repeated short gasps.
2. move with short, noisy puffs of air or steam.
3. smoke a pipe, cigarette, or cigar.
4. (be puffed/puffed out) be out of breath.
5. (puff out/up) swell or cause to swell.
6. informal advertise with exaggerated or false praise.

DERIVATIVES:
puffer noun.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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puff adder

noun
a large, sluggish African viper which inflates the upper part of its body and hisses loudly when under threat.

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puffa jacket

noun Brit.
a type of thick padded jacket.

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puffball

noun
a fungus that produces a large round fruiting body which ruptures when ripe to release a cloud of spores.

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pufferfish

noun
a fish with a spiny body which can inflate itself like a balloon when threatened.

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puffery

noun
exaggerated praise.

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puffin

noun
a northern auk with a large head and a massive brightly coloured triangular bill.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a shearwater: apparently from PUFF, with reference to a shearwater's fat nestlings.

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puff pastry

noun
light flaky pastry.

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puffy

adjective (puffier, puffiest)
1. softly rounded: puffy clouds.
2. (of a part of the body) swollen and soft.

DERIVATIVES:
puffiness noun.

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pug

noun
a dwarf of dog with a broad flat nose and deeply wrinkled face.

ORIGIN: perhaps Low German.

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pugilist

noun dated or humorous
a boxer.

DERIVATIVES:
pugilism noun
pugilistic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin pugil 'boxer' .

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pugnacious

adjective
eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight.

DERIVATIVES:
pugnacity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin pugnare 'to fight' .

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pug nose

noun
a short nose with an upturned tip.

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puke

verb & noun informal
vomit.

DERIVATIVES:
pukey adjective.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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pukka

adjective
1. authentic.
2. socially acceptable.
3. informal excellent.

ORIGIN: Hindi, 'cooked, ripe, substantial' .

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pule

verb (often as adj. puling) literary
cry querulously or weakly.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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pull

verb
1. exert force on (something) so as to move it towards oneself or the origin of the force.
2. remove by pulling.
3. informal bring out (a weapon) for use.
4. move steadily: the bus pulled away.
5. move oneself with effort or against resistance: she pulled away from him.
6. attract as a customer.
7. strain (a muscle, ligament, etc.).
8. (pull at/on) inhale deeply while drawing on (a cigarette).
9. informal cancel or withdraw (an entertainment or advertisement).
10. check the speed of (a horse) to make it lose a race.
11. informal succeed in attracting sexually.

noun
1. an act of pulling.
2. a deep draught of a drink or an inhalation on a cigarette, pipe, etc.
3. a force, influence, or compulsion.

IDIOMS -
on the pull informal attempting to attract someone sexually.
pull back
1. retreat or withdraw.
2. improve or restore a team's position in a sporting contest.
pull down demolish (a building).
pull in
1. succeed in securing or obtaining.
2. informal arrest.
pull someone's leg deceive someone playfully.
pull off informal succeed in achieving or winning (something difficult).
pull out withdraw or retreat.
pull the plug on informal prevent from happening or continuing.
pull (one's) punches limit the severity of one's criticism or aggression.
pull round chiefly Brit. recover from an illness.
pull strings make use of one's influence to gain an advantage.
pull the strings be in control of events or of other people's actions.
pull through get through an illness or other difficult situation.
pull together cooperate in an undertaking.
pull oneself together regain one's self-control.
pull up
1. (of a vehicle) come to a halt.
2. cause to stop or pause.
3. reprimand.
pull one's weight do one's fair share of work.

DERIVATIVES:
puller noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «pluck, snatch».

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pullet

noun
a young hen, especially one less than one year old.

ORIGIN: Old French poulet, from Latin pullus 'chicken, young animal' .

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pulley

noun (pl. pulleys)
a wheel with a grooved rim around which a rope, chain, or belt passes, used to raise heavy weights.

ORIGIN: Old French polie, probably ultimately from Greek polos 'pivot, axis' .

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Pullman

noun (pl. Pullmans)
a luxurious railway carriage.

ORIGIN: named after its American designer George M. Pullman (1831 97).

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pullover

noun
a knitted garment put on over the head and covering the top half of the body.

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pullulate

verb
1. reproduce or spread so as to become very widespread.
2. teem with life and activity.

ORIGIN: Latin pullulare 'to sprout' .

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pulmonary

adjective
relating to the lungs.

ORIGIN: from Latin pulmo 'lung' .

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pulp

noun
1. a soft, wet mass of crushed or pounded material.
2. the soft fleshy part of a fruit.
3. a soft wet mass of fibres derived from rags or wood, used in papermaking.
4. (before another noun ) denoting popular or sensational writing, often regarded as being of poor quality.

verb
1. crush into a pulp.
2. withdraw (a publication) from the market and recycle the paper.

DERIVATIVES:
pulper noun
pulpy adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin pulpa; sense 4 is from the printing of such material on cheap paper.

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pulpit

noun
a raised enclosed platform in a church or chapel from which the preacher delivers a sermon.

ORIGIN: Latin pulpitum 'scaffold, platform' .

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pulsar

noun
a celestial object, thought to be a rapidly rotating neutron star, that emits regular rapid pulses of radio waves.

ORIGIN: from pulsating star.

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pulsate

verb
1. expand and contract with strong regular movements.
2. produce a regular throbbing sensation or sound.
3. (pulsating) very exciting.

DERIVATIVES:
pulsation noun
pulsator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin pulsare 'throb, pulse' .

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pulse [1]

noun
1. the rhythmical throbbing of the arteries as blood is propelled through them.
2. each successive throb of the arteries.
3. a single vibration or short burst of sound, electric current, light, etc.
4. a musical beat or other regular rhythm.
5. the centre of activity in an area or field: those close to the economic pulse.

verb
1. pulsate.
2. convert (a wave or beam) into a series of pulses.

IDIOMS -
feel (or take) the pulse of ascertain the mood or opinion of.

ORIGIN: Latin pulsus 'beating' , from pellere 'to drive, beat' .

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pulse [2]

noun
the edible seeds of various leguminous plants, e.g. lentils or beans.

ORIGIN: Latin puls 'porridge of meal or pulse' .

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pulverize (also pulverise)

verb
1. reduce to fine particles.
2. informal defeat utterly.

DERIVATIVES:
pulverizer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin pulverizare, from pulvis 'dust' .

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puma

noun
a large American wild cat with a plain tawny to greyish coat.

ORIGIN: Quechua.

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pumice

noun
a light and porous form of solidified lava, used as a skin abrasive.

ORIGIN: Old French pomis, from Latin pumex.

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pummel

verb (pummelled, pummelling; US pummeled, pummeling)
strike repeatedly, especially with the fists.

ORIGIN: variant of POMMEL.

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pump [1]

noun
a mechanical device using suction or pressure to raise or move liquids, compress gases, or force air into inflatable objects.

verb
1. move or force to move by or as if by a pump.
2. fill (something) with (liquid, gas, etc.).
3. move or cause to move vigorously up and down.
4. informal try to obtain information from (someone) by persistent questioning.

IDIOMS -
pump iron informal exercise with weights.

ORIGIN: related to Dutch pomp 'ship's pump' .

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pump [2]

noun
1. chiefly N. English a plimsoll.
2. a light shoe for dancing.
3. N. Amer. a court shoe.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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pump-action

adjective
denoting a repeating firearm in which a new round is brought into the breech by a slide action in line with the barrel.

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pumpkin

noun
1. a large rounded orange-yellow fruit with a thick rind and edible flesh.
2. Brit. another term for SQUASH.

ORIGIN: obsolete French pompon, from Greek pepn 'large melon' .

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pun

noun
a joke exploiting the different meanings of a word or the fact that there are words of the same sound and different meanings.

verb (punned, punning)
make a pun.

DERIVATIVES:
punster noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps an abbreviation of obsolete pundigrion, a fanciful alteration of PUNCTILIO.

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punch [1]

verb
1. strike with the fist.
2. press (a button or key on a machine).
3. N. Amer. drive (cattle) by prodding them with a stick.

noun
1. a blow with the fist.
2. informal effectiveness; impact.

IDIOMS -
punch above one's weight informal engage in an activity perceived as beyond one's abilities.

DERIVATIVES:
puncher noun.

ORIGIN: variant of POUNCE.

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punch [2]

noun
1. a device or machine for making holes in paper, metal, leather, etc.
2. a tool or machine for impressing a design or stamping a die on a material.

verb
1. pierce a hole in (a material) with or as if with a punch.
2. pierce (a hole) with or as if with a punch.

ORIGIN: perhaps an abbreviation of PUNCHEON, or from PUNCH.

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punch [3]

noun
a drink made from wine or spirits mixed with water, fruit juices, spices, etc.

ORIGIN: apparently from a Sanskrit word meaning 'five, five kinds of' (because the drink had five ingredients).

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punchbag

noun Brit.
a stuffed suspended bag used for punching as exercise or training, especially by boxers.

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punchball

noun Brit.
a suspended or mounted stuffed or inflated ball, used for punching as exercise or training, especially by boxers.

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punchbowl

noun
1. a deep bowl for mixing and serving punch.
2. chiefly Brit. a deep round hollow in a hilly area.

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punch-drunk

adjective
stupefied by or as if by a series of punches.

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punched card (also punchcard)

noun
a card perforated according to a code, for controlling the operation of a machine, formerly used to program computers.

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punchline

noun
the culmination of a joke or story, providing the humour or climax.

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punch-up

noun informal, chiefly Brit.
a brawl.

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punchy

adjective (punchier, punchiest)
effective; forceful.

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punctilio

noun (pl. punctilios)
1. a fine or petty point of conduct or procedure.
2. punctilious behaviour.

ORIGIN: Italian puntiglio and Spanish puntillo 'small point' .

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punctilious

adjective
showing great attention to detail or correct behaviour.

DERIVATIVES:
punctiliously adverb
punctiliousness noun.

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punctual

adjective
happening or keeping to the appointed time.

DERIVATIVES:
punctuality noun
punctually adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin punctualis, from punctum 'a point' .

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punctuate

verb
1. interrupt at intervals throughout.
2. insert punctuation marks in.

ORIGIN: Latin punctuare 'bring to a point' .

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punctuation

noun
1. the marks, such as full stop, comma, and brackets, used in writing to separate sentences and their elements and to clarify meaning.
2. the use of such marks.

DERIVATIVES:
punctuational adjective.

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puncture

noun
a small hole caused by a sharp object, especially one in a tyre.

verb
1. make a puncture in.
2. cause a sudden collapse of (a mood, feeling, etc.).

ORIGIN: Latin punctura, from pungere 'to prick' .

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pundit

noun
an authority who frequently pronounces on a subject in public.

DERIVATIVES:
punditry noun.

ORIGIN: from a Sanskrit word meaning 'learned' .

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pungent

adjective
1. having a sharply strong taste or smell.
2. (of remarks or humour) sharp and caustic.

DERIVATIVES:
pungency noun
pungently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin pungere 'to prick' .

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punish

verb
1. impose a penalty on (someone) for an offence.
2. impose a penalty on someone for (an offence).
3. treat harshly or unfairly.

DERIVATIVES:
punishable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin punire, from poena 'penalty' .

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punishment

noun
1. the action of punishing or the state of being punished.
2. the penalty imposed for an offence.
3. informal harsh or rough treatment.

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punitive

adjective
inflicting or intended as punishment.

DERIVATIVES:
punitively adverb
punitiveness noun.

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punk

noun
1. (also punk rock) a loud, fast form of rock music characterized by aggressive and anarchic lyrics and behaviour.
2. (also punk rocker) an admirer or player of punk music.
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. a worthless person; a thug or criminal.
4. chiefly N. Amer. tinder.

adjective
1. relating to punk rock and its associated subculture.
2. N. Amer. informal bad; worthless.

DERIVATIVES:
punkish adjective
punky adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps, in some senses, related to archaic punk «prostitute», also to SPUNK.

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punnet

noun Brit.
a small light basket or other container for fruit or vegetables.

ORIGIN: perhaps from dialect pun «a pound».

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punt [1]

noun
a long, narrow, flat-bottomed boat, square at both ends and propelled with a long pole.

verb
travel or convey in a punt.

ORIGIN: Latin ponto, denoting a flat-bottomed ferry boat.

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punt [2]

verb
1. American Football & Rugby kick the ball after it has dropped from the hands and before it reaches the ground.
2. Soccer kick (the ball) a long distance upfield.

noun
a kick of this kind.

ORIGIN: probably from dialect punt, «push forcibly».

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punt [3]

verb
1. Brit. informal bet or speculate.
2. (in some gambling card games) lay a stake against the bank.

noun informal, chiefly Brit.
a bet.

ORIGIN: French ponte 'player against the bank' .

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punt [4]

noun
the basic monetary unit of the Republic of Ireland.

ORIGIN: Irish, 'a pound' .

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punter

noun
1. informal a person who gambles or places a bet.
2. Brit. informal a customer or client.

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puny

adjective (punier, puniest)
1. small and weak.
2. meagre.

DERIVATIVES:
punily adverb
puniness noun.

ORIGIN: phonetic spelling of PUISNE.

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pup

noun
1. a young dog.
2. a young wolf, seal, rat, or other mammal.
3. dated, chiefly Brit. a cheeky or arrogant boy or young man.

verb (pupped, pupping)
give birth to a pup or pups.

IDIOMS -
sell (or buy) a pup Brit. informal swindle (or be swindled) by selling (or buying) something worthless.

ORIGIN: from PUPPY.

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pupa

noun (pl. pupae)
an insect in its inactive immature form between larva and adult, e.g. a chrysalis.

DERIVATIVES:
pupal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'girl, doll' .

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pupate

verb
become a pupa.

DERIVATIVES:
pupation noun.

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pupil [1]

noun
1. a person who is taught by another, especially a schoolchild.
2. Brit. a trainee barrister.

ORIGIN: from Latin pupillus 'little boy' and pupilla 'little girl' .

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pupil [2]

noun
the dark circular opening in the centre of the iris of the eye, which regulates the amount of light reaching the retina.

ORIGIN: Latin pupilla 'little doll' (from the tiny reflected images visible in the eye).

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puppet

noun
1. a movable model of a person or animal, moved either by strings or by a hand inside it, used to entertain.
2. a person under the control of another.

DERIVATIVES:
puppeteer noun
puppetry noun.

ORIGIN: later form of POPPET.

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puppy

noun (pl. puppies)
1. a young dog.
2. informal, dated a conceited or arrogant young man.

DERIVATIVES:
puppyish adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French poupee 'doll, toy' .

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puppy fat

noun
fat on the body of a child which disappears around adolescence.

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puppy love

noun
intense but relatively short-lived love, typically associated with adolescents.

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purblind

adjective
1. partially sighted.
2. lacking in discernment or understanding.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «completely blind»: from PURE «utterly» + BLIND.

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purchase

verb
obtain by payment; buy.

noun
1. the action of buying.
2. a thing bought.
3. firm contact or grip.
4. a pulley or similar device for moving heavy objects.

DERIVATIVES:
purchasable adjective
purchaser noun.

ORIGIN: Old French pourchacier 'seek to obtain or bring about' .

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purdah

noun
the practice in certain Muslim and Hindu societies of screening women from men or strangers by means of a curtain or all-enveloping clothes.

ORIGIN: from Urdu and Persian, 'veil, curtain' .

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pure

adjective
1. not mixed or adulterated with any other substance or material.
2. free of impurities.
3. innocent or morally good.
4. complete; nothing but: a shout of pure anger.
5. theoretical rather than practical: pure mathematics.
6. (of a sound) perfectly in tune and with a clear tone.

DERIVATIVES:
purely adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin purus.

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pure-bred

adjective
(of an animal) bred from parents of the same breed or variety.

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purée

noun
a smooth pulp of liquidized, crushed, or sieved fruit or vegetables.

verb (purées, puréed, puréeing)
make a purée of.

ORIGIN: French, 'purified' .

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purgation

noun
1. purification.
2. evacuation of the bowels brought about by laxatives.

ORIGIN: Latin, from purgare 'purify' .

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purgative

adjective
strongly laxative in effect.

noun
a laxative.

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purgatory

noun (pl. purgatories)
1. (in Catholic doctrine) a place or state of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are atoning for their sins before going to heaven.
2. mental anguish.

DERIVATIVES:
purgatorial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin purgatorium, from purgare 'purge' .

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purge

verb
1. rid (someone or something) of people or things considered undesirable or harmful.
2. evacuate one's bowels, especially as a result of taking a laxative.
3. Law atone for or wipe out (contempt of court).

noun
1. an act of purging.
2. dated a laxative.

ORIGIN: Latin purgare 'purify' , from purus 'pure' .

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purify

verb (purifies, purified)
remove contaminants from; make pure.

DERIVATIVES:
purification noun
purifier noun.

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puritan

noun
1. (Puritan) a member of a group of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to simplify and regulate forms of worship.
2. a person with censorious moral beliefs, especially about self-indulgence and sex.

adjective
1. (Puritan) relating to the Puritans.
2. characteristic of a puritan.

DERIVATIVES:
puritanical adjective
puritanism (also Puritanism) noun.

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purity

noun
the state of being pure.

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purl

adjective
(of a knitting stitch) made by putting the needle through the front of the stitch from right to left. Compare with PLAIN (in sense 8).

verb
knit with a purl stitch.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain.

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purler

noun Brit. informal
a headlong fall.

ORIGIN: from dialect purl «upset, overturn».

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purlieu

noun (pl. purlieus or purlieux)
1. (purlieus) the area near or surrounding a place.
2. Brit. historical a tract on the border of a forest.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French puralee 'a walk round to settle boundaries' .

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purloin

verb formal or humorous
steal.

ORIGIN: Old French purloigner 'put away' .

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purple

noun
1. a colour intermediate between red and blue.
2. (also Tyrian purple) a crimson dye obtained from some molluscs, used for robes worn by an emperor or senior magistrate in ancient Rome or Byzantium.
3. (the purple) the scarlet official dress of a cardinal.

adjective
of a colour intermediate between red and blue.

IDIOMS -
born in (or to) the purple born into a reigning family or privileged class.

DERIVATIVES:
purplish adjective
purply adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek porphura, denoting molluscs that yielded a crimson dye, also cloth dyed with this.

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purple patch

noun
1. informal a run of success or good luck.
2. a purple passage.

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purple prose

noun
prose that is too ornate.

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purport

verb
appear to be or do, especially falsely.

noun
1. the meaning of something.
2. the purpose of something.

DERIVATIVES:
purported adjective
purportedly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin proportare, from pro- 'forth' + portare 'carry, bear' .

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purpose

noun
1. the reason for which something is done or for which something exists.
2. resolve or determination.

verb formal
have as one's objective.

IDIOMS -
on purpose intentionally.

ORIGIN: Old French porpos, from proposer 'to propose' .

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purposeful

adjective
1. having or showing determination.
2. having a purpose.

DERIVATIVES:
purposefully adverb
purposefulness noun.

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purposeless

adjective
done with or having no purpose.

DERIVATIVES:
purposelessly adverb
purposelessness noun.

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purposely

adverb
deliberately; on purpose.

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purposive

adjective
having or done with a purpose.

DERIVATIVES:
purposively adverb
purposiveness noun.

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purr

verb
1. (of a cat) make a low continuous vibratory sound expressing contentment.
2. (of a vehicle or engine) move or run smoothly while making a similar sound.

noun
a purring sound.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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purse

noun
1. a small pouch for carrying money.
2. N. Amer. a handbag.
3. money for spending; funds.
4. a sum of money given as a prize in a sporting contest.

verb
(with reference to the lips) pucker or contract.

IDIOMS -
hold the purse strings have control of expenditure.

ORIGIN: Latin bursa, from Greek bursa 'hide, leather' .

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purser

noun
a ship's officer who keeps the accounts, especially on a passenger vessel.

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pursuance

noun formal
the carrying out of a plan or action.

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pursuant

adverb (pursuant to) formal
in accordance with.

ORIGIN: from Old French, 'pursuing' ; later influenced in spelling by PURSUE.

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pursue

verb (pursues, pursued, pursuing)
1. follow in order to catch or attack.
2. seek to attain (a goal).
3. engage in or continue with (an activity or course of action).
4. continue to investigate or discuss.

DERIVATIVES:
pursuer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French pursuer, from Latin prosequi 'prosecute' .

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pursuit

noun
1. the action of pursuing.
2. a recreational or sporting activity.

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purulent

adjective
consisting of, containing, or discharging pus.

ORIGIN: Latin purulentus, from pus 'pus' .

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purvey

verb
provide or supply (food or drink) as one's business.

DERIVATIVES:
purveyor noun.

ORIGIN: originally also in the senses «foresee», «attend to in advance»: from Old French purveier, from Latin providere 'foresee, attend to' .

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purview

noun
1. the scope of the influence or concerns of something.
2. a range of experience or thought.

ORIGIN: from Old French purveu 'foreseen' , from purveier (see PURVEY).

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pus

noun
a thick yellowish or greenish opaque liquid produced in infected tissue.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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push

verb
1. exert force on (someone or something) so as to move them away from oneself or from the source of the force.
2. move (one's body or a part of it) forcefully into a specified position.
3. move forward by using force.
4. drive oneself or urge (someone) to greater effort.
5. (push for) demand persistently.
6. informal promote the use, sale, or acceptance of.
7. informal sell (a narcotic drug) illegally.
8. (be pushed) informal have very little of something, especially time.
9. (be pushing) informal be nearly (a particular age).

noun
1. an act of pushing.
2. a vigorous effort.
3. forcefulness and enterprise.

IDIOMS -
at a push Brit. informal only if necessary or with difficulty.
get (or give someone) the push Brit. informal
1. be dismissed (or dismiss someone) from a job.
2. be rejected in (or end) a relationship.
push ahead proceed with or continue a course of action.
push along (or off) Brit. informal go away.
push in go in front of people who are already queuing.
push one's luck informal take a risk on the assumption that one will continue to be successful.
when push comes to shove informal when one must commit oneself to action.

DERIVATIVES:
pusher noun.

ORIGIN: Old French pousser, from Latin pulsare 'pulse' .

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pushbike

noun Brit. informal
a bicycle.

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pushchair

noun Brit.
a folding chair on wheels, in which a young child can be pushed along.

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pushover

noun informal
1. a person who is easy to influence or defeat.
2. a thing that is easily done.

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pushy

adjective (pushier, pushiest)
excessively self-assertive or ambitious.

DERIVATIVES:
pushiness noun.

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pusillanimous

adjective
lacking courage; timid.

DERIVATIVES:
pusillanimity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin pusillus 'very small' + animus 'mind' .

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puss

noun informal
1. a cat.
2. a coquettish girl or young woman: a glamour puss.

ORIGIN: probably from Low German ps or Dutch poes.

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pussy

noun (pl. pussies)
1. (also pussy cat) informal a cat.
2. vulgar slang a woman's genitals.
3. vulgar slang women considered sexually.

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pussyfoot

verb (pussyfoots, pussyfooting, pussyfooted)
1. act very cautiously.
2. move stealthily.

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pussy willow

noun
a willow with soft fluffy catkins that appear before the leaves.

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pustule

noun
a small blister or pimple containing pus.

DERIVATIVES:
pustular adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin pustula.

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put

verb (putting; past and past part. put)
1. move to or place in a particular position.
2. bring into a particular state or condition: she tried to put me at ease.
3. (put on/on to) cause to carry or be subject to.
4. assign a value, figure, or limit to.
5. express in a particular way.
6. (of a ship) proceed in a particular direction: the boat put out to sea.
7. throw (a shot or weight) as an athletic sport.

noun
a throw of the shot or weight.

IDIOMS -
put about
1. spread (information or rumours).
2. (of a ship) turn on the opposite tack.
put away informal
1. consume (food or drink) in large quantities.
2. confine in a prison or psychiatric hospital.
put down
1. suppress (a rebellion, coup, or riot) by force.
2. kill (a sick, old, or injured animal).
3. pay (a sum) as a deposit.
4. informal humiliate by public criticism.
put down to attribute (something) to.
put one's hands together applaud.
put off
1. cancel or postpone an appointment with.
2. postpone.
3. cause to feel dislike or lose enthusiasm.
4. distract.
put on
1. present or provide (a play, service, etc.).
2. become heavier by (a specified amount).
3. assume (an expression, accent, etc.).
put on to make aware o f.
put out
1. inconvenience, upset, or annoy.
2. dislocate (a joint).
put one over on informal deceive into accepting something false.
put through
1. subject to a gruelling or unpleasant experience.
2. connect (someone) by telephone to another person or place.
put to submit (something) to (someone) for consideration.
put up
1. present, provide, or offer.
2. accommodate temporarily.
3. propose for election or adoption.
put upon informal exploit the good nature of.
put up or shut up informal justify oneself or remain silent.
put up to informal encourage to do (something wrong or unwise).
put up with tolerate or endure.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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putative

adjective
generally considered or reputed to be.

DERIVATIVES:
putatively adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin putativus, from putare 'think' .

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put-down

noun informal
a humiliating or critical remark.

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putrefy

verb (putrefies, putrefied)
decay or rot and produce a fetid smell.

DERIVATIVES:
putrefaction noun.

ORIGIN: Latin putrefacere, from puter 'rotten' .

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putrescent

adjective
becoming putrid; rotting.

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putrid

adjective
1. decaying or rotting and emitting a fetid smell.
2. informal very unpleasant.

ORIGIN: Latin putridus, from putrere 'to rot' .

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putsch

noun
a violent attempt to overthrow a government.

ORIGIN: Swiss German, 'thrust, blow' .

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putt

verb (putted, putting)
strike a golf ball gently so that it rolls into or near a hole.

noun
a stroke of this kind.

ORIGIN: Scots form of PUT.

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puttee

noun
a long strip of cloth wound spirally round the leg from ankle to knee for protection and support.

ORIGIN: Hindi, 'band, bandage' .

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putter [1]

noun
a golf club designed for putting.

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putter [2]

noun
the rapid intermittent sound of a small petrol engine.

verb
move with or make such a sound.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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putting green

noun
a smooth area of short grass surrounding a hole on a golf course.

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putto

noun (pl. putti)
a representation of a naked child, especially a cherub or a cupid in Renaissance art.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'boy' .

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putty

noun
a malleable paste that hardens as it sets, used for sealing glass in window frames, filling holes in wood, etc.

IDIOMS -
be (like) putty in someone's hands be easily manipulated by someone.

ORIGIN: French potée, 'potful' .

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puzzle

verb
1. confuse because difficult to understand.
2. think hard about something difficult to understand.

noun
1. a game, toy, or problem designed to test ingenuity or knowledge.
2. a person or thing that is difficult to understand.

DERIVATIVES:
puzzlement noun
puzzler noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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PVA

abbreviation
polyvinyl acetate.

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PVC

abbreviation
polyvinyl chloride.

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pye-dog (also pi-dog)

noun
(in Asia) a half-wild stray mongrel.

ORIGIN: from a Hindi word meaning 'outsider' + DOG.

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pygmy (also pigmy)

noun (pl. pygmies)
1. a member of certain peoples of very short stature in equatorial Africa.
2. chiefly derogatory a very small person or thing.
3. a person who is deficient in a particular respect: intellectual pygmies.

adjective
very small; dwarf.

ORIGIN: Greek pugmaios 'dwarf' , from pugm 'the length measured from elbow to knuckles' .

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pyjamas (US pajamas)

plural noun
1. a suit of loose trousers and jacket for sleeping in.
2. loose trousers with a drawstring waist, worn by both sexes in some Asian countries.

ORIGIN: from the Persian words for 'leg' + 'clothing' .

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pylon

noun
1. (also electricity pylon) a tall tower-like structure for carrying electricity cables.
2. a monumental gateway to an ancient Egyptian temple, formed by two truncated pyramidal towers.

ORIGIN: Greek puln 'gateway' .

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pyracantha

noun
a thorny evergreen shrub with white flowers and bright red or yellow berries.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek pur 'fire' + akantha 'thorn' .

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pyramid

noun
1. a monumental stone structure with a square or triangular base and sloping sides that meet in a point at the top, especially one built as a royal tomb in ancient Egypt.
2. Geometry a polyhedron of which one face is a polygon and the other faces are triangles with a common vertex.
3. a pyramid-shaped thing or pile of things.

verb chiefly N. Amer.
heap or stack in a pyramidal shape.

ORIGIN: Greek puramis.

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pyramid selling

noun
a system of selling goods in which agency rights are sold to an increasing number of distributors at successively lower levels.

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pyre

noun
a heap of combustible material, especially one for the ritual cremation of a corpse.

ORIGIN: Greek pur 'fire' .

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pyrethrum

noun
1. an aromatic plant of the daisy family, typically with brightly coloured flowers.
2. an insecticide made from the dried flowers of these plants.

ORIGIN: Greek purethron 'feverfew' .

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Pyrex

noun trademark
a hard heat-resistant type of glass.

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pyrites (also iron pyrites or pyrite)

noun
a shiny yellow mineral consisting of iron disulphide.

ORIGIN: from Greek purits 'of fire' , from pur 'fire' .

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pyro-

combining form
1. relating to fire: pyromania.
2. Chemistry & Mineralogy formed or affected by heat: pyroxene.

ORIGIN: from Greek pur 'fire' .

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pyromania

noun
an obsessive desire to set fire to things.

DERIVATIVES:
pyromaniac noun.

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pyrotechnic

adjective
1. relating to fireworks.
2. brilliant or spectacular.

DERIVATIVES:
pyrotechnical adjective.

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pyrotechnics

plural noun
1. a firework display.
2. (treated as sing. ) the art of making fireworks or staging firework displays.
3. a spectacular performance or display: vocal pyrotechnics.

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pyrrhic

adjective
(of a victory) won at too great a cost to have been worthwhile for the victor.

ORIGIN: named after Pyrrhus, a king of Epirus whose victory over the Romans in 279 BC incurred heavy losses.

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Pythagoras' theorem

noun
the theorem that the square on the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle is equal in area to the sum of the squares on the other two sides.

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python

noun
a large non-venomous snake which kills prey by constriction.

ORIGIN: Greek Puthn, a huge serpent killed by Apollo.

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pyx (also pix)

noun Christian Church
the container in which the consecrated bread of the Eucharist is kept.

ORIGIN: Greek puxis 'box' .

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Q

Q [1] (also q)

noun (pl. Qs or Q's)
the seventeenth letter of the alphabet.

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Q [2]

abbreviation
1. queen (used especially in card games and chess).
2. question.

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QC

abbreviation
1. quality control.
2. Quebec.
3. Law Queen's Counsel.

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QED

abbreviation
quod erat demonstrandum.

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qt

abbreviation
quart(s).

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qua

conjunction formal
in the capacity of.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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quack [1]

noun
the characteristic harsh sound made by a duck.

verb
make this sound.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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quack [2]

noun
1. an unqualified person who dishonestly claims to have medical knowledge.
2. Brit. informal a doctor.

DERIVATIVES:
quackery noun.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of earlier quacksalver, from Dutch, probably from obsolete quacken 'prattle' + salf 'salve' .

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quad

noun
1. a quadrangle.
2. a quadruplet.

adjective
quadraphonic.

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quad bike

noun
a motorcycle with four large tyres, for off-road use.

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quadrangle

noun
1. a four-sided geometrical figure, especially a square or rectangle.
2. a square or rectangular courtyard enclosed by buildings.

DERIVATIVES:
quadrangular adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin quadri- 'four' + angulus 'corner, angle' .

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quadrant

noun
1. each of four parts of a circle, plane, body, etc. divided by two lines or planes at right angles.
2. historical an instrument for taking angular measurements of altitude in astronomy and navigation.

ORIGIN: Latin quadrans 'quarter' , from quattuor 'four' .

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quadraphonic (also quadrophonic)

adjective
(of sound reproduction) transmitted through four channels.

DERIVATIVES:
quadraphony noun.

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quadrate

adjective
roughly square or rectangular.

ORIGIN: from Latin quadrare 'make square' .

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quadratic

adjective Mathematics
involving the second and no higher power of an unknown quantity or variable.

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quadri-

combining form
four; having four: quadriplegia.

ORIGIN: Latin, from quattuor 'four' .

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quadriceps

noun (pl. same)
a large muscle at the front of the thigh.

ORIGIN: from Latin, 'four-headed' .

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quadrilateral

noun
a four-sided figure.

adjective
having four straight sides.

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quadrille

noun
a square dance performed typically by four couples and containing five figures.

ORIGIN: French, from Spanish cuadrilla or Italian quadriglia 'troop, company' .

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quadriplegia

noun Medicine
paralysis of all four limbs.

DERIVATIVES:
quadriplegic adjective & noun.

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quadruped

noun
an animal which has four feet, especially a mammal.

DERIVATIVES:
quadrupedal adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin quadru- 'four' + pes 'foot' .

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quadruple

adjective
1. consisting of four parts or elements.
2. four times as much or as many.
3. (of time in music) having four beats in a bar.

verb
increase or be increased fourfold.

noun
a quadruple number or amount.

ORIGIN: Latin quadruplus.

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quadruplet

noun
each of four children born at one birth.

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quaff

verb
drink heartily.

DERIVATIVES:
quaffable adjective
quaffer noun.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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quagga

noun
an extinct South African zebra with a yellowish-brown coat with darker stripes.

ORIGIN: probably from Khoikhoi.

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quagmire

noun
1. a soft boggy area of land that gives way underfoot.
2. a complex or difficult situation.

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quail [1]

noun (pl. same or quails)
a small short-tailed game bird, typically with brown camouflaged plumage.

ORIGIN: Old French quaille, from Latin coacula.

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quail [2]

verb
feel or show fear or apprehension.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «waste away»: of unknown origin.

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quaint

adjective
attractively unusual or old-fashioned.

DERIVATIVES:
quaintly adverb
quaintness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «wise», «ingenious»: from Old French cointe, from Latin cognoscere 'ascertain' .

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quake

verb
1. (especially of the earth) shake or tremble.
2. shudder with fear.

noun informal
an earthquake.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Quaker

noun
a member of the Religious Society of Friends, a Christian movement devoted to peaceful principles and rejecting both formal ministry and all set forms of worship.

DERIVATIVES:
Quakerism noun.

ORIGIN: from QUAKE, perhaps alluding to the founder's direction to his followers to ‘tremble at the Word of the Lord’.

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qualification

noun
1. the action of qualifying or the fact of becoming qualified.
2. a pass of an examination or an official completion of a course.
3. a quality that makes someone suitable for a job or activity.
4. a condition that must be fulfilled before a right can be acquired.
5. a statement that qualifies another.

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qualifier

noun
1. a person or team that qualifies for a competition or its final rounds.
2. a match or contest to decide which individuals or teams qualify for a competition or its final rounds.
2. Grammar a word or phrase, especially an adjective, used to qualify another word, especially a noun.

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qualify

verb (qualifies, qualified)
1. (often qualify for) meet the necessary standard or conditions to be entitled to or eligible for something.
2. become officially recognized as a practitioner of a profession or activity, typically after study and passing examinations.
3. make competent or knowledgeable enough to do something.
4. modify (a statement) by adding restrictions or reservations.
5. describe or class as being.
6. Grammar (of a word or phrase) attribute a quality to (another word, especially a preceding noun).

ORIGIN: Latin qualificare, from qualis (see QUALITY).

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qualitative

adjective
1. of, concerned with, or measured by quality.
2. Grammar (of an adjective) describing the quality of something in size, appearance, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
qualitatively adverb.

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quality

noun (pl. qualities)
1. the degree of excellence of something as measured against other similar things.
2. general excellence.
3. a distinctive attribute or characteristic.
4. archaic high social standing.

ORIGIN: Latin qualitas, from qualis 'of what kind, of such a kind' .

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quality control

noun
a system of maintaining standards in manufactured products by testing a sample against the specification.

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quality time

noun
time devoted exclusively to another person in order to strengthen a relationship.

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qualm

noun
1. a feeling of doubt or unease, especially about one's conduct.
2. archaic a momentary faint or sick feeling.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to an Old English word meaning 'pain' .

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quandary

noun (pl. quandaries)
a state of uncertainty.

ORIGIN: perhaps partly from Latin quando 'when' .

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quango

noun (pl. quangos) Brit., chiefly derogatory
a semi-public administrative body with financial support from and senior appointments made by the government.

ORIGIN: acronym from quasi (or quasi-autonomous) non-governmental organization.

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quantify

verb (quantifies, quantified)
express or measure the quantity of.

DERIVATIVES:
quantifiable adjective
quantification noun.

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quantitative

adjective
of, concerned with, or measured by quantity.

DERIVATIVES:
quantitatively adverb.

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quantity

noun (pl. quantities)
1. a certain amount or number.
2. the property of something that is measurable in number, amount, size, or weight.
3. a considerable number or amount.

ORIGIN: Latin quantitas, from quantus 'how great, how much' .

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quantity surveyor

noun Brit.
a person who calculates the amount and cost of materials needed for building work.

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quantum

noun (pl. quanta)
1. Physics an individual quantity of energy corresponding to that involved in the absorption or emission of energy or light by an atom or other particle.
2. a total amount, especially an amount of money legally payable in damages.
3. a share.

ORIGIN: Latin, from quantus 'how great' .

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quantum leap (also quantum jump)

noun
a sudden large increase or advance.

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quantum mechanics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the branch of physics concerned with describing the behaviour of subatomic particles in terms of quanta, incorporating the idea that particles can also be regarded as waves.

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quantum theory

noun
a theory of matter and energy based on the idea of quanta.

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quarantine

noun
a state or period of isolation for people or animals that have arrived from elsewhere or been exposed to contagious disease.

verb
put in quarantine.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a period of forty days during which a widow who was entitled to a share of her deceased husband's estate had the right to remain in his house; from Italian quarantina 'forty days' .

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quark

noun Physics
any of a group of subatomic particles which carry a fractional electric charge and are believed to be building blocks of protons, neutrons, and other particles.

ORIGIN: invented by the American physicist Murray Gell-Mann and associated by him with the line ‘Three quarks for Muster Mark’ in James Joyce's Finnegans Wake (1939), which seemed appropriate because three kinds of quark were originally proposed.

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quarrel

noun
1. an angry argument or disagreement.
2. a reason for disagreement.

verb (quarrelled, quarrelling; US quarreled, quarreling)
1. have a quarrel.
2. (quarrel with) disagree with.

ORIGIN: Latin querella 'complaint' , from queri 'complain' .

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quarrelsome

adjective
given to or characterized by quarrelling.

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quarry [1]

noun (pl. quarries)
an open excavation in the earth's surface from which stone or other materials are extracted.

verb (quarries, quarried)
1. extract from a quarry.
2. cut into (rock or ground) to obtain stone or other materials.

DERIVATIVES:
quarrier noun.

ORIGIN: Old French quarriere, from Latin quadrum 'a square' .

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quarry [2]

noun (pl. quarries)
1. an animal being hunted.
2. a person or thing being chased or sought.

ORIGIN: originally denoting the parts of a deer placed on a hide for the hounds: from Old French couree, from Latin cor 'heart' .

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quart

noun
1. a unit of liquid capacity equal to a quarter of a gallon or two pints, equivalent in Britain to approximately 1.13 litres and in the US to approximately 0.94 litre.
2. N. Amer. a unit of dry capacity equivalent to approximately 1.10 litres.

IDIOMS -
you can't get a quart into a pint pot Brit. proverb you cannot achieve the impossible.

ORIGIN: from Latin quarta pars 'fourth part' , from quartus 'fourth' .

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quarter

noun
1. each of four equal or corresponding parts into which something is or can be divided.
2. a period of three months, used especially in reference to financial transactions.
3. a quarter-hour.
4. a US or Canadian coin worth 25 cents.
5. one fourth of a pound weight (avoirdupois, equal to 4 ounces).
6. one fourth of a hundredweight (Brit. 28 lb or US 25 lb).
7. a part of a town or city with a specific character or use: the business quarter.
8. (quarters) rooms or lodgings.
9. a person, area, etc. regarded as the source of something: help from an unexpected quarter.
10. pity or mercy shown to an opponent: they gave the enemy no quarter.
11. (quarters) the haunches or hindquarters of a horse.
12. the direction of one of the points of the compass.

verb
1. divide into quarters.
2. historical cut the body of (an executed person) into four parts.
3. (be quartered) be stationed or lodged.
4. range over (an area) in all directions.
5. Heraldry display (different coats of arms) in the four divisions of a shield.

ORIGIN: Latin quartarius 'fourth part of a measure' , from quartus 'fourth' .

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quarterback

noun American Football
a player stationed behind the centre who directs a team's offensive play.

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quarter day

noun Brit.
each of four days in the year on which some tenancies begin and end and quarterly payments fall due.

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quarterdeck

noun
the part of a ship's upper deck near the stern, traditionally reserved for officers or for ceremonial use.

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quarter-final

noun
a match of a knockout competition preceding the semi-final.

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quarter-hour

noun
1. (also quarter of an hour) a period of fifteen minutes.
2. a point of time fifteen minutes before or after a full hour of the clock.

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quarter-light

noun Brit.
a window in the side of a motor vehicle other than a main door window.

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quarterly

adjective & adverb
produced or occurring once every quarter of a year.

noun (pl. quarterlies)
a publication produced four times a year.

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quartermaster

noun
1. a regimental officer in charge of quartering and supplies.
2. a naval petty officer responsible for steering and signals.

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quarter sessions

plural noun historical
(in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland) a court of limited criminal and civil jurisdiction and of appeal, usually held quarterly.

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quarterstaff

noun
a stout pole 6 8 feet long, formerly used as a weapon.

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quarter tone

noun Music
half a semitone.

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quartet (also quartette)

noun
1. a group of four people playing music or singing together.
2. a composition for a quartet.
3. a set of four.

ORIGIN: Italian quartetto, from quarto 'fourth' .

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quartile

noun Statistics
each of four equal groups into which a population can be divided according to the distribution of values of a particular variable.

ORIGIN: Latin quartilis, from quartus 'fourth' .

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quarto

noun (pl. quartos)
1. a page or paper size resulting from folding a sheet into four leaves, typically 10 inches x 8 inches (254 x 203 mm).
2. a book of this size.

ORIGIN: from Latin in quarto 'in the fourth (of a sheet)' .

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quartz

noun
a hard mineral consisting of silica, typically occurring as colourless or white hexagonal prisms.

ORIGIN: German Quarz, from Polish dialect kwardy, corresponding to Czech tvrdý 'hard' .

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quartz clock (or watch)

noun
a clock (or watch) regulated by vibrations of an electrically driven quartz crystal.

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quasar

noun
a massive and extremely remote celestial object which emits large amounts of energy.

ORIGIN: contraction of quasi-stellar radio source: telescope images of quasars are typically star-like.

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quash

verb
1. reject as invalid, especially by legal procedure.
2. put an end to; suppress.

ORIGIN: Old French quasser 'annul' , from Latin cassus 'null, void' .

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quasi-

combining form
1. seemingly: quasi-scientific.
2. being partly or almost: quasicrystalline.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'as if, almost' .

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quaternary

adjective
1. fourth in order or rank.
2. (Quaternary) Geology relating to the most recent period in the Cenozoic era, from about 1.64 million years ago to the present.

ORIGIN: Latin quaternarius, from quater 'four times' .

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quatrain

noun
a stanza of four lines, typically with alternate rhymes.

ORIGIN: French, from quatre 'four' .

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quatrefoil

noun
an ornamental design of four lobes or leaves, resembling a flower or clover leaf.

ORIGIN: from Old French quatre 'four' + foil 'leaf' .

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quaver

verb
(of a voice) tremble.

noun
1. a tremble in a voice.
2. Music, chiefly Brit. a note having the value of an eighth of a semibreve or half a crotchet, represented by a large dot with a hooked stem.

DERIVATIVES:
quavery adjective.

ORIGIN: dialect quave «quake, tremble», probably from an Old English word related to QUAKE.

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quay

noun
a platform lying alongside or projecting into water for loading and unloading ships.

ORIGIN: Old French kay.

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quayside

noun
a quay and the area around it.

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queasy

adjective (queasier, queasiest)
1. feeling sick; nauseous.
2. slightly nervous or uneasy.

DERIVATIVES:
queasily adverb
queasiness noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Old French coisier 'to hurt' .

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queen

noun
1. the female ruler of an independent state, especially one who inherits the position by right of birth.
2. (also queen consort) a king's wife.
3. the best or most important woman or thing in a sphere or group.
4. a playing card bearing a representation of a queen, ranking next below a king.
5. the most powerful chess piece, able to move in any direction.
6. a reproductive female in a colony of ants, bees, wasps, or termites.
7. informal a flamboyantly effeminate male homosexual.

verb
1. (queen it) (of a woman) act in an unpleasantly superior way.
2. Chess convert (a pawn) into a queen when it reaches the opponent's end of the board.

DERIVATIVES:
queendom noun
queenly adjective
queenship noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Queen Anne

adjective
denoting a style of English furniture or architecture characteristic of the early 18th century.

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queen bee

noun
1. the single reproductive female in a colony of honeybees.
2. informal a dominant woman in a group.

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queen mother

noun
the widow of a king and mother of the sovereign.

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Queensberry Rules

plural noun
the standard rules of boxing.

ORIGIN: named after the 8th Marquess of Queensberry, who supervised the preparation of the rules in 1867.

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Queen's Counsel

noun
a senior barrister appointed on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor.

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Queen's English

noun
the English language as correctly written and spoken in Britain.

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Queen's evidence

noun English Law
evidence for the prosecution given by a participant in the crime being tried.

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Queen's highway

noun Brit.
the public road network.

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queen-sized (also queen-size)

adjective
of a larger size than the standard but smaller than king-sized.

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Queen's Speech

noun
(in the UK) a statement read by the sovereign at the opening of parliament, detailing the government's proposed legislative programme.

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queer

adjective
1. strange; odd.
2. informal, derogatory (of a man) homosexual.
3. Brit. informal, dated slightly ill.

noun informal, derogatory
a homosexual man.

verb informal
spoil or ruin.

IDIOMS -
in Queer Street Brit. informal, dated in difficulty or debt.
queer someone's pitch Brit. informal spoil someone's plans or chances of doing something.

DERIVATIVES:
queerish adjective
queerly adverb
queerness noun.
USAGE - The word queer was first used to mean ‘homosexual’ in the early 20th century. It was originally, and usually still is, a deliberately derogatory term when used by heterosexual people. In recent years, however, gay people have taken the word queer and deliberately used it in place of gay or homosexual, in an attempt, by using the word positively, to deprive it of its negative power.
ORIGIN: perhaps from German quer 'oblique, perverse' .

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quell

verb
1. put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by force.
2. subdue or suppress.

ORIGIN: Old English, «kill».

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quench

verb
1. satisfy (thirst) by drinking.
2. satisfy (a desire).
3. extinguish (a fire).
4. stifle (a feeling).
5. rapidly cool (hot metal).
6. Physics & Electronics suppress or damp (luminescence, an oscillation, etc.).

DERIVATIVES:
quencher noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «put out, extinguish».

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quern

noun
a simple hand mill for grinding grain, typically consisting of two circular stones.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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querulous

adjective
complaining in a petulant or whining manner.

DERIVATIVES:
querulously adverb
querulousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin querulus, from queri 'complain' .

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query

noun (pl. queries)
1. a question, especially one expressing doubt.
2. chiefly Printing a question mark.

verb (queries, queried)
1. ask a query.
2. N. Amer. put a query or queries to.

ORIGIN: from Latin quaerere 'ask, seek' .

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quest

noun
1. a long or arduous search.
2. (in medieval romance) an expedition by a knight to accomplish a specific task.

verb
search for something.

DERIVATIVES:
quester (also questor) noun.

ORIGIN: Old French queste, from Latin quaerere 'ask, seek' .

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question

noun
1. a sentence worded or expressed so as to obtain information.
2. a doubt.
3. the raising of a doubt or objection: he obeyed without question.
4. a problem requiring resolution.
5. a matter or issue depending on conditions: it's only a question of time before something changes.

verb
1. ask questions of.
2. express doubt about; object to.

IDIOMS -
come (or bring) into question become (or raise) an issue for further consideration or discussion.
in question
1. being considered or discussed.
2. in doubt.
no question of no possibility of.
out of the question not possible.
put the question require supporters and opponents of a debated proposal to record their votes.

DERIVATIVES:
questioner noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin quaerere 'ask, seek' .

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questionable

adjective
1. open to doubt.
2. of suspect morality, honesty, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
questionably adverb.

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question mark

noun
a punctuation mark (?) indicating a question.

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questionnaire

noun
a set of printed questions, usually with a choice of answers, devised for a survey or statistical study.

ORIGIN: French.

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queue

noun
1. a line of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended to or to proceed.
2. Computing a list of data items, commands, etc., stored so as to be retrievable in a definite order.

verb (queues, queued, queuing or queueing)
wait in a queue.

ORIGIN: originally as a heraldic term denoting an animal's tail, later a long plait: from French, from Latin cauda 'tail' ; compare with CUE.

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queue-jump

verb Brit.
move forward out of turn in a queue.

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quibble

noun
1. a slight objection or criticism.
2. archaic a pun.

verb
argue about a trivial matter.

ORIGIN: from obsolete quib «a petty objection», probably from Latin quibus, from qui, quae, quod 'who, what, which' , frequently used in legal documents and therefore associated with subtle distinctions.

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quiche

noun
a baked flan with a savoury filling thickened with eggs.

ORIGIN: French, from Alsatian dialect Küchen.

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quick

adjective
1. moving fast.
2. lasting or taking a short time: a quick worker.
3. with little or no delay; prompt.
4. intelligent.
5. (of a person's eye or ear) keenly perceptive.
6. (of temper) easily roused.

noun
1. (the quick) the tender flesh below the growing part of a fingernail or toenail.
2. the central or most sensitive part: his laughter cut us to the quick.
3. (as plural noun the quick) archaic those who are living.

IDIOMS -
a quick one informal a rapidly consumed alcoholic drink.
quick with child archaic at a stage of pregnancy when the fetus can be felt to move.

DERIVATIVES:
quickly adverb
quickness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «alive, animated, alert».

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quicken

verb
1. make or become quicker.
2. stimulate or be stimulated.
3. archaic reach a stage in pregnancy when the fetus can be felt to move.
4. archaic (of a fetus) begin to show signs of life.

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quick-fire

adjective
1. unhesitating and rapid.
2. (of a gun) firing shots in rapid succession.

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quick fix

noun
a speedy but inadequate solution.

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quickie informal

noun
1. a rapidly consumed alcoholic drink.
2. a brief act of sexual intercourse.

adjective
done or made quickly.

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quicklime

noun
a white caustic alkaline substance consisting of calcium oxide, obtained by heating limestone.

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quick march

noun
a brisk military march.

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quicksand

noun (also quicksands)
loose wet sand that sucks in anything resting on it.

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quicksilver

noun
1. liquid mercury.
2. (before another noun ) moving or changing rapidly.

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quickstep

noun
a fast foxtrot in 4/4 time.

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quick-tempered

adjective
easily angered.

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quick-witted

adjective
able to think or respond quickly.

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quid [1]

noun (pl. same) Brit. informal
one pound sterling.

IDIOMS -
not the full quid Austral./NZ informal not intelligent.
quids in Brit. informal profiting or likely to profit from something.

ORIGIN: of obscure origin.

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quid [2]

noun
a lump of chewing tobacco.

ORIGIN: variant of CUD.

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quid pro quo

noun (pl. quid pro quos)
a favour or advantage given in return for something.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'something for something' .

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quiescent

adjective
in a state or period of inactivity.

DERIVATIVES:
quiescence noun
quiescently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin quiescere 'be still' , from quies 'quiet' .

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quiet

adjective (quieter, quietest)
1. making little or no noise.
2. free from activity, disturbance, or excitement.
3. without being disturbed or interrupted: a quiet drink.
4. discreet, moderate, or restrained.
5. (of a person) tranquil and reserved.

noun
absence of noise or disturbance.

verb chiefly N. Amer.
make or become quiet.

IDIOMS -
keep quiet refrain from speaking or revealing a secret.
on the quiet informal secretly or unobtrusively.

DERIVATIVES:
quietly adverb
quietness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin quies 'repose, quiet' .

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quieten

verb chiefly Brit.
make or become quiet and calm.

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quietism

noun
1. (in the Christian faith) devotional contemplation and abandonment of the will as a form of religious mysticism.
2. calm acceptance of things as they are.

DERIVATIVES:
quietist noun & adjective.

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quietude

noun
a state of calmness and quiet.

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quietus

noun (pl. quietuses)
1. literary death or a cause of death, regarded as a release from life.
2. archaic something calming or soothing.

ORIGIN: from Latin quietus est 'he is quit' (see QUIT), originally used as a receipt on payment of a debt.

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quiff

noun chiefly Brit.
a tuft of hair, brushed upwards and backwards from a man's forehead.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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quill

noun
1. a main wing or tail feather of a bird.
2. the hollow shaft of a feather, especially the lower part that lacks barbs.
3. a pen made from a quill.
4. a hollow sharp spine of a porcupine, hedgehog, etc.

ORIGIN: probably from Low German quiele.

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quilt

noun
1. a warm bed covering made of padding enclosed between layers of fabric and kept in place by lines of decorative stitching.
2. a bedspread of similar design.

verb (often as adj. quilted)
join (layers of fabric or padding) with stitching to form a quilt, a garment, or for decorative effect.

DERIVATIVES:
quilter noun
quilting noun.

ORIGIN: Old French cuilte, from Latin culcita 'mattress, cushion' .

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quin

noun informal, chiefly Brit.
a quintuplet.

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quince

noun
the hard, acid, pear-shaped fruit of an Asian shrub or small tree, used in preserves or as flavouring.

ORIGIN: Old French cooin, from Latin malum cydonium 'apple of Cydonia (= Chania, in Crete)' .

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quinine

noun
a bitter crystalline compound present in cinchona bark, used as a tonic and formerly to treat malaria.

ORIGIN: from a Quechua word meaning 'bark' .

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quinquennial

adjective
lasting for or recurring every five years.

DERIVATIVES:
quinquennially adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin quinque 'five' + annus 'year' .

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quinsy

noun
inflammation of the throat, especially an abscess near the tonsils.

ORIGIN: Greek kunankh 'canine quinsy' , from kun- 'dog' + ankhein 'to strangle' .

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quintessence

noun
1. the most perfect or typical example or embodiment of a quality or type.
2. a refined essence or extract of a substance.

ORIGIN: from Latin quinta essentia 'fifth essence' , from the belief in ancient philosophy that a fifth substance existed in addition to the four elements, which pervaded all things.

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quintessential

adjective
representing the most perfect or typical example.

DERIVATIVES:
quintessentially adverb.

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quintet

noun
1. a group of five people playing music or singing together.
2. a composition for a quintet.
3. a set of five.

ORIGIN: Italian quintetto, from quinto 'fifth' .

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quintuple

adjective
1. consisting of five parts or elements.
2. five times as much or as many.
3. (of time in music) having five beats in a bar.

verb
increase or be increased fivefold.

noun
a quintuple number or amount.

ORIGIN: Latin quintuplus.

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quintuplet

noun
each of five children born at one birth.

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quip

noun
a witty remark.

verb (quipped, quipping)
make a quip.

DERIVATIVES:
quipster noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Latin quippe 'indeed' .

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quire

noun
1. four sheets of paper or parchment folded to form eight leaves, as in medieval manuscripts.
2. 25 (formerly 24) sheets of paper; one twentieth of a ream.
3. any collection of leaves one within another in a manuscript or book.

ORIGIN: Old French quaier, from Latin quaterni 'set of four' .

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quirk

noun
1. a peculiar behavioural habit.
2. a strange chance occurrence: a quirk of fate.
3. a sudden twist, turn, or curve.

DERIVATIVES:
quirkish adjective
quirky adjective (quirkier, quirkiest) .

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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quisling

noun
a traitor collaborating with an occupying enemy force.

ORIGIN: from the Norwegian army officer Major Vidkun Quisling (1887 1945), who ruled Norway on behalf of the German occupying forces.

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quit

verb (quitting; past and past part. quitted or quit)
1. leave, especially permanently.
2. resign from (a job).
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. stop or discontinue.
4. (quit oneself) archaic behave in a specified way.

adjective (quit of)
rid of.

ORIGIN: Old French quiter, from Latin quietus, from quiescere 'be still' .

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quite

adverb
1. to the utmost or most absolute extent or degree; completely.
2. to a certain extent; moderately.
3. US very; really.

exclamation (also quite so)
expressing agreement.

IDIOMS -
quite a a remarkable or impressive (person or thing).
quite a lot (or a bit) a considerable number or amount.
quite some a considerable amount of.

ORIGIN: from the obsolete adjective quite, variant of QUIT.

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quits

adjective
on equal terms by retaliation or repayment.

IDIOMS -
call it quits
1. agree that terms are now equal.
2. decide to abandon an activity.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «freed from a liability or debt»: perhaps an informal abbreviation of Latin quittus, from quietus, used as a receipt (see QUIETUS).

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quitter

noun informal
a person who gives up easily.

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quiver [1]

verb
shake or vibrate with a slight rapid motion.

noun
a quivering movement or sound.

DERIVATIVES:
quivery adjective.

ORIGIN: from an Old English word meaning «nimble, quick».

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quiver [2]

noun
an archer's portable case for arrows.

ORIGIN: Old French quiveir.

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quixotic

adjective
impractically idealistic or fanciful.

DERIVATIVES:
quixotically adverb
quixotism noun.

ORIGIN: from the name of Don Quixote, hero of Cervantes' romance (1605 15).

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quiz

noun (pl. quizzes)
1. a test of knowledge, especially as a competition for entertainment.
2. informal, chiefly Brit. a period of questioning.

verb (quizzes, quizzed, quizzing)
question (someone).

ORIGIN: possibly from QUIZ, influenced by INQUISITIVE.

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quizzical

adjective
indicating mild or amused puzzlement.

DERIVATIVES:
quizzicality noun
quizzically adverb
quizzicalness noun.

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quoin

noun
1. an external angle of a wall or building.
2. a cornerstone.

DERIVATIVES:
quoining noun.

ORIGIN: variant of COIN, in the former senses «cornerstone» and «wedge».

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quoit

noun
1. a ring of iron, rope, or rubber thrown in a game to encircle or land as near as possible to an upright peg.
2. (quoits) (treated as sing. ) a game of aiming and throwing quoits.

ORIGIN: probably French.

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quondam

adjective formal
former.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'formerly' .

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quorate

adjective Brit.
(of a meeting) attended by a quorum.

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quorum

noun (pl. quorums)
the minimum number of members of an assembly or society that must be present at a meeting to make the proceedings valid.

ORIGIN: used in commissions in which particular people were designated as members of a body (originally of justices of the peace) by the Latin words quorum vos … unum (duos, etc.) esse volumus 'of whom we wish that you … be one (two, etc.)' .

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quota

noun
1. a limited quantity of a product which may be produced, exported, or imported.
2. a share that one is entitled to receive or bound to contribute.
3. a fixed number of a group allowed to do something, e.g. immigrants entering a country.

ORIGIN: from Latin quota pars 'how great a part' .

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quotable

adjective
suitable for or worth quoting.

DERIVATIVES:
quotability noun.

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quotation

noun
1. a passage or remark repeated by someone other than the originator.
2. the action of quoting.
3. a short musical passage or visual image taken from one piece of music or work of art and used in another.
4. a formal statement of the estimated cost of a job or service.
5. Stock Exchange a registration granted to a company enabling their shares to be officially listed and traded.

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quotation mark

noun
each of a set of punctuation marks, single (‘ ’) or double (“ ”), used either to mark the beginning and end of a title or quotation, or to indicate slang or jargon words.

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quote

verb
1. repeat or copy out (a passage or remark by another).
2. repeat a passage or remark from.
3. (quote as) put forward or describe as being.
4. give someone (an estimated price).
5. (quote at/as) name (someone or something) at (specified odds).
6. give (a company) a listing on a stock exchange.

noun
1. a quotation.
2. (quotes) quotation marks.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «mark a book with numbers or marginal references»: from Latin quotare, from quot 'how many' .

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quoth

verb archaic or humorous
said (used only in first and third person singular before the subject).

ORIGIN: past tense of obsolete quethe «say, declare», of Germanic origin.

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quotidian

adjective
1. daily.
2. ordinary or everyday.

ORIGIN: Latin quotidianus, from cotidie 'daily' .

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quotient

noun
1. Mathematics a result obtained by dividing one quantity by another.
2. a degree or amount of a specified quality.

ORIGIN: from Latin quotiens 'how many times' , from quot 'how many' .

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q.v.

abbreviation
used to direct a reader to another part of a text for further information.

ORIGIN: from Latin quod vide, 'which see' .

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R

R [1] (also r)

noun (pl. Rs or R's)
the eighteenth letter of the alphabet.

IDIOMS -
the three Rs reading, writing, and arithmetic, regarded as the fundamentals of learning.

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R [2]

abbreviation
1. rand.
2. Regina or Rex.
3. (®) registered as a trademark.
4. (R.) River.
5. roentgen(s).
6. rook (in chess).
7. Cricket (on scorecards) run(s).

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r

abbreviation
1. radius.
2. right.

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RA

abbreviation
1. (in the UK) Royal Academician or Royal Academy.
2. (in the UK) Royal Artillery.

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Ra

symbol
the chemical element radium.

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rabbi

noun (pl. rabbis)
1. a Jewish scholar or teacher, especially of Jewish law.
2. a Jewish religious leader.

DERIVATIVES:
rabbinate noun.

ORIGIN: from a Hebrew word meaning 'my master' .

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rabbinic

adjective
relating to rabbis or to Jewish law or teachings.

DERIVATIVES:
rabbinical adjective.

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rabbit

noun
1. a burrowing plant-eating mammal, with long ears and a short tail.
2. N. Amer. a hare.
3. the fur of the rabbit.
4. informal a poor performer in a sport or game.

verb (rabbited, rabbiting)
1. (usu. as noun rabbiting) hunt rabbits.
2. Brit. informal chatter. [ORIGIN: from rabbit and pork, rhyming slang for «talk».]

DERIVATIVES:
rabbity adjective.

ORIGIN: apparently from Old French, perhaps of Dutch origin.

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rabbit punch

noun
a sharp chop with the edge of the hand to the back of the neck.

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rabble

noun
1. a disorderly crowd.
2. (the rabble) ordinary people regarded as socially inferior or uncouth.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to dialect rabble «to gabble».

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rabble-rouser

noun
a person who stirs up popular opinion, especially for political reasons.

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Rabelaisian

adjective
of or like the French satirist François Rabelais (c.1494 1553) or his writings, especially in being characterized by exuberant imagination and earthy humour.

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rabid

adjective
1. extreme; fanatical.
2. relating to or affected with rabies.

DERIVATIVES:
rabidly adverb.

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rabies

noun
a dangerous disease of dogs and other mammals, caused by a virus transmissible through the saliva to humans and causing madness and convulsions.

ORIGIN: Latin, from rabere 'rave' .

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RAC

abbreviation
1. (in the UK) Royal Armoured Corps.
2. (in the UK) Royal Automobile Club.

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raccoon (also racoon)

noun
a greyish-brown omnivorous American mammal with a black facial mask and a ringed tail.

ORIGIN: from an Algonquian dialect word.

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race [1]

noun
1. a competition between runners, horses, vehicles, etc. to see which is fastest over a set course.
2. (the races) a series of races for horses or dogs, held at a fixed time on a set course.
3. a situation in which people compete to be first to achieve something.
4. a strong or rapid current flowing through a narrow channel.
5. a water channel, especially one in a mill or mine.
6. a smooth ring-shaped groove or guide for a ball bearing or roller bearing.

verb
1. compete in a race.
2. have a race with.
3. prepare and enter (an animal or vehicle) for races.
4. move or progress swiftly.
5. (of machinery) operate at excessive speed.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'current' .

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race [2]

noun
1. each of the major divisions of humankind, having distinct physical characteristics.
2. racial origin or distinction: rights based on race.
3. a group of people sharing the same culture, language, etc.; an ethnic group.
4. a group of people or things with a common feature.
5. Biology a distinct population within a species; a subspecies.
USAGE - Some people now feel that the word race should be avoided, because of its associations with the now discredited theories of 19th-century anthropologists and physiologists about supposed racial superiority. Terms such as people, community, or ethnic group are less emotionally charged.
ORIGIN: French, from Italian razza.

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racecourse

noun
a ground or track for horse or dog racing.

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racehorse

noun
a horse bred and trained for racing.

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raceme

noun
a flower cluster with the separate flowers attached by short stalks along a central stem, the lower flowers developing first. Compare with CYME.

ORIGIN: Latin racemus 'bunch of grapes' .

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race meeting

noun Brit.
a sporting event consisting of a series of horse races held at one course.

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race relations

plural noun
relations between members of different races within a country.

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racetrack

noun
1. a racecourse.
2. a track for motor racing.

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racial

adjective
1. of or relating to a race.
2. relating to relations or differences between races.

DERIVATIVES:
racially adverb.

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racialism

noun
racism.

DERIVATIVES:
racialist noun & adjective
racialize (also racialise) verb.

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racing

noun
a sport involving races.

adjective
1. moving swiftly.
2. (of a person) following horse racing.

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racing car

noun
a car built for racing.

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racing driver

noun
a driver of racing cars.

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racism

noun
1. the belief that there are characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to each race.
2. discrimination against or antagonism towards other races.

DERIVATIVES:
racist noun & adjective.

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rack [1]

noun
1. a framework for holding or storing things.
2. a cogged or toothed bar or rail engaging with a wheel or pinion, or using pegs to adjust the position of something.
3. (the rack) historical an instrument of torture consisting of a frame on which the victim was tied by the wrists and ankles and stretched.
4. a vertically barred holder for animal fodder.
5. a triangular frame for positioning pool balls.
6. a single game of pool.

verb
1. (also wrack) cause extreme physical or mental pain to.
2. place in or on a rack.
3. (rack up) accumulate or achieve (a score or amount).

IDIOMS -
rack (or wrack) one's brains make a great mental effort.

ORIGIN: from Dutch rec, Low German rek 'horizontal bar or shelf' , probably from recken 'to stretch, reach' .

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rack [2]

noun
a joint of meat, especially lamb, including the front ribs.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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rack [3] (also wrack)

noun (in phrase go to rack and ruin)
gradually deteriorate due to neglect.

ORIGIN: Old English, «vengeance»; related to WREAK.

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rack [4]

verb
draw off (wine, beer, etc.) from the sediment in the barrel.

ORIGIN: Provençal arracar, from raca 'stems and husks of grapes, dregs' .

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rack-and-pinion

adjective
denoting a mechanism using a fixed cogged or toothed bar or rail engaging with a smaller cog.

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racket [1] (also racquet)

noun
a bat with a round or oval frame strung with catgut or nylon, used especially in tennis, badminton, and squash.

ORIGIN: French raquette, from an Arabic word meaning 'palm of the hand' .

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racket [2]

noun
1. a loud unpleasant noise.
2. informal a fraudulent scheme for obtaining money.
3. informal a person's line of business.

verb (racketed, racketing)
make a loud unpleasant noise.

DERIVATIVES:
rackety adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps imitative of clattering.

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racketeer

noun
a person engaging in fraudulent business dealings.

DERIVATIVES:
racketeering noun.

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raconteur

noun (fem. raconteuse)
a skilful teller of anecdotes.

ORIGIN: French, from raconter 'relate, recount' .

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racy

adjective (racier, raciest)
1. suggestive; risqué.
2. lively, vigorous, or spirited.

DERIVATIVES:
racily adverb
raciness noun.

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RADA

abbreviation
(in the UK) Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

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radar

noun
a system for detecting the presence, direction, and speed of aircraft, ships, etc., by sending out pulses of radio waves which are reflected back off the object.

ORIGIN: from radio detection and ranging.

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radar trap

noun
an area of road in which radar is used by the police to detect speeding vehicles.

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raddled

adjective
showing signs of age or fatigue.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «coloured with rouge so as to imperfectly conceal signs of ageing»; variant of RUDDLE.

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radial

adjective
1. of or arranged like rays or the radii of a circle; diverging in lines from a common centre.
2. (also radial-ply) (of a tyre) in which the layers of fabric have their cords running at right angles to the circumference of the tyre.
3. (of an internal-combustion engine) having its cylinders fixed like the spokes of a wheel around a rotating crankshaft.

noun
a radial tyre.

DERIVATIVES:
radially adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin radialis, from radius 'spoke, ray' .

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radian

noun
a unit of measurement of angles equal to about 57.3°, equivalent to the angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc equal in length to the radius.

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radiant

adjective
1. shining or glowing brightly.
2. emanating great joy, love, or health.
3. (of electromagnetic energy, especially heat) transmitted by radiation, rather than conduction or convection.
4. (of an appliance) emitting radiant energy for cooking or heating.

noun
a point or object from which light or heat radiates.

DERIVATIVES:
radiance noun
radiantly adverb.

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radiate

verb
1. (with reference to light, heat, or other energy) emit or be emitted in the form of rays or waves.
2. emanate (a strong feeling or quality).
3. diverge from or as if from a central point.

DERIVATIVES:
radiative adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin radiare 'emit in rays' , from radius 'ray, spoke' .

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radiation

noun
1. the action or process of radiating.
2. energy emitted as electromagnetic waves or subatomic particles.

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radiation sickness

noun
illness caused by exposure to X-rays, gamma rays, or other radiation.

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radiator

noun
1. a thing that radiates light, heat, or sound.
2. a device that radiates heat, consisting of a metal case through which hot water circulates, or a similar one heated by electricity or oil.
3. a cooling device in a vehicle or aircraft engine consisting of a bank of thin tubes in which circulating water is cooled by the surrounding air.

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radical

adjective
1. relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something.
2. advocating thorough political or social reform; politically extreme.
3. departing from tradition; innovative or progressive.
4. (of surgery) thorough and intended to be completely curative.
5. Mathematics of the root of a number or quantity.
6. of or coming from the root or stem base of a plant.
7. informal, chiefly N. Amer. excellent.

noun
1. an advocate of radical political or social reform.
2. Chemistry a group of atoms behaving as a unit in a number of compounds.

DERIVATIVES:
radicalism noun
radicalize (also radicalise) verb
radically adverb
radicalness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin radicalis, from radix 'root' .

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radical sign

noun Mathematics
the sign which indicates the square root of the number following (or a higher root indicated by a preceding superscript numeral).

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radicchio

noun (pl. radicchios)
chicory of a variety with dark red leaves.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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radicle

noun
the part of a plant embryo that develops into the primary root.

ORIGIN: Latin radicula 'little root' .

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radio

noun (pl. radios)
1. the transmission and reception of electromagnetic waves having a frequency in the range 10^4 to 10^11 or 10^12 hertz, especially those carrying sound messages.
2. broadcasting in sound.
3. a broadcasting station or channel.
4. an apparatus for receiving radio programmes.
5. an apparatus capable of receiving and transmitting radio messages.

verb (radioes, radioed)
1. send a message by radio.
2. communicate with by radio.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of RADIOTELEPHONE.

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radio-

combining form
1. denoting radio waves or broadcasting: radiogram.
2. connected with rays, radiation, or radioactivity: radiograph.
3. denoting artificially prepared radioisotopes: radio-cobalt.

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radioactive

adjective
emitting or relating to the emission of ionizing radiation or particles.

DERIVATIVES:
radioactively adverb.

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radioactivity

noun
1. the emission of ionizing radiation or particles caused by the spontaneous disintegration of atomic nuclei.
2. radioactive particles.

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radiocarbon

noun
a radioactive isotope of carbon, especially carbon-14 used in carbon dating.

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radiogram

noun
1. Brit. a combined radio and record player. [ORIGIN: from RADIO- + GRAMOPHONE.]
2. a radiograph.

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radioisotope

noun
a radioactive isotope.

DERIVATIVES:
radioisotopic adjective.

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radiology

noun
the science of X-rays and other high-energy radiation, especially as used in medicine.

DERIVATIVES:
radiologic adjective
radiological adjective
radiologist noun.

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radiophonic

adjective
relating to or denoting sound produced electronically.

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radiotelephone

noun
a telephone using radio transmission.

DERIVATIVES:
radiotelephony noun.

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radio telescope

noun
an instrument used to detect radio emissions from space.

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radiotherapy

noun
the treatment of cancer or other disease using X-rays or similar radiation.

DERIVATIVES:
radiotherapeutic adjective
radiotherapist noun.

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radio wave

noun
an electromagnetic wave of radio frequency.

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radish

noun
the small, pungent, red root of a plant of the cabbage family, eaten raw.

ORIGIN: Latin radix 'root' .

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radium

noun
a reactive, radioactive metallic chemical element, formerly used as a source of radiation for medical treatment.

ORIGIN: from Latin radius 'ray' .

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radius

noun (pl. radii or radiuses)
1. a straight line from the centre to the circumference of a circle or sphere.
2. a radial line from the focus to any point of a curve.
3. a specified distance from a centre in all directions: pubs within a two-mile radius.
4. Anatomy & Zoology a bone of the forearm or forelimb, in humans the thicker and shorter of two.

verb (radiused, radiusing) (often as adj. radiused)
make (a corner or edge) rounded.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'spoke, ray' .

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radix

noun (pl. radices)
1. Mathematics the base of a system of numeration.
2. formal a source or origin.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'root' .

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radon

noun
a rare radioactive gaseous element produced by the radioactive decay of radium and used as a source of alpha particles in radiotherapy.

ORIGIN: from RADIUM, on the pattern of argon.

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RAF

abbreviation
(in the UK) Royal Air Force.

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raffia

noun
fibre from the leaves of a tropical palm tree of Africa and Madagascar, used for making hats, baskets, etc.

ORIGIN: Malagasy.

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raffish

adjective
slightly disreputable, especially in an attractive manner.

DERIVATIVES:
raffishly adverb
raffishness noun.

ORIGIN: from RIFF-RAFF.

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raffle

noun
a lottery with goods as prizes.

verb
offer as a prize in a raffle.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a dice game: from Old French.

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raft [1]

noun
1. a flat buoyant structure of timber or other materials fastened together, used as a boat or floating platform.
2. a small inflatable boat.
3. a floating mass of fallen trees, ice, etc.

verb
travel or transport on or as if on a raft.

DERIVATIVES:
rafting noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «rafter»: from Old Norse.

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raft [2]

noun
a large amount.

ORIGIN: alteration of dialect raff «abundance», by association with RAFT in sense 3.

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rafter

noun
a beam forming part of the internal framework of a roof.

DERIVATIVES:
raftered adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to RAFT.

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rag [1]

noun
1. a piece of old cloth, especially one torn from a larger piece.
2. (rags) old or tattered clothes.
3. informal a low-quality newspaper.

verb
give a decorative effect to (a painted surface) by applying paint with a rag.

IDIOMS -
lose one's rag informal lose one's temper.

ORIGIN: probably from RAGGED or RAGGY.

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rag [2]

noun Brit.
1. a programme of entertainments organized by students to raise money for charity.
2. informal, dated a prank.

verb (ragged, ragging)
1. make fun of loudly and boisterously.
2. rebuke severely.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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rag [3]

noun
a ragtime composition or tune.

ORIGIN: perhaps from RAGGED; compare with RAGTIME.

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raga

noun
(in Indian music) a characteristic pattern of notes used as a basis for improvisation.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, 'colour, musical tone' .

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ragamuffin (also raggamuffin)

noun
1. a person in ragged, dirty clothes.
2. an exponent or follower of ragga, typically wearing scruffy clothes.

ORIGIN: probably based on RAG, with a fanciful suffix.

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rag-and-bone man

noun Brit.
a person who goes from door to door, collecting old clothes and other second-hand items for resale.

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ragbag

noun
1. a bag for storing rags and old clothes.
2. a miscellaneous collection.

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rage

noun
1. violent uncontrollable anger.
2. (in combination ) violent anger associated with conflict arising from a particular context: air rage.
3. a vehement desire or passion.
4. Austral./NZ informal a lively party.

verb
1. feel or express rage.
2. continue violently or with great force: the argument raged for days.
3. Austral./NZ informal enjoy oneself socially.

IDIOMS -
all the rage temporarily very popular or fashionable.

DERIVATIVES:
rager noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from a variant of Latin rabies 'rabies' .

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ragged

adjective
1. (of cloth or clothes) old and torn.
2. wearing ragged clothes.
3. rough or irregular.
4. lacking finish, smoothness, or uniformity.
5. suffering from exhaustion or stress.

IDIOMS -
run someone ragged exhaust someone.

DERIVATIVES:
raggedly adverb
raggedness noun
raggedy adjective (informal, chiefly N. Amer. ).

ORIGIN: Scandinavian.

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raglan

adjective
having or denoting sleeves continuing in one piece up to the neck of a garment.

ORIGIN: named after Lord Raglan (1788 1855), a British commander in the Crimean War.

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ragout

noun
a highly seasoned stew of chopped meat and vegetables.

ORIGIN: French, from ragoûter 'revive the taste of' .

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ragtag

adjective
untidy, disorganized, or incongruously varied: a ragtag group of idealists.

ORIGIN: superseding earlier tag-rag and tag and rag (see RAG, TAG).

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ragtime

noun
music characterized by a syncopated melodic line and regularly accented accompaniment, played especially on the piano.

ORIGIN: probably from RAG (referring to the ‘ragged’ syncopation).

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rag trade

noun informal
the clothing or fashion industry.

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ragwort

noun
a yellow-flowered ragged-leaved plant of the daisy family, toxic to livestock.

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raid

noun
1. a rapid surprise attack on an enemy or on premises to commit a crime.
2. a surprise visit by police to arrest suspects or seize illicit goods.

verb
1. make a raid on.
2. quickly and illicitly take something from (a place).

DERIVATIVES:
raider noun.

ORIGIN: Scots variant of ROAD in the early senses «journey on horseback», «foray».

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rail [1]

noun
1. a bar or series of bars fixed on upright supports or attached to a wall or ceiling, serving as part of a fence or barrier or used to hang things on.
2. a steel bar or continuous line of bars laid on the ground as one of a pair forming a railway track.
3. railways as a means of transport.

verb
1. provide or enclose with a rail or rails.
2. convey (goods) by rail.

IDIOMS -
go off the rails informal begin behaving in an uncontrolled way.
on the rails
1. informal functioning normally.
2. (of a racehorse or jockey) in a position on the racetrack nearest the inside fence.

ORIGIN: Old French reille 'iron rod' , from Latin regula 'straight stick, rule' .

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rail [2]

verb (rail against/at)
complain or protest strongly about or to.

ORIGIN: French railler, from Provençal ralhar 'to jest' , from an alteration of Latin rugire 'to bellow' .

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railcard

noun Brit.
a pass entitling the holder to reduced rail fares.

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railhead

noun
1. a point on a railway from which roads and other transport routes begin.
2. the furthest point reached in constructing a railway.

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railing

noun
a fence or barrier made of rails.

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raillery

noun
good-humoured teasing.

ORIGIN: from French railler (see RAIL).

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railroad

noun N. Amer.
a railway.

verb informal
1. rush or coerce into doing something.
2. cause (a measure) to be approved quickly by applying pressure.

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railway

noun chiefly Brit.
1. a track made of rails along which trains run.
2. a system of such tracks with the trains, organization, and personnel required for its working.

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raiment

noun archaic or literary
clothing.

ORIGIN: shortening of obsolete arrayment «dress, outfit».

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rain

noun
1. the condensed moisture of the atmosphere falling visibly in separate drops.
2. (rains) falls of rain.
3. a large quantity of things falling or descending: a rain of blows.

verb
1. (it rains, it is raining, etc.) rain falls.
2. (be rained off) (of an event) be terminated or cancelled because of rain.
3. fall or cause to fall in large quantities.

IDIOMS -
be as right as rain be perfectly fit and well.
rain cats and dogs rain heavily.

DERIVATIVES:
rainless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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rainbow

noun
1. an arch of colours visible in the sky, caused by the refraction and dispersion of the sun's light by water droplets in the atmosphere.
2. a wide range of things of different colours or kinds.

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rainbow trout

noun
a large trout with reddish sides, native to western North America and introduced widely elsewhere.

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rain check

noun N. Amer.
a ticket given for later use when an outdoor event is interrupted or postponed by rain.

IDIOMS -
take a rain check politely refuse an offer, with the implication that one may take it up later.

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raincoat

noun
a coat made from waterproofed or water-resistant fabric.

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rainfall

noun
1. the fall of rain.
2. the quantity of rain falling within a given area in a given time.

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rainforest

noun
a luxuriant, dense forest found in tropical areas with consistently heavy rainfall.

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rainy

adjective (rainier, rainiest)
having or characterized by considerable rainfall.

IDIOMS -
a rainy day a time in the future when money may be needed.

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raise

verb
1. lift or move to a higher position or level.
2. set upright.
3. increase the amount, level, or strength of.
4. promote to a higher rank.
5. cause to be heard, felt, or considered: doubts have been raised.
6. build (a structure).
7. collect or levy (money or resources).
8. generate (an invoice or other document).
9. bring up (a child).
10. breed or grow (animals or plants).
11. wake from sleep or bring back from death.
12. abandon or force to abandon (a blockade, embargo, etc.).
13. drive (an animal) from its lair.
14. Brit. informal establish contact with (someone), especially by telephone or radio.
15. (raise something to) Mathematics multiply a quantity to (a specified power).

noun chiefly N. Amer.
an increase in salary.

IDIOMS -
raise hell informal make a noisy disturbance.
raise the roof make a great deal of noise, especially cheering.

DERIVATIVES:
raisable adjective
raiser noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, related to REAR.

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raisin

noun
a partially dried grape.

DERIVATIVES:
raisiny adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'grape' , from an alteration of Latin racemus 'bunch of grapes' .

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raison d'être

noun (pl. raisons d'être pronunc. same)
the most important reason or purpose for someone or something's existence.

ORIGIN: French, 'reason for being' .

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Raj

noun (the Raj) historical
British sovereignty in India.

ORIGIN: Hindi, 'reign' .

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raja (also rajah)

noun historical
an Indian king or prince.

ORIGIN: from Hindi or Sanskrit.

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rake [1]

noun
an implement consisting of a pole with a toothed crossbar or fine tines at the end, used for drawing together leaves, cut grass, etc. or smoothing loose soil or gravel.

verb
1. draw together with a rake.
2. make smooth with a rake.
3. scratch or scrape with a long sweeping movement.
4. draw or drag (something) through something with a long sweeping movement.
5. sweep with gunfire, a look, or a beam of light.
6. (rake through) search or rummage through.

IDIOMS -
rake it in informal make a lot of money.
rake over old coals (or rake over the ashes) chiefly Brit. revive the memory of a past event.
rake up/over revive the memory of (an incident or period best forgotten).

DERIVATIVES:
raker noun.

ORIGIN: Old English; the verb is partly from Old Norse.

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rake [2]

noun
a fashionable or wealthy man of dissolute habits.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of archaic rakehell in the same sense.

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rake [3]

verb
1. set at a sloping angle.
2. (of a ship's mast or funnel) incline from the perpendicular towards the stern.

noun
1. the angle at which a thing slopes.
2. the angle of the edge or face of a cutting tool.

ORIGIN: probably related to German ragen 'to project' .

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rake-off

noun informal
a share of the profits from a deal, especially one that is disreputable.

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rakish

adjective
1. having a dashing, jaunty, or slightly disreputable quality or appearance.
2. (of a boat or car) smart and streamlined.

DERIVATIVES:
rakishly adverb.

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rally

verb (rallies, rallied)
1. (with reference to troops) bring or come together again so as to continue fighting.
2. bring or come together as support or for united action: his family rallied round.
3. recover or cause to recover in health, spirits, or poise.
4. (of share, currency, or commodity prices) increase after a fall.
5. drive in a motor rally.

noun (pl. rallies)
1. a mass meeting held as a protest or in support of a cause.
2. a long-distance competition for motor vehicles over public roads or rough terrain.
3. an open-air event for people who own a particular kind of vehicle.
4. a quick or marked recovery.
5. (in tennis and other racket sports) an extended exchange of strokes between players.

DERIVATIVES:
rallier noun
rallyist noun.

ORIGIN: French rallier, from re- 'again' + allier 'to ally' .

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rallying

noun
1. (before another noun ) having the effect of calling people to action: a rallying cry.
2. the action or sport of participating in a motor rally.

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RAM

abbreviation Computing
random-access memory.

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ram

noun
1. an uncastrated male sheep.
2. a battering ram.
3. a striking or plunging device in various machines.
4. historical a projecting part of the bow of a warship, for piercing the sides of other ships.

verb (rammed, ramming)
1. roughly force into place.
2. strike or be struck with force.

DERIVATIVES:
rammer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Ramadan (also Ramadhan)

noun
the ninth month of the Muslim year, during which strict fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset.

ORIGIN: from an Arabic word meaning 'be hot' ; because the fasting period was originally supposed to be in one of the hot months.

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ramble

verb
1. walk for pleasure in the countryside.
2. (of a plant) grow over walls, fences, etc.
3. (often ramble on) talk or write at length in a confused or inconsequential way.

noun
a walk taken for pleasure in the countryside.

DERIVATIVES:
rambler noun.

ORIGIN: probably related to Dutch rammelen (used of animals in the sense 'wander about on heat' ), also to RAM.

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rambutan

noun
the red, plum-sized fruit of a tropical Malaysian tree, with soft spines and a slightly acidic taste.

ORIGIN: from a Malay word meaning 'hair' (referring to the fruit's spines).

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ramekin

noun
a small dish for baking and serving an individual portion of food.

ORIGIN: French ramequin, of Low German or Dutch origin.

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ramify

verb (ramifies, ramified)
form branches or cause to branch out.

ORIGIN: Latin ramificare, from ramus 'branch' .

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ramp

noun
1. a sloping surface joining two different levels.
2. a movable set of steps for entering or leaving an aircraft.
3. Brit. a transverse ridge in a road to control the speed of vehicles.
4. N. Amer. an inclined slip road leading to or from a main road or motorway.

verb
1. provide with a ramp.
2. (ramp up) increase (the production of goods).
3. archaic (of an animal) rear up threateningly.

ORIGIN: Old French ramper 'creep, crawl' .

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rampage

verb
rush around in a violent and uncontrollable manner.

noun
an instance of rampaging.

ORIGIN: perhaps from RAMP and RAGE.

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rampant

adjective
1. flourishing or spreading unchecked.
2. unrestrained in action or performance.
3. (after a noun ) Heraldry (of an animal) represented standing on its left hind foot with its forefeet in the air.

DERIVATIVES:
rampantly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'crawling' , from ramper (see RAMP).

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rampart

noun
a defensive wall of a castle or walled city, having a broad top with a walkway.

ORIGIN: French rempart, from remparer 'fortify, take possession of again' .

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ram raid

noun
a robbery in which a shop window is rammed with a vehicle and looted.

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ramrod

noun
a rod for ramming down the charge of a muzzle-loading firearm.

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ramshackle

adjective
in a state of severe disrepair.

ORIGIN: from obsolete ransackled «ransacked».

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RAN

abbreviation
Royal Australian Navy.

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ranch

noun
1. a large farm, especially in the western US and Canada, where cattle or other animals are bred.
2. (also ranch house) N. Amer. a single-storey house.

verb
run a ranch.

DERIVATIVES:
rancher noun.

ORIGIN: Spanish rancho 'group of persons eating together' .

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rancid

adjective
(of foods containing fat or oil) smelling or tasting unpleasant as a result of being stale.

DERIVATIVES:
rancidity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin rancidus 'stinking' .

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rancour (US rancor)

noun
bitterness; resentment.

DERIVATIVES:
rancorous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin rancor 'rankness' , later 'bitter grudge' .

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rand

noun
the basic monetary unit of South Africa, equal to 100 cents.

ORIGIN: from the Rand, a goldfield district near Johannesburg.

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R & B

abbreviation
rhythm and blues.

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R & D

abbreviation
research and development.

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random

adjective
1. made, done, or happening without method or conscious decision.
2. Statistics governed by or involving equal chances for each item.

DERIVATIVES:
randomize (also randomise) verb
randomly adverb
randomness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «impetuous headlong rush»; from Old French randon 'great speed' , from randir 'gallop' .

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random access

noun Computing
the process of transferring information to or from memory in which every memory location can be accessed directly rather than being accessed in a fixed sequence.

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randy

adjective (randier, randiest) informal, chiefly Brit.
sexually aroused or excited.

ORIGIN: perhaps from obsolete Dutch randen 'to rant' .

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range

noun
1. the area of variation between limits on a particular scale: the car's outside my price range.
2. a set of different things of the same general type.
3. the scope or extent of a person's or thing's abilities or capacity.
4. the distance within which something is able to operate or be effective.
5. a line or series of mountains or hills.
6. a large area of open land for grazing or hunting.
7. an area used as a testing ground for military equipment.
8. an area with targets for shooting practice.
9. the area over which a plant or animal is distributed.
10. a large cooking stove with several burners or hotplates.

verb
1. vary or extend between specified limits.
2. place or arrange in a row or rows or in a specified manner.
3. (range against) place in opposition to.
4. travel or wander over a wide area.
5. embrace a wide number of different topics.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'row, rank' , from rangier 'put in order' .

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rangefinder

noun
an instrument for estimating the distance of an object.

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ranger

noun
1. a keeper of a park, forest, or area of countryside.
2. a member of a body of armed men.
3. (Ranger or Ranger Guide) Brit. a senior Guide.

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rangy

adjective
(of a person) tall and slim; long-limbed.

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rank [1]

noun
1. a position within a fixed hierarchy, especially that of the armed forces.
2. high social standing.
3. a single line of soldiers or police officers drawn up abreast.
4. (the ranks) (in the armed forces) those who are not commissioned officers.
5. (ranks) the people belonging to or constituting a group or class: the ranks of the unemployed.
6. Chess each of the eight rows of eight squares running from side to side across a chessboard. Compare with FILE.

verb
1. give (someone or something) a rank within a grading system.
2. hold a specified rank.
3. US take precedence over (someone) in respect to rank.
4. arrange in a row or rows.

IDIOMS -
break rank (or ranks)
1. (of soldiers or police officers) fail to remain in line.
2. fail to maintain solidarity.
close ranks
1. (of soldiers or police officers) come closer together in a line.
2. unite in order to defend common interests.
pull rank take unfair advantage of one's seniority.
rank and file the ordinary members of an organization as opposed to its leaders. [ORIGIN: referring to the ‘ranks’ and ‘files’ into which privates and non-commissioned officers form on parade.]

ORIGIN: Old French ranc; related to RING.

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rank [2]

adjective
1. (of vegetation) growing too thickly.
2. having a foul smell.
3. complete and utter: a rank amateur.

DERIVATIVES:
rankly adverb
rankness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «proud, rebellious, sturdy», also «fully grown».

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ranking

noun
1. a position in a hierarchy or scale.
2. the action of giving a rank or status to someone or something.

adjective
having a specified rank: high-ranking officers.

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rankle

verb
(of a comment or fact) cause annoyance or resentment.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «fester»; from Old French rancler, from rancle 'festering sore' .

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ransack

verb
1. go hurriedly through (a place) stealing things and causing damage.
2. thoroughly search.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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ransom

noun
a sum of money demanded or paid for the release of a captive.

verb
1. obtain the release of (someone) by paying a ransom.
2. detain (someone) and demand a ransom for their release.

IDIOMS -
hold to ransom
1. hold (someone) captive and demand payment for release.
2. demand concessions from (someone) by threatening damaging action.
a king's ransom a huge amount of money.

ORIGIN: Old French ransoun, from Latin redemptio 'redemption' .

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rant

verb
speak or shout at length in a wild, impassioned way.

noun
a spell of ranting.

DERIVATIVES:
ranter noun.

ORIGIN: Dutch ranten 'talk nonsense, rave' .

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rap

verb (rapped, rapping)
1. strike (a hard surface) with a series of rapid audible blows.
2. strike sharply.
3. informal rebuke or criticize sharply.
4. (usu. rap out) say something sharply or suddenly.
5. perform rap music.

noun
1. a quick, sharp knock or blow.
2. informal a rebuke or criticism.
3. a type of popular music of US black origin in which words are recited rapidly and rhythmically over an instrumental backing.
4. informal, chiefly N. Amer. an impromptu talk or discussion.
5. informal, chiefly N. Amer. a criminal charge: a murder rap.

IDIOMS -
beat the rap N. Amer. informal escape punishment for or be acquitted of a crime.
take the rap informal be punished or blamed for something.

DERIVATIVES:
rapper noun.

ORIGIN: probably imitative and Scandinavian.

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rapacious

adjective
aggressively greedy.

DERIVATIVES:
rapaciously adverb
rapaciousness noun
rapacity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin rapax, from rapere 'to snatch' .

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rape [1]

verb
1. (of a man) force (another person) to have sexual intercourse with him against their will.
2. spoil or destroy (a place).

noun
an act or the crime of raping someone.

ORIGIN: originally denoting violent seizure of property: from Latin rapere 'seize' .

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rape [2]

noun
a plant of the cabbage family with bright yellow flowers, especially a variety (oilseed rape) grown for its oil-rich seed.

ORIGIN: Latin rapum, rapa 'turnip' .

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rapid

adjective
happening in a short time or at great speed.

noun (usu. rapids)
a fast-flowing and turbulent part of the course of a river.

DERIVATIVES:
rapidity noun
rapidly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin rapidus, from rapere 'take by force' .

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rapier

noun
a thin, light sharp-pointed sword used for thrusting.

ORIGIN: French rapière, from râpe 'rasp, grater' (because the perforated hilt resembles a rasp or grater).

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rapine

noun literary
the violent seizure of property.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin rapere 'seize' .

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rapist

noun
a man who commits rape.

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rapport

noun
a close and harmonious relationship in which there is common understanding.

ORIGIN: French, from rapporter 'bring back' .

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rapprochement

noun
the establishment or resumption of harmonious relations.

ORIGIN: French.

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rapscallion

noun archaic or humorous
a mischievous person.

ORIGIN: alteration of earlier rascallion, perhaps from RASCAL.

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rapt

adjective
1. fully absorbed and intent; fascinated.
2. filled with an intense and pleasurable emotion.
3. Austral. informal another term for WRAPPED.

DERIVATIVES:
raptly adverb
raptness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin raptus 'seized' .

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rapture

noun
1. intense pleasure or joy.
2. (raptures) the expression of intense pleasure or enthusiasm.

DERIVATIVES:
rapturously adverb.

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rapturous

adjective
characterized by, feeling or expressing great pleasure or enthusiasm.

DERIVATIVES:
rapturously adverb.

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rare [1]

adjective (rarer, rarest)
1. occurring very infrequently.
2. remarkable: a player of rare skill.

ORIGIN: Latin rarus.

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rare [2]

adjective (rarer, rarest)
(of red meat) lightly cooked, so that the inside is still red.

ORIGIN: variant of obsolete rear «half-cooked».

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rarebit (also Welsh rarebit or Welsh rabbit)

noun
a dish of melted and seasoned cheese on toast.

ORIGIN: originally as Welsh rabbit: the reason for the use of the term rabbit is unknown.

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rare earth

noun Chemistry
any of a group of chemically similar metallic elements including cerium, lanthanum, and the other lanthanide elements together with (usually) scandium and yttrium.

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rarefied

adjective
1. (of air) of lower pressure than usual; thin.
2. very esoteric or refined.

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rarely

adverb
not often; seldom.

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raring

adjective informal
very eager to do something: she was raring to go.

ORIGIN: from rare, dialect variant of ROAR or REAR.

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rarity

noun (pl. rarities)
1. the state or quality of being rare.
2. a rare thing.

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rascal

noun
a mischievous or cheeky person.

DERIVATIVES:
rascality noun
rascally adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the senses «a mob» and «member of the rabble»: from Old French rascaille 'rabble' .

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rash [1]

adjective
acting or done impetuously, without careful consideration.

DERIVATIVES:
rashly adverb
rashness noun.

ORIGIN: Germanic.

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rash [2]

noun
1. an area of reddening of a person's skin, sometimes with raised spots.
2. an unwelcome series of things happening within a short space of time: a rash of strikes.

ORIGIN: probably related to Old French rasche 'eruptive sores, scurf' .

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rasher

noun
a thin slice of bacon.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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rasp

noun
1. a coarse file for use on metal, wood, or other hard material.
2. a harsh, grating noise.

verb
1. file with a rasp.
2. (of a rough surface or object) scrape in a painful or unpleasant way.
3. make a harsh, grating noise.

DERIVATIVES:
raspy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French rasper.

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raspberry

noun
1. an edible soft fruit related to the blackberry, consisting of a cluster of reddish-pink drupels.
2. informal a sound made with the tongue and lips, expressing derision or contempt. [ORIGIN: from raspberry tart, rhyming slang for «fart».]

ORIGIN: from obsolete raspis «raspberry», of unknown origin.

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Rastafarian

adjective
relating to a religious movement of Jamaican origin holding that Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia was the Messiah and that blacks are the chosen people.

noun
a member of this movement.

DERIVATIVES:
Rastafarianism noun.

ORIGIN: from Ras Tafari, the name by which Haile Selassie was known (1916 30).

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rat

noun
1. a large, long-tailed rodent, typically considered a serious pest.
2. informal a despicable person.
3. informal an informer.
4. N. Amer. a person who is associated with or frequents a specified place: a mall rat.

exclamation (rats) informal
expressing mild annoyance.

verb (ratted, ratting)
1. hunt or kill rats.
2. informal desert one's party, side, or cause.
3. (rat on) informal inform on.
4. (rat on) informal break (an agreement or promise).

ORIGIN: Old English, reinforced by Old French rat.

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ratafia

noun
1. a liqueur flavoured with almonds or the kernels of peaches, apricots, or cherries.
2. an almond-flavoured biscuit like a small macaroon.

ORIGIN: French.

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ratatouille

noun
a vegetable dish consisting of onions, courgettes, tomatoes, aubergines, and peppers, stewed in oil.

ORIGIN: French.

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ratbag

noun Brit. informal
an unpleasant or disliked person.

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ratchet

noun
a device consisting of a bar or wheel with a set of angled teeth in which a pawl, cog, or tooth engages, allowing motion in one direction only.

verb (ratcheted, ratcheting)
1. operate by means of a ratchet.
2. (ratchet up/down) cause (something) to rise (or fall) as a step in an irreversible process.

ORIGIN: French rochet, originally denoting a blunt lance head.

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rate [1]

noun
1. a measure, quantity, or frequency measured against another quantity or measure: the crime rate.
2. the speed with which something moves, happens, or changes.
3. a fixed price paid or charged for something.
4. the amount of a charge or payment expressed as a percentage of some other amount, or as a basis of calculation.
5. (rates) (in the UK) a tax on commercial land and buildings paid to a local authority.

verb
1. assign a standard or value to (something) according to a particular scale.
2. consider to be of a certain quality or standard.
3. be worthy of; merit.
4. informal have a high opinion of.

IDIOMS -
at any rate whatever happens or may have happened.
at this rate if things continue in this way.

ORIGIN: Latin rata, from pro rata parte 'according to the proportional share' .

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rate [2]

verb archaic
scold angrily.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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rateable (also ratable)

adjective
able to be rated or estimated.

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rateable value

noun
(in the UK) a value ascribed to a commercial property based on its size, location, etc., used to determine the rates payable by its owner.

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rather

adverb
1. (would rather) indicating one's preference in a particular matter.
2. to a certain or significant extent or degree.
3. on the contrary.
4. more precisely.
5. instead of; as opposed to.

exclamation Brit. dated
expressing emphatic affirmation, agreement, or acceptance.

IDIOMS -
had rather literary or archaic would rather.

ORIGIN: Old English, «earlier, sooner».

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ratify

verb (ratifies, ratified)
give formal consent to; make officially valid.

DERIVATIVES:
ratification noun
ratifier noun.

ORIGIN: Latin ratificare, from ratus 'fixed' .

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rating

noun
1. a classification or ranking based on quality, standard, or performance.
2. (ratings) the estimated audience size of a television or radio programme.
3. Brit. a non-commissioned sailor in the navy.

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ratio

noun (pl. ratios)
the quantitative relation between two amounts showing the number of times one value contains or is contained within the other.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'reckoning' .

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ration

noun
1. a fixed amount of a commodity officially allowed to each person during a time of shortage.
2. (rations) an amount of food supplied on a regular basis to members of the armed forces during a war.
3. (rations) food; provisions.

verb
1. limit the supply of (a commodity) to fixed rations.
2. limit the amount of a commodity available to.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'reckoning, ratio' .

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rational

adjective
1. based on or in accordance with reason or logic.
2. able to think sensibly or logically.
3. having the capacity to reason.
4. Mathematics (of a number or quantity) expressible as a ratio of whole numbers.

DERIVATIVES:
rationality noun
rationally adverb.

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rationale

noun
a set of reasons or a logical basis for a course of action or a belief.

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rationalism

noun
the practice or principle of basing opinions and actions on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response.

DERIVATIVES:
rationalist noun.

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rationalize (also rationalise)

verb
1. attempt to justify (an action or attitude) with logical reasoning.
2. reorganize (a process or system) in such a way as to make it more logical and consistent.
3. make (a company or industry) more efficient by dispensing with superfluous personnel or equipment.

DERIVATIVES:
rationalization noun
rationalizer noun.

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rat race

noun informal
a way of life in which people are caught up in a fiercely competitive struggle for wealth or power.

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rattan

noun
a tropical climbing palm which yields thin, jointed stems used to make furniture.

ORIGIN: Malay.

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rattle

verb
1. make or cause to make a rapid succession of short, sharp knocking or clinking sounds.
2. move or travel while making such sounds.
3. (rattle about/around in) be in or occupy (too large a space).
4. informal make nervous, worried, or irritated.
5. (rattle off) say, perform, or produce quickly and effortlessly.
6. (rattle on/away) talk rapidly and at length.

noun
1. a rattling sound.
2. a device or plaything designed to make a rattling sound.
3. a gurgling sound in the throat.

DERIVATIVES:
rattler noun
rattly adjective.

ORIGIN: related to Dutch and Low German ratelen, of imitative origin.

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rattlesnake

noun
a heavy-bodied American viper with a series of horny rings on the tail that produce a characteristic rattling sound when vibrated as a warning.

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rattletrap

noun informal
an old or rickety vehicle.

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rattling

adjective
1. making a rattle.
2. informal, dated very good of its kind.

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ratty

adjective
1. resembling or characteristic of a rat.
2. infested with rats.
3. informal shabby, untidy, or in bad condition.
4. Brit. informal bad-tempered and irritable.

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raucous

adjective
making or constituting a harsh, loud noise.

DERIVATIVES:
raucously adverb
raucousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin raucus 'hoarse' .

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raunchy

adjective (raunchier, raunchiest) informal
energetically earthy and sexually explicit.

DERIVATIVES:
raunchily adverb
raunchiness noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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ravage

verb
cause extensive damage to; devastate.

noun (ravages)
the destructive effects of something.

ORIGIN: French ravager, from ravir (see RAVISH).

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rave

verb
1. talk wildly or incoherently.
2. speak or write about someone or something with great enthusiasm or admiration.
3. informal, chiefly Brit. attend or take part in a rave party.

noun informal
1. chiefly Brit. a very large party or event with dancing to loud, fast electronic music.
2. a person or thing that inspires intense and widely shared enthusiasm.
3. chiefly N. Amer. an extremely enthusiastic appraisal of someone or something.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «show signs of madness»: probably from Old French raver.

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ravel

verb (ravelled, ravelling; US raveled, raveling)
1. (ravel out) untangle.
2. confuse or complicate (a question or situation).

noun
a tangle or cluster.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch ravelen 'fray out, tangle' .

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raven

noun
a large heavily built black crow.

adjective
(especially of hair) of a glossy black colour.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ravening

adjective
extremely hungry; voracious.

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ravenous

adjective
extremely hungry.

DERIVATIVES:
ravenously adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French ravineus, from raviner 'to ravage' .

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raver

noun
1. informal a person who has an exciting and uninhibited social life.
2. informal, chiefly Brit. a person who regularly goes to raves.
3. a person who talks wildly or incoherently.

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rave-up

noun Brit. informal
a lively, noisy party.

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ravine

noun
a deep, narrow gorge with steep sides.

ORIGIN: French, 'violent rush' .

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raving

noun (ravings)
wild or incoherent talk.

adjective & adverb informal
extremely or conspicuously the thing mentioned: raving mad.

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ravioli

plural noun
small pasta envelopes containing minced meat, cheese, or vegetables.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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ravish

verb archaic or literary
1. seize and carry off by force.
2. rape.
3. fill with intense delight; enrapture.

ORIGIN: Old French ravir, from Latin rapere 'seize' .

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raw

adjective
1. (of food) uncooked.
2. (of a material or substance) in its natural state; not processed.
3. (of data) not organized, analysed, or evaluated.
4. new and lacking in experience in an activity or job.
5. (of the skin) red and painful, especially as the result of abrasion.
6. (of the nerves) very sensitive.
7. (of an emotion or quality) strong and undisguised.
8. (of the weather) bleak, cold, and damp.
9. (of the edge of a piece of cloth) not having a hem or selvedge.

IDIOMS -
in the raw
1. in its true state.
2. informal naked.

DERIVATIVES:
rawly adverb
rawness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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raw-boned

adjective
having a bony or gaunt physique.

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ray [1]

noun
1. each of the lines in which light seems to stream from the sun or any luminous body.
2. the straight line in which radiation travels to a given point.
3. (rays) a specified form of non-luminous radiation: ultra-violet rays.
4. an initial or slight indication of a positive or welcome quality: a ray of hope.
5. Botany any of the individual strap-shaped florets around the edge of the flower of a daisy or related plant.
6. Zoology each of the long slender bony supports in a fish's fins.

IDIOMS -
ray of sunshine informal a person who brings happiness into the lives of others.

ORIGIN: Old French rai, from Latin radius 'spoke, ray' .

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ray [2]

noun
a broad flat fish with wing-like pectoral fins and a long slender tail.

ORIGIN: Latin raia.

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ray [3] (also re)

noun Music
the second note of a major scale, coming after ‘doh’ and before ‘me’.

ORIGIN: re, representing (as an arbitrary name for the note) the first syllable of resonare, taken from a Latin hymn.

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rayon

noun
a textile fibre or fabric made from viscose.

ORIGIN: an arbitrary formation.

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raze (also rase)

verb
tear down and destroy (a building, town, etc.).

ORIGIN: Old French raser 'shave closely' , from Latin radere 'scrape' .

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razor

noun
an instrument with a sharp blade, used to shave unwanted hair from the face or body.

verb
cut with a razor.

ORIGIN: Old French rasor, from raser 'shave closely' .

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razor wire

noun
metal wire with sharp edges or studded with small sharp blades, used as a defensive barrier.

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razzle

noun (in phrase on the razzle) informal
out celebrating or enjoying oneself.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of RAZZLE-DAZZLE.

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razzmatazz (also razzamatazz)

noun informal
noisy, showy, and exciting activity and display.

ORIGIN: probably an alteration of RAZZLE-DAZZLE.

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RC

abbreviation
1. Red Cross.
2. Electronics resistance/capacitance (or resistor/capacitor).
3. Roman Catholic.

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RD

abbreviation
(in the UK) Royal Naval Reserve Decoration.

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Rd

abbreviation
Road (used in street names).

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RE

abbreviation
religious education (as a school subject).

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Re

symbol
the chemical element rhenium.

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re [1]

preposition
1. in the matter of (used in headings or to introduce a reference).
2. about; concerning.

ORIGIN: Latin, from res 'thing' .

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re-

prefix
1. once more; afresh; anew: reactivate.
2. with return to a previous state: restore.
3. (also red-) in return; mutually: resemble.
4. in opposition: repel.
5. behind or after: relic.
6. in a withdrawn state: reticent.
7. back and away; down: recede.
8. with frequentative or intensive force: resound.
9. with negative force: recant.

ORIGIN: Latin re-, 'again, back' .

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're

abbreviation informal
are (usually after the pronouns you, we, and they).

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reach

verb
1. stretch out an arm in order to touch or grasp something.
2. be able to touch (something) with an outstretched arm or leg.
3. arrive at or attain; extend to.
4. make contact with.
5. succeed in influencing or having an effect on.

noun
1. an act of reaching.
2. the distance to which someone can stretch out their arm.
3. the extent or range of something's application, effect, or influence.
4. (often reaches) a continuous extent of land or water, especially a stretch of river between two bends.

DERIVATIVES:
reachable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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react

verb
1. respond to something in a particular way.
2. (react against) respond with hostility or a contrary course of action to.
3. suffer from adverse physiological effects after ingesting, breathing, or touching a substance.
4. Chemistry & Physics interact and undergo a chemical or physical change.

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reactant

noun Chemistry
a substance that takes part in and undergoes change during a reaction.

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reaction

noun
1. an instance of reacting to or against something.
2. (reactions) a person's ability to respond physically and mentally to external stimuli.
3. opposition to political or social progress or reform.
4. a process in which substances interact causing chemical or physical change.
5. Physics a force exerted in opposition to an applied force.

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reactionary

adjective
opposing political or social progress or reform.

noun (pl. reactionaries)
a person holding reactionary views.

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reactivate

verb
restore to a state of activity.

DERIVATIVES:
reactivation noun.

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reactive

adjective
1. showing a response to a stimulus.
2. acting in response to a situation rather than creating or controlling it.
3. having a tendency to react chemically.

DERIVATIVES:
reactivity noun.

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reactor

noun
1. an apparatus or structure in which fissile material can be made to undergo a controlled, self-sustaining nuclear reaction releasing energy.
2. a container or apparatus in which substances are made to react chemically.

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read

verb (past and past part. read)
1. look at and understand the meaning of (written or printed matter) by interpreting its characters or symbols.
2. speak (written or printed words) aloud.
3. (of a passage, text, or sign) contain or consist of specified words.
4. habitually read (a particular newspaper or journal).
5. discover (information) by reading.
6. understand or interpret the nature or significance of: her exclusion can be read as a back-handed compliment.
7. (read into) attribute a meaning or significance to (something) that it may not possess.
8. (read up on) acquire information about (a subject) by reading.
9. chiefly Brit. study (an academic subject) at a university.
10. present (a bill or other measure) before a legislative assembly.
11. inspect and record the figure indicated on (a measuring instrument).
12. hear and understand the words of (someone speaking on a radio transmitter).
13. (of a computer) copy or transfer (data).

noun
1. chiefly Brit. a period or act of reading.
2. informal a book considered in terms of its readability: a good read .

IDIOMS -
read between the lines look for or discover a meaning that not explicitly stated.
read someone's mind discern what someone is thinking.
read my lips N. Amer. informal listen carefully.
take as read assume without the need for further discussion.
well read having a high level of knowledge as a result of reading widely.

DERIVATIVES:
readable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English; early senses included «advise» and «interpret (a riddle or dream)».

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reader

noun
1. a person who reads.
2. a person who assesses the merits of manuscripts submitted for publication.
3. (Reader) Brit. a university lecturer of the highest grade below professor.
4. a book containing extracts of a text or texts for teaching purposes.
5. a device that produces on a screen a readable image from a microfiche or microfilm.

DERIVATIVES:
readerly adjective.

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readership

noun
1. (treated as sing. or pl. ) the readers of a publication regarded collectively.
2. (Readership) Brit. the position of Reader at a university.

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readily

adverb
1. without hesitation; willingly.
2. without difficulty; easily.

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reading

noun
1. the action or skill of reading.
2. an instance of something being read to an audience.
3. an interpretation of a text.
4. a figure recorded on a measuring instrument.
5. a stage of debate in parliament through which a bill must pass before it can become law.

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reading age

noun
a child's reading ability expressed with reference to an average age at which a comparable ability is found.

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readjust

verb
1. set or adjust again.
2. adjust or adapt to a changed situation or environment.

DERIVATIVES:
readjustment noun.

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read-only memory

noun Computing
memory read at high speed but not capable of being changed by program instructions.

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read-write

adjective Computing
capable of reading existing data and accepting alterations or further input.

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ready

adjective (readier, readiest)
1. prepared for an activity or situation.
2. made suitable and available for immediate use.
3. easily available or obtained; within reach.
4. (ready to/for) willing to do or having a desire for.
5. immediate, quick, or prompt.

noun (readies or the ready) Brit. informal
available money; cash.

verb (readies, readied)
make (something) ready.

IDIOMS -
at the ready prepared or available for immediate use.
make ready prepare.

DERIVATIVES:
readiness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ready-made

adjective
1. made to a standard size or specification rather than to order.
2. easily available: ready-made answers.

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ready money

noun
money in the form of cash that is immediately available.

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ready-to-wear

adjective
(of clothes) sold through shops rather than made to order for an individual customer.

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reagent

noun
a substance or mixture for use in chemical analysis or other reactions.

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real

adjective
1. actually existing or occurring in fact; not imagined or supposed.
2. significant; serious.
3. not artificial; genuine.
4. rightly so called; proper: a real man.
5. adjusted for changes in the value of money; assessed by purchasing power: real incomes had fallen by 30 per cent.
6. Mathematics (of a number or quantity) having no imaginary part.

adverb informal, chiefly N. Amer.
really; very.

IDIOMS -
for real informal as a serious or actual concern.

DERIVATIVES:
realness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin realis, from res 'thing' .

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real ale

noun chiefly Brit.
cask-conditioned beer that is served traditionally, without additional gas pressure.

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realign

verb
1. change or restore to a different or former position or state.
2. (realign oneself with) change one's position or attitude with regard to.

DERIVATIVES:
realignment noun.

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realism

noun
1. the practice of accepting a situation as it is and dealing with it accordingly.
2. (in art or literature) the representation of things in a way that is accurate and true to life.
3. Philosophy the doctrine that universals or abstract concepts have an objective or absolute existence.

DERIVATIVES:
realist noun.

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realistic

adjective
1. having a sensible and practical idea of what can be achieved or expected.
2. representing things in a way that is accurate and true to life.

DERIVATIVES:
realistically adverb.

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reality

noun (pl. realities)
1. the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.
2. a thing that is actually experienced or seen.
3. the quality of being lifelike.
4. the state or quality of having existence or substance.

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realize (also realise)

verb
1. become fully aware of as a fact; understand clearly.
2. cause (something desired or anticipated) to happen; fulfil.
3. give actual or physical form to (a concept or work).
4. sell for or make a profit of.

DERIVATIVES:
realizable adjective
realization noun.

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really

adverb
1. in reality; in actual fact.
2. very; thoroughly.

exclamation
1. expressing interest, surprise, doubt, or protest.
2. chiefly US expressing agreement.

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realm

noun
1. archaic, literary, or Law a kingdom.
2. a field or domain of activity or interest.

ORIGIN: Old French reaume, from Latin regimen 'government' .

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real property

noun Law
property consisting of land or buildings. Compare with PERSONAL PROPERTY.

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real tennis

noun
the original form of tennis, played with a solid ball on an enclosed court.

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ream

noun
1. 500 (formerly 480) sheets of paper.
2. a large quantity of something, especially paper.

ORIGIN: Old French raime, from an Arabic word meaning 'bundle' .

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reap

verb
1. cut or gather (a crop or harvest).
2. receive as a consequence of one's own or others' actions.

IDIOMS -
you reap what you sow proverb you eventually have to face up to the consequences of your actions.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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reaper

noun
1. a person or machine that harvests a crop.
2. (the Reaper or the Grim Reaper) a personification of death as a cloaked skeleton wielding a large scythe.

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reappear

verb
appear again.

DERIVATIVES:
reappearance noun.

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rear [1]

noun
1. the back or hindmost part of something.
2. (also rear end) informal a person's buttocks.

adjective
at the back.

IDIOMS -
bring up the rear
1. be at the very end of a queue.
2. come last in a race.

ORIGIN: Old French rere, from Latin retro 'back' .

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rear [2]

verb
1. bring up and care for (offspring).
2. breed or cultivate (animals or plants).
3. (of an animal) raise itself upright on its hind legs.
4. (of a building, mountain, etc.) extend or appear to extend to a great height.
5. (rear up) show anger or irritation.

ORIGIN: Old English, «set upright, construct, elevate».

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rear admiral

noun
a rank of naval officer, above commodore and below vice admiral.

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rearguard

noun
1. the soldiers at the rear of a body of troops, especially those protecting a retreating army.
2. a reactionary or conservative faction.

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rearguard action

noun
a defensive action carried out by a retreating army.

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rearm

verb
provide with or acquire a new supply of weapons.

DERIVATIVES:
rearmament noun.

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rearmost

adjective
furthest back.

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rearrange

verb
arrange again in a different way.

DERIVATIVES:
rearrangement noun.

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rearward

adjective
directed towards the back.

adverb (also rearwards)
towards the back.

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reason

noun
1. a cause, explanation, or justification.
2. good or obvious cause to do something: we have reason to celebrate.
3. the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgements logically.
4. (one's reason) one's sanity.
5. what is right, practical, or possible: I'll answer anything, within reason.

verb
1. think, understand, and form judgements logically.
2. (reason out) find a solution (to a problem) by considering possible options.
3. (reason with) persuade with rational argument.

IDIOMS -
by reason of formal because of.
listen to reason be persuaded to act sensibly.
it stands to reason it is obvious or logical.

DERIVATIVES:
reasoned adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French reisun, from Latin reri 'consider' .

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reasonable

adjective
1. fair and sensible.
2. as much as is appropriate or fair; moderate.
3. fairly good; average.

DERIVATIVES:
reasonableness noun
reasonably adverb.

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reassemble

verb
assemble again; put back together.

DERIVATIVES:
reassembly noun.

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reassert

verb
assert again.

DERIVATIVES:
reassertion noun.

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reassess

verb
assess again, especially differently.

DERIVATIVES:
reassessment noun.

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reassign

verb
assign again or differently.

DERIVATIVES:
reassignment noun.

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reassure

verb
allay the doubts and fears of.

DERIVATIVES:
reassurance noun
reassuring adjective.

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reawaken

verb
awaken again.

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rebarbative

adjective formal
unattractive and objectionable.

ORIGIN: French rébarbatif, from Old French se rebarber 'face each other beard to beard' (i.e. aggressively).

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rebate

noun
1. a partial refund to someone who has paid too much for tax, rent, etc.
2. a deduction or discount on a sum due.

verb
pay back as a rebate.

ORIGIN: from Old French rebatre 'beat back' , also 'deduct' .

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rebel

noun
a person who rebels.

verb (rebelled, rebelling)
1. rise in opposition or armed resistance to an established government or ruler.
2. resist authority, control, or convention.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a fresh declaration of war by the defeated: from Old French rebelle, from Latin bellum 'war' .

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rebellion

noun
1. an act of rebelling against an established government or ruler.
2. defiance of authority or control.

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rebellious

adjective
1. showing a desire to rebel.
2. not easily handled or kept in place; unmanageable.

DERIVATIVES:
rebelliously adverb
rebelliousness noun.

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rebirth

noun
1. reincarnation.
2. a revival.

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reborn

adjective
1. brought back to life or activity.
2. born-again.

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rebound

verb
1. bounce back after hitting a hard surface.
2. recover in value, amount, or strength.
3. (rebound on/upon) have an unexpected adverse consequence for.

noun
1. a ball or shot that rebounds.
2. an instance of recovering in value, amount, or strength.

IDIOMS -
on the rebound while still distressed after the ending of a romantic relationship.

ORIGIN: Old French rebondir, from bondir 'bounce up' .

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rebuff

verb
reject in an abrupt or ungracious manner.

noun
an abrupt rejection.

ORIGIN: obsolete French rebuffer, from Italian buffo 'a gust, puff' .

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rebuild

verb (past and past part. rebuilt)
build again.

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rebuke

verb
criticize or reprimand sharply.

noun
a sharp criticism.

ORIGIN: Old French rebuker 'beat down' .

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rebus

noun (pl. rebuses)
a puzzle in which words are represented by combinations of pictures and letters.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'by things' .

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rebut

verb (rebutted, rebutting)
claim or prove to be false.

ORIGIN: originally in the senses «rebuke» and «repulse»: from Old French rebuter, from boter 'to butt' .

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rebuttal

noun
a refutation or contradiction.

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recalcitrant

adjective
obstinately uncooperative.

noun
a recalcitrant person.

DERIVATIVES:
recalcitrance noun
recalcitrantly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin recalcitrare 'kick out with the heels' .

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recall

verb
1. remember.
2. cause one to remember or think of.
3. officially order to return.
4. (of a manufacturer) request the return of (faulty products).
5. reselect (a sports player) as a member of a team.
6. call up (stored computer data).

noun
1. the action or faculty of remembering.
2. an act of officially recalling someone or something.

IDIOMS -
beyond recall in such a way that restoration is impossible.

DERIVATIVES:
recallable adjective.

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recant

verb
renounce a former opinion or belief.

DERIVATIVES:
recantation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin recantare 'revoke' , from cantare 'sing, chant' .

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recap informal

verb (recapped, recapping)
recapitulate.

noun
a recapitulation.

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recapitulate

verb
1. summarize and state again the main points of.
2. Biology repeat (an evolutionary or other process) during development and growth.

ORIGIN: Latin recapitulare 'go through heading by heading' , from capitulum 'chapter' .

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recapitulation

noun
1. an act or instance of recapitulating.
2. Music a part of a movement in which themes from the exposition are restated.

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recapture

verb
1. capture (an escapee).
2. recover (something taken or lost).
3. recreate (a past time, event, or feeling).

noun
an act of recapturing.

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recast

verb (past and past part. recast)
1. cast (metal) again or differently.
2. present in a different form or style.
3. allocate roles in (a play or film) to different actors.

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recce informal, chiefly Brit.

noun
reconnaissance.

verb (recced, recceing)
reconnoitre.

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recede

verb
1. move back or further away.
2. gradually diminish.
3. (of a man's hair) cease to grow at the temples and above the forehead.
4. (receding) (of a facial feature) sloping backwards.

ORIGIN: Latin recedere 'go back' .

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receipt

noun
1. the action of receiving something or the fact of its being received.
2. a written acknowledgement of receiving something.
3. (receipts) an amount of money received over a period by an organization.

ORIGIN: Old French receite, from Latin recipire 'receive' .

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receivable

adjective
able to be received.

noun (receivables)
amounts owed to a business, regarded as assets.

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receive

verb
1. be given, presented with, or paid.
2. accept or take delivery of.
3. chiefly Brit. buy or accept (goods known to be stolen).
4. form (an idea or impression) from an experience.
5. detect or pick up (broadcast signals).
6. (in tennis and similar games) be the player to whom the server serves (the ball).
7. serve as a receptacle for.
8. suffer, experience, or be subject to: the event received wide press coverage.
9. meet with (a specified reaction).
10. (received) widely accepted as authoritative or true.
11. entertain as a guest.
12. admit as a member.

IDIOMS -
be at (or on) the receiving end informal be subjected to something unpleasant.

ORIGIN: Old French receivre, from Latin recipere, from capere 'take' .

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received pronunciation (also received standard)

noun
the standard form of British English pronunciation, based on educated speech in southern England.

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receiver

noun
1. a person or thing that receives something.
2. a piece of radio or television apparatus converting broadcast signals into sound or images.
3. a telephone handset, in particular the part that converts electrical signals into sounds.
4. (Brit. also official receiver) a person appointed to manage the financial affairs of a bankrupt business.

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receivership

noun
the state of being managed by an official receiver.

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recent

adjective
1. having happened or been done lately; belonging to a period of time not long ago.
2. (Recent) Geology another term for HOLOCENE.

DERIVATIVES:
recently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin recens.

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receptacle

noun
1. an object or space used to contain something.
2. Botany the base of a flower or flower head.

ORIGIN: Latin receptaculum, from receptare 'receive back' .

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reception

noun
1. the action or process of receiving someone or something.
2. the way in which something is received: an enthusiastic reception.
3. a formal social occasion held to welcome someone or celebrate an event.
4. the area in a hotel, office, etc. where visitors are greeted.
5. the quality with which broadcast signals are received.

ORIGIN: Latin, from recipere 'receive' ).

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receptionist

noun
a person who greets and deals with clients and visitors to a surgery, office, hotel, etc.

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receptive

adjective
1. able or willing to receive something.
2. willing to consider new suggestions and ideas.

DERIVATIVES:
receptivity noun.

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receptor

noun Physiology
an organ or cell that responds to external stimuli such as light or heat and transmits signals to a sensory nerve.

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recess

noun
1. a small space set back in a wall.
2. a hollow in something.
3. (recesses) remote, secluded, or secret places.
4. a break between sessions of a parliament, law court, etc.
5. chiefly N. Amer. a break between school classes.

verb
1. set (a fitment) back into a wall or surface.
2. temporarily suspend (proceedings).

ORIGIN: Latin recessus, from recedere 'go back' .

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recession

noun
a temporary economic decline during which trade and industrial activity are reduced.

DERIVATIVES:
recessionary adjective.

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recessive Genetics

adjective
(of a heritable characteristic) controlled by a gene that is expressed in offspring only when inherited from both parents. Compare with DOMINANT.

noun
a recessive trait or gene.

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recharge

verb
1. charge (something, especially a battery) again.
2. return to a normal state of mind or strength after exertion.

DERIVATIVES:
rechargeable adjective
recharger noun.

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recherché

adjective
too unusual or obscure to be easily understood.

ORIGIN: French, 'carefully sought out' .

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recidivist

noun
a convicted criminal who reoffends.

DERIVATIVES:
recidivism noun.

ORIGIN: French récidiviste, from Latin recidere 'fall back' .

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recipe

noun
1. a list of ingredients and instructions for preparing a dish.
2. something likely to lead to a particular outcome: a recipe for disaster.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'receive!' (originally used as an instruction in medical prescriptions).

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recipient

noun
a person who receives something.

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reciprocal

adjective
1. given, felt, or done in return.
2. (of an agreement or arrangement) bearing on or binding two parties equally.
3. Grammar (of a pronoun or verb) expressing mutual action or relationship (e.g. each other, they kissed).

noun Mathematics
the quantity obtained by dividing the number one by a given quantity.

DERIVATIVES:
reciprocally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin reciprocus, from re- 'back' + pro- 'forward' .

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reciprocate

verb
respond to (a gesture, action, or emotion) with a corresponding one.

DERIVATIVES:
reciprocation noun.

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reciprocity

noun
the practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit.

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recital

noun
1. the performance of a programme of music by a soloist or small group.
2. an enumeration of connected names, facts, or elements.

DERIVATIVES:
recitalist noun.

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recitative

noun
musical declamation of the kind usual in the narrative and dialogue parts of opera and oratorio.

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recite

verb
1. repeat aloud or declaim from memory before an audience.
2. state (names, facts, etc.) in order.

DERIVATIVES:
recitation noun
reciter noun.

ORIGIN: Latin recitare 'read out' .

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reckless

adjective
without thought or care for the consequences of an action.

DERIVATIVES:
recklessly adverb
recklessness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, from a base meaning «care».

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reckon

verb
1. calculate.
2. informal be of the opinion.
3. regard in a specified way.
4. (reckon on) rely on or be sure of.
5. (reckon with or without) take (or fail to take) into account.

IDIOMS -
to be reckoned with not to be ignored or underestimated.

ORIGIN: Old English, «recount, relate», later «give an account of items received».

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reckoning

noun
1. the action of calculating or estimating something.
2. an opinion or judgement.
3. punishment or retribution for one's actions.

IDIOMS -
into (or out of) the reckoning into or out of contention for selection, victory, etc.

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reclaim

verb
1. retrieve or recover.
2. bring (waste land or land formerly under water) under cultivation.
3. redeem from a state of vice.

noun
the action of reclaiming or the process of being reclaimed.

DERIVATIVES:
reclamation noun.

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recline

verb
1. lean or lie back in a relaxed position.
2. (of a seat) have a back able to move into a sloping position.

DERIVATIVES:
reclinable adjective
recliner noun.

ORIGIN: Latin reclinare, from clinare 'to bend' .

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recluse

noun
a person who avoids others and lives a solitary life.

DERIVATIVES:
reclusion noun
reclusive adjective.

ORIGIN: from Old French reclus 'shut up' , from Latin recludere 'enclose' .

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recognition

noun
1. the action of recognizing or the process of being recognized.
2. appreciation or acknowledgement.
3. (also diplomatic recognition) formal acknowledgement by a country that another political entity fulfils the conditions of statehood.

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recognize (also recognise)

verb
1. identify as already known; know again.
2. acknowledge the existence, validity, or legality of.
3. show official appreciation of.

DERIVATIVES:
recognizable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin recognoscere, from cognoscere 'to learn' .

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recoil

verb
1. suddenly spring back or flinch in fear, horror, or disgust.
2. feel such emotions at the thought of something.
3. spring back through force of impact or elasticity.
4. (recoil on/upon) have an adverse consequence for (the originator).

noun
the action of recoiling.

DERIVATIVES:
recoilless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French reculer 'move back' , from Latin culus 'buttocks' .

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recollect

verb
1. remember.
2. (recollect oneself) compose oneself.

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recollection

noun
1. the action or faculty of remembering.
2. a memory.

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recommence

verb
begin again.

DERIVATIVES:
recommencement noun.

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recommend

verb
1. put forward with approval as being suitable for a purpose or role.
2. advise as a course of action.
3. make appealing or desirable: the house had much to recommend it.

DERIVATIVES:
recommendable adjective
recommendation noun.

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recompense

verb
1. make amends to (someone) for loss or harm suffered; compensate.
2. pay or reward for effort or work.

noun
compensation or reward.

ORIGIN: Latin recompensare, from compensare 'weigh one thing against another' .

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reconcile

verb
1. restore friendly relations between.
2. make or show to be compatible.
3. (reconcile to) make (someone) accept (a disagreeable thing).

DERIVATIVES:
reconcilable adjective
reconciliation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin reconciliare, from conciliare 'bring together' .

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recondite

adjective
(of a subject or knowledge) obscure.

ORIGIN: Latin reconditus 'hidden, put away' .

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recondition

verb
1. condition again.
2. Brit. overhaul or renovate.

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reconnaissance

noun
1. military observation of a region to locate an enemy or ascertain strategic features.
2. preliminary surveying or research.

ORIGIN: French.

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reconnoitre (US reconnoiter)

verb
make a military observation of (a region).

noun informal
an act of reconnoitring.

ORIGIN: obsolete French, from Latin recognoscere 'know again, recognize' .

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reconsider

verb
consider again.

DERIVATIVES:
reconsideration noun.

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reconstitute

verb
1. reconstruct.
2. change the form and organization of (an institution).
3. restore (something dried) to its original state by adding water.

DERIVATIVES:
reconstitution noun.

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reconstruct

verb
1. construct again.
2. form an impression, model, or re-enactment of (something) from evidence.

DERIVATIVES:
reconstruction noun
reconstructive adjective.

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reconvene

verb
convene again.

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record

noun
1. a piece of evidence or information constituting an account of something that has occurred, been said, etc.
2. the previous conduct or performance of a person or thing.
3. (also criminal record) a list of a person's previous criminal convictions.
4. the best performance or most remarkable event of its kind officially recognized.
5. a thin plastic disc carrying recorded sound in grooves on each surface, for reproduction by a record player.

verb
1. make a record of.
2. convert (sound, a broadcast, etc.) into permanent form for later reproduction.

IDIOMS -
for the record so that the true facts are recorded or known.
on record officially measured and noted.
on (or off) the record made (or not made) as an official or attributable statement.
put (or set) the record straight correct a misapprehension.

DERIVATIVES:
recordable adjective
recording noun
recordist noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'remembrance' , from Latin recordari 'remember' .

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recorded delivery

noun Brit.
a service in which the Post Office obtains a signature from the recipient as a record that an item of post has been delivered.

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recorder

noun
1. an apparatus for recording sound, pictures, or data.
2. a person who keeps records.
3. (Recorder) (in England and Wales) a barrister appointed to serve as a part-time judge.
4. a simple woodwind instrument without keys, played by blowing air through a shaped mouthpiece.

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record player

noun
an apparatus for reproducing sound from gramophone records, with a turntable and a stylus that picks up sound from the groove.

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recount [1]

verb
give an account of something.

ORIGIN: Old French reconter 'tell again' .

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recount [2]

verb
count again.

noun
an act of counting something again.

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recoup

verb
regain (a loss).

DERIVATIVES:
recoupable adjective
recoupment noun.

ORIGIN: French recouper 'retrench, cut back' .

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recourse

noun
1. a source of help in a difficult situation.
2. (recourse to) the use of (someone or something) as a recourse.

ORIGIN: Latin recursus, from cursus 'course, running' .

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recover

verb
1. return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength.
2. find or regain possession of.
3. regain or secure (compensation).
4. remove or extract (an energy source, chemical, etc.) for use, reuse, or waste treatment.

DERIVATIVES:
recoverable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French recoverer, from Latin recuperare 'get again' .

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recovery

noun (pl. recoveries)
1. an act or the process of recovering.
2. the action of taking a vehicle that has broken down or crashed for repair.

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recreate

verb
1. create again.
2. reproduce.

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recreation [1]

noun
enjoyable leisure activity.

DERIVATIVES:
recreational adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from recreare 'create again, renew' .

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recreation [2]

noun
the action or an act of recreating something.

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recreation ground

noun Brit.
a piece of public land used for sports and games.

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recrimination

noun (usu. recriminations)
an accusation in response to one from someone else.

ORIGIN: Latin, from recriminari 'accuse in return' .

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recruit

verb
1. enlist (someone) in the armed forces.
2. enrol (someone) as a member or worker in an organization.
3. informal persuade to do or help with something.

noun
a newly recruited person.

DERIVATIVES:
recruiter noun
recruitment noun.

ORIGIN: obsolete French recrute, from Latin recrescere 'grow again' .

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rectal

adjective
relating to or affecting the rectum.

DERIVATIVES:
rectally adverb.

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rectangle

noun
a plane figure with four straight sides and four right angles, and with unequal adjacent sides.

DERIVATIVES:
rectangular adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin rectangulum, from rectus 'straight' + angulus 'an angle' .

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rectify

verb (rectifies, rectified)
1. put right; correct.
2. convert (alternating current) to direct current.

DERIVATIVES:
rectifiable adjective
rectification noun.

ORIGIN: Latin rectificare, from rectus 'right' .

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rectilinear (also rectilineal)

adjective
contained by, consisting of, or moving in a straight line or lines.

ORIGIN: from Latin rectus 'straight' + linea 'line' .

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rectitude

noun
morally correct behaviour.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin rectus 'right' .

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recto

noun (pl. rectos)
a right-hand page of an open book, or the front of a loose document. Contrasted with VERSO.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'on the right' .

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rector

noun
1. (in the Church of England) a priest in charge of a parish where all tithes formerly passed to the incumbent.
2. (in other Anglican Churches) a member of the clergy in charge of a parish.
3. (in the Roman Catholic Church) a priest in charge of a church or a religious institution.
4. the head of certain universities, colleges, and schools.
5. (in Scotland) a person elected to represent students on a university's governing body.

DERIVATIVES:
rectorate noun
rectorial adjective
rectorship noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'ruler' .

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rectory

noun (pl. rectories)
1. a rector's house.
2. a Church of England benefice held by a rector.

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rectum

noun (pl. rectums or recta)
the final section of the large intestine, terminating at the anus.

ORIGIN: from Latin rectum intestinum 'straight intestine' .

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recumbent

adjective
1. lying down.
2. (of a plant) growing close to the ground.

DERIVATIVES:
recumbency noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin recumbere 'recline' .

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recuperate

verb
1. recover from illness or exertion.
2. regain (something lost).

DERIVATIVES:
recuperation noun
recuperative adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin recuperare 'regain' .

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recur

verb (recurred, recurring)
1. occur again.
2. (of a thought, image, etc.) come back to one's mind.

DERIVATIVES:
recurrence noun.

ORIGIN: Latin recurrere, from currere 'run' .

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recurrent

adjective
occurring often or repeatedly.

DERIVATIVES:
recurrently adverb.

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recurring decimal

noun
a decimal fraction in which a figure or group of figures is repeated indefinitely, as in 0.666 …

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recusant

noun
1. a person who refuses to submit to authority or comply with a regulation.
2. historical a person who refused to attend services of the Church of England.

DERIVATIVES:
recusancy noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin recusare 'refuse' .

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recycle

verb
1. convert (waste) into reusable material.
2. use again.

DERIVATIVES:
recyclable adjective
recycler noun.

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red

adjective (redder, reddest)
1. of a colour at the end of the spectrum next to orange and opposite violet, as of blood, fire, or rubies.
2. (of a person's face) red due to embarrassment, anger, or heat.
3. (of hair or fur) of a reddish-brown colour.
4. (of wine) made from dark grapes and coloured by their skins.
5. informal, chiefly derogatory communist or socialist.
6. archaic or literary involving bloodshed or violence.

noun
1. red colour, pigment, or material.
2. informal, chiefly derogatory a communist or socialist.
3. (the red) the situation of having spent more than is in one's bank account.

IDIOMS -
the red planet Mars.
see red informal become very angry suddenly.

DERIVATIVES:
reddish adjective
reddy adjective
redly adverb
redness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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red admiral

noun
a butterfly having dark wings with red bands and white spots.

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red-blooded

adjective
(of a man) vigorous or virile.

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redbreast

noun informal, chiefly Brit.
a robin.

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red-brick

adjective
(of a British university) founded in the late 19th or early 20th century and with buildings of red brick as distinct from the older universities which were built of stone.

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red card

noun
(especially in soccer) a red card shown by the referee to a player being sent off the field.

verb (red-card)
(of a referee) show a red card to.

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red carpet

noun
a long, narrow red carpet for a distinguished visitor to walk along.

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redcoat

noun
1. historical a British soldier.
2. (in the UK) an organizer and entertainer at a Butlin's holiday camp.

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Red Crescent

noun
a national branch in Muslim countries of the International Movement of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent.

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Red Cross

noun
the International Movement of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent, an organization bringing relief to victims of war or natural disaster.

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redcurrant

noun
a small edible red berry.

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redden

verb
1. make or become red.
2. blush.

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red dwarf

noun Astronomy
a small, old, relatively cool star.

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redecorate

verb
decorate again or differently.

DERIVATIVES:
redecoration noun.

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redeem

verb
1. make up for the faults or bad aspects of.
2. (redeem oneself) make up for one's poor past performance or behaviour.
3. save from sin, error, or evil.
4. fulfil (a pledge or promise).
5. gain or regain possession of in exchange for payment.
6. exchange (a coupon) for goods or money.
7. repay (a stock, bond, etc.) or clear (a debt).
8. archaic buy the freedom of.

DERIVATIVES:
redeemable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin redimere 'buy back' .

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redeemer

noun
1. a person who redeems someone or something.
2. (the Redeemer) Christ.

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redemption

noun
1. the action of redeeming or of being redeemed.
2. a thing that saves someone from error or evil.

DERIVATIVES:
redemptive adjective.

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redeploy

verb
deploy again or differently.

DERIVATIVES:
redeployment noun.

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redevelop

verb
develop again or differently.

DERIVATIVES:
redeveloper noun
redevelopment noun.

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red flag

noun
1. a warning of danger.
2. the symbol of socialist revolution.

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red-handed

adjective
in or just after the act of doing something wrong.

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redhead

noun
a person, especially a woman, with red hair.

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red herring

noun
1. a dried smoked herring.
2. a misleading clue or distraction. [ORIGIN: so named from the practice of using the scent of red herring in training hounds.]

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red-hot

adjective
1. so hot as to glow red.
2. extremely exciting or popular.
3. very passionate.

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redirect

verb
direct differently.

DERIVATIVES:
redirection noun.

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rediscover

verb
discover again.

DERIVATIVES:
rediscovery noun.

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redistribute

verb
distribute again or differently.

DERIVATIVES:
redistribution noun
redistributive adjective.

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red lead

noun
red lead oxide used as a pigment.

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red-letter day

noun
a noteworthy or memorable day.

ORIGIN: from the practice of highlighting a festival in red on a calendar.

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red light

noun
a red light instructing moving vehicles to stop.

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red-light district

noun
an area with many brothels, strip clubs, etc.

ORIGIN: from the use of a red light as the sign of a brothel.

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red meat

noun
meat that is red when raw, e.g. beef or lamb.

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redneck

noun N. Amer. informal, derogatory
a working-class white person from the southern US, especially a politically conservative one.

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redo

verb (redoes; past redid; past part. redone)
1. do again or differently.
2. informal redecorate.

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redolent

adjective
1. (redolent of/with) strongly reminiscent or suggestive of.
2. (redolent of/with) literary strongly smelling of.
3. archaic or literary fragrant.

DERIVATIVES:
redolence noun
redolently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin redolere 'give out a strong smell' .

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redouble

verb
make or become much greater, more intense, or more numerous.

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redoubt

noun
a temporary or supplementary fortification, typically square or polygonal and without flanking defences.

ORIGIN: French redoute, from Latin reductus 'refuge' .

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redoubtable

adjective often humorous
(of a person) formidable, especially as an opponent.

DERIVATIVES:
redoubtably adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French redoutable, from redouter 'to fear' .

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redound

verb
1. (redound to) formal contribute greatly to (a person's credit or honour).
2. (redound upon) archaic rebound on.

ORIGIN: Latin redundare 'surge' , from unda 'a wave' .

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red pepper

noun
the ripe red fruit of a sweet pepper.

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redress

verb
1. remedy or set right.
2. archaic set upright again.

noun
remedy or compensation for a wrong or grievance.

IDIOMS -
redress the balance restore equality in a situation.

ORIGIN: Old French redresser.

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red shift

noun Astronomy
a displacement of the spectrum to longer wavelengths in the light from a distant galaxy or other object moving away from the observer.

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redskin

noun dated or offensive
an American Indian.

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red tape

noun
excessive bureaucracy or adherence to rules, especially in public business.

ORIGIN: so named because of the red or pink tape used to bind official documents.

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reduce

verb
1. make or become smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.
2. (reduce to) change (something) to (a simpler or more basic form).
3. (reduce to) bring to (an undesirable state or action).
4. boil (a sauce or other liquid) so that it becomes thicker and more concentrated.
5. Chemistry cause to combine chemically with hydrogen.
6. Chemistry cause to undergo a reaction in which electrons are gained from another substance or molecule. The opposite of OXIDIZE.
7. restore (a dislocated body part) to its proper position.
8. archaic conquer (a place).

IDIOMS -
reduced circumstances poverty after relative prosperity.
reduce to the ranks demote (a non-commissioned officer) to an ordinary soldier.

DERIVATIVES:
reducer noun
reducible adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «restore»: from Latin reducere 'bring or lead back' .

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reduction

noun
1. the action of reducing something.
2. the amount by which something is reduced.
3. a smaller copy of a picture or photograph.
4. a thick and concentrated liquid or sauce.

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reductive

adjective
1. tending to present a subject or problem in a simplified form, especially one viewed as crude.
2. relating to chemical reduction.

DERIVATIVES:
reductively adverb
reductiveness noun.

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redundant

adjective
1. not or no longer needed or useful; superfluous.
2. chiefly Brit. made unemployed because one's job is superfluous to requirements.

DERIVATIVES:
redundancy noun (pl. redundancies)
redundantly adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «abundant»: from Latin redundare 'surge' .

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redwood

noun
a giant coniferous tree with reddish wood, native to California and Oregon.

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reed

noun
1. a tall, slender-leaved plant growing in water or on marshy ground.
2. reeds or straw used for thatching.
3. literary a rustic musical pipe made from reeds or straw.
4. a piece of thin cane or metal which vibrates in a current of air to produce the sound of various musical instruments, as in the mouthpiece of a clarinet or at the base of some organ pipes.
5. a wind instrument played with a reed.

DERIVATIVES:
reeded adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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re-educate

verb
educate or train to behave or think differently.

DERIVATIVES:
re-education noun.

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reedy

adjective (reedier, reediest)
1. (of a sound or voice) high and thin in tone.
2. full of or edged with reeds.
3. (of a person) tall and thin.

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reef

noun
1. a ridge of jagged rock or coral just above or below the surface of the sea.
2. a vein of gold or other ore.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'rib' .

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reefer

noun informal
a cannabis cigarette.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Mexican Spanish grifo 'smoker of cannabis' .

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reefer jacket

noun
a thick close-fitting double-breasted jacket.

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reef knot

noun
a double knot made symmetrically to hold securely and cast off easily.

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reek

verb
1. have a foul smell.
2. (reek of) be suggestive of (something unpleasant).
3. archaic give off smoke, steam, or fumes.

noun
1. a foul smell.
2. chiefly Scottish smoke.

DERIVATIVES:
reeky adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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reel

noun
1. a cylinder on which film, wire, thread, etc. can be wound.
2. a part of a film.
3. a lively Scottish or Irish folk dance with music in simple or duple time.

verb
1. (reel in) wind on or bring towards one by turning a reel.
2. (reel off) say or recite rapidly and effortlessly.
3. dance a reel.
4. stagger or lurch violently.
5. feel giddy or bewildered.

DERIVATIVES:
reeler noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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re-elect

verb
elect again.

DERIVATIVES:
re-election noun.

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re-emerge

verb
emerge again.

DERIVATIVES:
re-emergence noun
re-emergent adjective.

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re-enact

verb
1. act out (a past event).
2. enact (a repealed law) once more.

DERIVATIVES:
re-enactment noun.

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re-enter

verb
enter again.

DERIVATIVES:
re-entrance noun.

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re-entry

noun (pl. re-entries)
1. the action or process of re-entering.
2. the return of a spacecraft or missile into the earth's atmosphere.

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reeve

noun historical
a local official, in particular the chief magistrate of a town or district in Anglo-Saxon England.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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re-examine

verb
1. examine again or further.
2. Law examine (a witness) again, after cross-examination by the opposing counsel.

DERIVATIVES:
re-examination noun.

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ref

noun informal
(in sports) a referee.

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ref.

abbreviation
1. reference.
2. refer to.

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refectory

noun (pl. refectories)
a room used for communal meals, especially in an educational or religious institution.

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refer

verb (referred, referring)
1. (refer to) mention or allude to.
2. (refer to) direct the attention of (someone) to.
3. (refer to) (of a word or phrase) describe or denote.
4. (refer to) pass (a person or matter) to (a higher body) for a decision.
5. fail (a candidate in an examination).
6. (refer to) archaic trace or attribute (something) to (a cause or source).

IDIOMS -
refer to drawer Brit. a phrase used by banks when suspending payment of a cheque.

DERIVATIVES:
referable adjective
referrer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin referre 'carry back' .

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referee

noun
1. an official who supervises a game or match to ensure that the rules are adhered to.
2. a person willing to testify about the character or ability of a job applicant.
3. a person appointed to examine and assess an academic work for publication.

verb (referees, refereed, refereeing)
be a referee of.

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reference

noun
1. the action of referring to something.
2. a mention or citation of a source of information in a book or article.
3. a letter from a previous employer testifying to someone's ability or reliability, used when applying for a new job.

verb
provide (a book or article) with references.

IDIOMS -
terms of reference the scope and limitations of an activity or area of knowledge.
with (or in) reference to in relation to; as regards.

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reference library

noun
a library in which the books are to be consulted rather than borrowed.

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referendum

noun (pl. referendums or referenda)
a general vote by the electorate on a single political question which has been referred to them for a direct decision.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'something to be referred' .

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referral

noun
the action of referring someone or something for consultation or review, especially the directing of a patient by a GP to a specialist.

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refill

verb
fill or become full again.

noun
an act of refilling or a glass that is refilled.

DERIVATIVES:
refillable adjective.

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refine

verb
1. remove impurities or unwanted elements from.
2. make minor changes so as to improve (a theory or method).

DERIVATIVES:
refiner noun.

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refinement

noun
1. the process of refining.
2. an improvement or clarification brought about by the making of small changes.
3. cultured elegance or superior taste.

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refinery

noun (pl. refineries)
an industrial installation where a substance is refined.

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refit

verb (refitted, refitting)
replace or repair machinery, equipment, and fittings in (a ship, building, etc.).

noun
an act of refitting.

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reflect

verb
1. throw back (heat, light, or sound) without absorbing it.
2. (of a mirror or shiny surface) show an image of.
3. represent in a faithful or appropriate way.
4. (reflect well/badly on) bring about a good or bad impression of.
5. (reflect on/upon) think deeply or carefully about.

ORIGIN: Latin reflectere 'bend back' .

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reflecting telescope

noun
a telescope in which a mirror is used to collect and focus light.

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reflection

noun
1. the phenomenon of light, heat, sound, etc. being reflected.
2. an image formed by reflection.
3. a consequence or result: healthy skin is a reflection of good health.
4. a thing bringing discredit.
5. serious thought or consideration.

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reflective

adjective
1. providing or produced by reflection.
2. thoughtful.

DERIVATIVES:
reflectively adverb
reflectiveness noun
reflectivity noun.

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reflector

noun
1. a piece of reflective material, e.g. a red one on the back of a motor vehicle or bicycle.
2. an object or device which reflects radio waves, sound, or other waves.
3. a reflecting telescope.

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reflex

noun
1. an action performed without conscious thought as a response to a stimulus.
2. a thing that reproduces the essential features or qualities of something else.
3. archaic a reflected source of light.

adjective
1. performed as a reflex.
2. (of an angle) exceeding 180°.
3. archaic (of light) reflected.
4. archaic bent or turned backwards.

DERIVATIVES:
reflexly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin reflexus, from reflectere 'bend back' .

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reflex camera

noun
a camera with a ground-glass focusing screen on which the image is formed by a combination of lens and mirror, enabling a scene to be correctly composed and focused.

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reflexive

adjective
1. Grammar (of a pronoun) referring back to the subject of the clause in which it is used, e.g. myself.
2. Grammar (of a verb or clause) having a reflexive pronoun as its object (e.g. wash oneself).
3. performed without conscious thought; reflex.

DERIVATIVES:
reflexively adverb
reflexivity noun.

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reflexology

noun
a system of massage used to relieve tension and treat illness, based on the theory that there are points on the feet, hands, and head linked to every part of the body.

DERIVATIVES:
reflexologist noun.

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refocus

verb (refocused, refocusing or refocussed, refocussing)
1. adjust the focus of (a lens or one's eyes).
2. focus (attention or resources) on something new or different.

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reform

verb
1. make changes in (something) in order to improve it.
2. cause to abandon an immoral or criminal lifestyle.

noun
the action or process of reforming.

DERIVATIVES:
reformable adjective
reformative adjective
reformer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin reformare 'form or shape again' .

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re-form

verb
form or cause to form again.

DERIVATIVES:
re-formation noun.

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reformation

noun
1. the action or process of reforming.
2. (the Reformation) a 16th-century movement for the reform of abuses in the Roman Church, ending in the establishment of the Reformed and Protestant Churches.

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Reformed Church

noun
a Church that has accepted the principles of the Reformation, especially a Calvinist Church (as distinct from Lutheran).

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reformist

adjective
supporting or advocating gradual reform rather than abolition or revolution.

noun
a supporter or advocate of such a policy.

DERIVATIVES:
reformism noun.

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refract

verb
(of water, air, or glass) make (a ray of light) change direction when it enters at an angle.

ORIGIN: Latin refringere 'break up' .

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refracting telescope

noun
a telescope which uses a lens to collect and focus the light.

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refraction

noun
the fact or phenomenon of being refracted.

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refractive

adjective
of or involving refraction.

DERIVATIVES:
refractively adverb.

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refractor

noun
1. a lens or other object which causes refraction.
2. a refracting telescope.

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refractory

adjective
1. formal stubborn or unmanageable.
2. Medicine not yielding to treatment.
3. technical heat-resistant; hard to melt or fuse.

DERIVATIVES:
refractoriness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin refractarius 'stubborn' .

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refrain [1]

verb (refrain from)
stop oneself from (doing something).

ORIGIN: Latin refrenare, from frenum 'bridle' .

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refrain [2]

noun
a repeated line or section in a poem or song, typically at the end of each verse.

ORIGIN: from Latin refringere 'break up' (because the refrain ‘broke’ the sequence).

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refresh

verb
1. give new strength or energy to.
2. stimulate (someone's memory) by going over previous information.
3. revise or update (skills, knowledge, etc.).

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refreshing

adjective
1. serving to refresh.
2. welcome or stimulating because new or different.

DERIVATIVES:
refreshingly adverb.

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refreshment

noun
1. a light snack or drink.
2. the giving of fresh strength or energy.

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refrigerant

noun
a substance used for refrigeration.

adjective
causing cooling or refrigeration.

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refrigerate

verb
subject (food or drink) to cold in order to chill or preserve it.

DERIVATIVES:
refrigeration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin refrigerare 'make cool' , from frigus 'cold' .

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refrigerator

noun
an appliance or compartment which is artificially kept cool and used to store food and drink.

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refuel

verb (refuelled, refuelling; US refueled, refueling)
supply or be supplied with more fuel.

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refuge

noun
1. a place or state of safety from danger or trouble.
2. Brit. a traffic island.

ORIGIN: Latin refugium, from fugere 'flee' .

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refugee

noun
a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.

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refulgent

adjective literary
shining very brightly.

DERIVATIVES:
refulgence noun
refulgently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin refulgere 'shine out' .

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refund

verb
pay back (money) to.

noun
a refunded sum of money.

DERIVATIVES:
refundable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin refundere 'pour back' .

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refurbish

verb
renovate and redecorate.

DERIVATIVES:
refurbishment noun.

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refuse [1]

verb
1. state that one is unwilling to do something.
2. state that one is unwilling to grant or accept (something offered or requested).
3. (of a horse) decline to jump (a fence or other obstacle).

DERIVATIVES:
refusal noun
refuser noun.

ORIGIN: Old French refuser, probably an alteration of Latin recusare 'to refuse' .

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refuse [2]

noun
matter thrown away as worthless.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French refusé 'refused' .

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refute

verb
1. prove (a statement or the person advancing it) to be wrong.
2. deny (a statement or accusation).

DERIVATIVES:
refutable adjective
refutation noun.
USAGE - Strictly speaking, refute means ‘prove (a statement) to be wrong’, although it is often now used to mean simply ‘deny’.
ORIGIN: Latin refutare 'repel, rebut' .

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regain

verb
1. obtain possession or use of (something lost) again.
2. get back to.

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regal

adjective
of, resembling, or fit for a monarch, especially in being magnificent or dignified.

DERIVATIVES:
regally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin regalis, from rex 'king' .

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regale

verb
1. entertain with conversation.
2. lavishly supply with food or drink.

ORIGIN: French régaler, from Old French gale 'pleasure' .

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regalia

plural noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
1. the insignia of royalty, especially the crown and other ornaments used at a coronation.
2. the distinctive clothing and trappings of high office, worn at formal occasions.
USAGE - The word regalia comes from Latin and is, technically speaking, the plural of the adjective regalis. However, in modern English use it behaves as a collective noun, similar to words like government, which means that it can be used with either a singular or plural verb.
ORIGIN: Latin, 'royal privileges' .

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regality

noun (pl. regalities)
1. the state of being a monarch.
2. regal manner or bearing.
3. historical (in Scotland) territorial jurisdiction granted by the king to a powerful subject.

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regard

verb
1. think of in a particular way.
2. gaze at in a specified fashion.
3. archaic pay attention to.

noun
1. heed or concern: she rescued him without regard for herself.
2. high opinion; esteem.
3. a steady look.
4. (regards) best wishes (used especially at the end of letters).

IDIOMS -
as regards concerning.
in this (or that) regard in connection with the point previously mentioned.
with (or in or having) regard to as concerns.

ORIGIN: Old French regarder 'to watch' , from garder 'to guard' .

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regarding

preposition
about; concerning.

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regardless

adverb
despite the prevailing circumstances.

IDIOMS -
regardless of without regard for.

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regatta

noun
a sporting event consisting of a series of boat or yacht races.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'a fight or contest' .

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regency

noun (pl. regencies)
1. the office or period of government by a regent.
2. a commission acting as regent.
3. (the Regency) the period of the regency in Britain (1811 20) or France (1715 23).

adjective (Regency)
in the neoclassical style of British architecture, clothing, and furniture popular during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

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regenerate

verb
1. regrow (new tissue).
2. bring new and more vigorous life to (an area or institution).
3. (especially in Christian use) give a new and higher spiritual nature to.

adjective
reborn, especially in a spiritual or moral sense.

DERIVATIVES:
regeneration noun
regenerative adjective
regenerator noun.

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regent

noun
a person appointed to administer a state because the monarch is a minor or is absent or unfit to rule.

adjective (after a noun )
acting as regent: Prince Regent.

ORIGIN: from Latin regere 'to rule' .

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reggae

noun
a style of popular music with a strongly accented subsidiary beat, originating in Jamaica.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Jamaican English rege-rege 'quarrel, row' .

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regicide

noun
1. the killing of a king.
2. a person who kills a king.

DERIVATIVES:
regicidal adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin rex 'king' .

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regime

noun
1. a government, especially an authoritarian one.
2. a systematic or ordered way of doing something.
3. the conditions under which a scientific or industrial process occurs.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «regimen»: from French, from Latin regimen 'rule' .

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regimen

noun
1. a therapeutic course of medical treatment, often including recommendations as to diet and exercise.
2. archaic a system of government.

ORIGIN: Latin, from regere 'to rule' .

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regiment

noun
1. a permanent unit of an army, typically divided into several smaller units and often into two battalions.
2. a large number of people or things.
3. archaic rule or government.

verb
organize according to a strict system.

DERIVATIVES:
regimentation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin regimentum 'rule' , from regere 'to rule' .

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regimental

adjective
relating to a regiment.

noun (regimentals)
military uniform, especially that of a particular regiment.

DERIVATIVES:
regimentally adverb.

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Regina

noun
the reigning queen (used following a name or in the titles of lawsuits, e.g. Regina v. Jones, the Crown versus Jones).

ORIGIN: Latin, 'queen' .

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region

noun
1. an area of a country or the world having definable characteristics but not always fixed boundaries.
2. an administrative district of a city or country.
3. (the regions) the parts of a country outside the capital or chief seat of government.
4. a part of the body, especially around or near an organ.

IDIOMS -
in the region of approximately.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'direction, district' , from regere 'to rule, direct' .

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regional

adjective
1. relating to or characteristic of a region.
2. relating to the regions of a country rather than the capital: a regional accent.

DERIVATIVES:
regionalize (also regionalise) verb
regionally adverb.

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regionalism

noun
1. commitment to regional rather than central systems of administration; loyalty to one's own region in cultural and political terms.
2. a linguistic feature peculiar to a particular region.

DERIVATIVES:
regionalist noun & adjective.

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register

noun
1. an official list or record.
2. a record of attendance, for example of pupils in a class.
3. a particular part of the range of a voice or instrument.
4. a variety of a language determined by its degree of formality.
5. (in printing and photography) exact correspondence of the position of colour components or of printed matter.
6. a sliding device controlling a set of organ pipes, or a set of organ pipes so controlled.
7. (in electronic devices) a location in a store of data.

verb
1. enter in or place on a register.
2. put one's name on a register, especially as an eligible voter or as a guest in a hotel.
3. express (an opinion or emotion).
4. (of an emotion) show in a person's face or gestures.
5. become aware of: he had not even registered her presence.
6. (of an instrument) detect and show (a reading) automatically.

DERIVATIVES:
registrable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin registrum, from regerere 'enter, record' .

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registered post

noun Brit.
a postal procedure with special precautions for safety and for compensation in case of loss.

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register office

noun
(in the UK) a local government building where civil marriages are conducted and births, marriages, and deaths are recorded.
USAGE - The official term is register office, although the form registry office is commonly used in unofficial and informal contexts.

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registrar

noun
1. an official responsible for keeping a register or official records.
2. the chief administrative officer in a university.
3. (in the UK) the judicial and administrative officer of the High Court.
4. Brit. a middle-ranking hospital doctor undergoing training as a specialist.

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registration

noun
1. the action or process of registering or of being registered.
2. (also registration mark or registration number) Brit. the series of letters and figures identifying a motor vehicle, displayed on a number plate.

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registry

noun (pl. registries)
1. a place where registers are kept.
2. registration.

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Regius professor

noun
(in the UK) the holder of a university chair founded by a sovereign or filled by Crown appointment.

ORIGIN: from Latin regius 'royal' .

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regress

verb
1. return to a former state.
2. return mentally to a former stage of life or a supposed previous life.

noun
the action of regressing.

ORIGIN: Latin regredi 'go back, return' .

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regression

noun
1. the action of regressing to a former state.
2. the action or an act of regressing to an earlier stage of life or a supposed previous life.

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regressive

adjective
1. tending to regress or characterized by regression.
2. (of a tax) taking a proportionally greater amount from those on lower incomes.

DERIVATIVES:
regressively adverb
regressiveness noun.

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regret

verb (regretted, regretting)
feel or express sorrow, repentance, or disappointment over.

noun
1. a feeling of sorrow, repentance, or disappointment.
2. (often one's regrets) used in polite formulas to express apology or sadness.

ORIGIN: Old French regreter 'lament the dead' .

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regretful

adjective
feeling or showing regret.

DERIVATIVES:
regretfulness noun.

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regretfully

adverb
1. in a regretful manner.
2. it is regrettable that.
USAGE - The established sense of regretfully is ‘in a regretful manner’. However, it is now sometimes used with the meaning ‘it is regrettable that, regrettably’, although traditionalists object to this use.

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regrettable

adjective
giving rise to regret; undesirable.

DERIVATIVES:
regrettably adverb.

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regroup

verb
reassemble into organized groups, typically after being attacked or defeated.

DERIVATIVES:
regroupment noun.

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regular

adjective
1. arranged or recurring in a constant or definite pattern, especially with the same space between individual instances.
2. doing the same thing often or at uniform intervals: regular worshippers.
3. done or happening frequently.
4. conforming to or governed by an accepted standard of procedure or convention.
5. usual or customary.
6. Grammar (of a word) following the normal pattern of inflection.
7. (of merchandise) of average size.
8. of or belonging to the permanent professional armed forces of a country.
9. chiefly N. Amer. of an ordinary kind.
10. Geometry (of a figure) having all sides and all angles equal.
11. Christian Church subject to or bound by religious rule. Contrasted with SECULAR.
12. informal, dated rightly so called; absolute: this place is a regular fisherman's paradise.

noun
1. a regular customer, member of a team, etc.
2. a regular member of the armed forces.

DERIVATIVES:
regularity noun (pl. regularities)
regularly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin regularis, from regula 'rule' .

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regularize (also regularise)

verb
1. make regular.
2. establish (a hitherto temporary or provisional arrangement) on an official or correct basis.

DERIVATIVES:
regularization noun.

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regulate

verb
1. control or maintain the rate or speed of (a machine or process).
2. control or supervise by means of rules and regulations.

DERIVATIVES:
regulative adjective
regulator noun
regulatory adjective.

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regulation

noun
1. a rule or directive made and maintained by an authority.
2. (before another noun ) informal of a familiar or predictable type: regulation blonde hair.
3. the action or process of regulating or being regulated.

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regulo

noun Brit. trademark
used before a numeral to denote a setting on a temperature scale in a gas oven.

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regurgitate

verb
1. bring (swallowed food) up again to the mouth.
2. repeat (information) without analysing or understanding it.

DERIVATIVES:
regurgitation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin regurgitare, from gurges 'whirlpool' .

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rehabilitate

verb
1. restore to health or normal life by training and therapy after imprisonment, addiction, or illness.
2. restore the standing or reputation of.
3. restore to a former condition.

DERIVATIVES:
rehabilitation noun
rehabilitative adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin rehabilitare, from habilitare 'make able' .

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rehash

verb
reuse (old ideas or material) without significant change or improvement.

noun
an instance of rehashing.

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rehearsal

noun
1. a trial performance of a play or other work for later public performance.
2. the action or process of rehearsing.

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rehearse

verb
1. practise (a play, piece of music, or other work) for later public performance.
2. state (a list of points that have been made many times before).

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «repeat aloud»: from Old French rehercier, perhaps from hercer 'to harrow' .

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reheat

verb
heat again.

noun
the use of the hot exhaust to burn extra fuel in a jet engine and produce extra power.

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rehouse

verb
provide with new housing.

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rehydrate

verb
absorb or cause to absorb moisture after dehydration.

DERIVATIVES:
rehydration noun.

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reign

verb
1. rule as monarch.
2. prevail: confusion reigned.
3. (reigning) (of a sports player or team) currently holding a particular title.

noun
1. the period of rule of a monarch.
2. the period during which someone or something is predominant or pre-eminent.

ORIGIN: Old French reignier, from Latin regnum 'kingdom, reign' .

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reimburse

verb
repay (money) to (a person who has spent or lost it).

DERIVATIVES:
reimbursable adjective
reimbursement noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete imburse «put in a purse», from Latin bursa 'purse' .

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rein

noun
1. a long, narrow strap attached at one end to a horse's bit, used in pairs to guide or check a horse.
2. (reins) the power to direct and control.

verb
1. check or guide (a horse) by pulling on its reins.
2. (often rein in/back) restrain.

IDIOMS -
(a) free rein freedom of action or expression.
keep a tight rein on exercise strict control over.

ORIGIN: Old French rene, from Latin retinere 'retain' .

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reincarnate

verb
cause (someone) to undergo rebirth in another body.

adjective (after a noun )
reborn in another body.

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reincarnation

noun
1. the rebirth of a soul in a new body.
2. a person in whom a soul is believed to have been reborn.

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reindeer

noun (pl. same or reindeers)
a deer with large branching antlers, native to the northern tundra and subarctic.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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reinforce

verb
1. strengthen (a military force) with additional personnel or material.
2. give added strength to.

DERIVATIVES:
reinforcer noun.

ORIGIN: French renforcer, influenced by inforce, an obsolete spelling of ENFORCE.

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reinforced concrete

noun
concrete in which metal bars or wire are embedded to strengthen it.

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reinforcement

noun
1. the action or process of reinforcing.
2. (reinforcements) extra personnel sent to strengthen an army or similar force.

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reinstate

verb
restore to a former position or state.

DERIVATIVES:
reinstatement noun.

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reinterpret

verb (reinterpreted, reinterpreting)
interpret in a new or different light.

DERIVATIVES:
reinterpretation noun.

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reintroduce

verb
1. bring into effect again.
2. put (a species of animal or plant) back into a former habitat.

DERIVATIVES:
reintroduction noun.

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reinvigorate

verb
give new energy or strength to.

DERIVATIVES:
reinvigoration noun.

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reissue

verb (reissues, reissued, reissuing)
make a new supply or different form of (a book, record, or other product) available for sale.

noun
a new issue of such a product.

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reiterate

verb
say something again or repeatedly.

DERIVATIVES:
reiteration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin reiterare 'go over again' .

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reject

verb
1. dismiss as inadequate or faulty.
2. refuse to consider or agree to.
3. fail to show due affection or concern for.
4. Medicine show a damaging immune response to (a transplanted organ or tissue).

noun
a rejected person or thing.

DERIVATIVES:
rejection noun.

ORIGIN: Latin reicere 'throw back' .

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rejig

verb (rejigged, rejigging) chiefly Brit.
1. rearrange.
2. dated refit.

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rejoice

verb
feel or show great joy.

ORIGIN: Old French rejoir, from joir 'experience joy' .

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rejoin [1]

verb
1. join together again.
2. return to.

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rejoin [2]

verb
say in reply; retort.

ORIGIN: Old French rejoindre, from joindre 'to join' .

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rejoinder

noun
1. a sharp or witty reply.
2. Law, dated a defendant's answer to the plaintiff's reply.

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rejuvenate

verb
make or cause to appear younger or more vital.

DERIVATIVES:
rejuvenation noun
rejuvenator noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin juvenis 'young' .

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rekindle

verb
1. relight (a fire).
2. revive (something lapsed or lost).

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relapse

verb
1. (of a sick or injured person) return to ill health after a period of improvement.
2. (relapse into) return to (a worse or less active state).

noun
a return to ill health after a temporary improvement.

ORIGIN: Latin relabi 'slip back' .

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relate

verb
1. give an account of.
2. (be related) be connected by blood or marriage.
3. establish a causal connection between: many drowning accidents are related to alcohol use.
4. (relate to) have reference to; concern.
5. (relate to) feel sympathy with.

DERIVATIVES:
relater (also relator) noun.

ORIGIN: Latin referre 'bring back' .

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related

adjective
belonging to the same family, group, or type; connected.

DERIVATIVES:
relatedness noun.

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relation

noun
1. the way in which two or more people or things are connected or related.
2. (relations) the way in which two or more people or groups feel about and behave towards each other.
3. a relative.
4. (relations) formal sexual intercourse.
5. the action of telling a story.

IDIOMS -
in relation to in connection with.

DERIVATIVES:
relational adjective.

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relationship

noun
1. the way in which two or more people or things are connected, or the state of being connected.
2. the way in which two or more people or groups regard and behave towards each other.
3. an emotional and sexual association between two people.

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relative

adjective
1. considered in relation or in proportion to something else.
2. existing or possessing a characteristic only in comparison to something else: months of relative calm ended in April.
3. Grammar (of a pronoun, determiner, or adverb) referring to an expressed or implied antecedent and attaching a subordinate clause to it, e.g. which.
4. Grammar (of a clause) attached to an antecedent by a relative word.

noun
1. a person connected by blood or marriage.
2. a species related to another by common origin.

IDIOMS -
relative to
1. compared with or in relation to.
2. concerning.

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relative atomic mass

noun
the ratio of the average mass of one atom of an element to one twelfth of the mass of an atom of carbon-12.

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relatively

adverb
1. in relation, comparison, or proportion to something else.
2. viewed in comparison with something else rather than absolutely; quite.

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relative molecular mass

noun
the ratio of the average mass of one molecule of an element or compound to one twelfth of the mass of an atom of carbon-12.

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relativism

noun
the doctrine that knowledge, truth, and morality exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute.

DERIVATIVES:
relativist noun.

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relativity

noun
1. the absence of standards of absolute and universal application.
2. Physics a description of matter, energy, space, and time according to Einstein's theories based on the importance of relative motion and the principle that the speed of light is constant for all observers.

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relaunch

verb
launch again or in a different form.

noun
an instance of relaunching.

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relax

verb
1. make or become less tense, anxious, or rigid.
2. rest from work or engage in a recreational activity.
3. make (a rule or restriction) less strict.

ORIGIN: Latin relaxare, from laxus 'lax, loose' .

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relaxant

noun
a drug or other thing that promotes relaxation or reduces tension.

adjective
causing relaxation.

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relaxation

noun
the action of relaxing or the state of being relaxed.

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relay

noun
1. a group of people or animals engaged in a task for a period of time and then replaced by a similar group.
2. a race between teams of runners, each team member in turn covering part of the total distance.
3. an electrical device which opens or closes a circuit in response to a current in another circuit.
4. a device to receive, reinforce, and retransmit a signal.

verb
1. receive and pass on (information or a message).
2. broadcast by means of a relay.

ORIGIN: Old French relayer, from Latin laxare 'slacken' .

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release

verb
1. set free from confinement.
2. free from an obligation or duty.
3. allow to move or flow freely.
4. allow (information) to be generally available.
5. make (a film or recording) available to the public.
6. make over (property, money, or a right) to another.

noun
1. the action or process of releasing or being released.
2. a film or other product released to the public.
3. a handle or catch that releases part of a mechanism.
4. a document making over property, money, or a right to another.

DERIVATIVES:
releasable adjective
releaser noun.

ORIGIN: Old French relesser, from Latin relaxare 'slacken, relax' .

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relegate

verb
1. place in an inferior rank or position.
2. (usu. be relegated) Brit. transfer (a sports team) to a lower division of a league.

DERIVATIVES:
relegation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin relegare 'send away' .

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relent

verb
1. abandon or moderate a harsh intention or cruel treatment.
2. become less intense.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «dissolve»: from Latin re- 'back' + lentare 'to bend' .

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relentless

adjective
1. oppressively constant.
2. harsh or inflexible.

DERIVATIVES:
relentlessly adverb
relentlessness noun.

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relevant

adjective
closely connected or appropriate to the matter in hand.

DERIVATIVES:
relevance noun
relevancy noun
relevantly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin relevare 'raise up' .

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reliable

adjective
able to be relied on.

DERIVATIVES:
reliability noun
reliably adverb.

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reliance

noun
dependence on or trust in someone or something.

DERIVATIVES:
reliant adjective.

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relic

noun
1. an object of interest surviving from an earlier time.
2. a surviving but outdated object, custom, or belief.
3. a part of a holy person's body or belongings kept and revered after their death.

ORIGIN: from Latin reliquiae 'remains' .

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relict

noun
1. an organism or other thing which has survived from an earlier period.
2. archaic a widow.

ORIGIN: from Latin relictus 'left behind' .

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relief

noun
1. a feeling of reassurance and relaxation following release from anxiety or distress.
2. a cause of relief.
3. the action of relieving.
4. (usu. light relief) a temporary break in a generally tense or boring situation.
5. financial or practical assistance given to those in special need or difficulty.
6. a person or group of people replacing others who have been on duty.
7. distinct appearance due to being accentuated in some way: the sun threw the peaks into relief.
8. a method of moulding, carving, or stamping in which the design stands out from the surface, to a greater (high relief) or lesser (low relief) extent.

IDIOMS -
on relief chiefly N. Amer. receiving state assistance because of need.

ORIGIN: from Latin relevare 'raise again, alleviate' .

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relief map

noun
1. a map indicating hills and valleys by shading rather than by contour lines alone.
2. a map model with elevations and depressions representing hills and valleys.

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relieve

verb
1. alleviate or remove (pain, distress, or difficulty).
2. (usu. be relieved) cause (someone) to stop feeling distressed or anxious.
3. release (someone) from duty by taking their place.
4. (relieve of) take (a burden or responsibility) from.
5. bring military support for (a besieged place).
6. make less boring or monotonous.
7. (relieve oneself) formal or euphemistic urinate or defecate.

DERIVATIVES:
reliever noun.

ORIGIN: Old French relever, from Latin relevare (see RELIEF).

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religion

noun
1. the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.
2. a particular system of faith and worship.
3. a pursuit or interest followed with devotion.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «life under monastic vows»: from Latin religio 'obligation, reverence' .

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religiose

adjective
excessively religious.

DERIVATIVES:
religiosity noun.

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religious

adjective
1. of, concerned with, or believing in a religion.
2. treated or regarded with care and devotion appropriate to worship.

noun (pl. same)
a person bound by monastic vows.

DERIVATIVES:
religiously adverb
religiousness noun.

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relinquish

verb
willingly cease to keep or claim; give up.

DERIVATIVES:
relinquishment noun.

ORIGIN: Latin relinquere, from linquere 'to leave' .

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reliquary

noun (pl. reliquaries)
a container for holy relics.

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relish

noun
1. great enjoyment.
2. pleasurable anticipation.
3. a piquant sauce or pickle eaten with plain food to add flavour.
4. archaic an appetizing flavour.

verb
1. enjoy greatly.
2. anticipate with pleasure.
3. archaic make pleasant to the taste.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «odour, taste»: from Old French reles 'remainder' .

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relive

verb
live through (an experience or feeling) again in one's imagination.

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reload

verb
load (something, especially a gun) again.

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relocate

verb
move to a new place and establish one's home or business there.

DERIVATIVES:
relocation noun.

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reluctance

noun
unwillingness or disinclination to do something.

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reluctant

adjective
unwilling and hesitant.

DERIVATIVES:
reluctantly adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «offering opposition»: from Latin reluctari 'struggle against' .

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rely

verb (relies, relied) (rely on/upon)
1. depend on with full trust.
2. be dependent on.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «gather together», later «turn to»: from Old French relier 'bind together' , from Latin religare.

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remain

verb
1. be in the same place or condition during further time.
2. continue to be: he remained alert.
3. be left over after others or other parts have been completed, used, or dealt with.

ORIGIN: Latin remanere, from manere 'to stay' .

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remainder

noun
1. a part, number, or quantity that is left over.
2. a part that is still to come.
3. the number which is left over in a division in which one quantity does not exactly divide another.
4. a copy of a book left unsold when demand has fallen.

verb (often be remaindered)
dispose of (an unsold book) at a reduced price.

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remains

plural noun
1. things remaining.
2. historical or archaeological relics.
3. a person's body after death.

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remake

verb (past and past part. remade)
make again or differently.

noun
a film or piece of music that has been filmed or recorded again and re-released.

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remand Law

verb
place (a defendant) on bail or in custody, especially when a trial is adjourned.

noun
a committal to custody.

ORIGIN: Latin remandare 'commit again' .

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remark

verb
1. say as a comment; mention.
2. regard with attention; notice.

noun
1. a comment.
2. the action of noticing or commenting.

ORIGIN: French remarquer 'note again' .

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remarkable

adjective
extraordinary or striking.

DERIVATIVES:
remarkably adverb.

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remaster

verb
make a new or improved master of (a sound recording).

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rematch

noun
a second match or game between two sports teams or players.

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remedial

adjective
1. giving or intended as a remedy.
2. provided or intended for children with learning difficulties.

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remedy

noun (pl. remedies)
1. a medicine or treatment for a disease or injury.
2. a means of counteracting or eliminating something undesirable.
3. a means of legal reparation.

verb (remedies, remedied)
make good (an undesirable situation); rectify.

DERIVATIVES:
remediable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin remedium, from mederi 'heal' .

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remember

verb
1. have in or be able to bring to one's mind (someone or something from the past).
2. keep something necessary or advisable in mind: remember to post the letters.
3. bear (someone) in mind by making them a gift or by mentioning them in prayer: he remembered the boy in his will.
4. (remember oneself) recover one's manners after a lapse.
5. (remember to) convey greetings from (one person) to (another).

ORIGIN: Latin rememorari 'call to mind' .

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remembrance

noun
1. the action of remembering.
2. a memory.
3. a thing kept or given as a reminder or in commemoration of someone.

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Remembrance Sunday (also Remembrance Day)

noun
(in the UK) the Sunday nearest 11 November, when those who were killed in the First and Second World Wars and later conflicts are commemorated.

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remind

verb
1. cause (someone) to remember something or to do something.
2. (remind of) cause (someone) to think of (something) because of a resemblance.

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reminder

noun
1. a thing that causes someone to remember something.
2. a letter sent to remind someone to pay a bill.

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reminisce

verb
indulge in reminiscence.

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reminiscence

noun
1. a story told about a past event remembered by the narrator.
2. the enjoyable recollection of past events.
3. a characteristic of one thing suggestive of another.

ORIGIN: Latin reminiscentia, from reminisci 'remember' .

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reminiscent

adjective
1. (usu. reminiscent of) tending to remind one of something.
2. absorbed in memories.

DERIVATIVES:
reminiscently adverb.

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remiss

adjective
lacking care or attention to duty.

ORIGIN: originally in the senses «weakened in colour or consistency» and (in describing sound) «faint»: from Latin remittere 'slacken' .

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remission

noun
1. the cancellation of a debt, charge, or penalty.
2. Brit. the reduction of a prison sentence, especially as a reward for good behaviour.
3. a temporary lessening of the severity of disease or pain.
4. formal forgiveness of sins.

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remit

verb (remitted, remitting)
1. cancel (a debt) or refrain from inflicting (a punishment).
2. send (money) in payment, especially by post.
3. refer (a matter for decision) to an authority.
4. Theology pardon (a sin).
5. archaic diminish.

noun
1. the task or area of activity officially assigned to an individual or organization.
2. an item referred for consideration.

ORIGIN: Latin remittere 'send back, restore' .

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remittance

noun
1. a sum of money remitted.
2. the action of remitting money.

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remix

verb
1. mix again.
2. produce a different version of (a musical recording) by altering the balance of the separate tracks.

noun
a remixed musical recording.

DERIVATIVES:
remixer noun.

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remnant

noun
1. a small remaining quantity.
2. a piece of cloth left when the greater part has been used or sold.
3. a surviving trace.

adjective
remaining.

ORIGIN: Old French remenant, from remenoir, remanoir 'remain' .

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remonstrate

verb
make a forcefully reproachful protest.

DERIVATIVES:
remonstration noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «make plain»: from Latin remonstrare 'demonstrate' .

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remorse

noun
deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed.

ORIGIN: Latin remorsus, from mordere 'to bite' .

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remorseful

adjective
filled with remorse or repentance.

DERIVATIVES:
remorsefully adverb.

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remorseless

adjective
1. without remorse.
2. (of something unpleasant) relentless.

DERIVATIVES:
remorselessly adverb
remorselessness noun.

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remortgage

verb
take out another or a different mortgage on.

noun
a different or additional mortgage.

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remote

adjective (remoter, remotest)
1. far away in space or time.
2. situated far from the main centres of population.
3. distantly related.
4. (often remote from) having very little connection.
5. (of a chance or possibility) unlikely to occur.
6. aloof and unfriendly in manner.
7. (of an electronic device) operating or operated by means of radio or infrared signals.
8. Computing (of a device) that can only be accessed by means of a network.

DERIVATIVES:
remotely adverb
remoteness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin remotus 'removed' .

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remote control

noun
1. control of a machine or apparatus from a distance by means of signals transmitted from a radio or electronic device.
2. (also remote controller) a device that controls an apparatus in this way.

DERIVATIVES:
remote-controlled adjective.

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removal

noun
1. the action of removing.
2. chiefly Brit. the transfer of furniture and other contents when moving house.

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remove

verb
1. take off or away from the position occupied.
2. abolish or get rid of.
3. dismiss from a post.
4. (be removed) be very different from.
5. (remove to) dated relocate to (another place).
6. (removed) separated by a particular number of steps of descent: his second cousin once removed.

noun
1. a degree of remoteness or separation: at this remove, the incident seems insane.
2. a form or division in some British schools.

DERIVATIVES:
removable adjective
remover noun.

ORIGIN: Latin removere, from movere 'to move' .

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remunerate

verb
pay (someone) for services rendered or work done.

DERIVATIVES:
remunerative adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin remunerari 'reward, recompense' .

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remuneration

noun
money paid for work or a service.

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Renaissance

noun
1. the revival of art and literature under the influence of classical models in the 14th 16th centuries.
2. (renaissance) a revival of or renewed interest in something.

ORIGIN: French, 'rebirth' .

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Renaissance man

noun
a person with a wide range of talents or interests.

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renal

adjective technical
relating to the kidneys.

ORIGIN: Latin renalis, from renes 'kidneys' .

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rename

verb
give a new name to.

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renascence

noun
1. the revival of something that has been dormant.
2. another term for RENAISSANCE.

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renascent

adjective
becoming active again.

ORIGIN: Latin, from renasci 'be born again' .

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rend

verb (past and past part. rent) literary
1. tear to pieces.
2. cause great emotional pain to.

IDIOMS -
rend the air sound piercingly.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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render

verb
1. provide or give (a service, help, etc.).
2. submit for inspection, consideration, or payment.
3. literary hand over; surrender.
4. cause to be or become.
5. represent, interpret, or perform artistically.
6. translate.
7. melt down (fat) so as to clarify it.
8. process (the carcass of an animal) in order to extract proteins, fats, and other usable parts.
9. cover (stone or brick) with a coat of plaster.

noun
a first coat of plaster applied to a brick or stone surface.

DERIVATIVES:
renderer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French rendre, from Latin reddere 'give back' .

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rendering

noun
1. a performance of a piece of music or drama.
2. a translation.
3. the action of rendering.
4. a first coat of plaster.

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rendezvous

noun (pl. same)
1. a meeting at an agreed time and place.
2. a meeting place.

verb (rendezvouses, rendezvoused, rendezvousing)
meet at an agreed time and place.

ORIGIN: French rendez-vous! 'present yourselves!'

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rendition

noun
1. a rendering of a dramatic, musical, or artistic work.
2. a translation.

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renegade

noun
a person who deserts and betrays an organization, country, or set of principles.

adjective
having treacherously changed allegiance.

ORIGIN: Spanish renegado, from Latin renegare 'renounce' .

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renege (also renegue)

verb
go back on a promise, undertaking, or contract.

DERIVATIVES:
reneger noun.

ORIGIN: Latin renegare, from negare 'deny' .

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renegotiate

verb
negotiate again in order to change the original agreed terms.

DERIVATIVES:
renegotiable adjective
renegotiation noun.

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renew

verb
1. resume or re-establish after an interruption.
2. give fresh life or strength to.
3. extend the period of validity of (a licence, subscription, or contract).
4. replace or restore (something broken or worn out).

DERIVATIVES:
renewal noun
renewer noun.

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renewable

adjective
1. capable of being renewed.
2. (of energy or its source) not depleted when used.

DERIVATIVES:
renewability noun.

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rennet

noun
1. curdled milk from the stomach of an unweaned calf, containing rennin and used in curdling milk for cheese.
2. a preparation containing rennin.

ORIGIN: probably related to RUN.

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renounce

verb
1. formally declare one's abandonment of (a claim, right, or possession).
2. refuse to recognize any longer.
3. abandon (a cause, bad habit, or way of life).

DERIVATIVES:
renounceable adjective
renouncement noun
renouncer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French renoncer, from Latin renuntiare 'protest against' .

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renovate

verb
restore (something old) to a good state of repair.

DERIVATIVES:
renovation noun
renovator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin renovare 'make new again' .

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renown

noun
the state of being famous.

DERIVATIVES:
renowned adjective.

ORIGIN: from Old French renomer 'make famous' , from nom 'name' .

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rent [1]

noun
1. a tenant's regular payment to a landlord for the use of property or land.
2. a sum paid for the hire of equipment.

verb
1. pay someone for the use of.
2. let someone use (something) in return for payment.

DERIVATIVES:
rentable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French rente, from a root shared by RENDER.

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rent [2]

noun
a large tear in a piece of fabric.

ORIGIN: from REND.

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rental

noun
1. an amount paid or received as rent.
2. the action of renting.
3. N. Amer. a rented house or car.

adjective
relating to or available for rent.

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rent boy

noun Brit. informal
a young male prostitute.

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renunciation

noun
the action or an act of renouncing.

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reoccupy

verb (reoccupies, reoccupied)
occupy again.

DERIVATIVES:
reoccupation noun.

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reoccur

verb (reoccurred, reoccurring)
occur again or repeatedly.

DERIVATIVES:
reoccurrence noun.

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reopen

verb
open again.

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reorder

verb
1. order again.
2. arrange again.

noun
a renewed or repeated order for goods.

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reorganize (also reorganise)

verb
change the organization of.

DERIVATIVES:
reorganization noun
reorganizer noun.

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reorient

verb
1. change the focus or direction of.
2. (reorient oneself) find one's bearings again.

DERIVATIVES:
reorientate verb
reorientation noun.

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rep [1] informal

noun
a representative.

verb (repped, repping)
act as a sales representative.

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rep [2]

noun informal
1. repertory.
2. a repertory theatre or company.

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repackage

verb
package again or differently.

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repair [1]

verb
1. restore (something damaged, worn, or faulty) to a good condition.
2. set right (a rift in relations).

noun
1. the action of repairing.
2. a result of this.
3. the relative physical condition of an object: the cottages were in good repair.

DERIVATIVES:
repairable adjective
repairer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin reparare, from parare 'make ready' .

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repair [2]

verb (repair to) formal or humorous
go to (a place).

ORIGIN: Old French repairer, from Latin repatriare 'return to one's country' .

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reparable

adjective
able to be repaired or rectified.

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reparation

noun
1. the making of amends for a wrong.
2. (reparations) compensation for war damage paid by a defeated state.
3. archaic the action of repairing.

DERIVATIVES:
reparative adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from reparare (see REPAIR).

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repartee

noun
conversation or speech characterized by quick, witty comments or replies.

ORIGIN: from French repartie 'replied promptly' .

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repast

noun formal
a meal.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin repascere, from pascere 'to feed' .

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repatriate

verb
send (someone) back to their own country.

noun
a person who has been repatriated.

DERIVATIVES:
repatriation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin repatriare 'return to one's country' .

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repay

verb (past and past part. repaid)
1. pay back (a loan).
2. pay back money owed to.
3. do or give something as recompense for (a favour or kindness received).
4. be worth subjecting to (a specified action): these sites would repay more detailed investigation.

DERIVATIVES:
repayable adjective
repayment noun.

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repayment mortgage

noun
a mortgage in which the borrower repays the capital and interest together in fixed instalments over a fixed period.

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repeal

verb
revoke or annul (a law or act of parliament).

noun
the action of repealing.

DERIVATIVES:
repealable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French repeler, from apeler 'to call, appeal' .

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repeat

verb
1. say or do again.
2. (repeat oneself) say the same thing again.
3. (repeat itself) occur again in the same way or form.
4. (of food) be tasted again after being swallowed, as a result of indigestion.

noun
1. an instance of repeating or being repeated.
2. a repeated broadcast of a television or radio programme.
3. (before another noun ) occurring, done, or used more than once: a repeat prescription.
4. Music a passage intended to be repeated.

DERIVATIVES:
repeatable adjective
repeater noun.

ORIGIN: Latin repetere, from petere 'seek' .

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repel

verb (repelled, repelling)
1. drive or force back or away.
2. be repulsive or distasteful to.
3. formal refuse to accept; reject.
4. (of a magnetic pole or electric field) force (something similarly magnetized or charged) away.
5. (of a substance) resist mixing with or be impervious to.

DERIVATIVES:
repeller noun.

ORIGIN: Latin repellere, from 'to drive' .

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repellent (also repellant)

adjective
1. able to repel or impervious to a particular thing: water-repellent nylon.
2. causing disgust or distaste.

noun
1. a substance that deters insects or other pests.
2. a substance used to treat something to make it impervious to water.

DERIVATIVES:
repellence noun
repellency noun
repellently adverb.

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repent

verb
1. feel or express sincere regret or remorse.
2. feel regret or remorse about.

DERIVATIVES:
repentance noun
repentant adjective
repenter noun.

ORIGIN: Old French repentir, from Latin paenitere 'cause to repent' .

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repercussions

plural noun
the consequences of an event or action.

DERIVATIVES:
repercussive adjective.

ORIGIN: originally as a medical term meaning «repressing of infection»: from Latin repercutere 'cause to rebound, push back' .

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repertoire

noun
the body of pieces known or regularly performed by a performer or company.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin reperire 'find, discover' .

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repertory

noun (pl. repertories)
1. the performance by a company of the plays, operas, or ballets in its repertoire at regular short intervals.
2. another term for REPERTOIRE.
3. a repository or collection.

ORIGIN: originally denoting an index or catalogue: from Latin repertorium, from reperire 'find, discover' .

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repertory company

noun
a theatrical company that performs plays from its repertoire for regular, short periods of time, moving on from one play to another.

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repetition

noun
1. the action or an instance of repeating or being repeated.
2. a thing that repeats another.

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repetitious

adjective
having too much repetition; repetitive.

DERIVATIVES:
repetitiously adverb
repetitiousness noun.

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repetitive

adjective
involving or characterized by repetition, especially when boring or unnecessary.

DERIVATIVES:
repetitively adverb
repetitiveness noun.

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repetitive strain injury

noun
a condition in which the prolonged performance of repetitive actions, typically with the hands, causes pain or impairment of function in the tendons and muscles involved.

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rephrase

verb
express in an alternative way.

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repine

verb literary
be discontented; fret.

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replace

verb
1. take the place of.
2. provide a substitute for.
3. put back in a previous place or position.

DERIVATIVES:
replaceable adjective
replacer noun.

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replacement

noun
1. the action or process of replacing someone or something.
2. a person or thing that takes the place of another.

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replay

verb
1. play back (a recording).
2. play (a match) again.

noun
1. the action or an instance of replaying.
2. a replayed match.
3. an occurrence which closely follows the pattern of a previous event: a replay of the 1988 campaign.

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replenish

verb
1. fill up again.
2. restore (a stock or supply) to a former level or condition.

DERIVATIVES:
replenisher noun
replenishment noun.

ORIGIN: Old French replenir, from plenir 'fill' .

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replete

adjective
1. (replete with) filled or well-supplied with.
2. very full with food; sated.

DERIVATIVES:
repletion noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin replere 'fill up' .

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replica

noun
an exact copy or model of something, especially one on a smaller scale.

ORIGIN: originally as a musical term in the sense «a repeat»: from Italian, from replicare 'to reply' .

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replicate

verb
1. make an exact copy of; reproduce.
2. (replicate itself) (of genetic material or a living organism) reproduce or give rise to a copy of itself.
3. repeat (a scientific experiment or trial) to obtain a consistent result.

noun
1. a close or exact copy; a replica.
2. a replicated experiment or trial.
3. Music a tone one or more octaves above or below the given tone.

DERIVATIVES:
replicable adjective
replication noun
replicative adjective
replicator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin replicare, from plicare 'to fold' .

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reply

verb (replies, replied)
1. say or write something in response to something said or written.
2. respond with a similar action: they replied to the shelling with a mortar attack.

noun (pl. replies)
1. the action of replying.
2. a spoken or written response.

DERIVATIVES:
replier noun.

ORIGIN: Old French replier, from Latin replicare 'repeat' , later 'make a reply' .

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report

verb
1. give a spoken or written account of something.
2. convey information about an event or situation.
3. make a formal complaint about.
4. present oneself as having arrived somewhere or as ready to do something.
5. (report to) be responsible to (a supervisor or manager).
6. Brit. formally announce that a parliamentary committee has dealt with (a bill).

noun
1. an account given of a matter after investigation or consideration.
2. a piece of information about an event or situation.
3. Brit. a teacher's written assessment of a pupil's work and progress.
4. a sudden loud noise of or like an explosion or gunfire.

DERIVATIVES:
reportable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin reportare 'bring back' .

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reportage

noun
1. the reporting of news by the press and the broadcasting media.
2. factual, journalistic presentation in a book or other text.

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reported speech

noun
a speaker's words reported in a subordinate clause, with the required changes of person and tense (e.g. he said that he would go, based on I will go). Contrasted with DIRECT SPEECH.

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reporter

noun
a person who reports news for a newspaper or broadcasting company.

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repose [1]

noun
1. a state of restfulness or tranquillity.
2. composure.

verb
1. rest.
2. be situated or kept in a particular place.

ORIGIN: Old French reposer, from Latin pausare 'to pause' .

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repose [2]

verb (repose in)
place (something, especially one's confidence or trust) in.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «put back in the same position»: from POSE, suggested by Latin reponere 'replace' .

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repository

noun (pl. repositories)
1. a place or receptacle for storage.
2. a place where something is found in significant quantities.

ORIGIN: Latin repositorium, from reponere 'replace' .

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repossess

verb
retake possession of (something) when a buyer defaults on payments.

DERIVATIVES:
repossession noun
repossessor noun.

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reprehensible

adjective
deserving condemnation.

DERIVATIVES:
reprehensibility noun
reprehensibly adverb.

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represent

verb
1. be entitled or appointed to act and speak for.
2. be an elected member of a legislature for.
3. constitute; amount to.
4. be a specimen or example of; typify.
5. (be represented) be present to a particular degree.
6. portray in a particular way.
7. depict in a work of art.
8. signify, symbolize, or embody.

ORIGIN: Latin repraesentare, from praesentare 'to present' .

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representation

noun
1. the action or an instance of representing or being represented.
2. an image, model, or other depiction of something.
3. (representations) statements made to an authority to communicate an opinion or register a protest.

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representational

adjective
1. relating to or characterized by representation.
2. relating to art which depicts the physical appearance of things.

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representative

adjective
1. typical of a class or group.
2. containing typical examples of many or all types: a representative sample.
3. (of a legislative or deliberative assembly) consisting of people chosen to act and speak on behalf of a wider group.
4. serving as a portrayal or symbol of something.

noun
1. a person chosen to act and speak for another or others.
2. an agent of a firm who travels to potential clients to sell its products.
3. an example of a class or group.

DERIVATIVES:
representatively adverb
representativeness noun.

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repress

verb
1. subdue by force.
2. restrain, prevent, or inhibit.
3. suppress (a thought or feeling) in oneself so that it becomes or remains unconscious.

DERIVATIVES:
represser noun
repressible adjective
repression noun.

ORIGIN: Latin reprimere 'press back, check' .

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repressed

adjective
1. oppressed.
2. (of a thought or feeling) kept suppressed and unconscious in one's mind.
3. tending to suppress one's feelings and desires.

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repressive

adjective
inhibiting or restraining personal freedom; oppressive.

DERIVATIVES:
repressively adverb
repressiveness noun.

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reprieve

verb
1. cancel the punishment of.
2. abandon or postpone plans to close: the threatened pits could be reprieved.

noun
1. the cancellation of a punishment.
2. a respite from difficulty or danger.

ORIGIN: Old French reprendre, from Latin prehendere 'seize' .

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reprimand

noun
a formal expression of disapproval; a rebuke.

verb
address a reprimand to.

ORIGIN: French réprimande, from Latin reprimere 'press back, check' .

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reprint

verb
print again or in a revised form.

noun
1. an act of reprinting.
2. a copy of a book or other material that has been reprinted.

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reprisal

noun
1. an act of retaliation.
2. historical the forcible seizure of a foreign subject or their goods as an act of retaliation.

ORIGIN: Old French reprisaille, from Latin reprehendere 'seize, check, rebuke' .

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reprise

noun
1. a repeated passage in music.
2. a further performance of something.

verb
repeat (a piece of music or a performance).

ORIGIN: French, 'taken up again' .

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reproach

verb
1. express one's disapproval of or disappointment with.
2. (reproach with) accuse of.

noun
an expression of disapproval or disappointment.

IDIOMS -
above (or beyond) reproach such that no criticism can be made; perfect.

DERIVATIVES:
reproachable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French reprochier, from a base meaning 'bring back close' .

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reproachful

adjective
expressing disapproval or disappointment.

DERIVATIVES:
reproachfully adverb.

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reprobate

noun
a person without moral principles.

adjective
unprincipled.

DERIVATIVES:
reprobation noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin reprobare 'disapprove' .

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reproduce

verb
1. produce a copy or representation of.
2. recreate in a different medium or context.
3. (of an organism) produce offspring.

DERIVATIVES:
reproducer noun
reproducible adjective.

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reproduction

noun
1. the action or process of reproducing.
2. a copy of a work of art, especially a print made of a painting.
3. (before another noun ) made to imitate the style of an earlier period or particular craftsman: reproduction furniture.

DERIVATIVES:
reproductive adjective.

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reprographics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
reprography.

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reprography

noun
the science and practice of reproducing documents and graphic material.

DERIVATIVES:
reprographic adjective.

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reproof

noun
a rebuke or reprimand.

ORIGIN: from Old French reprover 'reprove' .

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reprove

verb
rebuke or reprimand.

ORIGIN: Old French reprover, from late Latin reprobare 'disapprove' .

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reptile

noun
1. a cold-blooded vertebrate animal of a class that includes snakes, lizards, crocodiles, turtles, and tortoises, typically having a dry scaly skin and laying soft-shelled eggs on land.
2. informal a person regarded with loathing and contempt.

DERIVATIVES:
reptilian adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin reptilis 'crawling' , from repere 'to crawl' .

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republic

noun
a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

ORIGIN: Latin respublica, from res 'concern' + publicus 'of the people, public' .

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republican

adjective
1. belonging to or characteristic of a republic.
2. advocating republican government.
3. (Republican) (in the US) supporting the Republican Party.

noun
1. a person advocating republican government.
2. (Republican) (in the US) a member or supporter of the Republican Party.
3. (Republican) an advocate of a united Ireland.

DERIVATIVES:
republicanism noun.

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repudiate

verb
1. refuse to accept or be associated with.
2. deny the truth or validity of.
3. chiefly Law refuse to fulfil or discharge (an agreement, obligation, or debt).
4. archaic disown or divorce (one's wife).

DERIVATIVES:
repudiation noun
repudiator noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin repudiatus 'divorced, cast off' , from repudium 'divorce' .

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repugnance

noun
intense disgust.

DERIVATIVES:
repugnancy noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «opposition»: from Latin repugnare 'oppose' .

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repugnant

adjective
extremely distasteful; unacceptable.

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repulse

verb
1. drive back (an attacking enemy) by force.
2. rebuff or refuse to accept.
3. cause to feel intense distaste or disgust.

noun
the action or an instance of repulsing or being repulsed.

ORIGIN: from Latin repellere, from pellere 'to drive' .

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repulsion

noun
1. a feeling of intense distaste or disgust.
2. Physics a force under the influence of which objects tend to move away from each other, e.g. through having the same magnetic polarity or electric charge.

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repulsive

adjective
1. arousing intense distaste or disgust.
2. Physics of or relating to repulsion between physical objects.

DERIVATIVES:
repulsively adverb
repulsiveness noun.

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reputable

adjective
having a good reputation.

DERIVATIVES:
reputably adverb.

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reputation

noun
1. the beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something.
2. a widespread belief that someone or something has a particular characteristic: his reputation as a brainless lad.

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repute

noun
1. the opinion generally held of someone or something.
2. the state of being highly regarded.

verb
1. (be reputed) be generally regarded as having done something or as having particular characteristics.
2. (reputed) generally believed to exist: the reputed flatness of the country.

DERIVATIVES:
reputedly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin reputare 'think over' .

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request

noun
1. an act of asking politely or formally for something.
2. a thing that is asked for in such a way.

verb
1. politely or formally ask for.
2. politely or formally ask (someone) to do something.

DERIVATIVES:
requester noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin requirere 'require' .

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requiem

noun
1. (especially in the Roman Catholic Church) a Mass for the repose of the souls of the dead.
2. a musical composition setting parts of such a Mass.

ORIGIN: Latin, from requies 'rest' .

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require

verb
1. need for a purpose; depend on.
2. wish to have.
3. instruct or expect (someone) to do something.
4. (require of) regard (an action or quality) as due from.
5. specify as compulsory: the minimum required by law.

ORIGIN: Latin requirere, from quaerere 'seek' .

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requirement

noun
1. something required; a need.
2. something specified as compulsory.

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requisite

adjective
made necessary by particular circumstances or regulations.

noun
a thing that is necessary for the achievement of a specified end.

ORIGIN: Latin requisitus 'searched for, deemed necessary' , from requirere 'require' .

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requisition

noun
1. an official order laying claim to the use of property or materials.
2. the appropriation of goods for military or public use.
3. a formal written demand that something should be performed or put into operation.

verb
demand the use, supply, or performance of through the issue of a requisition.

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reredos

noun (pl. same)
an ornamental screen at the back of an altar in a church.

ORIGIN: Old French areredos, from arere 'behind' + dos 'back' .

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re-release

verb
release (a recording or film) again.

noun
a re-released recording or film.

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rerun

verb (rerunning; past reran; past part. rerun)
show, stage, or perform again.

noun
a rerun event, competition, or programme.

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reschedule

verb
1. change the time of (a planned event).
2. arrange a new scheme of repayments of (a debt).

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rescind

verb
revoke, cancel, or repeal (a law, order, or agreement).

DERIVATIVES:
rescindable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin rescindere, from scindere 'to divide, split' .

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rescue

verb (rescues, rescued, rescuing)
save from a dangerous or distressing situation.

noun
an act of rescuing or being rescued.

DERIVATIVES:
rescuable adjective
rescuer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French rescoure, from Latin excutere 'shake out, discard' .

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research

noun
the systematic study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.

verb
1. carry out research into.
2. use research to discover or verify information to be presented in (a book, programme, etc.).

DERIVATIVES:
researcher noun.

ORIGIN: obsolete French recercher, from cerchier 'to search' .

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research and development

noun
(in industry) work directed towards innovation in and improvement of products and processes.

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resemblance

noun
1. the state of resembling.
2. a way in which things resemble each other.

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resemble

verb
have a similar appearance to or features in common with.

ORIGIN: Old French resembler, from Latin similare, from similis 'like' .

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resent

verb
feel bitterness or indignation towards.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «experience (an emotion or sensation)»: from obsolete French resentir, from sentir 'feel' .

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resentful

adjective
feeling or expressing bitterness or indignation.

DERIVATIVES:
resentfully adverb
resentfulness noun.

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resentment

noun
bitterness; indignation.

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reservation

noun
1. the action of reserving.
2. an arrangement whereby something is reserved.
3. an area of land set aside for occupation by North American Indians or Australian Aboriginals.
4. a qualification or expression of doubt attached to a statement or claim.

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reserve

verb
1. keep for future use.
2. arrange for (a seat, ticket, etc.) to be kept for the use of a particular person.
3. retain or hold (a right or entitlement).
4. refrain from delivering (a judgement or decision) without due consideration or evidence.

noun
1. a supply of a commodity available for use if required.
2. funds kept available by a bank, company, or government.
3. a force or body of troops withheld from action to reinforce or protect others, or additional to the regular forces and available in an emergency.
4. an extra player in a team, serving as a possible substitute.
5. (the reserves) the second-choice team.
6. an area of land set aside for occupation by a native people.
7. a protected area for wildlife.
8. a lack of warmth or openness.
9. qualification or doubt attached to a statement or claim.

DERIVATIVES:
reservable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin reservare 'keep back' .

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reserved

adjective
slow to reveal emotion or opinions.

DERIVATIVES:
reservedly adverb
reservedness noun.

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reserve price

noun
the price stipulated as the lowest acceptable by the seller for an item sold at auction.

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reservist

noun
a member of a military reserve force.

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reservoir

noun
1. a large natural or artificial lake used as a source of water supply.
2. a place where fluid collects, especially in rock strata or in the body.
3. a receptacle or part of a machine designed to hold fluid.
4. a supply or source of something.

ORIGIN: French, from réserver 'to reserve, keep' .

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reset

verb (resetting; past and past part. reset)
1. set again or differently.
2. set (a counter, clock, etc.) to zero.

DERIVATIVES:
resettable adjective.

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resettle

verb
settle or cause to settle in a different place.

DERIVATIVES:
resettlement noun.

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reshuffle

verb
1. interchange the positions of (members of a team, especially government ministers).
2. rearrange.

noun
an act of reshuffling.

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reside

verb
1. have one's permanent home in a particular place.
2. (of a right or legal power) belong to a person or body.
3. (of a quality) be present or inherent in something.

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residence

noun
1. the fact of residing somewhere.
2. the place where a person resides; a person's home.
3. the official house of a government minister or other official figure.

IDIOMS -
artist (or writer) in residence an artist or writer who is based for a set period within a college or other institution and is available for teaching purposes.

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residency

noun (pl. residencies)
1. the fact of living in a place.
2. a residential post held by an artist or writer.
3. Brit. a musician's regular engagement at a club or other venue.
4. N. Amer. a period of specialized medical training in a hospital; the position of a resident.
5. a group or organization of intelligence agents in a foreign country.
6. historical the official residence of a British government agent in a semi-independent state.

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resident

noun
1. a person who lives somewhere on a long-term basis.
2. Brit. a guest in a hotel who stays for one or more nights.
3. US a pupil who boards at a boarding school.
4. N. Amer. a medical graduate engaged in specialized practice under supervision in a hospital.
5. an intelligence agent in a foreign country.
6. historical a British Governor General's representative at the court of an Indian state.
7. a bird, butterfly, or other animal of a species that does not migrate.

adjective
1. living somewhere on a long-term basis.
2. having living quarters on the premises of one's work.
3. attached to and working regularly for a particular institution.
4. (of a bird, butterfly or other animal) non-migratory.

ORIGIN: from Latin residere 'remain' .

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residential

adjective
1. designed for or relating to residence.
2. providing accommodation in addition to other services.
3. occupied by private houses.

DERIVATIVES:
residentially adverb.

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residual

adjective
remaining after the greater part or quantity has gone or been subtracted.

noun
1. a residual quantity.
2. a royalty paid to a performer or writer for a repeat of a play, television show, or advertisement.
3. the resale value of a new car or other item at a specified time after purchase.

DERIVATIVES:
residually adverb.

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residue

noun
1. a small amount of something that remains after the main part has gone or been taken or used.
2. Law the part of an estate that is left after the payment of charges, debts, and bequests.
3. a substance that remains after a process such as combustion or evaporation.

ORIGIN: Latin residuum, from residere 'remain' .

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residuum

noun (pl. residua) technical
a chemical residue.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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resign

verb
1. voluntarily leave a job or position of office.
2. (be resigned) accept that something undesirable cannot be avoided.

ORIGIN: Latin resignare 'unseal, cancel' .

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resignation

noun
1. an act of resigning.
2. a document conveying an intention to resign.
3. acceptance of something undesirable but inevitable.

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resilient

adjective
1. able to recoil or spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed.
2. (of a person) able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.

DERIVATIVES:
resilience noun
resiliently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin resilire 'leap back' .

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resin

noun
1. a sticky substance exuded by some trees.
2. a synthetic polymer used as the basis of plastics, adhesives, varnishes, etc.

verb (resined, resining)
rub or treat with resin.

DERIVATIVES:
resinous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin resina; related to Greek rhtin 'pine resin' .

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resist

verb
1. withstand the action or effect of.
2. try to prevent by action or argument.
3. refrain from (something tempting).
4. struggle against someone or something.

noun
a resistant substance used to protect parts of a surface during the application of dye, glaze, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
resister noun
resistible adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin resistere, from sistere 'stop' .

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resistance

noun
1. the action of resisting.
2. (also resistance movement) a secret organization resisting political authority.
3. the impeding effect exerted by one material thing on another.
4. the ability not to be affected by something.
5. lack of sensitivity to a drug, insecticide, etc., especially as a result of continued exposure or genetic change.
6. the degree to which a material or device opposes the passage of an electric current.

IDIOMS -
the line (or path) of least resistance the easiest course of action.

DERIVATIVES:
resistant adjective.

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resistor

noun Physics
a device having resistance to the passage of an electric current.

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resit Brit.

verb (resitting; past and past part. resat)
take (an examination) again after failing.

noun
an examination held for this purpose.

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resolute

adjective
determined; unwavering.

DERIVATIVES:
resolutely adverb
resoluteness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «paid», describing a rent: from Latin resolutus 'loosened, released, paid' .

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resolution

noun
1. a firm decision.
2. an expression of opinion or intention agreed on by a legislative body.
3. the quality of being resolute.
4. the resolving of a problem or dispute.
5. the process of reducing or separating something into components.
6. the smallest interval measurable by a telescope or other scientific instrument.
7. the degree of detail visible in a photographic or television image.

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resolve

verb
1. settle or find a solution to.
2. decide firmly on a course of action.
3. (of a legislative body) take a decision by a formal vote.
4. (resolve into) reduce into (separate elements or a more elementary form).
5. (of something seen at a distance) turn into a different form when seen more clearly.
6. (of optical or photographic equipment) separate or distinguish between (closely adjacent objects).

noun
1. firm determination.
2. US a formal resolution by a legislative body or public meeting.

DERIVATIVES:
resolvable adjective
resolver noun.

ORIGIN: Latin resolvere, from solvere 'loosen' .

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resonance

noun
1. the quality of being resonant.
2. Physics the reinforcement or prolongation of sound by reflection or synchronous vibration.

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resonant

adjective
1. (of sound) deep, clear, and continuing to sound or ring.
2. (of a room, musical instrument, or hollow body) tending to reinforce or prolong sounds.
3. (resonant with) filled or resounding with.
4. suggesting images, memories, or emotions.

DERIVATIVES:
resonantly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin resonare 'sound again, resound' .

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resonate

verb
1. be resonant.
2. chiefly US (of an idea or action) meet with someone's agreement.

DERIVATIVES:
resonator noun.

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resort

verb (resort to)
turn to and adopt (a strategy or course of action) so as to resolve a difficult situation.

noun
1. a place frequented for holidays or recreation.
2. the action of resorting to something.
3. a strategy or course of action.

IDIOMS -
as a first (or last or final) resort before anything else is attempted (or when all else has failed).

ORIGIN: Old French resortir 'come or go out again' .

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resound

verb
1. fill or be filled with a ringing, booming, or echoing sound.
2. (of fame, success, etc.) be much talked of.
3. (resounding) emphatic; unmistakable: a resounding success.

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resource

noun
1. (resources) a stock or supply of materials or assets that can be drawn on in order to function effectively.
2. (resources) a country's collective means of supporting itself or becoming wealthier, as represented by its minerals, land, and other assets.
3. (resources) personal attributes and capabilities that sustain one in adverse circumstances.
4. an action or thing resorted to.

verb
provide with resources.

ORIGIN: from Old French dialect resourdre 'rise again, recover' .

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resourceful

adjective
able to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties.

DERIVATIVES:
resourcefully adverb
resourcefulness noun.

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respect

noun
1. a feeling of admiration for someone because of their qualities or achievements.
2. due regard for the feelings or rights of others.
3. (respects) polite greetings.
4. a particular aspect, point, or detail.

verb
1. feel or have respect for.
2. avoid harming or interfering with.
3. agree to recognize and abide by.

IDIOMS -
in respect of (or with respect to) as regards; with reference to.

DERIVATIVES:
respecter noun.

ORIGIN: Latin respectus, from respicere 'look back at, regard' .

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respectable

adjective
1. regarded by society as being proper, correct, and good.
2. of some merit or importance.
3. adequate or acceptable in number, size, or amount.

DERIVATIVES:
respectability noun
respectably adverb.

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respectful

adjective
feeling or showing deference and respect.

DERIVATIVES:
respectfully adverb
respectfulness noun.

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respecting

preposition
with reference or regard to.

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respective

adjective
belonging or relating separately to each of two or more people or things.

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respectively

adverb
separately or individually and in the order already mentioned.

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respiration

noun
1. the action of breathing.
2. a single breath.
3. Biology a process in living organisms involving the production of energy, typically with the intake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide from the oxidation of complex organic substances.

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respirator

noun
1. an apparatus worn over the face to prevent the inhalation of dust, smoke, or other harmful substances.
2. an apparatus used to induce artificial respiration.

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respiratory

adjective
relating to respiration or the organs of respiration.

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respiratory tract

noun
the passage formed by the mouth, nose, throat, and lungs, through which air passes during breathing.

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respire

verb
1. breathe.
2. (of a plant) carry out respiration.

DERIVATIVES:
respirable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin respirare 'breathe out' .

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respite

noun
a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.

ORIGIN: Old French respit, from Latin respectus 'refuge, consideration' .

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respite care

noun
temporary care of a sick, elderly, or disabled person, providing relief for their usual carer.

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resplendent

adjective
attractive and impressive through being richly colourful or sumptuous.

DERIVATIVES:
resplendence noun
resplendency noun
resplendently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from resplendere 'shine out' .

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respond

verb
say or do something in reply or as a reaction.

DERIVATIVES:
responder noun.

ORIGIN: Latin respondere 'answer, offer in return' .

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respondent

noun
1. a defendant in a lawsuit, especially one in an appeal or divorce case.
2. a person who responds to a questionnaire or an advertisement.

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response

noun
1. an instance of responding; an answer or reaction.
2. an excitation of a nerve impulse caused by a change or event.

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responsibility

noun (pl. responsibilities)
1. the state or fact of being responsible.
2. the opportunity or ability to act independently and take decisions without authorization.
3. a thing which one is required to do as part of a job, role, or legal obligation.

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responsible

adjective
1. having an obligation to do something, or having control over or care for someone.
2. being the cause of something and so able to be blamed or credited for it.
3. morally accountable for one's behaviour.
4. capable of being trusted.
5. (of a job or position) involving important duties or decisions or control over others.
6. (responsible to) having to report to and be answerable to.

DERIVATIVES:
responsibleness noun
responsibly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin respondere 'answer, offer in return' .

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responsive

adjective
1. responding readily and positively.
2. in response; answering.

DERIVATIVES:
responsively adverb
responsiveness noun.

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rest [1]

verb
1. cease work or movement in order to relax or recover strength.
2. allow to be inactive in order to regain or save strength or energy.
3. place or be placed so as to stay in a specified position: his feet rested on the table.
4. (rest on) depend or be based on.
5. (rest in/on) place (trust, hope, or confidence) in or on.
6. (rest with) (of power, responsibility, etc.) belong to.
7. (of a problem or subject) be left without further investigation or discussion.
8. N. Amer. conclude the case for the prosecution or defence in a court of law.

noun
1. the action or a period of resting.
2. a motionless state.
3. Music an interval of silence of a specified duration.
4. an object that is used to hold or support something.

IDIOMS -
rest one's case conclude one's presentation of evidence and arguments in a lawsuit.

ORIGIN: Old English, from a root meaning «league» or «mile» (referring to a distance after which one rests).

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rest [2]

noun
1. the remaining part of something.
2. (treated as pl. ) the remaining people or things; the others.

verb
remain or be left in a specified condition.

ORIGIN: from Latin restare 'remain' .

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restaurant

noun
a place where people pay to sit and eat meals that are cooked on the premises.

ORIGIN: French, from restaurer 'provide food for' (literally 'restore to a former state' ).

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restaurateur

noun
a person who owns and manages a restaurant.

ORIGIN: French.

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restful

adjective
having a quiet and soothing quality.

DERIVATIVES:
restfully adverb.

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rest home

noun
a residential institution where old or frail people are cared for.

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restitution

noun
1. the restoration of something lost or stolen to its proper owner.
2. recompense for injury or loss.
3. the restoration of something to its original state.

DERIVATIVES:
restitutive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from restituere 'restore' .

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restive

adjective
1. unable to keep still or silent; restless.
2. (of a horse) stubbornly standing still or moving backwards or sideways.

DERIVATIVES:
restively adverb
restiveness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin restare 'remain' .

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restless

adjective
1. unable to rest or relax as a result of anxiety or boredom.
2. offering no physical or emotional rest: a restless night.

DERIVATIVES:
restlessly adverb
restlessness noun.

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restoration

noun
1. the action of returning something to a former condition, place, or owner.
2. the process of repairing or renovating a building, work of art, etc.
3. the reinstatement of a previous practice, right, or situation.
4. the return of a monarch to a throne, a head of state to government, or a regime to power.
5. (the Restoration) the re-establishment of Charles II as King of England in 1660, or the period following this.
6. a structure provided to replace or repair dental tissue.

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restorative

adjective
1. having the ability to restore health, strength, or a feeling of well-being.
2. relating to the restoration of a damaged tooth or other part of the body.

noun
a medicine or drink that restores health, strength, or well-being.

DERIVATIVES:
restoratively adverb.

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restore

verb
1. return to a former condition, place, or owner.
2. repair or renovate (a building, work of art, etc.).
3. bring back (a previous practice, right, or situation); reinstate.

DERIVATIVES:
restorable adjective
restorer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin restaurare 'rebuild, restore' .

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restrain

verb
1. keep under control or within limits.
2. deprive of freedom of movement or personal liberty.
3. repress (a strong emotion).

DERIVATIVES:
restrainable adjective
restrainer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin restringere 'tie back' .

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restrained

adjective
1. reserved, unemotional, or dispassionate.
2. understated and subtle; not ornate or brightly coloured.

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restraint

noun
1. the action of restraining.
2. a measure or condition that restrains.
3. a device which limits or prevents freedom of movement.
4. dispassionate or moderate behaviour; self-control.

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restrict

verb
1. put a limit on; keep under control.
2. deprive of freedom of movement or action.

ORIGIN: Latin restringere 'tie back' .

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restricted

adjective
1. limited in extent, number, or scope.
2. not revealed or made open to the public for reasons of national security.

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restriction

noun
1. a limiting condition or measure.
2. the action of restricting or the state of being restricted.

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restrictive

adjective
imposing restrictions.

DERIVATIVES:
restrictively adverb
restrictiveness noun.

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restrictive practice

noun Brit.
1. an arrangement by a group of workers to limit output or restrict the entry of new workers in order to protect their own interests.
2. an arrangement in industry or trade that restricts or controls competition between firms.

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restroom

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a toilet in a public building.

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restructure

verb
1. organize differently.
2. Finance convert (a debt) into another debt that is repayable at a later time.

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result

noun
1. a consequence, effect, or outcome.
2. an item of information or a quantity or formula obtained by experiment or calculation.
3. a final score, mark, or placing in a sporting event or examination.
4. a satisfactory or favourable outcome: determination and persistence guarantee results.
5. the outcome of a business's trading over a given period, expressed as a statement of profit or loss.

verb
1. occur or follow as a result.
2. (result in) have (a specified outcome).

ORIGIN: Latin resultare «spring back», later 'to result' .

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resultant

adjective
occurring or produced as a result.

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resume

verb
1. begin again or continue after a pause or interruption.
2. take or put on again; return to the use of.

DERIVATIVES:
resumption noun.

ORIGIN: Latin resumere 'take back' .

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résumé

noun
1. a summary.
2. N. Amer. a curriculum vitae.

ORIGIN: from French, 'resumed' .

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resurface

verb
1. put a new coating on (a surface).
2. come back up to the surface of deep water.
3. arise or become evident again.

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resurgent

adjective
increasing or reviving after a period of little activity, popularity, or occurrence.

DERIVATIVES:
resurgence noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin resurgere 'rise again' .

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resurrect

verb
1. restore to life.
2. revive the practice, use, or memory of.

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resurrection

noun
1. the action of resurrecting or the fact of being resurrected.
2. (the Resurrection) (in Christian belief) Christ's rising from the dead.

ORIGIN: Latin, from resurgere 'rise again' .

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resuscitate

verb
1. revive from unconsciousness.
2. make active or vigorous again.

DERIVATIVES:
resuscitation noun
resuscitative adjective
resuscitator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin resuscitare 'raise again' .

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retail

noun
the sale of goods to the general public (rather than to a wholesaler).

adverb
being sold to the general public.

verb
1. sell (goods) by retail.
2. (retail at/for) be sold by retail for (a specified price).
3. recount or relate details of.

DERIVATIVES:
retailer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French retaillier, from tailler 'to cut' .

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retain

verb
1. continue to have; keep possession of.
2. absorb and continue to hold (a substance).
3. keep in place; hold fixed.
4. keep engaged in one's service.
5. secure the services of (a barrister) with a preliminary payment.

DERIVATIVES:
retainable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin retinere 'hold back' .

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retainer

noun
1. a thing that holds something in place.
2. a fee paid in advance to a barrister to secure their services.
3. Brit. a reduced rent paid to retain accommodation during a period of non-occupancy.
4. a servant who has worked for a person or family for a long time.

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retaining wall

noun
a wall that holds back earth or water on one side of it.

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retake

verb (past retook; past part. retaken)
1. take (a test or examination) again.
2. regain possession of.

noun
1. a test or examination that is retaken.
2. an instance of filming a scene or recording a piece of music again.

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retaliate

verb
make an attack or assault in return for a similar attack.

DERIVATIVES:
retaliation noun
retaliative adjective
retaliator noun
retaliatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin retaliare 'return in kind' .

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retard

verb
hold back the development or progress of.

noun derogatory
a mentally handicapped person.

DERIVATIVES:
retardation noun
retarder noun.

ORIGIN: Latin retardare, from tardus 'slow' .

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retardant

adjective
preventing or inhibiting: fire-retardant polymers.

noun
a fabric or substance that prevents or inhibits the outbreak of fire.

DERIVATIVES:
retardancy noun.

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retarded

adjective
less advanced in mental, physical, or social development than is usual for one's age.

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retch

verb
make the sound and movement of vomiting.

noun
an instance of retching.

ORIGIN: from a Germanic word meaning «spittle».

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retention

noun
1. the action of retaining or the state of being retained.
2. failure to eliminate a substance from the body.

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retentive

adjective
1. (of a person's memory) effective in retaining facts and impressions.
2. able to retain or hold in place.

DERIVATIVES:
retentively adverb
retentiveness noun
retentivity noun.

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rethink

verb (past and past part. rethought)
assess or consider (a policy or course of action) again.

noun
an instance of rethinking.

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reticent

adjective
not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily.

DERIVATIVES:
reticence noun
reticently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin reticere 'remain silent' .

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reticulated

adjective
constructed, arranged, or marked like a net or network.

ORIGIN: Latin reticulatus, from rete 'net' .

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retina

noun (pl. retinas or retinae)
a layer at the back of the eyeball containing cells that are sensitive to light and from which impulses are sent to the brain, where they are interpreted as visual images.

DERIVATIVES:
retinal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from rete 'net' .

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retinol

noun
vitamin A, a yellow compound which is essential for growth and vision in dim light and is found in vegetables, egg yolk, and fish-liver oil.

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retinue

noun
a group of advisers or assistants accompanying an important person.

ORIGIN: from Old French retenir 'keep back, retain' .

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retire

verb
1. leave one's job and cease to work, especially because one has reached a particular age.
2. (of a sports player) cease to play competitively.
3. withdraw from a race or match because of accident or injury.
4. withdraw to or from a particular place.
5. (of a jury) leave the courtroom to decide the verdict of a trial.
6. go to bed.

DERIVATIVES:
retired adjective.

ORIGIN: French retirer 'draw back' .

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retirement

noun
1. the action or fact of retiring.
2. the period of one's life after retiring from work.
3. seclusion.

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retiring

adjective
tending to avoid company; shy.

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retort [1]

verb
say something sharp or witty in answer to a remark or accusation.

noun
a sharp or witty reply.

ORIGIN: Latin retorquere 'twist back' .

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retort [2]

noun
1. a container or furnace for carrying out a chemical process on a large or industrial scale.
2. historical a glass container with a long neck, used in distilling liquids and other chemical operations.

verb
heat in a retort.

ORIGIN: Latin retorta, from retorquere 'twist back' (with reference to the backward-bending neck of the glass container).

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retouch

verb
improve or repair (a painting, photograph, etc.) by making slight additions or alterations.

DERIVATIVES:
retoucher noun.

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retrace

verb
1. go back over (the same route that one has just taken).
2. discover and follow (a route or course taken by someone else).
3. trace (something) back to its source or beginning.

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retract

verb
1. draw or be drawn back.
2. withdraw (a statement or accusation) as untrue or unjustified.
3. withdraw or go back on (an undertaking or promise).

DERIVATIVES:
retractable adjective
retraction noun
retractive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin retrahere 'draw back' .

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retrain

verb
teach or learn new skills.

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retreat

verb
1. (of an army) withdraw from confrontation with enemy forces.
2. move back from a difficult situation.
3. withdraw to a quiet or secluded place.

noun
1. an act of retreating.
2. a quiet or secluded place.
3. a period or place of seclusion for the purposes of prayer and meditation.
4. a military musical ceremony carried out at sunset.

ORIGIN: Latin retrahere 'draw back' .

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retrench

verb
1. reduce costs or spending in response to economic difficulty.
2. chiefly Austral. make (an employee) redundant in order to reduce costs.
3. formal reduce or diminish.

DERIVATIVES:
retrenchment noun.

ORIGIN: French retrancher 'cut out' .

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retrial

noun Law
a second or further trial.

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retribution

noun
punishment inflicted in the spirit of moral outrage or personal vengeance.

DERIVATIVES:
retributive adjective
retributory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from retribuere 'assign again' .

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retrieve

verb
1. get or bring back.
2. (of a dog) find and bring back (game that has been shot).
3. find or extract (information stored in a computer).
4. rescue from a state of difficulty or collapse.

noun
an act of retrieving.

DERIVATIVES:
retrievable adjective
retrieval noun.

ORIGIN: Old French retrover 'find again' .

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retriever

noun
a dog of a breed used for retrieving game.

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retro

adjective
imitative of a style from the recent past.

noun
retro clothes, music, or style.

ORIGIN: French, from rétrograde 'retrograde' .

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retro-

combining form
1. denoting action that is directed backwards or is reciprocal: retrogress.
2. denoting location behind: retrorocket.

ORIGIN: Latin retro 'backwards' .

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retroactive

adjective
(especially of legislation) taking effect from a date in the past.

DERIVATIVES:
retroaction noun
retroactively adverb.

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retrograde

adjective
1. directed or moving backwards.
2. (of the order of something) reversed; inverse.
3. reverting to an earlier and inferior condition.
4. chiefly Astronomy proceeding in a reverse direction from normal, especially (of planetary motion) from east to west.

verb
1. go back in position or time.
2. Astronomy show retrograde motion.

DERIVATIVES:
retrogradation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin retrogradus, from gradus 'a step' .

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retrogress

verb
go back to an earlier and typically inferior state.

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retrorocket

noun
a small auxiliary rocket on a spacecraft or missile, fired in the direction of travel to slow it down.

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retrospect

noun
a survey or review of a past course of events or period of time.

IDIOMS -
in retrospect when looking back on a past event; with hindsight.

DERIVATIVES:
retrospection noun.

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retrospective

adjective
1. looking back on or dealing with past events or situations.
2. (of an exhibition or compilation) showing the development of an artist's work over a period of time.
3. (of a statute or legal decision) taking effect from a date in the past.

noun
a retrospective exhibition or compilation.

DERIVATIVES:
retrospectively adverb.

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return

verb
1. come or go back to a place.
2. (return to) go back to (a particular state or activity).
3. give or send back or put back in place.
4. feel, say, or do (the same feeling, action, etc.) in response.
5. (in tennis) hit or send (the ball) back to an opponent.
6. (of a judge or jury) state or present (a verdict).
7. yield or make (a profit).
8. (of an electorate) elect to office.

noun
1. an act or the action of returning.
2. a profit from an investment.
3. chiefly Brit. a ticket allowing travel to a place and back again.
4. (in sport) a second contest between the same opponents.
5. a ticket for an event that has been returned because no longer wanted.
6. an official report or statement submitted in response to a formal demand: census returns.
7. Architecture a part receding from the line of the front, for example the side of a house or of a window opening.

IDIOMS -
by return of post Brit. in the next available mail delivery to the sender.
many happy returns of the day a greeting to someone on their birthday.

DERIVATIVES:
returnable adjective
returner noun.

ORIGIN: Old French returner, from Latin tornare 'to turn' .

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returning officer

noun Brit.
the official in each constituency who conducts an election and announces the result.

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reunify

verb (reunifies, reunified)
restore political unity to.

DERIVATIVES:
reunification noun.

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reunion

noun
1. the process or an instance of reuniting.
2. a social gathering of people who have not seen each other for some time.

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reunite

verb
bring or come together again after a period of separation or disunity.

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reuse

verb
use again or more than once.

noun
the action of using something again.

DERIVATIVES:
reusable adjective.

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Rev.

abbreviation
Reverend.

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rev informal

noun (revs)
the number of revolutions of an engine per minute.

verb (revved, revving)
increase the running speed of (an engine) by pressing the accelerator.

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revamp

verb
give new and improved form, structure, or appearance to.

noun
a new and improved version.

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Revd

abbreviation
Reverend.

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reveal

verb
1. make (previously unknown or secret information) known.
2. cause or allow to be seen.

DERIVATIVES:
revealer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin revelare, from velum 'veil' .

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revealing

adjective
1. divulging interesting or significant information.
2. (of a garment) allowing much of the wearer's body to be seen.

DERIVATIVES:
revealingly adverb.

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reveille

noun
a military waking signal sounded on a bugle, drum, etc.

ORIGIN: from French réveillez! 'wake up!' .

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revel

verb (revelled, revelling; US reveled, reveling)
1. engage in lively and noisy festivities.
2. (revel in) gain great pleasure from.

noun (revels)
lively and noisy festivities.

DERIVATIVES:
reveller noun
revelry noun (pl. revelries) .

ORIGIN: Old French reveler 'rise up in rebellion' , from Latin rebellare 'to rebel' .

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revelation

noun
1. the revealing of something previously unknown.
2. a surprising or remarkable thing.
3. the disclosure of knowledge to humans by divine or supernatural means.

DERIVATIVES:
revelational adjective.

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revelatory

adjective
revealing something hitherto unknown.

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revenge

noun
1. retaliation for an injury or wrong.
2. the desire to inflict such retaliation.

verb
1. (revenge oneself or be revenged) inflict revenge for an injury or wrong done to oneself.
2. inflict revenge on behalf of (someone else) or for (a wrong or injury).

IDIOMS -
revenge is a dish best served (or eaten) cold proverb vengeance is often more satisfying if it is delayed.

ORIGIN: Old French revencher, from Latin vindicare 'claim, avenge' .

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revengeful

adjective
eager for revenge.

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revenue

noun
1. the income received by an organization.
2. a state's annual income from which public expenses are met.

ORIGIN: from Latin revenire 'return' .

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reverberate

verb
1. (of a loud noise) be repeated as an echo.
2. have continuing serious effects.

DERIVATIVES:
reverberant adjective
reverberation noun
reverberative adjective
reverberator noun
reverberatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin reverberare 'strike again' .

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revere

verb
respect or admire deeply.

ORIGIN: Latin revereri, from vereri 'to fear' .

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reverence

noun
1. deep respect.
2. archaic a bow or curtsy.
3. (His/Your Reverence) a title given to a member of the clergy, especially a priest in Ireland.

verb
regard or treat with reverence.

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reverend

adjective
a title or form of address to members of the clergy.

noun informal
a clergyman.

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Reverend Mother

noun
the title of the Mother Superior of a convent.

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reverent

adjective
showing reverence.

DERIVATIVES:
reverential adjective
reverently adverb.

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reverie

noun
1. a daydream.
2. Music an instrumental piece suggesting a dreamy or musing state.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'rejoicing, revelry' , from rever 'be delirious' .

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revers

noun (pl. same)
the turned-back edge of a garment revealing the underside, especially at the lapel.

ORIGIN: French, 'reverse' .

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reversal

noun
1. a change to an opposite direction, position, or course of action.
2. an adverse change of fortune.

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reverse

verb
1. move backwards.
2. make (something) the opposite of what it was.
3. turn the other way round or up or inside out.
4. revoke or annul (a judgement by a lower court or authority).
5. (of an engine) work in a contrary direction.

adjective
1. going in or turned towards the opposite direction.
2. operating or behaving in a way contrary to that which is usual or expected.

noun
1. a complete change of direction or action.
2. reverse gear.
3. (the reverse) the opposite or contrary.
4. a setback or defeat.
5. the opposite side or face to the observer.
6. the side of a coin or medal bearing the value or secondary design.

IDIOMS -
reverse the charges chiefly Brit. make the recipient of a telephone call responsible for payment.

DERIVATIVES:
reversible adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin revertere 'turn back' .

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reversing light

noun Brit.
a white light at the rear of a vehicle that shines when the vehicle is reversing.

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revert

verb (revert to)
1. return to (a previous state, condition, etc.).
2. Biology return to (a former or ancestral type).
3. Law (of property) return or pass to (the original owner) by reversion.

ORIGIN: Latin revertere 'turn back' .

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review

noun
1. a formal assessment of something with the intention of instituting change if necessary.
2. a critical appraisal of a book, play, or other work.
3. a retrospective survey or report.
4. a ceremonial display and formal inspection of military or naval forces.

verb
1. carry out or write a review of.
2. view or inspect again.

DERIVATIVES:
reviewable adjective
reviewer noun.

ORIGIN: obsolete French reveue, from revoir 'see again' .

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revile

verb (usu. be reviled)
criticize in an abusive or scornful way.

ORIGIN: Old French reviler, from vil 'vile' .

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revise

verb
1. examine and improve or amend (text).
2. reconsider and alter (an opinion or judgement).
3. Brit. reread work done previously in order to prepare for an examination.

noun Printing
a proof including corrections made in an earlier proof.

DERIVATIVES:
reviser noun.

ORIGIN: Latin revisere 'look at again' .

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revision

noun
1. the action of revising.
2. a revised edition or form.

DERIVATIVES:
revisionary adjective.

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revitalize (also revitalise)

verb
give new life and vitality to.

DERIVATIVES:
revitalization noun.

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revival

noun
1. an improvement in the condition, strength, or popularity of something.
2. a reawakening of religious fervour brought about by evangelistic meetings.
3. a new production of an old play.

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revive

verb
1. restore to or regain life, consciousness, or strength.
2. restore interest in or the popularity of.

DERIVATIVES:
revivable adjective
reviver noun.

ORIGIN: Latin revivere, from vivere 'live' .

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revivify

verb (revivifies, revivified)
give new life or vigour to.

DERIVATIVES:
revivification noun.

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revoke

verb
end the validity or operation of (a decree, decision, or promise).

DERIVATIVES:
revocable adjective
revocation noun
revoker noun.

ORIGIN: Latin revocare 'call back' .

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revolt

verb
1. rebel against or defy an authority.
2. cause to feel disgust.

noun
an act of rebellion or defiance.

DERIVATIVES:
revolting adjective.

ORIGIN: French révolter, from Latin revolvere 'roll back' .

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revolution

noun
1. a forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favour of a new system.
2. a dramatic and far-reaching change.
3. motion in orbit or in a circular course or round an axis or centre.
4. the single completion of an orbit or rotation.

DERIVATIVES:
revolutionist noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from revolvere 'roll back' .

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revolutionary

adjective
1. involving or causing dramatic change or innovation.
2. engaged in, promoting, or relating to political revolution.

noun (pl. revolutionaries)
a person who introduces a major change or who starts or supports a political revolution.

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revolutionize (also revolutionise)

verb
change radically or fundamentally.

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revolve

verb
1. move in a circle on a central axis.
2. (revolve about/around) move in a circular orbit around.
3. (revolve around) treat as the most important point or element.

ORIGIN: Latin revolvere 'roll back' .

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revolver

noun
a pistol with revolving chambers enabling several shots to be fired without reloading.

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revue

noun
a light theatrical entertainment of short sketches, songs, and dances, typically dealing satirically with topical issues.

ORIGIN: French, 'review' .

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revulsion

noun
a sense of disgust and loathing.

ORIGIN: Latin, from revellere 'tear out' .

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reward

noun
1. a thing given in recognition of service, effort, or achievement.
2. a fair return for good or bad behaviour.
3. a sum offered for the detection of a criminal, the restoration of lost property, etc.

verb
1. give a reward to.
2. show one's appreciation of (an action or quality) with a reward.
3. (be rewarded) receive what one deserves.

ORIGIN: Old French reguard 'regard, heed' .

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rewarding

adjective
providing satisfaction.

DERIVATIVES:
rewardingly adverb.

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rewind

verb (past and past part. rewound)
wind (a film or tape) back to the beginning.

noun
a mechanism for rewinding a film or tape.

DERIVATIVES:
rewinder noun.

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rewire

verb
provide with new electric wiring.

DERIVATIVES:
rewirable adjective.

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rewrite

verb (past rewrote; past part. rewritten)
write again in an altered or improved form.

noun
1. an instance of rewriting.
2. a text that has been rewritten.

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RFC

abbreviation
Rugby Football Club.

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Rh

abbreviation
rhesus (factor).

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rhapsodize (also rhapsodise)

verb
enthuse about someone or something.

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rhapsody

noun (pl. rhapsodies)
1. an enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of feeling.
2. a piece of music in one extended movement, typically emotional in character.
3. (in ancient Greece) an epic poem of a suitable length for recitation at one time.

DERIVATIVES:
rhapsodic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek rhapsidia, from rhaptein 'to stitch' + id 'song, ode' .

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rhea

noun
a large flightless bird of South American grasslands, resembling a small ostrich with greyish-brown plumage.

ORIGIN: from Rhea, the mother of Zeus in Greek mythology.

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rheology

noun
the branch of physics concerned with the deformation and flow of matter.

DERIVATIVES:
rheological adjective
rheologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek rheos 'stream' .

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rheostat

noun
an electrical instrument used to control a current by varying the resistance.

DERIVATIVES:
rheostatic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek rheos 'stream' .

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rhesus factor

noun
a substance occurring on red blood cells which can cause disease in a newborn baby whose blood contains the factor (i.e. is rhesus-positive) while the mother's blood does not (i.e. is rhesus-negative).

ORIGIN: from RHESUS MONKEY, in which the antigen was first observed.

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rhesus monkey

noun
a small brown macaque with red skin on the face and rump, native to southern Asia.

ORIGIN: Latin Rhesus, from Greek Rhsos, a mythical king of Thrace.

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rhetoric

noun
1. the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing.
2. language with a persuasive or impressive effect, but often lacking sincerity or meaningful content.

ORIGIN: from Greek rhtorik tekhn 'art of rhetoric' .

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rhetorical

adjective
1. relating to or concerned with rhetoric.
2. expressed in terms intended to persuade or impress.
3. (of a question) asked for effect or to make a statement rather than to obtain an answer.

DERIVATIVES:
rhetorically adverb.

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rheumatic

adjective
relating to, caused by, or suffering from rheumatism.

noun
a person with rheumatism.

DERIVATIVES:
rheumaticky adjective (informal ).

ORIGIN: originally referring to infection characterized by rheum.

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rheumatic fever

noun
an acute fever marked by inflammation and pain in the joints, caused by a streptococcal infection.

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rheumatism

noun
any disease marked by inflammation and pain in the joints, muscles, or fibrous tissue, especially rheumatoid arthritis.

ORIGIN: Greek rheumatismos, from rheuma 'stream' (because it was believed to be caused by the internal flow of ‘watery’ humours).

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rheumatoid

adjective
relating to, affected by, or resembling rheumatism.

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rheumatoid arthritis

noun
a chronic progressive disease causing inflammation in the joints and resulting in painful deformity and immobility.

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rhinestone

noun
an imitation diamond.

ORIGIN: translating French caillou du Rhin 'pebble of the Rhine' .

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rhino

noun (pl. same or rhinos) informal
a rhinoceros.

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rhinoceros

noun (pl. same or rhinoceroses)
a large, heavily built plant-eating mammal with one or two horns on the nose and thick folded skin, native to Africa and South Asia.

ORIGIN: from Greek rhis 'nose' + keras 'horn' .

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rhinoplasty

noun (pl. rhinoplasties) Medicine
plastic surgery performed on the nose.

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rhizome

noun
a horizontal underground plant stem with lateral shoots and adventitious roots at intervals.

ORIGIN: Greek rhizma, from rhiza 'root' .

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rho

noun
the seventeenth letter of the Greek alphabet (P, ), transliterated as ‘r’ or ‘rh’.

ORIGIN: Greek.

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rhododendron

noun
a shrub with large clusters of showy trumpet-shaped flowers and typically with large evergreen leaves.

ORIGIN: from Greek rhodon 'rose' + dendron 'tree' .

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rhomboid

adjective
having or resembling the shape of a rhombus.

noun
a quadrilateral of which only the opposite sides and angles are equal.

DERIVATIVES:
rhomboidal adjective.

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rhombus

noun (pl. rhombuses or rhombi) Geometry
a parallelogram with oblique angles and equal sides.

ORIGIN: Greek rhombos 'thing that can be spun round, a rhombus' .

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rhubarb

noun
1. the thick leaf stalks of a plant of the dock family, which are reddish or green and eaten as a fruit after cooking.
2. Brit. informal noise made by a group of actors to give the impression of indistinct background conversation.
3. nonsense.

ORIGIN: Latin rheubarbarum, rhabarbarum 'foreign rhubarb' , from Greek rha (also meaning 'rhubarb' ) + barbaros 'foreign' .

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rhyme

noun
1. correspondence of sound between words or the endings of words, especially when used in poetry.
2. a short poem with rhyming lines.
3. rhyming poetry or verse.
4. a word with the same sound as another.

verb
1. (of a word, syllable, or line) have or end with a sound that corresponds to another.
2. (rhyme with) put (a word) together with (another word with a corresponding sound).
3. literary compose verse or poetry.

IDIOMS -
rhyme or reason logical explanation. there's no rhyme or reason to it.

DERIVATIVES:
rhymer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French rime, from Greek rhuthmos 'rhythm' .

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rhyming slang

noun
a type of slang that replaces words with rhyming words or phrases, typically with the rhyming element omitted (e.g. butcher's, short for butcher's hook, meaning ‘look’).

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rhythm

noun
1. a strong, regular repeated pattern of movement or sound.
2. the systematic arrangement of musical sounds, according to duration and periodical stress.
3. a particular pattern formed by such arrangement: a slow waltz rhythm.
4. the measured flow of words and phrases in verse or prose as determined by the length of and stress on syllables.
5. a regularly recurring sequence of events or actions.

DERIVATIVES:
rhythmless adjective.

ORIGIN: French rhythme, from Greek rhuthmos, related to rhein 'to flow' .

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rhythm and blues

noun
popular music of US black origin, arising from a combination of blues with jazz rhythms.

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rhythmic

adjective
1. having or relating to rhythm.
2. occurring regularly.

DERIVATIVES:
rhythmical adjective
rhythmically adverb
rhythmicity noun.

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rhythm section

noun
the part of a pop or jazz group supplying the rhythm, in particular the bass and drums.

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RI

abbreviation
Rhode Island.

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rib

noun
1. each of a series of slender curved bones articulated in pairs to the spine, protecting the thoracic cavity and its organs.
2. Architecture a curved member supporting a vault or defining its form.
3. a curved transverse strut of metal or timber in a ship, forming part of the framework of the hull.
4. each of the hinged rods supporting the fabric of an umbrella.
5. a vein of a leaf or an insect's wing.
6. Knitting alternate plain and purl stitches producing a ridged, slightly elastic fabric.

verb (ribbed, ribbing)
1. (usu. be ribbed) mark with or form into raised bands or ridges.
2. informal tease good-naturedly.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ribald

adjective
coarsely or irreverently humorous.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a licentious or irreverent person: from Old French ribauld, from riber 'indulge in licentious pleasures' .

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riband

noun archaic
a ribbon.

ORIGIN: Old French riban, probably related to BAND.

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ribbed

adjective
1. having a pattern of raised bands.
2. Architecture strengthened with ribs.

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ribbing

noun
1. a rib-like structure or pattern.
2. informal good-natured teasing.

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ribbon

noun
1. a long, narrow strip of fabric, used for tying something or for decoration.
2. a ribbon of a special colour or design awarded as a prize or worn to indicate the holding of an honour.
3. a long, narrow strip.
4. a narrow band of inked material wound on a spool and used to produce the characters in some typewriters and computer printers.

IDIOMS -
cut (or tear) to ribbons cut (or tear) into ragged strips.

DERIVATIVES:
ribboned adjective.

ORIGIN: variant of RIBAND.

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ribcage

noun
the bony frame formed by the ribs.

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riboflavin

noun
vitamin B_2, a yellow compound essential for energy production and present especially in milk, liver, and green vegetables.

ORIGIN: from RIBOSE + Latin flavus 'yellow' .

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rice

noun
1. a swamp grass which is cultivated as a source of food in warm countries.
2. the grains of this cereal used as food.

verb N. Amer.
force (cooked potatoes or other vegetables) through a sieve or similar utensil.

DERIVATIVES:
ricer N. Amer. noun.

ORIGIN: Old French ris, from Greek oruza.

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ricepaper

noun
thin edible paper made from the flattened and dried pith of a shrub, used in oriental painting and in baking biscuits and cakes.

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rich

adjective
1. having a great deal of money or assets.
2. (of a country or region) having valuable natural resources or a successful economy.
3. of expensive materials or workmanship.
4. plentiful; abundant.
5. having or producing something in large amounts: fruits rich in vitamins.
6. (of food) containing much fat, sugar, etc.
7. (of a colour, sound, or smell) pleasantly deep and strong.
8. (of soil or land) fertile.
9. (of the mixture in an internal-combustion engine) containing a high proportion of fuel.
10. informal (of a remark) causing ironic amusement or indignation.

DERIVATIVES:
richen verb
richness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «powerful, wealthy».

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riches

plural noun
1. material wealth.
2. valuable natural resources.

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richly

adverb
1. in a rich way.
2. fully.

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Richter scale

noun
a logarithmic scale for expressing the magnitude of an earthquake on the basis of seismograph oscillations.

ORIGIN: named after the American geologist Charles F. Richter (1900 85).

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rick [1]

noun
a stack of hay, corn, or straw, especially one built into a regular shape and thatched.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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rick [2]

noun
a slight sprain or strain, especially in the neck or back.

verb
strain (one's neck or back) slightly.

ORIGIN: dialect.

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rickets

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
a disease of children caused by vitamin D deficiency, characterized by softening and distortion of the bones.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of Greek rhakhitis 'rickets' .

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rickety

adjective
1. poorly made and likely to collapse.
2. suffering from rickets.

DERIVATIVES:
ricketiness noun.

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rickshaw

noun
a light two-wheeled hooded vehicle drawn by one or more people, chiefly used in Asian countries.

ORIGIN: Japanese, 'person-strength-vehicle' .

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ricochet

verb (ricocheted, ricocheting or ricochetted, ricochetting)
1. (of a bullet or other projectile) rebound off a surface.
2. move or appear to move in such a way.

noun
1. a shot or hit that ricochets.
2. the ricocheting action of a bullet or other projectile.

ORIGIN: French.

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ricotta

noun
a soft white unsalted Italian cheese.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'recooked, cooked twice' .

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rictus

noun
a fixed grimace or grin.

DERIVATIVES:
rictal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'open mouth' , from ringi 'to gape' .

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rid

verb (ridding; past and past part. rid)
1. (rid of) make (someone or something) free of (an unwanted person or thing).
2. (be (or get) rid of) be freed or relieved of.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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riddance

noun
the action of getting rid of someone or something.

IDIOMS -
good riddance expressing relief at being rid of someone or something.

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ridden
past participle of RIDE.
adjective (in combination )
full of or dominated by a particular thing: guilt-ridden.

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riddle [1]

noun
1. a question or statement phrased so as to require ingenuity in finding its answer or meaning.
2. a puzzling person or thing.

verb archaic
speak in or pose riddles.

DERIVATIVES:
riddler noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to READ.

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riddle [2]

verb (usu. be riddled)
1. make many holes in, especially with gunshot.
2. fill or permeate with something undesirable: a policy riddled with inadequacies.
3. pass through a riddle.

noun
a large coarse sieve, especially one for separating ashes from cinders or sand from gravel.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ride

verb (past rode; past part. ridden)
1. sit on and control the movement of (a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle).
2. (usu. ride in/on) travel in or on a vehicle or horse.
3. travel over on horseback or on a bicycle or motorcycle: ride the scenic trail.
4. be carried or supported by: surfers rode the waves.
5. sail or float: a ship rode at anchor in the dock.
6. (ride up) (of a garment) gradually move upwards out of its proper position.
7. (ride on) depend on.
8. (ride out) come safely through.
9. yield to (a blow) so as to reduce its impact.
10. (be ridden) be full of or dominated by: people ridden by ill health.

noun
1. an act of riding.
2. a roller coaster, roundabout, etc. ridden at a fair or amusement park.
3. a path for horse riding.
4. N. Amer. a person giving a lift in a vehicle.

IDIOMS -
be riding for a fall informal be acting in a reckless way that invites failure.
let something ride take no immediate action over something.
ride high be successful.
ride to hounds chiefly Brit. go fox-hunting on horseback.
a rough (or easy) ride a difficult (or easy) time.
take someone for a ride informal deceive someone.

DERIVATIVES:
rideable (also ridable ) adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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rider

noun
1. a person who rides a horse, bicycle, motorcycle, etc.
2. an added condition or proviso.

DERIVATIVES:
riderless adjective.

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ridge

noun
1. a long narrow hilltop, mountain range, or watershed.
2. a narrow raised band on a surface.
3. Meteorology an elongated region of high barometric pressure.
4. the edge formed where the two sloping sides of a roof meet at the top.

verb (often ridged)
mark with or form into ridges.

DERIVATIVES:
ridgy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «spine, crest».

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ridgeway

noun
a road or track along a ridge.

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ridicule

noun
mockery or derision.

verb
make fun of; mock.

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ridiculous

adjective
inviting mockery or derision; absurd.

DERIVATIVES:
ridiculously adverb
ridiculousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin ridiculus 'laughable' , from ridere 'to laugh' .

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riding [1]

noun
1. the sport or activity of riding horses.
2. a path for horse riding.

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riding [2]

noun
1. (usu. the East/North/West Riding) one of three former administrative divisions of Yorkshire.
2. an electoral district of Canada.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'third part' .

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riding crop

noun
a short flexible whip with a loop for the hand, used when riding horses.

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rife

adjective
1. (especially of something undesirable) widespread.
2. (rife with) full of.

DERIVATIVES:
rifeness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, probably from an Old Norse word meaning «acceptable».

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riff

noun
a short repeated phrase in popular music or jazz.

verb
play riffs.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of RIFFLE.

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riffle

verb
1. turn over something, especially pages, quickly and casually.
2. (riffle through) search quickly through.
3. shuffle (playing cards) by flicking up and releasing the corners of two piles of cards so that they intermingle.

noun
an act of riffling.

ORIGIN: perhaps from a variant of RUFFLE, influenced by RIPPLE.

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riff-raff

noun
disreputable or undesirable people.

ORIGIN: from Old French rif et raf 'one and all, every bit' .

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rifle [1]

noun
1. a gun, especially one fired from shoulder level, having a long spirally grooved barrel to make a bullet spin and thereby increase accuracy over a long distance.
2. (rifles) troops armed with rifles.

verb
1. (usu. as adj. rifled) make spiral grooves in (a gun or its barrel or bore).
2. hit or kick (a ball) hard and straight.

ORIGIN: from French rifler 'graze, scratch' .

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rifle [2]

verb
1. search through something hurriedly to find or steal something.
2. steal.

ORIGIN: Old French rifler 'graze, plunder' .

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rifleman

noun
a soldier armed with a rifle.

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rifle range

noun
a place for practising rifle shooting.

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rift

noun
1. a crack, split, or break.
2. a serious break in friendly relations.

ORIGIN: Scandinavian.

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rig [1]

verb (rigged, rigging)
1. provide (a boat) with sails and rigging.
2. assemble and adjust (the equipment of a sailing boat, aircraft, etc.) in readiness for operation.
3. (often rig up) set up (a device or structure), typically in a makeshift way.
4. (rig out) provide with clothes of a particular type.

noun
1. the arrangement of a boat's sails and rigging.
2. an apparatus or device for a particular purpose: a lighting rig.
3. an oil rig or drilling rig.
4. a person's costume or outfit.
5. chiefly N. Amer. & Austral./NZ a truck.

DERIVATIVES:
rigged adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps Scandinavian.

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rig [2]

verb (rigged, rigging)
manage or conduct fraudulently so as to gain an advantage.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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rigger

noun
1. (in combination ) a ship rigged in a particular way: a square-rigger.
2. a person who attends to the rigging of a sailing ship, aircraft, or parachute.
3. a person who erects and maintains scaffolding, cranes, etc.
4. a person who works on an oil rig.

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rigging

noun
1. the system of ropes or chains supporting a ship's masts and controlling or setting the yards and sails.
2. the ropes and wires supporting the structure of an airship, biplane, hang-glider, or parachute.
3. the cables and fittings controlling the flight surfaces and engines of an aircraft.

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right

adjective
1. on, towards, or relating to the side of a human body or of a thing which is to the east when the person or thing is facing north.
2. morally good, justified, or acceptable.
3. factually correct.
4. most appropriate: the right man for the job.
5. in a satisfactory, sound, or normal condition.
6. relating to a right-wing person or group.
7. informal, chiefly Brit. complete; absolute: I felt a right idiot.

adverb
1. on or to the right side.
2. to the furthest or most complete extent or degree.
3. exactly; directly.
4. correctly or satisfactorily.
5. informal immediately.

noun
1. that which is morally right.
2. a moral or legal entitlement to have or do something.
3. (rights) the authority to perform, publish, or film a particular work or event.
4. (the right) the right-hand part, side, or direction.
5. a right turn.
6. a person's right fist, or a blow given with it.
7. (often the Right) (treated as sing. or pl. ) a group or political party favouring conservative views.

verb
1. restore to a normal or upright position.
2. restore to a normal or correct condition.
3. make amends for (a wrong).

IDIOMS -
ba ng to rights informal (of a criminal) with positive proof of guilt.
by rights if things were fair or correct.
in one's own right as a result of one's own claims, qualifications, or efforts.
put (or set) right tell the true facts to.
put (or set) to rights restore to the correct or normal state.
right (or straight) away immediately.
right on informal
1. expressing support, approval, or encouragement.
2. (right-on) informal, often derogatory in keeping with fashionable liberal or left-wing opinions and values.
a right one Brit. informal a silly or foolish person.
she's (or she'll be) right Austral./NZ informal don't worry.

DERIVATIVES:
righter noun
rightish adjective
rightmost adjective
rightness noun
rightward adjective & adverb
rightwards adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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right angle

noun
an angle of 90°, as in a corner of a square.

IDIOMS -
at right angles to forming an angle of 90° with.

DERIVATIVES:
right-angled adjective.

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right ascension

noun Astronomy
position measured along the celestial equator, expressed in hours, minutes, and seconds.

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righteous

adjective
morally right or justifiable.

DERIVATIVES:
righteously adverb
righteousness noun.

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rightful

adjective
1. having a legitimate right to something.
2. legitimately claimed; fitting.

DERIVATIVES:
rightfully adverb
rightfulness noun.

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right hand

noun
1. the hand of a person's right side.
2. the region or direction on the right side.
3. the most important position next to someone.

adjective
1. on or towards the right side.
2. done with or using the right hand.

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right-hand drive

noun
a motor-vehicle steering system with the steering wheel and other controls fitted on the right side, for use in countries where vehicles drive on the left.

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right-handed

adjective
1. using or done with the right hand.
2. turning to the right; towards the right.
3. (of a screw) advanced by turning clockwise.

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right-hander

noun
1. a right-handed person.
2. a blow struck with a person's right hand.

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right-hand man

noun
an indispensable helper or chief assistant.

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rightly

adverb
1. in accordance with what is true or just.
2. with good reason.

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right-minded

adjective
having sound views and principles.

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right of way

noun
1. the legal right to pass along a specific route through another's property.
2. a path subject to such a right.
3. the right of a pedestrian, vehicle, or ship to proceed with precedence over others in a situation or place.

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right side

noun
the side of something intended to be uppermost or foremost.

IDIOMS -
on the right side of
1. in favour with.
2. somewhat less than (a specified age).

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right-thinking

adjective
right-minded.

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right wing

noun
1. the conservative or reactionary section of a political party or system. [ORIGIN: see LEFT WING.]
2. the right side of a sports team on the field or of an army.

DERIVATIVES:
right-winger noun.

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rigid

adjective
1. unable to bend or be forced out of shape.
2. (of a person) stiff and unmoving.
3. not able to be changed or adapted.

DERIVATIVES:
rigidify verb
rigidity noun
rigidly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin rigidus, from rigere 'be stiff' .

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rigmarole

noun
1. a lengthy and complicated procedure.
2. a long, rambling story.

ORIGIN: apparently from obsolete ragman roll, originally denoting a legal document recording a list of offences.

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rigor mortis

noun
stiffening of the joints and muscles a few hours after death, lasting from one to four days.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'stiffness of death' .

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rigorous

adjective
1. extremely thorough or accurate.
2. (of a rule, system, etc.) strictly applied or adhered to.
3. adhering strictly to a belief, opinion, or system.
4. harsh or severe: rigorous military training.

DERIVATIVES:
rigorously adverb
rigorousness noun.

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rigour (US rigor)

noun
1. the quality of being rigorous.
2. (rigours) demanding, difficult, or extreme conditions.

ORIGIN: Latin rigor 'stiffness' .

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rile

verb informal
annoy or irritate.

ORIGIN: variant of ROIL.

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Riley

noun (in phrase the life of Riley) informal
a luxurious or carefree existence.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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rill

noun
a small stream.

ORIGIN: probably Low German.

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rim

noun
1. the upper or outer edge of something more or less circular.
2. (also wheel rim) the outer edge of a wheel, on which the tyre is fitted.
3. a limit or boundary.
4. an encircling stain or deposit.

verb (rimmed, rimming) (usu. be rimmed)
provide or mark with a rim.

DERIVATIVES:
rimless adjective
rimmed adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «a border, coast».

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rime [1]

noun technical & literary
hoar frost.

verb literary
cover with hoar frost.

DERIVATIVES:
rimy adjective (literary ).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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rind

noun
1. a tough outer layer or covering, especially of fruit, cheese, or bacon.
2. the bark of a tree.

DERIVATIVES:
rinded adjective
rindless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ring [1]

noun
1. a small circular band, typically of precious metal, worn on a finger.
2. a circular band, object, or mark.
3. an enclosed space in which a sport, performance, or show takes place.
4. a group of people or things arranged in a circle.
5. a group of people with a shared interest or goal, especially one involving illegal activity: a drug ring.
6. a flat circular heating device forming part of a gas or electric hob.
7. Chemistry a number of atoms bonded together to form a closed loop in a molecule.

verb
1. surround.
2. draw a circle round.

IDIOMS -
hold the ring monitor a dispute or conflict without becoming involved.
run (or make) rings round (or around) informal outclass or outwit easily.

DERIVATIVES:
ringed adjective
ringless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to RANK.

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ring [2]

verb (past rang; past part. rung)
1. make or cause to make a clear resonant or vibrating sound.
2. (ring with) reverberate with (a sound).
3. chiefly Brit. call by telephone.
4. (ring off) Brit. end a telephone call by replacing the receiver.
5. call for attention by sounding a bell.
6. sound (the hour, a peal, etc.) on a bell or bells.
7. (ring in or out) usher (someone or something) in (or out) by or as if by ringing a bell.
8. (of the ears) be filled with a buzzing or humming sound due to a blow or loud noise.
9. (ring up) record (an amount) on a cash register.
10. convey a specified impression or quality: her honesty rings true.

noun
1. an act or instance of ringing.
2. a loud clear sound or tone.
3. Brit. informal a telephone call.
4. a quality conveyed by something heard: the tale had a ring of truth.
5. a set of bells, especially church bells.

IDIOMS -
ring down (or up) the curtain
1. lower (or raise) a theatre curtain.
2. mark the end (or beginning) of something.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ring binder

noun
a loose-leaf binder with ring-shaped clasps that can be opened to pass through holes in the paper.

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ringdove

noun Brit.
a wood pigeon.

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ringer

noun
1. a person or device that rings.
2. informal a person's or thing's double.
3. informal an athlete or horse fraudulently substituted for another in a competition.
4. Austral./NZ a shearer with the highest tally of sheep shorn.
5. Austral./NZ a person who looks after livestock.

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ring fence

noun
1. a fence completely enclosing a piece of land.
2. an effective barrier.

verb (ring-fence)
1. enclose with a ring fence.
2. guard securely.
3. guarantee that (funds for a particular purpose) will not be spent on anything else.

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ring finger

noun
the finger next to the little finger, especially of the left hand, on which the wedding ring is worn.

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ringing

adjective
1. having a clear resonant sound.
2. (of a statement) forceful and unequivocal.

DERIVATIVES:
ringingly adverb.

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ringleader

noun
a person who leads an illicit activity.

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ringlet

noun
a corkscrew-shaped curl of hair.

DERIVATIVES:
ringletted (also ringleted) adjective.

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ringmaster

noun
the person directing a circus performance.

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ring pull

noun
a ring on a can that is pulled to open it.

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ring road

noun
a bypass encircling a town.

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ringside

noun
the area beside a boxing ring or circus ring.

DERIVATIVES:
ringsider noun.

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ringside seat

noun
an advantageous position from which to observe something.

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ringworm

noun
a contagious itching skin disease occurring in small circular patches, caused by various fungi and affecting chiefly the scalp or feet.

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rink

noun
1. (also ice rink) an enclosed area of ice for skating, ice hockey, or curling.
2. (also roller rink) a smooth enclosed floor for roller skating.
3. (also bowling rink) the strip of a bowling green used for a match.
4. a team in curling or bowls.

ORIGIN: originally Scots in the sense «jousting ground»: perhaps from Old French renc 'rank' .

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rinse

verb
1. wash with clean water to remove soap or dirt.
2. (often rinse off/out) remove (soap or dirt) by rinsing.

noun
1. an act of rinsing.
2. an antiseptic solution for cleansing the mouth.
3. a preparation for conditioning or tinting the hair.

DERIVATIVES:
rinser noun.

ORIGIN: Old French rincer.

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riot

noun
1. a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd.
2. a confused or lavish combination or display: a riot of colour.
3. (a riot) informal a highly amusing or entertaining person or thing.

verb
1. take part in a riot.
2. behave in an unrestrained way.

IDIOMS -
read the Riot Act give a severe warning or reprimand. [ORIGIN: from the name of a former act partly read out to disperse rioters.]
run riot
1. behave in a violent and unrestrained way.
2. proliferate or spread uncontrollably.

DERIVATIVES:
rioter noun.

ORIGIN: Old French riote 'debate' , from rioter 'to quarrel' .

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riotous

adjective
1. marked by or involving public disorder.
2. involving wild and uncontrolled behaviour.
3. having a vivid, varied appearance.

DERIVATIVES:
riotously adverb
riotousness noun.

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RIP

abbreviation
rest in peace (used on graves).

ORIGIN: from Latin requiescat (or (plural) requiescant) in pace.

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rip [1]

verb (ripped, ripping)
1. tear or pull forcibly away from something or someone.
2. tear.
3. move forcefully and rapidly.
4. (rip off) informal cheat (someone), especially financially.
5. (rip off) informal steal or plagiarize.
6. (rip into) informal make a vehement verbal attack on.

noun
a long tear or cut.

IDIOMS -
let rip informal
1. proceed vigorously or without restraint.
2. express oneself vehemently.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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rip [2] (also rip tide)

noun
a stretch of fast-flowing and rough water caused by the meeting of currents.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to RIP.

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riparian

adjective
relating to or situated on the banks of a river.

ORIGIN: from Latin riparius, from ripa 'bank' .

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ripcord

noun
a cord that is pulled to open a parachute.

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ripe

adjective
1. (of fruit or grain) ready for harvesting and eating.
2. (of a cheese or wine) fully matured.
3. (ripe for) having reached a fitting time for.
4. (of a person's age) advanced.
5. (ripe with) full of.

DERIVATIVES:
ripely adverb
ripeness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ripen

verb
become or make ripe.

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rip-off

noun informal
1. an article that is greatly overpriced.
2. an inferior imitation.

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riposte

noun
1. a quick clever reply.
2. a quick return thrust in fencing.

verb
make a riposte.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian risposta 'response' .

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ripping

adjective Brit. informal, dated
excellent.

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ripple

noun
1. a small wave or series of waves.
2. a gentle rising and falling sound that spreads through a group of people.
3. a feeling or effect that spreads through someone or something.
4. a type of ice cream with wavy lines of coloured flavoured syrup running through it.
5. a small periodic variation in voltage.

verb
1. form or cause to form ripples.
2. (of a sound or feeling) spread through a person or place.

DERIVATIVES:
ripply adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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rip-roaring

adjective
full of energy and vigour.

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rise

verb (past rose; past part. risen)
1. come or go up.
2. get up from lying, sitting, or kneeling.
3. increase in number, size, intensity, or quality.
4. (of land) slope upwards.
5. (of the sun, moon, or stars) appear above the horizon.
6. reach a higher social or professional position.
7. (rise above) succeed in not being restricted by.
8. (rise to) respond adequately to (a challenging situation).
9. (often rise up) rebel.
10. (of a river) have its source.
11. be restored to life.
12. chiefly Brit. (of a meeting or a session of a court) adjourn.

noun
1. an act or instance of rising.
2. an upward slope or hill.
3. Brit. an increase in salary or wages.
4. the vertical height of a step, arch, or incline.

IDIOMS -
get (or take) a rise out of informal provoke an angry or irritated response from.
on the rise
1. increasing.
2. becoming more successful.
rise and shine informal wake up and get out of bed promptly.

ORIGIN: Old English, «make an attack», «get out of bed».

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riser

noun
1. a person who habitually gets out of bed at a particular time of the morning: an early riser.
2. a vertical section between the treads of a staircase.
3. a vertical pipe for the upward flow of liquid or gas.
4. a low platform on a stage or in an auditorium.

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risible

adjective
such as to provoke laughter.

DERIVATIVES:
risibility noun
risibly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin risibilis, from ridere 'to laugh' .

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rising

adjective
approaching a specified age.

noun
a revolt.

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rising damp

noun Brit.
moisture absorbed from the ground into a wall.

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risk

noun
1. a situation involving exposure to danger.
2. the possibility that something unpleasant will happen.
3. a person or thing causing a risk or regarded in relation to risk: a fire risk.

verb
1. expose to danger or loss.
2. act in such a way as to incur the risk of.
3. incur risk by engaging in (an action).

IDIOMS -
at one's (own) risk taking responsibility for one's own safety or possessions.
run (or take) a risk (or risks) act in such a way as to expose oneself to danger.

ORIGIN: Italian risco 'danger' .

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risky

adjective (riskier, riskiest)
involving risk.

DERIVATIVES:
riskily adverb
riskiness noun.

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risotto

noun (pl. risottos)
an Italian dish of rice cooked in stock with ingredients such as meat or seafood.

ORIGIN: Italian, from riso 'rice' .

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risqué

adjective
slightly indecent and liable to shock.

ORIGIN: French, from risquer 'to risk' .

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rissole

noun
a compressed mixture of meat and spices, coated in breadcrumbs and fried.

ORIGIN: French, ultimately from Latin russeolus 'reddish' .

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rite

noun
1. a religious or other solemn ceremony or act.
2. a body of customary observances characteristic of a Church or a part of it.

IDIOMS -
rite of passage a ceremony or event, e.g. marriage, marking an important stage in someone's life.

ORIGIN: Latin ritus '(religious) usage' .

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ritual

noun
1. a religious or solemn ceremony involving a series of actions performed according to a set order.
2. a set order of performing such a ceremony.
3. a series of actions habitually and invariably followed by someone.

adjective
relating to or done as a ritual.

DERIVATIVES:
ritually adverb.

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ritzy

adjective (ritzier, ritziest) informal
expensively stylish.

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rival

noun
1. a person or thing competing with another for superiority or the same objective.
2. a person or thing equal to another in quality: she has no rivals as a female rock singer.

verb (rivalled, rivalling; US rivaled, rivaling)
be comparable to.

DERIVATIVES:
rivalrous adjective.
rivalry noun (pl. rivalries) .

ORIGIN: Latin rivalis, originally in the sense 'person using the same stream as another' , from rivus 'stream' .

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rive

verb (past rived; past part. riven) (usu. be riven)
tear apart.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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river

noun
1. a large natural flow of water travelling along a channel to the sea, a lake, or another river.
2. a large quantity of a flowing substance.

IDIOMS -
sell down the river informal betray. [ORIGIN: originally with reference to the sale of a troublesome slave to a plantation owner on the lower Mississippi, where conditions were relatively harsher.]

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin riparius, from ripa 'bank of a river' .

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rivet

noun
a short metal pin or bolt for holding together two metal plates, its headless end being beaten out or pressed down when in place.

verb (riveted, riveting)
1. join or fasten with a rivet or rivets.
2. (usu. be riveted) completely engross.
3. (usu. be riveted) direct (one's eyes or attention) intently.

DERIVATIVES:
riveter noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from river 'fix, clinch' .

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riviera

noun
a coastal region with a subtropical climate and vegetation, especially that of southern France and northern Italy.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'seashore' .

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rivulet

noun
a very small stream.

ORIGIN: alteration of obsolete French riveret, 'small river' , from Latin rivus 'stream' .

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RM

abbreviation
(in the UK) Royal Marines.

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RN

abbreviation
(in the UK) Royal Navy.

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Rn

symbol
the chemical element radon.

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RNA

noun
ribonucleic acid, a substance in living cells which carries instructions from DNA for controlling the synthesis of proteins and in some viruses carries genetic information instead of DNA.

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RNLI

abbreviation
(in the UK) Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

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roach [1]

noun (pl. same)
a common freshwater fish of the carp family.

ORIGIN: Old French roche.

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roach [2]

noun informal
1. chiefly N. Amer. a cockroach.
2. a roll of card or paper that forms the butt of a cannabis cigarette. [ORIGIN: of unknown origin.]

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road

noun
1. a wide way between places, especially one surfaced for use by vehicles.
2. a way to achieving a particular outcome.
3. a partly sheltered stretch of water near the shore in which ships can ride at anchor.

IDIOMS -
down the road informal, chiefly N. Amer. in the future.
in (or out of) the (or one's) road informal in (or out of) someone's way.
one for the road informal a final alcoholic drink before leaving.
on the road
1. on a long journey or series of journeys.
2. (of a car) able to be driven.

DERIVATIVES:
roadless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «journey on horseback», «foray»; related to RIDE.

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roadblock

noun
a barrier put across a road by the police or army to stop and examine traffic.

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road fund licence

noun Brit.
a disc displayed on a vehicle certifying payment of road tax.

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road hog

noun informal
a reckless or inconsiderate motorist.

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roadholding

noun
the ability of a moving vehicle to remain stable, especially when cornering at high speeds.

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roadhouse

noun
a pub, club, or restaurant on a country road.

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roadie

noun informal
a person employed by a touring band of musicians to set up and maintain equipment.

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road rage

noun
violent anger arising from conflict with the driver of another motor vehicle.

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roadrunner

noun
a fast-running long-tailed bird found chiefly in arid country from the southern US to Central America.

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roadshow

noun
1. each of a series of radio or television programmes broadcast on location from different venues.
2. a touring political or promotional campaign.
3. a touring show of pop musicians.

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roadster

noun
1. an open-top car with two seats.
2. a bicycle designed for use on the road.

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road tax

noun Brit.
a periodic tax payable on motor vehicles using public roads.

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road test

noun
1. a test of the performance of a vehicle or engine on the road.
2. a test of equipment carried out in working conditions.

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roadway

noun
1. a road.
2. the part of a road intended for vehicles, in contrast to the pavement or verge.

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roadworks

plural noun Brit.
repairs to roads or to utilities under roads.

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roadworthy

adjective
(of a vehicle) fit to be used on the road.

DERIVATIVES:
roadworthiness noun.

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roam

verb
1. travel aimlessly over a wide area.
2. wander over, through, or about (a place).

noun
an aimless walk.

DERIVATIVES:
roamer noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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roan

adjective
(of a horse or cow) having a bay, chestnut, or black coat thickly interspersed with hairs of another colour, typically white.

noun
a roan animal.

ORIGIN: Old French.

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roar

noun
1. a full, deep, prolonged sound as made by a lion, natural force, or engine.
2. a loud, deep sound uttered by a person, especially as an expression of pain, anger, or great amusement.

verb
1. make or utter a roar.
2. laugh loudly.
3. move, act, or happen very fast.

DERIVATIVES:
roarer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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roaring

adjective informal
complete; unqualified: a roaring success.

IDIOMS -
do a roaring trade (or business) informal do very good business.
the roaring forties stormy ocean tracts between latitudes 40° and 50° south.
the roaring twenties the prosperous years of the 1920s.

DERIVATIVES:
roaringly adverb.

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roast

verb
1. (with reference to food, especially meat) cook or be cooked by prolonged exposure to heat in an oven or over a fire.
2. process (a foodstuff) by subjecting it to intense heat.
3. make or become very warm.
4. criticize or reprimand severely.

adjective
(of food) having been roasted.

noun
1. a joint of meat that has been roasted or that is intended for roasting.
2. the process of roasting something, especially coffee.
3. an outdoor party at which meat is roasted: a pig roast.

DERIVATIVES:
roaster noun.

ORIGIN: Old French rostir.

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roasting informal

adjective
very hot and dry.

noun
a severe criticism or reprimand.

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rob

verb (robbed, robbing)
1. take property unlawfully from (a person or place) by force or threat of force.
2. deprive of something needed, deserved, or significant.
3. informal overcharge.

IDIOMS -
rob Peter to pay Paul deprive one person of something in order to pay another. [ORIGIN: probably with reference to the saints and apostles Peter and Paul; the allusion is uncertain.]

DERIVATIVES:
robber noun.

ORIGIN: Old French rober.

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robbery

noun (pl. robberies)
1. the action of robbing a person or place.
2. informal unashamed swindling or overcharging.

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robe

noun
1. a loose outer garment reaching to the ankles, often worn on formal or ceremonial occasions as an indication of the wearer's rank, office, or profession.
2. a bathrobe or dressing gown.

verb
clothe in or put on a robe or robes.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'garment, booty' , from the Germanic base of ROB (because clothing was an important component of booty).

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robin

noun
1. a small European songbird of the thrush family, with a red breast and brown back and wings.
2. (also American robin) a large North American thrush with an orange-red breast.

ORIGIN: Old French, familiar form of the given name Robert.

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robot

noun
a machine capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically, especially one programmable by a computer.

DERIVATIVES:
robotize (also robotise) verb.

ORIGIN: from Czech robota 'forced labour' ; the term was coined in K. apek's play R.U.R. 'Rossum's Universal Robots' (1920).

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robotic

adjective
1. relating to robots.
2. mechanical, stiff, or unemotional.

DERIVATIVES:
robotically adverb.

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robotics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the branch of technology concerned with the design, construction, and application of robots.

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robust

adjective
1. sturdy or resilient.
2. strong and healthy.
3. uncompromising and forceful; not subtle: a robust defence.
4. (of wine or food) strong and rich in flavour or smell.

DERIVATIVES:
robustly adverb
robustness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin robustus 'firm and hard' .

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rock [1]

noun
1. the hard mineral material of the earth's crust, exposed on the surface or underlying the soil.
2. a mass of rock projecting out of the ground or water.
3. a boulder.
4. Geology any natural material with a distinctive composition of minerals.
5. Brit. a kind of hard confectionery in the form of cylindrical peppermint-flavoured sticks.
6. informal a diamond or other precious stone.

IDIOMS -
on the rocks informal
1. experiencing difficulties and likely to fail.
2. (of a drink) served undiluted and with ice cubes.

ORIGIN: Latin rocca.

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rock [2]

verb
1. move gently to and fro or from side to side.
2. shake violently, especially because of an earthquake or explosion.
3. shock or distress greatly.
4. informal dance to or play rock music.
5. informal have an atmosphere of excitement or much social activity.

noun
1. (also rock music) a form of popular music derived from rock and roll and pop music but characterized by a more serious approach.
2. rock and roll.
3. a rocking movement.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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rockabilly

noun
a type of popular music, originating in the south-eastern US, combining elements of rock and roll and country music.

ORIGIN: blend of ROCK AND ROLL and HILLBILLY.

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rock and roll (also rock 'n' roll)

noun
a type of popular dance music originating in the 1950s and characterized by a heavy beat and simple melodies.

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rock-bottom

adjective
at the lowest possible level.

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rock cake

noun chiefly Brit.
a small currant cake with a hard rough surface.

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rock climbing

noun
the sport or pastime of climbing rock faces, especially with the aid of ropes and special equipment.

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rock crystal

noun
transparent quartz, typically in the form of colourless hexagonal crystals.

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rocker

noun
1. a person who performs, dances to, or enjoys rock music.
2. Brit. a young person, especially in the 1960s, belonging to a subculture characterized by leather clothing, riding motorcycles, and a liking for rock music.
3. a rocking chair.
4. a curved bar or similar support on which something such as a chair can rock.
5. a rocking device forming part of a mechanism.

IDIOMS -
off one's rocker informal mad.

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rockery

noun (pl. rockeries)
a heaped arrangement of rocks with soil between them, planted with rock plants.

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rocket [1]

noun
1. a cylindrical projectile that can be propelled to a great height or distance by the combustion of its contents.
2. a missile or spacecraft propelled by an engine providing thrust on the same principle.
3. Brit. informal a severe reprimand.

verb (rocketed, rocketing)
1. increase very rapidly and suddenly.
2. move or progress very rapidly.
3. attack with rocket-propelled missiles.

ORIGIN: Italian rocchetto 'small distaff (for spinning)' , with reference to its cylindrical shape.

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rocket [2]

noun
an edible Mediterranean plant of the cabbage family, eaten in salads.

ORIGIN: French roquette, ultimately from Latin eruca 'downy-stemmed plant' .

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rocketry

noun
the branch of science and technology concerned with rockets.

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rocket scientist

noun informal, chiefly N. Amer.
a very intelligent person.

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rock garden

noun
a rockery.

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rocking chair

noun
a chair mounted on rockers or springs.

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rocking horse

noun
a model of a horse mounted on rockers or springs for a child to ride on.

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rock plant

noun
a plant that grows on or among rocks.

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rock pool

noun
a pool of water among rocks, typically along a shoreline.

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rock salt

noun
common salt occurring naturally as a mineral.

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rock solid

adjective
completely firm or stable.

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rocky [1]

adjective (rockier, rockiest)
1. consisting or formed of rock.
2. full of rocks.

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rocky [2]

adjective (rockier, rockiest)
unsteady or unstable.

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rococo

adjective
1. relating to an elaborately ornate late baroque style of European furniture or architecture of the 18th century, characterized by asymmetrical curves, scrollwork, and decorative motifs.
2. (of music or literature) highly ornamented and florid.

noun
the rococo style.

ORIGIN: French, humorous alteration of rocaille, an 18th-century style of decoration based on shells and pebbles.

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rod

noun
1. a thin straight bar, especially of wood or metal.
2. a fishing rod.
3. a slender straight stick or shoot growing on or cut from a tree or bush.
4. (the rod) the use of a stick for caning or flogging.
5. Anatomy one of two types of light-sensitive cell present in the retina of the eye, responsible mainly for monochrome vision in poor light. Compare with CONE.

IDIOMS -
make a rod for one's own back do something likely to cause difficulties for oneself later.
spare the rod and spoil the child proverb if children are not physically punished when they do wrong their personal development will suffer.

DERIVATIVES:
rodlet noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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rodent

noun
a mammal of a large group (the order Rodentia) including rats, mice, and squirrels and distinguished by strong constantly growing incisors and no canine teeth.

ORIGIN: from Latin rodere 'gnaw' .

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rodeo

noun (pl. rodeos)
1. a contest or entertainment in which cowboys show their skill at riding broncos, roping calves, etc.
2. a competitive display of other skills, such as motorcycle riding.
3. a round-up of cattle on a ranch for branding and counting.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from rodear 'go round' , from Latin rotare 'rotate' .

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roe [1]

noun
1. (also hard roe) the mass of eggs contained in the ovaries of a female fish or shellfish, especially when ripe and used as food.
2. (soft roe) the ripe testes of a male fish, especially when used as food.

ORIGIN: related to Low German, Dutch roge.

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roe [2] (also roe deer)

noun (pl. same or roes)
a small deer with a reddish summer coat that turns greyish in winter.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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roebuck

noun
a male roe deer.

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roentgen

noun
a unit of of quantity of ionizing radiation.

ORIGIN: named after the German physicist and discoverer of X-rays Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (1845 1923).

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roger

exclamation
your message has been received and understood (used in radio communication).

verb Brit. vulgar slang
(of a man) have sexual intercourse with.

ORIGIN: from the given name Roger; the verb is from an obsolete sense ( «penis») of the noun.

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rogue

noun
1. a dishonest or unprincipled man.
2. a mischievous but likeable person.
3. an elephant or other large wild animal with destructive tendencies driven away or living apart from the herd.
4. a person or thing that is defective or unpredictable.

ORIGIN: originally denoting an idle vagrant: probably from Latin rogare 'beg, ask' .

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rogues' gallery

noun informal
a collection of photographs of known criminals, used by police to identify suspects.

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roguish

adjective
characteristic of a rogue, especially in being playfully mischievous: a roguish smile.

DERIVATIVES:
roguishly adverb
roguishness noun.

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roil

verb
1. make (a liquid) muddy by disturbing the sediment.
2. (of a liquid) move in a turbulent manner.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French ruiler 'mix mortar' , from Latin regulare 'regulate' .

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roister

verb
enjoy oneself or celebrate in a noisy or boisterous way.

DERIVATIVES:
roisterer noun
roisterous adjective.

ORIGIN: from obsolete roister «roisterer», from French rustre 'ruffian' .

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role

noun
1. an actor's part in a play, film, etc.
2. a person's or thing's function in a particular situation.

ORIGIN: from obsolete French roule 'roll' , referring originally to the roll of paper on which an actor's part was written.

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role model

noun
a person looked to by others as an example to be imitated.

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role playing (also role play)

noun
the acting out of a particular role, either consciously (as a technique in psychotherapy or training) or unconsciously (in accordance with the perceived expectations of society).

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roll

verb
1. move by turning over and over on an axis.
2. move forward on wheels or with a smooth, undulating motion.
3. (of a moving ship, aircraft, or vehicle) sway on an axis parallel to the direction of motion.
4. (of a machine or device) begin operating.
5. (often roll up) turn (something flexible) over and over on itself to form a cylindrical or spherical shape.
6. (roll up) curl up tightly.
7. flatten (something) by passing a roller over it or by passing it between rollers.
8. (of a loud, deep sound such as that of thunder) reverberate.
9. pronounce (a consonant, typically an r) with a trill.
10. (rolling) (of land) extending in gentle undulations.
11. (rolling) steady and continuous: a rolling programme of reforms.

noun
1. a cylinder formed by rolling flexible material.
2. a rolling movement.
3. a gymnastic exercise in which the body is rolled into a tucked position and turned in a forward or backward circle.
4. a prolonged, deep, reverberating sound.
5. (in drumming) a sustained, rapid alternation of single or double strokes of each stick.
6. a very small loaf of bread.
7. an official list or register of names.
8. a document in scroll form.
9. N. Amer. & Austral. a quantity of banknotes rolled together.

IDIOMS -
a roll in the hay (or the sack) informal an act of sexual intercourse.
be rolling in it (o r money) informal be very rich.
on a roll informal experiencing a prolonged spell of success or good luck.
roll in informal
1. be received in large amounts.
2. arrive in a casual way in spite of being late.
a rolling stone gathers no moss proverb a person who does not settle in one place will not accumulate wealth or status, or responsibilities or commitments.
roll of honour a list of people whose deeds are honoured, especially a list of those who have died in battle.
roll out officially launch (a new product).
roll over Finance contrive or extend (a financial arrangement).
roll up informal arrive.
roll up one's sleeves prepare to fight or work.
roll with the punches
1. (of a boxer) move one's body away from an opponent's blows so as to lessen the impact.
2. adapt oneself to adverse circumstances.

ORIGIN: Old French roller, from Latin rotulus 'a roll, little wheel' .

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roll-call

noun
the process of calling out a list of names to establish who is present.

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roller

noun
1. a cylinder that rotates about a central axis and is used to move, flatten, or spread something.
2. a small cylinder on which hair is rolled to produce curls.
3. a long swelling wave that appears to roll steadily towards the shore.
4. a brightly coloured crow-sized bird with a characteristic tumbling display flight.

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rollerball

noun
1. a ballpoint pen using relatively thin ink.
2. Computing an input device containing a ball which is moved with the fingers to control the cursor.

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Rollerblade

noun trademark
an in-line skate.

verb
skate using Rollerblades.

DERIVATIVES:
rollerblader noun.

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roller blind

noun
a window blind fitted on a roller.

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roller coaster

noun
a fairground attraction consisting of a light railway track with many tight turns and steep slopes, on which people ride in small open carriages.

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roller skate

noun
each of a pair of boots or metal frames fitted to shoes, having four or more small wheels and used for gliding across a hard surface.

DERIVATIVES:
roller skater noun
roller skating noun.

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roller towel

noun
a long towel with the ends joined and hung on a roller.

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rollicking [1]

adjective
exuberantly lively and amusing.

ORIGIN: perhaps a blend of ROMP and FROLIC.

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rollicking [2] (also rollocking)

noun Brit. informal
a severe reprimand.

ORIGIN: euphemistic alteration of BOLLOCKING.

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rolling pin

noun
a cylinder for rolling out dough.

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rolling stock

noun
1. locomotives, carriages, or other vehicles used on a railway.
2. US the road vehicles of a trucking company.

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rollmop

noun
a rolled uncooked pickled herring fillet.

ORIGIN: German Rollmops.

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roll neck

noun
a high loosely turned-over collar.

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roll-on

adjective
(of a deodorant or cosmetic) applied by means of a rotating ball in the neck of the container.

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roll-on roll-off

adjective
referring to a ferry in which vehicles are driven directly on at the start of the voyage and driven off at the end of it.

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roll-up

noun informal
1. Brit. a hand-rolled cigarette.
2. Austral. a gathering of people.

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roly-poly

noun (also roly-poly pudding) Brit.
a pudding made of a sheet of suet pastry covered with jam or fruit, formed into a roll, and steamed or baked.

adjective informal
round and plump.

ORIGIN: fanciful formation from ROLL.

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ROM

abbreviation Computing
read-only memory.

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Roman

adjective
1. relating to ancient Rome or its empire or people.
2. relating to medieval or modern Rome.
3. referring to the alphabet used for writing Latin, English, and most European languages, developed in ancient Rome.
4. (roman) (of type) of a plain upright kind used in ordinary print.

noun
1. an inhabitant of ancient or modern Rome.
2. (roman) roman type.

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Roman Catholic

adjective
relating to the Roman Catholic Church.

noun
a member of this Church.

DERIVATIVES:
Roman Catholicism noun.

ORIGIN: translation of Latin Ecclesia Romana Catholica et Apostolica 'Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church' , apparently first used in place of the earlier Roman, Romanist, or Romish, which were considered derogatory.

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Roman Catholic Church

noun
the part of the Christian Church which acknowledges the Pope as its head, especially as it has developed since the Reformation.

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Romance

noun
the group of languages descended from Latin, principally French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian.

ORIGIN: originally denoting the ordinary language of France as opposed to Latin: from Latin Romanicus 'Roman' .

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romance

noun
1. a pleasurable feeling of excitement and wonder associated with love.
2. a love affair.
3. a book or film dealing with love in a sentimental or idealized way.
4. a quality or feeling of mystery, excitement, and remoteness from everyday life.
5. a medieval tale dealing with a hero of chivalry, of the kind common in the Romance languages.

verb
1. court or pursue amorously.
2. informal court the favour of.
3. romanticize.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a composition in the vernacular as opposed to works in Latin: from ROMANCE.

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romancer

noun
1. a person prone to wild exaggeration or falsehood.
2. a writer of medieval romances.

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Romanesque

adjective
relating to a style of architecture which prevailed in Europe c.900 1200, with massive vaulting and round arches.

ORIGIN: French, from roman 'romance' .

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Roman holiday

noun
an occasion on which enjoyment or profit is derived from the suffering of others.

ORIGIN: from Byron's poem Childe Harold (1818), originally with reference to a holiday given for a gladiatorial combat.

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Romanian (also Rumanian)

noun
1. a person from Romania.
2. the language of Romania.

adjective
relating to Romania.

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Roman nose

noun
a nose with a high bridge.

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Roman numeral

noun
any of the letters representing numbers in the Roman numerical system: I = 1, V = 5, X = 10, L = 50, C = 100, D = 500, M = 1,000.

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romantic

adjective
1. inclined towards or suggestive of love or romance.
2. of, characterized by, or suggestive of an idealized view of reality.
3. (Romantic) relating to the artistic and literary movement of romanticism.

noun
1. a person with romantic beliefs or attitudes.
2. (Romantic) a writer or artist of the Romantic movement.

DERIVATIVES:
romantically adverb.

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romanticism

noun
a literary and artistic movement which began in the late 18th century and emphasized inspiration and subjectivity.

DERIVATIVES:
romanticist noun.

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romanticize (also romanticise)

verb
deal with or describe in an idealized or unrealistic fashion.

DERIVATIVES:
romanticization noun.

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Romany

noun (pl. Romanies)
1. the language of the gypsies.
2. a gypsy.

ORIGIN: from Romany Rom 'man, husband' .

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Romeo

noun (pl. Romeos)
an attractive, passionate male seducer or lover.

ORIGIN: the hero of Shakespeare's romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet.

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romp

verb
1. play about roughly and energetically.
2. informal achieve something easily.
3. (romp home/in) informal finish as the easy winner of a race or other contest.
4. informal engage in sexual activity.

noun
1. a spell of romping.
2. a light-hearted film or other work.
3. informal an easy victory.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of RAMP.

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rompers (also romper suit)

plural noun
a young child's one-piece outer garment.

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rondeau

noun (pl. rondeaux)
a poem of ten or thirteen lines with only two rhymes throughout and with the opening words used twice as a refrain.

ORIGIN: French.

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rondel

noun
a rondeau, especially one of three stanzas of thirteen or fourteen lines with a two-line refrain.

ORIGIN: Old French, from rond 'round' .

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rondo

noun (pl. rondos)
a musical form with a recurring leading theme, often found in the final movement of a sonata or concerto.

ORIGIN: Italian, from French rondeau.

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rood

noun
1. a crucifix, especially one positioned above the rood screen of a church or on a beam over the entrance to the chancel.
2. chiefly Brit. a former measure of land area equal to a quarter of an acre.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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rood screen

noun
a screen of wood or stone separating the nave from the chancel of a church.

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roof

noun (pl. roofs)
1. the structure forming the upper covering of a building or vehicle.
2. the top inner surface of a covered area or space.
3. the upper limit or level of prices or wages.

verb (usu. be roofed)
cover with or as a roof.

IDIOMS -
go through the roof informal (of prices or figures) reach extreme levels.
hit (or go through) the roof informal suddenly become very angry.

DERIVATIVES:
roofless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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roofer

noun
a person who constructs or repairs roofs.

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roofing

noun
1. material for constructing a building's roof.
2. the process of constructing a roof or roofs.

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roof of the mouth

noun
the palate.

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roof rack

noun
a framework for carrying luggage on the roof of a vehicle.

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rook [1]

noun
a crow with black plumage and a bare face, nesting in colonies in treetops.

verb informal
defraud, swindle, or overcharge.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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rook [2]

noun
a chess piece, typically with its top in the shape of a battlement, that can move in any direction along a rank or file on which it stands.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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rookery

noun (pl. rookeries)
1. a breeding colony of rooks, typically a collection of nests high in a clump of trees.
2. a breeding colony of seabirds (especially penguins), seals, or turtles.

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rookie

noun informal
a new recruit or member, especially in the army or police or a sports team; a novice.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of RECRUIT.

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room

noun
1. space viewed in terms of its capacity to accommodate contents or allow action: there was no room to move.
2. opportunity or scope: room for improvement.
3. a part of a building enclosed by walls, floor, and ceiling.
4. (rooms) a set of rooms rented out to lodgers.

verb chiefly N. Amer.
share lodgings, especially at a college or similar institution.

IDIOMS -
no room to swing a cat humorous a very confined space. [ORIGIN: cat in the sense «cat-o'-nine-tails».]

DERIVATIVES:
roomed adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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room-mate

noun
1. a person occupying the same room as another.
2. N. Amer. a person occupying the same room, flat, or house as another.

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room service

noun
provision of food and drink to hotel guests in their rooms.

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room temperature

noun
a comfortable ambient temperature, generally taken as about 20°C.

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roomy

adjective (roomier, roomiest)
having plenty of room; spacious.

DERIVATIVES:
roominess noun.

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roost

noun
a place where birds or bats regularly settle to rest.

verb
(of a bird or bat) settle or gather for rest.

IDIOMS -
curses, like chickens, come home to roost proverb one's past mistakes or wrongdoings will eventually be the cause of present troubles.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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rooster

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a male domestic fowl.

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root [1]

noun
1. a part of a plant normally below ground, which acts as a support and collects water and nourishment.
2. the embedded part of a bodily organ or structure such as a hair.
3. (also root vegetable) a turnip, carrot, or other vegetable which grows as the root of a plant.
4. the basic cause, source, or origin: money is the root of all evil.
5. (roots) family, ethnic, or cultural origins.
6. (also root note) Music the fundamental note of a chord.
7. Linguistics a form from which words have been made by the addition of prefixes or suffixes or by other modification.
8. Mathematics a number or quantity that when multiplied by itself one or more times gives a specified number or quantity.

verb
1. cause (a plant or cutting) to establish roots.
2. (usu. be rooted) establish deeply and firmly.
3. (be rooted in) have as a source or origin.
4. (be rooted) stand immobile through fear or amazement.
5. (root out/up) find and get rid of.
6. Austral./NZ & Irish vulgar slang have sexual intercourse with.

IDIOMS -
at root fundamentally.
put down roots begin to have a settled life in a place.
root and branch (of a process or operation) thorough or radical.
take root become fixed or established.

DERIVATIVES:
rootless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WORT.

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root [2]

verb
1. (of an animal) turn up the ground with its snout in search of food.
2. rummage.
3. (root for) informal support enthusiastically.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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root canal

noun
1. the pulp-filled cavity in the root of a tooth.
2. N. Amer. a procedure to replace infected pulp in a root canal with an inert material.

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root mean square

noun Mathematics
the square root of the arithmetic mean of the squares of a set of values.

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root sign

noun Mathematics
the radical sign.

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rootstock

noun
1. a rhizome.
2. a plant on to which another variety is grafted.
3. a primary form or source from which offshoots have arisen.

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rope

noun
1. a length of stout cord made by twisting together strands of hemp, sisal, nylon, etc.
2. a quantity of roughly spherical objects strung together: a rope of pearls.
3. (the ropes) the ropes enclosing a boxing or wrestling ring.
4. (the ropes) informal the established procedures in an organization or area of activity: I showed her the ropes.

verb
1. catch, fasten, or secure with rope.
2. (rope in/into) persuade (someone) to take part in something.

IDIOMS -
give a man enough rope (or plenty of rope) and he will hang himself proverb given enough freedom of action a person will bring about their own downfall.
on the ropes
1. Boxing forced against the ropes by the opponent's attack.
2. in state of near collapse.
a rope of sand literary illusory security.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ropy (also ropey)

adjective (ropier, ropiest)
1. resembling a rope.
2. Brit. informal poor in quality or health.

DERIVATIVES:
ropily adverb
ropiness noun.

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rosary

noun (pl. rosaries)
1. (in the Roman Catholic Church) a form of devotion in which five (or fifteen) sets of ten Hail Marys are repeated.
2. a string of beads for keeping count in such a devotion or in the devotions of some other religions.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «rose garden»: from Latin rosarium.

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rose [1]

noun
1. a fragrant flower (typically red, pink, yellow, or white) borne on a prickly bush or shrub.
2. a perforated cap attached to a shower, the spout of a watering can, or the end of a hose to produce a spray.
3. a warm pink or light crimson colour.
4. (roses) favourable circumstances or ease of success: everything was coming up roses.

IDIOMS -
come up (or out) smelling of roses emerge from a difficult situation with reputation intact.

ORIGIN: Latin rosa.

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rosé

noun
light pink wine made from red grapes, coloured by only brief contact with the skins.

ORIGIN: French, 'pink' .

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roseate

adjective
rose-coloured.

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rosemary

noun
an evergreen aromatic shrub of southern Europe, the leaves of which are used as a herb in cooking.

ORIGIN: from Latin ros marinus, from ros 'dew' + marinus 'of the sea' .

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rosette

noun
1. a rose-shaped decoration made of ribbon, worn by supporters of a team or political party or awarded as a prize.
2. a design or object resembling a rose.
3. a radiating arrangement of spreading leaves at the base of a low-growing plant.

ORIGIN: French, 'little rose' .

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rose water

noun
scented water made with rose petals.

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rose window

noun
a circular window with mullions or tracery radiating in a form suggestive of a rose.

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rosewood

noun
a close-grained tropical timber used for making furniture and musical instruments.

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Rosh Hashana (also Rosh Hashanah)

noun
the Jewish New Year festival.

ORIGIN: Hebrew, 'head of the year' .

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rosin

noun
resin, especially the solid amber residue obtained after distilling oil of turpentine and used for treating the bows of stringed instruments.

verb (rosined, rosining)
rub or treat with rosin.

ORIGIN: Latin rosina, from resina 'resin' .

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roster

noun
1. a list or plan showing turns of duty or leave in an organization.
2. a list of names, in particular of sports players available for team selection.

verb (usu. be rostered)
assign according to a duty roster.

ORIGIN: Dutch rooster 'list' , earlier 'gridiron' , with reference to its parallel lines.

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rostrum

noun (pl. rostra or rostrums)
1. a raised platform on which a person stands to make a public speech, play music, or conduct an orchestra.
2. a platform for supporting a film or television camera.
3. chiefly Zoology a beak-like projection.

DERIVATIVES:
rostral adjective ( chiefly Zoology ).

ORIGIN: Latin, 'beak' ; the word was originally used to denote an orator's platform in the Forum in ancient Rome, which was decorated with the beaks of captured galleys.

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rosy

adjective (rosier, rosiest)
1. (especially of a person's skin) rose-red or pink, typically as an indication of health or youthfulness.
2. promising or suggesting good fortune; hopeful.

DERIVATIVES:
rosily adverb
rosiness noun.

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rot

verb (rotted, rotting)
1. decompose by the action of bacteria and fungi; decay.
2. gradually deteriorate or decline.

noun
1. the process of decaying.
2. rotten or decayed matter.
3. (the rot) Brit. a process of deterioration or decline in standards.
4. a fungal or bacterial disease that causes tissue deterioration, especially in plants.
5. informal nonsense; rubbish: don't talk rot.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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rota

noun chiefly Brit.
a list showing times and names for people to take their turn to undertake duties.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'wheel' .

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Rotarian

noun
a member of Rotary.

adjective
relating to Rotary.

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rotary

adjective
1. revolving around a centre or axis.
2. acting by means of rotation; having a rotating part or parts: a rotary mower.

noun (pl. rotaries)
1. a rotary machine or device.
2. N. Amer. a traffic roundabout.
3. (Rotary) a worldwide charitable society of business and professional people organized into local Rotary clubs.

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rotate

verb
1. move in a circle round an axis.
2. move or pass on in a regularly recurring order or succession.
3. grow (different crops) in succession on a particular piece of land.

DERIVATIVES:
rotatable adjective
rotatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin rotare 'turn in a circle' , from rota 'wheel' .

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rotation

noun
the action or process of rotating.

DERIVATIVES:
rotational adjective
rotationally adverb.

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rotator

noun
1. a thing which rotates or which causes something to rotate.
2. Anatomy a muscle whose contraction causes or assists in the rotation of a part of the body.

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rote

noun
mechanical or habitual repetition: a poem learnt by rote.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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rotisserie

noun
1. a restaurant specializing in roasted or barbecued meat.
2. a rotating spit for roasting and barbecuing meat.

ORIGIN: French, from rôtir 'to roast' .

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rotor

noun
1. the rotating part of a turbine, electric motor, or other device.
2. a hub with a number of radiating blades that is rotated to provide the lift for a helicopter.

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rotten

adjective
1. suffering from decay.
2. corrupt.
3. informal very bad or unpleasant.

adverb informal
very much: your mother spoiled you rotten.

DERIVATIVES:
rottenness noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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rotten borough

noun Brit. historical
(before the Reform Act of 1832) a borough that was able to elect an MP though having very few voters.

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rotter

noun informal, dated
a cruel, mean, or unkind person.

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Rottweiler

noun
a large powerful dog of a tall black-and-tan breed.

ORIGIN: from Rottweil, a town in SW Germany.

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rotund

adjective
1. large and plump.
2. round; spherical.

DERIVATIVES:
rotundity noun
rotundly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin rotundus, from rotare 'rotate' .

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rotunda

noun
a round building or room, especially one with a dome.

ORIGIN: from Italian rotonda camera 'round chamber' .

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rouble (also ruble)

noun
the basic monetary unit of Russia and some other former republics of the USSR, equal to 100 kopeks.

ORIGIN: Russian.

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roué

noun
a man who leads an immoral, dissolute life.

ORIGIN: French, 'broken on a wheel' , referring to the instrument of torture thought to be deserved by such a person.

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rouge

noun
a red powder or cream used as a cosmetic for colouring the cheeks or lips.

verb
colour with rouge.

ORIGIN: French, 'red' .

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rough

adjective
1. having an uneven or irregular surface; not smooth or level.
2. not gentle; violent or boisterous: rough treatment.
3. (of weather or the sea) wild and stormy.
4. lacking sophistication or refinement.
5. not finished tidily; plain and basic.
6. harsh in sound or taste.
7. not worked out or correct in every detail; approximate: a rough guess.
8. informal difficult and unpleasant.

noun
1. a rough, preliminary state: jot things down in rough first.
2. chiefly Brit. a disreputable and violent person.
3. (on a golf course) the area of longer grass around the fairway and the green.

verb
1. work or shape in a rough, preliminary fashion.
2. make uneven.
3. (rough it) informal live in discomfort with only basic necessities.
4. (rough up) informal beat (someone) up.

IDIOMS -
in the rough
1. in a natural state; without decoration or other treatment.
2. in difficulties.
rough and ready
1. crude but effective.
2. unsophisticated or unrefined.
the rough edge (or side) of one's tongue a scolding.
rough edges small imperfections in something that is otherwise satisfactory.
rough justice treatment that is not scrupulously fair or in accordance with the law.
sleep rough Brit. sleep in uncomfortable conditions, typically out of doors.
take the rough with the smooth accept the difficult or unpleasant aspects of life as well as the good.

DERIVATIVES:
roughness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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roughage

noun
fibrous indigestible material in vegetable foodstuffs which aids the passage of food and waste products through the gut.

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rough and tumble

noun
a situation without rules or organization.

ORIGIN: originally boxing slang.

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roughcast

noun
plaster of lime, cement, and gravel, used on outside walls.

adjective
1. coated with roughcast.
2. (of a person) lacking refinement.

verb
coat with roughcast.

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rough diamond

noun
1. an uncut diamond.
2. a person who is of good character but lacks manners or education.

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roughen

verb
make or become rough.

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rough-hewn

adjective
(of a person) uncultivated or uncouth.

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roughly

adverb
1. in a rough or harsh manner.
2. approximately.

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roughneck

noun
1. informal a rough, uncouth person.
2. an oil-rig worker.

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roughshod

adjective archaic
(of a horse) having shoes with nail heads projecting to prevent slipping.

IDIOMS -
ride roughshod over arrogantly or inconsiderately disregard.

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roulade

noun
a piece of meat, sponge, or other food, spread with a filling and rolled up.

ORIGIN: French, from rouler 'to roll' .

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roulette

noun
a gambling game in which a ball is dropped on to a revolving wheel with numbered compartments, the players betting on the number at which the ball comes to rest.

ORIGIN: French, 'small wheel' .

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round

adjective
1. shaped like a circle or cylinder.
2. shaped like a sphere.
3. having a curved surface with no sharp projections.
4. (of a person's shoulders) bent forward.
5. (of a voice or musical tone) rich and mellow.
6. (of a number) expressed in convenient units rather than exactly, for example to the nearest whole number.
7. (of a figure) completely and exactly reached: a round 100.
8. frank and truthful: she berated him in round terms.

noun
1. a circular piece or section.
2. a route or sequence by which a number of people or places are visited or inspected in turn: a newspaper round.
3. a regularly recurring sequence of activities: the daily round.
4. each of a sequence of sessions in a process, especially in a sports contest.
5. a single division of a boxing or wrestling match.
6. a song for three or more unaccompanied voices or parts, each singing the same theme but starting one after another.
7. the amount of ammunition needed to fire one shot.
8. a set of drinks bought for all the members of a group.
9. Brit. a slice of bread.
10. Brit. the quantity of sandwiches made from two slices of bread.

adverb chiefly Brit.
1. so as to rotate or cause rotation.
2. so as to cover the whole area surrounding a particular centre.
3. so as to rotate and face in the opposite direction.
4. used i n describing the relative position of something: it's the wrong way round.
5. so as to surround or give support.
6. so as to reach a new place or position.

preposition chiefly Brit.
1. on every side of (a focal point).
2. so as to encircle.
3. from or on the other side of.
4. so as to cover the whole of.

verb
1. pass and go round.
2. make (a figure) less exact but more convenient for calculations: we'll round the weight up to the nearest kilo.
3. make or become round in shape.

IDIOMS -
in the round
1. (of sculpture) standing free, rather than carved in relief.
2. (of theatre) with the audience placed on at least three sides of the stage.
3. with all aspects shown or considered; fully.
round off
1. smooth the edges of.
2. complete in a satisfying or suitable way.
round on make a sudden attack on.
round up drive or collect (a number of people or animals) together.

DERIVATIVES:
roundness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin rotundus 'rotund' .

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roundabout

noun Brit.
1. a road junction at which traffic moves in one direction round a central island to reach one of the roads converging on it.
2. a large revolving device in a playground, for children to ride on.
3. a merry-go-round.

adjective
not following a short direct route; circuitous.

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rounded

adjective
1. round or curved.
2. well developed in all aspects; complete and balanced: a rounded human being.

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roundel

noun
1. a small disc, especially a decorative medallion.
2. a circular identifying mark painted on military aircraft.

ORIGIN: Old French rondel.

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rounders

plural noun (treated as sing. )
a ball game similar to baseball, in which players run round a circuit of bases after hitting the ball with a cylindrical wooden bat, scoring a rounder if all four bases are reached before the ball is fielded.

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Roundhead

noun historical
a member or supporter of the Parliamentary party in the English Civil War.

ORIGIN: with reference to their short-cropped hair.

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roundly

adverb
1. in a vehement, emphatic, or thorough manner.
2. in a circular or roughly circular shape.

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round robin

noun
1. a tournament in which each competitor plays in turn against every other.
2. a petition, especially one with signatures written in a circle to conceal the order of writing.

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round table

noun
an assembly where parties meet on equal terms for discussion.

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round trip

noun
a journey to a place and back again.

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round-up

noun
1. a systematic gathering together of people or things.
2. a summary of facts or events.

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roundworm

noun
a nematode worm, especially a parasitic one found in the intestines of mammals.

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rouse

verb
1. bring or come out of sleep; awaken or wake up.
2. bring out of inactivity.
3. excite; provoke: his evasiveness roused my curiosity.

ORIGIN: originally as a hawking and hunting term: probably from Old French.

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rousing

adjective
1. stirring: a rousing speech.
2. archaic (of a fire) blazing strongly.

DERIVATIVES:
rousingly adverb.

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roust

verb
1. cause to get up or start moving; rouse.
2. N. Amer. informal treat roughly; harass.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of ROUSE.

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roustabout

noun
an unskilled or casual labourer, especially a labourer on an oil rig.

ORIGIN: from ROUST.

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rout [1]

noun
1. a disorderly retreat of defeated troops.
2. a decisive defeat.
3. archaic a disorderly or tumultuous crowd of people.

verb
defeat utterly and force to retreat.

ORIGIN: obsolete French route or Old French rute, from Latin rumpere 'break' .

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rout [2]

verb
1. cut a groove in (a surface).
2. rummage; root.
3. (rout out) root out.

ORIGIN: alteration of ROOT.

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route

noun
1. a way or course taken in getting from a starting point to a destination.
2. N. Amer. a round travelled in delivering, selling, or collecting goods.

verb (routeing or routing)
send or direct along a specified course.

ORIGIN: Old French rute 'road' , from Latin rupta via 'broken way' .

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router

noun
a power tool with a shaped cutter, used in carpentry.

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routine

noun
1. a sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed unvarying programme.
2. a set sequence in a theatrical or comic performance.

adjective
1. performed as part of a regular procedure: a routine inspection.
2. characteristic of routine; without variety.

DERIVATIVES:
routinely adverb.

ORIGIN: French, from route 'route' .

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rove

verb
1. travel constantly without a fixed destination; wander.
2. (of eyes) look around in all directions.

ORIGIN: originally an archery term in the sense «shoot at a casual mark of undetermined range»: perhaps from dialect rave «to stray».

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rover [1]

noun
1. a person who spends their time wandering.
2. a vehicle for driving over rough terrain.

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rover [2]

noun archaic
a pirate.

ORIGIN: Low German and Dutch, from rven 'rob' .

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row [1]

noun
a number of people or things in a more or less straight line.

IDIOMS -
in a row informal in succession.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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row [2]

verb
1. propel (a boat) with oars.
2. row a boat as a sport.

noun
a spell of rowing.

DERIVATIVES:
rower noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to RUDDER.

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row [3] informal, chiefly Brit.

noun
1. an acrimonious quarrel.
2. a loud noise or uproar.
3. a severe reprimand.

verb
have an acrimonious quarrel.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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rowan

noun
a small tree with white flowers and red berries.

ORIGIN: Scandinavian.

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rowdy

adjective (rowdier, rowdiest)
noisy and disorderly.

noun (pl. rowdies)
a rowdy person.

DERIVATIVES:
rowdily adverb
rowdiness noun
rowdyism noun.

ORIGIN: originally US in the sense «lawless backwoodsman»: of unknown origin.

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rowing machine

noun
an exercise machine with oars and a sliding seat.

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royal

adjective
1. relating to or having the status of a king or queen or a member of their family.
2. of a quality or size suitable for a king or queen; splendid.

noun informal
a member of the royal family.

IDIOMS -
royal ‘we’ the use of ‘we’ instead of ‘I’ by a single person, as traditionally used by a sovereign.

DERIVATIVES:
royally adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French roial, from Latin regalis 'regal' .

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royal blue

noun
a deep, vivid blue.

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Royal Commission

noun
(in the UK) a commission of inquiry appointed by the Crown on the recommendation of the government.

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royal flush

noun
the highest straight flush in poker, including ace, king, queen, jack, and ten all in the same suit.

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royal icing

noun chiefly Brit.
hard white icing, typically used to decorate fruit cakes.

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royalist

noun
1. a person who supports the principle of monarchy.
2. historical a supporter of the King against Parliament in the English Civil War.

DERIVATIVES:
royalism noun.

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royal jelly

noun
a substance secreted by honeybee workers and fed by them to larvae which are being raised as potential queen bees.

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royalty

noun (pl. royalties)
1. people of royal blood or status.
2. the status or power of a king or queen.
3. a sum paid for the use of a patent or to an author or composer for each copy of a work sold or for each public performance.
4. a royal right (now especially over minerals) granted by the sovereign.
5. a payment made by a producer of minerals, oil, or natural gas to the owner of the site.

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royal warrant

noun
a warrant issued by the sovereign, in particular one authorizing a company to display the royal arms, indicating that goods or services are supplied to the royal family.

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RP

abbreviation
received pronunciation.

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rpm

abbreviation
revolutions per minute.

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RRP

abbreviation Brit.
recommended retail price.

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RSA

abbreviation
1. Republic of South Africa.
2. Royal Scottish Academy; Royal Scottish Academician.
3. Royal Society of Arts.

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RSC

abbreviation
Royal Shakespeare Company.

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RSPB

abbreviation
(in the UK) Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

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RSPCA

abbreviation
(in the UK) Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

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RSV

abbreviation
Revised Standard Version (of the Bible).

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RSVP

abbreviation
répondez s'il vous plaît; please reply (used at the end of invitations).

ORIGIN: from French.

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Rt Hon.

abbreviation Brit.
Right Honourable.

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Rt Revd (also Rt Rev.)

abbreviation
Right Reverend.

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rub

verb (rubbed, rubbing)
1. apply firm pressure to (a surface) with a repeated back and forth motion.
2. move to and fro against a surface while pressing or grinding against it.
3. apply with a rubbing action.
4. (rub down) dry, smooth, or clean by rubbing.
5. (rub in/into) work (fat) into (a mixture) by breaking and blending it with the fingertips.
6. reproduce the design of (a sepulchral brass or a stone) by rubbing paper laid on it with pencil or chalk.

noun
1. an act of rubbing.
2. an ointment designed to be rubbed on the skin.
3. (the rub) the central or most important difficulty. [ORIGIN: from Shakespeare's Hamlet (III. i. 65).]

IDIOMS -
rub along Brit. informal cope or get along without undue difficulty.
the rub of the green
1. Golf an accidental or unpredictable influence on the course or position of the ball.
2. good fortune.
rub one's hands rub one's hands together to show keen satisfaction.
rub it in (or rub someone's nose in something) informal emphatically draw someone's attention to an embarrassing or painful fact.
rub noses rub one's nose against someone else's in greeting (as is traditional among Maoris and some other peoples).
rub off be transferred by contact or association.
rub out
1. erase (pencil marks) with a rubber.
2. N. Amer. informal kill.
rub sh oulders (or N. Amer. elbows) associate or come into contact.
rub (up) the wrong way anger or irritate.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Low German rubben, of unknown ultimate origin.

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rubato (also tempo rubato)

noun (pl. rubatos or rubati) Music
temporary disregard for strict tempo to allow an expressive quickening or slackening.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'robbed' .

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rubber [1]

noun
1. a tough elastic substance made from the latex of a tropical plant or synthetically.
2. Brit. a piece of such material used for erasing pencil marks.
3. N. Amer. informal a condom.
4. (rubbers) N. Amer. rubber boots; galoshes.

DERIVATIVES:
rubberize (also rubberise) verb
rubbery adjective.

ORIGIN: from RUB; an early use of the substance rubber was to rub out pencil marks.

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rubber [2]

noun
1. a contest consisting of a series of matches between the same sides in cricket, tennis, and other games.
2. Bridge a unit of play in which one side scores bonus points for winning the best of three games.

ORIGIN: originally used as a term in bowls: of unknown origin.

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rubber band

noun
a loop of rubber for holding things together.

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rubberneck informal

noun
a person who turns their head to stare at something in a foolish manner.

verb
stare in such a way.

DERIVATIVES:
rubbernecker noun.

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rubber plant

noun
an evergreen tree with large dark green shiny leaves, native to SE Asia and formerly grown as a source of rubber.

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rubber stamp

noun
1. a hand-held device for imprinting dates, addresses, etc.
2. a person who automatically authorizes another's actions.

verb (rubber-stamp)
1. apply a rubber stamp to.
2. approve automatically without proper consideration.

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rubbing

noun
1. the action of rubbing.
2. an impression of a design on brass or stone, made by rubbing.

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rubbish

noun chiefly Brit.
1. waste material; refuse or litter.
2. unimportant or valueless material.
3. nonsense; worthless talk or ideas.

verb Brit. informal
criticize and reject as worthless.

adjective Brit. informal
very bad.

DERIVATIVES:
rubbishy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French rubbous, perhaps related to robe 'spoils' ; compare with RUBBLE.

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rubble

noun
rough fragments of stone, brick, concrete, etc., especially as the debris from the demolition of buildings.

DERIVATIVES:
rubbly adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French robe 'spoils' ; compare with RUBBISH.

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rubella

noun
a contagious disease transmitted by a virus and with symptoms like mild measles; German measles.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'reddish things' .

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Rubicon

noun
a point of no return.

ORIGIN: a stream in NE Italy marking the ancient boundary between Italy and Cisalpine Gaul, which Julius Caesar crossed in 49 BC, breaking the law and so causing a civil war.

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rubicund

adjective
having a ruddy complexion.

ORIGIN: Latin rubicundus, from rubere 'be red' .

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Rubik's cube

noun trademark
a puzzle in the form of a plastic cube covered with multicoloured squares, which the player attempts to turn so that all the squares on each face are of the same colour.

ORIGIN: named after its Hungarian inventor Erno Rubik (born 1944).

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rubric

noun
1. a heading on a document.
2. a set of instructions or rules.
3. a direction in a liturgical book as to how a church service should be conducted.

ORIGIN: originally referring to text written in red for emphasis: from Latin rubrica terra 'red earth or ochre as writing material' .

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ruby

noun (pl. rubies)
1. a precious stone consisting of corundum in colour varieties varying from deep crimson or purple to pale rose.
2. an intense deep red colour.

ORIGIN: Latin rubinus, from rubeus 'red' .

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ruby wedding

noun
the fortieth anniversary of a wedding.

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RUC

abbreviation
Royal Ulster Constabulary.

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ruche

noun
a frill or pleat of fabric.

DERIVATIVES:
ruched adjective
ruching noun.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin rusca 'tree bark' .

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ruck [1]

noun
1. Rugby a loose scrum formed around a player with the ball on the ground.
2. Australian Rules a group of three players who follow the play without fixed positions.
3. a tightly packed crowd of people.

verb Rugby & Australian Rules
take part in a ruck.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «stack of fuel, heap»: probably of Scandinavian origin.

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ruck [2]

verb (often ruck up)
make or form wrinkles, creases, or folds.

noun
a crease or wrinkle.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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ruck [3]

noun Brit. informal
a brawl.

ORIGIN: perhaps a shortened form of RUCTION or RUCKUS.

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rucksack

noun
a bag with two shoulder straps which allow it to be carried on the back, used by hikers.

ORIGIN: German, from dialect rucken 'back' + Sack 'bag, sack' .

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ruckus

noun
a row or commotion.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to RUCTION and RUMPUS.

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ruction

noun informal
1. a disturbance or quarrel.
2. (ructions) trouble.

ORIGIN: perhaps from INSURRECTION.

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rudder

noun
1. a flat piece hinged vertically near the stern of a boat for steering.
2. a vertical aerofoil pivoted from the tailplane of an aircraft, for controlling movement about the vertical axis.

ORIGIN: Old English, «paddle, oar».

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rudderless

adjective
1. lacking a rudder.
2. lacking direction.

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ruddy

adjective (ruddier, ruddiest)
1. reddish.
2. (of a person's face) having a healthy red colour.
3. Brit. informal, dated used as a euphemism for ‘bloody’.

DERIVATIVES:
ruddiness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to RUDDLE and RED.

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rude

adjective
1. offensively impolite or ill-mannered.
2. referring to sex in a way considered improper and offensive.
3. very abrupt: a rude awakening.
4. chiefly Brit. vigorous or hearty: rude health.
5. dated roughly made or done; lacking sophistication.
6. archaic ignorant and uneducated.

DERIVATIVES:
rudely adverb
rudeness noun
rudery noun.

ORIGIN: Latin rudis 'unwrought, uncultivated' .

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rudiment

noun
1. (rudiments) the first principles of a subject.
2. (rudiments) an elementary or primitive form of something.
3. Biology an undeveloped or immature part or organ.

ORIGIN: Latin rudimentum, from rudis 'unwrought' .

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rudimentary

adjective
1. involving or limited to basic principles.
2. immature, undeveloped, or basic.

DERIVATIVES:
rudimentarily adverb.

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rue

verb (rues, rued, rueing or ruing)
bitterly regret (a past event or action).

noun archaic
1. repentance; regret.
2. compassion; pity.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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rueful

adjective
expressing regret, especially in a wry or humorous way.

DERIVATIVES:
ruefully adverb
ruefulness noun.

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ruff

noun
1. a projecting starched frill worn round the neck, characteristic of Elizabethan and Jacobean costume.
2. a ring of feathers or hair round the neck of a bird or mammal.
3. (pl. same or ruffs) a wading bird, the male of which has a large ruff and ear tufts in the breeding season.

ORIGIN: probably from a variant of ROUGH.

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ruffian

noun
a violent or lawless person.

DERIVATIVES:
ruffianism noun
ruffianly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Italian ruffiano, perhaps from dialect rofia 'scab, scurf' .

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ruffle

verb
1. make or become disarranged; disrupt the smooth surface of.
2. disconcert or upset the composure of.
3. (ruffled) ornamented with or gathered into a frill.

noun
an ornamental gathered frill on a garment.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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rufous

adjective
reddish brown in colour.

noun
a reddish-brown colour.

ORIGIN: Latin rufus 'red, reddish' .

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rug

noun
1. a small carpet.
2. chiefly Brit. a thick woollen blanket.
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. a toupee or wig.

IDIOMS -
pull the rug out from under abruptly expose or withdraw support from.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian; related to RAG.

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rugby (also rugby football)

noun
a team game played with an oval ball that may be kicked, carried, and passed by hand, in which points are won by scoring a try or by kicking the ball over the crossbar of the opponents' goal.

ORIGIN: named after Rugby School in central England, where the game was first played.

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rugby league

noun
a form of rugby played in teams of thirteen, in which professionalism has always been allowed.

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rugby union

noun
a form of rugby played in teams of fifteen, traditionally strictly amateur but opened to professionalism in 1995.

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rugged

adjective
1. having a rocky and uneven surface.
2. having or requiring toughness and determination.
3. (of a man) having attractively masculine, rough-hewn features.

DERIVATIVES:
ruggedly adverb
ruggedness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «shaggy»: probably of Scandinavian origin.

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rugger

noun Brit. informal
rugby.

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ruin

noun
1. physical destruction or collapse.
2. a building (or the remains of a building) that has suffered much damage.
3. a dramatic decline; a downfall.
4. the complete of a person's money and other assets.

verb
1. damage irreparably; reduce to a state of ruin.
2. reduce to poverty or bankruptcy.

ORIGIN: Latin ruina, from ruere 'to fall' .

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ruination

noun
the action or fact of ruining or the state of being ruined.

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ruinous

adjective
1. disastrous or destructive.
2. in ruins; dilapidated.

DERIVATIVES:
ruinously adverb.

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rule

noun
1. a regulation or principle governing conduct or procedure within a particular sphere.
2. control or government: British rule.
3. a code of practice and discipline for a religious community.
4. (the rule) the normal or customary state of things.
5. a straight strip of rigid material used for measuring; a ruler.
6. a thin printed line or dash.

verb
1. exercise ultimate power over (a people or nation).
2. exert a powerful and restricting influence on.
3. pronounce authoritatively and legally to be the case.
4. make parallel lines on (paper).

IDIOMS -
as a rule usually, but not always.
rule of thumb a broadly accurate guide or principle, based on practice rather than theory.
rule out/in exclude (or include) as a possibility.
rule the roost be in complete control.
run the rule over Brit. examine cursorily.

ORIGIN: Old French reule, from Latin regula 'straight stick' .

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ruler

noun
1. a person who rules a people or nation.
2. a straight-edged strip of rigid material, marked at regular intervals and used to draw straight lines or measure distances.

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ruling

noun
an authoritative decision or pronouncement.

adjective
exercising rule.

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rum [1]

noun
1. an alcoholic spirit distilled from sugar-cane residues or molasses.
2. N. Amer. any intoxicating liquor.

ORIGIN: perhaps an abbreviation of obsolete rumbullion.

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rum [2]

adjective (rummer, rummest) Brit. informal, dated
odd; peculiar.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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rumba (also rhumba)

noun
1. a rhythmic dance with Spanish and African elements, originating in Cuba.
2. a ballroom dance based on this.

verb (rumbas, rumbaed or rumba'd, rumbaing)
dance the rumba.

ORIGIN: Latin American Spanish.

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rumble

verb
1. make a continuous deep, resonant sound.
2. move with such a sound.
3. (rumble on) (of a dispute) continue in a low-key way.
4. Brit. informal discover (an illicit activity or its perpetrator).

noun
1. a continuous deep, resonant sound like distant thunder.
2. US informal a street fight between rival gangs.

DERIVATIVES:
rumbler noun.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch rommelen, rummelen, of imitative origin.

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rumble strip

noun
one of a series of raised strips set in a road to warn drivers of speed restrictions or an approaching hazard.

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rumbustious

adjective informal, chiefly Brit.
boisterous or unruly.

ORIGIN: probably an alteration of archaic robustious «boisterous, robust».

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ruminant

noun
a mammal of a type that chews the cud, comprising cattle, sheep, antelopes, deer, giraffes, and their relatives.

adjective
relating to ruminants.

ORIGIN: from Latin ruminari 'chew over again' , from rumen 'throat, first stomach of a ruminant' .

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ruminate

verb
1. think deeply about something.
2. (of a ruminant) chew the cud.

DERIVATIVES:
rumination noun
ruminative adjective.

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rummage

verb
search unsystematically and untidily for something.

noun
an act of rummaging.

ORIGIN: originally referring to the arranging of items in the hold of a ship: from Old French arrumer 'stow in a hold' .

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rummy

noun
a card game in which the players try to form sets and sequences of cards.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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rumour (US rumor)

noun
a currently circulating story or report of unverified or doubtful truth.

verb (be rumoured)
be circulated as a rumour.

ORIGIN: Latin rumor 'noise' .

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rump

noun
1. the hind part of the body of a mammal or the lower back of a bird.
2. a small or unimportant remnant.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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rumple

verb
give a ruffled or dishevelled appearance to.

noun
an untidy state.

DERIVATIVES:
rumpled adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «wrinkle»: from Dutch rompel.

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rumpus

noun (pl. rumpuses)
a noisy disturbance.

ORIGIN: probably fanciful.

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run

verb (running; past ran; past part. run)
1. move at a speed faster than a walk, never having both or all feet on the ground at the same time.
2. move about in a hurried and hectic way.
3. pass or cause to pass: Helen ran her fingers through her hair.
4. move forcefully: the tanker ran aground.
5. (of a bus, train, etc.) make a regular journey on a particular route.
6. be in charge of; manage or organize.
7. continue, operate, or proceed.
8. function or cause to function.
9. pass into or reach a specified state or level: inflation is running at 11 per cent.
10. (run in) (of a quality or trait) be common or inherent in.
11. (of a liquid) flow.
12. emit or exude a liquid.
13. (of dye or colour) dissolve and spread when wet.
14. stand as a candidate.
15. enter or be entered in a race.
16. publish or be published in a newspaper or magazine.
17. transport in a car.
18. smuggle (goods).
19. chiefly N. Amer. (of a stocking or pair of tights) develop a ladder.

noun
1. an act or spell of running.
2. a running pace.
3. a journey or route.
4. a short excursion made in a car.
5. a course or track made or regularly used: a ski run.
6. a length, spell, or stretch of something: a run of bad luck.
7. an enclosed area in which animals or birds may run freely in the open.
8. Austral./NZ a large open stretch of land used for pasture or livestock.
9. a rapid series of musical notes.
10. a sequence of cards of the same suit.
11. (the run) the average or usual type.
12. (the run of) free and unrestricted use of or access to somewhere.
13. Cricket a unit of scoring achieved by hitting the ball so that both batsmen are able to run between the wickets.
14. Baseball a point scored by the batter returning to the home plate after touching the bases.
15. a ladder in stockings or tights.
16. (the runs) informal diarrhoea.

IDIOMS -
be run off one's feet be extremely busy.
a (good) run for one's money
1. challenging competition or opposition.
2. reward or enjoyment in return for one's efforts.
on the run
1. escaping from arrest.
2. while running or moving.
run across meet or find by chance.
run after informal pursue persistently.
run along informal go away.
run away
1. take flight; escape.
2. try to avoid facing up to danger or difficulty.
run away with
1. escape the control of.
2. win (a competition or prize) easily.
run before one can walk attempt something difficult before one has grasped the basic skills.
run by (or past) tell (someone) about (something) to find out their opinion.
run down
1. knoc k down with a vehicle.
2. criticize unfairly or unkindly.
3. reduce or become reduced in size or resources.
4. lose or cause to lose power; stop functioning.
5. gradually deteriorate.
run in
1. Brit. use (something new) in such a way as not to make maximum demands upon it.
2. informal arrest (someone).
run into
1. collide with.
2. meet by chance.
3. experience (a problem or difficult situation).
run off
1. produce (a copy) on a machine.
2. write or recite quickly and with little effort.
run on continue without stopping; go on longer than is expected.
run out
1. use up or be used up.
2. become no longer valid.
3. extend; project.
4. Cricket dismiss (a batsman) by dislodging the bails with the ball while the batsman is still running.
run over
1. knock down with a vehicle.
2. overflow.
3. exceed (a limit).
run through
1. stab so as to kill.
2. (also run over) go over quickly or briefly as a rehearsal or reminder.
run to
1. extend to or reach.
2. show a tendency towards.
run up
1. allow (a bill, score, etc.) to accumulate.
2. make quickly or hurriedly.
3. raise (a flag).
run up against experience or meet (a difficulty or problem).
you can't run with the hares and hunt with the hounds proverb you can't be loyal to both sides in a conflict or dispute.

DERIVATIVES:
runnable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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runabout

noun
a small car or light aircraft, especially one used for short journeys.

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runaround

noun informal
1. (the runaround) evasive treatment.
2. a runabout.

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runaway

noun
a person who has run away from their home or an institution.

adjective
1. (of an animal or vehicle) running out of control.
2. happening or done quickly or uncontrollably: runaway success.

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rundown

noun
a brief analysis or summary.

adjective (run-down)
1. in a poor or neglected state.
2. tired and rather unwell, especially through overwork.

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rune

noun
1. a letter of an ancient Germanic alphabet used especially in Scandinavia.
2. a mysterious symbol, especially in a spell or incantation.
3. an ancient Scandinavian poem or part of one.

DERIVATIVES:
runic adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «secret, mystery».

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rung [1]

noun
1. a horizontal support on a ladder for a person's foot.
2. a strengthening crosspiece in the structure of a chair.
3. a level in a hierarchical structure.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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run-in

noun
1. the approach to an action or event.
2. informal a disagreement or fight.

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runnel

noun
1. a gutter.
2. a brook or stream.

ORIGIN: from dialect rindle, influenced by RUN.

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runner

noun
1. a person or animal that runs.
2. a messenger, collector, or agent for a bank, bookmaker, etc.
3. an orderly in the army.
4. a rod, groove, blade, or roller on which something slides.
5. a ring capable of sliding or being drawn along a strap or rod.
6. a shoot which grows along the ground and can take root at points along its length.
7. a climbing plant, or one that spreads by means of runners.
8. a long, narrow rug or strip of carpet.

IDIOMS -
do a runner Brit. informal leave hastily to escape or avoid something.

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runner bean

noun chiefly Brit.
a climbing bean plant with scarlet flowers and long green edible pods.

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runner-up

noun (pl. runners-up)
a competitor or team taking second place in a contest.

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running

noun
1. the activity or movement of a runner.
2. the action or business of managing or operating.

adjective
1. (of water) flowing naturally or supplied through pipes and taps.
2. exuding liquid or pus.
3. continuous or recurring: a running joke.
4. done while running.
5. (after a noun ) consecutive; in succession: the third week running.

IDIOMS -
in (or out of) the running in (or no longer in) contention.
make (or take up) the running set the pace.

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running battle

noun
a military engagement which does not occur at a fixed location.

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running board

noun
a footboard extending along the side of a vehicle.

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running commentary

noun
a verbal description of events, given as they occur.

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running head

noun
a heading printed at the top of each page of a book or chapter.

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running mate

noun
1. chiefly US an election candidate for the lesser of two closely associated political offices.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a horse entered in a race in order to set the pace for another horse which is intended to win.

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running repairs

plural noun
minor or temporary repairs carried out on machinery while it is in use.

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running total

noun
a total that is continually adjusted to take account of further items.

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runny

adjective (runnier, runniest)
1. more liquid in consistency than is usual or expected.
2. (of a person's nose) producing or discharging mucus.

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run-off

noun
1. a further contest after a tie or inconclusive result.
2. rainfall or other liquid that drains away from the surface of an area.

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run-of-the-mill

adjective
lacking unusual or special aspects; ordinary.

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run-out

noun
1. Cricket the dismissal of a batsman by being run out.
2. informal a short session of play or practice in a sport.

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runt

noun
a small pig or other animal, especially the smallest in a litter.

DERIVATIVES:
runtish adjective
runty adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «old or decayed tree stump», later «small ox or cow»: of unknown origin.

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run-through

noun
1. a rehearsal.
2. a brief outline or summary.

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run-up

noun
1. the preparatory period before a notable event.
2. an act of running briefly to gain momentum before bowling, performing a jump, etc.

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runway

noun
1. a strip of hard ground along which aircraft take off and land.
2. a raised gangway extending into an auditorium, especially as used for fashion shows.
3. an animal run.
4. a chute down which logs are slid.

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rupee

noun
the basic monetary unit of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Mauritius, and the Seychelles.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, 'wrought silver' .

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rupture

verb
1. break or burst suddenly.
2. (be ruptured or rupture oneself) suffer an abdominal hernia.
3. breach or disturb (a harmonious situation).

noun
1. an instance of rupturing.
2. an abdominal hernia.

ORIGIN: Latin ruptura, from rumpere 'to break' .

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rural

adjective
relating to or characteristic of the countryside rather than the town.

DERIVATIVES:
ruralism noun
ruralist noun
rurality noun
ruralize (also ruralise) verb
rurally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin ruralis, from rus 'country' .

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ruse

noun
a stratagem or trick.

ORIGIN: from Old French ruser 'use trickery' , earlier 'drive back' , perhaps from Latin rursus 'backwards' .

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rush [1]

verb
1. move or act with urgent haste.
2. transport or produce with urgent haste.
3. deal with hurriedly.
4. (of air or a liquid) flow strongly.
5. dash towards in an attempt to attack or capture.

noun
1. the action or an instance of rushing.
2. a flurry of hasty activity.
3. a sudden strong demand for a commodity.
4. a sudden intensity of feeling.
5. a sudden thrill experienced after taking certain drugs.
6. (rushes) the first prints made of a film after a period of shooting.

IDIOMS -
rush one's fences Brit. act with undue haste.
a rush of blood to the head a sudden attack of wild irrationality.

ORIGIN: Old French ruser 'drive back' ; related to RUSE.

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rush [2]

noun
a marsh or waterside plant with slender pith-filled leaves, some kinds of which are used for matting, baskets, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
rushy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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rush hour

noun
a time at the start and end of the working day when traffic is at its heaviest.

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rusk

noun
a dry biscuit or piece of rebaked bread.

ORIGIN: Spanish or Portuguese rosca 'twist, coil, roll of bread' .

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russet

adjective
reddish brown.

noun
1. a reddish-brown colour.
2. a variety of dessert apple with a slightly rough greenish-brown skin.
3. historical a coarse homespun reddish-brown or grey cloth.

DERIVATIVES:
russety adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French rousset, from Latin russus 'red' .

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Russian

noun
1. a person from Russia.
2. the Slavic language of Russia, written in the Cyrillic alphabet.

adjective
relating to Russia.

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Russian Orthodox Church

noun
the national Church of Russia.

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Russian roulette

noun
a dangerous game of chance in which a single bullet is loaded into the chamber of a revolver, the cylinder is spun, and people take it in turns to hold the gun to their own head and fire it.

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rust

noun
1. a reddish- or yellowish-brown flaky coating of iron oxide that is formed on iron or steel by oxidation, especially in the presence of moisture.
2. a fungal disease of plants which results in reddish or brownish patches.
3. a reddish-brown colour.

verb
be affected with rust.

DERIVATIVES:
rustless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to RED.

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rustic

adjective
1. of or characteristic of life in the country.
2. having a simplicity and charm that is considered typical of the countryside.
3. (of furniture) made of rough branches or timber.

noun often derogatory
an unsophisticated country person.

DERIVATIVES:
rustically adverb
rusticity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin rusticus, from rus 'the country' .

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rusticate

verb
1. Brit. suspend (a student) from a university as a punishment (used chiefly at Oxford and Cambridge).
2. fashion (masonry) in large blocks with sunken joints and a roughened surface.

DERIVATIVES:
rustication noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «make countrified»: from Latin rusticus 'rustic' .

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rustle

verb
1. make a soft crackling sound like that caused by the movement of dry leaves or paper.
2. move with such a sound.
3. round up and steal (cattle, horses, or sheep).
4. (rustle up) informal produce (food or a drink) quickly.
5. N. Amer. informal move or act quickly or energetically.

noun
a rustling sound.

DERIVATIVES:
rustler noun.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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rustproof

adjective
not susceptible to corrosion by rust.

verb
make rustproof.

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rusty

adjective (rustier, rustiest)
1. affected by rust.
2. rust-coloured.
3. (of knowledge or a skill) impaired by lack of recent practice.

DERIVATIVES:
rustily adverb
rustiness noun.

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rut [1]

noun
1. a long deep track made by the repeated passage of the wheels of vehicles.
2. a routine or pattern of behaviour or activity that has become dull but is hard to change.

DERIVATIVES:
rutted adjective
rutty adjective.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French rute (see ROUTE).

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rut [2]

noun
an annual period of sexual activity in deer and some other mammals, during which the males fight each other for access to the females.

verb (rutted, rutting)
engage in such activity.

DERIVATIVES:
ruttish adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin rugire 'to roar' .

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ruthless

adjective
having or showing no compassion.

DERIVATIVES:
ruthlessly adverb
ruthlessness noun.

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rye

noun
1. a wheat-like cereal plant which tolerates poor soils and low temperatures.
2. whisky in which a significant amount of the grain used in distillation is fermented rye.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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ryegrass

noun
a grass used for fodder and lawns.

ORIGIN: alteration of obsolete ray-grass, of unknown origin.

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S

S [1] (also s)

noun (pl. Ss or S's)
the nineteenth letter of the alphabet.

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S [2]

abbreviation
1. (chiefly in Catholic use) Saint.
2. siemens.
3. small (as a clothes size).
4. South or Southern.

symbol
the chemical element sulphur.

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s

abbreviation
1. second or seconds.
2. shilling or shillings.
3. Grammar singular.
4. (in genealogies) son or sons.

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's

contraction informal
1. is.
2. has.
3. us.
4. does.

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-s [1]

suffix
denoting the plurals of nouns (as in wagons).

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-s [2]

suffix
forming the third person singular of the present of verbs (as in sews).

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-'s [1]

suffix
denoting possession in singular nouns, also in plural nouns not having a final -s: John's book.

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-'s [2]

suffix
denoting the plural of a letter or symbol: 9's.

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SA

abbreviation
1. Salvation Army.
2. South Africa.
3. South America.
4. South Australia.

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sabbath

noun
1. (often the Sabbath) a day of religious observance and abstinence from work, kept by Jews from Friday evening to Saturday evening, and by most Christians on Sunday.
2. (also witches' sabbath) a midnight pagan ritual held by witches.

ORIGIN: from Hebrew, 'to rest' .

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sabbatical

noun
a period of paid leave granted to a university teacher for study or travel (traditionally one year for every seven years worked).

adjective
1. relating to a sabbatical.
2. archaic of or appropriate to the sabbath.

ORIGIN: from Greek sabbatikos 'of the sabbath' .

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saber (Brit. sabre)

noun
1. a heavy cavalry sword with a curved blade and a single cutting edge.
2. a light fencing sword with a tapering, typically curved blade.

ORIGIN: French, from Hungarian szablya.

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sable

noun
1. a marten with a short tail and dark brown fur, native to Japan and Siberia.
2. the fur of the sable.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin sabelum.

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sabotage

verb
deliberately destroy or obstruct, especially for political or military advantage.

noun
the action of sabotaging.

ORIGIN: French, from saboter 'kick with sabots, wilfully destroy' .

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saboteur

noun
a person who engages in sabotage.

ORIGIN: French.

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sabre (US saber)

noun
1. a heavy cavalry sword with a curved blade and a single cutting edge.
2. a light fencing sword with a tapering, typically curved blade.

ORIGIN: French, from Hungarian szablya.

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sabretooth

noun
a large extinct carnivore of the cat family with massive curved upper canine teeth.

DERIVATIVES:
sabre-toothed adjective.

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sac

noun
1. a hollow, flexible structure resembling a bag or pouch.
2. a cavity enclosed by a membrane within a living organism.

ORIGIN: Latin saccus 'sack, bag' .

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saccharin

noun
a sweet-tasting synthetic compound used as a low-calorie substitute for sugar.

ORIGIN: Greek sakkharon 'sugar' .

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saccharine

adjective
1. excessively sweet or sentimental.
2. relating to or containing sugar.

noun
saccharin.

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sacerdotal

adjective
relating to priests or the priesthood.

DERIVATIVES:
sacerdotalism noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sacerdotalis, from sacerdos 'priest' .

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sachet

noun chiefly Brit.
a small sealed bag or packet containing a small quantity of something.

ORIGIN: French, 'little bag' , from Latin saccus 'sack, bag' .

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sack [1]

noun
1. a large bag made of a material such as hessian or thick paper, used for storing and carrying goods.
2. (the sack) informal dismissal from employment.
3. (the sack) informal bed.

verb informal
1. dismiss from employment.
2. (sack out) chiefly N. Amer. go to sleep or bed.

IDIOMS -
hit the sack informal go to bed.

DERIVATIVES:
sackable adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek sakkos 'sack, sackcloth' .

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sack [2]

verb
plunder and destroy (used chiefly in historical contexts).

noun
the sacking of a town or city.

ORIGIN: French sac, from mettre à sac 'put to sack' , on the model of Italian mettere a sacco, which perhaps originally referred to filling a sack with plunder.

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sackcloth

noun
a coarse fabric woven from flax or hemp.

IDIOMS -
sackcloth and ashes an expression of extreme sorrow or remorse. [ORIGIN: with allusion to the wearing of sackcloth and having ashes sprinkled on the head as a sign of penitence or mourning (Gospel of Matthew, chapter 11).]

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sacking

noun
1. an act of dismissing someone from employment.
2. coarse material for making sacks; sackcloth.

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sacral

adjective
1. Anatomy relating to the sacrum.
2. relating to sacred rites or symbols.

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sacrament

noun
1. (in the Christian Church) a religious ceremony or ritual regarded as imparting divine grace, such as baptism and the Eucharist.
2. (also the Blessed Sacrament or the Holy Sacrament) (in Catholic use) the consecrated elements of the Eucharist, especially the bread.
3. a thing of sacred significance.

ORIGIN: Latin sacramentum 'solemn oath' .

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sacramental

adjective
relating to or constituting a sacrament.

noun
(in the Christian Church) an observance that is comparable to but not itself considered to be a sacrament, such as the use of holy water or the sign of the cross.

DERIVATIVES:
sacramentalism noun
sacramentalize (also sacramentalise) verb
sacramentally adverb.

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sacred

adjective
1. connected with a deity and so deserving veneration; holy.
2. (of a text) embodying the doctrines of a religion.
3. religious rather than secular.

DERIVATIVES:
sacredly adverb
sacredness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin sacrare 'consecrate' , from sacer 'holy' .

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sacred cow

noun
an idea, custom, or institution held to be above criticism (with reference to the respect of Hindus for the cow as a sacred animal).

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sacrifice

noun
1. the practice or an act of killing an animal or person or surrendering a possession as an offering to a deity.
2. an animal, person, or object offered in this way.
3. an act of giving up something one values for the sake of something that is of greater importance.

verb
offer or give up as a sacrifice.

DERIVATIVES:
sacrificial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin sacrificium, from sacer 'holy' .

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sacrilege

noun
violation or misuse of something regarded as sacred or as having great value.

DERIVATIVES:
sacrilegious adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin sacrilegium, from sacrilegus 'stealer of sacred things' .

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sacristan

noun
a person in charge of a sacristy.

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sacristy

noun (pl. sacristies)
a room in a church where a priest prepares for a service, and where vestments and other things used in worship are kept.

ORIGIN: Latin sacristia, from sacer 'sacred' .

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sacrosanct

adjective
regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered with.

DERIVATIVES:
sacrosanctity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sacrosanctus, from sacro 'by a sacred rite' + sanctus 'holy' .

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sacrum

noun (pl. sacra or sacrums) Anatomy
a triangular bone in the lower back formed from fused vertebrae and situated between the two hip bones of the pelvis.

ORIGIN: from Latin os sacrum 'sacred bone' (from the belief that the soul resides in it).

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SAD

abbreviation
seasonal affective disorder.

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sad

adjective (sadder, saddest)
1. feeling sorrow; unhappy.
2. causing or characterized by sorrow or regret.
3. informal pathetically inadequate or unfashionable.

DERIVATIVES:
sadness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English «sated, weary», also «weighty, dense».

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sadden

verb
make unhappy.

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saddle

noun
1. a seat with a raised ridge at the front and back, fastened on the back of a horse for riding.
2. a seat on a bicycle or motorcycle.
3. a low part of a hill or mountain ridge between two higher points or peaks.
4. the lower part of the back in a mammal or fowl.
5. a joint of meat consisting of the two loins.

verb
1. put a saddle on (a horse).
2. (be saddled with) be burdened with (a responsibility or task).

IDIOMS -
in the saddle
1. on horseback.
2. in a position of control or responsibility.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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saddleback

noun
1. a hill with a ridge along the top that dips in the middle.
2. a pig of a black breed with a white stripe across the back.

DERIVATIVES:
saddlebacked adjective.

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saddlebag

noun
a bag attached to a saddle.

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saddler

noun
a person who makes, repairs, or deals in saddlery.

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saddlery

noun (pl. saddleries)
1. saddles, bridles, and other equipment for horses.
2. the making or repairing of such equipment.
3. a saddler's business or premises.

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sadism

noun
the tendency to derive sexual gratification or general pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others.

DERIVATIVES:
sadist noun
sadistic adjective
sadistically adverb.

ORIGIN: French sadisme, from the name of the French writer the Marquis de Sade (1740 1814).

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sadly

adverb
1. in a sad manner.
2. it is sad or regrettable that; regrettably.

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sadomasochism

noun
psychological tendency or sexual practice characterized by a combination of sadism and masochism.

DERIVATIVES:
sadomasochist noun
sadomasochistic adjective.

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sae

abbreviation Brit.
stamped addressed envelope.

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safari

noun (pl. safaris)
(especially in East Africa) an expedition to observe or hunt animals in their natural habitat.

ORIGIN: Kiswahili, from Arabic, 'to travel' .

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safari park

noun
an area of parkland where wild animals are kept in the open and may be observed by visitors driving through.

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safe

adjective
1. protected from danger or risk.
2. not causing or leading to harm or injury.
3. (of a place) affording security or protection.
4. often derogatory cautious and unenterprising: a safe choice.
5. (of an assertion, verdict, bet, etc.) based on good reasons or evidence and not likely to be proved wrong.
6. informal excellent.

noun
1. a strong fireproof cabinet with a complex lock, used for the storage of valuables.
2. N. Amer. informal a condom.

IDIOMS -
safe and sound uninjured; with no harm done.
to be on the safe side in order to have a margin of security against risks.

DERIVATIVES:
safely adverb
safeness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French sauf, from Latin salvus 'uninjured' .

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safe deposit (also safety deposit)

noun
a strongroom or safe in a bank or hotel.

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safeguard

noun
a measure taken to protect or prevent something.

verb
protect with a safeguard.

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safe house

noun
a house in a secret location, used by spies or criminals in hiding.

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safekeeping

noun
preservation in a safe place.

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safe seat

noun
a parliamentary seat that is likely to be retained with a large majority in an election.

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safe sex

noun
sexual activity engaged in by people who have taken precautions to protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases such as Aids.

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safety

noun (pl. safeties)
1. the condition of being safe.
2. (before another noun ) denoting something designed to prevent injury or damage: a safety barrier.
3. US informal a condom.

IDIOMS -
there's safety in numbers proverb being in a group of people makes you feel more confident or secure about taking action.

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safety belt

noun
a belt or strap securing a person to their seat in a vehicle or aircraft.

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safety catch

noun
a device that prevents a gun being fired or a machine being operated accidentally.

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safety curtain

noun
a fireproof curtain that can be lowered between the stage and the main part of a theatre to prevent the spread of fire.

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safety deposit

noun
a safe deposit.

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safety glass

noun
glass that has been toughened or laminated so that it is less likely to splinter when broken.

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safety match

noun
a match that ignites only when struck on a specially prepared surface, such as that on the side of a matchbox.

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safety net

noun
1. a net placed to catch an acrobat in case of a fall.
2. a safeguard against adversity.

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safety pin

noun
a pin with a point that is bent back to the head and is held in a guard when closed.

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safety razor

noun
a razor with a guard to reduce the risk of cutting the skin.

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safety valve

noun
1. a valve that opens automatically to relieve excessive pressure.
2. a means of giving harmless vent to feelings of tension or stress.

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saffron

noun
an orange-yellow spice used for flavouring and colouring food, made from the dried stigmas of a crocus.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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sag

verb (sagged, sagging)
1. sink or bulge downwards gradually under weight or pressure or through weakness.
2. hang down loosely or unevenly.

noun
an instance of sagging.

DERIVATIVES:
saggy adjective.

ORIGIN: probably related to Low German sacken, Dutch zakken 'subside' .

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saga

noun
1. a long story of heroic achievement, especially a medieval prose narrative in Old Norse or Old Icelandic.
2. a long, involved account or series of incidents.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'narrative' .

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sagacious

adjective
having or showing good judgement.

DERIVATIVES:
sagaciously adverb
sagacity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin sagax 'wise' .

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sage [1]

noun
an aromatic Mediterranean plant with greyish-green leaves that are used as a herb in cookery.

ORIGIN: Old French sauge, from Latin salvia 'healing plant' .

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sage [2]

noun
(especially in ancient history or legend) a man recognized for his wisdom.

adjective
wise; judicious.

DERIVATIVES:
sagely adverb
sageness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin sapere 'be wise' .

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Sagittarius

noun
1. Astronomy a large constellation (the Archer), said to represent a centaur carrying a bow and arrow.
2. Astrology the ninth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about 22 November.

DERIVATIVES:
Sagittarian noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'archer' .

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sago

noun
1. edible starch obtained from a palm, dried and processed to produce a flour or granules.
2. (also sago pudding) a sweet dish made from sago and milk.

ORIGIN: Malay.

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sahib

noun Indian
a polite title or form of address for a man.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'friend, lord' .

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said
past and past participle of SAY.
adjective
denoting someone or something already mentioned: the said agreement.

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sail

noun
1. a piece of material extended on a mast to catch the wind and propel a boat or ship.
2. a wind-catching apparatus attached to the arm of a windmill.
3. a voyage or excursion in a sailing boat or ship.

verb
1. travel in a sailing boat as a sport or for recreation.
2. travel in a ship or boat using sails or engine power.
3. begin a voyage.
4. travel by ship on or across (a sea) or on (a route).
5. navigate or control (a boat or ship).
6. move smoothly or confidently.
7. (sail through) informal succeed easily at.

IDIOMS -
sail close to the wind
1. sail as nearly against the wind as possible.
2. behave or operate in a risky way.
under sail with the sails hoisted.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sailboard

noun
a board with a mast and a sail, used in windsurfing.

DERIVATIVES:
sailboarder noun
sailboarding noun.

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sailcloth

noun
1. canvas or other strong fabric used for making sails.
2. a similar fabric used for making durable clothes.

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sailing boat

noun (N. Amer. sailboat)
a boat propelled by sails.

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sailing ship

noun
a ship propelled by sails.

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sailor

noun
1. a person who works as a member of the crew of a commercial or naval ship or boat.
2. a person who sails as a sport or for recreation.
3. (a good/bad sailor) a person who rarely (or often) becomes seasick.

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sailplane

noun
a glider designed for sustained flight.

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saint

noun
1. a person who is acknowledged as holy or virtuous and regarded in Christian faith as being in heaven after death.
2. a person of exalted virtue who is canonized by the Church after death and who may be the object of veneration and prayers for intercession.
3. informal a very virtuous person.

verb
1. formally recognize as a saint; canonize.
2. (sainted) worthy of being a saint; very virtuous.

DERIVATIVES:
sainthood noun
saintliness noun
saintly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French seint, from Latin sanctus 'holy' .

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saint's day

noun
(in the Christian Church) a day on which a saint is particularly commemorated.

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sake [1]

noun
1. (for the sake of) for the purpose of or in the interest of.
2. (for the sake of) out of consideration for or in order to help.
3. (for old times' sake) in memory of former times.
4. (for God's/goodness sake) expressing impatience or desperation.

ORIGIN: Old English, «contention, crime».

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sake [2]

noun
a Japanese alcoholic drink made from fermented rice.

ORIGIN: Japanese.

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salaam

noun
a gesture of greeting or respect in Arabic-speaking and Muslim countries, consisting of a low bow of the head and body with the hand or fingers touching the forehead.

verb
make a salaam.

ORIGIN: from an Arabic phrase meaning «peace be upon you».

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salacious

adjective
having or conveying undue or indecent interest in sexual matters.

DERIVATIVES:
salaciously adverb
salaciousness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin salax, from salire 'to leap' .

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salad

noun
a cold dish of raw vegetables.

ORIGIN: Old French salade, from Latin sal 'salt' .

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salad cream

noun Brit.
a creamy dressing resembling mayonnaise.

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salad days

plural noun (one's salad days)
1. the period when one is young and inexperienced.
2. the peak or heyday of something.

ORIGIN: from Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra (I. v. 72).

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salamander

noun
1. a long-tailed amphibian resembling a newt, typically with bright markings.
2. a mythical lizard-like creature said to live in fire or to be able to withstand its effects.
3. a metal plate heated and placed over food to brown it.

DERIVATIVES:
salamandrine adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek salamandra.

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salami

noun (pl. same or salamis)
a type of highly seasoned preserved sausage, originally from Italy.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin salare 'to salt' .

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sal ammoniac

noun dated
ammonium chloride, a white crystalline salt.

ORIGIN: Latin sal ammoniacus 'salt of Ammon' , from Greek ammniakos 'of Ammon' , used as a name for the salt and gum obtained near the temple of Jupiter Ammon at Siwa in Egypt.

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salaried

adjective
earning or offering a salary: a salaried job.

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salary

noun (pl. salaries)
a fixed regular payment made by an employer to an employee, especially a professional or white-collar worker.

ORIGIN: Latin salarium, originally denoting a Roman soldier's allowance to buy salt, from sal 'salt' .

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sale

noun
1. the exchange of a commodity for money.
2. (sales) the activity or profession of selling.
3. a period in which goods are sold at reduced prices.
4. a public event at which goods are sold or auctioned.

IDIOMS -
for (or on) sale offered for purchase.
sale or return Brit. an arrangement by which a retailer takes a quantity of goods with the right to return unsold items without payment.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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saleable (also salable)

adjective
fit or able to be sold.

DERIVATIVES:
saleability noun.

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saleroom (also salesroom)

noun chiefly Brit.
a room in which auctions are held.

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salesman (or saleswoman)

noun
a person whose job involves selling or promoting commercial products.

DERIVATIVES:
salesmanship noun.

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salesperson

noun
a salesman or saleswoman.

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salient

adjective
1. most noticeable or important.
2. (of an angle) pointing outwards.

noun
1. a piece of land or section of fortification that juts out to form an angle.
2. an outward bulge in a military line.

DERIVATIVES:
salience noun
saliency noun
saliently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin salire 'to leap' .

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saline

adjective
1. containing or impregnated with salt.
2. chiefly Medicine (of a solution) containing sodium chloride and/or other salts, especially in the same concentration as in the body.

noun
a saline solution.

DERIVATIVES:
salinity noun
salinization (also salinisation) noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin sal 'salt' .

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saliva

noun
a watery liquid secreted into the mouth by glands, providing lubrication for chewing and swallowing, and aiding digestion.

DERIVATIVES:
salivary adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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salivate

verb
1. produce saliva, especially in anticipation of food.
2. display great relish at the sight or prospect of something.

DERIVATIVES:
salivation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin salivare.

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sallow

adjective (sallower, sallowest)
(of a person's face or complexion) of a yellowish or pale brown colour.

DERIVATIVES:
sallowish adjective
sallowness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «dusky».

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sally

noun (pl. sallies)
1. a sudden charge out of a besieged place against the enemy.
2. a witty or lively retort.

verb (sallies, sallied)
set forth.

ORIGIN: French saillie, from Latin salire 'to leap' .

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salmon

noun (pl. same or salmons)
a large fish with edible pink flesh, that matures in the sea and migrates to freshwater streams to spawn.

DERIVATIVES:
salmony adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin salmo.

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salmonella

noun (pl. salmonellae)
1. a bacterium that occurs mainly in the gut and can cause food poisoning.
2. food poisoning caused by this.

DERIVATIVES:
salmonellosis noun.

ORIGIN: named after the American veterinary surgeon Daniel E. Salmon (1850 1914).

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salon

noun
1. an establishment where a hairdresser, beautician, or couturier conducts their trade.
2. a reception room in a large house.
3. chiefly historical a regular gathering of writers, artists, etc., held in a fashionable household.
4. (Salon) an annual exhibition of the work of living artists held by the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in Paris (originally in the Salon d'Apollon in the Louvre).

ORIGIN: French, from Italian salone 'large hall' .

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saloon

noun
1. a public room or building used for a specified purpose.
2. Brit. another term for LOUNGE BAR.
3. a large public room for use as a lounge on a ship.
4. N. Amer. historical or humorous a place where alcoholic drinks may be bought and drunk.
5. Brit. a car having a closed body and separate boot.
6. (also saloon car) Brit. a luxurious railway carriage used as a lounge or restaurant.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «drawing room»: from French salon, from Italian salone 'large hall' .

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salopettes

plural noun
padded or fleecy trousers with a high waist and shoulder straps, worn for skiing.

ORIGIN: French salopette.

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salsa

noun
1. a type of Latin American dance music incorporating elements of jazz and rock.
2. a dance performed to this music.
3. (especially in Latin American cookery) a spicy tomato sauce.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'sauce' .

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SALT

abbreviation
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks.

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salt

noun
1. (also common salt) sodium chloride, a white crystalline substance which gives seawater its characteristic taste and is used for seasoning or preserving food.
2. Chemistry any compound formed by the reaction of an acid with a base, with the hydrogen of the acid replaced by a metal or equivalent group.
3. (old salt) informal an experienced sailor.

adjective
1. impregnated or treated with salt.
2. (of a plant) growing on the coast or in salt marshes.

verb
1. season or preserve with salt.
2. sprinkle (a road or path) with salt in order to melt snow or ice.
3. (salt away) informal put by (money) secretly.
4. make piquant or more interesting.

IDIOMS -
rub salt into the wound make a painful experience even more painful.
the salt of the earth a person of great goodness and strength of character. [ORIGIN: with reference to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5.]
sit below the salt be of lower social standing. [ORIGIN: from the former custom of placing a salt cellar in the middle of a dining table with the host at one end.]
take with a pinch (or grain) of salt regard as exaggerated.
worth one's salt good or competent at one's job or allotted task.

DERIVATIVES:
saltless adjective
saltness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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salt cellar

noun
a dish or container for storing salt.

ORIGIN: cellar is from Old French salier 'salt-box' .

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salting

noun (usu. saltings) Brit.
an area of coastal land that is regularly covered by the tide.

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saltire

noun Heraldry
a diagonal cross as a heraldic ordinary.

ORIGIN: Old French saultoir 'stirrup cord, stile, saltire' , from Latin saltare 'to dance' .

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salt marsh

noun
an area of coastal grassland that is regularly flooded by seawater.

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salt pan

noun
a shallow container or depression in the ground in which salt water evaporates to leave a deposit of salt.

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saltpetre (US saltpeter)

noun
potassium nitrate or (Chile saltpetre) sodium nitrate.

ORIGIN: Latin salpetra, probably representing sal petrae 'salt of rock' .

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saltwater

adjective
of or found in salt water; living in the sea.

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salty

adjective (saltier, saltiest)
1. tasting of, containing, or preserved with salt.
2. (of language or humour) down-to-earth; coarse.

DERIVATIVES:
saltily adverb
saltiness noun.

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salubrious

adjective
1. health-giving; healthy.
2. (of a place) pleasant; not run-down.

DERIVATIVES:
salubriously adverb
salubriousness noun
salubrity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin salubris, from salus 'health' .

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salutary

adjective
1. (of something disadvantageous) beneficial in providing an opportunity for learning from experience.
2. archaic health-giving.

ORIGIN: Latin salutaris, from salus 'health' .

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salutation

noun
a greeting.

DERIVATIVES:
salutational adjective
salutatory adjective.

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salute

noun
1. a gesture of respect and recognition.
2. a raising of a hand to the head, made as a formal gesture of respect by a member of a military or similar force.
3. the discharge of a gun or guns as a formal or ceremonial sign of respect or celebration.

verb
1. make a formal salute to.
2. greet.
3. show or express admiration and respect for.

DERIVATIVES:
saluter noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin salutare 'greet, pay one's respects to' , from salus 'health, welfare, greeting' .

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salvage

verb
1. rescue (a ship or its cargo) from loss at sea.
2. retrieve or preserve from loss or destruction.

noun
1. the action of salvaging.
2. cargo salvaged.
3. Law payment made or due to a person who has salvaged a ship or its cargo.

DERIVATIVES:
salvageable adjective
salvager noun.

ORIGIN: Latin salvagium, from salvare 'to save' .

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salvage yard

noun
a place where disused machinery, vehicles, etc. are broken up and parts salvaged.

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salvation

noun
1. Theology deliverance from sin and its consequences, believed by Christians to be brought about by faith in Christ.
2. preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss.
3. (one's salvation) a source or means of being saved in this way.

ORIGIN: Latin, from salvare 'to save' .

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salve

noun
1. an ointment used to soothe or promote healing of the skin.
2. something that soothes wounded feelings or an uneasy conscience.

verb
alleviate (guilty feelings): charity salves our conscience.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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salver

noun
a tray, typically one made of silver and used in formal circumstances.

ORIGIN: French salve 'tray for presenting food to the king' , from Spanish salva 'sampling of food' .

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salvo

noun (pl. salvos or salvoes)
1. a simultaneous discharge of artillery or other guns in a battle.
2. a sudden vigorous series of aggressive statements or acts.

ORIGIN: Italian salva 'salutation' .

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sal volatile

noun
a scented solution of ammonium carbonate in alcohol, used as smelling salts.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'volatile salt' .

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Samaritan

noun
1. a member of a people inhabiting Samaria, an ancient city and region of Palestine, in biblical times.
2. (good Samaritan) a charitable or helpful person. [ORIGIN: with biblical reference to the story of the Samaritan who helped a man in need whom others had passed by, in the Gospel of Luke.]
3. (the Samaritans) (in the UK) an organization which counsels those in distress, mainly through a telephone service.

DERIVATIVES:
Samaritanism noun.

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samba

noun
a Brazilian dance of African origin.

verb (sambas, sambaed or samba'd, sambaing)
dance the samba.

ORIGIN: Portuguese, of African origin.

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same

adjective
1. (the same) exactly alike; not different or changed.
2. (this/that same) referring to a person or thing just mentioned.

pronoun
1. (the same) the same thing as previously mentioned.
2. (the same) identical people or things.
3. the person or thing just mentioned.

adverb
in the same way.

IDIOMS -
all (or just) the same
1. nevertheless.
2. anyway.
at the same time nevertheless.

DERIVATIVES:
sameness noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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samey

adjective (samier, samiest) Brit. informal
lacking in variety.

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samosa

noun
a triangular fried pastry containing spiced vegetables or meat.

ORIGIN: Persian and Urdu.

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samovar

noun
a highly decorated Russian tea urn.

ORIGIN: Russian, 'self-boiler' .

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sampan

noun
a small boat propelled with an oar at the stern, used in the Far East.

ORIGIN: from Chinese words meaning 'three' and 'board' .

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sample

noun
1. a small part or quantity intended to show what the whole is like.
2. Statistics a portion of a population, serving as a basis for estimates of the attributes of the whole population.
3. a specimen taken for scientific testing or analysis.
4. a sound created by sampling.

verb
1. take a sample or samples of.
2. get a representative experience of.
3. Electronics ascertain the momentary value of (an analogue signal) many times a second so as to convert the signal to digital form.

ORIGIN: Old French essample 'example' .

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sampler

noun
1. a piece of embroidery worked in various stitches as a specimen of skill.
2. a representative collection or example of something.
3. a device for sampling music and sound.

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samurai

noun (pl. same) historical
a member of a powerful military caste in feudal Japan.

ORIGIN: Japanese.

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sanatorium

noun (pl. sanatoriums or sanatoria)
1. an establishment for the care of convalescent or chronically ill people.
2. Brit. a place in a boarding school for children who are unwell.

ORIGIN: Latin, from sanare 'heal' .

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sanctify

verb (sanctifies, sanctified)
1. make or declare holy; consecrate.
2. make legitimate or binding by religious sanction.
3. free from sin.
4. give the appearance of being right or good.

DERIVATIVES:
sanctification noun
sanctifier noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sanctificare, from sanctus 'holy' .

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sanctimonious

adjective derogatory
making a show of being morally superior.

DERIVATIVES:
sanctimoniously adverb
sanctimoniousness noun
sanctimony noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin sanctimonia 'sanctity' .

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sanction

noun
1. a threatened penalty for disobeying a law or rule.
2. (sanctions) measures taken by a state to coerce another to conform to an international agreement or norms of conduct.
3. official permission or approval.

verb
1. give official permission for.
2. impose a sanction or penalty on.

DERIVATIVES:
sanctionable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from sancire 'ratify' .

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sanctity

noun (pl. sanctities)
1. holiness; saintliness.
2. ultimate importance and inviolability: the sanctity of human life.

ORIGIN: Old French sainctite, from Latin sanctus 'holy' .

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sanctuary

noun (pl. sanctuaries)
1. a place of refuge or safety.
2. a nature reserve.
3. a place where injured or unwanted animals are cared for.
4. a holy place.
5. the part of the chancel of a church containing the high altar.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a church or sacred place in which, by law, a fugitive was immune from arrest: from Latin sanctuarium, from sanctus 'holy' .

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sanctum

noun (pl. sanctums)
1. a sacred place, especially a shrine in a temple or church.
2. a private place.

ORIGIN: Latin, from sanctus 'holy' .

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sand

noun
1. a substance consisting of fine particles of eroded rocks, forming a major constituent of beaches, river beds, the seabed, and deserts.
2. (sands) an expanse of sand.

verb
1. smooth with sandpaper or a sander.
2. sprinkle or overlay with sand.

IDIOMS -
the sands (of time) are running out the allotted time is nearly at an end. [ORIGIN: with reference to the sand of an hourglass.]

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sandal

noun
a shoe with an openwork upper or straps attaching the sole to the foot.

DERIVATIVES:
sandalled (US sandaled) adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek sandalon 'wooden shoe' .

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sandalwood

noun
the fragrant wood of an Indian or SE Asian tree.

ORIGIN: sandal from Latin sandalum, from Sanskrit.

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sandbag

noun
a bag of sand, used for defensive purposes or as ballast in a boat.

verb (sandbagged, sandbagging)
1. protect or reinforce with sandbags.
2. hit with or as if with a blow from a sandbag.
3. N. Amer. bully.

DERIVATIVES:
sandbagger noun.

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sandbank

noun
a deposit of sand forming a shallow area in the sea or a river.

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sandbar

noun
a long, narrow sandbank.

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sandblast

verb
roughen or clean with a jet of sand driven by compressed air or steam.

DERIVATIVES:
sandblaster noun.

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sandboy

noun (in phrase as happy as a sandboy)
extremely happy or carefree.

ORIGIN: probably originally denoting a boy going around selling sand.

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sandcastle

noun
a model of a castle built out of sand.

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sander

noun
a power tool used for smoothing a surface with sandpaper or other abrasive material.

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sandman

noun (the sandman)
a fictional man supposed to make children sleep by sprinkling sand in their eyes.

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sand martin

noun
a small gregarious swallow with dark brown and white plumage, excavating nest holes in sandy banks near water.

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sandpaper

noun
paper with sand or another abrasive stuck to it, used for smoothing wooden or other surfaces.

verb
smooth with sandpaper.

DERIVATIVES:
sandpapery adjective.

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sandpiper

noun
a wading bird with a long bill and long legs, frequenting coastal areas.

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sandpit

noun
1. Brit. a shallow box or hollow, partly filled with sand for children to play in.
2. a quarry from which sand is excavated.

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sandshoe

noun chiefly Scottish & Austral./NZ
a plimsoll.

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sandstone

noun
sedimentary rock consisting of sand or quartz grains cemented together, typically red, yellow, or brown in colour.

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sandstorm

noun
a strong wind in a desert carrying clouds of sand.

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sandwich

noun
1. an item of food consisting of two pieces of bread with a filling between them.
2. Brit. a sponge cake of two or more layers with jam or cream between them.

verb
1. (sandwich between) insert between (two people or things).
2. (sandwich together) squeeze (two things) together.

ORIGIN: named after the 4th Earl of Sandwich (1718 92), an English nobleman said to have eaten food in this form.

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sandwich board

noun
a pair of advertisement boards connected by straps by which they are hung over a person's shoulders.

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sandwich course

noun Brit.
a training course with alternate periods of formal instruction and practical experience.

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sandy

adjective (sandier, sandiest)
1. covered in or consisting of sand.
2. light yellowish brown.

DERIVATIVES:
sandiness noun.

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sane

adjective
1. of sound mind; not mad.
2. reasonable; sensible.

DERIVATIVES:
sanely adverb
saneness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sanus 'healthy' .

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sangfroid

noun
composure or coolness under trying circumstances.

ORIGIN: French, 'cold blood' .

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sangria

noun
a Spanish drink of red wine, lemonade, fruit, and spices.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'bleeding' .

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sanguinary

adjective chiefly archaic
involving or causing much bloodshed.

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sanguine

adjective
1. cheerfully optimistic.
2. (in medieval medicine) having a predominance of blood among the bodily humours, supposedly marked by a ruddy complexion and an optimistic disposition.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'blood red' , from Latin sanguis 'blood' .

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Sanhedrin (also Sanhedrim)

noun
the highest court of justice and the supreme council in ancient Jerusalem.

ORIGIN: Hebrew, from Greek sunedrion 'council' .

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sanitarium (Brit. sanatorium)

noun (pl. sanitariums or sanitaria) N. Amer.
an establishment for the care of convalescent or chronically ill people.

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sanitary

adjective
1. relating to sanitation.
2. hygienic.

ORIGIN: from Latin sanitas 'health' .

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sanitary towel (N. Amer. sanitary napkin)

noun
an pad worn by women to absorb menstrual blood.

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sanitaryware

noun
toilet bowls, cisterns, and other fittings.

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sanitation

noun
arrangements to protect public health, especially the provision of clean drinking water and the disposal of sewage.

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sanitize (also sanitise)

verb
1. make hygienic.
2. derogatory make more acceptable.

DERIVATIVES:
sanitizer noun.

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sanity

noun
1. the condition of being sane.
2. reasonable and rational behaviour.

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sans

preposition literary or humorous
without: she plays her role sans accent.

ORIGIN: Old French sanz, from Latin sine.

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Sanskrit

noun
an ancient language of India, still used as a language of religion and scholarship, and the source of many Indian languages.

ORIGIN: from Sanskrit, 'composed, elaborated' .

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sans serif (also sanserif)

noun Printing
a style of type without serifs.

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Santa Claus (also informal Santa)

noun
Father Christmas.

ORIGIN: originally a US usage: alteration of Dutch Sante Klaas 'St Nicholas' .

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sap [1]

noun
1. the fluid, chiefly water with nutrients, circulating in the vascular system of a plant.
2. vigour or energy.

verb (sapped, sapping)
1. gradually weaken (a person's strength or power).
2. (sap of) drain (someone) of (strength or power).

ORIGIN: Old English; the verb is derived originally from SAP in the sense «undermine».

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sap [2] historical

noun
a tunnel or trench to conceal an assailant's approach to a fortified place.

verb (sapped, sapping)
dig a sap.

ORIGIN: from French saper, from Italian zappa 'spade, spadework' .

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sapient

adjective formal
wise, or attempting to appear wise.

ORIGIN: from Latin sapere 'be wise' .

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sapling

noun
1. a young, slender tree.
2. literary a young and slender or inexperienced person.

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saponify

verb (saponifies, saponified) Chemistry
turn (fat or oil) into soap by reaction with an alkali.

DERIVATIVES:
saponification noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin sapo 'soap' .

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sapper

noun
1. a military engineer who lays or detects and disarms mines.
2. Brit. a soldier in the Corps of Royal Engineers.

ORIGIN: from SAP.

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sapphic

adjective
1. (Sapphic) relating to the Greek lyric poet Sappho (early 7th century BC), or her poetry expressing love and affection for women.
2. formal or humorous relating to lesbians or lesbianism.

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sapphire

noun
1. a transparent blue precious stone which is a form of corundum.
2. a bright blue colour.

ORIGIN: Greek sappheiros, probably denoting lapis lazuli.

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sappy

adjective (sappier, sappiest)
1. informal, chiefly N. Amer. over-sentimental.
2. (of a plant) containing a lot of sap.

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saprophyte

noun Biology
a plant, fungus, or micro-organism that lives on decaying matter.

DERIVATIVES:
saprophytic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek sapros 'putrid' + phuton 'plant' .

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sapwood

noun
the soft outer layers of new wood between the heartwood and the bark.

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saraband (also sarabande)

noun
a slow, stately Spanish dance in triple time.

ORIGIN: Spanish and Italian zarabanda.

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Saracen

noun
1. an Arab or Muslim, especially at the time of the Crusades.
2. a nomad of the Syrian and Arabian desert at the time of the Roman Empire.

ORIGIN: Greek Saraknos, perhaps from an Arabic word meaning «eastern».

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sarcasm

noun
the use of irony to mock or convey contempt.

ORIGIN: Greek sarkasmos, from sarkazein 'tear flesh' , later 'gnash the teeth, speak bitterly' .

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sarcastic

adjective
marked by or given to using irony in order to mock or convey contempt.

DERIVATIVES:
sarcastically adverb.

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sarcoma

noun (pl. sarcomas or sarcomata) Medicine
a malignant tumour of a kind found chiefly in connective tissue.

ORIGIN: Greek sarkma, from sarkoun 'become fleshy' .

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sarcophagus

noun (pl. sarcophagi)
a stone coffin.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek sarkophagos 'flesh-consuming' .

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sardine

noun
a young pilchard or other young or small herring-like fish.

verb informal
pack closely together.

IDIOMS -
packed like sardines crowded close together, as sardines in tins.

ORIGIN: Latin sardina, probably from Greek Sard 'Sardinia' .

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sardonic

adjective
grimly mocking or cynical.

DERIVATIVES:
sardonically adverb
sardonicism noun.

ORIGIN: French sardonique, from Greek sardonios 'of Sardinia' , alteration of sardanios, used by Homer to describe bitter or scornful laughter.

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sardonyx

noun
onyx in which white layers alternate with sard.

ORIGIN: Greek sardonux.

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sargassum (also sargasso)

noun
a brown seaweed with berry-like air bladders, typically floating in large masses.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Portuguese sargaço.

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sarge

noun informal
sergeant.

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sari (also saree)

noun (pl. saris or sarees)
a garment consisting of a length of cotton or silk elaborately draped around the body, traditionally worn by women from the Indian subcontinent.

ORIGIN: Hindi.

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sarky

adjective (sarkier, sarkiest) Brit. informal
sarcastic.

DERIVATIVES:
sarkily adverb
sarkiness noun.

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sarnie

noun Brit. informal
a sandwich.

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sarong

noun
a garment consisting of a long piece of cloth wrapped round the body and tucked at the waist or under the armpits.

ORIGIN: Malay, 'sheath' .

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sarsaparilla

noun
1. a preparation of the dried roots of various plants, used to flavour drinks and medicines and formerly as a tonic.
2. a sweet drink flavoured with this.

ORIGIN: Spanish zarzaparilla, from zarza 'bramble' + parra 'vine' .

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sarsen

noun
a silicified sandstone boulder of a kind used at Stonehenge and in other prehistoric monuments in southern England.

ORIGIN: probably a variant of SARACEN.

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sartorial

adjective
relating to tailoring, clothes, or style of dress.

DERIVATIVES:
sartorially adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin sartor 'tailor' .

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SAS

abbreviation
Special Air Service.

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sash [1]

noun
a long strip or loop of cloth worn over one shoulder or round the waist.

ORIGIN: earlier as shash, denoting fabric worn as a turban, from Arabic.

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sash [2]

noun
a frame holding the glass in a window.

ORIGIN: alteration of CHASSIS.

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sashay

verb informal, chiefly N. Amer.
walk ostentatiously, with exaggerated hip and shoulder movements.

ORIGIN: alteration of CHASSÉ.

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sash window

noun
a window with one or two sashes which can be slid vertically to open it.

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sassafras

noun
an extract of the aromatic leaves or bark of a North American tree, used medicinally or in perfumery.

ORIGIN: Spanish sasafrás, from Latin saxifraga 'saxifrage' .

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Sassenach Scottish & Irish derogatory

noun
an English person.

adjective
English.

ORIGIN: Scottish Gaelic Sasunnoch, Irish Sasanach, from Latin Saxones 'Saxons' .

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sassy

adjective (sassier, sassiest) informal, chiefly N. Amer.
bold and spirited; impudent.

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SAT

abbreviation
standard assessment task.

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Satan

noun
the Devil; Lucifer.

ORIGIN: Hebrew, 'adversary' .

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satanic

adjective
1. characteristic of Satan.
2. connected with satanism.

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satanism

noun
the worship of Satan, typically involving a travesty of Christian symbols and practices.

DERIVATIVES:
satanist noun & adjective.

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satchel

noun
a shoulder bag with a long strap, used especially for school books.

ORIGIN: Old French sachel, from Latin saccellus 'small bag' .

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sate

verb
1. satisfy fully.
2. supply with as much as or more than is desired or can be managed.

ORIGIN: Old English, 'become sated or weary' ; related to SAD.

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sateen

noun
a cotton fabric woven like satin with a glossy surface.

ORIGIN: alteration of SATIN.

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satellite

noun
1. an artificial body placed in orbit round the earth or another planet to collect information or for communication.
2. Astronomy a celestial body orbiting a planet.
3. a thing separate from something else but dependent on or controlled by it.

ORIGIN: Latin satelles 'attendant' .

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satellite dish

noun
a bowl-shaped aerial with which signals are transmitted to or received from a communications satellite.

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satellite television

noun
television in which the signals are broadcast via satellite.

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satiety

noun
the feeling or state of being satiated.

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satin

noun
1. a smooth, glossy fabric, usually of silk.
2. (before a noun ) denoting or having a smooth, glossy surface or finish.

DERIVATIVES:
satiny adjective.

ORIGIN: from an Arabic word meaning 'of Tsinkiang' , a town in China.

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satinwood

noun
the glossy yellowish wood of a tropical tree, valued for cabinetwork.

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satire

noun
1. the use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices.
2. a play, novel, etc. using satire.
3. (in Latin literature) a literary miscellany, especially a poem ridiculing prevalent vices or follies.

DERIVATIVES:
satirist noun.

ORIGIN: Latin satira 'poetic medley' .

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satirical (also satiric)

adjective
1. containing or using satire.
2. sarcastic; humorously critical.

DERIVATIVES:
satirically adverb.

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satirize (also satirise)

verb
mock and criticize by means of satire.

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satisfaction

noun
1. the state of being satisfied.
2. Law the payment of a debt or fulfilment of an obligation or claim.
3. what is felt to be due to one to make up for an injustice: the work will stop if they don't get satisfaction.

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satisfactory

adjective
fulfilling expectations or needs; acceptable.

DERIVATIVES:
satisfactorily adverb.

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satisfy

verb (satisfies, satisfied)
1. meet the expectations, needs, or desires of.
2. fulfil (a desire or need).
3. provide with adequate information about or proof of something.
4. comply with (a condition, obligation, or demand).

ORIGIN: Latin satisfacere 'to content' , from satis 'enough' + facere 'make' .

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satrap

noun
1. a provincial governor in the ancient Persian empire.
2. a subordinate or local ruler.

ORIGIN: Latin satrapa, from a Persian word meaning 'country-protector' .

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satsuma

noun
a tangerine of a loose-skinned variety, originally grown in Japan.

ORIGIN: named after the former Japanese province of Satsuma.

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saturate

verb
1. soak thoroughly with water or other liquid.
2. cause (a substance) to combine with, dissolve, or hold the greatest possible quantity of another substance.
3. magnetize or charge (a substance or device) fully.
4. supply (a market) beyond the point at which the demand for a product is satisfied.
5. overwhelm (an enemy target) by concentrated bombing.

noun
a saturated fat.

ORIGIN: Latin saturare 'fill, glut' , from satur 'full' .

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saturated

adjective
1. Chemistry (of a solution) containing the largest possible amount of solute.
2. Chemistry (of an organic molecule) containing the greatest possible number of hydrogen atoms, without double or triple bonds.
3. (of colour) bright and rich.

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saturation

noun
1. the action of saturating or the state of being saturated.
2. (before another noun ) to the fullest extent: saturation bombing.

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saturation point

noun
the stage beyond which no more can be absorbed or accepted.

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Saturday

noun
the day of the week before Sunday and following Friday.

ORIGIN: Old English, translation of Latin Saturni dies 'day of Saturn' .

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saturnine

adjective
1. gloomy.
2. (of looks, temperament, etc.) dark and brooding.

ORIGIN: from Latin Saturninus 'of Saturn' (associated with slowness and gloom by astrologers).

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satyr

noun
1. Greek Mythology one of a class of lustful, drunken woodland gods, represented as a man with a horse's ears and tail or (in Roman representations) with a goat's ears, tail, legs, and horns.
2. a man with strong sexual desires.

DERIVATIVES:
satyric adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek saturos.

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sauce

noun
1. thick liquid served with food to add moistness and flavour.
2. N. Amer. stewed fruit, especially apples.
3. informal, chiefly Brit. impertinence.

verb
1. (usu. be sauced) season with a sauce.
2. make more interesting and exciting.
3. informal be impudent to.

IDIOMS -
what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander proverb what is appropriate in one case is also appropriate in the other case in question.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin salsus 'salted' .

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sauce boat

noun
a long, narrow jug for serving sauce.

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saucepan

noun
a deep cooking pan, with one long handle and a lid.

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saucer

noun
a shallow dish with a central circular indentation, on which a cup is placed.

ORIGIN: Old French saussier 'sauce boat' .

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saucy

adjective (saucier, sauciest) informal
1. chiefly Brit. sexually suggestive in a light-hearted way.
2. chiefly N. Amer. bold, lively, and spirited.

DERIVATIVES:
saucily adverb
sauciness noun.

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sauerkraut

noun
a German dish of chopped pickled cabbage.

ORIGIN: German, from sauer 'sour' + Kraut 'vegetable' .

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sauna

noun
1. a small room used as a hot-air or steam bath for cleaning and refreshing the body.
2. a session in a sauna.

ORIGIN: Finnish.

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saunter

verb
walk in a slow, relaxed manner.

noun
a leisurely stroll.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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saurian

adjective
of or like a lizard.

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sausage

noun
1. a short tube of raw minced meat encased in a skin, that is grilled or fried before eating.
2. a tube of seasoned minced meat that is cooked or preserved and eaten cold in slices.
3. a cylindrical object.

IDIOMS -
not a sausage Brit. informal nothing at all.

ORIGIN: Old French saussiche, from Latin salsus 'salted' .

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sausage dog

noun Brit. informal
a dachshund.

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sausage meat

noun
minced meat with spices and a binder such as cereal, used in sausages or as a stuffing.

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sausage roll

noun
a piece of sausage meat baked in a roll of pastry.

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sauté

adjective
fried quickly in a little hot fat.

noun
a dish cooked in such a way.

verb (sautés, sautéed or sautéd, sautéing)
cook in such a way.

ORIGIN: French, 'jumped' .

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savage

adjective
1. fierce, violent, and uncontrolled.
2. cruel and vicious.
3. primitive; uncivilized.
4. (of a place) wild; uncultivated.

noun
1. a member of a people regarded as primitive and uncivilized.
2. a brutal or vicious person.

verb
1. (especially of a dog) attack ferociously.
2. criticize brutally.

DERIVATIVES:
savagely adverb
savagery noun.

ORIGIN: Old French sauvage 'wild' , from Latin silvaticus 'of the woods' .

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savannah (also savanna)

noun
a grassy plain in tropical and subtropical regions, with few trees.

ORIGIN: Spanish sabana, from Taino (an extinct Caribbean language).

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savant (or savante)

noun
a learned person.

ORIGIN: French, 'knowing' .

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save [1]

verb
1. keep safe or rescue from harm or danger.
2. prevent from dying.
3. (in Christian use) preserve (a soul) from damnation.
4. store up for future use.
5. Computing keep (data) by moving a copy to a storage location.
6. avoid the need to use up or spend: computers save time.
7. avoid, lessen, or guard against.
8. prevent an opponent from scoring (a goal or point).

noun chiefly Soccer
an act of preventing an opponent's scoring.

IDIOMS -
save one's breath not bother to say something pointless.
save the day (or situation) provide a solution to a problem.
save someone's skin (or neck or bacon) rescue someone from difficulty.

ORIGIN: Latin salvare, from salvus 'safe' .

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save [2]

preposition & conjunction formal or literary
except; other than.

ORIGIN: from Latin salvus 'safe' , used in phrases such as salvo jure, salva innocentia 'with no violation of right or innocence' .

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saver

noun
1. a person who regularly saves money through a bank or recognized scheme.
2. something that prevents a particular resource from being used up: space-saver.

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saving

noun
1. an economy of or reduction in money, time, etc.
2. (savings) money saved.

adjective (in combination )
preventing waste of a particular resource: energy-saving .

preposition
1. except.
2. archaic with due respect to.

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saving grace

noun
1. the redeeming grace of God.
2. a redeeming quality or characteristic.

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savings bank

noun
a non-profit-making financial institution receiving small deposits at interest.

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saviour (US savior)

noun
1. a person who saves someone or something from danger or harm.
2. (the/our Saviour) (in Christianity) God or Jesus Christ.

ORIGIN: Old French sauveour, from Latin salvare 'to save' .

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savoir faire

noun
the ability to act appropriately in social situations.

ORIGIN: French, 'know how to do' .

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savory [1]

noun
an aromatic plant of the mint family, used as a herb in cookery.

ORIGIN: Latin satureia.

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savory [2] (Brit. savoury)

adjective
1. (of food) salty or spicy rather than sweet.
2. morally wholesome or acceptable: the less savory aspects of the story.

noun (pl. savories) chiefly Brit.
a savoury snack.

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savour (US savor)

verb
1. appreciate and enjoy the taste of (food or drink).
2. enjoy or appreciate to the full.
3. (savour of) have a suggestion or trace of.

noun
1. a characteristic taste, flavour, or smell.
2. a suggestion or trace.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin sapere 'to taste' .

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savoury (US savory)

adjective
1. (of food) salty or spicy rather than sweet.
2. morally wholesome or acceptable: the less savoury aspects of the story.

noun (pl. savouries) chiefly Brit.
a savoury snack.

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savoy

noun
a cabbage of a hardy variety with densely wrinkled leaves.

ORIGIN: from Savoy, an area of SE France.

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savvy informal

noun
shrewdness.

verb (savvies, savvied)
know or understand.

adjective (savvier, savviest)
shrewd and knowledgeable.

ORIGIN: originally black and pidgin English imitating Spanish sabe usted 'you know' .

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saw [1]

noun
1. a hand tool for cutting wood or other hard materials, having a long, thin serrated blade and operated using a backwards and forwards movement.
2. a mechanical power-driven cutting tool with a toothed rotating disc or moving band.
3. Zoology a serrated organ or part, e.g. the toothed snout of a sawfish.

verb (past part. chiefly Brit. sawn or chiefly N. Amer. sawed)
1. cut or form with a saw.
2. cut roughly.
3. move something back and forward as if cutting with a saw.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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saw [3]

noun
a proverb or maxim.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SAY and SAGA.

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sawdust

noun
powdery particles of wood produced by sawing.

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sawfish

noun
a large tropical fish with a long flattened snout bearing large blunt teeth along each side.

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sawmill

noun
a factory in which logs are sawn by machine.

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sawn-off (N. Amer. sawed-off)

adjective
1. (of a gun) having a shortened barrel for ease of handling and a wider field of fire.
2. informal (of a garment) having been cut short.

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sawtooth (also sawtoothed)

adjective
shaped like the teeth of a saw.

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sawyer

noun
a person who saws timber.

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sax

noun informal
1. a saxophone.
2. a saxophone player.

DERIVATIVES:
saxist noun.

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saxifrage

noun
a low-growing plant of rocky or stony ground, bearing small white, yellow, or red flowers.

ORIGIN: Latin saxifraga, from saxum 'rock' + frangere 'to break' .

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Saxon

noun
1. a member of a Germanic people that conquered and settled in much of southern England in the 5th 6th centuries.
2. a native of modern Saxony in Germany.
3. (Old Saxon) the language of the ancient Saxons.
4. another term for OLD ENGLISH.

adjective
1. relating to the Anglo-Saxons, their language, or their period of dominance in England (5th 11th centuries).
2. relating to Saxony or the continental Saxons.

ORIGIN: Greek Saxones, perhaps from the base of Old English seax 'knife' .

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saxophone

noun
a member of a family of metal wind instruments with a reed like a clarinet, used especially in jazz and dance music.

DERIVATIVES:
saxophonic adjective
saxophonist noun.

ORIGIN: named after the Belgian instrument-maker Adolphe Sax (1814 94).

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say

verb (says; past and past part. said)
1. utter words so as to convey information, an opinion, an instruction, etc.
2. (of a text or symbol) convey information or instructions.
3. (of a clock or watch) indicate (a time).
4. (be said) be asserted or reported.
5. (say for) present (a consideration) in favour of or excusing: he had nothing to say for himself.
6. assume as a hypothesis.

noun
1. an opportunity to state one's opinion or feelings.
2. an opportunity to influence events.

IDIOMS -
go without saying be obvious.
how say you? Law how do you find? (used to request a jury's verdict).
say the word give permission or instructions.
there is no saying it is impossible to know.
they say it is rumoured.
when all is said and done when everything is taken into account.

DERIVATIVES:
sayable adjective
sayer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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saying

noun
a short, commonly known expression containing advice or wisdom.

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say-so

noun (usu. on someone's say-so) informal
1. the power to decide or allow something.
2. an arbitrary assertion or command.

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SC

abbreviation
South Carolina.

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scab

noun
1. a dry, rough protective crust that forms over a cut or wound during healing.
2. mange or a similar skin disease in animals.
3. any of a number of fungal diseases of plants in which rough patches develop.
4. informal a person or thing regarded with contempt.
5. derogatory a person who refuses to strike or who takes the place of a striking worker.

verb (scabbed, scabbing)
1. (scabbed) encrusted with a scab or scabs.
2. derogatory work as a scab.

DERIVATIVES:
scabby adjective.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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scabbard

noun
1. a sheath for the blade of a sword or dagger.
2. a sheath for a gun or other weapon or tool.

ORIGIN: Old French escalberc.

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scabies

noun
a contagious skin disease marked by itching and small raised red spots, caused by the itch mite.

ORIGIN: Latin, from scabere 'to scratch' .

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scabious

noun
a plant with blue, pink, or white pincushion-shaped flowers.

ORIGIN: from Latin scabiosa herba 'rough, scabby plant' ; it was formerly regarded as a cure for skin disease.

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scabrous

adjective
1. rough and covered with scabs.
2. salacious or sordid.

ORIGIN: Latin scabrosus, from scaber 'rough' .

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scaffold

noun
1. a raised wooden platform used formerly for public executions.
2. a structure made using scaffolding.

verb
attach scaffolding to.

DERIVATIVES:
scaffolder noun.

ORIGIN: Old French eschaffaut; related to CATAFALQUE.

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scaffolding

noun
1. a temporary structure on the outside of a building, made of wooden planks and metal poles, used while building, repairing, or cleaning.
2. the materials used in such a structure.

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scalable

adjective
1. able to be scaled or climbed.
2. able to be changed in size or scale.
3. technical able to be graded according to a scale.

DERIVATIVES:
scalability noun.

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scalar Mathematics & Physics

adjective
having only magnitude, not direction.

noun
a scalar quantity (especially as opposed to a vector).

ORIGIN: Latin scalaris, from scala 'ladder' .

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scald

verb
1. injure with very hot liquid or steam.
2. heat (a liquid) to near boiling point.
3. immerse briefly in boiling water.

noun
a burn or other injury caused by hot liquid or steam.

IDIOMS -
like a scalded cat very fast.

ORIGIN: Latin excaldare, from calidus 'hot' .

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scale [1]

noun
1. each of the small overlapping plates protecting the skin of fish and reptiles.
2. a thick dry flake of skin.
3. a white deposit formed in a kettle, boiler, etc. by the evaporation of water containing lime.
4. tartar formed on teeth.

verb
1. remove scale or scales from.
2. (often as noun scaling) (especially of the skin) form or flake off in scales.

IDIOMS -
the scales fall from someone's eyes someone is no longer deceived. [ORIGIN: with biblical reference to Acts of the Apostles, chapter 9.]

ORIGIN: Old French escale.

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scale [2]

noun
1. (usu. scales) an instrument or device for weighing.
2. either of the dishes on a simple scale balance.

verb
have a weight of (a specified amount).

IDIOMS -
throw on (or into) the scale contribute (something) to one side of an argument or debate.
tip (or turn) the scales (or balance) be the deciding factor; make the critical difference.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'bowl' .

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scale [3]

noun
1. a graduated range of values forming a standard system for measuring or grading something: a pay scale.
2. a measuring instrument based on such a system.
3. relative size or extent: he operated on a grand scale.
4. a ratio of size in a map, model, drawing, or plan.
5. Music an arrangement of the notes in any system of music in ascending or descending order of pitch.

verb
1. climb up or over (something high and steep).
2. represent or draw according to a common scale.
3. (of a quantity or property) be variable according to a particular scale.
4. (scale back/down or up) reduce (or increase) in size, number, or extent.

IDIOMS -
to scale with a uniform reduction or enlargement.
in scale in proportion to the surroundings.

ORIGIN: Latin scala 'ladder' .

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scalene

adjective
(of a triangle) having sides unequal in length.

ORIGIN: Greek skalnos 'unequal' .

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scallion

noun
a long-necked onion with a small bulb, in particular a shallot or spring onion.

ORIGIN: Old French scaloun, from Latin Ascalonia caepa 'onion of Ascalon' , a port in ancient Palestine.

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scallop

noun
1. an edible bivalve mollusc with a ribbed fan-shaped shell.
2. each of a series of small curves resembling the edge of a scallop shell, forming a decorative edging.

verb (scalloped, scalloping)
1. (scalloped) decorated with scallops.
2. (usu. as noun scalloping) N. Amer. gather or dredge for scallops.

ORIGIN: Old French escalope.

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scallywag (US also scalawag)

noun informal
a mischievous person; a rascal.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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scalp

noun
1. the skin covering the top and back of the head.
2. historical the scalp with the hair cut away from an enemy's head as a battle trophy, a former practice among American Indians.

verb
1. take the scalp of (an enemy).
2. informal punish severely.
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. resell (shares or tickets) at a large or quick profit.

DERIVATIVES:
scalper noun.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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scalpel

noun
a knife with a small sharp blade, as used by a surgeon.

ORIGIN: Latin scalpellum 'small chisel' , from scalpere 'to scratch' .

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scaly

adjective (scalier, scaliest)
1. covered in scales.
2. (of skin) dry and flaking.

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scam informal

noun
a dishonest scheme; a fraud.

verb (scammed, scamming)
swindle.

DERIVATIVES:
scammer noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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scamp

noun informal
a mischievous person, especially a child.

DERIVATIVES:
scampish adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a highwayman: from obsolete scamp «rob on the highway», probably from Dutch schampen 'slip away' .

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scamper

verb
run with quick light steps, especially through fear or excitement.

noun
an act of scampering.

ORIGIN: probably from SCAMP.

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scampi

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
a kind of small lobster prepared for eating, especially fried in breadcrumbs.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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scan

verb (scanned, scanning)
1. look at quickly in order to identify relevant features or information.
2. traverse with a detector or an electromagnetic beam, especially to obtain an image.
3. convert (a document or picture) into digital form for storage or processing on a computer.
4. analyse the metre of a line of verse.
5. (of verse) conform to metrical principles.

noun
1. an act of scanning.
2. a medical examination using a scanner.
3. an image obtained by scanning or with a scanner.

DERIVATIVES:
scannable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin scandere 'climb' (later 'scan verses' , by analogy with the raising and lowering of one's foot when marking rhythm).

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scandal

noun
1. an action or event regarded as morally or legally wrong and causing general public outrage.
2. outrage, rumour, or gossip arising from this.

ORIGIN: Latin scandalum 'cause of offence' , from Greek skandalon 'snare, stumbling block' .

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scandalize (also scandalise)

verb
shock or horrify by a violation of propriety or morality.

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scandalous

adjective
1. causing general public outrage by a perceived offence against morality or law.
2. (of a state of affairs) disgracefully bad.

DERIVATIVES:
scandalously adverb.

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Scandinavian

adjective
relating to Scandinavia.

noun
1. a person from Scandinavia.
2. the northern branch of the Germanic languages, comprising Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic, and Faroese, all descended from Old Norse.

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scanner

noun
1. Medicine a machine that examines the body through the use of radiation, ultrasound etc., used to aid diagnosis.
2. a device that scans documents and converts them into digital data.

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scansion

noun
1. the action of scanning a line of verse to determine its rhythm.
2. the rhythm of a line of verse.

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scant

adjective
1. barely sufficient or adequate.
2. barely amounting to the amount specified.

verb chiefly N. Amer.
provide or deal with insufficiently.

DERIVATIVES:
scantly adverb
scantness noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'short' .

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scanty

adjective (scantier, scantiest)
small or insufficient in quantity or amount.

DERIVATIVES:
scantily adverb.

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scapegoat

noun
1. a person who is blamed for the wrongdoings or mistakes of others.
2. (in the Bible) a goat sent into the wilderness after the Jewish chief priest had symbolically laid the sins of the people upon it (Leviticus, chapter 16).

verb
make a scapegoat of.

ORIGIN: from archaic scape «escape» + GOAT.

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scapular

adjective Anatomy & Zoology
relating to the shoulder or shoulder blade.

noun
a short monastic cloak covering the shoulders.

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scar [1]

noun
1. a mark left on the skin or within body tissue after the healing of a wound or burn.
2. a mark left at the point of separation of a leaf, frond, or other part from a plant.
3. a lasting effect left following an unpleasant experience.

verb (scarred, scarring)
mark or be marked with a scar or scars.

ORIGIN: Greek eskhara 'scab' .

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scar [2]

noun
a steep high cliff or rock outcrop.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'low reef' .

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scarab

noun
1. a large dung beetle, regarded as sacred in ancient Egypt.
2. an ancient Egyptian gem in the form of a scarab beetle, engraved with hieroglyphs on the flat underside.

ORIGIN: Greek skarabeios.

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scarce

adjective
1. (of a resource) insufficient for the demand.
2. rarely found.

IDIOMS -
make oneself scarce informal leave a place, especially so as to avoid a difficult situation.

DERIVATIVES:
scarcity noun.

ORIGIN: Old French escars, from a Romance word meaning 'selected' .

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scarcely

adverb
1. only just.
2. only a very short time before.
3. used to suggest that something is unlikely to be or certainly not the case: they could scarcely all be wrong.

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scare

verb
1. cause great fear or nervousness in; frighten.
2. (scare away/off) drive or keep (someone) away by fear.
3. become frightened.

noun
1. a sudden attack of fright.
2. a period of general anxiety or alarm about something.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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scarecrow

noun
an object made to resemble a human figure, set up to scare birds away from a field where crops are growing.

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scarf [1]

noun (pl. scarves or scarfs)
a length or square of fabric worn around the neck or head.

DERIVATIVES:
scarfed (also scarved) adjective.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French escharpe 'pilgrim's pouch' .

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scarf [2]

verb
join the ends of (two pieces of timber or metal) by bevelling or notching them so that they fit together.

noun
a joint made by scarfing.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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scarify [1]

verb (scarifies, scarified)
1. cut and remove debris from (a lawn) with a scarifier.
2. break up the surface of (soil or a road or pavement).
3. make shallow incisions in (the skin).
4. criticize severely and hurtfully.

DERIVATIVES:
scarification noun.

ORIGIN: Old French scarifier, from Greek skariphasthai 'scratch an outline' .

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scarify [2]

verb (scarifies, scarified) informal
frighten.

ORIGIN: from SCARE.

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scarlet

noun
a brilliant red colour.

ORIGIN: originally denoting any brightly coloured cloth: from Latin scarlata, from sigillatus 'decorated with small images' .

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scarlet fever

noun
an infectious bacterial disease affecting especially children, and causing fever and a scarlet rash.

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scarlet woman

noun
a notoriously promiscuous or immoral woman.

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scarp

noun
a very steep bank or slope; an escarpment.

verb
cut or erode so as to form a scarp.

ORIGIN: Italian scarpa.

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scarper

verb Brit. informal
run away.

ORIGIN: probably from Italian scappare 'to escape' , influenced by rhyming slang Scapa Flow «go».

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scary

adjective (scarier, scariest) informal
frightening; causing fear.

DERIVATIVES:
scarily adverb.

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scat

verb (scatted, scatting) informal
go away; leave.

ORIGIN: perhaps an abbreviation of SCATTER, or perhaps from the sound of a hiss + -cat.

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scathing

adjective
witheringly scornful; severely critical.

DERIVATIVES:
scathingly adverb.

ORIGIN: from obsolete scathe 'harm, injure' , from Old Norse.

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scatology

noun
a preoccupation with excrement and excretion.

DERIVATIVES:
scatological adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek skr 'dung' .

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scatter

verb
1. throw in various random directions.
2. separate and move off in different directions.
3. (be scattered) occur or be found at various places rather than all together.
4. Physics deflect or diffuse (electromagnetic radiation or particles).

noun
a small, dispersed amount of something.

ORIGIN: probably a variant of SHATTER.

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scatterbrained

adjective
disorganized and lacking in concentration.

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scatty

adjective (scattier, scattiest) informal
absent-minded and disorganized.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of scatterbrained.

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scavenge

verb
1. search for and collect (anything usable) from discarded waste.
2. search for (carrion) as food.
3. technical combine with and remove (a substance) from a medium.

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scavenger

noun
1. a person or animal that scavenges.
2. Chemistry a substance that combines with and removes particular molecules, radicals, etc.

ORIGIN: originally denoting an official who collected scavage, a toll on foreign merchants' goods, later a person who kept the streets clean: from Old French escauwer 'inspect' .

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SCE

abbreviation
Scottish Certificate of Education.

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scenario

noun (pl. scenarios)
1. a written outline of a film, novel, or stage work giving details of the plot and individual scenes.
2. a suggested sequence or development of events.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin scena 'scene' .

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scene

noun
1. the place where a real or fictional incident occurs or occurred.
2. a view or landscape as seen by a spectator.
3. an incident or representation of an incident of a specified nature: scenes of violence.
4. a sequence of continuous action in a play, film, opera, etc.
5. the scenery used in a play or opera.
6. a public display of emotion or anger.
7. a specified area of activity or interest: the literary scene .

IDIOMS -
behind the scenes out of public view.
change of scene a move to different surroundings.
come (or appear or arrive) on the scene arrive; appear.
not one's scene informal not something one enjoys or is interested in.

ORIGIN: Latin scena, from Greek skn 'tent, stage' .

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scenery

noun
1. the natural features of a landscape considered in terms of their appearance.
2. the painted background used to represent a place on a stage or film set.

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scenic

adjective
1. relating to impressive or beautiful natural scenery.
2. relating to theatrical scenery.
3. (of a picture) representing an incident.

DERIVATIVES:
scenically adverb.

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scent

noun
1. a distinctive smell, especially one that is pleasant.
2. pleasant-smelling liquid worn on the skin; perfume.
3. a trail indicated by the characteristic smell of an animal.

verb
1. give a pleasant scent to.
2. discern by the sense of smell.
3. sense the presence or approach of.

DERIVATIVES:
scented adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin sentire 'perceive, smell' .

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sceptic (US skeptic)

noun
1. a person inclined to question or doubt accepted opinions.
2. a person who doubts the truth of Christianity and other religions; an atheist.

DERIVATIVES:
scepticism noun.

ORIGIN: Greek skeptikos, from skepsis 'inquiry, doubt' .

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sceptical

adjective
not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations.

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sceptre (US scepter)

noun
a staff carried by rulers on ceremonial occasions as a symbol of sovereignty.

DERIVATIVES:
sceptred adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek skptron, from skptein 'lean on' .

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Schadenfreude

noun
pleasure derived from another's misfortune.

ORIGIN: German, from Schaden 'harm' + Freude 'joy' .

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schedule

noun
1. a plan for carrying out a process or procedure, giving lists of intended events and times.
2. a timetable.
3. chiefly Law an appendix to a formal document or statute, especially as a list, table, or inventory.

verb
1. arrange or plan for (something) to happen or for (someone) to do something.
2. Brit. include (a building) in a list for legal preservation or protection.

IDIOMS -
to (or on or according to) schedule on time; as planned.

DERIVATIVES:
scheduler noun.

ORIGIN: Latin schedula 'slip of paper' , from Greek skhed 'papyrus leaf' .

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scheduled

adjective
1. forming part of or included on a schedule.
2. (of an airline or flight) forming part of a regular service rather than specially chartered.

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schema

noun (pl. schemata or schemas) technical
a representation of a plan or theory in the form of an outline or model.

ORIGIN: Greek skhma 'form, figure' .

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schematic

adjective
1. (of a diagram or representation) symbolic and simplified.
2. (of thought, ideas, etc.) simplistic or formulaic in character.

DERIVATIVES:
schematically adverb.

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schematize (also schematise)

verb
arrange or represent in a schematic form.

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scheme

noun
1. a systematic plan or arrangement for achieving a particular object or effect.
2. a secret or underhand plan; a plot.
3. a particular ordered system or pattern: a classical rhyme scheme.

verb
1. make plans in an underhand way; plot.
2. arrange according to a colour scheme.

DERIVATIVES:
schemer noun.

ORIGIN: Greek skhma 'form, figure' .

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scherzo

noun (pl. scherzos or scherzi) Music
a vigorous, light, or playful composition, typically comprising a movement in a symphony or sonata.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'jest' .

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schism

noun
1. a division between strongly opposed parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief.
2. the formal separation of a Church into two Churches or the secession of a group owing to doctrinal and other differences.

ORIGIN: Greek skhisma 'cleft' , from skhizein 'to split' .

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schismatic

adjective
characterized by or favouring schism.

noun chiefly historical
(especially in the Christian Church) a person who promotes schism.

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schizo

adjective & noun (pl. schizos) informal
schizophrenic.

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schizoid

adjective
1. Psychiatry denoting a personality type characterized by emotional aloofness and solitary habits.
2. informal resembling schizophrenia in having contradictory elements; mad or crazy.

noun
a schizoid person.

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schizophrenia

noun
a long-term mental disorder involving faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings, and withdrawal from reality into fantasy and delusion.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek skhizein 'to split' + phrn 'mind' .

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schizophrenic

adjective
1. suffering from schizophrenia.
2. (in general use) characterized by inconsistent or contradictory elements.

noun
a schizophrenic person.

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schlep (also schlepp) informal, chiefly N. Amer.

verb (schlepped, schlepping)
1. haul or carry with difficulty.
2. go or move reluctantly or with effort.

noun
1. a tedious or difficult journey.
2. (also schlepper) an inept or stupid person.

ORIGIN: Yiddish, 'drag' .

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schlock

noun informal, chiefly N. Amer.
cheap or inferior goods; trash.

DERIVATIVES:
schlocky adjective.

ORIGIN: apparently from Yiddish words for 'an apoplectic stroke' and 'wretch, untidy person' .

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schmaltz

noun informal
excessive sentimentality.

DERIVATIVES:
schmaltzy adjective.

ORIGIN: Yiddish, from German Schmalz 'dripping, lard' .

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schmooze informal, chiefly N. Amer.

verb
1. chat; gossip.
2. chat to (someone) in order to gain an advantage.

noun
an intimate conversation.

DERIVATIVES:
schmoozer noun
schmoozy adjective.

ORIGIN: Yiddish.

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schmuck

noun N. Amer. informal
a foolish or contemptible person.

ORIGIN: Yiddish, 'penis' .

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schnapps

noun
a strong alcoholic drink resembling gin.

ORIGIN: German Schnaps 'dram of liquor' .

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schnitzel

noun
a thin slice of veal or other pale meat, coated in breadcrumbs and fried.

ORIGIN: German, 'slice' .

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scholar

noun
1. a specialist in a particular branch of study, especially the humanities; a distinguished academic.
2. chiefly archaic a person who is highly educated or has an aptitude for study.
3. a university student holding a scholarship.

ORIGIN: Latin scholaris, from Greek skhol (see SCHOOL).

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scholarly

adjective
1. relating to serious academic study.
2. having or showing knowledge, learning, or devotion to academic pursuits.

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scholarship

noun
1. academic achievement; learning of a high level.
2. a grant made to support a student's education, awarded on the basis of achievement.

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scholastic

adjective
1. concerning schools and education.
2. relating to medieval scholasticism.

noun
an adherent of medieval scholasticism.

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scholasticism

noun
the system of theology and philosophy taught in medieval European universities, based on Aristotelian logic and the writings of the early Christian Fathers.

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school [1]

noun
1. an institution for educating children.
2. a day's work at school; lessons.
3. any institution at which instruction is given in a particular discipline.
4. a department or faculty of a university.
5. N. Amer. informal a university.
6. a group of artists, philosophers, etc. sharing similar ideas, methods, or style.
7. Brit. a group of people gambling together.

verb
1. formal or N. Amer. send to school; educate.
2. train in a particular skill or activity.
3. Riding train (a horse) on the flat or over fences.

IDIOMS -
school of thought a particular way of thinking.

ORIGIN: Greek skhol 'leisure, philosophy, lecture-place' .

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school [2]

noun
a large group of fish or sea mammals.

verb
(of fish or sea mammals) form a school.

ORIGIN: Low German, Dutch schle; compare with SHOAL.

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schoolhouse

noun
1. a building used as a school, especially in a rural community.
2. Brit., chiefly historical a house adjoining a school, lived in by the schoolteacher.

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schooling

noun
1. education received at school.
2. Riding the training of a horse on the flat or over fences.

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schoolmarm

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a schoolmistress, especially one regarded as prim and strict.

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schoolmaster

noun
a male teacher in a school.

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schoolmistress

noun
a female teacher in a school.

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schoolteacher

noun
a person who teaches in a school.

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schooner

noun
1. a sailing ship with two or more masts, typically with the foremast smaller than the mainmast.
2. Brit. a large glass for sherry.
3. N. Amer. & Austral./NZ a tall beer glass.

ORIGIN: perhaps from dialect scun 'skim along' .

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sciatic

adjective
1. relating to the hip.
2. affecting the sciatic nerve.
3. suffering from or liable to sciatica.

ORIGIN: French sciatique, from Greek iskhiadikos 'relating to the hips' .

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sciatica

noun
pain affecting the back, hip, and outer side of the leg, caused by compression of a spinal nerve root in the lower back.

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sciatic nerve

noun Anatomy
a major nerve extending from the lower end of the spinal cord down the back of the thigh.

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science

noun
1. the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.
2. a systematically organized body of knowledge on any subject.

ORIGIN: Latin scientia, from scire 'know' .

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science fiction

noun
fiction based on imagined future worlds portraying scientific or technological changes.

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science park

noun
an area devoted to scientific research or the development of science-based industries.

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scientific

adjective
1. relating to or based on science.
2. systematic; methodical.

DERIVATIVES:
scientifically adverb.

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scientist

noun
a person who has expert knowledge of one or more of the natural or physical sciences.

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Scientology

noun trademark
a religious system based on the seeking of self-knowledge and spiritual fulfilment through courses of study and training.

DERIVATIVES:
Scientologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin scientia 'knowledge' .

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scimitar

noun
a short sword with a curved blade that broadens towards the point, used originally in Eastern countries.

ORIGIN: French cimeterre or Italian scimitarra.

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scintilla

noun
a tiny trace or amount: not a scintilla of doubt.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'spark' .

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scintillate

verb
emit flashes of light; sparkle.

DERIVATIVES:
scintillant adjective & noun
scintillation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin scintillare 'to sparkle' .

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scintillating

adjective
1. sparkling or shining brightly.
2. brilliant and exciting.

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scion

noun
1. a young shoot or twig of a plant, especially one cut for grafting or rooting.
2. a descendant of a notable family.

ORIGIN: Old French ciun 'shoot, twig' .

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scissors

plural noun
1. (also a pair of scissors) an instrument used for cutting cloth and paper, consisting of two crossing blades pivoted in the middle and operated by thumb and fingers inserted in rings at each end.
2. (also scissor) (before another noun ) referring to an action in which two things cross each other or open and close like a pair of scissors: a scissor kick.

ORIGIN: Old French cisoires, from Latin cisorium 'cutting instrument' .

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sclerosis

noun Medicine
1. abnormal hardening of body tissue.
2. (in full multiple sclerosis) a chronic, typically progressive disease involving damage to the sheaths of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

ORIGIN: Greek sklrsis, from sklroun 'harden' .

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scoff [1]

verb
speak about something in a scornfully derisive way.

noun
an expression of scornful derision.

DERIVATIVES:
scoffer noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps Scandinavian.

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scoff [2]

verb informal, chiefly Brit.
eat quickly and greedily.

ORIGIN: from Dutch schoft 'quarter of a day, meal' .

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scold

verb
angrily remonstrate with or rebuke.

noun archaic
a woman who nags or grumbles constantly.

ORIGIN: probably from an Old Norse word meaning 'a person who writes and recites epic poems' .

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sconce

noun
a candle holder attached to a wall with an ornamental bracket.

ORIGIN: Old French esconse 'lantern' , from Latin absconsa laterna 'dark lantern' .

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scone

noun
a small unsweetened or lightly sweetened cake made from flour, fat, and milk.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Dutch schoonbroot 'fine bread' .

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scoop

noun
1. a utensil resembling a spoon, having a short handle and a deep bowl.
2. the bowl-shaped part of a digging machine or dredger.
3. informal a piece of news published or broadcast in advance of being released by other newspapers or broadcast stations.

verb
1. pick up with a scoop.
2. create (a hollow) with or as if with a scoop.
3. pick or gather up in a swift, fluid movement.
4. informal publish a scoop before (a rival).
5. informal win.

ORIGIN: Low German schpe 'waterwheel bucket' .

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scoot

verb informal
go or leave somewhere quickly.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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scooter

noun
1. (also motor scooter) a light two-wheeled motorcycle.
2. any small light vehicle able to travel quickly across water or snow.
3. a child's toy consisting of a footboard mounted on two wheels and a long steering handle, propelled by pushing one foot against the ground.

verb
travel or ride on a scooter.

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scope

noun
1. the extent of the area or subject matter that something deals with or to which it is relevant.
2. the opportunity or possibility for doing something.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a target for shooting at: from Greek skopos 'target' .

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-scope

combining form
denoting an instrument for observing or examining: telescope.

DERIVATIVES:
-scopic combining form in corresponding adjectives.

ORIGIN: from Greek skopein 'look at' .

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scorbutic

adjective
relating to or affected with scurvy.

ORIGIN: from Latin scorbutus 'scurvy' .

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scorch

verb
1. burn or become burnt on the surface or edges.
2. (scorched) dried out and withered as a result of extreme heat.
3. informal move very fast: a car scorching along the motorway.

noun
the burning or charring of the surface of something.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to an Old Norse word meaning 'be shrivelled' .

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scorcher

noun informal
1. a day or period of very hot weather.
2. Brit. a remarkable or powerful example of something.

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score

noun
1. the number of points, goals, runs, etc. achieved by an individual or side in a game.
2. (pl. same) a group or set of twenty.
3. (scores of) a large amount or number of.
4. a written representation of a musical composition showing all the vocal and instrumental parts.
5. a notch or line cut or scratched into a surface.
6. (the score) informal the state of affairs; the real facts.

verb
1. gain (a point, goal, run, etc.) in a competitive game.
2. be worth (a number of points).
3. record the score during a game.
4. cut or scratch a mark on (a surface).
5. (score out/through) delete (text) by drawing a line through it.
6. orchestrate or arrange (a piece of music).
7. informal succeed in obtaining (illegal drugs).
8. informal succeed in attracting a sexual partner.

IDIOMS -
on that (or this) score so far as that (or this) is concerned.
settle a score take revenge on someone.

DERIVATIVES:
scoreless adjective
scorer noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'notch, tally, twenty' ; related to SHEAR.

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scorecard

noun
1. (also scoresheet or scorebook) a card, sheet, or book in which scores are entered.
2. a card listing the names and positions of players in a team.

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scoreline

noun
the number of points or goals scored in a match.

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scorn

noun
open contempt or disdain.

verb
1. express scorn for.
2. reject in a contemptuous way.

DERIVATIVES:
scorner noun
scornful adjective
scornfully adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French escarn.

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Scorpio

noun Astrology
the eighth sign of the zodiac (the Scorpion), which the sun enters about 23 October.

DERIVATIVES:
Scorpian noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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scorpion

noun
an arachnid with lobster-like pincers and a poisonous sting at the end of its tail.

ORIGIN: Greek skorpios 'scorpion' .

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Scot

noun
1. a person from Scotland.
2. a member of a Gaelic people that migrated from Ireland to Scotland around the late 5th century.

ORIGIN: Latin Scottus.

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Scotch

adjective old-fashioned term for SCOTTISH.

noun
1. short for SCOTCH WHISKY.
2. dated the form of English spoken in Scotland.

ORIGIN: contraction of SCOTTISH.

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scotch

verb
1. decisively put an end to.
2. archaic injure and render harmless.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to SKATE.

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Scotch broth

noun
a traditional Scottish soup made from meat stock with pearl barley and vegetables.

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Scotch egg

noun
a hard-boiled egg enclosed in sausage meat, rolled in breadcrumbs, and fried.

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Scotch whisky

noun
whisky distilled in Scotland.

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scot-free

adverb
without suffering any punishment or injury.

ORIGIN: from obsolete scot «a tax», from an Old Norse word meaning 'a shot' .

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Scots

adjective another term for SCOTTISH.

noun
the form of English used in Scotland.

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Scots pine

noun
a pine tree, now widely planted for commercial use, forming the dominant tree of the old Caledonian pine forest of the Scottish Highlands.

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Scottie (also Scottie dog)

noun informal
a Scottish terrier.

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Scottish

adjective
relating to Scotland or its people.

noun (as pl. n. the Scottish)
the people of Scotland.

DERIVATIVES:
Scottishness noun.

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Scottish Nationalist

noun
a member or supporter of Scottish nationalism or of the Scottish National Party.

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Scottish terrier

noun
a small rough-haired breed of terrier.

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scoundrel

noun
a dishonest or unscrupulous person.

DERIVATIVES:
scoundrelism noun
scoundrelly adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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scour [1]

verb
1. clean or brighten by vigorous rubbing with an abrasive or detergent.
2. (of running water) erode (a channel or pool).

noun
1. the action of scouring or the state of being scoured.
2. (also scours) diarrhoea in livestock, especially cattle and pigs.

DERIVATIVES:
scourer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French escurer, from Latin excurare 'clean (off)' .

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scour [2]

verb
1. subject to a thorough search.
2. move rapidly.

ORIGIN: related to obsolete scour «moving hastily», of unknown origin.

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scourge

noun
1. historical a whip used as an instrument of punishment.
2. a person or thing causing great trouble or suffering.

verb
1. historical whip with a scourge.
2. cause great suffering to.

ORIGIN: Old French escorge, from Latin ex- 'thoroughly' + corrigia 'thong, whip' .

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Scouse Brit. informal

noun
1. the dialect or accent of people from Liverpool.
2. (also Scouser) a person from Liverpool.

adjective
relating to Liverpool.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of lobscouse, a stew formerly eaten by sailors.

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scout

noun
1. a soldier or other person sent ahead of a main force to gather information about the enemy.
2. (also Scout) a member of the Scout Association, a boys' organization with the aim of developing their character through outdoor and other activities.
3. a talent scout.
4. an instance of scouting.

verb
1. make a detailed search of a place.
2. explore or examine so as to gather information.
3. act as a scout.

DERIVATIVES:
scouter noun
scouting noun.

ORIGIN: Old French escouter 'listen' , from Latin auscultare.

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scow

noun
a wide-beamed sailing dinghy.

ORIGIN: Dutch schouw 'ferry boat' .

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scowl

noun
an angry or bad-tempered expression.

verb
frown in an angry or bad-tempered way.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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scrabble

verb
1. scratch or grope around with one's fingers to find or hold on to something.
2. move quickly and in a disorderly manner; scramble.

noun
1. an act of scrabbling.
2. (Scrabble) trademark a board game in which players build up words from small lettered squares or tiles.

ORIGIN: Dutch schrabbelen, from schrabben 'to scrape' .

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scrag

verb (scragged, scragging) informal, chiefly Brit.
handle roughly; beat up.

noun
1. an unattractively thin person or animal.
2. archaic, informal the neck.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of Scots and northern English crag «neck».

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scraggy

adjective (scraggier, scraggiest)
1. thin and bony.
2. (also chiefly N. Amer. scraggly) ragged or untidy in form or appearance.

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scram

verb (scrammed, scramming) informal
go away or leave quickly.

ORIGIN: probably from SCRAMBLE.

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scramble

verb
1. move or make one's way quickly and awkwardly, typically by using one's hands as well as one's feet.
2. make or become jumbled or muddled.
3. make (a broadcast transmission or telephone conversation) unintelligible unless received by an appropriate decoding device.
4. cook (beaten eggs with a little liquid) in a pan.
5. (with reference to fighter aircraft) take off or cause to take off immediately in an emergency or for action.
6. informal act in a hurried, disorderly, or undignified manner: firms scrambled to win contracts.

noun
1. an act of scrambling.
2. Brit. a motorcycle race over rough and hilly ground.
3. a disordered mixture.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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scrambler

noun
1. a device for scrambling a broadcast transmission or telephone conversation.
2. Brit. a motorcycle for racing over rough ground.

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scrap [1]

noun
1. a small piece or amount of something, especially one that is left over after the greater part has been used.
2. (scraps) bits of uneaten food left after a meal.
3. material discarded for reprocessing.

verb (scrapped, scrapping)
1. remove from use or service, especially for conversion to scrap metal.
2. abolish or cancel (a plan, policy, or law).

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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scrap [2] informal

noun
a fight or quarrel, especially a minor or spontaneous one.

verb (scrapped, scrapping)
1. engage in such a fight or quarrel.
2. compete fiercely.

DERIVATIVES:
scrapper noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from SCRAPE.

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scrapbook

noun
a book of blank pages for sticking cuttings, drawings, or pictures in.

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scrape

verb
1. drag or pull a hard or sharp implement across (a surface or object) to remove dirt or waste matter.
2. use a sharp or hard implement to remove (dirt or unwanted matter).
3. rub against a rough or hard surface.
4. just manage to achieve, succeed, or pass.
5. (scrape by/along) manage to live with difficulty.
6. (scrape together/up) collect or accumulate with difficulty.

noun
1. an act or sound of scraping.
2. an injury or mark caused by scraping.
3. informal an embarrassing or difficult predicament.
4. archaic an obsequious bow in which one foot is drawn backwards along the ground.

IDIOMS -
scrape the barrel (or the bottom of the barrel) informal be reduced to using the last and poorest resources.

DERIVATIVES:
scraper noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «scratch with the fingernails».

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scrappy

adjective (scrappier, scrappiest)
disorganized, untidy, or incomplete.

DERIVATIVES:
scrappily adverb
scrappiness noun.

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scrapyard

noun Brit.
a place where scrap is collected before being discarded, reused, or recycled.

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scratch

verb
1. make a long mark or wound on (a surface) with something sharp or pointed.
2. rub (a part of one's body) with one's fingernails to relieve itching.
3. (of a bird or mammal) rake the ground with the beak or claws in search of food.
4. cancel or strike out (writing).
5. withdraw from a competition.
6. cancel or abandon (an undertaking or project).
7. (scratch around/along) make a living or find resources with difficulty.
8. (scratching) the technique, used in rap music, of stopping a record by hand and moving it back and forwards to give a rhythmic scratching effect.

noun
1. a mark or wound made by scratching.
2. an act or spell of scratching.
3. informal a slight or insignificant wound or injury.

adjective
assembled or made from whatever is available.

IDIOMS -
from scratch from the very beginning.
scratch the surface deal with a matter only in the most superficial way.
up to scratch up to the required standard; satisfactory.
you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours proverb if you do me a favour, I'll return it.

DERIVATIVES:
scratcher noun.

ORIGIN: probably a blend of the synonymous dialect words scrat and cratch, of uncertain origin.

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scratch card

noun
a card with a section or sections coated in an opaque waxy substance which may be scraped away to reveal whether a prize has been won.

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scratchy

adjective (scratchier, scratchiest)
1. causing or characterized by scratching.
2. (of a voice or sound) rough; grating.
3. (of a record) making a crackling sound because of scratches on the surface.

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scrawl

verb
write in a hurried, careless way.

noun
hurried, careless handwriting.

ORIGIN: apparently an alteration of CRAWL.

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scrawny

adjective (scrawnier, scrawniest)
unattractively thin and bony.

ORIGIN: variant of dialect scranny.

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scream

verb
1. make a long, loud, piercing cry or sound expressing extreme emotion or pain.
2. move very rapidly with or as if with such a sound.
3. present in an urgent or obvious way: the headlines screamed ‘he offered me sex’.

noun
1. a screaming cry or sound.
2. (a scream) informal an irresistibly funny person or thing.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain; perhaps Dutch.

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scree

noun
a mass of small loose stones that form or cover a slope on a mountain.

ORIGIN: probably from Old Norse, 'landslip' .

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screech

noun
a loud, harsh, piercing cry or sound.

verb
1. make a screech.
2. move rapidly with a screech.

DERIVATIVES:
screecher noun
screechy adjective (screechier, screechiest) .

ORIGIN: imitative.

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screed

noun
1. a long speech or piece of writing.
2. a levelled layer of material applied to a floor or other surface.

DERIVATIVES:
screeding noun.

ORIGIN: probably a variant of SHRED.

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screen

noun
1. an upright partition used to divide a room, give shelter, or provide concealment.
2. something that provides shelter or concealment.
3. the surface of a cathode ray tube or similar electronic device, especially that of a television, VDU, or monitor, on which images and data are displayed.
4. a blank surface on which a photographic image is projected.
5. (the screen) films or television.
6. a frame with fine wire netting used in a window or doorway to keep out flying insects.

verb
1. conceal, protect, or shelter with a screen.
2. show (a film or video) or broadcast (a television programme).
3. protect from something dangerous or unpleasant.
4. test for the presence or absence of a disease.
5. investigate (someone), typically to ascertain their suitability for a job.

DERIVATIVES:
screener noun
screenful noun.

ORIGIN: Old French escren.

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screenplay

noun
the script of a film, including acting instructions and scene directions.

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screen-print

verb
force ink on to (a surface) through a prepared screen of fine material so as to create a picture or pattern.

noun (screen print)
a picture or design produced by screen-printing.

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screen saver

noun Computing
a program which replaces an unchanging screen display with a moving image to prevent damage to the phosphor.

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screen test

noun
a filmed test to ascertain whether an actor is suitable for a film role.

verb (screen-test)
give such a test to.

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screenwriter

noun
a person who writes a screenplay.

DERIVATIVES:
screenwriting noun.

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screw

noun
1. a thin, sharp-pointed metal pin with a raised spiral thread running around it and a slotted head, used to join things together by being rotated in under pressure.
2. a cylinder with a spiral ridge or thread running round the outside that can be turned to seal an opening, apply pressure, adjust position, etc.
3. (also screw propeller) a ship's or aircraft's propeller.
4. informal, derogatory a prison warder.
5. vulgar slang an act of sexual intercourse.

verb
1. fasten or tighten with a screw or screws.
2. rotate (something) so as to attach or remove it by means of a spiral thread.
3. informal cheat or swindle.
4. vulgar slang have sexual intercourse with.

IDIOMS -
have one's head screwed on (the right way) informal have common sense.
have a screw loose informal be slightly eccentric or mentally disturbed.
screw up
1. crush into a tight mass.
2. informal cause to fail or go wrong.
3. informal make emotionally or mentally disturbed.
4. summon up (one's courage).

ORIGIN: Old French escroue 'female screw, nut' , from Latin scrofa, 'sow' , later 'screw' .

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screwball informal, chiefly N. Amer.

noun
a crazy or eccentric person.

adjective
1. crazy; absurd.
2. referring to a style of fast-moving comedy film involving eccentric characters or ridiculous situations.

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screwdriver

noun
1. a tool with a shaped tip that fits into the head of a screw to turn it.
2. a cocktail made from vodka and orange juice.

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screwy

adjective (screwier, screwiest) informal, chiefly N. Amer.
rather odd or eccentric.

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scribble

verb
1. write or draw carelessly or hurriedly.
2. informal write for a living or as a hobby.

noun
a piece of writing or a picture produced carelessly or hurriedly.

DERIVATIVES:
scribbler noun.

ORIGIN: Latin scribillare, from scribere 'write' .

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scribe

noun
1. historical a person who copied out documents.
2. informal, often humorous a writer, especially a journalist.
3. Jewish History a Jewish record-keeper or, later, a professional theologian and jurist.
4. (also scriber or scribe awl) a pointed instrument used for making marks to guide a saw or in signwriting.

verb
1. literary write.
2. mark with a pointed instrument.

DERIVATIVES:
scribal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin scriba, from scribere 'write' .

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scrim

noun
1. strong, coarse fabric used for heavy-duty lining or upholstery.
2. Theatre a piece of gauze cloth that appears opaque until lit from behind, used as a screen or backcloth.
3. chiefly N. Amer. something that conceals or obscures.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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scrimmage

noun
1. a confused struggle or fight.
2. American Football a sequence of play beginning with the placing of the ball on the ground with its longest axis at right angles to the goal line.

verb American Football
engage in a scrimmage.

ORIGIN: variant of SKIRMISH.

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scrimp

verb
be thrifty or parsimonious; economize.

ORIGIN: Scots, «meagre».

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scrip

noun
1. a provisional certificate of money subscribed to a bank or company, entitling the holder to a formal certificate and dividends.
2. certificates of this type collectively.
3. an issue of additional shares to shareholders in proportion to the shares already held.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of subscription receipt.

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script

noun
1. the written text of a play, film, or broadcast.
2. handwriting as distinct from print.
3. writing using a particular alphabet.
4. Brit. a candidate's written answers in an examination.

verb
write a script for.

ORIGIN: Latin scriptum, from scribere 'write' .

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scriptural

adjective
of or relating to the Bible.

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scripture (also scriptures)

noun
1. the sacred writings of Christianity contained in the Bible.
2. the sacred writings of another religion.

ORIGIN: Latin scriptura 'writings' , from scribere 'write' .

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scriptwriter

noun
a person who writes a script for a play, film, or broadcast.

DERIVATIVES:
scriptwriting noun.

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scrivener

noun historical
a clerk, scribe, or notary.

ORIGIN: Old French escrivein, from Latin scriba (see SCRIBE).

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scrofula

noun chiefly historical
a disease with glandular swellings, probably a form of tuberculosis.

DERIVATIVES:
scrofulous adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin scrofa 'breeding sow' (said to be subject to the disease).

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scroll

noun
1. a roll of parchment or paper for writing or painting on.
2. an ornamental design or carving resembling a partly unrolled scroll of parchment.

verb
move displayed text or graphics on a computer screen in order to view different parts of them.

DERIVATIVES:
scrollable adjective
scroller noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete scrow «roll», shortening of ESCROW.

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scroll bar

noun
a long thin section at the edge of a computer display by which material can be scrolled using a mouse.

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Scrooge

noun
a person who is mean with money.

ORIGIN: from Ebenezer Scrooge, a miser in Charles Dickens's story A Christmas Carol (1843).

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scrotum

noun (pl. scrota or scrotums)
the pouch of skin containing the testicles.

DERIVATIVES:
scrotal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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scrounge informal

verb
seek to obtain (something) from others without having to pay or work for it.

noun
an act or the action of scrounging.

DERIVATIVES:
scrounger noun.

ORIGIN: variant of dialect scrunge «steal».

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scrub [1]

verb (scrubbed, scrubbing)
1. rub hard so as to clean.
2. (scrub up) thoroughly clean one's hands and arms before performing surgery.
3. informal cancel or abandon.

noun
1. an act of scrubbing.
2. a semi-abrasive cosmetic lotion used to cleanse the skin.
3. (scrubs) hygienic clothing worn by surgeons during operations.

ORIGIN: probably from Low German or Dutch schrobben, schrubben.

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scrub [2]

noun
1. vegetation consisting mainly of brushwood or stunted forest growth.
2. (also scrubs) land covered with such vegetation.
3. (before another noun ) denoting a shrubby or small form of a plant.

DERIVATIVES:
scrubby adjective.

ORIGIN: from SHRUB.

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scrubber

noun
1. a person or thing that scrubs.
2. an apparatus using water or a solution for purifying gases or vapours.
3. Brit. informal, derogatory a sexually promiscuous woman.

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scruff [1]

noun
the back of a person's or animal's neck.

ORIGIN: from dialect scuff, of obscure origin.

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scruff [2]

noun Brit. informal
a scruffy person.

ORIGIN: variant of SCURF.

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scruffy

adjective (scruffier, scruffiest)
shabby and untidy or dirty.

DERIVATIVES:
scruffily adverb
scruffiness noun.

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scrum

noun
1. Rugby an ordered formation of players in which the forwards of each team push against each other with heads down and the ball is thrown in.
2. Brit. informal a disorderly crowd.

verb (scrummed, scrumming) Rugby
form or take part in a scrum.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of SCRUMMAGE.

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scrummy

adjective (scrummier, scrummiest) informal
delicious.

ORIGIN: from SCRUMPTIOUS.

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scrump

verb Brit. informal
steal (fruit) from an orchard or garden.

ORIGIN: from dialect, «withered apple».

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scrumptious

adjective informal
extremely delicious or attractive.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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scrunch

verb
1. make a loud crunching noise.
2. crush or squeeze into a compact mass.

noun
a loud crunching noise.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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scruple

noun
1. a feeling of doubt as to whether an action is morally right.
2. historical a unit of weight used by apothecaries, equal to 20 grains.

verb
hesitate to do something that one thinks may be wrong.

ORIGIN: from Latin scrupus, literally 'rough pebble' , (figuratively) 'anxiety' .

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scrupulous

adjective
1. diligent and thorough.
2. very concerned to avoid doing wrong.

DERIVATIVES:
scrupulosity noun
scrupulously adverb
scrupulousness noun.

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scrutinize (also scrutinise)

verb
examine closely and thoroughly.

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scrutiny

noun (pl. scrutinies)
close and critical observation or examination.

ORIGIN: Latin scrutinium, from scrutari 'sort rubbish' , later 'to search' .

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scuba

noun
an aqualung.

ORIGIN: acronym from self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.

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scuba-diving

noun
the sport or pastime of swimming underwater using a scuba.

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scud

verb (scudded, scudding)
move fast in a straight line because or as if driven by the wind.

noun literary
1. clouds or spray driven fast by the wind.
2. the action of scudding.

ORIGIN: perhaps from SCUT, reflecting the sense «race like a hare».

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scuff

verb
1. scrape (a shoe or other object) against something.
2. mark by scuffing.
3. drag (one's feet) when walking.

noun
a mark made by scuffing.

ORIGIN: perhaps imitative.

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scuffle

noun
a short, confused fight or struggle.

verb
1. engage in a scuffle.
2. move in a hurried, confused, or shuffling way.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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scull

noun
1. each of a pair of small oars used by a single rower.
2. an oar placed over the stern of a boat to propel it with a side to side motion.
3. a light, narrow boat propelled with a scull or a pair of sculls.

verb
propel a boat with sculls.

DERIVATIVES:
sculler noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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scullery

noun (pl. sculleries)
a small kitchen or room at the back of a house used for washing dishes and other dirty household work.

ORIGIN: Old French escuelerie, from Latin scutella 'salver' .

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scullion

noun archaic
a servant assigned the most menial kitchen tasks.

ORIGIN: perhaps influenced by SCULLERY.

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sculpt

verb
create or represent by sculpture.

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sculptor

noun (fem. sculptress)
an artist who makes sculptures.

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sculpture

noun
1. the art of making three-dimensional figures and shapes, especially by carving stone or wood or casting metal.
2. a work of such a kind.

verb
1. make or represent by sculpture.
2. (sculptured) formed or shaped as if by sculpture, especially with strong, smooth curves.

DERIVATIVES:
sculptural adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin sculpere 'carve' .

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scum

noun
1. a layer of dirt or froth on the surface of a liquid.
2. informal a worthless or contemptible person or group of people.

verb (scummed, scumming)
cover or become covered with a layer of scum.

DERIVATIVES:
scummy adjective (scummier, scummiest) .

ORIGIN: Low German or Dutch schm.

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scumbag

noun informal
a contemptible person.

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scupper [1]

noun
a hole in a ship's side to allow water to run away from the deck.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French escopir 'to spit' .

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scupper [2]

verb chiefly Brit.
1. sink (a ship) deliberately.
2. informal prevent from working or succeeding; thwart.

ORIGIN: originally as military slang in the sense «ambush and kill»; of unknown origin.

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scurf

noun
flakes on the surface of the skin that form as fresh skin develops below, occurring especially as dandruff.

DERIVATIVES:
scurfy adjective.

ORIGIN: from Old English, 'cut to shreds' .

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scurrilous

adjective
making scandalous claims about someone in order to damage their reputation.

DERIVATIVES:
scurrility noun (pl. scurrilities) .

ORIGIN: Latin scurrilus, from scurra 'buffoon' .

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scurry

verb (scurries, scurried)
move hurriedly with short quick steps.

noun
a situation of hurried and confused movement.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of hurry-scurry, from HURRY.

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scurvy

noun
a disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin C, characterized by bleeding gums and the opening of previously healed wounds.

adjective (scurvier, scurviest) archaic
worthless or contemptible.

ORIGIN: from SCURF.

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scut

noun
the short tail of a hare, rabbit, or deer.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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scutter chiefly Brit.

verb
move hurriedly with short steps.

noun
an act or sound of scuttering.

ORIGIN: perhaps from SCUTTLE.

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scuttle [1]

noun
1. a lidded metal container with a handle, used to store coal for a domestic fire.
2. Brit. the part of a car's bodywork between the windscreen and the bonnet.

ORIGIN: Latin scutella 'dish' .

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scuttle [2]

verb
run hurriedly or furtively with short quick steps.

noun
an act or sound of scuttling.

ORIGIN: probably related to SCUD.

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scuttle [3]

verb
1. sink (one's own ship) deliberately.
2. deliberately cause (a scheme) to fail.

noun
an opening with a lid in a ship's deck or side.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Spanish escotilla 'hatchway' .

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scythe

noun
a tool used for cutting crops such as grass or corn, with a long curved blade at the end of a long pole.

verb
1. cut with a scythe.
2. move through or penetrate rapidly and forcefully.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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SD

abbreviation
South Dakota.

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SDLP

abbreviation
(in Northern Ireland) Social Democratic and Labour Party.

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SE

abbreviation
1. south-east.
2. south-eastern.

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Se

symbol
the chemical element selenium.

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sea

noun
1. the expanse of salt water that covers most of the earth's surface and surrounds its land masses.
2. a roughly definable area of this.
3. a vast expanse or quantity: a sea of faces.

IDIOMS -
at sea
1. sailing on the sea.
2. confused; uncertain.
one's sea legs one's ability to keep one's balance and not feel seasick on board a ship.

DERIVATIVES:
seaward adjective & adverb
seawards adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sea anemone

noun
a marine animal with a tube-shaped body which bears a ring of stinging tentacles around the mouth.

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sea bass

noun
a marine fish with a spiny dorsal fin, resembling the freshwater perch.

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seabed

noun
the ground under the sea; the ocean floor.

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seabird

noun
a bird that frequents the sea or coast.

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seaboard

noun
a region bordering the sea; the coastline.

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sea bream

noun
a deep-bodied marine fish that resembles the freshwater bream.

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sea change

noun
a profound or notable transformation.

ORIGIN: from Shakespeare's Tempest.

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sea cow

noun
a sirenian, especially a manatee.

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sea dog

noun informal
an old or experienced sailor.

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seafaring

adjective
travelling by sea.

noun
travel by sea.

DERIVATIVES:
seafarer noun.

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seafood

noun
shellfish and sea fish served as food.

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seafront

noun
the part of a coastal town next to and directly facing the sea.

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seagoing

adjective
1. (of a ship) suitable for voyages on the sea.
2. relating to sea travel.

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seagull

noun
a gull.

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sea horse

noun
a small marine fish with an upright posture and a head and neck suggestive of a horse.

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seakale

noun
a maritime plant of the cabbage family, cultivated for its edible young shoots.

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seal [1]

noun
1. a device or substance used to join two things together or make something impervious.
2. a piece of wax or lead with an individual design stamped into it, attached to a document as a guarantee of authenticity.
3. a confirmation or guarantee: a seal of approval.
4. an engraved device used for stamping a seal.

verb
1. fasten or close securely.
2. (seal off) isolate (an area) by preventing entrance to and exit from it.
3. apply a non-porous coating to (a surface) to make it impervious.
4. conclude, establish, or secure definitively.
5. authenticate (a document) with a seal.

IDIOMS -
my lips are sealed I will not discuss or reveal a particular secret.
put (or set) the seal on finally confirm or conclude.
set (or put) one's seal to (or on) mark with one's distinctive character.

DERIVATIVES:
sealable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French seel, from Latin sigillum 'small picture' .

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seal [2]

noun
a fish-eating aquatic mammal with a streamlined body and feet developed as flippers.

verb
hunt for seals.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sealant

noun
material used to make something airtight or watertight.

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sea level

noun
the level of the sea's surface, used in reckoning the height of geographical features and as a barometric standard.

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sealing wax

noun
a mixture of shellac and rosin with turpentine and pigment, softened by heating and used to make seals.

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sea lion

noun
a large seal of the Pacific Ocean, the male of which has a mane on the neck and shoulders.

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seam

noun
1. a line where two pieces of fabric are sewn together in a garment or other article.
2. a line where the edges of two pieces of wood or other material touch each other.
3. an underground layer of a mineral such as coal or gold.

verb
join with a seam.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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seaman

noun
1. a sailor, especially one below the rank of officer.
2. the lowest rank in the US navy, below petty officer.

DERIVATIVES:
seamanlike adjective
seamanship noun.

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sea mile

noun
a unit of distance equal to a minute of arc of a great circle, varying between approximately 2,014 yards (1,842 metres) at the equator and 2,035 yards (1,861 metres) at the pole.

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seamless

adjective
smooth and without seams or obvious joins.

DERIVATIVES:
seamlessly adverb.

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seamstress

noun
a woman who sews, especially as a job.

ORIGIN: from archaic seamster «tailor, seamstress».

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seamy

adjective (seamier, seamiest)
sordid and disreputable.

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seance

noun
a meeting at which people attempt to make contact with the dead.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin sedere 'sit' .

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seaplane

noun
an aircraft with floats or skis instead of wheels, designed to land on and take off from water.

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seaport

noun
a town or city with a harbour for seagoing ships.

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sear

verb
1. burn or scorch with a sudden intense heat.
2. (of pain) be experienced as a sudden burning sensation.
3. brown (food) quickly at a high temperature.

adjective (also sere) literary
withered.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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search

verb
1. try to find something by looking or otherwise seeking carefully and thoroughly.
2. examine (a place, vehicle, or person) thoroughly in order to find something or someone.
3. (searching) investigating very deeply: searching questions.

noun
an act of searching.

IDIOMS -
search me! informal I do not know.

DERIVATIVES:
searchable adjective
searcher noun.

ORIGIN: Old French cerchier, from Latin circare 'go round' .

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search engine

noun Computing
a program for the retrieval of data, files, or documents from a database or network, especially the Internet.

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searchlight

noun
a powerful outdoor electric light with a concentrated beam that can be turned in the required direction.

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search party

noun
a group of people organized to look for someone or something.

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search warrant

noun
a legal document authorizing a police officer or other official to enter and search premises.

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sea salt

noun
salt produced by the evaporation of seawater.

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seascape

noun
a view or picture of an expanse of sea.

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seashell

noun
the shell of a marine mollusc.

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seashore

noun
1. an area of sandy, stony, or rocky land bordering and level with the sea.
2. Law the land between high- and low-water marks.

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seasick

adjective
suffering from nausea caused by the motion of a ship at sea.

DERIVATIVES:
seasickness noun.

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seaside

noun
a place by the sea, especially a beach area or holiday resort.

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season

noun
1. each of the four divisions of the year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) marked by particular weather patterns and daylight hours.
2. a period of the year characterized by a climatic feature, sport, or event.
3. the time of year when a particular fruit, vegetable, etc., is plentiful and in good condition.
4. (usu. in phrase in season) a period when a female mammal is ready to mate.
5. (the season) the time of year traditionally marked by fashionable upper-class social events.
6. archaic a proper or suitable time.

verb
1. add salt, herbs, or spices to (food).
2. add an enlivening quality or feature to.
3. keep (wood) so as to dry it for use as timber.
4. (seasoned) accustomed to particular conditions; experienced: a seasoned traveller.

ORIGIN: Old French seson, from Latin serere 'to sow' .

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seasonable

adjective
usual for or appropriate to a particular season of the year.

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seasonal

adjective
1. relating to or characteristic of a particular season of the year.
2. fluctuating according to the season.

DERIVATIVES:
seasonality noun
seasonally adverb.

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seasoning

noun
salt, herbs, or spices added to food to enhance the flavour.

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season ticket

noun
a ticket allowing travel within a particular period or admission to a series of events.

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seat

noun
1. a thing made or used for sitting on.
2. the horizontal part of a chair.
3. a sitting place for a passenger in a vehicle or for a member of an audience.
4. a person's buttocks.
5. chiefly Brit. a place in an elected parliament or council.
6. Brit. a parliamentary constituency.
7. a site or location.
8. a large country house and estate belonging to an aristocratic family.
9. a part of a machine that supports or guides another part.
10. a manner of sitting on a horse.

verb
1. arrange for (someone) to sit somewhere.
2. (seat oneself or be seated) sit down.
3. (of a place) have sufficient seats for.

DERIVATIVES:
seating noun
seatless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, related to SIT.

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seat belt

noun
a belt used to secure someone in the seat of a motor vehicle or aircraft.

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sea urchin

noun
a marine animal which has a shell covered in mobile spines.

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sea wall

noun
a wall or embankment erected to prevent the sea encroaching on an area of land.

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seaweed

noun
large algae growing in the sea or on rocks below the high-water mark.

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seaworthy

adjective
(of a boat) in a good enough condition to sail on the sea.

DERIVATIVES:
seaworthiness noun.

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sebaceous

adjective technical
1. relating to oil or fat.
2. relating to a sebaceous gland or its secretion.

ORIGIN: Latin sebaceus, from sebum 'tallow' .

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sec [1]

abbreviation
secant.

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sec [2]

noun informal
a second or a very short space of time.

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secant

noun
1. Mathematics (in a right-angled triangle) the ratio of the hypotenuse to the shorter side adjacent to an acute angle.
2. Geometry a straight line that cuts a curve in two or more parts.

ORIGIN: from Latin secare 'to cut' .

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secateurs

plural noun chiefly Brit.
a pair of pruning clippers for use with one hand.

ORIGIN: French, 'cutters' , from Latin secare 'to cut' .

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secede

verb
withdraw formally from membership of a federal union or a political or religious organization.

DERIVATIVES:
seceder noun.

ORIGIN: Latin secedere 'withdraw' .

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secession

noun
the action of seceding from a federation or organization.

DERIVATIVES:
secessionism noun.

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seclude

verb
keep (someone) away from other people.

ORIGIN: Latin secludere, from claudere 'to shut' .

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secluded

adjective
(of a place) not seen or visited by many people; sheltered and private.

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seclusion

noun
the state of being private and away from other people.

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second [1]

ordinal number
1. constituting number two in a sequence; 2nd.
2. subordinate or inferior in position, rank, or importance.
3. (seconds) goods of an inferior quality.
4. (seconds) informal a second course or second helping of food at a meal.
5. secondly.
6. Brit. a place in the second highest grade in an examination for a degree.
7. an attendant assisting a combatant in a duel or boxing match.

verb
1. formally support or endorse (a nomination or resolution) before adoption or further discussion.
2. express agreement with.

DERIVATIVES:
seconder noun.

ORIGIN: Latin secundus 'following, second' , from sequi 'follow' .

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second [2]

noun
1. the unit of time in the SI system, equal to one-sixtieth of a minute.
2. informal a very short time.
3. (also arc second or second of arc) a sixtieth of a minute of angular distance.

ORIGIN: from Latin secunda minuta 'second minute' , from secundus, referring to the ‘second’ operation of dividing an hour by sixty.

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second [3]

verb Brit.
temporarily transfer (a worker) to another position.

DERIVATIVES:
secondee noun
secondment noun.

ORIGIN: from French en second 'in the second rank (of officers)' .

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secondary

adjective
1. coming after, less important than, or resulting from something primary.
2. relating to education for children from the age of eleven to sixteen or eighteen.

DERIVATIVES:
secondarily adverb.

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secondary modern school

noun chiefly historical
(in the UK) a secondary school for children not selected for grammar or technical schools.

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secondary sexual characteristics

plural noun
physical characteristics developed at puberty which distinguish between the sexes but are not involved in reproduction.

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second best

adjective
next after the best.

noun
a less adequate or less desirable alternative.

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second class

noun
1. a set of people or things grouped together as the second best.
2. the second-best accommodation in an aircraft, train, or ship.
3. Brit. the second-highest division in the results of the examinations for a university degree.

adjective & adverb
relating to the second class.

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Second Coming

noun Christian Theology
the prophesied return of Christ to Earth at the Last Judgement.

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second-degree

adjective
1. Medicine (of burns) that cause blistering but not permanent scars.
2. Law, chiefly N. Amer. (of a crime, especially a murder) less serious than a first-degree crime.

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second-guess

verb
1. anticipate or predict (someone's actions or thoughts) by guesswork.
2. judge (someone) with hindsight.

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second-hand

adjective & adverb
1. (of goods) having had a previous owner; not new.
2. accepted on another's authority and not from original investigation.

IDIOMS -
at second hand by hearsay rather than direct observation or experience.

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second hand

noun
an extra hand in some watches and clocks which moves round to indicate the seconds.

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second in command

noun
the officer next in authority to the commanding or chief officer.

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secondly

adverb
in the second place; second.

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second name

noun Brit.
a surname.

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second nature

noun
a tendency or habit that has become instinctive.

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second-rate

adjective
of mediocre or inferior quality.

DERIVATIVES:
second-rater noun.

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second sight

noun
the supposed ability to perceive future or distant events; clairvoyance.

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second string

noun
an alternative resource or course of action in case another one fails.

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second thoughts

plural noun
a change of opinion or resolve reached after reconsideration.

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second wind

noun
regained ability to breathe freely during exercise, after having been out of breath.

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secret

adjective
1. not known or seen or not meant to be known or seen by others.
2. fond of having or keeping secrets; secretive.

noun
1. something secret.
2. a method of achieving something that is not commonly known or recognized: the secret of a happy marriage is compromise.
3. something not properly understood; a mystery: the secrets of the universe.

DERIVATIVES:
secrecy noun
secretly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin secretus 'separate, set apart' , from secernere 'move apart' .

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secret agent

noun
a spy acting for a country.

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secretariat

noun
a governmental administrative office or department.

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secretary

noun (pl. secretaries)
1. a person employed to assist with correspondence, keep records, etc.
2. an official of a society or other organization who conducts its correspondence and keeps its records.
3. the principal assistant of a UK government minister or ambassador.

DERIVATIVES:
secretarial adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «person entrusted with a secret»: from Latin secretarius 'confidential officer' , from secretum 'a secret' .

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secretary bird

noun
a slender long-legged African bird of prey that feeds on snakes, having a crest likened to a quill pen stuck behind the ear.

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Secretary General

noun (pl. Secretaries General)
the title of the principal administrator of some organizations.

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Secretary of State

noun
1. (in the UK) the head of a major government department.
2. (in the US) the head of the State Department, responsible for foreign affairs.

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secrete [1]

verb
(of a cell, gland, or organ) produce and discharge (a substance).

DERIVATIVES:
secretor noun
secretory adjective.

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secrete [2]

verb
conceal; hide.

ORIGIN: from the obsolete verb secret «keep secret».

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secretion

noun
1. a process by which substances are produced and discharged from a cell, gland, or organ for a particular function in the organism or for excretion.
2. a substance discharged in such a way.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'separation' , from secernere 'move apart' .

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secretive

adjective
inclined to conceal feelings and intentions or not to disclose information.

DERIVATIVES:
secretively adverb
secretiveness noun.

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secret police

noun (treated as pl. )
a police force working in secret against a government's political opponents.

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secret service

noun
1. a government department concerned with espionage.
2. (Secret Service) (in the US) a branch of the Treasury Department dealing with counterfeiting and providing protection for the President.

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secret society

noun
an organization whose members are sworn to secrecy about its activities.

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sect

noun
1. a group of people with different religious beliefs (typically regarded as heretical) from those of a larger group to which they belong.
2. a group with extreme or dangerous philosophical or political ideas.

ORIGIN: Latin secta 'following, faction' , from sequi 'follow' .

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sectarian

adjective
1. concerning or deriving from a sect or sects.
2. carried out on the grounds of membership of a sect or other group: sectarian killings.

noun
a member or follower of a sect.

DERIVATIVES:
sectarianism noun.

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section

noun
1. any of the more or less distinct parts into which something is divided or from which it is made up.
2. a distinct group within a larger body of people or things.
3. the shape resulting from cutting a solid by or along a plane.
4. a representation of the internal structure of something as if it has been cut through.
5. Biology a thin slice of plant or animal tissue prepared for microscopic examination.
6. Surgery a separation by cutting.
7. NZ a building plot.

verb
1. divide into sections.
2. Surgery divide by cutting.
3. Brit. (often be sectioned) commit compulsorily to a psychiatric hospital (in accordance with a section of the Mental Health Act).

DERIVATIVES:
sectional adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from secare 'to cut' .

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sector

noun
1. an area or portion that is distinct from others.
2. a distinct part of an economy, society, or sphere of activity.
3. a subdivision of an area for military operations.
4. the plane figure enclosed by two radii of a circle or ellipse and the arc between them.
5. a mathematical instrument consisting of two arms hinged at one end and marked with sines, tangents, etc. for making diagrams.

DERIVATIVES:
sectoral adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'cutter' .

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secular

adjective
1. not religious, sacred, or spiritual.
2. (of clergy) not subject to or bound by religious rule.
3. Astronomy denoting slow changes in the motion of the sun or planets.
4. Economics (of a fluctuation or trend) occurring or persisting over an indefinitely long period.

noun
a secular priest.

DERIVATIVES:
secularism noun
secularist noun
secularity noun
secularize (also secularise) verb
secularly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin saecularis 'relating to an age or period' , from saeculum 'generation' , used in Christian Latin to mean 'the world' .

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secure

adjective
1. certain to remain safe and unthreatened.
2. fixed or fastened so as not to give way, become loose, or be lost.
3. feeling free from fear or anxiety.
4. protected against attack, burglary, etc.
5. (of a place of detention) having provisions against the escape of inmates.

verb
1. protect against danger or threat.
2. fix or fasten securely.
3. succeed in obtaining.
4. seek to guarantee repayment of (a loan) by having a right to take possession of an asset in the event of non-payment.

DERIVATIVES:
securable adjective
securely adverb
securement noun
secureness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin securus, from cura 'care' .

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security

noun (pl. securities)
1. the state of being or feeling secure.
2. the safety of a state or organization against criminal activity such as terrorism or espionage.
3. a thing deposited or pledged as a guarantee of the fulfilment of an undertaking or the repayment of a loan, to be forfeited in case of default.
4. a certificate attesting credit, the ownership of stocks or bonds, etc.

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security blanket

noun
1. a blanket or other familiar object which is a comfort to a child.
2. Brit. an official sanction imposed on information in order to maintain complete secrecy.

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sedan

noun
1. an enclosed chair carried between two horizontal poles, common in the 17th and 18th centuries.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a car for four or more people.

ORIGIN: perhaps from an Italian dialect word, from Latin sella 'saddle' .

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sedate [1]

adjective
1. calm and unhurried.
2. staid and rather dull.

DERIVATIVES:
sedately adverb
sedateness noun.

ORIGIN: originally used also as a medical term in the sense «not sore or painful»: from Latin sedare 'settle' .

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sedate [2]

verb
put under sedation.

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sedation

noun
the administering of a sedative drug to produce a state of calm or sleep.

ORIGIN: Latin, from sedare 'settle' .

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sedative

adjective
promoting calm or inducing sleep.

noun
a sedative drug.

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sedentary

adjective
1. sitting; seated.
2. tending to sit down a lot; taking little physical exercise.
3. tending to stay in the same place for much of the time.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «not migratory»: from Latin sedentarius, from sedere 'sit' .

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sedge

noun
a grass-like plant with triangular stems and inconspicuous flowers, growing typically in wet ground.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sediment

noun
1. matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.
2. Geology material carried in particles by water or wind and deposited on the land surface or seabed.

verb
settle or deposit as sediment.

DERIVATIVES:
sedimentation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sedimentum 'settling' .

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sedimentary

adjective
1. of or relating to sediment.
2. Geology (of rock) that has formed from sediment deposited by water or wind.

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sedition

noun
conduct or speech inciting rebellion against the authority of a state or monarch.

DERIVATIVES:
seditious adjective
seditiously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, from sed- 'apart' + itio 'going' .

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seduce

verb
1. persuade to do something inadvisable.
2. entice into sexual activity.

DERIVATIVES:
seducer noun
seducible adjective
seduction noun
seductress noun.

ORIGIN: Latin seducere 'lead aside or away' .

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seductive

adjective
tempting and attractive.

DERIVATIVES:
seductively adverb
seductiveness noun.

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sedulous

adjective
showing dedication and diligence.

DERIVATIVES:
sedulity noun
sedulously adverb
sedulousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sedulus 'zealous' .

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sedum

noun
a plant of a large group having fleshy leaves and small star-shaped flowers.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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see [1]

verb (sees, seeing; past saw; past part. seen)
1. perceive with the eyes.
2. experience or witness.
3. deduce after reflection or from information.
4. regard in a specified way.
5. regard as a possibility; envisage.
6. meet (someone one knows) socially or by chance.
7. meet regularly as a boyfriend or girlfriend.
8. consult (a specialist or professional).
9. give an interview or consultation to.
10. escort to a specified place.
11. (see to) attend to.
12. (see that) ensure that.

IDIOMS -
see about attend to; deal with.
see off
1. accompany (a person who is leaving) to their point of departure.
2. Brit. repel or deter (an intruder, aggressor, etc.).
see out Brit.
1. last longer than the life of.
2. come to the end of (a period of time or undertaking).
see over tour and examine.
see right Brit. informal reward or look after appropriately.
see through
1. support (a person) for the duration of a difficult time.
2. persist with (an undertaking) until it is completed.
3. detect the true nature of.

DERIVATIVES:
seeable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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see [2]

noun
the seat of authority of a bishop or archbishop, centred on a cathedral church.

ORIGIN: Latin sedes 'seat' .

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seed

noun
1. a flowering plant's unit of reproduction, capable of developing into another such plant.
2. the beginning of a feeling, process, or condition.
3. archaic a man's semen.
4. archaic (chiefly in biblical use) offspring or descendants.
5. any of a number of stronger competitors in a sports tournament who have been assigned a position in an ordered list to ensure they do not play each other in the early rounds.

verb
1. sow (land) with seeds.
2. produce or drop seeds.
3. remove the seeds from.
4. initiate the development or growth of.
5. give (a competitor) the status of seed in a tournament.

IDIOMS -
go (or run) to seed
1. cease flowering as the seeds develop.
2. deteriorate.

DERIVATIVES:
seedless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SOW.

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seedbed

noun
a bed of fine soil in which seedlings are germinated.

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seedling

noun
a young plant raised from seed.

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seed money (also seed capital)

noun
money allocated to initiate a project.

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seedy

adjective (seedier, seediest)
1. sordid or squalid.
2. dated unwell.

DERIVATIVES:
seedily adverb
seediness noun.

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seeing

conjunction
because; since.

IDIOMS -
seeing is believing proverb you need to see something before you can accept that it really exists or occurs.

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seek

verb (past and past part. sought)
1. try to find or obtain.
2. (seek out) search for and find.
3. (seek to do) try or want to do.
4. ask for.

DERIVATIVES:
seeker noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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seem

verb
1. give the impression of being.
2. (cannot seem to do) appear to be unable to do, despite having tried.

ORIGIN: originally also in the sense «be appropriate»: from an Old Norse word meaning 'fitting' .

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seeming

adjective
appearing to be real or true; apparent.

DERIVATIVES:
seemingly adverb.

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seemly

adjective
conforming to propriety or good taste.

DERIVATIVES:
seemliness noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'fitting' ; related to SEEM.

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seep

verb
(of a liquid) flow or leak slowly through porous material or small holes.

DERIVATIVES:
seepage noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps a dialect form of an Old English word meaning «to soak».

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seer

noun
a person of supposed supernatural insight who sees visions of the future.

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seersucker

noun
a fabric with a puckered surface.

ORIGIN: from a Persian phrase meaning 'milk and sugar' (with reference to the alternating stripes in which the fabric was originally woven).

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see-saw

noun
1. a long plank balanced on a fixed support, on each end of which children sit and move up and down by pushing the ground with their feet.
2. a situation characterized by repeated alternation between two states or positions.

verb
repeatedly change from one state or position to another and back again.

ORIGIN: from SAW.

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seethe

verb
1. (of a liquid) boil or be turbulent as if boiling.
2. be filled with intense but unexpressed anger.
3. be crowded with people or things.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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see-through

adjective
transparent or translucent.

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segment

noun
1. each of the parts into which something is divided.
2. Geometry a part of a circle cut off by a chord, or a part of a sphere cut off by a plane not passing through the centre.
3. Zoology each of a series of similar anatomical units of which the body and appendages of some animals are composed.

verb
divide into segments.

DERIVATIVES:
segmental adjective
segmentary adjective
segmentation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin segmentum, from secare 'to cut' .

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segregate

verb
1. set apart from the rest or from each other.
2. separate along racial, sexual, or religious lines.

ORIGIN: Latin segregare 'separate from the flock' .

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segregation

noun
1. the action of segregating or the state of being segregated.
2. the enforced separation of different racial groups in a country, community, or establishment.

DERIVATIVES:
segregational adjective
segregationist adjective & noun.

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segue

verb (segues, segued, seguing)
(in music and film) move without interruption from one song, melody, or scene to another.

noun
an instance of this.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'follows' .

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seine

noun
a fishing net which hangs vertically in the water with floats at the top and weights at the bottom edge, the ends being drawn together to encircle the fish.

verb
fish or catch with a seine.

DERIVATIVES:
seiner noun.

ORIGIN: Greek sagn.

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seismic

adjective
1. relating to earthquakes or other vibrations of the earth and its crust.
2. of enormous proportions or effect.

DERIVATIVES:
seismical adjective
seismically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Greek seismos 'earthquake' .

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seismograph

noun
an instrument that measures and records details of earthquakes, such as force and duration.

DERIVATIVES:
seismographic adjective.

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seismology

noun
the branch of science concerned with earthquakes and related phenomena.

DERIVATIVES:
seismological adjective
seismologist noun.

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seize

verb
1. take hold of suddenly and forcibly.
2. take forcible possession of.
3. (of the police or another authority) take possession of by warrant or legal right.
4. take (an opportunity) eagerly and decisively.
5. (seize on/upon) take eager advantage of.
6. (of a machine or part in a machine) become jammed.

DERIVATIVES:
seizable adjective
seizer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sacire, in the phrase ad proprium sacire 'claim as one's own' .

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seizure

noun
1. the action of seizing.
2. a sudden attack of illness, especially a stroke or an epileptic fit.

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seldom

adverb
not often.

adjective dated
infrequent.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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select

verb
carefully choose as being the best or most suitable.

adjective
1. carefully chosen as being among the best.
2. used by or consisting of a wealthy or sophisticated elite.

DERIVATIVES:
selectable adjective
selectness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin seligere 'choose' .

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select committee

noun
a small parliamentary committee appointed for a special purpose.

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selection

noun
1. the action or fact of selecting.
2. a number of selected things.
3. a range of things from which a choice may be made.
4. a horse or horses tipped as worth bets in a race or meeting.
5. Biology the evolutionary process which determines which types of organism thrive; natural selection.

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selective

adjective
1. relating to or involving selection.
2. tending to choose carefully.
3. (of a process or agent) affecting some things and not others.

DERIVATIVES:
selectively adverb
selectiveness noun
selectivity noun.

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selector

noun
1. a person appointed to select a team in a sport.
2. a device for selecting a particular gear or other setting of a machine or device.

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self

noun (pl. selves)
1. a person's essential being that distinguishes them from others.
2. a person's particular nature or personality: he was back to his old self.

pronoun (pl. selves)
1. oneself.
2. used on counterfoils, cheques, and other papers to refer to the holder or person who has signed.

adjective
(of a trimming, woven design, etc.) of the same material or colour as the rest.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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self-

combining form
1. of or directed towards oneself or itself: self-hatred.
2. by one's own efforts; by its own action: self-adjusting.
3. on, in, for, or relating to oneself or itself: self-adhesive.

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self-absorption

noun
preoccupation with one's own emotions, interests, or situation.

DERIVATIVES:
self-absorbed adjective.

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self-abuse

noun
1. behaviour which causes damage or harm to oneself.
2. euphemistic masturbation.

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self-addressed

adjective
(of an envelope) bearing one's own address.

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self-adhesive

adjective
adhering without requiring moistening.

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self-advertisement

noun
the active publicizing of oneself.

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self-appointed

adjective
having assumed a position or role without the endorsement of others.

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self-assembly

noun
the construction of a piece of furniture from materials sold in kit form.

DERIVATIVES:
self-assemble verb.

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self-assertion

noun
the confident and forceful expression or promotion of oneself or one's views.

DERIVATIVES:
self-assertive adjective
self-assertiveness noun.

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self-assessment

noun
1. assessment of oneself or one's performance in relation to an objective standard.
2. calculation of one's own taxable liability.

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self-assurance

noun
confidence in one's own abilities or character.

DERIVATIVES:
self-assured adjective.

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self-awareness

noun
conscious knowledge of one's own character, feelings, motives, and desires.

DERIVATIVES:
self-aware adjective.

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self-catering Brit.

adjective
(of a holiday or accommodation) offering facilities for people to cook their own meals.

noun
the action of catering for oneself.

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self-centred

adjective
preoccupied with oneself and one's affairs.

DERIVATIVES:
self-centredly adverb
self-centredness noun.

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self-confessed

adjective
openly admitting to having certain characteristics.

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self-confidence

noun
a feeling of trust in one's abilities, qualities, and judgement.

DERIVATIVES:
self-confident adjective
self-confidently adverb.

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self-congratulation

noun
undue pride regarding one's achievements or qualities.

DERIVATIVES:
self-congratulatory adjective.

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self-conscious

adjective
1. nervous or awkward because unduly aware of oneself or one's actions.
2. (especially of an action) deliberate and with full awareness.

DERIVATIVES:
self-consciously adverb
self-consciousness noun.

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self-contained

adjective
1. complete, or having all that is needed, in itself.
2. chiefly Brit. (of accommodation) having its own kitchen and bathroom, and typically its own private entrance.
3. not depending on or influenced by others.

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self-control

noun
the ability to control one's emotions or behaviour in difficult situations.

DERIVATIVES:
self-controlled adjective.

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self-deception

noun
the action or practice of deceiving oneself into believing that a false or unfounded feeling, idea, or situation is true.

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self-defeating

adjective
(of an action or policy) unable to achieve the end it is designed to bring about.

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self-defence

noun
the defence of oneself or one's interests, especially the defence of one's person through physical force, permitted in certain cases as an answer to a charge of violent crime.

DERIVATIVES:
self-defensive adjective.

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self-denial

noun
the denial of one's own interests and needs.

DERIVATIVES:
self-denying adjective.

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self-deprecating

adjective
modest about or critical of oneself.

DERIVATIVES:
self-deprecation noun
self-deprecatory adjective.

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self-destruct

verb
explode or disintegrate automatically, having been preset to do so.

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self-destructive

adjective
destroying or causing harm to oneself.

DERIVATIVES:
self-destruction noun
self-destructively adverb.

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self-determination

noun
1. the process by which a country determines its own statehood and forms its own allegiances and government.
2. the process by which a person controls their own life.

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self-discipline

noun
the ability to control one's feelings and overcome one's weaknesses.

DERIVATIVES:
self-disciplined adjective.

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self-doubt

noun
lack of confidence in oneself and one's abilities.

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self-drive

adjective
1. Brit. (of a hired vehicle) driven by the hirer.
2. (of a holiday) involving use of one's own car rather than transport arranged by the operator.

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self-effacing

adjective
not claiming attention for oneself.

DERIVATIVES:
self-effacement noun.

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self-employed

adjective
working for oneself as a freelance or the owner of a business rather than for an employer.

DERIVATIVES:
self-employment noun.

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self-esteem

noun
confidence in one's own worth or abilities.

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self-evident

adjective
not needing to be demonstrated or explained; obvious.

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self-examination

noun
1. the study of one's behaviour and motivations.
2. the examination of one's body for signs of illness.

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self-explanatory

adjective
not needing explanation; clearly understood.

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self-expression

noun
the expression of one's feelings or thoughts, especially in writing, art, music, or dance.

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self-fertilization (also self-fertilisation)

noun Biology
the fertilization of plants and some invertebrate animals by their own pollen or sperm.

DERIVATIVES:
self-fertilize verb.

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self-fulfilling

adjective
(of an opinion or prediction) bound to be proved correct or to come true as a result of behaviour caused by its being expressed.

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self-help

noun
the use of one's own efforts and resources to achieve things without relying on others.

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self-image

noun
the idea one has of one's abilities, appearance, and personality.

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self-importance

noun
an exaggerated sense of one's own value or importance.

DERIVATIVES:
self-important adjective.

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self-improvement

noun
the improvement of one's knowledge, status, or character by one's own efforts.

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self-induced

adjective
brought about by oneself.

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self-indulgent

adjective
indulging or tending to indulge one's desires.

DERIVATIVES:
self-indulgence noun.

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self-inflicted

adjective
(of a wound or other harm) inflicted on oneself by one's own actions.

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self-interest

noun
one's personal interest or advantage, especially when pursued without regard for others.

DERIVATIVES:
self-interested adjective.

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selfish

adjective
concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure at the expense of consideration for others.

DERIVATIVES:
selfishly adverb
selfishness noun.

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selfless

adjective
concerned more with the needs and wishes of others than with one's own.

DERIVATIVES:
selflessly adverb
selflessness noun.

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self-made

adjective
1. having become successful or rich by one's own efforts.
2. made by oneself.

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self-opinionated

adjective
having an arrogantly high regard for oneself or one's own opinions.

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self-parody

noun
the intentional or inadvertent parodying of one's own behaviour, style, etc.

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self-perpetuating

adjective
perpetuating itself without external agency or intervention.

DERIVATIVES:
self-perpetuation noun.

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self-pity

noun
excessive concern with and unhappiness over one's own troubles.

DERIVATIVES:
self-pitying adjective.

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self-pollination

noun Botany
the pollination of a flower by pollen from the same plant.

DERIVATIVES:
self-pollinate verb
self-pollinator noun.

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self-portrait

noun
a portrait by an artist of himself or herself.

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self-possessed

adjective
calm, confident, and in control of one's feelings.

DERIVATIVES:
self-possession noun.

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self-preservation

noun
the protection of oneself from harm or death, regarded as a basic instinct in human beings and animals.

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self-proclaimed

adjective
proclaimed to be such by oneself, without endorsement by others.

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self-propelled

adjective
moving or able to move without external propulsion or agency.

DERIVATIVES:
self-propelling adjective.

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self-raising flour

noun Brit.
flour that has a raising agent already added.

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self-regard

noun
1. consideration for oneself.
2. vanity.

DERIVATIVES:
self-regarding adjective.

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self-regulating

adjective
regulating itself without intervention from external bodies.

DERIVATIVES:
self-regulation noun
self-regulatory adjective.

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self-reliance

noun
reliance on one's own powers and resources rather than those of others.

DERIVATIVES:
self-reliant adjective.

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self-respect

noun
pride and confidence in oneself.

DERIVATIVES:
self-respecting adjective.

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self-restraint

noun
self-control.

DERIVATIVES:
self-restrained adjective.

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self-righteous

adjective
certain that one is totally correct or morally superior.

DERIVATIVES:
self-righteously adverb
self-righteousness noun.

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self-rule

noun
self-government.

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self-sacrifice

noun
the giving up of one's own interests or wishes in order to help others or advance a cause.

DERIVATIVES:
self-sacrificial adjective
self-sacrificing adjective.

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selfsame

adjective (the selfsame)
the very same.

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self-satisfied

adjective
smugly complacent.

DERIVATIVES:
self-satisfaction noun.

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self-service

adjective
denoting a shop, restaurant, or other outlet where customers select goods for themselves and pay at a checkout.

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self-starter

noun
a self-motivated and ambitious person who acts on their own initiative.

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self-styled

adjective
using a description or title that one has given oneself: self-styled experts.

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self-sufficient

adjective
1. able to satisfy one's basic needs without outside help, especially with regard to the production of food.
2. emotionally and intellectually independent.

DERIVATIVES:
self-sufficiency noun.

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self-taught

adjective
having acquired knowledge or skill on one's own initiative rather than through formal instruction or training.

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sell

verb (past and past part. sold)
1. hand over in exchange for money.
2. deal in (goods or property).
3. (of goods) attain sales.
4. (sell out) sell all of one's stock of something.
5. (sell up) sell all of one's property or assets.
6. persuade someone of the merits of.
7. (sell out) betray (someone) for one's own financial or material benefit.
8. (sell out) abandon one's principles for reasons of expedience.

IDIOMS -
sell short fail to recognize or state the true value of.
sell one's soul (to the devil) be willing to do anything, no matter how wrong it is, in order to achieve one's objective.

DERIVATIVES:
sellable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sell-by date

noun
1. chiefly Brit. a date marked on a perishable product indicating the recommended time by which it should be sold.
2. informal a time after which something or someone is no longer considered desirable or effective.

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seller

noun
1. a person who sells.
2. a product that sells in a specified way.

IDIOMS -
seller's (or sellers') market an economic situation in which goods or shares are scarce and sellers can ask high prices.

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selling point

noun
a feature of a product for sale that makes it attractive to customers.

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Sellotape Brit.

noun trademark
transparent adhesive tape.

verb
fasten or stick with Sellotape.

ORIGIN: from an alteration of CELLULOSE + TAPE.

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sell-out

noun
1. the selling of an entire stock of something.
2. an event for which all tickets are sold.
3. a sale of a business or company.
4. a betrayal.

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seltzer

noun dated
carbonated mineral water.

ORIGIN: from German Selterser, from Niederselters in Germany, where a medicinal mineral water was produced.

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selvedge (chiefly N. Amer. also selvage)

noun
an edge produced on woven fabric during manufacture that prevents it from unravelling.

ORIGIN: from SELF + EDGE, on the pattern of Dutch selfegghe.

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semantic

adjective
relating to meaning in language or logic.

DERIVATIVES:
semantically adverb
semanticity noun.

ORIGIN: Greek smantikos 'significant' .

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semantics

plural noun (usu. treated as sing. )
1. the branch of linguistics and logic concerned with meaning.
2. the meaning of a word, phrase, sentence, or text.

DERIVATIVES:
semanticist noun.

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semaphore

noun
1. a system of sending messages by holding the arms or two flags or poles in certain positions according to an alphabetic code.
2. an apparatus for signalling in this way, consisting of an upright with movable parts.

verb
send by semaphore.

DERIVATIVES:
semaphoric adjective.

ORIGIN: French sémaphore, from Greek sma 'sign' + -phoros 'bearing' .

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semblance

noun
the outward appearance or apparent form of something.

ORIGIN: from Old French sembler 'seem' , from Latin similare 'simulate' .

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semen

noun
the male reproductive fluid, containing spermatozoa in suspension.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'seed' .

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semester

noun
a half-year term in a school or university, especially in North America, typically lasting for fifteen to eighteen weeks.

ORIGIN: from Latin semestris 'six-monthly' .

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semi

noun (pl. semis) informal
1. Brit. a semi-detached house.
2. a semi-final.

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semi-

prefix
1. half: semicircular.
2. partly; in some degree: semi-conscious.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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semiaquatic

adjective
1. (of an animal) living partly on land and partly in water.
2. (of a plant) growing in very wet or waterlogged ground.

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semi-automatic

adjective
1. partially automatic.
2. (of a firearm) having a mechanism for automatic loading but not for continuous firing.

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semibreve

noun Music, chiefly Brit.
a note having the time value of two minims or four crotchets, represented by a ring with no stem.

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semicircle

noun
a half of a circle or of its circumference.

DERIVATIVES:
semicircular adjective.

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semicolon

noun
a punctuation mark (;) indicating a more pronounced pause than that indicated by a comma.

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semiconductor

noun
a solid, e.g. silicon, whose conductivity is between that of an insulator and a conductive metal and increases with temperature.

DERIVATIVES:
semi-conducting adjective.

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semi-conscious

adjective
partially conscious.

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semi-detached

adjective
(of a house) joined to another house on one side by a common wall.

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semi-final

noun
(in sport) a match or round immediately preceding the final.

DERIVATIVES:
semi-finalist noun.

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seminal

adjective
1. (of a work, event, or idea) strongly influencing later developments.
2. relating to or denoting semen.
3. Botany relating to or derived from the seed of a plant.

DERIVATIVES:
seminally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin seminalis, from semen 'seed' .

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seminar

noun
1. a conference or other meeting for discussion or training.
2. a small group of students at university, meeting to discuss topics with a teacher.

ORIGIN: German, from Latin seminarium 'seed plot, seminary' .

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seminary

noun (pl. seminaries)
a training college for priests or rabbis.

DERIVATIVES:
seminarian noun
seminarist noun.

ORIGIN: Latin seminarium 'seed plot, seminary' , from semen 'seed' .

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semiotics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation.

DERIVATIVES:
semiotic adjective
semiotician noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek smeiotikos 'of signs' .

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semi-precious

adjective
denoting minerals which can be used as gems but are considered to be less valuable than precious stones.

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semiquaver

noun Music, chiefly Brit.
a note having the time value of a sixteenth of a semibreve or half a quaver, represented by a large dot with a two-hooked stem.

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semi-retired

adjective
having retired from employment or an occupation but continuing to work part-time or occasionally.

DERIVATIVES:
semi-retirement noun.

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semi-skilled

adjective
(of work or a worker) having or needing some, but not extensive, training.

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semi-skimmed

adjective Brit.
(of milk) having had some of the cream removed.

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Semite

noun
a member of a people speaking a Semitic language, in particular the Jews and Arabs.

ORIGIN: from Greek Sm 'Shem' , son of Noah in the Bible, from whom these people are traditionally descended.

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Semitic

noun
a family of languages that includes Hebrew, Arabic, and Aramaic and certain ancient languages such as Phoenician.

adjective
relating to these languages or their speakers.

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semitone

noun Music
the smallest interval used in classical Western music, equal to a twelfth of an octave or half a tone.

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semolina

noun
the hard grains left after the milling of flour, used in puddings and in pasta.

ORIGIN: Italian semolino, from semola 'bran' .

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Semtex

noun
a pliable, odourless plastic explosive.

ORIGIN: probably a blend of Semtin (a village in the Czech Republic near the place of production) and EXPLOSIVE.

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senate

noun
1. a legislative or governing body, especially the smaller upper assembly in the US, US states, France, and other countries.
2. the governing body of a university or college.
3. the state council of the ancient Roman republic and empire.

ORIGIN: Latin senatus, from senex 'old man' .

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senator

noun
a member of a senate.

DERIVATIVES:
senatorial adjective
senatorship noun.

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send

verb (past and past part. sent)
1. cause to go or be taken to a destination.
2. cause to move sharply or quickly; propel.
3. cause to be in a specified state: it nearly sent me crazy.

IDIOMS -
send down Brit.
1. expel (a student) from a university.
2. informal sentence to imprisonment.
send for
1. order (someone) to come.
2. order by post.
send off (of a soccer or rugby referee) order (a player) to leave the field and take no further part in the game.
send to Coventry chiefly Brit. refuse to associate with or speak to. [ORIGIN: perhaps from the unpopularity of royalist soldiers or prisoners quartered in Coventry (sympathetic to parliament) during the English Civil war.]
send up
1. informal ridicule (someone) by imitating them in an exaggerated manner.
2. US sentence to imprisonment.
send word send a message.

DERIVATIVES:
sender noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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send-off

noun
a celebratory demonstration of goodwill at a person's departure.

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send-up

noun informal
an exaggerated imitation of someone or something.

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senile

adjective
having the weaknesses or diseases of old age, especially a loss of mental faculties.

noun
a senile person.

DERIVATIVES:
senility noun.

ORIGIN: Latin senilis, from senex 'old man' .

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senile dementia

noun
severe mental deterioration in old age, characterized by loss of memory and lack of control of bodily functions.

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senior

adjective
1. of or relating to a more advanced age.
2. Brit. for or referring to schoolchildren above a certain age, typically eleven.
3. US of the final year at a university or high school.
4. (after a name ) denoting the elder of two with the same name in a family.
5. high or higher in rank or status.

noun
1. a person who is a specified number of years older than someone else: she was two years his senior.
2. a student in one of the higher forms of a senior school.
3. (in sport) a competitor of above a certain age or of the highest status.
4. an elderly person, especially an old-age pensioner.

DERIVATIVES:
seniority noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from senex 'old man, old' .

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senior citizen

noun
an elderly person, especially an old-age pensioner.

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senna

noun
a laxative prepared from the dried pods of the cassia tree.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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señor

noun (pl. señores)
(in Spanish-speaking countries) a form of address for a man, corresponding to Mr or sir.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from Latin senior 'older, older man' .

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señora

noun
(in Spanish-speaking countries) a form of address for a woman, corresponding to Mrs or madam.

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señorita

noun
(in Spanish-speaking countries) a form of address for an unmarried woman, corresponding to Miss.

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sensation

noun
1. a physical feeling or perception resulting from something that happens to or comes into contact with the body.
2. the capacity to have such feelings or perceptions: gradual loss of sensation.
3. a general awareness or impression not caused by anything that can be seen or defined.
4. a widespread reaction of interest and excitement, or a person or thing causing it.

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sensational

adjective
1. causing or seeking to cause great public interest and excitement.
2. informal very impressive or attractive.

DERIVATIVES:
sensationalize (also sensationalise) verb
sensationally adverb.

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sensationalism

noun
(in the media) the use of exciting or shocking stories or language at the expense of accuracy, in order to provoke public interest or excitement.

DERIVATIVES:
sensationalist noun & adjective
sensationalistic adjective.

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sense

noun
1. any of the faculties of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch, by which the body perceives an external stimulus.
2. a feeling that something is the case.
3. (sense of) awareness or appreciation of or sensitivity to: a sense of direction.
4. a sane and practical attitude to situations.
5. reason or purpose; good judgement: there's no sense in standing in the rain.
6. a meaning of a word or expression or the way in which a word or expression can be interpreted.

verb
1. perceive by a sense or senses.
2. be vaguely aware of.
3. (of a machine or similar device) detect.

IDIOMS -
come to one's senses
1. regain consciousness.
2. regain one's sound judgement.
make sense be intelligible, justifiable, or practicable.
make sense of find meaning or coherence in.

ORIGIN: Latin sensus 'faculty of feeling, thought, meaning' , from sentire 'feel' .

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senseless

adjective
1. unconscious or incapable of sensation.
2. lacking meaning, purpose, or common sense.

DERIVATIVES:
senselessly adverb
senselessness noun.

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sense organ

noun
an organ of the body which responds to external stimuli by conveying impulses to the sensory nervous system.

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sensibility

noun (pl. sensibilities)
1. the ability to appreciate and respond to complex emotional or aesthetic influences.
2. (sensibilities) the tendency to be easily offended of shocked.

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sensible

adjective
1. wise and prudent; having or showing common sense.
2. practical and functional rather than decorative.
3. (sensible of/to) formal or dated aware of: I am very sensible to your concerns.

DERIVATIVES:
sensibleness noun
sensibly adverb.

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sensitive

adjective
1. quick to detect, respond to, or be affected by slight changes, signals, or influences.
2. delicately appreciating the feelings of others.
3. easily offended or upset.
4. kept secret or with restrictions on disclosure.

DERIVATIVES:
sensitively adverb
sensitiveness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sensitivus, from sentire 'feel' .

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sensitivity

noun (pl. sensitivities)
1. the quality or condition of being sensitive.
2. (sensitivities) a person's feelings which might be easily offended or hurt.

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sensitize (also sensitise)

verb
cause to respond to certain stimuli; make sensitive.

DERIVATIVES:
sensitization noun
sensitizer noun.

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sensor

noun
a device which detects or measures a physical property.

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sensory

adjective
relating to sensation or the senses.

DERIVATIVES:
sensorily adverb.

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sensual

adjective
relating to the physical senses as a source of pleasure, especially sexual pleasure.

DERIVATIVES:
sensualist noun
sensuality noun
sensually adverb.
USAGE - Strictly speaking there is a difference between sensual and sensuous. Sensual is used in relation to gratification of the senses, especially sexual gratification, while sensuous is a more neutral term, meaning ‘relating to the senses rather than the intellect’.

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sensuous

adjective
1. relating to or affecting the senses rather than the intellect.
2. attractive or gratifying physically, especially sexually.

DERIVATIVES:
sensuously adverb
sensuousness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin sensus 'sense' .

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sentence

noun
1. a set of words that is complete in itself, conveying a statement, question, exclamation, or command and typically containing a subject and predicate.
2. the punishment assigned to someone found guilty by a court.

verb
declare the punishment decided for (an offender).

ORIGIN: originally also in the sense «way of thinking, opinion»: from Latin sententia 'opinion' .

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sententious

adjective
given to moralizing in a pompous or affected manner.

DERIVATIVES:
sententiously adverb
sententiousness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «full of meaning or wisdom»: from Latin sententia 'opinion' .

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sentient

adjective
able to perceive or feel things.

DERIVATIVES:
sentience noun
sentiently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin sentire 'to feel' .

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sentiment

noun
1. a view, opinion, or feeling.
2. exaggerated and self-indulgent feelings of tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia.

ORIGIN: Latin sentimentum, from sentire 'feel' .

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sentimental

adjective
1. deriving from or prone to feelings of tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia.
2. having or arousing such feelings in an exaggerated and self-indulgent way.

IDIOMS -
sentimental value value of an object deriving from personal or emotional associations rather than material worth.

DERIVATIVES:
sentimentalism noun
sentimentalist noun
sentimentality noun
sentimentalize (also sentimentalise) verb
sentimentally adverb.

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sentinel

noun
a soldier or guard whose job is to stand and keep watch.

verb (sentinelled, sentinelling; US sentineled, sentineling)
station a sentinel to keep watch over.

ORIGIN: Italian sentinella.

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sentry

noun (pl. sentries)
a soldier stationed to keep guard or to control access to a place.

ORIGIN: perhaps from obsolete centrinel, from SENTINEL.

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sepal

noun Botany
each of the leaf-like parts of a flower that surround the petals, enclosing them when the flower is in bud.

ORIGIN: from Greek skep 'covering' , influenced by French pétale 'petal' .

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separable

adjective
able to be separated or treated separately.

DERIVATIVES:
separability noun.

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separate

adjective
1. forming or viewed as a unit apart or by itself; not joined or united with others.
2. different; distinct.

verb
1. move or come apart.
2. stop living together as a couple.
3. divide into constituent or distinct elements.
4. extract or remove for use or rejection.
5. distinguish between or from another; consider individually.
6. form a distinction or boundary between: six years separated the brothers.

noun (separates)
individual items of clothing that may be worn in different combinations.

DERIVATIVES:
separately adverb
separateness noun
separative adjective
separator noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin separare 'disjoin, divide' .

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separation

noun
1. the action of separating or the state of being separated.
2. the state in which a husband and wife remain married but live apart.

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separatism

noun
the advocacy or practice of separation of a group of people from a larger body on the basis of ethnicity, religion, or gender.

DERIVATIVES:
separatist noun & adjective.

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Sephardi

noun (pl. Sephardim)
a Jew of Spanish or Portuguese descent. Compare with ASHKENAZI.

DERIVATIVES:
Sephardic adjective.

ORIGIN: Hebrew, from the name of a country mentioned in the Bible (Obadiah 20) and taken to be Spain.

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sepia

noun
1. a reddish-brown colour, associated particularly with early monochrome photographs.
2. a brown pigment prepared from cuttlefish ink, used in drawing and in watercolours.
3. cuttlefish ink.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'cuttlefish' .

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sepoy

noun historical
an Indian soldier serving under British or other European orders.

ORIGIN: Urdu and Persian, 'soldier' .

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sepsis

noun Medicine
the presence in tissues of harmful bacteria, typically through infection of a wound.

ORIGIN: Greek, from spein 'make rotten' .

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Sept.

abbreviation
September.

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September

noun
the ninth month of the year.

ORIGIN: from Latin septem 'seven' (being originally the seventh month of the Roman year).

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septet

noun
a group of seven people playing music or singing together.

ORIGIN: from Latin septem 'seven' .

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septic

adjective
1. (of a wound or a part of the body) infected with bacteria.
2. denoting a drainage system incorporating a septic tank.

DERIVATIVES:
septically adverb
septicity noun.

ORIGIN: Greek sptikos, from spein 'make rotten' .

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septicaemia (US septicemia)

noun
blood poisoning caused by bacteria.

DERIVATIVES:
septicaemic adjective.

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septic tank

noun
a underground tank in which sewage is allowed to decompose through bacterial activity before draining by means of a soakaway.

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septuagenarian

noun
a person who is between 70 and 79 years old.

ORIGIN: Latin septuagenarius, from septuaginta 'seventy' .

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Septuagint

noun
a Greek version of the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament), including the Apocrypha, produced in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC.

ORIGIN: from Latin septuaginta 'seventy' , because of the tradition that it was produced by seventy-two translators working independently.

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septum

noun (pl. septa) chiefly Anatomy & Biology
a partition separating two chambers, such as that between the nostrils or the chambers of the heart.

ORIGIN: Latin, from sepire 'enclose' .

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septuple

adjective
1. consisting of seven parts or elements.
2. (of time in music) having seven beats in a bar.
3. consisting of seven times as much or as many as usual.

verb
multiply by seven; increase sevenfold.

ORIGIN: from Latin septem 'seven' .

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septuplet

noun
1. each of seven children born at one birth.
2. Music a group of seven notes to be performed in the time of four or six.

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sepulchral

adjective
1. of or relating to a tomb or burial.
2. gloomy; dismal.

DERIVATIVES:
sepulchrally adverb.

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sepulchre (US sepulcher)

noun
a stone tomb or monument in which a dead person is laid or buried.

ORIGIN: Latin sepulcrum 'burial place' , from sepelire 'bury' .

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sequel

noun
1. a published, broadcast, or recorded work that continues the story or develops the theme of an earlier one.
2. something that takes place after or as a result of an earlier event.

ORIGIN: Latin sequella, from sequi 'follow' .

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sequence

noun
1. a particular order in which related things follow each other.
2. a set of related things that follow each other in a particular order.
3. a part of a film dealing with one particular event or topic.
4. Music a repetition of a phrase or melody at a higher or lower pitch.

verb
1. arrange in a sequence.
2. play or record (music) with a sequencer.

ORIGIN: Latin sequentia, from sequi 'to follow' .

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sequential

adjective
forming or following in a logical order or sequence.

DERIVATIVES:
sequentiality noun
sequentially adverb.

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sequester

verb
1. isolate or hide away.
2. another term for SEQUESTRATE.

ORIGIN: Latin sequestrare 'commit for safekeeping' , from sequester 'trustee' .

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sequestrate

verb
1. take legal possession of (assets) until a debt has been paid or other claims have been met.
2. take forcible possession of; confiscate.

DERIVATIVES:
sequestration noun
sequestrator noun.

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sequin

noun
a small, shiny disc sewn on to clothing for decoration.

DERIVATIVES:
sequinned (also sequined) adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a former Venetian gold coin: from Italian zecchino, from an Arabic word meaning 'a die for coining' .

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sequoia

noun
a redwood tree, especially the California redwood.

ORIGIN: named after Sequoya, a Cherokee Indian scholar.

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seraglio

noun (pl. seraglios)
1. the women's apartments in a Muslim house or palace.
2. a harem.

ORIGIN: Italian serraglio, from a Persian word meaning 'palace' .

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seraph

noun (pl. seraphim or seraphs)
an angelic being associated with light, ardour, and purity.

DERIVATIVES:
seraphic adjective
seraphically adverb.

ORIGIN: Hebrew.

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serenade

noun
a piece of music sung or played in the open air at night, especially by a man under the window of his beloved.

verb
entertain with a serenade.

DERIVATIVES:
serenader noun.

ORIGIN: Italian serenata, from sereno 'serene' .

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serendipity

noun
the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

DERIVATIVES:
serendipitous adjective
serendipitously adverb.

ORIGIN: from Serendip (a former name for Sri Lanka): coined by the English politican and writer Horace Walpole (1717 97), after The Three Princes of Serendip, a fairy tale in which the heroes were always making fortunate discoveries.

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serene

adjective
calm, peaceful, and untroubled; tranquil.

DERIVATIVES:
serenely adverb
serenity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin serenus.

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serf

noun
(in the feudal system) an agricultural labourer who was tied to working on a particular estate.

DERIVATIVES:
serfdom noun.

ORIGIN: Latin servus 'slave' .

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serge

noun
a durable twilled woollen or worsted fabric.

ORIGIN: Old French sarge, from a variant of Latin serica lana 'silken wool' .

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sergeant

noun
1. a rank of non-commissioned officer in the army or air force, above corporal and below staff sergeant.
2. Brit. a police officer ranking below an inspector.

ORIGIN: originally in the senses «servant» and «common soldier»: from Old French sergent, from Latin servire 'serve' .

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sergeant major

noun
a warrant officer in the British army whose job is to assist the adjutant of a regiment or battalion or a subunit commander.

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serial

adjective
1. consisting of, forming part of, or taking place in a series.
2. repeatedly committing the same offence or following a characteristic behaviour pattern: a serial killer.
3. Computing (of a device) involving the transfer of data as a single sequence of bits.

noun
1. a story or play published or broadcast in regular instalments.
2. (in a library) a periodical.

DERIVATIVES:
seriality noun
serially adverb.

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serialize (also serialise)

verb
1. publish or broadcast (a story or play) in regular instalments.
2. arrange in a series.

DERIVATIVES:
serialization noun.

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serial number

noun
an identification number showing the position of a manufactured or printed item in a series.

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series

noun (pl. same)
1. a number of similar or related things coming one after another.
2. a sequence of related television or radio programmes.
3. Geology a range of strata corresponding to an epoch in time.
4. Mathematics a set of quantities constituting a progression or having values determined by a common relation.

IDIOMS -
in series (of electrical components or circuits) arranged so that the current passes through each successively.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'row, chain' , from serere 'join, connect' .

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serif

noun
a slight projection finishing off a stroke of a letter, as in T contrasted with .

ORIGIN: perhaps from Dutch schreef 'dash, line' .

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serious

adjective
1. demanding or characterized by careful consideration or application.
2. solemn or thoughtful.
3. sincere and in earnest, rather than joking or half-hearted.
4. significant or worrying in terms of danger or risk: serious injury.
5. informal substantial in terms of size, number, or quality: serious money.

DERIVATIVES:
seriousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin serius 'earnest, serious' .

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seriously

adverb
in a serious manner or to a serious extent.

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sermon

noun
1. a talk on a religious or moral subject, especially one given during a church service.
2. informal a long or tedious moralizing or admonitory talk.

DERIVATIVES:
sermonic adjective
sermonize (also sermonise) verb.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'discourse, talk' .

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serpent

noun
1. literary a large snake.
2. a sly or treacherous person.
3. historical a bass wind instrument made of leather-covered wood in three U-shaped turns.

ORIGIN: from Latin serpere 'to creep' .

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serpentine

adjective
1. of or like a serpent or snake, especially in being winding or twisting.
2. complex, cunning, or treacherous.

noun
a dark green mineral consisting of a silicate of magnesium, sometimes mottled or spotted like a snake's skin.

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serrated

adjective
having or denoting a jagged edge like the teeth of a saw.

ORIGIN: Latin serratus, from serra 'saw' .

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serried

adjective
(of rows of people or things) standing close together.

ORIGIN: from archaic serry «press close», probably from French serré 'close together' .

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serum

noun (pl. sera or serums)
the amber-coloured, protein-rich liquid which separates out when blood coagulates.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'whey' .

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servant

noun
1. a person employed to perform domestic duties in a household or as a personal attendant.
2. a person regarded as providing support or service for an organization or person: a government servant.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'person serving' , from servir 'to serve' .

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serve

verb
1. perform duties or services for.
2. be employed as a member of the armed forces.
3. spend (a period) in office, in an apprenticeship, or in prison.
4. present food or drink to.
5. attend to (a customer in a shop).
6. be of use in fulfilling (a purpose).
7. treat in a specified way.
8. (of food or drink) be enough for.
9. Law formally deliver (a summons or writ) to the person to whom it is addressed.
10. (in tennis and other racket sports) hit the ball or shuttlecock to begin play for each point of a game.
11. (of a male breeding animal) copulate with (a female).

noun
1. an act of serving in tennis, badminton, etc.
2. Austral. informal a reprimand.

IDIOMS -
serve someone right be someone's deserved punishment or misfortune.
serve one's (or its) turn be useful.

ORIGIN: Latin servire, from servus 'slave' .

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server

noun
1. a person or thing that serves.
2. a computer or computer program which manages access to a centralized resource or service in a network.

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servery

noun (pl. serveries) Brit.
a counter, hatch, or room from which meals are served.

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service

noun
1. the action or process of serving.
2. a period of employment with an organization.
3. an act of assistance.
4. a ceremony of religious worship according to a prescribed form.
5. a system supplying a public need such as transport, or utilities such as water.
6. a public department or organization run by the state: the probation service.
7. (the services) the armed forces.
8. (often in phrase in service) employment as a servant.
9. a set of matching crockery used for serving a particular meal.
10. (in tennis, badminton, etc.) a serve.
11. a periodic routine inspection and maintenance of a vehicle or other machine.

verb
1. perform routine maintenance or repair work on.
2. provide a service or services for.
3. pay interest on (a debt).
4. (of a male animal) mate with (a female animal).

IDIOMS -
be at someone's service be ready to assist someone whenever required.
be of service be available to assist someone.
in (or out of) service available (or not available) for use.

ORIGIN: Latin servitium 'slavery' .

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serviceable

adjective
1. fulfilling its function adequately; usable or in working order.
2. functional and durable rather than attractive.

DERIVATIVES:
serviceability noun.

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service area

noun chiefly Brit.
a roadside area where services are available to motorists.

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service charge

noun
1. a charge added to a bill for service in a restaurant.
2. a charge made for banking or other services.

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service industry

noun
a business that provides a service for a customer, but is not involved in manufacturing.

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serviceman (or servicewoman)

noun
1. a person serving in the armed forces.
2. a person providing maintenance for machinery.

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service provider

noun Computing
a company which gives its subscribers access to the Internet.

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service road

noun
a subsidiary road running parallel to a main road and giving access to houses, shops, or businesses.

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service station

noun
a roadside establishment selling petrol and oil and sometimes offering vehicle maintenance.

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serviette

noun Brit.
a table napkin.

ORIGIN: Old French, from servir 'to serve' .

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servile

adjective
1. excessively willing to serve or please others.
2. of or characteristic of a slave or slaves.

DERIVATIVES:
servilely adverb
servility noun.

ORIGIN: Latin servilis, from servus 'slave' .

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serving

noun
a quantity of food suitable for or served to one person.

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servitude

noun
1. the state of being a slave.
2. the state of being completely subject to someone more powerful.

ORIGIN: Latin servitudo, from servus 'slave' .

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servomechanism

noun
a powered mechanism producing motion or forces at a higher level of energy than the input level, e.g. in the brakes and steering of large motor vehicles.

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servomotor

noun
the motive element in a servomechanism.

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sesame

noun
a tall herbaceous plant of tropical and subtropical areas, cultivated for its oil-rich seeds.

IDIOMS -
open sesame a free or unrestricted means of admission or access. [ORIGIN: from the magic formula in the tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.]

ORIGIN: Greek ssamon, ssam.

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session

noun
1. a period devoted to a particular activity: a training session.
2. a meeting of a council, court, or legislative body to conduct its business.
3. a period during which such meetings are regularly held.
4. an academic year.
5. informal a period of heavy or sustained drinking.

DERIVATIVES:
sessional adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from sedere 'sit' .

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session musician

noun
a freelance musician hired to play on recording sessions.

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set [1]

verb (setting; past and past part. set)
1. put, lay, or stand in a specified place or position.
2. put, bring, or place into a specified state.
3. cause or instruct (someone) to do something.
4. give someone (a task).
5. decide on or fix (a time, value, or limit).
6. establish as (an example or record).
7. adjust (a device) as required.
8. prepare (a table) for a meal by placing cutlery, crockery, etc., on it.
9. harden into a solid, semi-solid, or fixed state.
10. arrange (damp hair) into the required style.
11. put (a broken or dislocated bone or limb) into the correct position for healing.
12. (of the sun, moon, etc.) appear to move towards and below the earth's horizon as the earth rotates.
13. Printing arrange (type or text) as required.
14. (set something to) provide (music) so that a written work can be produced in a musical form.
15. (of a tide or current) take or have a specified direction or course.
16. (of blossom or a tree) form into or produce (fruit).

IDIOMS -
set about
1. start doing something with vigour or determination.
2. Brit. informal attack.
set apart give (someone) an air of unusual superiority.
set aside
1. save or keep for a particular purpose.
2. annul (a legal decision or process).
set back informal cost (someone) a particular amount of money.
set down record in writing or as an authoritative rule or principle.
set forth
1. begin a journey or trip.
2. state or describe in writing or speech.
set in (of something unwelcome) begin and seem likely to continue.
set off
1. begin a journey.
2. cause (a bomb or alarm) to go off.
3. serve as decorative embellishment to.
set on (or upon) attack or urge to attack violently.
set out
1. begin a journey.
2. aim or intend to do something.
3. arrange or display in a particular order or position.
set out one's stall display one's abilities or attributes.
set sail
1. hoist the sails of a boat.
2. begin a voyage.
set one's teeth become resolute.
set to begin doing something vigorously.
set up
1. place or erect in position.
2. establish (a business, institution, etc.).
3. establish (someone) in a particular capacity or role.
4. begin making (a loud sound).
5. informal make (an innocent person) appear guilty.
set the wheels in motion begin a process or put a plan into action.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SIT.

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set [2]

noun
1. a number of things or people grouped together as similar or forming a unit.
2. a group of people with common interests or occupations: the literary set.
3. the way in which something is set, disposed, or positioned: that cold set of his jaw.
4. a radio or television receiver.
5. (in tennis, darts, and other games) a group of games counting as a unit towards a match.
6. a collection of scenery, stage furniture, etc., used for a scene in a play or film.
7. (in jazz or popular music) a sequence of songs or pieces constituting or forming part of a live show or recording.
8. Mathematics a collection of distinct entities satisfying specified conditions and regarded as a unit.
9. a cutting, young plant, or bulb used in the propagation of new plants: an onion set.
10. (also dead set) a setter's pointing in the presence of game.
11. variant spelling of SETT.

IDIOMS -
make a dead set at Brit. make a determined attempt to win the affections of. [ORIGIN: by association with hunting (see sense 10 above).]

ORIGIN: partly from Old French sette, from Latin secta 'sect' , partly from SET.

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set [3]

adjective
1. fixed or arranged in advance.
2. firmly fixed and unchanging.
3. having a conventional or predetermined wording.
4. ready, prepared, or likely to do something.
5. (set on) determined to do.

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setback

noun
a reversal or check in progress.

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set piece

noun
1. a formal or elaborate arrangement, especially part of a novel, film, etc., arranged for maximum effect.
2. a carefully organized and practised move in a team game.

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set square

noun
a right-angled triangular plate for drawing lines, especially at 90°, 45°, 60°, or 30°.

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sett (also set)

noun
1. the earth or burrow of a badger.
2. a granite paving block.

ORIGIN: variant of SET.

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settee

noun
a long upholstered seat for more than one person, typically with a back and arms.

ORIGIN: perhaps a variant of SETTLE.

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setter

noun
1. a dog of a large long-haired breed trained to stand rigid when scenting game.
2. a person or thing that sets something.

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set theory

noun
the branch of mathematics concerned with the formal properties and applications of sets.

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setting

noun
1. the way or place in which something is set.
2. a piece of metal in which a precious stone or gem is fixed to form a piece of jewellery.
3. a piece of vocal or choral music composed for particular words.
4. (also place setting) a complete set of crockery and cutlery for one person at a meal.

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settle [1]

verb
1. reach an agreement or decision about (an argument or problem).
2. (often settle down) adopt a more steady or secure life, especially through establishing a permanent home.
3. sit, come to rest, or arrange comfortably or securely.
4. become or make calmer or quieter.
5. (often settle in) begin to feel comfortable or established in a new situation.
6. (settle down to) apply oneself to.
7. pay (a debt or account).
8. (settle for) accept or agree to (something less than satisfactory).
9. (settle something on) give money or property to (someone) through a deed of settlement or a will.
10. fall or sink down.
11. (of suspended particles) sink slowly in a liquid to form sediment.

DERIVATIVES:
settleable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «to seat, place», from SETTLE.

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settle [2]

noun
a wooden bench with a high back and arms, typically incorporating a box under the seat.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SIT.

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settlement

noun
1. the action or process of settling.
2. an official agreement intended to settle a dispute or conflict.
3. a place where people establish a community.
4. Law an arrangement whereby property passes to a person or succession of people as dictated by the settlor.

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settler

noun
a person who settles in an area, especially one with no or few previous inhabitants.

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set-up

noun informal
1. the way in which something is organized or arranged.
2. an organization or arrangement.
3. a scheme or trick intended to incriminate or deceive someone.

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seven

cardinal number
one more than six; 7. (Roman numeral: vii or VII.)

IDIOMS -
the seven deadly sins (in Christian tradition) the sins of pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth.
the seven seas all the oceans of the world (conventionally the Arctic, Antarctic, North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Indian Oceans).
the Seven Wonders of the World the seven most spectacular man-made structures of the ancient world.
the seven year itch a supposed tendency to infidelity after seven years of marriage.

DERIVATIVES:
sevenfold adjective & adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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seventeen

cardinal number
one more than sixteen; 17. (Roman numeral: xvii or XVII.)

DERIVATIVES:
seventeenth adjective & noun.

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seventh

ordinal number
1. constituting number seven in a sequence; 7th.
2. (a seventh/one seventh) each of seven equal parts into which something is or may be divided.
3. Music an interval spanning seven consecutive notes in a diatonic scale.
4. Music the note which is higher by this interval than the tonic of a diatonic scale or root of a chord.

DERIVATIVES:
seventhly adverb.

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Seventh-Day Adventist

noun
a member of a strict Protestant sect which preaches the imminent return of Christ to Earth and observes Saturday as the sabbath.

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seventy

cardinal number (pl. seventies)
ten less than eighty; 70. (Roman numeral: lxx or LXX.)

DERIVATIVES:
seventieth ordinal number.

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sever

verb
1. divide by cutting or slicing.
2. put an end to (a connection or relationship).

DERIVATIVES:
severable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French severer, from Latin separare 'disjoin, divide' .

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several

determiner & pronoun
more than two but not many.

adjective
separate or respective.

DERIVATIVES:
severally adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin separ 'separate, different' .

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severance

noun
1. the action of ending a connection or relationship.
2. the state of being separated or cut off.

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severance pay

noun
money paid to an employee on the early termination of a contract.

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severe

adjective
1. (of something bad, undesirable, or difficult) very great; intense.
2. strict or harsh.
3. very plain in style or appearance.

DERIVATIVES:
severely adverb
severity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin severus.

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sew

verb (past part. sewn or sewed)
1. join, fasten, or repair by making stitches with a needle and thread or a sewing machine.
2. (sew up) informal bring to a favourable state or conclusion.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sewage

noun
waste water and excrement conveyed in sewers.

ORIGIN: from SEWER.

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sewer

noun
an underground conduit for carrying off drainage water and waste matter.

ORIGIN: Old French seuwiere 'channel to drain the overflow from a fish pond' , from Latin ex- 'out of' + aqua 'water' .

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sewerage

noun
1. the provision of drainage by sewers.
2. US waste water and excrement conveyed in sewers.

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sewing machine

noun
a machine with a mechanically driven needle for sewing or stitching cloth.

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sex

noun
1. either of the two main categories (male and female) into which humans and most other living things are divided on the basis of their reproductive functions.
2. the fact of belonging to one of these categories.
3. the group of all members of either sex.
4. sexual activity, specifically sexual intercourse.

verb
determine the sex of.

DERIVATIVES:
sexer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sexus.

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sex appeal

noun
the quality of being attractive in a sexual way.

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sex chromosome

noun
a chromosome concerned in determining the sex of an organism (in mammals the X and Y chromosomes).

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sexism

noun
prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex.

DERIVATIVES:
sexist adjective & noun.

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sex kitten

noun informal
a young woman who asserts or exploits her sexual attractiveness.

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sexless

adjective
1. not sexually desirable, attractive, or active.
2. neither male nor female.

DERIVATIVES:
sexlessly adverb
sexlessness noun.

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sex life

noun
a person's sexual activity and relationships considered as a whole.

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sex object

noun
a person regarded purely in terms of their sexual attractiveness or availability.

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sex symbol

noun
a person widely noted for their sexual attractiveness.

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sextant

noun
an instrument with a graduated arc of 60° and a sighting mechanism, used for measuring the angular distances between objects and especially for taking altitudes in navigation and surveying.

ORIGIN: originally denoting the sixth part of a circle: from Latin sextans 'sixth part' .

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sextet (also sextette)

noun
1. a group of six people playing music or singing together.
2. a composition for a sextet.
3. a set of six.

ORIGIN: alteration of SESTET, suggested by Latin sex 'six' .

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sexton

noun
a person who looks after a church and churchyard, typically acting as bell-ringer and gravedigger.

ORIGIN: Old French segrestein, from Latin sacristanus 'sacristan' .

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sextuple

adjective
1. consisting of six parts or elements.
2. six times as much or as many.

ORIGIN: Latin sextuplus, from sex 'six' .

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sextuplet

noun
1. each of six children born at one birth.
2. Music a group of six notes to be performed in the time of four.

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sexual

adjective
1. relating to the instincts and activities connected with physical attraction or intimate physical contact between individuals.
2. relating to the sexes or to gender.
3. (of reproduction) involving the fusion of gametes.
4. Biology being of one sex or the other; capable of sexual reproduction.

DERIVATIVES:
sexualize (also sexualise) verb
sexually adverb.

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sexual harassment

noun
the repeated making of unwanted sexual advances or obscene remarks to a person, especially in a workplace.

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sexual intercourse

noun
sexual contact between individuals involving penetration, especially the insertion of a man's erect penis into a woman's vagina culminating in orgasm and the ejaculation of semen.

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sexuality

noun (pl. sexualities)
1. capacity for sexual feelings.
2. a person's sexual orientation or preference.

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sexual politics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
relations between the sexes regarded in terms of power.

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sexy

adjective (sexier, sexiest)
1. sexually attractive or exciting.
2. sexually aroused.
3. informal very exciting or appealing.

DERIVATIVES:
sexily adverb
sexiness noun.

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SF

abbreviation
science fiction.

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SFX

abbreviation
special effects.

ORIGIN: FX representing a pronunciation of effects.

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SGML

abbreviation Computing
Standard Generalized Mark-up Language, a system for encoding electronic texts so that they can be displayed in any desired format.

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shabby

adjective (shabbier, shabbiest)
1. worn out or dilapidated.
2. dressed in old or worn clothes.
3. mean and unfair: a shabby trick.

DERIVATIVES:
shabbily adverb
shabbiness noun.

ORIGIN: from dialect shab «scab», from Germanic.

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shack

noun
a roughly built hut or cabin.

verb (shack up) informal
live with someone as a lover.

ORIGIN: perhaps from the Mexican or Nahuatl words for 'wooden hut' .

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shackle

noun
1. (shackles) a pair of fetters connected by a chain, used to fasten a prisoner's wrists or ankles together.
2. (shackles) restraints or impediments.
3. a metal link or loop, closed by a bolt and used to secure a chain or rope to something.

verb
1. chain with shackles.
2. restrain; limit.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shad

noun (pl. same or shads)
an edible herring-like marine fish that enters rivers to spawn.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shade

noun
1. comparative darkness and coolness caused by shelter from direct sunlight.
2. a colour, especially with regard to how light or dark it is.
3. a position of relative inferiority or obscurity: your bravery puts me in the shade.
4. a slightly differing variety.
5. a slight amount: a shade anxious.
6. a lampshade.
7. (shades) informal sunglasses.
8. literary a ghost.

verb
1. screen from direct light.
2. cover or moderate the light of.
3. darken or colour with parallel pencil lines or a block of colour.
4. pass or change by degrees: outrage began to shade into dismay.

IDIOMS -
shades of suggestive or reminiscent of.

DERIVATIVES:
shadeless adjective
shader noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shading

noun
1. the representation of light and shade on a drawing or map.
2. a very slight variation.
3. something providing shade.

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shadow

noun
1. a dark area or shape produced by an object coming between light rays and a surface.
2. partial or complete darkness.
3. a position of relative inferiority or obscurity.
4. sadness or gloom.
5. the slightest trace: without a shadow of a doubt.
6. a weak or inferior remnant or version: a shadow of her former self.
7. an inseparable attendant or companion.
8. a person secretly following and observing another.
9. (before another noun ) Brit. denoting the opposition counterpart of a government minister.

verb
1. cast a shadow over.
2. follow and observe secretly.
3. accompany (a worker) in their daily activities for experience of or insight into a job.

DERIVATIVES:
shadower noun
shadowless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shadow-box

verb
spar with an imaginary opponent as a form of training.

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shadowy

adjective (shadowier, shadowiest)
1. full of shadows.
2. of uncertain identity or nature.

DERIVATIVES:
shadowiness noun.

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shady

adjective (shadier, shadiest)
1. situated in or full of shade.
2. giving shade.
3. informal of doubtful honesty or legality.

DERIVATIVES:
shadiness noun.

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shaft

noun
1. a long, narrow part forming the handle of a tool or club, the body of a spear or arrow, or similar.
2. a ray of light or bolt of lightning.
3. a long, narrow, typically vertical hole giving access to a mine, accommodating a lift, etc.
4. each of the pair of poles between which a horse is harnessed to a vehicle.
5. a long cylindrical rotating rod for the transmission of motive power in a machine.
6. a column, especially the part between the base and capital.
7. a sudden flash of a quality or feeling.
8. a witty, wounding, or provoking remark.

verb
1. (of light) shine in beams.
2. informal treat harshly or unfairly.
3. vulgar slang (of a man) have sexual intercourse with.

DERIVATIVES:
shafted adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shag [1]

noun
1. a carpet or rug with a long, rough pile.
2. (before another noun ) (of pile) long and rough.
3. a thick, tangled hairstyle.
4. coarse cut tobacco.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shag [2]

noun
a cormorant with greenish-black plumage and a long curly crest in the breeding season.

ORIGIN: perhaps from SHAG, with reference to the bird's ‘shaggy’ crest.

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shag [3] Brit. vulgar slang

verb (shagged, shagging)
have sexual intercourse with.

noun
an act of sexual intercourse.

DERIVATIVES:
shagger noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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shaggy

adjective (shaggier, shaggiest)
1. (of hair or fur) long, thick, and unkempt.
2. having shaggy hair or fur.

IDIOMS -
shaggy-dog story a long, rambling story or joke, amusing only because it is absurdly inconsequential.

DERIVATIVES:
shaggily adverb
shagginess noun.

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shah

noun historical
a title of the former monarch of Iran.

ORIGIN: Persian, 'king' .

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shake

verb (past shook; past part. shaken)
1. move quickly and jerkily up and down or to and fro.
2. tremble uncontrollably with strong emotion.
3. make a threatening gesture with: he shook his fist.
4. remove or dislodge by shaking.
5. shock or astonish.
6. weaken (confidence, a belief, etc.).
7. get rid of or put an end to: old habits he couldn't shake off.

noun
1. an act of shaking.
2. an amount sprinkled from a container.
3. informal a milkshake.
4. (the shakes) informal a fit of trembling or shivering.

IDIOMS -
in two shakes (of a lamb's tail) informal very quickly.
no great shakes informal not very good.
shake down
1. settle down.
2. N. Amer. informal extort money from.
shake the dust off one's feet leave indignantly or disdainfully.
shake hands (with someone) clasp someone's right hand in one's own at meeting or parting, in reconciliation or congratulation, or as a sign of agreement.
shake a leg informal make a start; rouse oneself.
shake on informal confirm (an agreement) by shaking hands.
shake up
1. rouse from lethargy or apathy.
2. make radical changes to (an institution or system).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shaker

noun
1. a container used for mixing ingredients by shaking.
2. a container with a pierced top from which a powder is poured by shaking.
3. (Shaker) a member of an American Christian sect living simply in celibate mixed communities. [ORIGIN: so named from the wild, ecstatic movements engaged in during worship.]
4. (Shaker) (before another noun ) denoting a style of elegantly functional furniture traditionally produced by Shakers.

DERIVATIVES:
Shakerism noun.

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Shakespearean (also Shakespearian)

adjective
relating to or in the style of William Shakespeare or his works.

noun
an expert in or student of Shakespeare's works.

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shake-up (also shake-out)

noun informal
a radical reorganization.

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shako

noun (pl. shakos)
a peaked cylindrical military hat with a plume or pompom.

ORIGIN: Hungarian csákó (süveg) 'peaked (cap)' .

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shaky

adjective (shakier, shakiest)
1. shaking or trembling.
2. unstable.
3. not safe or reliable.

DERIVATIVES:
shakily adverb
shakiness noun.

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shale

noun
soft stratified sedimentary rock formed from consolidated mud or clay.

DERIVATIVES:
shaly (also shaley) adjective.

ORIGIN: probably from German Schale.

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shall

modal verb (3rd sing. present shall)
1. (in the first person) expressing the future tense.
2. expressing a strong assertion or intention.
3. expressing an instruction or command.
4. used in questions indicating offers or suggestions.
USAGE - Strictly speaking shall should be used with I and we to form the future tense, as in I shall be late , while will should be used with you, he, she, it, and they, as in she will not be there . This, however, is reversed when strong determination is being expressed, as in I will not tolerate this , and you shall go to school . In speech the distinction tends to be obscured, through the use of the contracted forms I'll, she'll, etc.
ORIGIN: Old English, from a base meaning 'owe' .

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shallot

noun
the small bulb of a plant of the onion family, used in cookery and pickling.

ORIGIN: French eschalotte, alteration of Old French eschaloigne, scaloun 'scallion' .

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shallow

adjective
1. of little depth.
2. not showing, requiring, or capable of serious thought.

noun (shallows)
a shallow area of water.

DERIVATIVES:
shallowly adverb
shallowness noun.

ORIGIN: related to SHOAL.

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shalom

exclamation
used as salutation by Jews at meeting or parting.

ORIGIN: Hebrew, 'peace' .

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sham

noun
1. a person or thing that is not what they are claimed to be.
2. pretence.

adjective
bogus; false.

verb (shammed, shamming)
pretend or pretend to be.

DERIVATIVES:
shammer noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps a northern English dialect variant of SHAME.

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shaman

noun (pl. shamans)
(especially among some peoples of northern Asia and North America) a person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of good and evil spirits.

DERIVATIVES:
shamanic adjective
shamanism noun
shamanistic adjective.

ORIGIN: Tungus (a language of Siberia).

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shamble

verb
move with a slow, shuffling, awkward gait.

noun
a shambling gait.

ORIGIN: probably from dialect shamble «ungainly», perhaps from shamble legs, with reference to the legs of trestle tables typical of meat markets (see SHAMBLES).

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shambles

noun
1. informal a state of complete disorder.
2. archaic a butcher's slaughterhouse.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «meat market»: plural of earlier shamble «stool, stall», from Latin scamellum 'little bench' .

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shambolic

adjective informal, chiefly Brit.
chaotic or disorganized.

ORIGIN: from SHAMBLES, probably on the pattern of symbolic.

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shame

noun
1. a feeling of humiliation or distress caused by awareness of wrong or foolish behaviour.
2. loss or respect or esteem.
3. a cause of shame.
4. a regrettable or unfortunate thing.

verb
cause to feel ashamed.

IDIOMS -
put to shame shame (someone) by outdoing or surpassing them.
shame on you! you should be ashamed.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shamefaced

adjective
showing shame.

DERIVATIVES:
shamefacedly adverb
shamefacedness noun.

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shameful

adjective
worthy of or causing shame.

DERIVATIVES:
shamefully adverb
shamefulness noun.

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shameless

adjective
showing a lack of shame.

DERIVATIVES:
shamelessly adverb
shamelessness noun.

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shammy (also shammy leather)

noun (pl. shammies) informal
chamois leather.

ORIGIN: a phonetic spelling.

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shampoo

noun
1. a liquid preparation for washing the hair.
2. a similar substance for cleaning a carpet, car, etc.
3. an act of washing with shampoo.

verb (shampoos, shampooed)
wash or clean with shampoo.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «massage»: from a Hindi word meaning 'to press' .

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shamrock

noun
a clover-like plant with three-lobed leaves, the national emblem of Ireland.

ORIGIN: Irish seamróg 'trefoil' .

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shandy

noun (pl. shandies)
beer mixed with lemonade or ginger beer.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of shandygaff, of unknown origin.

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shanghai

verb (shanghais, shanghaied, shanghaiing)
1. historical force to join a ship's crew by underhand means.
2. informal coerce or trick into doing something.

ORIGIN: from Shanghai, a major Chinese seaport.

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shank

noun
1. a person's leg, especially the lower part.
2. the lower part of an animal's foreleg, especially as a cut of meat.
3. the shaft or stem of a tool or implement.
4. the band of a ring.

DERIVATIVES:
shanked adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shan't

contraction
shall not.

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shantung

noun
a type of soft silk with a coarse surface.

ORIGIN: from Shantung in China, where it was originally made.

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shanty [1]

noun (pl. shanties)
a small, crudely built shack.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Canadian French chantier 'lumberjack's cabin, logging camp' .

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shanty [2] (also chanty or sea shanty)

noun (pl. shanties)
a song with alternating solo and chorus, of a kind originally sung by sailors working together.

ORIGIN: probably from French chantez! 'sing!' .

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shanty town

noun
an impoverished area consisting of large numbers of shanty dwellings.

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shape

noun
1. the external form or appearance of someone or something as produced by their outline.
2. a piece of material, paper, etc., made or cut in a particular form.
3. a particular condition or state: the house was in poor shape.
4. a specific form or guise assumed by someone or something: a fiend in human shape.
5. definite or orderly arrangement.

verb
1. give a shape or form to.
2. determine the nature of.
3. (often shape up) develop in a particular way.
4. (shape up) become physically fit.
5. (shape up) informal improve (something).

IDIOMS -
in (good) shape in good physical condition.
in the shape of by way of.
lick (or knock) into shape act forcefully to bring into a better state.
out of shape
1. not having its usual or original shape.
2. in poor physical condition.
take shape assume a distinct form.

DERIVATIVES:
shaped adjective
shaper noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shapeless

adjective
lacking definite or attractive shape.

DERIVATIVES:
shapelessly adverb
shapelessness noun.

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shapely

adjective (shapelier, shapeliest)
having an attractive or well-proportioned shape.

DERIVATIVES:
shapeliness noun.

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shard

noun
a sharp piece of broken ceramic, metal, glass, etc.

ORIGIN: Old English, «gap, notch, potsherd»; related to SHEAR.

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share

noun
1. a part of a larger amount which is divided among or contributed by a number of people.
2. any of the equal parts into which a company's capital is divided, entitling the holder to a proportion of the profits.
3. the allotted or due amount expected to be had or done: more than their fair share of problems.
4. a person's contribution to an enterprise.

verb
1. have or give a share of.
2. possess or use in common with others.
3. (share in) participate in.
4. tell someone about.

DERIVATIVES:
shareable (also sharable) adjective
sharer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SHEAR.

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shareholder

noun
an owner of shares in a company.

DERIVATIVES:
shareholding noun.

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sharia

noun
Islamic canonical law based on the teachings of the Koran and the traditions of Muhammad.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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shark [1]

noun
a long-bodied cartilaginous marine fish, typically predatory and voracious, with a prominent dorsal fin.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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shark [2]

noun informal
a person who exploits or swindles others.

ORIGIN: perhaps from German Schurke 'worthless rogue' , influenced by SHARK.

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sharkskin

noun
a stiff, slightly lustrous synthetic fabric.

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sharp

adjective
1. having a cutting or piercing edge or point.
2. tapering to a point or edge.
3. sudden and marked: a sharp increase.
4. making a sudden change of direction.
5. clearly defined.
6. producing a sudden, piercing sensation or effect: a sharp pain.
7. quick to understand, notice, or respond.
8. quick to take advantage, especially in a dishonest way.
9. (of a food, taste, or smell) acidic and intense.
10. (of a sound) sudden and penetrating.
11. critical or hurtful.
12. informal smart and stylish.
13. (of musical sound) above true or normal pitch.
14. (after a noun ) (of a note or key) higher by a semitone than a specified note or key.

adverb
1. precisely: at 7.30 sharp.
2. suddenly or abruptly.
3. above the true or normal pitch of musical sound.

noun
1. a musical note raised a semitone above natural pitch.
2. the sign (#) indicating this.
3. a thing with a sharp edge or point.

DERIVATIVES:
sharply adverb
sharpness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sharpen

verb
make or become sharp.

DERIVATIVES:
sharpener noun.

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sharpish informal

adjective
fairly sharp.

adverb chiefly Brit.
quickly; soon.

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sharp practice

noun
dishonest or barely honest dealings.

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sharpshooter

noun
a person skilled in shooting.

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sharp-tongued

adjective
given to using harsh or critical language.

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sharp-witted

adjective
perceptive or intelligent.

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shatter

verb
1. break suddenly and violently into pieces.
2. damage or destroy.
3. upset greatly.
4. (shattered) informal completely exhausted.

DERIVATIVES:
shatterer noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps imitative.

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shave

verb
1. cut the hair off one's face with a razor.
2. cut the hair off (part of the body) with a razor.
3. cut (a thin slice or slices) off something.
4. reduce by a small amount.
5. pass or send something very close to.

noun
1. an act of shaving.
2. a tool for shaving very thin slices or layers from wood.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shaven

adjective
shaved.

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shaver

noun
1. an electric razor.
2. informal, dated a young lad.

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shaving

noun
1. a thin strip cut off a surface.
2. (before another noun ) used when shaving: shaving foam.

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shawl

noun
a large piece of fabric worn by women over the shoulders or head or wrapped round a baby.

DERIVATIVES:
shawled adjective.

ORIGIN: Urdu and Persian, probably from Shlit, a town in India.

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she

pronoun (third person sing. )
1. used to refer to a woman, girl, or female animal previously mentioned or easily identified.
2. used to refer to a ship, country, or other inanimate thing regarded as female.
3. any female person (in modern use, now largely replaced by ‘anyone’ or ‘the person’).
4. Austral./NZ informal it; the state of affairs.

noun
a female; a woman.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sheaf

noun (pl. sheaves)
1. a bundle of grain stalks laid lengthways and tied together after reaping.
2. a bundle of objects, especially papers.

verb
bundle into sheaves.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SHOVE.

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shear

verb (past part. shorn or sheared)
1. cut the wool off (a sheep or other animal).
2. cut off with scissors or shears.
3. (be shorn of) be deprived or stripped of.
4. break off or cause to break off, owing to a structural strain.

noun
a strain produced by pressure in the structure of a substance, when its layers are laterally shifted in relation to each other.

DERIVATIVES:
shearer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, from a base meaning «divide, shear, shave».

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shears (also a pair of shears)

plural noun
a cutting instrument in which two blades move past each other, like very large scissors.

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sheath

noun (pl. sheaths)
1. a cover for the blade of a knife or sword.
2. a condom.
3. a structure in living tissue which closely envelops another.
4. a protective covering around an electric cable.
5. (also sheath dress) a close-fitting dress.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SHED.

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sheathe

verb
1. put (a knife or sword) into a sheath.
2. (often be sheathed in) encase in a close-fitting or protective covering.

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sheath knife

noun
a short knife similar to a dagger, carried in a sheath.

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shebang

noun informal
a matter, operation, or situation: the whole shebang.

ORIGIN: originally US, in the sense «a rough hut or shelter»; of unknown origin.

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shebeen

noun
(especially in Ireland, Scotland, and South Africa) an unlicensed establishment or private house selling alcoholic liquor.

ORIGIN: Anglo-Irish síbín, from séibe 'mugful' .

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shed [1]

noun
1. a simple roofed structure, typically of wood and used for storage or to shelter animals.
2. a larger structure, typically with one or more sides open, for storing vehicles or machinery.

ORIGIN: apparently a variant of SHADE.

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shed [2]

verb (shedding; past and past part. shed)
1. allow (leaves, hair, skin, etc.) to fall off naturally.
2. discard; get rid of.
3. take off (clothes).
4. cast or give off (light).
5. accidentally drop or spill.
6. resist the absorption of.

IDIOMS -
shed tears cry.

DERIVATIVES:
shedder noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «separate out, divide», also «scatter»; related to SHEATH.

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she'd

contraction
she had; she would.

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sheen

noun
a soft lustre on a surface.

DERIVATIVES:
sheeny adjective.

ORIGIN: from obsolete sheen «beautiful, resplendent»; apparently related to SHINE.

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sheep

noun (pl. same)
1. a domesticated ruminant mammal with a thick woolly coat, kept in flocks for its wool or meat.
2. a person who is too easily influenced or led.
3. a member of a minister's congregation.

IDIOMS -
make sheep's eyes at look at in a foolishly amorous way.

DERIVATIVES:
sheeplike adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English; sense 3 with allusion to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15.

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sheep dip

noun
1. a liquid preparation for cleansing sheep of parasites or preserving their wool.
2. a place where sheep are dipped in this liquid.

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sheepdog

noun
1. a dog trained to guard and herd sheep.
2. a breed of dog suitable for this.

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sheepish

adjective
embarrassed from shame or shyness.

DERIVATIVES:
sheepishly adverb
sheepishness noun.

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sheepshank

noun
a knot used to shorten a rope temporarily.

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sheepskin

noun
a sheep's skin with the wool on, especially when made into a garment or rug.

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sheer [1]

adjective
1. nothing but; absolute: sheer hard work.
2. (of a cliff, wall, etc.) perpendicular or nearly so.
3. (of a fabric) very thin.

adverb
perpendicularly.

DERIVATIVES:
sheerly adverb
sheerness noun.

ORIGIN: probably from dialect shire «pure, clear», from the Germanic base of SHINE.

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sheer [2]

verb
1. (especially of a boat) swerve or change course quickly.
2. avoid or move away from an unpleasant topic.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Low German scheren 'to shear' .

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sheet [1]

noun
1. a large rectangular piece of cotton or other fabric, used on a bed to cover the mattress or as a layer beneath blankets.
2. a broad flat piece of metal or glass.
3. a rectangular piece of paper.
4. an extensive layer or moving mass of water, ice, flame, etc.

verb
1. cover with or wrap in a sheet or sheeting.
2. (of rain) fall heavily.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SHOOT.

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sheet [2]

noun
1. a rope attached to the lower corner of a sail.
2. (sheets) the space at the bow or stern of an open boat.

IDIOMS -
two (or three) sheets to the wind informal drunk.

ORIGIN: Old English, «lower corner of a sail»; related to SHEET.

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sheeting

noun
material formed into or used as a sheet.

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sheet music

noun
1. printed music, as opposed to performed or recorded music.
2. music published in single or interleaved sheets.

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sheikh (also shaykh or sheik)

noun
1. an Arab leader, especially the chief or head of a tribe, family, or village.
2. a leader in a Muslim community or organization.

DERIVATIVES:
sheikhdom noun.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'old man, sheikh' .

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sheila

noun Austral./NZ informal
a girl or woman.

ORIGIN: originally as shaler: of unknown origin, later assimilated to the given name Sheila.

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shekel

noun
1. the basic monetary unit of modern Israel, equal to 100 agora.
2. (shekels) informal money; wealth.

ORIGIN: Hebrew.

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shelf

noun (pl. shelves)
1. a flat length of wood or other rigid material attached to a wall or forming part of a piece of furniture, providing a surface for storage or display.
2. a ledge of rock or protruding strip of land.

IDIOMS -
off the shelf taken from existing stock, not designed or made to order.
on the shelf
1. no longer useful or desirable.
2. past an age when one might expect to be married.

ORIGIN: Low German schelf.

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shelf life

noun
the length of time for which an item remains usable, edible, or saleable.

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shell

noun
1. the hard protective outer case of an animal such as a snail, shellfish, or turtle.
2. the outer covering of an egg, nut kernel, or seed.
3. an explosive artillery projectile or bomb.
4. a hollow metal or paper case used as a container for fireworks, explosives, or cartridges.
5. N. Amer. a cartridge.
6. something resembling or likened to a shell, especially a hollow case.
7. the walls of an unfinished or gutted building.
8. a light racing boat.
9. (also shell program) Computing a program providing an interface between the user and the operating system.

verb
1. bombard with shells.
2. remove the shell or pod from.
3. (shell out) informal pay (an amount of money).

IDIOMS -
come out of one's shell cease to be shy.

DERIVATIVES:
shelled adjective
shell-less adjective
shell-like adjective
shelly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SCALE.

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she'll

contraction
she shall; she will.

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shellac

noun
lac resin melted into thin flakes, used for making varnish.

verb (shellacked, shellacking)
varnish with shellac.

ORIGIN: from SHELL + LAC, translating French laque en écailles 'lac in thin plates' .

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shellfish

noun
an aquatic shelled mollusc or crustacean, especially an edible one.

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shell shock

noun
psychological disturbance caused by prolonged exposure to active warfare.

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shell suit

noun
a casual outfit consisting of a loose jacket and trousers with a soft lining and a shiny polyester outer shell.

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shelter

noun
1. a place giving protection from bad weather or danger.
2. a place providing food and accommodation for the homeless.
3. a shielded condition; protection.

verb
1. provide with shelter.
2. find refuge or take cover.
3. (sheltered) protected from having to do or face something difficult.

ORIGIN: perhaps from obsolete sheltron «phalanx», from an Old English word meaning «shield troop».

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sheltered housing (also sheltered accommodation)

noun Brit.
accommodation for elderly or handicapped people consisting of private independent units with some shared facilities and a warden.

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shelve

verb
1. place on a shelf.
2. abandon or defer (a plan or project).
3. fit with shelves.

DERIVATIVES:
shelver noun.

ORIGIN: from shelves, plural of SHELF.

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shelving

noun
shelves collectively.

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shenanigans

plural noun informal
1. secret or dishonest activity.
2. mischief.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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shepherd

noun
1. a person who tends sheep.
2. a member of the clergy providing spiritual care and guidance for a congregation.

verb
1. tend (sheep).
2. guide or direct somewhere.
3. give spiritual or other guidance to.

DERIVATIVES:
shepherdess noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, from SHEEP + obsolete herd «herdsman».

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shepherd's pie

noun
a dish of minced meat under a layer of mashed potato.

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sherbet

noun
1. Brit. a flavoured sweet fizzing powder eaten alone or made into a drink.
2. (especially in Arab countries) a drink of sweet diluted fruit juices.
3. N. Amer. water ice; sorbet.
4. Austral. humorous beer.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'drink' ; related to SYRUP.

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sheriff

noun
1. (also high sheriff) (in England and Wales) the chief executive officer of the Crown in a county.
2. an honorary officer elected annually in some English towns.
3. (in Scotland) a judge.
4. US an elected officer in a county, responsible for keeping the peace.

ORIGIN: Old English, «shire reeve».

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sheriff court

noun
(in Scotland) a court for civil cases, equivalent to a county court.

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Sherpa

noun (pl. same or Sherpas)
a member of a Himalayan people living on the borders of Nepal and Tibet.

ORIGIN: Tibetan, 'inhabitant of an Eastern country' .

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sherry

noun (pl. sherries)
a fortified wine originally and mainly from southern Spain.

ORIGIN: from Spanish vino de Xeres 'Xeres wine' (Xeres being the former name of the city of Jerez de la Frontera).

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she's

contraction
she is; she has.

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Shetland pony

noun
a small, hardy rough-coated breed of pony.

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Shia (also Shi'a)

noun (pl. same or Shias)
1. one of the two main branches of Islam, regarding Ali, the fourth caliph, as Muhammad's first true successor. Compare with SUNNI.
2. a Muslim who adheres to this branch of Islam.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'party (of Ali)' .

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shiatsu

noun
a Japanese therapy in which pressure is applied with the hands to points on the body.

ORIGIN: Japanese, 'finger pressure' .

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shibboleth

noun
a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «a word or sound which a foreigner is unable to pronounce»: from Hebrew, 'ear of corn' (according to the Book of Judges, chapter 12, the word was used as a test of nationality because of its difficult pronunciation).

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shield

noun
1. a broad piece of armour held for protection against blows or missiles.
2. a sporting trophy consisting of an engraved metal plate mounted on a piece of wood.
3. Heraldry a stylized representation of a shield used for displaying a coat of arms.
4. a US police officer's badge.
5. a protective plate, screen, etc.
6. a source of protection.

verb
1. protect from a danger, risk, etc.
2. prevent from being seen.
3. enclose or screen (machinery or a source of sound, light, radiation) to protect the user.

ORIGIN: Old English, from a base meaning «divide, separate».

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shift

verb
1. move or change from one position to another.
2. Brit. informal move quickly.
3. (shift oneself) Brit. informal move or rouse oneself.
4. Brit. remove (a stain).
5. informal sell (goods) quickly or in large quantities.
6. chiefly N. Amer. change gear.

noun
1. a slight change in position, direction, or tendency.
2. a key used to switch between two sets of characters or functions on a keyboard.
3. each of two or more periods in which different groups of workers do the same jobs in relay.
4. N. Amer. a gear lever or gear-changing mechanism.
5. a straight unwaisted dress.
6. historical a long, loose undergarment.
7. archaic an ingenious or devious device or stratagem.

IDIOMS -
make shift dated manage or contrive to do something.
shift for oneself manage alone as best one can.
shift one's ground change one's position in an argument.

DERIVATIVES:
shifter noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «arrange, divide, apportion».

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shiftless

adjective
lazy, indolent, and lacking ambition.

DERIVATIVES:
shiftlessness noun.

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shifty

adjective (shiftier, shiftiest) informal
deceitful or evasive.

DERIVATIVES:
shiftily adverb
shiftiness noun.

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Shiite (also Shi'ite)

noun
an adherent of the Shia branch of Islam.

adjective
relating to Shia.

DERIVATIVES:
Shiism (also Shi'ism) noun.

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shillelagh

noun
(In Ireland) a cudgel of blackthorn or oak.

ORIGIN: named after the town of Shillelagh, in County Wicklow, Ireland.

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shilling

noun
1. a former British coin and monetary unit equal to one twentieth of a pound or twelve pence.
2. the basic monetary unit of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

IDIOMS -
not the full shilling Brit. informal not very clever.
take the King's (or Queen's) shilling Brit. enlist as a soldier. [ORIGIN: with reference to the former practice of paying a shilling to a new recruit.]

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shilly-shally

verb (shilly-shallies, shilly-shallied)
be indecisive.

noun
indecisive behaviour.

ORIGIN: originally as shill I, shall I, reduplication of shall I?

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shim

noun
a washer or thin strip of material used to align parts, make them fit, or reduce wear.

verb (shimmed, shimming)
wedge or fill up with a shim.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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shimmer

verb
shine with a soft wavering light.

noun
a light with such qualities.

DERIVATIVES:
shimmery adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SHINE.

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shimmy

noun (pl. shimmies)
1. a kind of ragtime dance in which the whole body shakes or sways.
2. abnormal vibration of the wheels of a motor vehicle.

verb (shimmies, shimmied)
1. dance the shimmy.
2. shake or vibrate abnormally.
3. move swiftly and effortlessly.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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shin

noun
1. the front of the leg below the knee.
2. a cut of beef from the lower part of a cow's leg.

verb (shinned, shinning) (shin up/down)
climb quickly up or down by gripping with one's arms and legs.

ORIGIN: Old English, probably from a Germanic base meaning «narrow or thin piece».

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shindig

noun informal
1. a large, lively party.
2. a noisy disturbance or quarrel.

ORIGIN: probably from SHIN and DIG, influenced later by SHINDY.

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shine

verb (past and past part. shone or shined)
1. give out a bright light, or glow with reflected light.
2. direct (a torch or other light) somewhere.
3. (of a person's eyes) be bright with the expression of emotion.
4. excel at something.
5. (shine through) (of a quality or skill) be clearly evident.
6. (past and past part. shined) polish.

noun
1. a quality of brightness, especially through reflecting light.
2. an act of polishing.

IDIOMS -
take the shine off spoil the brilliance or excitement of.
take a shine to informal develop a liking for.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shiner

noun informal
a black eye.

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shingle [1]

noun
a mass of small rounded pebbles, especially on a seashore.

DERIVATIVES:
shingly adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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shingle [2]

noun
1. a rectangular wooden tile used on walls or roofs.
2. dated a woman's short haircut, tapering from the back of the head to the nape of the neck.
3. N. Amer. a small signboard, especially one outside an office.

verb
1. roof or clad with shingles.
2. dated cut (hair) in a shingle.

ORIGIN: probably from Latin scindula 'a split piece of wood' .

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shingles

plural noun (treated as sing. )
an acute painful inflammation of nerve endings, with a skin eruption often forming a girdle around the body.

ORIGIN: from Latin cingulum 'girdle' .

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Shinto

noun
a Japanese religion incorporating the worship of ancestors and nature spirits.

DERIVATIVES:
Shintoism noun
Shintoist noun.

ORIGIN: Japanese, from Chinese words meaning 'way of the gods' .

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shinty

noun
a Scottish game resembling hockey, played with curved sticks and taller goalposts and derived from hurling.

ORIGIN: apparently from the cry shin ye, shin you, shin t' ye, used in the game, of unknown origin.

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shiny

adjective (shinier, shiniest)
reflecting light because very smooth, clean, or polished.

DERIVATIVES:
shinily adverb
shininess noun.

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ship

noun
1. a large seagoing boat.
2. a sailing vessel with a bowsprit and three or more square-rigged masts.
3. a spaceship.
4. N. Amer. an aircraft.

verb (shipped, shipping)
1. transport on a ship or by other means.
2. make (a product) available for purchase.
3. (of a sailor) take service on a ship.
4. (of a boat) take in (water) over the side.
5. take (oars) from the rowlocks and lay them inside a boat.
6. fix (a rudder, mast, etc.) in place on a ship.

IDIOMS -
a sinking ship a failing organization or endeavour.
when one's ship comes in when one's fortune is made.

DERIVATIVES:
shipload noun
shipper noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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-ship

suffix forming nouns:
1. denoting a quality or condition: companionship.
2. denoting status, office, or honour: citizenship.
3. denoting a skill in a certain capacity: workmanship.
4. denoting the collective individuals of a group: membership.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shipboard

noun (before another noun )
used or occurring on board a ship.

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shipbuilder

noun
a person or company that designs and builds ships.

DERIVATIVES:
shipbuilding noun.

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shipmate

noun
a fellow member of a ship's crew.

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shipment

noun
1. the action of shipping goods.
2. a consignment of goods shipped.

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shipping

noun
1. ships collectively.
2. the transport of goods by sea or other means.

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shipshape (also shipshape and Bristol fashion)

adjective
orderly and neat.

ORIGIN: Bristol fashion refers to the commercial prosperity of Bristol when its shipping trade was thriving.

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shipwreck

noun
1. the destruction of a ship at sea by sinking or breaking up.
2. a ship so destroyed.

verb (be shipwrecked)
suffer a shipwreck.

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shipwright

noun
a shipbuilder.

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shipyard

noun
a place where ships are built and repaired.

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shire

noun
1. Brit. a county, especially in England.
2. (the Shires) the parts of England regarded as strongholds of traditional rural culture, especially the rural Midlands.
3. a medieval administrative district ruled jointly by an alderman and a sheriff.
4. Austral. a rural area with its own elected council.

ORIGIN: Old English, «care, official charge, county».

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shire horse

noun
a heavy powerful breed of draught horse, originally from the English Midlands.

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shirk

verb
avoid or neglect (a duty or responsibility).

DERIVATIVES:
shirker noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete shirk «sponger», perhaps from German Schurke 'scoundrel' .

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shirt

noun
1. a garment for the upper body, with a collar and sleeves and buttons down the front.
2. a similar garment of light material without full fastenings, worn for sports and leisure.

IDIOMS -
keep your shirt on informal stay calm.
lose one's shirt informal lose all one's possessions.
put one's shirt on Brit. informal bet all one has on.
the shirt off one's back informal one's last remaining possessions.

DERIVATIVES:
shirted adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SKIRT and SHORT.

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shirtwaister

noun
a shirt dress with a seam at the waist.

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shirty

adjective (shirtier, shirtiest) Brit. informal
bad-tempered or annoyed.

DERIVATIVES:
shirtily adverb
shirtiness noun.

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shish kebab

noun
a dish of pieces of marinated meat and vegetables cooked and served on skewers.

ORIGIN: Turkish sis kebap.

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shit vulgar slang

verb (shitting; past and past part. shitted or shit or shat)
1. defecate.
2. (shit oneself) be very frightened.

noun
1. faeces.
2. something worthless; rubbish.
3. a contemptible person.

exclamation
expressing disgust or annoyance.

IDIOMS -
be scared shitless vulgar slang be extremely frightened.
not give a shit not care at all.
be up shit creek (without a paddle) be in an awkward predicament.
when the shit hits the fan when the disastrous consequences of something become known.

ORIGIN: Old English, «diarrhoea».

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shitty

adjective (shittier, shittiest) vulgar slang
1. contemptible or awful.
2. covered with excrement.

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shiver [1]

verb
shake slightly and uncontrollably as a result of being cold, frightened, or excited.

noun
1. a momentary trembling movement.
2. (the shivers) a spell or attack of shivering.

DERIVATIVES:
shivery adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from dialect chavele «to chatter», from an Old English word meaning «jaw».

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shiver [2]

noun
a splinter.

verb
break into shivers.

IDIOMS -
shiver my timbers a mock oath attributed to sailors.

ORIGIN: from a Germanic base meaning 'to split' .

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shoal [1]

noun
1. a large number of fish swimming together.
2. informal, chiefly Brit. a large number of people.

verb
(of fish) form shoals.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch schle 'troop' .

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shoal [2]

noun
1. an area of shallow water.
2. a submerged sandbank visible at low water.

verb
(of water) become shallower.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SHALLOW.

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shock [1]

noun
1. a sudden upsetting or surprising event or experience, or the resulting feeling.
2. an acute medical condition associated with a fall in blood pressure, caused by loss of blood, severe burns, sudden emotional stress, etc.
3. a violent shaking movement caused by an impact, explosion, or tremor.
4. an electric shock.

verb
1. cause to feel surprised and upset.
2. offend the moral feelings of; outrage.
3. affect with physiological shock, or with an electric shock.

DERIVATIVES:
shockable adjective
shockproof adjective.

ORIGIN: French choc.

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shock [2]

noun
a group of twelve sheaves of grain placed upright and supporting each other to allow the grain to dry and ripen.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Dutch, Low German schok.

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shock [3]

noun
an unkempt or thick mass of hair.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain.

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shock absorber

noun
a device for absorbing jolts and vibrations, especially on a vehicle.

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shocker

noun informal
1. a person or thing that shocks, especially through being unacceptable or sensational.
2. Brit. a shock absorber.

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shock-headed

adjective
having thick, shaggy, and unkempt hair.

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shocking

adjective
1. causing shock or disgust.
2. Brit. informal very bad.

DERIVATIVES:
shockingly adverb.

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shocking pink

noun
a vibrant shade of pink.

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shock tactics

plural noun
the use of sudden violent or extreme action to shock someone into doing something.

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shock therapy (also shock treatment)

noun
treatment of chronic mental conditions by electroconvulsive therapy or by inducing physiological shock.

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shock troops

plural noun
troops trained for carrying out sudden assaults.

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shock wave

noun
an intense travelling pressure wave caused by explosion or by a body moving faster than sound.

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shoddy

adjective (shoddier, shoddiest)
1. badly made or done.
2. lacking moral principle; sordid.

noun
an inferior yarn or fabric made from shredded woollen waste.

DERIVATIVES:
shoddily adverb
shoddiness noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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shoe

noun
1. a covering for the foot having a sturdy sole and not reaching above the ankle.
2. a horseshoe.
3. a brake shoe or a drag for a wheel.
4. a socket on a camera for fitting a flash unit.
5. a metal rim or ferrule, especially on the runner of a sledge.
6. a step for a mast.

verb (shoes, shoeing; past and past part. shod)
1. fit (a horse) with a shoe or shoes.
2. (be shod) be wearing shoes of a specified kind.
3. protect with a metal shoe.

IDIOMS -
be (or put oneself) in another person's shoes imagine oneself in another's situation or predicament.
dead men's shoes property or a position coveted by a prospective successor but available only on a person's death or departure.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shoehorn

noun
a curved instrument used for easing one's heel into a shoe.

verb
force into an inadequate space.

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shoelace

noun
a cord or leather strip passed through eyelets or hooks on opposite sides of a shoe and pulled tight and fastened.

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shoemaker

noun
a person who makes shoes and other footwear as a profession.

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shoestring

noun
1. N. Amer. a shoelace.
2. informal a small or inadequate budget: living on a shoestring.

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shoe tree

noun
a shaped block inserted into a shoe when it is not being worn to keep it in shape.

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shogun

noun
(in feudal Japan) a hereditary commander-in-chief.

DERIVATIVES:
shogunate noun.

ORIGIN: Japanese, from a Chinese word meaning 'general' .

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shoot

verb (past and past part. shot)
1. kill or wound (a person or animal) with a bullet or arrow.
2. cause (a gun) to fire.
3. move suddenly and rapidly.
4. direct (a glance, question, or remark) at someone.
5. film or photograph (a scene, film, etc.).
6. (shooting) (of a pain) sudden and piercing.
7. (of a boat) sweep swiftly down or under (rapids, a waterfall, or a bridge).
8. move (a door bolt) to fasten or unfasten a door.
9. send out buds or shoots; germinate.
10. informal drive past (a traffic light at red).
11. (in sport) kick, hit, or throw the ball or puck in an attempt to score a goal.
12. informal make (a specified score) for a round of golf.

noun
1. a young branch or sucker springing from the main stock of a tree or other plant.
2. an occasion when a group of people hunt and shoot game for sport.
3. Brit. land used for shooting game.
4. an occasion of taking photographs professionally or making a film or video: a fashion shoot.
5. variant spelling of CHUTE.

exclamation N. Amer. informal
used as a euphemism for ‘shit’.

IDIOMS -
shoot the breeze (or the bull) N. Amer. informal have a casual conversation.
shoot one's cuffs pull one's shirt cuffs out to project beyond the cuffs of one's jacket or coat.
shoot down bring down (an aircraft or person) by sh ooting.
shoot oneself in the foot informal inadvertently make a situation worse for oneself.
shoot a line Brit. informal describe something in an exaggerated, untruthful, or boastful way.
shoot one's mouth off informal talk boastfully or indiscreetly.
the whole shooting match informal everything.
shoot through Austral./NZ informal depart, especially hurriedly.
shoot up informal inject oneself with a narcotic drug.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shooter

noun
1. a person who uses a gun.
2. informal a gun.
3. (in netball, basketball, etc.) a player whose role is to attempt to score goals.

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shooting gallery

noun
a room or fairground booth for recreational shooting at targets.

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shooting star

noun
a small, rapidly moving meteor that burns up on entering the earth's atmosphere.

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shooting stick

noun
a walking stick with a handle that unfolds to form a seat and a sharpened end which can be stuck firmly in the ground.

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shoot-out

noun
1. informal a decisive gun battle.
2. Soccer a tie-breaker decided by each side taking a specified number of penalty kicks.

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shop

noun
1. a building or part of a building where goods or services are sold.
2. a place where things are manufactured or repaired; a workshop.

verb (shopped, shopping)
1. go to a shop or shops to buy goods.
2. (shop around) look for the best available price or rate for something.
3. informal, chiefly Brit. inform on.

IDIOMS -
talk shop discuss matters concerning one's work, especially at an inappropriate time.

ORIGIN: shortening of Old French eschoppe 'lean-to booth' .

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shopaholic

noun informal
a compulsive shopper.

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shop floor

noun Brit.
the part of a workshop or factory where production as distinct from administrative work is carried out.

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shopkeeper

noun
the owner and manager of a shop.

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shoplifting

noun
the theft of goods from a shop by someone pretending to be a customer.

DERIVATIVES:
shoplift verb
shoplifter noun.

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shopper

noun
1. a person who is shopping.
2. Brit. a bag for holding shopping, attached to wheels and pushed or pulled along.
3. a small-wheeled bicycle with a basket.

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shopping

noun
1. the purchasing of goods from shops.
2. goods bought from shops, especially food and household goods.

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shopping centre

noun
an area or complex of shops.

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shop-soiled (N. Amer. shopworn)

adjective Brit.
(of an article) made dirty or imperfect by being displayed or handled in a shop.

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shop steward

noun
a person elected by workers in a factory to represent them in dealings with management.

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shore [1]

noun
1. the land along the edge of a sea, lake, etc.
2. (also shores) literary a country or other geographic area bounded by a coast: distant shores.

IDIOMS -
in shore on the water near land or nearer to land.
on shore ashore; on land.

DERIVATIVES:
shoreward adjective & adverb
shorewards adverb.

ORIGIN: Dutch, Low German schre.

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shore [2]

noun
a prop or beam set up against something weak or unstable as a support.

verb (often shore up)
support or hold up with or as if with shores.

DERIVATIVES:
shoring noun.

ORIGIN: Dutch, Low German schore 'prop' .

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shoreline

noun
the line along which a large body of water meets the land.

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short

adjective
1. of a small length or duration.
2. relatively small in extent.
3. (of a person) small in height.
4. (short of/on) not having enough of.
5. in insufficient supply.
6. (of a person) terse; uncivil.
7. (of a ball in sport) travelling only a small distance, or not far enough.
8. (of odds or a chance) reflecting or representing a high level of probability.
9. Phonetics (of a vowel) categorized as short with regard to quality and length (e.g. in standard British English the vowel sound in good).
10. (of pastry) containing a high proportion of fat to flour and therefore crumbly.

adverb
(in sport) at, to, or over a short distance, or not as far as the point aimed at.

noun
1. Brit. informal a strong alcoholic drink, especially spirits, served in small measures.
2. a short film as opposed to a feature film.
3. a short circuit.

verb
short-circuit.

IDIOMS -
be caught short
1. be put at a disadvantage.
2. Brit. informal urgently need to urinate or defecate.
bring (or pull) up short cause (someone) to stop or pause abruptly.
for short as an abbreviation or nickname.
get (or have) by the short and curlies informal have complete control of.
go short not have enough of something.
in short to sum up; briefly.
in the short run (or term) in the near future.
in short supply (of a commodity) scarce.
make short work of accomplish, consume, or destroy quickly.
short for an abbreviation or nickname for.
short of
1. less than.
2. not reaching as far as.
3. without going so far as (some extreme action).
stop short stop suddenly or abruptly.

DERIVATIVES:
shortish adjective
shortness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SHIRT, SKIRT.

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shortage

noun
a situation in which something needed cannot be obtained in sufficient amounts.

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shortbread

noun
a crisp, rich, crumbly type of biscuit made with butter, flour, and sugar.

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short circuit

noun
an electrical circuit of lower than usual resistance, especially one formed unintentionally.

verb (short-circuit)
1. cause or suffer a short circuit.
2. shorten (a process or activity) by using a more direct but irregular method.

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shortcoming

noun
a failure to meet a certain standard; a fault or defect.

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shortcrust pastry

noun Brit.
crumbly pastry made with flour, fat, and a little water.

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short cut

noun
1. an alternative route that is shorter than the one usually taken.
2. an accelerated but somewhat irregular way of doing something.

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short division

noun
division in which the quotient is written directly without a succession of intermediate workings.

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shorten

verb
1. make or become shorter.
2. Sailing reduce the amount of (sail spread).

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shortening

noun
fat used for making pastry.

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shortfall

noun
a deficit of something required or expected.

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short fuse

noun informal
a quick temper.

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shorthand

noun
1. a method of rapid writing by means of abbreviations and symbols, used for taking dictation.
2. a short and simple way of expressing or referring to something.

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short-handed

adjective & adverb
without enough or the usual number of staff or crew.

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shortlist

noun
a list of selected candidates from which a final choice is made.

verb
put on a shortlist.

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short-lived

adjective
lasting only a short time.

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shortly

adverb
1. in a short time; soon.
2. in a few words; briefly.
3. abruptly, sharply, or curtly.

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short-range

adjective
1. able to be used or be effective only over short distances.
2. of or over a short period of future time.

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shorts

plural noun
1. short trousers that reach only to the knees or thighs.
2. N. Amer. men's underpants.

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short shrift

noun
rapid and unsympathetic dismissal; curt treatment.

ORIGIN: originally in sense «little time allowed for making confession between being condemned and executed or punished».

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short-sighted

adjective
1. having short sight.
2. lacking imagination or foresight.

DERIVATIVES:
short-sightedly adverb
short-sightedness noun.

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short-staffed

adjective
not having enough or the usual number of staff.

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short-tempered

adjective
having a tendency to lose one's temper quickly.

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short wave

noun
1. a radio wave of a wavelength between about 10 and 100 metres (and a frequency of about 3 to 30 megahertz).
2. broadcasting using radio waves of this wavelength.

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shorty (also shortie)

noun (pl. shorties) informal
1. a short person.
2. a short dress, nightdress, or raincoat.

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shot [1]

noun
1. the firing of a gun or cannon.
2. a person with a specified level of ability in shooting: he was an excellent shot.
3. a hit, stroke, or kick of the ball in sports, in particular an attempt to score.
4. informal an attempt to do something.
5. (pl. same) a ball of stone or metal fired from a large gun or cannon.
6. (also lead shot) tiny lead pellets used in a single charge or cartridge in a shotgun.
7. a heavy ball thrown by a shot-putter.
8. a photograph.
9. a film sequence photographed continuously by one camera.
10. the launch of a rocket: a moon shot.
11. informal a small drink of spirits.
12. informal an injection of a drug or vaccine.

IDIOMS -
give it one's best shot informal do the best that one can.
like a shot informal without hesitation.
a shot in the arm informal an encouraging stimulus.

ORIGIN: Old English, from the base of SHOOT.

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shot [2] past and past participle of SHOOT.

adjective
1. (of coloured cloth) woven with different colours, giving a contrasting effect when looked at from different angles.
2. informal ruined or worn out.
3. US & Austral./NZ informal drunk.

IDIOMS -
get (or be) shot of Brit. informal get (or be) rid of.
shot through with suffused with.

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shotgun

noun
a smooth-bore gun for firing small shot at short range.

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shotgun marriage (also shotgun wedding)

noun informal
an enforced or hurried wedding, especially because the bride is pregnant.

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shot put

noun
an athletic contest in which a very heavy round ball is thrown as far as possible.

DERIVATIVES:
shot-putter noun
shot-putting noun.

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should

modal verb (3rd sing. should)
1. used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness.
2. used to indicate what is probable.
3. formal expressing the conditional mood.
4. used in a clause with ‘that’ after a main clause describing feelings.
5. used in a clause with ‘that’ expressing purpose.
6. (in the first person) expressing a polite request or acceptance.
7. (in the first person) expressing a conjecture or hope.
USAGE - Strictly speaking should is used with I and we, as in I should be grateful if you would let me know , while would is used with you, he, she, it, and they, as in you didn't say you would be late ; in practice would is normally used instead of should in reported speech and conditional clauses, such as I said I would be late . In speech the distinction tends to be obscured, through the use of the contracted forms I'd, we'd, etc.
ORIGIN: past of SHALL.

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shoulder

noun
1. the joint between the upper arm or forelimb and the main part of the body.
2. a joint of meat from the upper foreleg and shoulder blade of an animal.
3. a part of something resembling a shoulder, in particular a point at which a steep slope descends from a plateau or highland area.

verb
1. put (something heavy) over one's shoulder or shoulders to carry.
2. take on (a burden or responsibility).
3. push out of one's way with one's shoulder.

IDIOMS -
put one's shoulder to the wheel set to work vigorously.
shoulder arms hold a rifle against the right side of the body, barrel upwards.
shoulder to shoulder side by side or acting together.

DERIVATIVES:
shouldered adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shoulder bag

noun
a bag with a long strap that is hung over the shoulder.

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shoulder blade

noun
either of the large, flat, triangular bones which lie against the ribs in the upper back; the scapula.

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shoulder strap

noun
1. a narrow strip of material going over the shoulder from front to back of a garment.
2. a long strap attached to a bag for carrying it over the shoulder.
3. a strip of cloth from shoulder to collar on a military uniform or coat.

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shouldn't

contraction
should not.

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shout

verb
1. speak or call out very loudly.
2. (shout at) reprimand loudly.
3. (shout down) prevent (someone) from speaking or being heard by shouting.
4. Austral./NZ informal treat (someone) to (something, especially a drink).

noun
1. a loud cry or call.
2. (one's shout) Brit. informal one's turn to buy a round of drinks.

IDIOMS -
all over bar the shouting informal (of a contest) almost finished and therefore virtually decided.
give someone a shout informal call on or get in touch with someone.
in with a shout informal having a good chance.
shout the odds talk loudly and in an opinionated way.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to SHOOT.

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shove

verb
1. push roughly.
2. put somewhere carelessly or roughly.

noun
a strong push.

IDIOMS -
shove off
1. informal go away.
2. push away from the shore in a boat.
shove up informal move oneself to make room for someone.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SHUFFLE.

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shovel

noun
a tool resembling a spade with a broad blade and upturned sides, used for moving coal, earth, snow, etc.

verb (shovelled, shovelling; US shoveled, shoveling)
1. move with a shovel.
2. (shovel down/in) informal eat (food) quickly and in large quantities.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SHOVE.

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show

verb (past part. shown or showed)
1. be, allow, or make visible.
2. exhibit or produce for inspection or viewing.
3. represent or depict in art.
4. display or allow to be perceived (a quality, emotion, or characteristic).
5. demonstrate or prove.
6. treat (someone) with (a specified quality).
7. explain or demonstrate something to.
8. conduct or lead: show them in, please.
9. (also show up) informal arrive for an appointment or at a gathering.
10. N. Amer. finish third or in the first three in a race.

noun
1. a spectacle or display.
2. a play or other stage performance, especially a musical.
3. a light entertainment programme on television or radio.
4. an event or competition involving the public display of animals, plants, or products.
5. informal an undertaking, project, or organization: I run the show.
6. an outward appearance or display of a quality or feeling.
7. (often in phrase for show) an outward display intended to give a false impression.

IDIOMS -
get the show on the road informal begin an undertaking or enterprise.
good (or bad or poor) show! informal, dated used to express approval (or disapproval or dissatisfaction).
on show being exhibited.
show someone a clean pair of heels informal run away from someone extremely f ast.
show someone the door dismiss or eject someone.
show one's hand (or cards) disclose one's plans.
show off
1. boastfully display one's abilities or accomplishments.
2. display (something) that is a source of pride.
show of force a demonstration of the forces at one's command and of one's readiness to use them.
show of hands a vote by the raising of hands.
show oneself (or one's face) allow oneself to be seen; appear in public.
show round point out interesting features in a place or building to.
show one's teeth Brit. use one's power or authority in an aggressive or intimidating way.
show up
1. expose as being bad or faulty.
2. informal embarrass or humiliate.
show willing display a willingness to help.

ORIGIN: Old English, «look at, inspect».

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showbiz

noun informal
show business.

DERIVATIVES:
showbizzy adjective.

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show business

noun
the theatre, films, television, and pop music as a profession or industry.

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showcase

noun
1. a glass case used for displaying articles in a shop or museum.
2. a place or occasion for presenting something to general attention.

verb
exhibit; display.

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showdown

noun
1. a final test or confrontation intended to settle a dispute.
2. (in poker or brag) the requirement at the end of a round that the players should show their cards to determine which is the strongest hand.

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shower

noun
1. a brief and usually light fall of rain or snow.
2. a mass of small things falling or moving at once.
3. a large number of things happening or given at the same time: a shower of awards.
4. a cubicle or bath in which a person stands under a spray of water to wash.
5. an act of washing oneself in a shower.
6. Brit. informal an incompetent or worthless group of people.
7. N. Amer. a party at which presents are given to a woman who is about to get married or have a baby.

verb
1. fall, throw, or be thrown in a shower.
2. (shower on/upon/with) give (a great number of things) to.
3. wash oneself in a shower.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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showery

adjective
characterized by frequent showers of rain.

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showgirl

noun
an actress who sings and dances in musicals, variety acts, etc.

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show house (also show home)

noun Brit.
a house on a newly built estate which is furnished and decorated to be shown to prospective buyers.

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showing

noun
1. a presentation of a cinema film or television programme.
2. a performance of a specified quality: poor opinion poll showings.

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showjumping

noun
the competitive sport of riding horses over a course of fences and other obstacles in an arena.

DERIVATIVES:
showjumper noun.

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showman

noun
1. the manager or presenter of a circus, fair, etc.
2. a person skilled at entertaining, theatrical presentation, or performance.

DERIVATIVES:
showmanship noun.

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show-off

noun informal
a person who boastfully displays their abilities or accomplishments.

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showpiece

noun
1. an outstanding example of its type.
2. an item of work presented for exhibition or display.

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showplace

noun
a place of beauty or interest attracting many visitors.

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showroom

noun
a room used to display cars, furniture, or other goods for sale.

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show-stopper

noun informal
a performance or item receiving prolonged applause.

DERIVATIVES:
show-stopping adjective.

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show trial

noun
a judicial trial held in public with the intention of influencing or satisfying public opinion, rather than of ensuring justice.

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showy

adjective (showier, showiest)
strikingly bright, colourful, or ostentatious.

DERIVATIVES:
showily adverb
showiness noun.

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shrapnel

noun
1. small metal fragments thrown out by the explosion of a shell, bomb, etc.
2. shells designed to burst short of the target and shower it with shrapnel.

ORIGIN: named after the British soldier General Henry Shrapnel (1761 1842), inventor of shrapnel shells.

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shred

noun
1. a strip of material that has been torn, cut, or scraped from something larger.
2. a very small amount: not a shred of evidence.

verb (shredded, shredding)
tear or cut into shreds.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SHROUD.

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shredder

noun
a device for shredding something, especially documents.

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shrew

noun
1. a small insect-eating mammal resembling a mouse, with a long pointed snout and tiny eyes.
2. a bad-tempered or aggressively assertive woman.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shrewd

adjective
having or showing sharp powers of judgement; astute.

DERIVATIVES:
shrewdly adverb
shrewdness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «evil in nature or character»: from SHREW in the obsolete sense «evil person or thing», or as the past participle of obsolete shrew «to curse».

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shrewish

adjective
(of a woman) bad-tempered or nagging.

DERIVATIVES:
shrewishly adverb
shrewishness noun.

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shriek

verb
utter a high-pitched piercing sound, cry, or words.

noun
a high-pitched piercing cry or sound.

DERIVATIVES:
shrieker noun.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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shrike

noun
a predatory songbird with a hooked bill, often impaling its prey on thorns.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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shrill

adjective
1. (of a voice or sound) high-pitched and piercing.
2. derogatory (of a complaint or demand) loud and forceful.

verb
make a shrill noise.

DERIVATIVES:
shrillness noun
shrilly adverb.

ORIGIN: Germanic.

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shrimp

noun
1. (pl. same or shrimps) a small, mainly marine edible crustacean with ten legs.
2. informal, derogatory a small, physically weak person.

verb
fish for shrimps.

DERIVATIVES:
shrimper noun.

ORIGIN: probably related to Low German schrempen 'to wrinkle' .

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shrine

noun
1. a place regarded as holy because of its associations with a divinity or a sacred person.
2. a casket containing sacred relics; a reliquary.
3. a niche or enclosure containing a religious statue or other object.

verb literary
enshrine.

ORIGIN: Old English, «cabinet, chest, reliquary».

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shrink

verb (past shrank; past part. shrunk or (especially as adj. ) shrunken)
1. become or make smaller in size or amount; contract.
2. (of clothes or material) become smaller as a result of being immersed in water.
3. move back or away in fear or disgust.
4. (shrink from) be averse to or unwilling to do.

noun informal
a psychiatrist. [ORIGIN: from headshrinker.]

DERIVATIVES:
shrinkable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shrinkage

noun
1. the process or amount of shrinking.
2. an allowance made for reduction in the takings of a business due to wastage or theft.

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shrinking violet

noun informal
an exaggeratedly shy person.

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shrive

verb (past shrove; past part. shriven) archaic
1. (of a priest) hear the confession of, assign penance to, and absolve (someone).
2. (shrive oneself) present oneself to a priest for confession, penance, and absolution.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to Latin scribere 'write' .

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shrivel

verb (shrivelled, shrivelling; US shriveled, shriveling)
wrinkle and contract through loss of moisture.

ORIGIN: perhaps Scandinavian.

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shroud

noun
1. a length of cloth or an enveloping garment in which a dead person is wrapped for burial.
2. a thing that envelops or obscures.
3. technical a protective casing or cover.
4. (shrouds) a set of ropes forming part of the rigging of a sailing boat and supporting the mast or topmast.

verb
1. wrap or dress in a shroud.
2. cover or envelop so as to conceal from view.

ORIGIN: Old English, «garment, clothing»; related to SHRED.

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Shrove Tuesday

noun
the day before Ash Wednesday, traditionally marked by feasting before the Lenten fast.

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shrub

noun
a woody plant which is smaller than a tree and has several main stems arising at or near the ground.

DERIVATIVES:
shrubby adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shrubbery

noun (pl. shrubberies)
an area in a garden planted with shrubs.

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shrug

verb (shrugged, shrugging)
1. raise (one's shoulders) slightly and momentarily to express doubt, ignorance, or indifference.
2. (shrug off) dismiss as unimportant.

noun
1. an act of shrugging one's shoulders.
2. a woman's close-fitting cardigan or jacket cut short at the front and back so that only the arms and shoulders are covered.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «fidget»: of unknown origin.

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shtum (also schtum)

adjective informal
silent; non-communicative.

ORIGIN: Yiddish, from German stumm.

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shudder

verb
tremble or shake convulsively, especially as a result of fear or repugnance.

noun
an act of shuddering.

DERIVATIVES:
shuddery adjective.

ORIGIN: Dutch schderen.

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shuffle

verb
1. walk by dragging one's feet along or without lifting them fully from the ground.
2. restlessly shift one's position.
3. rearrange (a pack of cards) by sliding them over each other quickly.
4. (shuffle through) sort or look through (a number of things) hurriedly.
5. move (people or things) around into different positions or a different order.
6. (shuffle off/out of) get out of or avoid (a responsibility or obligation).

noun
1. a shuffling movement, walk, or sound.
2. a quick dragging or scraping movement of the feet in dancing.
3. an act of shuffling a pack of cards.
4. a change of order or relative positions; a reshuffle.
5. a facility on a CD player for playing tracks in an arbitrary order.

DERIVATIVES:
shuffler noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Low German schuffeln 'walk clumsily' , also 'deal dishonestly, shuffle (cards)' .

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shufti

noun (pl. shuftis) Brit. informal
a quick look or reconnoitre.

ORIGIN: World War Two military slang: from an Arabic word meaning 'try to see' .

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shun

verb (shunned, shunning)
persistently avoid, ignore, or reject.

ORIGIN: Old English, «abhor, shrink back with fear, seek safety from an enemy».

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shunt

verb
1. slowly push or pull (a railway vehicle or vehicles) so as to make up or remove from a train.
2. push or shove.
3. direct or divert to a less important place or position.

noun
1. an act of shunting.
2. Brit. informal a motor accident, especially a collision of vehicles travelling one close behind the other.
3. an electrical conductor joining two points of a circuit.

ORIGIN: perhaps from SHUN.

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shut

verb (shutting; past and past part. shut)
1. move into position to block an opening.
2. (shut in/out) confine or exclude by closing something such as a door.
3. fold or bring together the sides or parts of.
4. chiefly Brit. make or become unavailable for business or service.

IDIOMS -
be (or get) shut of informal be (or get) rid of.
shut down cease business or operation.
shut off stop flowing or working.
shut out prevent (an opponent) from scoring in a game.
shut up informal stop talking.

ORIGIN: Old English, «put (a bolt) in position to hold fast»; related to SHOOT.

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shutdown

noun
a closure of a factory or instance of turning off a machine or computer.

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shut-eye

noun informal
sleep.

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shutter

noun
1. each of a pair of hinged panels fixed inside or outside a window that can be closed for security or privacy or to keep out the light.
2. a device that opens and closes to expose the film in a camera.
3. the blind enclosing the swell box in an organ, used for controlling the volume of sound.

verb
close the shutters of (a window or building).

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shuttle

noun
1. a form of transport that travels regularly between two places.
2. (in weaving) a bobbin with two pointed ends used for carrying the weft thread across the cloth, between the warp threads.
3. a bobbin carrying the lower thread in a sewing machine.
4. short for SHUTTLECOCK.

verb
1. travel regularly between two or more places.
2. transport in a shuttle.

ORIGIN: Old English, «dart, missile»; related to SHOOT.

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shuttlecock

noun
a light cone-shaped object struck with rackets in the games of badminton and battledore, traditionally of cork with feathers attached.

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shy [1]

adjective (shyer, shyest)
1. nervous or timid in the company of other people.
2. (shy of/about) slow or reluctant to do.
3. (in combination ) having a specified dislike or aversion: camera-shy.
4. (shy of) informal less than; short of.

verb (shies, shied)
1. (especially of a horse) start suddenly aside in fright.
2. (shy from) avoid through nervousness or lack of confidence.

DERIVATIVES:
shyly adverb
shyness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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shy [2]

verb (shies, shied)
throw at a target.

noun (pl. shies)
an act of shying.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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shyster

noun informal
a person, especially a lawyer, who uses unscrupulous methods.

ORIGIN: said to be from Scheuster, the name of a lawyer.

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SI

abbreviation
1. Système International, the international system of units of measurement based on the metre, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, candela, and mole.
2. Law statutory instrument.

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Si

symbol
the chemical element silicon.

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Siamese

noun (pl. same)
1. dated a native of Siam (now Thailand) in SE Asia.
2. (also Siamese cat) a lightly built short-haired breed of cat characterized by slanting blue eyes and pale fur with darker points.

adjective dated
relating to Siam.

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Siamese twins

plural noun
twins that are physically joined at birth, in some cases sharing organs.

ORIGIN: with reference to the Siamese men Chang and Eng (1811 74), who were joined at the waist.

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sibilant

adjective
1. making or characterized by a hissing sound.
2. Phonetics (of a speech sound) sounded with a hissing effect, for example s, sh.

noun Phonetics
a sibilant speech sound.

DERIVATIVES:
sibilance noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin sibilare 'hiss' .

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sibling

noun
each of two or more children or offspring having one or both parents in common; a brother or sister.

ORIGIN: Old English, «relative».

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sibyl

noun
1. (in ancient times) a woman supposedly able to utter the oracles and prophecies of a god.
2. literary a woman able to foretell the future.

DERIVATIVES:
sibylline adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek Sibulla.

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sic

adverb
(after a copied or quoted word that appears odd or wrong) written exactly as it stands in the original.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'so, thus' .

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sick

adjective
1. affected by physical or mental illness.
2. feeling nauseous and wanting to vomit.
3. informal disappointed, embarrassed, or miserable.
4. (sick of) bored by or annoyed with through excessive exposure.
5. informal having abnormal or unnatural tendencies; perverted.
6. informal (of humour) dealing offensively with unpleasant subjects.
7. archaic pining or longing.

noun Brit. informal
vomit.

verb (sick up) Brit. informal
bring up by vomiting.

IDIOMS -
be sick
1. be ill.
2. Brit. vomit.
get sick
1. be ill.
2. N. Amer. vomit.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sickbay

noun
a room or building set aside for sick people, especially on a ship or in a school.

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sickbed

noun
an invalid's bed.

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sicken

verb
1. make disgusted or appalled.
2. become ill.
3. (sicken for) begin to show symptoms of (an illness).
4. (sickening) informal very irritating or annoying.

DERIVATIVES:
sickeningly adverb.

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sickie

noun informal
1. chiefly Brit. a period of sick leave taken when one is not actually ill.
2. another word for SICKO.

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sickle

noun
a short-handled farming tool with a semicircular blade, used for cutting corn, lopping, or trimming.

ORIGIN: Latin secula, from secare 'to cut' .

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sick leave

noun
leave of absence granted because of illness.

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sickly

adjective (sicklier, sickliest)
1. often ill; in poor health.
2. causing, characterized by, or indicative of poor health.
3. (of flavour, colour, etc.) so garish or sweet as to induce nausea.
4. excessively sentimental or mawkish.

DERIVATIVES:
sickliness noun.

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sickness

noun
1. the state of being ill.
2. a particular type of illness or disease.
3. nausea or vomiting.

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sicko

noun (pl. sickos) informal
a mentally ill or perverted person, especially a dangerous one.

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side

noun
1. a position to the left or right of an object, place, or central point.
2. either of the two halves of something regarded as divided by an imaginary central line.
3. an upright or sloping surface of a structure or object that is not the top or bottom and generally not the front or back.
4. each of the flat surfaces of a solid object.
5. each of the lines forming the boundary of a plane rectilinear figure.
6. each of the two surfaces of something flat and thin, e.g. paper.
7. each of the two faces of a record or of the two separate tracks on a cassette tape.
8. a part or region near the edge and away from the middle of something.
9. (before another noun ) subsidiary or less important: a side dish.
10. a person or group opposing another or others in a dispute or contest.
11. a particular aspect: he had a disagreeable side.
12. a person's kinship or line of descent as traced through either their father or mother.
13. a sports team.
14. Brit. informal a television channel.
15. Brit. informal boastful or pretentious manner or attitude.

verb (side with/against)
support or oppose in a conflict or dispute.

IDIOMS -
from side to side
1. alternately left and right from a central point.
2. across the entire width; right across.
no side Rugby the end of a game.
on the side
1. informal in addition to one's regular job.
2. informal secretly, especially as an illicit sexual relationship.
3. N. Amer. served separately from the main dish.
side by side close together and facing the same way.
take sides support one person or cause against another or others.

DERIVATIVES:
sided adjective
sideward adjective & adverb
sidewards adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sidebar

noun
a short note or supplement placed alongside a main article of text.

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sideboard

noun
1. a flat-topped piece of furniture with cupboards and drawers, used for storing crockery, glasses, etc.
2. Brit. a sideburn.

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sidecar

noun
a small, low vehicle attached to the side of a motorcycle for carrying passengers.

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side effect

noun
a secondary, typically undesirable effect of a drug or medical treatment.

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sidekick

noun informal
a person's assistant or junior associate.

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sidelight

noun
1. Brit. a small supplementary light on either side of a motor vehicle's headlights.
2. (sidelights) a ship's navigation lights.
3. a narrow pane of glass alongside a door or larger window.

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sideline

noun
1. an activity done in addition to one's main job.
2. either of the two lines bounding the longer sides of a football field, basketball court, etc.
3. (the sidelines) a position of observing a situation rather than being directly involved in it.

verb
remove or bar from a team, game, or influential position.

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sidelong

adjective & adverb
directed to or from one side; sideways.

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side-on

adjective & adverb
on, from, or towards a side.

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sidereal

adjective
relating to the distant stars or their apparent positions in the sky.

ORIGIN: from Latin sidus 'star' .

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side road

noun
a minor or subsidiary road joining or diverging from a main road.

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side-saddle

adverb
(of a woman rider) sitting with both feet on the same side of the horse.

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sideshow

noun
1. a small show or stall at an exhibition, fair, or circus.
2. a minor but diverting incident or issue.

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side-splitting

adjective informal
extremely amusing.

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sidestep

verb (sidestepped, sidestepping)
1. avoid by stepping sideways.
2. avoid dealing with or discussing.

noun
an instance of sidestepping.

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side street

noun
a minor or subsidiary street.

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sideswipe

noun
1. a passing critical remark.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a glancing blow from or on the side, especially of a motor vehicle.

verb chiefly N. Amer.
strike with a glancing blow.

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sidetrack

verb
1. distract from an immediate or important issue.
2. chiefly N. Amer. direct (a train) into a branch line or siding.

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a railway branch line or siding.

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sidewalk

noun N. Amer.
a pavement.

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sideways

adverb & adjective
1. to, towards, or from the side.
2. unconventional or unorthodox: a sideways look at life.

DERIVATIVES:
sidewise adverb & adjective.

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siding

noun
1. a short track at the side of and opening on to a railway line, where trains are shunted or left.
2. N. Amer. cladding material for the outside of a building.

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sidle

verb
walk in a furtive or stealthy manner, especially sideways or obliquely.

noun
an instance of sidling.

ORIGIN: from obsolete sideling «sidelong».

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SIDS

abbreviation
sudden infant death syndrome.

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siege

noun
1. a military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies, with the aim of compelling those inside to surrender.
2. a similar operation by a police team to compel an armed person to surrender.

IDIOMS -
lay siege to conduct a siege of.
under siege undergoing a siege.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a chair or seat: from Old French sege, from Latin sedes 'seat' .

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siemens

noun Physics
the SI unit of conductance, equal to the reciprocal of one ohm of resistance.

ORIGIN: named after the German-born British engineer Sir Charles William Siemens (1823 83).

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sienna

noun
a kind of earth used as a pigment in painting, normally yellowish-brown (raw sienna) or deep reddish-brown when roasted (burnt sienna).

ORIGIN: from Italian terra di Sienna 'earth of Siena' (an Italian city).

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siesta

noun
an afternoon rest or nap, especially one habitually taken in a hot climate.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from Latin sexta hora 'sixth hour' .

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sieve

noun
a utensil consisting of a wire or plastic mesh held in a frame, used for straining solids from liquids or separating coarser from finer particles.

verb
1. put through a sieve.
2. (sieve through) examine in detail.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sift

verb
1. put (a dry substance) through a sieve so as to remove lumps or large particles.
2. examine thoroughly to isolate what is important or useful.
3. (sift down) (of snow, ash, etc.) descend lightly or sparsely.

noun
an act of sifting.

DERIVATIVES:
sifter noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SIEVE.

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sigh

verb
1. let out a long, deep, audible breath expressing sadness, relief, tiredness, etc.
2. (sigh for) literary yearn for.

noun
an act of sighing, or a sound resembling this.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sight

noun
1. the faculty or power of seeing.
2. the action or fact of seeing someone or something.
3. the area or distance within which someone can see or something can be seen.
4. a thing that one sees or that can be seen.
5. (sights) places of interest to tourists and other visitors.
6. (a sight) informal a person or thing having a ridiculous or unattractive appearance.
7. (also sights) a device on a gun or optical instrument used for assisting in precise aim or observation.

verb
1. manage to see or briefly observe.
2. take aim by looking through the sights of a gun.
3. take a detailed visual measurement with a sight.
4. adjust the sight of (a gun or optical instrument).

IDIOMS -
at first sight at the first glimpse; on the first impression.
catch sight of glimpse for a moment.
in sight
1. visible.
2. close to being achieved or realized.
in (or within) sight of
1. so as to see or be seen from.
2. close to attaining.
in (or within) one's sights
1. visible through the sights of one's gun.
2. within the scope of one's ambitions or expectations.
lose sight of
1. be no longer able to see.
2. fail to consider, be aware of, or remember.
on (or at) sight as soon as someone or something has been seen.
out of sight
1. not visible.
2. informal excellent.
out of sight, out of mind proverb you soon forget people or things that are no longer visible or present.
raise (or lower) one's sights increase (or lower) one's expectations.
set one's sights on hope strongly to achieve or reach.
a sight informal considerably: she is a sight cleverer than Sarah.
a sight for sore eyes informal a person or thing that one is extremely pleased or relieved to see.

DERIVATIVES:
sighter noun
sighting noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sighted

adjective
1. having the ability to see; not blind.
2. having a specified kind of sight: keen-sighted.

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sightless

adjective
unable to see; blind.

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sight-read

verb
read and perform (music) at sight, without preparation.

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sight screen

noun Cricket
a large white screen placed near the boundary in line with the wicket to help the batsman see the ball.

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sightseeing

noun
the activity of visiting places of interest in a particular location.

DERIVATIVES:
sightseer noun.

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sight unseen

adverb
without the opportunity to look at the object in question beforehand.

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sign

noun
1. a thing whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence, occurrence, or advent of something else.
2. a signal, gesture, or notice conveying information or an instruction.
3. a symbol or word used to represent something in algebra, music, or other subjects.
4. Astrology each of the twelve equal sections into which the zodiac is divided.

verb
1. write one's name on (something) for the purposes of identification or authorization.
2. engage for or commit oneself to work by signing a contract.
3. use gestures to convey information or instructions.

IDIOMS -
sign off
1. conclude a letter, broadcast, or other message.
2. authorize (someone) to miss work.
sign on
1. commit oneself to something.
2. Brit. register as unemployed.
3. employ (someone).
sign out sign to indicate that one has borrowed or hired (something).
sign up commit oneself to a course, job, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
signer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin signum 'mark, token' .

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signal [1]

noun
1. a gesture, action, or sound conveying information or an instruction.
2. an indication of a state of affairs.
3. an event or statement that provides the impulse or occasion for something to happen.
4. a light or semaphore on a railway, giving indications to train drivers of whether or not to proceed.

verb (signalled, signalling; US signaled, signaling)
1. transmit a signal.
2. instruct or indicate by means of a signal.

DERIVATIVES:
signaller noun.

ORIGIN: Latin signalis, from signum 'mark, token' .

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signal [2]

adjective
noteworthy; striking.

DERIVATIVES:
signally adverb.

ORIGIN: Italian segnalato 'distinguished' , from segnale 'a signal' .

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signal box

noun Brit.
a building beside a railway track from which signals, points, and other equipment are controlled.

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signalman

noun
1. a railway worker responsible for operating signals and points.
2. a person responsible for sending and receiving naval or military signals.

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signatory

noun (pl. signatories)
a party that has signed an agreement.

ORIGIN: from Latin signatorius 'of sealing' , from signare 'to sign, mark' .

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signature

noun
1. a person's name written in a distinctive way as a form of identification or authorization.
2. the action of signing something.
3. a distinctive product or characteristic by which someone or something can be identified.
4. Music a key signature or time signature.

ORIGIN: Latin signatura 'sign manual' , from signare 'to sign, mark' .

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signature tune

noun chiefly Brit.
a distinctive piece of music associated with a particular programme or performer on television or radio.

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signboard

noun
a board displaying the name or logo of a business or product.

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signet

noun historical
a small seal, especially one set in a ring, used to give authentication to an official document.

ORIGIN: Latin signetum 'small token, seal' .

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signet ring

noun
a ring with letters or a design set into it.

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significance

noun
1. the quality of being significant; importance.
2. the unstated meaning to be found in words or events.

ORIGIN: Latin significantia, from significare 'indicate, portend' .

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significant

adjective
1. extensive or important enough to merit attention.
2. having an unstated meaning; indicative of something.

DERIVATIVES:
significantly adverb.

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significant figure

noun Mathematics
each of the digits of a number that are used to express it to the required degree of accuracy.

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signify

verb (signifies, signfied)
1. be an indication of.
2. be a symbol of; have as meaning.
3. indicate or declare (a feeling or intention).
4. be of importance: the locked door doesn't necessarily signify.

DERIVATIVES:
signification noun.

ORIGIN: Latin significare 'indicate, portend' , from signum 'token' .

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signing

noun
1. Brit. a person who has recently been signed to join a sports team, record company, etc.
2. an event at which an author signs copies of their book to gain publicity and sales.
3. sign language.

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sign language

noun
a system of communication used among and with deaf people, consisting of gestures and signs made by the hands and face.

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signor

noun (pl. signori)
a title or form of address used of or to an Italian-speaking man, corresponding to Mr or sir.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin senior 'older man' .

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signora

noun
a title or form of address used of or to an Italian-speaking married woman, corresponding to Mrs or madam.

ORIGIN: Italian, feminine of SIGNOR.

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signorina

noun
a title or form of address used of or to an Italian-speaking unmarried woman, corresponding to Miss.

ORIGIN: Italian, from SIGNORA.

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signpost

noun
a sign on a post, giving information such as the direction and distance to a nearby town.

verb
1. provide (an area) with a signpost or signposts.
2. chiefly Brit. indicate (a place or feature) with a signpost.

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Sikh

noun
an adherent of Sikhism.

adjective
relating to Sikhs or Sikhism.

ORIGIN: Punjabi, 'disciple' .

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Sikhism

noun
a monotheistic religion founded in Punjab in the 15th century by Guru Nanak.

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silage

noun
green fodder that is compacted and stored in airtight conditions without first being dried, used as animal feed in the winter.

ORIGIN: from Spanish ensilar 'put into a silo' .

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silence

noun
1. complete absence of sound.
2. the fact or state of abstaining from speech.

verb
1. make silent.
2. (silenced) fitted with a silencer.

IDIOMS -
silence is golden proverb it is often wise to say nothing.

ORIGIN: Latin silentium, from silere 'be silent' .

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silencer

noun
a device for reducing the noise emitted by a mechanism, especially a gun or exhaust system.

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silent

adjective
1. not making or accompanied by any sound.
2. not speaking or not spoken aloud.
3. (of a film) without an accompanying soundtrack.
4. (of a letter) written but not pronounced, e.g. b in doubt.
5. not prone to speak much.

DERIVATIVES:
silently adverb.

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silhouette

noun
1. the dark shape and outline of someone or something visible in restricted light against a brighter background.
2. a representation of someone or something showing the shape and outline only.

verb
cast or show as a silhouette.

ORIGIN: named after the French author and politician Étienne de Silhouette (1709 67).

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silica

noun
silicon dioxide, a hard, unreactive, colourless compound which occurs as quartz and in sandstone and many other rocks.

DERIVATIVES:
siliceous adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin silex 'flint' , on the pattern of words such as alumina.

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silicate

noun
a salt or mineral containing silica combined with a base.

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silicon

noun
a grey non-metallic chemical element with semiconducting properties, used in making electronic circuits.

ORIGIN: from Latin silex 'flint' , on the pattern of carbon and boron.

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silicon chip

noun
a microchip.

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silicone

noun
a durable synthetic resin with a structure based on chains of silicon and oxygen atoms with organic side chains.

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silicosis

noun Medicine
lung fibrosis caused by the inhalation of dust containing silica.

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silk

noun
1. a fine, soft lustrous fibre produced by silkworms.
2. thread or fabric made from silk.
3. (silks) garments made from silk, especially as worn by a jockey.
4. Brit. informal a Queen's (or King's) Counsel. [ORIGIN: so named because of the right accorded to wear a gown made of silk.]

IDIOMS -
take silk Brit. become a Queen's (or King's) Counsel.

DERIVATIVES:
silken adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin sericus, from Greek Sres, the name given to the inhabitants of the Far Eastern countries from which silk first came overland to Europe.

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silkworm

noun
a caterpillar of a domesticated silk moth, which spins a silk cocoon that is processed to yield silk fibre.

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silky

adjective (silkier, silkiest)
1. of or resembling silk.
2. suave and smooth.

DERIVATIVES:
silkily adverb
silkiness noun.

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sill (also chiefly Building cill)

noun
1. a shelf or slab of stone, wood, or metal at the foot of a window or doorway.
2. a strong horizontal member at the base of any structure.
3. Geology a sheet of igneous rock intruded between and parallel with existing strata. Compare with DYKE.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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silly

adjective (sillier, silliest)
1. lacking in common sense or judgement; foolish.
2. trivial or frivolous.
3. Cricket denoting fielding positions very close to the batsman: silly mid-on.

noun (pl. sillies) informal
a silly person.

DERIVATIVES:
sillily adverb
silliness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «happy», later «innocent, feeble, ignorant»: from dialect seely, from Germanic.

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silo

noun (pl. silos)
1. a tall tower or pit on a farm, used to store grain.
2. a pit or other airtight structure in which green crops are stored as silage.
3. an underground chamber in which a guided missile is kept ready for firing.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from Greek siros 'corn pit' .

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silt

noun
fine sand, clay, or other material carried by running water and deposited as a sediment.

verb
fill or block with silt.

DERIVATIVES:
siltation noun
silty adjective.

ORIGIN: probably originally denoting a salty deposit; related to SALT.

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Silurian

adjective Geology
referring to the third period of the Palaeozoic era (between the Ordovician and Devonian periods, about 439 to 409 million years ago), a time when the first fish and land plants appeared.

ORIGIN: from Silures, the Latin name of a people of ancient Wales.

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silver

noun
1. a precious greyish-white metallic chemical element.
2. a shiny grey-white colour or appearance like that of silver.
3. coins made from silver or from a metal that resembles silver.
4. silver dishes, containers, or cutlery.
5. household cutlery of any material.

verb
1. coat or plate with silver.
2. provide (mirror glass) with a backing of a silver-coloured material in order to make it reflective.
3. (with reference to hair) turn or cause to turn grey or white.

IDIOMS -
be born with a silver spoon in one's mouth be born into a wealthy family of high social standing.
every cloud has a silver lining proverb every difficult or sad situation has a comforting or more hopeful aspect, even though this may not be immediately apparent.
the silver screen the cinema industry.

DERIVATIVES:
silveriness noun
silvery adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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silver birch

noun
a birch with silver-grey bark.

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silverfish

noun
a small silvery wingless insect that lives in buildings.

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silver jubilee

noun
the twenty-fifth anniversary of a significant event.

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silver medal

noun
a medal made of or coloured silver, customarily awarded for second place in a race or competition.

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silver plate

noun
1. a thin layer of silver applied as a coating to another metal.
2. plates, dishes, etc. made of or plated with silver.

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silverside

noun Brit.
the upper side of a round of beef from the outside of the leg.

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silversmith

noun
a person who makes silver articles.

DERIVATIVES:
silversmithing noun.

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silver wedding

noun
the twenty-fifth anniversary of a wedding.

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silviculture

noun
the growing and cultivation of trees.

DERIVATIVES:
silvicultural adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin silva 'wood' .

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simian

adjective
relating to or resembling apes or monkeys.

noun
an ape or monkey.

ORIGIN: from Latin simia 'ape' , perhaps from Greek simos 'flat-nosed' .

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similar

adjective
1. of the same kind in appearance, character, or quantity, without being identical.
2. (of geometrical figures) having the same angles and proportions, though of different sizes.

DERIVATIVES:
similarity noun
similarly adverb.
USAGE - Use the construction similar to, as in I've had problems similar to yours ; it is not good English to say similar as, as in I've had similar problems as yourself .
ORIGIN: Latin similaris, from similis 'like' .

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simile

noun
a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind (e.g. as solid as a rock).

ORIGIN: Latin, from similis 'like' .

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similitude

noun
the quality or state of being similar.

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simmer

verb
1. stay or cause to stay just below boiling point while bubbling gently.
2. be in a state of suppressed anger or excitement.
3. (simmer down) become calmer and quieter.

noun
a state or temperature just below boiling point.

ORIGIN: from dialect simper in the same sense; perhaps imitative.

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simony

noun chiefly historical
the buying or selling of pardons, benefices, and other ecclesiastical privileges.

ORIGIN: Latin simonia, from Simon Magus in the Bible, in allusion to his offer of money to the Apostles.

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simper

verb
smile in an ingratiating or coy manner.

noun
a smile of this kind.

DERIVATIVES:
simpering adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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simple

adjective (simpler, simplest)
1. easily understood or done.
2. plain and uncomplicated in form, nature, or design.
3. humble and unpretentious.
4. of very low intelligence.
5. composed of a single element; not compound.
6. (in English grammar) denoting a tense formed without an auxiliary.
7. (of interest) payable on the sum loaned only. Compare with COMPOUND.
8. Botany (of a leaf or stem) not divided or branched.
9. (of a lens, microscope, etc.) consisting of a single lens or component.

noun chiefly historical
a medicinal herb, or a medicine made from one.

DERIVATIVES:
simpleness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin simplus.

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simple fracture

noun
a fracture of the bone only, without damage to the surrounding tissues or breaking of the skin.

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simpleton

noun
a foolish or gullible person.

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simplicity

noun
the quality or condition of being simple.

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simplify

verb (simplifies, simplified)
make more simple.

DERIVATIVES:
simplification noun.

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simplistic

adjective
treating complex issues and problems as simpler they really are.

DERIVATIVES:
simplistically adverb.

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simply

adverb
1. in a simple manner.
2. merely; just.
3. absolutely; completely.

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simulacrum

noun (pl. simulacra or simulacrums)
1. an image or representation of someone or something.
2. an unsatisfactory imitation or substitute.

ORIGIN: Latin, from simulare 'copy, represent' .

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simulate

verb
imitate or reproduce the appearance, character, or conditions of.

DERIVATIVES:
simulant noun
simulation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin simulare 'copy, represent' .

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simulator

noun
a machine that simulates the controls and conditions of a real vehicle, process, etc., used for training or testing.

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simulcast

noun
1. a simultaneous transmission of the same programme on radio and television, or on two or more channels.
2. N. Amer. a live transmission of a public celebration or sports event.

verb
broadcast (such a transmission).

ORIGIN: blend of SIMULTANEOUS and BROADCAST.

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simultaneous

adjective
occurring, operating, or done at the same time.

DERIVATIVES:
simultaneity noun
simultaneously adverb
simultaneousness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin simul 'at the same time' .

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simultaneous equations

plural noun
equations involving two or more unknowns that are to have the same values in each equation.

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sin [1]

noun
1. an immoral act considered to violate divine law.
2. an act regarded as a serious offence.

verb (sinned, sinning)
commit a sin.

IDIOMS -
live in sin informal, dated (of an unmarried couple) live together.

DERIVATIVES:
sinless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, probably related to Latin sons 'guilty' .

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sin [2]

abbreviation
sine.

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sin bin

noun informal
1. (in sport) a box or bench to which offending players can be sent as a penalty during a game.
2. Brit. a detention centre for offenders.

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since

preposition
in the period between (the time mentioned) and the time under consideration.

conjunction
1. during or in the time after.
2. for the reason that; because.

adverb
1. from the time mentioned until the present or the time under consideration.
2. ago.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sincere

adjective (sincerer, sincerest)
proceeding from or characterized by genuine feelings; free from deceit.

DERIVATIVES:
sincerely adverb
sincerity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sincerus 'clean, pure' .

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sine

noun Mathematics
(in a right-angled triangle) the ratio of the side opposite a particular acute angle to the hypotenuse.

ORIGIN: Latin sinus 'curve' .

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sinecure

noun
a position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit.

ORIGIN: from Latin sine cura 'without care' .

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sine die

adverb
(with reference to an adjournment) with no appointed date for resumption.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'without a day' .

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sine qua non

noun
a thing that is absolutely essential.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'without which not' .

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sinew

noun
1. a piece of tough fibrous tissue uniting muscle to bone; a tendon or ligament.
2. (sinews) the parts of a structure or system that give it strength or bind it together.

DERIVATIVES:
sinewy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sinful

adjective
1. wicked and immoral.
2. highly reprehensible: a sinful waste.

DERIVATIVES:
sinfully adverb
sinfulness noun.

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sing

verb (past sang; past part. sung)
1. make musical sounds with the voice, especially words with a set tune.
2. perform (a song) in this way.
3. (of a bird) make characteristic melodious whistling and twittering sounds.
4. (sing along) sing in accompaniment to a song or piece of music.
5. make a high-pitched sound.
6. recount or celebrate: they sang his praises.

DERIVATIVES:
singable adjective
singer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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singalong

noun
an informal occasion when people sing together in a group.

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singe

verb (singeing)
1. burn or be burnt lightly or superficially.
2. burn the bristles or down off (the carcass of a pig or fowl) to prepare it for cooking.

noun
a light or superficial burn.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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single

adjective
1. only one; not one of several.
2. designed or suitable for one person.
3. consisting of one part.
4. regarded as distinct from others in a group.
5. even one: not a single mention.
6. not involved in an established romantic or sexual relationship.
7. Brit. (of a ticket) valid for an outward journey only.

noun
1. a single person or thing.
2. a short record or CD with one song on each side.
3. (singles) a game or competition for individual players.
4. Cricket one run.

verb (single out)
choose (someone or something) from a group for special treatment.

DERIVATIVES:
singleness noun
singly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin singulus.

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single-breasted

adjective
(of a jacket or coat) fastened by one row of buttons at the centre of the front.

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single cream

noun Brit.
thin cream with a relatively low fat content.

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single file

noun
a line of people or things arranged one behind another.

adverb
one behind another.

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single-handed

adverb & adjective
1. done without help from others.
2. done or designed to be used with one hand.

DERIVATIVES:
single-handedly adverb.

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single market

noun
an association of countries trading with each other without restrictions or tariffs.

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single-minded

adjective
concentrating purposefully on one particular thing.

DERIVATIVES:
single-mindedly adverb
single-mindedness noun.

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single parent

noun
a person bringing up a child or children without a partner.

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singlet

noun chiefly Brit.
a vest or similar sleeveless garment.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a man's short jacket: from SINGLE (because the garment was unlined).

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singleton

noun
1. a single person or thing of the kind under consideration.
2. informal a person who is not in a long-term relationship.
3. (in card games) a card that is the only one of its suit in a hand.

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sing-song

adjective
(of a person's voice) having a repeated rising and falling rhythm.

noun Brit. informal
an informal gathering for singing.

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singular

adjective
1. exceptionally good or great; remarkable.
2. single; unique.
3. Grammar (of a word or form) denoting or referring to just one person or thing.
4. strange or eccentric.

noun Grammar
the singular form of a word.

DERIVATIVES:
singularly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin singularis, from singulus 'single' .

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singularity

noun (pl. singularities)
1. the state or quality of being singular.
2. Physics a point of infinite density at the centre of a black hole.

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Sinhalese (also Singhalese, Sinhala)

noun (pl. same)
1. a member of an Indian people now forming the majority of the population of Sri Lanka.
2. an Indic language spoken by this people.

adjective
relating to the Sinhalese.

ORIGIN: from Sanskrit, 'Sri Lanka' .

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sinister

adjective
1. suggestive of evil or harm.
2. archaic & Heraldry on or towards the left-hand side and the observer's right of a coat of arms.

DERIVATIVES:
sinisterly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'left' .

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sink

verb (past sank; past part. sunk)
1. become submerged in liquid.
2. (with reference to a ship) go or cause to go to the bottom of the sea.
3. disappear and not be seen or heard of again.
4. drop downwards.
5. lower oneself or drop down gently.
6. (sink in) become fully understood.
7. insert beneath a surface.
8. (sink into) cause (something sharp) to penetrate (a surface).
9. gradually decrease or decline in amount or intensity.
10. pass or fall into a particular state or condition: she sank into sleep.
11. (sink in/into) put (money or energy) into.

IDIOMS -
a sinking feeling an unpleasant bodily sensation caused by apprehension or dismay.
sink or swim fail or succeed by one's own efforts.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sinker

noun
a weight used to sink a fishing line or sounding line.

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sinkhole

noun
a cavity in the ground caused by water erosion and providing a route for surface water to disappear underground.

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sinner

noun
a person who sins.

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Sino-

combining form
Chinese; Chinese and …: Sino-American.

ORIGIN: from Latin Sinae, from Arabic.

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sinology

noun
the study of Chinese language, history, and culture.

DERIVATIVES:
sinologist noun.

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sinuous

adjective
1. having many curves and turns.
2. lithe and supple.

DERIVATIVES:
sinuosity noun
sinuously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin sinuosus, from sinus 'a bend' .

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sinus

noun Anatomy & Zoology
a cavity within a bone or other tissue, especially one in the bones of the face or skull connecting with the nasal cavities.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'a recess, bend' .

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sinusitis

noun Medicine
inflammation of a nasal sinus.

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Sioux

noun (pl. same)
the Dakota people of North America or their language.

ORIGIN: Ojibwa.

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sip

verb (sipped, sipping)
drink (something) by taking small mouthfuls.

noun
a small mouthful of liquid.

DERIVATIVES:
sipper noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from SUP.

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siphon (also syphon)

noun
a tube used to convey liquid upwards from a container and then down to a lower level, the flow being maintained by atmospheric pressure.

verb
1. draw off or convey (liquid) by means of a siphon.
2. draw off (small amounts of money) over a period of time, especially illicitly.

DERIVATIVES:
siphonage noun
siphonic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'pipe' .

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sir (also Sir)

noun
1. a polite or respectful form of address to a man.
2. used to address a man at the beginning of a formal letter.
3. used as a title before the forename of a knight or baronet.

ORIGIN: reduced form of SIRE.

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sire

noun
1. the male parent of an animal.
2. literary a father or other male forebear.
3. archaic a respectful form of address to someone of high social status, especially a king.

verb
be the sire of.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin senior 'older, older man' .

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siren

noun
1. a device that makes a loud prolonged signal or warning sound.
2. Greek Mythology each of a number of women or winged creatures whose singing lured unwary sailors on to rocks.
3. a woman who is considered to be alluring but also dangerous.

ORIGIN: originally denoting an imaginary type of snake: from Greek Seirn.

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sirloin

noun
the choicer part of a loin of beef.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'above the loin' .

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sirocco

noun (pl. siroccos)
a hot wind blowing from North Africa across the Mediterranean to southern Europe.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'east wind' .

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sirup (esp. Brit. syrup)

noun
1. a thick sweet liquid made by dissolving sugar in boiling water, used for preserving fruit.
2. a thick sweet liquid containing medicine or used as a drink.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'beverage' ; related to SHERBET and SHRUB.

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SIS

abbreviation
(in the UK) Secret Intelligence Service.

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sis

noun informal
sister.

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sisal

noun
1. a Mexican agave with large fleshy leaves, cultivated for the fibre it yields.
2. fibre made from the sisal plant, used especially for ropes or matting.

ORIGIN: named after the port of Sisal in Yucatán, Mexico.

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sissy (also cissy) informal

noun (pl. sissies)
a person regarded as feeble or effeminate.

adjective (sissier, sissiest)
feeble or effeminate.

DERIVATIVES:
sissified adjective.

ORIGIN: from SIS.

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sister

noun
1. a woman or girl in relation to other children of her parents.
2. a female friend or associate.
3. (before another noun ) denoting an organization or a place which bears a relationship to another of common origin or allegiance.
4. (often Sister) a member of a religious order of women.
5. (often Sister) Brit. a senior female nurse.

DERIVATIVES:
sisterly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sisterhood

noun
1. the relationship between sisters.
2. a feeling of kinship with and closeness to a group of women or all women.
3. an association or community of women linked by a common interest, religion, or trade.

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sister-in-law

noun (pl. sisters-in-law)
1. the sister of one's wife or husband.
2. the wife of one's brother or brother-in-law.

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Sisyphean

adjective
(of a task) unending.

ORIGIN: from Sisyphus in Greek mythology who was condemned to the eternal task of rolling a large stone to the top of a hill, from which it always rolled down again.

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sit

verb (sitting; past and past part. sat)
1. be or cause to be in a position in which one's weight is supported by one's buttocks and one's back is upright.
2. be or remain in a particular position or state: the fridge was sitting in a pool of water.
3. (of an animal) rest with the hind legs bent and the body close to the ground.
4. (of a parliament, committee, court of law, etc.) be engaged in its business.
5. serve as a member of a council, jury, or other official body.
6. Brit. take (an examination).
7. (of a table or room) have enough seats for.
8. (sit for) pose for (an artist or photographer).

noun
a period of sitting.

IDIOMS -
sit in occupy a place as a form of protest.
sit in for temporarily carry out the duties of.
sit on informal
1. fail to deal with.
2. subdue or suppress.
sit out not take part in.
sit tight informal
1. remain firmly in one's place.
2. refrain from taking action or changing one's mind.
sit up refrain from going to bed until later than usual.

USAGE - It is good English to use the participle sitting rather than sat with the verb ‘to be’: we were sitting there for hours rather than we were sat there for hours .
ORIGIN: Old English.

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sitar

noun
a large, long-necked Indian lute played with a wire pick.

DERIVATIVES:
sitarist noun.

ORIGIN: from the Persian words for 'three' and 'string' .

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sitcom

noun informal
a situation comedy.

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sit-down

adjective
1. (of a meal) eaten sitting at a table.
2. (of a protest) in which demonstrators occupy their workplace or sit down on the ground in a public place.

noun
1. a period of sitting down.
2. a sit-down protest.

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site

noun
1. an area of ground on which something is located.
2. a place where a particular event or activity is occurring or has occurred.

verb
fix or build in a particular place.

ORIGIN: Latin situs 'local position' .

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Sitka

noun
a fast-growing North American spruce tree, cultivated for its strong lightweight wood.

ORIGIN: named after the town of Sitka in Alaska.

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sitter

noun
1. a person who sits, especially for a portrait or examination.
2. (usu. in combination ) a person who looks after children, pets, or a house while the parents or owners are away.
3. informal (in sport) an easy catch or shot.

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sitting

noun
1. a period or spell of sitting.
2. a period of time when a group of people are served a meal.
3. a period of time during which a committee or parliament is engaged in its normal business.

adjective
1. in a seated position.
2. (of an elected representative) currently present or in office.

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sitting duck

noun informal
a person or thing with no protection against attack.

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sitting room

noun chiefly Brit.
a room that is furnished for sitting and relaxing in.

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sitting tenant

noun Brit.
a tenant already in occupation of premises.

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situate

verb
1. place in a particular location or context.
2. (be situated) be in a specified financial or marital position.

ORIGIN: Latin situare 'place' , from situs 'site' .

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situation

noun
1. a set of circumstances in which one finds oneself.
2. the location and surroundings of a place.
3. a job.

IDIOMS -
situations vacant (or wanted) chiefly Brit. jobs currently available (or sought).

DERIVATIVES:
situational adjective.

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situation comedy

noun
a television or radio series in which the same set of characters are involved in amusing situations.

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sit-up

noun
a physical exercise designed to strengthen the abdominal muscles, in which a person sits up from a supine position without using the arms for leverage.

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six

cardinal number
1. one more than five; 6. (Roman numeral: vi or VI.)
2. Cricket a hit that reaches the boundary without first striking the ground, scoring six runs.

IDIOMS -
at sixes and sevens in a state of confusion or disarray.
knock for six Brit. informal utterly surprise.
six feet under informal dead and buried.
six of one and half a dozen of the other a situation in which there is little difference between two alternatives.

DERIVATIVES:
sixfold adjective & adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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six-pack

noun
1. a pack of six cans of beer.
2. informal a set of well-developed abdominal muscles.

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sixpence

noun Brit.
a small coin worth six old pence (21 / 2 p), withdrawn in 1980.

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six-shooter

noun
a revolver with six chambers.

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sixteen

cardinal number
one more than fifteen; 16. (Roman numeral: xvi or XVI.)

DERIVATIVES:
sixteenth ordinal number.

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sixth

ordinal number
1. constituting number six in a sequence; 6th.
2. (a sixth/one sixth) each of six equal parts into which something is or may be divided.
3. chiefly Brit. the sixth form of a school.
4. Music an interval spanning six consecutive notes in a diatonic scale.

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sixth-form college

noun Brit.
a college for pupils in their final years of secondary education, starting at the age of 16.

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sixth sense

noun
a supposed intuitive faculty giving awareness not explicable in terms of normal perception.

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sixty

cardinal number (pl. sixties)
ten more than fifty; 60. (Roman numeral: lx or LX.)

DERIVATIVES:
sixtieth ordinal number.

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size [1]

noun
1. the overall dimensions or extent of something.
2. each of the classes into which articles are divided according to how large they are.

verb
1. alter or sort in terms of size or according to size.
2. (size up) make an assessment of.

IDIOMS -
that's the size of it informal that is the truth about a situation, however unpalatable.
to size to the dimensions wanted.

DERIVATIVES:
sized adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French assise 'ordinance' , or a shortening of ASSIZE.

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size [2]

noun
a gelatinous solution used in glazing paper, stiffening textiles, and preparing plastered walls for decoration.

verb
treat with size.

ORIGIN: perhaps the same word as SIZE.

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sizeable (also sizable)

adjective
fairly large.

DERIVATIVES:
sizeably adverb.

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sizzle

verb
1. (of food) make a hissing sound when frying or roasting.
2. (sizzling) informal very hot or exciting.

noun
an instance or the sound of sizzling.

DERIVATIVES:
sizzler noun.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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sjambok

noun
(in South Africa) a long, stiff whip, originally made of rhinoceros hide.

verb
flog with a sjambok.

ORIGIN: South African Dutch tjambok, from Urdu.

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SK

abbreviation
Saskatchewan.

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ska

noun
a style of fast popular music having a strong offbeat and originating in Jamaica in the 1960s.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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skate [1]

noun
1. an ice skate or roller skate.
2. a wheeled device used to move a heavy or unwieldy object.

verb
1. move on ice skates or roller skates in a gliding fashion.
2. ride on a skateboard.
3. (skate over/round/around) pass over or refer only fleetingly to (a subject or problem).
4. (skate through) make quick and easy progress through.

IDIOMS -
get one's skates on Brit. informal hurry up.

DERIVATIVES:
skater noun
skating noun.

ORIGIN: Dutch schaats, from Old French eschasse 'stilt' .

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skate [2]

noun (pl. same or skates)
an edible marine fish with a diamond-shaped body.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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skateboard

noun
a short narrow board with two small wheels fixed to the bottom of either end, on which a person can ride.

verb
ride on a skateboard.

DERIVATIVES:
skateboarder noun.

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skedaddle

verb informal
depart hurriedly.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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skein

noun
1. a length of thread or yarn, loosely coiled and knotted.
2. a flock of wild geese or swans in flight.

ORIGIN: Old French escaigne.

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skeletal

adjective
1. relating to or functioning as a skeleton.
2. existing only in outline or as a framework.
3. very thin; emaciated.

DERIVATIVES:
skeletally adverb.

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skeleton

noun
1. an internal or external framework of bone, cartilage, or other rigid material supporting or containing the body of an animal or plant.
2. a very thin or emaciated person or animal.
3. a supporting framework, basic structure, or essential part.
4. (before another noun ) denoting an essential or minimum number of people or things: a skeleton staff.

IDIOMS -
skeleton in the cupboard a discreditable fact that someone wishes to keep secret.

DERIVATIVES:
skeletonize (also skeletonise) verb.

ORIGIN: Greek, from skeletos 'dried up' .

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skeleton key

noun
a key designed to fit many locks by having the interior of the bit hollowed.

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skeptic (Brit. sceptic)

noun
1. a person inclined to question or doubt accepted opinions.
2. a person who doubts the truth of Christianity and other religions; an atheist.

DERIVATIVES:
skepticism noun.

ORIGIN: Greek skeptikos, from skepsis 'inquiry, doubt' .

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sketch

noun
1. a rough or unfinished drawing or painting.
2. a short humorous play or performance.
3. a brief written or spoken account or description.

verb
1. make a sketch of.
2. give a brief account or general outline of.

DERIVATIVES:
sketcher noun.

ORIGIN: Italian schizzo, from Greek skhedios 'done extempore' .

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sketchbook (also sketch pad)

noun
a pad of drawing paper for sketching on.

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sketchy

adjective (sketchier, sketchiest)
not thorough or detailed.

DERIVATIVES:
sketchily adverb
sketchiness noun.

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skew

adjective
neither parallel nor at right angles to a specified or implied line; askew.

noun
1. an oblique angle; a slant.
2. a bias towards one particular group or subject.

verb
1. suddenly change direction or move at an angle.
2. make biased or distorted.

DERIVATIVES:
skewness noun.

ORIGIN: from Old French eschiver 'eschew' .

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skewbald

adjective
(of a horse) with irregular patches of white and another colour (properly not black).

noun
a skewbald horse.

ORIGIN: from obsolete skewed «skewbald», on the pattern of piebald.

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skewer

noun
a long piece of wood or metal used for holding pieces of food together during cooking.

verb
fasten together or pierce with a pin or skewer.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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skew-whiff

adverb & adjective informal, chiefly Brit.
not straight; askew.

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ski

noun (pl. skis)
1. each of a pair of long, narrow pieces of hard flexible material fastened under the feet for travelling over snow.
2. a similar device attached beneath a vehicle or aircraft.

verb (skis, skied, skiing)
travel over snow on skis.

DERIVATIVES:
skiable adjective
skiing noun.

ORIGIN: Norwegian, from an Old Norse word meaning «snowshoe».

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skid

verb (skidded, skidding)
1. (of a vehicle) slide sideways on slippery ground or as a result of stopping or turning too quickly.
2. slip; slide.

noun
1. an act of skidding.
2. a runner attached to the underside of an aircraft for use when landing on snow or grass.
3. a braking device consisting of a wooden or metal shoe that prevents a wheel from revolving.

IDIOMS -
hit the skids informal begin a rapid decline.
on the skids informal in a bad state; failing.
put the skids under informal hasten the decline or failure of.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to SKI.

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skid row

noun informal, chiefly N. Amer.
a run-down part of a town frequented by vagrants and alcoholics.

ORIGIN: alteration of SKID ROAD.

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skier

noun
a person who skis.

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skiff

noun
a light rowing boat, typically for one person.

ORIGIN: Italian schifo; related to SHIP.

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ski jump

noun
1. a steep slope levelling off before a sharp drop to allow a skier to leap through the air.
2. a leap made from such a slope.

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skilful (also chiefly N. Amer. skillful)

adjective
having or showing skill.

DERIVATIVES:
skilfully adverb
skilfulness noun.

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ski lift

noun
a system used to transport skiers up a slope to the top of a run, typically consisting of moving seats attached to an overhead cable.

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skill

noun
1. the ability to do something well; expertise or dexterity.
2. a particular ability.

verb (usu. as noun skilling)
train (a worker) to do a particular task.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'discernment, knowledge' .

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skilled

adjective
1. having or showing skill.
2. (of work) requiring special abilities or training.

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skillet

noun
1. a frying pan.
2. historical a small metal cooking pot with a long handle.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Latin scutella 'dish, platter' .

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skim

verb (skimmed, skimming)
1. remove (a substance) from the surface of a liquid.
2. move quickly and lightly over or on a surface or through the air.
3. read through quickly, noting only the important points.
4. (skim over) deal with or treat briefly or superficially.
5. throw (a flat stone) so that it bounces several times on the surface of water.

noun
1. a thin layer of a substance on the surface of a liquid.
2. an act of reading something quickly or superficially.

DERIVATIVES:
skimmer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French escumer 'skim' .

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skimmed milk (N. Amer. also skim milk)

noun
milk from which the cream has been removed.

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skimp

verb
expend fewer resources on something than are necessary in an attempt to economize.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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skimpy

adjective (skimpier, skimpiest)
1. providing or consisting of less than is necessary; meagre.
2. (of clothes) short and revealing.

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skin

noun
1. the thin layer of tissue forming the natural outer covering of the body of a person or animal.
2. the skin of a dead animal used as material for clothing or other items.
3. the peel or outer layer of a fruit or vegetable.
4. an outer layer.
5. (before another noun ) informal referring to pornography: the skin trade.
6. Brit. informal a skinhead.

verb (skinned, skinning)
1. remove the skin from.
2. graze (a part of one's body).

IDIOMS -
by the skin of one's teeth by a very narrow margin.
get under someone's skin informal
1. annoy someone intensely.
2. reach or display a deep understanding of someone.
have a thick (or thin) skin be insensitive (or oversensitive) to criticism or insults.
it's no skin off one's nose informal one is not offended or adversely affected.
there's more than one way to skin a cat proverb there's more than one way of achieving one's aim.

DERIVATIVES:
skinless adjective
skinned adjective
skinner noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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skin-deep

adjective
not deep or lasting; superficial.

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skin diving

noun
the action or sport of swimming under water without a diving suit, typically using an aqualung and flippers.

DERIVATIVES:
skin-diver noun.

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skinflint

noun informal
a miser.

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skinful

noun Brit. informal
enough alcoholic drink to make one drunk.

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skinhead

noun
a young person of a subculture characterized by close-cropped hair and heavy boots, often perceived as aggressive and racist.

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skinny

adjective (skinnier, skinniest)
1. (of a person) unattractively thin.
2. (of an article of clothing) tight-fitting.

DERIVATIVES:
skinniness noun.

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skint

adjective Brit. informal
having little or no money available.

ORIGIN: variant of informal skinned, in the same sense.

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skintight

adjective
(of a garment) very close-fitting.

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skip [1]

verb (skipped, skipping)
1. move along lightly, stepping from one foot to the other with a hop or bounce.
2. jump repeatedly over a rope which is held at both ends and turned over the head and under the feet.
3. jump lightly over.
4. omit or move quickly over (a stage or point).
5. fail to attend or deal with; miss.

noun
a skipping movement.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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skip [2]

noun
1. Brit. a large transportable open-topped container for bulky refuse.
2. a cage or bucket in which workers or materials are lowered and raised in mines and quarries.

ORIGIN: variant of SKEP.

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skipper informal

noun
1. the captain of a ship, boat, or aircraft.
2. the captain of a side in a game or sport.

verb
act as captain of.

ORIGIN: Dutch, Low German schipper, from schip 'ship' .

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skirl

noun
a shrill sound, especially that of bagpipes.

verb
(of bagpipes) make such a sound.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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skirmish

noun
an episode of irregular or unpremeditated fighting.

verb
engage in a skirmish.

DERIVATIVES:
skirmisher noun.

ORIGIN: from Old French eskirmir, from a Germanic verb meaning 'defend' .

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skirt

noun
1. a woman's outer garment fastened around the waist and hanging down around the legs.
2. the part of a coat or dress that hangs below the waist.
3. a surface that conceals or protects the wheels or underside of a vehicle or aircraft.
4. an animal's diaphragm and other membranes as food.
5. Brit. a cut of meat from the lower flank of an animal.
6. informal women regarded as objects of sexual desire.

verb (also skirt along/around)
1. go round or past the edge of.
2. avoid dealing with.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'shirt' .

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skirting (also skirting board)

noun Brit.
a wooden board running along the base of an interior wall.

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skit

noun
a short comedy sketch or piece of humorous writing, especially a parody.

ORIGIN: related to archaic skit «move lightly and rapidly».

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skitter

verb
move lightly and quickly or hurriedly.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to SKITE.

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skittish

adjective
1. (of a horse) nervous; inclined to shy.
2. lively and unpredictable; playful.

DERIVATIVES:
skittishly adverb
skittishness noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to SKIT.

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skittle

noun
1. (skittles) (treated as sing. ) a game played with wooden pins set up at the end of an alley to be bowled down with a wooden ball.
2. a pin used in the game of skittles.
3. (also table skittles) a game played with similar pins set up on a board to be knocked down by swinging a suspended ball.

verb
knock over as if in a game of skittles.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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skive Brit. informal

verb
avoid work or a duty; shirk.

noun
an instance of shirking.

DERIVATIVES:
skiver noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from French esquiver 'slink away' .

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skivvy

noun (pl. skivvies)
1. Brit. informal a low-ranking female domestic servant.
2. a person doing menial work.

verb (skivvies, skivvied) informal
do menial household tasks.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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skua

noun
a large predatory seabird which pursues other birds to make them disgorge fish.

ORIGIN: Faroese.

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skulduggery (also skullduggery)

noun
underhand or unscrupulous behaviour; trickery.

ORIGIN: alteration of Scots sculduddery, of unknown origin.

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skulk

verb
hide or move around secretly, typically with a sinister or cowardly motive.

DERIVATIVES:
skulker noun.

ORIGIN: Scandinavian.

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skull

noun
1. a bone framework enclosing the brain of a person or animal.
2. informal a person's head or brain.

IDIOMS -
out of one's skull informal
1. insane.
2. very drunk.
skull and crossbones a representation of a skull with two thigh bones crossed below it as an emblem of piracy or death.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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skullcap

noun
a small close-fitting peakless cap or protective helmet.

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skunk

noun
a black-and-white striped American mammal able to spray foul-smelling irritant liquid at attackers.

ORIGIN: Abnaki (an American Indian language).

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sky

noun (pl. skies)
1. the region of the upper atmosphere seen from the earth.
2. literary heaven; heavenly power.

verb (skies, skied) informal
hit (a ball) high into the air.

IDIOMS -
the sky is the limit there is practically no limit.
to the skies very highly; enthusiastically.

DERIVATIVES:
skyward adjective & adverb
skywards adverb.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'cloud' .

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sky blue

noun
a bright clear blue.

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skydiving

noun
the sport of jumping from an aircraft and performing acrobatic manoeuvres in the air before landing by parachute.

DERIVATIVES:
skydiver noun.

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sky-high

adverb & adjective
1. as if reaching the sky; very high.
2. at or to a very high level.

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skylark

noun
a common lark of open country, noted for its prolonged song given in hovering flight.

verb
play practical jokes or indulge in horseplay.

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skylight

noun
a window set in a roof or ceiling at the same angle.

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skyline

noun
an outline of land and buildings defined against the sky.

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skyrocket

noun
a rocket designed to explode high in the air as a signal or firework.

verb (skyrocketed, skyrocketing) informal
(of a price or amount) increase very rapidly.

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skyscraper

noun
a very tall building of many storeys.

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slab

noun
1. a large, thick, flat piece of solid material, in particular stone, concrete, or heavy food.
2. Brit. a table used for laying a body on in a mortuary.
3. an outer piece of timber sawn from a log.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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slack [1]

adjective
1. not taut or held tightly in position; loose.
2. (of business or trade) not busy; quiet.
3. careless, lazy, or negligent.
4. (of a tide) neither ebbing nor flowing.

noun
1. the part of a rope or line which is not held taut.
2. (slacks) casual trousers.
3. informal a spell of inactivity or laziness.

verb
1. loosen or reduce the intensity or speed of; slacken.
2. (slack off/up) decrease in intensity or speed.
3. Brit. informal work slowly or lazily.

IDIOMS -
cut some slack N. Amer. informal allow (someone) some leeway in conduct.
take (or pick) up the slack
1. improve the use of resources to avoid an undesirable lull in business.
2. pull on the loose part of a rope to make it taut.

DERIVATIVES:
slacken verb
slackly adverb
slackness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «inclined to be lazy, unhurried».

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slack [2]

noun
coal dust or small pieces of coal.

ORIGIN: probably Low German or Dutch.

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slacker

noun informal
1. a person who avoids work or effort.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a young person of a subculture characterized by apathy and aimlessness.

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slag

noun
1. stony waste matter separated from metals during the smelting or refining of ore.
2. Brit. informal, derogatory a promiscuous woman.

verb (slagged, slagging)
1. (usu. as noun slagging) produce deposits of slag.
2. (often slag off) Brit. informal criticize abusively.

ORIGIN: Low German slagge, perhaps from slagen 'strike' , with reference to fragments formed by hammering.

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slag heap

noun
a hill or area of refuse from a mine or industrial site.

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slake

verb
1. satisfy (a desire, thirst, etc.).
2. combine (quicklime) with water to produce calcium hydroxide.

ORIGIN: Old English, «become less eager».

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slaked lime

noun
calcium hydroxide.

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slalom

noun
a skiing, canoeing, or sailing race following a winding course marked out by poles.

verb
move or race in a winding path, avoiding obstacles.

ORIGIN: Norwegian, 'sloping track' .

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slam

verb (slammed, slamming)
1. shut forcefully and loudly.
2. push or put somewhere with great force.
3. (often slam into) crash or strike heavily into.
4. put into action suddenly or forcefully.
5. informal criticize severely.
6. informal, chiefly N. Amer. easily score points against or defeat.

noun
a loud bang caused by the forceful shutting of something.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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slammer

noun
1. informal prison.
2. (also tequila slammer) a cocktail made with tequila and champagne or another fizzy drink, which is covered, slammed on the table, and then drunk in one.

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slander

noun Law
1. the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation. Compare with LIBEL.
2. a false and malicious spoken statement.

verb
make such statements about.

DERIVATIVES:
slanderer noun
slanderous adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French esclandre, from Latin scandalum 'cause of offence' .

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slang

noun
informal language that is more common in speech than in writing and is typically restricted to a particular context or group.

verb informal
attack using abusive language.

DERIVATIVES:
slangy adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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slanging match

noun chiefly Brit.
a prolonged exchange of insults.

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slant

verb
1. diverge from the vertical or horizontal; slope or lean.
2. present or view (information) from a particular angle, especially in a biased or unfair way.

noun
1. a sloping position.
2. a point of view.

adjective
sloping.

DERIVATIVES:
slantwise adjective & adverb.

ORIGIN: Scandinavian.

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slap

verb (slapped, slapping)
1. hit or strike with the palm of one's hand or a flat object.
2. hit against with a slapping sound.
3. (slap down) informal reprimand forcefully.
4. (slap on) apply quickly, carelessly, or forcefully.
5. (slap on) informal impose (a fine or penalty) on.

noun
1. an act or sound of slapping.
2. informal make-up.

adverb (also slap bang) informal
suddenly and directly, especially with great force.

IDIOMS -
slap and tickle Brit. informal physical amorous play.
slap in the face an unexpected rejection or affront.
slap on the back a congratulation or commendation.
slap on the wrist a mild reprimand or punishment.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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slapdash

adjective & adverb
done too hurriedly and carelessly.

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slapper

noun Brit. informal, derogatory
a promiscuous or vulgar woman.

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slapstick

noun
1. comedy based on deliberately clumsy actions and humorously embarrassing events.
2. a device consisting of two flexible pieces of wood joined together at one end, used by clowns and in pantomime to produce a loud slapping sound.

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slap-up

adjective informal, chiefly Brit.
(of a meal) large and sumptuous.

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slash

verb
1. cut with a violent sweeping movement.
2. informal reduce (a price, quantity, etc.) greatly.
3. archaic lash, whip, or thrash severely.

noun
1. a cut made with a wide, sweeping stroke.
2. a bright patch or flash of colour or light.
3. an oblique stroke (/) used between alternatives, in fractions and ratios, or between separate elements of a text.
4. Brit. informal an act of urinating.

DERIVATIVES:
slasher noun.

ORIGIN: Old French esclachier 'break in pieces' .

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slat

noun
a thin, narrow piece of wood or other material, especially one of a series which overlap or fit into each other.

DERIVATIVES:
slatted adjective.

ORIGIN: shortening of Old French esclat 'splinter' .

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slate

noun
1. a fine-grained grey, green, or bluish-purple rock easily split into smooth, flat plates, used as roofing material.
2. a plate of slate formerly used in schools for writing on.
3. a bluish-grey colour.
4. a list of candidates for election to a post or office.
5. Brit. a record of a person's debt or credit.
6. a board showing the identifying details of a take of a film, held in front of the camera at the beginning and end of the take.

verb
1. cover (a roof) with slates.
2. Brit. informal criticize severely.
3. chiefly N. Amer. schedule; plan.

ORIGIN: shortening of Old French esclate 'splinter' .

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slather

verb informal
spread or smear thickly or liberally.

IDIOMS -
open slather Austral./NZ informal freedom to act without restriction.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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slattern

noun dated
a dirty, untidy woman.

DERIVATIVES:
slatternly adjective.

ORIGIN: related to dialect slatter «to spill or slop», of unknown origin.

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slaughter

noun
1. the killing of farm animals for food.
2. the killing of a large number of people in a cruel or violent way.
3. informal a thorough defeat.

verb
1. kill (animals) for food.
2. kill (people) in a cruel or violent way.
3. informal defeat (an opponent) thoroughly.

DERIVATIVES:
slaughterer noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'butcher's meat' .

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slaughterhouse

noun
a place where animals are slaughtered for food.

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Slav

noun
a member of a group of peoples in central and eastern Europe speaking Slavic languages.

ORIGIN: Greek Sklabos.

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slave

noun
1. historical a person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them.
2. a person who is excessively dependent upon or controlled by something: a slave to fashion.

verb
work excessively hard.

ORIGIN: Old French esclave, from Latin sclava 'Slavonic captive' : the Slavonic peoples had been reduced to a servile state by conquest in the 9th century.

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slave-driver

noun informal
a person who works others very hard.

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slave labour

noun
labour which is coerced and inadequately rewarded.

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slaver [1]

noun historical
1. a person dealing in or owning slaves.
2. a ship used for transporting slaves.

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slaver [2]

noun
1. saliva running from the mouth.
2. archaic excessive or obsequious flattery.

verb
1. let saliva run from the mouth.
2. (usu. slaver over) show excessive desire.

ORIGIN: probably from Low German.

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slavery

noun
1. the state of being a slave.
2. the practice or system of owning slaves.

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slave trade

noun historical
the procuring, transporting, and selling of human beings, especially African blacks, as slaves.

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Slavic

noun
the branch of the Indo-European language family that includes Russian, Polish, Czech, Bulgarian, and Serbo-Croat.

adjective
relating to this branch of languages or their speakers.

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slavish

adjective
1. showing no attempt at originality.
2. servile or submissive.

DERIVATIVES:
slavishly adverb.

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slay

verb (past slew; past part. slain)
1. archaic or literary kill in a violent way.
2. N. Amer. murder.

DERIVATIVES:
slayer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sleaze informal

noun
1. immoral, sordid, and corrupt behaviour or material.
2. informal, chiefly N. Amer. a sordid, corrupt, or immoral person.

verb
behave in an immoral, corrupt, or sordid way.

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sleazy

adjective (sleazier, sleaziest)
1. sordid, corrupt, or immoral.
2. (of a place) squalid and seedy.

DERIVATIVES:
sleazily adverb
sleaziness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «thin or flimsy»: of unknown origin.

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sled (Brit. sledge)

noun
a vehicle on runners for travelling over snow or ice, either pushed, pulled, or allowed to slide downhill.

verb
ride or carry on a sled.

DERIVATIVES:
sledding noun.

ORIGIN: Low German sledde.

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sledge

noun
1. a vehicle on runners for travelling over snow or ice, either pushed, pulled, or allowed to slide downhill.
2. Brit. a toboggan.

verb
ride or carry on a sledge.

DERIVATIVES:
sledging noun.

ORIGIN: Dutch sleedse.

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sledgehammer

noun
1. a large, heavy hammer used for breaking rocks, driving in posts, etc.
2. (before another noun ) very powerful, forceful, or unsubtle: sledgehammer blows.

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sleek

adjective
1. (of hair or fur) smooth, glossy, and healthy-looking.
2. wealthy and well-groomed in appearance.
3. elegant and streamlined.

verb
make (the hair) sleek by applying pressure or moisture.

DERIVATIVES:
sleekly adverb
sleekness noun.

ORIGIN: variant of SLICK.

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sleep

noun
1. a regularly recurring condition of body and mind in which the nervous system is inactive, the eyes closed, the postural muscles relaxed, and consciousness practically suspended.
2. a gummy secretion found in the corners of the eyes after sleep.

verb (past and past part. slept)
1. be asleep.
2. (sleep off) recover from (something) by going to sleep.
3. (sleep in) remain asleep or in bed later than usual in the morning.
4. provide (a specified number of people) with beds or bedrooms.
5. (sleep with) have sexual intercourse or be involved in a sexual relationship with.
6. (sleep around) have many casual sexual partners.

IDIOMS -
let sleeping dogs lie proverb avoid interfering in a situation that is currently causing no problems but may well do so as a result of such interference.
put to sleep kill (an animal) painlessly.

DERIVATIVES:
sleepless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sleeper

noun
1. a sleeping car or a train carrying sleeping cars.
2. a film, book, play, etc. that suddenly achieves success after initially attracting little attention.
3. Brit. a ring or bar worn in a pierced ear to keep the hole from closing.
4. chiefly Brit. a wooden or concrete beam laid transversely under railway track to support it.

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sleeping bag

noun
a warm lined padded bag to sleep in, especially when camping.

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sleeping car (Brit. also sleeping carriage)

noun
a railway carriage provided with beds or berths.

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sleeping draught

noun Brit. dated
a drink or drug intended to induce sleep.

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sleeping partner

noun Brit.
a partner not sharing in the actual work of a firm.

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sleeping pill

noun
a tablet of a sleep-inducing drug.

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sleeping policeman

noun Brit.
a road hump.

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sleeping sickness

noun
a tropical disease transmitted by the bite of the tsetse fly, marked by extreme lethargy.

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sleepover

noun chiefly N. Amer.
an occasion of spending the night away from home.

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sleepwalk

verb
walk around and sometimes perform other actions while asleep.

DERIVATIVES:
sleepwalker noun.

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sleepy

adjective (sleepier, sleepiest)
1. needing or ready for sleep.
2. (of a place) without much activity.
3. not dynamic or able to respond to change.

DERIVATIVES:
sleepily adverb
sleepiness noun.

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sleet

noun
1. rain containing some ice, or snow melting as it falls.
2. US a thin coating of ice formed by sleet or rain freezing on coming into contact with a cold surface.

verb (it sleets, it is sleeting, etc.)
sleet falls.

DERIVATIVES:
sleety adjective.

ORIGIN: Germanic.

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sleeve

noun
1. the part of a garment that wholly or partly covers a person's arm.
2. a protective paper or cardboard cover for a record.
3. a protective or connecting tube fitting over a rod, spindle, or smaller tube.
4. a windsock.

IDIOMS -
up one's sleeve kept secret and in reserve for use when needed.

DERIVATIVES:
sleeved adjective
sleeveless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sleigh

noun
a sledge drawn by horses or reindeer.

verb
ride on a sleigh.

ORIGIN: Dutch slee; related to SLED.

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sleight

noun literary
the use of dexterity or cunning, especially so as to deceive.

IDIOMS -
sleight of hand
1. manual dexterity, typically in performing conjuring tricks.
2. skilful deception.

ORIGIN: from Old Norse, 'sly' .

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slender

adjective (slenderer, slenderest)
1. gracefully thin.
2. barely sufficient: a slender majority.

DERIVATIVES:
slenderly adverb
slenderness noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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sleuth informal

noun
a detective.

verb
carry out a search or investigation in the manner of a detective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «track»: from Old Norse.

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S level

noun
(in the UK except Scotland) an examination taken together with an A level in the same subject but having a more advanced syllabus.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of Special level or (formerly) Scholarship level.

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slew [1] (also slue)

verb
turn or slide violently or uncontrollably.

noun
a slewing movement.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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slice

noun
1. a thin, broad piece of food cut from a larger portion.
2. a portion or share.
3. a utensil with a broad, flat blade for lifting foods such as cake and fish.
4. (in sports) a sliced stroke or shot.

verb
1. cut into slices.
2. cut with or as if with a sharp implement.
3. (often slice through) move easily and quickly.
4. Golf strike (the ball) so that it curves away to the right (for a left-handed player, the left).
5. (in other sports) propel (the ball) with a glancing contact so that it travels forward spinning.

DERIVATIVES:
slicer noun.

ORIGIN: shortening of Old French esclice 'splinter' .

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slick

adjective
1. done or operating in an impressively smooth and efficient way.
2. glibly assured.
3. (of skin or hair) smooth and glossy.
4. (of a surface) smooth, wet, and slippery.

noun
a smooth patch of oil, especially on the sea.

verb
1. make (hair) flat and slick with water, oil, or cream.
2. (slick up) N. Amer. make smart, tidy, or stylish.

DERIVATIVES:
slickly adverb
slickness noun.

ORIGIN: probably related to an Old Norse word meaning 'smooth' .

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slide

verb (past and past part. slid)
1. move along a smooth surface while maintaining continuous contact with it.
2. move smoothly, quickly, or unobtrusively.
3. change gradually to a worse condition or lower level.

noun
1. a structure with a smooth sloping surface for children to slide down.
2. a smooth stretch of ice or packed snow for sliding or tobogganing on.
3. an act of sliding.
4. a rectangular piece of glass on which an object is mounted or placed for examination under a microscope.
5. a mounted transparency, especially one placed in a projector for viewing on a screen.
6. Brit. a hairslide.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SLED and SLEDGE.

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slide rule

noun
a ruler with a sliding central strip, marked with logarithmic scales and used for making rapid calculations.

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sliding scale

noun
a scale of fees, wages, etc., that varies in accordance with the variation of some standard.

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slight

adjective
1. small in degree; inconsiderable.
2. not profound or substantial.
3. not sturdy and strongly built.

verb
insult (someone) by treating them without proper respect or attention.

noun
an insult.

DERIVATIVES:
slightness noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'smooth' .

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slightly

adverb
1. to a small degree.
2. (of a person's build) in a slender way.

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slim

adjective (slimmer, slimmest)
1. gracefully thin; slenderly built.
2. small in width and long and narrow in shape.
3. very small: a slim chance.

verb (slimmed, slimming)
1. make or become thinner, especially by dieting.
2. reduce (a business) to a smaller size in the interests of efficiency.

DERIVATIVES:
slimmer noun
slimness noun.

ORIGIN: Low German or Dutch.

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slime

noun
an unpleasantly moist, soft, and slippery substance.

verb
cover with slime.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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slimline

adjective
1. slender in design or build.
2. (of food or drink) low in calories.

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slimy

adjective (slimier, slimiest)
1. covered by or having the feel or consistency of slime.
2. informal repulsively obsequious.

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sling

noun
1. a flexible strap, bandage, pouch, etc. used in the form of a loop to support or raise a hanging weight.
2. a simple weapon in the form of a strap or loop, used to hurl stones or other small missiles.
3. Austral./NZ informal a bribe or gratuity.

verb (past and past part. slung)
1. suspend or carry loosely with or as with a sling or strap.
2. informal throw; fling.
3. hurl from a sling or similar weapon.
4. Austral./NZ informal pay a bribe or gratuity.
5. (sling off) Austral./NZ informal mock; make fun.

IDIOMS -
put someone's (or have one's) ass in a sling N. Amer. vulgar slang cause someone to be (or be) in trouble.

DERIVATIVES:
slinger noun.

ORIGIN: probably from Low German.

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slingback

noun
a shoe held in place by a strap around the ankle above the heel.

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slingshot

noun
a hand-held catapult.

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slink

verb (past and past part. slunk)
1. move quietly with gliding steps, in a stealthy or sensuous manner.
2. come or go unobtrusively or furtively.

noun
an act of slinking.

ORIGIN: Old English, «crawl, creep».

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slinky

adjective (slinkier, slinkiest) informal
graceful and sinuous in movement or form.

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slip [1]

verb (slipped, slipping)
1. lose one's balance or footing and slide unintentionally for a short distance.
2. accidentally slide or move out of position or from someone's grasp.
3. fail to grip or make proper contact with a surface.
4. pass gradually to a worse condition.
5. (usu. slip up) make a careless error.
6. move or place quietly, quickly, or stealthily.
7. escape or get loose from.
8. fail to be remembered by.
9. release (the clutch of a motor vehicle) slightly or for a moment.
10. Knitting move (a stitch) to the other needle without knitting it.

noun
1. an act or instance of slipping.
2. a minor or careless mistake.
3. a loose-fitting garment, especially a short petticoat.
4. Cricket a fielding position close behind the batsman on the off side.
5. (usu. slips) a leash that enables a dog to be released quickly.

IDIOMS -
give someone the slip informal evade or escape from someone.
let slip reveal inadvertently in conversation.
slip of the pen (or the tongue) a minor mistake in writing (or speech).
there's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip proverb many things can go wrong between the start of a project and its completion.

DERIVATIVES:
slippage noun.

ORIGIN: probably from Low German slippen.

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slip [2]

noun
1. a small piece of paper for writing on or that gives printed information.
2. a cutting taken from a plant for grafting or planting.

IDIOMS -
a slip of a boy/girl/thing a small, slim young person.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch or Low German slippe 'cut, strip' .

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slip [3]

noun
a creamy mixture of clay, water, and typically a pigment, used for decorating earthenware.

ORIGIN: of obscure origin.

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slip knot

noun
1. a knot that can be undone by a pull.
2. a running knot.

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slip-on

adjective
(of shoes or clothes) having no fastenings and therefore able to be put on and taken off quickly.

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slipped disc

noun
a cartilaginous disc between vertebrae in the spine that is displaced or partly protruding, pressing on nearby nerves and causing back pain or sciatica.

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slipper

noun
1. a comfortable slip-on shoe that is worn indoors.
2. a light slip-on shoe, especially one used for dancing.

DERIVATIVES:
slippered adjective.

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slippery

adjective
1. difficult to hold firmly or stand on through being smooth, wet, or slimy.
2. (of a person) evasive and unpredictable.
3. (of a word or concept) changing in meaning according to context or point of view.

DERIVATIVES:
slipperiness noun.

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slippery slope

noun
a course of action likely to lead to something bad.

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slippy

adjective (slippier, slippiest) informal
slippery.

IDIOMS -
look (or be) slippy Brit. dated be quick.

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slip road

noun Brit.
a road entering or leaving a motorway or dual carriageway.

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slipshod

adjective
1. lacking in care, thought, or organization.
2. archaic (of shoes) worn down at the heel.

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slipstream

noun
1. a current of air or water driven back by a revolving propeller or jet engine.
2. the partial vacuum created in the wake of a moving vehicle.
3. an assisting force regarded as drawing something along in its wake.

verb
follow in the slipstream of a vehicle, especially in motor racing.

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slip-up

noun informal
a mistake or blunder.

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slipway

noun
a slope leading into water, used for launching and landing boats and ships or for building and repairing them.

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slit

noun
a long, narrow cut or opening.

verb (slitting; past and past part. slit)
1. make a slit in.
2. (past and past part. slitted) form (one's eyes) into slits.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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slither

verb
1. move smoothly over a surface with a twisting or oscillating motion.
2. slide or slip unsteadily on a loose or slippery surface.

noun
1. a slithering movement.
2. a sliver.

DERIVATIVES:
slithery adjective.

ORIGIN: alteration of dialect slidder; related to SLIDE.

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slitty

adjective (slittier, slittiest) chiefly derogatory
(of the eyes) long and narrow.

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sliver

noun
a small, narrow, sharp piece cut or split off a larger piece.

verb
cut or break into slivers.

ORIGIN: from dialect slive «cleave».

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Sloane (also Sloane Ranger)

noun Brit. informal
a fashionable upper-class young woman.

DERIVATIVES:
Sloaney adjective.

ORIGIN: from Sloane Square, London + Lone Ranger, a fictitious cowboy hero.

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slob informal

noun
a lazy and slovenly person.

verb
behave in a lazy and slovenly manner.

DERIVATIVES:
slobbish adjective
slobby adjective.

ORIGIN: Irish slab 'mud' .

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slobber

verb
1. have saliva dripping copiously from the mouth.
2. (slobber over) show excessive enthusiasm for.

noun
saliva dripping copiously from the mouth.

DERIVATIVES:
slobbery adjective.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch slobberen 'walk through mud' , also 'feed noisily' .

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sloe

noun
1. another term for BLACKTHORN.
2. the small bluish-black fruit of the blackthorn, with a sharp sour taste.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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slog

verb (slogged, slogging)
1. work hard over a period of time.
2. walk or move with difficulty or effort.
3. hit or strike forcefully.
4. (slog it out) fight or compete fiercely.

noun
1. a spell of difficult, tiring work or travelling.
2. a forceful hit or strike.

DERIVATIVES:
slogger noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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slogan

noun
1. a short, memorable phrase used in advertising or associated with a political party or group.
2. historical a Scottish Highland war cry.

ORIGIN: from Scottish Gaelic sluagh 'army' + gairm 'shout' .

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sloop

noun
1. a single-masted sailing boat with a mainsail and jib rigged fore and aft.
2. a small anti-submarine warship used for convoy escort in the Second World War.

ORIGIN: Dutch sloep.

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slop

verb (slopped, slopping)
1. (of a liquid) spill or flow over the edge of a container.
2. apply casually or carelessly.
3. (slop out) (especially in prison) empty the contents of a chamber pot.
4. (slop about/around) chiefly Brit. dress in an untidy or casual manner.
5. chiefly N. Amer. speak or write in a sentimentally gushing manner.

noun
1. (slops) waste water or liquid that has to be emptied by hand.
2. (slops) unappetizing weak, semi-liquid food.
3. chiefly N. Amer. sentimental language or material.

ORIGIN: probably related to SLIP.

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slope

noun
1. a surface of which one end or side is at a higher level than another.
2. a part of the side of a hill or mountain, especially as a place for skiing.

verb
1. be inclined from a horizontal or vertical line; slant up or down.
2. informal move in an idle or aimless manner.
3. (slope off) informal leave unobtrusively, typically in order to evade work or duty.

ORIGIN: from archaic aslope 'in a sloping position' , of uncertain origin.

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sloppy

adjective (sloppier, sloppiest)
1. (of semi-fluid matter) containing too much liquid; watery.
2. careless and unsystematic.
3. (of a garment) casual and loose-fitting.
4. weakly or foolishly sentimental.

DERIVATIVES:
sloppily adverb
sloppiness noun.

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slosh

verb
1. (of liquid in a container) move irregularly with a splashing sound.
2. move through liquid with a splashing sound.
3. pour (liquid) clumsily.
4. Brit. informal hit hard.

noun
1. an act or sound of splashing.
2. Brit. informal a heavy blow.

ORIGIN: variant of SLUSH.

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sloshed

adjective informal
drunk.

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slot

noun
1. a long, narrow aperture or slit into which something may be fitted or inserted.
2. an allotted place in an arrangement or scheme.

verb (slotted, slotting)
1. place or be placed into a slot.
2. (slot in/into) fit easily into (a new role or situation).

DERIVATIVES:
slotted adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French esclot.

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sloth

noun
1. reluctance to work or make an effort; laziness.
2. a slow-moving tropical American mammal that hangs upside down from branches using its long limbs and hooked claws.

DERIVATIVES:
slothful adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, from SLOW.

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slot machine

noun
a fruit machine or (Brit. ) vending machine.

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slouch

verb
1. stand, move, or sit in a lazy, drooping way.
2. dated bend one side of the brim of (a hat) downwards.

noun
1. a lazy, drooping posture or movement.
2. informal an incompetent person: he was no slouch at making a buck.

DERIVATIVES:
slouchy adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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slouch hat

noun
a hat with a wide flexible brim.

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slough [1]

noun
1. a swamp.
2. a situation characterized by lack of progress or activity.

DERIVATIVES:
sloughy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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slough [2]

verb
(of an animal, especially a snake) cast off or shed (an old skin).

noun
the dropping off of dead tissue from living flesh.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Low German sluwe 'husk, peel' .

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slovenly

adjective
1. untidy and dirty.
2. careless; excessively casual.

DERIVATIVES:
slovenliness noun.

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slow

adjective
1. moving or capable of moving only at a low speed.
2. lasting or taking a long time.
3. (of a clock or watch) showing a time earlier than the correct time.
4. not prompt to understand, think, or learn.
5. uneventful; showing little activity.
6. Photography (of a film) needing long exposure.
7. (of a fire or oven) burning or giving off heat gently.

verb (often slow down/up)
1. reduce one's speed or the speed of a vehicle or process.
2. live or work less actively or intensely.

IDIOMS -
slow but sure not quick but achieving the required result eventually.

DERIVATIVES:
slowly noun
slowness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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slowcoach

noun Brit. informal
a person who acts or moves slowly.

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slow cooker

noun
a large electric pot used for cooking food very slowly.

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slow motion

noun
the action of showing film or video more slowly than it was made or recorded, so that the action appears much slower than in real life.

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slow-worm

noun
a small snake-like legless lizard that gives birth to live young.

ORIGIN: Old English, from an unexplained first element + wyrm «snake».

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slub

noun
1. a lump or thick place in yarn or thread.
2. fabric woven from yarn with such a texture.

adjective
(of fabric) having an irregular appearance caused by uneven thickness of the warp.

DERIVATIVES:
slubbed adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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sludge

noun
1. thick, soft, wet mud or a similar viscous mixture.
2. dirty oil or industrial waste.
3. a muddy shade of brown or green.

DERIVATIVES:
sludgy adjective.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain.

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slug [1]

noun
1. a tough-skinned terrestrial mollusc which lacks a shell and secretes a film of mucus for protection.
2. an amount of alcoholic liquor that is gulped or poured.
3. a bullet.

verb (slugged, slugging)
gulp (something, typically alcohol).

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «a sluggard»: probably Scandinavian.

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slug [2] informal, chiefly N. Amer.

verb (slugged, slugging)
1. strike with a hard blow.
2. (slug it out) settle a dispute or contest by fighting or competing fiercely.

noun
a hard blow.

DERIVATIVES:
slugger noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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sluggard

noun
a lazy, sluggish person.

DERIVATIVES:
sluggardly adjective.

ORIGIN: from rare or obsolete slug «be lazy or slow».

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sluggish

adjective
1. slow-moving or inactive.
2. lacking energy or alertness.

DERIVATIVES:
sluggishly adverb
sluggishness noun.

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slug pellet

noun
a pellet containing a substance poisonous to slugs, placed among growing plants to prevent them being damaged.

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sluice

noun
1. (also sluice gate) a sliding gate or other device for controlling the flow of water.
2. (also sluiceway) an artificial water channel for carrying off overflow or surplus water.
3. an act of rinsing or showering with water.

verb
wash or rinse freely with a stream or shower of water.

ORIGIN: Old French escluse, from Latin excludere 'exclude' .

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slum

noun
1. a squalid and overcrowded urban area inhabited by very poor people.
2. a house or building unfit for human habitation.

verb (slummed, slumming) (often slum it) informal
voluntarily spend time in uncomfortable conditions or at a lower social level than one's own.

DERIVATIVES:
slummer noun
slummy adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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slumber literary

verb
sleep.

noun
a sleep.

DERIVATIVES:
slumberous (also slumbrous) adjective.

ORIGIN: alteration of Scots and northern English sloom, in the same sense.

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slump

verb
1. sit, lean, or fall heavily and limply.
2. fail or decline substantially or over a prolonged period.

noun
1. an instance of slumping.
2. a prolonged period of abnormally low economic activity.

DERIVATIVES:
slumped adjective.

ORIGIN: probably imitative and related to Norwegian slumpe 'to fall' .

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slur

verb (slurred, slurring)
1. speak indistinctly.
2. pass over (a fact or aspect) so as to conceal or minimize it.
3. Music perform (a group of two or more notes) legato.
4. chiefly US make insinuations or allegations about.

noun
1. an insinuation or allegation.
2. an indistinct utterance.
3. Music a curved line indicating that notes are to be slurred.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «thin mud», later «to smear»: of unknown origin.

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slurp

verb
eat or drink with a loud sucking sound.

noun
an act or sound of slurping.

ORIGIN: Dutch slurpen.

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slurry

noun (pl. slurries)
a semi-liquid mixture, especially of fine particles of manure, cement, or coal and water.

ORIGIN: related to dialect slur «thin mud», of unknown origin.

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slush

noun
1. partially melted snow or ice.
2. watery mud.
3. informal excessive sentiment.

verb
make a soft splashing sound.

DERIVATIVES:
slushy adjective.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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slush fund

noun
a reserve of money used for illicit purposes, especially political bribery.

ORIGIN: originally nautical slang denoting money collected to buy luxuries, from the sale of watery food known as slush.

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slut

noun
a slovenly or promiscuous woman.

DERIVATIVES:
sluttish adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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sly

adjective (slyer, slyest)
1. having a cunning and deceitful nature.
2. (of a remark, glance, or expression) insinuating.
3. (of an action) surreptitious.

IDIOMS -
on the sly in a surreptitious fashion.

DERIVATIVES:
slyly (also slily) adverb
slyness noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'cunning' .

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smack [1]

noun
1. a sharp blow given with the palm of the hand.
2. a loud, sharp sound made by such a blow.
3. a loud kiss.

verb
1. hit with a smack.
2. smash, drive, or put forcefully into or on to something.
3. part (one's lips) noisily.

adverb (Brit. also smack bang) informal
1. in a sudden and violent way.
2. (N. Amer. also smack dab) exactly; precisely.

ORIGIN: Dutch smacken.

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smack [2]

verb (smack of)
1. have a flavour or smell of.
2. suggest the presence or effects of.

noun (a smack of)
a flavour, smell, or suggestion of.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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smack [3]

noun
a single-masted sailing boat used for coasting or fishing.

ORIGIN: Dutch smak.

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smack [4]

noun informal
heroin.

ORIGIN: probably an alteration of a Yiddish word meaning 'a sniff' .

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smacker (also smackeroo)

noun informal
1. a loud kiss.
2. Brit. one pound sterling.
3. N. Amer. one dollar.

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small

adjective
1. of less than normal or usual size.
2. not great in amount, number, strength, or power.
3. not fully grown or developed; young.
4. insignificant; unimportant.
5. (of a business or its owner) operating on a modest scale.

noun (smalls) Brit. informal
underwear.

adverb
1. into small pieces.
2. in a small manner or size.

IDIOMS -
feel (or look) small feel (or look) contemptibly weak or insignificant.
small beer chiefly Brit. something unimportant.
the small of the back the part of a person's back where the spine curves in at the level of the waist.
the small screen television as a medium.

DERIVATIVES:
smallness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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small arms

plural noun
portable firearms.

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small change

noun
1. money in the form of coins of low value.
2. something trivial.

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small claims court

noun
a local court in which claims for small sums of money can be heard and decided quickly and cheaply, without legal representation.

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small fry

plural noun
1. young or small fish.
2. young or insignificant people or things.

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smallholding

noun Brit.
an agricultural holding that is smaller than a farm.

DERIVATIVES:
smallholder noun.

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small hours

plural noun (the small hours)
the early hours of the morning after midnight.

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small intestine

noun
the part of the intestine that runs between the stomach and the large intestine.

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small-minded

adjective
having a narrow outlook; petty.

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smallpox

noun
an acute contagious disease spread by a virus, with fever and pustules usually leaving permanent scars.

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small print

noun
1. printed matter in small type.
2. inconspicuous but binding details or conditions printed in an agreement or contract.

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small-scale

adjective
of limited size or extent.

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small talk

noun
polite conversation about trivial or uncontroversial matters.

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small-time

adjective informal
unimportant; minor.

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smarm informal

verb
1. chiefly Brit. behave in an ingratiating way.
2. smooth down (one's hair), especially with oil or gel.

noun
ingratiating behaviour.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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smarmy

adjective
ingratiating and wheedling in an insincere or excessive way.

DERIVATIVES:
smarmily adverb
smarminess noun.

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smart

adjective
1. clean, tidy, and stylish.
2. bright and fresh in appearance.
3. (of a place) fashionable and upmarket.
4. informal having a quick intelligence.
5. chiefly N. Amer. impertinently clever or sarcastic.
6. quick; brisk.

verb
1. give a sharp, stinging pain.
2. feel upset and annoyed.

noun
1. a smarting pain.
2. (smarts) N. Amer. informal intelligence; acumen.

adverb archaic
in a quick or brisk manner.

IDIOMS -
look smart chiefly Brit. be quick.

DERIVATIVES:
smartly adverb
smartness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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smart alec (also smart aleck)

noun informal
a person considered irritating in always having a clever answer to a question.

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smart card

noun
a plastic card with a built-in microprocessor, used for financial transactions and personal identification.

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smarten

verb (usu. smarten up)
make or become smarter.

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smartish

adverb informal, chiefly Brit.
quickly; briskly.

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smash

verb
1. break violently into pieces.
2. hit or collide with forcefully.
3. crash and severely damage (a vehicle).
4. (in sport) strike (the ball) with great force.
5. completely defeat, destroy, or foil.

noun
1. an act, instance, or sound of smashing.
2. (also smash hit) informal a very successful song, film, or show.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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smash-and-grab

adjective
(of a robbery) in which the thief smashes a shop window and seizes goods.

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smasher

noun
1. a person or device that smashes something.
2. Brit. informal a very attractive or impressive person or thing.

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smashing

adjective informal, chiefly Brit.
excellent; wonderful.

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smattering (also smatter)

noun
1. a small amount.
2. a slight knowledge of a language or subject.

ORIGIN: from smatter «talk ignorantly» (now only Scots), of unknown origin.

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smear

verb
1. coat or mark with a greasy or sticky substance.
2. blur or smudge.
3. damage the reputation of (someone) by false accusations.

noun
1. a greasy or sticky mark.
2. a false or unwarranted accusation.
3. a sample thinly spread on a microscopic slide.

DERIVATIVES:
smeary adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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smear test

noun
a test to detect signs of cervical cancer, conducted by taking a cervical smear.

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smell

noun
1. the faculty of perceiving odours by means of the organs in the nose.
2. a quality that is perceived by this faculty; an odour.
3. an act of inhaling in order to perceive an odour.

verb (past and past part. smelt or smelled)
1. perceive the odour of.
2. sniff at (something) in order to ascertain its odour.
3. emit an odour of a specified kind.
4. have a strong or unpleasant odour.
5. detect or suspect by means of instinct or intuition.
6. be suggestive of something: it smells like a hoax to me.

IDIOMS -
smell a rat informal suspect trickery.

DERIVATIVES:
smeller noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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smelling salts

plural noun chiefly historical
ammonium carbonate mixed with perfume, sniffed by someone who feels faint.

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smelly

adjective (smellier, smelliest)
having a strong or unpleasant smell.

DERIVATIVES:
smelliness noun.

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smelt [1]

verb
extract (metal) from its ore by a process involving heating and melting.

DERIVATIVES:
smelter noun.

ORIGIN: Dutch, Low German smelten.

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smelt [3]

noun (pl. same or smelts)
a small silvery fish of both marine and fresh water.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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smidgen (also smidgeon or smidgin)

noun informal
a tiny amount.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Scots smitch in the same sense.

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smile

verb
1. form one's features into a pleased, friendly, or amused expression, with the corners of the mouth turned up.
2. (smile at/on/upon) regard favourably or indulgently.

noun
an act of smiling; a smiling expression.

ORIGIN: perhaps Scandinavian; related to SMIRK.

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smiley

adjective informal
smiling; cheerful.

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smirch

verb
1. make dirty.
2. discredit; taint.

noun
1. a dirty mark or stain.
2. a flaw.

ORIGIN: probably symbolic.

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smirk

verb
smile in an irritatingly smug or silly way.

noun
a smug or silly smile.

DERIVATIVES:
smirker noun
smirky adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SMILE.

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smite

verb (past smote; past part. smitten)
1. archaic or literary strike with a firm blow.
2. archaic or literary defeat or conquer.
3. (be smitten) be affected severely by a disease.
4. (be smitten) be strongly attracted to someone or something.

ORIGIN: Old English, «to smear, blemish».

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smith

noun
1. a worker in metal.
2. a blacksmith.

verb
treat (metal) by heating, hammering, and forging it.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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smithereens

plural noun informal
small pieces.

ORIGIN: probably from Irish smidirín.

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smithy

noun (pl. smithies)
a blacksmith's workshop; a forge.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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smock

noun
1. a loose dress or blouse having the upper part closely gathered in smocking.
2. a loose overall worn to protect one's clothes.

verb
decorate with smocking.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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smocking

noun
decoration on a garment created by gathering a section of the material into tight pleats and holding them together with parallel stitches in an ornamental pattern.

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smog

noun
fog or haze intensified by smoke or other atmospheric pollutants.

DERIVATIVES:
smoggy adjective.

ORIGIN: blend of SMOKE and FOG.

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smoke

noun
1. a visible suspension of carbon or other particles in the air, emitted from a burning substance.
2. an act of smoking tobacco.
3. informal a cigarette or cigar.
4. (the Smoke or the Big Smoke) Brit. a big city, especially London.

verb
1. emit smoke.
2. inhale and exhale the smoke of tobacco or a drug.
3. cure or preserve (meat or fish) by exposure to smoke.
4. treat (glass) so as to darken it.
5. (smoke out) drive out of a place by using smoke.

IDIOMS -
go up in smoke informal
1. be destroyed by fire.
2. (of a plan) come to nothing.
there is no smoke without fire rumours usually have some basis in fact.
smoke and mirrors N. Amer. the use of misleading or irrelevant information to obscure or embellish the truth.

DERIVATIVES:
smokable (also smokeable) adjective
smokeless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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smoke alarm

noun
a device that detects and gives a warning of the presence of smoke.

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smokehouse

noun
a shed or room for smoking fish or meat.

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smokeless zone

noun Brit.
a district in which it is illegal to create smoke and where only smokeless fuel may be used.

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smoker

noun
1. a person who smokes tobacco regularly.
2. a person or device that smokes fish or meat.
3. chiefly N. Amer. an informal social gathering for men.

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smokescreen

noun
1. a cloud of smoke created to conceal military operations.
2. a thing designed to disguise someone's real intentions or activities.

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smoke signal

noun
a column of smoke used to convey a message to a distant person.

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smokestack

noun
a chimney or funnel for discharging smoke from a locomotive, ship, factory, etc.

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smoking gun

noun
a piece of undeniable incriminating evidence.

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smoking jacket

noun
a man's comfortable jacket, formerly worn while smoking after dinner.

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smoky

adjective (smokier, smokiest)
1. producing, filled with, or resembling smoke.
2. having the taste or aroma of smoked food.

DERIVATIVES:
smokily adverb
smokiness noun.

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smolder (esp. Brit. smoulder)

verb
1. burn slowly with smoke but no flame.
2. feel intense and barely suppressed anger, hatred, lust, etc.

noun
an instance of smouldering.

ORIGIN: related to Dutch smeulen.

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smolt

noun
a young salmon or trout after the parr stage, when it becomes silvery and migrates to the sea for the first time.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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smooch informal

verb
1. kiss and cuddle amorously.
2. Brit. dance slowly in a close embrace.

noun
a spell of smooching.

DERIVATIVES:
smoocher noun
smoochy adjective (smoochier, smoochiest) .

ORIGIN: imitative.

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smooth

adjective
1. having an even and regular surface; free from projections or indentations.
2. (of a liquid) having an even consistency; without lumps.
3. (of movement) without jerks.
4. without problems or difficulties.
5. charming in a suave or excessively ingratiating way.
6. (of a flavour) without harshness or bitterness.

verb (also smoothe)
1. make smooth.
2. (often smooth over) deal successfully with (a problem).

DERIVATIVES:
smoothly adverb
smoothness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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smoothie

noun
1. informal a man with a smooth, suave manner.
2. N. Amer. & Austral./NZ a thick, smooth drink of fresh fruit puréed with milk, yogurt, or ice cream.

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smooth-talk

verb informal
address or persuade with persuasively charming or flattering language.

DERIVATIVES:
smooth-talker noun
smooth-talking adjective.

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smooth-tongued

adjective
insincerely flattering.

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smorgasbord

noun
a range of open sandwiches and savoury delicacies served as hors d'oeuvres or a buffet.

ORIGIN: Swedish, from smörgås 'slice of bread and butter' + bord 'table' .

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smother

verb
1. suffocate by covering the nose and mouth.
2. extinguish (a fire) by covering it.
3. (smother in/with) cover entirely with.
4. cause to feel trapped and oppressed.
5. suppress (a feeling or action).

noun
a mass of something that stifles or obscures.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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smoulder (US also smolder)

verb
1. burn slowly with smoke but no flame.
2. feel intense and barely suppressed anger, hatred, lust, etc.

noun
an instance of smouldering.

ORIGIN: related to Dutch smeulen.

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smudge

verb
make or become blurred or smeared.

noun
a smudged mark or image.

DERIVATIVES:
smudgy adjective (smudgier, smudgiest) .

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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smug

adjective (smugger, smuggest)
irritatingly pleased with oneself; self-satisfied.

DERIVATIVES:
smugly adverb
smugness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «neat, spruce»; from Low German smuk 'pretty' .

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smuggle

verb
1. move (goods) illegally into or out of a country.
2. convey secretly and illicitly.

DERIVATIVES:
smuggler noun
smuggling noun.

ORIGIN: Low German smuggelen.

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smut

noun
1. a small flake of soot or dirt.
2. indecent or obscene talk, writing, or pictures.
3. a disease of cereals caused by a fungus, in which parts of the ear change to black powder.

verb (smutted, smutting)
1. mark with smuts.
2. infect with smut.

ORIGIN: related to German schmutzen.

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smutty

adjective
1. indecent or obscene.
2. soiled with or characterized by smut or soot.

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snack

noun
1. a small quantity of food eaten between meals or in place of a meal.
2. Austral. informal a thing that is easy to accomplish.

verb
eat a snack.

ORIGIN: Dutch, from snacken 'to bite' .

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snaffle

noun
a simple bit on a bridle, used with a single set of reins.

verb informal
illicitly take for oneself.

ORIGIN: probably Low German or Dutch.

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snag

noun
1. an unexpected or hidden obstacle or drawback.
2. a sharp, angular, or jagged projection.
3. a small rent or tear.

verb (snagged, snagging)
1. catch or tear on a snag.
2. N. Amer. informal catch; obtain.

DERIVATIVES:
snaggy adjective.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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snaggle

noun
a tangled or knotted mass.

verb
become knotted or tangled.

ORIGIN: from SNAG.

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snaggle-toothed

adjective
having irregular or projecting teeth.

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snail

noun
a slow-moving mollusc with a spiral shell into which the whole body can be withdrawn.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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snail mail

noun informal
the ordinary post as opposed to email.

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snake

noun
1. a predatory reptile with a long slender limbless body, many kinds of which have a venomous bite.
2. (also snake in the grass) a treacherous or deceitful person.

verb
move or extend with the twisting motion of a snake.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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snake charmer

noun
an entertainer who appears to make snakes move by playing music.

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snakes and ladders

plural noun (treated as sing. )
a board game in which players proceed up ladders or fall back down snakes depicted on the board.

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snaky

adjective (snakier, snakiest)
1. long and sinuous like a snake.
2. cold and cunning.
3. Austral./NZ informal angry; irritable.

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snap

verb (snapped, snapping)
1. break with a sharp cracking sound.
2. (of an animal) make a sudden audible bite.
3. open or close with a brisk movement or sharp sound.
4. (snap up) quickly secure (something that is in short supply).
5. suddenly lose one's self-control.
6. say something quickly and irritably.
7. (snap out of) informal get out of (a bad mood) by a sudden effort.
8. take a snapshot of.

noun
1. an act or sound of snapping.
2. a brief spell of cold or otherwise distinctive weather.
3. vigour; liveliness.
4. a snapshot.
5. Brit. a card game in which players compete to call ‘snap’ as soon as two cards of the same type are exposed.
6. a crisp, brittle biscuit.

adjective
done or taken on the spur of the moment: a snap decision.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch or Low German snappen 'seize' .

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snapdragon

noun
a plant bearing spikes of brightly coloured two-lobed flowers which gape like a mouth when a bee lands on the curved lip.

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snapper

noun
a marine fish noted for snapping its toothed jaws.

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snappish

adjective
1. (of a dog) irritable and inclined to bite.
2. (of a person) irritable; curt.

DERIVATIVES:
snappishly adverb
snappishness noun.

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snappy

adjective (snappier, snappiest) informal
1. irritable and sharp.
2. cleverly concise.
3. neat and stylish: a snappy dresser.

IDIOMS -
make it snappy do it quickly.

DERIVATIVES:
snappily adverb.

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snapshot

noun
an informal photograph, taken quickly.

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snare

noun
1. a trap for catching small animals, consisting of a loop of wire or cord that pulls tight.
2. a thing likely to lure someone into harm or error.
3. a length of wire, gut, or hide stretched across a drumhead to produce a rattling sound.
4. (also snare drum) a side drum.

verb
catch in a snare or trap.

ORIGIN: Old Norse; sense 3 is probably from Low German or Dutch, 'harp string' .

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snarl [1]

verb
1. growl with bared teeth.
2. say something aggressively.

noun
an act or sound of snarling.

DERIVATIVES:
snarly adjective.

ORIGIN: Germanic.

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snarl [2]

verb (snarl up)
entangle or become entangled.

noun
a knot or tangle.

ORIGIN: from SNARE.

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snarl-up

noun informal
1. a traffic jam.
2. a muddle.

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snatch

verb
1. seize quickly and deftly.
2. informal steal or kidnap by seizing suddenly.
3. quickly take when the chance presents itself: snatching a few hours' sleep.

noun
1. an act of snatching.
2. a fragment of music or talk.
3. Weightlifting the rapid raising of a weight from the floor to above the head in one movement.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to SNACK.

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snazzy

adjective (snazzier, snazziest) informal
smart; stylish.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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sneak

verb (past and past part. sneaked or informal, chiefly N. Amer. snuck)
1. move, go, or convey in a furtive manner.
2. stealthily acquire or obtain: she sneaked a glance at her watch.
3. Brit. informal inform someone in authority of a person's misdeeds.

noun informal
1. a furtive person.
2. Brit. a telltale.

adjective
acting or done surreptitiously or unofficially: a sneak preview.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to obsolete snike «to creep».

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sneaker

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a soft shoe worn for sports or casual occasions.

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sneaking

adjective
(of a feeling) persistent in one's mind but reluctantly held; nagging.

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sneaky

adjective
furtive or sly.

DERIVATIVES:
sneakily adverb
sneakiness noun.

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sneer

noun
a contemptuous or mocking smile, remark, or tone.

verb
smile or speak in a contemptuous or mocking manner.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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sneeze

verb
make a sudden involuntary expulsion of air from the nose and mouth due to irritation of one's nostrils.

noun
an act or the sound of sneezing.

IDIOMS -
not to be sneezed at informal not to be rejected without careful consideration.

DERIVATIVES:
sneezer noun
sneezy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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snib chiefly Scottish & Irish

noun
1. a lock, latch, or fastening for a door or window.
2. a small catch on a lock which holds the bolt in or out.

verb (snibbed, snibbing)
fasten or lock.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Low German snibbe 'beak-like point' .

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snick

verb
1. cut a small notch or incision in.
2. make or cause to make a clicking sound.

noun
1. a small notch or cut.
2. a sharp click.

ORIGIN: probably from obsolete snick or snee «fight with knives».

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snicker

verb
1. snigger.
2. (of a horse) whinny.

noun
an act or sound of snickering.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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snide

adjective
1. derogatory or mocking in an indirect way.
2. chiefly N. Amer. devious and underhand.
3. informal counterfeit or inferior.

noun
a snide person or remark.

DERIVATIVES:
snidely adverb
snidey adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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sniff

verb
1. draw in air audibly through the nose.
2. (sniff at) show contempt or dislike for: the price is not to be sniffed at.
3. (sniff around/round) informal investigate something secretly.
4. (sniff out) informal discover by secret or hidden investigation.

noun
1. an act or sound of sniffing.
2. informal a hint or sign.
3. informal a slight chance.

DERIVATIVES:
sniffer noun.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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sniffer dog

noun informal
a dog trained to find drugs or explosives by smell.

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sniffle

verb
sniff slightly or repeatedly, typically because of a cold or fit of crying.

noun
1. an act of sniffling.
2. a slight head cold.

DERIVATIVES:
sniffly adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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sniffy

adjective (sniffier, sniffiest) informal
scornful; contemptuous.

DERIVATIVES:
sniffily adverb.

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snifter

noun informal
1. a small quantity of an alcoholic drink.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a balloon glass for brandy.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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snigger

noun
a smothered or half-suppressed laugh.

verb
give such a laugh.

ORIGIN: variant of SNICKER.

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snip

verb (snipped, snipping)
cut with small, quick strokes with scissors or shears.

noun
1. an act of snipping.
2. a small piece that has been cut off.
3. Brit. informal a bargain.
4. informal a thing that is easily achieved.
5. (snips) hand shears for cutting metal.

ORIGIN: from Low German, 'small piece' .

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snipe

noun (pl. same or snipes)
a wading bird with brown camouflaged plumage and a long straight bill.

verb
1. shoot at someone from a hiding place at long range.
2. make a sly or petty verbal attack.

DERIVATIVES:
sniper noun.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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snippet

noun
a small piece or brief extract.

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snitch informal

verb
1. steal.
2. inform on someone.

noun
an informer.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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snivel

verb (snivelled, snivelling; US sniveled, sniveling)
1. cry and sniffle.
2. complain in a whining or tearful way.

noun
a spell of snivelling.

DERIVATIVES:
sniveller noun.

ORIGIN: from Old English, «mucus».

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snob

noun
1. a person who has an exaggerated respect for high social position or wealth and who looks down on those regarded as socially inferior.
2. a person who believes that their tastes in a particular area are superior to others: a wine snob.

DERIVATIVES:
snobbery noun (pl. snobberies)
snobbism noun
snobby adjective (snobbier, snobbiest) .

ORIGIN: originally dialect in the sense «cobbler», later denoting a person lacking high rank or status.

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snobbish

adjective
characteristic of or like a snob.

DERIVATIVES:
snobbishly adverb.

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snog Brit. informal

verb (snogged, snogging)
kiss and caress amorously.

noun
an act or spell of kissing and caressing.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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snood

noun
1. an ornamental hairnet or pouch worn over the hair at the back of a woman's head.
2. a wide ring of knitted material worn as a hood or scarf.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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snook

noun (in phrase cock a snook) informal, chiefly Brit.
1. place one's hand so that the thumb touches one's nose and the fingers are spread out, as a gesture of contempt.
2. openly show contempt or a lack of respect for someone or something.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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snooker

noun
1. a game played with cues on a billiard table, in which the players use a white cue ball to pocket the other balls in a set order.
2. a position in a game of snooker or pool in which a player cannot make a direct shot at any permitted ball.

verb
1. subject to a snooker.
2. (be snookered) informal be ruined or placed in an impossible position.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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snoop informal

verb
investigate or look around furtively in an attempt to find out something.

noun
1. an act of snooping.
2. a person who snoops.

DERIVATIVES:
snooper noun.

ORIGIN: Dutch snœpen 'eat on the sly' .

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snoot

noun informal
1. a person's nose.
2. a snob.

ORIGIN: variant of SNOUT.

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snooty

adjective (snootier, snootiest) informal
showing disapproval of or contempt towards others, especially those considered to be socially inferior.

DERIVATIVES:
snootily adverb
snootiness noun.

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snooze informal

noun
a short, light sleep.

verb
have a snooze.

DERIVATIVES:
snoozer noun
snoozy adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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snore

noun
a snorting or grunting sound in a person's breathing while they are asleep.

verb
make such a sound while asleep.

DERIVATIVES:
snorer noun.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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snorkel

noun
a tube for a swimmer to breathe through while under water.

verb (snorkelled, snorkelling; US snorkeled, snorkeling)
swim using a snorkel.

DERIVATIVES:
snorkeller noun
snorkelling noun.

ORIGIN: German Schnorchel.

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snort

noun
1. an explosive sound made by the sudden forcing of breath through the nose.
2. informal an inhaled dose of cocaine.
3. informal a measure of an alcoholic drink.

verb
1. make a snort, especially to express anger or derision.
2. informal inhale (cocaine).

DERIVATIVES:
snorter noun.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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snot

noun informal
1. nasal mucus.
2. a contemptible person.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch, Low German; related to SNOUT.

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snot-nosed

adjective informal
1. childish and inexperienced.
2. considering oneself superior; snobbish.

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snotty

adjective (snottier, snottiest) informal
1. full of or covered with nasal mucus.
2. having a superior or conceited attitude.

DERIVATIVES:
snottily adverb
snottiness noun.

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snout

noun
1. the projecting nose and mouth of an animal.
2. the projecting front or end of something such as a pistol.
3. Brit. informal tobacco or a cigarette.
4. Brit. informal a police informer.

DERIVATIVES:
snouted adjective.

ORIGIN: Dutch, Low German snt; related to SNOT.

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snow

noun
1. atmospheric water vapour frozen into ice crystals and falling in light white flakes or lying on the ground as a white layer.
2. (snows) falls of snow.
3. a mass of flickering white spots on a television or radar screen, caused by interference or a poor signal.

verb
1. (it snows, it is snowing, etc.) snow falls.
2. (be snowed in/up) be confined or blocked by a large quantity of snow.
3. (be snowed under) be overwhelmed with a large quantity of something, especially work.

DERIVATIVES:
snowless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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snowball

noun
1. a ball of packed snow.
2. a cocktail containing advocaat and lemonade.

verb
1. throw snowballs at.
2. increase rapidly in size, intensity, or importance.

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snowboard

noun
a board resembling a short, broad ski, used for sliding downhill on snow.

DERIVATIVES:
snowboarder noun
snowboarding noun.

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snowbound

adjective
1. prevented from travelling or going out by snow.
2. cut off or inaccessible because of snow.

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snowdrift

noun
a bank of deep snow heaped up by the wind.

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snowdrop

noun
a plant which bears drooping white flowers during the late winter.

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snowfall

noun
1. a fall of snow.
2. the quantity of snow falling within a given area in a given time.

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snowflake

noun
each of the many feathery ice crystals that fall as snow.

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snowman

noun
a representation of a human figure created with compressed snow.

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snowmobile

noun
a motor vehicle, especially one with runners or caterpillar tracks, for travelling over snow.

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snowplough (US snowplow)

noun
1. an implement or vehicle for clearing roads of snow.
2. Skiing an act of turning the points of one's skis inwards in order to slow down or turn.

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snowshoe

noun
a flat device resembling a racket, which is attached to the sole of a boot and used for walking on snow.

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snowstorm

noun
a heavy fall of snow accompanied by a high wind.

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snowy

adjective (snowier, snowiest)
1. covered with snow.
2. (of weather or a period of time) characterized by snowfall.
3. of or like snow, especially in being pure white.

DERIVATIVES:
snowily adverb.

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snowy owl

noun
a large northern owl that breeds mainly in the Arctic tundra, the male being entirely white.

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snub

verb (snubbed, snubbing)
ignore or spurn disdainfully.

noun
an act of snubbing.

adjective
(of a person's nose) short and turned up at the end.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'chide, check the growth of' .

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snuff [1]

verb
1. extinguish (a candle).
2. (snuff out) abruptly put an end to.
3. (snuff it) Brit. informal die.

noun
the charred part of a candle wick.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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snuff [2]

noun
powdered tobacco that is sniffed up the nostril.

verb
inhale or sniff at.

IDIOMS -
up to snuff informal
1. up to the required standard.
2. in good health.

ORIGIN: probably an abbreviation of Dutch snuftabak; the verb is from Dutch snuffen 'to snuffle' .

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snuffer

noun
a small hollow metal cone on the end of a handle, used to extinguish a candle by smothering the flame.

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snuffle

verb
1. breathe noisily through a partially blocked nose.
2. (of an animal) make repeated sniffing sounds.

noun
1. a snuffling sound.
2. (the snuffles) informal a cold.

DERIVATIVES:
snuffly adjective.

ORIGIN: probably from Low German and Dutch snuffelen.

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snug

adjective (snugger, snuggest)
1. warm and cosy.
2. close-fitting.

noun Brit.
a small, cosy public room in a pub or small hotel.

DERIVATIVES:
snugly adverb
snugness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in nautical use in the sense «shipshape, compact, prepared for bad weather»: probably from Low German or Dutch.

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snuggery

noun (pl. snuggeries)
a cosy place, especially someone's private room.

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snuggle

verb
settle into a warm, comfortable position.

ORIGIN: from SNUG.

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so [1]

adverb
1. to such a great extent.
2. extremely; very much.
3. to the same extent: he isn't so bad as you'd think
4. referring back to something previously mentioned.
5. similarly.
6. in the way described or demonstrated; thus.

conjunction
1. and for this reason; therefore.
2. (so that) with the result or aim that.
3. and then.
4. introducing a question or concluding statement.
5. in the same way; correspondingly.

IDIOMS -
and so on (or forth) and similar things; et cetera.
or so approximately.
so be it an expression of acceptance or resignation.
so long! informal goodbye.
so much as even: without so much as a word.
so to speak (or say) indicating that one is talking in an exaggerated or metaphorical way.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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soak

verb
1. make or become thoroughly wet by immersion in liquid.
2. (of a liquid) penetrate or permeate completely.
3. (soak up) absorb (a liquid).
4. (soak up) expose oneself to (something beneficial or enjoyable).
5. (soak oneself in) immerse oneself in (a particular experience).
6. informal impose heavy charges or taxation on.

noun
1. an act or spell of soaking.
2. informal a heavy drinker.
3. Austral. a hollow where rainwater collects.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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so-and-so

noun (pl. so-and-sos) informal
1. a person or thing whose name the speaker does not know, remember, or need to specify.
2. euphemistic a person who is disliked or considered to have an objectionable characteristic (used instead of a vulgar word): a nosy so-and-so.

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soap

noun
1. a substance used with water for washing and cleaning, made of natural oils or fats combined with an alkali, and typically perfumed.
2. informal a soap opera.

verb
wash with soap.

DERIVATIVES:
soapless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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soapbox

noun
1. a box or crate used as a makeshift stand for public speaking.
2. an opportunity for someone to air their views publicly.

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soap opera

noun
a television or radio drama serial dealing with daily events in the lives of the same group of characters.

ORIGIN: so named because such serials were originally sponsored in the US by soap manufacturers.

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soapstone

noun
a soft rock consisting largely of talc.

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soapy

adjective (soapier, soapiest)
1. containing or covered with soap.
2. of or like soap.
3. unpleasantly flattering and ingratiating.
4. informal characteristic of a soap opera.

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soar

verb
1. fly or rise high into the air.
2. maintain height in the air by gliding.
3. increase rapidly above the usual level.

ORIGIN: shortening of Old French essorer, from Latin ex- 'out of' + aura 'breeze' .

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sob

verb (sobbed, sobbing)
1. cry making loud, convulsive gasps.
2. say while sobbing.

noun
an act or sound of sobbing.

ORIGIN: perhaps Dutch or Low German.

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sober

adjective (soberer, soberest)
1. not affected by alcohol; not drunk.
2. serious; thoughtful.
3. (of a colour) not bright or conspicuous.

verb
1. (usu. sober up) make or become sober after drinking alcohol.
2. make or become serious.

DERIVATIVES:
soberly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin sobrius.

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sobriety

noun
the state of being sober.

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sobriquet (also soubriquet)

noun
a person's nickname.

ORIGIN: French, originally in the sense 'a tap under the chin' .

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sob story

noun informal
a story intended to arouse sympathy.

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so-called

adjective
called by the name or term specified (often in the speaker's view, inappropriately).

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soccer

noun
a form of football played with a round ball which may not be handled during play except by the goalkeepers, the object being to score goals by kicking or heading the ball into the opponents' goal.

ORIGIN: shortening of Assoc from ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

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sociable

adjective
1. willing to talk and engage in activities with others.
2. marked by friendliness.

DERIVATIVES:
sociability noun
sociably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin sociabilis, from sociare 'unite' .

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social

adjective
1. relating to society, its organization, or hierarchy.
2. needing companionship; suited to living in communities.
3. relating to or designed for activities in which people meet each other for pleasure.
4. (of birds, insects, or mammals) breeding or living in colonies or organized communities.

noun
an informal social gathering organized by the members of a club or group.

DERIVATIVES:
sociality noun
socially adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin socialis 'allied' , from socius 'friend' .

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social climber

noun derogatory
a person who is anxious to gain a higher social status.

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social contract (also social compact)

noun
an implicit agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for mutual benefit, for example by sacrificing some individual freedom for state protection.

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socialism

noun
a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.

DERIVATIVES:
socialist noun & adjective
socialistic adjective.

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socialite

noun
a person who mixes in fashionable society.

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socialize (also socialise)

verb
1. mix socially with others.
2. make (someone) behave in a way that is acceptable to society.
3. organize according to the principles of socialism.

DERIVATIVES:
socialization noun.

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social science

noun
1. the scientific study of human society and social relationships.
2. a subject within this field, such as economics.

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social security

noun
(in the UK) state financial assistance for people with an inadequate or no income.

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social studies

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the study of human society.

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social work

noun
work carried out by trained personnel with the aim of alleviating the conditions of those people suffering from social deprivation.

DERIVATIVES:
social worker noun.

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society

noun (pl. societies)
1. the aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community.
2. a particular community of people living in a country or region, and having shared customs, laws, and organizations.
3. (also high society) people who are fashionable, wealthy, and influential, regarded as a distinct social group.
4. an organization or club formed for a particular purpose or activity.
5. the situation of being in the company of other people.

DERIVATIVES:
societal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin societas, from socius 'companion' .

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sociolinguistics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the study of language in relation to social factors.

DERIVATIVES:
sociolinguist noun
sociolinguistic adjective.

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sociology

noun
the study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society.

DERIVATIVES:
sociological adjective
sociologist noun.

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sociopath

noun
a person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behaviour.

DERIVATIVES:
sociopathic adjective
sociopathy noun.

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sock

noun
1. a knitted garment for the foot and lower part of the leg.
2. an insole.
3. informal a hard blow.

verb informal
hit forcefully.

IDIOMS -
knock (or blow) someone's socks off informal amaze or impress someone.
knock the socks off informal surpass or beat.
pull one's socks up informal make an effort to improve.
put a sock in it Brit. informal stop talking.
sock it to informal make a forceful impression on.

ORIGIN: Greek sukkhos 'comic actor's shoe, light low-heeled slipper' .

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socket

noun
1. a hollow in which something fits or revolves.
2. an electrical device receiving a plug or light bulb to make a connection.

verb (socketed, socketing)
place in or fit with a socket.

ORIGIN: Old French soket 'small ploughshare' .

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sod [1]

noun
1. grass-covered ground; turf.
2. a piece of turf.

IDIOMS -
under the sod dead and buried.

ORIGIN: Dutch or Low German sode.

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sod [2] vulgar slang, chiefly Brit.

noun
1. an unpleasant person.
2. a person of a specified kind.
3. a difficult or problematic thing.

verb (sodded, sodding)
1. used to express anger or annoyance.
2. (sod off) go away.
3. (sodding) used as a general term of contempt.

IDIOMS -
sod all absolutely nothing.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of SODOMITE.

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soda

noun
1. (also soda water) carbonated water (originally made with sodium bicarbonate).
2. N. Amer. a sweet carbonated drink.
3. sodium carbonate.
4. sodium in chemical combination.

ORIGIN: Latin, from an Arabic word meaning 'saltwort' .

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sodden

adjective
1. soaked through.
2. (in combination ) having drunk an excessive amount of an alcoholic drink: whisky-sodden.

DERIVATIVES:
soddenly adverb
soddenness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «boiled»: from SEETHE.

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sodium

noun
a soft silver-white reactive metallic chemical element of which common salt and soda are compounds.

ORIGIN: from SODA.

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sodium bicarbonate

noun
a soluble white powder used chiefly in effervescent drinks and as a raising agent in baking.

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sodium chloride

noun
the chemical name for common salt.

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sodium hydroxide

noun
a strongly alkaline white compound used in many industrial processes; caustic soda.

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sodomite

noun
a person who engages in sodomy.

DERIVATIVES:
sodomitic adjective
sodomitical adjective.

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sodomy

noun
anal intercourse.

DERIVATIVES:
sodomize (also sodomise) verb.

ORIGIN: from Latin peccatum Sodomiticum 'sin of Sodom' (after the Book of Genesis chapter 19, which implies that the men of the town of Sodom in ancient Palestine practised homosexual rape).

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sofa

noun
a long upholstered seat with a back and arms, for two or more people.

ORIGIN: French, from Arabic.

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sofa bed

noun
a sofa that can be converted into a bed.

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soft

adjective
1. easy to mould, cut, compress, or fold.
2. not rough or coarse in texture.
3. quiet and gentle.
4. (of light or colour) pleasingly subtle; not harsh.
5. sympathetic or lenient, especially excessively so.
6. informal (of a job or way of life) requiring little effort.
7. informal foolish.
8. (soft on) informal infatuated with.
9. (of a drink) not alcoholic.
10. (of a drug) not likely to cause addiction.
11. (of water) free from mineral salts.
12. (of a faction within a political party) willing to compromise.
13. (also soft-core) (of pornography) suggestive but not explicit.

IDIOMS -
have a soft spot for be fond of.
a soft (or easy) touch informal a person who is easily persuaded or imposed upon.

DERIVATIVES:
softish adjective
softly adverb
softness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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softball

noun
a modified form of baseball played on a smaller field with a larger, softer ball.

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soft-boiled

adjective
(of an egg) lightly boiled, leaving the yolk soft or liquid.

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soften

verb
1. make or become soft or softer.
2. (often soften up) undermine the resistance of.

DERIVATIVES:
softener noun.

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soft focus

noun
deliberate slight blurring or lack of definition in a photograph or film.

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soft fruit

noun Brit.
a small stoneless fruit, e.g. a strawberry.

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soft furnishings

plural noun Brit.
curtains, chair coverings, and other cloth items used to decorate a room.

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soft-hearted

adjective
kind and compassionate.

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softie (also softy)

noun (pl. softies) informal
a weak or soft-hearted person.

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softly-softly

adjective
cautious and patient.

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soft palate

noun
the fleshy, flexible part towards the back of the roof of the mouth.

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soft sell

noun
subtly persuasive selling.

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soft soap

noun
1. a semi-fluid soap.
2. informal persuasive flattery.

verb (soft-soap) informal
use flattery to persuade.

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soft target

noun
a relatively vulnerable person or thing.

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soft-top

noun
a motor vehicle with a roof that can be folded back.

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software

noun
programs and other operating information used by a computer. Compare with HARDWARE.

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softwood

noun
the wood from a conifer as distinguished from that of broadleaved trees.

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soggy

adjective (soggier, soggiest)
very wet and soft.

DERIVATIVES:
soggily adverb
sogginess noun.

ORIGIN: from dialect sog «a swamp».

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soh (also so or sol)

noun Music
the fifth note of a major scale, coming after ‘fah’ and before ‘lah’.

ORIGIN: representing (as an arbitrary name for the note) the first syllable of solve, taken from a Latin hymn.

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soil [1]

noun
1. the upper layer of earth in which plants grow, typically consisting of organic remains, clay, and rock particles.
2. the territory of a particular nation.

DERIVATIVES:
soil-less adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, perhaps from Latin solium 'seat' , by association with solum 'ground' .

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soil [2]

verb
1. make dirty.
2. bring discredit to.

noun
waste matter, especially sewage.

ORIGIN: Old French soiller, from Latin sucula 'little pig' .

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soirée

noun
an evening social gathering, typically in a private house, for conversation or music.

ORIGIN: French, from soir 'evening' .

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sojourn literary

noun
a temporary stay.

verb
stay temporarily.

DERIVATIVES:
sojourner noun.

ORIGIN: from Old French sojourner, from Latin sub- 'under' + diurnum 'day' .

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solace

noun
comfort or consolation in time of distress.

verb
give solace to.

ORIGIN: Old French solas, from Latin solari 'to console' .

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solar

adjective
relating to or determined by the sun or its rays.

ORIGIN: from Latin sol 'sun' .

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solar battery (also solar cell)

noun
a device converting solar radiation into electricity.

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solar eclipse

noun
an eclipse in which the sun is obscured by the moon.

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solarium

noun (pl. solariums or solaria)
1. a room equipped with sunlamps or sunbeds.
2. a room with extensive areas of glass to admit sunlight.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'sundial, place for sunning oneself' .

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solar panel

noun
a panel designed to absorb the sun's rays as a source of energy for generating electricity or heating.

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solar plexus

noun
a complex of ganglia and radiating nerves at the pit of the stomach.

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solar power

noun
power obtained by harnessing the energy of the sun's rays.

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solar system

noun
the sun together with the planets, asteroids, comets, etc. in orbit around it.

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solar year

noun
the time between successive spring or autumn equinoxes, or winter or summer solstices (365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds).

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solder

noun
a low-melting alloy, especially one based on lead and tin, used for joining less fusible metals.

verb
join with solder.

ORIGIN: Old French soudure, from Latin solidare 'fasten together' .

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soldering iron

noun
an electrical tool for melting and applying solder.

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soldier

noun
1. a person who serves in an army.
2. (also common soldier or private soldier) a private in an army.
3. Brit. informal a strip of bread or toast, dipped into a soft-boiled egg.

verb
1. serve as a soldier.
2. (soldier on) informal persevere.

IDIOMS -
soldier of fortune a mercenary.

DERIVATIVES:
soldierly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, from soulde '(soldier's) pay' , from Latin solidus 'solid, solidus' .

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soldiery

noun
1. soldiers collectively.
2. military training or knowledge.

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sole [1]

noun
1. the underside of a person's foot.
2. the section forming the underside of a piece of footwear.
3. the underside of a tool or implement, e.g. a plane.

verb (usu. be soled)
put a new sole on (a shoe).

ORIGIN: Latin solea 'sandal, sill' .

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sole [2]

noun
an edible marine flatfish.

ORIGIN: Latin solea (see SOLE), named from its shape.

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sole [3]

adjective
1. one and only.
2. belonging or restricted to one person or group.

DERIVATIVES:
solely adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin sola, feminine of solus 'alone' .

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solecism

noun
1. a grammatical mistake.
2. an instance of bad manners or incorrect behaviour.

DERIVATIVES:
solecistic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek soloikismos, from soloikos 'speaking incorrectly' .

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solemn

adjective
1. formal and dignified.
2. not cheerful; serious.
3. deeply sincere.

DERIVATIVES:
solemnly adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «associated with religious rites»: from Latin sollemnis 'customary, celebrated at a fixed date' .

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solemnity

noun (pl. solemnities)
1. the state or quality of being solemn.
2. a solemn rite or ceremony.

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solemnize (also solemnise)

verb
1. duly perform (a ceremony, especially that of marriage).
2. mark with a formal ceremony.

DERIVATIVES:
solemnization noun.

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solenoid

noun
a cylindrical coil of wire acting as a magnet when carrying electric current.

DERIVATIVES:
solenoidal adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek sln 'channel, pipe' .

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solicit

verb (solicited, soliciting)
1. ask for or try to obtain (something) from someone.
2. ask for something from.
3. accost someone and offer one's or someone else's services as a prostitute.

DERIVATIVES:
solicitation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sollicitare 'agitate' .

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solicitor

noun
1. Brit. a lawyer qualified to deal with conveyancing, draw up wills, advise clients and instruct barristers, and represent clients in lower courts. Compare with BARRISTER.
2. N. Amer. the chief law officer of a city, town, or government department.

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solicitous

adjective
showing interest or concern about a person's well-being.

DERIVATIVES:
solicitously adverb
solicitousness noun.

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solicitude

noun
care or concern.

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solid

adjective (solider, solidest)
1. firm and stable in shape; not liquid or fluid.
2. strongly built or made.
3. not hollow or having spaces or gaps.
4. consisting of the same substance throughout.
5. (of time) continuous.
6. able to be relied on; dependable or sound.
7. Geometry three-dimensional.

noun
1. a solid substance or object.
2. (solids) food that is not liquid.
3. a three-dimensional body or geometric figure.

DERIVATIVES:
solidity noun
solidly adverb
solidness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin solidus.

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solidarity

noun
unity resulting from common interests, feelings, or sympathies.

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solidify

verb (solidifies, solidified)
make or become hard or solid.

DERIVATIVES:
solidification noun
solidifier noun.

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solid-state

adjective
(of an electronic device) employing solid semiconductors, e.g. transistors, as opposed to valves.

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soliloquy

noun (pl. soliloquies)
an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when alone or regardless of hearers, especially in a play.

DERIVATIVES:
soliloquist noun
soliloquize (also soliloquise) verb.

ORIGIN: from Latin solus 'alone' + loqui 'speak' .

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solitaire

noun
1. a game for one player played by removing pegs from a board one at a time by jumping others over them from adjacent holes, the object being to be left with only one peg.
2. the card game patience.
3. a single diamond or other gem in a piece of jewellery.

ORIGIN: French.

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solitary

adjective
1. done or existing alone.
2. secluded or isolated.
3. single; only.
4. (of a bee, wasp, etc.) not social or colonial.

noun (pl. solitaries)
1. a recluse or hermit.
2. informal solitary confinement.

DERIVATIVES:
solitarily adverb
solitariness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin solitarius, from solus 'alone' .

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solitary confinement

noun
the isolation of a prisoner in a separate cell as a punishment.

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solitude

noun
1. the state of being alone.
2. a lonely or uninhabited place.

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solmization (also solmisation)

noun Music
a system of associating each note of a scale with a particular syllable (typically the sequence doh, ray, me, fah, so, la, te), especially to teach singing.

ORIGIN: French, from sol «soh» + mi (see ME).

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solo

noun (pl. solos)
1. (pl. solos or soli) a piece of music, song, or dance for one performer.
2. an unaccompanied flight by a pilot.
3. (also solo whist) a card game resembling whist in which the players make bids and the highest bidder plays against the others.

adjective & adverb
for or done by one person.

verb (soloes, soloed)
1. perform a solo.
2. fly an aircraft unaccompanied.

ORIGIN: from Latin solus 'alone' .

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soloist

noun
a performer of a solo.

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solstice

noun
each of the two times in the year, respectively at midsummer and midwinter, when the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, marked by the longest and shortest days.

DERIVATIVES:
solstitial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin solstitium, from sol 'sun' + sistere 'stop, be stationary' .

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soluble

adjective
1. (of a substance) able to be dissolved, especially in water.
2. able to be solved.

DERIVATIVES:
solubility noun.

ORIGIN: Latin solubilis, from solvere 'loosen' .

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solute

noun
the minor component in a solution, dissolved in the solvent.

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solution

noun
1. a means of solving a problem.
2. the correct answer to a puzzle.
3. a liquid mixture in which the minor component (the solute) is uniformly distributed within the major component (the solvent).
4. the process of dissolving or the state of being dissolved.

ORIGIN: Latin, from solvere 'loosen' .

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solve

verb
find an answer to, explanation for, or way of dealing with (a problem or mystery).

DERIVATIVES:
solvable adjective
solver noun.

ORIGIN: Latin solvere 'loosen, unfasten' .

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solvent

adjective
1. having assets in excess of liabilities.
2. able to dissolve other substances.

noun
the liquid in which another substance is dissolved to form a solution.

DERIVATIVES:
solvency noun.

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solvent abuse

noun
the use of certain volatile solvents as intoxicants by inhalation, e.g. glue-sniffing.

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Som.

abbreviation
Somerset.

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somatic

adjective
relating to the body, especially as distinct from the mind.

DERIVATIVES:
somatically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek smatikos, from sma 'body' .

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sombre (US also somber)

adjective
1. dark or dull.
2. oppressively solemn or sober.

DERIVATIVES:
sombrely adverb
sombreness noun.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin sub 'under' + umbra 'shade' .

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sombrero

noun (pl. sombreros)
a broad-brimmed felt or straw hat, typically worn in Mexico and the south-western US.

ORIGIN: Spanish.

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some

determiner
1. an unspecified amount or number of.
2. referring to an unknown or unspecified person or thing.
3. (used with a number) approximately.
4. a considerable amount or number of.
5. at least a small amount or number of.
6. expressing admiration.

pronoun
1. an unspecified number or amount of people or things.
2. at least a small number or amount of people or things.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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-some [1]

suffix forming adjectives meaning:
1. productive of: loathsome.
2. characterized by being: wholesome.
3. apt to: tiresome.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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-some [2]

suffix
(forming nouns) denoting a group of a specified number: foursome.

ORIGIN: Old English, «some».

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somebody

pronoun
someone.

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some day (also someday)

adverb
at some time in the future.

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somehow

adverb
1. by one means or another.
2. for an unknown or unspecified reason.

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someone

pronoun
1. an unknown or unspecified person.
2. a person of importance or authority.

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someplace

adverb & pronoun informal, chiefly N. Amer.
somewhere.

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somersault

noun
1. an acrobatic movement in which a person turns head over heels in the air or on the ground and finishes on their feet.
2. a dramatic upset or reversal of policy or opinion.

verb
perform a somersault.

ORIGIN: Old French sombresault, from Latin supra 'above' + saltus 'a leap' .

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something

pronoun
1. an unspecified or unknown thing.
2. an unspecified or unknown amount or degree.

adverb informal
used for emphasis with a following adjective: my back hurts something terrible.

IDIOMS -
quite (or really) something informal something impressive or notable.
something else informal an exceptional person or thing.
something of to some degree.
thirty-something (forty-something, etc.) informal an unspecified age between thirty and forty (forty and fifty, etc.).

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sometime

adverb
at some unspecified or unknown time.

adjective
former.

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sometimes

adverb
occasionally.

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somewhat

adverb
to some extent.

IDIOMS -
somewhat of something of.

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somewhere

adverb
1. in or to an unspecified or unknown place.
2. used to indicate an approximate amount.

pronoun
some unspecified place.

IDIOMS -
get somewhere informal make progress.

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somnambulism

noun
sleepwalking.

DERIVATIVES:
somnambulant adjective
somnambulist noun
somnambulistic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin somnus 'sleep' + ambulare 'to walk' .

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somnolent

adjective
1. sleepy; drowsy.
2. inducing drowsiness.

DERIVATIVES:
somnolence noun
somnolently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin somnolentus, from somnus 'sleep' .

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son

noun
1. a boy or man in relation to his parents.
2. a male descendant.
3. (the Son) (in Christian belief) the second person of the Trinity; Christ.
4. (also my son) used as a form of address for a boy or younger man.

IDIOMS -
son of a bitch (pl. sons of bitches) informal used as a general term of abuse.
son of a gun (pl. sons of guns) informal a jocular way of addressing or referring to someone. [ORIGIN: with reference to the guns carried on ships: said to have been applied originally to babies born at sea to women allowed to accompany their husbands.]
Son of Man Jesus Christ.

DERIVATIVES:
sonship noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sonar

noun
1. a system for the detection of objects under water based on the emission and measured reflection of sound pulses.
2. an apparatus used for this.

ORIGIN: from so(und) na(vigation and) r(anging), on the pattern of radar.

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sonata

noun
a classical composition for an instrumental soloist, often with a piano accompaniment.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'sounded' .

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song

noun
1. a poem or other set of words set to music.
2. singing or vocal music.
3. the musical phrases uttered by some birds, whales, and insects.
4. a poem, especially one in rhymed stanzas.

IDIOMS -
for a song informal very cheaply.
on song Brit. informal performing well.
a song and dance informal a fuss.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SING.

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songbird

noun
a bird with a musical song.

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song cycle

noun
a set of related songs forming a single musical entity.

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songster

noun (fem. songstress)
1. a person who sings.
2. a songbird.

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song thrush

noun
a thrush with a buff spotted breast and a song in which phrases are repeated two or three times.

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songwriter

noun
a writer of songs or the music for them.

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sonic

adjective
relating to or using sound waves.

DERIVATIVES:
sonically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin sonus 'sound' .

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sonic boom

noun
an explosive noise caused by the shock wave from an aircraft or other object travelling faster than the speed of sound.

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son-in-law

noun (pl. sons-in-law)
the husband of one's daughter.

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sonnet

noun
a poem of fourteen lines using any of a number of formal rhyme schemes, in English typically having ten syllables per line.

ORIGIN: Italian sonetto 'little sound' .

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sonny

noun informal
1. a familiar form of address to a young boy.
2. (also Sonny Jim) a humorous or patronizing way of addressing a man.

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sonorous

adjective
1. (of a sound) deep and full.
2. (of speech) using imposing or grandiose language.

DERIVATIVES:
sonority noun
sonorously adverb
sonorousness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin sonor 'sound' .

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soon

adverb
1. in or after a short time.
2. early.
3. used to indicate a preference: I'd just as soon Tim did it.

IDIOMS -
no sooner than at the very moment that.
sooner or later eventually.

DERIVATIVES:
soonish adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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soot

noun
a black powdery or flaky substance produced by the incomplete burning of organic matter.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sooth

noun archaic
truth.

IDIOMS -
in sooth truly.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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soothe

verb
1. gently calm.
2. relieve (pain or discomfort).

DERIVATIVES:
soother noun
soothing adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «verify, show to be true», from SOOTH.

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soothsayer

noun
a person supposed to be able to foresee the future.

DERIVATIVES:
soothsaying noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «person who speaks the truth»: see SOOTH.

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sooty

adjective (sootier, sootiest)
covered with or coloured like soot.

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sop

noun
1. a thing given or done to appease or bribe someone.
2. a piece of bread dipped in gravy, soup, or sauce.

verb (sopped, sopping) (sop up)
soak up (liquid).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sophism

noun
a false argument, especially one used to deceive.

ORIGIN: Greek sophisma 'clever device' , from sophizesthai 'devise, become wise' .

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sophist

noun
a person who uses clever but false arguments.

DERIVATIVES:
sophistic adjective
sophistical adjective.

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sophisticate

verb
1. make more discerning and aware of complex issues through education or experience.
2. make more complex or refined.

noun
a sophisticated person.

DERIVATIVES:
sophistication noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sophisticare 'tamper with' , from sophisticus 'sophistic' .

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sophisticated

adjective
1. (of a machine, system, or technique) highly developed and complex.
2. having or showing worldly experience and taste in matters of culture or fashion.
3. appealing to sophisticated people.

DERIVATIVES:
sophisticatedly adverb.

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sophistry

noun (pl. sophistries)
1. the use of false arguments, especially to deceive.
2. a false argument.

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sophomore

noun N. Amer.
a second-year university or high-school student.

DERIVATIVES:
sophomoric adjective.

ORIGIN: probably from sophum, sophom (obsolete variants of SOPHISM).

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soporific

adjective
inducing drowsiness or sleep.

noun
a soporific drug or other agent.

DERIVATIVES:
soporifically adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin sopor 'sleep' .

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sopping

adjective
wet through.

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soppy

adjective (soppier, soppiest) Brit. informal
1. self-indulgently sentimental.
2. lacking spirit.

DERIVATIVES:
soppily adverb
soppiness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «soaked with water»: from SOP.

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soprano

noun (pl. sopranos)
1. the highest singing voice.
2. (before another noun ) denoting an instrument of a high or the highest pitch in its family: a soprano saxophone.

ORIGIN: Italian, from sopra 'above' .

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sorbet

noun
a water ice.

ORIGIN: French, from an Arabic word meaning 'to drink' ; compare with SHERBET.

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sorcerer

noun (fem. sorceress)
a person believed to practise magic; a wizard.

DERIVATIVES:
sorcerous adjective
sorcery noun.

ORIGIN: Old French sorcier, from Latin sors 'lot' .

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sordid

adjective
1. involving ignoble actions and motives.
2. dirty or squalid.

DERIVATIVES:
sordidly adverb
sordidness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sordidus, from sordere 'be dirty' .

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sore

adjective
1. painful or aching.
2. suffering pain.
3. severe; urgent: in sore need.
4. informal, chiefly N. Amer. upset and angry.

noun
1. a raw or painful place on the body.
2. a source of distress or annoyance.

adverb archaic
extremely; severely: sore afraid.

IDIOMS -
sore point an issue about which someone feels distressed or annoyed.
stand (or stick) out like a sore thumb be quite obviously different.

DERIVATIVES:
soreness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sorely

adverb
extremely; badly.

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sorghum

noun
a cereal native to warm regions, grown for grain and animal feed.

ORIGIN: Italian sorgo, perhaps from a variant of Latin syricum 'Syrian' .

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sorority

noun (pl. sororities) N. Amer.
a society for female students in a university or college.

ORIGIN: from Latin soror 'sister' , on the pattern of fraternity.

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sorrel [1]

noun
an edible plant of the dock family with arrow-shaped leaves and a bitter flavour.

ORIGIN: Old French sorele; related to SOUR.

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sorrel [2]

noun
1. a light reddish-brown colour.
2. a horse with a sorrel coat.

ORIGIN: Old French sorel, from sor 'yellowish' .

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sorrow

noun
1. deep distress caused by loss or disappointment.
2. a cause of sorrow.

verb
feel sorrow.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sorrowful

adjective
1. feeling or showing sorrow.
2. causing sorrow.

DERIVATIVES:
sorrowfully adverb
sorrowfulness noun.

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sorry

adjective (sorrier, sorriest)
1. feeling distress or pity through sympathy with someone else's misfortune.
2. feeling or expressing regret or penitence.
3. in a poor or pitiful state.
4. unpleasant and regrettable: a sorry business.

DERIVATIVES:
sorriness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «pained, distressed»; related to SORE.

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sort

noun
1. a category of people or things with a common feature or features.
2. informal a person with a specified nature: a friendly sort.
3. Computing the arrangement of data in a prescribed sequence.

verb
1. arrange systematically in groups.
2. (often sort out) separate from a mixed group.
3. (sort out) resolve (a problem or difficulty).
4. (sort out) informal deal with (a troublesome person).

IDIOMS -
in some sort to some extent.
it takes all sorts to make a world proverb people vary greatly in character, tastes, and abilities (implying that one should be tolerant of strange behaviour).
of a sort (or of sorts) of a somewhat unusual or inferior kind.
out of sorts slightly unwell or unhappy.
sort of informal to some extent.

DERIVATIVES:
sortable adjective
sorter noun.

ORIGIN: Old French sorte, from Latin sors 'lot, condition' .

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sorted

adjective Brit. informal
1. organized; arranged.
2. emotionally well balanced.

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sortie

noun
1. an attack by troops coming out from a position of defence.
2. an operational flight by a single military aircraft.
3. a short trip.

verb (sorties, sortied, sortieing)
make a sortie.

ORIGIN: French, from sortir 'go out' .

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SOS

noun
1. an international coded signal of extreme distress, used especially by ships at sea.
2. an urgent appeal for help.

ORIGIN: letters chosen as being easily transmitted and recognized in Morse code; by folk etymology an abbreviation of save our souls.

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so-so

adjective
neither very good nor very bad.

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sot

noun
a habitual drunkard.

DERIVATIVES:
sottish adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin sottus 'foolish person' .

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sotto voce

adverb & adjective
in a quiet voice.

ORIGIN: from Italian sotto 'under' + voce 'voice' .

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soufflé

noun
a light, spongy baked dish made by mixing egg yolks and another ingredient such as cheese or fruit with stiffly beaten egg whites.

ORIGIN: French, 'blown' .

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sought after

adjective
much in demand.

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souk (also suq)

noun
an Arab market.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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soul

noun
1. the spiritual element of a person, regarded as immortal.
2. a person's moral or emotional nature.
3. emotional or intellectual energy or integrity.
4. a person regarded as the embodiment of a particular quality.
5. an individual, often of a specified type: poor soul.
6. (also soul music) a kind of music incorporating elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues, popularized by American blacks.

IDIOMS -
lost soul a soul that is damned.
upon my soul dated an exclamation of surprise.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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soul-destroying

adjective
unbearably monotonous.

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soulful

adjective
expressing deep and typically sorrowful feeling.

DERIVATIVES:
soulfully adverb
soulfulness noun.

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soulless

adjective
1. lacking character and individuality.
2. (of an activity) tedious and uninspiring.
3. lacking human feelings.

DERIVATIVES:
soullessly adverb
soullessness noun.

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soulmate

noun
a person ideally suited to another.

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soul-searching

noun
close examination of one's emotions and motives.

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sound [1]

noun
1. vibrations which travel through the air or another medium and are sensed by the ear.
2. a thing that can be heard.
3. music, speech, and sound effects accompanying a film or broadcast.
4. an idea or impression conveyed by words.

verb
1. emit or cause to emit sound.
2. utter.
3. convey a specified impression: the job sounds great.
4. (sound off) express one's opinions loudly or forcefully.

DERIVATIVES:
soundless adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin sonus.

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sound [2]

adjective
1. in good condition.
2. based on reason or judgement.
3. financially secure.
4. competent or reliable.
5. (of sleep) deep and unbroken.
6. severe or thorough: a sound thrashing.

adverb
soundly.

DERIVATIVES:
soundly adverb
soundness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sound [3]

verb
1. ascertain the depth of water in (the sea, a lake, etc.) by means of a line or pole or using sound echoes.
2. (sound out) question (someone) discreetly or cautiously as to their opinions or feelings.
3. Medicine examine (the bladder or other internal cavity) with a long surgical probe.

DERIVATIVES:
sounder noun.

ORIGIN: Old French sonder, from Latin sub- 'below' + unda 'wave' .

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sound [4]

noun
a narrow stretch of water forming an inlet or connecting two larger bodies of water.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'swimming, strait' ; related to SWIM.

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sound barrier

noun
the speed of sound, regarded as presenting problems of drag, controllability, etc. for aircraft.

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sound bite

noun
a short extract from a recorded interview, chosen for its pungency or aptness.

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soundcheck

noun
a test of sound equipment before a musical performance or recording.

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sound effect

noun
a sound other than speech or music made artificially for use in a play, film, etc.

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sounding

noun
1. the action of sounding the depth of water.
2. a measurement taken by sounding.
3. (soundings) information or evidence ascertained before taking action.

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sounding board

noun
1. a board over or behind a pulpit or stage to reflect a speaker's voice forward.
2. a soundboard.
3. a person or group whose reactions to ideas or opinons are used as a test of their validity or likely success.

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soundproof

adjective
preventing the passage of sound.

verb
make soundproof.

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sound system

noun
a set of equipment for the reproduction and amplification of sound.

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soundtrack

noun
the sound accompaniment to a film.

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sound wave

noun
a wave of alternate compression and rarefaction by which sound travels through a medium.

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soup

noun
a savoury liquid dish made by boiling meat, fish, or vegetables in stock or water.

verb (soup up) informal
1. increase the power and efficiency of (an engine).
2. make more elaborate or impressive.

IDIOMS -
in the soup informal in trouble.

ORIGIN: Old French soupe 'sop, broth (poured on slices of bread)' , from Latin suppa.

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soupçon

noun
a very small quantity.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin suspectio 'suspicion' .

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soup kitchen

noun
a place where free food is served to the homeless or destitute.

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soupy

adjective (soupier, soupiest)
1. having the appearance or consistency of soup.
2. informal mawkishly sentimental.

DERIVATIVES:
soupily adverb
soupiness noun.

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sour

adjective
1. having a sharp taste like lemon or vinegar.
2. tasting or smelling rancid from fermentation or staleness.
3. resentful, bitter, or angry.

noun
a cocktail made by mixing a spirit with lemon or lime juice.

verb
make or become sour.

IDIOMS -
go (or turn) sour become less pleasant; turn out badly.
sour grapes an attitude in which someone pretends to despise something because they cannot have it themselves. [ORIGIN: with allusion to Aesop's fable The Fox and the Grapes.]

DERIVATIVES:
sourish adjective
sourly adverb
sourness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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source

noun
1. a place, person, or thing from which something originates.
2. a spring or other place from which a river or stream issues.
3. a person, book, or document that provides information or evidence.

verb
obtain from a particular source.

ORIGIN: Old French sourse, from Latin surgere 'to rise' .

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sour cream

noun
cream deliberately fermented by adding certain bacteria.

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sourdough

noun
1. leaven for making bread, consisting of fermenting dough, originally that left over from a previous baking.
2. bread made using such leaven.

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sourpuss

noun informal
a bad-tempered or sullen person.

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souse

verb
1. soak in or drench with liquid.
2. (soused) (of gherkins, fish, etc.) pickled or marinaded: soused herring.
3. (soused) informal drunk.

noun
1. liquid used for pickling.
2. informal a drunkard.

ORIGIN: Old French sous 'pickle' ; related to SALT.

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soutane

noun
a type of cassock worn by Roman Catholic priests.

ORIGIN: Italian sottana, from sotto 'under' .

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south

noun
1. the direction towards the point of the horizon 90° clockwise from east.
2. the southern part of a country, region, or town.

adjective
1. lying towards, near, or facing the south.
2. (of a wind) blowing from the south.

adverb
to or towards the south.

IDIOMS -
south by east (or west) between south and south-south-east (or south-south-west).

DERIVATIVES:
southbound adjective & adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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south-east

noun
1. the point of the horizon midway between south and east.
2. the south-eastern part of a country, region, or town.

adjective
1. lying towards, near, or facing the south-east.
2. (of a wind) from the south-east.

adverb
to or towards the south-east.

DERIVATIVES:
south-eastern adjective.

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south-easterly

adjective & adverb
in a south-eastward position or direction.

noun
a wind blowing from the south-east.

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south-eastward

adverb (also south-eastwards)
towards the south-east.

adjective
situated in, directed toward, or facing the south-east.

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southerly

adjective & adverb
1. in a southward position or direction.
2. (of a wind) blowing from the south.

noun
a wind blowing from the south.

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southern

adjective
1. situated in, directed towards, or facing the south.
2. (usu. Southern) living in, coming from, or characteristic of the south.

DERIVATIVES:
southernmost adjective.

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southerner

noun
a person from the south of a particular region or country.

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Southern Lights

plural noun
the aurora australis.

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south-south-east

noun
the compass point or direction midway between south and south-east.

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south-south-west

noun
the compass point or direction midway between south and south-west.

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southward Nautical

adjective
in a southerly direction.

adverb (also southwards)
towards the south.

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south-west

noun
1. the point of the horizon midway between south and west.
2. the south-western part of a country, region, or town.

adjective
1. lying towards, near, or facing the south-west.
2. (of a wind) from the south-west.

adverb
to or towards the south-west.

DERIVATIVES:
south-western adjective.

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south-westerly

adjective & adverb
in a south-westward position or direction.

noun
a wind blowing from the south-west.

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south-westward

adverb (also south-westwards)
towards the south-west.

adjective
situated in, directed towards, or facing the south-west.

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souvenir

noun
a thing that is kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin subvenire 'occur to the mind' .

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sou'wester

noun
a waterproof hat with a broad brim or flap covering the back of the neck.

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sovereign

noun
1. a king or queen who is the supreme ruler of a country.
2. a former British gold coin worth one pound sterling.

adjective
1. possessing supreme or ultimate power.
2. (of a nation or its affairs) acting or done independently and without outside interference.

ORIGIN: Old French soverain, from Latin super 'above' .

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sovereignty

noun (pl. sovereignties)
1. supreme power or authority.
2. a self-governing state.

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soviet

noun
1. (Soviet) a citizen of the former Soviet Union.
2. an elected council in the former Soviet Union.
3. a revolutionary council of workers or peasants in Russia before 1917.

adjective (Soviet)
of or concerning the former Soviet Union.

DERIVATIVES:
Sovietism noun
Sovietize (also Sovietise) verb.

ORIGIN: Russian sovet 'council' .

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sow [1]

verb (past sowed; past part. sown or sowed)
1. plant (seed) by scattering it on or in the earth.
2. plant (an area) with seed.
3. spread or introduce (something unwelcome).

DERIVATIVES:
sower noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sow [2]

noun
an adult female pig.

IDIOMS -
you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear proverb you can't create a fine product from inferior materials.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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soy

noun
1. (also soy sauce) a sauce made with fermented soya beans, used in Chinese and Japanese cooking.
2. another term for SOYA.

ORIGIN: Chinese, from two words meaning «salted beans» and «oil».

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soya

noun
a plant of the pea family which produces an edible bean that is high in protein.

ORIGIN: Malay; related to SOY.

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sozzled

adjective informal
very drunk.

ORIGIN: from dialect sozzle «mix sloppily», probably of imitative origin.

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spa

noun
1. a mineral spring considered to have health-giving properties.
2. a place or resort with a mineral spring.

ORIGIN: from Spa, a small town in eastern Belgium noted for its mineral springs.

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space

noun
1. unoccupied ground or area.
2. a free or unoccupied area or expanse.
3. the dimensions of height, depth, and width within which all things exist and move.
4. a blank between typed or written words or characters.
5. (also outer space) the physical universe beyond the earth's atmosphere.
6. an interval of time (indicating that it is short): forty men died in the space of two days.
7. the freedom and scope to live and develop as one wishes.

verb
1. position (two or more items) at a distance from one another.
2. (be spaced out or chiefly N. Amer. space out) informal be or become euphoric or disorientated, especially from taking drugs.

DERIVATIVES:
spacer noun
spacing noun.

ORIGIN: Old French espace, from Latin spatium.

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space age

noun (the space age)
the era starting when the exploration of space became possible.

adjective (space-age)
very modern; technologically advanced.

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space bar

noun
a long key on a typewriter or computer keyboard for making a space between words.

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space capsule

noun
a small spacecraft or the part of a larger one that contains the instruments or crew, designed to be returned to earth.

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spacecraft

noun (pl. same or spacecrafts)
a vehicle used for travelling in space.

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spaceman

noun
a male astronaut.

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space probe

noun
an unmanned exploratory spacecraft.

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spaceship

noun
a manned spacecraft.

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space shuttle

noun
a rocket-launched spacecraft able to land like an unpowered aircraft, used for journeys between earth and craft orbiting the earth.

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space station

noun
a large artificial satellite used as a long-term base for manned operations in space.

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spacesuit

noun
a sealed and pressurized suit designed to allow an astronaut to survive in space.

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space time

noun Physics
the concepts of time and three-dimensional space regarded as fused in a four-dimensional continuum.

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spacious

adjective
(of a room or building) having plenty of space.

DERIVATIVES:
spaciously adverb
spaciousness noun.

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spade [1]

noun
a tool with a rectangular metal blade and a long handle, used for digging.

verb
dig over or move with a spade.

IDIOMS -
call a spade a spade speak plainly and frankly.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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spade [2]

noun (spades)
one of the four suits in a pack of playing cards, denoted by a black inverted heart-shaped figure with a small stalk.

IDIOMS -
in spades informal in large amounts or to a high degree.

ORIGIN: Italian spade 'swords' , from Greek spath 'blade, paddle' .

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spadework

noun
hard or routine preparatory work.

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spaghetti

plural noun
pasta made in solid strings, between macaroni and vermicelli in thickness.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'little strings' .

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spaghetti western

noun informal
a western film made in Europe by an Italian director.

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spam

noun
1. trademark a canned meat product made mainly from ham.
2. irrelevant or inappropriate messages sent on the Internet to a large number of users.

verb (spammed, spamming)
send the same email message indiscriminately to (large numbers of users).

DERIVATIVES:
spammer noun.

ORIGIN: apparently from the first two and last two letters of spiced ham; the Internet sense apparently derives from a sketch by the British ‘Monty Python’ comedy group, set in a cafe in which every item on the menu includes spam.

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span

noun
1. the full extent of something from end to end; the amount of space covered.
2. the length of time for which something lasts.
3. a wingspan.
4. a part of a bridge between piers or supports.
5. the maximum distance between the tips of the thumb and little finger, taken as the basis of a measurement equal to 9 inches.

verb (spanned, spanning)
extend across or over.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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spandex

noun trademark
a type of stretchy polyurethane fabric.

ORIGIN: an arbitrary formation from EXPAND.

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spandrel

noun Architecture
the almost triangular space between the curve of an arch, a wall or an adjoining arch, and the ceiling or framework above.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French espaundre 'expand' .

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spangle

noun
1. a small thin piece of glittering material, used to ornament a garment; a sequin.
2. a spot of bright colour or light.

verb
cover with spangles.

DERIVATIVES:
spangly adjective.

ORIGIN: from obsolete spang «glittering ornament», from Dutch spange 'buckle' .

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Spaniard

noun
a person from Spain.

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spaniel

noun
a breed of dog with a long silky coat and drooping ears.

ORIGIN: Old French espaigneul 'Spanish (dog)' , from Latin Hispaniolus 'Spanish' .

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Spanish

noun
the main language of Spain and of much of Central and South America.

adjective
relating to Spain or Spanish.

DERIVATIVES:
Spanishness noun.

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spank

verb
slap with one's open hand or a flat object, especially on the buttocks as a punishment.

noun
a slap or series of slaps of this type.

ORIGIN: perhaps imitative.

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spanking

adjective
1. lively; brisk.
2. informal very good; impressive or pleasing.

noun
a series of spanks.

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spanner

noun chiefly Brit.
a tool with a shaped opening or jaws for gripping and turning a nut or bolt.

IDIOMS -
spanner in the works a person or thing that prevents the successful implementation of a plan.

ORIGIN: from German spannen 'draw tight' .

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spar [1]

noun
a thick, strong pole such as is used for a mast or yard on a ship.

ORIGIN: shortening of Old French esparre, or from Old Norse.

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spar [2]

verb (sparred, sparring)
1. make the motions of boxing without landing heavy blows, as a form of training.
2. engage in argument without marked hostility.

noun
a period or bout of sparring.

ORIGIN: Old English, «strike out».

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spar [3]

noun
a crystalline translucent or transparent mineral that is easily broken apart.

ORIGIN: Low German.

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spare

adjective
1. additional to what is required for ordinary use.
2. not currently in use or occupied.
3. with no excess fat; thin.
4. elegantly simple.

noun
an item kept in case another item of the same type is lost, broken, or worn out.

verb
1. give (something of which one has enough) to.
2. make free or available.
3. refrain from killing or harming.
4. refrain from inflicting (harm) on.

IDIOMS -
go spare Brit. informal become extremely angry or distraught.
spare no expense (or no expense spared) be prepared to pay any amount.
to spare left over.

DERIVATIVES:
sparely adverb
spareness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «not plentiful, meagre».

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spare rib

noun (usu. spare ribs)
a trimmed rib of pork.

ORIGIN: probably a transposition of Low German ribbesper; also associated with SPARE.

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spare tyre

noun
1. an extra tyre carried in a motor vehicle for use in case of puncture.
2. informal a roll of fat round a person's waist.

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sparing

adjective
moderate; economical.

DERIVATIVES:
sparingly adverb.

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spark

noun
1. a small fiery particle thrown off from a fire, alight in ashes, or caused by friction.
2. a light produced by a sudden disrupted electrical discharge through the air.
3. a discharge such as this serving to ignite the explosive mixture in an internal-combustion engine.
4. a small bright object or point.
5. a small but concentrated amount or trace: a tiny spark of anger.
6. a sense of liveliness and excitement.

verb
1. emit or produce sparks.
2. ignite.
3. (usu. spark off) provide the stimulus for; trigger.

IDIOMS -
bright spark a lively person.
spark out Brit. informal unconscious.

DERIVATIVES:
sparky adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sparkle

verb
1. shine brightly with flashes of light.
2. be vivacious and witty.
3. (sparkling) (of drink) effervescent.

noun
1. a glittering flash of light.
2. vivacity and wit.

DERIVATIVES:
sparkly adjective.

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sparkler

noun
a hand-held firework that emits sparks.

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spark plug (also sparking plug)

noun
a device for firing the explosive mixture in an internal-combustion engine.

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sparrow

noun
a small bird with brown and grey plumage.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sparrowhawk

noun
1. a small hawk that preys on small birds.
2. N. Amer. the American kestrel.

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sparse

adjective
thinly dispersed.

DERIVATIVES:
sparsely adverb
sparseness noun
sparsity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sparsus, from spargere 'scatter' .

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Spartan

adjective
1. of or relating to Sparta, a city state in ancient Greece.
2. (spartan) lacking in comfort or luxury; austere.

noun
a citizen of Sparta.

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spasm

noun
1. a sudden involuntary muscular contraction or convulsive movement.
2. a sudden brief spell of an activity or sensation.

ORIGIN: Greek spasmos, from span 'pull' .

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spasmodic

adjective
1. occurring or done in brief, irregular bursts.
2. of or caused by a spasm or spasms.

DERIVATIVES:
spasmodically adverb.

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spastic

adjective
1. relating to or affected by muscle spasm.
2. of or having a form of muscular weakness typical of cerebral palsy, involving reflex resistance to passive movement of the limbs and difficulty in initiating and controlling muscular movement.
3. informal, offensive incompetent or uncoordinated.

noun
1. a person with cerebral palsy.
2. informal, offensive an incompetent or uncoordinated person.

DERIVATIVES:
spastically adverb
spasticity noun.
USAGE - In modern use the term spastic is likely to cause offence. It is preferable to use phrasing such as people with cerebral palsy instead.
ORIGIN: Greek spastikos 'pulling' .

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spat [2]

noun
a short cloth gaiter covering the instep and ankle.

ORIGIN: from spatterdash, a long gaiter or legging formerly worn when riding.

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spat [3] informal

noun
a petty quarrel.

verb (spatted, spatting)
quarrel pettily.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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spate

noun
1. a large number of similar things or events coming in quick succession.
2. chiefly Brit. a sudden flood in a river.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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spathe

noun Botany
a large sheathing bract enclosing the flower cluster of certain plants, especially the spadix of arums and palms.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'broad blade' .

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spatial (also spacial)

adjective
of or relating to space.

DERIVATIVES:
spatiality noun
spatialize (also spatialise) verb
spatially adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin spatium 'space' .

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spatter

verb
1. cover with drops or spots.
2. splash or be splashed over a surface.

noun
1. a spray or splash.
2. a short outburst of sound.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «splutter»: related to Dutch, Low German spatten 'burst, spout' .

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spatula

noun
an implement with a broad, flat, blunt blade, used especially for mixing or spreading.

ORIGIN: Latin, from spathula 'small spathe' .

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spatulate

adjective
having a broad, rounded end.

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spawn

verb
1. (of a fish, frog, etc.) release or deposit eggs.
2. produce or generate; give rise to.

noun
1. the eggs of fish, frogs, etc.
2. the mycelium of a fungus, especially a cultivated mushroom.

DERIVATIVES:
spawner noun.

ORIGIN: Old French espaundre 'to shed roe' , from Latin expandere 'expand' .

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spay

verb
sterilize (a female animal) by removing the ovaries.

ORIGIN: Old French espeer 'cut with a sword' , from Latin spatha 'spathe' .

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speak

verb (past spoke; past part. spoken)
1. say something.
2. (speak to) talk to in order to advise, pass on information, etc.
3. communicate in or be able to communicate in (a specified language).
4. (speak for) express the views or position of.
5. (speak out/up) express one's opinions frankly and publicly.
6. (speak up) speak more loudly.
7. (of behaviour, an event, etc.) serve as evidence for something.
8. (speak to) appeal or relate to.
9. make a speech.

IDIOMS -
speak in tongues speak in an unknown language during religious worship, regarded as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).
speak one's mind express one's opinions frankly.
speak volumes convey a great deal without using words.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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speakeasy

noun (pl. speakeasies) informal
(in the US during Prohibition) an illicit liquor shop or drinking club.

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speaker

noun
1. a person who speaks.
2. a person who speaks a specified language.
3. a person who makes a speech at a formal occasion.
4. (Speaker) the presiding officer in a legislative assembly, especially the House of Commons.
5. a loudspeaker.

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speaking

adjective
1. used for or engaged in speech.
2. able to communicate in a specified language.

IDIOMS -
on speaking terms slightly acquainted; moderately friendly.

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speaking clock

noun Brit.
a telephone service giving the correct time in recorded speech.

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spear

noun
1. a weapon with a pointed metal tip and a long shaft, used for thrusting or throwing.
2. a plant shoot, especially a pointed stem of asparagus or broccoli.
3. (before another noun ) denoting the male side or members of a family. Compare with DISTAFF.

verb
pierce or strike with a spear or other pointed object.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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spearhead

noun
1. the point of a spear.
2. an individual or group leading an attack or movement.

verb
lead (an attack or movement).

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spearmint

noun
the common garden mint, which is used in cooking as a herb and in flavouring.

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spec [1]

noun (in phrase on spec) informal
in the hope of success but without any specific preparation or plan.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of speculation.

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spec [2]

noun informal
a detailed working description; a specification.

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special

adjective
1. better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual.
2. designed for or belonging to a particular person, place, or event.
3. (of a subject) studied in particular depth.
4. (of education) for children with particular needs, especially those with learning difficulties.

noun
1. something designed or organized for a particular occasion or purpose.
2. a dish not on the regular menu but served on a particular day.
3. a person assigned to a special duty.

DERIVATIVES:
specialness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin specialis, from species 'appearance' .

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special constable

noun
(in the UK) a person who is trained to act as a police officer on particular occasions, especially in times of emergency.

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special effects

plural noun
illusions created for films and television by props, camerawork, computer graphics, etc.

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specialist

noun
a person who is highly skilled or knowledgeable in a particular field.

adjective
relating to or involving detailed knowledge or a specific focus within a field.

DERIVATIVES:
specialism noun.

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speciality (chiefly N. Amer. & Medicine also specialty)

noun (pl. specialities)
1. a pursuit, area of study, or skill to which someone has devoted themselves and in which they are expert.
2. a product for which a person or region is famous.
3. (usu. specialty) a branch of medicine or surgery.

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specialize (also specialise)

verb
1. concentrate on and become expert in a particular skill or area.
2. make a habit of engaging in a particular activity.
3. (be specialized) Biology (of an organ or part) be adapted or set apart to serve a special function.

DERIVATIVES:
specialization noun.

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specially

adverb
for a special purpose.

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special needs

plural noun
particular educational requirements resulting from learning difficulties, physical disability, or emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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special pleading

noun
argument in which the speaker deliberately ignores aspects that are unfavourable to their point of view.

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species

noun (pl. same)
1. Biology a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding.
2. (before another noun ) denoting a plant belonging to a distinct species rather than to one of the many varieties produced by hybridization.
3. a kind or sort.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'appearance, form, beauty' , from specere 'to look' .

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specific

adjective
1. clearly defined or identified.
2. precise and clear.
3. (specific to) belonging or relating uniquely to.
4. relating to species or a species.

noun (specifics)
precise details.

DERIVATIVES:
specifically adverb
specificity noun
specificness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin specificus, from species 'appearance, form' .

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specification

noun
1. the action of specifying.
2. (usu. specifications) a detailed description of the design and materials used to make something.
3. a standard of workmanship, materials, etc. required to be met in a piece of work.

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specify

verb (specifies, specified)
1. make specific; state or identify clearly and definitely.
2. include in an architect's or engineer's specifications.

DERIVATIVES:
specifiable adjective
specifier noun.

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specimen

noun
1. an individual animal, plant, object, etc. used as an example of its species or type for scientific study or display.
2. a sample for medical testing, especially of urine.
3. an example of something regarded as typical of its class or group.
4. informal a person or animal of a specific type: he was confronted by a sorrier specimen than himself.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «pattern, model»: from Latin, from specere 'to look' .

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specious

adjective
1. superficially plausible, but actually wrong.
2. misleading in appearance.

DERIVATIVES:
speciously adverb
speciousness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «beautiful»: from Latin speciosus 'fair, plausible' .

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speck

noun
a tiny spot or particle.

verb
mark with small spots.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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speckle

noun
a small spot or patch of colour.

verb
mark with speckles.

DERIVATIVES:
speckled adjective.

ORIGIN: Dutch spekkel.

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specs

plural noun informal
a pair of spectacles.

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spectacle

noun
a visually striking performance or display.

IDIOMS -
make a spectacle of oneself draw attention to oneself by behaving in a ridiculous way in public.

ORIGIN: Latin spectaculum 'public show' , from specere 'to look' .

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spectacled

adjective
wearing spectacles.

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spectacles

plural noun Brit.
a pair of glasses.

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spectacular

adjective
very impressive, striking, or dramatic.

noun
a performance or event produced on a large scale and with striking effects.

DERIVATIVES:
spectacularly adverb.

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spectate

verb
be a spectator.

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spectator

noun
a person who watches at a show, game, or other event.

ORIGIN: Latin, from specere 'to look' .

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specter (Brit. spectre)

noun
1. a ghost.
2. something unpleasant or dangerous that is imagined or expected.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin spectrum 'image, apparition' .

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spectral

adjective
1. of or like a spectre.
2. of or concerning spectra or the spectrum.

DERIVATIVES:
spectrally adverb.

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spectre (US specter)

noun
1. a ghost.
2. something unpleasant or dangerous that is imagined or expected.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin spectrum 'image, apparition' .

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spectrometer

noun
an apparatus used for recording and measuring spectra, especially as a method of analysis.

DERIVATIVES:
spectrometric adjective
spectrometry noun.

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spectroscope

noun
an apparatus for producing and recording spectra for examination.

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spectroscopy

noun
the branch of science concerned with the investigation and measurement of spectra produced when matter interacts with or emits electromagnetic radiation.

DERIVATIVES:
spectroscopic adjective
spectroscopist noun.

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spectrum

noun (pl. spectra)
1. a band of colours produced by separation of the components of light by their different degrees of refraction, e.g. in a rainbow.
2. the entire range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation.
3. a characteristic series of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation emitted or absorbed by a substance.
4. the components of a sound or other phenomenon arranged according to frequency, energy, etc.
5. a scale extending between two points; a range: the political spectrum.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'image, apparition' , from specere 'to look' .

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speculate

verb
1. form a theory or conjecture without firm evidence.
2. invest in stocks, property, or other ventures in the hope of financial gain but with the risk of loss.

DERIVATIVES:
speculation noun
speculator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin speculari 'observe' , from specula 'watchtower' .

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speculative

adjective
1. engaged in or based on conjecture rather than knowledge.
2. (of an investment) involving a high risk of loss.

DERIVATIVES:
speculatively adverb
speculativeness noun.

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speculum

noun (pl. specula) Medicine
a metal instrument that is used to dilate an orifice or canal in the body to allow inspection.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'mirror' , from specere 'to look' .

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speech

noun
1. the expression of thoughts and feelings by articulate sounds.
2. a formal address delivered to an audience.
3. a sequence of lines written for one character in a play.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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speechify

verb (speechifies, speechified)
deliver a speech, especially in a tedious or pompous way.

DERIVATIVES:
speechification noun
speechifier noun.

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speechless

adjective
unable to speak, especially as the temporary result of shock or strong emotion.

DERIVATIVES:
speechlessly adverb
speechlessness noun.

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speech therapy

noun
treatment to help people with speech and language problems.

DERIVATIVES:
speech therapist noun.

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speed

noun
1. the rate at which someone or something moves or operates.
2. rapidity of movement or action.
3. each of the possible gear ratios of a bicycle.
4. the light-gathering power or f-number of a camera lens.
5. the duration of a photographic exposure.
6. the sensitivity of photographic film to light.
7. informal an amphetamine drug, especially methamphetamine.
8. archaic success; prosperity.

verb (past and past part. speeded or sped)
1. move quickly.
2. (speed up) move or work more quickly.
3. (of a motorist) travel at a speed greater than the legal limit.
4. archaic make prosperous or successful.

IDIOMS -
at speed quickly.
up to speed
1. operating at full speed or capacity.
2. fully informed or up to date.

DERIVATIVES:
speeder noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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speedboat

noun
a motor boat designed for high speed.

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speed bump (Brit. also speed hump)

noun
a ridge set in a road to control the speed of vehicles.

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speed camera

noun
a roadside camera designed to catch speeding vehicles by taking video footage or a photograph.

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speed limit

noun
the maximum speed at which a vehicle may legally travel on a particular stretch of road.

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speedo

noun (pl. speedos) informal
a speedometer.

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speedometer

noun
an instrument on a vehicle's dashboard indicating its speed.

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speedway

noun
1. a form of motorcycle racing in which the riders race laps around an oval dirt track.
2. N. Amer. a highway for fast motor traffic.

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speedy

adjective (speedier, speediest)
1. done or occurring quickly.
2. moving quickly.

DERIVATIVES:
speedily adverb
speediness noun.

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spell [1]

verb (past and past part. spelled or chiefly Brit. spelt)
1. write or name the letters that form (a word) in correct sequence.
2. (of letters) make up or form (a word).
3. be a sign of; lead to: the plans would spell disaster.
4. (spell out) explain clearly and in detail.

ORIGIN: Old French espeller; related to SPELL.

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spell [2]

noun
1. a form of words used as a magical charm or incantation.
2. a state of enchantment or influence induced by a spell.

ORIGIN: Old English, «narration».

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spell [3]

noun
1. a short period of time.
2. Austral./NZ a period of rest from work.

verb
1. allow (someone) to rest briefly by taking over from them in an activity.
2. Austral./NZ take a brief rest.

ORIGIN: from dialect spele «take the place of», of unknown origin.

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spellbind

verb (past and past part. spellbound)
hold the complete attention of, as if by a spell; entrance.

DERIVATIVES:
spellbinder noun.

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spellchecker (also spelling checker)

noun
a computer program which checks the spelling of words in files of text by comparing them with a stored list of words.

DERIVATIVES:
spellcheck verb & noun.

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speller

noun
1. a person of a specified spelling ability.
2. a spellchecker.

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spelling

noun
1. the process or activity of spelling a word.
2. the way in which a word is spelled.
3. a person's ability to spell.

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spend

verb (past and past part. spent)
1. pay out (money) in buying or hiring goods or services.
2. use or use up (energy or resources); exhaust.
3. pass (time) in a specified way.

noun informal
an amount of money paid out.

IDIOMS -
spend a penny Brit. informal, euphemistic urinate.

DERIVATIVES:
spendable adjective
spender noun.

ORIGIN: Latin expendere 'pay out' .

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spendthrift

noun
a person who spends money in an extravagant, irresponsible way.

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spent
past and past participle of SPEND.
adjective
used up; exhausted.

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sperm

noun (pl. same or sperms)
1. semen.
2. a spermatozoon.

ORIGIN: Greek sperma 'seed' .

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spermatozoon

noun (pl. spermatozoa) Biology
the motile male sex cell of an animal by which the ovum is fertilized, typically having a compact head and one or more long flagella for swimming.

DERIVATIVES:
spermatozoal adjective
spermatozoan adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek sperma 'seed' + zion 'animal' .

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sperm bank

noun
a place where semen is kept in cold storage for use in artificial insemination.

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sperm count

noun
the number of spermatozoa in a measured amount of semen, used as an indication of a man's fertility.

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spermicide

noun
a substance that kills spermatozoa, used as a contraceptive.

DERIVATIVES:
spermicidal adjective.

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sperm oil

noun
an oil found with spermaceti in the head of the sperm whale, used formerly as a lubricant.

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sperm whale

noun
a toothed whale with a massive head, feeding at great depths largely on squid.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of SPERMACETI.

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spew

verb
1. expel or be expelled in large quantities rapidly and forcibly.
2. informal vomit.

noun informal
vomit.

DERIVATIVES:
spewer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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SPF

abbreviation
sun protection factor.

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sphere

noun
1. a round solid figure in which every point on the surface is equidistant from the centre.
2. each of a series of revolving concentrically arranged spherical shells in which celestial bodies were formerly thought to be set in a fixed relationship.
3. an area of activity, interest, or expertise: political reforms to match those in the economic sphere.

ORIGIN: Greek sphaira 'ball' .

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spherical

adjective
1. shaped like a sphere.
2. of or relating to the properties of spheres.

DERIVATIVES:
spherically adverb.

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spheroid

noun
a sphere-like but not perfectly spherical body.

DERIVATIVES:
spheroidal adjective.

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sphincter

noun Anatomy
a ring of muscle surrounding and serving to guard or close an opening such as the anus.

ORIGIN: Greek sphinktr, from sphingein 'bind tight' .

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sphinx

noun
1. an ancient Egyptian stone figure having a lion's body and a human or animal head.
2. an enigmatic or inscrutable person.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a winged monster in Greek mythology, having a woman's head and a lion's body, who propounded a riddle and killed those who failed to solve it: from Greek, apparently from sphingein 'draw tight' .

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spic

noun US informal, offensive
a Spanish-speaking person from Central or South America or the Caribbean, especially a Mexican.

ORIGIN: perhaps from speak the in «no speak the English».

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spice

noun
1. an aromatic or pungent vegetable substance used to flavour food.
2. an element providing interest and excitement.

verb
1. flavour with spice.
2. (spice up) make more exciting or interesting.

ORIGIN: Old French espice, from Latin species 'sort, kind' , later 'wares' .

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spick and span (also spic and span)

adjective
neat, clean, and well looked after.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «brand new»: from spick and span new, from Old Norse words meaning 'chip' + 'new' ; also influenced by Dutch spiksplinternieuw 'splinter new' .

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spicy (also spicey)

adjective (spicier, spiciest)
1. strongly flavoured with spice.
2. mildly indecent.

DERIVATIVES:
spicily adverb
spiciness noun.

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spider

noun
1. an eight-legged predatory arachnid with an unsegmented body consisting of a fused head and thorax and a rounded abdomen, most kinds of which spin webs in which to capture insects.
2. Billiards & Snooker a long-legged rest for a cue that can be placed over a ball without touching it.

verb
1. move in a scuttling manner suggestive of a spider.
2. form a pattern suggestive of a spider or its web.

ORIGIN: Old English, from a word meaning 'to spin' .

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spider plant

noun
a plant of the lily family having long narrow leaves with a central yellow stripe, popular as a house plant.

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spidery

adjective
resembling a spider, especially having long, thin, angular lines like a spider's legs.

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spiel informal

noun
an elaborate and glib speech or story, such as that used by a salesperson.

verb
speak or reel off at length or glibly.

ORIGIN: German, 'a game' .

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spiffing

adjective Brit. informal, dated
excellent; splendid.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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spigot

noun
1. a small peg or plug, especially for insertion into the vent of a cask.
2. US a tap.
3. the plain end of a section of a pipe fitting into the socket of the next one.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Provençal espigou, from Latin spiculum 'little ear of corn' .

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spike [1]

noun
1. a thin, pointed piece of metal or wood.
2. each of several metal points set into the sole of a sports shoe to prevent slipping.
3. chiefly Brit. a pointed metal rod fixed to a base, used for impaling and storing notes or papers.
4. a sharp increase in magnitude or intensity.

verb
1. impale on or pierce with or as with a spike.
2. form into or cover with sharp points.
3. put an end to (a plan or undertaking).
4. informal surreptitiously lace (drink or food) with alcohol or a drug.
5. increase and then decrease sharply.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Low German, Dutch spiker, related to SPOKE; sense 3 of the verb derives from the editorial practice of rejecting submitted news stories by filing them on a spike.

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spike [2]

noun Botany
a flower cluster formed of many flower heads attached directly to a long stem.

ORIGIN: originally denoting an ear of corn: from Latin spica.

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spiky

adjective (spikier, spikiest)
1. like a spike or spikes or having many spikes.
2. informal easily annoyed; irritable.

DERIVATIVES:
spikily adverb
spikiness noun.

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spill [1]

verb (past and past part. spilt or spilled)
1. flow or cause to flow over the edge of a container.
2. move or empty out from a place.
3. informal reveal (confidential information).

noun
1. an instance of a liquid spilling or the quantity spilt.
2. a fall from a horse or bicycle.
3. Austral. a vacating of posts in a cabinet or parliamentary party to allow reorganization after one important change of office.

IDIOMS -
spill the beans informal reveal secret information unintentionally or indiscreetly.
spill blood kill or wound people.

DERIVATIVES:
spillage noun
spiller noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «kill, waste, shed (blood)».

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spill [2]

noun
a thin strip of wood or paper used for lighting a fire.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «sharp fragment of wood»: related to SPILE.

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spillikin

noun
1. (spillikins) (treated as sing. ) a game played with a heap of small rods of wood, bone, or plastic, in which players try to remove one at a time without disturbing the others.
2. a splinter or fragment.

ORIGIN: from SPILL.

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spin

verb (spinning; past and past part. spun)
1. turn round quickly.
2. (of a person's head) give a sensation of dizziness.
3. (with reference to a ball) move through the air with a revolving motion.
4. draw out and twist (the fibres of wool, cotton, etc.) to convert them into yarn.
5. (of a spider or a silkworm or other insect) produce (gossamer or silk) or construct (a web or cocoon) by extruding a fine thread from a special gland.
6. (spin out) make (something) last as long as possible.

noun
1. a spinning motion.
2. informal a brief trip in a vehicle for pleasure.
3. a favourable bias or slant given to a news story.
4. Austral./NZ informal a piece of good or bad luck.

IDIOMS -
flat spin
1. a spin in which an aircraft descends in tight circles while remaining horizontal.
2. Brit. informal a state of agitation.
spin a yarn tell a far-fetched story.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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spina bifida

noun
a congenital defect in which part of the spinal cord is exposed through a gap in the backbone, and which can cause paralysis and other problems.

ORIGIN: Latin, from spina 'backbone, thorn' + bifidus 'doubly split' .

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spinach

noun
a plant with large dark green leaves which are eaten as a vegetable.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French espinache, from Persian.

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spinal

adjective
relating to the spine.

DERIVATIVES:
spinally adverb.

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spinal column

noun
the spine.

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spinal cord

noun
the cylindrical bundle of nerve fibres which is enclosed in the spine and connected to the brain, with which it forms the central nervous system.

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spindle

noun
1. a slender rounded rod with tapered ends, used in hand spinning to twist and wind fibres from a mass of wool, flax, etc. held on a distaff.
2. a rod or pin serving as an axis that revolves or on which something revolves.
3. a turned piece of wood used as a banister or chair leg.

ORIGIN: Old English, from SPIN.

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spindly

adjective
long or tall and thin.

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spin doctor

noun informal
a spokesperson for a political party or politician employed to give a favourable interpretation of events to the media.

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spindrift

noun
1. spray blown from the crests of waves by the wind.
2. driving snow.

ORIGIN: from archaic spoondrift, from spoon «run before wind or sea» + DRIFT.

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spin dryer

noun
a machine for extracting water from wet clothes by spinning them in a revolving perforated drum.

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spine

noun
1. a series of vertebrae extending from the skull to the small of the back, enclosing the spinal cord and providing support for the thorax and abdomen; the backbone.
2. a central feature or main source of strength.
3. the part of a book that encloses the inner edges of the pages.
4. chiefly Zoology & Botany a prickle or other hard pointed projection or structure.

ORIGIN: Latin spina 'thorn, backbone' .

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spine-chiller

noun
a story or film that inspires terror and excitement.

DERIVATIVES:
spine-chilling adjective.

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spineless

adjective
1. having no spine; invertebrate.
2. (of an animal or plant) lacking spines.
3. lacking courage and determination.

DERIVATIVES:
spinelessly adverb
spinelessness noun.

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spinet

noun
1. a small harpsichord with the strings set obliquely to the keyboard, popular in the 18th century.
2. US a type of small upright piano.

ORIGIN: Italian spinetta 'virginal, spinet' , from Latin spina 'thorn, spine, quill' (the strings of the instrument being plucked by quills).

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spine-tingling

adjective informal
thrilling or pleasurably frightening.

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spinnaker

noun
a large three-cornered sail set forward of the mainsail of a racing yacht when running before the wind.

ORIGIN: apparently from Sphinx, the yacht first using such a sail, perhaps influenced by spanker, a fore-and-aft sail.

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spinner

noun
1. a person occupied in spinning thread.
2. Cricket a bowler who is expert in spinning the ball.
3. (also spinnerbait) Fishing a lure designed to revolve when pulled through the water.

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spinney

noun (pl. spinneys) Brit.
a small area of trees and bushes.

ORIGIN: Old French espinei, from Latin spinetum 'thicket' .

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spinning wheel

noun
an apparatus for spinning yarn or thread with a spindle driven by a wheel attached to a crank or treadle.

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spin-off

noun
1. a product or incidental benefit produced during or after a primary activity.
2. a subsidiary of a parent company that has been sold off, creating a new company.

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spinster

noun chiefly derogatory
an unmarried woman, typically an older woman beyond the usual age for marriage.

DERIVATIVES:
spinsterhood noun
spinsterish adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «woman who spins».

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spiny

adjective (spinier, spiniest)
1. full of or covered with prickles.
2. informal difficult to understand or handle.

DERIVATIVES:
spininess noun.

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spiracle

noun Zoology
an external respiratory opening in insects, cartilaginous fish, and other animals.

DERIVATIVES:
spiracular adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin spiraculum, from spirare 'breathe' .

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spiral

adjective
winding in a continuous curve around a central point or axis.

noun
1. a spiral curve, shape, or pattern.
2. a progressive rise or fall of prices, wages, etc., each responding to an upward or downward stimulus provided by a previous one.
3. a process of progressive deterioration.

verb (spiralled, spiralling; US spiraled, spiraling)
1. take or cause to follow a spiral course.
2. show a continuous and dramatic increase or decrease.

DERIVATIVES:
spirally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin spiralis, from Greek speira 'a coil' .

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spire

noun
a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, especially a church tower.

ORIGIN: Old English, «tall slender stem of a plant».

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spirit

noun
1. a person's non-physical being, composed of their character and emotions.
2. this regarded as surviving after the death of the body, often manifested as a ghost.
3. a supernatural being.
4. the prevailing or typical character, quality, or mood: the nation's egalitarian spirit.
5. (spirits) a person's mood.
6. courage, energy, and determination.
7. the real meaning or intention of something as opposed to its strict verbal interpretation.
8. chiefly Brit. strong distilled liquor such as rum.
9. a volatile liquid, especially a fuel, prepared by distillation.

verb (spirited, spiriting) (spirit away)
convey rapidly and secretly.

IDIOMS -
in spirit in thought or intention though not physically.
when the spirit moves someone when someone feels inclined to do something.

ORIGIN: Latin spiritus 'breath, spirit' , from spirare 'breathe' .

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spirited

adjective
1. full of energy, enthusiasm, and determination.
2. having a specified character or mood: a generous-spirited man.

DERIVATIVES:
spiritedly adverb
spiritedness noun.

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spiritless

adjective
lacking courage, energy, or determination.

DERIVATIVES:
spiritlessly adverb
spiritlessness noun.

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spirit level

noun
a device consisting of a sealed glass tube partially filled with alcohol or other liquid, containing an air bubble whose position reveals whether a surface is perfectly level.

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spiritual

adjective
1. relating to or affecting the human spirit as opposed to material or physical things.
2. relating to religion or religious belief.

noun (also negro spiritual)
a religious song of a kind associated with black Christians of the southern US.

DERIVATIVES:
spirituality noun
spiritualize (also spiritualise) verb
spiritually adverb.

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spiritualism

noun
a system of belief and practice based on supposed communication with the spirits of the dead, especially through mediums.

DERIVATIVES:
spiritualist noun
spiritualistic adjective.

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spirogyra

noun Botany
algae of a genus found in blanket weed, consisting of long green filaments.

ORIGIN: from Greek speira 'coil' + guros 'round' .

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spit [1]

verb (spitting; past and past part. spat or spit)
1. eject saliva forcibly from one's mouth.
2. forcibly eject (food or liquid) from one's mouth.
3. say in a hostile way.
4. (of a fire or something being cooked) emit small bursts of sparks or hot fat with a series of explosive noises.
5. (it spits, it is spitting, etc.) Brit. light rain falls.

noun
1. saliva.
2. an act of spitting.

IDIOMS -
be the spitting image of (or be the spit of) informal look exactly like. [ORIGIN: originally as the spit of or the spit and image of: perhaps from the idea of a person apparently being formed from the spit of another, so great is the similarity between them.]
spit and polish thorough cleaning and polishing.
spit-and-sawdust Brit. informal (of a pub) that appears dirty or run-down.
spit blood (or Austral. chips) feel or express vehement anger.
spit in the eye (or face) of show contempt or scorn for.
spit it out informal (as a command) say it quickly; stop hesitating.

DERIVATIVES:
spitter noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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spit [2]

noun
1. a long, thin metal rod pushed through meat in order to hold and turn it while it is roasted.
2. a narrow point of land projecting into the sea.

verb (spitted, spitting)
put a spit through (meat).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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spit [3]

noun (pl. same or spits)
a layer of earth whose depth is equal to the length of the blade of a spade.

ORIGIN: Dutch and Low German; probably related to SPIT.

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spite

noun
a desire to hurt, annoy, or offend.

verb
deliberately hurt, annoy, or offend.

IDIOMS -
in spite of without being affected by.
in spite of oneself although one did not want or expect to do so.

ORIGIN: Old French despit 'contempt' .

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spiteful

adjective
showing or caused by malice.

DERIVATIVES:
spitefully adverb
spitefulness noun.

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spitfire

noun
a person with a fierce temper.

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spit-roasted

adjective
cooked on a spit.

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spittle

noun
saliva, especially as ejected from the mouth.

ORIGIN: dialect spattle, altered by association with SPIT.

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spittoon

noun
a container for spitting into.

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spiv

noun Brit. informal
a flashily dressed man who makes a living by disreputable dealings.

DERIVATIVES:
spivvish adjective
spivvy adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to SPIFFY.

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splash

verb
1. (with reference to a liquid) fall or cause to fall in scattered drops.
2. make wet or cover with scattered drops.
3. strike or move around in water, causing it to fly about.
4. (splash down) (of a spacecraft) land on water.
5. display (a story or photograph) in a prominent place in a newspaper or magazine.
6. (splash out) Brit. informal spend money freely.

noun
1. an instance or sound of splashing.
2. a small quantity of liquid that has splashed on to a surface.
3. a small quantity of liquid added to a drink.
4. a bright patch of colour.
5. informal a prominent news feature or story.

IDIOMS -
make a splash informal attract a great deal of attention.

DERIVATIVES:
splashy adjective (splashier, splashiest) .

ORIGIN: from PLASH.

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splat

noun
a piece of thin wood in the centre of a chair back.

ORIGIN: from obsolete splat «split up».

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splatter

verb
splash with a sticky or viscous liquid.

noun
1. a splash of a sticky or viscous liquid.
2. (before another noun ) informal (of a film or genre of film) featuring many violent and gruesome deaths.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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splay

verb
1. spread or be spread out or further apart.
2. construct (a window, doorway, or other aperture) so that it is wider at one side of the wall than the other.

noun
1. a tapered widening.
2. a surface making an oblique angle with another.

adjective
turned outward or widened.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «unfold to view»: shortening of DISPLAY.

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spleen

noun
1. an abdominal organ involved in the production and removal of blood cells and forming part of the immune system.
2. bad temper; spite.

ORIGIN: Greek spln; sense 2 derives from the former belief that the spleen was the seat of bad temper.

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splendid

adjective
1. magnificent; very impressive.
2. informal excellent.

DERIVATIVES:
splendidly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin splendidus, from splendere 'shine' .

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splendour (US splendor)

noun
magnificent and impressive appearance.

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splenetic

adjective
bad-tempered or spiteful.

ORIGIN: Latin spleneticus, from Greek spln 'spleen' .

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splice

verb
1. join (a rope or ropes) by interweaving the strands at the ends.
2. join (pieces of timber, film, or tape) at the ends.
3. Genetics join or insert (a gene or gene fragment).

noun
a spliced join.

IDIOMS -
get spliced informal get married.
splice the main brace Brit. historical (in the navy) serve out an extra tot of rum.

DERIVATIVES:
splicer noun.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch splissen.

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spliff

noun informal
a cannabis cigarette.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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splint

noun
1. a strip of rigid material for supporting a broken bone when it has been set.
2. a long, thin strip of wood used in basketwork or to light a fire.

verb
secure with a splint or splints.

ORIGIN: Dutch, Low German splinte 'metal plate or pin' .

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splinter

noun
a small, thin, sharp piece of wood, glass, etc. broken off from a larger piece.

verb
break into splinters.

DERIVATIVES:
splintery adjective.

ORIGIN: Dutch.

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splinter group

noun
a small organization that has broken away from a larger one.

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split

verb (splitting; past and past part. split)
1. break forcibly into parts.
2. divide into parts or groups.
3. (often split up) end a marriage or other relationship.
4. (be splitting) informal (of one's head) suffering great pain from a headache.
5. (split on) Brit. informal betray the secrets of or inform on.

noun
1. a tear, crack, or fissure.
2. an instance of splitting or being split.
3. (the splits) (in gymnastics and dance) an act of leaping in the air or sitting down with the legs straight and at right angles to the body.
4. the time taken to complete a recognized part of a race, or the point in the race where such a time is measured.

IDIOMS -
split the difference take the average of two proposed amounts.
split one's sides informal be convulsed with laughter.

DERIVATIVES:
splitter noun.

ORIGIN: Dutch splitten '(of a storm or rock) break up (a ship)' .

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split end

noun
a tip of a person's hair which has split from dryness or ill-treatment.

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split infinitive

noun
a construction consisting of an infinitive with an adverb or other word inserted between to and the verb, e.g. she seems to really like it.
USAGE - It is still widely held that splitting infinitives is wrong, a view based on an analogy with Latin. In that language, infinitives consist of only one word (e.g. amare ‘to love’), which makes them impossible to split. It is therefore maintained that they should not be split in English either. But English is not the same as Latin. In particular, the placing of an adverb in English is extremely important in giving the appropriate emphasis: you really have to watch him and to go boldly where no man has gone before , examples where the infinitive is not split, convey a different emphasis or sound awkward. Therefore, although still held by some to be incorrect, in standard English the use of split infinitives is broadly accepted as both normal and useful.

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split-level

adjective
1. (of a room or building) having the floor level of one part about half a storey above or below the floor level of an adjacent part.
2. (of a cooker) having the oven and hob in separately installed units.

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split pea

noun
a pea dried and split in half for cooking.

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split screen

noun
a cinema, television, or computer screen on which two or more separate images are displayed.

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split second

noun
a very brief moment of time.

adjective (split-second)
very rapid or accurate.

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splosh informal

verb
move with a soft splashing sound.

noun
a splash or splashing sound.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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splotch informal

noun
a spot, splash, or smear.

verb
make a splotch on.

DERIVATIVES:
splotchy adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps a blend of SPOT and obsolete plotch «blotch».

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splurge informal

noun
1. a sudden burst of extravagance.
2. a large or excessive amount.

verb
spend extravagantly.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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splutter

verb
1. make a series of short explosive spitting or choking sounds.
2. say in a rapid indistinct way.

noun
a spluttering sound.

DERIVATIVES:
splutterer noun.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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spoil

verb (past and past part. spoilt (chiefly Brit. ) or spoiled)
1. diminish or destroy the value or quality of.
2. (of food) become unfit for eating.
3. harm the character of (a child) by being too indulgent.
4. treat with great or excessive kindness.
5. (be spoiling for) be extremely or aggressively eager for.
6. mark (a ballot paper) incorrectly so as to invalidate one's vote.

noun
1. (spoils) stolen goods.
2. waste material brought up during the course of an excavation or a dredging or mining operation.

IDIOMS -
be spoilt for choice Brit. have so many options that it is difficult to make a choice.

DERIVATIVES:
spoilage noun.

ORIGIN: Latin spoliare, from spolium 'plunder, skin stripped from an animal' , or a shortening of DESPOIL.

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spoiler

noun
1. a person or thing that spoils.
2. a flap on an aircraft wing which can be projected to create drag and so reduce speed.
3. a similar device on a motor vehicle intended to improve road-holding at high speeds.
4. a news story published with the intention of reducing the impact of a related item published in a rival paper.

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spoilsport

noun
a person who spoils the pleasure of others.

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spoke [1]

noun
1. each of the bars or wire rods connecting the centre of a wheel to its rim.
2. each of a set of radial handles projecting from a ship's wheel.
3. each of the metal rods in an umbrella to which the material is attached.

IDIOMS -
put a spoke in someone's wheel Brit. prevent someone from carrying out a plan.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SPIKE.

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spoken
past participle of SPEAK.
adjective (in combination )
speaking in a specified way: a soft-spoken man.

IDIOMS -
be spoken for
1. be already claimed or reserved.
2. already have a romantic commitment.

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spokesman (or spokeswoman)

noun
a person who makes statements on behalf of a group.

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spokesperson

noun (pl. spokespersons or spokespeople)
a spokesman or spokeswoman (used as a neutral alternative).

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spondee

noun Poetry
a foot consisting of two long (or stressed) syllables.

ORIGIN: from Greek spondeios pous 'foot of a libation' , from spond 'libation' (being characteristic of music accompanying libations).

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sponge

noun
1. an aquatic invertebrate with a soft porous body.
2. a piece of a light, absorbent substance originally consisting of the fibrous skeleton of a sponge but now usually made of synthetic material, used for washing, as padding, etc.
3. a very light cake made with eggs, sugar, and flour but little or no fat.
4. a piece of sponge impregnated with spermicide and inserted into a woman's vagina as a form of barrier contraceptive.
5. informal a person who lives at someone else's expense.

verb (sponging or spongeing)
1. wipe or clean with a wet sponge or cloth.
2. informal obtain money or food from others without giving anything in return.

DERIVATIVES:
sponge-like adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek spongos.

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sponge bag

noun Brit.
a toilet bag.

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sponge pudding

noun Brit.
a steamed or baked pudding of fat, flour, and eggs.

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sponger

noun informal
a person who lives at others' expense.

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spongy

adjective (spongier, spongiest)
like a sponge, especially in being porous, compressible, or absorbent.

DERIVATIVES:
sponginess noun.

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sponsor

noun
1. a person or organization that pays for or contributes to the costs of a sporting or artistic event or a radio or television programme in return for advertising.
2. a person who pledges an amount of money to a charity after another person has participated in a fund-raising event.
3. a person who introduces and supports a proposal for legislation.
4. a person taking official responsibility for the actions of another.
5. a godparent at a child's baptism.

verb
be a sponsor for.

DERIVATIVES:
sponsorship noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from spondere 'promise solemnly' .

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spontaneous

adjective
1. performed or occurring as a result of an unpremeditated impulse and without external stimulus.
2. open, natural, and uninhibited.
3. (of a process or event) occurring without apparent external cause.
4. Biology (of movement or activity) instinctive or involuntary.

DERIVATIVES:
spontaneity noun
spontaneously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin spontaneus, from sua sponte 'of one's own accord' .

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spoof informal

noun
1. an imitation of something, especially a film, in which its characteristic features are exaggerated for comic effect; a parody.
2. a trick played on someone as a joke.

verb
1. parody.
2. trick or hoax.

DERIVATIVES:
spoofer noun
spoofery noun.

ORIGIN: coined by the English comedian Arthur Roberts (1852 1933).

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spook informal

noun
1. a ghost.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a spy.

verb
frighten or become frightened.

ORIGIN: Dutch.

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spooky

adjective (spookier, spookiest) informal
sinister or ghostly.

DERIVATIVES:
spookily adverb
spookiness noun.

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spool

noun
a cylindrical device on which thread, film, fishing line, etc. can be wound.

verb
1. wind or be wound on to a spool.
2. Computing send (data for printing or peripheral processing) to an intermediate store.

ORIGIN: Old French espole or Low German sple; sense 2 of the verb is an acronym from simultaneous peripheral operation online.

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spoon

noun
an implement consisting of a small, shallow bowl on a long handle, used for eating, stirring, and serving food.

verb
1. transfer with a spoon.
2. informal, dated (of a couple) behave in an amorous way.

DERIVATIVES:
spoonful noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «chip of wood».

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spoonbill

noun
a tall wading bird having a long bill with a very broad flat tip.

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spoonerism

noun
an error in speech in which the initial sounds or letters of two or more words are accidentally transposed, often to humorous effect, as in you have hissed the mystery lectures.

ORIGIN: named after the English scholar Revd W. A. Spooner (1844 1930), who reputedly made such errors in speaking.

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spoon-feed

verb
1. feed (a baby or infirm adult) using a spoon.
2. provide (someone) with so much help or information that they do not need to think for themselves.

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sporadic

adjective
occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places.

DERIVATIVES:
sporadically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek sporadikos, from sporas 'scattered' .

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spore

noun Biology
a minute, typically single-celled, reproductive unit characteristic of lower plants, fungi, and protozoans.

ORIGIN: Greek spora 'sowing, seed' .

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sporran

noun
a small pouch worn around the waist so as to hang in front of the kilt as part of men's Scottish Highland dress.

ORIGIN: Scottish Gaelic sporan.

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sport

noun
1. an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others.
2. informal a person who behaves in a good or specified way in response to teasing, defeat, etc.
3. success or pleasure derived from an activity such as hunting.
4. dated entertainment; fun.
5. chiefly Austral./NZ a friendly form of address, especially between unacquainted men.
6. Biology an animal or plant showing abnormal or striking variation from the parent type as a result of spontaneous mutation.

verb
1. wear or display (a distinctive item).
2. amuse oneself or play in a lively way.

IDIOMS -
the sport of kings horse racing.

DERIVATIVES:
sporter noun.

ORIGIN: shortening of DISPORT.

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sporting

adjective
1. connected with or interested in sport.
2. fair and generous in one's behaviour.

DERIVATIVES:
sportingly adverb.

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sportive

adjective
playful; light-hearted.

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sports car

noun
a low-built car designed for performance at high speeds.

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sports jacket

noun
a man's jacket resembling a suit jacket, for informal wear.

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sportsman (or sportswoman)

noun
1. a person who takes part in a sport, especially as a professional.
2. a person who behaves sportingly.

DERIVATIVES:
sportsmanlike adjective
sportsmanship noun.

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sportswear

noun
clothes worn for sport or for casual outdoor use.

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sporty

adjective (sportier, sportiest) informal
1. fond of or good at sport.
2. (of clothing) suitable for wearing for sport or for casual use.
3. (of a car) compact and with fast acceleration.

DERIVATIVES:
sportiness noun.

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spot

noun
1. a small round mark differing in colour or texture from the surface around it.
2. a pimple.
3. a particular place, point, or position.
4. a place for an individual item in a show.
5. informal, chiefly Brit. a small amount: a spot of lunch.

verb (spotted, spotting)
1. notice or recognize (someone or something) that is difficult to detect or that one is searching for.
2. mark with spots.
3. (it spots, it is spotting, etc.) rain slightly.

IDIOMS -
in a spot informal in a difficult situation.
on the spot
1. immediately.
2. at the scene of an action or event.
put on the spot informal force (someone) into a situation in which they must respond or act.

DERIVATIVES:
spotted adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Dutch spotte.

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spot check

noun
a test made without warning on a randomly selected subject.

verb (spot-check)
subject to a spot check.

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spotless

adjective
absolutely clean or pure.

DERIVATIVES:
spotlessly adverb
spotlessness noun.

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spotlight

noun
1. a lamp projecting a narrow, intense beam of light directly on to a place or person.
2. (the spotlight) intense public attention.

verb (past and past part. spotlighted or spotlit)
1. illuminate with a spotlight.
2. direct attention to.

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spot on

adjective & adverb Brit. informal
completely accurate or accurately.

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spotty

adjective (spottier, spottiest)
1. marked with or having spots.
2. chiefly N. Amer. of uneven quality.

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spot-weld

verb
join by welding at a number of separate points.

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spouse

noun
a husband or wife.

ORIGIN: Latin sponsus, from spondere 'betroth' .

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spout

noun
1. a projecting tube or lip through or over which liquid can be poured from a container.
2. a stream of liquid issuing with great force.
3. a pipe, trough, or chute for conveying liquid, grain, etc.

verb
1. send out or flow forcibly in a stream.
2. express (one's views) in a lengthy or declamatory way.

IDIOMS -
up the spout Brit. informal
1. useless or ruined.
2. (of a woman) pregnant.

DERIVATIVES:
spouted adjective
spouter noun.

ORIGIN: related to an Old Norse word meaning 'to spit' .

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sprain

verb
wrench the ligaments of (a joint) violently so as to cause pain and swelling but not dislocation.

noun
the result of such a wrench.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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sprat

noun
1. a small marine fish of the herring family, caught for food and fish products.
2. informal any small sea fish.

IDIOMS -
a sprat to catch a mackerel Brit. a small outlay or risk ventured in the hope of a significant return.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sprawl

verb
1. sit, lie, or fall with one's limbs spread out in an ungainly way.
2. (often as adj. sprawling) spread out irregularly over a large area.

noun
1. a sprawling position or movement.
2. a sprawling group or mass, especially the disorganized expansion of an urban or industrial area into the adjoining countryside.

ORIGIN: Old English, «move the limbs convulsively».

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spray [1]

noun
1. liquid sent through the air in tiny drops.
2. a liquid preparation which can be forced out of an aerosol or other container in a spray.

verb
1. apply (liquid) in a spray.
2. cover or treat with a spray.
3. (of liquid) be sent through the air in a spray.
4. scatter over an area with force.

DERIVATIVES:
sprayer noun.

ORIGIN: related to Dutch spraeyen 'sprinkle' .

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spray [2]

noun
1. a stem or small branch of a tree or plant, bearing flowers and foliage.
2. a bunch of cut flowers arranged in an attractive way.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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spray gun

noun
a device resembling a gun which is used to spray a liquid such as paint under pressure.

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spread

verb (past and past part. spread)
1. open out so as to increase in surface area, width, or length.
2. stretch out (limbs, hands, fingers, or wings) so that they are far apart.
3. extend or distribute over a wide area or a specified period of time.
4. reach or cause to reach a larger area or more and more people: panic spread.
5. apply (a substance) in an even layer.

noun
1. the fact or action of spreading.
2. the extent, width, or area covered by something.
3. the range of something.
4. a soft paste that can be spread on bread.
5. an article or advertisement covering several columns or pages of a newspaper or magazine.
6. informal a large and elaborate meal.
7. N. Amer. a large farm or ranch.

DERIVATIVES:
spreadable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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spreadeagle

verb (usu. be spreadeagled)
stretch (someone) out with their arms and legs extended.

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spreadsheet

noun
a computer program used chiefly for accounting, in which figures arranged in a grid can be manipulated and used in calculations.

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spree

noun
a spell of unrestrained activity of a particular kind.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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sprig

noun
1. a small stem bearing leaves or flowers, taken from a bush or plant.
2. a descendant or younger member of a family or social class.
3. a small moulded decoration applied to a piece of pottery before firing.

verb
decorate with sprigs.

ORIGIN: from or related to Low German sprick.

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sprightly (also spritely)

adjective (sprightlier, sprightliest)
(especially of an old person) lively; energetic.

DERIVATIVES:
sprightliness noun.

ORIGIN: from spright, a rare variant of SPRITE.

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spring

verb (past sprang or chiefly N. Amer. sprung; past part. sprung)
1. move suddenly or rapidly upwards or forwards.
2. move suddenly by or as if by the action of a spring.
3. operate by or as if means of a spring mechanism: spring a trap.
4. (spring from) originate or appear from.
5. (spring up) suddenly develop or appear.
6. (sprung) (of a vehicle or item of furniture) provided with springs.
7. (spring on) present (something) suddenly or unexpectedly to.
8. informal bring about the escape or release of (a prisoner).
9. cause (a game bird) to rise from cover.

noun
1. the season after winter and before summer.
2. an elastic device, typically a spiral metal coil, that can be pressed or pulled but returns to its former shape when released.
3. a sudden jump upwards or forwards.
4. a place where water wells up from an underground source.
5. elastic quality.

IDIOMS -
spring a leak (of a boat or container) develop a leak. [ORIGIN: originally in nautical use, referring to timbers springing out of position.]

DERIVATIVES:
springless adjective
springlike adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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springboard

noun
1. a strong, flexible board from which a diver or gymnast may jump in order to gain impetus.
2. a thing providing impetus to an action or enterprise.

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springbok

noun
1. a southern African gazelle with a characteristic habit of leaping when disturbed.
2. (Springbok) a member of a sports team selected to represent South Africa.

ORIGIN: Afrikaans, from Dutch springen 'to spring' + bok 'antelope' .

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spring chicken

noun
1. informal a young person: I'm no spring chicken.
2. a young chicken for eating (originally available only in spring).

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spring clean

noun Brit.
a thorough cleaning of a house or room, typically undertaken in spring.

verb (spring-clean)
clean thoroughly.

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springer

noun (also springer spaniel)
a small spaniel of a breed originally used to spring game.

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spring greens

plural noun
the leaves of young cabbage plants of a variety that does not develop a heart.

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spring-loaded

adjective
containing a compressed or stretched spring pressing one part against another.

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spring onion

noun chiefly Brit.
an onion taken from the ground before the bulb has formed.

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spring tide

noun
a tide just after a new or full moon, when there is the greatest difference between high and low water.

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springy

adjective (springier, springiest)
1. springing back quickly when squeezed or stretched.
2. (of movements) light and confident.

DERIVATIVES:
springily adverb
springiness noun.

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sprinkle

verb
1. scatter or pour small drops or particles over.
2. scatter or pour (small drops or particles) over an object or surface.
3. distribute something randomly throughout.

noun
a small amount that is sprinkled.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Dutch sprenkelen.

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sprinkler

noun
1. a device for watering lawns.
2. an automatic fire extinguisher installed in a ceiling.

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sprinkling

noun
a small, thinly distributed amount.

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sprint

verb
run at full speed over a short distance.

noun
1. an act or spell of sprinting.
2. a short, fast race.

DERIVATIVES:
sprinter noun.

ORIGIN: related to Swedish spritta.

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sprit

noun Sailing
a small spar reaching diagonally from a mast to the upper outer corner of a sail.

ORIGIN: Old English, «punting pole»; related to SPROUT.

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sprite

noun
1. an elf or fairy.
2. Computing a graphical figure which can be moved and manipulated as a single entity.

ORIGIN: a contraction of SPIRIT.

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spritsail

noun
1. a sail extended by a sprit.
2. a sail extended by a yard set under a ship's bowsprit.

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sprocket

noun
1. each of several projections on the rim of a wheel that engage with the links of a chain or with holes in film, tape, or paper.
2. (also sprocket wheel) a wheel with projections of this kind.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a triangular piece of timber used in a roof: of unknown origin.

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sprout

verb
1. produce shoots.
2. grow (plant shoots or hair).
3. start to grow or develop.

noun
1. a shoot of a plant.
2. a Brussels sprout.

ORIGIN: Germanic.

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spruce [1]

adjective
neat and smart.

verb (spruce up)
make smarter.

ORIGIN: perhaps from SPRUCE in the obsolete sense 'Prussian' , in the phrase spruce leather jerkin.

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spruce [2]

noun
a widespread coniferous tree which has a distinctive conical shape and hanging cones.

ORIGIN: originally referring to Prussia or something originating in Prussia: from obsolete Pruce «Prussia».

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spry

adjective (spryer, spryest)
(especially of an old person) lively.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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spud

noun
1. informal a potato.
2. a small, narrow spade for cutting the roots of weeds.

verb (spudded, spudding)
1. dig up or cut (weeds) with a spud.
2. make the initial drilling for (an oil well).

ORIGIN: originally denoting a short knife: of unknown origin.

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spume literary

noun
froth or foam, especially that found on waves.

verb
froth or foam.

ORIGIN: Latin spuma.

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spunk

noun
1. informal courage and determination.
2. Brit. vulgar slang semen.
3. Austral. informal a sexually attractive person.

DERIVATIVES:
spunky adjective (spunkier, spunkiest) .

ORIGIN: perhaps a blend of SPARK and obsolete funk «spark».

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spur

noun
1. a device with a small spike or a spiked wheel, worn on a rider's heel for urging a horse forward.
2. an incentive.
3. a projection from a mountain or mountain range.
4. Botany a slender tubular projection from the base of a flower.
5. a short branch road or railway line.

verb (spurred, spurring)
1. urge (a horse) forward with spurs.
2. give an incentive to; encourage.

IDIOMS -
on the spur of the moment on a momentary impulse.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SPURN.

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spurge

noun
a plant or shrub with milky latex and small greenish flowers.

ORIGIN: Old French espurge, from Latin expurgare 'cleanse' (because of the purgative properties of the milky latex).

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spurious

adjective
1. false or fake.
2. (of a line of reasoning) apparently but not actually valid.

DERIVATIVES:
spuriously adverb
spuriousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin spurius 'false' .

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spurn

verb
reject with contempt.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «strike or push away with the foot»: from Old English.

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spurt

verb
1. gush out or cause to gush out in a sudden stream.
2. move with a sudden burst of speed.

noun
1. a sudden gushing stream.
2. a sudden burst of activity or speed.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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sputter

verb
1. make a series of soft explosive sounds.
2. speak in a series of incoherent bursts.

noun
a sputtering sound.

ORIGIN: Dutch sputteren.

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sputum

noun
a mixture of saliva and mucus coughed up from the respiratory tract.

ORIGIN: Latin, from spuere 'to spit' .

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spy

noun (pl. spies)
1. a person employed to collect and report secret information on an enemy or competitor.
2. a person or device that observes others secretly.

verb (spies, spied)
1. be a spy.
2. (spy on) observe furtively.
3. observe or notice.
4. (spy out) collect information about (something) before deciding how to act.

ORIGIN: from Old French espier 'espy' .

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spyglass

noun
a small telescope.

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spyhole

noun Brit.
a peephole.

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sq

abbreviation
square.

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squab

noun
1. a young unfledged pigeon.
2. Brit. the padded back or side of a vehicle seat.
3. a thick cushion, especially one covering the seat of a chair or sofa.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «inexperienced person»: of unknown origin.

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squabble

noun
a trivial noisy quarrel.

verb
engage in a squabble.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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squad

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
1. a small number of soldiers assembled for drill or assigned to a particular task.
2. a group of sports players from which a team is chosen.
3. a division of a police force dealing with a particular type of crime.

ORIGIN: Italian squadra 'square' .

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squad car

noun
a police patrol car.

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squaddie

noun (pl. squaddies) Brit. informal
a private soldier.

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squadron

noun
1. an operational unit in an air force consisting of two or more flights of aircraft.
2. a principal division of an armoured or cavalry regiment, consisting of two or more troops.
3. a group of warships detached on a particular duty or under the command of a flag officer.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a group of soldiers in square formation: from Italian squadrone, from squadra 'square' .

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squalid

adjective
1. extremely dirty and unpleasant.
2. showing a contemptible lack of moral standards: a squalid attempt to buy votes.

ORIGIN: Latin squalidus, from squalere 'be rough or dirty' .

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squall

noun
1. a sudden violent gust of wind or localized storm.
2. a loud cry.

verb
(of a baby or small child) cry noisily and continuously.

DERIVATIVES:
squally adjective.

ORIGIN: probably an alteration of SQUEAL.

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squalor

noun
the state of being squalid.

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squander

verb
waste in a reckless or foolish manner.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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square

noun
1. a plane figure with four equal straight sides and four right angles.
2. an open, typically four-sided, area surrounded by buildings.
3. an area within a military barracks or camp used for drill.
4. the product of a number multiplied by itself.
5. an L-shaped or T-shaped instrument used for obtaining or testing right angles.
6. informal an old-fashioned or boringly conventional person.

adjective
1. having the shape of a square.
2. having or forming a right angle.
3. referring to a unit of measurement equal to the area of a square whose side is of the unit specified.
4. (after a noun ) denoting the length of each side of a square shape or object: the room was ten metres square.
5. at right angles.
6. level or parallel.
7. broad and solid in shape.
8. fair and honest.
9. informal old-fashioned or boringly conventional.

adverb
directly; straight.

verb
1. make square or rectangular.
2. (squared) marked out in squares.
3. multiply (a number) by itself.
4. (square with) make or be compatible.
5. settle (a bill or debt).
6. make the score of (a match or game) even.
7. informal secure the co-operation of (someone) by offering an inducement.
8. bring (one's shoulders) into a position in whi ch they appear square and broad.

IDIOMS -
back to square one informal back to where one started.
square the circle
1. construct a square equal in area to a given circle (a problem incapable of a purely geometrical solution).
2. do something considered to be impossible.
a square deal see DEAL.
a square peg in a round hole see PEG.
square up
1. assume the attitude of a person about to fight.
2. (square up to) face and tackle (a difficulty) resolutely.

DERIVATIVES:
squareness noun
squarer noun
squarish adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French esquare, from Latin quadra 'square' .

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square-bashing

noun Brit. informal
military drill performed repeatedly on a barrack square.

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square dance

noun
a country dance that starts with four couples facing one another in a square, with the steps and movements shouted out by a caller.

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squarely

adverb
without deviation or equivocation; directly.

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square meal

noun
a substantial and balanced meal.

ORIGIN: said to derive from nautical use, with reference to the square platters on which meals were served.

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square measure

noun
a unit of measurement relating to area.

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square number

noun
the product of a number multiplied by itself, e.g. 1, 4, 9, 16.

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square-rigged

adjective
(of a sailing ship) having the principal sails at right angles to the length of the ship.

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square root

noun
a number which produces a specified quantity when multiplied by itself.

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squash [1]

verb
1. crush or squeeze (something) so that it becomes flat, soft, or out of shape.
2. squeeze or force into a restricted space.
3. suppress, subdue, or reject.

noun
1. a state of being squashed.
2. Brit. a concentrated liquid made from fruit juice and sugar, diluted to make a drink.
3. (also squash rackets) a game in which two players use rackets to hit a small rubber ball against the walls of a closed court.
4. dated a social gathering or informal meeting.

DERIVATIVES:
squashy adjective (squashier, squashiest) .

ORIGIN: from QUASH.

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squash [2]

noun (pl. same or squashes)
a gourd with flesh that can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

ORIGIN: Narragansett.

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squat

verb (squatted, squatting)
1. crouch or sit with the knees bent and the heels close to the bottom or thighs.
2. unlawfully occupy an uninhabited building or area of land.

adjective (squatter, squattest)
short or low, and disproportionately broad or wide.

noun
1. a squatting position or movement.
2. a building occupied by squatters.
3. an act of squatting in an uninhabited building.

ORIGIN: Old French esquatir 'flatten' , from Latin cogere 'compel' .

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squatter

noun
1. a person who squats in a building or on unused land.
2. Austral./NZ a large-scale sheep or cattle farmer.

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squat thrust

noun
an exercise in which the legs are thrust backwards to their full extent from a squatting position with the hands on the floor.

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squaw

noun offensive
an American Indian woman or wife.

ORIGIN: Narragansett, 'woman' .

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squawk

verb
1. (of a bird) make a loud, harsh noise.
2. say something in a loud, discordant tone.

noun
an act of squawking.

DERIVATIVES:
squawker noun.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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squeak

noun
1. a short, high-pitched sound or cry.
2. a single remark or communication: I didn't hear a squeak from him.

verb
1. make a squeak.
2. say something in a high-pitched tone.
3. informal succeed in achieving something by a very narrow margin.

IDIOMS -
a narrow squeak Brit. informal something that is only narrowly achieved.

DERIVATIVES:
squeaker noun
squeaky adjective (squeakier, squeakiest) .

ORIGIN: imitative.

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squeaky clean

adjective informal
1. completely clean.
2. beyond reproach.

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squeal

noun
a long, high-pitched cry or noise.

verb
1. make a squeal.
2. say something in a high-pitched, excited tone.
3. complain.
4. (often squeal on) informal inform on someone.

DERIVATIVES:
squealer noun.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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squeamish

adjective
1. easily nauseated or disgusted.
2. having fastidious moral views.

DERIVATIVES:
squeamishly adverb
squeamishness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French escoymos.

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squeegee

noun
a scraping implement with a rubber-edged blade, typically used for cleaning windows.

verb (squeegees, squeegeed, squeegeeing)
clean or scrape with a squeegee.

ORIGIN: from archaic squeege «to press», from SQUEEZE.

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squeeze

verb
1. firmly press from opposite or all sides.
2. extract (liquid or a soft substance) from something by squeezing.
3. (squeeze in/into/through) manage to get into or through (a restricted space).
4. (squeeze in) manage to find time for.
5. obtain from someone with difficulty.
6. (squeeze off) informal shoot (a round or shot) from a gun.

noun
1. an act of squeezing or the state of being squeezed.
2. a hug.
3. a small amount of liquid extracted by squeezing.
4. a strong financial demand or pressure.
5. (often main squeeze) N. Amer. informal a person's girlfriend or boyfriend.

IDIOMS -
put the squeeze on informal coerce or pressurize.

DERIVATIVES:
squeezable adjective
squeezer noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete queise, of unknown origin.

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squelch

verb
1. make a soft sucking sound such as that of treading in thick mud.
2. informal forcefully silence or suppress.

noun
a squelching sound.

DERIVATIVES:
squelchy adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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squib

noun
1. a small firework that hisses before exploding.
2. a short piece of satirical writing.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin; perhaps imitative of a small explosion.

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squid

noun (pl. same or squids)
an elongated cephalopod mollusc with eight arms and two long tentacles.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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squidge

verb informal
1. squash or crush.
2. squelch.

ORIGIN: perhaps imitative.

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squidgy

adjective (squidgier, squidgiest) informal, chiefly Brit.
soft and moist.

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squiffy

adjective (squiffier, squiffiest) informal
1. chiefly Brit. slightly drunk.
2. askew; awry.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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squiggle

noun
a short line that curls and loops irregularly.

DERIVATIVES:
squiggly adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps a blend of SQUIRM and WIGGLE or WRIGGLE.

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squill

noun
1. (also sea squill) a Mediterranean plant with broad leaves and white flowers.
2. a small plant resembling a hyacinth, with clusters of violet-blue or blue-striped flowers.

ORIGIN: Greek skilla.

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squint

verb
1. look at someone or something with partly closed eyes.
2. partly close (one's eyes).
3. have a squint affecting one eye.

noun
1. a permanent deviation in the direction of the gaze of one eye.
2. informal a quick or casual look.

DERIVATIVES:
squinty adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Dutch schuinte 'slant' .

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squire

noun
1. a country gentleman, especially the chief landowner in an area.
2. Brit. informal used as a friendly form of address by one man to another.
3. historical a young nobleman acting as an attendant to a knight before becoming a knight himself.

verb
1. (of a man) accompany or escort (a woman).
2. dated (of a man) have a romantic relationship with (a woman).

ORIGIN: Old French esquier 'esquire' .

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squirm

verb
1. wriggle or twist the body from side to side, especially due to nervousness or discomfort.
2. be embarrassed or ashamed.

noun
a wriggling movement.

DERIVATIVES:
squirmy adjective.

ORIGIN: probably associated with WORM.

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squirrel

noun
an agile tree-dwelling rodent with a bushy tail, typically feeding on nuts and seeds.

verb (squirrelled, squirrelling; US also squirreled, squirreling)
1. (squirrel away) hide (money or valuables) in a safe place.
2. move about inquisitively or busily.

ORIGIN: Old French esquireul, from Greek skia 'shade' + oura 'tail' .

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squirt

verb
1. (with reference to a liquid) be or cause to be ejected in a thin jet from a small opening.
2. wet with a jet of liquid.

noun
1. a thin jet of liquid.
2. a device from which liquid may be squirted.
3. informal a puny or insignificant person.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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squish

verb
1. make a soft squelching sound.
2. informal squash.

noun
a soft squelching sound.

DERIVATIVES:
squishy adjective (squishier, squishiest) .

ORIGIN: imitative.

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SS [1]

abbreviation
1. Saints.
2. steamship.

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SS [2]

noun
the Nazi special police force.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of German Schutzstaffel 'defence squadron' .

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SSE

abbreviation
south-south-east.

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SSW

abbreviation
south-south-west.

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St

abbreviation
1. Saint.
2. Street.

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st

abbreviation
stone (in weight).

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stab

verb (stabbed, stabbing)
1. thrust a knife or other pointed weapon into.
2. thrust a pointed object at.
3. (of a pain or painful thing) cause a sudden sharp sensation.

noun
1. an act of stabbing.
2. a sudden sharp feeling or pain.
3. (a stab at) informal an attempt to do.

IDIOMS -
stab in the back betray.

DERIVATIVES:
stabber noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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stability

noun
the state of being stable.

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stabilize (also stabilise)

verb
make or become stable.

DERIVATIVES:
stabilization noun.

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stabilizer (also stabiliser)

noun
1. the horizontal tailplane of an aircraft.
2. a gyroscopic device used to reduce the rolling of a ship.
3. (stabilizers) Brit. a pair of small supporting wheels fitted on a child's bicycle.
4. a substance preventing the breakdown of emulsions, especially in food or paint.

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stable [1]

adjective (stabler, stablest)
1. not likely to give way or overturn; firmly fixed.
2. not deteriorating in health after an injury or operation.
3. emotionally well-balanced.
4. not likely to change or fail.
5. not liable to undergo chemical decomposition or radioactive decay.

DERIVATIVES:
stably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin stabilis, from stare 'to stand' .

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stable [2]

noun
1. a building for housing horses.
2. an establishment where racehorses are kept and trained.
3. an establishment producing particular types of people or things.

verb
put or keep (a horse) in a stable.

ORIGIN: Old French estable 'stable, pigsty' , from Latin stabulum.

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stable boy (or stable girl)

noun
a boy or man (or girl or woman) employed in a stable.

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stable lad

noun Brit.
a person employed in a stable.

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stablemate

noun
1. a horse from the same stable as another.
2. a person or product from the same organization or background as another.

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stabling

noun
accommodation for horses.

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staccato

adverb & adjective Music
with each sound or note sharply separated from the others.

noun (pl. staccatos)
1. Music a staccato passage or performance.
2. a series of short, detached sounds or words.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'detached' .

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stack

noun
1. a neat pile of objects.
2. a rectangular or cylindrical pile of hay, straw, etc.
3. informal a large quantity.
4. a chimney or vertical exhaust pipe.
5. (also sea stack) Brit. a column of rock standing in the sea.
6. a number of aircraft flying in circles at different altitudes around the same point while waiting to land at an airport.

verb
1. arrange in a stack.
2. fill or cover with stacks of things.
3. cause (aircraft) to fly in stacks.
4. shuffle or arrange (a pack of cards) dishonestly.
5. (be stacked against/in favour of) (of a situation) be overwhelmingly likely to produce an unfavourable or favourable outcome for.

DERIVATIVES:
stackable adjective
stacker noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'haystack' .

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stacked

adjective
1. arranged in a stack or stacks.
2. filled or covered with goods.
3. (of a pack of cards) shuffled or arranged dishonestly.

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stadium

noun (pl. stadiums or stadia)
1. an athletic or sports ground with tiers of seats for spectators.
2. (in ancient Rome or Greece) a racing track.

ORIGIN: Greek stadion.

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staff

noun
1. (treated as sing. or pl. ) the employees of an organization.
2. (treated as sing. or pl. ) a group of officers assisting an officer in command of an army formation or administration headquarters.
3. a long stick used as a support or weapon.
4. a rod or sceptre held as a sign of office or authority.
5. Music another term for STAVE (in sense 3).

verb
provide with staff.

IDIOMS -
the staff of life a staple food or usual sustenance.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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staff nurse

noun Brit.
an experienced nurse less senior than a sister or charge nurse.

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staffroom

noun chiefly Brit.
a common room for teachers in a school or college.

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Staffs.

abbreviation
Staffordshire.

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stag

noun
1. a fully adult male deer.
2. an adult male turkey.
3. (before another noun ) (of a social gathering) attended by men only.
4. Brit. Stock Exchange a person who applies for shares in a new issue with a view to selling at once for a profit.

verb (stagged, stagging) Brit. Stock Exchange
buy (shares in a new issue) and sell them at once for a profit.

ORIGIN: related to an Old Norse word meaning 'male bird' .

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stag beetle

noun
a large dark beetle, the male of which has large branched jaws resembling antlers.

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stage

noun
1. a point, period, or step in a process or development.
2. a raised floor or platform on which actors, entertainers, or speakers perform.
3. (the stage) the acting or theatrical profession.
4. a scene of action or forum of debate.
5. a floor of a building.
6. each of two or more sections of a rocket or spacecraft that are jettisoned in turn when their propellant is exhausted.
7. Electronics a part of a circuit containing a single amplifying transistor or valve.
8. Geology a range of strata corresponding to an age in time, forming a subdivision of a series.
9. archaic a stagecoach.

verb
1. present a performance of (a play or other show).
2. organize and participate in (a public event).
3. cause (something dramatic or unexpected) to happen.

IDIOMS -
hold the stage dominate a scene of action or forum of debate.
set the stage for prepare the conditions for.

DERIVATIVES:
stageable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French estage 'dwelling' , from Latin stare 'to stand' .

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stagecoach

noun
a large closed horse-drawn vehicle formerly used to carry passengers and often mail along a regular route.

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stage direction

noun
an instruction in a play script indicating the position or tone of an actor, or specifying sound effects, lighting, etc.

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stage door

noun
an actors' and workmen's entrance from the street to the backstage area of a theatre.

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stage fright

noun
nervousness before or during a performance.

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stagehand

noun
a person dealing with scenery or props during a play.

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stage-manage

verb
1. be the stage manager of.
2. arrange carefully to create a certain effect.

DERIVATIVES:
stage management noun.

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stage manager

noun
the person responsible for lighting and other technical arrangements for a stage play.

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stage name

noun
a name assumed for professional purposes by an actor.

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stage whisper

noun
a loud whisper by an actor on stage, intended to be heard by the audience.

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stagger

verb
1. walk or move unsteadily, as if about to fall.
2. astonish.
3. spread over a period of time.
4. arrange (objects or parts) so that they are not in line.

noun
an act of staggering or a staggered arrangement.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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staging

noun
1. an instance or method of staging something.
2. a stage or set of stages or platforms for performers or between levels of scaffolding.
3. Brit. shelving for plants in a greenhouse.

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staging post

noun
a place at which people or vehicles regularly stop during a journey.

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stagnant

adjective
1. (of water or air) motionless and often having an unpleasant smell as a consequence.
2. showing little activity.

DERIVATIVES:
stagnancy noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin stagnare 'form a pool of standing water' , from stagnum 'pool' .

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stagnate

verb
become stagnant.

DERIVATIVES:
stagnation noun.

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stag night (also stag party)

noun
an all-male celebration, especially one held for a man about to be married.

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stagy (also stagey)

adjective (stagier, stagiest)
excessively theatrical or exaggerated.

DERIVATIVES:
stagily adverb
staginess noun.

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staid

adjective
respectable and unadventurous.

ORIGIN: archaic past participle of STAY.

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stain

verb
1. mark or discolour with something that is not easily removed.
2. damage (someone's or something's reputation).
3. colour with a penetrative dye or chemical.

noun
1. a stubborn discoloured patch or dirty mark.
2. a thing that damages a reputation.
3. a dye or chemical used to colour materials.
4. Biology a dye used to colour organic tissue so as to make the structure visible for microscopic examination.

DERIVATIVES:
stainable adjective
stainer noun.

ORIGIN: from Old French desteindre 'tinge with a different colour' .

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stained glass

noun
coloured glass used to form decorative or pictorial designs, typically used for church windows.

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stainless

adjective
unmarked by or resistant to stains.

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stainless steel

noun
a form of steel containing chromium, resistant to tarnishing and rust.

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stair

noun
1. each of a set of fixed steps.
2. (stairs) a set of such steps leading from one floor of a building to another.

ORIGIN: from a Germanic word meaning 'climb' .

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staircase

noun
a set of stairs and its surrounding structure.

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stairway

noun
a staircase.

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stairwell

noun
a shaft in which a staircase is built.

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stake [1]

noun
1. a strong post with a point at one end, driven into the ground to support a tree, form part of a fence, etc.
2. (the stake) historical a wooden post to which a person was tied before being burned alive.

verb
1. support (a plant) with a stake.
2. (stake out) mark (an area) with stakes so as to claim ownership.
3. (stake out) informal keep (a place or person) under surveillance.

IDIOMS -
stake a claim assert one's right to something.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to STICK.

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stake [2]

noun
1. a sum of money gambled on a risky game or venture.
2. a share or interest in a business or situation.
3. (stakes) prize money.
4. (stakes) a competitive situation: one step ahead in the fashion stakes.

verb
gamble (money or something of value).

IDIOMS -
at stake
1. at risk.
2. at issue or in question.

ORIGIN: perhaps from STAKE, from the notion of an object being placed as a wager on a post or stake.

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stake-out

noun informal
a period of secret surveillance.

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stalactite

noun
a tapering structure hanging from the roof of a cave, formed of calcium salts deposited by dripping water.

ORIGIN: from Greek stalaktos 'dripping' , from stalassein 'to drip' .

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stalagmite

noun
a mound or tapering column rising from the floor of a cave, formed of calcium salts deposited by dripping water.

ORIGIN: from Greek stalagma 'a drop' , from stalassein 'to drip' .

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stale

adjective (staler, stalest)
1. (of food) no longer fresh or pleasant to eat.
2. no longer new and interesting.
3. no longer performing well because of having done something for too long.

verb
make or become stale.

DERIVATIVES:
stalely adverb
staleness noun.

ORIGIN: originally describing beer in the sense «clear from long standing»: probably from Old French estaler 'to halt' .

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stalemate

noun
1. Chess a position counting as a draw, in which a player is not in check but can only move into check.
2. a situation in which further progress by opposing parties seems impossible.

verb
bring to stalemate.

ORIGIN: from Old French estale 'position' + MATE.

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stalk [1]

noun
1. the main stem of a herbaceous plant.
2. the attachment or support of a leaf, flower, or fruit.
3. a slender support or stem.

DERIVATIVES:
stalk-like adjective
stalky adjective.

ORIGIN: probably from an Old English word meaning «rung of a ladder, long handle».

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stalk [2]

verb
1. pursue or approach stealthily.
2. harass or persecute with unwanted and obsessive attention.
3. stride in a proud, stiff, or angry manner.
4. chiefly literary move silently or threateningly through.

noun
1. a stealthy pursuit.
2. a stiff, striding gait.

DERIVATIVES:
stalker noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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stall

noun
1. a stand, booth, or compartment for the sale of goods in a market.
2. an individual compartment for an animal in a stable or cowshed, enclosed on three sides.
3. a stable or cowshed.
4. (also starting stall) a cage-like compartment in which a horse is held prior to the start of a race.
5. a compartment for one person in a set of toilets, shower cubicles, etc.
6. (stalls) Brit. the ground-floor seats in a theatre.
7. a seat in the choir or chancel of a church, enclosed at the back and sides.

verb
1. (with reference to a motor vehicle or its engine) stop running.
2. (of an aircraft) be moving at a speed too low to allow effective operation of the controls.
3. stop making progress.
4. prevaricate or delay by prevaricating: she was stalling for time.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to STAND.

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stallion

noun
an uncastrated adult male horse.

ORIGIN: Old French estalon.

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stalwart

adjective
1. loyal, reliable, and hard-working.
2. dated sturdy.

noun
a stalwart supporter or member of an organization.

ORIGIN: Scots, from Old English words meaning 'place' + «worth».

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stamen

noun Botany
a male fertilizing organ of a flower, typically consisting of a pollen-containing anther and a filament.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'warp in an upright loom, thread' .

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stamina

noun
the ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «rudiments»: from Latin, plural of STAMEN in the sense 'threads spun by the Fates' .

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stammer

verb
1. speak with sudden involuntary pauses and a tendency to repeat the initial letters of words.
2. say in such a way.

noun
a tendency to stammer.

DERIVATIVES:
stammerer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to STUMBLE.

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stamp

verb
1. bring down (one's foot) heavily on the ground or an object.
2. walk with heavy, forceful steps.
3. (stamp out) suppress or put an end to by taking decisive action.
4. impress with a device that leaves a mark or pattern.
5. impress (a pattern or mark).
6. (stamp on) fix in the mind: the date was stamped on his memory.
7. cut out using a die or mould.
8. fix a postage stamp to.

noun
1. a small adhesive piece of paper recording payment of postage.
2. an instrument for stamping a pattern or mark.
3. a mark or pattern made by a stamp.
4. a characteristic or distinctive impression or quality.
5. a particular class or type: he went around with men of his own stamp.
6. an act or sound of stamping the foot.

DERIVATIVES:
stamper noun.

ORIGIN: Germanic.

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stamp duty

noun
a duty levied on the legal recognition of certain documents.

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stampede

noun
1. a sudden panicked rush of a number of horses, cattle, etc.
2. a sudden rapid movement or reaction of a mass of people due to interest or panic.

verb
take part or cause to take part in a stampede.

DERIVATIVES:
stampeder noun.

ORIGIN: Spanish estampida 'crash, uproar' .

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stamping ground (N. Amer. also stomping ground)

noun
a place one regularly frequents.

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stance

noun
1. the way in which someone stands.
2. an attitude or standpoint.
3. Scottish a street site for a market, stall, or taxi rank.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian stanza.

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stanchion

noun
an upright bar, post, or frame forming a support or barrier.

ORIGIN: Old French stanchon, from estance 'a support' .

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stand

verb (past and past part. stood)
1. be in or rise to an upright position, supported by one's feet.
2. place or be situated in a particular position.
3. move in a standing position to a specified place: stand aside.
4. remain stationary or without disturbance.
5. be in a specified state or condition.
6. remain valid or unaltered.
7. adopt a particular attitude towards an issue.
8. be likely to do something: investors stood to lose heavily.
9. act in a specified capacity.
10. tolerate, withstand, or like: I can't stand it.
11. Brit. be a candidate in an election.
12. provide (food or drink) for (someone) at one's expense.
13. (of a ship) remain on a specified course.

noun
1. an attitude towards a particular issue.
2. a determined effort to hold one's ground or resist something.
3. a stopping of motion or progress.
4. a large raised tiered structure for spectators.
5. a raised platform for a band, orchestra, or speaker.
6. a rack, base, or item of furniture for holding or displaying something.
7. a small temporary stall or booth from which promotional goods are sold or displayed.
8. (the stand) a witness box.
9. a place where vehicles wait for passengers.
10. a group of trees or other plants.
11. Cricket a partnership.

IDIOMS -
stand alone be une qualled.
stand and deliver! a highwayman's order to hand over money and valuables.
stand by
1. look on without intervening.
2. support, remain loyal to, or abide by.
3. be ready to take action if required.
stand down
1. (also stand aside) resign from or leave a position or office.
2. relax after a state of readiness.
stand for
1. be an abbreviation of or symbol for.
2. endure or tolerate.
stand in deputize.
stand off move or keep away.
stand on be scrupulous in the observance of.
stand on one's own (two) feet be or become self-reliant or independent.
stand out
1. project or be easily noticeable.
2. be clearly better.
stand to Military stand ready for an attack.
stand trial be tried in a court of law.
stand up informal fail to keep a date with (someone).
stand up and be counted state publicly one's support for someone or something.
stand up for speak or act in support of.
stand up to
1. make a spirited defence against.
2. be resistant to the harmful effects of.

USAGE - it is not good English to use the past participle stood with the verb ‘to be’, as in we were stood in a line for hours; the correct form is we were standing in a line for hours.
ORIGIN: Old English, related to STEAD.

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standard

noun
1. a level of quality or attainment.
2. a required or agreed level of quality or attainment.
3. something used as a measure, norm, or model in comparative evaluations.
4. (standards) principles of honourable, decent behaviour.
5. a military or ceremonial flag.
6. an upright water or gas pipe.
7. a tree that grows on an erect stem of full height.
8. a shrub grafted on an erect stem and trained in tree form.

adjective
1. used or accepted as normal or average.
2. (of a size, measure, etc.) regularly used or produced.
3. (of a work, writer, etc.) viewed as authoritative and so widely read.

DERIVATIVES:
standardly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French estendart, from estendre 'extend' .

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standard assessment task

noun
(in the UK) a standard test given to schoolchildren to assess their progress in a core subject of the national curriculum.

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standard-bearer

noun
1. a soldier carrying the standard of a unit, regiment, or army.
2. a leading figure in a cause or movement.

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Standard Grade

noun
(in Scotland) an examination equivalent to the GCSE.

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standardize (also standardise)

verb
1. cause to conform to a standard.
2. determine the properties of by comparison with a standard.

DERIVATIVES:
standardization noun.

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standard of living

noun
the degree of material comfort available to a person or community.

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standby

noun (pl. standbys)
1. readiness for duty or immediate action.
2. a person or thing ready to be deployed in an emergency.

adjective
(of tickets for a journey or performance) unreserved and sold only at the last minute if still available.

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stand-in

noun
a substitute.

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standing

noun
1. position, status, or reputation.
2. duration: a problem of long standing.

adjective
1. (of a jump or start of a race) performed from rest or an upright position.
2. remaining in force or use: a standing invitation.
3. (of water) stagnant or still.
4. (of corn) not yet reaped.

IDIOMS -
leave standing informal be much better or faster than.

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standing joke

noun
something regularly causing amusement or provoking ridicule.

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standing order

noun
1. Brit. an instruction to a bank to make regular fixed payments to someone.
2. Brit. an order placed on a regular basis with a retailer.
3. (standing orders) rulings governing the procedures of a parliament, council, etc.

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standing ovation

noun
a period of prolonged applause during which the audience rise to their feet.

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stand-off

noun
1. a deadlock between two equally matched opponents.
2. short for STAND-OFF HALF.

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stand-off half

noun Rugby
a halfback who forms a link between the scrum half and the three-quarters.

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stand-offish

adjective informal
distant and cold in manner.

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standpipe

noun
a vertical pipe extending from a water supply, especially one connecting a temporary tap to the mains.

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standpoint

noun
1. an attitude towards a particular issue.
2. the position from which a scene or an object is viewed.

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standstill

noun
a situation or condition without movement or activity.

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stand-up

adjective
1. involving or used by people standing up.
2. (of comedy or a comedian) performed or performing by standing in front of an audience and telling jokes.
3. (of a fight or argument) involving direct confrontation; loud or violent.
4. designed to stay upright or erect.

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stanza

noun
a group of lines forming the basic recurring metrical unit in a poem; a verse.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'standing place, stanza' .

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staphylococcus

noun (pl. staphylococci)
a bacterium of a genus including many kinds that cause pus to be formed.

DERIVATIVES:
staphylococcal adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek staphul 'bunch of grapes' + kokkos 'berry' .

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staple [1]

noun
1. a small flattened U-shaped piece of wire used to fasten papers together.
2. a small U-shaped metal bar with pointed ends for driving into wood to hold things in place.

verb
secure with a staple or staples.

ORIGIN: Old English, «pillar».

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staple [2]

noun
1. a main item of trade or production.
2. a main or important element of something.
3. the fibre of cotton or wool considered with regard to its length and fineness.

adjective
main or important: a staple food.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a centre of trade in a specified commodity: from Low German, Dutch stapel 'pillar, emporium' ; related to STAPLE.

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stapler

noun
a device for fastening papers together with staples.

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star

noun
1. a fixed luminous point in the night sky which is a large, remote incandescent body like the sun.
2. a stylized representation of a star, often used to indicate a category of excellence.
3. a famous or talented entertainer or sports player.
4. an outstanding person or thing in a group.
5. Astrology a planet, constellation, or configuration regarded as influencing one's fortunes or personality.

verb (starred, starring)
1. (of a film, play, etc.) have (someone) as a principal performer.
2. (of a performer) have a principal role in a film, play, etc.
3. mark, decorate, or cover with star-shaped marks or objects.

IDIOMS -
see stars seem to see flashes of light as a result of a blow on the head.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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starboard

noun
the side of a ship or aircraft on the right when one is facing forward. The opposite of PORT.

verb
turn (a ship or its helm) to starboard.

ORIGIN: Old English, «rudder side», because early Teutonic sailing vessels were steered with a paddle on the right side; related to STEER.

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starch

noun
1. an odourless, tasteless carbohydrate which is obtained chiefly from cereals and potatoes and is an important constituent of the human diet.
2. powder or spray made from this substance, used to stiffen fabric.
3. stiffness of manner.

verb
stiffen with starch.

ORIGIN: from Old English, «stiffened», related to STARK.

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starchy

adjective (starchier, starchiest)
1. (of food) containing a lot of starch.
2. (of clothing) stiff with starch.
3. informal very stiff, formal, or prim in manner or character.

DERIVATIVES:
starchily adverb
starchiness noun.

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stardom

noun
the state or status of being a famous or talented entertainer or sports player.

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stardust

noun
magical or charismatic quality or feeling.

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stare

verb
1. look fixedly at someone or something with the eyes wide open.
2. (stare out/down) look fixedly at (someone) until they feel forced to look away.

noun
an act of staring.

IDIOMS -
be staring someone in the face be glaringly obvious.

DERIVATIVES:
starer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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starfish

noun
a marine echinoderm having a flattened body with five or more radiating arms bearing tube feet.

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stargazer

noun informal
an astronomer or astrologer.

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stark

adjective
1. severe or bare in appearance.
2. unpleasantly or sharply clear.
3. complete; sheer: stark terror.

IDIOMS -
stark naked completely naked.
stark raving (or staring) mad informal completely mad.

DERIVATIVES:
starkly adverb
starkness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «unyielding, severe».

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starkers

adjective informal, chiefly Brit.
completely naked.

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starlet

noun informal
a promising young actress or performer.

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starlight

noun
light coming from the stars.

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starling

noun
a gregarious songbird with dark lustrous or iridescent plumage.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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starlit

adjective
lit by stars.

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Star of David

noun
a six-pointed figure consisting of two interlaced equilateral triangles, used as a Jewish and Israeli symbol.

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starry

adjective (starrier, starriest)
1. full of or lit by stars.
2. informal relating to stars in entertainment.

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starry-eyed

adjective
naively enthusiastic or idealistic.

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Stars and Stripes

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the national flag of the US.

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starship

noun
(in science fiction) a large manned spaceship for interstellar travel.

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star sign

noun
a sign of the zodiac.

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star-struck

adjective
fascinated and greatly impressed by famous people.

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star-studded

adjective
1. (of the sky) filled with stars.
2. informal featuring a number of famous people.

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START

abbreviation
Strategic Arms Reduction Talks.

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start

verb
1. begin to do, be, happen, or engage in.
2. begin to operate or work.
3. cause to happen or operate.
4. begin to move or travel.
5. jump or jerk from surprise.
6. literary move or appear suddenly.
7. rouse (game) from its lair.
8. (of eyes) bulge.
9. displace or be displaced by pressure or shrinkage.

noun
1. an act of beginning or the point at which something begins.
2. an advantage given at the beginning of a race.
3. a sudden movement of surprise.

IDIOMS -
for a start in the first place.
start at cost at least (a specified amount).
start off begin (or cause someone or something to begin) working, operating, etc.
start on
1. begin to work on or deal with.
2. informal begin to talk in a critical or hostile way to.
start over N. Amer. make a new beginning.
start out (or up) embark on a venture or undertaking.
start something informal cause trouble.
to start with as the first thing to be taken into account.

ORIGIN: Old English, «to caper, leap».

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starter

noun
1. a person or thing that starts.
2. chiefly Brit. the first course of a meal.
3. an automatic device for starting a machine.
4. a competitor taking part in a race or game at the start.
5. a topic or question with which to start a discussion or course of study.

IDIOMS -
for starters informal first of all.
under starter's orders waiting for the signal to start a race.

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starting block

noun
a shaped rigid block for bracing the feet of a runner at the start of a race.

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starting pistol

noun
a pistol used to signal the start of a race.

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starting price

noun
the final odds at the start of a horse race.

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startle

verb
cause to feel sudden shock or alarm.

DERIVATIVES:
startled adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «kick, struggle»; related to START.

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startling

adjective
1. alarming.
2. very surprising or remarkable.

DERIVATIVES:
startlingly adverb.

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star turn

noun
the principal act or performer in a programme.

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starve

verb
1. suffer or die from hunger.
2. cause to starve.
3. (be starving or starved) informal feel very hungry.
4. (be starved of or US for) be deprived of.

DERIVATIVES:
starvation noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «to die».

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stash informal

verb
store safely in a secret place.

noun
1. a secret store of something.
2. dated a hiding place.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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state

noun
1. the condition of someone or something at a particular time.
2. a nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government.
3. a community or area forming part of a federal republic.
4. (the States) the United States of America.
5. the civil government of a country.
6. pomp and ceremony associated with monarchy or government.
7. (a state) informal an agitated, disorderly, or dirty condition.

verb
express definitely or clearly in speech or writing.

IDIOMS -
state of affairs (or things) a situation.
state-of-the-art incorporating the newest ideas and most up-to-date features.
state of emergency a situation of national danger or disaster in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures.
state of grace a state of being free from sin.
the state of play Brit.
1. the score at a particular time in a cricket or football match.
2. the current situation.

DERIVATIVES:
statehood noun.

ORIGIN: partly a shortening of ESTATE, partly from Latin status (see STATUS).

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stateless

adjective
not recognized as a citizen of any country.

DERIVATIVES:
statelessness noun.

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stately

adjective (statelier, stateliest)
dignified, imposing, or grand.

DERIVATIVES:
stateliness noun.

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stately home

noun Brit.
a large and fine house occupied or formerly occupied by an aristocratic family.

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statement

noun
1. a definite or clear expression of something in speech or writing.
2. a formal account of facts or events, especially one given to the police or in court.
3. a document setting out items of debit and credit between a bank or other organization and a customer.

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state school

noun Brit.
a school funded and controlled by the state.

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statesman (or stateswoman)

noun
a skilled, experienced, and respected political leader or figure.

DERIVATIVES:
statesmanlike adjective
statesmanship noun.

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static

adjective
1. lacking movement, action, or change.
2. Physics concerned with bodies at rest or forces in equilibrium. Often contrasted with DYNAMIC.
3. (of an electric charge) acquired by objects that cannot conduct a current.

noun
1. static electricity.
2. crackling or hissing on a telephone, radio, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
statically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek statikos 'causing to stand' , from histanai 'to stand' .

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station

noun
1. a place where passenger trains stop on a railway line, typically with platforms and buildings.
2. a place where a specified activity or service is based: a radar station.
3. a broadcasting company of a specified kind.
4. the place where someone or something stands or is placed for a particular purpose or duty.
5. one's social rank or position.
6. Austral./NZ a large sheep or cattle farm.

verb
assign to a station.

ORIGIN: Latin, from stare 'to stand' .

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stationary

adjective
1. not moving.
2. not changing in quantity or condition.
USAGE - Take care to distinguish between stationary and stationery: stationary is an adjective meaning ‘not moving or changing’, whereas stationery is a noun meaning ‘paper and other writing materials’.

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stationer

noun
a seller of stationery.

ORIGIN: Latin stationarius 'tradesman at a fixed location' .

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stationery

noun
paper and other materials needed for writing.

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station house

noun N. Amer.
a police or fire station.

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stationmaster

noun
an official in charge of a railway station.

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station wagon

noun N. Amer. & Austral./NZ
an estate car.

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statistic

noun
a fact or piece of data obtained from a study of a large quantity of numerical data.

ORIGIN: German Statistik.

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statistical

adjective
relating to statistics.

DERIVATIVES:
statistically adverb.

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statistics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the collection and analysis of numerical data in large quantities.

DERIVATIVES:
statistician noun.

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stats

plural noun informal
statistics.

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statue

noun
a carved or cast figure of a person or animal, especially one that is life-size or larger.

ORIGIN: Latin statua, from stare 'to stand' .

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statuesque

adjective
(especially of a woman) attractively tall, graceful, and dignified.

DERIVATIVES:
statuesquely adverb.

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statuette

noun
a small statue.

ORIGIN: French.

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stature

noun
1. a person's natural height when standing.
2. importance or reputation gained by ability or achievement.

ORIGIN: Latin statura, from stare 'to stand' .

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status

noun
1. relative social or professional standing.
2. high rank or social standing.
3. the position of affairs at a particular time.
4. official classification.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'standing' .

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status quo

noun
the existing state of affairs.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'the state in which' .

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status symbol

noun
a possession taken to indicate a person's wealth or high status.

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statute

noun
1. a written law passed by a legislative body.
2. a rule of an organization or institution.

ORIGIN: Latin statutum 'thing set up' .

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statute book

noun
1. a book in which laws are written.
2. (the statute book) a nation's laws collectively.

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statute law

noun
the body of principles and rules of law laid down in statutes.

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statutory

adjective
1. required, permitted, or enacted by statute.
2. having come to be required or expected due to being done regularly.

DERIVATIVES:
statutorily adverb.

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staunch [1]

adjective
1. very loyal and committed.
2. archaic strong or watertight.

DERIVATIVES:
staunchly adverb
staunchness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French estanche «watertight».

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staunch [2] (US also stanch)

verb
stop or restrict (a flow of blood from a wound); stop from bleeding.

ORIGIN: Old French estanchier; related to STAUNCH.

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stave

noun
1. any of the lengths of wood fixed side by side to make a barrel, bucket, etc.
2. a strong stick, post, or pole.
3. (also staff) Music a set of five parallel lines on or between any of which a note is written to indicate its pitch.
4. a verse or stanza of a poem.

verb
1. (past and past part. staved or stove) (stave in) break (something) by forcing it inwards or piercing it roughly with a hole.
2. (past and past part. staved) (stave off) avert or delay (something bad or dangerous).

ORIGIN: from staves, variant plural form of STAFF.

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stay [1]

verb
1. remain in the same place.
2. remain in a specified state or position.
3. live somewhere temporarily as a visitor or guest.
4. Scottish & S. African live permanently.
5. stop, delay, or prevent.
6. literary support or prop up.

noun
1. a period of staying somewhere.
2. a suspension or postponement of judicial proceedings: a stay of execution.
3. a device used as a brace or support.
4. (stays) historical a corset made of two pieces laced together and stiffened by strips of whalebone.

IDIOMS -
stay the course (or distance)
1. keep going to the end of a race or contest.
2. pursue a difficult task or activity to the end.
stay on continue to study, work, or be somewhere after others have left.
stay over stay for the night as a visitor or guest.
stay put remain somewhere without moving.
stay up not go to bed.
stay with continue, persevere, or keep up with (an activity or person).

DERIVATIVES:
stayer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French ester, from Latin stare 'to stand' .

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stay [2]

noun
1. a large rope, wire, or rod used to support a ship's mast or other upright pole.
2. a supporting wire or cable on an aircraft.

verb
secure or steady with a stay.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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staying power

noun informal
endurance or stamina.

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St Bernard

noun
a breed of very large dog originally kept to rescue travellers by the monks of the hospice on the Great St Bernard, a pass across the Alps.

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STD

abbreviation
1. sexually transmitted disease.
2. Brit. subscriber trunk dialling.

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stead

noun
the place or role that someone or something should have or fill: she was appointed in his stead.

IDIOMS -
stand in good stead be advantageous to (someone) over time or in the future.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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steadfast

adjective
resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering.

DERIVATIVES:
steadfastly adverb
steadfastness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «standing firm» (see STEAD, FAST).

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steady

adjective (steadier, steadiest)
1. firmly fixed, supported, or balanced.
2. not faltering or wavering; controlled.
3. sensible and reliable.
4. regular, even, and continuous in development, frequency, or intensity.

verb (steadies, steadied)
make or become steady.

exclamation (also steady on!)
a warning to keep calm or take care.

IDIOMS -
go steady informal have a regular romantic or sexual relationship with someone.

DERIVATIVES:
steadier noun
steadily adverb
steadiness noun.

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steak

noun
1. high-quality beef from the hindquarters of the animal, cut into thick slices for grilling or frying.
2. a thick slice of other meat or fish.
3. poorer-quality beef for braising or stewing.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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steal

verb (past stole; past part. stolen)
1. take (something) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it.
2. give or take surreptitiously or without permission: I stole a look at my watch.
3. move somewhere quietly or surreptitiously.
4. (in various sports) gain (a point, advantage, etc.) unexpectedly or by exploiting the temporary distraction of an opponent.

noun
1. informal a bargain.
2. chiefly N. Amer. an act of stealing.

IDIOMS -
steal a march on gain an advantage over by taking early action.
steal the show attract the most attention and praise.
steal someone's thunder win praise or attention for oneself by pre-empting someone else's attempt to impress.

DERIVATIVES:
stealer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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stealth

noun
1. cautious and surreptitious action or movement.
2. (before another noun ) (of aircraft) designed to make detection by radar or sonar difficult: a stealth bomber.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «theft»: probably related to STEAL.

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stealthy

adjective (stealthier, stealthiest)
characterized by stealth.

DERIVATIVES:
stealthily adverb
stealthiness noun.

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steam

noun
1. the hot vapour into which water is converted when heated, which condenses in the air into a mist of minute water droplets.
2. the expansive force of this vapour used as a source of power for machines.
3. momentum; impetus: the dispute gathered steam.

verb
1. give off or produce steam.
2. (steam up) mist over with steam.
3. cook (food) by heating it in steam from boiling water.
4. clean or otherwise treat with steam.
5. (of a ship or train) travel somewhere under steam power.
6. informal move somewhere rapidly or forcefully.
7. (be/get steamed up) be or become extremely agitated or angry.

IDIOMS -
get up steam
1. generate enough pressure to drive a steam engine.
2. gradually gain impetus.
have steam coming out of one's ears informal be extremely angry.
let off steam informal get rid of pent-up energy or strong emotion.
run out of steam informal lose impetus or enthusiasm.
under one's own steam without assistance from others.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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steamboat

noun
a boat propelled by a steam engine, especially (in the US) a paddle-wheel craft of a type used on rivers in the 19th century.

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steam engine

noun
1. an engine that uses the expansion or rapid condensation of steam to generate power.
2. a steam locomotive.

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steamer

noun
1. a ship or boat powered by steam.
2. a type of saucepan in which food can be steamed.

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steam hammer

noun
a large steam-powered hammer used in forging.

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steam iron

noun
an electric iron that emits steam from holes in its flat surface.

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steamroller

noun
a heavy, slow-moving vehicle with a roller, used to flatten the surfaces of roads during construction.

verb (also steamroll)
1. forcibly pass (a measure) by restricting debate or otherwise overriding opposition.
2. force into doing or accepting something.

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steamy

adjective (steamier, steamiest)
1. producing, filled with, or clouded with steam.
2. hot and humid.
3. informal of or involving passionate sexual activity.

DERIVATIVES:
steamily adverb
steaminess noun.

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steed

noun archaic or literary
a horse.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to STUD.

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steel

noun
1. a hard, strong grey or bluish-grey alloy of iron with carbon and usually other elements, used as a structural material and in manufacturing.
2. a rod of roughened steel on which knives are sharpened.
3. strength and determination: nerves of steel.

verb
mentally prepare (oneself) to do or face something difficult.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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steel band

noun
a band that plays music on steel drums.

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steel drum (also steel pan)

noun
a percussion instrument originating in Trinidad, made out of an oil drum with one end beaten down and divided into sections to give different notes.

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steel wool

noun
fine strands of steel matted together into a mass, used as an abrasive.

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steelworks

plural noun (usu. treated as sing. )
a factory where steel is manufactured.

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steely

adjective (steelier, steeliest)
1. resembling steel in colour, brightness, or strength.
2. coldly determined; severe.

DERIVATIVES:
steeliness noun.

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steep [1]

adjective
1. rising or falling sharply; almost perpendicular.
2. (of a rise or fall in an amount) very large or rapid.
3. informal (of a price or demand) not reasonable; excessive.
4. informal (of a claim or account) exaggerated.

noun chiefly literary
a steep mountain slope.

DERIVATIVES:
steeply adverb
steepness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «extending to a great height»; related to STEEPLE and STOOP.

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steep [2]

verb
1. soak or be soaked in water or other liquid.
2. (usu. be steeped in) fill or imbue with a particular quality or influence.

ORIGIN: Germanic, related to STOUP.

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steepen

verb
become or cause to become steeper.

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steeple

noun
1. a church tower and spire.
2. a spire on the top of a church tower or roof.

DERIVATIVES:
steepled adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to STEEP.

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steeplechase

noun
1. a horse race run on a racecourse having ditches and hedges as jumps.
2. a running race in which runners must clear hurdles and water jumps.

DERIVATIVES:
steeplechaser noun
steeplechasing noun.

ORIGIN: so named because originally the race was run across country, with a steeple marking the finishing point.

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steeplejack

noun
a person who climbs tall structures such as chimneys and steeples in order to carry out repairs.

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steer [1]

verb
1. guide or control the movement of (a vehicle, ship, etc.).
2. direct or guide in a particular direction.

noun informal
a piece of advice or information.

IDIOMS -
steer clear of take care to avoid.

DERIVATIVES:
steerable adjective
steerer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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steer [2]

noun
a bullock.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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steerage

noun
1. historical the part of a ship providing accommodation for passengers with the cheapest tickets.
2. archaic or literary the action of steering a boat.

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steering

noun
the mechanism in a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft which allows it to be steered.

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steering column

noun
a shaft that connects the steering wheel of a vehicle to the rest of the steering mechanism.

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steering committee (also steering group)

noun
a committee that decides on the priorities or order of business of an organization.

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steering wheel

noun
a wheel that a driver rotates in order to steer a vehicle.

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steersman

noun
a person who steers a boat or ship.

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stellar

adjective
1. relating to a star or stars.
2. informal of or having the quality of a star performer.

ORIGIN: Latin stellaris, from stella 'star' .

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St Elmo's fire

noun
a phenomenon in which a luminous electrical discharge appears on a ship or aircraft during a storm.

ORIGIN: regarded as a sign of protection given by St Elmo, the patron saint of sailors.

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stem [1]

noun
1. the main body or stalk of a plant or shrub.
2. the stalk supporting a fruit, flower, or leaf.
3. a long, thin supportive or main section of something, such as that of a wine glass or tobacco pipe.
4. a rod or cylinder in a mechanism.
5. a vertical stroke in a letter or musical note.
6. Grammar the root or main part of a word, to which inflections or formative elements are added.
7. the main upright timber or metal piece at the bow of a ship.

verb (stemmed, stemming)
1. (stem from) originate in or be caused by.
2. remove the stems from (fruit or tobacco leaves).
3. (of a boat) make headway against (the tide or current).

IDIOMS -
from stem to stern from one end to the other, especially of a ship.

DERIVATIVES:
stemmed adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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stem [2]

verb (stemmed, stemming)
1. stop or restrict (the flow or progress of something).
2. Skiing slide the tail of one ski or both skis outwards in order to turn or slow down.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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stench

noun
a strong and very unpleasant smell.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to STINK.

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stencil

noun
a thin sheet of card, plastic, or metal with a pattern or letters cut out of it, used to produce the cut design on the surface below by the application of ink or paint through the holes.

verb (stencilled, stencilling; US stenciled, stenciling)
decorate or form with a stencil.

ORIGIN: from earlier stansel «ornament with various colours», from Latin scintilla 'spark' .

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stenography

noun N. Amer.
the action or process of writing in shorthand and transcribing the shorthand on a typewriter.

DERIVATIVES:
stenographer noun
stenographic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek stenos 'narrow' .

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stentorian

adjective
(of a person's voice) loud and powerful.

ORIGIN: from Stentor, a herald in the Trojan War.

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step

noun
1. an act of lifting and setting down the foot or alternate feet, as in walking.
2. the distance covered by a step.
3. informal a short and easily walked distance.
4. a flat surface on which to place one's foot when moving from one level to another.
5. a position or grade in a scale or hierarchy.
6. a measure or action taken to deal with or achieve something.
7. (steps or a pair of steps) Brit. a stepladder.
8. a block fixed to a boat's keel to take the base of a mast or other fitting.
9. Music, chiefly US an interval in a scale; a tone (whole step) or semitone (half step).

verb (stepped, stepping)
1. lift and set down one's foot or alternate feet.
2. set up (a mast) in its step.

IDIOMS -
in (or out of) step
1. walking, marching, or dancing in the same (or a different) rhythm and pace as others.
2. conforming (or not conforming) to what others are doing or thinking.
3. Physics in (or out of) synchrony.
follow in someone's steps do as someone else did before.
mind (or watch) one's step walk or act carefully.
step down (or aside) withdraw or resign from a position or office.
step forward offer one's help or services.
step in
1. become involved in a difficult situation, especially in order to help.
2. act as a subst itute for someone.
step on it informal go faster.
step out
1. leave a room or building briefly.
2. N. Amer. informal have a romantic or sexual relationship.
3. walk with long or vigorous steps.
step out of line behave inappropriately or disobediently.
step up increase the amount, speed, or intensity of.

DERIVATIVES:
stepped adjective
stepper noun
stepwise adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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step-

combining form
denoting a relationship resulting from a remarriage: stepmother.

ORIGIN: Old English, from a base meaning 'bereaved, orphaned' .

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step aerobics

plural noun
a type of aerobics that involves stepping up on to and down from a portable block.

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stepbrother

noun
a son of one's step-parent, by a marriage other than that with one's own father or mother.

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stepchild

noun
a child of one's husband or wife by a previous marriage.

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stepdaughter

noun
a daughter of one's husband or wife by a previous marriage.

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stepfather

noun
a man who is married to one's mother after the divorce of one's parents or the death of one's father.

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stephanotis

noun
a climbing plant with fragrant waxy white flowers.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'fit for a wreath' .

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stepladder

noun
a short folding ladder with flat steps and a small platform.

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stepmother

noun
a woman who is married to one's father after the divorce of one's parents or the death of one's mother.

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steppe

noun
a large area of flat unforested grassland in SE Europe or Siberia.

ORIGIN: Russian step'.

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stepping stone

noun
1. a raised stone on which to step when crossing a stream or muddy area.
2. an action that helps one to make progress towards a goal.

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stepsister

noun
a daughter of one's step-parent by a marriage other than with one's own father or mother.

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stepson

noun
a son of one's husband or wife by a previous marriage.

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-ster

suffix
1. denoting a person engaged in or associated with a particular activity or thing: songster.
2. denoting a person having a particular quality: youngster.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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stereo

noun (pl. stereos)
1. stereophonic sound.
2. a stereophonic CD player, record player, etc.

adjective
1. stereophonic.
2. stereoscopic.

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stereophonic

adjective
(of sound reproduction) using two or more channels so that the reproduced sound seems to surround the listener and to come from more than one source. Compare with MONOPHONIC.

DERIVATIVES:
stereophonically adverb
stereophony noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek stereos 'solid' .

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stereoscope

noun
a device by which two photographs of the same object taken at slightly different angles are viewed together, creating an impression of depth and solidity.

DERIVATIVES:
stereoscopic adjective.

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stereotype

noun
1. a preconceived and over-simplified idea of the characteristics which typify a person or thing.
2. a relief printing plate cast in a mould made from composed type or an original plate.

verb
view or represent as a stereotype.

DERIVATIVES:
stereotypy noun.

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stereotypical

adjective
relating to or resembling a stereotype.

DERIVATIVES:
stereotypic adjective
stereotypically adverb.

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sterile

adjective
1. not able to produce children, young, crops, or fruit.
2. lacking in imagination, creativity, or excitement.
3. free from bacteria or other living micro-organisms.

DERIVATIVES:
sterilely adverb
sterility noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sterilis, related to Greek steira 'barren cow' .

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sterilize (also sterilise)

verb
1. make sterile.
2. deprive of the ability to produce offspring by removing or blocking the sex organs.

DERIVATIVES:
sterilization noun.

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sterling

noun
British money.

adjective chiefly Brit.
excellent; of great value.

ORIGIN: probably from Old English steorra «star» (because some early Norman pennies bore a small star).

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sterling silver

noun
silver of at least 921 / 4 per cent purity.

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stern [1]

adjective
1. grimly serious or strict, especially in the exercise of discipline.
2. severe; demanding.

DERIVATIVES:
sternly adverb
sternness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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stern [2]

noun
the rearmost part of a ship or boat.

DERIVATIVES:
sternmost adjective
sternwards adverb.

ORIGIN: probably from an Old Norse word meaning 'steering' .

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sternum

noun (pl. sternums or sterna)
the breastbone.

ORIGIN: Greek sternon 'chest' .

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steroid

noun
1. any of a large class of organic compounds that includes certain hormones and vitamins, with a molecule containing four rings of carbon atoms.
2. an anabolic steroid.

DERIVATIVES:
steroidal adjective.

ORIGIN: from STEROL.

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sterol

noun Biochemistry
any of a group of naturally occurring unsaturated steroid alcohols, typically waxy solids.

ORIGIN: independent usage of the ending of words such as CHOLESTEROL.

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stertorous

adjective
(of breathing) noisy and laboured.

DERIVATIVES:
stertorously adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin stertere 'to snore' .

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stet

verb
let it stand (used as an instruction on a printed proof to ignore a correction).

ORIGIN: Latin.

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stethoscope

noun
a medical instrument for listening to the action of someone's heart or breathing, having a small disc that is placed against the chest and two tubes connected to earpieces.

ORIGIN: from Greek stthos 'breast' + skopein 'look at' .

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stevedore

noun
a person employed at a dock to load and unload ships.

ORIGIN: Spanish estivador, from estivar 'stow a cargo' .

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stew

noun
1. a dish of meat and vegetables cooked slowly in liquid in a closed dish or pan.
2. informal a state of anxiety or agitation.
3. archaic a public steam bath.
4. archaic a brothel.

verb
1. cook slowly in liquid in a closed dish or pan.
2. Brit. (of tea) become strong and bitter with prolonged brewing.
3. informal be in a heated or stifling atmosphere.
4. informal be in an anxious or agitated state.

IDIOMS -
stew in one's own juice informal be left to suffer the consequences of one's own actions.

ORIGIN: Old French estuve, related to estuver 'heat in steam' .

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steward

noun
1. a person who looks after the passengers on a ship or aircraft.
2. a person responsible for supplies of food to a college, club, etc.
3. an official who supervises arrangements at a large public event.
4. a person employed to manage a large house or estate.
5. chiefly historical an officer of the British royal household, especially an administrator of Crown estates.

verb
act as a steward of.

DERIVATIVES:
stewardship noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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stewardess

noun
a woman who looks after the passengers on a ship or aircraft.

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St George's cross

noun
a +-shaped cross, red on a white background (especially as a national emblem of England).

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stick [1]

noun
1. a thin piece of wood that has fallen or been cut off a tree.
2. a piece of trimmed wood used for support in walking or as a weapon.
3. (in hockey, polo, etc.) a long, thin implement used to hit or direct the ball or puck.
4. a long, thin object or piece: a stick of dynamite.
5. a group of bombs or paratroopers dropped from an aircraft.
6. the threat of punishment as a means of persuasion (as contrasted with the ‘carrot’ or enticement).
7. Brit. informal severe criticism or treatment.
8. (the sticks) informal, derogatory rural areas.
9. informal, dated a person of a specified kind: Janet's not a bad old stick.

IDIOMS -
up sticks Brit. informal go to live elsewhere. [ORIGIN: from nautical slang to up sticks «set up a boat's mast» (ready for departure).]

ORIGIN: Old English.

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stick [2]

verb (past and past part. stuck)
1. insert or push (something pointed) into or through something.
2. (stick in/into/through) be or remain fixed with its point embedded in.
3. stab or pierce with a sharp object.
4. protrude or extend in a certain direction.
5. informal put somewhere in a quick or careless way.
6. adhere or cause to adhere.
7. (be stuck) be fixed in a particular position or unable to move or be moved.
8. (be stuck) be unable to progress with a task or find the answer or solution.
9. Brit. informal accept; tolerate; endure: I can't stick Geoff.

IDIOMS -
be stuck for be at a loss for or in need of.
be stuck on informal be infatuated with.
be stuck with informal be unable to get rid of or escape from.
get stuck in (or into) Brit. informal start doing something with determination.
stick around informal remain in or near a place.
stick at informal persevere with.
stick by continue to support or be loyal to.
stick in one's throat (or craw) be difficult or impossible to accept.
stick it out informal put up with or persevere with something difficult or disagreeable.
stick one's neck out informal risk criticism or anger by acting or speaking boldly.
stick out be extremely noticeable.
stick out for refuse to accept less than.
stick to continue or confine oneself to doing, using, or practising.
stick together informal remain united or mutually loyal.
stick up informal, chiefly N. Amer. rob at gunpoint.
stick up for support or defend.
stick with informal persevere or continue with.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sticker

noun
1. an adhesive label or notice.
2. informal a determined or persistent person.

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stick insect

noun
a long, slender, slow-moving insect that resembles a twig.

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stick-in-the-mud

noun informal
a person who resists change.

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stickleback

noun
a small freshwater or coastal fish with sharp spines along its back.

ORIGIN: from Old English words meaning «thorn, sting» + «back».

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stickler

noun
a person who insists on a certain quality or type of behaviour.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «umpire»: from Old English, «set in order».

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sticky

adjective (stickier, stickiest)
1. tending or designed to stick; adhesive.
2. glutinous; viscous.
3. (of the weather) hot and humid; muggy.
4. informal difficult; awkward.
5. informal (of a website) attracting a long visit or repeat visits from users.

IDIOMS -
come to a sticky end informal be led by one's own actions to ruin or an unpleasant death.
sticky fingers informal a tendency to steal.

DERIVATIVES:
stickily adverb
stickiness noun.

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stiff

adjective
1. not easily bent; rigid.
2. not moving freely; difficult to turn or operate.
3. unable to move easily and without pain.
4. not relaxed or friendly; constrained.
5. severe or strong: stiff fines.
6. (stiff with) informal full of.
7. ( stiff) informal having a specified unpleasant feeling to an extreme extent: scared stiff.

noun informal
1. a dead body.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a boring, conventional person.

verb N. Amer. informal
kill.

DERIVATIVES:
stiffly adverb
stiffness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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stiffen

verb
1. make or become stiff.
2. make or become stronger or more steadfast.

DERIVATIVES:
stiffener noun.

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stiff upper lip

noun
a quality of uncomplaining endurance.

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stifle

verb
1. prevent from breathing freely; suffocate.
2. smother or suppress.
3. prevent or constrain (an activity or idea).

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French estouffer 'smother, stifle' .

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stifling

adjective
unpleasantly hot and stuffy.

DERIVATIVES:
stiflingly adverb.

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stigma

noun (pl. stigmas or especially in sense 2 stigmata)
1. a mark or sign of disgrace or discredit.
2. (stigmata) (in Christian tradition) marks corresponding to those left on Christ's body by the Crucifixion, said to have been impressed by divine favour on the bodies of St Francis of Assisi and others.
3. Medicine a visible sign or characteristic of a disease.
4. Botany the part of a pistil that receives the pollen during pollination.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'a mark made by a pointed instrument, a dot' .

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stigmatize (also stigmatise)

verb
1. regard as worthy of disgrace.
2. mark with stigmata.

DERIVATIVES:
stigmatization noun.

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stile

noun
an arrangement of steps set into a fence or wall that allows people to climb over.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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stiletto

noun (pl. stilettos)
1. chiefly Brit. a thin, high tapering heel on a woman's shoe.
2. a short dagger with a tapering blade.
3. a sharp-pointed tool for making eyelet holes.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'little dagger' .

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still [1]

adjective
1. not moving.
2. (of air or water) undisturbed by wind, sound, or current.
3. (of a drink) not fizzy.

noun
1. a state of deep and quiet calm.
2. a photograph or a single shot from a cinema film.

adverb
1. even now or at a particular time.
2. nevertheless.
3. even: better still.

verb
make or become still.

DERIVATIVES:
stillness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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still [2]

noun
an apparatus for distilling alcoholic drinks such as whisky.

ORIGIN: from DISTIL.

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stillbirth

noun
the birth of an infant that has died in the womb.

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stillborn

adjective
1. (of an infant) born dead.
2. (of a proposal or plan) having failed to develop or succeed; unrealized.

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still life

noun
a painting or drawing of an arrangement of objects such as flowers or fruit.

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stilt

noun
1. either of a pair of upright poles with supports for the feet enabling the user to walk raised above the ground.
2. each of a set of posts or piles supporting a building.
3. a long-billed wading bird with very long slender legs.

ORIGIN: Germanic.

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stilted

adjective
1. (of speech or writing) stiff and self-conscious or unnatural.
2. standing on stilts.

DERIVATIVES:
stiltedly adverb
stiltedness noun.

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Stilton

noun trademark
a kind of strong, rich blue cheese originally made in Leicestershire.

ORIGIN: so named because it was formerly sold at a coaching inn in Stilton, Cambridgeshire.

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stimulant

noun
1. a substance that acts to increase physiological or nervous activity in the body.
2. something that promotes activity, interest, or enthusiasm.

adjective
acting as a stimulant.

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stimulate

verb
1. apply or act as a stimulus to.
2. animate or excite.

DERIVATIVES:
stimulation noun
stimulator noun
stimulatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin stimulare 'urge, goad' .

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stimulus

noun (pl. stimuli)
1. something that evokes a specific reaction in an organ or tissue.
2. something that promotes activity, interest, or enthusiasm.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'goad, spur, incentive' .

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sting

noun
1. a small sharp-pointed organ of an insect, capable of inflicting a painful wound by injecting poison.
2. any of a number of minute hairs on certain plants, causing inflammation if touched.
3. a wound from a sting.
4. a sharp tingling sensation or hurtful effect.
5. informal a carefully planned undercover operation.

verb (past and past part. stung)
1. wound with a sting.
2. produce a stinging sensation.
3. hurt; upset.
4. (sting into) provoke (someone) to do (something) by causing annoyance or offence.
5. informal swindle or exorbitantly overcharge.

IDIOMS -
sting in the tail an unexpected and unpleasant end to something.

DERIVATIVES:
stinger noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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stinging nettle

noun
a nettle covered in stinging hairs.

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stingray

noun
a marine ray with a long poisonous serrated spine at the base of the tail.

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stingy

adjective (stingier, stingiest) informal
mean; ungenerous.

DERIVATIVES:
stingily adverb
stinginess noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps a dialect variant of STING.

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stink

verb (past stank or stunk; past part. stunk)
1. have a strong unpleasant smell.
2. informal be contemptible or scandalous.

noun
1. a strong, unpleasant smell.
2. informal a row or fuss.

IDIOMS -
like stink informal extremely hard or intensely.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to STENCH.

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stinker

noun informal
1. a person or thing that stinks.
2. a contemptible or very unpleasant person or thing.

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stinking

adjective
1. foul-smelling.
2. informal contemptible or very unpleasant.

adverb informal
extremely: stinking rich.

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stinky

adjective (stinkier, stinkiest) informal
having a strong unpleasant smell.

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stint

verb (also stint on)
be restrictive or ungenerous towards (someone) or in providing (something).

noun
1. an allotted period of work.
2. limited supply or effort.

ORIGIN: Old English, 'make blunt' .

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stipend

noun
a fixed regular sum paid as a salary or as expenses to a clergyman, teacher, or public official.

ORIGIN: Latin stipendium, from stips 'wages' + pendere 'to pay' .

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stipendiary

adjective
1. receiving a stipend; working for pay rather than voluntarily.
2. relating to or of the nature of a stipend.

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stipple

verb
1. mark (a surface) with numerous small dots or specks.
2. produce a decorative effect on (paint or other material) by roughening its surface when wet.

noun
the process, technique, or effect of stippling.

ORIGIN: Dutch stippelen 'to prick' .

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stipulate

verb
demand or specify as part of a bargain or agreement.

DERIVATIVES:
stipulation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin stipulari 'demand as a formal promise' .

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stir [1]

verb (stirred, stirring)
1. move an implement round and round in (a liquid or other substance) to mix it thoroughly.
2. move slightly or begin to be active.
3. wake or rise from sleep.
4. (often stir up) arouse (a strong feeling) in someone.
5. Brit. informal deliberately cause trouble by spreading rumours or gossip.

noun
1. an act of stirring or being stirred.
2. a disturbance or commotion.

DERIVATIVES:
stirrer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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stir [2]

noun informal
prison.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Romany sturbin 'jail' .

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stir-crazy

adjective informal
psychologically disturbed as a result of being confined or imprisoned.

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stir-fry

verb
fry rapidly over a high heat while stirring briskly.

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stirring

adjective
causing great excitement or strong emotion; rousing.

noun
an initial sign of activity, movement, or emotion.

DERIVATIVES:
stirringly adverb.

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stirrup

noun
1. each of a pair of devices attached at either side of a horse's saddle, in the form of a loop with a flat base to support the rider's foot.
2. (also lithotomy stirrups) a pair of metal supports for the ankles used during gynaecological examinations and childbirth.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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stirrup pump

noun
a hand-operated water pump with a footrest resembling a stirrup, used to extinguish small fires.

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stitch

noun
1. a loop of thread or yarn resulting from a single pass of the needle in sewing, knitting, or crocheting.
2. a method of sewing, knitting, or crocheting producing a particular pattern.
3. informal the smallest item of clothing: swimming with not a stitch on.
4. a sudden sharp pain in the side of the body, caused by strenuous exercise.

verb
make or mend with stitches.

IDIOMS -
in stitches informal laughing uncontrollably.
a stitch in time saves nine proverb if you sort out a problem immediately it may save a lot of extra work later.
stitch up Brit. informal
1. manipulate (a situation) to someone's disadvantage.
2. cheat or falsely incriminate.

DERIVATIVES:
stitcher noun
stitchery noun
stitching noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to STICK.

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St John's wort

noun
a herbaceous plant or shrub with yellow flowers and paired oval leaves.

ORIGIN: so named because some species come into flower near the feast day of St John the Baptist (24 June).

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stoat

noun
a small carnivorous mammal of the weasel family, with chestnut fur (white in northern animals in winter), white underparts, and a black-tipped tail.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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stock

noun
1. a supply of goods or materials available for sale or use.
2. farm animals bred and kept for their meat or milk; livestock.
3. the capital of a company raised through the issue and subscription of shares.
4. (stocks) a portion of a company's stock held by an individual or group as an investment.
5. securities issued by the government in fixed units with a fixed rate of interest.
6. water in which bones, meat, fish, or vegetables have been slowly simmered.
7. the raw material from which a specified commodity can be manufactured.
8. a person's ancestry.
9. a breed, variety, or population of an animal or plant.
10. the trunk or woody stem of a tree or shrub.
11. a plant cultivated for its fragrant flowers, typically lilac, pink, or white.
12. (the stocks) (treated as sing. or pl. ) historical a wooden structure with holes for securing a person's feet and hands, in which criminals were locked as a method of public punishment.
13. the part of a firearm to which the barrel and firing mechanism are attached.
14. a band of material worn round the neck.

adjective
1. usually kept in stock and thus regularly available for sale.
2. constantly recurring, common, or conventional: stock characters.

verb
1. have or keep a stock of.
2. provide or fill with a stock of something.
3. (stock up) amass stocks of something.

IDIOMS -
in (or out of) stock avail able (or unavailable) for immediate sale or use.
put stock in have a specified amount of belief or faith in.
take stock make an overall assessment of a particular situation.

ORIGIN: Old English, «trunk, block of wood, post».

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stockade

noun
1. a barrier or enclosure formed from upright wooden posts.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a military prison.

verb
enclose with a stockade.

ORIGIN: obsolete French estocade, related to STAKE.

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stockbreeder

noun
a farmer who breeds livestock.

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stockbroker

noun
a broker who buys and sells securities on a stock exchange on behalf of clients.

DERIVATIVES:
stockbroking noun.

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stock car

noun
an ordinary car that has been strengthened for use in a race in which competing cars collide with each other.

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stock cube

noun
a cube of concentrated dehydrated meat, vegetable, or fish stock for use in cooking.

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stock exchange

noun
a market in which securities are bought and sold.

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stocking

noun
1. either of a pair of separate close-fitting nylon garments covering the foot and leg, worn especially by women.
2. US or archaic a long sock worn by men.
3. a real or ornamental stocking hung up by children on Christmas Eve for Father Christmas to fill with presents.
4. a white marking of the lower part of a horse's leg.

DERIVATIVES:
stockinged adjective.

ORIGIN: from stock in the dialect sense «stocking».

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stocking filler (N. Amer. stocking stuffer)

noun Brit.
a small present suitable for putting in a Christmas stocking.

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stock-in-trade

noun
the typical subject or commodity a person, company, or profession uses or deals in.

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stockist

noun Brit.
a retailer that stocks goods of a particular type for sale.

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stockman

noun
1. a person who looks after livestock.
2. US an owner of livestock.

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stock market

noun
a stock exchange.

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stockpile

noun
a large accumulated stock of goods or materials.

verb
accumulate a large stock of.

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stockpot

noun
a pot in which stock is prepared by long, slow cooking.

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stock-still

adverb
without any movement; completely still.

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stocktaking

noun
the action or process of recording the amount of stock held by a business.

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stocky

adjective (stockier, stockiest)
(especially of a person) short and sturdy.

DERIVATIVES:
stockily adverb
stockiness noun.

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stodge

noun informal, chiefly Brit.
1. food that is heavy, filling, and high in carbohydrates.
2. dull and uninspired material or work.

DERIVATIVES:
stodginess noun
stodgy adjective.

ORIGIN: originally a verb in the sense «stuff to stretching point»: suggested by STUFF and PODGE.

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stoic

noun
1. a stoical person.
2. (Stoic) a member of the ancient philosophical school of Stoicism.

adjective
1. stoical.
2. (Stoic) relating to the Stoics or Stoicism.

ORIGIN: Greek stïkos, from STOA (with reference to the teaching of the ancient Greek philosopher Zeno, in the Stoa Poikil or Painted Porch, at Athens).

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stoical

adjective
enduring pain and hardship without showing one's feelings or complaining.

DERIVATIVES:
stoically adverb.

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stoke

verb
1. add coal to (a fire, furnace, etc.).
2. encourage or incite (a strong emotion).
3. (stoke up) informal consume a large quantity of food to give one energy.

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stoker

noun
1. a person who tends the furnace on a steamship or steam train.
2. a mechanical device for supplying fuel to a furnace.

ORIGIN: Dutch, from stoken 'stoke (a furnace)' (earlier 'push, poke' ).

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stole [1]

noun
1. a woman's long scarf or shawl, worn loosely over the shoulders.
2. a priest's vestment worn over the shoulders.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'clothing' .

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stolid

adjective
calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation.

DERIVATIVES:
stolidity noun
stolidly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin stolidus, perhaps related to stultus 'foolish' .

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stoma

noun (pl. stomas or stomata)
1. Botany a minute pore in the epidermis of the leaf or stem of a plant, allowing movement of gases in and out.
2. Zoology a small mouth-like opening in some lower animals.
3. Medicine an artificial opening made into a hollow organ, especially the gut or trachea.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'mouth' .

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stomach

noun
1. the internal organ in which the first part of digestion occurs.
2. the abdominal area of the body; the belly.
3. an appetite or desire for something: they had no stomach for a fight.

verb
1. consume (food or drink) without feeling or being sick: he cannot stomach milk.
2. endure or accept: what I won't stomach is thieving.

IDIOMS -
a strong stomach an ability to see or do unpleasant things without feeling sick or squeamish.

ORIGIN: Greek stomakhos 'gullet' .

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stomach pump

noun
a syringe attached to a long tube, used for extracting the contents of a person's stomach (for example, if they have taken poison).

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stomp

verb
1. tread heavily and noisily.
2. dance with heavy stamping steps.

ORIGIN: variant of STAMP.

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stone

noun
1. hard, solid non-metallic mineral matter of which rock is made.
2. a small piece of stone found on the ground.
3. a piece of stone shaped for a purpose, especially to commemorate something or to mark out a boundary.
4. a gem.
5. a hard seed in certain fruits.
6. (pl. same) Brit. a unit of weight equal to 14 lb (6.35 kg).
7. a whitish or brownish-grey colour.

verb
1. throw stones at in order to injure or kill.
2. remove the stone from (a fruit).
3. build, face, or pave with stone.

adverb
extremely or totally: stone cold.

IDIOMS -
leave no stone unturned try every possible course of action in order to achieve something.
a stone's throw a short distance.
stone me! (or stone the crows!) Brit. informal an exclamation of surprise or shock.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Stone Age

noun
a prehistoric period when weapons and tools were made of stone, preceding the Bronze Age.

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stonechat

noun
a small heathland bird with a call like two stones being knocked together.

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stone circle

noun
a megalithic monument consisting of stones arranged in a circle.

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stonecrop

noun
a plant with star-shaped yellow or white flowers which grows among rocks or on walls.

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stoned

adjective informal
under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

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stone-faced

adjective informal
revealing no emotions through the expressions of the face.

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stoneground

adjective
(of flour) ground with millstones.

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stonemason

noun
a person who cuts, prepares, and builds with stone.

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stonewall

verb
1. delay or block by refusing to answer questions or by giving evasive replies, especially in politics.
2. Cricket bat extremely defensively.

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stonewashed (also stonewash)

adjective
(of a garment or fabric) washed with abrasives to produce a worn or faded appearance.

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stonework

noun
1. the parts of a building that are made of stone.
2. the work of a mason.

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stony

adjective (stonier, stoniest)
1. full of stones.
2. of or resembling stone.
3. cold and unfeeling.

IDIOMS -
fall on stony ground (of words or a suggestion) be ignored or badly received. [ORIGIN: with biblical reference to the parable of the sower in the Gospel of Matthew.]

DERIVATIVES:
stonily adverb.

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stooge

noun
1. derogatory a subordinate used by another to do routine or unpleasant work.
2. a performer whose act involves being the butt of a comedian's jokes.

verb
1. informal move about aimlessly.
2. be a comedian's stooge.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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stool

noun
1. a seat without a back or arms.
2. chiefly Medicine a piece of faeces.
3. a root or stump of a tree or plant from which shoots spring.
4. US a decoy bird in hunting.

IDIOMS -
fall between two stools Brit. fail to be or take either of two satisfactory alternatives.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to STAND.

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stool pigeon

noun
1. a police informer.
2. a person acting as a decoy.

ORIGIN: so named from the original use of a pigeon fixed to a stool as a decoy.

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stoop

verb
1. bend one's head or body forwards and downwards.
2. have the head and shoulders habitually bent forwards.
3. lower one's standards so far as to do something morally wrong.

noun
a stooping posture.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to STEEP.

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stop

verb (stopped, stopping)
1. come or bring to an end.
2. prevent from happening or from doing something.
3. cease or cause to cease moving or operating.
4. (of a bus or train) call at a designated place to pick up or set down passengers.
5. Brit. informal stay somewhere for a short time.
6. withhold or deduct.
7. (in full stop payment of or on) instruct a bank to withhold payment on (a cheque).
8. block or close up (a hole or leak).
9. obtain the required pitch from (the string of a musical instrument) by pressing at the appropriate point with the finger.

noun
1. an act of stopping.
2. a place designated for a bus or train to stop.
3. an object or part of a mechanism which prevents movement.
4. a set of organ pipes of a particular tone and range of pitch.
5. a knob or lever in an organ or harpsichord which activates a set of pipes or strings of a particular tone and range of pitch.
6. Photography the effective diameter of a lens.

IDIOMS -
pull out all the stops make a very great effort to achieve something. [ORIGIN: with reference to the stops of an organ.]
put a stop to cause to end.
stop dead (or short) suddenly cease moving, speaking, or acting.
stop off (or over) pay a short visit en route to one's ultimate destination.
stop up Brit. informal refrain from going to bed; stay up.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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stopcock

noun
an externally operated valve regulating the flow of a liquid or gas through a pipe.

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stopgap

noun
a temporary solution or substitute.

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stoppage

noun
1. an instance of stopping.
2. an instance of industrial action.
3. a blockage.
4. (stoppages) Brit. deductions from wages by an employer for the payment of tax, National Insurance, etc.

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stopper

noun
1. a plug for sealing a hole.
2. a person or thing that stops something.

verb
seal with a stopper.

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stop press

noun Brit.
late news inserted in a newspaper or periodical either just before printing or after printing has begun.

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stopwatch

noun
a special watch with buttons that start and stop the display, used to time races.

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storage

noun
1. the action of storing.
2. space available for storing.
3. a charge for storing things in a warehouse.

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storage heater

noun Brit.
an electric heater that stores up heat during the night and releases it during the day.

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store

noun
1. a quantity or supply kept for use as needed.
2. (stores) supplies of equipment and food kept for use by members of an army, navy, or other institution.
3. a place where things are kept for future use or sale.
4. chiefly N. Amer. a shop.
5. Brit. a large shop selling different types of goods.
6. Brit. a computer memory.

verb
1. keep or accumulate for future use.
2. retain or enter (information) in the memory of a computer.
3. (be stored with) have a useful supply of.

IDIOMS -
in store about to happen.
set (or lay or put) store by (or on) consider to be of a particular degree of importance.

ORIGIN: Old French estore, from Latin instaurare 'renew' .

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storehouse

noun
1. a building used for storing goods.
2. a repository: an enormous storehouse of facts.

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storey (N. Amer. also story)

noun (pl. storeys or stories)
a part of a building comprising all the rooms that are on the same level.

ORIGIN: from Latin historia 'history' : perhaps originally referring to a tier of painted windows or sculptures on a building, representing a historical subject.

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stork

noun
a tall long-legged bird with a long heavy bill and white and black plumage.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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storm

noun
1. a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow.
2. an uproar or controversy: the book caused a storm in America.
3. a violent or noisy outburst of a specified feeling or reaction: a storm of protest.

verb
1. move angrily or forcefully in a specified direction.
2. (of troops) suddenly attack and capture (a place).
3. shout angrily.

IDIOMS -
go down a storm be enthusiastically received.
a storm in a teacup Brit. great anger or excitement about a trivial matter.
take by storm
1. capture (a place) by a sudden and violent attack.
2. have great and rapid success in (a place).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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storm cloud

noun
1. a heavy, dark rain cloud.
2. (storm clouds) an ominous state of affairs.

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storm drain (US storm sewer)

noun
a drain built to carry away excess water in times of heavy rain.

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storm petrel

noun
a small petrel with blackish plumage, formerly believed to be a sign of bad weather to come.

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storm troops

plural noun
shock troops.

DERIVATIVES:
storm trooper noun.

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stormy

adjective (stormier, stormiest)
1. affected or disturbed by a storm.
2. full of angry or violent outbursts of feeling.

DERIVATIVES:
stormily adverb
storminess noun.

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story [1]

noun (pl. stories)
1. an account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment.
2. an account of past events, experiences, etc.
3. an item of news.
4. a storyline.
5. informal a lie.

ORIGIN: Old French estorie, from Latin historia 'history' .

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storyboard

noun
a sequence of drawings representing the shots planned for a film or television production.

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storyline

noun
the plot of a novel, play, film, etc.

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stoup

noun
a basin for holy water in a church.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, related to STEEP.

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stout

adjective
1. rather fat or heavily built.
2. (of an object) sturdy and thick.
3. brave and determined.

noun
a kind of strong, dark beer brewed with roasted malt or barley.

DERIVATIVES:
stoutly adverb
stoutness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French.

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stove [1]

noun
an apparatus for cooking or heating that operates by burning fuel or using electricity.

ORIGIN: Dutch or Low German.

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stovepipe

noun
a pipe taking the smoke and gases from a stove up through a roof or to a chimney.

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stow

verb
1. pack or store (an object) tidily in an appropriate place.
2. (stow away) conceal oneself on a ship, aircraft, etc. so as to travel secretly or without paying.

DERIVATIVES:
stowage noun.

ORIGIN: shortening of BESTOW.

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stowaway

noun
a person who stows away.

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strabismus

noun
the condition of having a squint.

ORIGIN: Greek strabismos, from strabizein 'to squint' .

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straddle

verb
1. sit or stand with one leg on either side of.
2. extend across both sides of.

noun
an act of straddling.

ORIGIN: from dialect striddling «astride».

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strafe

verb
attack with machine-gun fire or bombs from low-flying aircraft.

noun
an act of strafing.

ORIGIN: humorous adaptation of the German First World War catchphrase Gott strafe England 'may God punish England' .

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straggle

verb
1. trail slowly behind the person or people in front.
2. grow or spread out in an irregular, untidy way.

noun
an irregular and untidy group.

DERIVATIVES:
straggler noun
straggly adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from dialect strake «go».

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straight

adjective
1. extending uniformly in one direction only; without a curve or bend.
2. properly positioned so as to be level, upright, or symmetrical.
3. in proper order or condition.
4. honest and direct.
5. (of thinking) clear and logical.
6. in continuous succession: his fourth straight win.
7. (of an alcoholic drink) undiluted.
8. (of drama) serious as opposed to comic or musical.
9. informal conventional or respectable.
10. informal heterosexual.

adverb
1. in a straight line or in a straight manner.
2. without delay or diversion.

noun
1. the straight part of something.
2. Poker a continuous sequence of five cards.
3. informal a conventional person.
4. informal a heterosexual.

IDIOMS -
go straight live an honest life after being a criminal.
keep a straight face keep a blank or serious facial expression when trying not to laugh.
the straight and narrow the honest and morally acceptable way of living.
straight away immediately.
a straight fight Brit. a contest between just two opponents.
straight from the shoulder
1. dated (of a blow) swift and well delivered.
2. (of words) frank or direct.
straight off (or out) informal without hesitation or deliberatio n.
straight up informal
1. Brit. honestly.
2. chiefly N. Amer. undiluted or unadulterated.

DERIVATIVES:
straightly adverb
straightness noun.

ORIGIN: archaic past participle of STRETCH.

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straight angle

noun Mathematics
an angle of 180°.

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straight edge

noun
a bar with one edge accurately straight, used for testing straightness.

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straighten

verb
1. make or become straight.
2. stand or sit erect after bending.

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straightforward

adjective
1. easy to do or understand.
2. honest and open.

DERIVATIVES:
straightforwardly adverb
straightforwardness noun.

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straight man

noun
a comedian's stooge.

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strain [1]

verb
1. force (a part of one's body or oneself) to make an unusually great effort.
2. injure (a limb, muscle, or organ) by overexertion.
3. make severe or excessive demands on.
4. pull or push forcibly at something.
5. pour (a mainly liquid substance) through a sieve or similar device to separate out any solid matter.

noun
1. a force tending to strain something to an extreme degree.
2. an injury caused by straining a muscle, limb, etc.
3. a severe demand on strength or resources.
4. a state of tension or exhaustion caused by severe demands or pressures.
5. the sound of a piece of music as it is played or performed.

ORIGIN: Old French estreindre, from Latin stringere 'draw tight' .

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strain [2]

noun
1. a distinct breed or variety of an animal, plant, or other organism.
2. a tendency in a person's character.

ORIGIN: Old English, «acquisition, gain».

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strained

adjective
1. not relaxed or comfortable; showing signs of strain.
2. produced by deliberate effort; artificial or laboured.

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strainer

noun
a device for straining liquids, having holes punched in it or made of crossed wire.

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strait

noun
1. (also straits) a narrow passage of water connecting two seas or other large areas of water.
2. (straits) a situation characterized by a specified degree of trouble or difficulty: the economy is in dire straits.

adjective archaic
1. narrow or cramped.
2. strict or rigorous.

ORIGIN: Old French estreit 'tight, narrow' , from Latin strictus 'tightened' .

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straitjacket (also straightjacket)

noun
1. a strong garment with long sleeves which can be tied together to confine the arms of a violent prisoner or mental patient.
2. a severe restriction.

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strait-laced (also straight-laced)

adjective
having or showing very strict moral attitudes.

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strand [1]

verb
1. drive or leave aground on a shore.
2. leave without the means to move from a place.

noun literary
the shore of a sea, lake, or large river.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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strand [2]

noun
1. a single thin length of thread, wire, etc.
2. an element that forms part of a complex whole.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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strange

adjective
1. unusual or surprising.
2. not previously visited, seen, or encountered.
3. (strange to/at/in) archaic unaccustomed to or unfamiliar with.
4. Physics denoting one of the six flavours of quark.

DERIVATIVES:
strangely adverb
strangeness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French estrange, from Latin extraneus 'external, strange' .

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stranger

noun
1. a person whom one does not know.
2. a person who does not know, or is not known in, a particular place.
3. (stranger to) a person entirely unaccustomed to (a feeling, experience, or situation).

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strangle

verb
1. squeeze or constrict the neck of, especially so as to cause death.
2. suppress or hinder (an impulse, action, or sound).

DERIVATIVES:
strangler noun.

ORIGIN: Old French estrangler, from Greek strangal 'halter' .

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stranglehold

noun
1. a grip around the neck of a person that can kill by asphyxiation if held for long enough.
2. complete or overwhelming control.

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strangulation

noun
1. the action of strangling or the state of being strangled.
2. Medicine the condition in which circulation of blood to a part of the body is cut off by constriction.

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strap

noun
1. a strip of flexible material used for fastening, securing, carrying, or holding on to.
2. a strip of metal, often hinged, used for fastening or securing.
3. (the strap) punishment by beating with a leather strap.

verb (strapped, strapping)
1. fasten or secure with a strap.
2. Brit. bind (an injured part of the body) with adhesive plaster.
3. beat with a leather strap.
4. (strapped) informal short of money.

DERIVATIVES:
strapless adjective
strappy adjective.

ORIGIN: dialect form of STROP.

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strapping [1]

adjective
(of a person) big and strong.

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strapping [2]

noun
1. adhesive plaster for strapping injuries.
2. leather or metal straps.

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stratagem

noun
1. a plan or scheme intended to outwit an opponent.
2. archaic cunning.

ORIGIN: Greek stratgma, from stratgein 'be a general' .

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strategic

adjective
1. forming part of a long-term plan or aim to achieve a specific purpose.
2. relating to the gaining of overall or long-term military advantage.
3. (of bombing or weapons) done or for use against industrial areas and communication centres in enemy territory. Often contrasted with TACTICAL.

DERIVATIVES:
strategically adverb.

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strategy

noun (pl. strategies)
1. a plan designed to achieve a particular long-term aim.
2. the art of planning and directing military activity in a war or battle. Often contrasted with tactics (see TACTIC).

DERIVATIVES:
strategist noun.

ORIGIN: Greek stratgia 'generalship' .

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stratify

verb (stratifies, stratified)
1. form or arrange into strata.
2. arrange or classify.

DERIVATIVES:
stratification noun.

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stratosphere

noun
1. the layer of the earth's atmosphere above the troposphere and below the mesosphere.
2. informal the very highest levels of something.

DERIVATIVES:
stratospheric adjective.

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stratum

noun (pl. strata)
1. a layer or a series of layers of rock.
2. a thin layer within any structure.
3. a level or class of society.

DERIVATIVES:
stratal adjective.
USAGE - It is incorrect to use strata as a singular or to create the form stratas as the plural. In this case English follows Latin, in which one layer is a stratum and more than one are strata.
ORIGIN: Latin, 'something spread or laid down' .

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stratus

noun
cloud forming a continuous horizontal grey sheet, often with rain or snow.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'strewn' .

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straw

noun
1. dried stalks of grain, used as fodder or for thatching, packing, or weaving.
2. a single dried stalk of grain.
3. a thin hollow tube of paper or plastic for sucking drink from a container.
4. a pale yellow colour.

IDIOMS -
clutch at straws resort in desperation to unlikely or inadequate means of salvation. [ORIGIN: from the proverb a drowning man will clutch at a straw.]
draw the short straw be chosen to perform an unpleasant task.
the last (or final) straw a further minor difficulty that comes after a series of difficulties and makes a situation unbearable. [ORIGIN: from the proverb the last straw breaks the (laden) camel's back.]
a straw in the wind a slight hint of future developments.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to STREW.

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strawberry

noun
1. a sweet soft red fruit with a seed-studded surface.
2. a deep pinkish-red colour.

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strawberry blonde

adjective
(of hair) having a light reddish-blonde colour.

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straw poll (N. Amer. also straw vote)

noun
an unofficial ballot conducted as a test of opinion.

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stray

verb
1. move away aimlessly from a group or from the right course or place.
2. (of the eyes or a hand) move idly in a specified direction.
3. informal be unfaithful to a spouse or partner.

adjective
1. not in the right place; separated from a group.
2. (of a domestic animal) having no home or having wandered away from home.

noun
a stray person or thing, especially a domestic animal.

ORIGIN: Old French estrayer, from Latin extra 'out of bounds' + vagari 'wander' .

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streak

noun
1. a long, thin mark of a different substance or colour from its surroundings.
2. an element of a specified kind in someone's character: a ruthless streak.
3. a spell of specified success or luck: a winning streak .

verb
1. mark with streaks.
2. move very fast in a specified direction.
3. informal run naked in a public place so as to shock or amuse.

DERIVATIVES:
streaker noun
streaking noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to STRIKE.

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streaky

adjective (streakier, streakiest)
1. having streaks.
2. Brit. (of bacon) from the belly, thus having alternate strips of fat and lean.

DERIVATIVES:
streakily adverb
streakiness noun.

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stream

noun
1. a small, narrow river.
2. a continuous flow of liquid, air, gas, people, etc.
3. Brit. a group in which schoolchildren of the same age and ability are taught.

verb
1. run or move in a continuous flow.
2. (usu. be streaming) run with tears, sweat, or other liquid.
3. float at full extent in the wind.
4. Brit. put (schoolchildren) in streams.

IDIOMS -
against (or with) the stream against (or with) the prevailing view or tendency.
on stream in or into operation or existence.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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streamer

noun
1. a long, narrow strip of material used as a decoration or flag.
2. a banner headline in a newspaper.
3. Fishing a fly with feathers attached.

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streaming

adjective
(of a cold) accompanied by copious running of the nose and eyes.

noun
a method of relaying data (especially video and audio material) over a computer network as a steady continuous stream.

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streamline

verb
1. design or form in a way that presents very little resistance to a flow of air or water.
2. make (an organization or system) more efficient by employing faster or simpler working methods.

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street

noun
1. a public road in a city, town, or village.
2. (before another noun ) relating to the subculture of fashionable urban youth: street style.
3. (before another noun ) homeless: street children.

IDIOMS -
not in the same street Brit. informal far inferior in terms of ability.
on the streets
1. homeless.
2. working as a prostitute.
streets ahead Brit. informal greatly superior.
up (or right up) one's street (or N. Amer. alley) informal well suited to one's tastes, interests, or abilities.

ORIGIN: from Latin strta via 'paved way' .

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streetcar

noun N. Amer.
a tram.

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street value

noun
the price a commodity would fetch if sold illicitly.

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streetwalker

noun
a prostitute who seeks clients in the street.

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streetwise

adjective informal
having the skills and knowledge necessary for dealing with modern urban life.

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strength

noun
1. the quality or state of being strong.
2. a good or beneficial quality or attribute.
3. literary a source of mental or emotional support.
4. the number of people comprising a group.
5. a full complement of people: 100 staff below strength.

IDIOMS -
go from strength to strength progress with increasing success.
in strength in large numbers.
on the strength of on the basis or with the justification of.
tower (or pillar) of strength a person who can be relied upon to support and comfort others.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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strengthen

verb
make or become stronger.

DERIVATIVES:
strengthener noun.

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strenuous

adjective
requiring or using great exertion.

DERIVATIVES:
strenuously adverb
strenuousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin strenuus 'brisk' .

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streptococcus

noun (pl. streptococci)
a bacterium of a large genus including those causing scarlet fever, pneumonia, souring of milk, and dental decay.

DERIVATIVES:
streptococcal adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek streptos 'twisted' .

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streptomycin

noun Medicine
an antibiotic used against tuberculosis.

ORIGIN: from Greek streptos 'twisted' + muks 'fungus' .

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stress

noun
1. pressure or tension exerted on a material object.
2. a state of mental, emotional, or other strain.
3. particular emphasis.
4. emphasis given to a syllable or word in speech.

verb
1. emphasize.
2. give emphasis to (a syllable or word) when pronouncing it.
3. subject to pressure, tension, or strain.

ORIGIN: shortening of DISTRESS, or partly from Old French estresse 'narrowness, oppression' ; related to STRICT.

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stressful

adjective
causing mental or emotional stress.

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stretch

verb
1. (of something soft or elastic) be made or be able to be made longer or wider without tearing or breaking.
2. pull (something) tightly from one point to another.
3. extend one's body or a part of one's body to its full length.
4. last longer than expected.
5. extend over an area or period of time.
6. (of finances or resources) be sufficient for a particular purpose.
7. make demands on.

noun
1. an act of stretching.
2. the fact or condition of being stretched.
3. the capacity to stretch or be stretched; elasticity.
4. a continuous expanse or period.
5. informal a period of time spent in prison.
6. (before another noun ) informal a motor vehicle or aircraft modified with extended seating or storage capacity: a stretch limo.
7. a difficult or demanding task.

IDIOMS -
at full stretch using the maximum amount of one's resources or energy.
at a stretch
1. in one continuous period.
2. just possible but with difficulty.
stretch one's legs go for a short walk.
stretch a point allow or do something not usually acceptable.

DERIVATIVES:
stretchy adjective (stretchier, stretchiest) .

ORIGIN: Old English.

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stretcher

noun
1. a framework of two poles with a long piece of canvas slung between them, used for carrying sick, injured, or dead people.
2. a wooden frame over which a canvas is stretched ready for painting.
3. a brick or stone laid with its long side along the face of a wall.

verb
carry on a stretcher.

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stretch marks

plural noun
marks on the skin, especially on the abdomen, caused by stretching of the skin from obesity or during pregnancy.

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strew

verb (past part. strewn or strewed)
1. (usu. be strewn) scatter untidily over a surface or area.
2. (usu. be strewn with) cover (a surface or area) with untidily scattered things.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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striate technical

adjective
marked with striae.

verb (striated)
marked with striae.

DERIVATIVES:
striation noun.

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stricken
North American or archaic past participle of STRIKE.
adjective
1. seriously affected by an undesirable condition or unpleasant feeling.
2. (of a face or look) showing great distress.

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strict

adjective
1. demanding that rules concerning behaviour are obeyed.
2. (of a rule) demanding total compliance; rigidly enforced.
3. following rules or beliefs exactly.
4. not allowing deviation or relaxation.

DERIVATIVES:
strictly adverb
strictness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin strictus 'tightened' .

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stricture

noun
1. a rule restricting behaviour or action.
2. a sternly critical remark.
3. Medicine abnormal narrowing of a canal or duct in the body: a colonic stricture.

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stride

verb (past strode; past part. stridden)
1. walk with long, decisive steps.
2. (stride across/over) cross (an obstacle) with one long step.

noun
1. a long, decisive step.
2. the length of a step or manner of taking steps in running or walking.
3. a step in progress towards an aim.
4. (one's stride) a good or regular rate of progress, especially after a slow start.
5. (strides) Brit. informal trousers.

IDIOMS -
take something in one's stride deal with something difficult in a calm way.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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strident

adjective
1. loud and harsh.
2. presenting a point of view in an excessively forceful way.

DERIVATIVES:
stridency noun
stridently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin stridere 'creak' .

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strife

noun
1. angry or bitter disagreement; conflict.
2. Austral./NZ trouble or difficulty of any kind.

ORIGIN: Old French estrif.

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strike

verb (past and past part. struck)
1. deliver a blow to.
2. come into forcible contact with.
3. (in sport) hit or kick (a ball) so as to score a run, point, or goal.
4. ignite (a match) by rubbing it briskly against an abrasive surface.
5. (of a disaster, disease, etc.) occur suddenly and have harmful effects on.
6. attack suddenly.
7. (strike into) cause (a strong emotion) in.
8. cause to become suddenly: he was struck dumb.
9. suddenly come into the mind of.
10. (strike on/upon) discover or think of, especially unexpectedly.
11. (be struck by/with) find particularly interesting or impressive.
12. (of employees) refuse to work as a form of organized protest.
13. cancel or remove by crossing out with a pen.
14. (strike off) officially remove (someone) from membership of a professional group.
15. move or proceed vigorously or purposefully.
16. (strike out) start out on a new or independent course.
17. reach (an agreement, balance, or compromise).
18. (of a clock) indicate the time by sounding a chime or stroke.
19. make (a coin or medal) by stamping metal.
20. discover (gold, minerals, or oil) by drilling or mining.
21. take down or dismantle (a tent, camp, or theatrical scenery).

noun
1. an act of striking by employees.
2. a refusal to do something as an organized protest: a r ent strike.
3. a sudden attack.
4. (in sport) an act of striking a ball.
5. (in tenpin bowling) an act of knocking down all the pins with one's first ball.
6. an act of striking gold, minerals, or oil.

IDIOMS -
strike an attitude (or pose) hold one's body in a particular position to create an impression.
strike a blow for (or against) do something to help (or hinder) a cause, belief, or principle.
strike up
1. begin to play a piece of music.
2. begin (a friendship or conversation) with someone.
strike while the iron is hot make use of an opportunity immediately. [ORIGIN: with reference to smithing.]

ORIGIN: Old English, «go, flow» and «rub lightly».

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striker

noun
1. an employee on strike.
2. the player who is to strike the ball in a game.
3. (chiefly in soccer) a forward or attacker.

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strike rate

noun
the success rate of a sports team in scoring goals or runs.

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striking

adjective
1. noticeable.
2. dramatically good-looking or beautiful.

DERIVATIVES:
strikingly adverb.

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string

noun
1. material consisting of threads twisted together to form a thin length.
2. a piece of such material.
3. a length of catgut or wire on a musical instrument, producing a note by vibration.
4. (strings) the stringed instruments in an orchestra.
5. a piece of catgut, nylon, etc., interwoven with others to form the head of a sports racket.
6. a set of things tied or threaded together on a thin cord.
7. a sequence of similar items or events.
8. a tough piece of fibre in vegetables, meat, or other food.

verb (past and past part. strung)
1. arrange on a string.
2. (be strung or be strung out) be arranged in a long line.
3. fit a string or strings to (a musical instrument, a racket, or a bow).

IDIOMS -
no strings attached informal there are no special conditions or restrictions.
second string a reserve team or player.
string along informal
1. stay with a person or group as long as it is convenient.
2. mislead deliberately over a length of time.
string out prolong.
string up
1. kill by hanging.
2. (be strung up) Brit. be tense or nervous.

DERIVATIVES:
stringed adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to STRONG.

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string bean

noun
any of various beans eaten in their pods.

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stringent

adjective
(of regulations or requirements) strict, precise, and exacting.

DERIVATIVES:
stringency noun
stringently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin stringere 'draw tight' .

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string quartet

noun
a chamber music ensemble consisting of first and second violins, viola, and cello.

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stringy

adjective (stringier, stringiest)
1. resembling string.
2. tall, wiry, and thin.
3. (of food) tough and fibrous.

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strip [1]

verb (stripped, stripping)
1. remove all coverings or clothes from.
2. take off one's clothes.
3. leave bare of accessories or fittings.
4. remove (paint) from a surface with solvent.
5. (strip of) deprive (someone) of (rank, power, or property).
6. sell off (the assets of a company) for profit.
7. tear the thread or teeth from (a screw, gearwheel, etc.).

noun
1. an act of undressing, especially in a striptease.
2. Brit. the identifying outfit worn by the members of a sports team while playing.

ORIGIN: Germanic; sense 2 of the noun is perhaps from the notion of clothing to which a player ‘strips’ down.

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strip [2]

noun
1. a long, narrow piece of cloth, paper, etc.
2. a long, narrow area of land.
3. chiefly N. Amer. a main road lined with shops and other facilities.

ORIGIN: Low German strippe 'strap, thong' .

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stripe

noun
1. a long narrow band or strip of a different colour or texture from the surface on either side of it.
2. a chevron sewn on to a uniform to denote military rank.
3. chiefly N. Amer. a type or category.

verb (usu. be striped)
mark with stripes.

DERIVATIVES:
striped adjective
stripy (also stripey) adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Dutch or Low German.

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strip light

noun Brit.
a tubular fluorescent lamp.

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stripling

noun archaic or humorous
a young man.

ORIGIN: probably from STRIP (from the notion of ‘narrowness’, i.e. slimness).

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stripper

noun
1. a device or substance for stripping.
2. a striptease performer.

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strippergram

noun
a novelty greetings message delivered by a man or woman who accompanies it with a striptease act.

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strip-search

verb
search (someone) for concealed drugs, weapons, or other items, by stripping off their clothes.

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striptease

noun
a form of entertainment in which a performer gradually undresses to music in a sexually exciting way.

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strive

verb (past strove or strived; past part. striven or strived)
1. make great efforts.
2. (strive against) fight vigorously against.

DERIVATIVES:
striver noun.

ORIGIN: Old French estriver.

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strobe informal

noun
1. a stroboscope.
2. a stroboscopic lamp.
3. N. Amer. an electronic flash for a camera.

verb
1. flash intermittently.
2. show or cause strobing.

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stroboscope

noun Physics
an instrument which shines a bright light at rapid intervals so that a moving or rotating object appears stationary.

DERIVATIVES:
stroboscopic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek strobos 'whirling' .

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stroke

noun
1. an act of hitting.
2. Golf an act of hitting the ball with a club, as a unit of scoring.
3. a sound made by a striking clock.
4. an act of stroking with the hand.
5. a mark made by drawing a pen, pencil, or paintbrush once across paper or canvas.
6. a line forming part of a written or printed character.
7. a short diagonal line separating characters or figures.
8. one of a series of repeated movements.
9. a style of moving the arms and legs in swimming.
10. the mode or action of moving the oar in rowing.
11. a sudden disabling attack or loss of consciousness caused by an interruption in the flow of blood to the brain.

verb
move one's hand with gentle pressure over.

IDIOMS -
at a stroke by a single action having immediate effect.
not do a stroke of work do no work at all.
put someone off their stroke disconcert someone so that they make a mistake or hesitate.
stroke of genius an outstandingly original idea.
stroke of luck a fortunate unexpected occurrence.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to STRIKE.

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stroke play

noun
play in golf in which the score is reckoned by counting the number of strokes taken overall. Compare with MATCH PLAY.

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stroll

verb
1. walk in a leisurely way.
2. informal achieve a sporting victory easily.

noun
1. a short leisurely walk.
2. informal a victory easily achieved.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «roam as a vagrant»: probably from German strollen, from Strolch 'vagabond' .

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strong

adjective (stronger, strongest)
1. physically powerful.
2. done with or exerting great force.
3. able to withstand great force or pressure.
4. secure, stable, or firmly established.
5. great in power, influence, or ability.
6. great in intensity or degree.
7. (of language or actions) forceful and extreme.
8. (of something seen or heard) not soft or muted.
9. pungent and full-flavoured.
10. (of a solution or drink) containing a large proportion of a substance.
11. used after a number to indicate the size of a group: a crowd several thousands strong.
12. Grammar (of verbs) forming the past tense and past participle by a change of vowel within the stem rather than by addition of a suffix (e.g. swim, swam, swum).

IDIOMS -
come on strong informal behave aggressively or assertively.
going strong informal continuing to be healthy, vigorous, or successful.
strong on
1. good at.
2. possessing large quantities of.
strong meat Brit. ideas or language likely to be found unacceptably forceful or extreme.

DERIVATIVES:
strongly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to STRING.

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strong-arm

adjective
using or characterized by force or violence.

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strongbox

noun
a small lockable metal box in which valuables may be kept.

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stronghold

noun
1. a place that has been fortified against attack.
2. a place of strong support for a cause or political party.

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strongman

noun
1. a man of great physical strength, especially one who performs feats of strength for entertainment.
2. a leader who rules by the exercise of threats, force, or violence.

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strong point

noun
1. a specially fortified defensive position.
2. a thing at which one excels.

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strongroom

noun
a room, typically one in a bank, designed to protect valuable items against fire and theft.

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strop [1]

noun
1. a strip of leather for sharpening razors.
2. Nautical a collar of leather, spliced rope, or iron, used for handling cargo.

verb (stropped, stropping)
sharpen on or with a strop.

ORIGIN: probably from Latin stroppus 'thong' .

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strop [2]

noun Brit. informal
a temper.

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stroppy

adjective (stroppier, stroppiest) Brit. informal
bad-tempered; argumentative.

ORIGIN: perhaps from OBSTREPEROUS.

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structural

adjective
relating to or forming part of a structure.

DERIVATIVES:
structurally adverb.

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structure

noun
1. the arrangement of and relations between the parts of something complex.
2. a building or other object constructed from several parts.
3. the quality of being well organized.

verb
give structure to.

ORIGIN: Latin structura, from struere 'to build' .

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struggle

verb
1. make forceful efforts to get free.
2. strive under difficult circumstances to do something.
3. make one's way with difficulty.
4. have difficulty in gaining recognition or a living.

noun
1. an act of struggling.
2. a very difficult task.

DERIVATIVES:
struggler noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps of imitative origin.

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strum

verb (strummed, strumming)
play (a guitar or similar instrument) by sweeping the thumb or a plectrum up or down the strings.

noun
an instance or the sound of strumming.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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strumpet

noun archaic or humorous
a female prostitute or a promiscuous woman.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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strut

noun
1. a bar used to support or strengthen a structure.
2. a strutting gait.

verb (strutted, strutting)
1. walk with a stiff, erect, and conceited gait.
2. brace with a strut or struts.

ORIGIN: from Old English, «protrude stiffly».

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strychnine

noun
a bitter and highly poisonous substance obtained from nux vomica and related plants.

ORIGIN: from Greek strukhnos, denoting a kind of nightshade.

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St Swithin's day

noun
15 July, a Church festival commemorating St Swithin and popularly believed to be a day on which, if it rains, it will continue raining for the next forty days.

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stub

noun
1. the remnant of a pencil, cigarette, or similar-shaped object after use.
2. a shortened or unusually short thing.
3. the counterfoil of a cheque, ticket, or other document.

verb (stubbed, stubbing)
1. accidentally strike (one's toe) against something.
2. (often stub out) extinguish (a cigarette) by pressing the lighted end against something.

ORIGIN: Old English, «stump of a tree».

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stubble

noun
1. the cut stalks of cereal plants left in the ground after harvesting.
2. short, stiff hairs growing on a man's face when he has not shaved for a while.

DERIVATIVES:
stubbly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French stuble, from Latin stipula 'straw' .

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stubborn

adjective
1. determined not to change one's attitude or position.
2. difficult to move, remove, or cure.

DERIVATIVES:
stubbornly adverb
stubbornness noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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stubby

adjective (stubbier, stubbiest)
short and thick.

noun (pl. stubbies) Austral./NZ informal
a small squat bottle of beer.

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stucco

noun
fine plaster used for coating wall surfaces or moulding into architectural decorations.

verb (stuccoes, stuccoed) (usu. as adj. stuccoed)
coat or decorate with stucco.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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stuck-up

adjective informal
snobbishly aloof.

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stud [1]

noun
1. a large-headed piece of metal that pierces and projects from a surface, especially for decoration.
2. a small projection fixed to the base of a shoe or boot to provide better grip.
3. a small piece of jewellery which is pushed through a pierced ear or nostril.
4. a fastener consisting of two buttons joined with a bar, used to fasten a shirt front or to fasten a collar to a shirt.

verb (studded, studding) (usu. be studded)
1. decorate with studs or similar small objects.
2. strew or scatter: the sky was studded with stars.

DERIVATIVES:
studding noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «post, upright prop».

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stud [2]

noun
1. an establishment where horses or other domesticated animals are kept for breeding.
2. (also stud horse) a stallion.
3. informal a sexually active or virile young man.
4. (also stud poker) a form of poker in which the first card of a player's hand is dealt face down and the others face up, with betting after each round of the deal.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to STAND.

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student

noun
1. a person studying at a university or other place of higher education.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a school pupil.
3. (before another noun ) denoting someone who is studying to enter a particular profession: a student nurse.
4. a person who takes a particular interest in a subject.

DERIVATIVES:
studentship noun (Brit. )
studenty adjective (Brit. informal ).

ORIGIN: from Latin studere 'apply oneself to' .

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studio

noun (pl. studios)
1. a room where an artist works or where dancers practise.
2. a room from which television or radio programmes are broadcast, or in which they are recorded.
3. a place where film or sound recordings are made.
4. a film production company.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin studium 'zeal, painstaking application' .

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studio flat

noun Brit.
a flat containing one main room.

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studious

adjective
1. spending a lot of time studying or reading.
2. done deliberately or with great care.

DERIVATIVES:
studiously adverb
studiousness noun.

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study

noun (pl. studies)
1. the devotion of time and attention to acquiring knowledge.
2. a detailed investigation and analysis of a subject or situation.
3. a room for reading, writing, or academic work.
4. a piece of work done for practice or as an experiment.

verb (studies, studied)
1. acquire knowledge on.
2. make a study of.
3. apply oneself to study.
4. look at closely in order to observe or read.
5. (studied) done with deliberate and careful effort.

IDIOMS -
a study in a good example of (a quality or emotion).
in a brown study absorbed in one's thoughts. [ORIGIN: apparently originally from brown in the sense «gloomy».]

ORIGIN: Latin studium 'zeal, painstaking application' .

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stuff

noun
1. matter, material, articles, or activities of a specified or indeterminate kind.
2. basic characteristics; substance: Helen was made of sterner stuff.
3. (one's stuff) informal one's area of expertise.
4. Brit. dated woollen fabric, especially as distinct from silk, cotton, and linen.
5. Brit. informal, dated nonsense; rubbish.

verb
1. fill tightly with something.
2. force tightly or hastily into a receptacle or space.
3. fill out the skin of (a dead animal or bird) with material to restore the original shape and appearance.
4. (be stuffed up) have one's nose blocked up with catarrh.
5. (stuff oneself) informal eat greedily.
6. Brit. informal defeat heavily in sport.

IDIOMS -
get stuffed Brit. informal said to express dismissal or contempt.

ORIGIN: Old French estoffe 'material, furniture' , from Greek stuphein 'draw together' .

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stuffed shirt

noun informal
a conservative, pompous person.

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stuffing

noun
1. a mixture used to stuff poultry or meat before cooking.
2. padding used to stuff cushions, furniture, or soft toys.

IDIOMS -
knock (or take) the stuffing out of informal severely damage the confidence or strength of.

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stuffy

adjective (stuffier, stuffiest)
1. lacking fresh air or ventilation.
2. conventional and narrow-minded.
3. (of a person's nose) blocked up.

DERIVATIVES:
stuffily adverb
stuffiness noun.

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stultify

verb (stultifies, stultified)
1. (usu. as adj. stultifying) cause to feel bored or drained of energy.
2. cause to appear foolish or absurd.

DERIVATIVES:
stultification noun.

ORIGIN: Latin stultificare, from stultus 'foolish' .

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stumble

verb
1. trip or momentarily lose one's balance.
2. walk unsteadily.
3. make a mistake or repeated mistakes in speaking.
4. (stumble across/on/upon) find by chance.

noun
an act of stumbling.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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stumbling block

noun
an obstacle.

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stump

noun
1. the part of a tree trunk left projecting from the ground after the rest has fallen or been felled.
2. a projecting remnant of something worn away or cut or broken off.
3. Cricket each of the three upright pieces of wood which form a wicket.

verb
1. baffle.
2. Cricket dismiss (a batsman) by dislodging the bails with the ball while the batsman is out of the crease but not running.
3. walk stiffly and noisily.
4. (stump up) Brit. informal pay (a sum of money).

IDIOMS -
on the stump informal engaged in political campaigning. [ORIGIN: from the use of a tree stump as a platform for a speaker.]

ORIGIN: Low German stumpe or Dutch stomp.

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stumpy

adjective (stumpier, stumpiest)
short and thick; squat.

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stun

verb (stunned, stunning)
1. knock unconscious or into a dazed or semi-conscious state.
2. astonish or shock (someone) so that they are temporarily unable to react.

ORIGIN: Old French estoner 'astonish' .

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stunner

noun informal
1. a strikingly beautiful or impressive person or thing.
2. an astonishing turn of events.

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stunning

adjective
extremely impressive or attractive.

DERIVATIVES:
stunningly adverb.

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stunt [1]

verb
retard the growth or development of.

ORIGIN: from dialect stunt «foolish, stubborn», from Germanic.

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stunt [2]

noun
1. an action displaying spectacular skill and daring.
2. something unusual done to attract attention.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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stuntman (or stuntwoman)

noun
a person taking an actor's place in performing dangerous stunts.

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stupefy

verb (stupefies, stupefied)
1. make (someone) unable to think or feel properly.
2. astonish and shock.

DERIVATIVES:
stupefaction noun.

ORIGIN: Latin stupefacere, from stupere 'be struck senseless' .

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stupendous

adjective
extremely impressive.

DERIVATIVES:
stupendously adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin stupendus 'to be wondered at' .

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stupid

adjective (stupider, stupidest)
1. lacking intelligence or common sense.
2. informal used to express exasperation or boredom: your stupid paintings!
3. dazed and unable to think clearly.

DERIVATIVES:
stupidity noun
stupidly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin stupidus, from stupere 'be amazed or stunned' .

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stupor

noun
a state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility.

DERIVATIVES:
stuporous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from stupere 'be amazed or stunned' .

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sturdy

adjective (sturdier, sturdiest)
1. strongly and solidly built or made.
2. confident and determined: a sturdy independence.

DERIVATIVES:
sturdily adverb
sturdiness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the senses «reckless, violent» and «intractable, obstinate»: from Old French esturdi 'stunned, dazed' .

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sturgeon

noun
a very large fish with bony plates on the body, found in seas and rivers and commercially important for its caviar and flesh.

ORIGIN: Old French.

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stutter

verb
1. talk with continued involuntary repetition of sounds, especially initial consonants.
2. (of a machine or gun) produce a series of short, sharp sounds.

noun
a tendency to stutter while speaking.

DERIVATIVES:
stutterer noun.

ORIGIN: from dialect stut, from Germanic.

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sty [1]

noun (pl. sties)
a pigsty.

ORIGIN: from an Old English word found in the combination «sty pig».

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sty [2] (also stye)

noun (pl. sties or styes)
an inflamed swelling on the edge of an eyelid.

ORIGIN: dialect styany, from an Old English word meaning «riser» + EYE.

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style

noun
1. a manner of doing something.
2. a distinctive appearance, design, or arrangement.
3. a way of painting, writing, etc., characteristic of a particular period, person, etc.
4. elegance and sophistication.
5. an official or legal title.
6. Botany a narrow extension of the ovary, bearing the stigma.

verb
1. design, make, or arrange in a particular form.
2. designate with a particular name, description, or title.

DERIVATIVES:
styleless adjective
styler noun.

ORIGIN: Latin stilus 'stylus, stake, style of speaking or writing' .

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stylish

adjective
1. having or displaying a good sense of style.
2. fashionably elegant.

DERIVATIVES:
stylishly adverb
stylishness noun.

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stylist

noun
1. a person who designs fashionable clothes or cuts hair.
2. a writer noted for their literary style.

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stylistic

adjective
of or concerning style, especially literary style.

DERIVATIVES:
stylistically adverb.

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stylized (also stylised)

adjective
depicted or treated in a mannered and non-realistic style.

DERIVATIVES:
stylization noun.

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stylus

noun (pl. styli)
1. a hard point following a groove in a gramophone record and transmitting the recorded sound for reproduction.
2. an ancient writing implement for scratching letters on wax-covered tablets.

ORIGIN: an erroneous spelling of Latin stilus (see STYLE).

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stymie

verb (stymies, stymied, stymying or stymieing) informal
prevent or hinder the progress of.

ORIGIN: originally a golfing term, denoting a situation on the green where a ball obstructs the shot of another player; of unknown origin.

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styptic Medicine

adjective
capable of causing bleeding to stop.

noun
a styptic substance.

ORIGIN: Greek stuptikos, from stuphein 'to contract' .

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styrene

noun Chemistry
an unsaturated liquid hydrocarbon obtained as a petroleum by-product and used to make plastics and resins.

ORIGIN: from styrax, a gum resin.

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styrofoam

noun (trademark in the US)
a kind of expanded polystyrene, used especially for making food containers.

ORIGIN: from POLYSTYRENE + FOAM.

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suave

adjective (suaver, suavest)
(of a man) charming, confident, and elegant.

DERIVATIVES:
suavely adverb
suaveness noun
suavity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin suavis 'agreeable' .

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sub informal

noun
1. a submarine.
2. a subscription.
3. a substitute, especially in a sporting team.
4. a subeditor.
5. Brit. an advance or loan against expected income.

verb (subbed, subbing)
1. act as a substitute.
2. Brit. lend or advance a sum to.
3. subedit.

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sub- (also suc- before c; suf- before f; sug- before g; sup- before p; sur- before r; sus- before c, p, t)

prefix
1. at, to, or from a lower level or position: subalpine.
2. lower in rank or importance: subdeacon.
3. somewhat; nearly: subantarctic.
4. denoting subsequent or secondary action of the same kind: subdivision.
5. denoting support: subsidy.

ORIGIN: from Latin sub 'under, close to' .

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subaltern

noun
an officer in the British army below the rank of captain, especially a second lieutenant.

adjective
of lower status.

ORIGIN: from Latin sub- 'next below' + alternus 'every other' .

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sub-aqua

adjective
relating to swimming or exploring under water, especially with an aqualung.

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subatomic

adjective
smaller than or occurring within an atom.

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subcategory

noun (pl. subcategories)
a secondary or subordinate category.

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subconscious

adjective
of or concerning the part of the mind of which one is not fully aware but which influences one's actions and feelings.

noun (one's/the subconscious)
this part of the mind.

DERIVATIVES:
subconsciously adverb
subconsciousness noun.

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subcontinent

noun
a large distinguishable part of a continent, such as North America or southern Africa.

DERIVATIVES:
subcontinental adjective.

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subcontract

verb
1. employ a firm or person outside one's company to do (work).
2. work as a subcontractor.

noun
a contract to do work for another company as part of a larger project.

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subcontractor

noun
a firm or person that carries out work for a company as part of a larger project.

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subculture

noun
a cultural group within a larger culture, often having beliefs or interests at variance with those of the larger culture.

DERIVATIVES:
subcultural adjective.

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subcutaneous

adjective Anatomy & Medicine
situated or applied under the skin.

DERIVATIVES:
subcutaneously adverb.

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subdivide

verb
divide (something that has already been divided or that is a separate unit).

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subdivision

noun
1. the action of subdividing or the state of being subdivided.
2. a secondary or subordinate division.
3. N. Amer. & Austral./NZ an area of land divided into plots for sale.

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subdue

verb (subdues, subdued, subduing)
1. overcome, quieten, or bring under control.
2. bring (a country) under control by force.

ORIGIN: Latin subducere 'draw from below' .

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subdued

adjective
1. quiet and rather reflective or depressed.
2. (of colour or lighting) soft; muted.

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subedit

verb (subedited, subediting) chiefly Brit.
check and correct (newspaper or magazine text) before printing.

DERIVATIVES:
subeditor noun.

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subgroup

noun
a subdivision of a group.

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sub-heading (also sub-head)

noun
a heading given to a subsection of a piece of writing.

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subhuman

adjective
1. of a lower order of being than the human.
2. Zoology (of a primate) closely related to humans.
3. derogatory not worthy of a human being; debased or depraved.

noun
a subhuman creature or person.

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subject

noun
1. a person or thing that is being discussed, studied, or dealt with.
2. a branch of knowledge studied or taught.
3. Grammar the word or words in a sentence that name who or what performs the action of the verb.
4. a member of a state owing allegiance to its monarch or supreme ruler.
5. Music a theme, leading phrase, or motif.
6. Philosophy a thinking or feeling entity; the conscious mind or ego.

adjective (subject to)
1. likely or prone to be affected by (something bad).
2. dependent or conditional upon.
3. under the control or authority of.

adverb (subject to)
conditionally upon.

verb (usu. subject to)
1. cause to undergo.
2. bring under one's control or jurisdiction.

DERIVATIVES:
subjection noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin subicere 'bring under' .

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subjective

adjective
1. based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.
2. dependent on the mind for existence.
3. Grammar relating to or denoting a case of nouns and pronouns used for the subject of a sentence.

DERIVATIVES:
subjectively adverb
subjectivity noun.

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subject matter

noun
the topic dealt with or the subject represented in a debate, exposition, or work of art.

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sub judice

adjective Law
under judicial consideration and therefore prohibited from public discussion elsewhere.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'under a judge' .

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subjugate

verb
bring under domination or control, especially by conquest.

DERIVATIVES:
subjugation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin subjugare 'bring under a yoke' , from jugum 'yoke' .

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subjunctive Grammar

adjective
(of a form of a verb) expressing what is imagined or wished or possible.

noun
a verb in the subjunctive mood.

ORIGIN: Latin subjunctivus, from subjungere 'add to, join in addition' .

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sublet

verb (subletting; past and past part. sublet)
lease (a property) to a subtenant.

noun
a lease of a property by a tenant to a subtenant.

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sublimate

verb
1. (in psychoanalytic theory) divert or modify (an instinctual impulse) into a culturally higher or socially more acceptable activity.
2. transform into a purer or idealized form.
3. Chemistry another term for SUBLIME.

noun Chemistry
a solid deposit of a substance which has sublimed.

DERIVATIVES:
sublimation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sublimare 'raise up' .

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sublime

adjective (sublimer, sublimest)
1. of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe.
2. extreme or unparalleled: sublime confidence.

verb Chemistry
(with reference to a solid substance) change directly into vapour when heated, typically forming a solid deposit again on cooling.

DERIVATIVES:
sublimely adverb
sublimity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sublimis, from sub- 'up to' + a second element perhaps related to limen 'threshold' or limus 'oblique' .

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subliminal

adjective Psychology
(of a stimulus or mental process) perceived by or affecting someone's mind without their being aware of it.

DERIVATIVES:
subliminally adverb.

ORIGIN: from SUB- + Latin limen 'threshold' .

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sub-machine gun

noun
a hand-held lightweight machine gun.

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submarine

noun
a streamlined warship designed to operate completely submerged in the sea for long periods.

adjective
existing, occurring, done, or used under the surface of the sea.

DERIVATIVES:
submariner noun.

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submerge

verb
1. cause to be under water.
2. descend below the surface of water.
3. completely cover or obscure.

DERIVATIVES:
submergence noun.

ORIGIN: Latin submergere, from mergere 'to dip' .

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submerse

verb technical
submerge.

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submersible

adjective
designed to operate while submerged.

noun
a small boat or craft that is submersible.

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submersion

noun
the action of submerging or the state of being submerged.

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submicroscopic

adjective
too small to be seen by an ordinary light microscope.

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submission

noun
1. the action or fact of submitting.
2. a proposal or application submitted for consideration.

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submissive

adjective
meekly obedient or passive.

DERIVATIVES:
submissively adverb
submissiveness noun.

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submit

verb (submitted, submitting)
1. accept or yield to a superior force or stronger person.
2. subject to a particular process, treatment, or condition.
3. present (a proposal or application) for consideration or judgement.
4. (especially in judicial contexts) suggest; argue.

ORIGIN: Latin submittere, from mittere 'send, put' .

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subordinate

adjective
1. lower in rank or position.
2. of less or secondary importance.

noun
a person under the authority or control of another.

verb
1. treat or regard as subordinate.
2. make subservient or dependent.

DERIVATIVES:
subordinately adverb
subordination noun.

ORIGIN: Latin subordinatus 'placed in an inferior rank' .

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subordinate clause

noun
a clause that forms part of and is dependent on a main clause (e.g. ‘when it rang’ in ‘she answered the phone when it rang’).

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sub-plot

noun
a subordinate plot in a play, novel, etc.

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subpoena Law

noun
a writ ordering a person to attend a court.

verb (subpoenas, subpoenaed or subpoena'd, subpoenaing)
summon with a subpoena.

ORIGIN: from Latin sub poena 'under penalty' (the first words of the writ).

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sub-post office

noun
(in the UK) a small local post office offering fewer services than a main post office.

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subroutine

noun Computing
a set of instructions designed to perform a frequently used operation within a program.

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sub-Saharan

adjective
from or forming part of the African regions south of the Sahara desert.

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subscribe

verb
1. (often subscribe to) arrange to receive something, especially a periodical regularly by paying in advance.
2. (subscribe to) contribute (a sum of money) to a project or cause.
3. apply to participate in.
4. (subscribe to) express agreement with (an idea or proposal).

DERIVATIVES:
subscriber noun.

ORIGIN: Latin subscribere 'write below' .

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subscriber trunk dialling

noun Brit.
the automatic connection of trunk calls by dialling without the assistance of an operator.

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subscript

adjective
(of a letter, figure, or symbol) written or printed below the line.

noun
a subscript letter, figure, or symbol.

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subscription

noun
1. the action or fact of subscribing.
2. a payment to subscribe to something.
3. formal a signature or short piece of writing at the end of a document.

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subsection

noun
a division of a section.

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subsequent

adjective
coming after something in time.

DERIVATIVES:
subsequently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin subsequi 'follow after' .

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subservient

adjective
1. prepared to obey others unquestioningly; obsequious.
2. less important; subordinate.

DERIVATIVES:
subservience noun.

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subset

noun
1. a part of a larger group of related things.
2. Mathematics a set of which all the elements are contained in another set.

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subside

verb
1. become less intense, violent, or severe.
2. (of water) go down to a lower or the normal level.
3. (of a building) sink lower into the ground.
4. (of the ground) cave in; sink.
5. (subside into) give way to (an overwhelming feeling).

ORIGIN: Latin subsidere, from sidere 'settle' .

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subsidence

noun
the gradual caving in or sinking of an area of land.

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subsidiary

adjective
1. less important than but related or supplementary to.
2. (of a company) controlled by a holding or parent company.

noun (pl. subsidiaries)
a subsidiary company.

ORIGIN: Latin subsidiarius, from subsidium 'assistance' .

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subsidize (also subsidise)

verb
1. support (an organization or activity) financially.
2. pay part of the cost of producing (something) to reduce its price.

DERIVATIVES:
subsidization noun.

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subsidy

noun (pl. subsidies)
1. a sum of money granted from public funds to help an industry or business keep the price of a commodity or service low.
2. a sum of money granted to support an undertaking held to be in the public interest.
3. a grant or contribution of money.
4. historical a parliamentary grant to the sovereign for state needs.

ORIGIN: Latin subsidium 'assistance' .

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subsist

verb
1. maintain or support oneself, especially at a minimal level.
2. chiefly Law remain in being, force, or effect.
3. (subsist in) be attributable to.

ORIGIN: Latin subsistere 'stand firm' .

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subsistence

noun
1. the action or fact of subsisting.
2. the means of doing this.
3. (before another noun ) referring to production at a level sufficient only for one's own use, without any surplus for trade: subsistence agriculture.

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subsistence level (also subsistence wage)

noun
a standard of living (or wage) that provides only the bare necessities of life.

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subsoil

noun
the soil lying immediately under the surface soil.

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subsonic

adjective
relating to or flying at a speed or speeds less than that of sound.

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substance

noun
1. a particular kind of matter with uniform properties.
2. the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists.
3. solid basis in reality or fact: the claim has no substance.
4. the quality of being important, valid, or significant.
5. the most important or essential part or meaning.
6. the subject matter of a text or work of art.
7. an intoxicating or narcotic drug.

IDIOMS -
in substance essentially.

ORIGIN: Latin substantia 'being, essence' , from substare 'stand firm' .

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substandard

adjective
below the usual or required standard.

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substantial

adjective
1. of considerable importance, size, or worth.
2. strongly built or made.
3. concerning the essentials of something.
4. real and tangible rather than imaginary.

DERIVATIVES:
substantiality noun.

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substantially

adverb
1. to a great or significant extent.
2. for the most part; essentially.

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substantiate

verb
provide evidence to support or prove the truth of.

DERIVATIVES:
substantiation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin substantiare 'give substance' .

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substantive

adjective
1. having a firm basis in reality and so important or meaningful.
2. having a separate and independent existence.
3. (of law) defining rights and duties as opposed to giving the rules by which such things are established.

noun Grammar, dated
a noun.

DERIVATIVES:
substantively adverb.

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substation

noun
1. a set of equipment reducing the high voltage of electrical power transmission to that suitable for supply to consumers.
2. a subordinate police station or fire station.

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substitute

noun
1. a person or thing acting or serving in place of another.
2. a sports player eligible to replace another after a match has begun.

verb
1. use, add, or serve in place of.
2. replace with another.
3. replace (a sports player) with a substitute during a match.

DERIVATIVES:
substitutable adjective
substitution noun
substitutive adjective.
USAGE - Traditionally, substitute is followed by for and means ‘put (someone or something) in place of another’, as in she substituted the fake vase for the real one. It may also be used with with or by to mean ‘replace (something) with something else’, as in she substituted the real vase with the fake one. This can be confusing, since the two sentences shown above mean the same thing, yet the object of the verb and the object of the preposition have swapped positions. Despite the potential confusion, the second, newer use is acceptable, although still disapproved of by some people.
ORIGIN: Latin substituere 'put in place of' .

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substratum

noun (pl. substrata)
1. an underlying layer or substance, in particular a layer of rock or soil beneath the surface of the ground.
2. a foundation or basis.

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subsume

verb
include or absorb in something else.

DERIVATIVES:
subsumable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin subsumere, from sumere 'take' .

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subtenant

noun
a person who leases property from a tenant.

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subtend

verb
(of a line, arc, etc.) form (an angle) at a particular point when straight lines from its extremities meet.

ORIGIN: Latin subtendere, from tendere 'stretch' .

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subterfuge

noun
a trick or deception used in order to achieve one's goal.

ORIGIN: from Latin subterfugere 'escape secretly' .

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subterranean

adjective
existing or occurring under the earth's surface.

ORIGIN: Latin subterraneus, from terra 'earth' .

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subtext

noun
an underlying theme in a piece of writing or speech.

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subtitle

noun
1. (subtitles) captions displayed at the bottom of a cinema or television screen that translate or transcribe the dialogue or narrative.
2. a subordinate title of a published work.

verb
provide with a subtitle or subtitles.

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subtle

adjective (subtler, subtlest)
1. so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyse or describe.
2. capable of making fine distinctions.
3. delicately complex and understated: subtle lighting.
4. making use of clever and indirect methods to achieve something.

DERIVATIVES:
subtlety noun
subtly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin subtilis.

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subtotal

noun
the total of one set of a larger group of figures to be added.

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subtract

verb
take away (a number or amount) from another to calculate the difference.

DERIVATIVES:
subtraction noun
subtractive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin subtrahere 'draw away' .

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suburb

noun
an outlying residential district of a city.

DERIVATIVES:
suburban adjective
suburbanite noun
suburbanize (also suburbanise) verb.

ORIGIN: from Latin sub- 'near to' + urbs 'city' .

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suburbia

noun
the suburbs viewed collectively.

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subversive

adjective
seeking or intended to subvert an established system or institution.

noun
a subversive person.

DERIVATIVES:
subversively adverb
subversiveness noun.

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subvert

verb
undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution).

DERIVATIVES:
subversion noun
subverter noun.

ORIGIN: Latin subvertere, from vertere 'to turn' .

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subway

noun
1. Brit. a tunnel under a road for use by pedestrians.
2. chiefly N. Amer. an underground railway.

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sub-zero

adjective
(of temperature) lower than zero; below freezing.

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succeed

verb
1. achieve an aim or purpose.
2. attain fame, wealth, or social status.
3. take over an office, title, etc., from (someone).
4. become the new rightful holder of an office, title, etc.
5. come after and take the place of.

ORIGIN: Latin succedere 'come close after' .

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success

noun
1. the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.
2. the attainment of fame, wealth, or social status.
3. a person or thing that achieves success.

ORIGIN: Latin successus, from succedere 'come close after' .

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successful

adjective
1. accomplishing an aim or purpose.
2. having achieved fame, wealth, or social status.

DERIVATIVES:
successfully adverb.

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succession

noun
1. a number of people or things following one after the other.
2. the action, process, or right of inheriting an office, title, etc.
3. Ecology the process by which a plant community successively gives way to another until stability is reached.

IDIOMS -
in quick succession following one another at short intervals.
in succession following one after the other without interruption.

DERIVATIVES:
successional adjective.

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successive

adjective
following one another or following others.

DERIVATIVES:
successively adverb.

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successor

noun
a person or thing that succeeds another.

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succinct

adjective
briefly and clearly expressed.

DERIVATIVES:
succinctly adverb
succinctness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin succingere 'tuck up' .

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succour (US succor)

noun
assistance and support in times of hardship and distress.

verb
give assistance to.

ORIGIN: Latin succursus, from succurrere 'run to the help of' .

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succubus

noun (pl. succubi)
a female demon believed to have sexual intercourse with sleeping men.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'prostitute' , from sub- 'under' + cubare 'to lie' .

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succulent

adjective
1. (of food) tender, juicy, and tasty.
2. Botany (of a plant) having thick fleshy leaves or stems adapted to storing water.

noun Botany
a succulent plant.

DERIVATIVES:
succulence noun
succulently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin succulentus, from succus 'juice' .

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succumb

verb
1. fail to resist (pressure, temptation, etc.).
2. die from the effect of a disease or injury.

ORIGIN: Latin succumbere, from sub- 'under' + a verb related to cubare 'to lie' .

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such

determiner , predeterminer , & pronoun
1. of the type previously mentioned.
2. (such as/that) of the type about to be mentioned.
3. to so high a degree; so great.

IDIOMS -
as such in the exact sense of the word.
such-and-such an unspecified person or thing.
such as
1. for example.
2. of a kind that; like.
such as it is what little there is; for what it's worth.
such that to the extent that.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SO and ALIKE.

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suchlike

pronoun
things of the type mentioned.

determiner
of the type mentioned.

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suck

verb
1. draw into the mouth by contracting the lip muscles to make a partial vacuum.
2. hold (something) in the mouth and draw at it by contracting the lip and cheek muscles.
3. draw in a specified direction by creating a vacuum.
4. (suck in/into) involve (someone) in something without their choosing.
5. (suck up to) informal attempt to gain advantage by behaving obsequiously towards.
6. N. Amer. informal be very bad or disagreeable.

noun
an act or sound of sucking.

exclamation (sucks) Brit. informal
used to express derision and defiance.

IDIOMS -
give suck archaic suckle.
suck someone dry exhaust someone's physical, material, or emotional resources.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SOAK.

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sucker

noun
1. a rubber cup that adheres to a surface by suction.
2. a flat or concave organ enabling an animal to cling to a surface by suction.
3. informal a gullible person.
4. (a sucker for) informal a person especially susceptible to or fond of (a specified thing).
5. a shoot springing from the base of a tree or other plant, especially one arising from the root at some distance from the trunk.

verb
1. (of a plant) produce suckers.
2. N. Amer. informal fool or trick.

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sucker punch

noun
an unexpected punch or blow.

verb (sucker-punch)
hit with a sucker punch.

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suckle

verb
(with reference to a baby or young animal) feed from the breast or teat.

DERIVATIVES:
suckler noun.

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suckling

noun
an unweaned child or animal.

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sucrose

noun Chemistry
a compound which is the chief component of cane or beet sugar.

ORIGIN: from French sucre 'sugar' .

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suction

noun
the production of a partial vacuum by the removal of air in order to force fluid into a vacant space or produce adhesion.

verb
remove using suction.

ORIGIN: Latin, from sugere 'suck' .

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suction pump

noun
a pump for drawing liquid through a pipe into a chamber emptied by a piston.

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sudden

adjective
occurring or done quickly and unexpectedly.

IDIOMS -
(all) of a sudden suddenly.

DERIVATIVES:
suddenness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French sudein, from Latin subitus.

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sudden death

noun
a means of deciding the winner in a tied match, in which play continues and the winner is the first side or player to score.

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suddenly

adverb
quickly and unexpectedly.

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suds

plural noun
1. froth made from soap and water.
2. N. Amer. informal beer.

verb chiefly N. Amer.
cover or wash in soapy water.

DERIVATIVES:
sudsy adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps originally denoting the flood water of the fens; probably related to SEETHE.

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sue

verb (sues, sued, suing)
1. institute legal proceedings against (a person or institution), typically for redress.
2. (sue for) formal appeal formally to a person for.

ORIGIN: Old French suer, from Latin sequi 'follow' .

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suede

noun
leather, especially the skin of a young goat, with the flesh side rubbed to make a velvety nap.

ORIGIN: from French gants de Suède 'gloves of Sweden' .

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suet

noun
the hard white fat on the kidneys and loins of cattle, sheep, and other animals, used in making puddings, pastry, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
suety adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin sebum 'tallow' .

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suffer

verb
1. experience or be subjected to (something bad or unpleasant).
2. (suffer from) be affected by or subject to (an illness or ailment).
3. become or appear worse in quality.
4. archaic tolerate.
5. archaic allow (someone) to do something.

DERIVATIVES:
sufferer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sufferre, from ferre 'to bear' .

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sufferance

noun
absence of objection rather than genuine approval; toleration.

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suffice

verb
1. be enough or adequate.
2. meet the needs of.

IDIOMS -
suffice (it) to say used to indicate that one is withholding something for reasons of discretion or brevity.

ORIGIN: Latin sufficere 'put under, meet the need of' .

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sufficiency

noun (pl. sufficiencies)
1. the condition or quality of being sufficient.
2. an adequate amount, especially of something essential.

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sufficient

adjective & determiner
enough; adequate.

DERIVATIVES:
sufficiently adverb.

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suffix

noun
an element added at the end of a word to form a derivative (e.g. -ation).

verb
append, especially as a suffix.

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suffocate

verb
1. die or cause to die from lack of air or inability to breathe.
2. feel or cause to feel trapped or oppressed.

DERIVATIVES:
suffocation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin suffocare 'stifle' , from fauces 'throat' .

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suffrage

noun
the right to vote in political elections.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «intercessory prayers», also «assistance»: from Latin suffragium.

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suffragette

noun historical
a woman seeking the right to vote through organized protest.

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suffuse

verb
gradually spread through or over.

DERIVATIVES:
suffusion noun.

ORIGIN: Latin suffundere 'pour into' .

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sugar

noun
1. a sweet crystalline substance obtained especially from sugar cane and sugar beet.
2. Biochemistry any of the class of soluble crystalline sweet-tasting carbohydrates, including sucrose and glucose.
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. used as a term of endearment.

verb
1. sweeten, sprinkle, or coat with sugar.
2. make more agreeable or palatable.

DERIVATIVES:
sugarless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French sukere, from Arabic.

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sugar beet

noun
beet of a variety from which sugar is extracted.

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sugar cane

noun
a tropical grass with tall stout stems from which sugar is extracted.

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sugar-coated

adjective
superficially attractive or excessively sentimental.

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sugar daddy

noun informal
a rich older man who lavishes gifts on a young woman.

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sugar snap (also sugar snap pea)

noun
mangetout, especially of a variety with thicker and more rounded pods.

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sugar soap

noun Brit.
an alkaline preparation containing washing soda and soap, used for cleaning or removing paint.

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sugary

adjective
1. containing much sugar.
2. coated in sugar.
3. excessively sentimental.

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suggest

verb
1. put forward for consideration.
2. cause one to think that (something) exists or is the case.
3. state or express indirectly.
4. (suggest itself) (of an idea) come into one's mind.

ORIGIN: Latin suggerere 'suggest, prompt' .

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suggestible

adjective
open to suggestion; easily swayed.

DERIVATIVES:
suggestibility noun.

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suggestion

noun
1. an idea or plan put forward for consideration.
2. the action of suggesting.
3. something that implies or indicates a certain fact or situation.
4. a slight trace or indication: a suggestion of a smile.
5. Psychology the influencing of a person to accept a belief or impulse uncritically.

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suggestive

adjective
1. tending to suggest or evoke something.
2. hinting at or bringing to mind sexual matters; mildly indecent.

DERIVATIVES:
suggestively adverb
suggestiveness noun.

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suicide

noun
1. the action of killing oneself intentionally.
2. a person who does this.
3. (before another noun ) referring to a military operation carried out by people who do not expect to survive it: a suicide bomber.
4. a course of action which is disastrously damaging to one's own interests.

verb
intentionally kill oneself.

DERIVATIVES:
suicidal adjective
suicidally adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin sui 'of oneself' + caedere 'kill' .

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sui generis

adjective
unique.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'of its own kind' .

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suit

noun
1. a set of outer clothes made of the same fabric and designed to be worn together, typically consisting of a jacket and trousers or a jacket and skirt.
2. a set of clothes for a particular activity.
3. any of the sets into which a pack of playing cards is divided (spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs).
4. a lawsuit.
5. informal a high-ranking business executive.
6. the process of trying to win a woman's affection with a view to marriage.
7. literary a petition or entreaty made to a person in authority.

verb
1. be convenient for or acceptable to.
2. go well with or enhance the features, figure, or character of.
3. (suit oneself) act entirely according to one's own wishes.
4. (suited) appropriate or fitting.

IDIOMS -
suit down to the ground Brit. be extremely convenient or appropriate for.

DERIVATIVES:
suiting noun.

ORIGIN: Old French siwte, from Latin sequi 'follow' .

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suitable

adjective
right or appropriate for a particular person, purpose, or situation.

DERIVATIVES:
suitability noun
suitably adverb.

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suitcase

noun
a case with a handle and a hinged lid, used for carrying clothes and other personal possessions.

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suite

noun
1. a set of rooms for one person's or family's use or for a particular purpose.
2. a set of furniture of the same design.
3. Music a set of instrumental compositions to be played in succession.
4. a set of pieces from an opera or musical arranged as one instrumental work.

ORIGIN: French, from Old French siwte (see SUIT).

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suitor

noun
1. a man who pursues a relationship with a woman with a view to marriage.
2. a prospective buyer of a business or corporation.

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sulfur (Brit. sulphur)

noun
1. a combustible non-metallic chemical element which typically occurs as yellow crystals.
2. the material of which hellfire and lightning were formerly believed to consist.

ORIGIN: Latin sulfur, sulphur.

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sulfuric (Brit. sulphuric)

adjective
containing sulphur or sulphuric acid.

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sulfurous (Brit. sulphurous)

adjective
1. containing or derived from sulphur.
2. pale yellow.

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sulk

verb
be silent, morose, and bad-tempered through annoyance or disappointment.

noun
a period of sulking.

DERIVATIVES:
sulker noun.

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sulky

adjective (sulkier, sulkiest)
morose, bad-tempered, and resentful.

DERIVATIVES:
sulkily adverb
sulkiness noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from obsolete sulke «hard to dispose of», of unknown origin.

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sullen

adjective
bad-tempered and sulky.

DERIVATIVES:
sullenly adverb
sullenness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the senses «averse to company» and «unusual»: from Old French sulein, from sol 'sole' .

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sully

verb (sullies, sullied)
damage the purity or integrity of; defile.

ORIGIN: perhaps from French souiller 'to soil' .

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sulphate (US sulfate)

noun Chemistry
a salt or ester of sulphuric acid.

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sulphide (US sulfide)

noun Chemistry
a compound of sulphur with another element or group.

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sulphur (US & Chemistry sulfur)

noun
1. a combustible non-metallic chemical element which typically occurs as yellow crystals.
2. the material of which hellfire and lightning were formerly believed to consist.

ORIGIN: Latin sulfur, sulphur.

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sulphuric (US sulfuric)

adjective
containing sulphur or sulphuric acid.

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sulphuric acid

noun
a strong acid made by oxidizing solutions of sulphur dioxide.

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sulphurous (US sulfurous)

adjective
1. containing or derived from sulphur.
2. pale yellow.

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sultan

noun
a Muslim sovereign.

DERIVATIVES:
sultanate noun.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'power, ruler' .

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sultana

noun
1. a small light brown seedless raisin.
2. a wife or concubine of a sultan.

ORIGIN: Italian, feminine of sultano 'sultan' .

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sultry

adjective (sultrier, sultriest)
1. (of the weather) hot and humid.
2. displaying or suggesting passion; provocative.

ORIGIN: from obsolete sulter «swelter».

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sum

noun
1. a particular amount of money.
2. the total amount resulting from the addition of two or more numbers or amounts.
3. an arithmetical problem, especially at an elementary level.

verb (summed, summing) (sum up)
1. concisely describe the nature or character of.
2. summarize briefly.
3. Law (of a judge) review the evidence at the end of a case, and direct the jury regarding points of law.

IDIOMS -
in sum to sum up.

ORIGIN: Latin summa 'main part, sum total' , from summus 'highest' .

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summary

noun (pl. summaries)
a brief statement of the main points of something.

adjective
1. dispensing with needless details or formalities.
2. Law (of a judicial process) conducted without the customary legal formalities.

DERIVATIVES:
summarily adverb
summarize (also summarise) verb.

ORIGIN: Latin summarius, from summa (see SUM).

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summation

noun
1. the process of adding things together.
2. the action of summing up.
3. a summary.

DERIVATIVES:
summative adjective.

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summer

noun
the season after spring and before autumn, when the weather is warmest.

verb
spend the summer in a particular place.

DERIVATIVES:
summery adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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summer house

noun
a small building in a garden, used for relaxation during fine weather.

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summer school

noun
a course of lectures held during school and university summer vacations.

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summertime

noun
1. the season or period of summer.
2. (summer time) Brit. time as advanced one hour ahead of standard time to achieve longer evening daylight in summer.

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summing-up

noun
1. a summary.
2. Law a judge's review of evidence at the end of a case, with a direction to the jury regarding points of law.

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summit

noun
1. the highest point of a hill or mountain.
2. the highest attainable level of achievement.
3. a meeting between heads of government.

ORIGIN: Old French somete, from Latin summus 'highest' .

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summon

verb
1. authoritatively call on (someone) to be present, especially to appear in a law court.
2. urgently demand (help).
3. call people to attend (a meeting).
4. cause (a quality or reaction) to emerge from within oneself: she managed to summon up a smile.

ORIGIN: Latin summonere 'give a hint' , from monere 'warn' .

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summons

noun (pl. summonses)
1. an order to appear in a law court.
2. an act of summoning.

verb chiefly Law
serve with a summons.

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sumo

noun (pl. sumos)
Japanese wrestling in which a wrestler must not go outside a circle or touch the ground with any part of his body except the soles of his feet.

ORIGIN: Japanese.

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sump

noun
1. the base of an internal-combustion engine, which serves as a reservoir of oil for the lubrication system.
2. a depression in the floor of a mine or cave in which water collects.
3. a cesspool.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a marsh: from Dutch or Low Geramn sump, or (in the mining sense) from German Sumpf.

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sumptuous

adjective
splendid and expensive-looking.

DERIVATIVES:
sumptuously adverb
sumptuousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sumptuosus, from sumptus 'cost' .

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sun

noun
1. (also Sun) the star round which the earth orbits.
2. any similar star, with or without planets.
3. the light or warmth received from the sun.

verb (sunned, sunning) (sun oneself)
sit or lie in the sun.

IDIOMS -
under the sun in existence.

DERIVATIVES:
sunless adjective
sunlike adjective
sunward adjective & adverb
sunwards adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sun-baked

adjective
exposed to the heat of the sun.

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sunbathe

verb
sit or lie in the sun to get a suntan.

DERIVATIVES:
sunbather noun.

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sunbeam

noun
a ray of sunlight.

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sunbed

noun Brit.
1. a lounger used for sunbathing.
2. an apparatus for acquiring a tan, consisting of two banks of sunlamps between which one lies or stands.

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sunblock

noun
a cream or lotion for protecting the skin from sunburn.

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sunburn

noun
inflammation of the skin caused by overexposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun.

verb (past and past part. sunburned or sunburnt) (be sunburned)
suffer from sunburn.

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suncream

noun
a creamy preparation for protecting the skin from sunburn.

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sundae

noun
a dish of ice cream with added ingredients such as fruit, nuts, and syrup.

ORIGIN: perhaps from SUNDAY, either because the dish was made with ice cream left over from Sunday, or because it was sold only on Sundays.

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Sunday

noun
the day of the week before Monday and following Saturday, observed by Christians as a day of rest and religious worship.

ORIGIN: Old English, «day of the sun».

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Sunday best

noun
a person's best clothes.

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Sunday school

noun
a class held on Sundays to teach children about Christianity.

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sunder

verb literary
split apart.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sundew

noun
a small carnivorous plant of boggy places, with leaves bearing sticky hairs for trapping insects.

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sundial

noun
an instrument showing the time by the shadow cast by a pointer.

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sundown

noun chiefly N. Amer.
sunset.

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sundress

noun
a light, loose sleeveless dress, typically having a wide neckline and thin shoulder straps.

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sun-dried

adjective
dried in the sun, as opposed to by artificial heat.

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sundry

adjective
of various kinds.

noun (pl. sundries) (sundries)
various items not important enough be mentioned individually.

ORIGIN: Old English, «distinct, separate».

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sunfish

noun
a large, short-tailed sea fish with tall dorsal and anal fins near the rear of the body.

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sunflower

noun
a tall plant with very large golden-rayed flowers, grown for its edible seeds which yield oil.

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sunglasses

plural noun
glasses tinted to protect the eyes from sunlight or glare.

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sunken past participle of SINK.

adjective
1. having sunk.
2. at a lower level than the surrounding area.
3. (of a person's eyes or cheeks) deeply recessed.

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sun-kissed

adjective
made warm or brown by the sun.

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sunlamp

noun
a lamp emitting ultraviolet rays, used chiefly to produce an artificial suntan or in therapy.

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sunlight

noun
light from the sun.

DERIVATIVES:
sunlit adjective.

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Sunni

noun (pl. same or Sunnis)
1. one of the two main branches of Islam, differing from Shia in its understanding of the Sunna and in its acceptance of the first three caliphs. Compare with SHIA.
2. a Muslim who adheres to this branch of Islam.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'custom, normative rule' .

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sunny

adjective (sunnier, sunniest)
1. bright with or receiving much sunlight.
2. cheerful.

IDIOMS -
sunny side up N. Amer. (of an egg) fried on one side only.

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sunrise

noun
1. the time in the morning when the sun rises.
2. the colours and light visible in the sky at sunrise.

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sunroof

noun
a panel in the roof of a car that can be opened for extra ventilation.

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sunscreen

noun
a cream or lotion rubbed on to the skin to protect it from the sun.

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sunset

noun
1. the time in the evening when the sun sets.
2. the colours and light visible in the sky at sunset.
3. the final declining phase of something.

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sunshade

noun
a parasol, awning, or other device giving protection from the sun.

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sunshine

noun
1. sunlight unbroken by cloud.
2. cheerfulness or happiness.
3. Brit. informal used as a familiar form of address.

DERIVATIVES:
sunshiny adjective.

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sunspot

noun Astronomy
a temporary darker and cooler patch on the sun's surface, associated with the sun's magnetic field.

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sunstroke

noun
heatstroke brought about by excessive exposure to the sun.

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suntan

noun
a golden-brown colouring of the skin caused by exposure to the sun.

DERIVATIVES:
suntanned adjective.

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sunup

noun chiefly N. Amer.
sunrise.

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sup [1]

verb (supped, supping) dated or N. English
take (drink or liquid food) by sips or spoonfuls.

noun
a sip.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sup [2]

verb (supped, supping) dated
eat supper.

IDIOMS -
he who sups with the devil should have a long spoon proverb a person who has dealings with a dangerous or wily person should be cautious.

ORIGIN: Old French super; related to SUP.

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super

adjective informal
excellent.

noun informal
a superintendent.

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super-

combining form
1. above; over; beyond: superstructure.
2. to a great or extreme degree: superabundant.
3. extra large of its kind: supercontinent.
4. of a higher kind (especially in names of classificatory divisions): superfamily.

ORIGIN: from Latin super 'above, beyond' .

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superannuate

verb
1. retire (someone) with a pension.
2. (superannuated) belonging to a superannuation scheme.
3. (superannuated) too old to be effective or useful.

ORIGIN: from Latin super- 'over' + annus 'year' .

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superannuation

noun
regular payment made into a fund by an employee towards a future pension.

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superb

adjective
1. excellent.
2. magnificent or splendid.

DERIVATIVES:
superbly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin superbus 'proud, magnificent' .

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superbug

noun informal
a bacterium, insect, etc. regarded as having enhanced qualities, especially of resistance to antibiotics or pesticides.

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supercargo

noun (pl. supercargoes or supercargos)
a representative of the ship's owner on board a merchant ship, responsible for the cargo.

ORIGIN: Spanish sobrecargo, from sobre 'over' + cargo 'cargo' .

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supercharge

verb
1. provide with a supercharger.
2. (supercharged) having powerful emotional associations.

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supercharger

noun
a device that increases the pressure of the fuel-air mixture in an internal-combustion engine, thereby giving greater efficiency.

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supercilious

adjective
having an air of contemptuous superiority.

DERIVATIVES:
superciliously adverb
superciliousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin superciliosus 'haughty' , from supercilium 'eyebrow' .

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supercomputer

noun
a particularly powerful mainframe computer.

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superconductivity

noun Physics
the property of zero electrical resistance in some substances at very low temperatures.

DERIVATIVES:
superconducting adjective
superconductive adjective
superconductor noun.

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supercool

verb Chemistry
cool (a liquid) below its freezing point without solidification or crystallization.

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superego

noun (pl. superegos) Psychoanalysis
the part of the mind that acts as a self-critical conscience, reflecting social standards that have been learned. Compare with EGO and ID.

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superficial

adjective
1. existing or occurring at or on the surface.
2. apparent rather than actual.
3. not thorough or deep; cursory.
4. lacking depth of character or understanding.

DERIVATIVES:
superficiality noun (pl. superficialities)
superficially adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin superficialis, from superficies 'top, surface' .

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superfluous

adjective
unnecessary, especially through being more than enough.

DERIVATIVES:
superfluity noun (pl. superfluities)
superfluously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin superfluus, from fluere 'to flow' .

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superglue

noun
a very strong quick-setting adhesive.

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supergrass

noun Brit. informal
a police informer who implicates a large number of people.

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superhero

noun (pl. superheroes)
a benevolent fictional character with superhuman powers.

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superhuman

adjective
having or showing exceptional ability or powers.

DERIVATIVES:
superhumanly adverb.

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superimpose

verb
place or lay (one thing) over another.

DERIVATIVES:
superimposition noun.

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superintend

verb
manage or oversee.

DERIVATIVES:
superintendence noun.

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superintendent

noun
1. a person who supervises or is in charge of an organization, department, etc.
2. (in the UK) a police officer ranking above chief inspector.
3. (in the US) the chief of a police department.
4. N. Amer. the caretaker of a building.

ORIGIN: from Latin superintendere.

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superior

adjective
1. higher in status, quality, or power.
2. of high standard or quality.
3. (superior to) above yielding to or being influenced by.
4. conceited.
5. (of a letter, figure, or symbol) written or printed above the line.
6. chiefly Anatomy further above or out; higher in position.

noun
1. a person of superior rank.
2. the head of a monastery or other religious institution.
3. Printing a superior letter, figure, or symbol.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'higher' , from super 'above' .

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superiority

noun
the state of being superior.

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superlative

adjective
1. of the highest quality or degree.
2. Grammar (of an adjective or adverb) expressing the highest or a very high degree of a quality (e.g. bravest, most fiercely). Contrasted with POSITIVE and COMPARATIVE.

noun
an exaggerated expression of praise.

DERIVATIVES:
superlatively adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin superlativus, from superferre 'carry beyond' .

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superman

noun informal
a man with exceptional physical or mental ability.

ORIGIN: coined by the Irish playwright G. B. Shaw in imitation of German Übermensch (used by Nietzsche).

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supermarket

noun
a large self-service shop selling foods and household goods.

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supermodel

noun
a very successful and famous fashion model.

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supernatural

adjective
1. attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature.
2. exceptionally or extraordinarily great.

noun (the supernatural)
supernatural manifestations or events.

DERIVATIVES:
supernaturally adverb.

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supernova

noun (pl. supernovae or supernovas) Astronomy
a star that undergoes a catastrophic explosion, becoming suddenly very much brighter.

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supernumerary

adjective
1. present in excess of the normal or required number.
2. not belonging to a regular staff but engaged for extra work.

noun (pl. supernumeraries)
a supernumerary person or thing.

ORIGIN: Latin supernumerarius 'soldier added to a legion after it is complete' .

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superpower

noun
any of the few most powerful and influential nations of the world.

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superscript

adjective
(of a letter, figure, or symbol) written or printed above the line.

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supersede

verb
take the place of; supplant.
USAGE - The standard spelling is supersede rather than supercede.
ORIGIN: Latin supersedere 'be superior to' .

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supersonic

adjective
involving or referring to a speed greater than that of sound.

DERIVATIVES:
supersonically adverb.

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superstar

noun
an extremely famous and successful performer or sports player.

DERIVATIVES:
superstardom noun.

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superstition

noun
1. excessively credulous belief in the supernatural.
2. a widely held but irrational belief in supernatural influences, especially as bringing good or bad luck.

ORIGIN: Latin, from super- 'over' + stare 'to stand' .

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superstitious

adjective
characterized or influenced by superstition.

DERIVATIVES:
superstitiously adverb.

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superstore

noun
a very large out-of-town supermarket.

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superstructure

noun
1. a structure built on top of something else.
2. the part of a building above its foundations.
3. the parts of a ship, other than masts and rigging, above its hull and main deck.
4. a concept or idea based on others.

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supertanker

noun
a very large oil tanker.

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supertax

noun
an additional tax on something already taxed.

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supervise

verb
observe and direct the performance of (a task or activity) or the work of (a person).

DERIVATIVES:
supervision noun
supervisor noun
supervisory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin supervidere 'survey, supervise' .

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superwoman

noun informal
a woman with exceptional physical or mental ability.

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supine

adjective
1. lying face upwards.
2. failing to act as a result of laziness or lack of courage; passive.

DERIVATIVES:
supinely adverb
supineness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin supinus 'bent backwards' .

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supper

noun
1. a light or informal evening meal.
2. Scottish & N. English a meal consisting of the specified food with chips: a fish supper.

IDIOMS -
sing for one's supper provide a service in return for a benefit.

ORIGIN: from Old French super 'to sup' .

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supplant

verb
supersede and replace.

DERIVATIVES:
supplanter noun.

ORIGIN: Latin supplantare 'trip up' .

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supple

adjective (suppler, supplest)
flexible or pliant.

DERIVATIVES:
suppleness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin supplex 'submissive' .

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supplement

noun
1. a thing added to something else to enhance or complete it.
2. a separate section added to a newspaper or periodical.
3. an additional charge payable for an extra service or facility.

verb
provide a supplement for.

DERIVATIVES:
supplemental adjective
supplementation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin supplementum, from supplere 'fill up' .

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supplementary

adjective
completing or enhancing something.

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suppliant

noun
a person who makes a humble or earnest request.

adjective
making or expressing a humble or earnest request.

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supplicate

verb
ask or beg for something earnestly or humbly.

DERIVATIVES:
supplicant adjective & noun
supplication noun
supplicatory adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin supplicare 'implore' .

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supply

verb (supplies, supplied)
1. make (something needed) available to someone.
2. provide with something needed.
3. be adequate to satisfy (a requirement or demand).

noun (pl. supplies)
1. a stock or amount of something supplied or available.
2. the action of supplying.
3. (supplies) provisions and equipment necessary for an army or expedition.
4. (before another noun ) acting as a temporary substitute for another: a supply teacher.

IDIOMS -
supply and demand the amount of goods or services available and the desire of buyers for them, considered as factors regulating its price.

DERIVATIVES:
supplier noun.

ORIGIN: Latin supplere 'fill up' .

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supply-side

adjective Economics
(of a policy) designed to increase output and employment by reducing taxation and other forms of restriction.

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support

verb
1. bear all or part of the weight of.
2. give assistance, encouragement, or approval to.
3. be actively interested in (a sports team).
4. provide with a home and the necessities of life.
5. be capable of sustaining (life).
6. confirm or back up.
7. endure; tolerate.
8. (supporting) of secondary importance to the leading roles in a play or film.
9. (of a pop or rock group or performer) function as a secondary act to (another) at a concert.

noun
1. a person or thing that supports.
2. the action of supporting or the state of being supported.
3. assistance, encouragement, or approval.

DERIVATIVES:
supportable adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin supportare, from portare 'carry' .

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supporter

noun
a person who supports a sports team, policy, etc.

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supportive

adjective
providing encouragement or emotional help.

DERIVATIVES:
supportively adverb
supportiveness noun.

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suppose

verb
1. think or assume that something is true or probable, but without proof.
2. (of a theory or argument) assume or require that something is the case as a precondition.
3. (be supposed to do) be required or expected to do.

ORIGIN: Latin supponere, from ponere 'to place' .

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supposedly

adverb
according to what is generally believed or supposed.

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supposition

noun
an assumption or hypothesis.

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suppository

noun (pl. suppositories)
a solid medical preparation in a roughly conical or cylindrical shape, designed to dissolve after insertion into the rectum or vagina.

ORIGIN: Latin suppositorium 'thing placed underneath' .

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suppress

verb
1. forcibly put an end to.
2. prevent from being expressed or published.
3. Psychoanalysis consciously avoid thinking of (an unpleasant idea or memory).

DERIVATIVES:
suppression noun
suppressive adjective
suppressor noun.

ORIGIN: Latin supprimere 'press down' .

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suppressant

noun
a drug or other substance which acts to suppress something.

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suppurate

verb
form or discharge pus.

DERIVATIVES:
suppuration noun
suppurative adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin sub- 'below' + pus 'pus' .

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supranational

adjective
having power or influence that transcends national boundaries or governments.

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supremacist

noun
an advocate of the supremacy of a particular group, especially one determined by race or sex.

adjective
relating to or advocating such supremacy.

DERIVATIVES:
supremacism noun.

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supremacy

noun
the state or condition of being superior to all others in authority, power, or status.

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supreme

adjective
1. highest in authority or rank.
2. very great or greatest; most important.

noun (also suprême)
a rich cream sauce or a dish served in this.

DERIVATIVES:
supremely adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin supremus 'highest' .

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Supreme Being

noun (the Supreme Being)
a name for God.

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supreme court

noun
the highest judicial court in a country or state.

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supremo

noun (pl. supremos) Brit. informal
1. a person in overall charge.
2. a person with great authority or skill in a certain area.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'supreme' .

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surcharge

noun
1. an additional charge or payment.
2. a mark printed on a postage stamp changing its value.

verb
1. exact a surcharge from.
2. mark (a postage stamp) with a surcharge.

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surd

noun
1. Mathematics a number which is not expressible as a ratio of two whole numbers.
2. Phonetics a speech sound uttered with the breath and not the voice (e.g. f, k, p).

ORIGIN: from Latin surdus 'deaf, mute' .

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sure

adjective
1. completely confident that one is right.
2. (sure of/to do) certain to receive, get, or do.
3. undoubtedly true; completely reliable.
4. steady and confident.

adverb informal
certainly.

IDIOMS -
be sure to do do not fail to do.
for sure informal without doubt.
make sure confirm or ensure.
sure thing informal
1. a certainty.
2. chiefly N. Amer. certainly.
to be sure certainly; it must be admitted.

DERIVATIVES:
sureness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French sur, from Latin securus 'free from care' .

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sure-fire

adjective informal
certain to succeed.

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sure-footed

adjective
1. unlikely to stumble or slip.
2. confident and competent.

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surely

adverb
1. it must be true that.
2. certainly.
3. with assurance.
4. N. Amer. informal of course.

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surety

noun (pl. sureties)
1. a person who takes responsibility for another's performance of an undertaking, e.g. the payment of a debt.
2. money given as a guarantee that someone will do something.
3. the state of being sure.

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surf

noun
the mass or line of foam formed by waves breaking on a seashore or reef.

verb
1. stand or lie on a surfboard and ride on the crest of a wave towards the shore.
2. occupy oneself by moving from site to site on (the Internet).

DERIVATIVES:
surfer noun
surfing noun.

ORIGIN: apparently from obsolete suff, of unknown origin.

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surface

noun
1. the outside part or uppermost layer of something.
2. the upper limit of a body of liquid.
3. outward appearance as distinct from less obvious aspects.

adjective
1. relating to or occurring on the surface.
2. (of transportation) by sea or overland as contrasted with by air.
3. outward or superficial: surface politeness.

verb
1. rise or come up to the surface.
2. become apparent.
3. provide (something, especially a road) with a particular surface.
4. informal appear after having been asleep.

ORIGIN: French, from sur- 'above' + face 'form, appearance, face' .

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surface tension

noun
the tension of the surface film of a liquid, which tends to minimize surface area.

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surface-to-air

adjective
(of a missile) designed to be fired from the ground or a vessel at an aircraft.

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surfboard

noun
a long, narrow board used in surfing.

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surfeit

noun
1. an excess.
2. archaic an illness caused by excessive eating or drinking.

verb (surfeited, surfeiting)
1. cause to be wearied of something through excess.
2. archaic overeat.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin super- 'above, in excess' + facere 'do' .

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surge

noun
1. a sudden powerful forward or upward movement.
2. a sudden large temporary increase.
3. a powerful rush of an emotion or feeling.

verb
1. move in a surge.
2. increase suddenly and powerfully.

ORIGIN: from Latin surgere 'to rise' .

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surgeon

noun
1. a medical practitioner qualified to practise surgery.
2. a doctor in the navy.

ORIGIN: Old French serurgien, from Greek kheirourgia 'handiwork, surgery' .

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surgery

noun (pl. surgeries)
1. the branch of medicine concerned with treatment of bodily injuries or disorders by incision or manipulation.
2. Brit. a place where a medical practitioner treats or advises patients.
3. Brit. an occasion on which an MP, lawyer, or other professional person gives advice.

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surgical

adjective
1. relating to or used in surgery.
2. worn to correct or relieve an injury, illness, or deformity.
3. done with great precision.

DERIVATIVES:
surgically adverb.

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surgical spirit

noun Brit.
methylated spirit used for cleansing the skin before injections or surgery.

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surly

adjective (surlier, surliest)
bad-tempered and unfriendly.

DERIVATIVES:
surlily adverb
surliness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «lordly, haughty»: from obsolete sirly, from SIR.

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surmise

verb
suppose without having evidence.

noun
a supposition or guess.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «allege formally»: from Old French, 'accused' , from Latin supermittere 'put in afterwards' .

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surmount

verb
1. overcome (a difficulty or obstacle).
2. stand or be placed on top of.

DERIVATIVES:
surmountable adjective.

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surname

noun
a hereditary name common to all members of a family, as distinct from a forename.

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surpass

verb
1. be greater or better than.
2. (surpassing) archaic or literary incomparable or outstanding.

DERIVATIVES:
surpassable adjective.

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surplice

noun
a loose white linen robe worn over a cassock by clergy and choristers at Christian church services.

ORIGIN: Old French sourpelis, from Latin super- 'above' + pellicia 'fur garment' .

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surplus

noun
1. an amount left over when requirements have been met.
2. an excess of income or assets over expenditure or liabilities in a given period.

adjective
more than what is needed or used; extra.

ORIGIN: from Latin super- 'in addition' + plus 'more' .

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surprise

noun
1. a feeling of mild astonishment or shock caused by something unexpected.
2. an unexpected or astonishing thing.

verb
1. cause to feel surprise.
2. capture, attack, or discover suddenly and unexpectedly.

IDIOMS -
take by surprise
1. attack or capture unexpectedly.
2. happen unexpectedly to.

DERIVATIVES:
surprised adjective
surprising adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin superprehendere 'seize' .

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surreal

adjective
having the qualities of surrealism; bizarre.

DERIVATIVES:
surreally adverb.

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surrealism

noun
an avant-garde 20th-century movement in art and literature which sought to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind, for example by the irrational juxtaposition of images.

DERIVATIVES:
surrealist noun & adjective
surrealistic adjective.

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surrender

verb
1. stop resisting an opponent and submit to their authority.
2. give up (a person, right, or possession) on compulsion or demand.
3. (surrender to) abandon oneself entirely to (a powerful emotion or influence).
4. cancel (a life insurance policy) and receive back a proportion of the premiums paid.

noun
the action or an act of surrendering.

ORIGIN: Old French surrendre, from RENDER.

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surreptitious

adjective
done secretly or furtively.

DERIVATIVES:
surreptitiously adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «obtained by suppression of the truth»: from Latin surreptitius 'obtained secretly' .

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surrogate

noun
1. a substitute, especially a person deputizing for another in a role or office.
2. (in the Christian Church) a bishop's deputy who grants marriage licences.

DERIVATIVES:
surrogacy noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin surrogare 'elect as a substitute' .

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surrogate mother

noun
a woman who bears a child on behalf of another woman, either from her own egg or from having a fertilized egg from the other woman implanted in her womb.

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surround

verb
1. be all round; encircle.
2. be associated with.

noun
1. a border or edging.
2. (surrounds) surroundings.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «overflow»: from Latin superundare, from undare 'to flow' .

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surroundings

plural noun
the conditions or area around a person or thing.

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surtax

noun
an additional tax on something already taxed, especially a higher rate of tax on incomes above a certain level.

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surtitle

noun
a caption projected on a screen above the stage in an opera, translating the text being sung.

verb
provide with surtitles.

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surveillance

noun
close observation, especially of a suspected spy or criminal.

ORIGIN: French, from sur- 'over' + veiller 'watch' .

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survey

verb
1. look carefully and thoroughly at.
2. examine and record the features of (an area of land) to produce a map or description.
3. Brit. examine and report on the condition of (a building), especially for a prospective buyer.
4. conduct a survey among (a group of people).

noun
1. a general view, examination, or description.
2. an investigation of the opinions or experience of a group of people, based on a series of questions.
3. an act of surveying.
4. a map or report obtained by surveying.

ORIGIN: Old French surveier, from Latin super- 'over' + videre 'to see' .

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surveyor

noun
1. a person who surveys land, buildings, etc. as a profession.
2. Brit. an official inspector of something for purposes of measurement and valuation.

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survival

noun
1. the state or fact of surviving.
2. an object or practice that has survived from an earlier time.

IDIOMS -
survival of the fittest Biology the continued existence of the organisms best adapted to their environment; natural selection.

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survive

verb
1. continue to live or exist.
2. continue to live or exist in spite of (an accident or ordeal).
3. remain alive after the death of.

DERIVATIVES:
survivable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French sourvivre, from Latin super- 'in addition' + vivere 'live' .

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survivor

noun
a person who has survived.

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susceptibility

noun (pl. susceptibilities)
1. the state or fact of being susceptible.
2. (susceptibilities) a person's feelings, regarded as being easily hurt.

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susceptible

adjective
1. (often susceptible to) likely to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.
2. easily influenced by feelings or emotions.
3. (susceptible of) capable or admitting of.

DERIVATIVES:
susceptibly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin susceptibilis, from suscipere 'take up, sustain' .

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sushi

noun
a Japanese dish consisting of small balls or rolls of cold rice with vegetables, egg, or raw seafood.

ORIGIN: Japanese.

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suspect

verb
1. believe to be probable or possible.
2. believe to be guilty of a crime or offence, without certain proof.
3. doubt the genuineness or truth of.

noun
a person suspected of a crime or offence.

adjective
possibly dangerous or false.

ORIGIN: Latin suspicere 'mistrust' .

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suspend

verb
1. halt temporarily.
2. temporarily remove (someone) from a post as a punishment or during investigation.
3. defer or delay (an action, event, or judgement).
4. (suspended) Law (of a sentence) not enforced as long as no further offence is committed within a specified period.
5. hang from somewhere.
6. (be suspended) be dispersed in a suspension.

ORIGIN: Latin suspendere, from pendere 'hang' .

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suspended animation

noun
temporary stopping of most vital functions, without death.

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suspender

noun
1. Brit. an elastic strap attached to a belt or garter, fastened to the top of a stocking to hold it up.
2. (suspenders) N. Amer. braces for holding up trousers.

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suspender belt

noun Brit.
a woman's undergarment consisting of a decorative belt and suspenders.

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suspense

noun
a state or feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen.

DERIVATIVES:
suspenseful adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French suspens 'abeyance' , from Latin suspendere 'suspend' .

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suspension

noun
1. the action of suspending or the condition of being suspended.
2. the system of springs and shock absorbers by which a vehicle is supported on its wheels.
3. a mixture in which particles are dispersed throughout a fluid.

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suspension bridge

noun
a bridge in which the deck is suspended from cables running between towers.

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suspicion

noun
1. a feeling or belief that something is possible or probable or that someone is guilty of a crime or offence.
2. cautious distrust.
3. a very slight trace: a suspicion of a smile.

IDIOMS -
above suspicion too good or honest to be thought capable of wrongdoing.
under suspicion suspected of wrongdoing.

ORIGIN: Old French suspeciun, from Latin suspicere 'mistrust' .

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suspicious

adjective
1. having or showing suspicion.
2. giving an impression of dishonest or dangerous character.

DERIVATIVES:
suspiciously adverb
suspiciousness noun.

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suss Brit. informal

verb (sussed, sussing)
1. (often suss out) realize or understand the true character or nature of.
2. (sussed) clever and well informed.

noun
knowledge or awareness of a specified kind: business suss.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of SUSPECT.

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sustain

verb
1. strengthen or support physically or mentally.
2. bear (the weight of an object).
3. suffer (something unpleasant).
4. keep (something) going over time or continuously.
5. confirm that (something) is just or valid.

DERIVATIVES:
sustainer noun
sustainment noun.

ORIGIN: Latin sustinere, from tenere 'hold' .

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sustainable

adjective
1. able to be sustained.
2. (of industry, development, or agriculture) avoiding depletion of natural resources.

DERIVATIVES:
sustainability noun
sustainably adverb.

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sustenance

noun
1. food and drink regarded as sustaining life.
2. the process of sustaining or keeping alive.

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suture

noun
1. a stitch or row of stitches holding together the edges of a wound or surgical incision.
2. a thread or wire used for this.
3. a seam-like junction between two parts, especially between bones of the skull.

verb
stitch up with a suture.

ORIGIN: Latin sutura, from suere 'sew' .

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suzerain

noun
1. a sovereign or state having some control over another state that is internally autonomous.
2. a feudal overlord.

DERIVATIVES:
suzerainty noun.

ORIGIN: French, from sus 'above' and souverain 'sovereign' .

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svelte

adjective
slender and elegant.

ORIGIN: Italian svelto.

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Svengali

noun
a person who exercises a controlling influence on another, especially for a sinister purpose.

ORIGIN: from Svengali, a musician in George du Maurier's novel Trilby (1894) who controls Trilby's stage singing hypnotically.

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SW

abbreviation
1. south-west.
2. south-western.

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swab

noun
1. an absorbent pad used for cleaning wounds or applying medication.
2. a specimen of a bodily secretion taken with a swab.
3. a mop or other absorbent device for cleaning or mopping up.
4. archaic a contemptible person.

verb (swabbed, swabbing)
clean or absorb with a swab.

ORIGIN: from archaic swabber «sailor detailed to swab decks», from Dutch zwabber.

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swaddle

verb
wrap in garments or cloth.

ORIGIN: from SWATHE.

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swaddling clothes

plural noun
cloth bands formerly wrapped round a newborn child to calm it.

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swag

noun
1. an ornamental festoon of flowers, fruit, and greenery.
2. a curtain or drape fastened to hang in a drooping curve.
3. informal money or goods taken by a thief or burglar.
4. Austral./NZ a traveller's or miner's bundle of personal belongings.

verb (swagged, swagging)
1. arrange in or decorate with swags.
2. chiefly literary hang or sway heavily.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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swagger

verb
walk or behave in a very confident or arrogant manner.

noun
a swaggering gait or manner.

adjective
(of a coat or jacket) cut with a loose flare from the shoulders.

ORIGIN: apparently from SWAG.

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Swahili

noun (pl. same)
1. a Bantu language widely used as a lingua franca in East Africa.
2. a member of a people of Zanzibar and nearby coastal regions.

ORIGIN: from an Arabic word meaning 'coasts' .

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swain

noun
1. archaic a country youth.
2. literary a young lover or suitor.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'lad' .

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swallow [1]

verb
1. cause or allow (food, drink, etc.) to pass down the throat.
2. use the throat muscles as if doing this, especially through fear or nervousness.
3. (often swallow up) take in and cause to disappear; engulf.
4. believe (an untrue or unlikely statement) unquestioningly.
5. put up with or meekly accept.
6. resist expressing: he swallowed his pride.

noun
an act of swallowing.

DERIVATIVES:
swallower noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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swallow [2]

noun
a swift-flying migratory songbird with a forked tail, feeding on insects in flight.

IDIOMS -
one swallow does not make a summer proverb a single fortunate event doesn't mean that what follows will also be good.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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swallow dive

noun Brit.
a dive performed with one's arms outspread until close to the water.

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swallowtail

noun
1. a deeply forked tail.
2. a large brightly coloured butterfly with tail-like projections on the hindwings.

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swamp

noun
a bog or marsh.

verb
1. overwhelm or flood with water.
2. overwhelm with too much of something; inundate.

DERIVATIVES:
swampy adjective.

ORIGIN: probably ultimately from a Germanic base meaning 'sponge' or 'fungus' .

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swan

noun
a large waterbird, typically white, with a long flexible neck, short legs, and webbed feet.

verb (swanned, swanning) Brit. informal
move or go in a casual, irresponsible, or ostentatious way.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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swank informal

verb
display one's wealth, knowledge, or achievements in an attempt to impress others.

noun
behaviour, talk, or display intended to impress others.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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swanky

adjective (swankier, swankiest) informal
1. stylishly luxurious and expensive.
2. inclined to show off.

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swansong

noun
the final performance or activity of a person's career.

ORIGIN: suggested by German Schwanengesang, denoting a song fabled to be sung by a dying swan.

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swap (also swop)

verb (swapped, swapping)
exchange or substitute.

noun
an act of exchanging one thing for another.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «throw forcibly», later «strike hands as a token of agreement»: probably imitative.

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sward

noun
1. an expanse of short grass.
2. the upper layer of soil, especially when covered with grass.

ORIGIN: Old English, «skin».

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swarm

noun
1. a large or dense group of flying insects.
2. a large number of honeybees that leave a hive with a queen in order to establish a new colony.
3. a large group of people or things.

verb
1. move in or form a swarm.
2. (swarm with) be crowded or overrun with.
3. swarm up climb rapidly by gripping with one's hands and feet.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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swarthy

adjective (swarthier, swarthiest)
dark-complexioned.

DERIVATIVES:
swarthiness noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete swarty, from Old English.

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swashbuckling

adjective
engaging in daring and romantic adventures with bravado or flamboyance.

DERIVATIVES:
swashbuckler noun.

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swastika

noun
an ancient symbol in the form of an equal-armed cross with each arm continued at a right angle, used (in clockwise form) as the emblem of the German Nazi party.

ORIGIN: from a Sanskrit word meaning 'well-being' .

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swat

verb (swatted, swatting)
hit or crush with a sharp blow from a flat object.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «sit down»: northern English dialect and US variant of SQUAT.

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swatch

noun
1. a piece of fabric used as a sample.
2. a number of fabric samples bound together.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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swathe [1] (chiefly N. Amer. also swath)

noun (pl. swathes or swaths)
1. a row or line of grass, corn, etc. as it falls when mown or reaped.
2. a broad strip or area: vast swathes of countryside.

ORIGIN: Old English, «track, trace».

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swathe [2]

verb
wrap in several layers of fabric.

noun
a strip of material in which something is wrapped.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sway

verb
1. move slowly and rhythmically backwards and forwards or from side to side.
2. cause (someone) to change their opinion; influence.
3. literary rule; govern.

noun
1. a swaying movement.
2. influence; rule.

IDIOMS -
hold sway have great power or influence.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Low German swjen 'be blown to and fro' and Dutch zwaaien 'swing, walk totteringly' .

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swear

verb (past swore; past part. sworn)
1. state or promise solemnly or on oath.
2. compel to observe a certain course of action: I am sworn to secrecy.
3. use offensive or obscene language, especially to express anger.

IDIOMS -
swear blind Brit. informal affirm something emphatically.
swear by informal have or express great confidence in.
swear in admit (someone) to a position or office by directing them to take a formal oath.
swear off informal promise to abstain from.
swear to give an assurance that something is the case.

DERIVATIVES:
swearer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to ANSWER.

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swear word

noun
an offensive or obscene word.

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sweat

noun
1. moisture exuded through the pores of the skin, especially as a reaction to heat, physical exertion, or anxiety.
2. informal a state of anxiety or distress.
3. informal hard work or a laborious undertaking.

verb (past and past part. sweated or N. Amer. sweat)
1. exude sweat.
2. exert a great deal of strenuous effort.
3. be in a state of extreme anxiety.
4. (of a substance) exude moisture.
5. cook (chopped vegetables) slowly in a pan with a small amount of fat.

IDIOMS -
break sweat informal exert oneself physically.
by the sweat of one's brow by one's own hard labour.
no sweat informal all right; no problem.
sweat blood informal make an extremely strenuous effort.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sweatband

noun
a band of absorbent material worn to soak up sweat.

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sweated

adjective
(of goods or workers) produced by or subjected to long hours under poor conditions.

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sweater

noun
a pullover with long sleeves.

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sweatpants

plural noun
loose, warm trousers with an elasticated or drawstring waist, worn for exercise or leisure.

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sweatshirt

noun
a loose knitted cotton sweater worn for exercise or leisure.

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sweatshop

noun
a factory or workshop employing workers for long hours in poor conditions.

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sweaty

adjective (sweatier, sweatiest)
exuding, soaked in, or inducing sweat.

DERIVATIVES:
sweatily adverb
sweatiness noun.

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Swede

noun
a person from Sweden.

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swede

noun Brit.
a large, round yellow-fleshed root vegetable originally introduced into Scotland from Sweden; rutabaga.

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Swedish

noun
the Scandinavian language of Sweden.

adjective
relating to Sweden.

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sweep

verb (past and past part. swept)
1. clean (an area) by brushing away dirt or litter.
2. move or push with great force.
3. (sweep away/aside) remove or abolish swiftly and suddenly.
4. search or survey (an area).
5. pass or traverse swiftly and smoothly.
6. affect swiftly and widely: violence swept the country.
7. extend continuously in an arc or curve.
8. (swept or swept back) (of an aircraft's wings) directed backwards from the fuselage.
9. N. Amer. be victorious in (a series of games).

noun
1. an act of sweeping.
2. a long, swift, curving movement.
3. a long curved stretch of road, river, etc.
4. the range or scope of something.
5. (also chimney sweep) a person whose job is cleaning out the soot from chimneys.
6. informal a sweepstake.
7. N. Amer. a victory in every event, award, or place in a contest.

IDIOMS -
sweep the board win every event or prize in a contest.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sweeper

noun
1. a person or device that cleans by sweeping.
2. Soccer a player stationed behind the other defenders, free to defend at any point across the field.

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sweeping

adjective
1. extending or performed in a long, continuous curve.
2. wide in range or effect.
3. (of a statement) too general.

noun (sweepings)
dirt or refuse collected by sweeping.

DERIVATIVES:
sweepingly adverb.

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sweepstake

noun (also sweepstakes)
a form of gambling, especially on sporting events, in which all the stakes are divided among the winners.

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sweet

adjective
1. having the pleasant taste characteristic of sugar or honey; not salt, sour, or bitter.
2. fragrant.
3. (of air, water, etc.) fresh and pure.
4. working, moving, or done smoothly or easily.
5. pleasing; delightful.
6. pleasant and kind or thoughtful.
7. charming and endearing.
8. dear; beloved.
9. (sweet on) informal, dated infatuated or in love with.

noun
1. Brit. a small shaped piece of confectionery made with sugar.
2. Brit. a sweet dish forming a course of a meal; a dessert.
3. (sweets) literary the pleasures or delights found in something.

IDIOMS -
she's sweet Austral./NZ informal all is well.

DERIVATIVES:
sweetish adjective
sweetly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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sweet-and-sour

adjective
cooked with both sugar and a sour substance, as vinegar or lemon.

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sweetbread

noun
the thymus gland or pancreas of an animal, used for food.

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sweetbriar

noun
a wild rose with fragrant leaves and flowers.

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sweetcorn

noun
maize of a variety with kernels that have a high sugar content, eaten as a vegetable.

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sweeten

verb
1. make or become sweet or sweeter.
2. make more agreeable or acceptable.

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sweetener

noun
1. a substance used to sweeten food or drink.
2. informal, chiefly Brit. an inducement or bribe.

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sweetheart

noun
1. a person that one is in a romantic relationship with.
2. (before another noun ) informal agreed privately by two sides in their own interests: a sweetheart deal.

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sweetie

noun informal
1. Brit. a sweet.
2. (also sweetie-pie) used as a term of endearment.

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sweetmeat

noun archaic
an item of confectionery or sweet food.

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sweetness

noun
the quality of being sweet.

IDIOMS -
sweetness and light good-natured benevolence or harmony.

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sweet pea

noun
a climbing plant of the pea family with colourful fragrant flowers.

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sweet pepper

noun
a large green, yellow, orange, or red variety of capsicum with a mild or sweet flavour.

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sweet potato

noun
the edible tuber of a tropical climbing plant, with pinkish-orange slightly sweet flesh.

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sweet-talk

verb informal
persuade to do something by insincere flattery or kind words.

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sweet tooth

noun (pl. sweet tooths)
a great liking for sweet-tasting foods.

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sweet william

noun
a fragrant plant with flattened clusters of vivid red, pink, or white flowers.

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swell

verb (past part. swollen or swelled)
1. become larger or rounder in size.
2. increase in intensity, amount, or volume.

noun
1. a full or gently rounded form.
2. a gradual increase in sound, amount, or intensity.
3. a slow, regular movement of the sea in rolling waves that do not break.
4. a mechanism for producing a crescendo or diminuendo in an organ or harmonium.
5. informal, dated a fashionable person of high social position.

adjective
1. N. Amer. informal, dated excellent; very good.
2. archaic smart; fashionable.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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swelling

noun
an abnormal enlargement of a part of the body as a result of an accumulation of fluid.

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swelter

verb
be uncomfortably hot.

noun
an uncomfortably hot atmosphere.

ORIGIN: from dialect swelt «perish», from Germanic.

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swerve

verb
abruptly diverge from a straight course.

noun
an abrupt change of course.

ORIGIN: Old English, «leave, turn aside».

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swift

adjective
1. happening quickly or promptly.
2. moving or capable of moving at high speed.

noun
a fast-flying insect-eating bird with long, slender wings, spending most of its life on the wing.

DERIVATIVES:
swiftly adverb
swiftness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, from a base meaning «move in a course, sweep».

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swig informal

verb (swigged, swigging)
drink in large draughts.

noun
a large draught of drink.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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swill

verb
1. Brit. rinse out with large amounts of water.
2. Brit. (of liquid) swirl round in a container or cavity.
3. informal drink greedily or in large quantities.

noun
1. kitchen refuse and waste food mixed with water for feeding to pigs.
2. informal alcohol of inferior quality.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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swim

verb (swimming; past swam; past part. swum)
1. propel oneself through water by bodily movement.
2. be immersed in or covered with liquid.
3. experience a dizzily confusing sensation.

noun
1. an act or period of swimming.
2. a pool in a river which is a particularly good spot for fishing.

IDIOMS -
in the swim involved in or aware of current affairs or events.

DERIVATIVES:
swimmer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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swimming costume

noun Brit.
a woman's one-piece swimsuit.

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swimmingly

adverb informal
smoothly and satisfactorily.

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swimming trunks

plural noun
shorts worn by men for swimming.

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swimsuit

noun
a woman's one-piece swimming costume.

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swimwear

noun
clothing worn for swimming.

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swindle

verb
use deception to obtain (money) or deprive (someone) of money or possessions.

noun
a fraudulent scheme or action.

DERIVATIVES:
swindler noun.

ORIGIN: German schwindeln 'be giddy' , also «tell lies».

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swine

noun
1. (pl. same) formal or N. Amer. a pig.
2. (pl. same or swines) informal a contemptible or disgusting person.

DERIVATIVES:
swinish adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to SOW.

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swineherd

noun chiefly historical
a person who tends pigs.

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swing

verb (past and past part. swung)
1. move back and forth or from side to side while or as if suspended.
2. move by grasping a support and leaping.
3. move in a smooth, curving line.
4. (swing at) attempt to hit or punch.
5. shift from one opinion, mood, or state of affairs to another.
6. have a decisive influence on (a vote, judgement, etc.).
7. informal succeed in bringing about.
8. play music with an easy flowing but vigorous rhythm.
9. informal be lively, exciting, or fashionable.
10. informal swap sexual partners or engage in group sex.
11. informal be executed by hanging.

noun
1. a seat suspended by ropes or chains, on which someone can sit and swing back and forth.
2. an act of swinging.
3. a discernible change in public opinion, especially in an election.
4. a style of jazz or dance music with an easy flowing but vigorous rhythm.
5. the manner in which a golf club or a bat is swung.

IDIOMS -
get into the swing of things informal become accustomed to an activity or routine.
go with a swing informal be lively and enjoyable.
in full swing at the height of activity.
swing the lead Brit. informal shirk one's duty. [ORIGIN: with nautical allusion to using a lead to ascertain the depth of water.]
swings and roundabouts Brit. a situation in which different actions result in no eventual gain or loss.

DERIVATIVES:
swinger noun
swingy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «to beat, whip», also «rush».

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swing door

noun
a door that can be opened in either direction and swings back when released.

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swingeing

adjective chiefly Brit.
severe or otherwise extreme.

ORIGIN: from archaic swinge «strike hard», from Old English, 'shake, shatter' .

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swinging

adjective informal
1. lively, exciting, and fashionable.
2. sexually liberated or promiscuous.

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swipe informal

verb
1. hit or try to hit with a swinging blow.
2. steal.
3. pass (a swipe card) through an electronic reader.

noun
1. a sweeping blow.
2. an attack or criticism.

ORIGIN: perhaps a variant of SWEEP.

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swipe card

noun
a plastic card bearing magnetically encoded information which is read when the card is slid through an electronic device.

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swirl

verb
move in a twisting or spiralling pattern.

noun
a swirling movement or pattern.

DERIVATIVES:
swirly adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps Low German or Dutch.

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swish

verb
move with a hissing or rushing sound.

noun
a swishing sound or movement.

adjective Brit. informal
impressively smart and fashionable.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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Swiss

adjective
relating to Switzerland or its people.

noun (pl. same)
a person from Switzerland.

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Swiss roll

noun Brit.
a flat thin rectangular sponge cake spread with jam or cream and rolled up.

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switch

noun
1. a device for making and breaking an electrical connection.
2. a change or exchange.
3. a slender, flexible shoot cut from a tree.
4. N. Amer. a set of points on a railway track.
5. a tress of hair used in hairdressing to supplement natural hair.

verb
1. change in position, direction, or focus.
2. exchange.
3. (switch off/on) turn an electrical device off (or on).
4. (switch off) informal cease to pay attention.
5. archaic beat with a stick.

DERIVATIVES:
switchable adjective.

ORIGIN: probably Low German.

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switchback

noun
1. Brit. a road, railway, etc. with alternate sharp ascents and descents.
2. a roller coaster.
3. N. Amer. a hairpin bend.

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switchblade

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a flick knife.

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switchboard

noun
1. an installation for the manual control of telephone connections.
2. an apparatus for varying connections between electric circuits.

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switched-on

adjective Brit. informal
aware of what is going on or what is up to date.

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swivel

noun
a coupling between two parts enabling one to revolve without turning the other.

verb (swivelled, swivelling; US swiveled, swiveling)
turn on or as if on a swivel.

ORIGIN: Old English, «move (along a course), sweep».

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swizz

noun Brit. informal
an instance of being mildly cheated or disappointed.

ORIGIN: from SWIZZLE.

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swizzle stick

noun
a stick used for frothing up or taking the fizz out of drinks.

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swoon

verb
faint, especially from extreme emotion.

noun
an occurrence of swooning.

ORIGIN: Old English, «overcome».

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swoop

verb
1. move rapidly downwards through the air.
2. carry out a sudden raid.
3. (often swoop up) informal seize with a sweeping motion.

noun
an act of swooping.

IDIOMS -
at (or in) one fell swoop see FELL.

ORIGIN: perhaps a dialect variant of SWEEP.

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swoosh

noun
the sound produced by a sudden rush of air or liquid.

verb
move with such a sound.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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sword

noun
1. a weapon with a long metal blade and a hilt with a handguard, used for thrusting or striking.
2. (the sword) literary military power; violence.

IDIOMS -
beat (or turn) swords into ploughshares devote resources to peaceful rather than warlike ends. [ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to the books of Isaiah (chapter 2) and Micah (chapter 4).]
he who lives by the sword dies by the sword proverb those who commit violent acts must expect to suffer violence themselves.
put to the sword kill, especially in war.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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swordfish

noun
a large marine fish with a streamlined body and a long sword-like snout.

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swordplay

noun
fencing with swords or foils.

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swordsman

noun
a man who fights with a sword.

DERIVATIVES:
swordsmanship noun.

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swordstick

noun
a hollow walking stick containing a blade that can be used as a sword.

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sworn
past participle of SWEAR.
adjective
1. given under oath.
2. determined to remain the specified thing: sworn enemies.

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swot Brit. informal, derogatory

verb (swotted, swotting) (also swot up)
study intensively.

noun
a person who spends a lot of time studying.

DERIVATIVES:
swotty adjective.

ORIGIN: dialect variant of SWEAT.

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sybarite

noun
a person who is self-indulgently fond of sensuous luxury.

DERIVATIVES:
sybaritic adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting an inhabitant of Sybaris, an ancient Greek city in southern Italy, noted for its luxury.

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sycamore

noun
1. a large maple native to central and southern Europe.
2. N. Amer. a plane tree.

ORIGIN: Greek sukomoros, from sukon 'fig' + moron 'mulberry' .

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sycophant

noun
a person who flatters someone important in a servile way.

DERIVATIVES:
sycophancy noun
sycophantic adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting an informer: from Greek sukophants, from sukon 'fig' + phainein 'to show' , perhaps with reference to making the insulting gesture of the ‘fig’ (sticking the thumb between two fingers) to informers.

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syllabic

adjective
1. relating to or based on syllables.
2. (of a consonant) constituting a whole syllable.

DERIVATIVES:
syllabically adverb.

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syllable

noun
a unit of pronunciation having one vowel sound, with or without surrounding consonants, and forming all or part of a word.

ORIGIN: Greek sullab, from sun- 'together' + lambanein 'take' .

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syllabus

noun (pl. syllabuses or syllabi)
the topics in a course of study or teaching, especially for an examination.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek sittuba 'title slip, label' .

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syllogism

noun
a form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from two given or assumed propositions (premises); a common or middle term is present in the two premises but not in the conclusion, which may be invalid (e.g. all dogs are animals; all animals have four legs; therefore all dogs have four legs).

DERIVATIVES:
syllogistic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek sullogismos, from sullogizesthai 'to reason with' .

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sylph

noun
1. an imaginary spirit of the air.
2. a slender woman or girl.

DERIVATIVES:
sylphlike adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin sylphes (plural), perhaps from sylvestris 'of the woods' + nympha 'nymph' .

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sylvan

adjective chiefly literary
1. consisting of or associated with woods; wooded.
2. pleasantly rural or pastoral.

ORIGIN: from Latin silva 'a wood' .

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symbiosis

noun (pl. symbioses) Biology
interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, especially to the advantage of both.

DERIVATIVES:
symbiotic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek sumbisis , from sumbioun 'live together' .

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symbol

noun
1. a thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.
2. a mark or character used as a conventional representation of something, e.g. a letter standing for a chemical element.

ORIGIN: Greek sumbolon 'mark, token' .

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symbolic

adjective
1. serving as a symbol.
2. involving the use of symbols or symbolism.

DERIVATIVES:
symbolically adverb.

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symbolism

noun
1. the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.
2. symbolic meaning attached to material objects.
3. (Symbolism) an artistic and poetic movement or style using symbolic images and indirect suggestion to express mystical ideas, emotions, and states of mind.

DERIVATIVES:
symbolist noun & adjective.

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symbolize (also symbolise)

verb
1. be a symbol of.
2. represent by means of symbols.

DERIVATIVES:
symbolization noun.

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symmetrical

adjective
made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis; showing symmetry.

DERIVATIVES:
symmetric adjective
symmetrically adverb.

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symmetry

noun (pl. symmetries)
1. the quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis.
2. correct or pleasing proportion of parts.
3. similarity or exact correspondence.

ORIGIN: Latin symmetria, from Greek sun- 'with' + metron 'measure' .

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sympathetic

adjective
1. feeling, showing, or expressing sympathy.
2. showing approval of an idea or action.
3. pleasing, likeable, or sensitively designed.
4. Physiology referring to the part of the autonomic nervous system supplying the internal organs, blood vessels, and glands, and balancing the action of the parasympathetic nerves.
5. arising in response to a similar action elsewhere.

DERIVATIVES:
sympathetically adverb.

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sympathize (also sympathise)

verb
1. feel or express sympathy.
2. agree with a sentiment or opinion.

DERIVATIVES:
sympathizer noun.

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sympathy

noun (pl. sympathies)
1. feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune.
2. understanding between people; common feeling.
3. support for or approval of something.
4. (in sympathy) relating harmoniously to something else; in keeping.
5. the state or fact of responding in a way corresponding to an action elsewhere.

ORIGIN: Greek sumpatheia, from sun- 'with' + pathos 'feeling' .

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symphonic

adjective
relating to or having the form or character of a symphony.

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symphony

noun (pl. symphonies)
an elaborate musical composition for full orchestra, typically in four movements.

ORIGIN: Greek sumphnia, from sumphnos 'harmonious' .

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symphony orchestra

noun
a large classical orchestra, including string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments.

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symposium

noun (pl. symposia or symposiums)
1. a conference or meeting to discuss a particular academic or specialist subject.
2. a collection of related papers by a number of contributors.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a drinking party: from Greek sumposion, from sumpots 'fellow drinker' .

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symptom

noun Medicine
1. a feature which indicates a condition of disease, in particular one apparent to the patient. Compare with SIGN.
2. an indication of an undesirable situation.

ORIGIN: Greek sumptma 'chance, symptom' .

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symptomatic

adjective
acting as a symptom of something.

DERIVATIVES:
symptomatically adverb.

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syn-

prefix
united; acting together: synchrony.

ORIGIN: from Greek sun 'with' .

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synagogue

noun
a building where a Jewish assembly or congregation meets for religious observance and instruction.

ORIGIN: Greek sunagg 'meeting' .

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synapse

noun
a gap between two nerve cells, across which impulses are conducted through the agency of a neurotransmitter.

DERIVATIVES:
synaptic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek sunapsis, from sun- 'together' + hapsis 'joining' .

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sync (also synch) informal

noun
synchronization.

verb
synchronize.

IDIOMS -
in (or out of) sync working well (or badly) together.

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synchro

noun
synchronized or synchronization.

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synchromesh

noun
a system of gear changing in which the driving and driven gearwheels are made to revolve at the same speed during engagement.

ORIGIN: contraction of synchronized mesh.

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synchronicity

noun
the simultaneous occurrence of events which appear significantly related but have no discernible causal connection.

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synchronize (also synchronise)

verb
cause to occur or operate at the same time or rate.

DERIVATIVES:
synchronization noun
synchronizer noun.

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synchronized swimming

noun
a sport in which teams of swimmers perform coordinated movements in time to music.

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synchronous

adjective
1. existing or occurring at the same time.
2. referring to a satellite which revolves in its orbit in exactly the same time as the primary body rotates on its axis.

DERIVATIVES:
synchronously adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek sunkhronos, from sun- 'together' + khronos 'time' .

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syncopate

verb (usu. as adj. syncopated)
(of music or a rhythm) having the beats or accents displaced so that strong beats become weak and vice versa.

DERIVATIVES:
syncopation noun.

ORIGIN: from SYNCOPE.

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syncope

noun
1. Medicine temporary loss of consciousness caused by low blood pressure.
2. Grammar the omission of sounds or letters from within a word, for example when library is pronounced .

ORIGIN: Greek sunkop, from sun- 'together' + koptein 'strike, cut off' .

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syncretism

noun
the amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought.

DERIVATIVES:
syncretic adjective
syncretist noun & adjective
syncretistic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek sunkrtizein 'unite against a third party' , from krs 'Cretan' (originally with reference to ancient Cretan communities).

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syndicate

noun
1. a group of individuals or organizations combined to promote a common interest.
2. an agency supplying material simultaneously to a number of news media.

verb
1. control or manage by a syndicate.
2. publish or broadcast simultaneously in a number of media.

DERIVATIVES:
syndication noun.

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syndrome

noun
1. a group of symptoms which consistently occur together.
2. a characteristic combination of opinions, emotions, or behaviour.

ORIGIN: Greek sundrom, from dramein 'to run' .

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synecdoche

noun
a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa, as in England lost by six wickets (meaning ‘the English cricket team’).

ORIGIN: Greek sunekdokh, from sun- 'together' + ekdekhesthai 'take up' .

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synergy (also synergism)

noun
interaction or cooperation of two or more agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.

DERIVATIVES:
synergetic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek sunergos 'working together' .

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synod

noun
an assembly of the clergy (and sometimes also the laity) in a division of a Christian Church.

DERIVATIVES:
synodal adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek sunodos 'meeting' .

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synonym

noun
a word or phrase that means the same as another word or phrase in the same language.

DERIVATIVES:
synonymy noun.

ORIGIN: Greek sunnumon, from onoma 'name' .

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synonymous

adjective
1. (of a word or phrase) having the same meaning as another word or phrase in the same language.
2. closely associated with something: his name was synonymous with victory.

DERIVATIVES:
synonymously adverb.

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synopsis

noun (pl. synopses)
a brief summary or general survey.

DERIVATIVES:
synopsize (also synopsise) verb.

ORIGIN: Greek, from sun- 'together' + opsis 'seeing' .

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synoptic

adjective
1. of, forming, or involving a synopsis.
2. (Synoptic) referring to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, which describe events from a similar point of view, as contrasted with that of John.

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synovial

adjective
relating to joints of the body enclosed in a thick flexible membrane containing a lubricating fluid (synovial fluid).

ORIGIN: from Latin synovia, probably coined by the Swiss physician Paracelsus (c. 1493 1541).

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syntax

noun
1. the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences.
2. a set of rules for or an analysis of this.
3. the structure of statements in a computer language.

DERIVATIVES:
syntactic adjective
syntactical adjective
syntactically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek suntaxis, from sun- 'together' + tassein 'arrange' .

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synth

noun informal
a synthesizer.

DERIVATIVES:
synthy adjective.

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synthesis

noun (pl. syntheses)
1. the combination of components to form a connected whole. Often contrasted with ANALYSIS.
2. the production of chemical compounds by reaction from simpler materials.

DERIVATIVES:
synthesist noun.

ORIGIN: Greek sunthesis, from suntithenai 'place together' .

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synthesize (also synthesise, synthetize, synthetise)

verb
1. make by synthesis.
2. combine into a coherent whole.
3. produce (sound) electronically.

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synthesizer

noun
an electronic musical instrument producing sounds by generating and combining signals of different frequencies.

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synthetic

adjective
1. made by chemical synthesis, especially to imitate a natural product.
2. not genuine.

noun
a synthetic substance, especially a textile fibre.

DERIVATIVES:
synthetically adverb.

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syphilis

noun
a sexually transmitted disease, spread by bacteria and progressing if untreated from infection of the genitals to the bones, muscles, and brain.

DERIVATIVES:
syphilitic adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Syphilus, the subject of a poem of 1530 who was the supposed first sufferer of the disease.

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syringe

noun
a tube with a nozzle and piston for sucking in and ejecting liquid in a thin stream, often one fitted with a hollow needle for injecting or withdrawing bodily fluids.

verb (syringing)
spray liquid into or over with a syringe.

ORIGIN: Latin syringa, from syrinx (see SYRINX).

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syrup (US also sirup)

noun
1. a thick sweet liquid made by dissolving sugar in boiling water, used for preserving fruit.
2. a thick sweet liquid containing medicine or used as a drink.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'beverage' ; related to SHERBET.

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syrupy (US also sirupy)

adjective
1. having the consistency or sweetness of syrup.
2. excessively sentimental.

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system

noun
1. a set of things working together as a mechanism or interconnecting network.
2. a person's body or mind.
3. Computing a group of related hardware units or programs or both, especially when dedicated to a single application.
4. an organized scheme or method.
5. orderliness; method.
6. the prevailing political or social order, especially when regarded as oppressive.
7. Geology a major range of strata corresponding to a period in time.

ORIGIN: Greek sustma, from sun- 'with' + histanai 'set up' .

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systematic

adjective
done or acting according to a fixed plan or system; methodical.

DERIVATIVES:
systematically adverb
systematist noun.

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systematize (also systematise)

verb
arrange according to an organized system.

DERIVATIVES:
systematization noun.

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systemic

adjective
1. relating to a system as a whole.
2. Physiology referring to the non-pulmonary part of the circulatory system.
3. (of an insecticide, fungicide, etc.) entering the plant via the roots or shoots and passing through the tissues.

DERIVATIVES:
systemically adverb.

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systems analyst

noun
a person who analyses a complex process or operation in order to improve its efficiency.

DERIVATIVES:
systems analysis noun.

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systole

noun
the phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood into the arteries. Often contrasted with DIASTOLE.

DERIVATIVES:
systolic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek sustol, from sustellein 'to contract' .

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T

T (also t)

noun (pl. Ts or T's)
the twentieth letter of the alphabet.

IDIOMS -
to a T informal exactly; to perfection.

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t

abbreviation
ton(s).

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TA

abbreviation
(in the UK) Territorial Army.

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Ta

symbol
the chemical element tantalum.

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ta

exclamation Brit. informal
thank you.

ORIGIN: a child's word.

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tab [1]

noun
1. a small flap or strip of material attached to something, for holding, manipulation, identification, etc.
2. Brit. Military a collar marking distinguishing an officer of high rank.
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. a restaurant bill.
4. N. Amer. a ring pull.
5. N. English & informal a cigarette.

verb (tabbed, tabbing)
mark with a tab.

IDIOMS -
keep tabs on informal monitor the activities of.
pick up the tab informal pay for something.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to TAG.

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tab [3]

noun informal
a tablet, especially one containing an illicit drug.

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tabby

noun (pl. tabbies)
1. a grey or brownish cat with dark stripes.
2. silk or other fabric with a watered pattern.

ORIGIN: originally referring to a striped silk taffeta: from French tabis, from the Arabic name of a part of Baghdad where it was manufactured.

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tabernacle

noun
1. (in the Bible) a tent used as a sanctuary for the Ark of the Covenant by the Israelites during the Exodus.
2. a receptacle or cabinet in which a pyx containing the reserved sacrament may be placed in Catholic churches.
3. a meeting place for Nonconformist or Mormon worship.

ORIGIN: Latin tabernaculum 'tent' , from taberna 'hut, tavern' .

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table

noun
1. a piece of furniture with a flat top and one or more legs, for eating, writing, or working at.
2. a set of facts or figures systematically displayed.
3. (tables) multiplication tables.
4. food provided in a restaurant or household: food includes a lunchtime buffet table.

verb Brit.
present formally for discussion or consideration at a meeting.

IDIOMS -
on the table available for discussion.
turn the tables reverse a situation disadvantageous to oneself so that it becomes advantageous.

ORIGIN: Latin tabula 'plank, tablet, list' .

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tableau

noun (pl. tableaux)
a group of models or motionless figures representing a scene.

ORIGIN: French, 'picture' , from table 'table' .

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tablecloth

noun
a cloth spread over a table, especially during meals.

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table d'hôte

noun
a restaurant menu or meal offered at a fixed price and with limited choices.

ORIGIN: French, 'host's table' .

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table manners

plural noun
behaviour that is conventionally required while eating at table.

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tablespoon

noun
1. a large spoon for serving food.
2. the amount held by such a spoon, in the UK considered to be 15 millilitres when used as a measurement in cookery.

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tablet

noun
1. a slab of stone, clay, or wood on which an inscription is written.
2. a pill in the shape of a disc or cylinder, containing a compressed drug or medicine.
3. Brit. a small flat piece of soap.

ORIGIN: Old French tablete, from Latin tabula 'plank, tablet, list' .

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table tennis

noun
an indoor game played with small bats and a small, hollow ball hit across a table divided by a net.

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tableware

noun
crockery, cutlery, and glassware used for serving and eating meals at a table.

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table wine

noun
wine of moderate quality considered suitable for drinking with a meal.

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tabloid

noun
a newspaper having pages half the size of those of the average broadsheet, typically popular in style.

ORIGIN: originally a proprietary term for a medicinal tablet: the current sense reflects the notion of information being presented in a form that is concentrated and easily assimilable.

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taboo (also tabu)

noun (pl. taboos or tabus)
a social or religious custom placing prohibition or restriction on a particular thing or person.

adjective
1. prohibited or restricted by social custom.
2. designated as sacred and prohibited.

verb (taboos, tabooed or tabus, tabued)
place under such prohibition.

ORIGIN: from Tongan, 'set apart, forbidden' .

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tabular

adjective
1. (of data) consisting of or presented in columns or tables.
2. broad and flat like the top of a table.

ORIGIN: Latin tabularis, from tabula 'plank, tablet, list' .

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tabulate

verb
arrange (data) in tabular form.

DERIVATIVES:
tabulation noun.

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tabulator

noun
a facility in a word-processing program, or a device on a typewriter, for advancing to set positions in tabular work.

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tachograph

noun
a tachometer used in commercial road vehicles to provide a record of engine speed over a period.

ORIGIN: from Greek takhos 'speed' .

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tachometer

noun
an instrument which measures the working speed of an engine, typically in revolutions per minute.

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tacit

adjective
understood or implied without being stated.

DERIVATIVES:
tacitly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin tacitus 'silent' , from tacere 'be silent' .

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taciturn

adjective
reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.

DERIVATIVES:
taciturnity noun
taciturnly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin taciturnus, from tacitus 'silent' .

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tack [1]

noun
1. a small, sharp broad-headed nail.
2. N. Amer. a drawing pin.
3. a long stitch used to fasten fabrics together temporarily.
4. a course of action.
5. Sailing an act of tacking.
6. a boat's course relative to the direction of the wind: the ketch swung to the opposite tack.

verb
1. fasten or fix with tacks.
2. (tack on) add (something) to something already existing.
3. change course by turning a boat's head into and through the wind.
4. make a series of such changes of course while sailing.

ORIGIN: probably related to Old French tache 'clasp, large nail' .

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tack [2]

noun
equipment used in horse riding, including the saddle and bridle.

ORIGIN: from TACKLE.

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tack [3]

noun informal
cheap, shoddy, or tasteless material.

ORIGIN: from TACKY.

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tackle

noun
1. the equipment required for a task or sport.
2. a mechanism consisting of ropes, pulley blocks, and hooks for lifting heavy objects.
3. the running rigging and pulleys used to work a boat's sails.
4. (in sport) an act of tackling an opponent.
5. Brit. vulgar slang a man's genitals.

verb
1. make determined efforts to deal with (a difficult task).
2. initiate discussion with (someone) about a sensitive issue.
3. (in soccer, hockey, rugby, etc.) intercept (an opponent in possession of the ball).

DERIVATIVES:
tackler noun.

ORIGIN: probably from Low German takel, from taken 'lay hold of' .

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tacky [1]

adjective (tackier, tackiest)
(of glue, paint, etc.) slightly sticky because not fully dry.

DERIVATIVES:
tackiness noun.

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tacky [2]

adjective (tackier, tackiest) informal
showing poor taste and quality.

DERIVATIVES:
tackiness noun.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a horse of little value: of unknown origin.

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tact

noun
adroitness and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues.

ORIGIN: Latin tactus 'touch, sense of touch' , from tangere 'to touch' .

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tactful

adjective
having or showing tact.

DERIVATIVES:
tactfully adverb
tactfulness noun.

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tactic

noun
1. an action or strategy planned to achieve a specific end.
2. (tactics) the art of disposing armed forces in order of battle and of organizing operations. Often contrasted with STRATEGY.

DERIVATIVES:
tactician noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek taktik tekhn 'art of tactics' , from taktos 'ordered, arranged' .

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tactical

adjective
1. done or planned to gain a specific military end.
2. (of bombing or weapons) done or for use in immediate support of military or naval operations. Often contrasted with STRATEGIC.
3. planned in order to achieve an end beyond the immediate action.
4. (of voting) aimed at preventing the strongest candidate from winning by supporting the next strongest, without regard to one's true political allegiance.

DERIVATIVES:
tactically adverb.

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tactile

adjective
1. of or connected with the sense of touch.
2. perceptible or designed to be perceived by touch.
3. given to touching others in a friendly or sympathetic way.

DERIVATIVES:
tactility noun.

ORIGIN: Latin tactilis, from tangere 'to touch' .

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tactless

adjective
having or showing a lack of tact.

DERIVATIVES:
tactlessly adverb
tactlessness noun.

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tad informal

adverb (a tad)
to a minor extent; somewhat.

noun
a small amount.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a small child: perhaps related to TADPOLE.

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tadpole

noun
the aquatic larva of an amphibian such as a frog or toad, having gills and a tail and lacking legs until the later stages of its development.

ORIGIN: from an Old English word meaning «toad» + POLL (probably because the tadpole seems to consist of a large head and a tail).

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tae kwon do

noun
a modern Korean martial art similar to karate.

ORIGIN: Korean, 'art of hand and foot fighting' .

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taffeta

noun
a fine lustrous silk or similar synthetic fabric.

ORIGIN: Latin, from a Persian word meaning 'to shine' .

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taffrail

noun
a rail round a ship's stern.

ORIGIN: from obsolete tafferel «panel», used to denote the flat part of a ship's stern above the transom, from Dutch tafereel.

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Taffy (also Taff)

noun (pl. Taffies) Brit. informal, often offensive
a Welshman.

ORIGIN: representing a supposed Welsh pronunciation of the given name Davy or David (Welsh Dafydd).

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taffy

noun (pl. taffies) N. Amer.
a sweet similar to toffee.

ORIGIN: earlier form of TOFFEE.

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tag [1]

noun
1. a label providing identification or giving other information.
2. an electronic device attached to someone or something for monitoring purposes.
3. a nickname or description by which someone or something is popularly known.
4. a frequently repeated quotation or stock phrase.
5. a small piece or part that is attached to a main body.
6. a metal or plastic point at the end of a shoelace.
7. Computing a character or set of characters appended to an item of data in order to identify it.

verb (tagged, tagging)
1. attach a tag to.
2. (tag on/to) add to as an afterthought.
3. (tag along/on) accompany someone without invitation.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a narrow hanging section of a decoratively slashed garment: of unknown origin.

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tag [2]

noun
a children's game in which one chases the rest, and anyone who is caught then becomes the pursuer.

ORIGIN: perhaps a variant of TIG.

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tagliatelle

plural noun
pasta in narrow ribbons.

ORIGIN: Italian, from tagliare 'to cut' .

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tag team

noun
a pair of wrestlers who fight as a team, taking the ring alternately.

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tag wrestling

noun
a form of wrestling involving tag teams.

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t'ai chi ch'uan (also t'ai chi)

noun
a Chinese martial art and system of callisthenics, consisting of sequences of very slow controlled movements.

ORIGIN: Chinese, 'great ultimate boxing' .

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tail

noun
1. the hindmost part of an animal, especially when extended beyond the rest of the body.
2. something extending downwards, outwards, or back like an animal's tail.
3. the rear part of an aircraft, with the tailplane and rudder.
4. the final, more distant, or weaker part.
5. (tails) the side of a coin without the image of a head on it.
6. (tails) informal a tailcoat, or a man's formal evening suit with such a coat.
7. informal a person secretly following another to observe their movements.

verb
1. informal secretly follow and observe.
2. (tail off/away) gradually diminish in amount, strength, or intensity.
3. (tail back) Brit. (of traffic) become congested and form a tailback.

IDIOMS -
on someone's tail informal following someone closely.
with one's tail between one's legs informal in a state of dejection or humiliation.
with one's tail up informal in a confident or cheerful mood.

DERIVATIVES:
tailed adjective
tailless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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tailback

noun Brit.
a long queue of traffic extending back from a junction or obstruction.

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tailcoat

noun Brit.
a man's formal morning or evening coat, with a long skirt divided at the back into tails and cut away in front.

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tail end

noun
the last or hindmost part of something, in particular the batting order in cricket.

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tail fin

noun
1. Zoology a fin at the posterior end of a fish's body.
2. a projecting vertical surface on the tail of an aircraft, housing the rudder and providing stability.
3. an upswept projection on each rear corner of a motor car, popular in the 1950s.

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tailor

noun
a person whose occupation is making men's outer garments for individual customers.

verb
1. make (clothes) to fit individual customers.
2. make or adapt for a particular purpose or person.

ORIGIN: Old French taillour 'cutter' , from Latin taliare 'to cut' .

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tailored

adjective
(of clothes) smart, fitted, and well cut.

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tailoring

noun
1. the activity or trade of a tailor.
2. the style or cut of a garment or garments.

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tailor-made

adjective
1. (of clothes) made by a tailor for a particular customer.
2. made or adapted for a particular purpose or person.

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tailpiece

noun
1. the final or end part of something.
2. a part added to the end of a piece of writing.
3. a small decorative design at the foot of a page or the end of a chapter or book.

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tailpipe

noun
the rear section of the exhaust pipe of a motor vehicle.

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tailplane

noun Brit.
a horizontal aerofoil at the tail of an aircraft.

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tailspin

noun
a spin by an aircraft.

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tailwind

noun
a wind blowing in the direction of travel of a vehicle or aircraft.

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taint

noun
1. a trace of a bad or undesirable quality or substance.
2. a contaminating influence or effect.

verb
1. contaminate or pollute.
2. affect with a bad or undesirable quality.

ORIGIN: Old French teint 'tinged' , from Latin tingere 'to dye, tinge' .

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take

verb (past took; past part. taken)
1. lay hold of with one's hands; reach for and hold.
2. occupy (a place or position).
3. capture or gain possession of by force.
4. carry or bring with one; convey.
5. remove from a place.
6. subtract.
7. consume as food, drink, medicine, or drugs.
8. bring into a specified state.
9. experience or be affected by.
10. use as a route or a means of transport.
11. accept or receive.
12. acquire or assume (a position, state, or form).
13. require or use up.
14. hold or accommodate.
15. act on (an opportunity).
16. regard, view, or deal with in a specified way: he took it as an insult.
17. submit to, tolerate, or endure.
18. make, undertake, or perform (an action or task).
19. be taught or examined in (a subject).

noun
1. a sequence of sound or vision photographed or recorded continuously.
2. a particular version of or approach to something: his whimsical take on life.
3. an amount gained or acquired from one source or in one session.

IDIOMS -
be on the take informal take bribes.
take after resemble (a parent or ancestor).
take as read Brit. assume.
take back retract (a statement).
take five informal, chiefly N. Amer. have a short break.
take in
1. cheat or deceive.
2. make (a garment) tighter by altering its seams.
3. encompass, understand, or absorb.
take in hand
1. undertake to control or reform (someone).
2. start doing or dealing with (a task).
take it on one (or oneself) to do decide to do without asking for permission or advice.
take it out of exhaust the strength of.
take off
1. become airborne.
2. remove (clothing).
3. mimic (someone).
4. depart hastily.
take on
1. engage (an employee).
2. undertake (a task).
3. acquire (a particular meaning or quality).
take something out on relieve frustration or anger by mistreating.
take over assume control of or responsibility for.
take one's time not hurry.
take to
1. fall into the habit of.
2. form a liking or develop and ability for.
3. go to (a place) to escape danger.
take up
1. become interested or engaged in (a pursuit).
2. occupy (time, space, or attention).
3. pursue (a matter) further.
take up on accept an offer or challenge from.
take up with begin to associate with.

DERIVATIVES:
taker noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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takeaway

noun
1. Brit. a restaurant or shop selling cooked food to be eaten elsewhere.
2. a meal or dish of such food.

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take-home pay

noun
the pay received by an employee after the deduction of tax and insurance.

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take-off

noun
1. an act or the action of becoming airborne.
2. an act of mimicking.

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takeout

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a takeaway.

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takeover

noun
an act of assuming control of something, especially the buying-out of one company by another.

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taking

noun
1. the action or process of taking.
2. (takings) the amount of money earned by a business from the sale of goods or services.

adjective dated
captivating in manner; charming.

IDIOMS -
for the taking ready or available to take advantage of.

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talc

noun
1. talcum powder.
2. a soft mineral consisting of a hydrated silicate of magnesium.

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talcum powder

noun
a preparation for the body and face consisting of the mineral talc in powdered form.

verb (talcumed, talcuming)
powder with this substance.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Persian.

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tale

noun
1. a narrative or story, especially one that is imaginatively recounted.
2. a lie.

ORIGIN: Old English, «telling, something told».

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talent

noun
1. natural aptitude or skill.
2. people possessing such aptitude or skill.
3. informal people regarded as sexually attractive or as prospective sexual partners.
4. an ancient weight and unit of currency.

DERIVATIVES:
talentless adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek talanton 'weight, sum of money' : sense 1 is a figurative use with biblical allusion to the parable of the talents (Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25).

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talented

adjective
having a natural aptitude or skill for something.

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talent scout

noun
a person whose job is searching for talented performers, especially in sport and entertainment.

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talisman

noun (pl. talismans)
an object thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck.

DERIVATIVES:
talismanic adjective.

ORIGIN: Arabic, apparently from Greek telesma 'completion, religious rite' .

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talk

verb
1. speak in order to give information or express ideas or feelings.
2. have the power of speech.
3. (talk over/through) discuss (something) thoroughly.
4. (talk back) reply defiantly or insolently.
5. (talk down to) speak patronizingly or condescendingly to.
6. (talk round) convince (someone) that they should adopt a particular point of view.
7. (talk into/out of) persuade or dissuade (someone) to or from.
8. reveal secret or private information.

noun
1. conversation; discussion.
2. an address or lecture.
3. (talks) formal discussions or negotiations over a period.
4. rumour, gossip, or speculation.

IDIOMS -
you can't (or can) talk informal used to convey that a criticism made applies equally well to the person making it.
look who's talking another way of saying you can't talk.
now you're talking informal expressing enthusiastic agreement or approval.

DERIVATIVES:
talker noun.

ORIGIN: related to TALE or TELL.

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talkative

adjective
fond of or given to talking.

DERIVATIVES:
talkatively adverb
talkativeness noun.

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talking point

noun
a topic that invites discussion or argument.

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talking-to

noun informal
a sharp reprimand.

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talk radio

noun chiefly N. Amer.
a type of radio broadcast in which topical issues are discussed by the presenter and by listeners who phone in.

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talk show

noun
a chat show.

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tall

adjective
1. of great or more than average height.
2. measuring a specified distance from top to bottom.
3. fanciful and difficult to believe; unlikely: a tall story.

IDIOMS -
a tall order an unreasonable or difficult demand.

DERIVATIVES:
tallish adjective
tallness noun.

ORIGIN: probably from Old English, «swift, prompt».

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tallboy

noun Brit.
a tall chest of drawers in two sections, one standing on the other.

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tallow

noun
a hard fatty substance made from rendered animal fat, used in making candles and soap.

DERIVATIVES:
tallowy adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Low German.

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tall ship

noun
a sailing ship with a high mast or masts.

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tally

noun (pl. tallies)
1. a current score or amount.
2. a record of a score or amount.
3. a particular number taken as a group or unit to facilitate counting.
4. a mark registering such a number.
5. (also tally stick) historical a piece of wood scored across with notches for the items of an account.

verb (tallies, tallied)
1. agree or correspond.
2. calculate the total number of.

ORIGIN: Old French tallie, from Latin talea 'twig, cutting' .

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tally-ho

exclamation
a huntsman's cry to the hounds on sighting a fox.

ORIGIN: apparently from French taïaut.

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Talmud

noun
the body of Jewish civil and ceremonial law and legend.

DERIVATIVES:
Talmudic adjective
Talmudist noun.

ORIGIN: Hebrew, 'instruction' .

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talon

noun
a claw, especially one belonging to a bird of prey.

DERIVATIVES:
taloned adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'heel' , from Latin talus 'ankle bone, heel' .

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tamarind

noun
sticky brown acidic pulp from the pod of a tropical African tree, used as a flavouring in Asian cookery.

ORIGIN: Arabic, 'Indian date' .

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tamarisk

noun
a shrub or small tree with tiny scale-like leaves borne on slender branches.

ORIGIN: Latin tamariscus, variant of tamarix.

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tambour

noun
1. historical a small drum.
2. a circular frame for holding fabric taut while it is being embroidered.

ORIGIN: French, 'drum' .

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tambourine

noun
a percussion instrument resembling a shallow drum with metal discs around the edge, played by being shaken or hit with the hand.

ORIGIN: French tambourin 'small tambour' .

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tame

adjective
1. (of an animal) not dangerous or frightened of people; domesticated.
2. not exciting, adventurous, or controversial.
3. informal (of a person) willing to cooperate.

verb
1. domesticate (an animal).
2. make less powerful and easier to control.

DERIVATIVES:
tamely adverb
tameness noun
tamer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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tam-o'-shanter

noun
a round Scottish cap with a bobble in the centre.

ORIGIN: named after the hero of Robert Burns's poem Tam o' Shanter (1790).

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tamp

verb
1. pack (a blast hole) full of clay or sand to concentrate the force of the explosion.
2. firmly ram or pack (a substance) down or into something.

ORIGIN: probably from French tampon 'tampon, plug' .

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tamper

verb (tamper with)
interfere with (something) without authority or so as to cause damage.

DERIVATIVES:
tamperer noun.

ORIGIN: alteration of TEMPER.

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tampon

noun
a plug of soft material inserted into the vagina to absorb menstrual blood.

ORIGIN: French, from tapon 'plug, stopper' .

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tan [1]

noun
1. a yellowish-brown colour.
2. a golden-brown shade of skin developed by pale-skinned people after exposure to the sun.
3. (also tanbark) bark of oak or other trees, used as a source of tannin for converting hides into leather.

verb (tanned, tanning)
1. give or acquire a tan after exposure to the sun.
2. convert (animal skin) into leather, especially by soaking in a liquid containing tannic acid.
3. informal, dated beat (someone) as a punishment.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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tan [2]

abbreviation
tangent.

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tandem

noun
1. a bicycle with seats and pedals for two riders, one behind the other.
2. a carriage driven by two animals harnessed one in front of the other.

adverb
one behind another.

IDIOMS -
in tandem
1. alongside each other; together.
2. one behind another.

ORIGIN: from Latin, 'at length' .

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tandoor

noun
a clay oven of a type used originally in northern India and Pakistan.

ORIGIN: Arabic.

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tandoori

adjective
referring to a style of Indian cooking based on the use of a tandoor.

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tang

noun
1. a strong taste, flavour, or smell.
2. the projection on the blade of a knife or other tool by which the blade is held firmly in the handle.

ORIGIN: Old Norse 'point, tang of a knife' .

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tangent

noun
1. a straight line or plane that touches a curve or curved surface at a point, but if extended does not cross it at that point.
2. Mathematics the trigonometric function that is equal to the ratio of the sides (other than the hypotenuse) opposite and adjacent to an angle in a right-angled triangle.
3. a completely different line of thought or action: her mind went off at a tangent.

adjective
(of a line or plane) touching, but not intersecting, a curve or curved surface.

DERIVATIVES:
tangency noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin tangere 'to touch' .

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tangential

adjective
1. relating to or along a tangent.
2. having only a slight connection or relevance; peripheral.
3. diverging from a previous course; erratic.

DERIVATIVES:
tangentially adverb.

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tangerine

noun
1. a small citrus fruit with a loose skin, especially one of a variety with deep orange-red skin.
2. a deep orange-red colour.

ORIGIN: from Tanger, the former name of Tangier in Morocco, from where the fruit was exported.

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tangible

adjective
1. perceptible by touch.
2. clear and definite; real.

DERIVATIVES:
tangibility noun
tangibly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin tangibilis, from tangere 'to touch' .

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tangle

verb
1. twist (strands) together into a confused mass.
2. (tangle with) informal become involved in a conflict with.

noun
1. a confused mass of something twisted together.
2. a confused or complicated state; a muddle.

DERIVATIVES:
tangly adjective.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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tango

noun (pl. tangos)
1. a ballroom dance originating in Buenos Aires, characterized by marked rhythms and postures and abrupt pauses.
2. a piece of music in the style of this dance.

verb (tangoes, tangoed)
dance the tango.

ORIGIN: Latin American Spanish.

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tangy

adjective (tangier, tangiest)
having a strong, piquant flavour or smell.

DERIVATIVES:
tanginess noun.

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tank

noun
1. a large container or storage chamber, especially for liquid or gas.
2. the container holding the fuel supply in a motor vehicle.
3. a container with transparent sides in which to keep fish; an aquarium.
4. a heavy armoured fighting vehicle carrying guns and moving on a continuous metal track.

verb
1. (be/get tanked up) informal drink heavily or become drunk.
2. US informal fail completely or disastrously.

DERIVATIVES:
tankful noun
tankless adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Gujarati or Marathi (a central Indian language), 'underground cistern' .

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tankard

noun
a tall beer mug, typically made of silver or pewter, with a handle and sometimes a hinged lid.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Dutch tanckaert.

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tank engine

noun
a steam locomotive carrying fuel and water receptacles in its own frame, not in a tender.

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tanker

noun
a ship, road vehicle, or aircraft for carrying liquids, especially mineral oils, in bulk.

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tank top

noun
a close-fitting sleeveless top worn over a shirt or blouse.

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tanner

noun
a person employed to tan animal hides.

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tannery

noun (pl. tanneries)
a place where animal hides are tanned.

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tannin

noun
a yellowish or brownish bitter-tasting organic substance present in tea, some barks, grapes, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
tannic adjective.

ORIGIN: French tanin, from tan 'tanbark' .

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tannoy

noun Brit. trademark
a type of public address system.

ORIGIN: contraction of tantalum alloy, which is used as a rectifier in the system.

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tantalize (also tantalise)

verb
torment or tease with the sight or promise of something that is unobtainable or withheld.

DERIVATIVES:
tantalization noun
tantalizing adjective.

ORIGIN: from Tantalus in Greek mythology, who was punished for his crimes by being provided with fruit and water which receded when he reached for them.

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tantamount

adjective (tantamount to)
equivalent in seriousness to; virtually the same as.

ORIGIN: from earlier tantamount «amount to as much», from Italian tanto montare.

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tantra

noun
1. a Hindu or Buddhist mystical or magical text.
2. adherence to the doctrines or principles of the tantras, involving mantras, meditation, yoga, and ritual.

DERIVATIVES:
tantric adjective
tantrism noun.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, 'loom, groundwork, doctrine' .

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tantrum

noun
an uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration, typically in a young child.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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Taoiseach

noun
the Prime Minister of the Irish Republic.

ORIGIN: Irish, 'chief, leader' .

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Taoism

noun
a Chinese philosophy based on the interpretation of the writer Lao-Tzu (6th century BC) of the Tao, or fundamental principle underlying the universe, incorporating the principles of yin and yang and advocating humility and religious piety.

DERIVATIVES:
Taoist noun & adjective
Taoistic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Chinese, 'the right way' .

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tap [1]

noun
1. a device by which a flow of liquid or gas from a pipe or container can be controlled.
2. an instrument for cutting a threaded hole in a material.
3. a device connected to a telephone for listening secretly to conversations.
4. Brit. a taproom.

verb (tapped, tapping)
1. draw liquid through the tap or spout of (a cask, barrel, etc.).
2. draw sap from (a tree) by cutting into it.
3. exploit or draw a supply from (a resource).
4. informal obtain money or information from.
5. connect a device to (a telephone) so that conversations can be listened to secretly.
6. cut a thread in (something) to accept a screw.

IDIOMS -
on tap
1. ready to be poured from a tap.
2. informal freely available whenever needed.
3. N. Amer. informal on schedule to occur.

DERIVATIVES:
tappable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «stopper for a cask».

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tap [2]

verb (tapped, tapping)
1. strike or knock with a quick light blow or blows.
2. strike lightly and repeatedly against something else.
3. US informal designate or select for a task or honour.

noun
1. a quick light blow.
2. tap dancing.
3. a piece of metal attached to the toe and heel of a tap dancer's shoe to make a tapping sound.

DERIVATIVES:
tapper noun.

ORIGIN: Old French taper, or imitative.

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tapas

plural noun
small Spanish savoury dishes, typically served with drinks at a bar.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'cover, lid' (because the dishes were given free with the drink, served on a dish balanced on the glass).

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tap dance

noun
a dance performed wearing shoes fitted with metal taps, characterized by rhythmical tapping of the toes and heels.

verb (tap-dance)
perform such a dance.

DERIVATIVES:
tap dancer noun
tap-dancing noun.

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tape

noun
1. light, flexible material in a narrow strip, used to hold, fasten, or mark off something.
2. (also adhesive tape) a strip of paper or plastic coated with adhesive, used to stick things together.
3. long, narrow material with magnetic properties, used for recording sound, pictures, or computer data.
4. a cassette or reel containing such material.

verb
1. record (sound or pictures) on audio or video tape.
2. fasten, attach, or mark off with tape.

ORIGIN: Old English; perhaps related to Low German teppen 'pluck, tear' .

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tape deck

noun
a piece of equipment for playing audio tapes, as part of a stereo system.

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tape measure

noun
a length of tape marked at graded intervals for measuring.

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taper

verb
1. diminish or reduce in thickness towards one end.
2. (taper off) gradually lessen.

noun
a slender tapered candle, used for conveying a flame.

ORIGIN: Old English, formed, by alteration of p- to t-, from Latin papyrus 'papyrus plant' , the pith of which was used for candle wicks.

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tape recorder

noun
an apparatus for recording sounds on magnetic tape and afterwards reproducing them.

DERIVATIVES:
tape-record verb
tape recording noun.

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tapestry

noun (pl. tapestries)
a piece of thick textile fabric with pictures or designs formed by weaving coloured weft threads or by embroidering on canvas.

DERIVATIVES:
tapestried adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French tapisserie, from tapis 'carpet' .

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tapeworm

noun
a parasitic flatworm with a long ribbon-like body, the adult of which lives in the intestines.

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tapioca

noun
a starchy substance in the form of hard white grains, obtained from cassava and used for puddings and other dishes.

ORIGIN: Tupi-Guarani, «squeezed-out dregs».

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tapir

noun
a hoofed mammal with a short flexible proboscis, native to tropical America and Malaysia.

ORIGIN: Tupi.

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tappet

noun
a lever or projecting part on a machine which intermittently makes contact with a cam or other part so as to give or receive motion.

ORIGIN: from TAP.

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taproom

noun
a room in which beer is available on tap.

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taproot

noun
a straight tapering root growing vertically downwards and forming the centre from which subsidiary rootlets spring.

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tar [1]

noun
1. a dark, thick flammable liquid distilled from wood or coal, used in road-making and for coating and preserving timber.
2. a similar substance formed by burning tobacco or other material.

verb (tarred, tarring)
cover with tar.

IDIOMS -
tar and feather smear with tar and then cover with feathers as a punishment.
tar with the same brush consider to have the same faults.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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tar [2]

noun informal, dated
a sailor.

ORIGIN: perhaps an abbreviation of TARPAULIN, used as a nickname for a sailor in the 17th century.

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tarantula

noun
1. a very large hairy spider found chiefly in tropical and subtropical America.
2. a large black wolf spider of southern Europe.

ORIGIN: Italian tarantola, from the Italian seaport of Taranto.

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tardy

adjective (tardier, tardiest)
1. delaying or delayed beyond the right or expected time; late.
2. slow in action or response.

DERIVATIVES:
tardily adverb
tardiness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin tardus 'slow' .

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tare

noun
the common vetch.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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target

noun
1. a person, object, or place selected as the aim of an attack.
2. a board marked with concentric circles, aimed at in archery or shooting.
3. an objective or result towards which efforts are directed: a sales target.

verb (targeted, targeting)
1. select as an object of attention or attack.
2. aim or direct.

IDIOMS -
on (or off) target succeeding (or not succeeding) in hitting or achieving the thing aimed at.

DERIVATIVES:
targetable adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a small round shield: from Old English.

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tariff

noun
1. a tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports.
2. a table of the fixed charges made by a business, especially in a hotel or restaurant.
3. Law a scale of sentences and damages for crimes and injuries of different severities.

verb
fix the price of (something) according to a tariff.

ORIGIN: Italian tariffa, from Arabic, «notify».

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tarmac

noun
1. (trademark in the UK) material used for surfacing roads or other outdoor areas, consisting of broken stone mixed with tar.
2. (the tarmac) a runway or other area surfaced with such material.

verb (tarmacked, tarmacking)
surface with tarmac.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of earlier tarmacadam, from TAR + MACADAM.

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tarn

noun
a small mountain lake.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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tarnish

verb
1. lose or cause to lose lustre, especially as a result of exposure to air or moisture.
2. make or become less valuable or respected.

noun
1. a film or stain formed on an exposed surface of a mineral or metal.
2. dullness of colour; loss of brightness.

DERIVATIVES:
tarnishable adjective.

ORIGIN: from French ternir, from terne 'dark, dull' .

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tarot

noun
a set of special playing cards used for fortune telling.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian tarocchi.

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tarpaulin

noun
1. heavy-duty waterproof cloth, originally of tarred canvas.
2. a sheet or covering of this.

ORIGIN: probably from TAR + PALL + -ING.

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tarragon

noun
a plant with narrow aromatic leaves, used as a herb in cooking.

ORIGIN: from Latin tragonia and tarchon, perhaps ultimately from Greek drakn 'dragon' .

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tarry [1]

adjective
of, like, or covered with tar.

DERIVATIVES:
tarriness noun.

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tarry [2]

verb (tarries, tarried) archaic
stay longer than intended; delay leaving a place.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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tarsal Anatomy & Zoology

adjective
relating to the tarsus.

noun
a bone of the tarsus.

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tarsus

noun (pl. tarsi)
1. the group of small bones in the ankle and upper foot.
2. Zoology the shank of the leg of a bird or reptile.

ORIGIN: Greek tarsos 'flat of the foot, the eyelid' .

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tart [1]

noun
an open pastry case containing a sweet or savoury filling.

DERIVATIVES:
tartlet noun.

ORIGIN: Old French tarte.

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tart [2]

noun informal, derogatory
a prostitute or promiscuous woman.

verb
1. (tart oneself up) informal, chiefly Brit. dress or make oneself up in order to look attractive.
2. (tart up) decorate or improve the appearance of.

DERIVATIVES:
tarty adjective (tartier, tartiest) .

ORIGIN: probably from SWEETHEART.

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tart [3]

adjective
1. sharp or acid in taste.
2. (of a remark or tone of voice) cutting, bitter, or sarcastic.

DERIVATIVES:
tartly adverb
tartness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «harsh, severe».

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tartan

noun
a woollen cloth woven in one of several patterns of coloured checks and intersecting lines, especially of a design associated with a particular Scottish clan.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French tertaine, denoting a kind of cloth; compare with tartarin, a rich fabric formerly imported from the east through the ancient region of Tartary.

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Tartar

noun
1. historical a member of the combined forces of central Asian peoples, including Mongols and Turks, who conquered much of Asia and eastern Europe in the early 13th century.
2. (tartar) a harsh, fierce, or intractable person.

DERIVATIVES:
Tartarian adjective.

ORIGIN: from Tatar, the local name of a tribe formerly living in parts of Russia and Ukraine.

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tartar

noun
1. a hard calcified deposit that forms on the teeth and contributes to their decay.
2. a deposit of impure cream of tartar formed during the fermentation of wine.

IDIOMS -
cream of tartar potassium hydrogen tartrate, an acidic crystalline compound used in baking powder.

ORIGIN: Greek tartaron.

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tartare sauce (also tartar sauce)

noun
a cold sauce, typically eaten with fish, consisting of mayonnaise mixed with chopped onions, gherkins, and capers.

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task

noun
a piece of work to be done.

verb
1. (task with) assign (a task) to.
2. make great demands on.

IDIOMS -
take to task reprimand or criticize.

ORIGIN: Old French tasche, from Latin taxare 'censure, charge' .

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task force

noun
1. an armed force organized for a special operation.
2. a unit specially organized for a task.

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taskmaster

noun
a person who imposes a demanding workload on someone.

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Tasmanian devil

noun
a heavily built aggressive marsupial with a large head, powerful jaws, and mainly black fur, found only in Tasmania.

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tassel

noun
1. a tuft of hanging threads, knotted together at one end and used for decoration in soft furnishing and clothing.
2. the tufted head of some plants.

DERIVATIVES:
tasselled adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'clasp' .

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taste

noun
1. the sensation of flavour perceived in the mouth on contact with a substance.
2. the faculty of perceiving this.
3. a small portion of food or drink taken as a sample.
4. a brief experience of something.
5. a person's liking for something.
6. the ability to discern what is of good quality or of a high aesthetic standard.
7. conformity to a specified degree with generally held views on what is acceptable or offensive: a joke in bad taste.

verb
1. perceive or experience the flavour of.
2. have a specified flavour.
3. sample or test the flavour of.
4. eat or drink a small portion of.
5. have a brief experience of.

IDIOMS -
to taste according to personal liking.

ORIGIN: from Old French taster 'touch, try, taste' , perhaps from a blend of Latin tangere 'to touch' and gustare 'to taste' .

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taste bud

noun
any of the clusters of nerve endings on the tongue and in the lining of the mouth which provide the sense of taste.

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tasteful

adjective
showing good aesthetic judgement or appropriate behaviour.

DERIVATIVES:
tastefully adverb
tastefulness noun.

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tasteless

adjective
1. lacking flavour.
2. lacking in aesthetic judgement or constituting inappropriate behaviour.

DERIVATIVES:
tastelessly adverb
tastelessness noun.

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taster

noun
1. a person who tests food or drink by tasting it.
2. a sample or brief experience of something.

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tasty

adjective (tastier, tastiest)
1. (of food) having a pleasant, distinct flavour.
2. informal, chiefly Brit. attractive; appealing.

DERIVATIVES:
tastily adverb
tastiness noun.

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tat

noun Brit. informal
tasteless or shoddy articles.

ORIGIN: probably from TATTY.

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tattered

adjective
1. old and torn.
2. ruined; in tatters.

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tatters

plural noun
irregularly torn pieces of cloth, paper, etc.

IDIOMS -
in tatters informal
1. torn; in shreds.
2. destroyed; ruined.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'rags' .

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tatting

noun
1. a kind of knotted lace made by hand with a small shuttle.
2. the process of making such lace.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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tattle

noun
gossip; idle talk.

verb
engage in tattle.

DERIVATIVES:
tattler noun.

ORIGIN: Flemish tatelen, tateren.

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tattoo [1]

noun (pl. tattoos)
1. an evening drum or bugle signal recalling soldiers to their quarters.
2. a military display consisting of music, marching, and exercises.
3. a rhythmic tapping or drumming.

ORIGIN: from Dutch taptoe! 'close the tap of the cask!' .

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tattoo [2]

verb (tattoos, tattooed)
mark with an indelible design by inserting pigment into punctures in the skin.

noun (pl. tattoos)
a design made in such a way.

DERIVATIVES:
tattooer noun
tattooist noun.

ORIGIN: Polynesian.

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tatty

adjective (tattier, tattiest) informal
worn and shabby; in poor condition.

DERIVATIVES:
tattily adverb
tattiness noun.

ORIGIN: from Old English, «rag»; related to TATTERED.

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taunt

noun
a jeering or mocking remark made in order to wound or provoke.

verb
provoke or wound with taunts.

DERIVATIVES:
taunter noun.

ORIGIN: from French tant pour tant 'like for like, tit for tat' .

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taupe

noun
a grey tinged with brown.

ORIGIN: French, 'mole, moleskin' , from Latin talpa.

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Taurus

noun
1. Astronomy a constellation (the Bull), said to represent a bull tamed by Jason (a hero of Greek mythology).
2. Astrology the second sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about 21 April.

DERIVATIVES:
Taurean noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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taut

adjective
1. stretched or pulled tight.
2. (of muscles or nerves) tense.
3. (of writing, music, etc.) concise and controlled.
4. (of a ship) having a disciplined crew.

DERIVATIVES:
tauten verb
tautly adverb
tautness noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete tought «distended», perhaps originally a variant of TOUGH.

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tautology

noun (pl. tautologies)
the saying of the same thing over again in different words, considered as a fault of style (e.g. they arrived one after the other in succession).

DERIVATIVES:
tautological adjective
tautologous adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek tauto- 'same' + logos 'word, telling' .

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tavern

noun chiefly archaic or N. Amer.
an inn or public house.

ORIGIN: Old French taverne, from Latin taberna 'hut, tavern' .

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taverna

noun
a small Greek restaurant.

ORIGIN: modern Greek.

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tawdry

adjective (tawdrier, tawdriest)
1. showy but cheap and of poor quality.
2. sordid; sleazy.

DERIVATIVES:
tawdriness noun.

ORIGIN: short for tawdry lace, a fine silk lace or ribbon, contraction of St Audrey's lace: Audrey was the patron saint of Ely where tawdry laces, along with cheap imitations, were traditionally sold.

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tawny

adjective (tawnier, tawniest)
of an orange-brown or yellowish-brown colour.

DERIVATIVES:
tawniness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French tane, from tan 'tanbark' ; related to TAN.

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tawny owl

noun
a common owl with either reddish-brown or grey plumage, and a familiar quavering hoot.

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tax

noun
1. a compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on personal income and business profits or added to the cost of some goods, services, and transactions.
2. a strain or heavy demand.

verb
1. impose a tax on.
2. pay tax on (a vehicle).
3. make heavy demands on.
4. charge with a fault or wrongdoing.

DERIVATIVES:
taxable adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin taxare 'to censure, charge, compute' .

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taxation

noun
1. the levying of tax.
2. money paid as tax.

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tax break

noun informal
a tax concession or advantage allowed by government.

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tax-deductible

adjective
permitted to be deducted from taxable income.

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tax disc

noun Brit.
a circular label displayed on the windscreen of a vehicle, certifying payment of road tax.

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tax evasion

noun
the illegal non-payment or underpayment of tax.

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tax exile

noun
a person with a high taxable income who chooses to live in a country or area with low rates of taxation.

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tax haven

noun
a country or autonomous area where taxes are levied at a low rate.

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taxi

noun (pl. taxis)
a motor vehicle licensed to transport passengers in return for payment of a fare.

verb (taxies, taxied, taxiing or taxying)
1. (with reference to an aircraft) move or guide slowly along the ground before take-off or after landing.
2. travel in a taxi.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of taxicab or taximeter cab (see TAXIMETER).

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taxicab

noun
a taxi.

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taxidermy

noun
the art of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skins of animals so that they appear lifelike.

DERIVATIVES:
taxidermic adjective
taxidermist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek taxis 'arrangement' + derma 'skin' .

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taximeter

noun
a device used in taxis that automatically records the distance travelled and the fare payable.

ORIGIN: French taximètre, from taxe 'tariff' + mètre 'meter' .

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taxing

adjective
physically or mentally demanding.

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taxi rank (N. Amer. taxi stand)

noun
a place where taxis park while waiting to be hired.

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taxman

noun informal
an inspector or collector of taxes.

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taxonomy

noun chiefly Biology
1. the branch of science concerned with classification.
2. a scheme of classification.

DERIVATIVES:
taxonomic adjective
taxonomical adjective
taxonomist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek taxis 'arrangement' + -nomia 'distribution' .

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tax return

noun
a form on which a taxpayer makes a statement of income and personal circumstances, used to assess liability for tax.

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tax year

noun
a year as reckoned for taxation (in Britain from 6 April).

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tayberry

noun (pl. tayberries)
a dark red soft fruit produced by crossing a blackberry and a raspberry.

ORIGIN: named after the River Tay in Scotland, near where it was introduced in 1977.

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TB

abbreviation
tubercle bacillus; tuberculosis.

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Tb

symbol
the chemical element terbium.

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t.b.a.

abbreviation
to be announced.

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T-bone

noun
a large choice piece of loin steak containing a T-shaped bone.

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tbsp (also tbs) (pl. same or tbsps)

abbreviation
tablespoonful.

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Te

symbol
the chemical element tellurium.

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te (N. Amer. ti)

noun Music
the seventh note of a major scale, coming after ‘lah’.

ORIGIN: alteration of obsolete si, adopted to avoid having two notes (soh and si) beginning with the same letter.

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tea

noun
1. a hot drink made by infusing the dried, crushed leaves of the tea plant in boiling water.
2. the dried leaves of an evergreen shrub or small tree native to south and east Asia, used to make tea.
3. a drink made from the leaves, fruits, or flowers of other plants.
4. chiefly Brit. a light afternoon meal consisting of sandwiches, cakes, etc., with tea to drink.
5. Brit. a cooked evening meal.

ORIGIN: Chinese.

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tea bag

noun
a small porous sachet containing tea leaves, on to which boiling water is poured in order to make tea.

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tea break

noun Brit.
a short rest period during the working day.

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teacake

noun Brit.
a light yeast-based sweet bun containing dried fruit, typically served toasted and buttered.

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teach

verb (past and past part. taught)
1. impart knowledge to or instruct in how to do something, especially in a school or as part of a recognized programme.
2. give instruction in (a subject or skill).
3. cause to learn by example or experience.
4. advocate as a practice or principle.

DERIVATIVES:
teachable adjective
teaching noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «show, present, point out».

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teacher

noun
a person who teaches in a school.

DERIVATIVES:
teacherly adjective.

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tea chest

noun
a light metal-lined wooden box in which tea is transported.

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Teachta Dála

noun (pl. Teachti)
(in the Republic of Ireland) a member of the Dáil or lower House of Parliament.

ORIGIN: Irish.

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tea cloth

noun
a tea towel.

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tea cosy

noun
a thick or padded cover placed over a teapot to keep the tea hot.

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teacup

noun
a cup from which tea is drunk.

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tea dance

noun
an afternoon tea with dancing.

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teak

noun
hard durable wood used in shipbuilding and for making furniture, obtained from a large deciduous tree native to India and SE Asia.

ORIGIN: Portuguese teca, from Tamil.

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teal

noun (pl. same or teals)
1. a small freshwater duck, typically with a bright blue-green patch on the wing plumage.
2. (also teal blue) a dark greenish-blue colour.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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team

noun
1. a group of players forming one side in a competitive game or sport.
2. two or more people working together.
3. two or more horses in harness together to pull a vehicle.

verb
1. (team up) come together as a team to achieve a common goal.
2. (team with) match or coordinate with.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to TEEM and TOW.

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teammate

noun
a fellow member of a team.

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team player

noun
a person who plays or works well as a member of a team.

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team spirit

noun
feelings of camaraderie among the members of a team.

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teamwork

noun
the combined effective action of a group.

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teapot

noun
a pot with a handle, spout, and lid, in which tea is prepared.

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tear [1]

verb (past tore; past part. torn)
1. rip a hole or split in.
2. (usu. tear up) pull or rip apart or to pieces.
3. damage (a muscle or ligament) by overstretching it.
4. (usu. tear down) energetically demolish or destroy.
5. (tear apart) disrupt and force apart.
6. (be torn) be in a state of conflict and uncertainty between two opposing options or parties.
7. (tear oneself away) leave despite a strong desire to stay.
8. informal move very quickly and in a reckless or excited manner.
9. (tear into) attack verbally.

noun
a hole or split caused by tearing.

IDIOMS -
tear one's hair out informal feel extreme desperation.
tear someone off a strip (or tear a strip off someone) Brit. informal rebuke someone angrily.
that's torn it Brit. informal expressing dismay when something has happened to disrupt someone's plans.

DERIVATIVES:
tearable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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tear [2]

noun
a drop of clear salty liquid secreted from glands in a person's eye when they are crying or when the eye is irritated.

IDIOMS -
in tears crying.

DERIVATIVES:
teary adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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tearaway

noun Brit.
a person who behaves in a wild or reckless manner.

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teardrop

noun
1. a single tear.
2. (before another noun ) shaped like a tear.

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tear duct

noun
a passage through which tears pass from the lachrymal glands to the eye or from the eye to the nose.

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tearful

adjective
1. crying or inclined to cry.
2. causing tears; sad.

DERIVATIVES:
tearfully adverb
tearfulness noun.

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tear gas

noun
gas that causes severe irritation to the eyes, used in warfare and riot control.

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tear jerker

noun informal
a story, film, or song that is intended to evoke sadness or sympathy.

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tea room

noun
a small restaurant or cafe where tea and other light refreshments are served.

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tea rose

noun
a garden rose having flowers that are pale yellow tinged with pink, and a delicate scent resembling that of tea.

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tear sheet

noun
a page that can be removed from a magazine, book, etc. for use separately.

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tease

verb
1. playfully make fun of or attempt to provoke.
2. tempt sexually.
3. (tease out) find out by searching through a mass of information.
4. gently pull or comb (tangled wool, hair, etc.) into separate strands.
5. archaic comb (the surface of woven cloth) to raise a nap.

noun informal
1. an act of teasing.
2. a person who teases.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to TEASEL.

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teasel (also teazle or teazel)

noun
1. a tall prickly plant with spiny purple flower heads.
2. a dried head from a teasel, or a similar man-made device, used to raise a nap on woven cloth.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to TEASE.

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teaser

noun
1. a person who teases others.
2. informal a tricky question or task.

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tea set

noun
a set of crockery for serving tea.

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teaspoon

noun
1. a small spoon used for adding sugar to and stirring hot drinks or for eating some foods.
2. the amount held by such a spoon, in the UK considered to be 5 millilitres when used as a measurement in cookery.

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teat

noun
1. a nipple of the mammary gland of a female mammal.
2. Brit. a perforated plastic nipple-shaped device by which an infant or young animal can suck milk from a bottle.

ORIGIN: Old French tete.

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tea towel

noun chiefly Brit.
a cloth for drying washed crockery, cutlery, and glasses.

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tea-tree oil

noun
an oil obtained from a species of tea tree, used in soaps and other products for its refreshing fragrance and antiseptic properties.

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tech (also tec)

noun informal
1. Brit. a technical college.
2. technology.
3. a technician.

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technic

noun
1. chiefly US technique.
2. (technics) (treated as sing. or pl. ) technical terms, details, and methods; technology.

DERIVATIVES:
technicist noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «to do with art»: from Greek tekhn 'art' .

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technical

adjective
1. of or relating to a particular subject, art, or craft, or its techniques.
2. requiring specialized knowledge in order to be understood.
3. of or concerned with applied and industrial sciences.
4. according to a strict application or interpretation of the law or rules.

DERIVATIVES:
technically adverb.

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technical college

noun
a college of further education providing courses in applied sciences and other practical subjects.

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technicality

noun (pl. technicalities)
1. a small formal detail specified within a set of rules.
2. (technicalities) details of theory or practice within a particular field.
3. the use of technical terms or methods.

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technical knockout

noun Boxing
the ending of a fight by the referee on the grounds of a contestant's inability to continue, the opponent being declared the winner.

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technician

noun
1. a person employed to look after technical equipment or do practical work in a laboratory.
2. an expert in the practical application of a science.
3. a person skilled in the technique of an art or craft.

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Technicolor

noun trademark
1. a process of colour cinematography using synchronized monochrome films, each of a different colour, to produce a colour print.
2. (technicolor or Brit. also technicolour) informal vivid colour.

DERIVATIVES:
technicolored (Brit. also technicoloured) adjective.

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technique

noun
1. a way of carrying out a particular task, especially the execution of an artistic work or a scientific procedure.
2. a procedure that is effective in achieving an aim.

ORIGIN: French, from Greek tekhn 'art' .

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techno

noun
a style of fast, heavy electronic dance music, with few or no vocals.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of technological (see TECHNOLOGY).

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technology

noun (pl. technologies)
1. the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes.
2. the branch of knowledge concerned with applied sciences.

DERIVATIVES:
technological adjective
technologically adverb
technologist noun.

ORIGIN: Greek tekhnologia 'systematic treatment' .

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technophobe

noun
a person who dislikes or fears new technology.

DERIVATIVES:
technophobia noun
technophobic adjective.

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tectonic

adjective
1. Geology of or relating to the structure of the earth's crust and the large-scale processes which take place within it.
2. of or relating to building or construction.

DERIVATIVES:
tectonically adverb.

ORIGIN: Greek tektonikos, from tektn 'carpenter, builder' .

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teddy

noun (pl. teddies)
1. (also teddy bear) a soft toy bear.
2. a woman's all-in-one undergarment.

ORIGIN: from Teddy, familiar form of the given name Theodore: in sense 1 alluding to the US President Theodore Roosevelt (1858 1919), an enthusiastic bear-hunter.

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tedious

adjective
too long, slow, or dull.

DERIVATIVES:
tediously adverb
tediousness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin taedium 'tedium' , from taedere 'be weary of' .

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tedium

noun
the state of being tedious.

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tee

noun
1. a cleared space on a golf course, from which the ball is struck at the beginning of play for each hole.
2. a small peg with a concave head which is placed in the ground to support a golf ball before it is struck from a tee.
3. a mark aimed at in bowls, quoits, curling, and other similar games.

verb (tees, teed, teeing) Golf
1. (tee up) place the ball on a tee ready to make the first stroke of the round or hole.
2. (tee off) begin a round or hole by playing the ball from a tee.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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teem [1]

verb (teem with)
be full of or swarming with.

ORIGIN: Old English, «give birth to» or «be or become pregnant»; related to TEAM.

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teem [2]

verb
(especially of rain) pour down; fall heavily.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'to empty' .

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teen informal

adjective
relating to teenagers.

noun
a teenager.

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-teen

suffix
forming the names of numerals from 13 to 19.

ORIGIN: Old English, inflected form of TEN.

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teenage

adjective
denoting, relating to, or characteristic of a teenager or teenagers.

DERIVATIVES:
teenaged adjective.

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teenager

noun
a person aged between 13 and 19 years.

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teens

plural noun
the years of a person's age from 13 to 19.

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teensy

adjective (teensier, teensiest) informal
very tiny.

ORIGIN: probably from TEENY.

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teeny

adjective (teenier, teeniest) informal
tiny.

ORIGIN: variant of TINY.

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teeny-bopper

noun informal
a young teenager who follows the latest fashions in clothes and pop music.

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teeny-weeny (also teensy-weensy)

adjective informal
very tiny.

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teeter

verb
1. move or balance unsteadily.
2. waver between different courses.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'shake, shiver' .

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teethe

verb
cut one's milk teeth.

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teething troubles (also teething problems)

plural noun
short-term problems that occur in the early stages of a new project.

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teetotal

adjective
choosing or characterized by abstinence from alcohol.

DERIVATIVES:
teetotalism noun
teetotaller noun.

ORIGIN: emphatic extension of TOTAL, apparently first used by Richard Turner, a worker from Preston, in a speech (1833) urging total abstinence from all alcohol.

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TEFL

abbreviation
teaching of English as a foreign language.

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Teflon

noun
1. trademark a tough synthetic resin used to make seals and bearings and to coat non-stick cooking utensils.
2. (before another noun ) (especially of a politician) having an undamaged reputation, in spite of scandal or misjudgement.

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tele-

combining form
1. to or at a distance: telecommunication.
2. relating to television: telegenic.
3. done by means of the telephone: telemarketing.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'far off' .

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telecast

noun
a television broadcast.

verb
transmit by television.

DERIVATIVES:
telecaster noun.

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telecommunication

noun
1. communication over a distance by cable, telegraph, telephone, or broadcasting.
2. (telecommunications) (treated as sing. ) the branch of technology concerned with this.

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telecoms (also telecomms)

plural noun (treated as sing. )
telecommunications.

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telegram

noun
a message sent by telegraph and delivered in written or printed form, used in the UK only for international messages since 1981.

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telegraph

noun
a system or device for transmitting messages from a distance along a wire, especially one creating signals by making and breaking an electrical connection.

verb
1. send a message to by telegraph.
2. send (a message) by telegraph.
3. convey (an intentional or unconscious message) with facial expression or body language.

DERIVATIVES:
telegrapher noun
telegraphist noun
telegraphy noun.

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telegraphese

noun informal
the terse, abbreviated style of language used in telegrams.

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telegraphic

adjective
1. of or by telegraphs or telegrams.
2. (of language) omitting inessential words; concise.

DERIVATIVES:
telegraphically adverb.

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telegraph pole

noun
a tall pole used to carry telegraph or telephone wires above the ground.

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telekinesis

noun
the supposed ability to move objects at a distance by mental power or other non-physical means.

DERIVATIVES:
telekinetic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek kinsis 'motion' .

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telemessage

noun
a message sent by telephone or telex and delivered in written form, which replaced the telegram for inland messages in the UK in 1981.

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telepathy

noun
the supposed communication of thoughts or ideas by means other than the known senses.

DERIVATIVES:
telepath noun
telepathic adjective.

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telephone

noun
1. a system for transmitting voices over a distance using wire or radio, by converting acoustic vibrations to electrical signals.
2. an instrument used as part of such a system, typically including a handset with a transmitting microphone and a set of numbered buttons by which a connection can be made to another such instrument.

verb
1. call or speak to using the telephone.
2. make a telephone call.

DERIVATIVES:
telephonic adjective
telephonically adverb.

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telephone box

noun chiefly Brit.
a public booth or enclosure housing a payphone.

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telephone directory

noun
a book listing the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the people in a particular area.

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telephone exchange

noun
a set of equipment that connects telephone lines during a call.

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telephone number

noun
a number assigned to a particular telephone and used in making connections to it.

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telephonist

noun Brit.
an operator of a telephone switchboard.

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telephony

noun
the working or use of telephones.

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telephoto lens

noun
a lens with a longer focal length than standard, giving a narrow field of view and a magnified image.

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teleprinter

noun Brit.
a device for transmitting telegraph messages as they are keyed, and for printing messages received.

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telescope

noun
an optical instrument designed to make distant objects appear nearer, containing an arrangement of lenses, or of curved mirrors and lenses, by which rays of light are collected and focused and the resulting image magnified.

verb
1. (with reference to an object made of concentric tubular parts) slide or cause to slide into itself, so that it becomes smaller.
2. condense or conflate so as to occupy less space or time.

DERIVATIVES:
telescopic adjective
telescopically adverb.

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teletext

noun
a news and information service transmitted to televisions with appropriate receivers.

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telethon

noun
a long television programme broadcast to raise money for a charity.

ORIGIN: from TELE- + -thon on the pattern of marathon.

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televangelist (also tele-evangelist)

noun chiefly N. Amer.
an evangelical preacher who appears regularly on television.

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televise

verb
record for or transmit by television.

DERIVATIVES:
televisable adjective.

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television

noun
1. a system for converting visual images (with sound) into electrical signals, transmitting them by radio or other means, and displaying them electronically on a screen.
2. the activity, profession, or medium of broadcasting on television.
3. (also television set) a device with a screen for receiving television signals.

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televisual

adjective
relating to or suitable for television.

DERIVATIVES:
televisually adverb.

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telex

noun
1. an international system of telegraphy with printed messages transmitted and received by teleprinters using the public telecommunications network.
2. a device used for this.
3. a message sent by this system.

verb
1. communicate with by telex.
2. send (a message) by telex.

ORIGIN: blend of TELEPRINTER and EXCHANGE.

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tell

verb (past and past part. told)
1. communicate information to.
2. instruct to do something.
3. relate (a story).
4. (tell on) informal inform on.
5. (tell off) informal reprimand.
6. determine correctly or with certainty.
7. perceive (a distinction).
8. (of an experience or period of time) have a noticeable effect on someone.

IDIOMS -
tell tales gossip about another person's secrets or faults.
tell the time (or N. Amer. tell time) be able to ascertain the time from reading the face of a clock or watch.
tell someone where to get off informal angrily dismiss or rebuke someone.
there is no telling it is not possible to know what has happened or will happen.
you're telling me informal I am in complete agreement.

ORIGIN: Old English, «relate, count, estimate»; related to TALE.

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teller

noun
1. a person who deals with customers' transactions in a bank.
2. a person appointed to count votes.
3. a person who tells something.

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telling

adjective
having a striking or revealing effect; significant.

DERIVATIVES:
tellingly adverb.

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telling-off

noun (pl. tellings-off) informal
a reprimand.

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telltale

adjective
revealing or betraying something.

noun
a person who tells tales.

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temazepam

noun Medicine
a tranquillizing drug of the benzodiazepine group.

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temerity

noun
excessive confidence or boldness.

ORIGIN: Latin temeritas, from temere 'rashly' .

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temp informal

noun
an employee, especially an office worker, who is employed on a temporary basis.

verb
work as a temp.

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temper

noun
1. a person's state of mind in terms of their being angry or calm.
2. a tendency to become angry easily.
3. an angry state of mind.
4. the degree of hardness and elasticity in steel or other metal.

verb
1. improve the temper of (a metal) by reheating and then cooling it.
2. (often be tempered with) serve as a neutralizing or counterbalancing force to.

IDIOMS -
keep (or lose) one's temper retain (or fail to retain) composure or restraint when angry.

DERIVATIVES:
temperer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin temperare 'mingle, restrain oneself' ; the noun originally denoted a proportionate mixture of elements, also the combination of the four bodily humours, formerly believed to be the basis of temperament.

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tempera

noun
1. a method of painting with pigments dispersed in an emulsion that mixes with water, typically egg yolk.
2. emulsion used in tempera.

ORIGIN: from Italian pingere a tempera 'paint in distemper' .

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temperament

noun
a person's nature with regard to the effect it has on their behaviour.

ORIGIN: Latin temperamentum 'correct mixture' , from temperare 'mingle' .

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temperamental

adjective
1. relating to or caused by temperament.
2. liable to unreasonable changes of mood.

DERIVATIVES:
temperamentally adverb.

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temperance

noun
abstinence from alcoholic drink.

ORIGIN: Old French temperaunce, from Latin temperare 'restrain' .

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temperate

adjective
1. relating or referring to a region or climate characterized by mild temperatures.
2. showing moderation or self-restraint.

DERIVATIVES:
temperately adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin temperatus, from temperare 'mingle, restrain' .

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temperature

noun
1. the degree or intensity of heat present in a substance or object.
2. informal a body temperature above the normal.
3. the degree of excitement or tension present in a situation or discussion.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'the state of being tempered or mixed' : from Latin temperatura, from temperare 'restrain' .

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tempest

noun
a violent windy storm.

ORIGIN: Latin tempestas 'season, weather, storm' .

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tempestuous

adjective
1. very stormy.
2. characterized by strong and turbulent emotion.

DERIVATIVES:
tempestuously adverb
tempestuousness noun.

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template (also templet)

noun
1. a shaped piece of rigid material used as a pattern for processes such as cutting out, shaping, or drilling.
2. something serving as a model or example.

ORIGIN: probably from temple «a device in a loom for keeping the cloth stretched», from Old French.

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temple [1]

noun
a building devoted to the worship of a god or gods.

ORIGIN: Latin templum 'open or consecrated space' .

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temple [2]

noun
the flat part either side of the head between the forehead and the ear.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin tempus 'temple of the head' .

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tempo

noun (pl. tempos or tempi)
1. Music the speed at which a passage of music is played.
2. the pace of an activity or process.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin tempus 'time' .

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temporal [1]

adjective
1. relating to time.
2. relating to worldly affairs; secular.

DERIVATIVES:
temporally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin temporalis, from tempus 'time' .

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temporal [2]

adjective Anatomy
of or situated in the temples of the head.

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temporary

adjective
lasting for only a limited period.

noun (pl. temporaries)
a person employed on a temporary basis.

DERIVATIVES:
temporarily adverb
temporariness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin temporarius, from tempus 'time' .

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temporize (also temporise)

verb
act in an evasive or delaying way to gain time before committing oneself.

ORIGIN: French temporiser 'bide one's time' .

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tempt

verb
1. entice (someone) to do something against their better judgement.
2. (be tempted to do) have an urge or inclination to do.
3. attract; charm.

IDIOMS -
tempt fate (or providence) do something risky or dangerous.

DERIVATIVES:
tempting adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin temptare 'handle, test, try' .

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temptation

noun
1. the action of tempting or the state of being tempted.
2. a tempting thing.

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tempter

noun
a person or thing that tempts.

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temptress

noun
a woman who tempts, especially one who is sexually alluring.

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ten

cardinal number
one more than nine; 10. (Roman numeral: x or X.)

IDIOMS -
ten out of ten denoting an excellent performance.
ten to one very probably.

DERIVATIVES:
tenfold adjective & adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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tenable

adjective
1. able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection.
2. (of a post, grant, etc.) able to be held or used for a specified period: a scholarship tenable for three years.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin tenere 'to hold' .

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tenacious

adjective
1. holding firmly to something.
2. persisting in existence or in a course of action.

DERIVATIVES:
tenaciously adverb
tenacity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin tenere 'to hold' .

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tenancy

noun (pl. tenancies)
possession of land or property as a tenant.

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tenant

noun
1. a person who rents land or property from a landlord.
2. Law a person holding real property by private ownership.

verb (usu. be tenanted)
occupy (property) as a tenant.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'holding' , from Latin tenere 'to hold' .

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tenant farmer

noun
a person who farms rented land.

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tench

noun (pl. same)
a freshwater fish of the carp family, popular with anglers.

ORIGIN: Old French tenche, from Latin tinca.

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Ten Commandments

plural noun
(in the Bible) the divine rules of conduct given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai.

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tend [1]

verb
1. frequently behave in a particular way or have a certain characteristic.
2. go or move in a particular direction.

ORIGIN: Latin tendere 'stretch, tend' .

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tend [2]

verb
1. care for or look after.
2. US direct or manage.

ORIGIN: from ATTEND.

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tendency

noun (pl. tendencies)
1. an inclination towards a particular characteristic or type of behaviour.
2. a group within a larger political party or movement.

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tendentious

adjective
calculated to promote a particular cause or point of view.

DERIVATIVES:
tendentiously adverb
tendentiousness noun.

ORIGIN: suggested by German tendenziös.

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tender [1]

adjective (tenderer, tenderest)
1. gentle and sympathetic.
2. (of food) easy to cut or chew.
3. (of a part of the body) sensitive.
4. young and vulnerable.
5. requiring tact or careful handling.

IDIOMS -
tender mercies ironic attention or treatment not in the best interests of its recipients.

DERIVATIVES:
tenderly adverb
tenderness noun.

ORIGIN: Old French tendre, from Latin tener 'tender, delicate' .

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tender [2]

verb
1. offer or present formally.
2. make a formal written offer to carry out work, supply goods, etc. for a stated fixed price.
3. offer as payment.

noun
a tendered offer.

IDIOMS -
put something out to tender seek tenders to carry out work, supply goods, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
tenderer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin tendere 'stretch, strive, hold forth' .

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tender [3]

noun
1. a vehicle used by a fire service or the armed forces for carrying supplies or fulfilling a specified role.
2. a wagon closely coupled to a steam locomotive to carry fuel and water.
3. a boat used to ferry people and supplies to and from a ship.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «attendant, nurse»: from TEND or ATTEND.

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tender-hearted

adjective
having a kind, gentle, or sentimental nature.

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tenderize (also tenderise)

verb
make (meat) more tender by beating or slow cooking.

DERIVATIVES:
tenderizer noun.

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tenderloin

noun
1. the tenderest part of a loin of beef, pork, etc., taken from under the short ribs in the hindquarters.
2. US the undercut of a sirloin.
3. N. Amer. informal a district of a city where vice and corruption are prominent. [ORIGIN: originally applied to a district of New York, seen as a ‘choice’ assignment by police because of the bribes offered to them.]

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tendinitis (also tendonitis)

noun
inflammation of a tendon.

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tendon

noun
1. a flexible but inelastic cord of strong fibrous tissue attaching a muscle to a bone.
2. the hamstring of a four-legged mammal.

ORIGIN: Greek tenn 'sinew' , from teinein 'to stretch' .

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tendril

noun
1. a slender thread-like appendage of a climbing plant, which stretches out and twines round any suitable support.
2. a slender ringlet of hair.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French tendron 'young shoot' , from Latin tener 'tender' .

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tenebrous

adjective literary
dark; shadowy.

ORIGIN: Latin tenebrosus, from tenebrae 'darkness' .

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tenement

noun
1. (especially in Scotland or the US) a separate residence within a house or block of flats.
2. (also tenement house) a house divided into several separate residences.
3. a piece of land held by an owner.

ORIGIN: Latin tenementum, from tenere 'to hold' .

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tenet

noun
a central principle or belief.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'he holds' .

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ten-gallon hat

noun
a large, broad-brimmed hat, traditionally worn by cowboys.

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tenner

noun Brit. informal
a ten-pound note.

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tennis

noun
a game for two or four players, who use rackets to strike a ball over a net stretched across a grass or clay court. See also REAL TENNIS.

ORIGIN: originally denoting real tennis: apparently from Old French tenez 'take, receive' (called by the server to an opponent), from tenir 'take, hold' .

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tennis elbow

noun
inflammation of the tendons of the elbow caused by overuse of the forearm muscles.

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tennis shoe

noun
a light canvas or leather soft-soled shoe suitable for tennis or casual wear.

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tenon

noun
a projecting piece of wood made for insertion into a mortise in another piece of wood.

ORIGIN: French, from tenir 'to hold' .

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tenor [1]

noun
1. a singing voice between baritone and alto or countertenor, the highest of the ordinary adult male range.
2. (before another noun ) referring to an instrument of the second or third lowest pitch in its family: a tenor sax.

ORIGIN: from Latin tenere 'to hold' ; so named because the tenor part ‘held’ the melody.

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tenor [2]

noun
1. the general meaning or content of something.
2. a prevailing character or direction: the even tenor of her marriage.

ORIGIN: Latin tenor 'course, substance' , from tenere 'to hold' .

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tenor clef

noun Music
a clef placing middle C on the second-highest line of the stave, used chiefly for cello and bassoon music.

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tenpin

noun
1. a skittle used in tenpin bowling.
2. (tenpins) (treated as sing. ) N. Amer. tenpin bowling.

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tenpin bowling

noun
a game in which ten skittles are set up at the end of a track and bowled down with hard balls.

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tense [1]

adjective
1. stretched tight or rigid.
2. feeling, causing, or showing anxiety and nervousness.

verb
make or become tense.

DERIVATIVES:
tensely adverb
tenseness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin tensus, from tendere 'stretch' .

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tense [2]

noun Grammar
a set of forms taken by a verb to indicate the time, continuance, or completeness of the action.

ORIGIN: from Latin tempus 'time' .

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tensile

adjective
1. relating to tension.
2. capable of being drawn out or stretched.

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tensile strength

noun
the resistance of a material to breaking under tension.

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tension

noun
1. the state of being tense.
2. mental or emotional strain.
3. a situation in which there is conflict or strain because of differing views, aims, or elements.
4. the degree of stitch tightness in knitting and machine sewing.
5. voltage of specified magnitude: high tension.

verb
subject to tension.

DERIVATIVES:
tensional adjective.

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tent

noun
a portable shelter made of cloth, supported by one or more poles and stretched tight by cords attached to pegs driven into the ground.

verb
1. cover with or as if with a tent.
2. (tented) composed of or provided with tents.

ORIGIN: Old French tente, from Latin tendere 'stretch' .

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tentacle

noun
a long slender flexible appendage of an animal, used for grasping or moving about, or bearing sense organs.

DERIVATIVES:
tentacled adjective
tentacular adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin tentaculum, from temptare 'to feel, try' .

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tentative

adjective
1. done without confidence; hesitant.
2. not certain or fixed; provisional.

DERIVATIVES:
tentatively adverb
tentativeness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin tentativus, from temptare 'handle, try' .

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tenterhook

noun (in phrase on tenterhooks)
in a state of agitated suspense.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a hook used to fasten cloth on a tenter (from Latin tendere 'to stretch' ), a framework on which fabric was held taut during manufacture.

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tenth

ordinal number
1. constituting number ten in a sequence; 10th.
2. (a tenth/one tenth) each of ten equal parts into which something is divided.
3. Music an interval spanning an octave and a third in the diatonic scale.

DERIVATIVES:
tenthly adverb.

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tenuous

adjective
1. very slight or insubstantial: a tenuous distinction.
2. very slender or fine.

DERIVATIVES:
tenuously adverb
tenuousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin tenuis 'thin' .

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tenure

noun
1. the conditions under which land or buildings are held or occupied.
2. the holding of an office.

IDIOMS -
security of tenure
1. the right of a tenant of property to occupy it after the lease expires (unless a court should order otherwise).
2. guaranteed permanent employment after a probationary period.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin tenere 'to hold' .

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tenured

adjective
(especially of a teacher or lecturer) having a permanent post.

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tenurial

adjective
relating to the tenure of land.

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tepee (also teepee or tipi)

noun
a conical tent made of skins or cloth on a frame of poles, used by American Indians.

ORIGIN: Sioux, 'dwelling' .

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tepid

adjective
1. (especially of a liquid) lukewarm.
2. unenthusiastic.

DERIVATIVES:
tepidity noun
tepidly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin tepidus, from tepere 'be warm' .

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tequila

noun
a Mexican liquor made from an agave.

ORIGIN: named after the town of Tequila in Mexico.

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ter-

combining form
three; having three: tercentenary.

ORIGIN: Latin ter 'thrice' .

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tercel (also tiercel)

noun Falconry
a male hawk, especially a peregrine or a goshawk. Compare with FALCON.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin tertius 'third' , perhaps from the belief that the third egg of a clutch produced a male.

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tercentenary

noun (pl. tercentenaries)
a three-hundredth anniversary.

DERIVATIVES:
tercentennial adjective & noun.

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term

noun
1. a word or phrase used to describe a thing or to express a concept.
2. (terms) language used on a particular occasion: a protest in the strongest possible terms.
3. (terms) stipulated or agreed requirements or conditions.
4. (terms) relationship or footing: we're on good terms.
5. a period for which something lasts or is intended to last.
6. each of the periods in the year during which instruction is given in a school or college or during which a law court holds sessions.
7. (also full term) the completion of a normal length of pregnancy.
8. Logic a word or words that may be the subject or predicate of a proposition.
9. Mathematics each of the quantities in a ratio, series, or mathematical expression.

verb
call by a specified term.

IDIOMS -
come to terms with reconcile oneself to.
in terms of (or in terms) with regard to the aspect or subject specified.
the term a period that is a specified way into the future: in the long term.
on terms
1. in a state of friendship or equality.
2. (in sport) level in score.
terms of reference Brit. the scope of an inquiry or discussion.

DERIVATIVES:
termly adjective & adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin terminus 'end, boundary, limit' .

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termagant

noun
a bad-tempered or overbearing woman.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a violent imaginary deity often appearing in medieval morality plays: from Italian Trivagante 'thrice-wandering' .

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terminable

adjective
1. able to be terminated.
2. coming to an end after a certain time.

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terminal

adjective
1. of, forming, or situated at the end.
2. (of a disease) predicted to lead to death.
3. informal extreme and irreversible.
4. done or occurring each school or college term.

noun
1. the station at the end of a railway or other transport route.
2. a departure and arrival building for passengers at an airport.
3. a point of connection for closing an electric circuit.
4. a device at which to enter data or commands for a computer and which displays the received output.
5. an installation where oil or gas is stored.

DERIVATIVES:
terminally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin terminalis, from terminus 'end, boundary' .

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terminal velocity

noun Physics
the constant speed that a freely falling object reaches when the resistance of the medium through which it is falling prevents further acceleration.

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terminate

verb
1. bring to an end.
2. (terminate in) have an end at or resolution in.
3. (of a train or bus service) end its journey.
4. end (a pregnancy) before term by artificial means.
5. chiefly N. Amer. end the employment of.
6. euphemistic, chiefly N. Amer. assassinate.

DERIVATIVES:
termination noun
terminator noun.

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terminology

noun (pl. terminologies)
the body of terms used in a subject of study, profession, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
terminological adjective.

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terminus

noun (pl. termini or terminuses)
1. chiefly Brit. a railway or bus terminal.
2. an end or extremity.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'end, limit, boundary' .

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termite

noun
a small, soft-bodied insect which feeds on wood and lives in complex colonies in large nests of earth.

ORIGIN: Latin termes 'woodworm' .

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tern

noun
a seabird resembling a gull but smaller and more slender, with long pointed wings and a forked tail.

ORIGIN: Scandinavian.

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ternary

adjective
1. composed of three parts.
2. Mathematics using three as a base.

ORIGIN: Latin ternarius, from terni 'three at once' .

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terpsichorean formal or humorous

adjective
relating to dancing.

noun
a dancer.

ORIGIN: from Terpsichore, the ancient Greek and Roman Muse of dance.

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terrace

noun
1. each of a series of flat areas on a slope, used for cultivation.
2. a patio.
3. chiefly Brit. a row of houses built in one block in a uniform style.
4. Brit. a flight of wide, shallow steps providing standing room for spectators in a stadium.

verb
make or form (sloping land) into terraces.

DERIVATIVES:
terracing noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'rubble, platform' , from Latin terra 'earth' .

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terraced

adjective
1. (of a house) forming part of a terrace.
2. (of land) having been formed into terraces.

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terracotta

noun
1. unglazed, typically brownish-red earthenware, used as an ornamental building material and in modelling.
2. a strong brownish-red colour.

ORIGIN: from Italian terra cotta 'baked earth' .

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terra firma

noun
dry land; the ground.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'firm land' .

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terrain

noun
a stretch of land, especially with regard to its physical features.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin terrenus 'of or like earth' .

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terra incognita

noun
unknown territory.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'unknown land' .

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terrapin

noun
a small freshwater turtle.

ORIGIN: Algonquian.

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terrarium

noun (pl. terrariums or terraria)
1. a glass-fronted case for keeping smaller land animals, e.g. reptiles or amphibians.
2. a sealed transparent globe or similar container in which plants are grown.

ORIGIN: from Latin terra 'earth' , on the pattern of aquarium.

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terrazzo

noun
flooring material consisting of chips of marble or granite set in concrete and polished smooth.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'terrace' .

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terrestrial

adjective
1. of, on, or relating to the earth or dry land.
2. (of an animal or plant) living on or in the ground.
3. (of television broadcasting) using ground-based equipment rather than a satellite.

noun
an inhabitant of the earth.

DERIVATIVES:
terrestrially adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin terrestris, from terra 'earth' .

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terrible

adjective
1. extremely bad, serious, or unpleasant.
2. troubled or guilty.
3. causing terror.

DERIVATIVES:
terribleness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin terribilis, from terrere 'frighten' .

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terribly

adverb
1. extremely.
2. very badly.

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terrier

noun
1. a small breed of dog originally used for turning out foxes and other animals from their earths.
2. a tenacious or eager person.

ORIGIN: from Old French chien terrier 'earth dog' .

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terrific

adjective
1. of great size, amount, or intensity.
2. informal excellent.
3. archaic causing terror.

DERIVATIVES:
terrifically adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin terrificus, from terrere 'frighten' .

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terrify

verb (terrifies, terrified)
cause to feel terror.

DERIVATIVES:
terrifying adjective.

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terrine

noun
1. a meat, fish, or vegetable mixture prepared in advance and allowed to cool or set in a container.
2. an earthenware container for such a dish.

ORIGIN: French, 'large earthenware pot' ; related to TUREEN.

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territorial

adjective
1. relating to the ownership of an area of land or sea.
2. relating to a territory or area.
3. (of an animal) tending to defend a territory.

noun (Territorial)
(in the UK) a member of the Territorial Army.

DERIVATIVES:
territoriality noun
territorially adverb.

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Territorial Army

noun
(in the UK) a volunteer force locally organized to provide a trained reserve for use in an emergency.

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territorial waters

plural noun
the waters under the jurisdiction of a state, especially those within a stated distance from its coast.

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territory

noun (pl. territories)
1. an area under the jurisdiction of a ruler or state.
2. (Territory) an organized division of a country not having the full rights of a state.
3. an area defended by an animal against others of the same sex or species.
4. an area defended by a team or player in a game or sport.
5. an area in which one has certain rights or responsibilities.
6. an area of knowledge or experience.

ORIGIN: Latin territorium, from terra 'land' .

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terror

noun
1. extreme fear.
2. a cause of terror.
3. the use of terror to intimidate people.
4. (also holy terror) informal a person causing trouble or annoyance.

ORIGIN: Latin, from terrere 'frighten' .

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terrorist

noun
a person who uses violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims.

DERIVATIVES:
terrorism noun.

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terrorize (also terrorise)

verb
create and maintain a feeling of terror in (a person or area).

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terry

noun (pl. terries)
fabric with raised uncut loops of thread on both sides, used especially for towels.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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terse

adjective (terser, tersest)
sparing in the use of words; abrupt.

DERIVATIVES:
tersely adverb
terseness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «polished, trim»: from Latin tersus 'wiped, polished' .

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tertiary

adjective
1. third in order or level.
2. chiefly Brit. (of education) at a level beyond that provided by schools.
3. (of medical treatment) provided at a specialist institution.
4. (Tertiary) Geology relating to the first period of the Cenozoic era, about 65 to 1.64 million years ago.

ORIGIN: Latin tertiarius 'of the third part or rank' .

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terylene

noun Brit. trademark
a polyester fibre used to make clothing, bed linen, etc.

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TESL

abbreviation
teaching of English as a second language.

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tesla

noun Physics
the SI unit of magnetic flux density.

ORIGIN: named after the American electrical engineer Nikola Tesla (1856 1943).

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TESOL

abbreviation
teaching of English to speakers of other languages.

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TESSA

noun
(in the UK) a tax-exempt special savings account allowing savers to invest a certain amount without paying tax on the interest (replaced in 1999 by the ISA).

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tessellate

verb
1. (often as adj. tessellated) decorate (a floor) with mosaics.
2. Mathematics cover (a plane surface) by repeated use of a single shape.

DERIVATIVES:
tessellation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin tessellare, from tessera.

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tessera

noun (pl. tesserae)
1. a small block of stone, tile, etc. used in a mosaic.
2. (in ancient Greece and Rome) a small tablet of wood or bone used as a token.

ORIGIN: Greek, from tessares 'four' .

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tessitura

noun Music
the range within which most notes of a vocal part fall.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'texture' .

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test [1]

noun
1. a procedure intended to establish the quality, performance, or reliability of something.
2. a short examination of proficiency or knowledge.
3. a means of testing something.
4. a difficult situation that reveals the strength or quality of someone or something.
5. an examination of part of the body or a body fluid for medical purposes.
6. Chemistry a procedure for identifying a substance or revealing whether it is present.
7. a test match.

verb
1. subject to a test.
2. touch or taste before proceeding further.
3. try severely; tax (a person's endurance or patience).

IDIOMS -
test the water ascertain feelings or opinions before proceeding further.

DERIVATIVES:
testable adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a container used for treating gold or silver alloys or ore: from Latin testum 'earthen pot' .

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test [2]

noun Zoology
the shell of some invertebrates and protozoans.

ORIGIN: Latin testa 'tile, jug, shell' .

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testa

noun (pl. testae) Botany
the protective outer covering of a seed.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'tile, shell' .

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testament

noun
1. a person's will.
2. evidence or proof of a fact, event, or quality.
3. (in biblical use) a covenant or dispensation.
4. (Testament) a division of the Bible (see OLD TESTAMENT, NEW TESTAMENT).

ORIGIN: Latin testamentum 'a will' , from testis 'a witness' .

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testamentary

adjective
of, in, or through a will.

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testate

adjective
having made a valid will before one dies.

noun
a person who dies testate.

ORIGIN: Latin testatus 'testified, witnessed' .

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testator

noun (fem. testatrix, pl. testatrices or testatrixes) Law
a person who has made a will or given a legacy.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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test card

noun Brit.
a still television picture transmitted outside normal programme hours to aid in judging the quality of the image.

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test case

noun Law
a case setting a precedent for other cases.

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test-drive

verb
drive (a motor vehicle) to determine its qualities.

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tester

noun
1. a person or device that tests.
2. a sample of a product allowing customers to try it before purchase.

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testicle

noun
either of the two oval organs that produce sperm in male mammals, enclosed in the scrotum behind the penis.

DERIVATIVES:
testicular adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin testiculus, from testis 'a witness' (from the idea of a testicle being a ‘witness’ to virility).

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testify

verb (testifies, testified)
1. give evidence as a witness in a law court.
2. serve as evidence or proof: luxurious villas testify to the wealth here.

ORIGIN: Latin testificari, from testis 'a witness' .

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testimonial

noun
1. a formal statement testifying to someone's character and qualifications.
2. a public tribute to someone and to their achievements.

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testimony

noun (pl. testimonies)
1. a formal statement, especially one given in a court of law.
2. evidence or proof of something.

ORIGIN: Latin testimonium.

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testis

noun (pl. testes) Anatomy & Zoology
an organ which produces sperm.

ORIGIN: Latin (see TESTICLE).

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test match

noun
an international cricket or rugby match played between teams representing two different countries.

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testosterone

noun
a steroid hormone stimulating development of male secondary sexual characteristics.

ORIGIN: from TESTIS.

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test pilot

noun
a pilot who flies new or modified aircraft to test their performance.

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test tube

noun
a thin glass tube closed at one end, used to hold material for laboratory testing or experiments.

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test-tube baby

noun informal
a baby conceived by in vitro fertilization.

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testy

adjective
easily irritated; irritable.

DERIVATIVES:
testily adverb
testiness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «headstrong, impetuous»: from Old French teste 'head' .

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tetanus

noun
a disease causing muscle rigidity and spasms, spread by bacteria.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek tetanos 'muscular spasm' .

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tetchy

adjective
bad-tempered and irritable.

DERIVATIVES:
tetchily adverb
tetchiness noun.

ORIGIN: probably from Scots tache «blotch, fault», from Old French teche.

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tête-à-tête

noun (pl. same or tête-à-têtes pronunc. same)
a private conversation between two people.

adjective & adverb
involving or happening privately between two people.

ORIGIN: French, 'head-to-head' .

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tether

noun
a rope or chain with which an animal is tied to restrict its movement.

verb
tie with a tether.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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tetra- (also tetr- before a vowel)

combining form
1. four; having four: tetragram.
2. Chemistry (in names of compounds) containing four atoms or groups of a specified kind: tetracycline.

ORIGIN: from Greek tettares 'four' .

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tetrahedron

noun (pl. tetrahedra or tetrahedrons)
a solid having four plane triangular faces.

DERIVATIVES:
tetrahedral adjective.

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tetralogy

noun (pl. tetralogies)
a group of four related literary or operatic works.

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tetrameter

noun Poetry
a verse of four measures.

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tetrapod

noun
1. Zoology an animal of a group which includes all vertebrates apart from fishes.
2. an object or structure with four feet, legs, or supports.

ORIGIN: from Greek tetrapous 'four-footed' .

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Teuton

noun
1. a member of an ancient Germanic people who lived in Jutland.
2. often derogatory a German.

ORIGIN: from Latin Teutones (plural).

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Teutonic

adjective
1. relating to the Teutons.
2. informal, often derogatory displaying characteristics popularly attributed to Germans.

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Texan

noun
a person from the US state of Texas.

adjective
relating to Texas.

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text

noun
1. a written or printed work regarded in terms of content rather than form.
2. the main body of a book or other work as distinct from appendices, illustrations, etc.
3. written or printed words or computer data.
4. a written work chosen as a subject of study.
5. a passage from the Bible, especially as the subject of a sermon.

ORIGIN: Latin textus 'tissue, literary style' , from texere 'weave' .

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textbook

noun
a book used as a standard work for the study of a subject.

adjective
conforming to an established standard; exemplary.

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textile

noun
1. a type of cloth or woven fabric.
2. informal (among nudists) a person who wears clothes.

adjective
relating to fabric or weaving.

ORIGIN: Latin textilis, from texere 'weave' .

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textual

adjective
relating to a text or texts.

DERIVATIVES:
textually adverb.

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texture

noun
1. the feel, appearance, or consistency of a surface, substance, or fabric.
2. the quality created by the combination of elements in a work of music or literature.

verb
give a rough or raised texture to.

DERIVATIVES:
textural adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin textura 'weaving' , from texere 'weave' .

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TGV

noun
a French high-speed passenger train.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of French train à grande vitesse.

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-th [1] (also -eth)

suffix
forming ordinal and fractional numbers from fourth onwards.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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-th [2]

suffix forming nouns:
1. (from verbs) denoting an action or process: growth.
2. (from adjectives) denoting a state: filth.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thalidomide

noun
a drug formerly used as a sedative, but found to cause malformation of the fetus when taken in early pregnancy.

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than

conjunction & preposition
1. introducing the second element in a comparison.
2. used to introduce an exception or contrast.
3. used in expressions indicating one thing happening immediately after another.
USAGE - Traditionally, it has been regarded as wrong to use me and us rather than I and we following the word than: she's younger than I rather than she's younger than me . In modern English, however, the use with me and us is quite acceptable, while I and we are generally only used in formal situations.
ORIGIN: Old English, originally the same word as THEN.

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thane

noun
1. (in Anglo-Saxon England) a man granted land by the king or a nobleman, ranking between a freeman and a hereditary noble.
2. (in Scotland) a man who held land from a Scottish king and ranked with an earl's son.

ORIGIN: Old English, «servant, soldier».

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thank

verb
1. express gratitude to.
2. ironic blame or hold responsible: you have only yourself to thank.

IDIOMS -
thank goodness (or God or heavens) an expression of relief.
thank one's lucky stars feel grateful for one's good fortune.
thank you a polite expression of gratitude.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thankful

adjective
1. pleased and relieved.
2. expressing gratitude.

DERIVATIVES:
thankfulness noun.

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thankfully

adverb
1. in a thankful manner.
2. fortunately.

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thankless

adjective
1. (of a job or task) unpleasant and unlikely to gain the appreciation of others.
2. not showing or feeling gratitude.

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thanks

plural noun
1. an expression of gratitude.
2. another way of saying thank you (see THANK).

IDIOMS -
no thanks to despite the unhelpfulness of.
thanks to due to.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to THINK.

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thanksgiving

noun
1. the expression of gratitude, especially to God.
2. (Thanksgiving) (in North America) an annual national holiday commemorating a harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrim Fathers in 1621, held in the US on the fourth Thursday in November and in Canada usually on the second Monday in October.

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that

pronoun & determiner (pl. those)
1. used to identify a specific person or thing observed or heard by the speaker.
2. referring to the more distant of two things near to the speaker.
3. referring to a specific thing previously mentioned or known.
4. used in singling out someone or something with a particular feature.
5. (as pronoun ) (pl. that) used instead of which, who, when, etc. to introduce a defining clause.

adverb
1. to such a degree.
2. informal very: he wasn't that far away.

conjunction
1. introducing a subordinate clause.
2. literary expressing a wish or regret.

IDIOMS -
and all that (or and that) informal and so on.
like that informal instantly or effortlessly.
that is (or that is to say) a formula introducing or following an explanation or further clarification.
that said even so.
that's that there is nothing more to do or say about the matter.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to THE.

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thatch

noun
1. a roof covering of straw, reeds, or similar material.
2. informal the hair on a person's head.

verb
cover with thatch.

DERIVATIVES:
thatcher noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «cover».

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Thatcherism

noun
the political and economic policies advocated by the British Conservative politician Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister 1979 90.

DERIVATIVES:
Thatcherite noun & adjective.

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thaw

verb
1. become or make liquid or soft after being frozen.
2. (it thaws, it is thawing, etc.) the weather becomes warmer and causes snow and ice to melt.
3. (of a part of the body) become warm enough to stop feeling numb.
4. make or become friendlier or more cordial.

noun
1. a period of warmer weather that thaws ice and snow.
2. an increase in friendliness or cordiality.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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the

determiner
1. denoting one or more people or things already mentioned or assumed to be common knowledge; the definite article.
2. used to refer to a person, place, or thing that is unique.
3. used to point forward to a following qualifying or defining clause or phrase.
4. used to make a generalized reference rather than identifying a particular instance.
5. enough of.
6. (pronounced stressing ‘the’) used to indicate that someone or something is the best known or most important of that name or type.
7. used with comparatives to indicate how one amount or degree of something varies in relation to another.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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theatre (US theater)

noun
1. a building in which plays and other dramatic performances are given.
2. the writing and production of plays.
3. a play or other activity considered in terms of its dramatic quality.
4. (also lecture theatre) a room for lectures with seats in tiers.
5. Brit. an operating theatre.
6. the area in which something happens: a theatre of war.
7. (before another noun ) (of weapons) intermediate between tactical and strategic.

ORIGIN: Greek theatron, from theasthai 'behold' .

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theatrical

adjective
1. of, for, or relating to acting, actors, or the theatre.
2. exaggerated and excessively dramatic.

noun
1. a professional actor or actress.
2. (theatricals) theatrical performances or behaviour.

DERIVATIVES:
theatricality noun
theatrically adverb.

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theft

noun
the action or crime of stealing.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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their

possessive determiner
1. belonging to or associated with the people or things previously mentioned or easily identified.
2. belonging to or associated with a person of unspecified sex (used in place of either ‘his’ or ‘his or her’).
3. (Their) used in titles.
USAGE - On the use of their in the singular to mean ‘his or her’, see note at THEY.
ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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theirs

possessive pronoun
used to refer to something belonging to or associated with two or more people or things previously mentioned.

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theism

noun
belief in the existence of a god or gods, specifically of a creator who intervenes in the universe. Compare with DEISM.

DERIVATIVES:
theist noun
theistic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek theos 'god' .

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them

pronoun (third person pl. )
1. used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to two or more people or things previously mentioned or easily identified.
2. referring to a person of unspecified sex (used in place of either ‘him’ or ‘him or her’).
3. archaic themselves.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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thematic

adjective
having or relating to subjects or a particular subject.

noun (thematics) (treated as sing. or pl. )
a body of topics for study or discussion.

DERIVATIVES:
thematically adverb.

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theme

noun
1. a subject or topic on which a person speaks, writes, or thinks.
2. Music a prominent or frequently recurring melody or group of notes in a composition.
3. an idea that recurs in or pervades a work of art or literature.
4. (before another noun ) (of music) accompanying the beginning and end of a film or programme.
5. (before another noun ) (of a restaurant or pub) designed to be suggestive of a particular country, historical period, etc.
6. US an essay on a set subject.

verb
give a particular setting or ambience to.

ORIGIN: Greek thema 'proposition' .

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theme park

noun
an amusement park with a unifying setting or idea.

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themself

pronoun (third person sing. ) informal
used instead of ‘himself’ or ‘herself’ to refer to a person of unspecified sex.
USAGE - The standard reflexive form corresponding to they and them is themselves, as in they can do it themselves. The singular form themself, first recorded in the 14th century, has re-emerged in recent years to correspond to the singular gender-neutral use of they, as in this is the first step in helping someone to help themself. It is not generally accepted as good English, however.

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themselves

pronoun (third person pl. )
1. used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a group of people or things previously mentioned as the subject of the clause.
2. used to emphasize a particular group of people or things mentioned.
3. used instead of ‘himself’ or ‘herself’ to refer to a person of unspecified sex.

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then

adverb
1. at that time.
2. after that; next.
3. also.
4. therefore.

IDIOMS -
but then (again) on the other hand.
then and there immediately.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thence (also from thence)

adverb formal
1. from a place or source previously mentioned.
2. as a consequence.
USAGE - Thence means ‘from that place’, as in he travelled across France to Spain and thence to England. Strictly speaking, the preposition from, as in they proceeded from thence to Sunderland, is redundant, but nevertheless from thence is usually accepted as good English.

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thenceforth (also from thenceforth)

adverb archaic or literary
from that time, place, or point onward.

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thenceforward

adverb
thenceforth.

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theocracy

noun (pl. theocracies)
a system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god.

DERIVATIVES:
theocratic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek theos 'god' .

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theodolite

noun
a surveying instrument with a rotating telescope for measuring horizontal and vertical angles.

ORIGIN: Latin theodelitus.

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theologian

noun
a person expert in or studying theology.

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theology

noun (pl. theologies)
1. the study of God and religious belief.
2. religious beliefs and theory when systematically developed.

DERIVATIVES:
theological adjective
theologically adverb
theologist noun.

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theorem

noun
1. Physics & Mathematics a general proposition not self-evident but proved by a chain of reasoning.
2. Mathematics a rule expressed by symbols or formulae.

ORIGIN: Greek therma 'speculation, proposition' .

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theoretical (also theoretic)

adjective
1. concerned with or involving theory rather than its practical application.
2. based on or calculated through theory.

DERIVATIVES:
theoretically adverb.

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theoretician

noun
a person who develops or studies the theoretical framework of a subject.

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theorist

noun
a theoretician.

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theorize (also theorise)

verb
form a theory or theories about something.

DERIVATIVES:
theorization noun.

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theory

noun (pl. theories)
1. a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained.
2. an idea accounting for or justifying something.
3. a set of principles on which an activity is based.

IDIOMS -
in theory in an ideal or hypothetical situation.

ORIGIN: Greek theria 'contemplation, speculation' .

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theosophy

noun
a philosophy maintaining that a knowledge of God may be achieved through spiritual ecstasy, direct intuition, or special individual relations.

DERIVATIVES:
theosophical adjective
theosophist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek theosophos 'wise concerning God' .

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therapeutic

adjective
1. relating to the healing of disease.
2. having a good effect on the body or mind.

DERIVATIVES:
therapeutically adverb
therapeutics plural noun.

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therapy

noun (pl. therapies)
1. treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder.
2. the treatment of mental or psychological disorders by psychological means.

DERIVATIVES:
therapist noun.

ORIGIN: Greek therapeia 'healing' , from therapeuein 'minister to, treat medically' .

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there

adverb
1. in, at, or to that place or position.
2. in that respect; on that issue.
3. used in attracting attention to someone or something.
4. (usu. there is/are) used to indicate the fact or existence of something.

exclamation
1. used to focus attention.
2. used to comfort someone.

IDIOMS -
here and there in various places.
so there informal used to express defiance.
there and then immediately.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thereabouts (also thereabout)

adverb
1. near that place.
2. used to indicate that a date or figure is approximate.

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thereafter

adverb formal
after that time.

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thereat

adverb archaic or formal
1. at that place.
2. on account of or after that.

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thereby

adverb
by that means; as a result of that.

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therefore

adverb
for that reason; consequently.

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therefrom

adverb archaic or formal
from that or that place.

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therein

adverb archaic or formal
in that place, document, or respect.

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thereof

adverb formal
of the thing just mentioned; of that.

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thereon

adverb formal
on or following from the thing just mentioned.

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there's

contraction
1. there is.
2. there has.

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thereto

adverb archaic or formal
to that or that place.

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thereunto

adverb archaic or formal
to that.

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thereupon

adverb formal
immediately or shortly after that.

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therewith

adverb archaic or formal
1. with or in the thing mentioned.
2. soon or immediately after that; forthwith.

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thermal

adjective
1. relating to heat.
2. (of a garment) made of a fabric that provides good insulation to keep the body warm.

noun
1. an upward current of warm air, used by birds, gliders, and balloonists to gain height.
2. (thermals) thermal garments, especially underwear.

DERIVATIVES:
thermally adverb.

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thermal spring

noun
a spring of naturally hot water.

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thermionic

adjective
relating to the emission of electrons from substances heated to very high temperatures.

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thermocouple

noun
a device for measuring or sensing a temperature difference, consisting of two wires of different metals connected at two points, between which a voltage is developed in proportion to any temperature difference.

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thermodynamics

plural noun (treated as sing. )
the branch of science concerned with the relations between heat and other forms of energy involved in physical and chemical processes.

DERIVATIVES:
thermodynamic adjective
thermodynamically adverb.

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thermoelectric

adjective
producing electricity by a difference of temperatures.

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thermometer

noun
an instrument for measuring and indicating temperature, typically consisting of a graduated glass tube containing mercury or alcohol which expands when heated.

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thermonuclear

adjective
relating to or using nuclear fusion reactions that occur at very high temperatures.

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thermopile

noun
a set of thermocouples arranged for measuring small quantities of radiant heat.

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thermoplastic

adjective
(of a substance) becoming plastic when heated.

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thermoregulation

noun Physiology
the regulation of bodily temperature.

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Thermos

noun trademark
a vacuum flask.

ORIGIN: from Greek, 'hot' .

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thermosetting

adjective
(of a substance) setting permanently when heated.

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thermosphere

noun
the upper region of the atmosphere above the mesosphere.

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thermostat

noun
a device that automatically regulates temperature or activates a device at a set temperature.

DERIVATIVES:
thermostatic adjective
thermostatically adverb.

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thesaurus

noun (pl. thesauri or thesauruses)
a book that lists words in groups of synonyms and related concepts.

ORIGIN: Greek thsauros 'storehouse, treasure' .

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thesis

noun (pl. theses)
1. a statement or theory put forward to be maintained or proved.
2. a long essay or dissertation involving personal research, written as part of a university degree.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'placing, a proposition' .

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thespian

adjective
relating to drama and the theatre.

noun
an actor or actress.

ORIGIN: from the Greek dramatic poet Thespis (6th century BC).

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theta

noun
the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet (, ), transliterated as ‘th’.

ORIGIN: Greek.

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they

pronoun (third person pl. )
1. used to refer to two or more people or things previously mentioned or easily identified.
2. people in general.
3. informal people in authority regarded collectively.
4. used to refer to a person of unspecified sex (in place of either ‘he’ or ‘he or she’).
USAGE - In recent years many people have come to dislike the traditional use of he to refer to a person of either sex, and they (or their) has increasingly been used to refer to a single person of unspecified sex. They is now generally accepted in contexts where it follows an indefinite pronoun such as anyone, no one, someone, or a person, as in each to their own. However, they is still often criticized for being ungrammatical when it comes after a singular noun, as in ask a friend if they could help.
ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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they'd

contraction
1. they had.
2. they would.

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they'll

contraction
1. they shall.
2. they will.

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they're

contraction
they are.

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they've

contraction
they have.

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thiamine (also thiamin)

noun
vitamin B_1, a compound found in unrefined cereals, beans, and liver, a deficiency of which causes beriberi.

ORIGIN: from Greek theion 'sulphur' .

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thick

adjective
1. with opposite sides or surfaces relatively far apart.
2. (of a garment or fabric) made of heavy material.
3. made up of a large number of things or people close together: thick forest.
4. (thick with) densely filled or covered with.
5. (of the air or atmosphere) opaque, heavy, or dense.
6. (of a liquid or a semi-liquid substance) relatively firm in consistency; not flowing freely.
7. informal of low intelligence; stupid.
8. (of a voice) not clear or distinct; hoarse or husky.
9. (of an accent) very marked and difficult to understand.
10. informal having a very close, friendly relationship.

noun (the thick)
the middle or the busiest part: in the thick of battle.

IDIOMS -
a bit thick Brit. informal unfair or unreasonable.
thick and fast rapidly and in great numbers.
(as) thick as thieves informal very close or friendly.
(as) thick as two short planks (or as a plank) Brit. informal very stupid.
the thick end of Brit. the greater part of.
through thick and thin under all circumstances, no matter how difficult.

DERIVATIVES:
thickly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thicken

verb
make or become thick or thicker.

IDIOMS -
the plot thickens the situation is becoming more complicated and puzzling.

DERIVATIVES:
thickener noun.

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thickening

noun
1. the process or result of becoming thicker.
2. a thicker area or part.
3. a substance added to a liquid to make it thicker.

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thicket

noun
a dense group of bushes or trees.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to THICK.

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thickness

noun
1. the distance through an object, as distinct from width or height.
2. the state or quality of being thick.
3. a layer of material.
4. a thicker part of something.

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thickset

adjective
heavily or solidly built; stocky.

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thief

noun (pl. thieves)
a person who steals another person's property.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thieve

verb
be a thief; steal things.

DERIVATIVES:
thievery noun
thievish adjective.

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thigh

noun
the part of the leg between the hip and the knee.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thimble

noun
a metal or plastic cap with a closed end, worn to protect the finger and push the needle in sewing.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to THUMB.

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thimbleful

noun
a small quantity of something.

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thin

adjective (thinner, thinnest)
1. having opposite surfaces or sides close together.
2. (of a garment or fabric) made of light material.
3. having little flesh or fat on the body.
4. having few parts or members relative to the area covered or filled: a thin crowd.
5. not dense or heavy.
6. containing much liquid and not much solid substance.
7. (of a sound) faint and high-pitched.
8. lacking substance; weak and inadequate.

verb (thinned, thinning)
1. make or become less thick.
2. (often thin out) remove some plants from (a row or area) to allow the others more room to grow.

IDIOMS -
have a thin time Brit. informal have a miserable or uncomfortable time.
into thin air so as to become invisible or non-existent.

DERIVATIVES:
thinly adverb
thinness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thing

noun
1. an inanimate material object.
2. an unspecified object.
3. (things) personal belongings or clothing.
4. an action, activity, concept, or thought.
5. (things) unspecified circumstances or matters: how are things?
6. (the thing) informal what is needed, required, acceptable, or fashionable.
7. (one's thing) informal one's special interest or concern.

ORIGIN: Old English (also in the senses «meeting» and «matter, concern»).

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thingummy (also thingamy)

noun (pl. thingummies) informal
a person or thing whose name one has forgotten, does not know, or does not wish to mention.

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think

verb (past and past part. thought)
1. have a particular opinion, belief, or idea about someone or something.
2. direct one's mind towards someone or something; use one's mind actively to form connected ideas.
3. (think of/about) take into account or consideration.
4. (think of/about) consider the possibility or advantages of.
5. (think of) have a particular opinion of.
6. call something to mind; remember.

noun
an act of thinking.

IDIOMS -
think better of decide not to do (something) after reconsideration.
think nothing (or little) of consider (an activity others regard as odd, wrong, or difficult) as straightforward or normal.
think over consider carefully.
think through consider every aspect of before taking action.
think twice consider a course of action carefully before embarking on it.
think up informal invent or devise.

DERIVATIVES:
thinkable adjective
thinker noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thinking

adjective
using thought or rational judgement; intelligent.

noun
a person's ideas or opinions.

IDIOMS -
put on one's thinking cap informal meditate on a problem.

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think tank

noun
a body of experts providing advice and ideas on specific political or economic problems.

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thinner

noun
a volatile solvent used to make paint or other solutions less viscous.

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thinnings

plural noun
seedlings, trees, or fruit which have been thinned out to improve the growth of those remaining.

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third

ordinal number
1. constituting number three in a sequence; 3rd.
2. (a third/one third) each of three equal parts into which something is or may be divided.
3. Music an interval spanning three consecutive notes in a diatonic scale, e.g. C to E.
4. Brit. a place in the third grade in the examinations for a university degree.

DERIVATIVES:
thirdly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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third class

noun
1. a set of people or things considered together as the third best.
2. Brit. the third-highest division in the results of the examinations for a university degree.
3. US a cheap class of mail for unsealed printed material.
4. chiefly historical the cheapest and least comfortable accommodation in a train or ship.

adjective & adverb
relating to the third class.

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third-degree

adjective
1. (of burns) being of the most severe kind, affecting tissue below the skin.
2. Law, chiefly N. Amer. (of a crime, especially murder) in the least serious category.

noun (the third degree)
long and harsh questioning to obtain information or a confession.

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third estate

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
the third order or class in a country or society, made up of the common people.

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third eye

noun Hinduism & Buddhism
the ‘eye of insight’ in the forehead of an image of a deity.

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third party

noun
a person or group besides the two primarily involved in a situation or dispute.

adjective Brit.
(of insurance) covering damage or injury suffered by a person other than the insured.

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third person

noun
1. a third party.
2. see PERSON (sense 3).

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third-rate

adjective
of inferior or very poor quality.

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third way

noun
any option regarded as an alternative to two extremes, especially a political agenda which is moderate and based on general agreement rather than left- or right-wing.

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Third World

noun
the developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

ORIGIN: first used to distinguish the developing countries from the capitalist and Communist blocs.

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thirst

noun
1. a feeling of needing or wanting to drink.
2. lack of the liquid needed to sustain life.
3. (thirst for) a strong desire for.

verb
1. archaic feel a need to drink.
2. (thirst for/after) have a strong desire for.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thirsty

adjective (thirstier, thirstiest)
1. feeling thirst.
2. (of an engine, plant, or crop) consuming a lot of fuel or water.
3. causing thirst: modelling is thirsty work.
4. (thirsty for) having or showing a strong desire for.

DERIVATIVES:
thirstily adverb
thirstiness noun.

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thirteen

cardinal number
one more than twelve; 13. (Roman numeral: xiii or XIII.)

DERIVATIVES:
thirteenth ordinal number.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thirty

cardinal number (pl. thirties)
ten less than forty; 30. (Roman numeral: xxx or XXX.)

DERIVATIVES:
thirtieth ordinal number.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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this

pronoun & determiner (pl. these)
1. used to identify a specific person or thing close at hand or being indicated or experienced.
2. referring to the nearer of two things close to the speaker.
3. referring to a specific thing or situation just mentioned.
4. (as determiner ) used with periods of time related to the present.

adverb
to the degree or extent indicated.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thistle

noun
a plant with a prickly stem and leaves and rounded heads of purple flowers.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thistledown

noun
the light fluffy down of thistle seeds, which enable them to be blown about in the wind.

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thither

adverb archaic or literary
to or towards that place.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thole [1] (also thole pin)

noun
a pin fitted to the gunwale of a rowing boat to act as the fulcrum for an oar.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thole [2]

verb Scottish or archaic
endure without complaint; tolerate.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thong

noun
1. a narrow strip of leather or other material, used as a fastening or as the lash of a whip.
2. a skimpy bathing garment or pair of knickers like a G-string.
3. chiefly N. Amer. another term for FLIP-FLOP (in sense 1).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thoracic

adjective Anatomy & Zoology
relating to the thorax.

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thorax

noun (pl. thoraces or thoraxes)
1. Anatomy & Zoology the part of the body between the neck and the abdomen.
2. the middle section of the body of an insect, bearing the legs and wings.

ORIGIN: Greek.

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thorn

noun
1. a stiff, sharp-pointed woody projection on the stem or other part of a plant.
2. a thorny bush, shrub, or tree.
3. an Old English and Icelandic runic letter, þ or Þ, eventually superseded by th.

IDIOMS -
a thorn in someone's side (or flesh) a source of continual annoyance or trouble.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thorny

adjective (thornier, thorniest)
1. having many thorns or thorn bushes.
2. causing distress, difficulty, or trouble.

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thorough

adjective
1. complete with regard to every detail.
2. performed with or showing great care and completeness.
3. absolute; utter: he is a thorough nuisance.

DERIVATIVES:
thoroughly adverb
thoroughness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «through».

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thoroughbred

adjective
1. of pure breed, especially of a breed of horse originating from English mares and Arab stallions.
2. informal of outstanding quality.

noun
a thoroughbred animal.

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thoroughfare

noun
a road or path forming a route between two places.

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thoroughgoing

adjective
1. involving or attending to every detail or aspect.
2. complete; absolute.

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thou [2]

noun (pl. same or thous)
1. informal a thousand.
2. one thousandth of an inch.

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though

conjunction
1. despite the fact that; although.
2. however; but.

adverb
however: he was able to write, though.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thought [1]

noun
1. an idea or opinion produced by thinking or occurring suddenly in the mind.
2. the action or process of thinking.
3. (one's thoughts) one's mind or attention.
4. an act of considering or remembering.
5. careful consideration or attention: I haven't given it much thought.
6. (thought of) an intention, hope, or idea of: they had no thought of surrender.
7. the formation of opinions, especially as a philosophy or system of ideas, or the opinions so formed.

IDIOMS -
not give a second thought fail to give more than the slightest consideration to.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thoughtful

adjective
1. absorbed in or involving thought.
2. showing careful consideration or attention.
3. showing regard for other people.

DERIVATIVES:
thoughtfully adverb
thoughtfulness noun.

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thoughtless

adjective
1. not showing consideration for other people.
2. without consideration of the consequences.

DERIVATIVES:
thoughtlessly adverb
thoughtlessness noun.

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thousand

cardinal number
1. (a/one thousand) the number equivalent to the product of a hundred and ten; 1,000. (Roman numeral: m or M.)
2. (thousands) informal an unspecified large number.

DERIVATIVES:
thousandfold adjective & adverb
thousandth ordinal number.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thrall

noun
the state of being in another's power: she was in thrall to her husband.

DERIVATIVES:
thraldom (also thralldom) noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, «slave».

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thrash

verb
1. beat repeatedly and violently with a stick or whip.
2. move in a violent or uncontrolled way.
3. informal defeat heavily.
4. (thrash out) discuss frankly and thoroughly so as to reach a decision.

noun
1. a violent or noisy movement of beating or thrashing.
2. Brit. informal a loud or lavish party.
3. (also thrash metal) a style of fast, loud, harsh-sounding rock music.

DERIVATIVES:
thrasher noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, variant of THRESH.

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thread

noun
1. a long, thin strand of cotton, nylon, or other fibres used in sewing or weaving.
2. a long thin line or piece of something.
3. (also screw thread) a spiral ridge on the outside of a screw, bolt, etc. or on the inside of a cylindrical hole, to allow two parts to be screwed together.
4. a theme or characteristic running throughout a situation or piece of writing.
5. (threads) informal, chiefly N. Amer. clothes.

verb
1. pass a thread through.
2. move or weave in and out of obstacles.
3. (threaded) (of a hole, screw, etc) having a screw thread.

DERIVATIVES:
threader noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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threadbare

adjective
thin and tattered with age; worn out.

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threadworm

noun
a very slender parasitic nematode worm.

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threat

noun
1. a stated intention to inflict injury, damage, or other hostile action on someone.
2. a person or thing likely to cause damage or danger.
3. the possibility of trouble or danger.

ORIGIN: Old English, «oppression».

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threaten

verb
1. make or express a threat to (someone) or to do (something).
2. put at risk; endanger.
3. (of a situation or the weather) seem likely to produce (an unwelcome result).

DERIVATIVES:
threatening adjective.

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three

cardinal number
one more than two; 3. (Roman numeral: iii or III.)

IDIOMS -
three parts three out of four equal parts; three quarters.

DERIVATIVES:
threefold adjective & adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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three-dimensional

adjective
1. having or appearing to have length, breadth, and depth.
2. having depth; lifelike or real.

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three-legged race

noun
a race run by pairs of people, one member of each pair having their left leg tied to the right leg of the other.

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three-line whip

noun
(in the UK) a written notice, underlined three times to stress its urgency, to members of a political party to attend a parliamentary vote.

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threepence

noun Brit.
the sum of three pence, especially before decimalization (1971).

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threepenny bit

noun Brit. historical
a coin worth three old pence (11 / 4 p).

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three-piece

adjective
1. consisting of three matching items.
2. (of a set of furniture) consisting of a sofa and two armchairs.
3. (of a set of clothes) consisting of trousers or a skirt with a waistcoat and jacket.

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three-point turn

noun
a method of turning a vehicle round in a narrow space by moving forwards, backwards, and forwards again in a sequence of arcs.

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three-quarter

adjective
consisting of three quarters of something in terms of length, angle, time, etc.

noun Rugby
each of four players in a team positioned across the field behind the halfbacks.

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threescore

cardinal number literary
sixty.

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threesome

noun
a group of three people.

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threnody

noun (pl. threnodies)
a lament.

ORIGIN: Greek thrnidia, from thrnos 'wailing' + id 'song' .

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thresh

verb
1. separate grain from (corn or other crops).
2. variant spelling of THRASH.

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thresher

noun
1. a person or machine that threshes.
2. a shark with a long upper lobe to the tail, used to lash the water to guide its prey.

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threshold

noun
1. a strip of wood or stone forming the bottom of a doorway and crossed on entering a house or room.
2. a level or point at which something would start or cease to happen or come into effect.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to THRESH (in the sense 'tread' ).

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thrice

adverb archaic or literary
1. three times.
2. extremely; very: I was thrice blessed.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thrift

noun
1. carefulness and prudence in the use of money and other resources.
2. a plant which forms low-growing tufts of slender leaves with rounded pink flower heads, growing chiefly on sea cliffs and mountains.

ORIGIN: from Old Norse, 'grasp, get hold of' .

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thriftless

adjective
spending money in an extravagant and wasteful way.

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thrifty

adjective (thriftier, thriftiest)
careful and prudent with money.

DERIVATIVES:
thriftily adverb.

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thrill

noun
1. a sudden feeling of excitement and pleasure.
2. an exciting or pleasurable experience.
3. a wave or nervous tremor of emotion or sensation.

verb
1. have or cause to have a thrill.
2. (of an emotion or sensation) pass with a nervous tremor.

ORIGIN: alteration of dialect thirl «pierce, bore», from Old English.

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thriller

noun
a novel, play, or film with an exciting plot, typically involving crime or espionage.

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thrips (also thrip)

noun (pl. same)
a minute black insect which sucks plant sap, noted for swarming on warm still summer days.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'woodworm' .

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thrive

verb (past thrived or throve; past part. thrived or thriven)
1. grow or develop well or vigorously.
2. prosper; flourish.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'grasp, get hold of' ; related to THRIFT.

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throat

noun
1. the passage which leads from the back of the mouth of a person or animal, through which food passes to the oesophagus and air passes to the lungs.
2. the front part of the neck.
3. literary a voice of a person or a songbird.

IDIOMS -
be at each other's throats quarrel or fight persistently.
force something down someone's throat force something on a person's attention.
stick in one's throat be unwelcome or unacceptable.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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throaty

adjective (throatier, throatiest)
(of a voice or other sound) deep and husky.

DERIVATIVES:
throatily adverb
throatiness noun.

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throb

verb (throbbed, throbbing)
1. beat or sound with a strong, regular rhythm.
2. feel pain in a series of pulsations.

noun
a strong, regular beat or sound.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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throes

plural noun
intense or violent pain and struggle.

IDIOMS -
in the throes of struggling in the midst of.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to an Old English word meaning «calamity».

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thrombosis

noun (pl. thromboses)
local coagulation or clotting of the blood in a part of the circulatory system.

DERIVATIVES:
thrombotic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'curdling' .

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throne

noun
1. a ceremonial chair for a sovereign, bishop, or similar figure.
2. (the throne) the power or rank of a sovereign.

verb literary
place on a throne.

ORIGIN: Greek thronos 'elevated seat' .

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throng

noun
a large, densely packed crowd.

verb
gather in large numbers in (a place).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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throttle

noun
1. a device controlling the flow of fuel or power to an engine.
2. archaic a person's throat, gullet, or windpipe.

verb
1. attack or kill by choking or strangling.
2. control (an engine or vehicle) with a throttle.

ORIGIN: perhaps from THROAT, but the history of the word is unclear.

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through

preposition & adverb
1. moving in one side and out of the other side of (an opening or location).
2. so as to make a hole or passage in.
3. (preposition ) expressing the position or location of something beyond (an opening or an obstacle).
4. expressing the extent of changing orientation.
5. continuing in time to or towards completion of.
6. so as to inspect all or part of.
7. (preposition ) N. Amer. up to and including (a particular point in a sequence).
8. by means of.
9. (adverb ) so as to be connected by telephone.

adjective
1. (of public transport or a ticket) continuing or valid to the final destination.
2. (of traffic, roads, etc.) passing continuously from one side and out of the other side.
3. having successfully passed to the next stage of a competition.
4. informal, chiefly N. Amer. having finished an activity, relationship, etc.

IDIOMS -
through and through thoroughly or completely.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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throughout

preposition & adverb
all the way through.

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throughput

noun
the amount of material or items passing through a system or process.

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throw

verb (past threw; past part. thrown)
1. propel with force through the air by a rapid movement of the arm and hand.
2. move or put into place quickly, hurriedly, or roughly.
3. project, direct, or cast (light, an expression, etc.) in a particular direction.
4. send suddenly into a particular position or condition: the country was thrown into chaos.
5. disconcert or confuse.
6. have (a fit or tantrum).
7. informal give or hold (a party).
8. form (ceramic ware) on a potter's wheel.
9. (of a horse) unseat (its rider).
10. project (one's voice) so that it appears to come from somewhere else.
11. informal lose (a race or contest) intentionally.

noun
1. an act of throwing.
2. a small rug or light cover for furniture.
3. (a throw) informal a single turn, round, or item.

IDIOMS -
be thrown back on be forced to rely on (something) because there is no alternative.
throw away
1. discard as useless or unwanted.
2. waste or fail to make use of (an opportunity or advantage).
throw good money after bad incur further loss in a hopeless attempt to recoup a previous loss.
throw one's hand in
1. withdraw from a card game because one has a poor hand.
2. withdraw; give up.
throw in
1. include (something extra) with something that is being sold or offered.
2. make (a remark) casually as an interjection in a conversation.
throw in the towel (or sponge)
1. (in boxing) throw a towel (or sponge) into the ring as a token of defeat.
2. admit defeat.
throw oneself into start to do with enthusiasm and vigour.
throw open make generally accessible.
throw out
1. discard as unwanted.
2. expel unceremoniously.
3. (of a court, legislature, or other body) dismiss or reject.
4. cause numbers or calculations to become inaccurate.
throw over abandon or reject (a lover).
throw together
1. bring (people) into contact, especially by chance.
2. make or produce hastily or without careful planning.
throw up vomit.
throw up one's hands raise both hands in the air as an indication of one's exasperation.

DERIVATIVES:
thrower noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «to twist, turn».

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throwaway

adjective
1. intended to be discarded after being used once or a few times.
2. (of a remark) expressed in a casual or understated way.

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throwback

noun
a reversion to an earlier ancestral type or characteristic.

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throw-in

noun Soccer & Rugby
the act of throwing the ball from the sideline to restart the game after the ball has gone out of play.

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thrum

verb (thrummed, thrumming)
1. make a continuous rhythmic humming sound.
2. strum (the strings of a musical instrument) in a rhythmic way.

noun
a continuous rhythmic humming sound.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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thrush [1]

noun
a small or medium-sized songbird with a brown back and spotted breast.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to THROSTLE.

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thrush [2]

noun
infection of the mouth and throat or the female genitals by a yeast-like fungus of the genus Candida.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain.

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thrust

verb (past and past part. thrust)
1. push suddenly or violently.
2. make one's way forcibly.
3. project conspicuously: the jetty thrust out into the water.
4. (thrust on/upon) impose (something) unwelcome on.

noun
1. a sudden or violent lunge or attack.
2. the principal purpose or theme of a course of action or line of reasoning.
3. the force which propels a jet or rocket engine.

DERIVATIVES:
thruster noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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thrusting

adjective
1. aggressively ambitious.
2. projecting in a conspicuous way.

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thud

noun
a dull, heavy sound.

verb (thudded, thudding)
move, fall, or strike something with a thud.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense 'a sudden gust of wind' , later «a thunderclap»: probably from Old English, «to thrust, push».

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thug

noun
1. a violent and uncouth man, especially a criminal.
2. (Thug) a member of a religious organization of robbers and assassins in India, suppressed by the British in the 1830s.

DERIVATIVES:
thuggery noun
thuggish adjective.

ORIGIN: Hindi, 'swindler, thief' .

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thumb

noun
the short, thick first digit of the hand, set lower and apart from the other four and opposable to them.

verb
1. press, touch, or indicate with one's thumb.
2. turn over (pages) with one's thumb.
3. (thumbed) (of a book's pages) worn or soiled by repeated handling.
4. request or obtain (a free ride in a passing vehicle) by signalling with one's thumb.

IDIOMS -
thumb one's nose at informal show disdain or contempt for. [ORIGIN: with reference to the gesture of putting one's thumb on one's nose and spreading the fingers.]
thumbs up (or down) informal an indication of satisfaction or approval (or of rejection or failure). [ORIGIN: with reference to the signal of approval or disapproval used by spectators at a Roman amphitheatre (although the Romans used the symbols in reverse).]
under someone's thumb completely under someone's influence or control.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thumb index

noun
a set of lettered indentations cut down the side of a book for easy reference.

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thumbnail

noun
1. the nail of the thumb.
2. (before another noun ) brief or concise: a thumbnail sketch.

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thumbscrew

noun
an instrument of torture that crushes the thumbs.

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thumbtack

noun N. Amer.
a drawing pin.

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thump

verb
1. hit heavily with the fist or a blunt implement.
2. put down forcefully, noisily, or decisively.
3. (of a person's heart or pulse) beat or pulsate strongly.
4. (thump out) play (a tune) enthusiastically but heavy-handedly.
5. informal defeat heavily.

noun
a heavy dull blow or noise.

DERIVATIVES:
thumper noun.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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thumping

adjective
1. pounding; throbbing.
2. informal impressively large: a thumping 64 per cent majority.

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thunder

noun
1. a loud rumbling or crashing noise heard after a lightning flash due to the expansion of rapidly heated air.
2. a resounding loud deep noise.

verb
1. (it thunders, it is thundering, etc.) thunder sounds.
2. move heavily and forcefully.
3. speak loudly, angrily, and forcefully.

DERIVATIVES:
thundery adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thunderbolt

noun
a flash of lightning with a simultaneous crash of thunder.

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thunderclap

noun
a crash of thunder.

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thundercloud

noun
a cumulus cloud with a towering or spreading top, charged with electricity and producing thunder and lightning.

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thundering

adjective
1. making a resounding, loud, deep noise.
2. informal extremely great, severe, or impressive: a thundering bore.

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thunderous

adjective
1. relating to or resembling thunder.
2. (of a person's expression or behaviour) very angry or menacing.

DERIVATIVES:
thunderously adverb.

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thunderstorm

noun
a storm with thunder and lightning.

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thunderstruck

adjective
extremely surprised or shocked.

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Thursday

noun
the day of the week before Friday and following Wednesday.

ORIGIN: Old English, «day of thunder» (named after the Germanic thunder god Thor), translation of Latin Jovis dies 'day of Jupiter' .

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thus

adverb literary or formal
1. as a result or consequence of this; therefore.
2. in this way.
3. to this point; so.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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thwack

verb
strike forcefully with a sharp blow.

noun
a sharp blow.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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thwart

verb
prevent from succeeding in or accomplishing something.

noun
a crosspiece forming a seat for a rower in a boat.

ORIGIN: from Old Norse, 'transverse' .

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thyme

noun
a low-growing aromatic plant of the mint family, used in cooking.

ORIGIN: Greek thumon, from thuein 'burn, sacrifice' .

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thymus

noun (pl. thymi)
a gland situated in the neck which produces white blood cells for the immune system.

DERIVATIVES:
thymic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek thumos 'excrescence like a thyme bud, thymus gland' .

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thyroid

noun (also thyroid gland)
a large gland in the neck which secretes hormones regulating growth and development through the rate of metabolism.

ORIGIN: from Greek khondros thureoeids 'shield-shaped cartilage' .

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tiara

noun
1. a jewelled ornamental band worn on the front of a woman's hair.
2. a three-crowned diadem worn by a pope.

ORIGIN: Greek.

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tibia

noun (pl. tibiae) Anatomy
the inner and typically larger of the two bones between the knee and the ankle, parallel with the fibula.

DERIVATIVES:
tibial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'shin bone' .

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tic

noun
a habitual contraction of the muscles caused by spasm, most often in the face.

ORIGIN: Italian ticchio.

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tick [1]

noun
1. a mark () used to indicate that an item in a text is correct or has been chosen or checked.
2. a regular short, sharp sound.
3. Brit. informal a moment.

verb
1. mark with a tick.
2. make regular ticking sounds.
3. (tick away/by/past) (of time) pass inexorably.
4. (tick over) (of an engine) run slowly in neutral.
5. (tick off) Brit. informal reprimand or rebuke.

IDIOMS -
make someone tick informal motivate someone.

ORIGIN: probably Germanic.

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tick [2]

noun
1. a parasitic arachnid which attaches itself to the skin, from which it sucks blood.
2. informal a parasitic louse fly, especially the sheep ked.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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tick [3]

noun (in phrase on tick)
on credit.

ORIGIN: apparently short for TICKET in the phrase on the ticket, referring to a promise to pay.

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tick [4]

noun
1. a fabric case stuffed to form a mattress or pillow.
2. short for TICKING.

ORIGIN: probably from Greek thk 'case' .

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ticker

noun
1. informal a watch.
2. informal a person's heart.
3. N. Amer. a telegraphic or electronic machine that prints out data on a strip of paper.

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ticker tape

noun
a paper strip on which messages are recorded in a telegraphic tape machine.

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ticket

noun
1. a piece of paper or card giving the holder a right to admission to a place or event or to travel on public transport.
2. an official notice of a traffic offence.
3. a label attached to a retail product, giving its price, size, etc.
4. chiefly N. Amer. a set of principles supported by a party in an election.
5. (the ticket) informal the desirable thing.

verb (ticketed, ticketing)
issue with a ticket.

ORIGIN: Old French estiquet, from Dutch steken 'to fix' .

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ticking

noun
a strong, durable material used to cover mattresses.

ORIGIN: from TICK.

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tickle

verb
1. lightly touch in a way that causes itching or twitching and often laughter.
2. be appealing or amusing to.
3. catch (a trout) by lightly rubbing it so that it moves backwards into the hand.

noun
an act of tickling or sensation of being tickled.

IDIOMS -
be tickled pink informal be extremely amused or pleased.
tickle the ivories informal play the piano.

DERIVATIVES:
tickler noun
tickly adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from TICK, or an alteration of Scots and dialect kittle «to tickle».

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ticklish

adjective
1. sensitive to being tickled.
2. (of a cough) characterized by persistent irritation in the throat.
3. (of a situation or problem) sensitive or difficult to deal with.

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tidal

adjective
relating to or affected by tides.

DERIVATIVES:
tidally adverb.

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tidal wave

noun
1. an exceptionally large ocean wave, especially one caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption.
2. a widespread manifestation of an emotion or phenomenon.

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tidbit (Brit. titbit)

noun
1. a small piece of tasty food.
2. a small and particularly interesting item of gossip or information.

ORIGIN: from dialect tid «tender» (of unknown origin) + BIT.

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tiddledywinks (Brit. tiddlywinks)

plural noun (treated as sing. )
a game in which small plastic counters are flicked into a central receptacle, using a larger counter.

ORIGIN: originally denoting an unlicensed public house, also a game of dominoes: of unknown origin.

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tiddler

noun Brit. informal
1. a small fish.
2. a young or unusually small person or thing.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to TIDDLY or tittlebat, a childish form of stickleback.

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tiddly [1]

adjective (tiddlier, tiddliest) informal, chiefly Brit.
slightly drunk.

ORIGIN: perhaps from slang tiddlywink, denoting an unlicensed public house.

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tiddly [2]

adjective (tiddlier, tiddliest) Brit. informal
little; tiny.

ORIGIN: variant of colloquial tiddy, of unknown origin.

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tiddlywinks (US tiddledywinks)

plural noun (treated as sing. )
a game in which small plastic counters are flicked into a central receptacle, using a larger counter.

ORIGIN: originally denoting an unlicensed public house, also a game of dominoes: of unknown origin.

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tide

noun
1. the alternate rising and falling of the sea due to the attraction of the moon and sun.
2. a powerful surge of feeling or trend of events.

verb (tide over)
help (someone) through a difficult period.

DERIVATIVES:
tidal adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «time, period, era».

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tidemark

noun
1. a tideline.
2. Brit. a grimy mark left around the inside of a bath or washbasin at the level reached by the water.

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tidewater

noun
water brought or affected by tides.

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tidings

plural noun literary
news; information.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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tidy

adjective (tidier, tidiest)
1. arranged neatly and in order.
2. inclined to keep oneself and one's possessions neat and in order.
3. informal (of an amount) considerable.

noun (pl. tidies)
1. (also tidy-up) an act or spell of tidying.
2. a receptacle for holding small objects.

verb (tidies, tidied)
1. (often tidy up) make tidy.
2. (tidy away) put away for the sake of tidiness.

DERIVATIVES:
tidily adverb
tidiness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «timely, opportune»: from TIDE.

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tie

verb (tying)
1. attach or fasten with string, cord, etc.
2. form into a knot or bow.
3. restrict or limit to a particular situation or place.
4. connect; link.
5. achieve the same score or ranking as another competitor.
6. hold together by a crosspiece or tie.
7. Music unite (written notes) by a tie.

noun (pl. ties)
1. a thing that ties.
2. a strip of material worn beneath a collar, tied in a knot at the front.
3. a result in a game or match in which two or more competitors have tied.
4. Brit. a sports match in which the winners proceed to the next round of the competition.
5. Cricket a game in which the scores are level and both sides have completed their innings. Compare with DRAW.
6. a rod or beam holding parts of a structure together.
7. Music a curved line above or below two notes of the same pitch indicating that they are to be played for the combined duration of their time values.

IDIOMS -
tie down restrict to a particular situation or place.
tie in be or cause to be in harmony with something.
tie up
1. restrict the movement of (someone) by binding their limbs or binding them to something.
2. bring to a satisfactory conclusion.
3. informal occupy (someone) to the exclusion of other activity.
4. invest or reserve (capital) so that it is not immediately available for use.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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tie-break (also tie-breaker)

noun
a means of deciding a winner from competitors who have tied.

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tied

adjective
1. Brit. (of accommodation) occupied subject to the tenant's working for its owner.
2. (of a public house) owned and controlled by a brewery.

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tie-dye

noun
a method of producing textile patterns by tying parts of the fabric to shield it from the dye.

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tie-in

noun
1. a connection or association.
2. a product produced to take commercial advantage of a related work in another medium.

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tiepin

noun
an ornamental pin for holding a tie in place.

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tier

noun
1. one of a series of rows or levels placed one above and behind the other.
2. a level or grade within a hierarchy.

DERIVATIVES:
tiered adjective.

ORIGIN: French tire 'sequence, order' .

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tie-up

noun
a link or connection.

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TIFF

abbreviation Computing
tagged image file format.

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tiff

noun informal
a trivial quarrel.

ORIGIN: probably dialect.

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tiger

noun
1. a large solitary cat with a yellow-brown coat striped with black, native to the forests of Asia.
2. (also tiger economy) a dynamic economy of one of the smaller East Asian countries, especially that of Singapore, Taiwan, or South Korea.

ORIGIN: Greek tigris.

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tiger lily

noun
a tall Asian lily which has orange flowers spotted with black or purple.

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tiger moth

noun
a moth which has boldly spotted and streaked wings and a hairy caterpillar.

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tiger prawn (also tiger shrimp)

noun
a large edible prawn marked with dark bands.

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tight

adjective
1. fixed, closed, or fastened firmly.
2. (of clothes) close-fitting.
3. well sealed against something such as water or air.
4. (of a rope, fabric, or surface) stretched so as to leave no slack.
5. (of an area or space) allowing little room for manoeuvre.
6. (of people or things) closely or densely packed together.
7. (of an organization or group) disciplined and well coordinated.
8. (of a form of control) strictly imposed: security was tight.
9. (of money or time) limited.
10. (of a bend, turn, or angle) changing direction sharply.
11. informal miserly.
12. informal drunk.

adverb
very firmly, closely, or tensely.

IDIOMS -
a tight ship a strictly controlled and disciplined organization or operation.
a tight corner (or spot) a difficult situation.

DERIVATIVES:
tighten verb
tightly adverb
tightness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «healthy, vigorous», later «firm, solid»: probably of Germanic origin.

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tight-fisted

adjective informal
not willing to spend or give much money; miserly.

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tight-knit (also tightly knit)

adjective
(of a group of people) bound together by strong relationships and common interests.

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tight-lipped

adjective
with the lips firmly closed, as a sign of suppressed emotion or unwillingness to divulge information.

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tightrope

noun
a rope or wire stretched high above the ground, on which acrobats balance.

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tights

plural noun
a close-fitting garment made of a knitted yarn, covering the legs, hips, and bottom.

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tightwad

noun informal, chiefly N. Amer.
a miserly person.

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tigress

noun
a female tiger.

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tilde

noun
an accent (˜) placed over Spanish n when pronounced ny (as in señor) or Portuguese a or o when nasalized (as in São Paulo).

ORIGIN: Spanish, from Latin titulus 'inscription, title' .

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tile

noun
1. a thin square or rectangular piece of baked clay, concrete, cork, etc., used for covering roofs, floors, or walls.
2. a thin, flat piece used in Scrabble, mah-jong, and other games.

verb
cover with tiles.

IDIOMS -
on the tiles informal, chiefly Brit. having a lively night out.

DERIVATIVES:
tiler noun.

ORIGIN: Latin tegula.

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tiling

noun
1. the action of laying tiles.
2. a surface covered by tiles.

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till [2]

noun
a cash register or drawer for money in a shop, bank, or restaurant.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «drawer or compartment for valuables»: of unknown origin.

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till [3]

verb
prepare and cultivate (land) for crops.

DERIVATIVES:
tillable adjective
tillage noun
tiller noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «strive for, obtain by effort»; ultimately related to TILL.

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tiller

noun
a horizontal bar fitted to the head of a boat's rudder post and used for steering.

ORIGIN: Old French telier 'weaver's beam, stock of a crossbow' , from Latin tela 'web' .

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tilt

verb
1. move into a sloping position.
2. incline towards a particular opinion: he is tilting towards a new economic course.
3. (tilt at) historical (in jousting) thrust at with a lance or other weapon.

noun
1. a tilting position or movement.
2. an inclination or bias.
3. historical a joust.
4. (tilt at) an attempt at (winning something).

IDIOMS -
(at) full tilt with maximum speed or force.
tilt at windmills attack imaginary enemies. [ORIGIN: with allusion to the story of Don Quixote tilting at windmills, believing they were giants.]

DERIVATIVES:
tilter noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to an Old English word meaning «unsteady», or perhaps of Scandinavian origin.

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tilth

noun
1. cultivation of land; tillage.
2. the condition of tilled soil.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to TILL.

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timber

noun
1. wood prepared for use in building and carpentry.
2. informal, chiefly US suitable quality or character: she is hailed as presidential timber.

exclamation
used to warn that a tree is about to fall after being cut.

DERIVATIVES:
timbered adjective
timbering noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «a building», also «building material».

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timber wolf

noun
a wolf of a large variety found mainly in northern North America, with grey brindled fur.

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timbre

noun
the character or quality of a musical sound or voice as distinct from its pitch and intensity.

ORIGIN: French, from Greek tumpanon 'drum' .

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time

noun
1. the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future, regarded as a whole.
2. a point of time as measured in hours and minutes past midnight or noon.
3. the favourable or appropriate moment to do something.
4. (a time) an indefinite period.
5. (also times) a portion of time characterized by particular events or circumstances: Victorian times.
6. (one's time) a period regarded as characteristic of a particular stage of one's life.
7. the length of time taken to complete an activity.
8. time as allotted, available, or used: a waste of time.
9. an instance of something happening or being done.
10. Brit. the moment at which the opening hours of a public house end.
11. informal a prison sentence.
12. an apprenticeship.
13. the normal rate of pay for time spent working.
14. (times) (following a number) expressing multiplication.
15. the rhythmic pattern or tempo of a piece of music.

verb
1. arrange a time for.
2. perform at a particular time.
3. measure the time taken by.
4. (time out) Computing (of a computer or a program) cancel (an operation) automatically because a predefined interval of time has passed.
5. (times) informal multiply (a number).

IDIOMS -
about time conveying that something should have happened earlier.
all the time
1. at all times.
2. very frequently or regularly.
at the same time
1. simultaneously.
2. nevertheless.
at a time separately in the specified groups or numbers.
behind the times not aware of or using the latest ideas or techniques.
for the time being until some other arrangement is made.
have no time for
1. be unable or unwilling to spend time on.
2. dislike or disapprove of.
in time
1. not late.
2. eventually.
3. in accordance with the appropriate musical rhythm or tempo.
keep good (or bad) time
1. (of a clock or watch) record time accurately (or inaccurately).
2. be habitually punctual (or not punctual).
keep time play or accompany music in time.
on time punctual; punctually.
pass the time of day exchange greetings or casual remarks.
time and tide wait for no man proverb if you don't make use of a favourable opportunity, you may never get the same chance again.
time immemorial a point of time in the distant past beyond recall or knowledge.
time is money proverb time is a valuable resource, therefore it's better to do things as quickly as possible.
the time of one's life a period or occasion of exceptional enjoyment.
time out of mind another way of saying time immemorial.
time will tell the truth about something will be established in the future.

ORIGIN: Old English; related to TIDE, which it superseded in temporal sens es.

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time-and-motion study

noun
an evaluation of the efficiency of an industrial or other operation.

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time bomb

noun
a bomb designed to explode at a preset time.

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time capsule

noun
a container storing a selection of objects chosen as being typical of the present time, buried for discovery in the future.

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time frame

noun
a specified period of time.

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time-honoured

adjective
(of a custom or tradition) respected or valued because it has existed for a long time.

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timekeeper

noun
1. a person who records the amount of time taken by a process or activity.
2. a person regarded in terms of their punctuality.
3. a watch or clock regarded in terms of its accuracy.

DERIVATIVES:
timekeeping noun.

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time-lapse

adjective
(of a photographic technique) taking a sequence of frames at set intervals to record changes that take place slowly over time.

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timeless

adjective
not affected by the passage of time or changes in fashion.

DERIVATIVES:
timelessly adverb
timelessness noun.

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timely

adjective
done or occurring at a favourable or appropriate time.

DERIVATIVES:
timeliness noun.

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time off

noun
time for rest or recreation away from one's usual work or studies.

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time out

noun chiefly N. Amer.
1. time for rest or recreation.
2. (timeout) a brief break from play in a game or sport.

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timepiece

noun
an instrument for measuring time; a clock or watch.

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timer

noun
1. an automatic mechanism for activating a device at a preset time.
2. a person or device that records the amount of time taken by a process or activity.
3. indicating how many times someone has done something: a first-timer.

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timescale

noun
the time allowed for or taken by a process or sequence of events.

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time-server

noun
1. a person who changes their views to suit the prevailing circumstances or fashion.
2. a person who makes very little effort at work because they are waiting to leave or retire.

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timeshare

noun
an arrangement whereby joint owners use a property as a holiday home at different specified times.

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time sheet

noun
a piece of paper for recording the number of hours worked.

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time signature

noun Music
an indication of rhythm following a clef.

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times table

noun informal
a multiplication table.

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timetable

noun
a list or plan of times at which events are scheduled to take place.

verb
schedule to take place at a particular time.

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time trial

noun
(in various sports) a test of a competitor's individual speed over a set distance.

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time warp

noun
an imaginary distortion of space in relation to time whereby people or objects of one period can be moved to another.

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timid

adjective (timider, timidest)
lacking in courage or confidence.

DERIVATIVES:
timidity noun
timidly adverb
timidness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin timidus, from timere 'to fear' .

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timing

noun
1. the choice, judgement, or control of when something should be done.
2. a particular time when something happens.

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timorous

adjective
lacking in courage or confidence; nervous.

DERIVATIVES:
timorously adverb
timorousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin timorosus, from timor 'fear' .

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timpani (also tympani)

plural noun
kettledrums.

DERIVATIVES:
timpanist noun.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin tympanum 'drum' .

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tin

noun
1. a silvery-white metallic chemical element.
2. a lidded airtight container made of tinplate or aluminium.
3. chiefly Brit. a sealed tinplate or aluminium container for preserving food; a can.
4. an open metal container for baking food.

verb (tinned, tinning)
1. cover with a thin layer of tin.
2. (tinned) chiefly Brit. preserved in a tin.

IDIOMS -
have a tin ear informal be tone-deaf.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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tincture

noun
1. a medicine made by dissolving a drug in alcohol.
2. a slight trace.
3. Heraldry any of the conventional colours used in coats of arms.

verb (be tinctured)
be tinged or flavoured with a slight trace of.

ORIGIN: Latin tinctura 'dyeing' .

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tinder

noun
dry, flammable material used for lighting a fire.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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tinderbox

noun historical
a box containing tinder, flint, a steel, and other items for kindling fires.

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tine

noun
a prong or sharp point.

DERIVATIVES:
tined adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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tinfoil

noun
metal foil used for covering or wrapping food.

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ting

noun
a sharp, clear ringing sound.

verb
emit a ting.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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tinge

verb (tinging or tingeing) (often be tinged)
1. colour slightly.
2. impart a small amount of a quality to: a visit tinged with sadness.

noun
a slight trace of a colour, feeling, or quality.

ORIGIN: Latin tingere 'to dip or colour' .

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tingle

noun
a slight prickling or stinging sensation.

verb
experience or cause to experience a tingle.

DERIVATIVES:
tingly adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps a variant of TINKLE.

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tin hat

noun informal, chiefly Brit.
a soldier's steel helmet.

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tinker

noun
1. a travelling mender of pots, kettles, etc.
2. Brit., chiefly derogatory a gypsy or other person living in a travelling community.
3. Brit. informal a mischievous child.
4. an act of tinkering with something.

verb (tinker with)
attempt to repair or improve in a casual manner.

IDIOMS -
not give a tinker's curse informal not care at all.

DERIVATIVES:
tinkerer noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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tinkle

verb
1. make or cause to make a light, clear ringing sound.
2. informal urinate.

noun
1. a tinkling sound.
2. informal an act of urinating.

DERIVATIVES:
tinkly adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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tinnitus

noun Medicine
ringing or buzzing in the ears.

ORIGIN: Latin, from tinnire 'to ring, tinkle' .

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tinny

adjective
1. having a thin, metallic sound.
2. made of thin or poor-quality metal.
3. having an unpleasantly metallic taste.
4. Austral./NZ informal lucky. [ORIGIN: from tin in the sense «luck», literally «money, cash».]

noun (pl. tinnies) Austral./NZ informal
a can of beer.

DERIVATIVES:
tinnily adverb
tinniness noun.

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tin-opener

noun chiefly Brit.
a tool for opening tins of food.

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tinplate

noun
sheet steel or iron coated with tin.

verb
coat with tin.

DERIVATIVES:
tin-plated adjective.

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tinpot

adjective informal
of inferior quality; worthless.

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tinsel

noun
1. a form of decoration consisting of thin strips of shiny metal foil attached to a length of thread.
2. superficial attractiveness or glamour.

DERIVATIVES:
tinselled adjective
tinselly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French estincele 'spark' , from Latin scintilla.

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Tinseltown

noun derogatory
the superficially glamorous world of Hollywood and its film industry.

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tint

noun
1. a shade or variety of colour.
2. a dye for colouring the hair.
3. Printing an area of faint colour printed as a half-tone.
4. a trace of something.

verb
1. colour slightly; tinge.
2. dye (hair) with a tint.

ORIGIN: Latin tinctus 'dyeing' , from tingere 'to dye or colour' .

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tintinnabulation

noun
a ringing or tinkling sound.

ORIGIN: from Latin tintinnabulum 'tinkling bell' .

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tin whistle

noun
a small flute-like instrument made from a thin metal tube, with six finger holes of varying size.

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tiny

adjective (tinier, tiniest)
very small.

noun (pl. tinies) informal
a very young child.

DERIVATIVES:
tinily adverb
tininess noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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tip [1]

noun
1. the pointed or rounded extremity of something slender or tapering.
2. a small part fitted to the end of an object.

verb (tipped, tipping)
attach to or cover the tip of.

IDIOMS -
on the tip of one's tongue almost but not quite spoken or coming to mind.

DERIVATIVES:
tipped adjective.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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tip [2]

verb (tipped, tipping)
1. overbalance so as to fall or turn over.
2. be or put in a sloping position.
3. empty out (the contents of a container) by holding it at an angle.
4. (it tips down, it is tipping down, etc.) Brit. informal rain heavily.
5. strike or touch lightly.

noun
1. Brit. a place where rubbish is left.
2. informal a dirty or untidy place.

IDIOMS -
tip one's hand N. Amer. informal reveal one's intentions inadvertently.
tip one's hat raise or touch one's hat as a greeting or mark of respect.

ORIGIN: perhaps Scandinavian.

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tip [3]

noun
1. a small sum of money given as a reward for services rendered.
2. a piece of practical advice.
3. a prediction or piece of expert information about the likely winner of a race or contest.

verb (tipped, tipping)
1. give a tip to.
2. Brit. predict as likely to win or achieve something.
3. (tip off) informal give (someone) confidential information.

IDIOMS -
tip the wink Brit. informal secretly give confidential information to.

ORIGIN: probably from TIP.

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tip-off

noun informal
a piece of confidential information.

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tipple

verb
drink alcohol regularly.

noun informal
an alcoholic drink.

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tipster

noun
a person who gives tips as to the likely winner of a race or contest.

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tipsy

adjective (tipsier, tipsiest)
slightly drunk.

DERIVATIVES:
tipsily adverb
tipsiness noun.

ORIGIN: from TIP.

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tiptoe

verb (tiptoes, tiptoed, tiptoeing)
walk quietly and carefully with one's heels raised and one's weight on the balls of the feet.

IDIOMS -
on tiptoe (or tiptoes) with one's heels raised and one's weight on the balls of the feet.

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tip-top

adjective
of the very best quality; excellent.

noun
the highest part or point of excellence.

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tirade

noun
a long speech of angry criticism or accusation.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian tirato 'volley' .

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tire [1]

verb
1. become or cause to become in need of rest or sleep.
2. exhaust the patience or interest of.
3. (tire of) become impatient or bored with.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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tire [2] (Brit. tyre)

noun
1. a rubber covering, typically inflated or surrounding an inflated inner tube, placed round a wheel to form a soft contact with the road.
2. a strengthening band of metal fitted around the rim of a wheel, especially of a railway vehicle.

ORIGIN: probably a shortening of ATTIRE (because the tyre was the ‘clothing’ of the wheel).

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tired

adjective
1. in need of sleep or rest; weary.
2. (tired of) bored with.
3. (of a statement or idea) boring or uninteresting because overfamiliar..

IDIOMS -
tired and emotional humorous drunk.

DERIVATIVES:
tiredly adverb
tiredness noun.

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tireless

adjective
having or showing great effort or energy.

DERIVATIVES:
tirelessly adverb
tirelessness noun.

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tiresome

adjective
causing one to feel bored or impatient.

DERIVATIVES:
tiresomely adverb
tiresomeness noun.

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'tis

contraction chiefly literary
it is.

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tissue

noun
1. any of the distinct types of material of which animals or plants are made, consisting of specialized cells and their products.
2. tissue paper.
3. a piece of absorbent paper used as a disposable handkerchief.
4. delicate gauzy fabric.
5. a web-like structure or network: a tissue of lies.

DERIVATIVES:
tissuey adjective.

ORIGIN: from Old French tissu 'woven' , from Latin texere 'to weave' .

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tissue paper

noun
very thin, soft paper.

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tit [1]

noun
a titmouse.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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tit [2]

noun
1. vulgar slang a woman's breast.
2. Brit. informal a foolish or ineffectual person.

ORIGIN: Old English, «teat, nipple».

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tit [3]

noun (in phrase tit for tat)
the infliction of an injury or insult in retaliation for one received.

ORIGIN: variant of obsolete tip for tap, from TIP.

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Titan

noun
1. any of a family of giant gods in Greek mythology.
2. (titan) a person or thing of very great strength, intellect, or importance.

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titanic

adjective
of exceptional strength, size, or power.

DERIVATIVES:
titanically adverb.

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titanium

noun
a hard silver-grey metal used in strong, light, corrosion-resistant alloys.

ORIGIN: from TITAN, on the pattern of uranium.

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titbit (N. Amer. tidbit)

noun
1. a small piece of tasty food.
2. a small and particularly interesting item of gossip or information.

ORIGIN: from dialect tid «tender» (of unknown origin) + BIT.

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titch (also tich)

noun Brit. informal
a small person.

ORIGIN: from Little Tich, stage name of Harry Relph (1868 1928), an English music-hall comedian of small stature, given the nickname because he resembled Arthur Orton, the unsuccessful claimant to the valuable Tichborne estate.

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titchy

adjective (titchier, titchiest) Brit. informal
very small.

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tithe

noun
1. one tenth of annual produce or earnings, formerly taken as a tax for the support of the Church and clergy.
2. archaic a tenth of a specified thing.

verb
subject to or pay as a tithe.

ORIGIN: Old English, «tenth».

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titillate

verb
1. arouse (someone) to mild excitement or interest.
2. archaic lightly touch; tickle.

DERIVATIVES:
titillation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin titillare 'tickle' .

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titivate

verb informal
make smarter or more attractive.

DERIVATIVES:
titivation noun.

ORIGIN: originally also spelt tidivate: perhaps from TIDY.

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title

noun
1. the name of a book, musical composition, or other artistic work.
2. a name that describes someone's position or job.
3. a word, such as Dr, Mrs, or Lord, used before or instead of someone's name to indicate rank, profession, or status.
4. a name or description that is earned or chosen.
5. the position of being the champion of a major sports competition.
6. a caption or credit in a film or broadcast.
7. Law a right or claim to the ownership of property or to a rank or throne.

verb
give a title to.

ORIGIN: Latin titulus 'inscription, title' .

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titled

adjective
having a title indicating nobility or rank.

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title deed

noun
a legal document constituting evidence of a right, especially to ownership of property.

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title music

noun
music played during the credits at the beginning or end of a television programme or film.

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title role

noun
the part in a play or film from which the work's title is taken.

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titmouse

noun (pl. titmice)
a small songbird, typically foraging acrobatically among foliage and branches.

ORIGIN: from TIT + obsolete mose «titmouse».

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titrate

verb Chemistry
ascertain the amount of a substance in (a solution) by measuring the volume of a standard reagent required to react with it.

DERIVATIVES:
titration noun.

ORIGIN: from French titre «fineness of alloyed gold or silver».

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titter

noun
a short, half-suppressed laugh.

verb
give a titter.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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tittle

noun
a tiny amount or part of something.

ORIGIN: Latin titulus 'title' , later 'small stroke, accent' .

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tittle-tattle

noun
gossip.

verb
engage in gossip.

ORIGIN: reduplication of TATTLE.

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titular

adjective
1. relating to a title.
2. holding or constituting a formal position or title without any real authority.

DERIVATIVES:
titularly adverb.

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tizzy (also tizz)

noun (pl. tizzies) informal
a state of nervous excitement or agitation.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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T-junction

noun
a road junction at which one road joins another at right angles without crossing it.

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TLC

abbreviation informal
tender loving care.

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TN

abbreviation
Tennessee.

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TNT

abbreviation
trinitrotoluene, a high explosive.

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to

preposition
1. expressing direction or position in relation to a particular location, point, or condition.
2. chiefly Brit. (in telling the time) before (the hour specified).
3. identifying the person or thing affected.
4. identifying a particular relationship between one person or thing and another.
5. indicating a rate of return on something.
6. indicating that two things are attached.
7. governing a phrase expressing someone's reaction to something: to her astonishment, he smiled.
8. used to introduce the second element in a comparison.

infinitive marker
used with the base form of a verb to indicate that the verb is in the infinitive.

adverb
so as to be closed or nearly closed.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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toad

noun
1. a tailless amphibian with a short stout body and short legs, typically having dry warty skin that can exude poison.
2. a detestable person.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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toadstool

noun
the spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically in the form of a rounded cap on a stalk.

ORIGIN: a fanciful name.

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toady

noun (pl. toadies)
a person who behaves obsequiously towards others.

verb (toadies, toadied)
act obsequiously.

ORIGIN: said to be from toad-eater, a charlatan's assistant who ate toads (regarded as poisonous) as a demonstration of the power of the charlatan's remedy.

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to and fro

adverb
in a constant movement backwards and forwards or from side to side.

DERIVATIVES:
toing and froing noun.

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toast

noun
1. sliced bread browned on both sides by exposure to radiant heat.
2. an act of raising glasses at a gathering and drinking together in honour of a person or thing.
3. a person who is toasted or held in high regard.

verb
1. cook or brown by exposure to radiant heat.
2. drink a toast to.
3. (of a DJ) accompany reggae music with improvised rhythmic speech.

IDIOMS -
be toast informal, chiefly N. Amer. be finished, defunct, or dead.

ORIGIN: from Old French toster 'roast' , from Latin torrere 'parch' ; sense 2 originated in the idea that the name of the lady whose health was being drunk flavoured the drink like the pieces of spiced toast formerly placed in wine.

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toaster

noun
an electrical device for making toast.

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toastie

noun Brit. informal
a toasted sandwich or snack.

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toasting fork

noun
a long-handled fork for making toast in front of a fire.

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toastmaster (or toastmistress)

noun
an official responsible for proposing toasts and making other formal announcements at a large social event.

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tobacco

noun (pl. tobaccos)
a preparation of the dried and fermented nicotine-rich leaves of an American plant, used for smoking or chewing.

ORIGIN: Spanish tabaco.

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tobacconist

noun chiefly Brit.
a shopkeeper who sells cigarettes and tobacco.

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toboggan

noun
a light, narrow vehicle on runners, used for sliding downhill over snow or ice.

verb
ride on a toboggan.

DERIVATIVES:
tobogganist noun.

ORIGIN: Micmac.

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toccata

noun
a musical composition for a keyboard instrument designed to exhibit the performer's touch and technique.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'touched' .

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tocopherol

noun
vitamin E, a compound found in wheatgerm oil, egg yolk, and leafy vegetables and important in stabilizing cell membranes.

ORIGIN: from Greek tokos 'offspring' + pherein 'to bear' .

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tocsin

noun archaic
an alarm bell or signal.

ORIGIN: Provençal tocasenh, from tocar 'to touch' + senh 'signal bell' .

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today

adverb
1. on or in the course of this present day.
2. at the present period of time; nowadays.

noun
1. this present day.
2. the present period of time.

ORIGIN: Old English, «on this day».

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toddle

verb
1. (of a young child) move with short unsteady steps while learning to walk.
2. informal walk or go in a casual or leisurely way.

noun
an act of toddling.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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toddler

noun
a young child who is just beginning to walk.

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toddy

noun (pl. toddies)
1. a drink made of spirits with hot water and sugar.
2. the sap of some kinds of palm, fermented to produce arrack.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit.

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to-do

noun informal
a commotion or fuss.

ORIGIN: from much to do, originally meaning ‘much needing to be done’ but later interpreted as the adjective much and a noun.

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toe

noun
1. any of the five digits at the end of the foot.
2. the lower end, tip, or point of something.

verb (toes, toed, toeing)
push, touch, or kick with one's toes.

IDIOMS -
make someone's toes curl informal bring about an extreme reaction of delight or disgust in someone.
on one's toes ready and alert.
toe the line comply with authority.
turn up one's toes informal die.

DERIVATIVES:
toed adjective
toeless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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toecap

noun
a piece of steel or leather on the front part of a boot or shoe.

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toehold

noun
a small foothold.

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toenail

noun
a nail on the upper surface of the tip of each toe.

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toerag

noun Brit. informal
a contemptible person.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a rag wrapped round the foot as a sock or the wearer of such a rag, such as a vagrant.

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toff

noun Brit. informal, derogatory
a rich or upper-class person.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of TUFT, used to denote a gold tassel worn on the cap by titled undergraduates at Oxford and Cambridge.

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toffee

noun
a kind of firm or hard sweet which softens when sucked or chewed, made by boiling together sugar and butter.

ORIGIN: alteration of TAFFY.

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toffee apple

noun Brit.
an apple coated with a thin layer of toffee and fixed on a stick.

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toffee-nosed

adjective informal, chiefly Brit.
pretentiously superior; snobbish.

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tofu

noun
curd made from mashed soya beans, used in Asian and vegetarian cookery.

ORIGIN: Chinese, 'rotten beans' .

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tog [1] informal

noun (togs)
clothes.

verb (togged, togging) (be togged up/out)
be fully dressed for a particular occasion or activity.

ORIGIN: apparently an abbreviation of obsolete criminals' slang togeman «light cloak», from Latin toga 'toga' .

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tog [2]

noun Brit.
a unit of thermal resistance used to express the insulating properties of clothes and quilts.

ORIGIN: from TOG, on the pattern of an earlier unit called the clo (first element of clothes).

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toga

noun
a loose flowing outer garment worn by the citizens of ancient Rome, made of a single piece of cloth and covering the whole body apart from the right arm.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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together

adverb
1. with or in proximity to another person or people.
2. so as to touch, combine, or be united.
3. in combination; collectively.
4. (of two people) married or in a sexual relationship.
5. at the same time.
6. without interruption.

adjective informal
level-headed and well organized.

IDIOMS -
together with as well as.

DERIVATIVES:
togetherness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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toggle

noun
1. a narrow piece of wood or plastic attached to a garment, pushed through a loop to act as a fastener.
2. Computing a key or command that is operated the same way but with opposite effect on successive occasions.

verb Computing
switch from one effect, feature, or state to another by using a toggle.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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toggle switch

noun
an electric switch operated by means of a projecting lever that is moved up and down.

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toil

verb
1. work extremely hard or incessantly.
2. move somewhere slowly and with difficulty.

noun
exhausting work.

DERIVATIVES:
toiler noun.

ORIGIN: Old French toiler 'strive, dispute' , from Latin tudiculare 'stir about' .

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toilet

noun
1. a large bowl for urinating or defecating into, typically plumbed into a sewage system.
2. the process of washing oneself, dressing, and attending to one's appearance.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a cloth cover for a dressing table, later a dressing room, and, in the US, one with washing facilities: from French toilette 'cloth, wrapper' .

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toilet bag

noun Brit.
a waterproof bag for holding toothpaste, soap, etc. when travelling.

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toiletries

plural noun
articles used in washing and taking care of one's body, such as soap and shampoo.

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toilet-train

verb
teach (a young child) to use the toilet.

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toilet water

noun
a dilute form of perfume.

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token

noun
1. a thing serving to represent a fact, quality, feeling, etc.
2. a voucher that can be exchanged for goods or services.
3. a disc used to operate a machine or in exchange for particular goods or services.

adjective
1. done for the sake of appearances or as a symbolic gesture.
2. chosen by way of tokenism to represent a particular group.

IDIOMS -
by the same (or that or this) token in the same way or for the same reason.
in token of as a sign or symbol of.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to TEACH.

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tolerable

adjective
1. able to be tolerated.
2. fairly good.

DERIVATIVES:
tolerability noun
tolerably adverb.

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tolerance

noun
1. the ability, willingness, or capacity to tolerate something.
2. an allowable amount of variation of a specified quantity, especially in the dimensions of a machine or part.

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tolerant

adjective
1. showing tolerance.
2. able to endure specified conditions or treatment.

DERIVATIVES:
tolerantly adverb.

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tolerate

verb
1. allow (something that one dislikes or disagrees with) to exist or occur without interference.
2. patiently endure (something unpleasant).
3. be capable of continued exposure to (a drug, toxin, etc.) without adverse reaction.

DERIVATIVES:
toleration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin tolerare 'endure' .

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toll [1]

noun
1. a charge payable to use a bridge or road or (N. Amer. ) for a long-distance telephone call.
2. the number of deaths or casualties arising from an accident, disaster, etc.
3. the cost or damage resulting from something.

IDIOMS -
take its toll (or take a heavy toll) have an adverse effect.

ORIGIN: Greek telnion 'toll house' , from telos 'tax' .

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toll [2]

verb
1. (of a bell) sound with a slow, uniform succession of strokes.
2. announce (the time, a service, or a person's death) in this way.

noun
a single ring of a bell.

ORIGIN: probably a special use of dialect toll «drag, pull».

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tollbooth

noun
1. a roadside kiosk where tolls are paid.
2. Scottish archaic a town hall or town jail.

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toll gate

noun
a barrier across a road where a toll must be paid to proceed further.

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tom

noun
the male of various animals, especially a domestic cat.

ORIGIN: originally denoting an ordinary man: abbreviation of the given name Thomas.

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tomahawk

noun
1. a light axe formerly used as a tool or weapon by American Indians.
2. Austral./NZ a hatchet.

verb
strike or cut with a tomahawk.

ORIGIN: from an Algonquian language.

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tomato

noun (pl. tomatoes)
a glossy red or yellow edible fruit, eaten as a vegetable or in salads.

ORIGIN: Nahuatl.

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tomb

noun
1. a burial place, especially a large underground vault.
2. a monument to a dead person, erected over their burial place.
3. (the tomb) literary death.

ORIGIN: Greek tumbos.

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tombola

noun Brit.
a game in which tickets are drawn from a revolving drum to win prizes.

ORIGIN: Italian, from tombolare 'turn a somersault' .

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tomboy

noun
a girl who enjoys rough, noisy activities traditionally associated with boys.

DERIVATIVES:
tomboyish adjective.

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tombstone

noun
a large, flat inscribed stone standing or laid over a grave.

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tomcat

noun
a male domestic cat.

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Tom, Dick, and Harry

noun
ordinary people in general.

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tome

noun chiefly humorous
a book, especially a large, scholarly one.

ORIGIN: Greek tomos 'section, roll of papyrus, volume' .

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tomfoolery

noun
foolish or silly behaviour.

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Tommy

noun (pl. Tommies) informal
a British private soldier.

ORIGIN: familiar form of the given name Thomas; from a use of the name Thomas Atkins in specimens of completed official forms in the British army.

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tomorrow

adverb
1. on the day after today.
2. in the near future.

noun
1. the day after today.
2. the near future.

IDIOMS -
like there was no tomorrow informal completely without restraint.

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tomtit

noun
a small, active titmouse or similar bird, especially (Brit. ) the blue tit.

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tom-tom

noun
1. a medium-sized cylindrical drum, of which one to three may be used in a drum kit.
2. a drum beaten with the hands, associated with North American Indian, African, or Eastern cultures.

ORIGIN: Hindi.

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-tomy

combining form
cutting, especially as part of a surgical process: hysterectomy.

ORIGIN: from Greek -tomia 'cutting' .

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ton

noun
1. (also long ton) a unit of weight equal to 2,240 lb avoirdupois (1016.05 kg).
2. (also short ton) chiefly N. Amer. a unit of weight equal to 2,000 lb avoirdupois (907.19 kg).
3. a metric ton.
4. (also displacement ton) a unit of measurement of a ship's weight equal to 2,240 lb or 35 cu. ft (0.99 cubic metres).
5. informal a large number or amount.
6. informal, chiefly Brit. a hundred, in particular a speed of 100 mph, a score of 100 or more, or a sum of £100.

adverb (tons) Brit. informal
much; a lot.

ORIGIN: variant of TUN.

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tonal

adjective
1. relating to tone.
2. (of music) written using conventional keys and harmony.

DERIVATIVES:
tonally adverb.

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tonality

noun (pl. tonalities)
1. the character of a piece of music as determined by the key in which it is played or the relations between the notes of a scale or key.
2. the use of conventional keys and harmony as the basis of musical composition.
3. the range of tones used in a picture.

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tone

noun
1. a musical or vocal sound with reference to its pitch, quality, and strength.
2. the sound of a person's voice, expressing a feeling or mood.
3. general character: trust her to lower the tone of the conversation.
4. (also whole tone) a basic interval in classical Western music, equal to two semitones; a major second.
5. the particular quality of brightness, deepness, or hue of a colour.
6. the general effect of colour or of light and shade in a picture.
7. the normal level of firmness or slight contraction in a resting muscle.

verb
1. (often tone up) give greater strength or firmness to (the body or a muscle).
2. (tone down) make less harsh, extreme, or intense.
3. (tone with) harmonize with in terms of colour.

DERIVATIVES:
toned adjective
toneless adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek tonos 'tension, tone' , from teinein 'to stretch' .

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tone-deaf

adjective
unable to perceive differences of musical pitch accurately.

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tone poem

noun
a piece of orchestral music, typically in one movement, on a descriptive or rhapsodic theme.

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toner

noun
1. a liquid applied to the skin to reduce oiliness and improve its condition.
2. a powder used in xerographic copying processes.
3. a chemical bath for changing the tone of a photographic print.

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tongs

plural noun
1. a tool with two movable arms that are joined at one end, used for picking up and holding things.
2. curling tongs.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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tongue

noun
1. the fleshy muscular organ in the mouth, used for tasting, licking, swallowing, and (in humans) articulating speech.
2. the tongue of an ox or lamb as food.
3. a person's style or manner of speaking: a debater with a caustic tongue.
4. a particular language.
5. a strip of leather or fabric under the laces in a shoe.
6. the free-swinging metal piece inside a bell which strikes the bell to produce the sound.
7. a long, low promontory of land.
8. a projecting strip on a wooden board fitting into a groove on another.
9. the vibrating reed of a musical instrument or organ pipe.

verb (tongues, tongued, tonguing)
1. Music sound (a note) distinctly on a wind instrument by interrupting the air flow with the tongue.
2. lick or caress with the tongue.

IDIOMS -
find (or lose) one's tongue be able (or unable) to express oneself after a shock.
the gift of tongues the power of speaking in unknown languages, regarded as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
give tongue
1. (of hounds) bark, especially on finding a scent.
2. express one's feelings or opinions freely.
hold one's tongue informal remain silent.
(with) tongue in cheek insincerely or ironically.
one's tongue is hanging out one is very eager for something.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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tongue and groove

noun
wooden planking in which adjacent boards are joined by means of interlocking ridges and hollows down their sides.

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tongue-lashing

noun
a loud or severe scolding.

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tongue-tied

adjective
too shy or embarrassed to speak.

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tongue-twister

noun
a sequence of words that are difficult to pronounce quickly and correctly.

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tonic

noun
1. a medicinal substance taken to give a feeling of vigour or well-being.
2. something with an invigorating effect.
3. tonic water.
4. Music the first note in a scale which, in conventional harmony, provides the keynote of a piece of music.

adjective Music
referring to the first note of a scale.

ORIGIN: Greek tonikos 'of or for stretching' , from tonos 'tension, tone' .

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tonic sol-fa

noun
a system of naming the notes of the scale used to teach singing, with doh as the keynote of all major keys and lah as the keynote of all minor keys.

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tonic water

noun
a carbonated soft drink with a bitter flavour, used as a mixer with gin or other spirits.

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tonight

adverb
on the present or approaching evening or night.

noun
the evening or night of the present day.

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tonnage

noun
1. weight in tons.
2. the size or carrying capacity of a ship measured in tons.

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tonsil

noun
either of two small masses of tissue in the throat, one on each side of the root of the tongue.

ORIGIN: from Latin tonsillae (plural).

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tonsillectomy

noun (pl. tonsillectomies)
a surgical operation to remove the tonsils.

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tonsillitis

noun
inflammation of the tonsils.

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tonsorial

adjective formal or humorous
relating to hairdressing.

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tonsure

noun
a part of a monk's or priest's head left bare on top by shaving off the hair.

verb
give a tonsure to.

ORIGIN: Latin tonsura, from tondere 'shear, clip' .

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too

adverb
1. to a higher degree than is desirable, permissible, or possible.
2. in addition.
3. informal very.

IDIOMS -
none too not very.

ORIGIN: Old English, stressed form of TO.

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tool

noun
1. a device or implement used to carry out a particular function.
2. a thing used to help perform a job.
3. a person used by another.

verb
1. (usu. be tooled) impress a design on (a leather book cover) with a heated tool.
2. equip with tools for industrial production.
3. (tool up or be tooled up) Brit. informal be or become armed.
4. informal drive or ride in a casual or leisurely manner.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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toolbar

noun Computing
a strip of icons used to perform certain functions.

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toolmaker

noun
a person who makes and maintains tools for use in a manufacturing process.

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toot

noun
1. a short, sharp sound made by a horn, trumpet, or similar instrument.
2. informal, chiefly N. Amer. a snort of a drug, especially cocaine.

verb
1. make or cause to make a toot.
2. informal, chiefly N. Amer. snort (cocaine).

ORIGIN: imitative or from Low German tten.

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tooth

noun (pl. teeth)
1. each of a set of hard, bony enamel-coated structures in the jaws, used for biting and chewing.
2. a projecting part, especially a cog on a gearwheel or a point on a saw or comb.
3. (teeth) genuine force or effectiveness.

IDIOMS -
armed to the teeth formidably armed.
fight tooth and nail fight very fiercely.
get (or sink) one's teeth into work energetically and productively on.
in the teeth of
1. directly against (the wind).
2. in spite of (opposition or difficulty).

DERIVATIVES:
toothed adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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toothache

noun
pain in a tooth or teeth.

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toothbrush

noun
a small brush with a long handle, used for cleaning the teeth.

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toothcomb

noun Brit.
used with reference to a very thorough search: the police went over the area with a fine toothcomb.
USAGE - The forms toothcomb and fine toothcomb arose from a misreading of the compound noun fine-tooth comb, i.e. a comb with narrow, closely-spaced teeth.

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tooth fairy

noun
a fairy said to take children's milk teeth after they fall out and leave a coin under their pillow.

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toothless

adjective
1. having no teeth.
2. lacking genuine force or effectiveness.

DERIVATIVES:
toothlessly adverb
toothlessness noun.

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toothpaste

noun
a paste used on a brush for cleaning the teeth.

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toothpick

noun
a short pointed piece of wood or plastic used for removing bits of food lodged between the teeth.

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toothsome

adjective
1. (of food) temptingly tasty.
2. informal attractive; alluring.

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toothy

adjective (toothier, toothiest)
having or showing numerous or prominent teeth.

DERIVATIVES:
toothily adverb.

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tootle

verb
1. casually make a series of sounds on a horn, trumpet, etc.
2. informal go or travel in a leisurely way.

noun
1. an act or sound of tootling.
2. informal a leisurely journey.

ORIGIN: from TOOT.

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tootsie (also tootsy)

noun (pl. tootsies) informal
1. a person's foot.
2. a young woman.

ORIGIN: humorous, from FOOT.

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top [1]

noun
1. the highest or uppermost point, part, or surface.
2. a thing placed on, fitted to, or covering the upper part of something.
3. (the top) the highest or most important rank, level, or position.
4. the utmost degree: she shouted at the top of her voice.
5. chiefly Brit. the end that is furthest from the speaker or a point of reference.
6. a garment covering the upper part of the body.
7. (tops) informal a particularly good person or thing.
8. the high-frequency component of reproduced sound.
9. a platform at the head of a ship's mast.

adjective
1. highest in position, rank, or degree.
2. chiefly Brit. furthest away from the speaker or a point of reference.

verb (topped, topping)
1. be more, better, or taller than.
2. be at the highest place or rank in.
3. reach the top of (a hill, rise, etc.).
4. (usu. be topped) provide with a top or topping.
5. informal kill.
6. Golf mishit (the ball) by hitting above the centre of the ball.

adverb (tops) informal
at the most.

IDIOMS -
get on top of be more than (someone) can bear or cope with.
on top in addition.
on top of
1. so as to cover.
2. in close proximity to.
3. in command or control of.
4. in addi tion to.
on top of the world informal happy and elated.
over the top
1. informal, chiefly Brit. to an excessive or exaggerated degree.
2. chiefly historical over the parapet of a trench and into battle.
top and tail Brit. remove the top and bottom of (a fruit or vegetable) while preparing it as food.
top off finish (something) in a memorable way.
top out
1. put the highest structural feature on (a building).
2. reach an upper limit.
top up
1. add to (a number or amount) to bring it up to a certain level.
2. fill up (a partly full container).

DERIVATIVES:
topmost adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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top [2]

noun
a conical, spherical, or pear-shaped toy that may be set to spin.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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topaz

noun
1. a colourless, yellow, or pale blue precious stone.
2. a dark yellow colour.

ORIGIN: Greek topazos.

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topcoat

noun
1. an overcoat.
2. an outer coat of paint.

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top dog

noun informal
a person who is successful or dominant in their field.

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top drawer

noun informal
high social position or class.

adjective informal
of the highest quality or social class.

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tope

verb archaic or literary
habitually drink alcohol to excess.

DERIVATIVES:
toper noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps from obsolete top «overbalance».

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top flight

noun
the highest rank or level.

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topgallant

noun
1. the section of a square-rigged sailing ship's mast immediately above the topmast.
2. a sail set on such a mast.

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top hat

noun
a man's formal hat with a high cylindrical crown.

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top-heavy

adjective
1. disproportionately heavy at the top so as to be unstable.
2. (of an organization) having a disproportionately large number of senior executives.

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topiary

noun (pl. topiaries)
1. the art of clipping shrubs or trees into ornamental shapes.
2. shrubs or trees clipped in such a way.

ORIGIN: Latin topiarius 'ornamental gardener' .

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topic

noun
a subject of a text, speech, conversation, etc.

ORIGIN: from Greek ta topika, 'matters concerning commonplaces' (the title of a treatise by Aristotle).

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topical

adjective
1. relating to or dealing with current affairs.
2. relating to a particular subject.

DERIVATIVES:
topicality noun
topically adverb.

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topknot

noun
1. a knot of hair arranged on the top of the head.
2. a decorative knot or bow of ribbon worn on the top of the head, popular in the 18th century.
3. a tuft or crest of hair or feathers on the head of an animal or bird.

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topless

adjective
having or leaving the breasts uncovered.

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top-level (also top-line)

adjective
of the highest quality or ranking.

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topmast

noun
the second section of a square-rigged sailing ship's mast, immediately above the lower mast.

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top-notch

adjective informal
of the highest quality.

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topography

noun
1. the arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area.
2. a detailed description or representation on a map of such features.

DERIVATIVES:
topographer noun
topographic adjective
topographical adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek topos 'place' .

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topology

noun
1. Mathematics the study of geometrical properties and spatial relations which remain unaffected by smooth changes in shape or size of figures.
2. the way in which constituent parts are interrelated or arranged.

DERIVATIVES:
topological adjective
topologist noun.

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topper

noun informal
1. a top hat.
2. Brit. dated an exceptionally good person or thing.

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topping

noun
a layer of food poured or spread over another food.

adjective Brit. informal, dated
excellent.

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topple

verb
overbalance and fall or push over.

ORIGIN: from TOP.

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topsail

noun
1. a sail set on a ship's topmast.
2. a fore-and-aft sail set above the gaff.

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top secret

adjective
of the highest secrecy.

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topside

noun
1. Brit. the outer side of a round of beef.
2. the upper part of a ship's side, above the waterline.

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topsoil

noun
the top layer of soil.

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topspin

noun
a fast forward spin given to a moving ball, often resulting in a curved path or a strong forward motion on rebounding.

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topsy-turvy

adjective & adverb
1. upside down.
2. in a state of confusion.

ORIGIN: apparently from TOP and obsolete terve «overturn».

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tor

noun
a hill or rocky peak.

ORIGIN: perhaps Celtic.

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Torah

noun
(in Judaism) the law of God as revealed to Moses and recorded in the Pentateuch.

ORIGIN: Hebrew, 'instruction, doctrine, law' .

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torch

noun
1. Brit. a portable battery-powered electric lamp.
2. chiefly historical a piece of wood or cloth soaked in tallow and ignited.
3. something valuable which needs to be protected and maintained: the torch of freedom.
4. chiefly N. Amer. a blowlamp.

verb informal
set fire to.

IDIOMS -
carry a torch for suffer from unrequited love for.
put to the torch (or put a torch to) destroy by burning.

ORIGIN: Latin torqua, torques 'necklace, wreath' , from torquere 'to twist' .

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toreador

noun
a bullfighter, especially one on horseback.

ORIGIN: Spanish, from toro 'bull' .

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torment

noun
1. severe physical or mental suffering.
2. a cause of torment.

verb
1. subject to torment.
2. annoy or tease unkindly.

DERIVATIVES:
tormentor noun.

ORIGIN: Latin tormentum 'instrument of torture' , from torquere 'to twist' .

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tornado

noun (pl. tornadoes or tornados)
a violently rotating wind storm having the appearance of a funnel-shaped cloud.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Spanish tronada 'thunderstorm' .

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torpedo

noun (pl. torpedoes)
a cigar-shaped self-propelled underwater missile designed to be fired from a ship, submarine, or an aircraft.

verb (torpedoes, torpedoed)
1. attack with a torpedo or torpedoes.
2. ruin (a plan or project).

ORIGIN: originally denoting an electric ray: from Latin, 'stiffness, numbness' , also 'electric ray' (with reference to the effects of its shock).

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torpid

adjective
1. mentally or physically inactive.
2. (of an animal) dormant, especially during hibernation.

DERIVATIVES:
torpidity noun
torpidly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin torpidus, from torpere 'be numb or sluggish' .

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torpor

noun
physical or mental inactivity; lethargy.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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torque

noun Mechanics
a force that tends to cause rotation.

verb
apply torque to.

DERIVATIVES:
torquey adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin torquere 'to twist' .

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torrent

noun
1. a strong and fast-moving stream of water or other liquid.
2. an overwhelmingly copious outpouring: a torrent of abuse.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin torrere 'scorch, boil, roar' .

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torrential

adjective
(of rain) falling rapidly and heavily.

DERIVATIVES:
torrentially adverb.

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torrid

adjective
1. very hot and dry.
2. full of intense emotions arising from sexual love.
3. full of difficulty.

DERIVATIVES:
torridly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin torridus, from torrere 'parch, scorch' .

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torsion

noun
the action of twisting or the state of being twisted, especially of one end of an object relative to the other.

DERIVATIVES:
torsional adjective

ORIGIN: Latin, from torquere 'to twist' .

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torso

noun (pl. torsos or US also torsi)
1. the trunk of the human body.
2. an unfinished or mutilated thing, especially a work of art or literature.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'stalk, stump' .

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tort

noun Law
a wrongful act or an infringement of a right (other than under contract) leading to legal liability.

ORIGIN: Latin tortum 'wrong, injustice' .

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torte

noun (pl. torten or tortes)
a sweet cake or tart.

ORIGIN: German, from Latin torta 'round loaf, cake' .

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tortellini

noun
small stuffed pasta parcels rolled and formed into small rings.

ORIGIN: Italian, from tortello 'small cake, fritter' .

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tortilla

noun
1. (in Mexican cookery) a thin, flat maize pancake.
2. (in Spanish cookery) a thick omelette containing potato.

ORIGIN: Spanish, 'little cake' .

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tortoise

noun
a slow-moving land reptile with a scaly or leathery domed shell into which it can retract its head and legs.

ORIGIN: Latin tortuca.

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tortoiseshell

noun
1. the semi-transparent mottled yellow and brown shell of certain turtles, used to make jewellery or ornaments.
2. a domestic cat with markings resembling tortoiseshell.
3. a butterfly with mottled orange, yellow, and black markings.

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tortuous

adjective
1. full of twists and turns.
2. excessively lengthy and complex.

DERIVATIVES:
tortuosity noun
tortuously adverb
tortuousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin tortuosus, from torquere 'to twist' .

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torture

noun
1. the infliction of severe pain as a punishment or a forcible means of persuasion.
2. great suffering or anxiety.

verb
subject to torture.

DERIVATIVES:
torturer noun.

ORIGIN: Latin tortura 'twisting, torment' , from torquere 'to twist' .

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torturous

adjective
characterized by pain or suffering.

DERIVATIVES:
torturously adverb.

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Tory

noun (pl. Tories)
1. a member or supporter of the British Conservative Party.
2. a member of the English political party that opposed the exclusion of James II from the succession and later gave rise to the Conservative Party.
3. US a colonist who supported the British side during the American Revolution.

DERIVATIVES:
Toryism noun.

ORIGIN: originally denoting Irish peasants dispossessed by English settlers and living as robbers, and extended to other marauders, especially in the Scottish Highlands: probably from Irish toraidhe 'outlaw, highwayman' .

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tosh

noun Brit. informal
rubbish; nonsense.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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toss

verb
1. throw lightly or casually.
2. move from side to side or back and forth.
3. jerk (one's head or hair) sharply backwards.
4. throw (a coin) into the air so as to make a choice, based on which side of the coin faces uppermost when it lands.
5. shake or turn (food) in a liquid to coat it lightly.

noun
an act of tossing.

IDIOMS -
give (or care) a toss Brit. informal care at all.
toss off
1. drink (something) rapidly or all at once.
2. produce rapidly or without thought or effort.
3. Brit. vulgar slang masturbate.

DERIVATIVES:
tosser noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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toss-up

noun informal
1. the tossing of a coin to make a choice.
2. a situation in which any of two or more outcomes or options is equally possible.

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tot [1]

noun
1. a very young child.
2. chiefly Brit. a small drink of spirits.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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tot [2]

verb (totted, totting) (tot up) chiefly Brit.
1. add up (numbers or amounts).
2. accumulate over time.

ORIGIN: from archaic tot «set of figures to be added up», abbreviation of TOTAL or of Latin totum 'the whole' .

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total

adjective
1. comprising the whole number or amount.
2. complete; absolute.

noun
a total number or amount.

verb (totalled, totalling; US totaled, totaling)
1. amount to (a total number).
2. find the total of.
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. destroy or kill.

DERIVATIVES:
totally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin totalis, from totum 'the whole' .

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total eclipse

noun
an eclipse in which the whole of the disc of the sun or moon is obscured.

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totalitarian

adjective
(of government) centralized, dictatorial, and requiring complete subservience to the state.

noun
a person advocating such a system.

DERIVATIVES:
totalitarianism noun.

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totality

noun
1. the whole of something.
2. Astronomy the time during which the sun or moon is totally obscured during an eclipse.

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totalizator (also totalisator or totalizer)

noun
1. a device showing the number and amount of bets staked on a race.
2. another term for TOTE.

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totalize (also totalise)

verb
1. combine into a total.
2. calculate the total of.

DERIVATIVES:
totalization .

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tote [1]

noun (the tote) informal
a system of betting based on the use of the totalizator, in which dividends are calculated according to the amount staked rather than odds offered.

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tote [2]

verb informal, chiefly N. Amer.
carry.

DERIVATIVES:
toter noun.

ORIGIN: probably dialect.

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tote bag

noun
a large bag for carrying a number of items.

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totem

noun
a natural object or animal believed by a particular society to have spiritual significance and adopted by it as an emblem.

DERIVATIVES:
totemic adjective.

ORIGIN: Ojibwa.

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totem pole

noun
a pole on which totems are hung or on which the images of totems are carved.

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totter

verb
1. move in an unsteady way.
2. shake or rock as if about to collapse.
3. be insecure or on the point of failure.

noun
a tottering gait.

DERIVATIVES:
tottery adjective.

ORIGIN: Dutch touteren 'to swing' .

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totty

noun Brit. informal
girls or women collectively regarded as sexually desirable.

ORIGIN: from TOT.

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toucan

noun
a tropical American fruit-eating bird with a massive bill and brightly coloured plumage.

ORIGIN: Tupi.

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touch

verb
1. come into or be in contact with.
2. come or bring into mutual contact.
3. bring one's hand or another part of one's body into contact with.
4. harm or interfere with.
5. use or consume.
6. have an effect on.
7. (often be touched) produce feelings of affection, gratitude, or sympathy in.
8. have any dealings with.
9. informal approach in excellence: no one can touch him at judo.
10. (touched) informal slightly mad.

noun
1. an act or manner of touching.
2. the faculty of perception through physical contact, especially with the fingers.
3. a small amount.
4. a distinctive detail or feature.
5. a distinctive or skilful manner or method of dealing with something: a sure political touch.
6. Rugby & Soccer the area beyond the sidelines, out of play.

IDIOMS -
in touch
1. in or into communication.
2. possessing up-to-date knowledge.
lose touch
1. cease to be in communication.
2. cease to be informed.
out of touch lacking up-to-date knowledge or awareness.
touch at (of a ship) call briefly at (a port).
touch down
1. (of an aircraft or spacecraft) land.
2. Rugby touch the ground with the ball behind the opponents' goal line, scoring a try.
3. American Football score six points by being in possession of the ball behind the opponents' goal line.
touch for informal ask (someone) for (money) as a loan or gift.
touch in lightly mark in (details) with a brush or pencil.
touch off
1. cause (something) to ignite or explode by touching it with a match.
2. cause to happen suddenly.
touch on (or upon)
1. deal briefly with (a subject).
2. come near to being.
touch up
1. make small improvements to.
2. Brit. informal caress (someone) without their consent for sexual pleasure.

DERIVATIVES:
touchable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French tochier.

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touch-and-go

adjective
(of an outcome) possible but very uncertain.

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touchdown

noun
1. the moment at which an aircraft touches down.
2. Rugby & American Football an act of touching down.

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touché

exclamation
1. (in fencing) used to acknowledge a hit by one's opponent.
2. used to acknowledge a good or clever point made at one's expense.

ORIGIN: French, 'touched' .

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touching

adjective
arousing strong emotion; moving.

preposition
concerning.

DERIVATIVES:
touchingly adverb.

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touchline

noun Rugby & Soccer
the boundary line on each side of the field.

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touch screen

noun
a display device which allows the user to interact with a computer by touching areas on the screen.

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touchstone

noun
1. a piece of fine-grained dark schist or jasper formerly used for testing alloys of gold by observing the colour of the mark which they made on it.
2. a standard or criterion.

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touch-tone

adjective
(of a telephone) generating tones to dial rather than pulses.

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touch-type

verb
type using all of one's fingers and without looking at the keys.

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touchy

adjective (touchier, touchiest)
1. quick to take offence; oversensitive.
2. (of a situation or issue) requiring careful handling.

DERIVATIVES:
touchily adverb
touchiness noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of TETCHY, influenced by TOUCH.

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touchy-feely

adjective informal, often derogatory
openly expressing affection or other emotions, especially through physical contact.

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tough

adjective
1. strong enough to withstand wear and tear.
2. able to endure hardship, adversity, or pain.
3. strict and uncompromising.
4. involving considerable difficulty or hardship.
5. rough or violent.
6. used to express a lack of sympathy.

noun informal
a rough and violent man.

IDIOMS -
tough it out informal endure a period of hardship or difficulty.

DERIVATIVES:
toughly adverb
toughness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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toughen

verb
make or become tough.

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tough-minded

adjective
strong, realistic, and unsentimental.

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toupee

noun
a small wig or artificial hairpiece worn to cover a bald spot.

ORIGIN: French, from Old French toup 'tuft' .

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tour

noun
1. a journey for pleasure in which several different places are visited.
2. a short trip to view or inspect something.
3. a series of performances or matches in several different places by performers or sports players.
4. (also tour of duty) a spell of duty on military or diplomatic service.

verb
make a tour of.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'turn' , from Greek tornos 'lathe' .

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tour de force

noun (pl. tours de force pronunc. same)
a performance or achievement accomplished with great skill.

ORIGIN: French, 'feat of strength' .

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tourer

noun
a car, caravan, or bicycle designed for touring.

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tourism

noun
the commercial organization and operation of holidays and visits to places of interest.

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tourist

noun
1. a person who travels for pleasure.
2. a member of a touring sports team.

DERIVATIVES:
touristic adjective.

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tourist class

noun
the cheapest accommodation or seating in a ship, aircraft, or hotel.

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touristy

adjective informal, often derogatory
relating to, appealing to, or visited by tourists.

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tournament

noun
1. a series of contests between a number of competitors, competing for an overall prize.
2. a medieval sporting event in which knights jousted with blunted weapons for a prize.

ORIGIN: Old French torneiement; related to TOURNEY.

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tourney

noun (pl. tourneys)
a medieval joust.

verb (tourneys, tourneyed)
take part in a tourney.

ORIGIN: Old French tornei, from Latin tornus 'a turn' .

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tourniquet

noun
a device for stopping the flow of blood through an artery, typically by compressing a limb with a cord or tight bandage.

ORIGIN: French, probably from Old French tournicle 'coat of mail' .

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tour operator

noun
a travel agent specializing in package holidays.

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tousle

verb
make (something, especially a person's hair) untidy.

ORIGIN: from dialect touse «handle roughly», of Germanic origin.

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tout

verb
1. attempt to sell (something), typically by a direct or persistent approach.
2. attempt to persuade people of the merits of.
3. Brit. sell (a ticket) for a popular event at a price higher than the official one.

noun (also ticket tout) Brit.
a person who buys up tickets for an event to resell them at a profit.

ORIGIN: from obsolete tute «look out», of Germanic origin.

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tow

verb
use a vehicle or boat to pull (another vehicle or boat) along.

noun
an act of towing.

IDIOMS -
in tow
1. (also on tow) being towed.
2. accompanying or following someone.

DERIVATIVES:
towable adjective
towage noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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towards (chiefly N. Amer. also toward)

preposition
1. in the direction of.
2. getting nearer to (a time or goal).
3. in relation to.
4. contributing to the cost of.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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towel

noun
a piece of thick absorbent cloth or paper used for drying.

verb (towelled, towelling; US toweled, toweling)
dry with a towel.

ORIGIN: Old French toaille.

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towelling (US toweling)

noun
thick absorbent cloth, typically cotton with uncut loops, used for towels and bathrobes.

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tower

noun
1. a tall, narrow building, either free-standing or forming part of a building such as a church or castle.
2. a tall structure that houses machinery, operators, etc.
3. a tall structure used as a receptacle or for storage.

verb
1. rise to or reach a great height.
2. (towering) very important or influential.
3. (towering) very intense: a towering rage.

ORIGIN: Old English, reinforced by Old French tour, from Greek turris.

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tower block

noun Brit.
a tall modern building containing numerous floors of offices or flats.

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town

noun
1. a settlement larger than a village and generally smaller than a city, with defined boundaries and local government.
2. the central part of a town or city, with its business or shopping area.
3. densely populated areas, especially as contrasted with the country or suburbs.
4. the permanent residents of a university town. Often contrasted with GOWN.

IDIOMS -
go to town informal do something thoroughly or enthusiastically.
on the town informal enjoying the nightlife of a city or town.

ORIGIN: Old English, «enclosed piece of land, homestead, village».

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town council

noun
(especially in the UK) the elected governing body in a municipality.

DERIVATIVES:
town councillor noun.

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town crier

noun historical
a person employed to make public announcements in the streets.

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town hall

noun
a building used for the administration of local government.

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town house

noun
1. a tall, narrow traditional terrace house, generally having three or more floors.
2. an urban residence of a person owning another property in the country.

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townie (also townee)

noun informal
a person who lives in a town (used especially with reference to their supposed ignorance of rural affairs).

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town planning

noun
the planning and control of the construction, growth, and development of a town or other urban area.

DERIVATIVES:
town planner noun.

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townscape

noun
an urban landscape.

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township

noun
1. (in South Africa) a suburb or city of predominantly black occupation, formerly officially designated for black occupation by apartheid legislation.
2. S. African a new area being developed for residential or industrial use by speculators.
3. N. Amer. a division of a county with some corporate powers.
4. Brit. historical a manor or parish as a territorial division.
5. Austral./NZ a small town.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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townspeople (also townsfolk)

plural noun
the people living in a particular town or city.

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towpath

noun
a path beside a river or canal, originally used as a pathway for horses towing barges.

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tow rope

noun
a rope, cable, etc. used in towing.

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toxic

adjective
1. poisonous.
2. relating to or caused by poison.

noun (toxics)
poisonous substances.

DERIVATIVES:
toxicity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin toxicum 'poison' .

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toxicology

noun
the branch of science concerned with the nature, effects, and detection of poisons.

DERIVATIVES:
toxicological adjective
toxicologist noun.

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toxic shock syndrome

noun
acute septicaemia in women, typically caused by bacterial infection from a retained tampon or IUD.

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toxin

noun
a poison produced by a micro-organism or other organism and acting as an antigen in the body.

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toy

noun
1. an object for a child to play with, typically a model or miniature replica of something.
2. a gadget or machine regarded as providing amusement for an adult.
3. (before another noun ) (of a breed or variety of dog) much smaller than is normal for the breed.

verb (toy with)
1. consider casually or indecisively.
2. move or handle absent-mindedly or nervously.
3. eat or drink in an unenthusiastic or restrained way.

DERIVATIVES:
toylike adjective.

ORIGIN: originally referring to a funny story or remark: of unknown origin.

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toy boy

noun Brit. informal
a male lover who is much younger than his partner.

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trace [1]

verb
1. find by investigation.
2. find or describe the origin or development of.
3. follow the course or position of with one's eye, mind, or finger.
4. copy (a drawing, map, or design) by drawing over its lines on a superimposed piece of transparent paper.
5. draw (a pattern or outline).

noun
1. a mark or other indication of the existence or passing of something.
2. a very small quantity.
3. a barely discernible indication: a trace of a smile touched his lips.
4. a line or pattern corresponding to something which is being recorded or measured.
5. a procedure to trace something.

DERIVATIVES:
traceable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French tracier, from Latin tractus 'drawing, draught' .

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trace [2]

noun
each of the two side straps, chains, or ropes by which a horse is attached to a vehicle that it is pulling.

IDIOMS -
kick over the traces become insubordinate or reckless.

ORIGIN: Old French trais, plural of trait 'trait' .

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trace element

noun
a chemical element present or required only in minute amounts.

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tracer

noun
1. a bullet or shell whose course is made visible by a trail of flames or smoke, used to assist in aiming.
2. a substance introduced into a system so that its subsequent distribution can be followed from its colour, radioactivity, or other distinctive property.

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tracery

noun (pl. traceries)
1. Architecture ornamental stone openwork.
2. a delicate branching pattern.

DERIVATIVES:
traceried adjective.

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trachea

noun (pl. tracheae or tracheas) Anatomy
the tube conveying air between the larynx and the bronchial tubes; the windpipe.

DERIVATIVES:
tracheal adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek trakheia artria 'rough artery' .

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tracing

noun
1. a copy of a drawing, map, etc. made by tracing.
2. a faint or delicate mark or pattern.

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track

noun
1. a rough path or minor road.
2. a prepared course or circuit for racing.
3. a mark or line of marks left by a person, animal, or vehicle in passing.
4. a continuous line of rails on a railway.
5. a section of a record, compact disc, or cassette tape containing one song or piece of music. [ORIGIN: originally referring to a groove on a gramophone record.]
6. a strip or rail along which something (e.g. a curtain) may be moved.
7. a continuous articulated metal band around the wheels of a heavy vehicle.
8. the transverse distance between a vehicle's wheels.

verb
1. follow the course or movements of.
2. (track down) find after a thorough or difficult search.
3. follow a particular course.
4. (of a film or television camera) move in relation to the subject being filmed. [ORIGIN: with reference to early filming when a camera was moved along a track.]

IDIOMS -
keep (or lose) track of keep (or fail to keep) fully aware of or informed about.
make tracks (for) informal leave (for a place).
on the right (or wrong) track following a course likely to result in success (or failure).
stop (or be stopped) in one's tracks informal be brought to a sudden and complete halt.
the wrong side of the tracks informal a poor or less prestigious part of town. [ORIGIN: with reference to the railway tracks of American towns, once serving as a line of demarcation between rich and poor quarters.]

DERIVATIVES:
trackless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French trac, perhaps from Low German or Dutch trek 'draught, drawing' .

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trackball

noun
a small ball set in a holder that can be rotated by hand to move a cursor on a computer screen.

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tracker

noun
a person who tracks.

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track events

plural noun
athletic events that take place on a running track.

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tracking

noun
1. Electronics the maintenance of a constant difference in frequency between connected circuits or components.
2. the formation of an electrically conducting path over the surface of an insulator.

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track record

noun
the past achievements or performance of a person, organization, or product.

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tracksuit

noun
a loose, warm outfit consisting of a sweatshirt and trousers.

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trackway

noun
a path formed by the repeated treading of people or animals.

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tract [1]

noun
1. a large area of land.
2. a major passage in the body or other continuous elongated anatomical structure.

ORIGIN: Latin tractus 'drawing, draught' , from trahere 'draw, pull' .

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tract [2]

noun
a short treatise in pamphlet form, typically on a religious subject.

ORIGIN: apparently an abbreviation of Latin tractatus 'treatise' .

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tractable

adjective
1. easy to control or influence.
2. (of a situation or problem) easy to deal with.

DERIVATIVES:
tractability noun.

ORIGIN: Latin tractabilis, from tractare 'to handle' .

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traction

noun
1. the action of pulling a thing along a surface.
2. the motive power used for pulling.
3. Medicine the application of a sustained pull on a limb or muscle, especially to maintain the position of a fractured bone or to correct a deformity.
4. the grip of a tyre on a road or a wheel on a rail.

ORIGIN: Latin, from trahere 'draw, pull' .

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traction engine

noun
a steam or diesel-powered road vehicle used (especially formerly) for pulling very heavy loads.

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tractor

noun
a powerful motor vehicle with large rear wheels, used chiefly on farms for hauling equipment and trailers.

ORIGIN: Latin, from trahere 'to pull' .

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trad informal

adjective
(especially of music) traditional.

noun
traditional jazz or folk music.

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trade

noun
1. the buying and selling of goods and services.
2. a commercial activity of a particular kind: the tourist trade.
3. a job requiring manual skills and special training.
4. (the trade) (treated as sing. or pl. ) the people engaged in a particular area of business.
5. dated, chiefly derogatory the practice of making one's living in business.
6. a trade wind.

verb
1. buy and sell goods and services.
2. buy or sell (a particular item or product).
3. exchange, typically as a commercial transaction.
4. (trade in) exchange (a used article) in part payment for another.
5. (trade on) take advantage of.
6. (trade off) exchange (something of value).

DERIVATIVES:
tradable (or tradeable) adjective.

ORIGIN: Low German, 'track' ; related to TREAD.

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trade deficit

noun
the amount by which the cost of a country's imports exceeds the value of its exports.

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trademark

noun
1. a symbol, word, or words, legally registered or established by use as representing a company or product.
2. a distinctive characteristic or object.

verb
provide with a trademark.

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trade name

noun
1. a name that has the status of a trademark.
2. a name by which something is known in a particular trade or profession.

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trade-off

noun
a balance achieved between two desirable but incompatible features; a compromise.

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trader

noun
1. a person who trades goods, currency, or shares.
2. a merchant ship.

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tradescantia

noun
an American plant with triangular three-petalled flowers.

ORIGIN: named in honour of the English botanist John Tradescant (1570 1638).

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tradesman

noun
a person engaged in trading or a trade, typically on a small scale.

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trade surplus

noun
the amount by which the value of a country's exports exceeds the cost of its imports.

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trade union (Brit. also trades union)

noun
an organized association of workers formed to protect and further their rights and interests.

DERIVATIVES:
trade unionism noun
trade unionist noun.

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trade wind

noun
a wind blowing steadily towards the equator from the north-east in the northern hemisphere or the south-east in the southern hemisphere, especially at sea.

ORIGIN: from the obsolete phrase blow trade «blow steadily», from a former meaning of trade which was «regular course of action».

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trading estate

noun Brit.
a specially designed industrial and commercial area.

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trading post

noun
a store or small settlement established for trading, typically in a remote place.

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tradition

noun
1. the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation.
2. a long-established custom or belief passed on in this way.
3. an artistic or literary method or style established by an artist, writer, or movement, and subsequently followed by others.

ORIGIN: Latin, from tradere 'deliver, betray' .

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traditional

adjective
1. of, relating to, or following tradition.
2. (of jazz) in the style of the early 20th century.

DERIVATIVES:
traditionally adverb.

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traditionalism

noun
the upholding of tradition, especially so as to resist change.

DERIVATIVES:
traditionalist noun & adjective.

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traduce

verb
speak badly of or tell lies about.

ORIGIN: Latin traducere 'lead in front of others, expose to ridicule' .

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traffic

noun
1. vehicles moving on public roads.
2. the movement of ships or aircraft.
3. the commercial transportation of goods or passengers.
4. the messages or signals transmitted through a communications system.
5. the action of trading in something illegal.

verb (trafficked, trafficking)
deal or trade in something illegal.

DERIVATIVES:
trafficker noun.

ORIGIN: from French traffique, Spanish tráfico, or Italian traffico.

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traffic calming

noun
the deliberate slowing of traffic in residential areas, by building road humps or other obstructions.

ORIGIN: translation of German Verkehrsberuhigung.

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traffic island

noun
a small raised area in the middle of a road which provides a safe place for pedestrians to stand.

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traffic jam

noun
a line or lines of traffic at or virtually at a standstill.

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traffic lights (also traffic light or traffic signal)

plural noun
a set of automatically operated coloured lights for controlling traffic.

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traffic warden

noun Brit.
a uniformed official who locates and reports on infringements of parking regulations.

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tragedian

noun
1. (fem. tragedienne) a tragic actor or actress.
2. a writer of tragedies.

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tragedy

noun (pl. tragedies)
1. an event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress.
2. a serious play with an unhappy ending, especially one concerning the downfall of the main character.

ORIGIN: Greek tragidia, apparently from tragos 'goat' (the reason remains unexplained) + id 'song, ode' .

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tragic

adjective
1. extremely distressing or sad.
2. suffering extreme distress or sadness.
3. relating to tragedy in a literary work.

DERIVATIVES:
tragical adjective
tragically adverb.

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tragicomedy

noun (pl. tragicomedies)
a play or novel containing elements of both comedy and tragedy.

DERIVATIVES:
tragicomic adjective.

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trail

noun
1. a mark or a series of signs left behind by the passage of someone or something.
2. a track or scent used in following someone or hunting an animal.
3. a long thin part stretching behind or hanging down from something.
4. a beaten path through rough country.
5. a route planned or followed for a particular purpose: the tourist trail.

verb
1. draw or be drawn along behind.
2. follow the trail of.
3. walk or move slowly or wearily.
4. (trail away/off) (of the voice or a speaker) fade gradually before stopping.
5. be losing to an opponent in a contest.
6. (of a plant) grow along the ground or so as to hang down.
7. advertise with a trailer.

ORIGIN: from Old French traillier 'to tow' or Low German treilen 'haul (a boat)' , from Latin trahere 'to pull' .

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trailblazer

noun
1. a person who makes a new track through wild country.
2. an innovator.

DERIVATIVES:
trailblazing noun & adjective.

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trailer

noun
1. an unpowered vehicle towed by another.
2. the rear section of an articulated truck.
3. N. Amer. a caravan.
4. an extract from a film or programme used for advance advertising.

verb
1. advertise with a trailer.
2. transport by trailer.

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trailer park

noun
1. N. Amer. a caravan site.
2. (before another noun ) US lacking refinement, taste, or quality: a trailer-park floozy.

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trailer truck

noun US
an articulated truck.

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trailing edge

noun
the rear edge of a moving body, especially an aircraft wing or propeller blade.

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train

verb
1. teach (a person or animal) a particular skill or type of behaviour through regular practice and instruction.
2. be taught in such a way.
3. make or become physically fit through a course of exercise and diet.
4. (train on) point (something) at.
5. make (a plant) grow in a particular direction or into a required shape.

noun
1. a series of railway carriages or wagons moved as a unit by a locomotive or by integral motors.
2. a number of vehicles or pack animals moving in a line.
3. a series of connected events, thoughts, etc.
4. a long piece of trailing material attached to the back of a formal dress or robe.
5. a retinue of attendants accompanying an important person.

IDIOMS -
in train in progress.

DERIVATIVES:
trainable adjective
training noun
trainload noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «a delay»: from Old French trahiner, from Latin trahere 'pull, draw' .

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trainee

noun
a person undergoing training for a particular job or profession.

DERIVATIVES:
traineeship noun.

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trainer

noun
1. a person who trains people or animals.
2. Brit. a soft shoe, suitable for sports or casual wear.

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training college

noun
(in the UK) a college where people, especially prospective teachers, are trained.

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trainspotter

noun Brit.
1. a person who collects locomotive numbers as a hobby.
2. often derogatory a person who obsessively studies the minutiae of any minority interest or specialized hobby.

DERIVATIVES:
trainspotting noun.

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traipse

verb
walk or move wearily, reluctantly, or aimlessly.

noun
a tedious or tiring walk.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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trait

noun
1. a distinguishing quality or characteristic.
2. a genetically determined characteristic.
USAGE - Trait has two pronunciations. The first, sounding like tray, is the traditional one (corresponding to its sound in French), but the newer one, rhyming with rate, is becoming the commoner one and is generally used in the US.
ORIGIN: French, from Latin tractus 'drawing, draught' .

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traitor

noun
a person who betrays their country, a cause, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
traitorous adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French traitour, from Latin tradere 'hand over' .

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trajectory

noun (pl. trajectories)
the path described by a projectile flying or an object moving under the action of given forces.

ORIGIN: Latin trajectoria, from traicere 'throw across' .

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tram (also tramcar)

noun Brit.
a passenger vehicle powered by electricity conveyed by overhead cables, and running on rails laid in a public road.

ORIGIN: Low German and Dutch trame 'beam, barrow shaft' , the original sense in English; the word also denoted a barrow or cart used in coal mines, later the tracks on which such carts ran.

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tramlines

plural noun Brit.
1. rails for a tramcar.
2. informal a pair of parallel lines at the sides of a tennis court or at the side or back of a badminton court.

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trammel

noun
1. (trammels) literary restrictions or impediments to freedom of action.
2. (also trammel net) a three-layered net, designed so that a pocket forms when fish attempt to swim through, thus trapping them.

verb (trammelled, trammelling; US trammeled, trammeling)
constrain or impede.

ORIGIN: Old French tramail, from Latin trimaculum, perhaps from tri- 'three' + macula 'mesh' .

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tramp

verb
1. walk heavily or noisily.
2. walk wearily or reluctantly over a long distance.

noun
1. an itinerant homeless person who lives by begging or doing casual work.
2. the sound of heavy steps.
3. a long walk.
4. a cargo vessel running between many different ports rather than sailing a fixed route.
5. N. Amer. informal a promiscuous woman.

DERIVATIVES:
tramper noun.

ORIGIN: probably Low German.

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trample

verb
1. tread on and crush.
2. (trample on/upon/over) treat with contempt.

ORIGIN: from TRAMP.

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trampoline

noun
a strong fabric sheet connected by springs to a frame, used as a springboard and landing area in doing acrobatic or gymnastic exercises.

verb (trampolining)
use a trampoline.

ORIGIN: Italian trampolino, from trampoli 'stilts' .

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tramway

noun
1. Brit. a set of rails for a tram.
2. a tram system.

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trance

noun
1. a half-conscious state characterized by an absence of response to external stimuli, typically as induced by hypnosis.
2. a state of inattention.
3. (also trance music) a type of electronic dance music characterized by hypnotic rhythms.

ORIGIN: from Old French transir 'depart, fall into a trance' , from Latin transire 'go across' .

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tranche

noun
a portion, especially of money.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'slice' .

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tranquil

adjective
free from disturbance; calm.

DERIVATIVES:
tranquillity (also tranquility) noun
tranquilly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin tranquillus.

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tranquillize (also tranquillise; US tranquilize)

verb
1. (usu. as adj. tranquillizing) (of a drug) have a calming or sedative effect on.
2. administer such a drug to.

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tranquillizer (also tranquilliser; US also tranquilizer)

noun
a medicinal drug taken to reduce tension or anxiety.

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trans-

prefix
1. across; beyond: transcontinental.
2. on or to the other side of: transatlantic.
3. into another state or place: translate.

ORIGIN: from Latin trans 'across' .

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transact

verb
conduct or carry out (business).

DERIVATIVES:
transactor noun.

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transaction

noun
1. an instance of buying or selling.
2. the action of conducting business.
3. an exchange or interaction between people.

DERIVATIVES:
transactional adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from transigere 'drive through' .

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transatlantic

adjective
1. crossing the Atlantic.
2. concerning countries on both sides of the Atlantic, typically Britain and the US.
3. relating to or situated on the other side of the Atlantic; Brit. American; N. Amer. British or European.

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transceiver

noun
a combined radio transmitter and receiver.

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transcend

verb
1. be or go beyond the range or limits of.
2. be superior to; surpass.

ORIGIN: Latin transcendere, from scandere 'climb' .

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transcendent

adjective
1. transcending normal or physical human experience.
2. (of God) existing apart from and not subject to the limitations of the material universe.

DERIVATIVES:
transcendence noun
transcendently adverb.

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transcendental

adjective
1. relating to a spiritual realm.
2. relating to or denoting Transcendentalism.

DERIVATIVES:
transcendentally adverb.

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Transcendental Meditation

noun (trademark in the US)
a technique for detaching oneself from anxiety and promoting harmony and self-realization by meditation and repetition of a mantra.

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transcontinental

adjective
crossing or extending across a continent or continents.

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transcribe

verb
1. put (thoughts, speech, or data) into written or printed form.
2. make a copy of, especially in another alphabet or language.
3. arrange (a piece of music) for a different instrument, voice, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
transcriber noun.

ORIGIN: Latin transcribere, from scribere 'write' .

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transcript

noun
a written or printed version of material originally presented in another medium.

ORIGIN: Latin transcriptum, from transcribere 'transcribe' .

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transcription

noun
1. a transcript.
2. the action or process of transcribing.
3. a piece of music transcribed for a different instrument, voice, etc.

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transducer

noun
a device that converts variations in a physical quantity (such as pressure or brightness) into an electrical signal, or vice versa.

DERIVATIVES:
transduction noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin transducere 'lead across' .

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transect technical

verb
cut across or make a transverse section in.

noun
a straight line or narrow cross section along which observations or measurements are made.

DERIVATIVES:
transection noun.

ORIGIN: from TRANS- + Latin secare 'divide by cutting' .

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transept

noun
(in a cross-shaped church) either of the two parts forming the arms of the cross shape, projecting at right angles from the nave.

ORIGIN: Latin transeptum, from septum 'partition'

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transfer

verb (transferred, transferring)
1. move from one place to another.
2. move to another department, occupation, etc.
3. change to another place, route, or means of transport during a journey.
4. make over the possession of (property, a right, or a responsibility) to another.
5. (transferred) (of the sense of a word or phrase) changed by extension or metaphor.

noun
1. an act or the action of transferring.
2. Brit. a small coloured picture or design on paper, which can be transferred to another surface by being pressed or heated.

DERIVATIVES:
transferable adjective
transferee noun
transferor noun ( chiefly Law )
transferral noun.

ORIGIN: Latin transferre, from ferre 'to bear' .

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transference

noun
1. the action of transferring or the process of being transferred.
2. Psychoanalysis the redirection to a substitute of emotions originally felt in childhood.

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transfer fee

noun Brit.
a fee paid by one soccer or rugby club to another for the transfer of a player.

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transfigure

verb (be transfigured)
be transformed into something more beautiful or spiritual.

ORIGIN: Latin transfigurare, from figura 'figure' .

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transfix

verb
1. make motionless with horror, wonder, or astonishment.
2. pierce with a sharp implement.

ORIGIN: Latin transfigere 'pierce through' .

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transform

verb
1. subject to or undergo transformation.
2. change the voltage of (an electric current) by electromagnetic induction.

DERIVATIVES:
transformative adjective.

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transformation

noun
a marked change in nature, form, or appearance.

DERIVATIVES:
transformational adjective.

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transformer

noun
a device for changing the voltage of an alternating current by electromagnetic induction.

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transfuse

verb
1. Medicine transfer (blood or its components) from one person or animal to another.
2. permeate or infuse.

DERIVATIVES:
transfusion noun.

ORIGIN: Latin transfundere 'pour from one container to another' .

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transgenic

adjective Biology
containing genetic material into which DNA from a different organism has been artificially introduced.

DERIVATIVES:
transgenics plural noun.

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transgress

verb
go beyond the limits set by (a moral principle, standard, law, etc.).

DERIVATIVES:
transgression noun
transgressive adjective
transgressor noun.

ORIGIN: Latin transgredi 'step across' .

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transient

adjective
1. lasting only for a short time.
2. staying or working in a place for a short time only.

noun
a transient person.

DERIVATIVES:
transience noun
transiency noun
transiently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin transire 'go across' .

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transistor

noun
1. a semiconductor device with three connections, capable of amplification and rectification.
2. (also transistor radio) a portable radio using circuits containing transistors.

DERIVATIVES:
transistorize (also transistorise) verb.

ORIGIN: from TRANSFER + RESISTOR.

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transit

noun
1. the carrying of people or things from one place to another.
2. an act of passing through or across a place.

verb (transited, transiting)
pass across or through.

ORIGIN: Latin transitus, from transire 'go across' .

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transition

noun
1. the process of changing from one state or condition to another.
2. a period of such change.

DERIVATIVES:
transitional adjective.

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transition metal

noun Chemistry
any of the set of metallic elements occupying the central block in the periodic table, e.g. iron, manganese, chromium, and copper.

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transitive

adjective Grammar
(of a verb) able to take a direct object, e.g. saw in he saw the donkey. The opposite of INTRANSITIVE.

DERIVATIVES:
transitively adverb
transitivity noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «transitory»: from Latin transitivus, from transire 'go across' .

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transitory

adjective
not permanent; short-lived.

DERIVATIVES:
transitorily adverb
transitoriness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin transitorius, from transire 'go across' .

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translate

verb
1. express the sense of (words or text) in another language.
2. be expressed or be capable of being expressed in another language.
3. (translate into) convert or be converted into another form or medium.

DERIVATIVES:
translatable adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin translatus 'carried across' , from transferre 'transfer' .

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translation

noun
1. the action or process of translating.
2. a text or word that is translated.

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translator

noun
1. a person who translates from one language into another.
2. a program that translates from one programming language into another.

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transliterate

verb
write or print (a letter or word) using the closest corresponding letters of a different alphabet or language.

DERIVATIVES:
transliteration noun.

ORIGIN: from TRANS- + Latin littera 'letter' .

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translucent

adjective
allowing light to pass through partially; semi-transparent.

DERIVATIVES:
translucence noun
translucency noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin translucere 'shine through' .

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transmission

noun
1. the action or process of transmitting or the state of being transmitted.
2. a programme or signal that is transmitted.
3. the mechanism by which power is transmitted from an engine to the axle in a motor vehicle.

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transmit

verb (transmitted, transmitting)
1. cause to pass on from one place or person to another.
2. broadcast or send out (an electrical signal or a radio or television programme).
3. allow (heat, light, etc.) to pass through a medium.
4. communicate (an idea or emotion).

DERIVATIVES:
transmissible adjective ( chiefly Medicine )
transmittal noun.

ORIGIN: Latin transmittere, from mittere 'send' .

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transmitter

noun
a device used to generate and transmit electromagnetic waves carrying messages or signals, especially those of radio or television.

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transmogrify

verb (transmogrifies, transmogrified) chiefly humorous
transform in a surprising or magical manner.

DERIVATIVES:
transmogrification noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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transmute

verb
1. change in form, nature, or substance.
2. change (a chemical element) into another, either by a nuclear process or as a supposed operation in alchemy.

DERIVATIVES:
transmutation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin transmutare, from mutare 'to change' .

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transnational

adjective
extending or operating across national boundaries.

noun
a multinational company.

DERIVATIVES:
transnationalism noun.

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transom

noun
1. the flat surface forming the stern of a boat.
2. a strengthening crossbar, in particular one set above a window or door.

ORIGIN: Old French traversin, from traverser 'to cross' .

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transparency

noun (pl. transparencies)
1. the condition of being transparent.
2. a positive transparent photograph printed on plastic or glass, and viewed using a slide projector.

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transparent

adjective
1. allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen.
2. obvious or evident.

DERIVATIVES:
transparently adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin transparere 'shine through' .

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transpire

verb
1. come to be known; prove to be so.
2. happen.
3. Botany (of a plant or leaf) give off water vapour through the stomata.

DERIVATIVES:
transpiration noun.

ORIGIN: Latin transpirare, from spirare 'breathe' .

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transplant

verb
1. transfer to another place or situation.
2. take (living tissue or an organ) and implant it in another part of the body or in another body.

noun
1. an operation in which an organ or tissue is transplanted.
2. a person or thing that has been transplanted.

DERIVATIVES:
transplantable adjective
transplantation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin transplantare, from plantare 'to plant' .

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transponder

noun
a device for receiving a radio signal and automatically transmitting a different signal.

ORIGIN: blend of TRANSMIT and RESPOND.

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transport

verb
1. take or carry from one place to another by means of a vehicle, aircraft, or ship.
2. (be transported) be overwhelmed with a strong emotion, especially joy.
3. historical send (a convict) to a penal colony.

noun
1. a system or means of transporting.
2. the action of transporting or the state of being transported.
3. a large vehicle, ship, or aircraft for carrying troops or stores.
4. (transports) overwhelmingly strong emotions.

DERIVATIVES:
transportation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin transportare 'carry across' .

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transport cafe

noun Brit.
a roadside cafe for drivers of haulage vehicles.

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transporter

noun
a large vehicle used to carry heavy objects.

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transpose

verb
1. cause to exchange places.
2. transfer to a different place or context.
3. write or play (music) in a different key from the original.

DERIVATIVES:
transposable adjective
transposition noun.

ORIGIN: Old French transposer, from poser 'to place' .

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transsexual (also transexual)

noun
a person born with the physical characteristics of one sex who emotionally and psychologically feels that they belong to the opposite sex.

adjective
relating to such a person.

DERIVATIVES:
transsexualism noun
transsexuality noun.

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trans-ship

verb (trans-shipped, trans-shipping)
transfer (cargo) from one ship or other form of transport to another.

DERIVATIVES:
trans-shipment noun.

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transubstantiation

noun Christian Theology
the doctrine that the bread and wine of the Eucharist are converted into the body and blood of Christ at consecration.

ORIGIN: from Latin transubstantiare 'change in substance' .

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transuranic

adjective Chemistry
(of an element) having a higher atomic number than uranium (92).

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transverse

adjective
situated or extending across something.

DERIVATIVES:
transversely adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin transvertere 'turn across' .

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transvestite

noun
a person, typically a man, who derives pleasure from dressing in clothes considered appropriate to the opposite sex.

DERIVATIVES:
transvestism noun.

ORIGIN: German Transvestit, from Latin trans- 'across' + vestire 'clothe' .

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trap

noun
1. a device or enclosure designed to catch and retain animals.
2. an unpleasant situation from which it is hard to escape.
3. a trick causing someone to act contrary to their interests or intentions.
4. a container or device used to collect a specified thing.
5. a curve in the waste pipe from a bath, basin, or toilet that is always full of liquid to prevent the upward passage of gases.
6. a bunker or other hollow on a golf course.
7. the compartment from which a greyhound is released at the start of a race.
8. a device for hurling an object such as a clay pigeon into the air.
9. chiefly historical a light, two-wheeled carriage pulled by a horse or pony.
10. informal a person's mouth.

verb (trapped, trapping)
1. catch or hold in or as in a trap.
2. trick into doing something.

ORIGIN: Old English; related to Latin trappa.

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trapdoor

noun
a hinged or removable panel in a floor, ceiling, or roof.

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trapeze

noun (also flying trapeze)
a horizontal bar hanging by two ropes and free to swing, used by acrobats in a circus.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin trapezium.

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trapezium

noun (pl. trapezia or trapeziums) Geometry
1. Brit. a quadrilateral with one pair of sides parallel.
2. N. Amer. a quadrilateral with no sides parallel.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek trapeza 'table' .

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trapezoid

noun Geometry
1. Brit. a quadrilateral with no sides parallel.
2. N. Amer. a quadrilateral with one pair of sides parallel.

DERIVATIVES:
trapezoidal adjective.

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trapper

noun
a person who traps wild animals, especially for their fur.

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trappings

plural noun
1. the visible signs or objects associated with a particular situation or role: the trappings of success.
2. a horse's ornamental harness.

ORIGIN: from obsolete trap «trappings», from Old French drap «drape».

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Trappist

adjective
of or referring to a branch of the Cistercian order of monks noted for an austere rule including a vow of silence.

noun
a member of this order.

ORIGIN: French trappiste, from La Trappe in Normandy, where the order was founded.

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trash

noun chiefly N. Amer.
1. waste material; refuse.
2. worthless writing, art, etc.
3. a person or people regarded as being of very low social standing.

verb informal, chiefly N. Amer.
wreck or destroy.

DERIVATIVES:
trashy adjective (trashier, trashiest) .

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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trash can

noun N. Amer.
a dustbin.

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trattoria

noun
an Italian restaurant.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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trauma

noun (pl. traumas)
1. a deeply distressing experience.
2. Medicine physical injury.
3. emotional shock following a stressful event.

DERIVATIVES:
traumatic adjective
traumatically adverb
traumatize (also traumatise) verb.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'wound' .

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travail literary

noun (also travails)
1. painful or laborious effort.
2. labour pains.

verb
undergo such effort.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin trepalium 'instrument of torture' .

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travel

verb (travelled, travelling; US also traveled, traveling)
1. make a journey.
2. journey along (a road) or through (a region).
3. move or go from one place to another.
4. withstand a journey without adverse effects.

noun
1. the action of travelling.
2. (travels) journeys, especially abroad.
3. (before another noun ) (of a device) sufficiently compact for use when travelling: a travel iron.
4. the range, rate, or mode of motion of a part of a machine.

ORIGIN: variant of TRAVAIL and originally in the same sense.

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travel agency

noun
an agency that makes the necessary arrangements for travellers.

DERIVATIVES:
travel agent noun.

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travelled

adjective
1. having travelled to many places.
2. used by people travelling: a well-travelled route.

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traveller (US also traveler)

noun
1. a person who is travelling or who often travels.
2. a gypsy.
3. (also New Age traveller) a person who holds New Age values and leads an itinerant and unconventional lifestyle.

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traveller's cheque

noun
a cheque for a fixed amount that may be cashed or used in payment abroad after endorsement by the holder's signature.

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travelling salesman

noun
a representative of a firm who visits businesses to show samples and gain orders.

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travelogue

noun
a film, book, or illustrated lecture about a person's travels.

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travel-sick

adjective
suffering from nausea caused by the motion of a moving vehicle, boat, or aircraft.

DERIVATIVES:
travel-sickness noun.

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traverse

verb
1. travel or extend across or through.
2. move back and forth or sideways.

noun
1. an act of traversing.
2. a part of a structure that extends or is fixed across something.

DERIVATIVES:
traversable adjective
traversal noun.

ORIGIN: Latin traversare.

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travesty

noun (pl. travesties)
an absurd or grotesque misrepresentation.

verb (travesties, travestied)
represent in such a way.

ORIGIN: from French travestir 'to disguise' .

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trawl

verb
1. fish or catch with a trawl net or seine.
2. search thoroughly.

noun
1. an act of trawling.
2. (also trawl net) a large wide-mouthed fishing net dragged by a boat along the bottom of the sea or a lake.

ORIGIN: probably from Dutch traghelen 'to drag' .

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trawler

noun
a fishing boat used for trawling.

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tray

noun
a flat, shallow container with a raised rim, typically used for carrying or holding things.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to TREE.

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treacherous

adjective
1. guilty of or involving betrayal.
2. having hidden or unpredictable dangers: treacherous currents.

DERIVATIVES:
treacherously adverb
treacherousness noun
treachery noun.

ORIGIN: Old French trecherous, from trechier 'to cheat' .

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treacle

noun chiefly Brit.
1. molasses.
2. golden syrup.

DERIVATIVES:
treacly adjective.

ORIGIN: originally referring to an antidote against venom: from Greek thriak 'antidote against venom' , from thrion 'wild beast' .

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tread

verb (past trod; past part. trodden or trod)
1. walk in a specified way.
2. press down or crush with the feet.
3. walk on or along.

noun
1. a manner or the sound of walking.
2. (also tread board) the top surface of a step or stair.
3. the thick moulded part of a vehicle tyre that grips the road.
4. the part of the sole of a shoe that rests on the ground.

IDIOMS -
tread on someone's toes offend someone by encroaching on their area of responsibility.
tread water
1. maintain an upright position in deep water by moving the feet with a walking movement and the hands with a downward circular motion.
2. fail to make progress.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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treadle

noun
a lever worked by the foot and imparting motion to a machine.

verb
operate by a treadle.

ORIGIN: Old English, «stair, step».

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treadmill

noun
1. a large wheel turned by the weight of people or animals treading on steps fitted into its inner surface, formerly used to drive machinery.
2. a device used for exercise consisting of a continuous moving belt on which to walk or run.
3. a job or situation that is tiring, boring, or unpleasant.

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treason (also high treason)

noun
the crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill or overthrow the sovereign or government.

DERIVATIVES:
treasonable adjective
treasonous adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French treisoun, from Latin tradere 'hand over' .

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treasure

noun
1. a quantity of precious metals, gems, or other valuable objects.
2. a very valuable object.
3. informal a much loved or highly valued person.

verb
1. keep carefully (a valuable or valued item).
2. value highly.

ORIGIN: Old French tresor, from Greek thsauros 'storehouse, treasure' .

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treasure hunt

noun
a game in which players search for hidden objects by following a trail of clues.

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treasurer

noun
a person appointed to administer or manage the financial assets and liabilities of a society, company, etc.

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treasure trove

noun
1. English Law (abolished in 1996) valuables of unknown ownership that are found hidden and declared the property of the Crown.
2. a hidden store of valuable or delightful things.

ORIGIN: from Old French tresor trové 'found treasure' .

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treasury

noun (pl. treasuries)
1. the funds or revenue of a state, institution, or society.
2. (Treasury) (in some countries) the government department responsible for the overall management of the economy.
3. a place where treasure is stored.
4. a collection of valuable or delightful things.

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treat

verb
1. behave towards or deal with in a certain way.
2. give medical care or attention to.
3. apply a process or a substance to.
4. present or discuss (a subject).
5. (treat to) provide (someone) with (food, drink, or entertainment) at one's expense.
6. (treat oneself) do or have something very pleasurable.
7. (treat with) negotiate terms with.

noun
1. a surprise gift, event, etc. that gives great pleasure.
2. (one's treat) an act of treating someone to something.

IDIOMS -
a treat Brit. informal doing something specified very well: their tactics worked a treat.

DERIVATIVES:
treatable adjective
treater noun.

ORIGIN: Old French traitier, from Latin trahere 'draw, pull' .

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treatise

noun
a written work dealing formally and systematically with a subject.

ORIGIN: Old French tretis, from traitier (see TREAT).

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treatment

noun
1. the process or manner of treating someone or something.
2. medical care for an illness or injury.
3. the use of a substance or process to preserve or give particular properties to something.
4. the presentation or discussion of a subject.

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treaty

noun (pl. treaties)
a formally concluded and ratified agreement between states.

ORIGIN: Old French traite, from Latin tractatus 'treatise' .

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treble [1]

adjective
1. consisting of three parts.
2. multiplied or occurring three times.

predeterminer
three times as much or as many.

noun
1. Brit. three sporting victories or championships in the same season, event, etc.
2. Darts a hit on the narrow ring enclosed by the two large inner circles of a dartboard, scoring treble.

pronoun
an amount which is three times as large as usual.

verb
make or become treble.

ORIGIN: from Latin triplus 'triple' .

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treble [2]

noun
1. a high-pitched voice, especially a boy's singing voice.
2. the high-frequency output of a radio or audio system.

ORIGIN: from TREBLE, because a part written for such a voice was the highest in a three-part contrapuntal composition.

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treble clef

noun Music
a clef placing G above middle C on the second-lowest line of the stave.

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tree

noun
1. a woody perennial plant, typically with a single stem or trunk growing to a considerable height and bearing lateral branches.
2. a wooden structure or part of a structure.
3. (also tree diagram) a diagram with a structure of branching connecting lines.
4. archaic or literary the cross on which Christ was crucified.

DERIVATIVES:
treeless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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treecreeper

noun
a small brown bird which creeps about on the trunks of trees to search for insects.

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tree fern

noun
a large palm-like fern with a trunk-like stem.

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tree house

noun
a structure built in the branches of a tree for children to play in.

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treeline

noun
the altitude above which no trees grow on a mountain.

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tree ring

noun
each of a number of concentric rings in the cross section of a tree trunk, representing a single year's growth.

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tree surgeon

noun
a person who prunes and treats old or damaged trees in order to preserve them.

DERIVATIVES:
tree surgery noun.

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trefoil

noun
1. a small plant with yellow flowers and three-lobed clover-like leaves.
2. architectural tracery in the form of three rounded lobes like a clover leaf.
3. a thing having three parts.

ORIGIN: Latin trifolium, from tri- 'three' + folium 'leaf' .

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trek

noun
a long difficult journey, especially one made on foot.

verb (trekked, trekking)
go on a trek.

DERIVATIVES:
trekker noun.

ORIGIN: from South African Dutch trekken 'to pull, travel' .

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trellis

noun
a framework of light wooden or metal bars used as a support for trees or creepers.

verb (trellised, trellising)
provide or support with a trellis.

ORIGIN: Old French trelis, from Latin trilix 'three-ply' .

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tremble

verb
1. shake involuntarily, typically as a result of anxiety, excitement, or frailty.
2. be in a state of extreme apprehension.
3. (of a thing) shake slightly.

noun
a trembling feeling, movement, or sound.

DERIVATIVES:
trembly adjective (informal ).

ORIGIN: Old French trembler, from Latin tremere 'tremble' .

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trembler

noun Brit.
an automatic vibrator for making and breaking an electric circuit.

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tremendous

adjective
1. very great in amount, scale, or intensity.
2. informal extremely good or impressive.

DERIVATIVES:
tremendously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin tremendus, from tremere 'tremble' .

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tremolo

noun (pl. tremolos) Music
1. a wavering effect in singing or playing some musical instruments.
2. (also tremolo arm) a lever on an electric guitar used to produce such an effect.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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tremor

noun
1. an involuntary quivering movement.
2. (also earth tremor) a slight earthquake.
3. a sudden feeling of fear or excitement.

ORIGIN: Latin, from tremere 'to tremble' .

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tremulous

adjective
1. shaking or quivering slightly.
2. timid; nervous.

DERIVATIVES:
tremulously adverb
tremulousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin tremulus, from tremere 'tremble' .

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trench

noun
1. a long, narrow ditch.
2. a ditch dug by troops to provide shelter from enemy fire.
3. (also ocean trench) a long, narrow, deep depression in the ocean bed.

verb
dig a trench or trenches in.

ORIGIN: Old French trenche, from Latin truncare 'maim' .

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trenchant

adjective
1. vigorous or incisive in expression or style.
2. archaic or literary (of a weapon or tool) having a sharp edge.

DERIVATIVES:
trenchancy noun
trenchantly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'cutting' , from Latin truncare 'truncate, maim' .

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trench coat

noun
1. a belted double-breasted raincoat.
2. a lined or padded waterproof coat worn by soldiers.

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trench warfare

noun
a type of combat in which opposing troops fight from trenches facing each other.

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trend

noun
1. a general direction in which something is developing or changing.
2. a fashion.

verb
turn in a specified direction.

ORIGIN: Old English, «revolve, rotate»; related to TRUNDLE.

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trendsetter

noun
a person who leads the way in fashion or ideas.

DERIVATIVES:
trendsetting adjective.

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trendy informal

adjective (trendier, trendiest)
very fashionable or up to date.

noun (pl. trendies)
a person of this type.

DERIVATIVES:
trendily adverb
trendiness noun.

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trepan

noun chiefly historical
a saw used by surgeons for perforating the skull.

verb (trepanned, trepanning)
perforate (a person's skull) with a trepan.

DERIVATIVES:
trepanation noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek trupan 'to bore' , from trup 'hole' .

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trepidation

noun
a feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen.

ORIGIN: Latin, from trepidare 'be agitated, tremble' .

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trespass

verb
1. enter someone's land or property without their permission.
2. (trespass on) make unfair claims on or take advantage of (something).
3. (trespass against) archaic or literary commit an offence against.

noun
1. Law entry to a person's land or property without their permission.
2. archaic or literary a sin; an offence.

DERIVATIVES:
trespasser noun.

ORIGIN: Old French trespasser 'pass over, trespass' , from Latin transpassare.

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tress

noun
a long lock of a woman's hair.

ORIGIN: Old French tresse, perhaps from Greek trikha 'threefold' .

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trestle

noun
1. a framework consisting of a horizontal beam supported by two pairs of sloping legs, used in pairs to support a flat surface such as a table top.
2. (also trestlework) an open braced framework used to support an elevated structure such as a bridge.

ORIGIN: Old French trestel, from Latin transtrum 'beam' .

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trestle table

noun
a table consisting of a board or boards laid on trestles.

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tri-

combining form
1. three; having three: triathlon.
2. Chemistry (in names of compounds) containing three atoms or groups of a specified kind: triacetate.

ORIGIN: from Latin tres, Greek treis 'three' .

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triad

noun
1. a group or set of three connected people or things.
2. (also Triad) a Chinese secret society involved in organized crime.

DERIVATIVES:
triadic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek trias, from treis 'three' .

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triage

noun
1. the action of sorting according to quality.
2. Medicine the assignment of degrees of urgency to wounds or illnesses to decide the order of treatment of a large number of patients.

ORIGIN: French, from trier 'separate out' .

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trial

noun
1. a formal examination of evidence in order to decide guilt in a case of criminal or civil proceedings.
2. a test of performance, qualities, or suitability.
3. (trials) an event in which horses or dogs compete or perform.
4. something that tests a person's endurance or forbearance.

verb (trialled, trialling; US trialed, trialing)
1. test (something) to assess its suitability or performance.
2. (of a horse or dog) compete in trials.

IDIOMS -
on trial
1. being tried in a court of law.
2. undergoing tests or scrutiny.
trial and error the process of experimenting with various methods until one finds the most successful.

ORIGIN: Latin triallum.

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trial run

noun
a first use of a new system or product.

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triangle

noun
1. a plane figure with three straight sides and three angles.
2. something in the form of a triangle.
3. a musical instrument consisting of a steel rod bent into a triangle, sounded with a rod.
4. an emotional relationship involving a couple and a third person with whom one of them is involved.

ORIGIN: Latin triangulum, from tri- 'three' + angulus 'corner' .

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triangular

adjective
1. shaped like a triangle.
2. involving three people or parties.
3. (of a pyramid) having a three-sided base.

DERIVATIVES:
triangularity noun
triangularly adverb.

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triangulate

verb
1. divide (an area) into triangles for surveying purposes.
2. measure and map (an area) by the use of triangles with a known base length and base angles.
3. determine (a height, distance, or location) in this way.
4. form into a triangle or triangles.

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Triassic

adjective Geology
relating to or denoting the earliest period of the Mesozoic era (between the Permian and Jurassic periods, about 245 to 208 million years ago), a time when the first dinosaurs, ammonites, and primitive mammals appeared.

ORIGIN: from Latin trias 'set of three' , because the strata are divisible into three groups.

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triathlon

noun
an athletic contest consisting of three different events, typically swimming, cycling, and long-distance running.

DERIVATIVES:
triathlete noun.

ORIGIN: from TRI-, on the pattern of decathlon.

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tribal

adjective
of or characteristic of a tribe or tribes.

noun (tribals)
members of tribal communities.

DERIVATIVES:
tribalism noun
tribalist noun
tribally adverb.

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tribe

noun
1. a social division in a traditional society consisting of linked families or communities with a common culture and dialect.
2. derogatory a distinctive close-knit social or political group.
3. (tribes) informal large numbers of people.
4. (in ancient Rome) each of several (originally three) political divisions.
5. Biology a taxonomic category that ranks above genus and below family or subfamily.
USAGE - It is best to avoid using the word tribe to refer to traditional societies in contemporary contexts, as it is associated with past attitudes of white colonialists towards so-called primitive or uncivilized peoples; alternative terms such as community or people are better. In historical contexts, as in the area was inhabited by Slavic tribes, it is perfectly acceptable.
ORIGIN: Latin tribus, perhaps related to tri- 'three' and referring to the three divisions of the early people of Rome.

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tribesman (or tribeswoman)

noun
a member of a tribe in a traditional society.

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tribulation

noun
1. a state of great trouble or suffering.
2. a cause of this.

ORIGIN: Latin, from tribulare 'press, oppress' .

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tribunal

noun
1. Brit. a body established to settle certain types of dispute.
2. a court of justice.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'raised platform provided for a magistrate's seat' , from tribunus 'tribune, head of a tribe' .

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tribune

noun
1. (in ancient Rome) an official chosen by the plebeians to protect their interests.
2. a popular leader; a champion of the people.

DERIVATIVES:
tribunate noun
tribuneship noun.

ORIGIN: Latin tribunus 'head of a tribe' , from tribus 'tribe' .

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tributary

noun (pl. tributaries)
1. a river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake.
2. historical a person or state that pays tribute to another state or ruler.

ORIGIN: Latin tributarius, from tributum (see TRIBUTE).

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tribute

noun
1. an act, statement, or gift that is intended to show gratitude, respect, or admiration.
2. something resulting from and indicating the worth of something else: his victory was a tribute to his persistence.
3. historical payment made periodically by a state to another on which it is dependent.

ORIGIN: Latin tributum, from tribuere 'assign, divide between tribes' .

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trice 'ware

noun (in phrase in a trice)
in a moment; very quickly.

ORIGIN: originally as a trice in the sense «a tug», also «an instant»: from Dutch trsen 'pull sharply' .

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triceps

noun (pl. same) Anatomy
the large muscle at the back of the upper arm.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'three-headed' , because the muscle has three points of attachment at one end.

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trichology

noun
the branch of medical and cosmetic study and practice concerned with the hair and scalp.

DERIVATIVES:
trichological adjective
trichologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek thrix 'hair' .

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trick

noun
1. a cunning or skilful act or scheme intended to deceive or outwit someone.
2. a skilful act performed for entertainment.
3. an illusion: a trick of the light.
4. (before another noun ) intended to mystify or trick: a trick question.
5. a peculiar or characteristic habit or mannerism.
6. (in bridge, whist, etc.) a sequence of cards forming a single round of play.

verb
1. deceive or outwit with cunning or skill.
2. (trick into/out of) deceive (someone) into doing or parting with.

IDIOMS -
do the trick informal achieve the required result.
trick or treat chiefly N. Amer. a children's custom of calling at houses at Halloween with the threat of pranks if they are not given a small gift.
tricks of the trade special ingenious techniques used in a profession or craft.
turn a trick informal (of a prostitute) have a session with a client.
up to one's (old) tricks informal misbehaving in a characteristic way.

DERIVATIVES:
tricker noun
trickery noun.

ORIGIN: Old French triche, from trichier 'deceive' .

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trickle

verb
1. (of a liquid) flow in a small stream.
2. (trickle down) (of wealth) gradually benefit the poorest as a result of the increasing wealth of the richest.
3. come or go slowly or gradually.

noun
1. a small flow of liquid.
2. a small group or number of people or things moving slowly.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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trickster

noun
a person who cheats or deceives people.

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tricksy

adjective (tricksier, tricksiest)
1. clever in an ingenious or deceptive way.
2. playful or mischievous.

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tricky

adjective (trickier, trickiest)
1. requiring care and skill because difficult or awkward.
2. deceitful, crafty, or skilful.

DERIVATIVES:
trickily adverb
trickiness noun.

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tricolour (US tricolor)

noun
a flag with three bands or blocks of different colours, especially the French national flag with equal upright bands of blue, white, and red.

adjective (also tricoloured)
having three colours.

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tricycle

noun
a vehicle similar to a bicycle, but having three wheels, two at the back and one at the front.

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trident

noun
a three-pronged spear.

ORIGIN: Latin, from tri- 'three' + dens 'tooth' .

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triennial

adjective
lasting for or recurring every three years.

DERIVATIVES:
triennially adverb.

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trier

noun
1. a person who always makes an effort, however unsuccessful they may be.
2. a person or body responsible for trying a judicial case.

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trifle

noun
1. a thing of little value or importance.
2. a small amount.
3. Brit. a cold dessert of sponge cake and fruit covered with layers of custard, jelly, and cream.

verb
1. (trifle with) treat without seriousness or respect.
2. archaic talk or act frivolously.

DERIVATIVES:
trifler noun.

ORIGIN: from Old French truffler 'mock, deceive' .

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trifling

adjective
unimportant or trivial.

DERIVATIVES:
triflingly adverb.

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trigger

noun
1. a device that releases a spring or catch and so sets off a mechanism, especially in order to fire a gun.
2. an event that causes something to happen.

verb
1. cause (a device) to function.
2. cause to happen or exist.

ORIGIN: Dutch trekker, from trekken 'to pull' .

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trigger-happy

adjective
apt to fire a gun or take other drastic action on the slightest provocation.

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trigonometry

noun
the branch of mathematics concerned with the relations of the sides and angles of triangles and with the relevant functions of any angles.

DERIVATIVES:
trigonometric adjective
trigonometrical adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek trignos 'three-cornered' .

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trike

noun informal
1. a tricycle.
2. a kind of ultralight aircraft.

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trilateral

adjective
1. shared by or involving three parties.
2. Geometry of, on, or with three sides.

noun
a triangle.

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trilby

noun (pl. trilbies) chiefly Brit.
a soft felt hat with a narrow brim and indented crown.

ORIGIN: from the heroine of George du Maurier's novel Trilby (1894), in the stage version of which such a hat was worn.

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trilingual

adjective
1. speaking three languages fluently.
2. written or conducted in three languages.

DERIVATIVES:
trilingualism noun.

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trill

noun
a quavering or vibratory sound, especially a rapid alternation of sung or played notes.

verb
produce a quavering or warbling sound.

DERIVATIVES:
triller noun.

ORIGIN: Italian trillo.

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trillion

cardinal number
1. a million million (1,000,000,000,000 or 10^12).
2. dated, chiefly Brit. a million million million (1,000,000,000,000,000,000 or 10^18).

DERIVATIVES:
trillionth ordinal number.

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trilogy

noun (pl. trilogies)
a group of three related novels, plays, or films.

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trim

verb (trimmed, trimming)
1. make (something) neat by cutting away irregular or unwanted parts.
2. cut off (irregular or unwanted parts).
3. reduce the size, amount, or number of.
4. decorate (something), especially along its edges.
5. adapt one's views to the prevailing political trends for personal advancement.
6. adjust (a sail) to take advantage of the wind.

noun
1. additional decoration, especially along the edges.
2. the upholstery or interior lining of a car.
3. an act of trimming.
4. the state of being in good order.

adjective (trimmer, trimmest)
neat and smart; in good order.

IDIOMS -
in trim
1. slim and fit.
2. Nautical in good order.
trim one's sails (to the wind) make changes to suit one's new circumstances.

DERIVATIVES:
trimly adverb
trimmer noun
trimness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «make firm, arrange».

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trimaran

noun
a yacht with three hulls in parallel.

ORIGIN: from TRI- + CATAMARAN.

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trimester

noun
1. a period of three months, especially as a division of the duration of pregnancy.
2. N. Amer. each of the three terms in an academic year.

DERIVATIVES:
trimestral adjective
trimestrial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin trimestris, from tri- 'three' + mensis 'month' .

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trimming

noun
1. (trimmings) small pieces trimmed off.
2. ornamentation or decoration, especially for clothing or furniture.
3. (the trimmings) informal the traditional accompaniments to something.

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trinity

noun (pl. trinities)
1. (the Trinity or the Holy Trinity) the three persons of the Christian Godhead; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
2. a group of three people or things.

ORIGIN: Latin trinitas 'triad' , from trinus 'threefold' .

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trinket

noun
a small ornament or item of jewellery that is of little value.

DERIVATIVES:
trinketry noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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trio

noun (pl. trios)
1. a set or group of three.
2. a group of three musicians.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin tres 'three' .

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triode

noun
1. a thermionic valve having three electrodes.
2. a semiconductor rectifier having three connections.

ORIGIN: from TRI- + ELECTRODE.

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trip

verb (tripped, tripping)
1. catch one's foot on something and stumble or fall.
2. (trip up) make a mistake.
3. walk, run, or dance with quick light steps.
4. activate (a mechanism), especially by contact with a switch.
5. (of part of an electric circuit) disconnect automatically as a safety measure.
6. informal experience hallucinations induced by taking a psychedelic drug, especially LSD.

noun
1. a journey or excursion.
2. an instance of tripping or falling.
3. informal a hallucinatory experience caused by taking a psychedelic drug.
4. informal a self-indulgent attitude or activity: a power trip.
5. a device that trips a mechanism, circuit, etc.

IDIOMS -
trip the light fantastic humorous dance. [ORIGIN: from ‘Trip it as you go On the light fantastic toe’ (Milton's L'Allegro).]

ORIGIN: Dutch trippen 'to skip, hop' .

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tripartite

adjective
1. consisting of three parts.
2. shared by or involving three parties.

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tripe

noun
1. the first or second stomach of a cow or other ruminant used as food.
2. informal nonsense; rubbish.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'entrails of an animal' .

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triple

adjective
1. consisting of or involving three parts, things, or people.
2. having three times the usual size, quality, or strength.

predeterminer
three times as much or as many.

noun
a thing that is three times as large as usual or is made up of three parts.

verb
make or become three times as much or as many.

DERIVATIVES:
triply adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Greek triplous.

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triple crown

noun
1. (Triple Crown) an award or honour for winning a group of three important events in a sport.
2. the papal tiara.

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triple jump

noun
1. an athletic event in which competitors attempt to jump as far as possible by performing a hop, a step, and a jump from a running start.
2. Skating a jump in which the skater makes three full turns while in the air.

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triplet

noun
1. one of three children or animals born at the same birth.
2. Music a group of three equal notes to be performed in the time of two or four.
3. a set of three rhyming lines of verse.

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triple time

noun
musical time with three beats to the bar.

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triplicate

adjective
existing in three copies or examples.

verb
1. make three copies of.
2. multiply by three.

DERIVATIVES:
triplication noun
triplicity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin triplicare 'make three' .

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tripod

noun
1. a three-legged stand for supporting a camera or other apparatus.
2. archaic a stool, table, or cauldron set on three legs.

ORIGIN: Greek, from tri- 'three' + pous 'foot' .

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tripper

noun Brit. informal
a person who goes on a pleasure trip or excursion.

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triptych

noun
1. a picture or carving on three panels, typically hinged together vertically and used as an altarpiece.
2. a set of three associated artistic, literary, or musical works.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a set of three writing tablets hinged or tied together: from TRI-, on the pattern of diptych.

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tripwire

noun
a wire that is stretched close to the ground and activates a trap, explosion, or alarm when disturbed.

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trireme

noun
an ancient Greek or Roman war galley with three banks of oars.

ORIGIN: Latin triremis, from tri- 'three' + remus 'oar' .

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trisect

verb
divide into three parts.

DERIVATIVES:
trisection noun.

ORIGIN: from TRI- + Latin secare 'divide, cut' .

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trite

adjective
(of a remark or idea) lacking originality or freshness; dull on account of overuse.

DERIVATIVES:
tritely adverb
triteness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin tritus 'rubbed' .

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triumph

noun
1. a great victory or achievement.
2. the state of being victorious or successful.
3. joy or satisfaction resulting from a success or victory.
4. a highly successful example: their marriage was a triumph of togetherness.
5. the processional entry of a victorious general into ancient Rome.

verb
1. achieve a triumph.
2. rejoice or exult at a triumph.

DERIVATIVES:
triumphal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin triumphus, probably from Greek thriambos 'hymn to Bacchus' .

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triumphalism

noun
excessive exultation over one's success or achievements.

DERIVATIVES:
triumphalist adjective & noun.

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triumphant

adjective
1. having won a battle or contest; victorious.
2. jubilant after a victory or achievement.

DERIVATIVES:
triumphantly adverb.

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triumvirate

noun
1. a group of three powerful or notable people or things.
2. (in ancient Rome) a group of three men holding power.

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trivet

noun
1. an iron tripod placed over a fire for a cooking pot or kettle to stand on.
2. a metal stand on which hot dishes are placed.

ORIGIN: apparently from Latin tripes 'three-legged' .

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trivia

plural noun
unimportant details or pieces of information.

ORIGIN: Latin, plural of trivium 'place where three roads meet' , influenced by TRIVIAL.

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trivial

adjective
of little value or importance.

DERIVATIVES:
triviality noun (pl. trivialities) .
trivially adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «belonging to the trivium» (an introductory course at a medieval university involving the study of grammar, rhetoric, and logic): from Latin trivium, literally 'place where three roads meet' .

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trivialize (also trivialise)

verb
make (something) seem less important or complex than it really is.

DERIVATIVES:
trivialization noun.

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trochaic Poetry

adjective
consisting of or featuring trochees.

noun (trochaics)
trochaic verse.

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trochee

noun Poetry
a foot consisting of one long or stressed syllable followed by one short or unstressed syllable.

ORIGIN: from Greek trokhaios pous 'running foot' .

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troglodyte

noun
1. a cave-dweller.
2. a person who is deliberately ignorant or old-fashioned.

DERIVATIVES:
troglodytic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek trgloduts, from the name of an Ethiopian people, influenced by trgl 'hole' .

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troika

noun
1. a Russian vehicle pulled by a team of three horses abreast.
2. a team of three horses.
3. a group of three people working together, especially as administrators or managers.

ORIGIN: Russian, from troe 'set of three' .

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Trojan

noun
an inhabitant of ancient Troy in Asia Minor.

adjective
relating to Troy.

IDIOMS -
work like a Trojan work extremely hard.

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Trojan Horse

noun
something intended to undermine or secretly overthrow an enemy or opponent.

ORIGIN: from the hollow wooden statue of a horse in which the ancient Greeks are said to have concealed themselves in order to enter Troy.

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troll [1]

noun
(in folklore) an ugly cave-dwelling being depicted as either a giant or a dwarf.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «witch»: from Old Norse and Swedish troll, Danish trold.

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troll [2]

verb
1. fish by trailing a baited line along behind a boat.
2. chiefly Brit. walk; stroll.

noun
1. an act or instance of trolling.
2. a line or bait used in trolling.

DERIVATIVES:
troller noun.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain; probably related to Old French troller 'wander in search of game' and High German trollen 'stroll' .

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trolley

noun (pl. trolleys)
1. Brit. a large wheeled metal basket or frame used for transporting heavy or unwieldy items such as luggage or supermarket purchases.
2. a small table on wheels or castors, used especially to convey food and drink.
3. (also trolley wheel) a wheel attached to a pole, used for collecting current from an overhead electric wire to drive a tram.
4. a trolleybus or trolley car.

IDIOMS -
off one's trolley Brit. informal mad; insane.

ORIGIN: perhaps from TROLL.

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trolleybus

noun
a bus powered by electricity obtained from overhead wires by means of a trolley wheel.

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trollop

noun dated or humorous
a sexually disreputable or promiscuous woman.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to archaic trull 'prostitute' , from German Trulle.

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trombone

noun
a large brass wind instrument having an extendable slide with which different notes are made.

DERIVATIVES:
trombonist noun.

ORIGIN: French or Italian, from Italian tromba 'trumpet' .

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trompe l'œil

noun (pl. trompe l'œils pronunc. same)
a painting or method of painting that creates the illusion of a three-dimensional object or space.

ORIGIN: French, 'deceives the eye' .

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troop

noun
1. (troops) soldiers or armed forces.
2. a unit of an armoured or cavalry division.
3. a group of three or more Scout patrols.
4. a group of people or animals of a particular kind.

verb
come or go as a group.

IDIOMS -
troop the colour Brit. perform the ceremony of parading a regiment's flag along ranks of soldiers.

ORIGIN: French troupe, from Latin troppus 'flock' .

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troop carrier

noun
a large aircraft or armoured vehicle designed for transporting troops.

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trooper

noun
1. a private soldier in a cavalry or armoured unit.
2. chiefly Brit. a ship used for transporting troops.
3. Austral./NZ & US a mounted police officer.
4. US a state police officer.

IDIOMS -
swear like a trooper swear a great deal.

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trope

noun
a figurative or metaphorical use of a word or expression.

ORIGIN: Greek tropos 'turn, way, trope' .

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trophy

noun (pl. trophies)
1. a cup or other decorative object awarded as a prize for a victory or success.
2. a souvenir of an achievement, especially a head of an animal taken when hunting.

ORIGIN: French trophée, from Greek trop 'a rout' .

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tropic

noun
1. the parallel of latitude 23°26' north (tropic of Cancer) or south (tropic of Capricorn) of the equator.
2. (the tropics) the region between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
3. Astronomy each of two corresponding circles on the celestial sphere where the sun appears to turn after reaching its greatest declination, marking the northern and southern limits of the ecliptic.

adjective
tropical.

ORIGIN: Greek tropikos, from trepein 'to turn' .

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tropical

adjective
1. of or relating to the tropics.
2. very hot and humid.

DERIVATIVES:
tropically adverb.

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tropism

noun Biology
the turning of all or part of an organism in response to an external stimulus.

ORIGIN: from Greek tropos 'turning' .

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troposphere

noun
the lowest region of the atmosphere, extending from the earth's surface to a height of about 6 10 km (the lower boundary of the stratosphere).

DERIVATIVES:
tropospheric adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek tropos 'turning' .

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Trot

noun informal, chiefly derogatory
a Trotskyist or supporter of extreme left-wing views.

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trot

verb (trotted, trotting)
1. (of a horse) proceed at a pace faster than a walk, lifting each diagonal pair of legs alternately.
2. (of a person) run at a moderate pace with short steps.
3. informal go or walk briskly.
4. (trot out) informal produce (an account that has been produced many times before).

noun
1. a trotting pace.
2. an act or period of trotting.
3. (the trots) informal diarrhoea.
4. informal, chiefly Austral./NZ a run of good or bad luck.

IDIOMS -
on the trot informal
1. Brit. in succession.
2. continually busy.

ORIGIN: Latin trottare.

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troth

noun
1. archaic or formal faith or loyalty when pledged in a solemn agreement or undertaking.
2. archaic truth.

IDIOMS -
pledge (or plight) one's troth make a solemn pledge of commitment or loyalty, especially in marriage.

ORIGIN: variant of TRUTH.

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trotter

noun
1. a horse bred or trained for the sport of trotting.
2. a pig's foot.

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troubadour

noun
(in medieval France) a performing poet who composed and sang in Provençal, especially on the theme of courtly love.

ORIGIN: French, from Provençal trobar 'find, invent, compose in verse' .

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trouble

noun
1. difficulty or problems.
2. effort or exertion.
3. a cause of worry or inconvenience.
4. (in trouble) in a situation in which one is liable to incur punishment or blame.
5. public unrest or disorder.

verb
1. cause distress, pain, or inconvenience to.
2. (troubled) showing or experiencing problems or anxiety.
3. (trouble about/over/with) be distressed or anxious about.
4. (trouble to do) make the effort required to do.

IDIOMS -
ask for trouble informal act in a way that is likely to incur problems or difficulties.
look for trouble informal behave in a way that is likely to provoke an argument or fight.
trouble and strife Brit. rhyming slang one's wife.
a trouble shared is a trouble halved proverb talking to someone else about one's problems helps to alleviate them.

ORIGIN: Old French truble, from Latin turba 'crowd, disturbance' .

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troublemaker

noun
a person who habitually causes trouble, especially by inciting others to defy those in authority.

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troubleshoot

verb
1. analyse and solve problems for an organization.
2. trace and correct faults in a mechanical or electronic system.

DERIVATIVES:
troubleshooter noun.

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troublesome

adjective
causing difficulty or annoyance.

DERIVATIVES:
troublesomeness noun.

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trouble spot

noun
a place where difficulties or conflict regularly occur.

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troublous

adjective archaic or literary
full of troubles.

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trough

noun
1. a long, narrow open container for animals to eat or drink out of.
2. a channel used to convey a liquid.
3. an elongated region of low barometric pressure.
4. a hollow between two wave crests in the sea.
5. a point of low activity or achievement.

ORIGIN: Old English; related to TREE.

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trounce

verb
1. defeat heavily in a contest.
2. rebuke or punish severely.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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troupe

noun
a group of dancers, actors, or other entertainers who tour to different venues.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin troppus 'flock' ; related to TROOP.

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trouper

noun
1. an actor or other entertainer with long experience.
2. a reliable and uncomplaining person.

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trouser

noun (before another noun )
relating to trousers: his trouser pocket.

verb Brit. informal
receive or take for oneself; pocket.

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trousers

plural noun
an outer garment covering the body from the waist to the ankles, with a separate part for each leg.

IDIOMS -
wear the trousers informal be the dominant partner in a relationship.

DERIVATIVES:
trousered adjective.

ORIGIN: from Irish triús and Scottish Gaelic triubhas; related to TREWS.

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trousseau

noun (pl. trousseaux or trousseaus)
the clothes, linen, and other belongings collected by a bride for her marriage.

ORIGIN: French, 'small bundle' .

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trout

noun (pl. same or trouts)
an edible fish of the salmon family, chiefly inhabiting fresh water.

IDIOMS -
old trout informal an annoying or bad-tempered old woman.

ORIGIN: Old English, from Greek trgein 'gnaw' .

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trove

noun
a store of valuable or delightful things.

ORIGIN: from TREASURE TROVE.

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trowel

noun
1. a small hand-held tool with a curved scoop for lifting plants or earth.
2. a small hand-held tool with a flat, pointed blade, used to apply and spread mortar or plaster.

verb (trowelled, trowelling; US troweled, troweling)
apply or spread with or as if with a trowel.

ORIGIN: Latin truella, from trulla 'scoop' .

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troy (also troy weight)

noun
a system of weights used mainly for precious metals and gems, with a pound of 12 ounces or 5,760 grains. Compare with AVOIRDUPOIS.

ORIGIN: from a weight used at the fair of Troyes in France.

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truant

noun
a pupil who stays away from school without permission or explanation.

adjective
wandering; straying.

verb (also play truant)
(of a pupil) stay away from school without permission or explanation.

DERIVATIVES:
truancy noun.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a person begging through choice rather than necessity: from Old French.

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truce

noun
an agreement between enemies to stop fighting for a certain time.

ORIGIN: Old English, «belief, trust»; related to TRUE.

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truck [1]

noun
1. a large road vehicle, used for carrying goods, materials, or troops.
2. Brit. an open railway vehicle for carrying freight.

verb chiefly N. Amer.
1. convey by truck.
2. informal go or proceed in a casual or leisurely way.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a solid wooden wheel: perhaps from TRUCKLE in the sense «wheel, pulley».

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truck [2]

noun
1. archaic barter.
2. chiefly archaic small wares.
3. N. Amer. market-garden produce, especially vegetables.

verb archaic
barter or exchange.

IDIOMS -
have no truck with choose to avoid dealings or association with.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French; compare with Latin trocare 'to barter' .

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trucker

noun
a long-distance truck driver.

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truculent

adjective
quick to argue or fight; defiant.

DERIVATIVES:
truculence noun
truculently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin truculentus, from trux 'fierce' .

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trudge

verb
walk slowly and with heavy steps.

noun
a difficult or laborious walk.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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true

adjective (truer, truest)
1. in accordance with fact or reality.
2. rightly or strictly so called; genuine: true love.
3. real or actual.
4. accurate and exact.
5. (of a note) exactly in tune.
6. correctly positioned or aligned; upright or level.
7. loyal or faithful.
8. (true to) accurately conforming to (a standard or expectation).

verb (trues, trued, truing or trueing)
bring into the exact shape or position required.

IDIOMS -
come true actually happen or become the case.
out of true not in the correct or exact shape or alignment.
many a true word is spoken in jest proverb a humorous remark not intended to be taken seriously may turn out to be accurate after all.
true to form (or type) being or behaving as expected.
true to life accurately representing real events or objects.

DERIVATIVES:
trueness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «steadfast, loyal»; related to TRUCE.

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true-blue

adjective
1. Brit. staunchly loyal to the Conservative Party.
2. N. Amer. extremely loyal or orthodox.

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true north

noun
north according to the earth's axis, not magnetic north.

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truffle

noun
1. an underground fungus that resembles a rough-skinned potato, eaten as a delicacy.
2. a soft chocolate sweet.

verb (as noun truffling)
hunting for truffles.

ORIGIN: obsolete French, perhaps from Latin tuber 'hump, swelling' .

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trug

noun Brit.
a shallow oblong wooden basket, traditionally used for carrying garden flowers and produce.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a basin: perhaps a dialect form of TROUGH.

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truism

noun
a statement that is obviously true and says nothing new or interesting.

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truly

adverb
1. in a truthful way.
2. to the fullest degree; absolutely or completely.
3. genuinely or properly.
4. in actual fact; really.

IDIOMS -
yours truly
1. used as a formula for ending a letter.
2. humorous used to refer to oneself.

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trump

noun
1. (in bridge, whist, etc.) a playing card of the suit chosen to rank above the others, which can win a trick where a card of a different suit has been led.
2. a valuable resource that may be used, especially as a surprise, to gain an advantage.
3. informal, dated a helpful or admirable person.
4. Austral./NZ informal a person in authority.

verb
1. play a trump on (a card of another suit).
2. beat by saying or doing something better.
3. (trump up) invent (a false accusation or excuse).

IDIOMS -
come (or turn) up trumps informal, chiefly Brit.
1. have a better performance or outcome than expected.
2. be especially generous or helpful.

ORIGIN: from TRIUMPH, once used in card games in the same sense.

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trumpet

noun
1. a brass musical instrument with a flared bell and a bright, penetrating tone.
2. something shaped like a trumpet, especially the tubular central part of a daffodil flower.
3. the loud cry of an elephant.

verb (trumpeted, trumpeting)
1. play a trumpet.
2. (of an elephant) make its characteristic loud cry.
3. proclaim widely or loudly.

IDIOMS -
blow one's own trumpet talk openly and boastfully about one's achievements.

ORIGIN: Old French trompette.

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trumpeter

noun
a person who plays a trumpet.

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truncate

verb
shorten by cutting off the top or the end.

DERIVATIVES:
truncation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin truncare 'maim' .

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truncheon

noun chiefly Brit.
a short thick stick carried as a weapon by a police officer.

ORIGIN: Old French tronchon 'stump' , from Latin truncus 'trunk' .

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trundle

verb
move slowly and unevenly on or as if on wheels.

noun
an act of trundling.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a small wheel or roller: related to obsolete or dialect trendle «revolve», and to TREND.

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trunk

noun
1. the main woody stem of a tree as distinct from its branches and roots.
2. a person's or animal's body apart from the limbs and head.
3. the elongated, prehensile nose of an elephant.
4. a large box with a hinged lid for storing or transporting clothes and other articles.
5. N. Amer. the boot of a car.
6. (before another noun ) of or relating to the main routes of a transport or communication network: a trunk road.

ORIGIN: Latin truncus.

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trunk call

noun dated, chiefly Brit.
a long-distance telephone call made within the same country.

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trunks

plural noun
men's shorts, worn especially for swimming or boxing.

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truss

noun
1. a framework of rafters, posts, and struts which supports a roof, bridge, or other structure.
2. a padded belt worn against the skin to support a hernia.
3. a large projection of stone or timber, typically one supporting a cornice.
4. Brit., chiefly historical a bundle of old hay (56 lb), new hay (60 lb), or straw (36 lb).
5. a compact cluster of flowers or fruit growing on one stalk.

verb
1. support with a truss or trusses.
2. bind or tie up tightly.
3. tie up the wings and legs of (a chicken or other bird) before cooking.

ORIGIN: Old French trusser «pack up, bind in», from Latin torquere 'twist' .

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trust

noun
1. firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.
2. acceptance of the truth of a statement without evidence or investigation.
3. the state of being responsible for someone or something.
4. Law an arrangement whereby a person (a trustee) is made the nominal owner of property to be held or used for the benefit of one or more others.
5. a body of trustees, or an organization or company managed by trustees.

verb
1. have trust in.
2. (trust with) have the confidence to allow (someone) to have, use, or look after.
3. (trust to) commit (someone or something) to the safekeeping of.
4. (trust to) place reliance on (luck, fate, etc.).
5. have confidence; hope: I trust that you have enjoyed this book.

DERIVATIVES:
trustable adjective
trusted adjective.

ORIGIN: from Old Norse, «strong».

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trustee

noun
1. Law an individual or member of a board given powers of administration of property in trust with a legal obligation to administer it solely for the purposes specified.
2. a state made responsible for the government of an area by the United Nations.

DERIVATIVES:
trusteeship noun.

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trust fund

noun
a fund consisting of assets belonging to a trust, held by the trustees for the beneficiaries.

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trusting

adjective
tending to trust others; not suspicious.

DERIVATIVES:
trustingly adverb
trustingness noun.

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trustworthy

adjective
able to be relied on as honest, truthful, or reliable.

DERIVATIVES:
trustworthiness noun.

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trusty

adjective (trustier, trustiest) archaic or humorous
reliable or faithful.

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truth

noun (pl. truths)
1. the quality or state of being true.
2. (also the truth) that which is true as opposed to false.
3. a fact or belief that is accepted as true.

IDIOMS -
in truth really; in fact.
to tell the truth (or truth to tell or if truth be told) to be frank.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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truthful

adjective
1. telling or expressing the truth; honest.
2. (of a representation) true to life.

DERIVATIVES:
truthfully adverb
truthfulness noun.

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try

verb (tries, tried)
1. make an attempt or effort to do something.
2. (also try out) test (something new or different) in order to see if it is suitable, effective, or pleasant.
3. attempt to open (a door), contact (someone), etc.
4. (try on) put on (an item of clothing) to see if it fits or suits one.
5. make severe demands on.
6. subject (someone) to trial.
7. investigate and decide (a case or issue) in a formal trial.

noun (pl. tries)
1. an effort to do something; an attempt.
2. an act of testing something new or different.
3. Rugby an act of touching the ball down behind the opposing goal line, scoring points and entitling the scoring side to a kick at goal.

IDIOMS -
tried and tested (or true) having proved effective or reliable before.
try one's hand at attempt to do for the first time.
try it on Brit. informal deliberately test or attempt to deceive or seduce someone.

USAGE - The constructions try to and try and (as in we should try to (or try and) help them) mean the same thing, but try and is more informal: use try to in formal writing or speech.
ORIGIN: Old French trier 'sift' .

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trying

adjective
difficult or annoying; hard to endure.

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try square

noun
an implement used to check and mark right angles in constructional work.

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tryst literary

noun
a private, romantic rendezvous between lovers.

verb
keep or arrange a tryst.

ORIGIN: Latin trista 'an appointed place in hunting' .

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tsar (also czar or tzar)

noun
an emperor of Russia before 1917.

DERIVATIVES:
tsardom noun
tsarism noun
tsarist noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: Russian, representing Latin Caesar.

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tsarina (also czarina or tzarina)

noun
an empress of Russia before 1917.

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tsetse (also tsetse fly)

noun
an African bloodsucking fly which transmits sleeping sickness and other diseases.

ORIGIN: from a southern African language.

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T-shirt (also tee shirt)

noun
a short-sleeved casual top, having the shape of a T when spread out flat.

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tsp

abbreviation (pl. same or tsps)
teaspoonful.

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T-square

noun
a T-shaped instrument for drawing or testing right angles.

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tsunami

noun (pl. same or tsunamis)
a long high sea wave caused by an earthquake or other disturbance.

ORIGIN: Japanese, 'harbour wave' .

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tub

noun
1. a low, wide, open container with a flat bottom.
2. a small lidded plastic or cardboard container for food.
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. a bath.
4. informal, derogatory a short, broad boat that handles awkwardly.

ORIGIN: probably Low German or Dutch.

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tuba

noun
a large low-pitched brass wind instrument with a broad bell.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'trumpet' .

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tubby

adjective (tubbier, tubbiest) informal
(of a person) short and rather fat.

DERIVATIVES:
tubbiness noun.

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tube

noun
1. a long, hollow cylinder for conveying or holding liquids or gases.
2. a flexible metal or plastic container sealed at one end and having a cap at the other.
3. a hollow cylindrical organ or structure in an animal or plant.
4. Brit. informal (the tube) the underground railway system in London.
5. a sealed container containing two electrodes between which an electric current can be made to flow.
6. a cathode ray tube, especially in a television set.
7. (the tube) N. Amer. informal television.
8. N. Amer. a thermionic valve.
9. Austral. informal a can of beer.

verb
1. provide with a tube or tubes.
2. convey in a tube.

IDIOMS -
go down the tube (or tubes) informal be completely lost or wasted; fail utterly.

ORIGIN: Latin tubus.

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tuber

noun
1. a thickened underground part of a stem or rhizome, e.g. that of the potato, bearing buds from which new plants grow.
2. a thickened fleshy root, e.g. of the dahlia.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'hump, swelling' .

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tubercle

noun
1. a small rounded projection or protuberance on a bone or on the surface of an animal or plant.
2. a small rounded swelling in the lungs or other tissues, characteristic of tuberculosis.

ORIGIN: Latin tuberculum 'small lump or swelling' .

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tubercle bacillus

noun
the bacterium that causes tuberculosis.

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tubercular

adjective
1. relating to or affected with tuberculosis.
2. having or covered with tubercles.

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tuberculosis

noun
an infectious bacterial disease characterized by the growth of tubercles in the tissues, especially the lungs.

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tuberose

noun
a Mexican plant with heavily scented white waxy flowers and a bulb-like base, formerly cultivated as a flavouring for chocolate.

adjective variant spelling of TUBEROUS.

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tuberous (also tuberose)

adjective
1. resembling, forming, or having a tuber or tubers.
2. Medicine characterized by or affected by rounded swellings.

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tubing

noun
a length or lengths of material in tubular form.

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tub-thumping informal, derogatory

adjective
expressing opinions in a loud and violent or dramatic manner.

noun
the expression of opinions in such a way.

DERIVATIVES:
tub-thumper noun.

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tubular

adjective
1. long, round, and hollow like a tube.
2. made from a tube or tubes.

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tubular bells

plural noun
an orchestral instrument consisting of a row of vertically suspended metal tubes struck with a mallet.

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tubule

noun
a minute tube, especially in an animal or plant.

ORIGIN: Latin tubulus.

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TUC

abbreviation
(in the UK) Trades Union Congress.

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tuck

verb
1. push, fold, or turn under or between two surfaces.
2. draw (part of one's body) together into a small space.
3. (often tuck away) store in a secure or secret place.
4. (tuck in/up) settle (someone) in bed by pulling the edges of the bedclothes firmly under the mattress.
5. (tuck in/into) informal eat food heartily.
6. make a flattened, stitched fold in (a garment or material).

noun
1. a flattened, stitched fold in a garment or material.
2. Brit. informal food eaten by children at school as a snack.

ORIGIN: Old English, «punish, ill-treat».

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tucker

noun
1. Austral./NZ informal food.
2. historical a piece of lace or linen worn on a bodice or as an insert at the front of a low-cut dress.

verb (be tuckered out) N. Amer. informal
be exhausted or worn out.

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-tude

suffix
forming abstract nouns such as solitude.

ORIGIN: from Latin -tudo.

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Tudor

adjective
1. relating or belonging to the English royal dynasty which held the throne from the accession of Henry VII in 1485 until the death of Elizabeth I in 1603.
2. referring to the prevalent architectural style of the Tudor period, characterized by half-timbering.

noun
a member of the Tudor dynasty.

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Tuesday

noun
the day of the week before Wednesday and following Monday.

ORIGIN: Old English, named after the Germanic god Tw (associated with the Roman god Mars); translation of Latin dies Marti 'day of Mars' .

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tufa

noun
1. a porous rock composed of calcium carbonate and formed by precipitation from water, e.g. around mineral springs.
2. another term for TUFF.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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tuff

noun
a light, porous rock formed by consolidation of volcanic ash.

ORIGIN: Latin tofus.

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tuffet

noun
1. a tuft or clump.
2. a footstool or low seat.

ORIGIN: alteration of TUFT.

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tuft

noun
a bunch of threads, grass, or hair, held or growing together at the base.

DERIVATIVES:
tufted adjective
tufty adjective.

ORIGIN: probably from Old French tofe.

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tug

verb (tugged, tugging)
pull hard or suddenly.

noun
1. a hard or sudden pull.
2. (also tugboat) a small, powerful boat for towing larger boats and ships, especially in harbour.

ORIGIN: from the base of TOW.

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tug of war

noun
a contest in which two teams pull at opposite ends of a rope until one drags the other over a central line.

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tuition

noun
teaching or instruction, especially of individuals or small groups.

ORIGIN: Latin, from tueri 'to watch, guard' .

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tulip

noun
a spring-flowering plant with boldly coloured cup-shaped flowers.

ORIGIN: French tulipe, from Persian, 'turban' (from the shape of the flower).

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tulle

noun
a soft, fine net material, used for making veils and dresses.

ORIGIN: from Tulle, a town in SW France.

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tumble

verb
1. fall suddenly, clumsily, or headlong.
2. move in a headlong manner.
3. decrease rapidly in amount or value.
4. rumple; disarrange.
5. (tumble to) informal come to understand; realize.

noun
1. an instance of tumbling.
2. an untidy or confused arrangement or state.
3. a handspring or other acrobatic feat.

ORIGIN: Low German tummelen.

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tumbledown

adjective
falling or fallen into ruin; dilapidated.

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tumble-dryer

noun
a machine that dries washed clothes by spinning them in hot air inside a rotating drum.

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tumbler

noun
1. a drinking glass with straight sides and no handle or stem. [ORIGIN: formerly having a rounded bottom so as not to stand upright.]
2. an acrobat.
3. a pivoted piece in a lock that holds the bolt until lifted by a key.
4. an electrical switch worked by pushing a small sprung lever.
5. a tumbling barrel.

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tumbleweed

noun N. Amer. & Austral./NZ
a plant of dry regions which breaks off near the ground in late summer, forming light masses blown about by the wind.

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tumbril (also tumbrel)

noun historical
an open cart that tilted backwards to empty out its load, in particular one used to convey prisoners to the guillotine during the French Revolution.

ORIGIN: Old French tomberel, from tomber 'to fall' .

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tumescent

adjective
swollen or becoming swollen.

DERIVATIVES:
tumescence noun.

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tumid

adjective
1. (of a part of the body) swollen or bulging.
2. (of language) pompous or bombastic.

ORIGIN: Latin tumidus, from tumere 'to swell' .

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tummy

noun (pl. tummies) informal
a person's stomach or abdomen.

ORIGIN: a child's pronunciation of STOMACH.

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tummy button

noun informal
a person's navel.

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tumour (US tumor)

noun
a swelling of a part of the body caused by an abnormal growth of tissue, whether benign or malignant.

DERIVATIVES:
tumorous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin tumor, from tumere 'to swell' .

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tumult

noun
1. a loud, confused noise, as caused by a large mass of people.
2. confusion or disorder.

ORIGIN: Latin tumultus.

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tumultuous

adjective
1. very loud or uproarious.
2. excited, confused, or disorderly.

DERIVATIVES:
tumultuously adverb.

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tumulus

noun (pl. tumuli)
an ancient burial mound; a barrow.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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tun

noun
1. a large beer or wine cask.
2. a brewer's fermenting-vat.

ORIGIN: Latin tunna.

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tuna

noun (pl. same or tunas)
a large predatory fish of warm seas, fished commercially.

ORIGIN: Spanish atún.

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tundra

noun
a vast, flat, treeless Arctic region of Europe, Asia, and North America in which the subsoil is permanently frozen.

ORIGIN: Lappish.

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tune

noun
a melody or melodious piece of music.

verb
1. adjust (a musical instrument) to the correct or uniform pitch.
2. adjust (a radio or television) to the frequency of the required signal.
3. adjust (an engine) or balance (mechanical parts) so that they run smoothly and efficiently.
4. (often be tuned to) adjust or adapt to a purpose or situation.

IDIOMS -
in (or out of) tune
1. with correct (or incorrect) pitch or intonation.
2. (of a motor engine) properly (or poorly) adjusted.
there's many a good tune played on an old fiddle proverb someone's abilities do not depend on their being young.
to the tune of informal amounting to or involving.

DERIVATIVES:
tunable (also tuneable) adjective.

ORIGIN: alteration of TONE.

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tuneful

adjective
having a pleasing tune; melodious.

DERIVATIVES:
tunefully adverb
tunefulness noun.

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tuneless

adjective
not having a pleasing tune; unmelodious.

DERIVATIVES:
tunelessly adverb
tunelessness noun.

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tuner

noun
1. a person who tunes musical instruments, especially pianos.
2. an electronic device used for tuning.
3. a unit for detecting and preamplifying a broadcast radio signal and supplying it to an audio amplifier.

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tungsten

noun
a hard steel-grey metallic element with a very high melting point, used to make electric light filaments.

ORIGIN: Swedish, from tung 'heavy' + sten 'stone' .

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tunic

noun
1. a loose sleeveless garment reaching to the thigh or knees.
2. a close-fitting short coat worn as part of a uniform.

ORIGIN: Latin tunica.

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tuning fork

noun
a two-pronged steel device used for tuning instruments, which vibrates when struck to give a note of specific pitch.

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tunnel

noun
an artificial underground passage, built through a hill or under a building or by a burrowing animal.

verb (tunnelled, tunnelling; US tunneled, tunneling)
dig or force a passage underground or through something.

DERIVATIVES:
tunneller noun.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a flue of a chimney and a tunnel-shaped net: from Old French tonel 'small cask' .

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tunnel vision

noun
1. defective sight in which things cannot be seen properly if they are not close to the centre of the field of view.
2. informal the tendency to focus exclusively on a single or limited objective or view.

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tunny

noun (pl. same or tunnies)
a tuna.

ORIGIN: Greek thunnos.

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tup chiefly Brit.

noun
a ram.

verb (tupped, tupping)
(of a ram) copulate with (a ewe).

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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turban

noun
a man's headdress consisting of a long length of material wound round a cap or the head, worn especially by Muslims and Sikhs.

DERIVATIVES:
turbaned (also turbanned) adjective.

ORIGIN: Persian.

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turbid

adjective
1. (of a liquid) cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended matter.
2. obscure or confused in meaning or thought.

DERIVATIVES:
turbidity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin turbidus, from turba 'a crowd, a disturbance' .

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turbine

noun
a machine for producing power in which a wheel or rotor is made to revolve by a fast-moving flow of water, steam, gas, or air.

ORIGIN: Latin turbo 'spinning top, whirl' .

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turbocharger

noun
a supercharger driven by a turbine powered by the engine's exhaust gases.

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turbofan

noun
a jet engine in which a turbine-driven fan provides additional thrust.

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turbojet

noun
a jet engine in which the jet gases also operate a turbine-driven compressor for compressing the air drawn into the engine.

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turboprop

noun
a jet engine in which a turbine is used to drive a propeller.

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turbot

noun (pl. same or turbots)
a flatfish of inshore waters, which has large bony tubercles on the body and is prized as food.

ORIGIN: Scandinavian.

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turbulence

noun
1. violent or unsteady movement of air or water, or of some other fluid.
2. conflict or confusion.

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turbulent

adjective
1. characterized by conflict, disorder, or confusion.
2. technical (of the flow of fluids) irregularly fluctuating.

DERIVATIVES:
turbulently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin turbulentus 'full of commotion' , from turba 'crowd' .

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turd

noun vulgar slang
1. a lump of excrement.
2. an obnoxious or contemptible person.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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tureen

noun
a deep covered dish from which soup is served.

ORIGIN: French terrine (see TERRINE).

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turf

noun (pl. turfs or turves)
1. grass and the surface layer of earth held together by its roots.
2. a piece of such grass and earth cut from the ground.
3. (the turf) horse racing or racecourses generally.
4. (one's turf) informal one's territory or sphere of influence.

verb
1. (turf off/out) informal, chiefly Brit. force to leave somewhere.
2. cover with turf.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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turgid

adjective
1. swollen and distended or congested.
2. (of language or style) tediously pompous or bombastic.

DERIVATIVES:
turgidity noun
turgidly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin turgidus, from turgere 'to swell' .

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turkey

noun (pl. turkeys)
1. a large mainly domesticated game bird native to North America, having a bald head and (in the male) red wattles.
2. informal, chiefly N. Amer. something extremely unsuccessful, especially a play or film.
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. a stupid or inept person.

IDIOMS -
talk turkey N. Amer. informal talk frankly and openly.

ORIGIN: short for TURKEYCOCK or turkeyhen, originally applied to the guineafowl (which was imported through Turkey), and then erroneously to the American bird because it was considered to be a related species.

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turkeycock

noun
a male turkey.

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Turkish

noun
the language of Turkey.

adjective
relating to Turkey or its language.

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Turkish bath

noun
1. a cleansing treatment that involves sitting in a room filled with very hot air or steam, followed by washing and massage.
2. a building or room where such a treatment is available.

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Turkish delight

noun
a sweet consisting of flavoured gelatin coated in icing sugar.

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turmeric

noun
a bright yellow powder obtained from a plant of the ginger family, used for flavouring and colouring in Asian cookery.

ORIGIN: perhaps from French terre mérite 'deserving earth' .

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turmoil

noun
a state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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turn

verb
1. move in a circular direction wholly or partly around an axis.
2. move into a different position, especially so as to face or move in the opposite direction.
3. change in nature, state, form, or colour; make or become.
4. shape on a lathe.
5. give a graceful or elegant form to.
6. make (a profit).
7. (of the tide) change from flood to ebb or vice versa.
8. twist or sprain (an ankle).
9. (of leaves) change colour in the autumn.
10. (of milk) become sour.

noun
1. an act of turning.
2. a bend or curve in a road, path, river, etc.
3. a place where a road meets or branches off another; a turning.
4. a time when one period of time ends and another begins.
5. a development or change in circumstances.
6. a short walk or ride.
7. a brief feeling or experience of illness: a funny turn.
8. an opportunity or obligation to do something that comes successively to each of a number of people.
9. a short performance, especially one of a number given by different performers.
10. one round in a coil of rope or other material.

IDIOMS -
at every turn on every occasion; continually.
by turns alternately.
do someone a good (or bad) turn do something that is helpful (or unhelpful) for someone.
in turn one after the other.
one good turn deserves another proverb if someone does you a favour, you should take the chance to repay it.
out of turn at a time when it is inappropriate or not one's turn.
take turns (or take it in turns) (of two or more people) do something alternately or in succession.
to a turn to exactly the right degree.
turn against become or make hostile towards.
turn away refuse admittance to.
turn and turn about chiefly Brit. one after another; in succession.
turn down
1. reject an offer or application of or from.
2. adjust a control on (a device) to reduce the volume, heat, etc.
turn in
1. hand over to the authorities.
2. informal go to bed in the evening.
turn off
1. stop (something) operating by means of a tap, switch, or button.
2. leave one road in order to join another.
3. informal cause to feel bored or repelled.
turn of mind a particular way of thinking.
turn of speed the ability to go fast when necessary.
turn on
1. start (something) operating by means of a tap, switch, or button.
2. suddenly attack.
3. have as the main focus.
4. informal excite or stimulate, especially sexually.
turn out
1. extinguish (an electric light).
2. produce (something).
3. empty (one's pockets).
4. prove to be the case.
5. eject or expel from a place.
6. go somewhere to attend a meeting, vote, play in a game, etc.
7. (be turned out) be dressed in the manner s pecified.
turn over
1. (of an engine) start or continue to run properly.
2. (of a business) have a turnover of.
3. change or transfer custody or control of.
turn round (or around) reverse the previously poor performance of.
turn tail informal turn round and run away.
turn to
1. start doing or becoming involved with.
2. go to for help, support, or information.
turn up
1. increase the volume or strength of (a device) by turning a knob or switch.
2. be found, especially by chance.
3. put in an appearance; arrive.
4. reveal or discover.

DERIVATIVES:
turner noun.

ORIGIN: Latin tornare, from Greek tornos 'lathe, circular movement' .

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turnaround (also turnround)

noun
1. an abrupt or unexpected change.
2. the process of completing or the time needed to complete a task.

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turncoat

noun
a person who deserts one party or cause in order to join an opposing one.

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turning

noun
1. a place where a road branches off another.
2. the action or skill of using a lathe.
3. (turnings) shavings of wood resulting from turning wood on a lathe.

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turnip

noun
a round root with white or cream flesh which is eaten as a vegetable.

ORIGIN: from a first element of unknown origin + NEEP.

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turnkey

noun (pl. turnkeys) archaic
a jailer.

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turn-off

noun
1. a junction at which a road branches off.
2. informal a person or thing that causes one to feel bored or repelled.

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turn-on

noun informal
a person or thing that causes one to feel excited or sexually aroused.

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turnout

noun
the number of people attending or taking part in an event.

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turnover

noun
1. the amount of money taken by a business in a particular period.
2. the rate at which employees leave a workforce and are replaced.
3. the rate at which goods are sold and replaced in a shop.
4. a small pie made by folding a piece of pastry over on itself to enclose a filling.

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turnpike

noun
1. historical a toll gate.
2. historical a road on which a toll was collected.
3. US a motorway on which a toll is charged.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a spiked barrier fixed across a road as a defence against sudden attack: from PIKE.

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turnstile

noun
a mechanical gate with revolving horizontal arms that allow only one person at a time to pass through.

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turntable

noun
1. a circular revolving plate supporting a gramophone record as it is played.
2. a circular revolving platform for turning a railway locomotive.

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turn-up

noun Brit.
1. the end of a trouser leg folded upwards on the outside.
2. informal an unusual or unexpected event.

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turpentine

noun
1. (also crude or gum turpentine) a resinous oily substance secreted by certain pines and other trees and distilled to make rosin and oil of turpentine.
2. (also oil of turpentine) a volatile pungent oil distilled from this, used in mixing paints and varnishes and in liniment.

ORIGIN: Old French terebentine, from Latin terebinthina resina 'resin of the terebinth' .

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turpitude

noun formal
depravity; wickedness.

ORIGIN: Latin turpitudo, from turpis 'disgraceful, base' .

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turps

noun informal
turpentine.

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turquoise

noun
1. a semi-precious stone, typically opaque and of a greenish-blue or sky-blue colour.
2. a greenish-blue colour.

ORIGIN: Old French turqueise 'Turkish stone' .

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turret

noun
1. a small tower at the corner of a building or wall, especially of a castle.
2. an armoured, usually revolving tower for a gun and gunners in a ship, aircraft, fort, or tank.
3. a rotating holder for tools, especially on a lathe.

DERIVATIVES:
turreted adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French tourete 'small tower' .

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turtle

noun
1. a marine or freshwater reptile with a bony or leathery shell and flippers or webbed toes.
2. Computing a directional cursor in a computer graphics system which can be instructed to move around a screen.

IDIOMS -
turn turtle (chiefly of a boat) turn upside down.

ORIGIN: apparently an alteration of French tortue 'tortoise' .

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turtle dove

noun
a small dove with a soft purring call, noted for the apparent affection shown for its mate.

ORIGIN: from Latin turtur.

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turtleneck

noun
1. Brit. a high, round, close-fitting neck on a knitted garment.
2. N. Amer. a high, close-fitting, turned-over collar on a sweater.

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Tuscan

adjective
1. relating to Tuscany in central Italy.
2. referring to a classical order of architecture resembling the Doric but lacking all ornamentation.

noun
a person from Tuscany.

ORIGIN: Latin Tuscanus, from Tuscus 'an Etruscan' .

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tusk

noun
a long, pointed tooth, especially one which protrudes from the closed mouth, as in the elephant, walrus, or wild boar.

DERIVATIVES:
tusked adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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tussle

noun
a vigorous struggle or scuffle.

verb
engage in a tussle.

ORIGIN: perhaps from dialect touse «handle roughly», the root also of TOUSLE.

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tussock

noun
a dense clump or tuft of grass.

DERIVATIVES:
tussocky adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from dialect tusk «tuft», of unknown origin.

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tutee

noun
a student or pupil of a tutor.

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tutelage

noun
1. protection of or authority over someone or something; guardianship.
2. instruction; tuition.

ORIGIN: from Latin tutela 'keeping' , from tueri 'watch' .

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tutelary (also tutelar)

adjective
1. serving as a protector, guardian, or patron.
2. relating to protection or a guardian.

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tutor

noun
1. a private teacher, typically one who teaches a single pupil or a very small group.
2. chiefly Brit. a university or college teacher responsible for assigned students.
3. Brit. a book of instruction in a particular subject.

verb
act as a tutor to.

ORIGIN: Latin, from tueri 'to watch, guard' .

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tutorial

noun
1. a period of tuition given by a university or college tutor.
2. an account or explanation of a subject, intended for private study.

adjective
relating to a tutor or a tutor's tuition.

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tutti

adverb & adjective Music
with all voices or instruments together.

ORIGIN: Italian, from tutto 'all' , from Latin totus.

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tutti-frutti

noun (pl. tutti-fruttis)
a type of ice cream or confectionery containing mixed fruits.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'all fruits' .

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tutu

noun
a female ballet dancer's costume consisting of a bodice and a very short, stiff attached skirt incorporating numerous layers of fabric and projecting horizontally from the waist.

ORIGIN: French, child's alteration of cucu, informal word for cul 'buttocks' .

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tux

noun informal, chiefly N. Amer.
a tuxedo.

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tuxedo

noun (pl. tuxedos or tuxedoes) chiefly N. Amer.
1. a man's dinner jacket.
2. a formal evening suit including such a jacket.

DERIVATIVES:
tuxedoed adjective.

ORIGIN: from Tuxedo Park, the site of a country club in New York.

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TV

abbreviation
television.

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twaddle

noun informal
trivial or foolish speech or writing.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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twain

cardinal number archaic term for TWO.

IDIOMS -
never the twain shall meet the two things in question are too different to exist alongside each other. [ORIGIN: from Rudyard Kipling's ‘Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet’. (Barrack-room Ballads (1892)).]

ORIGIN: Old English.

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twang

noun
1. a strong ringing sound such as that made by the plucked string of a musical instrument or a released bowstring.
2. a distinctive nasal pronunciation characteristic of the speech of an individual or region.

verb
make or cause to make a twang.

DERIVATIVES:
twangy adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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'twas

contraction archaic or literary
it was.

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twat

noun vulgar slang
1. a woman's genitals.
2. a stupid or obnoxious person.

verb Brit. informal
hit; punch.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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tweak

verb
1. twist or pull with a small but sharp movement.
2. informal improve by making fine adjustments.

noun
an act of tweaking.

ORIGIN: probably from dialect twick «pull sharply»; related to TWITCH.

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twee

adjective (tweer, tweest) Brit.
excessively or affectedly quaint, pretty, or sentimental.

ORIGIN: representing a child's pronunciation of SWEET.

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tweed

noun
1. a rough-surfaced woollen cloth, typically of mixed flecked colours.
2. (tweeds) clothes made of tweed.

ORIGIN: a misreading of tweel, Scots form of TWILL, influenced by association with the river Tweed.

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tweedy

adjective (tweedier, tweediest)
1. made of tweed cloth.
2. informal of a robust conservative or rural character.

DERIVATIVES:
tweediness noun.

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tweet

noun
the chirp of a small or young bird.

verb
make a chirping noise.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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tweeze

verb
pluck or pull with or as if with tweezers.

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tweezers

plural noun (also pair of tweezers)
a small instrument like a pair of pincers for plucking out hairs and picking up small objects.

ORIGIN: from obsolete tweeze «case of surgical instruments».

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twelfth

ordinal number
1. constituting number twelve in a sequence; 12th.
2. (a twelfth/one twelfth) each of twelve equal parts into which something is or may be divided.
3. Music an interval spanning an octave and a fifth in the diatonic scale.
4. (the (Glorious) Twelfth) (in the UK) 12 August, the day on which the grouse-shooting season begins.

DERIVATIVES:
twelfthly adverb.

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Twelfth Night

noun
1. 6 January, the feast of the Epiphany.
2. the evening of 5 January, formerly the twelfth and last day of Christmas festivities.

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twelve

cardinal number
two more than ten; 12. (Roman numeral: xii or XII.)

ORIGIN: Old English, from the base of TWO + a second element probably expressing the sense 'left over' .

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twenty

cardinal number (pl. twenties)
ten less than thirty; 20. (Roman numeral: xx or XX.)

DERIVATIVES:
twentieth ordinal number.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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twenty-twenty (also 20/20)

adjective
(of vision) of normal sharpness.

ORIGIN: with reference to the fraction for normal visual acuity in eyesight tests.

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'twere

contraction archaic or literary
it were.

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twerp

noun informal
a silly or annoying person.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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twice

adverb
1. two times.
2. double in degree or quantity.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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twiddle

verb
play or fiddle with (something) in a purposeless or nervous way.

noun
1. an act of twiddling.
2. a rapid or intricate series of musical notes.

IDIOMS -
twiddle one's thumbs be idle; have nothing to do.

DERIVATIVES:
twiddler noun
twiddly adjective.

ORIGIN: apparently imitative, combining twirl or twist with fiddle.

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twig [1]

noun
a slender woody shoot growing from a branch or stem of a tree or shrub.

DERIVATIVES:
twigged adjective
twiggy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to TWAIN and TWO.

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twig [2]

verb (twigged, twigging) Brit. informal
come to understand or realize something.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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twilight

noun
1. the soft glowing light from the sky when the sun is below the horizon.
2. a period or state of obscurity or gradual decline: the twilight of his career.

ORIGIN: from an Old English base meaning «two» (probably here used in sense 'half-' ) + LIGHT.

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twilight zone

noun
1. an undefined, ambiguous, or intermediate state or area.
2. a dilapidated urban area.

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twilit (also twilighted)

adjective
dimly illuminated by or as if by twilight.

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twill

noun
a fabric so woven as to have a surface of diagonal parallel ridges.

DERIVATIVES:
twilled adjective.

ORIGIN: from obsolete twilly, from an Old English base meaning «two».

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twin

noun
1. one of two children or animals born at the same birth.
2. something containing or consisting of two matching or corresponding parts.

adjective
forming or being one of a pair of twins or matching things.

verb (twinned, twinning)
1. link or combine as a pair.
2. Brit. link (a town) with another in a different country, for the purposes of cultural exchange.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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twine

noun
strong thread or string consisting of strands of hemp or cotton twisted together.

verb
wind round something.

ORIGIN: Old English, «thread, linen», from a base meaning «two» (with reference to the number of strands).

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twinge

noun
1. a sudden, sharp localized pain.
2. a brief, sharp pang of emotion.

verb (twingeing or twinging)
suffer a twinge.

ORIGIN: Old English, «pinch, wring».

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twinkle

verb
1. (of a star or light) shine with a gleam that changes constantly from bright to faint.
2. (of a person's eyes) sparkle with amusement or vivacity.
3. move lightly and rapidly.

noun
a twinkling sparkle or gleam.

IDIOMS -
in a twinkling (of an eye) in an instant.

DERIVATIVES:
twinkly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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twinkle-toed

adjective informal
nimble and quick on one's feet.

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twinset

noun chiefly Brit.
a woman's matching cardigan and jumper.

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twin-tub

noun
a type of washing machine having two top-loading drums, one for washing and the other for spin-drying.

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twirl

verb
spin quickly and lightly round.

noun
1. an act of twirling.
2. a spiralling or swirling shape, especially a flourish made with a pen.

DERIVATIVES:
twirler noun
twirly adjective.

ORIGIN: probably from archaic trill «twiddle, spin», altered by association with WHIRL.

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twist

verb
1. form into a bent, curled, or distorted shape.
2. force out of the natural position by a twisting action: he twisted his ankle.
3. turn or bend round or into a different direction.
4. take or have a winding course.
5. distort or misrepresent the meaning of.
6. (twisted) unpleasantly or unhealthily abnormal.
7. Brit. informal cheat; defraud.
8. dance the twist.
9. (in pontoon) request, deal, or be dealt a card face upwards.

noun
1. an act or instance of twisting.
2. a thing with a spiral shape.
3. Brit. a paper packet with twisted ends.
4. force producing twisting; torque.
5. a new or unexpected development or treatment.
6. a fine strong thread consisting of twisted fibres.
7. a carpet with a tightly curled pile.
8. (the twist) a dance with a twisting movement of the body, popular in the 1960s.

IDIOMS -
round the twist Brit. informal crazy.
twist someone's arm informal forcefully persuade someone to do something that they are reluctant to do.

DERIVATIVES:
twisty adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, probably related to TWIN and TWINE.

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twister

noun
1. Brit. informal a swindler or dishonest person.
2. N. Amer. a tornado.

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twit [1]

noun informal, chiefly Brit.
a silly or foolish person.

DERIVATIVES:
twittish adjective.

ORIGIN: originally dialect in the sense «tale-bearer».

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twit [2]

verb (twitted, twitting) informal
tease good-humouredly.

ORIGIN: Old English, «reproach with».

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twitch

verb
make a short, sudden jerking movement.

noun
1. a twitching movement.
2. a pang: he felt a twitch of annoyance.

ORIGIN: Germanic.

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twitcher

noun Brit. informal
a birdwatcher devoted to spotting rare birds.

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twitchy

adjective (twitchier, twitchiest)
1. informal nervous.
2. given to twitching.

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twitter

verb
1. (of a bird) make a series of light tremulous sounds.
2. talk rapidly in a nervous or trivial way.

noun
1. a twittering sound.
2. informal an agitated or excited state.

DERIVATIVES:
twittery adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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'twixt

contraction
betwixt.

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two

cardinal number
one less than three; 2. (Roman numeral: ii or II.)

IDIOMS -
put two and two together draw an obvious conclusion from what is known or evident.
two by two (or two and two) side by side in pairs.
two heads are better than one proverb it's helpful to have the advice or opinion of a second person.
two-horse race a contest in which only two of the competitors are likely winners.
two's company, three's a crowd proverb the presence of a third person is not welcomed by two lovers.

DERIVATIVES:
twofold adjective & adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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two-bit

adjective N. Amer. informal
insignificant, cheap, or worthless.

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two-dimensional

adjective
1. having or appearing to have length and breadth but no depth.
2. lacking depth; superficial.

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two-faced

adjective
insincere and deceitful.

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twopence (also tuppence)

noun Brit.
1. the sum of two pence, especially before decimalization (1971).
2. informal anything at all: he didn't care twopence.

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twopenn'orth

noun
1. an amount that is worth or costs twopence.
2. a paltry or insignificant amount.

IDIOMS -
add (or put in) one's twopenn'orth informal contribute one's opinion.

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twopenny (also tuppeny)

adjective Brit.
costing two pence, especially before decimalization (1971).

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twopenny-halfpenny

adjective Brit. informal
insignificant or worthless.

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two-piece

adjective
consisting of two matching items.

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twosome

noun
a set of two people or things.

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two-step

noun
a round dance with a sliding step in march or polka time.

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two-stroke

adjective
(of an internal-combustion engine) having its power cycle completed in one up-and-down movement of the piston.

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two-time

verb informal
be unfaithful to (a lover or husband or wife).

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two-way

adjective
1. involving movement or communication in opposite directions.
2. (of a switch) permitting a current to be switched on or off from either of two points.

IDIOMS -
two-way street a situation involving mutual or reciprocal action or obligation.

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two-way mirror

noun
a panel of glass that can be seen through from one side and is a mirror on the other.

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TX

abbreviation
Texas.

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-ty [1]

suffix
forming nouns denoting quality or condition such as beauty.

ORIGIN: from Latin -tas.

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-ty [2]

suffix
denoting specified groups of ten: forty.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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tycoon

noun
a wealthy, powerful person in business or industry.

ORIGIN: originally a title applied by foreigners to the shogun of Japan: from Japanese, 'great lord' .

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tyke (also tike)

noun
1. informal a small child, especially a mischievous one.
2. a dog, especially a mongrel.
3. Brit. informal a person from Yorkshire.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'bitch' .

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tympanum

noun (pl. tympanums or tympana)
1. Anatomy & Zoology the eardrum.
2. Architecture a vertical recessed triangular space forming the centre of a pediment or over a door.

DERIVATIVES:
tympanic adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek tumpanon 'drum' .

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Tynwald

noun
the parliament of the Isle of Man.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'place of assembly' .

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type

noun
1. a category of people or things having common characteristics.
2. a person or thing symbolizing or exemplifying the defining characteristics of something.
3. informal a person of a specified character or nature: a sporty type.
4. printed characters or letters.
5. pieces of metal with raised letters or characters on their upper surface, for use in letterpress printing.

verb
1. write using a typewriter or computer.
2. Medicine determine the type to which (a person or their blood or tissue) belongs.

DERIVATIVES:
typing noun.

ORIGIN: Greek tupos 'impression, figure, type' .

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typecast

verb (past and past part. typecast) (usu. be typecast)
1. repeatedly cast (an actor) in the same type of role because their appearance is appropriate or they are known for such roles.
2. regard as fitting a stereotype.

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typeface

noun Printing
a particular design of type.

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typescript

noun
a typed copy of a text.

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typeset

verb (typesetting; past and past part. typeset)
arrange or generate the type for (text to be printed).

DERIVATIVES:
typesetter noun
typesetting noun.

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typewriter

noun
an electric, electronic, or manual machine with keys for producing print-like characters.

DERIVATIVES:
typewriting noun
typewritten adjective.

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typhoid (also typhoid fever)

noun
an infectious bacterial fever with an eruption of red spots on the chest and abdomen and severe intestinal irritation.

ORIGIN: from TYPHUS.

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typhoon

noun
a tropical storm in the region of the Indian or western Pacific oceans.

ORIGIN: partly from Arabic, partly from a Chinese dialect word meaning 'big wind' .

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typhus

noun
an infectious bacterial disease characterized by a purple rash, headaches, fever, and usually delirium.

ORIGIN: Greek tuphos 'smoke, stupor' .

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typical

adjective
1. having the distinctive qualities of a particular type.
2. characteristic of a particular person or thing.

DERIVATIVES:
typicality noun
typically adverb.

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typify

verb (typifies, typified)
be typical of.

DERIVATIVES:
typification noun.

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typist

noun
a person skilled in typing, especially one who is employed for this purpose.

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typo

noun (pl. typos) informal
a typographical error.

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typography

noun
1. the art or process of setting and arranging types and printing from them.
2. the style and appearance of printed matter.

DERIVATIVES:
typographer noun
typographic adjective
typographical adjective.

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tyrannical

adjective
exercising power in a cruel or arbitrary way.

DERIVATIVES:
tyrannically adverb.

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tyrannize (also tyrannise)

verb
rule or treat despotically or cruelly.

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tyrannosaurus (also tyrannosaurus rex, tyrannosaur)

noun
a very large carnivorous dinosaur with powerful jaws and small claw-like front legs.

ORIGIN: from Greek turannos 'tyrant' + sauros 'lizard' .

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tyranny

noun (pl. tyrannies)
1. cruel and oppressive government or rule.
2. a state under such rule.
3. cruel and arbitrary exercise of power or control.

DERIVATIVES:
tyrannous adjective.

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tyrant

noun
1. a cruel and oppressive ruler.
2. a person exercising power or control in a cruel and arbitrary way.
3. (especially in ancient Greece) a ruler who seized absolute power without legal right.

ORIGIN: Greek turannos.

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tyre (US tire)

noun
1. a rubber covering, typically inflated or surrounding an inflated inner tube, placed round a wheel to form a soft contact with the road.
2. a strengthening band of metal fitted around the rim of a wheel, especially of a railway vehicle.

ORIGIN: probably a shortening of ATTIRE (because the tyre was the ‘clothing’ of the wheel).

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U

U [1] (also u)

noun (pl. Us or U's)
the twenty-first letter of the alphabet.

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U [2]

abbreviation
1. (in names of sports clubs) United.
2. Brit. universal (denoting films classified as suitable without restriction).

symbol
the chemical element uranium.

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UB40

noun
(in the UK) a card issued to a person registered as unemployed.

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U-bend

noun
a section of a pipe, in particular of a waste pipe, shaped like a U.

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ubiquitous

adjective
present, appearing, or found everywhere.

DERIVATIVES:
ubiquitously adverb
ubiquitousness noun
ubiquity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin ubique 'everywhere' .

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U-boat

noun
a German submarine of the First or Second World War.

ORIGIN: German U-boot, abbreviation of Unterseeboot 'undersea boat' .

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UCAS

abbreviation
(in the UK) Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

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UDA

abbreviation
Ulster Defence Association.

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udder

noun
the mammary gland of female cattle, sheep, goats, horses, etc., hanging near the hind legs as a bag-like organ with two or more teats.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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UDR

abbreviation
Ulster Defence Regiment.

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UEFA

abbreviation
Union of European Football Associations.

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UFO

noun (pl. UFOs)
a mysterious object seen in the sky for which it is claimed no orthodox scientific explanation can be found, popularly said to be a vehicle carrying extraterrestrials.

DERIVATIVES:
ufologist noun
ufology noun.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of unidentified flying object.

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Ugli fruit

noun (pl. same) trademark
a mottled green and yellow citrus fruit which is a hybrid of a grapefruit and tangerine.

ORIGIN: alteration of UGLY.

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ugly

adjective (uglier, ugliest)
1. unpleasant or repulsive in appearance.
2. hostile or threatening; likely to involve unpleasantness.

DERIVATIVES:
uglify verb
ugliness noun.

ORIGIN: from Old Norse, 'to be dreaded' .

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ugly duckling

noun
a person who turns out to be beautiful or talented against all expectations.

ORIGIN: from the title of one of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales, in which the ‘ugly duckling’ becomes a swan.

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UHF

abbreviation
ultra-high frequency.

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UHT

abbreviation
ultra heat treated (a process used to extend the shelf life of milk).

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UK

abbreviation
United Kingdom.

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ukulele

noun
a small four-stringed guitar of Hawaiian origin.

ORIGIN: Hawaiian, 'jumping flea' .

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ulcer

noun
an open sore on the body, caused by a break in the skin or mucous membrane which fails to heal.

DERIVATIVES:
ulcered adjective
ulcerous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin ulcus.

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ulcerate

verb
develop into or become affected by an ulcer.

DERIVATIVES:
ulceration noun
ulcerative adjective.

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-ule

suffix
forming diminutive nouns such as capsule.

ORIGIN: from Latin -ulus, -ula, -ulum.

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ullage

noun
1. the amount by which a container falls short of being full.
2. loss of liquid by evaporation or leakage.

ORIGIN: from Old French euillier 'fill up' , from Latin oculus 'eye' (with reference to a container's bunghole).

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ulna

noun (pl. ulnae or ulnas)
a bone of the forearm or forelimb, in humans the thinner and longer of the two.

DERIVATIVES:
ulnar adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, related to ELL.

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Ulsterman (or Ulsterwoman)

noun
a native or inhabitant of Northern Ireland or Ulster.

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ulterior

adjective
1. other than what is obvious or admitted: she had some ulterior motive in coming.
2. beyond what is immediate or present.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'further, more distant' .

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ultimate

adjective
1. being or happening at the end of a process.
2. being the best or most extreme example of its kind: the ultimate accolade.
3. basic or fundamental.

noun
1. (the ultimate) the best achievable or imaginable of its kind.
2. a final or fundamental fact or principle.

DERIVATIVES:
ultimacy noun
ultimately adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin ultimatus, from ultimare 'come to an end' .

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ultimatum

noun (pl. ultimatums or ultimata)
a final demand or statement of terms, the rejection of which will result in retaliation or a breakdown in relations.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'thing that has come to an end' .

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ultra informal

adverb
very.

noun
an extremist.

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ultra-

prefix
1. beyond; on the other side of: ultramontane.
2. extreme; to an extreme degree: ultramicroscopic.

ORIGIN: Latin ultra 'beyond' .

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ultra-high frequency

noun
a radio frequency in the range 300 to 3,000 megahertz.

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ultramarine

noun
1. a brilliant deep blue pigment originally obtained from lapis lazuli.
2. a brilliant deep blue colour.

ORIGIN: from obsolete Italian azzurro oltramarino 'azure from overseas' (because the lapis lazuli was imported), from Latin ultramarinus 'beyond the sea' .

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ultramicroscope

noun
an optical microscope used to detect very small particles by observing light scattered from them.

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ultramicroscopic

adjective
1. too small to be seen by an ordinary optical microscope.
2. relating to an ultramicroscope.

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ultrasonic

adjective
involving sound waves with a frequency above the upper limit of human hearing.

DERIVATIVES:
ultrasonically adverb.

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ultrasound

noun
sound or other vibrations having an ultrasonic frequency, particularly as used in medical imaging.

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ultraviolet

noun
electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength just shorter than that of violet light but longer than that of X-rays.

adjective
denoting such radiation.

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ululate

verb
howl or wail.

DERIVATIVES:
ululation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin ululare 'howl, shriek' .

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umbel

noun Botany
a flower cluster in which stalks spring from a common centre and form a flat or curved surface.

DERIVATIVES:
umbellate adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin umbella 'sunshade' .

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umber

noun
a natural pigment, normally dark yellowish-brown in colour (raw umber) or dark brown when roasted (burnt umber).

ORIGIN: from French terre d'ombre, 'earth of shadow' , from Latin umbra 'shadow' or Umbra 'Umbrian'

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umbilical

adjective
relating to or affecting the navel or umbilical cord.

DERIVATIVES:
umbilically adverb.

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umbilical cord

noun
a flexible cord-like structure containing blood vessels, attaching a fetus to the placenta during gestation.

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umbilicus

noun (pl. umbilici or umbilicuses)
1. Anatomy the navel.
2. Zoology a central depression or hole in the whorl of some gastropod molluscs and many ammonites.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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umbra

noun (pl. umbras or umbrae)
1. the fully shaded inner region of a shadow, especially the area on the earth or moon experiencing totality in an eclipse.
2. Astronomy the dark central part of a sunspot.

DERIVATIVES:
umbral adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'shade' .

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umbrage

noun (in phrase take umbrage)
offence or annoyance.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «shade or shadow», later «shadowy outline» and «ground for suspicion»: from Latin umbra 'shade' .

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umbrella

noun
1. a device consisting of a circular fabric canopy on a folding metal frame supported by a central rod, used as protection against rain.
2. a protecting force or influence.
3. (before another noun ) including or containing many different parts: an umbrella organization.

ORIGIN: Italian ombrella, from Latin umbra 'shade' .

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umlaut

noun Linguistics
a mark (¨) used over a vowel, especially in German, to indicate a different vowel quality.

ORIGIN: German, from um 'about' + Laut 'sound' .

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umpire

noun
1. (in certain sports) an official who enforces the rules of a game and settles disputes arising from the play.
2. a person chosen to settle a dispute between contending parties.

verb
act as an umpire.

ORIGIN: originally as noumpere, from Old French nonper 'not equal' : the n was lost by wrong division of a noumpere.

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umpteen

cardinal number informal
indefinitely many.

DERIVATIVES:
umpteenth ordinal number.

ORIGIN: humorous formation.

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UN

abbreviation
United Nations.

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un- [1]

prefix
1. (added to adjectives, participles, and their derivatives) denoting the absence of a quality or state; not: unacademic.
2. the reverse of: unselfish.
3. (added to nouns) a lack of: untruth.
USAGE - The prefixes un- and non- both mean ‘not’, but are used with a difference of emphasis, un- being stronger and less neutral than non-. Compare, for example, unacademic and non-academic in his language was refreshingly unacademic and a non-academic life suits him .
ORIGIN: Old English.

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un- [2]

prefix added to verbs:
1. denoting the reversal or cancellation of an action or state: unsettle.
2. denoting deprivation, separation, or reduction to a lesser state: unmask.
3. denoting release: unhand.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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unabashed

adjective
not embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed.

DERIVATIVES:
unabashedly adverb.

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unabated

adjective
without any reduction in intensity or strength.

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unable

adjective
lacking the skill, means, or opportunity to do something.

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unabridged

adjective
(of a text) not cut or shortened; complete.

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unacceptable

adjective
not satisfactory or allowable.

DERIVATIVES:
unacceptability noun
unacceptably adverb.

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unaccompanied

adjective
1. having no companion or escort.
2. without instrumental accompaniment.
3. without something occurring at the same time.

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unaccountable

adjective
1. unable to be explained.
2. not responsible for or required to justify consequences.

DERIVATIVES:
unaccountability noun
unaccountably adverb.

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unaccounted

adjective (unaccounted for)
not taken into consideration or explained.

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unaccustomed

adjective
1. not customary; unusual.
2. (unaccustomed to) not familiar with or used to.

DERIVATIVES:
unaccustomedly adverb.

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unacknowledged

adjective
1. existing or having taken place but not accepted or admitted to.
2. deserving but not receiving recognition.

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unacquainted

adjective
1. (unacquainted with) having no experience of or familiarity with.
2. not having met before.

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unadulterated

adjective
1. complete; utter.
2. having no inferior added substances.

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unadventurous

adjective
not offering, involving, or eager for new or stimulating things.

DERIVATIVES:
unadventurously adverb.

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unadvisedly

adverb
in an unwise or rash manner.

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unaffected

adjective
1. feeling or showing no effects.
2. sincere and genuine.

DERIVATIVES:
unaffectedly adverb
unaffectedness noun.

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unaffiliated

adjective
not officially attached to or connected with an organization.

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unaffordable

adjective
too expensive to be afforded by the average person.

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unafraid

adjective
feeling no fear.

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unaided

adjective
needing or having no assistance.

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unalike

adjective
differing from each other.

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unalloyed

adjective
1. (of metal) not alloyed.
2. complete and unreserved: unalloyed delight.

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unaltered

adjective
remaining the same.

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unambiguous

adjective
without ambiguity.

DERIVATIVES:
unambiguously adverb.

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unambitious

adjective
1. not motivated by a strong desire to succeed.
2. not involving anything new, exciting, or demanding.

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un-American

adjective
1. not in accordance with American characteristics.
2. US, chiefly historical against the interests of the US and therefore treasonable.

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unanimous

adjective
1. fully in agreement.
2. (of an opinion, decision, or vote) held or carried by everyone involved.

DERIVATIVES:
unanimity noun
unanimously adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin unanimus, from unus 'one' + animus 'mind' .

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unannounced

adjective
1. not publicized.
2. without warning; unexpected.

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unanswerable

adjective
1. unable to be answered.
2. unable to be disclaimed or proved wrong.

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unanswered

adjective
not answered or responded to.

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unapologetic

adjective
not acknowledging or expressing regret.

DERIVATIVES:
unapologetically adverb.

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unappealing

adjective
not inviting or attractive.

DERIVATIVES:
unappealingly adverb.

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unappetizing (also unappetising)

adjective
not inviting or attractive.

DERIVATIVES:
unappetizingly adverb.

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unappreciated

adjective
not fully understood, recognized, or valued.

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unappreciative

adjective
not fully understanding or recognizing something.

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unapproachable

adjective
not welcoming or friendly.

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unarguable

adjective
1. not open to disagreement; certain.
2. not able to be argued.

DERIVATIVES:
unarguably adverb.

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unarmed

adjective
not equipped with or carrying weapons.

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unashamed

adjective
feeling or showing no guilt or embarrassment.

DERIVATIVES:
unashamedly adverb.

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unassailable

adjective
unable to be attacked, questioned, or defeated.

DERIVATIVES:
unassailability noun
unassailably adverb.

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unassertive

adjective
not having or showing a confident and forceful personality.

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unassisted

adjective
not helped by anyone or anything.

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unassuming

adjective
not pretentious or arrogant.

DERIVATIVES:
unassumingly adverb.

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unattached

adjective
1. not working for or belonging to a particular organization.
2. without a husband or wife or established lover.

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unattainable

adjective
not able to be reached or achieved.

DERIVATIVES:
unattainably adverb.

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unattended

adjective
1. not dealt with.
2. not looked after.

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unattractive

adjective
not pleasing, appealing, or inviting.

DERIVATIVES:
unattractively adverb
unattractiveness noun.

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unattributed

adjective
(of a quotation, story, or work of art) of unknown or unpublished origin.

DERIVATIVES:
unattributable adjective.

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unauthorized (also unauthorised)

adjective
not having official permission or approval.

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unavailable

adjective
1. not at someone's disposal.
2. not free to do something.

DERIVATIVES:
unavailability noun.

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unavailing

adjective
achieving little or nothing.

DERIVATIVES:
unavailingly adverb.

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unavoidable

adjective
not able to be avoided or prevented; inevitable.

DERIVATIVES:
unavoidability noun
unavoidably adverb.

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unaware

adjective
having no knowledge of a situation or fact.

DERIVATIVES:
unawareness noun.

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unawares (also unaware)

adverb
so as to surprise; unexpectedly.

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unbalance

verb
1. upset the balance of.
2. (unbalanced) deranged.
3. (unbalanced) treating aspects of something unequally; partial.

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unbearable

adjective
not able to be endured or tolerated.

DERIVATIVES:
unbearably adverb.

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unbeatable

adjective
1. not able to be surpassed or defeated.
2. extremely good.

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unbeaten

adjective
not defeated or surpassed.

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unbecoming

adjective
1. (especially of clothing) not flattering.
2. not fitting; unseemly.

DERIVATIVES:
unbecomingly adverb.

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unbeknown (also unbeknownst)

adjective (unbeknown to)
without the knowledge of.

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unbelievable

adjective
1. unlikely to be true.
2. extraordinary.

DERIVATIVES:
unbelievably adverb.

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unbending

adjective
austere and inflexible.

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unbiased (also unbiassed)

adjective
showing no prejudice; impartial.

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unbidden

adjective
1. without having been invited.
2. arising without conscious effort.

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unbleached

adjective
(especially of paper, cloth, or flour) not bleached.

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unblock

verb
remove an obstruction from.

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unborn

adjective
(of a baby) not yet born.

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unbound

adjective
1. not bound or restricted.
2. (of printed sheets) not bound together.
3. (of a bound book) not provided with a permanent cover.

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unbounded

adjective
having no limits.

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unbowed

adjective
not having submitted to pressure, demands, or accusations.

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unbreakable

adjective
not liable to break or able to be broken.

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unbridled

adjective
uncontrolled; unconstrained.

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unbroken

adjective
1. not broken; intact.
2. not interrupted.
3. not surpassed.
4. (of a horse) not broken in.

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unbuckle

verb
unfasten the buckle of.

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unburden

verb
1. relieve of a burden.
2. (unburden oneself) be relieved of a cause of anxiety or distress through confiding in someone.

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unbutton

verb
1. unfasten the buttons of.
2. informal relax and become less inhibited.

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uncalled

adjective
1. not summoned or invited.
2. (uncalled for) undesirable and unnecessary.

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uncanny

adjective (uncannier, uncanniest)
strange or mysterious.

DERIVATIVES:
uncannily adverb.

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uncared

adjective (uncared for)
not looked after properly.

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uncaring

adjective
1. not displaying sympathy or concern for others.
2. not interested; unconcerned.

DERIVATIVES:
uncaringly adverb.

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unceasing

adjective
not ceasing; continuous.

DERIVATIVES:
unceasingly adverb.

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unceremonious

adjective
discourteous or abrupt.

DERIVATIVES:
unceremoniously adverb.

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uncertain

adjective
1. not known, reliable, or definite.
2. not completely confident or sure.

IDIOMS -
in no uncertain terms clearly and forcefully.

DERIVATIVES:
uncertainly adverb.

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uncertainty

noun (pl. uncertainties)
1. the state of being uncertain.
2. something that is uncertain or causes one to feel uncertain.

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unchallenged

adjective
1. not disputed, opposed, or defeated.
2. not called on to prove one's identity.

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unchanged

adjective
not changed; unaltered.

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unchanging

adjective
remaining the same.

DERIVATIVES:
unchangingly adverb.

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uncharacteristic

adjective
not typical of a particular person or thing.

DERIVATIVES:
uncharacteristically adverb.

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uncharismatic

adjective
lacking charisma.

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uncharitable

adjective
unkind or unsympathetic to others.

DERIVATIVES:
uncharitably adverb.

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uncharted

adjective
(of an area of land or sea) not mapped or surveyed.

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unchecked

adjective
(of something undesirable) not controlled or restrained.

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unchristian

adjective
1. not in accordance with the teachings of Christianity.
2. ungenerous or unfair.

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uncircumcised

adjective
(of a boy or man) not circumcised.

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uncivil

adjective
discourteous; impolite.

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uncivilized (also uncivilised)

adjective
1. not socially or culturally advanced.
2. impolite; bad-mannered.

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unclaimed

adjective
not having been claimed.

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unclasp

verb
1. unfasten (a clasp or similar device).
2. release the grip of.

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unclassified

adjective
not classified.

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uncle

noun
the brother of one's father or mother or the husband of one's aunt.

ORIGIN: Old French oncle, from Latin avunculus 'maternal uncle' .

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unclean

adjective
1. dirty.
2. immoral.
3. (of food) regarded in a particular religion as impure and unfit for use or consumption.
4. (in biblical use, of a spirit) evil.

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unclear

adjective
1. not easy to see, hear, or understand.
2. not obvious, definite, or certain.

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unclench

verb
release (a clenched part of the body).

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Uncle Sam

noun
a personification of the federal government or citizens of the US.

ORIGIN: said to have arisen as a flippant expansion of the letters US.

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unclog

verb (unclogged, unclogging)
remove accumulated matter from.

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unclothed

adjective
wearing no clothes; naked.

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unclouded

adjective
1. (of the sky) not dark or overcast.
2. not troubled or spoiled by anything.

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uncluttered

adjective
not cluttered by too many objects or elements.

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uncoil

verb
straighten from a coiled or curled position.

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uncoloured (US uncolored)

adjective
1. having no colour.
2. not influenced.

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uncomfortable

adjective
1. not physically comfortable.
2. uneasy or awkward.

DERIVATIVES:
uncomfortably adverb.

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uncommercial

adjective
not making, intended to make, or allowing a profit.

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uncommon

adjective
1. out of the ordinary; unusual.
2. remarkably great.

DERIVATIVES:
uncommonly adverb.

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uncommunicative

adjective
unwilling to talk or give out information.

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uncompetitive

adjective
not competitive or marked by fair competition.

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uncomplaining

adjective
not complaining; stoical.

DERIVATIVES:
uncomplainingly adverb.

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uncomplicated

adjective
simple or straightforward.

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uncomplimentary

adjective
not complimentary; negative or insulting.

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uncomprehending

adjective
unable to comprehend something.

DERIVATIVES:
uncomprehendingly adverb.

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uncompromising

adjective
1. unwilling to make concessions; resolute.
2. harsh or relentless.

DERIVATIVES:
uncompromisingly adverb.

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unconcealed

adjective
(especially of an emotion) not concealed; obvious.

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unconcern

noun
a lack of worry or interest.

DERIVATIVES:
unconcerned adjective
unconcernedly adverb.

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unconditional

adjective
not subject to any conditions.

DERIVATIVES:
unconditionally adverb.

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unconfined

adjective
1. not confined to a limited space.
2. (of joy or excitement) very great.

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unconfirmed

adjective
not confirmed as to truth or validity.

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uncongenial

adjective
1. not friendly or pleasant to be with.
2. unsuitable and therefore unlikely to promote success or well-being.

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unconnected

adjective
1. not joined together or to something else.
2. not associated or linked in a sequence.

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unconscionable

adjective
not right or reasonable.

DERIVATIVES:
unconscionably adverb.

ORIGIN: from obsolete conscionable «conscientious».

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unconscious

adjective
1. not awake and aware of and responding to one's environment.
2. done or existing without one realizing.
3. (unconscious of) unaware of.

noun (the unconscious)
the part of the mind which is inaccessible to the conscious mind but which affects behaviour and emotions.

DERIVATIVES:
unconsciously adverb
unconsciousness noun.

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unconstitutional

adjective
not in accordance with the political constitution or with procedural rules.

DERIVATIVES:
unconstitutionally adverb.

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unconstrained

adjective
not restricted or limited.

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unconsummated

adjective
(of a marriage) not having been consummated.

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uncontaminated

adjective
not contaminated.

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uncontentious

adjective
not contentious.

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uncontested

adjective
not contested.

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uncontrollable

adjective
not controllable.

DERIVATIVES:
uncontrollably adverb.

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uncontrolled

adjective
not controlled.

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uncontroversial

adjective
not controversial; avoiding controversy.

DERIVATIVES:
uncontroversially adverb.

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unconventional

adjective
not based on or conforming to what is generally done or believed.

DERIVATIVES:
unconventionality noun
unconventionally adverb.

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unconvinced

adjective
not certain that something is true or can be relied on.

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unconvincing

adjective
failing to convince or impress.

DERIVATIVES:
unconvincingly adverb.

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uncooked

adjective
not cooked; raw.

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uncool

adjective informal
not fashionable or impressive.

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uncooperative

adjective
unwilling to help others or do what they ask.

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uncoordinated

adjective
1. badly organized.
2. clumsy.

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uncorroborated

adjective
not supported or confirmed by evidence.

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uncountable

adjective
too many to be counted.

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uncouth

adjective
lacking good manners, refinement, or grace.

ORIGIN: Old English, «unknown».

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uncover

verb
1. remove a cover or covering from.
2. discover (something previously secret or unknown).

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uncritical

adjective
not expressing criticism or using one's critical faculties.

DERIVATIVES:
uncritically adverb.

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uncross

verb
1. move (something) back from a crossed position.
2. (uncrossed) Brit. (of a cheque) not crossed.

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uncrowned

adjective
not formally crowned as a monarch.

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unction

noun
1. formal the anointing of someone with oil or ointment as a religious rite or as a symbol of investiture as a monarch.
2. excessive or ingratiating politeness or effusiveness.

ORIGIN: Latin, from unguere 'anoint' .

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unctuous

adjective
excessively flattering or ingratiating.

DERIVATIVES:
unctuously adverb
unctuousness noun.

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uncultivated

adjective
1. (of land) not used for growing crops.
2. not highly educated.

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uncultured

adjective
not characterized by good taste, manners, or education.

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uncut

adjective
not cut.

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undamaged

adjective
not harmed or damaged.

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undated

adjective
not provided or marked with a date.

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undaunted

adjective
not intimidated or discouraged by difficulty, danger, or disappointment.

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undecided

adjective
1. not having made a decision; uncertain.
2. not settled or resolved.

DERIVATIVES:
undecidedly adverb.

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undefeated

adjective
not defeated.

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undefined

adjective
not clear or defined.

DERIVATIVES:
undefinable adjective.

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undemanding

adjective
(especially of a task) not demanding.

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undemocratic

adjective
not relating or according to democratic principles.

DERIVATIVES:
undemocratically adverb.

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undemonstrative

adjective
not tending to express feelings openly.

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undeniable

adjective
unable to be denied or disputed.

DERIVATIVES:
undeniably adverb.

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under

preposition
1. extending or directly below.
2. below or behind (something covering or protecting).
3. at a lower level, layer, or grade than.
4. lower than (a specified amount, rate, or norm).
5. expressing submission or subordination.
6. as provided for by the rules of; in accordance with.
7. used to express grouping or classification.
8. undergoing (a process).

adverb
1. extending or directly below something.
2. affected by an anaesthetic; unconscious.

IDIOMS -
under way
1. (of a boat) moving through the water.
2. having started and making progress.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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under-

prefix
1. below; beneath: undercover.
2. lower in status; subordinate: undersecretary.
3. insufficiently; incompletely: undernourished.

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underachieve

verb
do less well than is expected.

DERIVATIVES:
underachievement noun
underachiever noun.

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under age

adjective
too young to engage legally in a particular activity.

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underarm

adjective & adverb
(of a throw or stroke in sport) made with the arm or hand below shoulder level.

noun
a person's armpit.

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underbelly

noun (pl. underbellies)
1. the soft underside or abdomen of an animal, especially vulnerable to attack.
2. a hidden unpleasant or criminal part of society.

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undercarriage

noun
1. a wheeled structure beneath an aircraft which supports the aircraft on the ground.
2. the supporting frame under the body of a vehicle.

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undercharge

verb
charge (someone) a price or amount that is too low.

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underclass

noun
the lowest social class in a country or community, consisting of the poor and unemployed.

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underclothes

plural noun
clothes worn under others next to the skin.

DERIVATIVES:
underclothing noun.

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undercoat

noun
1. a layer of paint applied after the primer and before the topcoat.
2. an animal's under layer of fur or down.

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undercover

adjective & adverb
involving secret work for investigation or espionage.

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undercurrent

noun
1. a current of water below the surface and moving in a different direction from any surface current.
2. an underlying feeling or influence.

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undercut

verb (undercutting; past and past part. undercut)
1. offer goods or services at a lower price than (a competitor).
2. cut or wear away the part under.
3. weaken; undermine.

noun
1. a space formed by the removal or absence of material from the lower part of something.
2. Brit. the underside of a sirloin of beef.

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underdeveloped

adjective
1. not fully developed.
2. (of a country or region) not advanced economically.

DERIVATIVES:
underdevelopment noun.

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underdog

noun
a competitor thought to have little chance of winning a fight or contest.

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underdone

adjective
(of food) insufficiently cooked.

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underdress

verb (also be underdressed)
dress too plainly or too informally for a particular occasion.

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underemployed

adjective
not having sufficient or sufficiently demanding paid work.

DERIVATIVES:
underemployment noun.

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underestimate

verb
1. estimate (something) to be smaller or less important than it really is.
2. regard (someone) as less capable than they really are.

noun
an estimate that is too low.

DERIVATIVES:
underestimation noun.

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underfed

adjective
insufficiently fed or nourished.

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underfelt

noun Brit.
felt laid under a carpet for protection or support.

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underfoot

adverb
1. under one's feet; on the ground.
2. constantly present and in one's way.

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underfund

verb
provide with insufficient funding.

DERIVATIVES:
underfunding noun.

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undergarment

noun
an article of underclothing.

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undergo

verb (undergoes; past underwent; past part. undergone)
experience or be subjected to (something unpleasant or arduous).

ORIGIN: Old English, «undermine».

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undergraduate

noun
a student at a university who has not yet taken a first degree.

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underground

adjective & adverb
1. beneath the surface of the ground.
2. in secrecy or hiding.
3. favouring alternative forms of lifestyle or artistic expression; radical and experimental.

noun
1. Brit. an underground railway.
2. a group or movement organized secretly to work against an existing regime.

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undergrowth

noun
a dense growth of shrubs and other plants.

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underhand (also underhanded)

adjective
1. acting or done in a secret or dishonest way.
2. underarm.

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underlay [1]

verb (past and past part. underlaid)
place something under (something else), especially to support or raise it.

noun
material laid under a carpet for protection or support.

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underlie

verb (underlying; past underlay; past part. underlain)
lie or be situated under.

DERIVATIVES:
underlying adjective.

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underline

verb
1. draw a line under (a word or phrase) to give emphasis or indicate special type.
2. emphasize.

noun
a line drawn under a word or phrase.

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underling

noun chiefly derogatory
a subordinate.

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underman

verb (undermanned, undermanning)
fail to provide with enough workers or crew.

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undermine

verb
1. erode the base or foundation of (a rock formation).
2. dig or excavate beneath (a building or fortification) so as to make it collapse.
2. weaken gradually or insidiously.

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underneath

preposition & adverb
1. situated directly below.
2. so as to be partly or wholly concealed by.

noun
the part or side facing towards the ground; the underside.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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undernourished

adjective
having insufficient food for good health and condition.

DERIVATIVES:
undernourishment noun.

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underpants

plural noun
an undergarment covering the lower part of the body and having two holes for the legs.

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underpart

noun
a lower part or portion.

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underpass

noun
a road or pedestrian tunnel passing under another road or a railway.

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underpay

verb (past and past part. underpaid)
pay too little to (someone) or for (something).

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underperform

verb
perform less well than expected.

DERIVATIVES:
underperformance noun.

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underpin

verb (underpinned, underpinning)
1. support (a structure) from below by laying a solid foundation or substituting stronger for weaker materials.
2. support, justify, or form the basis for.

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underplay

verb
1. perform (a role or part) in a restrained way.
2. represent (something) as being less important than it really is.

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underpopulated

adjective
having an insufficient or very small population.

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underprivileged

adjective
not enjoying the same rights or standard of living as the majority of the population.

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underrate

verb
underestimate the extent, value, or importance of.

DERIVATIVES:
underrated adjective.

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undersea

adjective
relating to or situated below the sea or the surface of the sea.

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undersecretary

noun (pl. undersecretaries)
1. (in the UK) a junior minister or senior civil servant.
2. (in the US) the principal assistant to a member of the cabinet.

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undersell

verb (past and past part. undersold)
1. sell something at a lower price than (a competitor).
2. promote or rate insufficiently.

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undershirt

noun chiefly N. Amer.
an undergarment worn under a shirt; a vest.

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underside

noun
the bottom or lower side or surface of something.

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undersigned

noun (the undersigned) formal
the person or people who have signed the document in question.

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undersized (also undersize)

adjective
of less than the usual size.

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underskirt

noun
a petticoat.

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underspend

verb (past and past part. underspent)
spend too little or less than has been planned.

noun
an act of underspending.

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understaff

verb
provide (an organization) with too few members of staff to operate effectively.

DERIVATIVES:
understaffing noun.

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understand

verb (past and past part. understood)
1. perceive the intended meaning of (words, a language, or a speaker).
2. perceive the significance, explanation, or cause of.
3. interpret or view in a particular way.
4. infer from information received.
5. assume that (something) is present or is the case.

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understandable

adjective
1. able to be understood.
2. to be expected; natural, reasonable, or forgivable.

DERIVATIVES:
understandably adverb.

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understanding

noun
1. the ability to understand something.
2. the power of abstract thought; intellect.
3. an individual's perception or judgement of a situation.
4. sympathetic awareness or tolerance.
5. an informal or unspoken agreement or arrangement.

adjective
sympathetically aware of other people's feelings.

DERIVATIVES:
understandingly adverb.

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understate

verb
describe or represent (something) as being smaller or less significant than it really is.

DERIVATIVES:
understatement noun.

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understated

adjective
presented or expressed in a subtle and effective way.

DERIVATIVES:
understatedly adverb.

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understudy

noun (pl. understudies)
an actor who learns another's role in order to be able to act in their absence.

verb (understudies, understudied)
study (a role or actor) as an understudy.

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undersubscribed

adjective
(of a course or event) having more places available than applications.

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undertake

verb (past undertook; past part. undertaken)
1. commit oneself to and begin (an enterprise or responsibility); take on.
2. formally guarantee or promise.

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undertaker

noun
a person whose business is preparing dead bodies for burial or cremation and making arrangements for funerals.

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undertaking

noun
1. a formal pledge or promise to do something.
2. a task that is taken on; an enterprise.
3. the management of funerals as a profession.

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undertone

noun
1. a subdued or muted tone of sound or colour.
2. an underlying quality or feeling.

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underuse

verb
use (something) below the optimum level.

noun
insufficient use.

DERIVATIVES:
underused adjective.

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undervalue

verb (undervalues, undervalued, undervaluing)
1. rate insufficiently highly; fail to appreciate.
2. underestimate the financial value of.

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underwater

adjective & adverb
situated or occurring beneath the surface of the water.

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underwear

noun
clothing worn under other clothes next to the skin.

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underweight

adjective
below a weight considered normal or desirable.

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underwhelm

verb humorous
fail to impress or make a positive impact on.

ORIGIN: suggested by OVERWHELM.

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underwired

adjective
(of a bra) having a semicircular wire support stitched under each cup.

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underworld

noun
1. the world of criminals or of organized crime.
2. the mythical abode of the dead, imagined as being under the earth.

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underwrite

verb (past underwrote; past part. underwritten)
1. sign and accept liability under (an insurance policy).
2. undertake to finance or otherwise support or guarantee.

DERIVATIVES:
underwriter noun.

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undeserved

adjective
not warranted, merited, or earned.

DERIVATIVES:
undeservedly adverb.

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undeserving

adjective
not deserving or worthy of something positive.

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undesirable

adjective
not wanted or desirable because harmful, objectionable, or unpleasant.

noun
an objectionable person.

DERIVATIVES:
undesirability noun
undesirably adverb.

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undesired

adjective
not wanted or desired.

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undetectable

adjective
not able to be detected.

DERIVATIVES:
undetectably adverb.

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undetected

adjective
not detected or discovered.

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undetermined

adjective
not firmly decided or settled.

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undeterred

adjective
persevering despite setbacks.

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undeveloped

adjective
not having developed or been developed.

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undeviating

adjective
showing no deviation; constant and steady.

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undies

plural noun informal
articles of underwear.

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undifferentiated

adjective
not different or differentiated.

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undigested

adjective
1. (of food) not digested.
2. (of information) not having been properly understood or absorbed.

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undignified

adjective
appearing foolish and unseemly; lacking in dignity.

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undiluted

adjective
1. (of a liquid) not diluted.
2. not moderated or weakened.

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undiminished

adjective
not reduced or lessened.

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undiplomatic

adjective
insensitive and tactless.

DERIVATIVES:
undiplomatically adverb.

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undisciplined

adjective
lacking in discipline; uncontrolled in behaviour or manner.

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undisclosed

adjective
not revealed or made known.

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undiscovered

adjective
not discovered.

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undisguised

adjective
(of a feeling) not disguised or concealed; open.

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undismayed

adjective
not dismayed or discouraged by a setback.

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undisputed

adjective
not disputed or called in question; accepted.

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undistinguished

adjective
lacking distinction; unexceptional.

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undisturbed

adjective
not disturbed.

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undivided

adjective
1. not divided, separated, or broken into parts.
2. devoted completely to one object: my undivided attention.

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undo

verb (undoes; past undid; past part. undone)
1. unfasten or loosen.
2. cancel or reverse the effects of (a previous action or measure).
3. formal cause the downfall or ruin of.

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undocumented

adjective
not recorded in or proved by documents.

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undoing

noun
a person's ruin or downfall.

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undone

adjective
1. not tied or fastened.
2. not done or finished.
3. formal or humorous ruined by a disastrous setback.

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undoubted

adjective
not questioned or doubted by anyone.

DERIVATIVES:
undoubtedly adverb.

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undreamed (Brit. also undreamt)

adjective (undreamed of)
not previously thought to be possible.

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undress

verb
1. (also get undressed) take off one's clothes.
2. take the clothes off (someone else).

noun
1. the state of being naked or only partially clothed.
2. Military ordinary clothing or uniform, as opposed to full dress.

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undressed

adjective
1. wearing no clothes; naked.
2. not treated, processed, or prepared for use.
3. (of food) not having a dressing.

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undrinkable

adjective
not fit to be drunk because of impurity or poor quality.

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undue

adjective
excessive or disproportionate.

DERIVATIVES:
unduly adverb.

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undulate

verb
1. move with a smooth wave-like motion.
2. have a wavy form or outline.

DERIVATIVES:
undulation noun
undulatory adjective.

ORIGIN: from Latin undulatus, from unda 'a wave' .

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undyed

adjective
(of fabric) not dyed; of its natural colour.

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undying

adjective
lasting forever.

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unearned

adjective
not earned or deserved.

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unearned income

noun
income from investments rather than from work.

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unearth

verb
1. find in the ground by digging.
2. discover by investigation or searching.

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unearthly

adjective
1. unnatural or mysterious.
2. informal unreasonably early or inconvenient: an unearthly hour.

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unease

noun
anxiety or discontent.

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uneasy

adjective (uneasier, uneasiest)
causing or feeling anxiety; troubled or uncomfortable.

DERIVATIVES:
uneasily adverb
uneasiness noun.

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uneaten

adjective
not eaten.

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uneconomic

adjective
not profitable or making efficient use of resources.

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uneconomical

adjective
wasteful of money or other resources; not economical.

DERIVATIVES:
uneconomically adverb.

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unedifying

adjective
distasteful or unpleasant.

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uneducated

adjective
poorly educated.

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unelectable

adjective
very likely to be defeated at an election.

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unelected

adjective
(of an official) not elected.

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unembarrassed

adjective
not feeling or showing embarrassment.

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unemotional

adjective
not having or showing strong feelings.

DERIVATIVES:
unemotionally adverb.

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unemployable

adjective
not able or likely to get paid employment because of a lack of skills or qualifications.

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unemployed

adjective
1. without a paid job but available to work.
2. (of a thing) not in use.

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unemployment

noun
1. the state of being unemployed.
2. the number or proportion of unemployed people.

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unemployment benefit

noun
payment made by the state or a trade union to an unemployed person.

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unencumbered

adjective
not having any burden or impediment.

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unending

adjective
1. having or seeming to have no end.
2. countless or continual.

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unendurable

adjective
not able to be tolerated or endured.

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unenlightened

adjective
not enlightened in outlook.

DERIVATIVES:
unenlightening adjective.

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unenterprising

adjective
lacking initiative or entrepreneurial ability.

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unenthusiastic

adjective
not having or showing enthusiasm.

DERIVATIVES:
unenthusiastically adverb.

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unenviable

adjective
difficult, undesirable, or unpleasant.

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unequal

adjective
1. not equal in quantity, size, or value.
2. not fair, evenly balanced, or having equal advantage.
3. (usu. unequal to) not having the ability or resources to meet a challenge.

DERIVATIVES:
unequally adverb.

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unequalled (US unequaled)

adjective
superior to all others in performance or extent.

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unequivocal

adjective
leaving no doubt; unambiguous.

DERIVATIVES:
unequivocally adverb.

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unerring

adjective
always right or accurate.

DERIVATIVES:
unerringly adverb.

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UNESCO

abbreviation
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

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unethical

adjective
not morally correct.

DERIVATIVES:
unethically adverb.

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uneven

adjective
1. not level or smooth.
2. not regular, consistent, or equal.

DERIVATIVES:
unevenly adverb
unevenness noun.

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uneventful

adjective
not marked by interesting or exciting events.

DERIVATIVES:
uneventfully adverb
uneventfulness noun.

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unexceptionable

adjective
not open to objection, but not particularly new or exciting.

DERIVATIVES:
unexceptionably adverb.

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unexceptional

adjective
not out of the ordinary; usual.

DERIVATIVES:
unexceptionally adverb.

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unexciting

adjective
not exciting; dull.

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unexpected

adjective
not expected or regarded as likely to happen.

DERIVATIVES:
unexpectedly adverb
unexpectedness noun.

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unexplained

adjective
not made clear or accounted for.

DERIVATIVES:
unexplainable adjective.

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unexplored

adjective
not explored, investigated, or evaluated.

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unexposed

adjective
1. not exposed.
2. (unexposed to) not introduced to or acquainted with.

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unexpressed

adjective
(of a thought or feeling) not communicated or made known.

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unexpurgated

adjective
(of a text) complete and containing all the original material; not censored.

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unfailing

adjective
1. without error.
2. reliable or constant.

DERIVATIVES:
unfailingly adverb.

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unfair

adjective
not based on or showing fairness; unjust.

DERIVATIVES:
unfairly adverb
unfairness noun.

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unfaithful

adjective
1. not faithful; disloyal.
2. engaging in sexual relations with a person other than one's lover or spouse.

DERIVATIVES:
unfaithfully adverb
unfaithfulness noun.

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unfamiliar

adjective
1. not known or recognized; uncharacteristic.
2. (unfamiliar with) not having knowledge or experience of.

DERIVATIVES:
unfamiliarity noun.

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unfashionable

adjective
not fashionable or popular.

DERIVATIVES:
unfashionably adverb.

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unfasten

verb
open the fastening of; undo.

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unfathomable

adjective
1. incapable of being fully explored or understood.
2. impossible to measure the depth or extent of.

DERIVATIVES:
unfathomably adverb
unfathomed adjective.

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unfavourable (US unfavorable)

adjective
1. expressing lack of approval.
2. adverse; inauspicious.

DERIVATIVES:
unfavourably adverb.

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unfazed

adjective informal
not disconcerted or perturbed.

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unfeasible

adjective
inconvenient or impractical.

DERIVATIVES:
unfeasibly adverb.

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unfeeling

adjective
1. unsympathetic, harsh, or callous.
2. lacking physical sensation.

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unfeigned

adjective
genuine; sincere.

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unfertilized (also unfertilised)

adjective
not fertilized.

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unfettered

adjective
unrestrained or uninhibited.

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unfilled

adjective
not filled; vacant or empty.

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unfinished

adjective
1. not finished; incomplete.
2. not having been given an attractive surface appearance in manufacture.

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unfit

adjective
1. unsuitable or inadequate for something.
2. not in good physical condition.

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unfitted

adjective
1. unfit for something.
2. (of furniture, linen, etc.) not fitted.

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unfitting

adjective
unsuitable or unbecoming.

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unfixed

adjective
1. unfastened; loose.
2. uncertain or variable.

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unflagging

adjective
tireless or persistent.

DERIVATIVES:
unflaggingly adverb.

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unflappable

adjective informal
calm in a crisis.

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unflattering

adjective
not flattering.

DERIVATIVES:
unflatteringly adverb.

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unflinching

adjective
not afraid or hesitant.

DERIVATIVES:
unflinchingly adverb.

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unfocused (also unfocussed)

adjective
1. not focused; out of focus.
2. without a specific aim or direction.

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unfold

verb
1. open or spread out from a folded position.
2. reveal or be revealed.

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unforced

adjective
1. produced naturally and without effort.
2. not compelled.

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unforeseen

adjective
not anticipated or predicted.

DERIVATIVES:
unforeseeable adjective.

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unforgettable

adjective
highly memorable.

DERIVATIVES:
unforgettably adverb.

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unforgivable

adjective
so bad as to be unable to be forgiven or excused.

DERIVATIVES:
unforgivably adverb.

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unforgiven

adjective
not forgiven.

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unforgiving

adjective
1. not willing to forgive or excuse faults.
2. (of conditions) harsh; hostile.

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unformed

adjective
1. without a definite form.
2. not fully developed.

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unforthcoming

adjective
1. not willing to divulge information.
2. not available when needed.

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unfortunate

adjective
1. having bad fortune; unlucky.
2. regrettable or inappropriate.

noun
a person who suffers bad fortune.

DERIVATIVES:
unfortunately adverb.

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unfounded

adjective
having no foundation or basis in fact.

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unfreeze

verb (past unfroze; past part. unfrozen)
1. thaw.
2. remove restrictions on the use of (an asset).

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unfrequented

adjective
visited only rarely.

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unfriendly

adjective (unfriendier, unfriendliest)
not friendly.

DERIVATIVES:
unfriendliness noun.

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unfulfilled

adjective
not fulfilled.

DERIVATIVES:
unfulfillable adjective
unfulfilling adjective.

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unfunny

adjective (unfunnier, unfunniest)
not amusing.

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unfurl

verb
spread out from a rolled or folded state.

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unfurnished

adjective
1. without furniture.
2. archaic not supplied.

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ungainly

adjective
clumsy; awkward.

DERIVATIVES:
ungainliness noun.

ORIGIN: from obsolete gainly «graceful», from an Old Norse word meaning 'straight' .

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ungenerous

adjective
not generous; mean.

DERIVATIVES:
ungenerously adverb.

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ungentlemanly

adjective
not appropriate to or behaving like a gentleman.

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ungodly

adjective
1. irreligious or immoral.
2. informal unreasonably early or inconvenient: calls at ungodly hours.

DERIVATIVES:
ungodliness noun.

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ungovernable

adjective
impossible to control or govern.

DERIVATIVES:
ungovernability noun.

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ungraceful

adjective
lacking in grace; clumsy.

DERIVATIVES:
ungracefully adverb.

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ungracious

adjective
not gracious.

DERIVATIVES:
ungraciously adverb.

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ungrammatical

adjective
not conforming to grammatical rules.

DERIVATIVES:
ungrammatically adverb.

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ungrateful

adjective
not feeling or showing gratitude.

DERIVATIVES:
ungratefully adverb
ungratefulness noun.

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unguarded

adjective
1. without protection or a guard.
2. not well considered; careless.

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unguent

noun
a soft greasy or viscous substance used as ointment or for lubrication.

ORIGIN: Latin unguentum, from unguere 'anoint' .

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ungulate

noun Zoology
a hoofed mammal.

ORIGIN: Latin ungulatus, from ungula 'hoof' .

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unhand

verb archaic or humorous
release from one's grasp.

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unhappy

adjective (unhappier, unhappiest)
1. not happy.
2. unfortunate.

DERIVATIVES:
unhappily adverb
unhappiness noun.

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unharmed

adjective
not harmed; uninjured.

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unhealthy

adjective (unhealthier, unhealthiest)
1. in poor health.
2. not conducive to health.

DERIVATIVES:
unhealthily adverb
unhealthiness noun.

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unheard

adjective
1. not heard or listened to.
2. (unheard of) previously unknown.

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unheeded

adjective
heard or noticed but disregarded.

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unheeding

adjective
not paying attention.

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unhelpful

adjective
not helpful.

DERIVATIVES:
unhelpfully adverb
unhelpfulness noun.

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unheralded

adjective
not previously announced, expected, or recognized.

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unhesitating

adjective
without doubt or hesitation.

DERIVATIVES:
unhesitatingly adverb.

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unhinge

verb
1. make mentally unbalanced.
2. take (a door) off its hinges.

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unholy

adjective (unholier, unholiest)
1. sinful; wicked.
2. (of an alliance) unnatural and potentially harmful.
3. informal dreadful: an unholy row.

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unhoped

adjective (unhoped for)
exceeding hope or expectation.

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unhorse

verb
drag or cause to fall from a horse.

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unhurried

adjective
moving, acting, or taking place without haste or urgency.

DERIVATIVES:
unhurriedly adverb.

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unhurt

adjective
not hurt or harmed.

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unhygienic

adjective
not hygienic.

DERIVATIVES:
unhygienically adverb.

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uni

noun (pl. unis) informal
university.

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uni-

combining form
one; having or consisting of one: unicycle.

ORIGIN: from Latin unus.

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UNICEF

abbreviation
United Nations Children's (originally International Children's Emergency) Fund.

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unicellular

adjective Biology
consisting of a single cell.

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unicorn

noun
a mythical animal represented as a horse with a single straight horn projecting from its forehead.

ORIGIN: Latin unicornis, from cornu 'horn' .

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unicycle

noun
a cycle with a single wheel, chiefly used by acrobats.

DERIVATIVES:
unicyclist noun.

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unidentifiable

adjective
unable to be identified.

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unidentified

adjective
not recognized or identified.

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unification

noun
the process of being unified.

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uniform

adjective
not varying in form or character; the same in all cases and at all times.

noun
the distinctive clothing worn by members of the same organization or body or by children attending certain schools.

DERIVATIVES:
uniformed adjective
uniformity noun
uniformly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin uniformis.

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unify

verb (unifies, unified)
make or become united or uniform.

DERIVATIVES:
unifier noun.

ORIGIN: Latin unificare.

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unilateral

adjective
1. performed by or affecting only one person, group, etc.
2. relating to or affecting only one side of an organ, the body, etc.

DERIVATIVES:
unilateralism noun
unilateralist noun & adjective
unilaterally adverb.

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unimaginable

adjective
impossible to imagine or comprehend.

DERIVATIVES:
unimaginably adverb.

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unimaginative

adjective
not using or displaying imagination; stolid and dull.

DERIVATIVES:
unimaginatively adverb.

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unimpeachable

adjective
beyond reproach.

DERIVATIVES:
unimpeachably adverb.

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unimportant

adjective
lacking in importance.

DERIVATIVES:
unimportance noun.

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unimpressed

adjective
not impressed.

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unimpressive

adjective
not impressive.

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uninhabitable

adjective
unsuitable for living in.

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uninhabited

adjective
without inhabitants.

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uninhibited

adjective
expressing oneself or acting without restraint.

DERIVATIVES:
uninhibitedly adverb.

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uninitiated

adjective
without special knowledge or experience.

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uninjured

adjective
not harmed or damaged.

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uninspired

adjective
1. unimaginative; dull.
2. not filled with excitement.

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uninspiring

adjective
not producing excitement or interest.

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unintelligent

adjective
lacking intelligence.

DERIVATIVES:
unintelligence noun
unintelligently adverb.

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unintelligible

adjective
impossible to understand.

DERIVATIVES:
unintelligibility noun
unintelligibly adverb.

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unintended

adjective
not planned or meant.

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unintentional

adjective
not done on purpose.

DERIVATIVES:
unintentionally adverb.

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uninterested

adjective
not interested or concerned.
USAGE - On the meaning and use of uninterested and disinterested, see DISINTERESTED.

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uninteresting

adjective
not interesting.

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uninterrupted

adjective
1. continuous.
2. unobstructed.

DERIVATIVES:
uninterruptedly adverb.

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uninvited

adjective
arriving or acting without invitation.

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uninviting

adjective
not attractive; unpleasant.

DERIVATIVES:
uninvitingly adverb.

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uninvolved

adjective
not involved.

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union

noun
1. the action or fact of uniting or being united.
2. a state of harmony or agreement.
3. a marriage.
4. a club, society, or association formed by people with a common interest or purpose.
5. (also Union) a political unit consisting of a number of states or provinces with the same central government.
6. (the Union) the northern states of the US in the American Civil War.
7. a fabric made of different yarns, typically cotton and linen or silk.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'unity' .

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unionist

noun
1. a member of a trade union.
2. (Unionist) a person in Northern Ireland in favour of union with Great Britain.

DERIVATIVES:
unionism noun.

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unionize (also unionise)

verb
become or cause to become members of a trade union.

DERIVATIVES:
unionization noun.

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Union Jack (also Union flag)

noun
the national flag of the United Kingdom.

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unipolar

adjective
having or relating to a single pole or extremity.

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unique

adjective
1. being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.
2. (unique to) belonging or connected to (one particular person, group, or place).
3. remarkable or unusual.

DERIVATIVES:
uniquely adverb
uniqueness noun.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin unus 'one' .

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unisex

adjective
designed to be suitable for both sexes.

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unison

noun
1. simultaneous action or utterance.
2. Music a coincidence in pitch of sounds or notes.

adjective
performed in unison.

ORIGIN: Latin unisonus, from sonus 'sound' .

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unit

noun
1. an individual thing or person regarded as single and complete; each of the individual components making up a larger whole.
2. a device, part, or item of furniture with a specified function: a sink unit.
3. a self-contained or distinct section of a building or group of buildings.
4. a subdivision of a larger military grouping.
5. a standard quantity in terms of which other quantities may be expressed.
6. one as a number or quantity.

DERIVATIVES:
unitize (also unitise) verb.

ORIGIN: from Latin unus, probably suggested by DIGIT.

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Unitarian Christian Theology

adjective
referring to belief in the unity of God and rejection of the doctrine of the Trinity.

noun
a Christian holding this belief.

DERIVATIVES:
Unitarianism noun.

ORIGIN: Latin unitarius, from unitas 'unity' .

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unitary

adjective
1. single; uniform.
2. relating to a unit or units.

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unitary authority (also unitary council)

noun
(chiefly in the UK) a division of local government established in place of a two-tier system of local councils.

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unite

verb
1. come or bring together for a common purpose or to form a whole.
2. archaic join in marriage.

DERIVATIVES:
united adjective
unitive adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin unire 'join together' , from unus 'one' .

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unit trust

noun Brit.
a trust managing a portfolio of stock exchange securities, in which small investors can buy units.

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unity

noun (pl. unities)
1. the state of being united or forming a whole.
2. a thing forming a complex whole.
3. Mathematics the number one.

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universal

adjective
of, affecting, or done by all people or things in the world or in a particular group; applicable to all cases.

DERIVATIVES:
universality noun
universally adverb.

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universal joint

noun
a joint which can transmit rotary power by a shaft at any selected angle.

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universal suffrage

noun
the right of all adults (with minor exceptions) to vote in political elections.

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universe

noun
1. all existing matter and space considered as a whole; the cosmos.
2. a particular sphere of activity or experience.

ORIGIN: from Latin universus 'combined into one, whole' .

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university

noun (pl. universities)
a high-level educational institution in which students study for degrees and academic research is done.

ORIGIN: Latin universitas 'the whole' , later 'guild' , from universus (see UNIVERSE).

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unjust

adjective
not just; unfair.

DERIVATIVES:
unjustly adverb.

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unjustifiable

adjective
impossible to justify.

DERIVATIVES:
unjustifiably adverb.

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unjustified

adjective
not justified.

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unkempt

adjective
having an untidy or dishevelled appearance.

ORIGIN: from archaic kempt «combed».

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unkind

adjective
inconsiderate and harsh.

DERIVATIVES:
unkindly adverb
unkindness noun.

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unknowable

adjective
not able to be known.

DERIVATIVES:
unknowability noun.

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unknown

adjective
not known or familiar.

noun
an unknown person or thing.

IDIOMS -
unknown to without the knowledge of.

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unknown quantity

noun
a person or thing whose nature, value, or significance is not known.

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Unknown Soldier

noun
an unidentified representative member of a country's armed forces killed in war, buried with special honours in a national memorial.

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unlabelled (US unlabeled)

adjective
without a label.

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unlace

verb
undo the laces of.

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unladylike

adjective
not appropriate to or behaving like a lady.

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unlaid

adjective
not laid.

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unlamented

adjective
not mourned or regretted.

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unlatch

verb
unfasten the latch of.

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unlawful

adjective
not conforming to or permitted by law or rules.

DERIVATIVES:
unlawfully adverb
unlawfulness noun.
USAGE - The adjectives unlawful and illegal can both mean ‘contrary to or forbidden by law’, but unlawful has a broader meaning ‘not permitted by rules’: thus handball in soccer is unlawful, but not illegal.

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unleaded

adjective
(especially of petrol) without added lead.

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unlearned [1]

adjective
not well educated.

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unlearned [2] (also unlearnt)

adjective
not having been learned.

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unleash

verb
release from a leash or restraint.

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unleavened

adjective
made without yeast or other raising agent.

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unless

conjunction
except when; if not.

ORIGIN: from ON or IN + LESS.

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unlettered

adjective
poorly educated or illiterate.

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unlicensed

adjective
not having an official licence, especially for the sale of alcoholic liquor.

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unlike

preposition
1. different from; not like.
2. in contrast to.
3. uncharacteristic of.

adjective
dissimilar or different from each other.

DERIVATIVES:
unlikeness noun.

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unlikely

adjective (unlikelier, unlikeliest)
not likely; improbable.

DERIVATIVES:
unlikelihood noun.

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unlimited

adjective
not limited or restricted; infinite.

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unlined [1]

adjective
not marked with lines or wrinkles.

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unlined [2]

adjective
without a lining.

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unlisted

adjective
not included on a list, especially of stock exchange prices or telephone numbers.

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unlit

adjective
1. not provided with lighting.
2. not having been lit.

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unlived-in

adjective
not appearing to be inhabited.

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unload

verb
1. remove a load from.
2. remove (goods) from a vehicle, ship, etc.
3. informal get rid of.
4. remove (ammunition) from a gun or (film) from a camera.

DERIVATIVES:
unloader noun.

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unlock

verb
1. undo the lock of (something) using a key.
2. make (something previously inaccessible or unexploited) available.

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unlooked

adjective (unlooked for)
unexpected; unforeseen.

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unloose

verb
undo; let free.

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unloved

adjective
loved by no one.

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unlovely

adjective
not attractive; ugly.

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unlucky

adjective (unluckier, unluckiest)
having, bringing, or resulting from bad luck.

DERIVATIVES:
unluckily adverb.

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unmade

adjective
1. (of a bed) not arranged tidily.
2. Brit. (of a road) without a hard, smooth surface.

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unman

verb (unmanned, unmanning) literary
deprive of manly qualities such as self-control or courage.

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unmanageable

adjective
difficult or impossible to manage or control.

DERIVATIVES:
unmanageably adverb.

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unmanned

adjective
not having or needing a crew or staff.

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unmannerly

adjective
not well mannered.

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unmarked

adjective
1. not marked.
2. not noticed.

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unmarried

adjective
not married; single.

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unmask

verb
expose the true character of.

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unmatched

adjective
not matched or equalled.

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unmentionable

adjective
too embarrassing or offensive to be spoken about.

noun humorous
an unmentionable thing.

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unmerciful

adjective
showing no mercy.

DERIVATIVES:
unmercifully adverb.

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unmerited

adjective
not deserved or merited.

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unmindful

adjective (unmindful of)
not conscious or aware of.

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unmissable

adjective
that should not or cannot be missed.

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unmistakable (also unmistakeable)

adjective
not able to be mistaken for anything else.

DERIVATIVES:
unmistakably adverb.

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unmitigated

adjective
absolute; unqualified.

DERIVATIVES:
unmitigatedly adverb.

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unmotivated

adjective
1. not motivated.
2. without apparent motive.

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unmoved

adjective
1. not affected by emotion or excitement.
2. not changed in purpose or position.

DERIVATIVES:
unmovable (also unmoveable) adjective.

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unmusical

adjective
1. not pleasing to the ear.
2. unskilled in or indifferent to music.

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unnameable (also unnamable)

adjective
unmentionable.

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unnatural

adjective
1. contrary to nature; abnormal or artificial.
2. affected; not spontaneous.

DERIVATIVES:
unnaturally adverb
unnaturalness noun.

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unnavigable

adjective
not able to be sailed on by ships or boats.

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unnecessary

adjective
not necessary; more than is necessary.

DERIVATIVES:
unnecessarily adverb.

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unnerve

verb
deprive of courage or confidence.

DERIVATIVES:
unnerving adjective.

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unnoticeable

adjective
not easily observed or noticed.

DERIVATIVES:
unnoticeably adverb.

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unnoticed

adjective
not noticed.

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unnumbered

adjective
1. not assigned a number.
2. not counted; countless.

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unobserved

adjective
not observed; unseen.

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unobstructed

adjective
not obstructed.

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unobtainable

adjective
not able to be obtained.

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unobtrusive

adjective
not conspicuous or attracting attention.

DERIVATIVES:
unobtrusively adverb
unobtrusiveness noun.

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unoccupied

adjective
not occupied.

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unofficial

adjective
not officially authorized or confirmed.

DERIVATIVES:
unofficially adverb.

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unopened

adjective
not opened.

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unopposed

adjective
not opposed; unchallenged.

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unorganized (also unorganised)

adjective
1. not organized.
2. not unionized.

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unoriginal

adjective
lacking originality; derivative.

DERIVATIVES:
unoriginality noun
unoriginally adverb.

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unorthodox

adjective
contrary to what is usual, traditional, or accepted.

DERIVATIVES:
unorthodoxy noun.

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unostentatious

adjective
not ostentatious.

DERIVATIVES:
unostentatiously adverb.

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unpack

verb
1. open and remove the contents of (a suitcase or container).
2. remove from a packed container.
3. analyse into component elements.

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unpaid

adjective
1. (of a debt) not yet paid.
2. (of work or leave) undertaken without payment.
3. not receiving payment for work done.

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unpalatable

adjective
1. not pleasant to taste.
2. difficult to put up with or accept.

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unparalleled

adjective
having no parallel or equal; exceptional.

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unpardonable

adjective
(of a fault or offence) unforgivable.

DERIVATIVES:
unpardonably adverb.

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unpasteurized (also unpasteurised)

adjective
not pasteurized.

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unpatriotic

adjective
not patriotic.

DERIVATIVES:
unpatriotically adverb.

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unpaved

adjective
lacking a metalled or paved surface.

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unperson

noun (pl. unpersons)
a person whose name or existence is officially denied or ignored.

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unperturbed

adjective
not perturbed or concerned.

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unpick

verb
1. undo the sewing of (stitches or a garment).
2. carefully analyse the different elements of.

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unpin

verb (unpinned, unpinning)
unfasten or detach by removing a pin or pins.

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unpitying

adjective
not feeling or showing pity.

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unplanned

adjective
not planned.

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unpleasant

adjective
not pleasant; disagreeable.

DERIVATIVES:
unpleasantly adverb.

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unpleasantness

noun
1. the state or quality of being unpleasant.
2. bad feeling or quarrelling between people.

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unplug

verb (unplugged, unplugging)
1. disconnect (an electrical device) by removing its plug from a socket.
2. remove an obstacle or blockage from.

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unplugged

adjective trademark
(of pop or rock music) performed or recorded with acoustic rather than electrically amplified instruments.

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unpolished

adjective
1. not having a polished surface.
2. (of a work) not polished.

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unpopular

adjective
not liked or popular.

DERIVATIVES:
unpopularity noun.

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unpopulated

adjective
without inhabitants.

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unpowered

adjective
having no fuel-burning source of power for propulsion.

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unpractised (US unpracticed)

adjective
not trained or experienced.

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unprecedented

adjective
never done or known before.

DERIVATIVES:
unprecedentedly adverb.

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unpredictable

adjective
not able to be predicted; changeable.

DERIVATIVES:
unpredictability noun
unpredictably adverb.

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unprejudiced

adjective
without prejudice; unbiased.

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unpremeditated

adjective
not thought out or planned beforehand.

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unprepared

adjective
1. not ready or able to deal with something.
2. not made ready for use.

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unprepossessing

adjective
not attractive or appealing to the eye.

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unpretentious

adjective
not pretentious; modest.

DERIVATIVES:
unpretentiously adverb
unpretentiousness noun.

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unprincipled

adjective
not acting in accordance with moral principles.

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unprintable

adjective
(of words, comments, or thoughts) too offensive or shocking to be published.

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unproductive

adjective
1. not producing or able to produce large amounts of goods, crops, etc.
2. not achieving much; not very useful.

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unprofessional

adjective
below or contrary to the standards expected in a particular profession.

DERIVATIVES:
unprofessionally adverb.

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unprofitable

adjective
1. not yielding a profit.
2. not beneficial or useful.

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unpromising

adjective
not giving hope of future success or good results.

DERIVATIVES:
unpromisingly adverb.

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unprompted

adjective
without being prompted.

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unpronounceable

adjective
too difficult to pronounce.

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unprotected

adjective
1. not protected or kept safe from harm.
2. (of sexual intercourse) performed without a condom.

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unproven (also unproved)

adjective
1. not demonstrated by evidence or argument as true or existing.
2. not tried and tested.

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unprovoked

adjective
(of an attack, crime, etc.) not directly provoked.

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unpublished

adjective
1. (of a work) not published.
2. (of an author) having no writings published.

DERIVATIVES:
unpublishable adjective.

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unpunished

adjective
(of an offence or offender) not receiving any punishment or penalty.

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unputdownable

adjective informal
(of a book) so engrossing that one cannot stop reading it.

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unqualified

adjective
1. not having the necessary qualifications or requirements.
2. without reservation or limitation; total: an unqualified success.

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unquantifiable

adjective
impossible to express or measure.

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unquenchable

adjective
not able to be quenched.

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unquestionable

adjective
not able to be disputed or doubted.

DERIVATIVES:
unquestionably adverb.

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unquestioned

adjective
1. not disputed or doubted; certain.
2. accepted without question.
3. not subjected to questioning.

DERIVATIVES:
unquestioning adjective.

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unquiet

adjective
1. unable to be still; restless.
2. uneasy; anxious.

DERIVATIVES:
unquietly adverb.

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unravel

verb (unravelled, unravelling; US unraveled, unraveling)
1. undo (twisted, knitted, or woven threads); unwind.
2. become undone.
3. investigate and solve (a mystery or puzzle).
4. begin to fail or collapse.

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unreachable

adjective
unable to be reached or contacted.

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unreactive

adjective
having little tendency to react chemically.

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unread

adjective
not having been read.

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unreadable

adjective
1. not clear enough to read; illegible.
2. too dull or difficult to be worth reading.

DERIVATIVES:
unreadability noun
unreadably adverb.

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unready

adjective
not ready or prepared.

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unreal

adjective
1. imaginary; not seeming real.
2. unrealistic.
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. incredible; amazing.

DERIVATIVES:
unreality noun
unreally adverb.

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unrealistic

adjective
not realistic.

DERIVATIVES:
unrealistically adverb.

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unrealized (also unrealised)

adjective
1. not achieved or created.
2. not converted into money: unrealized property assets.

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unreason

noun
irrationality; lack of reasonable thought.

DERIVATIVES:
unreasoned adjective.

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unreasonable

adjective
1. not guided by or based on good sense.
2. beyond the limits of acceptability.

DERIVATIVES:
unreasonableness noun
unreasonably adverb.

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unreasoning

adjective
not guided by or based on reason; illogical.

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unrecognizable (also unrecognisable)

adjective
not able to be recognized.

DERIVATIVES:
unrecognizably adverb.

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unrecognized (also unrecognised)

adjective
1. not identified from previous encounters or knowledge.
2. not acknowledged as valid.

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unreconstructed

adjective
not reconciled or converted to the current political theory or movement.

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unrefined

adjective
1. not processed to remove impurities.
2. not elegant or cultured.

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unregenerate

adjective
not reforming or showing repentance; obstinately wrong or bad.

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unregistered

adjective
not officially recognized and recorded.

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unregulated

adjective
not controlled or supervised by regulations or laws.

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unrehearsed

adjective
not rehearsed.

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unrelated

adjective
not related.

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unreleased

adjective
(especially of a film or recording) not released.

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unrelenting

adjective
not yielding in strength, severity, or determination.

DERIVATIVES:
unrelentingly adverb.

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unreliable

adjective
not able to be relied upon.

DERIVATIVES:
unreliability noun
unreliably adverb.

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unrelieved

adjective
1. lacking variation or change; monotonous.
2. not provided with aid or assistance.

DERIVATIVES:
unrelievedly adverb.

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unremarkable

adjective
not particularly interesting or surprising.

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unremarked

adjective
not remarked upon; unnoticed.

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unremitting

adjective
never relaxing or slackening.

DERIVATIVES:
unremittingly adverb.

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unremunerative

adjective
bringing little or no profit or income.

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unrepeatable

adjective
1. not able to be repeated.
2. too offensive or shocking to be said again.

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unrepentant

adjective
showing no regret for one's wrongdoings.

DERIVATIVES:
unrepentantly adverb.

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unrepresentative

adjective
not typical of a class, group, or body of opinion.

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unrequited

adjective
(of a feeling, especially love) not returned or rewarded.

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unreserved

adjective
1. without reservations; complete.
2. frank and open.
3. not set apart or booked in advance.

DERIVATIVES:
unreservedly adverb.

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unresolved

adjective
(of a problem, dispute, etc.) not resolved.

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unresponsive

adjective
not responsive.

DERIVATIVES:
unresponsively adverb
unresponsiveness noun.

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unrest

noun
1. a state of rebellious dissatisfaction in a group of people.
2. a state of uneasiness or disturbance.

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unrestrained

adjective
not restrained or restricted.

DERIVATIVES:
unrestrainedly adverb.

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unrewarding

adjective
not rewarding or satisfying.

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unripe

adjective
not ripe.

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unrivalled (US unrivaled)

adjective
surpassing all others.

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unroll

verb
open or cause to open out from a rolled-up state.

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unromantic

adjective
not romantic.

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unruffled

adjective
1. not disordered or disturbed.
2. (of a person) not agitated; calm.

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unruly

adjective (unrulier, unruliest)
disorderly and disruptive; difficult to control.

DERIVATIVES:
unruliness noun.

ORIGIN: from archaic ruly «disciplined, orderly», from RULE.

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unsafe

adjective
1. not safe; dangerous.
2. Law (of a verdict or conviction) not based on reliable evidence and likely to constitute a miscarriage of justice.
3. referring to sexual activity in which precautions are not taken to reduce the risk of spreading sexually transmitted diseases.

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unsalted

adjective
not salted.

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unsanitary

adjective
not sanitary.

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unsatisfactory

adjective
1. unacceptable because poor or not good enough.
2. Law another term for UNSAFE.

DERIVATIVES:
unsatisfactorily adverb.

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unsatisfied

adjective
not satisfied.

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unsatisfying

adjective
not satisfying.

DERIVATIVES:
unsatisfyingly adverb.

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unsaturated

adjective Chemistry
(of organic molecules) having carbon carbon double or triple bonds and therefore not containing the greatest possible number of hydrogen atoms.

DERIVATIVES:
unsaturation noun.

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unsavoury (US unsavory)

adjective
1. disagreeable to taste, smell, or look at.
2. objectionable; disreputable.

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unscarred

adjective
not scarred or damaged.

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unscathed

adjective
without suffering any injury, damage, or harm.

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unscented

adjective
not scented.

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unscheduled

adjective
not scheduled.

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unschooled

adjective
1. lacking schooling or training.
2. not affected; natural and spontaneous.

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unscientific

adjective
1. not in accordance with scientific principles or methodology.
2. lacking knowledge of or interest in science.

DERIVATIVES:
unscientifically adverb.

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unscrew

verb
unfasten by twisting.

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unscripted

adjective
said or delivered without a prepared script; impromptu.

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unscrupulous

adjective
without moral scruples.

DERIVATIVES:
unscrupulously adverb
unscrupulousness noun.

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unsealed

adjective
not sealed.

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unseasonable

adjective
(of weather) unusual for the time of year.

DERIVATIVES:
unseasonably adverb.

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unseasonal

adjective
(especially of weather) unusual or inappropriate for the time of year.

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unseasoned

adjective
1. (of food) not flavoured with salt, pepper, or other spices.
2. (of timber) not treated or matured.
3. inexperienced.

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unseat

verb
1. cause to fall from a saddle or seat.
2. remove from a position of power.

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unsecured

adjective
1. (of a loan) made without an asset given as security.
2. not made secure or safe.

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unseeded

adjective
1. (of a competitor in a sports tournament) not seeded.
2. without seeds.

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unseeing

adjective
with one's eyes open but without noticing or seeing anything.

DERIVATIVES:
unseeingly adverb.

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unseemly

adjective
(of behaviour or actions) not proper or appropriate.

DERIVATIVES:
unseemliness noun.

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unseen

adjective
1. not seen or noticed.
2. chiefly Brit. (of a passage for translation in an examination) not previously read or prepared.

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unselfconscious

adjective
not shy or embarrassed.

DERIVATIVES:
unselfconsciously adverb
unselfconsciousness noun.

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unselfish

adjective
not selfish.

DERIVATIVES:
unselfishly adverb
unselfishness noun.

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unsentimental

adjective
not displaying or influenced by sentimental feelings.

DERIVATIVES:
unsentimentally adverb.

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unsettle

verb
cause to be anxious or uneasy; disturb.

DERIVATIVES:
unsettling adjective.

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unsettled

adjective
1. lacking stability; changeable or liable to change.
2. agitated; uneasy.
3. not yet resolved.
4. (of an area) having no settlers or inhabitants.

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unshackle

verb
release from shackles or other restraints.

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unshakeable (also unshakable)

adjective
(of a belief, feeling, etc.) firm and unable to be changed or disputed.

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unshaken

adjective
steadfast and unwavering.

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unshaven

adjective
not having shaved or been shaved.

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unsheathe

verb
draw or pull out (a knife or similar weapon) from a sheath.

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unshockable

adjective
impossible to shock.

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unsighted

adjective
1. lacking the power of sight.
2. (especially in sport) prevented from having a clear view.

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unsightly

adjective
unpleasant to look at; ugly.

DERIVATIVES:
unsightliness noun.

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unsigned

adjective
1. not bearing a person's signature.
2. (of a musician or sports player) not having signed a contract of employment.

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unsinkable

adjective
unable to be sunk.

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unskilful (also chiefly US unskillful)

adjective
not having or showing skill.

DERIVATIVES:
unskilfully adverb.

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unskilled

adjective
not having or requiring special skill or training.

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unsmiling

adjective
not smiling; serious or unfriendly.

DERIVATIVES:
unsmilingly adverb.

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unsociable

adjective
1. not enjoying the company of others.
2. not conducive to friendly social relations.

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unsocial

adjective
1. (of the hours of work of a job) falling outside the normal working day and thus socially inconvenient.
2. antisocial.

DERIVATIVES:
unsocially adverb.

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unsold

adjective
(of an item) not sold.

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unsolicited

adjective
not asked for; given or done voluntarily.

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unsolved

adjective
not solved.

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unsophisticated

adjective
1. lacking refined worldly knowledge or tastes.
2. not complicated or highly developed; basic.

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unsound

adjective
1. not safe or robust; in poor condition.
2. not based on sound evidence or reasoning; unreliable or unacceptable.

DERIVATIVES:
unsoundness noun.

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unsparing

adjective
merciless; severe.

DERIVATIVES:
unsparingly adverb.

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unspeakable

adjective
1. not able to be expressed in words.
2. too bad or horrific to express in words.

DERIVATIVES:
unspeakably adverb.

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unspecified

adjective
not stated clearly or exactly.

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unspectacular

adjective
not spectacular; unremarkable.

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unspoilt (also unspoiled)

adjective
not spoilt, in particular (of a place) not marred by development.

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unspoken

adjective
not expressed in speech; tacit.

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unspool

verb
1. unwind from or as if from a spool.
2. (of a film) be screened.

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unsporting

adjective
not fair or sportsmanlike.

DERIVATIVES:
unsportingly adverb.

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unsportsmanlike

adjective
unsporting.

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unsprung

adjective
not provided with springs.

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unstable

adjective (unstabler, unstablest)
1. prone to change or collapse; not stable.
2. prone to psychiatric problems or sudden changes of mood.

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unstated

adjective
not stated or declared.

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unsteady

adjective (unsteadier, unsteadiest)
1. liable to fall or shake; not firm.
2. not uniform or regular.

DERIVATIVES:
unsteadily adverb
unsteadiness noun.

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unstick

verb (past and past part. unstuck)
cause to become no longer stuck together.

IDIOMS -
come unstuck informal fail.

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unstinting

adjective
given or giving without restraint; unsparing.

DERIVATIVES:
unstinted adjective
unstintingly adverb.

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unstoppable

adjective
impossible to stop or prevent.

DERIVATIVES:
unstoppably adverb.

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unstressed

adjective
1. Phonetics (of a syllable) not pronounced with stress.
2. not subjected to stress.

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unstring

verb (past and past part. unstrung)
1. (unstrung) unnerved: a mind unstrung by loneliness.
2. remove or relax the string or strings of (a bow or musical instrument).

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unstructured

adjective
without formal organization or structure.

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unstudied

adjective
not laboured or artificial; natural.

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unsubstantial

adjective
having little or no solidity, reality, or factual basis.

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unsubstantiated

adjective
not supported or proven by evidence.

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unsubtle

adjective
obvious; clumsy.

DERIVATIVES:
unsubtly adverb.

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unsuccessful

adjective
not successful.

DERIVATIVES:
unsuccessfully adverb.

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unsuitable

adjective
not fitting or appropriate.

DERIVATIVES:
unsuitability noun
unsuitably adverb.

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unsuited

adjective
not right or appropriate.

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unsullied

adjective
not spoiled or made impure.

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unsung

adjective
not celebrated or praised: unsung heroes.

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unsupervised

adjective
not done or acting under supervision.

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unsupported

adjective
1. not supported.
2. not borne out by evidence or facts.

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unsure

adjective
1. lacking confidence.
2. not fixed or certain.

DERIVATIVES:
unsurely adverb
unsureness noun.

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unsurfaced

adjective
(of a road or path) not provided with a durable upper layer.

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unsurpassed

adjective
better or greater than any other.

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unsurprising

adjective
not unexpected and so not causing surprise.

DERIVATIVES:
unsurprisingly adverb.

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unsuspected

adjective
1. not known or thought to exist; not imagined as possible.
2. not regarded with suspicion.

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unsuspecting

adjective
not aware of the presence of danger; feeling no suspicion.

DERIVATIVES:
unsuspectingly adverb.

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unsustainable

adjective
1. not able to be maintained at the current rate or level.
2. not able to be upheld or defended.
3. upsetting the ecological balance by depleting natural resources.

DERIVATIVES:
unsustainably adverb.

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unswayed

adjective
not influenced or affected.

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unsweetened

adjective
(of food or drink) without added sugar or sweetener.

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unswerving

adjective
not changing or becoming weaker.

DERIVATIVES:
unswervingly adverb.

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unsymmetrical

adjective
not symmetrical; asymmetrical.

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unsympathetic

adjective
1. not sympathetic.
2. not showing approval of an idea or action.
3. not likeable.

DERIVATIVES:
unsympathetically adverb.

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unsystematic

adjective
not done or acting according to a fixed plan or system.

DERIVATIVES:
unsystematically adverb.

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untainted

adjective
not contaminated or tainted.

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untangle

verb
1. free from tangles.
2. free from complications or confusion.

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untapped

adjective
(of a resource) not yet exploited or used.

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untarnished

adjective
1. (of metal) not tarnished.
2. not spoiled or ruined.

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untasted

adjective
(of food or drink) not sampled.

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untaught

adjective
1. not having been taught or educated.
2. not acquired by teaching; natural or spontaneous.

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untenable

adjective
not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection.

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untended

adjective
not cared for or looked after; neglected.

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untested

adjective
not subjected to testing; unproven.

DERIVATIVES:
untestable adjective.

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unthinkable

adjective
too unlikely or undesirable to be considered a possibility.

DERIVATIVES:
unthinkably adverb.

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unthinking

adjective
without proper consideration.

DERIVATIVES:
unthinkingly adverb.

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unthreatening

adjective
not threatening.

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untidy

adjective (untidier, untidiest)
1. not arranged tidily.
2. not inclined to be neat.

DERIVATIVES:
untidily adverb
untidiness noun.

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untie

verb (untying)
undo or unfasten (something tied).

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untied

adjective
not fastened or knotted.

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until

preposition & conjunction
up to (the point in time or the event mentioned).

ORIGIN: from Old Norse und 'as far as' + TILL (the sense thus duplicated).

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untimely

adjective
1. happening or done at an unsuitable time; inappropriate.
2. (of a death or end) happening too soon or sooner than normal.

DERIVATIVES:
untimeliness noun.

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untiring

adjective
continuing at the same rate without loss of vigour.

DERIVATIVES:
untiringly adverb.

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untitled

adjective
1. (of a book or other work) having no title.
2. not having a title indicating high social or official rank.

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untold

adjective
1. too much or too many to be counted; indescribable.
2. not narrated or recounted.

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untouchable

adjective
1. not able to be touched or affected.
2. unable to be matched or rivalled.
3. historical of or belonging to the lowest-caste Hindu group or the people outside the caste system.

noun historical
a member of the lowest-caste Hindu group.

DERIVATIVES:
untouchability noun.
USAGE - In senses relating to the traditional Hindu caste system, the term untouchable and the social restrictions accompanying it were declared illegal in the constitution of India in 1949 and of Pakistan in 1953. The official term today is scheduled caste.

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untouched

adjective
1. not handled, used, or tasted.
2. (of a subject) not treated or discussed.
3. not affected, changed, or damaged in any way.

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untoward

adjective
unexpected and inappropriate or adverse.

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untraceable

adjective
unable to be found or traced.

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untrained

adjective
not having been trained in a particular skill.

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untrammelled (US also untrammeled)

adjective
not restricted or hampered.

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untranslatable

adjective
not able to be translated.

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untreatable

adjective
for whom or which no medical care is available or possible.

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untreated

adjective
1. not given medical care.
2. not treated by the use of a chemical, physical, or biological agent.

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untried

adjective
not yet tested; inexperienced.

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untrodden

adjective
not having been walked on.

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untroubled

adjective
not troubled.

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untrue

adjective
1. false or incorrect.
2. not faithful or loyal.

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untrustworthy

adjective
unable to be trusted.

DERIVATIVES:
untrustworthiness noun.

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untruthful

adjective
not truthful.

DERIVATIVES:
untruthfully adverb
untruthfulness noun.

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untutored

adjective
not formally taught.

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untypical

adjective
unusual or uncharacteristic.

DERIVATIVES:
untypically adverb.

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unusable

adjective
not fit to be used.

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unused

adjective
1. not used.
2. (unused to) not accustomed to.

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unusual

adjective
1. not habitually or commonly done or occurring.
2. remarkable; exceptional.

DERIVATIVES:
unusually adverb
unusualness noun.

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unutterable

adjective
too great or awful to describe.

DERIVATIVES:
unutterably adverb.

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unuttered

adjective
not spoken or expressed.

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unvalued

adjective
not valued.

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unvaried

adjective
not varied.

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unvarnished

adjective
1. not varnished.
2. plain and straightforward.

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unvarying

adjective
not varying.

DERIVATIVES:
unvaryingly adverb.

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unveil

verb
1. remove a veil or covering from.
2. show or announce publicly for the first time.

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unverifiable

adjective
unable to be verified.

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unverified

adjective
not verified.

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unversed

adjective (unversed in)
not experienced or skilled in.

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unviable

adjective
not capable of working successfully.

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unvoiced

adjective
1. not expressed in words; unuttered.
2. Phonetics (of a speech sound) uttered without vibration of the vocal cords.

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unwaged

adjective chiefly Brit.
1. unemployed or doing unpaid work.
2. (of work) unpaid.

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unwanted

adjective
not wanted.

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unwarrantable

adjective
unjustifiable.

DERIVATIVES:
unwarrantably adverb.

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unwarranted

adjective
not warranted.

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unwary

adjective
not cautious.

DERIVATIVES:
unwarily adverb.

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unwashed

adjective
not washed.

IDIOMS -
the (great) unwashed derogatory the multitude of ordinary people.

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unwatchable

adjective
disturbing or uninteresting to watch.

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unwatched

adjective
not watched.

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unwavering

adjective
not wavering.

DERIVATIVES:
unwaveringly adverb.

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unweaned

adjective
not weaned.

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unwearied

adjective
not wearied.

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unwearying

adjective
never tiring or slackening.

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unwed (also unwedded)

adjective
not married.

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unwelcome

adjective
not welcome.

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unwelcoming

adjective
unfriendly or inhospitable.

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unwell

adjective
ill.

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unwholesome

adjective
not wholesome.

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unwieldy

adjective (unwieldier, unwieldiest)
hard to move or manage because of its size, shape, or weight.

DERIVATIVES:
unwieldiness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «lacking strength»: from WIELDY (in the obsolete sense «active»).

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unwilling

adjective
not willing.

DERIVATIVES:
unwillingly adverb
unwillingness noun.

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unwind

verb (past and past part. unwound)
1. undo after winding.
2. relax after a period of work or tension.

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unwinking

adjective
(of a stare or light) unwavering.

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unwise

adjective
foolish.

DERIVATIVES:
unwisely adverb.

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unwitting

adjective
1. not aware of the full facts.
2. unintentional.

DERIVATIVES:
unwittingly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English, «not knowing or realizing».

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unwonted

adjective
unaccustomed or unusual.

DERIVATIVES:
unwontedly adverb.

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unworkable

adjective
impractical.

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unworldly

adjective
1. having little awareness of the realities of life.
2. not seeming to belong to this world.

DERIVATIVES:
unworldliness noun.

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unworried

adjective
not worried.

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unworthy

adjective (unworthier, unworthiest)
not worthy.

DERIVATIVES:
unworthily adverb
unworthiness noun.

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unwound [1]

adjective
(of a clock or watch) not wound or wound up.

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unwrap

verb (unwrapped, unwrapping)
remove the wrapping from.

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unwritten

adjective
1. not written.
2. (especially of a law) resting originally on custom or judicial decision rather than on statute.

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unyielding

adjective
not yielding.

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unzip

verb (unzipped, unzipping)
1. unfasten the zip of.
2. Computing decompress (a compressed file).

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up

adverb
1. towards a higher place or position.
2. to or at a place perceived as higher.
3. to the place where someone is.
4. at or to a higher level or value.
5. into the desired or a proper condition.
6. out of bed.
7. in a publicly visible place.
8. (of the sun) visible in the sky.
9. towards the north.
10. Brit. towards or in the capital or a major city.
11. into a happy mood.
12. winning by a specified margin.
13. Brit. at or to a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge.

preposition
1. from a lower to a higher point of.
2. from one end to another of (a street or other area).

adjective
1. directed or moving towards a higher place or position.
2. at an end.
3. (of the road) being repaired.
4. cheerful.
5. (of a computer system) working properly.

noun informal
a period of good fortune.

verb (upped, upping)
increase (a level or amount).

IDIOMS -
it is all up with informal it is the end or there is no hope for.
on the up and up Brit. informal steadily improving.
something is up informal something unusual or undesirable is happening.
up against
1. close to or touching.
2. informal confronted with.
up and informal do (something) abruptly or boldly.
up and down in various places throughout.
up before appearing for a hearing in the presence of (a judge, magistrate, etc.).
up for
1. available for.
2. due or being considered for.
3. informal ready to take part in.
up on well informed about.
up to
1. as far as.
2. (also up until) until.
3. indicating a maximum amount.
4. good enough for.
5. capable of.
6. the duty or choice of.
7. informal occupied with.
up top Brit. informal in the way of intelligence.
up yours vulgar slang expressing contemptuous defiance or rejection.
what's up? informal
1. what is going on?
2. what is the matter?

ORIGIN: Old English.

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up-

prefix
1. (added to verbs and their derivatives) upwards: upturned.
2. (added to verbs and their derivatives) to a more recent time: update.
3. (added to nouns) denoting motion up: uphill.
4. (added to nouns) higher: upland.

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up-and-coming

adjective
likely to become successful.

DERIVATIVES:
up-and-comer noun.

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upbeat

noun
(in music) an unaccented beat preceding an accented beat.

adjective informal
cheerful; optimistic.

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upbraid

verb
scold or reproach.

ORIGIN: Old English, «allege as a basis for censure», from BRAID in the obsolete sense 'brandish' .

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upbringing

noun
the treatment and instruction received throughout one's childhood.

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upcoming

adjective
forthcoming.

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upcountry

adverb & adjective
inland.

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update

verb
1. make more modern.
2. give the latest information to.

noun
an act of updating or an updated version.

DERIVATIVES:
updatable adjective ( Computing ).

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upend

verb
set or turn on its end or upside down.

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upfield

adverb
(in sport) in or to a position nearer to the opponents' end of a field.

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upfront informal

adverb (usu. up front)
1. at the front; in front.
2. (of a payment) in advance.

adjective
1. bold and frank.
2. (of a payment) made in advance.

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upgrade

verb
raise to a higher standard or rank.

noun
an act of upgrading or an upgraded version.

DERIVATIVES:
upgradeable (also upgradable) adjective.

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upheaval

noun
a violent or sudden change or disruption.

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uphill

adverb
towards the top of a slope.

adjective
1. sloping upwards.
2. difficult: an uphill struggle.

noun
an upward slope.

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uphold

verb (past and past part. upheld)
1. confirm or support.
2. maintain (a custom or practice).

DERIVATIVES:
upholder noun.

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upholster

verb
1. provide (furniture) with a soft, padded covering.
2. cover the walls or furniture in (a room) with textiles.

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upholstery

noun
1. soft, padded textile covering used to upholster furniture.
2. the art or practice of upholstering.

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upkeep

noun
1. the process of keeping something in good condition.
2. the cost of this or of supporting a person.

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upland

noun (also uplands)
an area of high or hilly land.

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uplift

verb
1. raise.
2. (be uplifted) (of an island, mountain, etc.) be created by an upward movement of the earth's surface.
3. elevate morally or spiritually.

noun
1. an act of uplifting.
2. support from a garment for a woman's bust.
3. a morally or spiritually uplifting influence.

DERIVATIVES:
uplifter noun.

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uplighter

noun
a lamp designed to throw light upwards.

DERIVATIVES:
uplighting noun.

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upmarket

adjective & adverb chiefly Brit.
towards or relating to the more expensive or affluent sector of the market.

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upper

adjective
1. situated above another part.
2. higher in position or status.
3. situated on higher ground.
4. (in place names ) situated to the north.

noun
1. the part of a boot or shoe above the sole.
2. informal a stimulating drug, especially amphetamine.

IDIOMS -
have the upper hand have an advantage or control.
on one's uppers informal extremely short of money.
the upper crust informal the upper classes.

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upper case

noun
capital letters.

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upper class

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
the social group with the highest status, especially the aristocracy.

adjective
relating to the upper class.

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uppercut

noun
a punch delivered with an upwards motion and the arm bent.

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upper house

noun
1. the higher house in a bicameral parliament or similar legislature.
2. (the Upper House) (in the UK) the House of Lords.

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uppermost

adjective
highest in place, rank, or importance.

adverb
at or to the uppermost position.

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upper school

noun
1. a secondary school for children aged from about fourteen upwards.
2. the section of a school comprising or catering for the older pupils.

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uppity

adjective informal
self-important.

ORIGIN: from UP.

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upright

adjective
1. vertical; erect.
2. greater in height than breadth.
3. strictly honourable or honest.
4. (of a piano) having vertical strings.

adverb
in or into an upright position.

noun
1. a vertical post, structure, or line.
2. an upright piano.

DERIVATIVES:
uprightly adverb
uprightness noun.

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uprising

noun
an act of resistance or rebellion.

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upriver

adverb & adjective
towards or situated at a point nearer the source of a river.

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uproar

noun
1. a loud and impassioned noise or disturbance.
2. a public expression of outrage.

ORIGIN: Dutch uproer, from op 'up' + roer 'confusion' , associated with ROAR.

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uproarious

adjective
1. characterized by or provoking uproar.
2. very funny.

DERIVATIVES:
uproariously adverb
uproariousness noun.

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uproot

verb
1. pull (a plant, tree, etc.) out of the ground.
2. move (someone) from their home or a familiar location.

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upscale

adjective & adverb N. Amer.
upmarket.

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upset

verb (upsetting; past and past part. upset)
1. make unhappy, disappointed, or worried.
2. knock over.
3. disrupt or disturb.

noun
1. a state of being upset.
2. an unexpected result or situation.

adjective
1. unhappy, disappointed, or worried.
2. (of a person's stomach) having disturbed digestion.

DERIVATIVES:
upsetting adjective.

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upshot

noun
the eventual outcome or conclusion.

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upside

noun
the positive aspect of something.

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upside down

adverb & adjective
1. with the upper part where the lower part should be.
2. in or into total disorder.

ORIGIN: from up so down, perhaps in the sense «up as if down».

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upsilon

noun
the twentieth letter of the Greek alphabet (Y, u), transliterated as ‘u’ or (chiefly in English words derived through Latin) as ‘y’.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'slender U' .

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upstage

adverb & adjective
at or towards the back of a stage.

verb
1. divert attention from (someone) towards oneself.
2. (of an actor) move towards the back of a stage to make (another actor) face away from the audience.

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upstairs

adverb
on or to an upper floor.

adjective (also upstair)
situated on an upper floor.

noun
an upper floor.

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upstanding

adjective
1. respectable.
2. erect.

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upstart

noun derogatory
a person who has risen suddenly to prominence and behaves arrogantly.

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upstate US

adjective & adverb
of, in, or to a part of a state remote from its large cities, especially the northern part.

noun
an upstate area.

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upstream

adverb & adjective
situated or moving in the direction opposite to that in which a stream or river flows.

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upstroke

noun
an upwards stroke.

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upsurge

noun
an increase.

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upswing

noun
an upward trend.

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upsy-daisy (also upsadaisy)

exclamation
expressing encouragement to a child who has fallen or is being lifted.

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uptake

noun
the action of taking up or making use of something.

IDIOMS -
be quick (or slow) on the uptake informal be quick (or slow) to understand something.

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uptempo

adjective & adverb Music
played with a fast or increased tempo.

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uptight

adjective informal
1. nervously tense or angry.
2. conventional or repressed.

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up to date

adjective
incorporating or aware of the latest developments and trends.

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uptown chiefly N. Amer.

adjective & adverb
1. of, in, or into the residential area of a town or city.
2. (as adjective ) of or characteristic of an affluent area or people.

noun
an uptown area.

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upturn

noun
an improvement or upward trend.

verb (upturned)
turned upwards or upside down.

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upward

adverb (also upwards)
towards a higher point or level.

adjective
moving or leading towards a higher point or level.

IDIOMS -
upwards of more than.

DERIVATIVES:
upwardly adverb.

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upwind

adverb & adjective
into the wind.

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uranium

noun
a grey dense radioactive metallic chemical element used as a fuel in nuclear reactors.

ORIGIN: from the planet Uranus.

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urban

adjective
relating to or characteristic of a town or city.

DERIVATIVES:
urbanism noun
urbanist noun
urbanize (also urbanise) verb.

ORIGIN: Latin urbanus, from urbs 'city' .

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urbane

adjective
(especially of a man) suave, courteous, and refined.

DERIVATIVES:
urbanely adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «urban»: from Latin urbanus.

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urbanite

noun informal
a town or city dweller.

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urbanity

noun
1. an urbane quality or manner.
2. urban life.

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urban myth (also chiefly N. Amer. urban legend)

noun
an entertaining story or piece of information of uncertain origin that is circulated as though true.

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urchin

noun
1. a mischievous child, especially a raggedly dressed one.
2. archaic a goblin.
3. a sea urchin.

ORIGIN: Old French herichon 'hedgehog' , from Latin hericius.

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Urdu

noun
an Indic language closely related to Hindi.

ORIGIN: from Persian, 'language of the camp' (because it developed as a lingua franca after the Muslim invasions between the occupying armies and the people of Delhi in the 12th century), from Turkish ordu (see HORDE).

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urea

noun Biochemistry
a colourless crystalline compound which is the main nitrogenous breakdown product of proteins in the body and is excreted in urine.

ORIGIN: Latin, from Greek ouron 'urine' .

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ureter

noun
the duct by which urine passes from the kidney to the bladder or cloaca.

DERIVATIVES:
ureteral adjective
ureteric adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek ourtr, from ourein 'urinate' .

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urethra

noun Anatomy & Zoology
the duct by which urine is conveyed out of the body, and which in male vertebrates also conveys semen.

DERIVATIVES:
urethral adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek ourthra, from ourein 'urinate' .

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urge

verb
1. encourage or entreat earnestly to do something.
2. strongly recommend.

noun
a strong desire or impulse.

ORIGIN: Latin urgere 'press, drive' .

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urgent

adjective
1. requiring immediate action or attention.
2. earnest and insistent.

DERIVATIVES:
urgency noun
urgently adverb.

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urinal

noun
a receptacle into which men may urinate, typically attached to the wall in a public toilet.

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urinary

adjective
1. relating to urine.
2. referring to the organs, structures, and ducts in which urine is produced and discharged.

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urinate

verb
discharge urine.

DERIVATIVES:
urination noun.

ORIGIN: Latin urinare.

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urine

noun
a pale yellowish fluid stored in the bladder and discharged through the urethra, consisting of excess water and waste substances removed from the blood by the kidneys.

ORIGIN: Latin urina.

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URL

abbreviation
uniform (or universal) resource locator, the address of a World Wide Web page.

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urn

noun
1. a tall, rounded vase with a stem and base, especially one for storing a cremated person's ashes.
2. a large metal container with a tap, in which tea or coffee is made and kept hot.

ORIGIN: Latin urna.

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ursine

adjective
relating to or resembling bears.

ORIGIN: Latin ursinus, from ursus 'bear' .

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US

abbreviation
United States.

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us

pronoun (first person pl. )
1. used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself and one or more others as the object of a verb or preposition.
2. used after the verb ‘to be’ and after ‘than’ or ‘as’.
3. informal me.
USAGE - On whether to use us or we following than, see the note at THAN.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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USA

abbreviation
United States of America.

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usable (also useable)

adjective
able to be used.

DERIVATIVES:
usability noun.

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usage

noun
1. the action of using something or the fact of being used.
2. habitual or customary practice.

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USB

abbreviation Computing
universal serial bus, a connector which enables any of a variety of peripheral devices to be plugged in to a computer.

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use

verb
1. take, hold, or deploy as a means of achieving something.
2. (use up) consume or expend the whole of.
3. treat in a particular way.
4. exploit unfairly.
5. (used to) did repeatedly or existed in the past.
6. (be/get used to) be or become familiar with through experience.
7. informal take (an illegal drug).

noun
1. the action of using or the state of being used.
2. the ability or power to exercise or manipulate something: he lost the use of his legs.
3. a purpose for or way in which something can be used.
4. value; advantage.

IDIOMS -
have no use for informal dislike or be impatient with.
make use of use.

ORIGIN: Old French user, from Latin uti.

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used

adjective
1. having already been used.
2. second-hand.

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useful

adjective
1. able to be used for a practical purpose or in several ways.
2. informal very able or competent.

DERIVATIVES:
usefully adverb
usefulness noun.

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useless

adjective
1. serving no purpose.
2. informal having little ability or skill.

DERIVATIVES:
uselessly adverb
uselessness noun.

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user

noun
1. a person who uses or operates something.
2. a person who exploits others.

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user-friendly

adjective
easy to use or understand.

DERIVATIVES:
user-friendliness noun.

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usher

noun
1. a person who shows people to their seats in a theatre or cinema or in church.
2. an official in a law court who swears in jurors and witnesses and keeps order.
3. Brit. a person employed to walk before a person of high rank on special occasions.

verb
show or guide somewhere.

ORIGIN: Old French usser 'doorkeeper' , from Latin ostium 'door' .

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usherette

noun
a woman who shows people to their seats in a cinema or theatre.

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USS

abbreviation
United States Ship.

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USSR

abbreviation historical
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

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usual

adjective
habitually or typically occurring or done.

noun informal
1. the drink someone habitually prefers.
2. the thing which is typically done or present.

DERIVATIVES:
usually adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin usualis, from usus 'a use' .

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usurp

verb
1. take (a position of power) illegally or by force.
2. take the place of (someone in power) illegally.

DERIVATIVES:
usurpation noun
usurper noun.

ORIGIN: Latin usurpare 'seize for use' .

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usury

noun
the practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest.

ORIGIN: Latin usura, from usus 'a use' .

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UT

abbreviation
1. Universal Time.
2. Utah.

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utensil

noun
a tool or container, especially for household use.

ORIGIN: from Latin utensilis 'usable' , from uti 'to use' .

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uterine

adjective
1. of or relating to the uterus.
2. having the same mother but not the same father.

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uterus

noun (pl. uteri)
the womb.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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utilitarian

adjective
1. useful or practical rather than attractive.
2. relating to or adhering to utilitarianism.

noun
an adherent of utilitarianism.

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utilitarianism

noun
1. the doctrine that actions are right if they are useful or for the benefit of a majority.
2. the doctrine that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the guiding principle of conduct.

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utility

noun (pl. utilities)
1. the state of being useful, profitable, or beneficial.
2. a public utility.
3. Computing a utility program.

adjective
useful, especially through having several functions.

ORIGIN: Latin utilitas, from utilis 'useful' .

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utility room

noun
a room with appliances for washing and other domestic work.

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utility vehicle (also utility truck)

noun
a truck having low sides and used for small loads.

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utilize (also utilise)

verb
make practical and effective use of.

DERIVATIVES:
utilizable adjective
utilization noun.

ORIGIN: French utiliser, from Latin uti 'to use' .

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utmost

adjective
most extreme; greatest.

noun (the utmost)
the greatest or most extreme extent or amount.

ORIGIN: Old English, «outermost».

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Utopia

noun
an imagined perfect place or state of things.

ORIGIN: the title of a book (1516) by Sir Thomas More, from Greek ou 'not' + topos 'place' .

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utopian

adjective
idealistic.

noun
an idealistic reformer.

DERIVATIVES:
utopianism noun.

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utter [1]

adjective
complete; absolute.

DERIVATIVES:
utterly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English, «outer».

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utter [2]

verb
1. make (a sound) or say (something).
2. Law put (forged money) into circulation.

DERIVATIVES:
utterable adjective
utterer noun.

ORIGIN: Dutch teren 'speak, make known, give currency to (coins)' .

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utterance

noun
1. a word, statement, or sound uttered.
2. the action of uttering.

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U-turn

noun
1. the turning of a vehicle in a U-shaped course so as to face the opposite way.
2. a reversal of policy.

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UV

abbreviation
ultraviolet.

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uvula

noun (pl. uvulae)
a fleshy extension at the back of the soft palate which hangs above the throat.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'little grape' .

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uxorious

adjective
showing great or excessive fondness for one's wife.

DERIVATIVES:
uxoriousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin uxoriosus, from uxor 'wife' .

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Uzi

noun
a type of sub-machine gun.

ORIGIN: from Uziel Gal, the Israeli army officer who designed it.

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V

V [1] (also v)

noun (pl. Vs or V's)
1. the twenty-second letter of the alphabet.
2. the Roman numeral for five.

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V [2]

abbreviation
volt(s).

symbol
1. the chemical element vanadium.
2. voltage or potential difference.
3. (in mathematical formulae) volume.

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v

abbreviation
1. Grammar verb.
2. versus.
3. very.

symbol
velocity.

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VA

abbreviation
1. (in the UK) Order of Victoria and Albert.
2. Virginia.

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vac

noun Brit. informal
1. a vacation.
2. a vacuum cleaner.

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vacancy

noun (pl. vacancies)
1. an unoccupied position or job.
2. an available room in a hotel, guest house, etc.
3. empty space.
4. lack of intelligence or understanding.

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vacant

adjective
1. not occupied; empty.
2. (of a position) not filled.
3. showing no intelligence or interest.

DERIVATIVES:
vacantly adverb.

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vacate

verb
1. leave (a place).
2. give up (a position or job).

ORIGIN: Latin vacare 'leave empty' .

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vacation

noun
1. a holiday period between terms in universities and law courts.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a holiday.
3. the action of vacating.

verb chiefly N. Amer.
take a holiday.

DERIVATIVES:
vacationer noun
vacationist noun.

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vaccinate

verb
treat with a vaccine to produce immunity against a disease.

DERIVATIVES:
vaccination noun.

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vaccine

noun Medicine
a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease or a synthetic substitute.

ORIGIN: Latin vaccinus, from vacca 'cow' (because of the early use of the cowpox virus against smallpox).

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vacillate

verb
waver between different opinions or actions.

DERIVATIVES:
vacillation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin vacillare 'sway' .

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vacuole

noun Biology
a space or vesicle inside a cell, enclosed by a membrane and typically containing fluid.

ORIGIN: from Latin vacuus 'empty' .

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vacuous

adjective
showing a lack of thought or intelligence.

DERIVATIVES:
vacuity noun
vacuously adverb
vacuousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin vacuus 'empty' .

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vacuum

noun (pl. vacuums or vacua)
1. a space entirely devoid of matter.
2. a space from which the air has been completely or partly removed.
3. a gap left by the loss or departure of someone or something important.
4. (pl. vacuums) informal a vacuum cleaner.

verb informal
clean with a vacuum cleaner.

IDIOMS -
in a vacuum in isolation from the normal context.

ORIGIN: Latin, from vacuus 'empty' .

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vacuum cleaner

noun
an electrical apparatus that collects dust from floors and other surfaces by means of suction.

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vacuum flask

noun chiefly Brit.
a container that keeps a substance hot or cold by means of a double wall enclosing a vacuum.

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vacuum-pack

verb
seal (a product) in a pack or wrapping with the air removed.

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vacuum tube

noun
a sealed glass tube containing a near vacuum which allows the free passage of electric current.

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vagabond

noun
1. a vagrant.
2. informal, dated a rogue.

adjective
having no settled home.

ORIGIN: Latin vagabundus, from vagari 'wander' .

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vagary

noun (pl. vagaries)
an unexpected and inexplicable change.

ORIGIN: from Latin vagari 'wander' .

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vagina

noun (pl. vaginas or vaginae)
the muscular tube leading from the vulva to the cervix in women and most female mammals.

DERIVATIVES:
vaginal adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'sheath, scabbard' .

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vagrant

noun
1. a person without a home or job.
2. archaic a wanderer.

adjective
relating to or living like a vagrant; wandering.

DERIVATIVES:
vagrancy noun.

ORIGIN: from Old French vagarant 'wandering about' , from vagrer 'wander' .

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vague

adjective
1. of uncertain or indefinite character or meaning.
2. imprecise in thought or expression.

DERIVATIVES:
vaguely adverb
vagueness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin vagus 'wandering, uncertain' .

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vain

adjective
1. having or showing an excessively high opinion of one's appearance or abilities.
2. useless or meaningless: a vain boast.

IDIOMS -
in vain without success.
take someone's name in vain use someone's name in a way that shows a lack of respect.

DERIVATIVES:
vainly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin vanus 'empty, without substance' .

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vainglory

noun literary
excessive vanity.

DERIVATIVES:
vainglorious adjective
vaingloriously adverb.

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valance (also valence)

noun
1. a length of decorative drapery attached to the canopy or frame of a bed to screen the structure or space beneath it.
2. a length of decorative drapery screening the curtain fittings above a window.

DERIVATIVES:
valanced adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French avaler 'lower, descend' .

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vale

noun chiefly literary
a valley.

IDIOMS -
vale of tears the world as a scene of trouble or sorrow.

ORIGIN: Latin vallis.

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valediction

noun
1. the action of saying farewell.
2. a farewell address or statement.

ORIGIN: from Latin vale 'goodbye' + dicere 'to say' .

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valedictory

adjective
serving as a farewell.

noun (pl. valedictories)
a farewell address.

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valency

noun (pl. valencies) Chemistry
the combining power of an element, especially as measured by the number of hydrogen atoms it can displace or combine with.

ORIGIN: Latin valentia 'power, competence' .

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valentine

noun
1. a card sent, often anonymously, on St Valentine's Day (14 February) to a person one loves or is attracted to.
2. a person to whom one sends such a card.

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valerian

noun
1. a plant bearing clusters of small pink, red, or white flowers.
2. a sedative drug obtained from a valerian root.

ORIGIN: Latin valeriana, apparently from Valerianus 'of Valerius' (a personal name).

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valet

noun
1. a man's personal male attendant, responsible for his clothes and appearance.
2. a hotel employee performing such duties for guests.
3. a person employed to clean or park cars.

verb (valeted, valeting)
1. act as a valet to.
2. clean (a car).

ORIGIN: originally denoting a footman acting as an attendant to a horseman: from French, related to VASSAL.

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valetudinarian

noun
a person in poor health or who is unduly anxious about their health.

adjective
in poor health or showing undue concern about one's health.

ORIGIN: from Latin valetudinarius 'in ill health' .

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valiant

adjective
showing courage or determination.

DERIVATIVES:
valiantly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French vailant, from Latin valere 'be strong' .

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valid

adjective
1. (of a reason, argument, etc.) well based or logical.
2. legally binding or acceptable.

DERIVATIVES:
validity noun
validly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin validus 'strong' .

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validate

verb
1. check or prove the validity of.
2. make or declare legally valid.

DERIVATIVES:
validation noun.

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valise

noun
a small travelling bag or suitcase.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian valigia.

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valley

noun (pl. valleys)
a low area between hills or mountains, typically with a river or stream flowing through it.

ORIGIN: Latin vallis.

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valor (Brit. valour)

noun
courage in the face of danger.

DERIVATIVES:
valorous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin valor, from valere 'be strong' .

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valorize (also valorise)

verb
give or ascribe value or validity to.

DERIVATIVES:
valorization noun.

ORIGIN: from French valorisation, from valeur 'value' .

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valour (US valor)

noun
courage in the face of danger.

DERIVATIVES:
valorous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin valor, from valere 'be strong' .

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valuable

adjective
1. worth a great deal of money.
2. extremely useful or important.

noun (valuables)
valuable items.

DERIVATIVES:
valuably adverb.

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valuation

noun
an estimation of something's worth.

DERIVATIVES:
valuate verb (chiefly N. Amer. ).

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value

noun
1. the regard that something is held to deserve; importance or worth.
2. material or monetary worth.
3. (values) principles or standards of behaviour.
4. the numerical amount denoted by an algebraic term; a magnitude, quantity, or number.
5. Music the relative duration of the sound signified by a note.

verb (values, valued, valuing)
1. estimate the value of.
2. consider to be important or beneficial.

DERIVATIVES:
valueless adjective
valuer noun.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin valere.

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value added tax

noun
a tax on the amount by which the value of an article has been increased at each stage of its production or distribution.

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valve

noun
1. a device for controlling the passage of fluid through a pipe or duct.
2. a cylindrical mechanism to vary the effective length of the tube in a brass musical instrument.
3. Anatomy & Zoology a membranous fold which allows blood or other fluid to flow in one direction through a vessel or organ.
4. Zoology each of the halves of the hinged shell of a bivalve mollusc or brachiopod.

DERIVATIVES:
valved adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin valva 'leaf of a folding or double door' .

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vamoose

verb informal
depart hurriedly.

ORIGIN: from Spanish vamos 'let us go' .

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vamp [1]

noun
1. the upper front part of a boot or shoe.
2. (in jazz and popular music) a short, simple introductory passage, usually repeated several times until otherwise instructed.

verb
1. (vamp up) informal repair or improve.
2. repeat a short, simple passage of music.

ORIGIN: originally denoting the foot of a stocking: from Old French avant 'before' + pie 'foot' .

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vamp [2] informal

noun
a woman who uses sexual attraction to exploit men.

verb
blatantly set out to attract (a man).

DERIVATIVES:
vampish adjective
vampy adjective.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of VAMPIRE.

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vampire

noun
1. (in folklore) a corpse supposed to leave its grave at night to drink the blood of the living.
2. (also vampire bat) a small bat that feeds on blood by piercing the skin with its incisor teeth, found mainly in tropical America.

DERIVATIVES:
vampiric adjective
vampirism noun.

ORIGIN: Hungarian vampir, perhaps from Turkish uber 'witch' .

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van [1]

noun
1. a covered motor vehicle used for transporting goods or people.
2. Brit. a railway carriage for conveying luggage, mail, etc.
3. Brit. a caravan.

ORIGIN: shortening of CARAVAN.

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van [2]

noun (the van)
1. the foremost part of an advancing group of people.
2. the forefront.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of VANGUARD.

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vandal

noun
1. a person who deliberately destroys or damages property.
2. (Vandal) a member of a Germanic people that ravaged Gaul, Spain, Rome, and North Africa in the 4th 5th centuries.

DERIVATIVES:
vandalism noun.

ORIGIN: Latin Vandalus.

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vandalize (also vandalise)

verb
deliberately destroy or damage (property).

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vane

noun
1. a broad blade attached to a rotating axis or wheel which pushes or is pushed by wind or water, forming part of a device such as a windmill, propeller, or turbine.
2. a weathervane.
3. a projecting surface designed to guide the motion of a projectile, e.g. a fin on a torpedo.

ORIGIN: from obsolete fane «banner», from Germanic.

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vanguard

noun
1. the foremost part of an advancing army or naval force.
2. a group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas.

ORIGIN: Old French avantgarde, from avant 'before' + garde 'guard' .

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vanilla

noun
a substance obtained from the pods of a tropical climbing orchid or produced artificially, used as a flavouring and in the manufacture of cosmetics.

ORIGIN: Spanish vainilla 'pod' , from Latin vagina 'sheath' .

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vanish

verb
1. disappear suddenly and completely.
2. gradually cease to exist.
3. Mathematics become zero.

DERIVATIVES:
vanishing adjective & noun
vanishingly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old French esvanir, from Latin evanescere 'die away' .

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vanishing point

noun
the point at which receding parallel lines viewed in perspective appear to converge.

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vanity

noun (pl. vanities)
1. excessive pride in or admiration of one's own appearance or achievements.
2. the quality of being worthless or futile.

ORIGIN: Latin vanitas, from vanus 'empty, without substance' .

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vanity case

noun
a small case fitted with a mirror and compartments for make-up.

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vanity unit

noun
a unit consisting of a washbasin set into a flat top with cupboards beneath.

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vanquish

verb
defeat thoroughly.

DERIVATIVES:
vanquisher noun.

ORIGIN: Old French vainquir, from Latin vincere 'conquer' .

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vantage

noun (usu. vantage point)
a place or position affording a good view.

ORIGIN: Old French avantage 'advantage' .

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vapid

adjective
offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging.

DERIVATIVES:
vapidity noun
vapidly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin vapidus.

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vaporize (also vaporise)

verb
convert into vapour.

DERIVATIVES:
vaporization noun.

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vaporizer

noun
a device that generates a vapour, especially for medicinal inhalation.

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vapour (US vapor)

noun
1. moisture or another substance diffused or suspended in the air.
2. Physics a gaseous substance that can be liquefied by pressure alone.
3. (the vapours) dated a fit of faintness, nervousness or depression.

DERIVATIVES:
vaporous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin vapor 'steam, heat' .

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vapour trail

noun
a trail of condensed water from an aircraft or rocket at high altitude, seen as a white streak against the sky.

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variable

adjective
1. not consistent or having a fixed pattern; liable to vary.
2. able to be changed or adapted.
3. Mathematics (of a quantity) able to assume different numerical values.

noun
1. a variable element, feature, or quantity.
2. Astronomy a star whose brightness changes, either regularly or irregularly.
3. (variables) the region of light, variable winds to the north of the NE trade winds or (in the southern hemisphere) between the SE trade winds and the westerlies.

DERIVATIVES:
variability noun
variably adverb.

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variance

noun
1. (usu. in phrase at variance with) the fact or quality of being different or inconsistent.
2. the state of disagreeing or quarrelling.
3. chiefly Law a discrepancy between two statements or documents.

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variant

noun
a form or version that varies from other forms of the same thing or from a standard.

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variation

noun
1. a change or slight difference in condition, amount, or level.
2. a different or distinct form or version.
3. Music a new but still recognizable version of a theme.

DERIVATIVES:
variational adjective.

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varicose

adjective
(of a vein, especially in the leg) swollen, twisted, and lengthened, as a result of poor circulation.

ORIGIN: Latin varicosus.

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varied

adjective
incorporating a number of different types or elements.

DERIVATIVES:
variedly adverb.

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variegated

adjective
exhibiting different colours, especially as irregular patches or streaks.

DERIVATIVES:
variegation noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin variegare 'make varied' .

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variety

noun (pl. varieties)
1. the quality or state of being different or diverse.
2. (a variety of) a number of things of the same general class that are distinct in character or quality.
3. a thing which differs in some way from others of the same general class.
4. a form of entertainment consisting of a series of different types of act, such as singing, dancing, and comedy.
5. Biology a subspecies or cultivar.

IDIOMS -
variety is the spice of life proverb new and exciting experiences make life more interesting.

ORIGIN: Latin varietas, from varius 'changing, diverse' .

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various

adjective
different from one another; of different kinds or sorts.

determiner & pronoun
more than one; individual and separate.

DERIVATIVES:
variously adverb
variousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin varius 'changing, diverse' .

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varnish

noun
a substance consisting of resin dissolved in a liquid, applied to wood or another surface to give a hard, clear, shiny surface when dry.

verb
apply varnish to.

ORIGIN: Old French vernis, from Latin veronix 'fragrant resin' .

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vary

verb (varies, varied)
1. differ in size, degree, or nature from something else of the same general class.
2. change from one form or state to another.
3. modify or change (something) to make it less uniform.

ORIGIN: Latin variare, from varius 'diverse' .

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vascular

adjective
relating to or denoting the system of vessels for carrying blood or (in plants) sap, water, and nutrients.

DERIVATIVES:
vascularity noun
vascularize (also vascularise) verb.

ORIGIN: Latin vascularis, from vasculum 'small vessel' .

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vas deferens

noun (pl. vasa deferentia) Anatomy
the duct which conveys sperm from the testicle to the urethra.

ORIGIN: from VAS + Latin deferens 'carrying away' .

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vase

noun
a decorative ceramic or glass container used as an ornament or for displaying cut flowers.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin vas 'vessel' .

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vasectomy

noun (pl. vasectomies)
the surgical cutting and sealing of part of each vas deferens, especially as a means of sterilization.

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vaseline

noun trademark
a type of petroleum jelly used as an ointment and lubricant.

ORIGIN: from German Wasser 'water' + Greek elaion 'oil' .

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vassal

noun
1. historical a holder of land by feudal tenure on conditions of homage and allegiance.
2. a person or country in a subordinate position to another.

DERIVATIVES:
vassalage noun.

ORIGIN: Latin vassallus 'retainer' .

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vast

adjective
of very great extent or quantity; immense.

DERIVATIVES:
vastly adverb
vastness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin vastus 'void, immense' .

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VAT

abbreviation
value added tax.

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vat

noun
a large tank or tub used to hold liquid.

ORIGIN: from obsolete fat «container», from Germanic.

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Vatican

noun
the palace and official residence of the Pope in Rome.

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vaudeville

noun
a type of entertainment featuring a mixture of musical and comedy acts.

DERIVATIVES:
vaudevillian adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: French; apparently denoting songs composed by Olivier Basselin, a fifteenth-century fuller born in Vau de Vire in Normandy.

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vault [1]

noun
1. a roof in the form of an arch or a series of arches.
2. a large room or chamber used for storage, especially an underground one.
3. a chamber beneath a church or in a graveyard used for burials.
4. Anatomy the arched roof of a cavity.

verb (vaulted)
having or formed into an arched roof.

ORIGIN: Old French voute, from Latin volvere 'to roll' .

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vault [2]

verb
leap or spring while supporting or propelling oneself with the hands or a pole.

noun
an act of vaulting.

DERIVATIVES:
vaulter noun.

ORIGIN: Old French volter 'to turn (a horse), gambol' .

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vaulting

noun
ornamental work in a vaulted roof or ceiling.

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vaulting horse

noun
a padded wooden block used for vaulting over by gymnasts and athletes.

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vaunt

verb (usu. as adj. vaunted)
boast about or praise.

DERIVATIVES:
vaunting adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin vantare, from vanus 'vain, empty' .

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VC

abbreviation
Victoria Cross.

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VCR

abbreviation
video cassette recorder.

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VD

abbreviation
venereal disease.

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VDU

abbreviation
visual display unit.

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've

abbreviation informal
have.

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veal

noun
the flesh of a calf, used as food.

ORIGIN: Old French veel, from Latin vitellus 'small calf' .

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vector

noun
1. Mathematics & Physics a quantity having direction as well as magnitude, especially as determining the position of one point in space relative to another.
2. an organism that transmits a particular disease or parasite from one animal or plant to another.
3. a course to be taken by an aircraft.

verb
direct (an aircraft in flight) to a desired point.

DERIVATIVES:
vectorial adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'carrier' .

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VE day

noun
the day (8 May) marking the Allied victory in Europe in 1945.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of Victory in Europe.

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veer

verb
1. change direction suddenly.
2. (of the wind) change direction clockwise around the points of the compass.
3. suddenly change in opinion, subject, etc.

noun
a sudden change of direction.

ORIGIN: French virer.

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veg [1]

noun (pl. same) Brit. informal
a vegetable or vegetables.

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veg [2]

verb (vegges, vegging, vegged) (often veg out) informal
relax completely.

ORIGIN: from VEGETATE.

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vegan

noun
a person who does not eat or use animal products.

ORIGIN: from VEGETARIAN.

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vegetable

noun
1. a plant or part of a plant used as food.
2. informal, derogatory a person who is incapable of normal mental or physical activity, especially through brain damage.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «growing as a plant»: from Latin vegetabilis 'animating' , from vegetare 'enliven' .

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vegetable oil

noun
an oil derived from plants, e.g. olive oil or sunflower oil.

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vegetal

adjective formal
relating to plants.

ORIGIN: Latin vegetalis, from vegetare 'animate' .

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vegetarian

noun
a person who does not eat meat for moral, religious, or health reasons.

adjective
eating or including no meat.

DERIVATIVES:
vegetarianism noun.

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vegetate

verb
1. live or spend a period of time in a dull, inactive, unchallenging way.
2. dated (of a plant or seed) grow or sprout.

ORIGIN: Latin vegetare 'enliven' .

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vegetation

noun
plants collectively.

DERIVATIVES:
vegetational adjective.

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vegetative

adjective
1. relating to vegetation or the growth of plants.
2. Biology relating to or denoting reproduction or propagation achieved by asexual means.
3. Medicine alive but comatose and without apparent brain activity or responsiveness.

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veggie burger (also trademark Vegeburger)

noun
a savoury cake resembling a hamburger but made with vegetable protein or soya instead of meat.

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vehement

adjective
showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense.

DERIVATIVES:
vehemence noun
vehemently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'impetuous, violent' .

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vehicle

noun
1. a thing used for transporting people or goods on land.
2. a means of expressing, embodying, or fulfilling something: she used paint as a vehicle for her ideas.
3. a film, programme, song, etc., intended to display the leading performer to the best advantage.
4. a substance that facilitates the use of a drug, pigment, or other material mixed with it.

DERIVATIVES:
vehicular adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin vehiculum, from vehere 'carry' .

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veil

noun
1. a piece of fine material worn to protect or conceal the face.
2. a piece of fabric forming part of a nun's headdress, resting on the head and shoulders.
3. a thing that conceals, disguises, or obscures.

verb
1. cover with or as if with a veil.
2. (veiled) partially concealed, disguised, or obscured.

IDIOMS -
draw a veil over avoid discussing or calling attention to (something embarrassing or unpleasant).
take the veil become a nun.

ORIGIN: Latin velum 'sail, curtain, veil' .

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vein

noun
1. any of the tubes forming part of the circulation system by which blood is conveyed from all parts of the body towards the heart.
2. (in general use) a blood vessel.
3. (in plants) a slender rib running through a leaf, containing vascular tissue.
4. (in insects) a hollow rib forming part of the supporting framework of a wing.
5. a streak or stripe of a different colour in wood, marble, cheese, etc.
6. a fracture in rock containing a deposit of minerals or ore.
7. a source of a specified quality: a rich vein of satire.
8. a distinctive quality, style, or tendency: he concluded in a humorous vein.

DERIVATIVES:
veined adjective
veining noun
veiny adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French veine, from Latin vena.

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Velcro

noun trademark
a fastener consisting of two strips of fabric which adhere when pressed together.

DERIVATIVES:
Velcroed adjective.

ORIGIN: from French velours croché 'hooked velvet' .

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veld (also veldt)

noun
open, uncultivated country or grassland in southern Africa.

ORIGIN: Afrikaans, 'field' .

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vellum

noun
fine parchment made originally from the skin of a calf.

ORIGIN: Old French velin, from veel 'veal' , from Latin vitellus 'small calf' .

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velociraptor

noun
a small, agile carnivorous dinosaur with a large slashing claw on each foot.

ORIGIN: Latin, from velox 'swift' + RAPTOR.

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velocity

noun (pl. velocities)
1. the speed of something in a given direction.
2. (in general use) speed.

ORIGIN: Latin velocitas, from velox 'swift' .

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velodrome

noun
a cycle-racing track with steeply banked curves.

ORIGIN: French, from vélo 'bicycle' .

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velour (also velours)

noun
a plush woven fabric resembling velvet.

ORIGIN: French velours 'velvet' .

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velvet

noun
1. a closely woven fabric of silk, cotton, or nylon with a thick short pile on one side.
2. soft downy skin that covers a deer's antler while it is growing.

DERIVATIVES:
velvety adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French veluotte, from Latin villus 'tuft, down' .

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velveteen

noun
a cotton fabric with a pile resembling velvet.

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venal

adjective
open to bribery.

DERIVATIVES:
venality noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «available for purchase»: from Latin venalis, from venum 'thing for sale' .

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vend

verb
1. offer (small items) for sale.
2. Law or formal sell.

ORIGIN: Latin vendere 'sell' .

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vendetta

noun
1. a blood feud in which the family of a murdered person seeks vengeance on the murderer or the murderer's family.
2. a prolonged bitter quarrel with or campaign against someone.

ORIGIN: Italian, from Latin vindicta 'vengeance' .

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vending machine

noun
a machine that dispenses small articles when a coin or token is inserted.

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vendor (US also vender)

noun
1. a person or company offering something for sale.
2. Law the seller in a sale, especially of property.

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veneer

noun
1. a thin decorative covering of fine wood applied to a coarser wood or other material.
2. an attractive appearance that covers or disguises true nature or feelings.

verb (veneered)
covered with a veneer.

DERIVATIVES:
veneering noun.

ORIGIN: from German furnieren, from Old French fournir 'furnish' .

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venerable

adjective
1. accorded great respect because of age, wisdom, or character.
2. (in the Anglican Church) a title given to an archdeacon.
3. (in the Roman Catholic Church) a title given to a deceased person who has attained a certain degree of sanctity but has not been fully beatified or canonized.

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venerate

verb
regard with great respect.

DERIVATIVES:
veneration noun
venerator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin venerari 'adore, revere' .

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venereal

adjective
1. relating to venereal disease.
2. formal relating to sexual desire or sexual intercourse.

ORIGIN: from Latin venereus, from venus 'sexual love' .

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venereal disease

noun
a disease contracted by sexual intercourse with a person already infected.

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Venetian

adjective
relating to Venice.

noun
a person from Venice.

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venetian blind

noun
a window blind consisting of horizontal slats which can be pivoted to control the amount of light that passes through.

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vengeance

noun
punishment inflicted or retribution exacted for an injury or wrong.

IDIOMS -
with a vengeance with great intensity.

ORIGIN: Old French, from venger 'avenge' .

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vengeful

adjective
seeking to harm someone in return for a perceived injury.

DERIVATIVES:
vengefully adverb
vengefulness noun.

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venial

adjective
1. Christian Theology (of a sin) not regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace. Often contrasted with MORTAL.
2. (of a fault or offence) slight and pardonable.

ORIGIN: Latin venialis, from venia 'forgiveness' .

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venison

noun
meat from a deer.

ORIGIN: Old French venesoun, from Latin venatio 'hunting' .

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Venn diagram

noun
a diagram representing mathematical or logical sets as circles, common elements of the sets being represented by intersections of the circles.

ORIGIN: named after the English logician John Venn (1834 1923).

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venom

noun
1. poisonous fluid secreted by animals such as snakes and scorpions and typically injected by biting or stinging.
2. extreme malice, bitterness, or aggression.

ORIGIN: Old French venim, from Latin venenum 'poison' .

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venomous

adjective
1. secreting or capable of injecting venom.
2. very malicious, bitter, or aggressive.

DERIVATIVES:
venomously adverb.

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venous

adjective
relating to a vein or the veins.

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vent [1]

noun
1. an opening that allows air, gas, or liquid to pass out of or into a confined space.
2. the anus or cloaca of a fish or other animal.

verb
1. give free expression to (a strong emotion).
2. discharge (air, gas, or liquid) through an outlet.

IDIOMS -
give vent to release or express (a strong emotion).

ORIGIN: from French vent 'wind' or éventer 'expose to air' , both from Latin ventus 'wind' .

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vent [2]

noun
a slit in a garment.

ORIGIN: Old French fente 'slit' , from Latin findere 'cleave' .

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ventilate

verb
1. cause air to enter and circulate freely in (a room or building).
2. discuss (an opinion or issue) in public.
3. Medicine subject to artificial respiration.

DERIVATIVES:
ventilation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin ventilare 'blow, winnow' , from ventus 'wind' .

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ventilator

noun
1. an appliance or opening for ventilating a room or other space.
2. Medicine an appliance for artificial respiration; a respirator.

DERIVATIVES:
ventilatory adjective.

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ventral

adjective Anatomy, Zoology, & Botany
on or relating to the underside; abdominal. Compare with DORSAL.

DERIVATIVES:
ventrally adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin venter 'belly' .

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ventricle

noun Anatomy
1. each of the two larger and lower cavities of the heart.
2. each of four connected fluid-filled cavities in the centre of the brain.

DERIVATIVES:
ventricular adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin ventriculus, from venter 'belly' .

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ventriloquist

noun
an entertainer who makes their voice seem to come from a dummy of a person or animal.

DERIVATIVES:
ventriloquial adjective
ventriloquism noun
ventriloquy noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin venter 'belly' + loqui 'speak' .

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venture

noun
1. a risky or daring journey or undertaking.
2. a business enterprise involving considerable risk.

verb
1. dare to do something dangerous or risky.
2. dare to say something that may be considered audacious.

IDIOMS -
nothing ventured, nothing gained proverb you can't expect to achieve anything if you never take any risks.

DERIVATIVES:
venturer noun.

ORIGIN: shortening of ADVENTURE.

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venture capital

noun
capital invested in a project in which there is a substantial element of risk.

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venturesome

adjective
willing to take risks or embark on difficult or unusual courses of action.

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venue

noun
the place where an event or meeting is held.

ORIGIN: Old French, 'a coming' , from venir 'come' .

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Venus flytrap

noun
a plant with hinged leaves that spring shut on and digest insects which land on them.

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veracious

adjective formal
speaking or representing the truth.

ORIGIN: from Latin verus 'true' .

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veracity

noun
1. conformity to facts; accuracy.
2. habitual truthfulness.

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veranda (also verandah)

noun
a roofed platform along the outside of a house, level with the ground floor.

ORIGIN: Portuguese varanda 'railing, balustrade' .

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verb

noun Grammar
a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, such as hear, become, or happen.

ORIGIN: Latin verbum 'word, verb' .

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verbal

adjective
1. relating to or in the form of words.
2. spoken rather than written; oral.
3. Grammar relating to or derived from a verb.

noun
1. Grammar a word or words functioning as a verb.
2. (also verbals) Brit. informal abuse; insults.

DERIVATIVES:
verbally adverb.

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verbalize (also verbalise)

verb
express in words, especially by speaking aloud.

DERIVATIVES:
verbalization noun.

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verbal noun

noun Grammar
a noun formed as an inflection of a verb and partly sharing its constructions, such as smoking in smoking is forbidden.

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verbatim

adverb & adjective
in exactly the same words as were used originally.

ORIGIN: Latin, from verbum 'word' .

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verbena

noun
an ornamental plant with heads of bright showy flowers.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'sacred bough' .

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verbiage

noun
excessively lengthy or technical speech or writing.

ORIGIN: French, from obsolete verbeier 'to chatter' .

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verbose

adjective
using or expressed in more words than are needed.

DERIVATIVES:
verbosely adverb
verbosity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin verbosus, from verbum 'word' .

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verdant

adjective
green with grass or other lush vegetation.

DERIVATIVES:
verdancy noun
verdantly adverb.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Old French verdeant, from Latin viridis 'green' .

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verdict

noun
1. a decision on an issue of fact in a civil or criminal case or an inquest.
2. an opinion or judgement.

ORIGIN: Old French verdit, from veir 'true' + dit 'saying' .

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verdigris

noun
a bright bluish-green encrustation or patina formed on copper or brass by atmospheric oxidation.

ORIGIN: from Old French vert de Grece 'green of Greece' .

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verdure

noun
lush green vegetation.

ORIGIN: from Old French verd 'green' .

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verge

noun
1. an edge or border.
2. Brit. a grass edging by the side of a road or path.
3. an extreme limit beyond which something specified will happen: on the verge of tears.

verb (verge on)
be very close or similar to.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin virga 'rod' .

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verger

noun
1. an official in a church who acts as a caretaker and attendant.
2. an officer who carries a rod before a bishop or dean as a symbol of office.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin virga 'rod' .

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verify

verb (verifies, verified)
1. make sure or demonstrate that (something) is true, accurate, or justified.
2. Law swear to or support (a statement) by affidavit.

DERIVATIVES:
verifiable adjective
verification noun
verifier noun.

ORIGIN: Latin verificare, from verus 'true' .

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verily

adverb archaic
truly; certainly.

ORIGIN: from VERY.

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verisimilitude

noun
the appearance of being true or real.

ORIGIN: Latin verisimilitudo, from verisimilis 'probable' .

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veritable

adjective
genuine; properly so called (used to qualify a metaphor): a veritable price explosion.

DERIVATIVES:
veritably adverb.

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vermicelli

plural noun
1. pasta made in long slender threads.
2. Brit. shreds of chocolate used to decorate cakes.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'little worms' .

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vermiform

adjective chiefly Zoology or Anatomy
resembling or having the form of a worm.

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vermilion (also vermillion)

noun
1. a brilliant red pigment made from mercury sulphide (cinnabar).
2. a brilliant red colour.

ORIGIN: Old French vermeillon, from Latin vermiculus 'little worm' .

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vermin

noun (treated as pl. )
1. wild mammals and birds which are harmful to crops, farm animals, or game, or which carry disease.
2. parasitic worms or insects.
3. very unpleasant and destructive people.

DERIVATIVES:
verminous adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin vermis 'worm' .

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vermouth

noun
a red or white wine flavoured with aromatic herbs.

ORIGIN: French vermout, from German Wermut 'wormwood' .

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vernacular

noun
1. the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people of a country or region.
2. informal the specialized terminology of a group or activity.

adjective
1. spoken as or using one's mother tongue rather than a second language.
2. (of architecture) concerned with domestic and functional rather than monumental buildings.

ORIGIN: from Latin vernaculus 'domestic, native' .

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vernal

adjective
of, in, or appropriate to spring.

ORIGIN: Latin vernalis, from ver 'spring' .

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vernal equinox

noun
the spring equinox.

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veronica

noun
1. a herbaceous plant with upright stems bearing narrow pointed leaves and spikes of blue or purple flowers.
2. a cloth supposedly impressed with an image of Christ's face.

ORIGIN: from the given name Veronica; sense 2 refers to St Veronica, who offered her headcloth to Christ on the way to Calvary, to wipe his face.

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verruca

noun (pl. verrucae or verrucas)
1. a contagious wart on the sole of the foot.
2. (in medical use) a wart of any kind.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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versatile

adjective
able to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities.

DERIVATIVES:
versatility noun.

ORIGIN: Latin versatilis, from versare 'turn about, revolve' .

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verse

noun
1. writing arranged with a metrical rhythm.
2. a group of lines that form a unit in a poem or song.
3. each of the short numbered divisions of a chapter in the Bible or other scripture.

ORIGIN: Latin versus 'a turn of the plough, a furrow, a line of writing' , from vertere 'to turn' .

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versed

adjective (versed in)
experienced or skilled in; knowledgeable about.

ORIGIN: Latin versatus, from versari 'be engaged in' .

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versify

verb (versifies, versified)
turn into or express in verse.

DERIVATIVES:
versification noun
versifier noun.

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version

noun
1. a particular form of something differing in certain respects from other forms of the same type of thing.
2. an account of a matter from a particular person's point of view.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «translation»: from Latin, from vertere 'to turn' .

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verso

noun (pl. versos)
a left-hand page of an open book, or the back of a loose document. Contrasted with RECTO.

ORIGIN: from Latin verso folio 'on the turned leaf' .

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versus

preposition
1. against.
2. as opposed to; in contrast to.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'towards' .

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vertebra

noun (pl. vertebrae)
each of the series of small bones forming the backbone.

DERIVATIVES:
vertebral adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from vertere 'to turn' .

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vertebrate

noun
an animal having a backbone, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes.

adjective
relating to such animals.

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vertex

noun (pl. vertices or vertexes)
1. the highest point; the top or apex.
2. Geometry each angular point of a polygon, polyhedron, or other figure.
3. a meeting point of two lines that form an angle.
4. Anatomy the crown of the head.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'whirlpool, crown of a head, vertex' .

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vertical

adjective
at right angles to a horizontal plane; having the top directly above the bottom.

noun
1. (the vertical) a vertical line or plane.
2. an upright structure.

DERIVATIVES:
verticality noun
vertically adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin verticalis, from VERTEX.

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vertiginous

adjective
1. causing vertigo, especially by being extremely high or steep.
2. relating to or affected by vertigo.

DERIVATIVES:
vertiginously adverb.

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vertigo

noun
a sensation of giddiness and loss of balance, caused by looking down from a great height or by disease affecting the inner ear.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'whirling' .

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vervain

noun
a herbaceous plant with small blue, white, or purple flowers, used in herbal medicine.

ORIGIN: Old French verveine, from Latin verbena 'sacred bough' .

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verve

noun
vigour, spirit, and style.

ORIGIN: originally denoting talent in writing: from French, 'vigour' , from Latin verba 'words' .

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very

adverb
1. in a high degree.
2. (with superlative or own) without qualification: the very best quality.

adjective
1. actual; precise.
2. emphasizing an extreme point in time or space.
3. with no addition; mere.
4. archaic real; genuine.

ORIGIN: from Latin verus 'true' .

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Very Reverend

adjective
a title given to a dean in the Anglican Church.

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vesicle

noun
1. Anatomy & Zoology a small fluid-filled sac or cyst.
2. Medicine a blister full of clear fluid.
3. Botany an air-filled swelling in a seaweed or other plant.
4. Geology a small cavity in volcanic rock, produced by gas bubbles.

DERIVATIVES:
vesicular adjective
vesiculation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin vesicula 'small bladder' .

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vespers

noun
a service of evening prayer, especially in the Western Christian Church.

ORIGIN: Latin vesperas 'evensong' .

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vessel

noun
1. a ship or large boat.
2. a hollow container used to hold liquid.
3. a tube or duct conveying a fluid within an animal body or plant structure.
4. (in or alluding to biblical use) a person regarded as embodying a particular quality: giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel.

ORIGIN: Old French vessele, from Latin vas 'vessel' .

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vest

noun
1. Brit. an undergarment worn on the upper part of the body, typically having no sleeves.
2. a similar garment worn for a particular purpose: a bulletproof vest.
3. N. Amer. & Austral. a waistcoat or sleeveless jacket.

verb
1. (vest in) confer or bestow (power, property, etc.) on.
2. give (someone) the legal right to power, property, etc.

ORIGIN: Latin vestis 'garment' .

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vested interest

noun
1. Law an interest (usually in land or money held in trust) recognized as belonging to a particular person.
2. a personal stake in an undertaking or state of affairs.

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vestibule

noun
1. an antechamber or hall just inside the outer door of a building.
2. Anatomy a chamber or channel opening into another.

DERIVATIVES:
vestibular adjective ( Anatomy ).

ORIGIN: Latin vestibulum 'entrance court' .

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vestige

noun
1. a remaining trace of something that once existed: the last vestiges of colonialism.
2. the smallest amount.

ORIGIN: Latin vestigium 'footprint' .

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vestigial

adjective
1. forming a very small remnant of something.
2. Biology (of an organ or part of the body) degenerate, rudimentary, or atrophied, having lost its function in the course of evolution.

DERIVATIVES:
vestigially adverb.

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vestment

noun
1. a robe worn by the clergy or choristers during services.
2. archaic a garment, especially a ceremonial or official robe.

ORIGIN: Latin vestimentum, from vestire 'to clothe' .

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vestry

noun (pl. vestries)
a room in or attached to a church, used as an office and for changing into ceremonial vestments.

ORIGIN: Latin vestiarium.

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vet [1]

noun
a veterinary surgeon.

verb (vetted, vetting)
make a careful and critical examination of (someone or something, especially of a person prior to employment).

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vet [2]

noun N. Amer. informal
a veteran.

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vetch

noun
a leguminous plant with purple, pink, or yellow flowers, cultivated for silage or fodder.

ORIGIN: Old French veche, from Latin vicia.

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veteran

noun
1. a person who has had long experience in a particular field.
2. an ex-member of the armed forces.

ORIGIN: Latin veteranus, from vetus 'old' .

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veterinary

adjective
relating to the diseases, injuries, and treatment of farm and domestic animals.

ORIGIN: Latin veterinarius, from veterinae 'cattle' .

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veterinary surgeon

noun Brit.
a person qualified to treat diseased or injured animals.

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vetiver (also vetivert)

noun
a fragrant extract or essential oil obtained from the root of an Indian grass, used in perfumery and aromatherapy.

ORIGIN: Tamil, 'root' .

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veto

noun (pl. vetoes)
1. a constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body.
2. any prohibition.

verb (vetoes, vetoed)
exercise a veto against.

ORIGIN: from Latin, 'I forbid' , used by Roman tribunes of the people when opposing measures of the Senate.

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vex

verb
make annoyed or worried.

DERIVATIVES:
vexation noun.

ORIGIN: Latin vexare 'shake, disturb' .

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vexatious

adjective
1. causing annoyance or worry.
2. Law denoting an action or the bringer of an action that is brought without sufficient grounds for winning, purely to cause annoyance to the defendant.

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vexed

adjective
1. difficult and much debated; problematic.
2. annoyed or worried.

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VHF

abbreviation
very high frequency.

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VHS

abbreviation trademark
video home system (as used by domestic video recorders).

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via

preposition
1. travelling through (a place) en route to a destination.
2. by way of; through.
3. by means of.

ORIGIN: from Latin, 'way, road' .

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viable

adjective
1. capable of working successfully; feasible.
2. Biology (of a plant, animal, or cell) capable of surviving or living successfully.

DERIVATIVES:
viability noun
viably adverb.

ORIGIN: French, from vie 'life' .

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viaduct

noun
a long bridge-like structure carrying a road or railway across a valley or other low ground.

ORIGIN: from Latin via 'way' , on the pattern of aqueduct.

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Viagra

noun trademark
a synthetic compound used to enhance male potency.

ORIGIN: apparently a blend of virility and the name Niagara.

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vial

noun
a small container used especially for holding liquid medicines.

ORIGIN: alteration of PHIAL.

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viand

noun archaic
an item of food.

ORIGIN: Old French viande 'food' , from Latin vivenda 'things to be lived on' .

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viaticum

noun (pl. viatica)
the Eucharist as given to a person near or in danger of death.

ORIGIN: Latin, from via 'road' .

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vibe

noun informal
1. the atmosphere or aura of a person or place as communicated to and felt by others.
2. (vibes) short for VIBRAPHONE.

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vibrant

adjective
1. full of energy and enthusiasm.
2. (of sound) strong or resonant.
3. (of colour) bright or bold.

DERIVATIVES:
vibrancy noun
vibrantly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin vibrare 'shake to and fro' .

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vibraphone

noun
a musical percussion instrument with a double row of tuned metal bars, each above a tubular resonator containing a motor-driven rotating vane, giving a vibrato effect.

DERIVATIVES:
vibraphonist noun.

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vibrate

verb
1. move with small movements rapidly to and fro.
2. (of a sound) resonate.

DERIVATIVES:
vibrating adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin vibrare 'move to and fro' .

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vibration

noun
1. an instance or the state of vibrating.
2. (vibrations) informal an emotional state or atmosphere, as communicated to and felt by others.

DERIVATIVES:
vibrational adjective.

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vibrato

noun Music
a rapid, slight variation in pitch in singing or playing some musical instruments, producing a stronger or richer tone.

ORIGIN: Italian, from vibrare 'vibrate' .

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vibrator

noun
1. a device that vibrates or causes vibration.
2. a vibrating device used for massage or sexual stimulation.

DERIVATIVES:
vibratory adjective.

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viburnum

noun
a shrub or small tree, typically bearing clusters of small white flowers.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'wayfaring tree' .

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vicar

noun
1. (in the Church of England) a priest in charge of a parish where tithes formerly passed to a person or group other than the incumbent.
2. (in other Anglican Churches) a member of the clergy deputizing for another.
3. (in the Roman Catholic Church) a representative or deputy of a bishop.

ORIGIN: Old French vicaire, from Latin vicarius 'substitute' .

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vicarage

noun
the residence of a vicar.

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vicarious

adjective
1. experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person.
2. acting or done for another.

DERIVATIVES:
vicariously adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin vicarius 'substitute' .

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vice [1]

noun
1. immoral or wicked behaviour.
2. criminal activities involving prostitution, pornography, or drugs.
3. an immoral or wicked personal characteristic.
4. a weakness of character; a bad habit.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin vitium.

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vice [2] (US vise)

noun
a metal tool with movable jaws which are used to hold an object firmly in place while work is done on it.

DERIVATIVES:
vice-like adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French vis, from Latin vitis 'vine' .

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vice-

combining form
next in rank to and typically able to deputize for: vice-president.

ORIGIN: from Latin vice 'in place of' .

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vice admiral

noun
a high rank of naval officer, above rear admiral and below admiral.

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vice chancellor

noun
a deputy chancellor, especially one of a British university who oversees its administration.

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vice-president

noun
an official or executive ranking below and deputizing for a president.

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viceregal

adjective
relating to a viceroy.

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viceroy

noun
a ruler exercising authority in a colony on behalf of a sovereign.

DERIVATIVES:
viceroyalty noun (pl. viceroyalties) .

ORIGIN: archaic French, from vice- 'in place of' + roi 'king' .

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vice versa

adverb
with the main items in the preceding statement the other way round.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'in-turned position' .

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vicinity

noun (pl. vicinities)
the area near or surrounding a place.

ORIGIN: Latin vicinitas, from vicinus 'neighbour' .

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vicious

adjective
1. cruel or violent.
2. (of an animal) wild and dangerous.
3. literary immoral.

DERIVATIVES:
viciously adverb
viciousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin vitiosus, from vitium 'vice' .

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vicious circle

noun
a sequence of reciprocal cause and effect in which two or more elements intensify and aggravate each other.

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vicissitudes

plural noun
changes of circumstances or fortune.

ORIGIN: Latin vicissitudo, from vicissim 'by turns' .

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victim

noun
1. a person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime or accident.
2. a person who is tricked or duped.
3. an animal or person killed as a religious sacrifice.

IDIOMS -
fall victim to be hurt, killed, or destroyed by.

ORIGIN: Latin victima.

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victimize (also victimise)

verb
single out for cruel or unjust treatment.

DERIVATIVES:
victimization noun
victimizer noun.

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victor

noun
a person who defeats an opponent in a battle, game, or competition.

ORIGIN: Latin, from vincere 'conquer' .

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Victorian

adjective
1. relating to the reign of Queen Victoria (1837 1901).
2. relating to the attitudes and values associated with the Victorian period, especially those of prudishness and high moral tone.

noun
a person who lived during the Victorian period.

DERIVATIVES:
Victorianism noun.

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Victoriana

plural noun
articles, especially collectors' items, from the Victorian period.

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Victoria plum

noun Brit.
a large red dessert plum.

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victorious

adjective
having won a victory; triumphant.

DERIVATIVES:
victoriously adverb.

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victory

noun (pl. victories)
an act of defeating an opponent in a battle or competition.

ORIGIN: Latin victoria.

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victual dated

noun (victuals)
food or provisions.

verb (victualled, victualling; US victualed, victualing)
provide with food or other stores.

ORIGIN: Latin victualis, from victus 'food' ; the pronunciation represents the early spelling vittel.

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victualler (US victualer)

noun
1. Brit. a person who is licensed to sell alcoholic liquor.
2. dated a person providing or selling food or other provisions.

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vicuña

noun
1. a wild relative of the llama, valued for its fine silky wool.
2. cloth made from this wool.

ORIGIN: Quechua.

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video

noun (pl. videos)
1. the system of recording, reproducing, or broadcasting moving visual images on or from magnetic tape.
2. a film or other recording on magnetic tape.
3. a video cassette.
4. Brit. a video recorder.

verb (videoes, videoed)
film or make a video recording of.

ORIGIN: from Latin videre 'to see' , on the pattern of audio.

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videoconference

noun
an arrangement in which television sets linked to telephone lines are used to enable a group of people to communicate with and see each other.

DERIVATIVES:
videoconferencing noun.

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videodisc

noun
a CD-ROM or other disc used to store visual images.

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video game

noun
a game played by electronically manipulating images produced by a computer program.

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video-on-demand

noun
a system in which viewers choose their own filmed entertainment, by means of a PC or interactive TV system.

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videophone

noun
a telephone device transmitting and receiving a visual image as well as sound.

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VideoPlus

noun trademark
a system for identifying broadcast television programmes by a numerical code which can be input into a video recorder in order to preset recording.

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video recorder

noun
a device which, when linked to a television set, can be used for recording on and playing videotapes.

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videotape

noun
1. magnetic tape for recording and reproducing visual images and sound.
2. a video cassette.

verb
record on video.

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vie

verb (vying)
compete eagerly with others in order to do or achieve something.

ORIGIN: probably from obsolete envy, from Latin invitare 'challenge' .

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view

noun
1. the ability to see something or to be seen from a particular position: the mountains came into view.
2. a sight or prospect from a particular position, typically an appealing one.
3. a way of regarding something; an attitude or opinion.
4. an inspection of things for sale by prospective purchasers.

verb
1. look at or inspect.
2. regard in a particular light or with a particular attitude.
3. inspect (a house or other property) with the prospect of buying or renting.
4. watch on television.

IDIOMS -
in full view clearly visible.
in view
1. visible.
2. in one's mind or as one's aim.
in view of because or as a result of.
with a view to with the hope or intention of.

DERIVATIVES:
viewable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French vieue, from Latin videre 'to see' .

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viewer

noun
1. a person who views something.
2. a device for looking at film transparencies or similar photographic images.

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viewership

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
the audience for a particular television programme or channel.

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viewfinder

noun
a device on a camera showing the field of view of the lens, used in framing and focusing the picture.

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viewpoint

noun
1. a position affording a good view.
2. a point of view; an opinion.

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vigil

noun
a period of staying awake during the time usually spent asleep, especially to keep watch or pray.

ORIGIN: from Latin, 'awake' .

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vigilant

adjective
keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties.

DERIVATIVES:
vigilance noun
vigilantly adverb.

ORIGIN: from Latin vigilare 'keep awake' .

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vigilante

noun
a member of a self-appointed group of people who undertake law enforcement in their community without legal authority.

DERIVATIVES:
vigilantism noun.

ORIGIN: from Spanish, 'vigilant' .

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vignette

noun
1. a brief evocative description, account, or episode.
2. a small illustration or portrait photograph which fades into its background without a definite border.

verb
portray in the style of a vignette.

ORIGIN: originally also denoting a carved representation of a vine: from French, from vigne 'vine' .

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vigor (Brit. vigour)

noun
1. physical strength and good health.
2. effort, energy, and enthusiasm.

ORIGIN: Latin vigor, from vigere 'be lively' .

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vigorous

adjective
1. strong, healthy, and full of energy.
2. characterized by or involving physical strength, effort, or energy.
3. (of language) forceful.

DERIVATIVES:
vigorously adverb
vigorousness noun.

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vigour (US vigor)

noun
1. physical strength and good health.
2. effort, energy, and enthusiasm.

ORIGIN: Latin vigor, from vigere 'be lively' .

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Viking

noun
any of the Scandinavian seafaring pirates and traders who raided and settled in many parts of NW Europe in the 8th 11th centuries.

ORIGIN: Old Norse.

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vile

adjective
1. extremely unpleasant.
2. morally bad; wicked.

DERIVATIVES:
vilely adverb
vileness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin vilis 'cheap, base' .

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vilify

verb (vilifies, vilified)
speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner.

DERIVATIVES:
vilification noun.

ORIGIN: Latin vilificare, from vilis 'cheap, base' .

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villa

noun
1. (especially in continental Europe) a large country residence in its own grounds.
2. Brit. a detached or semi-detached house in a residential district.
3. a rented holiday home abroad.
4. (in Roman times) a large country house, having an estate and consisting of buildings arranged around a courtyard.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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village

noun
1. a settlement in a rural area, larger than a hamlet and smaller than a town.
2. a self-contained district or community within a town or city.

DERIVATIVES:
villager noun
villagey adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin villa 'country house' .

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villain

noun
1. a person who is guilty or capable of a crime or wickedness; a wrongdoer.
2. a character in a novel or play whose evil actions or motives are important to the plot.

DERIVATIVES:
villainous adjective
villainy noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «a rustic»: from Old French vilein, from Latin villa 'country house' .

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villus

noun (pl. villi) Anatomy
any of numerous minute elongated projections set closely together on a surface, especially in the absorbent lining of the small intestine.

DERIVATIVES:
villous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'shaggy hair' .

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vim

noun informal
energy; enthusiasm.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Latin, from vis 'energy' .

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vinaigrette

noun
salad dressing of oil, wine vinegar, and seasoning.

ORIGIN: French, from vinaigre 'vinegar' .

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vindaloo

noun
a very hot Indian curry made with meat or fish.

ORIGIN: probably from Portuguese vin d'alho 'wine and garlic (sauce)' ,.

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vindicate

verb
1. clear of blame or suspicion.
2. show to be right or justified.

DERIVATIVES:
vindication noun.

ORIGIN: Latin vindicare 'claim, avenge' .

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vindictive

adjective
having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge.

DERIVATIVES:
vindictively adverb
vindictiveness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin vindicta 'vengeance' .

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vine

noun
1. a climbing or trailing woody-stemmed plant.
2. the slender stem of a trailing or climbing plant.

ORIGIN: Latin vinea 'vineyard, vine' , from vinum 'wine' .

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vinegar

noun
1. a sour-tasting liquid containing acetic acid, obtained by fermenting dilute alcoholic liquids and used as a condiment or for pickling.
2. sourness or peevishness of behaviour.

DERIVATIVES:
vinegary adjective.

ORIGIN: from Old French vyn egre, from Latin vinum 'wine' + acer 'sour' .

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vineyard

noun
a plantation of grapevines, typically producing grapes used in winemaking.

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vino

noun (pl. vinos) informal, chiefly Brit.
wine, especially that which is cheap or of inferior quality.

ORIGIN: Spanish and Italian, 'wine' .

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vinous

adjective
of, resembling, or associated with wine.

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vintage

noun
1. the year or place in which wine was produced.
2. a wine of high quality made from the crop of a single identified district in a good year.
3. the harvesting of grapes for winemaking.
4. the grapes or wine of a particular season.
5. the time that something was produced.

adjective
1. referring to vintage wine.
2. referring to something from the past of high quality.

ORIGIN: Old French vendange, from Latin vindemia, from vinum 'wine' + demere 'remove' .

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vintage car

noun Brit.
an old style or model of car, specifically one made between 1919 and 1930.

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vintner

noun
a wine merchant.

ORIGIN: Old French vinetier, from Latin vinetum 'vineyard' .

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vinyl

noun
1. synthetic resin or plastic based on polyvinyl chloride, used e.g. for wallpaper and emulsion paint and formerly for gramophone records.
2. Chemistry the unsaturated hydrocarbon radical —CH=CH_2, derived from ethylene.

ORIGIN: from Latin vinum 'wine' (suggested by the relationship of ethylene to ethyl alcohol).

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viol

noun
a musical instrument of the Renaissance and baroque periods, typically six-stringed, held vertically and played with a bow.

ORIGIN: Provençal viola.

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viola [1]

noun
an instrument of the violin family, larger than the violin and tuned a fifth lower.

ORIGIN: Italian and Spanish; compare with VIOL.

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viola [2]

noun
a plant of a genus that includes the pansies and violets.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'violet' .

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violate

verb
1. break or fail to comply with (a rule or formal agreement).
2. treat with disrespect.
3. rape or sexually assault.

DERIVATIVES:
violation noun
violator noun.

ORIGIN: Latin violare 'treat violently' .

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violence

noun
1. behaviour involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill.
2. strength of emotion or an unpleasant or destructive natural force.

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violent

adjective
1. using or involving violence.
2. very intense, forceful, or powerful.

DERIVATIVES:
violently adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'vehement, violent' .

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violet

noun
1. a small plant typically with purple, blue, or white five-petalled flowers.
2. a bluish-purple colour seen at the end of the spectrum opposite red.

ORIGIN: Old French violette, from Latin viola 'violet' .

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violin

noun
a stringed musical instrument of treble pitch, having four strings and a body narrowed at the middle, played with a bow.

DERIVATIVES:
violinist noun.

ORIGIN: Italian violino 'small viola' .

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violist

noun
1. a viola player.
2. a viol player.

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VIP

abbreviation
very important person.

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viper

noun
1. a poisonous snake with large hinged fangs and a body typically with dark patterns on a lighter background.
2. a spiteful or treacherous person.

DERIVATIVES:
viperish adjective
viperous adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin vipera, from vivus 'alive' + parere 'bring forth' (because of a former belief that vipers bore live young).

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virago

noun (pl. viragos or viragoes)
a domineering, violent, or bad-tempered woman.

ORIGIN: first used as the name given by Adam to Eve in the Vulgate version of the Bible: from Latin, 'heroic woman, female warrior' , from vir 'man' .

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viral

adjective
of the nature of, caused by, or relating to a virus or viruses.

DERIVATIVES:
virally adverb.

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virgin

noun
1. a person who has never had sexual intercourse.
2. (the Virgin) the Virgin Mary.
3. a person who is naive or inexperienced in a particular context: a political virgin.

adjective
1. being, relating to, or appropriate for a virgin.
2. not yet used or exploited: virgin forest.
3. (of olive oil) obtained from the first pressing of olives.

ORIGIN: Latin virgo.

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virginal

adjective
relating to or appropriate for a virgin.

noun
an early spinet with the strings parallel to the keyboard. [ORIGIN: perhaps because usually played by young women.]

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Virgin Birth

noun
the doctrine of Christ's birth from a mother, Mary, who was a virgin.

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virginity

noun
the state of being a virgin.

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Virgo

noun
1. Astronomy a large constellation (the Virgin), said to represent a maiden or goddess associated with the harvest.
2. Astrology the sixth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about 23 August.

DERIVATIVES:
Virgoan noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin.

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virile

adjective
1. (of a man) having strength, energy, and a strong sex drive.
2. vigorous, strong, and manly.

DERIVATIVES:
virility noun.

ORIGIN: Latin virilis, from vir 'man' .

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virology

noun
the branch of science concerned with the study of viruses.

DERIVATIVES:
virological adjective
virologist noun.

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virtual

adjective
1. almost as described, but not completely or according to strict definition.
2. Computing not physically existing as such but made by software to appear to do so.
3. Optics relating to the points at which rays would meet if produced backwards.

DERIVATIVES:
virtuality noun.

ORIGIN: Latin virtualis, from virtus 'virtue' .

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virtually

adverb
1. nearly; almost.
2. Computing by means of virtual reality techniques.

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virtual reality

noun Computing
the computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional image or environment that can be interacted with by using special electronic equipment.

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virtue

noun
1. behaviour showing high moral standards.
2. a morally good or desirable quality.
3. a good or useful quality of a thing.
4. archaic virginity or chastity.

IDIOMS -
by virtue of because or as a result of.

ORIGIN: Latin virtus 'valour, merit, moral perfection' , from vir 'man' .

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virtuoso

noun (pl. virtuosi or virtuosos)
a person highly skilled in music or another artistic pursuit.

DERIVATIVES:
virtuosic adjective
virtuosity noun.

ORIGIN: from Italian, 'learned, skilful' .

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virtuous

adjective
1. having or showing high moral standards.
2. archaic chaste.

DERIVATIVES:
virtuously adverb
virtuousness noun.

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virulent

adjective
1. (of a disease or poison) extremely severe or harmful in its effects.
2. (of a pathogen, especially a virus) highly infective.
3. bitterly hostile.

DERIVATIVES:
virulence noun
virulently adverb.

ORIGIN: originally describing a poisoned wound: from Latin virulentus, from virus (see VIRUS).

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virus

noun
1. a submicroscopic infective particle which is able to multiply within the cells of a host organism and typically consists of nucleic acid coated in protein.
2. informal an infection or disease caused by such an agent.
3. (also computer virus) a piece of code surreptitiously introduced into a system in order to corrupt it or destroy data.

ORIGIN: originally denoting the venom of a snake: from Latin, 'slimy liquid, poison' .

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visa

noun
an endorsement on a passport indicating that the holder is allowed to enter, leave, or stay for a specified period of time in a country.

ORIGIN: Latin, from videre 'to see' .

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visage

noun literary
a person's facial features or expression.

DERIVATIVES:
visaged adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin visus 'sight' .

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vis-à-vis

preposition
in relation to.

ORIGIN: French, 'face to face' .

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viscera

plural noun (sing. viscus)
the internal organs in the main cavities of the body, especially those in the abdomen.

ORIGIN: Latin, plural of viscus.

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visceral

adjective
1. relating to the viscera.
2. (of a feeling) deep and instinctive rather than rational.

DERIVATIVES:
viscerally adverb.

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viscid

adjective
glutinous; sticky.

ORIGIN: Latin viscidus, from viscum 'birdlime' .

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viscose

noun
1. a viscous orange-brown solution obtained by treating cellulose with sodium hydroxide and carbon disulphide, used as the basis of manufacturing rayon and transparent cellulose film.
2. rayon fabric or fibre made from this.

ORIGIN: from Latin viscus 'birdlime' .

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viscosity

noun (pl. viscosties)
1. the state of being viscous.
2. a quantity expressing the magnitude of internal friction in a fluid, as measured by the force per unit area resisting uniform flow.

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viscount

noun
a British nobleman ranking above a baron and below an earl.

ORIGIN: Latin vicecomes (see VICE-, COUNT).

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viscountess

noun
the wife or widow of a viscount, or a woman holding the rank of viscount in her own right.

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viscous

adjective
having a thick, sticky consistency between solid and liquid; having a high viscosity.

ORIGIN: Latin viscosus, from viscum 'birdlime' .

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vise

noun
a metal tool with movable jaws which are used to hold an object firmly in place while work is done on it.

DERIVATIVES:
vise-like adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French vis, from Latin vitis 'vine' .

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visibility

noun
1. the state of being able to see or be seen.
2. the distance one can see as determined by light and weather conditions.

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visible

adjective
1. able to be seen or noticed.
2. Physics (of light) within the range of wavelengths to which the eye is sensitive.
3. of or relating to imports or exports of tangible commodities.

DERIVATIVES:
visibly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin visibilis, from videre 'to see' .

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vision

noun
1. the faculty or state of being able to see.
2. the ability to think about the future with imagination or wisdom.
3. a mental image of what the future will or could be like.
4. an experience of seeing something in a dream or trance, or as a supernatural apparition.
5. the images seen on a television screen.
6. a person or sight of unusual beauty.

ORIGIN: Latin, from videre 'to see' .

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visionary

adjective
1. thinking about the future with imagination or wisdom.
2. relating to supernatural or dreamlike visions.

noun (pl. visionaries)
a visionary person.

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visit

verb (visited, visiting)
1. go to see and spend time with (someone) socially or as a guest.
2. go to see and spend time in (a place) as a tourist or guest.
3. go to see for a purpose.
4. (with reference to something harmful or unpleasant) inflict or be inflicted on someone.
5. N. Amer. informal chat.

noun
1. an act of visiting.
2. a temporary stay at a place.
3. N. Amer. an informal conversation.

ORIGIN: Latin visitare 'go to see' .

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visitation

noun
1. an official or formal visit.
2. the appearance of a divine or supernatural being.
3. US Law a divorced person's right to spend time with their children in the custody of a former spouse.
4. a disaster or difficulty regarded as a divine punishment.
5. (the Visitation) the visit of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth related in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1.

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visitor

noun
1. a person visiting a person or place.
2. a migratory bird present in a locality for only part of the year.

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visor (also vizor)

noun
1. a movable part of a helmet that can be pulled down to cover the face.
2. a screen for protecting the eyes from unwanted light.
3. N. Amer. a stiff peak at the front of a cap.

DERIVATIVES:
visored adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French viser, from Latin visus 'sight' .

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vista

noun
1. a pleasing view, especially one seen through a long, narrow opening.
2. a mental view of an imagined future event or situation.

ORIGIN: Italian, 'view' .

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visual

adjective
relating to seeing or sight.

noun
a picture, piece of film, or display used to illustrate or accompany something.

DERIVATIVES:
visually adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin visualis, from videre 'to see' .

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visual display unit

noun Computing, chiefly Brit.
a device for displaying input signals as characters on a screen.

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visualize (also visualise)

verb
form a mental image of; imagine.

DERIVATIVES:
visualization noun.

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vital

adjective
1. absolutely necessary; essential.
2. essential for life: the vital organs.
3. full of energy; lively.

noun (vitals)
the body's important internal organs.

DERIVATIVES:
vitally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin vitalis, from vita 'life' .

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vitality

noun
1. the state of being strong and active.
2. the power giving continuance of life, present in all living things.

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vitalize (also vitalise)

verb
give strength and energy to.

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vital signs

plural noun
clinical measurements, specifically pulse rate, temperature, respiration rate, and blood pressure, that indicate the state of a patient's essential body functions.

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vital statistics

plural noun
1. quantitative data concerning the population, such as the number of births, marriages, and deaths.
2. informal the measurements of a woman's bust, waist, and hips.

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vitamin

noun
any of a group of organic compounds which are essential for normal nutrition and have to be supplied in the diet because they cannot be synthesized by the body.

ORIGIN: from Latin vita 'life' + AMINE, because vitamins were originally thought to contain an amino acid.

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vitamin B

noun
any of a group of substances essential for the working of certain enzymes in the body, including thiamine (vitamin B_1), riboflavin (vitamin B_2), pyridoxine (vitamin B_6), and cyanocobalamin (vitamin B_12).

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vitamin D

noun
any of a group of compounds found in liver and fish oils, essential for the absorption of calcium and including calciferol (vitamin D_2) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D_3).

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vitamin K

noun
any of a group of compounds found mainly in green leaves and essential for the blood-clotting process, including phylloquinone (vitamin K_1) and menaquinone (vitamin K_2).

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vitiate

verb formal
1. spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of.
2. destroy or impair the legal validity of.

ORIGIN: Latin vitiare 'impair' .

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viticulture

noun
1. the cultivation of grapevines.
2. the study of grape cultivation.

DERIVATIVES:
viticultural adjective
viticulturist noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin vitis 'vine' .

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vitreous

adjective
1. like glass in appearance or physical properties.
2. (of a substance) derived from or containing glass.

ORIGIN: Latin vitreus, from vitrum 'glass' .

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vitreous humour

noun
the transparent jelly-like tissue filling the eyeball behind the lens.

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vitrify

verb (vitrifies, vitrified)
convert into glass or a glass-like substance, typically by exposure to heat.

DERIVATIVES:
vitrification noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin vitrum 'glass' .

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vitriol

noun
1. archaic or literary sulphuric acid.
2. extreme bitterness or malice.

DERIVATIVES:
vitriolic adjective
vitriolically adverb.

ORIGIN: originally denoting the sulphate of various metals: from Latin vitriolum, from vitrum 'glass' .

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vituperation

noun
bitter and abusive language.

ORIGIN: Latin, from vituperare 'censure, disparage' .

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vituperative

adjective
bitter and abusive.

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viva [1]

noun Brit.
an oral examination, typically for an academic qualification.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of VIVA VOCE.

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viva [2]

exclamation
long live! (used to express acclaim or support).

ORIGIN: Italian.

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vivace

adverb & adjective Music
in a lively and brisk manner.

ORIGIN: Italian.

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vivacious

adjective
attractively lively and animated.

DERIVATIVES:
vivaciously adverb
vivacity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin vivax 'lively, vigorous' .

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vivarium

noun (pl. vivaria)
an enclosure or structure used for keeping animals under semi-natural conditions for observation or study or as pets.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'warren, fish pond' .

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viva voce

adjective
(especially of an examination) oral rather than written.

noun Brit. full form of VIVA.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'with the living voice' .

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vivid

adjective
1. producing powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind.
2. (of a colour) intensely deep or bright.

DERIVATIVES:
vividly adverb
vividness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «lively, vigorous»: from Latin vividus, from vivere 'to live' .

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vivify

verb (vivifies, vivified)
enliven or animate.

DERIVATIVES:
vivification noun.

ORIGIN: Latin vivificare, from vivere 'to live' .

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viviparous

adjective
1. (of an animal) bringing forth live young which have developed inside th body of the parent. Compare with OVIPAROUS.
2. (of a plant) reproducing from buds which form plantlets while still attached to the parent plant, or from seeds which germinate within the fruit.

DERIVATIVES:
viviparity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin viviparus, from vivus 'alive' + -parus 'bearing' .

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vivisection

noun
the practice of performing operations on live animals for scientific research (used by those opposed to such work).

DERIVATIVES:
vivisectionist noun & adjective
vivisector noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin vivus 'living' , on the pattern of dissection.

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vixen

noun
1. a female fox.
2. a spiteful or quarrelsome woman.

DERIVATIVES:
vixenish adjective.

ORIGIN: perhaps from an Old English word meaning «of a fox».

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Viyella

noun trademark
a fabric made from a twilled mixture of cotton and wool.

ORIGIN: from Via Gellia, a valley in Derbyshire.

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viz.

adverb
namely; in other words.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of Latin videlicet in the same sense, z being a Latin symbol for -et.

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VJ day

noun
the day (15 August) in 1945 on which Japan ceased fighting in the Second World War, or the day (2 September) when Japan formally surrendered.

ORIGIN: VJ, abbreviation of Victory over Japan.

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VLF

abbreviation
very low frequency (denoting radio waves of frequency 3 30 kilohertz and wavelength 10 100 kilometres).

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V-neck

noun
a neckline having straight sides meeting at a point to form a V-shape.

DERIVATIVES:
V-necked adjective.

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VO

abbreviation
(in the UK) Royal Victorian Order.

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vocabulary

noun (pl. vocabularies)
1. the body of words used in a particular language or in a particular sphere.
2. the body of words known to an individual person.
3. a list of words with an explanation of their meanings.
4. a range of artistic or stylistic forms or techniques.

ORIGIN: Latin vocabularius, from vocare 'to call' .

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vocal

adjective
1. relating to the human voice.
2. expressing opinions or feelings freely or loudly.
3. (of music) consisting of or incorporating singing.

noun
1. (also vocals) a musical performance involving singing.
2. a part of a piece of music that is sung.

DERIVATIVES:
vocally adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin vocalis, from vox 'voice' .

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vocal cords (also vocal folds)

plural noun
folds of the lining of the larynx whose edges vibrate in the airstream to produce the voice.

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vocalist

noun
a singer, especially in jazz or popular music.

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vocalize (also vocalise)

verb
1. utter (a sound or word).
2. express (something) with words.
3. Music sing with several notes to one vowel.

DERIVATIVES:
vocalization noun.

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vocation

noun
1. a strong feeling of suitability for a particular career or occupation.
2. a person's employment or main occupation, especially one requiring dedication.
3. a trade or profession.

ORIGIN: Latin, from vocare 'to call' .

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vocational

adjective
1. relating to an occupation or employment.
2. (of education or training) directed at a particular occupation and its skills.

DERIVATIVES:
vocationally adverb.

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vocative

adjective Grammar
(of a case) used in addressing or invoking a person or thing.

ORIGIN: Latin vocativus, from vocare 'to call' .

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vociferous

adjective
vehement or clamorous.

DERIVATIVES:
vociferously adverb
vociferousness noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin vociferari 'exclaim' .

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vodka

noun
an alcoholic spirit of Russian origin made by distillation of rye, wheat, or potatoes.

ORIGIN: Russian, 'little water' .

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vogue

noun
the prevailing fashion or style at a particular time.

DERIVATIVES:
voguish adjective.

ORIGIN: French, from Italian voga 'rowing, fashion' .

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voice

noun
1. the sound produced in a person's larynx and uttered through the mouth, as speech or song.
2. the ability to speak or sing.
3. Music the range of pitch or type of tone with which a person sings.
4. Music a vocal part in a composition.
5. an opinion or attitude, or a means or agency by which it is expressed.
6. Grammar a form of a verb showing the relation of the subject to the action.

verb
1. express in words.
2. (voiced) Phonetics (of a speech sound) uttered with resonance of the vocal cords.

ORIGIN: Old French vois, from Latin vox.

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voice box

noun
the larynx.

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voiceless

adjective
1. lacking a voice; speechless.
2. Phonetics (of a speech sound) uttered without resonance of the vocal cords.

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voicemail

noun
a centralized electronic system which can store messages from telephone callers.

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voice-over

noun
a piece of narration in a film or broadcast not accompanied by an image of the speaker.

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void

adjective
1. not valid or legally binding.
2. completely empty.
3. (void of) free from; lacking.

noun
a completely empty space.

verb
1. chiefly N. Amer. declare to be not valid or legally binding.
2. discharge or drain away (water, gases, etc.).
3. chiefly Medicine excrete (waste matter).

DERIVATIVES:
voidable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French vuide; related to Latin vacare 'vacate' .

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voile

noun
a thin, semi-transparent fabric of cotton, wool, or silk.

ORIGIN: French, 'veil' .

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volatile

adjective
1. (of a substance) easily evaporated at normal temperatures.
2. liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse.

noun
a volatile substance.

DERIVATIVES:
volatility noun
volatilize (also volatilise) verb.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «creature that flies»: from Latin volatilis, from volare 'to fly' .

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vol-au-vent

noun
a small round case of puff pastry filled with a savoury mixture.

ORIGIN: French, 'flight in the wind' .

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volcanic

adjective
1. relating to or produced by a volcano or volcanoes.
2. (of a feeling or emotion) bursting out or liable to burst out violently.

DERIVATIVES:
volcanically adverb.

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volcanism (also vulcanism)

noun Geology
volcanic activity or phenomena.

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volcano

noun (pl. volcanoes or volcanos)
a mountain or hill having a crater or vent through which lava, rock fragments, hot vapour, and gas are or have been erupted from the earth's crust.

ORIGIN: from Latin Volcanus 'Vulcan' , the Roman god of fire.

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vole

noun
a small mouse-like rodent with a rounded muzzle.

ORIGIN: from Norwegian vollmus 'field mouse' .

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volition

noun (often in phrase of one's own volition)
the faculty or power of using one's will.

DERIVATIVES:
volitional adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, from volo 'I wish' .

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volley

noun (pl. volleys)
1. a number of bullets, arrows, or other projectiles discharged at one time.
2. a series of utterances directed at someone in quick succession.
3. (in sport) a strike or kick of the ball made before it touches the ground.

verb (volleys, volleyed)
1. strike or kick (the ball) before it touches the ground.
2. utter or discharge in quick succession.

DERIVATIVES:
volleyer noun.

ORIGIN: French volée, from Latin volare 'to fly' .

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volleyball

noun
a game for two teams in which a ball is hit by hand over a net and points are scored if the ball touches the ground on the opponent's side of the court.

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volt

noun
the unit of electromotive force in the SI system, the difference of potential that would carry one ampere of current against a resistance of one ohm.

ORIGIN: named after the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta (1745 1827).

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voltage

noun
an electromotive force or potential difference expressed in volts.

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voltaic

adjective
referring to electricity produced by chemical action in a primary battery; galvanic.

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volte-face

noun
1. an act of turning round so as to face in the opposite direction.
2. an abrupt and complete reversal of attitude, opinion, or position.

ORIGIN: French, from Latin volvere 'to roll' + facies 'appearance, face' .

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voltmeter

noun
an instrument for measuring electric potential in volts.

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voluble

adjective
speaking or spoken incessantly and fluently.

DERIVATIVES:
volubility noun
volubly adverb.

ORIGIN: originally in senses «rotating about an axis» and «tending to change»: from Latin volvere 'to roll' .

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volume

noun
1. a book forming part of a work or series.
2. a single book or a bound collection of printed sheets.
3. a consecutive sequence of issues of a periodical.
4. the amount of space occupied by a substance or object or enclosed within a container.
5. the amount or quantity of something.
6. quantity or power of sound; degree of loudness.
7. fullness or expansive thickness of the hair.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a roll of parchment containing written matter: from Latin volumen 'a roll' .

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volumetric

adjective
relating to the measurement of volume.

DERIVATIVES:
volumetrically adverb.

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voluminous

adjective
1. (of clothing or drapery) loose and ample.
2. (of writing) very lengthy and full.

DERIVATIVES:
voluminously adverb.

ORIGIN: partly from Latin voluminosus 'having many coils' , partly from Latin volumen 'a roll' .

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volumize (also volumise)

verb
give volume or body to (hair).

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voluntary

adjective
1. done, given, or acting of one's own free will.
2. working or done without payment.
3. Physiology under the conscious control of the brain.

noun (pl. voluntaries)
an organ solo played before, during, or after a church service.

DERIVATIVES:
voluntarily adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin voluntarius, from voluntas 'will' .

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volunteer

noun
1. a person who freely offers to do something.
2. a person who works for an organization without being paid.
3. a person who freely enrols for military service rather than being conscripted.

verb
1. freely offer to do something.
2. say or suggest something without being asked.
3. freely enrol for military service rather than being conscripted.
4. commit (someone) to an undertaking.

ORIGIN: from French volontaire 'voluntary' .

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voluptuary

noun (pl. voluptuaries)
a person devoted to luxury and sensual pleasure.

adjective
concerned with luxury and sensual pleasure.

ORIGIN: Latin voluptuarius, from voluptas 'pleasure' .

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voluptuous

adjective
1. relating to or characterized by luxury or sensual pleasure.
2. (of a woman) curvaceous and sexually attractive.

DERIVATIVES:
voluptuously adverb
voluptuousness noun.

ORIGIN: Latin voluptuosus, from voluptas 'pleasure' .

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vomit

verb (vomited, vomiting)
1. eject matter from the stomach through the mouth.
2. emit in an uncontrolled stream or flow.

noun
matter vomited from the stomach.

ORIGIN: Latin vomere 'to vomit' .

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voodoo

noun
a black religious cult practised in the Caribbean and the southern US, combining elements of Roman Catholic ritual with traditional African rites, and characterized by sorcery and spirit possession.

DERIVATIVES:
voodooism noun
voodooist noun.

ORIGIN: from Kwa (a Niger-Congo language).

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voracious

adjective
1. wanting or devouring great quantities of food.
2. eagerly consuming something: his voracious reading of literature.

DERIVATIVES:
voraciously adverb
voracity noun.

ORIGIN: from Latin vorax, from vorare 'devour' .

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vortex

noun (pl. vortexes or vortices)
a whirling mass, especially a whirlpool or whirlwind.

DERIVATIVES:
vortical adjective
vorticity noun.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'eddy' .

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votary

noun (pl. votaries)
1. a person who has made vows of dedication to religious service.
2. a devoted follower, adherent, or advocate.

ORIGIN: from Latin vovere 'vow' .

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vote

noun
1. a formal indication of a choice between two or more candidates or courses of action.
2. (the vote) the right to participate in an election.
3. (the vote) a particular body of electors or the votes cast by them: the green vote.

verb
1. give or register a vote.
2. grant or confer by vote.
3. informal express a wish or suggestion.

IDIOMS -
vote of (no) confidence a vote showing that a majority continues to support (or no longer supports) the policy of a leader or governing body.
vote with one's feet informal indicate an opinion by being present or absent or by some other course of action.

DERIVATIVES:
voter noun.

ORIGIN: Latin votum 'a vow, wish' , from vovere 'to vow' .

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votive

adjective
offered or consecrated in fulfilment of a vow.

ORIGIN: Latin votivus, from votum 'a vow, wish' .

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vouch

verb (vouch for)
1. assert or confirm the truth or accuracy of.
2. confirm the identity or good character of.

ORIGIN: Old French voucher 'summon' , from Latin vocare 'to call' .

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voucher

noun
1. a piece of paper that entitles the holder to a discount, or that may be exchanged for goods or services.
2. a receipt.

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vouchsafe

verb
give, grant, or disclose in a gracious or condescending manner.

ORIGIN: originally as the phrase vouch something safe on someone, i.e. «warrant the secure conferment of».

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vow

noun
a solemn promise.

verb
solemnly promise to do something.

ORIGIN: Old French vou, from Latin votum 'a wish, vow' .

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vowel

noun
1. a speech sound in which the mouth is open and the tongue is not touching the top of the mouth, the teeth, or the lips.
2. a letter representing such a sound, such as a, e, i, o, u.

ORIGIN: Old French vouel, from Latin vocalis littera 'vocal letter' .

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vox pop

noun Brit. informal
popular opinion as represented by informal comments from members of the public.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of VOX POPULI.

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vox populi

noun
the opinions or beliefs of the majority.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'the people's voice' .

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voyage

noun
a long journey involving travel by sea or in space.

verb
go on a voyage.

DERIVATIVES:
voyager noun.

ORIGIN: Old French voiage, from Latin viaticum 'provisions for a journey' , later 'journey' .

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voyeur

noun
1. a person who gains sexual pleasure from watching others when they are naked or engaged in sexual activity.
2. a person who enjoys seeing the pain or distress of others.

DERIVATIVES:
voyeurism noun
voyeuristic adjective
voyeuristically adverb.

ORIGIN: French, from voir 'see' .

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vs

abbreviation
versus.

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V-sign

noun
1. Brit. a sign resembling the letter V made with the first two fingers pointing up and the back of the hand facing outwards, used as a gesture of abuse or contempt.
2. a similar sign made with the palm of the hand facing outwards, used as a symbol or gesture of victory.

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VSO

abbreviation
Voluntary Service Overseas.

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VT

abbreviation
Vermont.

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vulcanite

noun
hard black vulcanized rubber.

ORIGIN: from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire.

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vulcanize (also vulcanise)

verb
harden (rubber or rubber-like material) by treating it with sulphur at a high temperature.

DERIVATIVES:
vulcanization noun.

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vulgar

adjective
1. lacking sophistication or good taste.
2. making explicit and inappropriate reference to sex or bodily functions.
3. dated characteristic of or belonging to ordinary people.

DERIVATIVES:
vulgarity noun (pl. vulgarities)
vulgarly adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin vulgaris, from vulgus 'common people' .

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vulgar fraction

noun Brit.
a fraction expressed by numerator and denominator, not decimally.

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vulgarian

noun
an unrefined person, especially one with newly acquired power or wealth.

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vulgarize (also vulgarise)

verb
1. make less refined.
2. make commonplace or less subtle or complex.

DERIVATIVES:
vulgarization noun.

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vulgar Latin

noun
informal Latin of classical times.

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vulgar tongue

noun
the national or vernacular language of a people (especially as contrasted with Latin).

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Vulgate

noun
the principal Latin version of the Bible, prepared in the 4th century and later revised and adopted as the official text for the Roman Catholic Church.

ORIGIN: from Latin vulgata editio 'edition prepared for the public' .

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vulnerable

adjective
exposed to being attacked or harmed.

DERIVATIVES:
vulnerability noun (pl. vulnerabilities)
vulnerably adverb.

ORIGIN: Latin vulnerabilis, from vulnerare 'to wound' .

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vulpine

adjective
relating to or reminiscent of a fox or foxes.

ORIGIN: Latin vulpinus, from vulpes 'fox' .

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vulture

noun
1. a large bird of prey feeding chiefly on carrion, with the head and neck more or less bare of feathers.
2. a contemptible person who preys on or exploits others.

ORIGIN: Latin vulturius.

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vulva

noun
the female external genitals.

DERIVATIVES:
vulval adjective.

ORIGIN: Latin, 'womb' .

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W

W [1] (also w)

noun (pl. Ws or W's)
the twenty-third letter of the alphabet.

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W [2]

abbreviation
1. (in tables of sports results) games won.
2. watt(s).
3. West or Western.
4. Cricket (on scorecards) wicket(s).

symbol
the chemical element tungsten. [ORIGIN: from Latin wolframium.]

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w

abbreviation
1. Cricket (on scorecards) wide(s).
2. with.

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WA

abbreviation
1. Washington (State).
2. Western Australia.

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wacko (also whacko) informal, chiefly N. Amer.

adjective
mad; insane.

noun (pl. wackos or wackoes)
a crazy person.

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wacky (also whacky)

adjective (wackier, wackiest) informal
funny or amusing in a slightly odd way.

DERIVATIVES:
wackily adverb
wackiness noun.

ORIGIN: from WHACK.

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wad

noun
1. a lump or bundle of a soft material, as used for padding, stuffing, or wiping.
2. a bundle of paper, banknotes, or documents.
3. informal a large amount of something, especially money.
4. chiefly historical a disc of felt or another material used to keep powder or shot in place in a gun barrel.

verb (wadded, wadding)
1. compress (a soft material) into a wad.
2. line, stuff, or stop with soft material.

DERIVATIVES:
wadding noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Dutch watten, French ouate 'padding, cotton wool' .

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waddle

verb
walk with short steps and a clumsy swaying motion.

noun
a waddling gait.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to WADE.

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wade

verb
1. walk through water or mud.
2. (wade through) read laboriously through (a long piece of writing).
3. (wade in/into) informal attack or intervene in a vigorous or forceful way.

noun
an act of wading.

ORIGIN: Old English, «move onward», also «penetrate».

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wader

noun
1. a sandpiper, plover, or other wading bird.
2. (waders) high waterproof boots, used by anglers.

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wafer

noun
1. a very thin light, crisp sweet biscuit.
2. a thin disc of unleavened bread used in the Eucharist.
3. a disc of red paper stuck on a legal document as a seal.
4. Electronics a very thin slice of a semiconductor crystal used in solid-state circuitry.

ORIGIN: Old French gaufre 'honeycomb' ; related to WAFFLE.

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wafer-thin

adjective
very thin or thinly.

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waffle [1] informal

verb
speak or write at length in a vague or trivial manner.

noun
lengthy but vague or trivial talk or writing.

DERIVATIVES:
waffler noun
waffly adjective.

ORIGIN: from dialect waff «yelp», of imitative origin.

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waffle [2]

noun
a small crisp batter cake, baked in a waffle iron and eaten hot with butter or syrup.

ORIGIN: Dutch wafel; related to WAFER and GOFFER.

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waft

verb
pass easily or gently through the air.

noun
1. a gentle movement of air.
2. a scent carried in the air.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «escort (a ship)», later «convey by water»: from Low German, Dutch wachten 'to guard' .

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wag [1]

verb (wagged, wagging)
move rapidly to and fro.

noun
a wagging movement.

ORIGIN: Old English, «to sway».

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wag [2]

noun informal
1. a person fond of making jokes.
2. Austral./NZ informal a truant.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a young man or mischievous boy: probably from obsolete waghalter «person likely to be hanged».

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wage

noun (also wages)
1. a fixed regular payment for work, typically paid on a daily or weekly basis.
2. the result or effect of doing something wrong or unwise: the wages of sin.

verb
carry on (a war or campaign).

DERIVATIVES:
waged adjective.

ORIGIN: Old French, related to GAGE and WED.

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waggish

adjective informal
humorous, playful, or facetious.

DERIVATIVES:
waggishly adverb.

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waggle

verb
move with short quick movements from side to side or up and down.

noun
an act of waggling.

DERIVATIVES:
waggler noun
waggly adjective.

ORIGIN: from WAG.

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wagon (Brit. also waggon)

noun
1. a vehicle, especially a horse-drawn one, for transporting goods.
2. Brit. a railway freight vehicle; a truck.
3. chiefly N. Amer. a wheeled cart or hut used as a food stall.

IDIOMS -
on the wagon informal teetotal.

DERIVATIVES:
wagonload noun.

ORIGIN: Dutch wagen; related to WAIN.

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wagon-lit

noun (pl. wagons-lits pronunc. same)
a sleeping car on a train in continental Europe.

ORIGIN: French, from wagon 'railway coach' + lit 'bed' .

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wagtail

noun
a slender songbird with a long tail that is frequently wagged up and down.

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waif

noun
a homeless and helpless person, especially a neglected or abandoned child.

DERIVATIVES:
waifish adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in waif and stray, denoting a piece of property found and, if unclaimed, falling to the lord of the manor: from Old French gaif.

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wail

noun
1. a prolonged high-pitched cry of pain, grief, or anger.
2. a sound resembling this.

verb
give or utter a wail.

DERIVATIVES:
wailer noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, related to WOE.

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wain

noun archaic
a wagon or cart.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WAY and WEIGH.

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wainscot

noun
an area of wooden panelling on the lower part of the walls of a room.

verb (wainscoted, wainscoting or wainscotted, wainscotting)
line (a room or wall) with wooden panelling.

DERIVATIVES:
wainscoting (also wainscotting) noun.

ORIGIN: Low German wagenschot, apparently from wagen 'wagon' + schot, probably meaning 'partition' .

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wainwright

noun historical
a wagon-builder.

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waist

noun
1. the part of the human body below the ribs and above the hips.
2. a narrow part in the middle of something such as a violin or hourglass.

DERIVATIVES:
waisted adjective.

ORIGIN: probably from an Old English word related to WAX.

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waistband

noun
a strip of cloth encircling the waist, attached to a skirt or a pair of trousers.

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waistcoat

noun Brit.
a close-fitting waist-length garment with no sleeves or collar and buttoning down the front.

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waistline

noun
1. the measurement around a person's body at the waist.
2. the part of a garment that is shaped or constructed to fit at or near the waist.

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wait

verb
1. stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or event.
2. be delayed or deferred.
3. (wait on/upon) act as an attendant to.
4. act as a waiter or waitress.

noun
1. a period of waiting.
2. (waits) Brit. archaic street singers of Christmas carols.

IDIOMS -
in wait watching for someone and preparing to attack them.

ORIGIN: Old French waitier; related to WAKE.

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waiter

noun
a man whose job is to serve customers at their tables in a restaurant.

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waitress

noun
a woman whose job is to serve customers at their tables in a restaurant.

DERIVATIVES:
waitressing noun.

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waive

verb
refrain from insisting on or applying (a right or claim).

ORIGIN: Old French gaiver 'allow to become a waif, abandon' .

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waiver

noun
1. an act or instance of waiving a right or claim.
2. a document recording this.

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wake [1]

verb (past woke or US, dialect, or archaic waked; past part. woken or US, dialect, or archaic waked)
1. (often wake up) emerge or cause to emerge from sleep.
2. cause to stir or come to life.
3. (wake up to) become alert to or aware of.

noun
1. a watch or vigil held beside the body of someone who has died.
2. (especially in Ireland) a party held after a funeral.
3. (wakes) (treated as sing. ) an annual festival and holiday in some parts of northern England.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WATCH; sense 3 of the noun is probably from Old Norse.

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wake [2]

noun
a trail of disturbed water or air left by the passage of a ship or aircraft.

IDIOMS -
in the wake of following as a consequence or result.

ORIGIN: probably from an Old Norse word meaning 'hole or opening in ice' (as made by a ship).

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wakeful

adjective
1. unable or not needing to sleep.
2. alert and vigilant.

DERIVATIVES:
wakefulness noun.

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waken

verb
wake from sleep.

ORIGIN: Old English, «be aroused»; related to WAKE.

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wale

noun
1. a ridge on a textured woven fabric such as corduroy.
2. Nautical a horizontal wooden strip fitted as strengthening to a boat's side.

ORIGIN: Old English, «stripe, weal».

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walk

verb
1. move at a regular and fairly slow pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn.
2. travel over (a route or area) on foot.
3. guide, accompany, or escort (someone) on foot.
4. take (a dog) out for exercise.
5. N. Amer. informal be released from suspicion or from a charge.

noun
1. a journey on foot, especially for pleasure or exercise.
2. an unhurried rate of movement on foot.
3. a person's manner of walking.
4. a route or path for walking.

IDIOMS -
walk (all) over informal
1. treat in a thoughtless and exploitative manner.
2. defeat easily.
walk it informal achieve a victory easily.
walk off with (or away with) informal
1. steal.
2. win.
walk of life the position within society that someone holds.
walk out
1. depart suddenly or angrily.
2. Brit. informal, dated go for walks in courtship.

DERIVATIVES:
walkable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «roll, toss», also «wander».

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walkabout

noun
1. chiefly Brit. an informal stroll among a crowd conducted by an important visitor.
2. Austral. a journey on foot undertaken by an Australian Aboriginal in order to live in the traditional manner.

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walker

noun
1. a person who walks.
2. a device for helping a baby learn to walk, consisting of a harness set into a frame on wheels.

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walkie-talkie

noun
a portable two-way radio.

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walk-in

adjective
(of a storage area) large enough to walk into.

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walking stick

noun
a stick with a curved handle used for support when walking.

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Walkman

noun (pl. Walkmans or Walkmen) trademark
a type of personal stereo.

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walk-on

adjective
(of a part in a play or film) small and not involving any speaking.

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walkout

noun
a sudden angry departure, especially as a protest or strike.

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walkover

noun
an easy victory.

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walkway

noun
a raised passageway in a building, or a wide path in a park or garden.

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wall

noun
1. a continuous vertical brick or stone structure that encloses or divides an area of land.
2. a side of a building or room.
3. a protective or restrictive barrier: a wall of silence.
4. Soccer a line of defenders forming a barrier against a free kick taken near the penalty area.
5. the outer layer or lining of a bodily organ or cavity.

verb
2. enclose within walls.
2. (wall in/off/up) block or seal by building a wall.

IDIOMS -
drive up the wall informal make very irritated.
go to the wall informal (of a business) fail.
off the wall N. Amer. informal
1. eccentric or unconventional.
2. angry.
3. (of an accusation) without basis or foundation.
walls have ears proverb be careful what you say as people may be eavesdropping.
wall-to-wall
1. (of a carpet) fitted to cover an entire floor.
2. informal very numerous or plentiful.

DERIVATIVES:
walling noun.

ORIGIN: Latin vallum 'rampart' .

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wallaby

noun (pl. wallabies)
an Australasian marsupial similar to but smaller than a kangaroo.

ORIGIN: Dharuk (an Aboriginal language).

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wallah

noun Indian or informal
a person of a specified kind or having a specified role.

ORIGIN: from a Hindi suffix meaning 'doer' (commonly taken to mean «fellow»).

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wall bars

plural noun Brit.
parallel horizontal bars attached to the wall of a gymnasium, on which exercises are performed.

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wallet

noun
1. a pocket-sized, flat, folding holder for money and plastic cards.
2. archaic a bag for holding provisions when travelling.

ORIGIN: probably from a Germanic word related to WELL.

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wallflower

noun
1. a plant with fragrant flowers that bloom in early spring.
2. informal a girl who has no one to dance with at a dance or party.

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Walloon

noun
1. a member of a people who speak a French dialect and live in southern and eastern Belgium and neighbouring parts of France. Compare with FLEMING.
2. the French dialect spoken by this people.

ORIGIN: French Wallon; related to WELSH.

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wallop informal

verb (walloped, walloping)
1. strike or hit very hard.
2. heavily defeat (an opponent).
3. (walloping) strikingly large.

noun
1. a heavy blow or punch.
2. Brit. alcoholic drink, especially beer.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a horse's gallop: from Old French waloper; related to WELL, LEAP, and GALLOP.

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wallow

verb
1. roll about or lie in mud or water.
2. (of a boat or aircraft) roll from side to side.
3. (wallow in) indulge without restraint in (something pleasurable).

noun
1. an act of wallowing.
2. an area of mud or shallow water where mammals go to wallow.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wallpaper

noun
1. paper pasted in strips over the walls of a room to provide a decorative or textured surface.
2. something, especially music, providing a bland or unvaried background.
3. Computing an optional background pattern or picture on a screen.

verb
apply wallpaper to (a wall or room).

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wally

noun (pl. wallies) Brit. informal
a silly or inept person.

ORIGIN: perhaps a shortened form of the given name Walter: the use possibly arose from an incident at a 1960s pop festival when a Wally became separated from his companions, his name being taken up as a chant by the crowd following numerous loudspeaker announcements.

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walnut

noun
1. an edible wrinkled nut enclosed by a hard round shell.
2. the tree which produces this nut, a source of valuable ornamental wood.

ORIGIN: Old English, from a compound meaning 'foreign nut' .

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walrus

noun
a large marine mammal having two large downward-pointing tusks, found in the Arctic Ocean.

ORIGIN: probably Dutch, perhaps from an Old Norse word meaning 'horse-whale' .

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walrus moustache

noun
a long, thick, drooping moustache.

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waltz

noun
a dance in triple time performed by a couple, who turn rhythmically round and round as they progress around the dance floor.

verb
1. dance a waltz.
2. move or act lightly, casually, or inconsiderately.

ORIGIN: German Walzer, from walzen 'revolve' .

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waltzer

noun
1. a person who dances the waltz.
2. a fairground ride in which cars spin round as they are carried round an undulating track.

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WAN

abbreviation Computing
wide area network.

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wan

adjective
1. (of a person) pale and giving the impression of illness or exhaustion.
2. (of light) pale; weak.
3. (of a smile) weak; strained.

DERIVATIVES:
wanly adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English, «dark, black», later «of an unhealthy greyish colour, as if bruised».

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wand

noun
1. a stick or rod thought to have magic properties, used in casting spells or performing tricks.
2. a slender staff or rod, especially one held as a symbol of office.
3. a hand-held electronic device passed over a bar code to read the encoded data.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, related to WEND and WIND.

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wander

verb
1. walk or move in a leisurely, casual, or aimless way.
2. move slowly away from a fixed point or place.

noun
an act or spell of wandering.

DERIVATIVES:
wanderer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WEND and WIND.

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wanderlust

noun
a strong desire to travel.

ORIGIN: German.

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wane

verb
1. (of the moon) have a progressively smaller part of its visible surface illuminated, so that it appears to decrease in size.
2. decrease in vigour or extent; become weaker.

IDIOMS -
on the wane becoming weaker or less vigorous.

ORIGIN: Old English, «lessen»; related to VAIN.

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wangle informal

verb
obtain (something desired) by persuading others to comply or by manipulating events.

noun
an instance of obtaining something in such a way.

DERIVATIVES:
wangler noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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wank Brit. vulgar slang

verb (also wank off)
masturbate.

noun
an act of masturbating.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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wanker

noun Brit. vulgar slang
a stupid or contemptible person.

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wannabe

noun informal, derogatory
a person who tries to be like someone else or to fit in with a particular group of people.

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want

verb
1. have a desire to possess or do; wish for.
2. desire sexually.
3. (be wanted) (of a suspected criminal) be sought by the police.
4. (often want for) lack or be short of something desirable or essential.
5. informal, chiefly Brit. ought to, should, or need to do something.
6. informal, chiefly Brit. (of a thing) require to be attended to.

noun
1. a desire for something.
2. lack or deficiency.
3. lack of essentials; poverty.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, «be lacking».

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wanting

adjective
1. lacking in something required, necessary, or usual.
2. absent; not provided.

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wanton

adjective
1. (of a cruel or violent action) deliberate and unprovoked.
2. sexually immodest or promiscuous.
3. literary growing profusely; luxuriant.

noun archaic
a sexually immodest or promiscuous woman.

DERIVATIVES:
wantonly adverb
wantonness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «rebellious, lacking discipline»: from obsolete wan- «badly» + Old English togen «trained».

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WAP

abbreviation
Wireless Application Protocol, a means of enabling a mobile phone to browse the Internet and display data.

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wapiti

noun (pl. wapitis)
a red deer of a large North American subspecies.

ORIGIN: Shawnee, 'white rump' .

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War.

abbreviation
Warwickshire.

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war

noun
1. a state of armed conflict between different nations, states, or armed groups.
2. a sustained contest between rivals or campaign against something undesirable: a war on drugs.

verb (warred, warring)
engage in a war.

IDIOMS -
be on the warpath be very angry with someone. [ORIGIN: with reference to American Indians heading towards a battle with an enemy.]

ORIGIN: from a variant of Old French guerre 'war' ; related to WORSE.

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warble

verb
1. (of a bird) sing softly and with a succession of constantly changing notes.
2. (of a person) sing in a trilling or quavering voice.

noun
a warbling sound or utterance.

ORIGIN: Old French werbler; related to WHIRL.

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warbler

noun
a small songbird typically living in trees and bushes and having a warbling song.

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war chest

noun
a reserve of funds used for fighting a war.

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war crime

noun
an action carried out during the conduct of a war that violates accepted international rules of war.

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ward

noun
1. a room or division in a hospital for one or more patients.
2. an administrative division of a city or borough, represented by a councillor or councillors.
3. a child or young person under the care and control of a guardian appointed by their parents or a court.
4. any of the internal ridges or bars in a lock which prevent the turning of any key without corresponding grooves.
5. historical an area of ground enclosed by the encircling walls of a fortress or castle.

verb (ward off)
prevent from harming or affecting one.

DERIVATIVES:
wardship noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «keep safe, guard».

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-ward (also -wards)

suffix
1. (usu. -wards) (forming adverbs) towards the specified place or direction: homewards.
2. (usu. -ward) (forming adjectives) turned or tending towards: upward.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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war dance

noun
a ceremonial dance performed before a battle or to celebrate victory.

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warden

noun
1. a person responsible for the supervision of a particular place or procedure.
2. Brit. the head of certain schools, colleges, or other institutions.
3. chiefly N. Amer. a prison governor.

DERIVATIVES:
wardenship noun.

ORIGIN: Old French wardein, guarden 'guardian' .

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warder

noun (fem. wardress) chiefly Brit.
a prison guard.

ORIGIN: from Old French warder 'to guard' .

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wardrobe

noun
1. a large, tall cupboard in which clothes may be hung or stored.
2. a person's entire collection of clothes.
3. the costume department or costumes of a theatre or film company.
4. a department of a royal or noble household in charge of clothing.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «private chamber»: from Old French warderobe, garderobe (see GARDEROBE).

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wardroom

noun
a commissioned officers' mess on board a warship.

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ware

noun
1. pottery, typically that of a specified type.
2. manufactured articles of a specified type.
3. (wares) articles offered for sale.

ORIGIN: Old English, «commodities».

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warehouse

noun
1. a large building where raw materials or manufactured goods may be stored.
2. a large wholesale or retail store.

verb
store (goods) in a warehouse.

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warfare

noun
engagement in or the state of war.

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warfarin

noun
a water-soluble compound with anticoagulant properties, used as a rat poison and in the treatment of thrombosis.

ORIGIN: from the initial letters of Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation + -arin.

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war game

noun
1. a military exercise carried out to test or improve tactical expertise.
2. a simulated military conflict carried out as a game or sport.

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warhead

noun
the explosive head of a missile, torpedo, or similar weapon.

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warhorse

noun informal
a veteran soldier, politician, sports player, etc. who has fought many campaigns or contests.

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warlike

adjective
1. disposed towards or threatening war; hostile.
2. directed towards or prepared for war.

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warlock

noun
a man who practises witchcraft.

ORIGIN: Old English, «traitor, scoundrel, monster», also «the Devil».

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warlord

noun
a military commander, especially one who autonomously commands a region.

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warm

adjective
1. of or at a fairly or comfortably high temperature.
2. (of clothes or coverings) made of a material that helps the body to retain heat.
3. enthusiastic, affectionate, or kind.
4. (of a colour) containing red, yellow, or orange tones.
5. (of a scent or trail) fresh; strong.
6. close to finding or guessing what is sought.

verb
1. make or become warm.
2. (warm to/towards) become more interested in or enthusiastic about.

noun
1. (the warm) a warm place or area.
2. an act of warming.

IDIOMS -
warm up
1. prepare for physical exertion by doing gentle stretches and exercises.
2. (of an engine or electrical appliance) reach a temperature high enough to allow it to operate efficiently.
3. amuse or entertain (an audience or crowd) to make them more receptive to the main act.

DERIVATIVES:
warmer noun
warmly adverb
warmness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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warm-blooded

adjective
1. (of animals, chiefly mammals and birds) maintaining a constant body temperature by their metabolism.
2. ardent; passionate.

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warm-hearted

adjective
sympathetic and kind.

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warmonger

noun
a person who seeks to bring about or promote war.

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warmth

noun
1. the quality, state, or sensation of being warm.
2. enthusiasm, affection, or kindness.
3. intensity of emotion.

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warn

verb
1. inform of a possible danger, problem, etc.
2. give (someone) cautionary advice about actions or conduct.
3. (warn off) order (someone) to keep away or to refrain from doing something.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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warning

noun
1. a statement or event that indicates a possible or impending danger or problem.
2. cautionary advice.
3. advance notice.

DERIVATIVES:
warningly adverb.

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warp

verb
1. make or become bent or twisted, typically from the action of heat or damp.
2. make abnormal; distort.
3. move (a ship) along by hauling on a rope attached to a stationary object ashore.

noun
1. a distortion or twist in shape.
2. the lengthwise threads on a loom over and under which the weft threads are passed to make cloth.
3. a rope attached at one end to a fixed point and used for moving or mooring a ship.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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warpaint

noun
1. paint traditionally used to decorate the face and body before battle, especially by North American Indians.
2. informal elaborate or excessive make-up.

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warplane

noun
an aircraft designed and equipped to engage in air combat or to drop bombs.

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warrant

noun
1. an official authorization enabling the police or some other body to make an arrest, search premises, etc.
2. a document entitling the holder to receive goods, money, or services.
3. justification or authority.
4. an official certificate of appointment issued to an officer of lower rank than a commissioned officer.

verb
1. justify or necessitate.
2. officially affirm or guarantee.

IDIOMS -
I (or I'll) warrant dated no doubt.

DERIVATIVES:
warrantable adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the senses «protector», «safeguard», and «protect from danger»: from Old French guarant; related to GUARANTEE.

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warrant officer

noun
a rank of officer in the army, RAF, or US navy, below the commissioned officers and above the NCOs.

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warranty

noun (pl. warranties)
1. a written guarantee promising to repair or replace an article if necessary within a specified period.
2. an engagement by an insured party that certain statements are true or that certain conditions shall be fulfilled.

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warren

noun
1. a network of interconnecting rabbit burrows.
2. a densely populated or labyrinthine building or district.

ORIGIN: Old French garenne 'game park' .

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warrior

noun
(especially in former times) a brave or experienced soldier or fighter.

ORIGIN: Old French werreior, guerreior, from guerre 'war' .

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warship

noun
a ship equipped with weapons and designed to take part in warfare at sea.

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wart

noun
1. a small, hard, benign growth on the skin.
2. any rounded protuberance on the skin of an animal or the surface of a plant.

IDIOMS -
warts and all informal including faults or unattractive qualities.

DERIVATIVES:
warty adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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warthog

noun
an African wild pig with a large head, warty lumps on the face, and curved tusks.

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wartime

noun
a period during which a war is taking place.

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wary

adjective (warier, wariest) (often wary of)
cautious about possible dangers or problems.

DERIVATIVES:
warily adverb
wariness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wash

verb
1. clean with water and, typically, soap or detergent.
2. (of flowing water) carry or move in a particular direction.
3. be carried by flowing water.
4. (wash over) occur all around without greatly affecting.
5. literary wet or moisten.
6. brush with a thin coat of dilute paint or ink.
7. informal seem convincing or genuine: excuses just don't wash with us.

noun
1. an act of washing or an instance of being washed.
2. a quantity of clothes needing to be or just having been washed.
3. the water or air disturbed by a moving boat or aircraft.
4. a medicinal or cleansing solution.
5. a thin coating of paint or metal.
6. silt or gravel carried by water and deposited as sediment.

IDIOMS -
be washed out be postponed or cancelled because of rain.
come out in the wash informal be resolved eventually.
wash one's dirty linen (or laundry) in public informal discuss one's personal affairs in public.
wash one's hands of disclaim responsibility for. [ORIGIN: originally with biblical allusion to Pontius Pilate washing his hands after the condemnation of Christ (Gospel of Matthew, chapter 27).]
wash up
1. chiefly Brit. clean crockery and cutlery after use.
2. N. Amer. clean one's hands and face.

DERIVATIVES:
washable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WATER.

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washbasin

noun
a basin used for washing one's hands and face.

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washboard

noun
1. a board made of ridged wood or a sheet of corrugated zinc, against which clothes are scrubbed during washing.
2. a similar board played as a percussion instrument by scraping.
3. (before another noun ) (of a man's stomach) lean and with well-defined muscles.

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washed out

adjective
1. faded by or as if by repeated washing.
2. pale and tired.

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washed-up

adjective informal
no longer effective or successful.

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washer

noun
1. a person or device that washes.
2. a small flat ring fixed between a nut and bolt to spread the pressure or between two joining surfaces to act as a spacer or seal.

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washerwoman

noun
a woman whose occupation is washing clothes.

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washing

noun
a quantity of clothes, bedlinen, etc. that is to be washed or has just been washed.

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washing machine

noun
a machine for washing clothes, bedlinen, etc.

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washing powder

noun chiefly Brit.
powdered detergent for washing laundry.

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washing soda

noun
sodium carbonate, used dissolved in water for washing and cleaning.

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washing-up

noun Brit.
crockery, cutlery, and other kitchen utensils that are to be washed.

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washout

noun
1. informal a disappointing failure.
2. a breach in a road or railway track caused by flooding.

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washroom

noun N. Amer.
a room with washing and toilet facilities.

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washstand

noun chiefly historical
a piece of furniture designed to hold a jug, bowl, or basin for washing one's hands and face.

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wasn't

contraction
was not.

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Wasp

noun N. Amer.
an upper- or middle-class American white Protestant, regarded as a member of the most powerful social group.

ORIGIN: from white Anglo-Saxon Protestant.

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wasp

noun
a stinging winged insect which typically nests in complex colonies and has a black and yellow-striped body.

ORIGIN: Old English, perhaps related to WEAVE (from the web-like form of its nest).

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waspish

adjective
sharply irritable.

DERIVATIVES:
waspishly adverb
waspishness noun.

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wassail archaic

noun
1. spiced ale or mulled wine drunk during celebrations for Twelfth Night and Christmas Eve.
2. lively festivities involving the drinking of much alcohol.

verb
1. make merry with much alcohol.
2. go from house to house at Christmas singing carols.

DERIVATIVES:
wassailer noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, «be in good health!»; compare with HAIL.

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wastage

noun
1. the action or process of wasting.
2. an amount wasted.
3. (also natural wastage) the reduction in the size of a workforce as a result of voluntary resignation or retirement rather than enforced redundancy.

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waste

verb
1. use carelessly, extravagantly, or to no purpose.
2. fail to make full or good use of.
3. (be wasted on) be unappreciated by.
4. (often waste away) become progressively weaker and more emaciated.
5. literary lay waste to.
6. N. Amer. informal kill or severely injure.
7. (wasted) informal under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.

adjective
1. eliminated or discarded as no longer useful or required.
2. (of an area of land) not used, cultivated, or built on.

noun
1. an act or instance of wasting.
2. unusable or unwanted material.
3. a large area of barren, uninhabited land.

IDIOMS -
go to waste be wasted.
lay waste (to) completely destroy.
waste not, want not proverb if you use a commodity or resource carefully and without extravagance you will never be in need.

ORIGIN: Old French, from Latin vastus 'unoccupied, uncultivated' .

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waste-disposal unit

noun
an electrically operated device fitted to the waste pipe of a kitchen sink for grinding up food waste.

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wasteful

adjective
using or expending something carelessly, extravagantly, or to no purpose.

DERIVATIVES:
wastefully adverb
wastefulness noun.

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wasteland

noun
a barren or empty area of land.

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waster

noun
1. a wasteful person or thing.
2. informal a person who does little or nothing of value.

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wastrel

noun literary
a wasteful or worthless person.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a strip of waste land.

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watch

verb
1. look at attentively.
2. keep under careful or protective observation.
3. exercise care, caution, or restraint about.
4. (watch for) look out for.
5. (watch out) be careful.
6. maintain an interest in.

noun
1. a small timepiece worn typically on a strap on one's wrist.
2. an act or instance of watching.
3. a period of vigil, typically during the night.
4. a fixed period of duty on a ship, usually lasting four hours.
5. a shift worked by firefighters or police officers.
6. (also night watch) historical a watchman or group of watchmen who patrolled and guarded the streets of a town at night.

IDIOMS -
keep watch stay on the lookout for danger or trouble.
watch one's back protect oneself against danger from an unexpected quarter.
the watches of the night literary waking hours during the night.

DERIVATIVES:
watcher noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WAKE.

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watchable

adjective
moderately enjoyable to watch.

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watchdog

noun
1. a dog kept to guard private property.
2. a person or group that monitors the practices of companies providing a particular service or utility.

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watchful

adjective
1. alert and vigilant.
2. archaic wakeful.

DERIVATIVES:
watchfully adverb
watchfulness noun.

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watching brief

noun
1. Brit. Law a brief held by a barrister to follow a case on behalf of a client who is not directly involved.
2. an interest in a proceeding in which one is not directly concerned.

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watchman

noun
1. a man employed to look after an empty building, especially at night.
2. historical a member of a night watch.

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watchtower

noun
a tower built to create an elevated observation point.

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watchword

noun
1. a word or phrase expressing a core aim or belief.
2. archaic a military password.

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water

noun
1. the liquid which forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms.
2. (waters) an area of sea regarded as under the jurisdiction of a particular country.
3. (the waters) the water of a mineral spring as used medicinally.
4. (waters) amniotic fluid, especially as discharged shortly before birth.
5. urine.
6. one of the four elements (air, earth, fire, and water) in ancient and medieval philosophy and in astrology.
7. the quality of transparency and brilliance shown by a diamond or other gem.

verb
1. pour water over (a plant or an area of ground).
2. give a drink of water to (an animal).
3. (of the eyes or mouth) produce tears or saliva.
4. dilute (a drink) with water.
5. (water down) make less forceful or controversial by changing or leaving out certain details.
6. (of a river) flow through (an area).

IDIOMS -
hold water (of a theory) appear sound.
make water (of a ship or boat) take in water through a leak.
of the first water
1. (of a diamond or pearl) of the greatest brilliance and transparency.
2. unsurpassed of their kind: she was a bore of the first water.
under water submerged; flooded.
water on the brain informal hydrocephalus.
water under the bridge (or N. Amer. water over the dam) past events that are over and don e with.

DERIVATIVES:
waterless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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water-based

adjective
(of a substance or solution) using or having water as a medium or main ingredient.

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waterbed

noun
a bed with a water-filled rubber or plastic mattress.

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water biscuit

noun
a thin, crisp unsweetened biscuit made from flour and water.

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water buffalo

noun
a large black buffalo with heavy swept-back horns, used as a beast of burden throughout the tropics.

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water cannon

noun
a device that ejects a powerful jet of water, used to disperse a crowd.

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water chestnut

noun
the crisp, white-fleshed tuber of a tropical aquatic sedge, used in oriental cookery.

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water closet

noun dated
a flush toilet.

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watercolour (US watercolor)

noun
1. artists' paint made with a water-soluble binder, and thinned with water rather than oil.
2. a picture painted with watercolours.
3. the art of painting with watercolours.

DERIVATIVES:
watercolourist noun.

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watercourse

noun
a brook, stream, or artificially constructed water channel.

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watercress

noun
a cress which grows in running water and whose pungent leaves are used in salad.

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waterfall

noun
a cascade of water falling from a height, formed when a river or stream flows over a precipice or steep incline.

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waterfowl

plural noun
ducks, geese, or other large aquatic birds.

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waterfront

noun
a part of a town or city alongside a body of water.

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waterhole

noun
a depression in which water collects, typically one at which animals drink.

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water ice

noun
a frozen dessert consisting of fruit juice or purée in a sugar syrup.

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watering can

noun
a portable water container with a long spout and a detachable perforated cap, used for watering plants.

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watering hole

noun
1. a waterhole from which animals regularly drink.
2. informal a pub or bar.

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watering place

noun
1. a watering hole.
2. a spa or seaside resort.

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water level

noun
1. the height reached by a body of water.
2. a water table.

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water lily

noun
an ornamental aquatic plant with large round floating leaves and large cup-shaped flowers.

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waterline

noun
1. the level normally reached by the water on the side of a ship.
2. a line on a shore, riverbank, etc. marking the level reached by the sea or a river.

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waterlogged

adjective
saturated with or full of water.

ORIGIN: from archaic waterlog «make a ship unmanageable by flooding», from WATER + LOG.

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water main

noun
the main pipe in a water supply system.

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waterman

noun
1. a boatman.
2. an oarsman of a specified level of knowledge or skill.

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watermark

noun
a faint design made in some paper during manufacture that is visible when held against the light, identifying the maker.

verb
mark with such a design.

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water meadow

noun
a meadow that is periodically flooded by a stream or river.

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watermelon

noun
a large melon-like fruit with smooth green skin, red pulp, and watery juice.

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watermill

noun
a mill worked by a waterwheel.

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water pistol

noun
a toy pistol that shoots a jet of water.

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water polo

noun
a seven-a-side game played by swimmers in a pool, with a ball like a football that is thrown into the opponents' net.

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waterproof

adjective
impervious to water.

noun Brit.
a waterproof garment.

verb
make waterproof.

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water rat

noun
1. a large semiaquatic rat-like rodent.
2. Brit. a water vole.

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water-resistant

adjective
able to resist the penetration of water to some degree but not entirely.

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watershed

noun
1. an area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas.
2. a turning point in a state of affairs.
3. Brit. the time after which programmes that are unsuitable for children are broadcast on television.

ORIGIN: from WATER + shed in the sense «ridge of high ground» (related to SHED).

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waterside

noun
the area adjoining a sea, lake, or river.

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waterski

noun (pl. waterskis)
each of a pair of skis enabling the wearer to skim the surface of the water when towed by a motor boat.

verb
travel on waterskis.

DERIVATIVES:
waterskier noun.

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waterspout

noun
a rotating column of water and spray formed by a whirlwind occurring over the sea or other body of water.

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water table

noun
the level below which the ground is saturated with water.

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watertight

adjective
1. closely sealed, fastened, or fitted so as to prevent the passage of water.
2. (of an argument or account) unable to be disputed or questioned.

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water tower

noun
a tower supporting an elevated water tank, whose height creates the pressure required to distribute the water through a piped system.

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water vole

noun
a large semiaquatic vole which excavates burrows in the banks of rivers.

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waterway

noun
a river, canal, or other route for travel by water.

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waterwheel

noun
a large wheel driven by flowing water, used to work machinery or to raise water to a higher level.

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water wings

plural noun
inflated floats fixed to the arms of someone learning to swim to give increased buoyancy.

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waterworks

plural noun
1. (treated as sing. ) an establishment for managing a water supply.
2. informal the shedding of tears.
3. Brit. euphemistic, humorous the urinary system.

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watery

adjective
1. consisting of, containing, or resembling water.
2. (of food or drink) thin or tasteless as a result of containing too much water.
3. weak or pale.

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watt

noun
the unit of power in the SI system, equivalent to one joule per second and corresponding to the rate of energy in an electric circuit where the potential difference is one volt and the current one ampere.

ORIGIN: named after the Scottish engineer James Watt (1736 1819).

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wattage

noun
an amount of electrical power expressed in watts.

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watt-hour

noun
a measure of electrical energy equivalent to a power consumption of one watt for one hour.

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wattle [1]

noun
1. a material for making fences, walls, etc., consisting of rods or stakes interlaced with twigs or branches.
2. an Australian acacia with long pliant branches and cream, yellow, or golden flowers.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wattle [2]

noun
a fleshy lobe hanging from the head or neck of the turkey and some other birds.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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wattle and daub

noun
a material formerly used in building walls, consisting of wattle covered with mud or clay.

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wave

verb
1. move one's hand to and fro in greeting or as a signal.
2. move (one's hand or arm, or something held in one's hand) to and fro.
3. move to and fro with a swaying motion while remaining fixed to one point.
4. style (hair) so that it curls slightly.

noun
1. a ridge of water curling into an arched form and breaking on the shore or between two depressions in open water.
2. a sudden occurrence of or increase in a phenomenon or emotion.
3. a gesture or signal made by waving one's hand.
4. a slightly curling lock of hair.
5. Physics a periodic disturbance of the particles of a substance which is propagated without net movement of the particles, as in the passage of undulating motion or sound.
6. Physics a similar variation of an electromagnetic field in the propagation of light or other radiation.

IDIOMS -
make waves informal
1. create a significant impression.
2. cause trouble.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WAVER.

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waveband

noun
a range of wavelengths between two given limits, used in radio transmission.

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waveform

noun Physics
a curve showing the shape of a wave at a given time.

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wavelength

noun
1. Physics the distance between successive crests of a wave, especially as a distinctive feature of sound, light, radio waves, etc.
2. a person's way of thinking when communicated to another: we weren't on the same wavelength.

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wavelet

noun
a small wave.

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waver

verb
1. move quiveringly; flicker.
2. begin to weaken; falter.
3. be indecisive.

DERIVATIVES:
waverer noun
wavery adjective.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'flicker' .

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wavy

adjective (wavier, waviest)
having or consisting of a series of wave-like curves.

DERIVATIVES:
waviness noun.

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wax [1]

noun
1. beeswax.
2. a soft solid oily substance that melts easily, used for making candles or polishes.

verb
1. polish or treat with wax.
2. remove hair from (a part of the body) by applying wax and then peeling it off with the hairs.
3. informal make a recording of.

DERIVATIVES:
waxer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wax [2]

verb
1. (of the moon) have a progressively larger part of its visible surface illuminated, so that it appears to increase in size.
2. literary become larger or stronger.
3. speak or write in the specified manner: they waxed lyrical about the old days.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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waxen

adjective
1. having a smooth, pale, translucent surface like that of wax.
2. archaic or literary made of wax.

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waxwing

noun
a crested songbird, mainly pinkish-brown and with bright red tips to some wing feathers.

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waxwork

noun
1. a lifelike dummy modelled in wax.
2. (waxworks) (treated as sing. ) an exhibition of waxworks.

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waxy

adjective (waxier, waxiest)
resembling wax in consistency or appearance.

DERIVATIVES:
waxiness noun.

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way

noun
1. a method, style, or manner of doing something.
2. the typical manner in which someone behaves or in which something happens.
3. a road, track, path, or street.
4. a route or means taken in order to reach, enter, or leave a place.
5. the route along which someone or something is travelling or would travel if unobstructed.
6. a specified direction.
7. the distance in space or time between two points.
8. informal a particular area or locality.
9. a particular aspect or respect.
10. a specified condition or state: the family was in a poor way.
11. (ways) parts into which something divides or is divided.
12. forward motion or momentum of a ship or boat through water.

adverb informal
at or to a considerable distance or extent.

IDIOMS -
by the way incidentally.
by way of
1. via.
2. as a form of.
3. by means of.
come one's way happen or become available to one.
get (or have) one's (own) way get or do what one wants in spite of opposition.
give way
1. yield.
2. be unable to carry a load or withstand a force and collapse or break.
3. allow another to be or go first.
4. (give way to) be replaced or superseded by.
go one's own way act as one wishes, especially against contrary advice.
go one's way
1. (of events, circumstances, etc.) be favourable to one.
2. leave.
have a way with have a particular talent for dealing with or ability in.
have one's way with humorous have sexual intercourse with.
in a way (or in some ways or in one way) to a certain extent.
lead the way
1. go first along a route to show someone the way.
2. be a pioneer.
one way and another (or one way or the other)
1. taking most aspects or considerations into account.
2. by some means.
3. whichever of two given alternatives is the case.
on the (or its) way about to arrive or happen.
on the (or one's) way out informal
1. going out of fashion or favour.
2. dying.
the other way round (or around; Brit. also about)
1. in the opposite position or direction.
2. the opposite of what is expected or supposed.
out of the way
1. (of a place) remote.
2. dealt with or finished.
3. no longer an obstacle to someone's plans.
4. unusual or exceptional.
ways and means the methods and resources for achieving something.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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waybill

noun
a list of passengers or goods being carried on a vehicle.

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wayfarer

noun literary
a person who travels on foot.

DERIVATIVES:
wayfaring noun.

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waylay

verb (past and past part. waylaid)
1. intercept in order to attack.
2. intercept and detain with questions, conversation, etc.

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waymark

noun (also waymarker)
a sign forming one of a series used to mark out a footpath or similar route.

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way-out

adjective informal
unconventional or avant-garde.

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-ways

suffix
forming adjectives and adverbs of direction or manner: lengthways.

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wayside

noun
the edge of a road.

IDIOMS -
fall by the wayside fail to persist in an undertaking. [ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 8.]

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way station

noun N. Amer.
a stopping place on a journey.

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wayward

adjective
self-willed and unpredictable; perverse.

DERIVATIVES:
waywardly adverb
waywardness noun.

ORIGIN: shortening of obsolete awayward «turned away».

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wazzock

noun Brit. informal
a stupid or annoying person.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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Wb

abbreviation
weber(s).

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WBA

abbreviation
World Boxing Association.

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WBC

abbreviation
World Boxing Council.

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WC

abbreviation Brit.
water closet.

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we

pronoun (first person pl. )
1. used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself and one or more other people considered together.
2. people in general.
3. used in formal contexts for or by a royal person, or by a writer, to refer to himself or herself.
4. you (used condescendingly).
USAGE - On whether to use we or us following than, see the note at THAN.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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weak

adjective
1. lacking physical strength and energy.
2. liable to break or give way under pressure.
3. not secure, stable, or firmly established.
4. lacking power, influence, or ability.
5. lacking intensity.
6. (of a liquid or solution) heavily diluted.
7. not convincing or forceful.
8. Grammar (of verbs) forming the past tense and past participle by addition of a suffix (in English, typically -ed).

IDIOMS -
the weaker sex (treated as sing. or pl. ) dated women regarded collectively.
weak at the knees helpless with emotion.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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weaken

verb
make or become weak.

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weak-kneed

adjective
1. weak and shaky from fear or excitement.
2. lacking in resolve or courage.

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weakling

noun
a weak person or animal.

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weakly

adverb
in a weak manner.

adjective (weaklier, weakliest)
weak or sickly.

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weakness

noun
1. the state or condition of being weak.
2. a disadvantage or fault.
3. a person or thing that one is unable to resist.
4. (weakness for) a self-indulgent liking for.

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weal [1] (also chiefly Medicine wheal)

noun
a red, swollen mark left on flesh by a blow or pressure.

ORIGIN: variant of WALE, influenced by obsolete wheal «suppurate».

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weal [2]

noun formal
that which is best for someone or something: guardians of the public weal.

ORIGIN: Old English, «wealth, well-being»; related to WELL.

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wealth

noun
1. an abundance of valuable possessions or money.
2. the state of being rich.
3. an abundance or profusion of something desirable.

ORIGIN: from WELL or WEAL, on the pattern of health.

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wealthy

adjective (wealthier, wealthiest)
having a great deal of money, resources, or assets; rich.

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wean [1]

verb
1. accustom (a young mammal) to food other than its mother's milk.
2. (often wean off) make (someone) give up a habit or addiction.
3. (be weaned on) be strongly influenced by (something) from an early age.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wean [2]

noun Scottish & N. English
a young child.

ORIGIN: contraction of wee ane «little one».

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weapon

noun
1. a thing designed or used for inflicting bodily harm or physical damage.
2. a means of gaining an advantage or defending oneself.

DERIVATIVES:
weaponry noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wear

verb (past wore; past part. worn)
1. have on one's body as clothing, decoration, or protection.
2. exhibit or present (a particular facial expression or appearance).
3. damage or destroy or suffer damage or destruction by friction or use.
4. withstand continued use to a specified degree: the fabric wears well wash after wash.
5. (wear off) lose effectiveness or intensity.
6. (wear down) overcome by persistence.
7. (wear out) exhaust.
8. (wearing) mentally or physically tiring.
9. (wear on) (of time) pass slowly or tediously.

noun
1. the action of wearing or the state of being worn.
2. clothing suitable for a particular purpose or of a particular type.
3. damage sustained from continuous use.
4. the capacity for withstanding such damage.

IDIOMS -
wear thin gradually dwindle or be used up.

DERIVATIVES:
wearable adjective
wearer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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weary

adjective (wearier, weariest)
1. tired.
2. causing tiredness.
3. (often weary of) reluctant to experience any more of.

verb (wearies, wearied)
1. make weary.
2. (weary of) grow tired of.

DERIVATIVES:
wearily adverb
weariness noun
wearisome adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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weasel

noun
1. a small slender carnivorous mammal related to the stoat, with reddish-brown fur.
2. informal a deceitful or treacherous person.

verb (weaselled, weaselling; US weaseled, weaseling)
achieve through cunning or deceit.

DERIVATIVES:
weaselly adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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weather

noun
1. the state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards temperature, wind, rain, etc.
2. (before another noun ) denoting the side from which the wind is blowing; windward. Contrasted with LEE.

verb
1. wear away or change in form or appearance by long exposure to the weather.
2. come safely through.

IDIOMS -
keep a weather eye on be watchful for developments.
make heavy weather of informal have unnecessary difficulty in dealing with (a task or problem). [ORIGIN: from the nautical phrase make good or bad weather of it, referring to a ship in a storm.]
under the weather informal slightly unwell or depressed.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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weather-beaten

adjective
damaged, worn, or tanned by exposure to the weather.

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weatherboard chiefly Brit.

noun
1. a sloping board attached to the bottom of an outside door to keep out the rain.
2. each of a series of horizontal boards nailed to outside walls with edges overlapping to keep out the rain.

DERIVATIVES:
weatherboarding noun.

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weathercock

noun
a weathervane in the form of a cockerel.

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weatherman (or weatherwoman)

noun
a person who broadcasts a description and forecast of weather conditions.

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weather station

noun
an observation post where weather conditions and meteorological data are observed and recorded.

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weathervane

noun
a revolving pointer to show the direction of the wind.

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weave [1]

verb (past wove; past part. woven or wove)
1. form (fabric) by interlacing long threads passing in one direction with others at a right angle to them.
2. (usu. as noun weaving) make fabric in this way.
3. make (basketwork or a wreath) by interlacing rods or flowers.
4. (weave into) make (interconnected elements) into (a story).

noun
a particular style or manner in which fabric is woven: cloth of a very fine weave.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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weave [2]

verb
move from side to side to progress around obstructions.

IDIOMS -
get weaving Brit. informal set briskly to work.

ORIGIN: probably from an Old Norse word meaning 'to wave, brandish' .

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weaver

noun
1. a person who weaves fabric.
2. (also weaver bird) a finch-like songbird of tropical Africa and Asia, which builds elaborately woven nests.

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web

noun
1. a network of fine threads constructed by a spider, used to catch its prey.
2. a complex system of interconnected elements.
3. (the Web) short for WORLD WIDE WEB.
4. a membrane between the toes of a swimming bird or other aquatic animal.
5. a roll of paper used in a continuous printing process.
6. a piece of woven fabric.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WEAVE.

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webbed

adjective
1. (of an animal's feet) having the toes connected by a web.
2. Medicine (of fingers or toes) abnormally united by a fold of skin.

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webbing

noun
strong, closely woven fabric used chiefly for making straps and belts and for supporting the seats of upholstered chairs.

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webcam (also Webcam)

noun (trademark in the US)
a video camera connected to a computer, so that its output may be viewed on the Internet.

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webcast

noun
a live video broadcast of an event transmitted across the Internet.

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weber

noun
the unit of magnetic flux in the SI system, sufficient to cause an electromotive force of one volt in a circuit of one turn when generated or removed in one second.

ORIGIN: named after the German physicist Wilhelm Eduard Weber (1804 91).

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webmaster

noun Computing
a person who is responsible for a particular server on the Internet.

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web page

noun Computing
a hypertext document accessible via the Internet.

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website

noun Computing
a location connected to the Internet that maintains one or more web pages.

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wed

verb (wedding; past and past part. wedded or wed)
1. formal or literary marry.
2. formal or literary give or join in marriage.
3. (wedded) of or concerning marriage.
4. combine (two desirable factors or qualities).
5. (be wedded to) be entirely devoted to (an activity, belief, etc.).

ORIGIN: Old English, related to GAGE.

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we'd

contraction
1. we had.
2. we should or we would.

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wedding

noun
a marriage ceremony.

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wedding breakfast

noun Brit.
a celebratory meal eaten just after a wedding (at any time of day) by the couple and their guests.

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wedding march

noun
a piece of march music played at the entrance of the bride or the exit of the couple at a wedding.

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wedding ring

noun
a ring worn by a married person, given to them by their spouse at their wedding.

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wedge

noun
1. a piece of wood, metal, etc. with a thick end that tapers to a thin edge, that is driven between two objects or parts of an object to secure or separate them.
2. a wedge-shaped thing or piece.
3. a golf club with a low, angled face for maximum loft.
4. a shoe with a fairly high heel forming a solid block with the sole.

verb
1. fix in position using a wedge.
2. force into a narrow space.

IDIOMS -
drive a wedge between cause a breach between.
the thin end of the wedge informal an action of little importance in itself but likely to lead to more serious developments.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Wedgwood

noun
1. trademark ceramic ware made by the English potter Josiah Wedgwood (1730 95) and his successors, especially a kind of stoneware with white embossed cameos.
2. a powder-blue colour characteristic of this stoneware.

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wedlock

noun
the state of being married.

IDIOMS -
born in (or out of) wedlock born of married (or unmarried) parents.

ORIGIN: Old English, «marriage vow».

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Wednesday

noun
the day of the week before Thursday and following Tuesday.

ORIGIN: Old English, named after the Germanic god Odin; translation of Latin Mercurii dies 'day of Mercury' .

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wee [1]

adjective (weer, weest) chiefly Scottish
little.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wee [2] informal, chiefly Brit.

noun
1. an act of urinating.
2. urine.

verb (wees, weed)
urinate.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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weed

noun
1. a wild plant growing where it is not wanted and in competition with cultivated plants.
2. informal cannabis.
3. (the weed) informal tobacco.
4. informal a weak or skinny person.

verb
1. remove weeds from.
2. (weed out) remove (inferior or unwanted items or members) from something.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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weedkiller

noun
a substance used to destroy weeds.

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weedy

adjective (weedier, weediest)
1. containing or covered with many weeds.
2. informal thin and puny.

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week

noun
1. a period of seven days.
2. the period of seven days generally reckoned from and to midnight on Saturday night.
3. chiefly Brit. (preceded by a specified day) a week after (that day).
4. the five days from Monday to Friday, or the time spent working during this period.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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weekday

noun
a day of the week other than Sunday or Saturday.

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weekend

noun
Saturday and Sunday.

verb informal
spend a weekend somewhere.

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weekender

noun
a person who spends weekends away from their main home.

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weekly

adjective
1. done, produced, or occurring once a week.
2. calculated in terms of a week.

adverb
once a week.

noun (pl. weekies)
a newspaper or periodical issued every week.

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weeny

adjective (weenier, weeniest) informal
tiny.

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weep

verb (past and past part. wept)
1. shed tears.
2. exude liquid.
3. (weeping) used in names of trees and shrubs with drooping branches, e.g. weeping willow.

noun
a fit or spell of shedding tears.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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weepie (also weepy)

noun (pl. weepies) informal
a sentimental or emotional film, novel, or song.

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weepy

adjective (weepier, weepiest) informal
1. tearful; inclined to weep.
2. sentimental.

DERIVATIVES:
weepily adverb
weepiness noun.

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weevil

noun
a small beetle with an elongated snout, several kinds of which are pests of crops or stored foodstuffs.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wee-wee informal, chiefly Brit.

noun
a child's word for urine.

verb
urinate.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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weft

noun
(in weaving) the crosswise threads that are passed over and under the warp threads on a loom to make cloth.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WEAVE.

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weigh

verb
1. find out how heavy (someone or something) is.
2. have a specified weight.
3. (weigh out) measure and take out (a portion of a particular weight).
4. (weigh down) be heavy and cumbersome or oppressive to.
5. (weigh on) be depressing or worrying to.
6. (weigh in) (of a boxer or jockey) be officially weighed before or after a contest.
7. (often weigh up) assess the nature or importance of.
8. (often weigh against) influence a decision or action.
9. (weigh in) informal make a forceful contribution to a competition or argument.
10. (weigh into) join in or attack forcefully or enthusiastically.

IDIOMS -
weigh anchor Nautical take up the anchor when ready to sail.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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weighbridge

noun
a machine for weighing vehicles, set into the ground to be driven on to.

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weigh-in

noun
an official weighing, e.g. of boxers before a fight.

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weight

noun
1. a body's relative mass or the quantity of matter contained by it, giving rise to a downward force; heaviness.
2. Physics the force exerted on the mass of a body by a gravitational field.
3. the quality of being heavy.
4. a unit or system of units used for expressing how much something weighs.
5. a piece of metal known to weigh a definite amount and used on scales to determine how heavy something is.
6. a heavy object.
7. (weights) heavy blocks or discs used in weightlifting or weight training.
8. ability to influence decisions or actions: their recommendation will carry great weight.
9. the importance attached to something.
10. a feeling of oppression or pressure.
11. the surface density of cloth, used as a measure of its quality.

verb
1. make heavier or keep in place with a weight.
2. attach importance or value to.
3. (be weighted) be planned or arranged so as to give someone or something an advantage.

IDIOMS -
be worth one's weight in gold be exceedingly useful or helpful.
throw one's weight about (or around) informal be unpleasantly self-assertive.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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weighting

noun
1. allowance or adjustment made to take account of special circumstances or compensate for a distorting factor.
2. Brit. additional wages or salary paid to allow for a higher cost of living in a particular area.

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weightless

adjective
(of a body) not apparently acted on by gravity.

DERIVATIVES:
weightlessly adverb
weightlessness noun.

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weightlifting

noun
the sport or activity of lifting barbells or other heavy weights.

DERIVATIVES:
weightlifter noun.

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weight training

noun
physical training that involves lifting weights.

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weighty

adjective (weightier, weightiest)
1. weighing a great deal; heavy.
2. very serious and important.
3. very influential.

DERIVATIVES:
weightily adverb
weightiness noun.

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weir

noun
1. a low dam built across a river to raise the level of water upstream or regulate its flow.
2. an enclosure of stakes set in a stream as a trap for fish.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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weird

adjective
1. suggesting something supernatural; uncanny.
2. informal very strange; bizarre.

DERIVATIVES:
weirdly adverb
weirdness noun.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «having the power to control destiny»: from an Old English word meaning «destiny, fate».

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weirdo

noun (pl. weirdos) informal
a strange or eccentric person.

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welcome

noun
1. an instance or manner of greeting someone.
2. a pleased or approving reaction.

exclamation
used to greet someone in a glad or friendly way.

verb
1. greet (someone arriving) in a glad, polite, or friendly way.
2. be glad to receive or hear of.

adjective
1. (of a guest or new arrival) gladly received.
2. very pleasing because much needed or desired.
3. allowed or invited to do a specified thing.
4. (welcome to) used to indicate relief at relinquishing something to another: you're welcome to it!

DERIVATIVES:
welcomer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «a person whose coming is pleasing».

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weld

verb
1. join together (metal parts) by heating the surfaces to the point of melting and pressing or hammering them together.
2. forge (an article) by such means.
3. cause to combine and form a whole.

noun
a welded joint.

DERIVATIVES:
welder noun.

ORIGIN: alteration of WELL in the obsolete sense 'melt or weld (heated metal)' .

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welfare

noun
1. the health, happiness, and fortunes of a person or group.
2. action or procedure designed to promote the basic physical and material well-being of people in need.
3. chiefly N. Amer. financial support given for this purpose.

ORIGIN: from WELL + FARE.

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welfare state

noun
a system whereby the state undertakes to protect the health and well-being of its citizens by means of grants, pensions, and other benefits.

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well [1]

adverb (better, best)
1. in a good or satisfactory way.
2. in a condition of prosperity or comfort.
3. in a favourable or approving manner.
4. in a thorough manner.
5. to a great extent or degree; very much.
6. Brit. informal very; extremely: he was well out of order.
7. very probably; in all likelihood.
8. without difficulty.
9. with good reason.
10. archaic luckily; opportunely: hail fellow, well met.

adjective (better, best)
1. in good health; free or recovered from illness.
2. in a satisfactory state or position.
3. sensible; advisable.

exclamation
used to express surprise, anger, resignation, etc., or when pausing in speech.

IDIOMS -
as well in addition; too.
as well (or just as well)
1. with equal reason or an equally good result.
2. sensible, appropriate, or desirable.
be well out of Brit. informal be fortunate to be no longer involved in.
be well up on know a great deal about.
leave (or let) well alone refrain from interfering with or trying to improve something.
well and truly completely.

USAGE - When well is used with a past participle, such as ‘built’, and the resulting compound precedes the noun, it is advisable to use a hyphen, as in a tall, well-built man ; usually a hyphen is not used when the c ompound stands alone, as in her remarks were well intentioned .
ORIGIN: Old English, probably related to WILL.

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well [2]

noun
1. a shaft sunk into the ground to obtain water, oil, or gas.
2. a depression made to hold liquid.
3. a plentiful source or supply.
4. an enclosed space in the middle of a building, giving room for stairs or a lift or allowing light or ventilation.

verb (often well up)
1. (of a liquid) rise up to the surface and spill or be about to spill.
2. (of an emotion) arise and become more intense.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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we'll

contraction
we shall; we will.

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well advised

adjective
sensible; wise.

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well appointed

adjective
(of a building or room) having a high standard of equipment or furnishing.

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well-being

noun
the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.

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well disposed

adjective
having a positive, sympathetic, or friendly attitude.

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well done

adjective
1. carried out successfully or satisfactorily.
2. (of food) thoroughly cooked.

exclamation
used to express congratulation or approval.

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well endowed

adjective
1. having plentiful supplies of a resource.
2. informal, humorous (of a man) having large genitals.
3. informal, humorous (of a woman) large-breasted.

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well-heeled

adjective informal
wealthy.

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well hung

adjective informal, humorous
(of a man) having large genitals.

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wellington (also wellington boot)

noun chiefly Brit.
a knee-length waterproof rubber or plastic boot.

ORIGIN: named after the British soldier and Prime Minister the 1st Duke of Wellington (1769 1852).

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well known

adjective
known widely or thoroughly.

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well meaning (also well meant)

adjective
having good intentions but not necessarily the desired effect.

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well-nigh

adverb chiefly literary
almost.

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well off

adjective
1. wealthy.
2. in a favourable situation or circumstances.

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well preserved

adjective
(of an old person) showing little sign of ageing.

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well rounded

adjective
1. having a pleasing curved shape.
2. (of a person) plump.
3. having a mature personality and varied interests.

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well spoken

adjective
speaking in an educated and refined manner.

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wellspring

noun literary
1. a well head of a spring.
2. an abundant source of something.

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well thumbed

adjective
(of a book) having been read often and bearing marks of frequent handling.

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well-to-do

adjective
wealthy; prosperous.

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well travelled

adjective
1. (of a person) having travelled widely.
2. (of a route) much frequented by travellers.

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well trodden

adjective
much frequented by travellers.

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well turned

adjective
1. (of a phrase or compliment) elegantly expressed.
2. (of a woman's ankle or leg) attractively shaped.

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well-wisher

noun
a person who desires happiness or success for another, or who expresses such a desire.

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well worn

adjective
1. showing the signs of extensive use or wear.
2. (of a phrase or idea) used or repeated so often that it no longer has interest or significance.

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welly (also wellie)

noun (pl. wellies) Brit. informal
1. short for WELLINGTON.
2. power or vigour.

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Welsh

noun
the language of Wales.

adjective
relating to Wales.

DERIVATIVES:
Welshness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, from Latin Volcae, the name of a Celtic people.

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welsh (also welch)

verb (welsh on)
fail to honour (a debt or obligation).

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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welt

noun
1. a leather rim round the edge of the upper of a shoe, to which the sole is attached.
2. a ribbed, reinforced, or decorative border of a garment or pocket.
3. a weal.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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welter

noun
a large number of items in no order; a confused mass.

verb literary
1. move in a turbulent fashion.
2. lie steeped in blood.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «writhe, wallow»: from Dutch, Low German welteren.

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welterweight

noun
a weight in boxing and other sports intermediate between lightweight and middleweight.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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wen

noun
a boil or other swelling or growth on the skin.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wench

noun archaic or humorous
a girl or young woman.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of obsolete wenchel «child, servant, prostitute».

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wend

verb (wend one's way)
go slowly or by an indirect route.

ORIGIN: Old English, «to turn, depart»; related to WIND.

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Wendy house

noun Brit.
a toy house large enough for children to play in.

ORIGIN: named after the house built around Wendy in J. M. Barrie's play Peter Pan.

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we're

contraction
we are.

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weren't

contraction
were not.

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werewolf

noun (pl. werewolves)
(in folklore) a person who periodically changes into a wolf, typically when there is a full moon.

ORIGIN: Old English; the first element has usually been identified with Old English wer «man».

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Wesleyan

adjective
relating to or denoting the teachings of the English preacher John Wesley (1703 91) or the main branch of the Methodist Church which he founded.

noun
a follower of Wesley or adherent of the main Methodist tradition.

DERIVATIVES:
Wesleyanism noun.

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west

noun (usu. the west)
1. the direction towards the point of the horizon where the sun sets at the equinoxes, on the left-hand side of a person facing north.
2. the western part of a country, region, or town.
3. (the West) Europe and North America seen in contrast to other civilizations.
4. (the West) historical the non-Communist states of Europe and North America.

adjective
1. lying towards, near, or facing the west.
2. (of a wind) blowing from the west.

adverb
to or towards the west.

IDIOMS -
go west Brit. informal be killed or lost.

DERIVATIVES:
westbound adjective & adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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westerly

adjective & adverb
1. in a westward position or direction.
2. (of a wind) blowing from the west.

noun
1. a wind blowing from the west.
2. (westerlies) the belt of prevailing westerly winds in medium latitudes in the southern hemisphere.

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western

adjective
1. situated in, directed towards, or facing the west.
2. (usu. Western) living in, coming from, or characteristic of the west, in particular Europe and North America.

noun
a film or novel about cowboys in western North America.

DERIVATIVES:
westernmost adjective.

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Western Church

noun
the part of the Christian Church originating in the Western Roman Empire, including the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Reformed Churches.

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westerner

noun
a person from the west of a particular region or country.

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westernize (also westernise)

verb
bring or come under the influence of the cultural, economic, or political systems of Europe and North America.

DERIVATIVES:
westernization noun
westernizer noun.

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west-north-west

noun
the direction or compass point midway between west and north-west.

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west-south-west

noun
the direction or compass point midway between west and south-west.

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westward

adjective
towards the west.

adverb (also westwards)
in a westerly direction.

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wet

adjective (wetter, wettest)
1. covered or saturated with liquid.
2. (of the weather) rainy.
3. involving the use of water or liquid.
4. (of paint, ink, etc.) not yet having dried or hardened.
5. Brit. informal lacking forcefulness or strength of character; feeble.
6. informal (of an area) allowing the free sale of alcoholic drink.

verb (wetting; past and past part. wet or wetted)
1. cover or touch with liquid.
2. (especially of a young child) urinate in or on.
3. (wet oneself) urinate involuntarily.

noun
1. liquid that makes something damp.
2. (the wet) rainy weather.
3. Brit. informal a feeble person.
4. Brit. a Conservative politician (especially in the 1980s) with liberal tendencies.

IDIOMS -
wet the baby's head Brit. informal celebrate a baby's birth with a drink.
wet behind the ears informal lacking experience; immature.
wet one's whistle informal have a drink.

DERIVATIVES:
wetly adverb
wetness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WATER.

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wet blanket

noun informal
a person who spoils other people's enjoyment with their disapproving or unenthusiastic manner.

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wet dream

noun
an erotic dream that causes involuntary ejaculation of semen.

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wether

noun
a castrated ram.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wetland

noun (also wetlands)
swampy or marshy land.

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wet nurse

noun chiefly historical
a woman employed to suckle another woman's child.

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wet rot

noun
a brown fungus causing decay in moist timber.

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wetsuit

noun
a close-fitting rubber garment covering the entire body, worn for warmth in water sports or diving.

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we've

contraction
we have.

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whack informal

verb
1. strike forcefully with a sharp blow.
2. defeat heavily.
3. place or insert roughly or carelessly.
4. N. Amer. murder.

noun
1. a sharp or resounding blow.
2. a try or attempt.
3. Brit. a specified share of or contribution to something.

IDIOMS -
out of whack chiefly N. Amer. & Austral./NZ not working.
top (or full) whack chiefly Brit. the maximum price or rate.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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whacked (also whacked out)

adjective informal
1. chiefly Brit. completely exhausted.
2. chiefly N. Amer. under the influence of drugs.

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whacking

adjective Brit. informal
very large.

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whale

noun (pl. same or whales)
a very large marine mammal with a horizontal tail fin and a blowhole on top of the head for breathing.

IDIOMS -
a whale of a informal an exceedingly good example of something.
have a whale of a time informal enjoy oneself very much.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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whalebone

noun
1. an elastic horny substance which grows in a series of thin parallel plates in the upper jaw of some whales and is used by them to strain plankton from the seawater.
2. strips of this substance, formerly used as stays in corsets and dresses.

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whaler

noun
1. a whaling ship.
2. a seaman engaged in whaling.

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whaling

noun
the practice or industry of hunting and killing whales for their oil, meat, or whalebone.

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wham informal

exclamation
used to express the sound of a forcible impact or the idea of a sudden and dramatic occurrence.

verb (whammed, whamming)
strike something forcefully.

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whammy

noun (pl. whammies) informal
an event with a powerful and unpleasant effect; a blow.

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wharf

noun (pl. wharves or wharfs)
a level quayside area to which a ship may be moored to load and unload.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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what

pronoun & determiner
1. asking for information specifying something.
2. (as pronoun ) asking for repetition of something not heard or confirmation of something not understood.
3. (as pronoun ) the thing or things that.
4. whatever.
5. used to emphasize something surprising or remarkable.

adverb
1. to what extent?
2. informal, dated used for emphasis or to invite agreement.

IDIOMS -
give someone what for informal , chiefly Brit. punish or scold someone severely.
what for? informal for what reason?
what's what informal what is useful or important.
what with because of.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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whatever

pronoun & determiner
used to emphasize a lack of restriction in referring to any thing; no matter what.

pronoun
used for emphasis instead of ‘what’ in questions.

adverb
1. at all; of any kind.
2. informal no matter what happens.

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whatnot

noun informal
used to refer to an unidentified item or items having something in common with items already named.

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whatsit

noun informal
a person or thing whose name one cannot recall, does not know, or does not wish to specify.

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whatsoever

adverb
at all.

determiner & pronoun archaic
whatever.

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wheat

noun
a cereal widely grown in temperate countries, the grain of which is ground to make flour.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WHITE.

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wheatear

noun
a songbird with black and grey, buff, or white plumage and a white rump.

ORIGIN: apparently from WHITE + ARSE.

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wheaten

adjective
made of wheat.

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wheatgerm

noun
a nutritious foodstuff consisting of the extracted embryos of grains of wheat.

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wheatmeal

noun
flour made from wheat from which some of the bran and germ has been removed.

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wheedle

verb
use endearments or flattery to persuade someone to do something.

ORIGIN: perhaps from German wedeln 'cringe, fawn' .

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wheel

noun
1. a circular object that revolves on an axle, fixed below a vehicle to enable it to move along or forming part of a machine.
2. something resembling a wheel or having a wheel as its essential part.
3. (wheels) informal a car.
4. an instance of wheeling; a turn or rotation.
5. a recurring cycle of events: he attempted to stop the wheel of history.

verb
1. push or pull (a vehicle with wheels).
2. carry in or on a vehicle with wheels.
3. fly or turn in a wide circle or curve.
4. turn round quickly to face another way.
5. (wheel in/on/out) informal produce (something that is unimpressive because it has been frequently seen or heard before).

IDIOMS -
wheel and deal engage in commercial or political scheming.
the wheel of Fortune the wheel which the deity Fortune is fabled to turn as a symbol of random luck or change.
wheels within wheels secret or indirect influences affecting a complex situation.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wheelbarrow

noun
a small cart with a single wheel at the front and two supporting legs and two handles at the rear, used for carrying loads in building or gardening.

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wheelbase

noun
the distance between the front and rear axles of a vehicle.

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wheelchair

noun
a mobile wheeled chair for an invalid or disabled person.

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wheel clamp

noun
a device for immobilizing an unlawfully parked car.

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wheeler

noun (in combination )
a vehicle having a specified number of wheels: a three-wheeler.

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wheeler-dealer (also wheeler and dealer)

noun
a person who engages in commercial or political scheming.

DERIVATIVES:
wheeler-dealing noun.

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wheelhouse

noun
a shelter for the person at the wheel of a boat or ship.

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wheelie

noun informal
a manoeuvre whereby a bicycle or motorcycle is ridden for a short distance with the front wheel raised off the ground.

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wheelie bin (also wheely bin)

noun Brit. informal
a large refuse bin set on wheels.

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wheelspin

noun
rotation of a vehicle's wheels without traction.

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wheelwright

noun chiefly historical
a person who makes or repairs wooden wheels.

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wheeze

verb
1. breathe with a whistling or rattling sound in the chest, as a result of obstruction in the air passages.
2. (of a device) make an irregular rattling or spluttering sound.

noun
1. a sound of a person wheezing.
2. Brit. informal a clever or amusing scheme or trick.

DERIVATIVES:
wheezily adverb
wheeziness noun
wheezy adjective.

ORIGIN: probably from an Old Norse word meaning 'to hiss' .

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whelk

noun
a predatory marine mollusc with a heavy pointed spiral shell, some kinds of which are edible.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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whelp

noun chiefly archaic
1. a puppy.
2. derogatory a boy or young man.

verb
give birth to (a puppy).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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when

adverb
1. at what time?
2. how soon?
3. in what circumstances?
4. at which time or in which situation.

conjunction
1. at or during the time that.
2. at any time that; whenever.
3. after which; and just then.
4. in view of the fact that.
5. although; whereas.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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whence (also from whence)

adverb formal or archaic
1. from what place or source?
2. from which; from where.
3. to the place from which.
4. as a consequence of which.
USAGE - Whence means ‘from what place’, as in who are you and whence come you? Strictly speaking, the preposition from, as in the music store from whence the label was launched, is redundant, but nevertheless from whence is usually accepted as good English.

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whenever

conjunction
1. at whatever time; on whatever occasion.
2. every time that.

adverb
used for emphasis instead of ‘when’ in questions.

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where

adverb
1. in or to what place or position?
2. in what direction or respect?
3. at, in, or to which.
4. the place or situation in which.
5. in or to a place or situation in which.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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whereabouts

adverb
where or approximately where?

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
the place where someone or something is.

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whereas

conjunction
1. in contrast or comparison with the fact that.
2. taking into consideration the fact that.

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whereat

adverb & conjunction archaic or formal
at which.

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whereby

adverb
by which.

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wherefore archaic

adverb
for what reason?

adverb & conjunction
as a result of which.

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wherein

adverb formal
1. in which.
2. in what place or respect?

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whereof

adverb formal
of what or which.

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whereupon

conjunction
immediately after which.

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wherever

adverb
1. in or to whatever place.
2. used for emphasis instead of ‘where’ in questions.

conjunction
in every case when.

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wherewithal

noun
the money or other resources needed for a particular purpose.

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wherry

noun (pl. wherries)
1. a light rowing boat used chiefly for carrying passengers.
2. Brit. a large light barge.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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whet

verb (whetted, whetting)
1. sharpen the blade of (a tool or weapon).
2. excite or stimulate (someone's desire, interest, or appetite).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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whether

conjunction
1. expressing a doubt or choice between alternatives.
2. expressing an enquiry or investigation.
3. indicating that a statement applies whichever of the alternatives mentioned is the case.
USAGE - Whether and if are more or less interchangeable in sentences such as I'll see whether he left an address and I'll see if he left an address, although whether is more formal and more suitable for written use.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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whetstone

noun
a fine-grained stone used for sharpening cutting tools.

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whey

noun
the watery part of milk that remains after the formation of curds.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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which

pronoun & determiner
1. asking for information specifying one or more people or things from a definite set.
2. used to refer to something previously mentioned when introducing a clause giving further information.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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whichever

determiner & pronoun
1. used to emphasize a lack of restriction in selecting one of a definite set of alternatives.
2. regardless of which.

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whiff

noun
1. a smell that is smelt only briefly or faintly.
2. Brit. informal an unpleasant smell.
3. a trace or hint of something bad or exciting.
4. a puff or breath of air or smoke.

verb
1. get a brief or faint smell of.
2. Brit. informal give off an unpleasant smell.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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whiffy

adjective (whiffier, whiffiest) Brit. informal
having an unpleasant smell.

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Whig

noun historical
1. a member of the British reforming party that sought the supremacy of Parliament, succeeded in the 19th century by the Liberal Party.
2. a supporter of the American Revolution.
3. a 17th-century Scottish Presbyterian.

DERIVATIVES:
Whiggery noun
Whiggish adjective
Whiggism noun.

ORIGIN: probably a shortening of Scots whiggamore, the nickname of 17th-century Scottish rebels, from whig «to drive» + MARE.

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while

noun
1. (a while) a period of time.
2. (a while) for some time.
3. (the while) at the same time; meanwhile.
4. (the while) literary during the time that.

conjunction
1. at the same time as.
2. whereas (indicating a contrast).
3. although.

adverb
during which.

verb (while away)
pass (time) in a leisurely manner.

IDIOMS -
worth while (or worth one's while) worth the time or effort spent.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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whilst

conjunction & adverb chiefly Brit.
while.

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whim

noun
a sudden desire or change of mind.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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whimper

verb
make a series of low, feeble sounds expressive of fear, pain, or discontent.

noun
a whimpering sound.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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whimsical

adjective
1. playfully quaint or fanciful.
2. acting or behaving in a capricious manner.

DERIVATIVES:
whimsicality noun
whimsically adverb.

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whimsy (also whimsey)

noun (pl. whimsies or whimseys)
1. playfully quaint or fanciful behaviour or humour.
2. a fanciful or odd thing.
3. a whim.

ORIGIN: probably from archaic whim-wham 'trinket, whim' .

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whin

noun chiefly N. English
gorse.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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whinchat

noun
a small songbird related to the stonechat, with a brown back and orange-buff underparts.

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whine

noun
1. a long, high-pitched complaining cry.
2. a long, high-pitched unpleasant sound.
3. a feeble or petulant complaint.

verb
1. give or make a whine.
2. complain in a feeble or petulant way.

DERIVATIVES:
whiner noun
whiny adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «whistle through the air»; related to WHINGE.

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whinge Brit. informal

verb (whingeing)
complain persistently and peevishly.

noun
an act of whingeing.

DERIVATIVES:
whinger noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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whinny

noun (pl. whinnies)
a gentle, high-pitched neigh.

verb (whinnies, whinnied)
(of a horse) make such a sound.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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whip

noun
1. a strip of leather or length of cord fastened to a handle, used for beating a person or urging on an animal.
2. an official of a political party appointed to maintain parliamentary discipline among its members.
3. Brit. a written notice from such an official requesting attendance for voting.
4. a dessert made from cream or eggs beaten into a light fluffy mass.
5. a violent striking or beating movement.

verb (whipped, whipping)
1. strike with a whip.
2. (of a flexible object or rain or wind) strike or beat violently.
3. move or take out fast or suddenly.
4. beat (cream, eggs, etc.) into a froth.
5. Brit. informal steal.
6. bind with spirally wound twine.

IDIOMS -
the whip hand a position of power or control.
whip up
1. make or prepare very quickly.
2. deliberately excite or provoke.
3. stimulate (a particular feeling) in someone.

DERIVATIVES:
whipper noun
whipping noun.

ORIGIN: probably from Low German and Dutch wippen 'swing, leap, dance' .

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whipcord

noun
1. thin, tough, tightly twisted cord used for making the flexible end part of whips.
2. a closely woven ribbed worsted fabric.

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whiplash

noun
1. the lashing action of a whip.
2. the flexible part of a whip.
3. injury caused by a severe jerk to the head.

verb
jerk suddenly.

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whippersnapper

noun informal
a young and inexperienced person who is presumptuous or overconfident.

ORIGIN: perhaps representing whipsnapper, expressing noise and unimportance.

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whippet

noun
a dog of a small slender breed, bred for racing.

ORIGIN: partly from obsolete whippet «move briskly».

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whipping boy

noun
a person who is blamed or punished for the faults or incompetence of others.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a boy educated with a young prince and punished instead of him.

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whippoorwill

noun
a North and Central American nightjar with a distinctive call.

ORIGIN: imitative of its call.

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whippy

adjective
flexible; springy.

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whip-round

noun Brit. informal
a collection of contributions of money for a particular purpose.

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whipsaw

noun
a saw with a narrow blade and a handle at both ends.

verb (past part. whipsawn or whipsawed) N. Amer.
1. cut with a whipsaw.
2. informal subject to two difficult situations or opposing pressures at the same time.

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whirl

verb
1. move rapidly round and round.
2. (of the head or mind) seem to spin round.

noun
1. a rapid movement round and round.
2. frantic activity: the mad social whirl.
3. a sweet or biscuit with a spiral shape.

IDIOMS -
give something a whirl informal give something a try.
in a whirl in a state of confusion.

ORIGIN: probably from an Old Norse word meaning 'turn about' .

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whirligig

noun
1. a toy that spins round, e.g. a top or windmill.
2. another term for ROUNDABOUT (in sense 2).
3. (also whirligig beetle) a small black water beetle which typically swims rapidly in circles on the surface.

ORIGIN: from WHIRL + obsolete gig «toy for whipping».

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whirlpool

noun
1. a quickly rotating mass of water in a river or sea into which objects may be drawn.
2. (also whirlpool bath) a heated pool in which hot aerated water is continuously circulated.

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whirlwind

noun
1. a column of air moving rapidly round and round in a cylindrical or funnel shape.
2. a very energetic or tumultuous person or process.
3. (before another noun ) very rapid and unexpected: a whirlwind romance.

IDIOMS -
(sow the wind and) reap the whirlwind suffer serious consequences as a result of one's actions. [ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to the Book of Hosea, chapter 8.]

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whirr (also whir)

verb (whirred, whirring)
(of something rapidly rotating or moving to and fro) make a low, continuous, regular sound.

noun
a whirring sound.

ORIGIN: probably Scandinavian.

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whisk

verb
1. move or take suddenly, quickly, and lightly.
2. beat (a substance) with a light, rapid movement.

noun
1. a utensil for whisking eggs or cream.
2. a bunch of grass, twigs, or bristles for flicking away dust or flies.
3. a brief, rapid action or movement.

ORIGIN: Scandinavian.

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whisker

noun
1. a long projecting hair or bristle growing from the face or snout of an animal.
2. (whiskers) the hair growing on a man's face.
3. (a whisker) informal a very small amount.

DERIVATIVES:
whiskered adjective
whiskery adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a bundle of feathers, twigs, etc., used for whisking: from WHISK.

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whisky (also Irish & US whiskey)

noun (pl. whiskies)
a spirit distilled from malted grain, especially barley or rye.

ORIGIN: from Irish and Scottish Gaelic uisge beatha 'water of life' .

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whisper

verb
1. speak very softly using one's breath rather than one's throat.
2. literary rustle or murmur softly.

noun
1. a whispered word or phrase, or a whispering tone of voice.
2. literary a soft rustling or murmuring sound.
3. a rumour or piece of gossip.
4. a slight trace.

DERIVATIVES:
whisperer noun
whispery adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WHISTLE.

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whist

noun
a card game in which points are scored according to the number of tricks won.

ORIGIN: earlier as whisk: perhaps from WHISK (with reference to whisking away the tricks).

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whistle

noun
1. a clear, high-pitched sound made by forcing breath through pursed lips, or between one's teeth.
2. any similar sound.
3. an instrument used to produce such a sound.

verb
1. emit or produce a whistle.
2. produce (a tune) in such a way.
3. move rapidly through the air or a narrow opening with a whistling sound.
4. blow a whistle.
5. (whistle for) wish for or expect (something) in vain.

IDIOMS -
blow the whistle on informal bring (an illicit activity) to an end by informing on the person responsible.
(as) clean as a whistle extremely clean or clear.
whistle down the wind let go or abandon (something).
whistle in the dark pretend to be unafraid.

DERIVATIVES:
whistler noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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whistle-blower

noun informal
a person who informs on someone engaged in an illicit activity.

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whistle-stop

adjective
very fast and with only brief pauses.

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whit

noun
a very small part or amount.

IDIOMS -
not a whit not at all.

ORIGIN: apparently from WIGHT in the obsolete sense «small amount».

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white

adjective
1. of the colour of milk or fresh snow, due to the reflection of all visible rays of light.
2. very pale.
3. relating to a human group having light-coloured skin, especially of European ancestry.
4. morally or spiritually pure.
5. Brit. (of coffee or tea) served with milk or cream.
6. (of food such as bread or rice) light in colour through having been refined.
7. (of wine) made from white grapes, or dark grapes with the skins removed, and having a yellowish colour.

noun
1. white colour or pigment.
2. (also whites) white clothes or material.
3. the visible pale part of the eyeball around the iris.
4. the outer part which surrounds the yolk of an egg; the albumen.
5. a member of a light-skinned people.
6. a white or cream butterfly.

verb (white out)
1. turn white.
2. cover (a mistake) with white correction fluid.
3. lose colour vision as a prelude to losing consciousness.

IDIOMS -
bleed white drain of wealth or resources.
whited sepulchre literary a hypocrite. [ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 23.]

DERIVATIVES:
whitely adverb
whiteness noun
whitish adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WHEAT.

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white admiral

noun
a butterfly with dark brown wings bearing a broad white band.

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whitebait

noun
the small silvery-white young of herrings, sprats, and similar marine fish as food.

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white belt

noun
a white belt worn by a beginner in judo or karate.

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whiteboard

noun
a wipeable board with a white surface used for teaching or presentations.

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white-collar

adjective
relating to the work done or people who work in an office or other professional environment.

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white elephant

noun
a possession that is useless or troublesome.

ORIGIN: from the story that the kings of Siam gave such animals to courtiers they disliked, in order to ruin the recipient by the great expense incurred in maintaining the animal.

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white feather

noun
a white feather given to someone as a sign that they are considered a coward.

ORIGIN: with reference to a white feather in the tail of a game bird, being a mark of bad breeding.

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whitefish

noun
a mainly freshwater fish of the salmon family, widely used as food.

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white flag

noun
a white flag or cloth used as a symbol of surrender, truce, or a desire to negotiate.

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whitefly

noun
a minute winged bug covered with powdery white wax, damaging plants by feeding on sap and coating them with honeydew.

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white gold

noun
a silver-coloured alloy of gold with another metal.

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whitehead

noun informal
a pale or white-topped pustule on the skin.

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white heat

noun
the temperature or state of something that is so hot that it emits white light.

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white hope (also great white hope)

noun
a person expected to bring much success to a team or organization.

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white-hot

adjective
so hot as to glow white.

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white-knuckle

adjective
causing fear or nervous excitement.

ORIGIN: with reference to the effect caused by gripping tightly to steady oneself on a fairground ride.

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white lie

noun
a harmless lie told to avoid hurting someone's feelings.

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white light

noun
apparently colourless light containing all the wavelengths of the visible spectrum at equal intensity (such as ordinary daylight).

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white magic

noun
magic used only for good purposes.

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white meat

noun
pale meat such as poultry, veal, and rabbit.

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whiten

verb
make or become white.

DERIVATIVES:
whitener noun.

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white noise

noun Physics
noise containing many frequencies with equal intensities.

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white-out

noun
1. a dense blizzard.
2. a weather condition in which the features and horizon of snow-covered country are indistinguishable due to uniform light diffusion.

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White Paper

noun
(in the UK) a government report giving information or proposals on an issue.

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white sauce

noun
a sauce consisting of flour blended and cooked with butter and milk or stock.

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white spirit

noun Brit.
a volatile colourless liquid distilled from petroleum, used as a paint thinner and solvent.

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white tie

noun
1. a white bow tie worn by men as part of full evening dress.
2. full evening dress.

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white trash

noun N. Amer. derogatory
poor white people.

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white-van man

noun Brit. informal
an aggressive male driver of a delivery or workman's van (typically white in colour).

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whitewash

noun
1. a solution of lime and water or of whiting, size, and water, used for painting walls white.
2. a deliberate concealment of someone's mistakes or faults.
3. a victory by the same side in every game of a series.

verb
1. paint with whitewash.
2. conceal (mistakes or faults).
3. defeat with a whitewash.

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white water

noun
a fast shallow stretch of water in a river.

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white witch

noun
a practitioner of witchcraft for altruistic purposes.

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whither archaic or literary

adverb
1. to what place or state?
2. what is the likely future of?
3. to which (with reference to a place).
4. to whatever place.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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whiting [1]

noun (pl. same)
a slender-bodied marine fish with edible white flesh.

ORIGIN: Dutch wijting, from wijt 'white' .

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whiting [2]

noun
ground chalk used for purposes such as whitewashing and cleaning metal plate.

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Whitsun

noun
Whitsuntide.

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Whit Sunday

noun
the seventh Sunday after Easter, a Christian festival commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts, chapter 2).

ORIGIN: Old English, «white Sunday», probably with reference to the white robes worn by the newly baptized at Pentecost.

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Whitsuntide

noun
the weekend or week including Whit Sunday.

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whittle

verb
1. carve (wood) by repeatedly cutting small slices from it.
2. make by whittling.
3. (whittle away/down) reduce by degrees.

ORIGIN: from dialect whittle «knife», from an Old English word meaning «cut, cut off».

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whizz (also whiz)

verb (whizzed, whizzing)
1. move quickly through the air with a whistling or whooshing sound.
2. move or go fast.
3. (whizz through) do or deal with quickly.

noun
1. a whizzing sound.
2. informal a fast movement or brief journey.
3. (also wiz) informal a person who is extremely clever at something. [ORIGIN: influenced by WIZARD.]
4. informal an act of urinating.
5. Brit. informal amphetamines.

DERIVATIVES:
whizzy adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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whizz-kid (also whiz-kid)

noun informal
a young person who is very successful or highly skilled.

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WHO

abbreviation
World Health Organization.

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who

pronoun
1. what or which person or people?
2. introducing a clause giving further information about a person or people previously mentioned.
USAGE - According to formal grammar, who is used as the subject of a verb ( who decided this? ) and whom is used as the object of a verb or preposition ( to whom do you wish to speak? ). However, in modern English who is often used instead of whom, as in who should we support? and most people consider this to be acceptable.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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whoa (also wo)

exclamation
used as a command to a horse to stop or slow down.

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who'd

contraction
1. who had.
2. who would.

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whodunnit (US whodunit)

noun informal
a story or play about a murder in which the identity of the murderer is not revealed until the end.

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whoever

pronoun
1. the person or people who; any person who.
2. regardless of who.
3. used for emphasis instead of ‘who’ in questions.

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whole

adjective
1. complete; entire.
2. emphasizing a large extent or number: a whole range of issues.
3. in an unbroken or undamaged state.

noun
1. a thing that is complete in itself.
2. (the whole) all of something.

adverb informal
entirely; wholly: a whole new meaning.

IDIOMS -
as a whole in general.
on the whole taking everything into account; in general.
the whole nine yards informal, chiefly N. Amer. everything possible or available.

DERIVATIVES:
wholeness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to HAIL.

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wholefood

noun (also wholefoods) Brit.
food that has been minimally processed and is free from additives.

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wholehearted

adjective
completely sincere and committed.

DERIVATIVES:
wholeheartedly adverb.

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wholemeal

adjective Brit.
denoting flour or bread made from wholewheat, including the husk.

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whole number

noun
a number without fractions; an integer.

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wholesale

noun
the selling of goods in large quantities to be retailed by others.

adverb
1. being sold in such a way.
2. on a large scale.

adjective
done on a large scale; extensive.

verb
sell (goods) wholesale.

DERIVATIVES:
wholesaler noun.

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wholesome

adjective
conducive to or promoting good health and physical or moral well-being.

DERIVATIVES:
wholesomely adverb
wholesomeness noun.

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wholewheat

noun
whole grains of wheat including the husk.

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wholly

adverb
entirely; fully.

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whom

pronoun
used instead of ‘who’ as the object of a verb or preposition.
USAGE - On the use of who and whom, see WHO.

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whomever

pronoun chiefly formal
used instead of ‘whoever’ as the object of a verb or preposition.

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whomp informal

verb
strike heavily; thump.

noun
a thump.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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whomsoever

relative pronoun formal
used instead of ‘whosoever’ as the object of a verb or preposition.

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whoop

noun
1. a loud cry of joy or excitement.
2. a long rasping indrawn breath.

verb
give or make a whoop.

IDIOMS -
whoop it up informal
1. enjoy oneself or celebrate unrestrainedly.
2. N. Amer. create a stir.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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whoopee informal

exclamation
expressing wild excitement or joy.

noun
wild revelry.

IDIOMS -
make whoopee
1. celebrate wildly.
2. have sexual intercourse.

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whoopee cushion

noun
a rubber cushion that makes a sound like the breaking of wind when someone sits on it.

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whooping cough

noun
a contagious bacterial disease chiefly affecting children, characterized by convulsive coughs followed by a whoop.

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whoops (also whoops-a-daisy)

exclamation informal
expressing mild dismay.

ORIGIN: probably from UPSY-DAISY.

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whoosh (also woosh)

verb
move quickly or suddenly and with a rushing sound.

noun
a whooshing movement.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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whop (chiefly N. Amer. also whap) informal

verb (whopped, whopping)
hit hard.

noun
a heavy blow or its sound.

ORIGIN: from dialect wap «strike».

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whopper

noun informal
1. a thing that is extremely large.
2. a gross or blatant lie.

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whopping

adjective informal
extremely large.

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whore

noun derogatory
a prostitute or promiscuous woman.

verb
1. work as a prostitute.
2. use the services of prostitutes.

DERIVATIVES:
whorish adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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whorehouse

noun informal
a brothel.

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whorl

noun
1. Zoology each of the turns in the spiral shell of a mollusc.
2. Botany a set of leaves, flowers, or branches springing from a stem at the same level and encircling it.
3. a complete circle in a fingerprint.

DERIVATIVES:
whorled adjective.

ORIGIN: originally denoting a small flywheel: apparently from WHIRL, influenced by an Old English word meaning «small wheel or pulley fixed on a spindle».

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who's

contraction
1. who is.
2. who has.
USAGE - A common mistake is to confuse who's with whose: who's is a contraction of who is or who has, while whose means ‘belonging to associated with which person’ or ‘of whom or which’ and is used in questions such as whose is this?

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whose

possessive determiner & pronoun
1. belonging to or associated with which person.
2. (as possessive determiner ) of whom or which.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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whosesoever

relative pronoun & determiner formal
whoever's.

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whosever

relative pronoun & determiner
belonging to or associated with whichever person; whoever's.

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whump

noun
a dull thud.

verb
make a whump.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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whup

verb (whupped, whupping) informal, chiefly N. Amer.
beat; thrash.

ORIGIN: variant of WHIP.

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why

adverb
1. for what reason or purpose?
2. (with reference to a reason) on account of which; for which.
3. the reason for which.

exclamation
1. expressing surprise or indignation.
2. used to add emphasis to a response.

noun (pl. whys)
a reason or explanation.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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WI

abbreviation
1. West Indies.
2. Wisconsin.
3. Brit. Women's Institute.

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wibble

verb informal
1. another term for WOBBLE.
2. Brit. speak or write at length and to no purpose.

DERIVATIVES:
wibbly adjective.

ORIGIN: from wibble-wobble; sense 2 is perhaps a different word and influenced by DRIVEL.

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Wicca

noun
the religious cult of modern witchcraft.

DERIVATIVES:
Wiccan adjective & noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «witch».

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wick

noun
1. a strip of porous material up which liquid fuel is drawn by capillary action to the flame in a candle, lamp, or lighter.
2. Medicine a gauze strip inserted in a wound to drain it.

verb
absorb or draw off (liquid) by capillary action.

IDIOMS -
get on someone's wick Brit. informal annoy someone.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wicked

adjective
1. evil or morally wrong.
2. playfully mischievous.
3. informal excellent; wonderful.

DERIVATIVES:
wickedly adverb
wickedness noun.

ORIGIN: probably from WICCA.

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wicker

noun
pliable twigs, typically of willow, plaited or woven to make items such as furniture and baskets.

DERIVATIVES:
wickerwork noun.

ORIGIN: Scandinavian.

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wicket

noun
1. Cricket each of the sets of three stumps with two bails across the top at either end of the pitch, defended by a batsman.
2. a small door or gate, especially one beside or in a larger one.

IDIOMS -
at the wicket Cricket
1. batting.
2. by the wicketkeeper.
a sticky wicket
1. Cricket a pitch that has been drying after rain and is difficult to bat on.
2. informal a tricky or awkward situation.

ORIGIN: Old French wiket; probably related to an Old Norse word meaning 'to turn, move' .

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wicketkeeper

noun Cricket
a fielder stationed close behind a batsman's wicket.

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widdle informal

verb
urinate.

noun
an act of urinating.

ORIGIN: from PIDDLE.

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wide

adjective (wider, widest)
1. of great or more than average width.
2. (after a measurement and in questions) from side to side.
3. open to the full extent.
4. including a great variety of people or things.
5. spread among a large number or over a large area.
6. (in combination ) extending over the whole of: industry-wide.
7. at a considerable or specified distance from a point or mark.
8. (especially in football) at or near the side of the field.

adverb
1. to the full extent.
2. far from a particular point or mark.
3. (especially in football) at or near the side of the field.

noun (also wide ball) Cricket
a ball that is judged to be too wide of the stumps for the batsman to play.

IDIOMS -
wide awake fully awake.
wide of the mark
1. a long way from an intended target.
2. inaccurate.
wide open
1. (of a contest) of which the outcome is not predictable.
2. vulnerable to attack.

DERIVATIVES:
widely adverb
wideness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wide-angle

adjective
(of a lens) having a short focal length and hence a field covering a wide angle.

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wide boy

noun Brit. informal
a man involved in petty criminal activities.

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wide-eyed

adjective
1. having one's eyes wide open in amazement.
2. inexperienced; innocent.

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widen

verb
make or become wider.

DERIVATIVES:
widener noun.

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widescreen

adjective
denoting a cinema or television screen presenting a wide field of vision in relation to height.

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widespread

adjective
spread among a large number or over a large area.

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widget

noun informal
a small gadget or mechanical device.

ORIGIN: perhaps an alteration of GADGET.

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widow

noun
1. a woman who has lost her husband by death and has not married again.
2. humorous a woman whose husband is often away participating in a specified sport or activity: a golf widow.

verb (be widowed)
become a widow or widower.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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widower

noun
a man who has lost his wife by death and has not married again.

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widowhood

noun
the state or period of being a widow or widower.

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widow's peak

noun
a V-shaped growth of hair towards the centre of the forehead.

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widow's weeds

plural noun
black clothes worn by a widow in mourning.

ORIGIN: weeds is used in the obsolete sense «garments» and is from Old English.

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width

noun
1. the measurement or extent of something from side to side; the lesser or least of two or more dimensions of a body.
2. a piece of something at its full extent from side to side.
3. wide range or extent.

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widthways (also widthwise)

adverb
in a direction parallel with a thing's width.

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wield

verb
1. hold and use (a weapon or tool).
2. have and be able to use (power or influence).

DERIVATIVES:
wielder noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «govern, subdue, direct».

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wife

noun (pl. wives)
1. a married woman considered in relation to her husband.
2. archaic or dialect a woman, especially an old or uneducated one.

DERIVATIVES:
wifely adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «woman».

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wig

noun
a covering for the head made of real or artificial hair.

ORIGIN: shortening of PERIWIG.

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wigeon (also widgeon)

noun
a dabbling duck with mainly reddish-brown and grey plumage, the male having a whistling call.

ORIGIN: perhaps of imitative origin and suggested by PIGEON.

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wiggle

verb
move with short movements up and down or from side to side.

noun
a wiggling movement.

DERIVATIVES:
wiggler noun
wiggly adjective (wigglier, wiggliest) .

ORIGIN: Low German and Dutch wiggelen.

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wigwam

noun
a dome-shaped or conical dwelling made by fastening mats, skins, or bark over a framework of poles (as used formerly by some North American Indian peoples).

ORIGIN: Algonquian, «their house».

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wild

adjective
1. (of animals or plants) living or growing in the natural environment; not domesticated or cultivated.
2. (of people) not civilized.
3. (of scenery or a region) desolate-looking.
4. uncontrolled; unrestrained.
5. not based on reason or evidence: a wild guess.
6. informal very enthusiastic or excited.
7. informal very angry.
8. (of looks, appearance, etc.) indicating distraction.

noun
1. (the wild) a natural state.
2. (also the wilds) a remote uninhabited area.

IDIOMS -
run wild grow or behave without restraint or discipline.

DERIVATIVES:
wildly adverb
wildness noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wild card

noun
1. a playing card that can have any value, suit, colour, or other property in a game at the discretion of the player holding it.
2. a person or thing whose qualities are uncertain.
3. Computing a character that will match any character or sequence of characters in a search.
4. an opportunity to enter a sports competition without taking part in qualifying matches or being ranked at a particular level.

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wildcat

noun
1. a small Eurasian and African cat, typically grey with black markings and a bushy tail, believed to be the ancestor of the domestic cat.
2. a hot-tempered or ferocious person.
3. an exploratory oil well.

adjective
1. (of a strike) sudden and unofficial.
2. commercially unsound or risky.

verb US
prospect for oil.

DERIVATIVES:
wildcatter noun.

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wild duck

noun
a mallard.

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wilderness

noun
1. an uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region.
2. a position of disfavour.

IDIOMS -
a voice in the wilderness an unheeded advocate of reform (with allusion to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 3).

ORIGIN: Old English, «land inhabited only by wild animals»; related to DEER.

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wildfire

noun historical
a highly flammable liquid used in warfare.

IDIOMS -
spread like wildfire spread with great speed.

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wildfowl

plural noun
game birds, especially aquatic ones; waterfowl.

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wild goose chase

noun
a foolish and hopeless search for or pursuit of something unattainable.

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wildlife

noun
the native fauna (and sometimes flora) of a region.

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wild rice

noun
a tall aquatic American grass with edible grains, related to rice.

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wiles

plural noun
devious or cunning stratagems.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to an Old Norse word meaning 'craft' .

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wilful (US also willful)

adjective
1. intentional; deliberate.
2. stubborn and determined.

DERIVATIVES:
wilfully adverb
wilfulness noun.

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will [1]

modal verb (3rd sing. present will; past would)
1. expressing the future tense.
2. expressing a strong intention or assertion about the future.
3. expressing inevitable events.
4. expressing a request.
5. expressing desire, consent, or willingness.
6. expressing facts about ability or capacity.
7. expressing habitual behaviour.
8. expressing probability or expectation about something in the present.
USAGE - On the difference between will and shall, see the note at SHALL.
ORIGIN: Old English.

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will [2]

noun
1. the faculty by which a person decides on and initiates action.
2. (also will power) control or restraint deliberately exerted.
3. a desire or intention.
4. a legal document containing instructions for the disposition of one's money and property after one's death.

verb
1. intend or desire to happen.
2. bring about by the exercise of mental powers.
3. bequeath in one's will.

IDIOMS -
at will at whatever time or in whatever way one pleases.
where there's a will there's a way proverb determination will overcome any obstacle.
with a will energetically and resolutely.

ORIGIN: Old English; related to WILL and WELL.

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willies

plural noun (the willies) informal
a strong feeling of nervous discomfort.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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willing

adjective
1. ready, eager, or prepared to do something.
2. given or done readily.

DERIVATIVES:
willingly adverb
willingness noun.

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will-o'-the-wisp

noun
1. a phosphorescent light seen hovering or floating at night on marshy ground, thought to result from the combustion of natural gases.
2. a person or thing that is difficult or impossible to reach or catch.

ORIGIN: originally as Will with the wisp, the sense of wisp being «handful of lighted hay».

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willow

noun
a tree or shrub which typically grows near water, has narrow leaves and pliant branches, and bears catkins.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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willowherb

noun
a plant with long narrow leaves and pink or pale purple flowers.

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willow pattern

noun
a conventional design in pottery featuring a Chinese scene depicted in blue on white, typically including figures on a bridge, a willow tree, and birds.

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willowy

adjective
1. bordered, shaded, or covered by willows.
2. (of a person) tall, slim, and lithe.

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willy (also willie)

noun (pl. willies) Brit. informal
a penis.

ORIGIN: familiar form of the given name William.

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willy-nilly

adverb
1. whether one likes it or not.
2. without direction or planning; haphazardly.

ORIGIN: later spelling of will I, nill I «I am willing, I am unwilling».

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wilt [1]

verb
1. (of a plant) become limp through loss of water, heat, or disease; droop.
2. (of a person) lose one's energy or vigour.

noun
any of a number of fungal or bacterial diseases of plants characterized by wilting of the foliage.

ORIGIN: perhaps from dialect welk «lose freshness», of Low German origin.

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Wilts.

abbreviation
Wiltshire.

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wily

adjective (wilier, wiliest)
skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully.

DERIVATIVES:
wiliness noun.

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wimp informal

noun
a weak and cowardly person.

verb (wimp out)
withdraw from something in a cowardly way.

DERIVATIVES:
wimpish adjective
wimpy adjective.

ORIGIN: origin uncertain, perhaps from WHIMPER.

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wimple

noun
a cloth headdress covering the head, neck, and sides of the face, formerly worn by women and still by some nuns.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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win

verb (winning; past and past part. won)
1. be successful or victorious in (a contest or conflict).
2. gain as a result of success in a contest, conflict, etc.
3. gain (someone's attention, support, or love).
4. (win over) gain the support or favour of.
5. (win out/through) manage to succeed or achieve something by effort.

noun
a victory in a game or contest.

IDIOMS -
win the day be victorious.
win (or earn) one's spurs
1. historical gain a knighthood by an act of bravery.
2. informal gain one's first distinction or honours.

DERIVATIVES:
winless adjective
winnable adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «strive, contend», also «subdue and take possession of, acquire».

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wince

verb
give a slight involuntary grimace or flinch due to pain or distress.

noun
an instance of wincing.

ORIGIN: Old French guenchir 'turn aside' .

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winceyette

noun Brit.
a lightweight brushed cotton fabric, used especially for nightclothes.

ORIGIN: from wincey, a lightweight wool and cotton fabric, from woolsey in LINSEY-WOOLSEY.

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winch

noun
1. a hauling or lifting device consisting of a rope or chain winding around a horizontal rotating drum, turned by a crank or by motor.
2. the crank of a wheel or axle.

verb
hoist or haul with a winch.

ORIGIN: Old English, «reel, pulley»; related to WINK.

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wind [1]

noun
1. the perceptible natural movement of the air, especially in the form of a current blowing from a particular direction.
2. breath as needed in physical exertion, speech, playing an instrument, etc.
3. Brit. air swallowed while eating or gas generated in the stomach and intestines by digestion.
4. meaningless talk.
5. (also winds) (treated as sing. or pl. ) wind or woodwind instruments forming a band or section of an orchestra.

verb
1. cause to have difficulty breathing because of exertion or a blow to the stomach.
2. Brit. make (a baby) bring up wind after feeding by patting its back.

IDIOMS -
get wind of informal hear a rumour of.
it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good proverb few things are so bad that no one profits from them.
put the wind up Brit. informal alarm or frighten.
sail close to (or near) the wind
1. sail as nearly against the wind as is consistent with using its force.
2. informal verge on indecency, dishonesty, or disaster.
take the wind out of someone's sails frustrate someone by anticipating an action or remark.
to the wind (s) (or the four winds) in all directions. [ORIGIN: from ‘And fear of death deliver to the winds’ (Milton's Paradise Lost).]

DERIVATIVES:
windless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wind [2]

verb (past and past part. wound)
1. move in or take a twisting or spiral course.
2. pass (something) around a thing or person so as to encircle or enfold them.
3. (with reference to a length of something) twist or be twisted around itself or a core.
4. make (a clockwork device) operate by turning a key or handle.
5. turn (a key or handle) repeatedly.
6. move (an audio or video tape or a film) back or forwards to a desired point.
7. hoist or draw with a windlass, winch, etc.

noun
1. a twist or turn in a course.
2. a single turn made when winding.

IDIOMS -
wind down
1. (of a clockwork mechanism) gradually lose power.
2. draw or bring gradually to a close.
3. informal relax.
wind up
1. gradually bring to a conclusion.
2. informal end up in a specified state, situation, or place.
3. Brit. informal tease or irritate.
4. informal increase the tension or power of.

ORIGIN: Old English, «go rapidly», «twine»; related to WANDER and WEND.

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windbag

noun informal
a person who talks a lot but says little of any value.

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windbreak

noun
a row of trees, wall, or screen providing shelter from the wind.

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windcheater

noun chiefly Brit.
a wind-resistant jacket with a close-fitting neck, waistband, and cuffs.

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wind chill

noun
the cooling effect of wind on a surface.

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wind chimes

plural noun
pieces of glass, metal rods, or similar items, suspended from a frame and typically hung near a door or window so as to chime in the draught.

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winder

noun
a device or mechanism for winding something, especially a watch, clock, or camera film.

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windfall

noun
1. an apple or other fruit blown from a tree by the wind.
2. a piece of unexpected good fortune, especially a legacy.

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wind farm

noun
an area containing a group of energy-producing windmills or wind turbines.

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winding

noun
1. a twisting movement or course.
2. a thing that winds or is wound round something.

adjective
having a twisting or spiral course.

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winding sheet

noun
a shroud.

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wind instrument

noun
1. a musical instrument in which sound is produced by the vibration of air, typically by the player blowing into the instrument.
2. a woodwind instrument as distinct from a brass instrument.

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windlass

noun
a winch, especially one on a ship or in a harbour.

verb
haul or lift with a windlass.

ORIGIN: probably from an Old Norse word meaning 'winding pole' .

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windmill

noun
a building with sails or vanes that turn in the wind and generate power to grind corn, generate electricity, or draw water.

verb
move (one's arms) in a manner suggestive of the sails of a windmill.

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window

noun
1. an opening in a wall or roof, fitted with glass in a frame to let in light or air and allow people to see out.
2. an opening through which customers are served in a bank, ticket office, etc.
3. a transparent panel in an envelope to show an address.
4. Computing a framed area on a display screen for viewing information.
5. (window on/into/to) a means of observing and learning about.
6. an interval or opportunity for action.

IDIOMS -
go out of the window informal (of a plan or behaviour) be abandoned or cease to exist.
windows of the soul the eyes.

DERIVATIVES:
windowless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, from words meaning 'wind' + 'eye' .

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window box

noun
a long narrow box in which flowers and other plants are grown on an outside window sill.

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window dressing

noun
1. the arrangement of a display in a shop window.
2. the presentation of something in a superficially attractive way to give a favourable impression.

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window frame

noun
a frame holding the glass of a window.

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window ledge

noun
a window sill.

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windowpane

noun
a pane of glass in a window.

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window seat

noun
1. a seat below a window, especially one in a bay or alcove.
2. a seat next to a window in an aircraft or train.

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window-shop

verb
look at the goods displayed in shop windows, especially without intending to buy.

DERIVATIVES:
window-shopper noun.

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window sill

noun
a ledge or sill forming the bottom part of a window.

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windpipe

noun
the trachea.

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windscreen

noun Brit.
a glass screen at the front of a motor vehicle.

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windscreen wiper

noun Brit.
a device for keeping a windscreen clear of rain, having a rubber blade on an arm that moves in an arc.

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windshield

noun N. Amer.
a windscreen.

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windsock

noun
a light, flexible cylinder or cone mounted on a mast to show the direction and strength of the wind, especially at an airfield.

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windsurfing

noun
the sport of riding on water on a sailboard.

DERIVATIVES:
windsurf verb
windsurfer noun.

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windswept

adjective
1. exposed to strong winds.
2. (of a person's hair or appearance) untidy after being exposed to the wind.

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wind tunnel

noun
a tunnel-like apparatus for producing an airstream past models of aircraft, buildings, etc., in order to investigate flow or the effect of wind on the full-size object.

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wind-up

noun
1. Brit. informal an attempt to tease or irritate someone.
2. an act of concluding something.

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windward

adjective & adverb
facing the wind or on the side facing the wind. Contrasted with LEEWARD.

noun
the side from which the wind is blowing.

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windy [1]

adjective (windier, windiest)
1. marked by or exposed to strong winds.
2. Brit. suffering from, marked by, or causing wind in the alimentary canal.
3. informal using or expressed in numerous words of little substance.
4. Brit. informal nervous or anxious.

DERIVATIVES:
windily adverb
windiness noun.

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windy [2]

adjective
following a winding course.

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wine

noun
1. an alcoholic drink made from fermented grape juice.
2. a fermented alcoholic drink made from other fruits or plants.

IDIOMS -
good wine needs no bush proverb there's no need to advertise or boast about something of good quality as people will always discover its merits.
wine and dine entertain with drinks and a meal.

DERIVATIVES:
winey (also winy) adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to Latin vinum.

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wine bar

noun
a bar or small restaurant that specializes in serving wine.

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wine bottle

noun
a glass bottle for wine, the standard size holding 75 cl or 262 / 3 fl. oz.

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wine cellar

noun
1. a cellar for storing wine.
2. a stock of wine.

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wine glass

noun
a glass with a stem and foot, used for drinking wine.

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wine list

noun
a list of the wines available in a restaurant.

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winemaker

noun
a producer of wine.

DERIVATIVES:
winemaking noun.

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winery

noun (pl. wineries)
an establishment where wine is made.

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wine vinegar

noun
vinegar made from wine rather than malt.

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wing

noun
1. a modified forelimb or other appendage enabling a bird, bat, insect, or other creature to fly.
2. a rigid horizontal structure projecting from both sides of an aircraft and supporting it in the air.
3. a part of a large building, especially one that projects from the main part.
4. a group within an organization having particular views or a particular function.
5. (the wings) the sides of a theatre stage out of view of the audience.
6. the part of a soccer, rugby, or hockey field close to the sidelines.
7. (also wing forward) an attacking player positioned near the sidelines.
8. Brit. a raised part of the body of a vehicle above the wheel.
9. an air force unit of several squadrons or groups.
10. Botany a thin appendage of a fruit or seed dispersed by the wind.

verb
1. fly, or move quickly as if flying.
2. shoot so as to wound in the wing or arm.
3. (wing it) informal speak or act without preparation.

IDIOMS -
in the wings ready for use or action at the appropriate time.
on the wing (of a bird) in flight.
on a wing and a prayer with only a small chance of success. [ORIGIN: with reference to an emergency landing by an aircraft.]
spread (or stretch) one's wings extend one's activities and interests.
take wing fly away.
under one's wing in or into one's protective care.

DERIVATIVES:
winged adjective
wingless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old Norse; sense 3 of the verb was originally theatrical slang referring to the playing of a role without proper knowledge of the text (by relying on a prompter in the wings or by studying in the wings between scenes).

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wingbeat (also wingstroke)

noun
one complete set of motions of a wing in flying.

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wing chair

noun
an armchair with side pieces projecting forwards from a high back.

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wing collar

noun
a high stiff shirt collar with turned-down corners.

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winger

noun
1. an attacking player on the wing in soccer, hockey, etc.
2. (in combination ) a member of a specified political wing: a Tory right-winger.

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wing mirror

noun
a rear-view mirror projecting from the side of a vehicle.

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wing nut

noun
a nut with a pair of projections for the fingers to turn it on a screw.

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wingspan (also wingspread)

noun
the maximum extent across the wings of an aircraft, bird, etc., measured from tip to tip.

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wink

verb
1. close and open one eye quickly as a signal of affection or greeting or to convey a message.
2. shine or flash intermittently.

noun
an act of winking.

IDIOMS -
as easy as winking informal very easy or easily.
in the wink of an eye (or in a wink) very quickly.
not sleep (or get) a wink (or not get a wink of sleep) not sleep at all.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WINCE.

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winkle

noun
a small edible shore-dwelling mollusc with a spiral shell.

verb (winkle out) chiefly Brit.
extract or obtain with difficulty.

ORIGIN: shortening of PERIWINKLE.

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winner

noun
1. a person or thing that wins.
2. informal a successful or highly promising thing.

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winning

adjective
1. gaining, resulting in, or relating to victory.
2. attractive; endearing.

noun (winnings)
money won, especially by gambling.

DERIVATIVES:
winningly adverb.

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winning post

noun
a post marking the end of a race.

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winnow

verb
1. blow air through (grain) in order to remove the chaff.
2. remove (chaff) from grain.
3. reduce the number in a set of (people or things) gradually until only the best ones are left.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WIND.

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wino

noun (pl. winos) informal
a person who drinks excessive amounts of cheap wine or other alcohol.

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winsome

adjective
attractive or appealing.

DERIVATIVES:
winsomely adverb
winsomeness noun.

ORIGIN: from an Old English word meaning «joy».

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winter

noun
the coldest season of the year, after autumn and before spring.

adjective
1. (of fruit) ripening late in the year.
2. (of crops) sown in autumn for harvesting the following year.

verb
spend the winter in a particular place.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wintergreen

noun
1. a low-growing plant with spikes of white bell-shaped flowers.
2. an American shrub whose leaves produce oil.
3. (also oil of wintergreen) a pungent oil obtained from these plants or from birch bark, used medicinally and as a flavouring.

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Winter Olympics

plural noun
an international contest of winter sports held every four years at a two-year interval from the Olympic games.

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winter sports

plural noun
sports performed on snow or ice.

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wintertime (also literary winter-tide)

noun
the season or period of winter.

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wintry (also wintery)

adjective (wintrier, wintriest)
characteristic of winter, especially in being very cold or bleak.

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wipe

verb
1. clean or dry by rubbing with a cloth or one's hand.
2. remove (dirt or moisture) in this way.
3. erase (data) from a magnetic medium.
4. pass over an electronic reader, bar code, etc.

noun
1. an act of wiping.
2. an absorbent disposable cleaning cloth.

IDIOMS -
wipe the floor with informal inflict a humiliating defeat on.
wipe off subtract (an amount) from a value or debt.
wipe out
1. remove or eliminate.
2. kill (a large number of people).
3. ruin financially.
4. informal exhaust or intoxicate.
wipe the slate clean make a fresh start.

DERIVATIVES:
wipeable adjective
wiper noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WHIP.

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wire

noun
1. metal drawn out into a thin flexible thread or rod.
2. a length or quantity of wire used for fencing, to carry an electric current, etc.
3. a concealed electronic listening device.
4. informal a telegram.

verb
1. install electric circuits or wires in.
2. provide, fasten, or reinforce with wire.
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. send a telegram to.

IDIOMS -
by wire by telegraph.
down to the wire informal until the very last minute.

ORIGIN: Old English, probably related to Latin viere 'plait, weave' .

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wire brush

noun
a brush with tough wire bristles for cleaning hard surfaces.

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wired

adjective informal
1. making use of computers and information technology to transfer or receive information.
2. nervous, tense, or edgy.
3. intoxicated by drugs or alcohol.

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wireless

noun dated, chiefly Brit.
1. a radio receiving set.
2. broadcasting or telegraphy using radio signals.

adjective
lacking or not requiring wires.

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wiretapping

noun
the practice of tapping a telephone line to monitor conversations secretly.

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wireworm

noun
the worm-like larva of a kind of beetle, which feeds on roots and can cause damage to crops.

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wiring

noun
a system of wires providing electric circuits for a device or building.

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wiry

adjective (wirier, wiriest)
1. resembling wire in form and texture.
2. lean, tough, and sinewy.

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wisdom

noun
1. the quality of being wise.
2. the body of knowledge and experience that develops within a specified society or period.

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wisdom tooth

noun
each of the four hindmost molars in humans, which usually appear at about the age of twenty.

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wise [1]

adjective
1. having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgement.
2. (wise to) informal aware of.

verb (wise up) informal
become alert or aware.

IDIOMS -
be wise after the event understand and assess something only after its implications have become obvious.

DERIVATIVES:
wisely adverb.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wise [2]

noun archaic
manner, way, or extent.

IDIOMS -
in no wise not at all.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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-wise

suffix
1. forming adjectives and adverbs of manner or respect: clockwise.
2. informal with respect to: weather-wise.

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wiseacre

noun
a person with an affectation of wisdom or knowledge.

ORIGIN: Dutch wijsseggher 'soothsayer' .

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wisecrack informal

noun
a witty remark or joke.

verb
make a wisecrack.

DERIVATIVES:
wisecracker noun.

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wise guy

noun informal
a person who makes sarcastic or insolent remarks so as to demonstrate their cleverness.

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wish

verb
1. desire something that cannot or probably will not happen.
2. want to do something.
3. ask (someone) to do something or that (something) be done.
4. express a hope that (someone) has (happiness, success, etc.).
5. (wish on) hope that (something unpleasant) will happen to.

noun
1. a desire or hope.
2. (wishes) an expression of a hope for someone's happiness, success, or welfare.
3. a thing wished for.

IDIOMS -
if wishes were horses, beggars would ride proverb if you could achieve your aims simply by wishing for them, life would be very easy.
the wish is father to the thought proverb we believe a thing because we wish it to be true.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WONT.

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wishbone

noun
a forked bone between the neck and breast of a bird, especially one from a cooked bird which, when broken by two people, entitles the holder of the longer portion to make a wish.

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wishful

adjective
1. having or expressing a wish for something to happen.
2. based on impractical wishes rather than facts.

DERIVATIVES:
wishfully adverb.

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wish-fulfilment

noun
the satisfying of wishes or desires in dreams or fantasies.

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wishing well

noun
a well into which one drops a coin and makes a wish.

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wishy-washy

adjective
1. (of a drink or soup) weak or thin.
2. feeble or insipid.

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wisp

noun
1. a small thin bunch, strand, or amount of something.
2. a small thin person.

DERIVATIVES:
wispy adjective (wispier, wispiest) .

ORIGIN: origin uncertain.

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wisteria (also wistaria)

noun
a climbing shrub with hanging clusters of pale bluish-lilac flowers.

ORIGIN: named after the American anatomist Caspar Wistar (or Wister) (1761 1818).

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wistful

adjective
having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing.

DERIVATIVES:
wistfully adverb
wistfulness noun.

ORIGIN: apparently from obsolete wistly 'intently' , influenced by WISHFUL.

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wit

noun
1. (also wits) the capacity for inventive thought and quick understanding; keen intelligence.
2. a natural aptitude for using words and ideas in a quick and inventive way to create humour.
3. a person with this aptitude.

IDIOMS -
be at one's wits' end be completely at a loss as to what to do.
be frightened out of one's wits be extremely frightened.
gather one's wits allow oneself to think calmly and clearly in a demanding situation.
have (or keep) one's wits about one be constantly alert.
live by one's wits earn money by clever and sometimes dishonest means.

DERIVATIVES:
witted adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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witch

noun
1. a woman thought to have evil magic powers.
2. a follower or practitioner of modern witchcraft.
3. informal an ugly or unpleasant old woman.

verb archaic
1. practise witchcraft.
2. cast an evil spell on.

DERIVATIVES:
witchy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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witchcraft

noun
the practice of magic, especially the use of spells and the invocation of evil spirits. See also WICCA.

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witch doctor

noun
a tribal magician credited with powers of healing, divination, and protection against the magic of others.

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witchery

noun
1. the practice of magic.
2. bewitching quality or power.

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witch hazel (also wych hazel)

noun
1. a shrub with fragrant yellow or orange flowers.
2. an astringent lotion made from the bark and leaves of this plant.

ORIGIN: for wych, see WYCH ELM.

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witch-hunt

noun
a campaign directed against a person or group holding views considered unorthodox or a threat to society.

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witching hour

noun
midnight, regarded as the time when witches are supposedly active.

ORIGIN: with allusion to the witching time of night from Shakespeare's Hamlet (III. ii. 377).

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with

preposition
1. accompanied by.
2. in the same direction as.
3. possessing; having.
4. indicating the instrument used to perform an action or the material used for a purpose.
5. in opposition to or competition with.
6. indicating the manner or attitude in which a person does something.
7. indicating responsibility.
8. in relation to.
9. employed by.
10. using the services of.
11. affected by (a particular fact or condition).
12. indicating separation or removal from something.

IDIOMS -
be with someone informal follow someone's meaning.
with it informal
1. up to date or fashionable.
2. alert and comprehending.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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withal archaic

adverb
1. in addition.
2. nevertheless.

preposition
with.

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withdraw

verb (past withdrew; past part. withdrawn)
1. remove or take away.
2. take (money) out of an account.
3. discontinue or retract.
4. leave or cause to leave a place.
5. cease to participate in an activity or be a member of a team or organization.
6. depart to another place in search of quiet or privacy.
7. cease to take an addictive drug.

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withdrawal

noun
1. the action or an act of withdrawing.
2. the process of ceasing to take an addictive drug.

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withdrawn
past participle of WITHDRAW.
adjective
unusually shy or reserved.

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wither

verb
1. (of a plant) become dry and shrivelled.
2. become shrunken or wrinkled from age or disease.
3. fall into decay or decline.
4. (withering) scornful.

DERIVATIVES:
witheringly adverb.

ORIGIN: apparently a variant of WEATHER.

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withers

plural noun
the highest part of a horse's back, lying at the base of the neck above the shoulders.

ORIGIN: apparently from obsolete widersome, from wither- «against» (as the part that resists the strain of the collar).

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withhold

verb (past and past part. withheld)
1. refuse to give (something due to or desired by another).
2. suppress or restrain (an emotion or reaction).

DERIVATIVES:
withholder noun.

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within

preposition
1. inside.
2. inside the range or bounds of.
3. occurring inside (a particular period of time).
4. not further off than (used with distances).

adverb
1. inside; indoors.
2. internally or inwardly.

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without

preposition
1. not accompanied by or having the use of.
2. in which the action mentioned does not happen.
3. archaic or literary outside.

adverb archaic or literary
outside.

conjunction archaic or dialect
1. without it being the case that.
2. unless.

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withstand

verb (past and past part. withstood)
1. remain undamaged or unaffected by.
2. offer strong resistance or opposition to.

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witless

adjective
foolish; stupid.

DERIVATIVES:
witlessly adverb
witlessness noun.

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witness

noun
1. a person who sees an event take place.
2. a person giving sworn testimony to a court of law or the police.
3. a person who is present at the signing of a document and signs it themselves to confirm this.
4. (witness to) evidence or proof of.
5. open profession of one's religious faith through words or actions.

verb
1. be a witness to.
2. be the place, period, etc. in which (an event) takes place.

ORIGIN: Old English, from WIT.

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witness box (N. Amer. witness stand)

noun Law
the place in a court where a witness stands to give evidence.

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witter

verb (usu. witter on) Brit. informal
speak at length about trivial matters.

ORIGIN: probably imitative.

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witticism

noun
a witty remark.

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witty

adjective (wittier, wittiest)
showing or characterized by quick and inventive verbal humour.

DERIVATIVES:
wittily adverb
wittiness noun.

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wizard

noun
1. a man who has magical powers, especially in legends and fairy tales.
2. a person who is very skilled in a particular field or activity.

adjective Brit. informal, dated
excellent.

DERIVATIVES:
wizardly adjective.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «philosopher, wise man»: from WISE.

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wizardry

noun
1. the art or practice of magic.
2. great skill in a particular field or activity.

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wizened

adjective
shrivelled or wrinkled with age.

ORIGIN: from archaic wizen «shrivel», from Old English.

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WNW

abbreviation
west-north-west.

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woad

noun
a yellow-flowered plant whose leaves were formerly used to make blue dye.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wobble

verb
1. move unsteadily from side to side.
2. (of the voice) tremble.
3. waver between different courses of action.

noun
a wobbling movement or sound.

ORIGIN: Germanic, related to WAVE.

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wobbler

noun
1. a person or thing that wobbles.
2. another term for WOBBLY.

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wobbly

adjective (wobblier, wobbliest)
1. tending to wobble.
2. weak and unsteady from illness, tiredness, or anxiety.
3. uncertain or insecure.

noun Brit. informal
a fit of temper or panic.

DERIVATIVES:
wobbliness noun.

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wodge

noun Brit. informal
a large piece or amount.

ORIGIN: alteration of WEDGE.

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woe

noun literary
1. great sorrow or distress.
2. (woes) troubles.

IDIOMS -
woe betide someone humorous a person will be in trouble if they do a specified thing.
woe is me! humorous an exclamation of sorrow or distress.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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woebegone

adjective
sad or miserable in appearance.

ORIGIN: from WOE + obsolete begone «surrounded».

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woeful

adjective
1. full of sorrow; miserable.
2. very bad; deplorable.

DERIVATIVES:
woefully adverb.

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wog

noun Brit. informal, offensive
a person who is not white.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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woggle

noun
a loop or ring of leather or cord through which the ends of a Scout's neckerchief are threaded.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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wok

noun
a bowl-shaped frying pan used in Chinese cookery.

ORIGIN: Chinese.

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wold

noun
(especially in British place names) a piece of high, open, uncultivated land or moor.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wolf

noun (pl. wolves)
1. a carnivorous mammal that lives and hunts in packs and is the largest member of the dog family.
2. informal a man who habitually seduces women.

verb (usu. wolf down)
devour (food) greedily.

IDIOMS -
cry wolf raise repeated false alarms, so that a real cry for help is ignored. [ORIGIN: with allusion to the fable of the shepherd boy who deluded people with false cries of ‘Wolf!’]
keep the wolf from the door have enough money to be able to buy food.
throw someone to the wolves sacrifice someone in order to avoid trouble for oneself.
a wolf in sheep's clothing a person who appears friendly but is really hostile. [ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to the Book of Matthew, chapter 7.]

DERIVATIVES:
wolfish adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wolfhound

noun
a dog of a large breed originally used to hunt wolves.

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wolfram

noun
tungsten or its ore, especially as a commercial commodity.

ORIGIN: German, perhaps from Wolf 'wolf' + rm 'soot' , probably originally a pejorative term used by miners in reference to the ore's inferiority to tin, with which it occurred.

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wolf whistle

noun
a whistle with a rising and falling pitch, used to express sexual attraction or admiration.

verb (wolf-whistle)
whistle in such a way at.

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wolverine

noun
a heavily built short-legged carnivorous mammal with a long brown coat and a bushy tail, native to northern tundra and forests.

ORIGIN: formed obscurely from wolv-, plural stem of WOLF.

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woman

noun (pl. women)
1. an adult human female.
2. a female worker or employee.
3. a wife or lover.

IDIOMS -
the little woman a condescending way of referring to one's wife.
woman of the streets euphemistic, dated a prostitute.

DERIVATIVES:
womanliness noun
womanly adjective.

ORIGIN: from the Old English words for WIFE and MAN.

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womanhood

noun
1. the state or condition of being a woman.
2. women considered collectively.
3. the qualities traditionally associated with women.

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womanish

adjective derogatory
1. suitable for or characteristic of a woman.
2. (of a man) effeminate.

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womanize (also womanise)

verb
(of a man) enter into numerous casual sexual relationships with women.

DERIVATIVES:
womanizer noun.

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womankind

noun
women considered collectively.

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womb

noun
the organ in the lower body of a woman or female mammal where offspring are conceived and in which they develop before birth; the uterus.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wombat

noun
a burrowing plant-eating Australian marsupial which resembles a small bear with short legs.

ORIGIN: from an extinct Aboriginal language.

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womenfolk

plural noun
the women of a family or community considered collectively.

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women's liberation

noun
the liberation of women from inequalities and subservient status in relation to men, and from attitudes causing these (now generally replaced by the term feminism).

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wonder

noun
1. a feeling of surprise and admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, or unfamiliar.
2. a person or thing that causes such a feeling.
3. (before another noun ) having remarkable properties or abilities: a wonder drug.

verb
1. feel curious; desire to know.
2. feel doubt.
3. feel amazement and admiration.

IDIOMS -
no (or little or small) wonder it is not surprising.
nine days' (or seven-day or one-day) wonder something that attracts great interest for a short while but is then forgotten.
wonders will never cease often ironic an exclamation of surprise and pleasure.
work (or do) wonders have a very beneficial effect.

DERIVATIVES:
wonderer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wonderful

adjective
extremely good, pleasant, or remarkable.

DERIVATIVES:
wonderfully adverb
wonderfulness noun.

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wonderland

noun
a place full of wonderful things.

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wonderment

noun
a state of awed admiration or respect.

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wondrous

adjective literary
inspiring wonder.

adverb archaic
wonderfully.

DERIVATIVES:
wondrously adverb.

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wonk

noun N. Amer. informal, derogatory
a studious or hard-working person.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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wonky

adjective (wonkier, wonkiest) informal
1. crooked; askew.
2. unsteady or faulty.

DERIVATIVES:
wonkily adverb
wonkiness noun.

ORIGIN: fanciful formation.

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wont

adjective archaic or literary
accustomed.

noun (one's wont) formal or humorous
one's customary behaviour.

verb (3rd sing. present wonts or wont; past and past part. wont or wonted) archaic
make or become accustomed.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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won't

contraction
will not.

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wonted

adjective archaic or literary
usual.

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woo

verb (woos, wooed)
1. try to gain the love of (a woman).
2. seek the support or custom of.

DERIVATIVES:
wooer noun.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wood

noun
1. the hard fibrous material forming the main substance of the trunk or branches of a tree or shrub, used for fuel or timber.
2. (also woods) a small forest.
3. (the wood) wooden barrels used for storing alcoholic drinks.
4. a golf club with a wooden or other head that is relatively broad from face to back.
5. another term for BOWL (in sense 1).

IDIOMS -
be unable to see the wood (or N. Amer. the forest) for the trees fail to grasp the main issue because of over-attention to details.
out of the woods out of danger or difficulty.
touch (or chiefly N. Amer. knock on) wood touch something wooden to ward off bad luck.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wood anemone

noun
a spring-flowering anemone with pink-tinged white flowers, growing in woodland and shady places.

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woodbine

noun
1. Brit. the common honeysuckle.
2. N. Amer. Virginia creeper.

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woodblock

noun
1. a block of wood from which woodcut prints are made.
2. a hollow wooden block used as a percussion instrument.

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woodchip (also woodchip paper)

noun chiefly Brit.
wallpaper with small chips of wood embedded in it to give a grainy surface texture.

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woodchuck

noun
a North American marmot with a heavy body and short legs.

ORIGIN: an alteration (by association with WOOD) of an American Indian name.

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woodcock

noun (pl. same)
a long-billed woodland bird of the sandpiper family, with brown plumage.

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woodcut

noun
a print of a type made from a design cut in relief in a block of wood.

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woodcutter

noun
a person who cuts down wood.

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wooded

adjective
(of land) covered with woods.

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wooden

adjective
1. made of wood.
2. resembling or characteristic of wood.
3. stiff and awkward.

DERIVATIVES:
woodenly adverb
woodenness noun.

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wooden spoon

noun chiefly Brit.
a real or notional prize awarded to the person who is last in a race or competition.

ORIGIN: from the former practice of giving a spoon to the candidate coming last in the Cambridge mathematical tripos.

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woodland

noun (also woodlands)
land covered with trees.

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woodlouse

noun (pl. woodlice)
a small land crustacean with a greyish segmented body which it is able to roll into a ball.

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woodpecker

noun
a bird with a strong bill and a stiff tail, typically pecking at tree trunks to find insects and drumming on dead wood to mark territory.

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wood pigeon

noun
a common large pigeon, mainly grey with white patches forming a ring round its neck.

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wood pulp

noun
wood fibre reduced chemically or mechanically to pulp and used in the manufacture of paper.

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woodruff (also sweet woodruff)

noun
a white-flowered plant with sweet-scented leaves used to flavour drinks and in perfumery.

ORIGIN: Old English, from WOOD + an element of unknown meaning.

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woodshed

noun
a shed where firewood is stored.

IDIOMS -
something nasty in the woodshed Brit. informal a shocking or distasteful thing that has been kept secret. [ORIGIN: from the novel Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons (1933).]

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woodsman

noun
a forester, hunter, or woodcutter.

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woodturning

noun
the activity of shaping wood with a lathe.

DERIVATIVES:
woodturner noun.

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woodwind

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
wind instruments other than brass instruments forming a section of an orchestra, including flutes, oboes, clarinets, and bassoons.

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woodwork

noun
1. the wooden parts of a room, building, or other structure.
2. Brit. the activity or skill of making things from wood.

IDIOMS -
come out of the woodwork (of an unpleasant person or thing) emerge from obscurity.

DERIVATIVES:
woodworker noun
woodworking noun.

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woodworm

noun
1. the wood-boring larva of a kind of small brown beetle.
2. the damaged condition of wood resulting from infestation with this larva.

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woody

adjective (woodier, woodiest)
1. covered with trees.
2. made of, resembling, or suggestive of wood.

DERIVATIVES:
woodiness noun.

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woodyard

noun
a yard where wood is chopped or stored.

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woof [1]

noun
the barking sound made by a dog.

verb
bark.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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woofer

noun
a loudspeaker designed to reproduce low frequencies.

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wool

noun
1. the fine soft curly or wavy hair forming the coat of a sheep, goat, or similar animal, especially when shorn and made into cloth or yarn.
2. a metal or mineral made into a mass of fine fibres.

IDIOMS -
pull the wool over someone's eyes deceive someone.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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woollen (US woolen)

adjective
1. made wholly or partly of wool.
2. relating to the production of wool.

noun (woollens)
woollen garments.

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woolly

adjective (woollier, woolliest)
1. made of wool.
2. (of an animal or plant) covered with wool or hair resembling wool.
3. resembling wool in texture or appearance.
4. confused or unclear.

noun (pl. woollies) informal
1. chiefly Brit. a woollen garment, especially a pullover.
2. Austral./NZ a sheep.

DERIVATIVES:
woolliness noun.

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Woolsack

noun
(in the UK) the Lord Chancellor's wool-stuffed seat in the House of Lords.

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woozy

adjective (woozier, wooziest) informal
unsteady, dizzy, or dazed.

DERIVATIVES:
woozily adverb
wooziness noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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wop

noun informal, offensive
an Italian or other southern European.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Italian guappo 'bold, showy' .

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Worcester sauce (also Worcestershire sauce)

noun
a pungent sauce containing soy sauce and vinegar, first made in Worcester in England.

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Worcs.

abbreviation
Worcestershire.

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word

noun
1. a single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used to form sentences with others.
2. a remark or statement.
3. (a word) even the smallest amount of something spoken or written: don't believe a word.
4. (words) angry talk.
5. (the word) a command, slogan, or signal.
6. (one's word) a person's account of the truth, especially when it differs from that of another person.
7. (one's word) a promise or assurance.
8. news.

verb
express in particular words.

IDIOMS -
be as good as one's word do what one has promised.
have a word speak briefly to someone.
have a word in someone's ear speak to someone privately and discreetly.
in other words that is to say.
in so many words precisely in the way mentioned.
in a word briefly.
a man (or woman) of his (or her) word a person who keeps their promises.
on (or upon) my word an exclamation of surprise or emphasis.
put words into someone's mouth
1. inaccurately report what someone has said.
2. prompt someone to say something inadvertently.
take someone at their word assume that a person is speaking honestly or sincerely.
take the words out of someone's mouth say what someone else was about to say.
take someone's word (for it) believe what someone says or writ es without checking for oneself.
too for words informal extremely .
waste words talk in vain.
word for word in exactly the same or, when translated, exactly equivalent words.
word of honour a solemn promise.
word of mouth spoken communication as a means of transmitting information.

DERIVATIVES:
wordless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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word association

noun
the spontaneous production of other words in response to a given word, used as a technique in psychiatric evaluation.

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wording

noun
the way in which something is worded.

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word-perfect

adjective
(of an actor or speaker) knowing one's part or speech by heart.

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wordplay

noun
the witty exploitation of the meanings and ambiguities of words.

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word processor

noun
a computer or program for storing, manipulating, and formatting text entered from a keyboard and providing a printout.

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wordsmith

noun
a skilled user of words.

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wordy

adjective (wordier, wordiest)
using or expressed in too many words.

DERIVATIVES:
wordily adverb
wordiness noun.

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work

noun
1. activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a result.
2. such activity as a means of earning income.
3. a task or tasks to be undertaken.
4. a thing or things done or made; the result of an action.
5. (works) (treated as sing. ) chiefly Brit. a place where industrial or manufacturing processes are carried out.
6. (works) chiefly Brit. operations of building or repair.
7. Military a defensive structure.
8. (works) the mechanism of a clock or other machine.
9. Physics the exertion of force overcoming resistance or producing molecular change.
10. (the works) informal everything needed, desired, or expected.

verb (past and past part. worked or archaic wrought)
1. do work, especially as one's job.
2. set to or keep at work.
3. (of a machine or system) function, especially properly or effectively.
4. (of a machine) be in operation.
5. have or bring about the desired result: her plan worked admirably.
6. bring (a material or mixture) to a desired shape or consistency.
7. produce (an article or design) using a specified material or sewing stitch.
8. cultivate (land) or extract materials from (a mine or quarry).
9. move gradually or with difficulty into another position.
10. (of a person's features) move violently or convulsively.
11. bring into a specified emotional state.

IDIOMS -
get worked up gradually come into a state of intense excitement, anger, or anxiety.
have one's work cut out be faced with a hard or lengthy task.
in the works being planned, worked on, or produced.
work in try to include (something).
work off reduce or eliminate by activity.
work on/upon exert influence on.
work out
1. solve or be capable of being solved.
2. develop in a good or specified way.
3. plan in detail.
4. understand the character of.
5. engage in vigorous physical exercise.
work out at be calculated at.
work over informal beat up.
work one's passage pay for one's journey on a ship with work instead of money.
work to rule chiefly Brit. follow official working rules and hours exactly in order to reduce output and efficiency, as a form of industrial action.
work up to proceed gradually towards (something more advanced).
work up develop or improve (something) gradually.

DERIVATIVES:
workless adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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workable

adjective
1. able to be worked.
2. capable of producing the desired result.

DERIVATIVES:
workability noun
workably adverb.

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workaday

adjective
not unusual or interesting; ordinary.

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workaholic

noun informal
a person who compulsively works excessively hard.

DERIVATIVES:
workaholism noun.

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workbench

noun
a bench at which carpentry or other mechanical or practical work is done.

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worker

noun
1. a person who works.
2. a person who achieves a specified thing: a miracle-worker.
3. a neuter or undeveloped female bee, wasp, ant, etc., large numbers of which perform the basic work of a colony.

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work experience

noun
short-term experience of employment, arranged for older pupils by schools.

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workforce

noun (treated as sing. or pl. )
the people engaged in or available for work in a particular area, firm, or industry.

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workhorse

noun
a person or machine that works hard and reliably over a long period.

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workhouse

noun
1. historical (in the UK) a public institution in which poor people received board and lodging in return for work.
2. US a prison in which petty offenders are expected to work.

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working

adjective
1. having paid employment.
2. engaged in manual labour.
3. functioning or able to function.
4. good enough as the basis for work or argument and likely to be changed later: a working title.

noun
1. a mine or a part of a mine from which minerals are being extracted.
2. (workings) the way in which a machine, organization, or system operates.
3. (workings) a record of the successive calculations made in solving a mathematical problem.
4. a scheduled duty or trip performed by a locomotive, bus, etc.

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working capital

noun
the capital of a business which is used in its day-to-day trading operations.

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working class

noun
the social group consisting of people who are employed for wages, especially in manual or industrial work.

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working girl

noun informal, euphemistic
a prostitute.

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working party (also working group)

noun Brit.
a group appointed to study and report on a particular question and make recommendations.

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workload

noun
the amount of work to be done by someone or something.

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workman

noun
1. a man employed to do manual labour.
2. a person who works in a specified way.

IDIOMS -
a bad workman always blames his tools proverb a person who has done something badly will blame their equipment rather than admit their own lack of skill.

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workmanlike

adjective
showing efficient competence.

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workmanship

noun
the degree of skill with which a product is made or a job done.

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workmate

noun chiefly Brit.
a person with whom one works; a colleague.

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work of art

noun
a creative product with strong imaginative or aesthetic appeal.

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workout

noun
a session of vigorous physical exercise.

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work permit

noun
an official document giving a foreigner permission to take a job in a country.

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workpiece

noun
an object being worked on with a tool or machine.

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worksheet

noun
1. a paper listing questions or tasks for students.
2. a paper or table recording work done or in progress.

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workshop

noun
1. a room or building in which goods are manufactured or repaired.
2. a meeting at which a group engages in intensive discussion and activity on a particular subject or project.

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work-shy

adjective
disinclined to work.

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workspace

noun
1. an area rented or sold for commercial purposes.
2. Computing a memory storage facility for temporary use.

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workstation

noun
a desktop computer terminal, typically networked and more powerful than a personal computer.

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worktop

noun Brit.
a flat surface for working on, especially in a kitchen.

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world

noun
1. (the world) the earth with all its countries and peoples.
2. a region or group of countries: the English-speaking world.
3. all that belongs to a particular period or sphere of activity: the theatre world.
4. (one's world) a person's life and activities.
5. (the world) secular or material matters as opposed to spiritual ones.
6. a planet.
7. (a/the world) a very large amount of: that makes a world of difference.

IDIOMS -
the best of both (or all possible) worlds the benefits of widely differing situations, enjoyed at the same time.
bring into the world give birth to or assist at the birth of.
man (or woman) of the world a person who is experienced in the ways of sophisticated society.
out of this world informal extremely enjoyable or impressive.
the world and his wife Brit. informal everybody.
the world, the flesh, and the devil all forms of temptation to sin.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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world-beater

noun
a person or thing that is better than all others in its field.

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world-class

adjective
of or among the best in the world.

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World Cup

noun
a competition between teams from several countries in a sport, in particular an international soccer tournament held every four years.

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world English

noun
the English language including all of its regional varieties, such as North American, Australian, and South African English.

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worldly

adjective (wordlier, wordliest)
1. of or concerned with material affairs rather than spiritual ones.
2. experienced and sophisticated.

IDIOMS -
worldly goods (or possessions or wealth) everything that someone owns.

DERIVATIVES:
worldliness noun.

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worldly-wise

adjective
having sufficient experience not to be easily shocked or deceived.

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world music

noun
music from the developing world incorporating traditional and/or popular elements.

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world order

noun
a set of arrangements established internationally for preserving global political stability.

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world power

noun
a country that has significant influence in international affairs.

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world-ranking

adjective
among the best in the world.

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world war

noun
a war involving many large nations in all different parts of the world, especially the wars of 1914 18 and 1939 45.

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world-weary

adjective
bored with or cynical about life.

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worldwide

adjective
extending or applicable throughout the world.

adverb
throughout the world.

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World Wide Web

noun Computing
an extensive information system on the Internet providing facilities for documents to be connected to other documents by hypertext links.

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worm

noun
1. an earthworm or other creeping or burrowing invertebrate animal having a long slender soft body and no limbs.
2. (worms) intestinal or other internal parasites.
3. a maggot regarded as eating dead bodies buried in the ground.
4. informal a weak or despicable person.

verb
1. move by crawling or wriggling.
2. (worm one's way into) insinuate one's way into.
3. (worm out of) obtain (information) from (someone) by cunning persistence.
4. treat (an animal) with a preparation designed to expel parasitic worms.

IDIOMS -
(even) a worm will turn proverb (even) a meek person will resist or retaliate if pushed too far.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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worm cast

noun
a convoluted mass of soil, mud, or sand thrown up at the surface by a burrowing worm.

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wormhole

noun
1. a hole made by a burrowing insect larva or worm in wood, fruit, etc.
2. Physics a hypothetical connection between widely separated regions of space time.

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wormwood

noun
1. a woody shrub with a bitter aromatic taste, used as an ingredient of vermouth and absinthe and in medicine.
2. bitterness or grief, or a source of this.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wormy

adjective (wormier, wormiest)
worm-eaten or full of worms.

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worn
past participle of WEAR.
adjective
1. suffering from wear.
2. very tired.

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worn out

adjective
1. exhausted.
2. worn to the point of being no longer usable.

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worried

adjective
feeling, showing, or expressing anxiety.

DERIVATIVES:
worriedly adverb.

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worrisome

adjective
causing anxiety or concern.

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worry

verb (worries, worried)
1. feel or cause to feel troubled over actual or potential difficulties.
2. annoy or disturb.
3. (of a dog or other carnivorous animal) tear at or pull about with the teeth.
4. (of a dog) chase and attack (livestock, especially sheep).
5. (worry at) pull at or fiddle with repeatedly.
6. (worry out) discover or devise (a solution) by persistent thought.

noun (pl. worries)
1. the state of being worried.
2. a source of anxiety.

IDIOMS -
no worries informal, chiefly Austral. all right; fine.

DERIVATIVES:
worrier noun
worrying adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, «strangle».

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worry beads

plural noun
a string of beads that one fingers so as to calm oneself.

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worse

adjective
1. less good, satisfactory, or pleasing.
2. more serious or severe.
3. more ill or unhappy.

adverb
1. less well.
2. more seriously or severely.

noun
a worse event or circumstance.

IDIOMS -
none the worse for not adversely affected by.
the worse for drink rather drunk.
the worse for wear informal
1. worn.
2. feeling rather unwell, especially as a result of drinking too much alcohol.
worse off less fortunate or prosperous.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WAR.

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worsen

verb
make or become worse.

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worship

noun
1. the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity.
2. religious rites and ceremonies.
3. great admiration or devotion.
4. (His/Your Worship) chiefly Brit. a title of respect for a magistrate or mayor.

verb (worshipped, worshipping; US also worshiped, worshiping)
1. show reverence and adoration for (a deity).
2. feel great admiration or devotion for.

DERIVATIVES:
worshipper noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «worthiness, acknowledgement of worth».

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worshipful

adjective
1. feeling or showing reverence and admiration.
2. (Worshipful) Brit. a title given to justices of the peace and to certain old companies or their officers.

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worst

adjective
most bad, severe, or serious.

adverb
1. most severely or seriously.
2. least well.

noun
the worst part, event, or circumstance.

verb
get the better of.

IDIOMS -
at worst in the worst possible case.
do one's worst do as much damage as one can.
get (or have) the worst of it suffer the most.
if the worst comes to the worst if the most serious or difficult circumstances arise.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WORSE.

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worsted

noun
1. a fine smooth yarn spun from long strands of combed wool.
2. fabric made from such yarn.

ORIGIN: from Worstead, a parish in Norfolk, England.

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worth

adjective
1. equivalent in value to the sum or item specified.
2. deserving to be treated or regarded in the way specified.
3. having income or property amounting to a specified sum.

noun
1. the value or merit of someone or something.
2. an amount of a commodity equivalent to a specified sum of money: hundreds of pounds worth of clothes.

IDIOMS -
for all one is worth informal as energetically or enthusiastically as one can.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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worthless

adjective
1. having no real value or use.
2. having no good qualities.

DERIVATIVES:
worthlessly adverb
worthlessness noun.

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worthwhile

adjective
worth the time, money, or effort spent.

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worthy

adjective (worthier, worthiest)
1. (often worthy of) deserving or good enough.
2. deserving effort, attention, or respect.
3. showing good intent but lacking in humour or imagination.

noun (pl. worthies) often humorous
a person important in a particular sphere: local worthies.

DERIVATIVES:
worthily adverb
worthiness noun.

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-worthy

combining form
1. deserving of a specified thing: newsworthy.
2. suitable for a specified thing: roadworthy.

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would

modal verb (3rd sing. present would)
1. past of WILL, in various senses.
2. (expressing the conditional mood) indicating the consequence of an imagined event.
3. expressing a desire or inclination.
4. expressing a polite request.
5. expressing a conjecture or opinion.
6. literary expressing a wish or regret.
USAGE - On the difference between would and should, see the note at SHOULD.

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would-be

adjective often derogatory
desiring or aspiring to be a specified type of person.

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wouldn't

contraction
would not.

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wound [1]

noun
1. a bodily injury caused by a cut, blow, or other impact.
2. an injury to a person's feelings or reputation.

verb
1. inflict a wound on.
2. injure (a person's feelings).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wow informal

exclamation (also wowee)
expressing astonishment or admiration.

noun
a sensational success.

verb
impress and excite greatly.

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WP

abbreviation
word processing or word processor.

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WPC

abbreviation
(in the UK) woman police constable.

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wpm

abbreviation
words per minute (used after a number to indicate typing speed).

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wrack [2]

noun
a coarse brown seaweed which grows on the shoreline, often with air bladders providing buoyancy.

ORIGIN: apparently from archaic and dialect wrack «shipwreck», from Dutch wrak.

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WRAF

abbreviation
(in the UK, until 1994) Women's Royal Air Force.

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wraith

noun
1. a ghost or ghostly image of someone, especially one seen shortly before or after their death.
2. literary a wisp or faint trace.

DERIVATIVES:
wraithlike adjective.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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wrangle

noun
a long and complicated dispute or argument.

verb
1. engage in a wrangle.
2. N. Amer. round up or take charge of (livestock).

DERIVATIVES:
wrangler noun.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to Low German wrangen 'to struggle' .

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wrap

verb (wrapped, wrapping)
1. cover or enclose in paper or soft material.
2. arrange (paper or soft material) round something.
3. encircle or wind round: he wrapped an arm around her waist.
4. Computing cause (a word or unit of text) to be carried over to a new line automatically.
5. informal finish filming or recording.

noun
1. a loose outer garment or piece of material.
2. paper or material used for wrapping.
3. informal the end of a session of filming or recording.
4. Brit. informal a small packet of a powdered illegal drug.
5. a tortilla wrapped around a cold filling, eaten as a sandwich.

IDIOMS -
under wraps kept secret.
wrap up
1. put on or dress in warm clothes.
2. complete or conclude (a meeting or other process).
3. Brit. informal be quiet; stop talking.
4. (wrapped up) engrossed or absorbed to the exclusion of other things.

DERIVATIVES:
wrapping noun.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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wrapped

adjective Austral. informal
overjoyed; delighted.

ORIGIN: blend of wrapped up «engrossed» and RAPT.

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wrapper

noun
1. a piece of paper or other material used for wrapping something.
2. chiefly N. Amer. a loose robe or gown.

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wrasse

noun (pl. same or wrasses)
a brightly coloured marine fish with thick lips and strong teeth.

ORIGIN: Cornish wrah; related to Welsh gwrach 'old woman' .

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wrath

noun
extreme anger.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WROTH.

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wrathful

adjective literary
full of or characterized by intense anger.

DERIVATIVES:
wrathfully adverb.

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wreak

verb
1. cause (a large amount of damage or harm).
2. inflict (vengeance).
USAGE - The past tense of wreak is wreaked, as in rainstorms wreaked havoc yesterday , not wrought. When wrought is used in the phrase wrought havoc, it is in fact an archaic past tense of work.
ORIGIN: Old English, «drive (out), avenge»; related to WRECK and WRETCH.

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wreath

noun (pl. wreaths)
1. an arrangement of flowers, leaves, or stems fastened in a ring and used for decoration or for laying on a grave.
2. a curl or ring of smoke or cloud.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WRITHE.

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wreathe

verb
1. (usu. be wreathed) envelop, surround, or encircle.
2. (of smoke) move with a curling motion.

ORIGIN: from WRITHE, reinforced by WREATH.

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wreck

noun
1. the destruction of a ship at sea; a shipwreck.
2. a ship destroyed at sea.
3. a building, vehicle, etc. that has been destroyed or badly damaged.
4. N. Amer. a road or rail crash.
5. a person in a very bad physical or mental state.

verb
1. cause the destruction of (a ship) by sinking or breaking up.
2. destroy or severely damage.
3. spoil completely.
4. (wrecking) historical the practice of causing a shipwreck in order to steal the cargo.

ORIGIN: Old French wrec, from Old Norse; related to WREAK.

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wreckage

noun
the remains of something that has been badly damaged or destroyed.

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wrecked

adjective informal
1. exhausted.
2. drunk.

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Wren

noun
(in the UK) a member of the former Women's Royal Naval Service.

ORIGIN: from WRNS.

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wren

noun
a very small short-winged songbird with a cocked tail.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wrench

verb
1. pull or twist suddenly and violently.
2. injure (a part of the body) as a result of a sudden twisting movement.

noun
1. a sudden violent twist or pull.
2. a feeling of abrupt pain and distress caused by one's own or another's departure.
3. an adjustable tool like a spanner, used for gripping and turning nuts or bolts.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wrest

verb
1. forcibly pull from a person's grasp.
2. take (power or control) after effort or resistance.

ORIGIN: Old English, «twist, tighten»; related to WRIST.

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wrestle

verb
1. take part in a fight or contest that involves close grappling with one's opponent.
2. struggle with a difficulty or problem.
3. extract or manipulate (an object) with difficulty and some physical effort.

noun
1. a wrestling bout or contest.
2. a hard struggle.

DERIVATIVES:
wrestler noun
wrestling noun.

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wretch

noun
1. an unfortunate person.
2. informal a contemptible person.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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wretched

adjective (wretcheder, wretchedest)
1. in a very unhappy or unfortunate state; miserable.
2. of poor quality; very bad.
3. used to express anger or annoyance: she disliked the wretched man intensely.

DERIVATIVES:
wretchedly adverb
wretchedness noun.

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wriggle

verb
1. twist and turn with quick writhing movements.
2. (wriggle out of) avoid by devious means.

noun
a wriggling movement.

DERIVATIVES:
wriggler noun
wriggly adjective.

ORIGIN: Low German wriggelen.

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wright

noun
a maker or builder: playwright.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WORK.

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wring

verb (past and past part. wrung)
1. squeeze and twist to force liquid from.
2. break (an animal's neck) by twisting forcibly.
3. squeeze (someone's hand) tightly.
4. (wring from/out of) obtain with difficulty or effort.
5. cause great pain or distress to.

noun
an act of wringing.

IDIOMS -
wring one's hands clasp and twist one's hands together as a gesture of distress or despair.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WRONG.

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wringer

noun
a device for wringing water from wet clothes or other objects.

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wringing

adjective
extremely wet; soaked.

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wrinkle

noun
1. a slight line or fold, especially in fabric or the skin of the face.
2. informal a minor difficulty.
3. informal a clever innovation, or useful piece of information or advice.

verb
make or become wrinkled.

DERIVATIVES:
wrinkled adjective.

ORIGIN: possibly from an Old English word meaning «sinuous».

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wrinkly

adjective (wrinklier, wrinkliest)
having many wrinkles.

noun (pl. wrinklies) Brit. informal, derogatory
an old person.

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wrist

noun
the joint connecting the hand with the forearm.

ORIGIN: Old English, probably related to WRITHE.

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wristband

noun
a band word round the wrist, especially for identity purposes or as a sweatband.

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wristwatch

noun
a watch worn on a strap round the wrist.

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writ [1]

noun
1. a form of written command in the name of a court or other legal authority, directing a person to act or refrain from acting in a specified way.
2. (one's writ) one's power to enforce compliance or submission.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WRITE.

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writ [2]

verb archaic past participle of WRITE.

IDIOMS -
writ large in an obvious or exaggerated form.

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write

verb (past wrote; past part. written)
1. mark (letters, words, or other symbols) on a surface, with a pen, pencil, or similar implement.
2. write and send (a letter) to someone.
3. compose (a text or work) in writing.
4. compose (a musical work).
5. fill out or complete (a cheque or similar document).
6. Computing enter (data) into a specified storage medium or location in store.
7. underwrite (an insurance policy).

IDIOMS -
be written all over one's face informal be obvious from one's expression.
write off
1. dismiss as insignificant.
2. cancel the record of (a bad debt); acknowledge the failure to recover (an asset).
3. Brit. damage (a vehicle) so badly that it cannot be repaired or is not worth repairing.

DERIVATIVES:
writable adjective ( chiefly Computing ).

ORIGIN: Old English.

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write-off

noun
1. a vehicle that is too badly damaged to be repaired.
2. a worthless or ineffectual person or thing.

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writer

noun
1. a person who has written a particular text, or who writes books or articles as an occupation.
2. Computing a device that writes data to a storage medium.

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writerly

adjective
1. of or characteristic of a professional author.
2. consciously literary.

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writer's block

noun
the condition of being unable to think of what to write or how to proceed with writing.

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writer's cramp

noun
pain or stiffness in the hand caused by excessive writing.

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write-up

noun
a newspaper article giving an opinion of a recent event, performance, etc.; a review.

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writhe

verb
twist or squirm in pain or as if in pain.

ORIGIN: Old English, «make into coils, plait».

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writing

noun
1. the activity or skill of writing.
2. written work.
3. (writings) books or other written works.
4. a sequence of letters or symbols forming coherent words.

IDIOMS -
the writing is on the wall there are clear signs that something unpleasant or unwelcome is going to happen. [ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to Belshazzar's feast (Book of Daniel, chapter 5), at which mysterious writing appeared on the wall foretelling Belshazzar's overthrow.]

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wrong

adjective
1. not correct or true; mistaken or in error.
2. unjust, dishonest, or immoral.
3. in a bad or abnormal condition; amiss.

adverb
1. in a mistaken or undesirable manner or direction.
2. with an incorrect result.

noun
an unjust, dishonest, or immoral action.

verb
1. act unjustly or dishonestly towards.
2. mistakenly attribute bad motives to; misrepresent.

IDIOMS -
get hold of the wrong end of the stick misunderstand something.
get wrong misunderstand (someone).
in the wrong responsible for a mistake or offence.
on the wrong side of
1. out of favour with.
2. somewhat more than (a specified age).
two wrongs don't make a right proverb the fact that someone has done something unjust or dishonest is no justification for acting in a similar way.

DERIVATIVES:
wrongly adverb
wrongness noun.

ORIGIN: Old Norse, 'awry, unjust' .

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wrongdoing

noun
illegal or dishonest behaviour.

DERIVATIVES:
wrongdoer noun.

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wrong-foot

verb Brit.
1. (in a game) play so as to catch (an opponent) off balance.
2. place in a difficult or embarrassing situation by saying or doing something unexpected.

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wrongful

adjective
not fair, just, or legal.

DERIVATIVES:
wrongfully adverb.

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wrong-headed

adjective
having or showing bad judgement; misguided.

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wroth

adjective archaic
angry.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to WRITHE.

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wrought

adjective
1. (of metals) beaten out or shaped by hammering.
2. (in combination ) made or fashioned in the specified way: well-wrought.
3. (wrought up) upset and anxious.

ORIGIN: archaic past and past participle of WORK.

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wrought iron

noun
a tough malleable form of iron suitable for forging or rolling rather than casting.

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wry

adjective (wryer, wryest or wrier, wriest)
1. using or expressing dry, especially mocking, humour.
2. (of a person's face) twisted into an expression of disgust, disappointment, or annoyance.
3. bending or twisted to one side.

DERIVATIVES:
wryly adverb
wryness noun.

ORIGIN: from an Old English word meaning «tend, incline», later «swerve, contort».

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wryneck

noun
a bird of the woodpecker family, with brown plumage and a habit of twisting its head backwards.

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WSW

abbreviation
west-south-west.

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WTO

abbreviation
World Trade Organization.

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wunderkind

noun (pl. wunderkinds or wunderkinder)
a person who achieves great success when relatively young.

ORIGIN: German, from Wunder 'wonder' + Kind 'child' .

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Wurlitzer

noun trademark
a large pipe organ or electric organ.

ORIGIN: named after the American instrument-maker Rudolf Wurlitzer (1831 1914).

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wuss

noun N. Amer. informal
a weak or ineffectual person.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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WV

abbreviation
West Virginia.

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WWF

abbreviation
1. World Wide Fund for Nature.
2. World Wrestling Federation.

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WWI

abbreviation
World War I.

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WWII

abbreviation
World War II.

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WWW

abbreviation
World Wide Web.

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WY

abbreviation
Wyoming.

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X

X [1] (also x)

noun (pl. Xs or X's)
1. the twenty-fourth letter of the alphabet.
2. denoting an unknown or unspecified person or thing.
3. the first unknown quantity in an algebraic expression.
4. referring to the principal or horizontal axis in a system of coordinates.
5. a cross-shaped written symbol, used to indicate an incorrect answer or to symbolize a kiss.
6. the Roman numeral for ten.

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X [2]

symbol
films classified as suitable for adults only (replaced in the UK in 1983 by 18, and in the US in 1990 by NC 17).

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X chromosome

noun Genetics
(in humans and other mammals) a sex chromosome, two of which are normally present in female cells (designated XX) and only one in male cells (designated XY). Compare with Y CHROMOSOME.

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xenon

noun
an inert gaseous chemical element, present in trace amounts in the air and used in some kinds of electric light.

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xenophobia

noun
intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries.

DERIVATIVES:
xenophobe noun
xenophobic adjective.

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xerography

noun
a dry copying process in which powder adheres to parts of a surface remaining electrically charged after being exposed to light from an image of the document to be copied.

DERIVATIVES:
xerographic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek xros 'dry' .

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Xerox

noun trademark
1. a xerographic copying process.
2. a copy made using such a process.

verb (xerox)
copy (a document) by such a process.

ORIGIN: an invented name, based on XEROGRAPHY.

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XL

abbreviation
extra large (as a clothes size).

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XML

abbreviation
Extensible Mark-up Language.

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X-rated

adjective
1. pornographic or indecent.
2. (formerly) denoting a film given an X classification.

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X-ray

noun
1. an electromagnetic wave of very short wavelength, able to pass through many materials opaque to light.
2. a photograph or other image of the internal structure of an object produced by passing X-rays through the object.

verb
photograph or examine with X-rays.

ORIGIN: from X- (because, when discovered in 1895, the nature of the rays was unknown).

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xylem

noun Botany
the vascular tissue in plants which conducts water and dissolved nutrients upwards from the root and also helps to form the woody element in the stem.

ORIGIN: from Greek xulon 'wood' .

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xylophone

noun
a musical instrument played by striking a row of wooden bars of graduated length with small beaters.

ORIGIN: from Greek xulon 'wood' .

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Y

Y (also y)

noun (pl. Ys or Y's)
1. the twenty-fifth letter of the alphabet.
2. referring to an unknown or unspecified person or thing (coming second after ‘x’).
3. (usu. y) the second unknown quantity in an algebraic expression.
4. referring to the secondary or vertical axis in a system of coordinates.

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y

abbreviation
year(s).

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-y [1]

suffix forming adjectives:
1. full of; having the quality of: messy.
2. inclined to; apt to: sticky.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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-y [2] (also -ey or -ie)

suffix
1. forming diminutive nouns, pet names, etc.: granny.
2. forming verbs: shinny.

ORIGIN: Scots.

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-y [3]

suffix forming nouns:
1. referring to a state or quality: jealousy.
2. referring to an action or its result: victory.

ORIGIN: from Latin -ia, -ium or Greek -eia, -ia.

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Y2K

abbreviation
year 2000 (with reference to the millennium bug).

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yacht

noun
1. a medium-sized sailing boat equipped for cruising or racing.
2. a powered boat equipped for cruising.

verb
race or cruise in a yacht.

DERIVATIVES:
yachting noun.

ORIGIN: Dutch jaghte, from jaghtschip 'fast pirate ship' .

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yahoo

noun informal
a rude, coarse, or brutish person.

ORIGIN: named after an imaginary race in Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels (1726).

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Yahweh

noun
a form of the Hebrew name of God used in the Bible.

ORIGIN: Hebrew.

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yak [1]

noun
a large ox with shaggy hair and large horns, used in Tibet as a pack animal and for its milk, meat, and hide.

ORIGIN: Tibetan.

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yak [2] (also yack) informal

verb (yakked, yakking)
talk at length about trivial or boring subjects.

noun
a trivial or lengthy conversation.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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Yale

noun trademark
a type of lock with a latch bolt and a flat key with a serrated edge.

ORIGIN: named after the American locksmith Linus Yale Jr (1821 68).

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yam

noun
1. the edible starchy tuber of a tropical and subtropical climbing plant.
2. N. Amer. a sweet potato.

ORIGIN: from Portuguese inhame or obsolete Spanish iñame.

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yammer informal

verb
1. talk loudly and incessantly.
2. make a loud, incessant noise.

noun
loud and sustained noise.

ORIGIN: Old English, «to lament».

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yang

noun
(in Chinese philosophy) the active male principle of the universe. Contrasted with YIN.

ORIGIN: Chinese, 'male genitals' , 'sun' , 'positive' .

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Yank

noun informal, often derogatory
an American.

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yank informal

verb
pull with a jerk.

noun
a sudden hard pull.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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Yankee

noun informal
1. often derogatory an American.
2. US an inhabitant of New England or one of the northern states.
3. historical a Federal soldier in the Civil War.
4. a bet on four or more horses to win (or be placed) in different races.

ORIGIN: perhaps from Dutch Janke, from Jan 'John' .

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yap

verb (yapped, yapping)
1. give a sharp, shrill bark.
2. informal talk at length in an irritating manner.

noun
a sharp, shrill bark.

DERIVATIVES:
yapper noun
yappy adjective (informal ).

ORIGIN: imitative.

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yard [1]

noun
1. a unit of linear measure equal to 3 feet (0.9144 metre).
2. a square or cubic yard, especially of sand or other building materials.
3. a cylindrical spar slung across a ship's mast for a sail to hang from.

IDIOMS -
by the yard in large numbers or quantities.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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yard [2]

noun
1. chiefly Brit. a piece of uncultivated enclosed ground adjoining a building.
2. an area of land used for a particular purpose or business: a builder's yard.
3. N. Amer. the garden of a house.

ORIGIN: Old English, «building, home, region»; related to GARDEN and ORCHARD.

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yardage

noun
a distance or length measured in yards.

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yardarm

noun
the outer extremity of a ship's yard.

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Yardie informal

noun
1. (among Jamaicans) a fellow Jamaican.
2. (in the UK) a member of a Jamaican or West Indian gang of criminals.

ORIGIN: from Jamaican English yard 'house, home' .

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yardstick

noun
1. a measuring rod a yard long.
2. a standard used for comparison.

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yarmulke (also yarmulka)

noun
a skullcap worn in public by Orthodox Jewish men or during prayer by other Jewish men.

ORIGIN: Yiddish.

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yarn

noun
1. spun thread used for knitting, weaving, or sewing.
2. informal a long or rambling story.

verb informal
tell a yarn.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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yarrow

noun
a plant with feathery leaves and heads of small white or pale pink flowers, used in herbal medicine.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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yashmak

noun
a veil concealing all of the face except the eyes, worn by some Muslim women in public.

ORIGIN: Turkish.

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yaw

verb
(of a moving ship or aircraft) twist or oscillate about a vertical axis.

noun
yawing movement of a ship or aircraft.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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yawl

noun
a two-masted fore-and-aft-rigged sailing boat with the mizzenmast stepped far aft so that the mizzen boom overhangs the stern.

ORIGIN: from Low German jolle or Dutch jol.

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yawn

verb
1. involuntarily open one's mouth wide and inhale deeply due to tiredness or boredom.
2. (yawning) wide open: a yawning chasm.

noun
1. an act of yawning.
2. informal a boring or tedious thing or event.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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yawp

noun
a harsh or hoarse cry or yelp.

verb
shout or exclaim hoarsely.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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yaws

plural noun (treated as sing. )
a contagious tropical disease caused by a bacterium that enters skin abrasions and causes small lesions which may develop into deep ulcers.

ORIGIN: probably from Carib.

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Y chromosome

noun Genetics
(in humans and other mammals) a sex chromosome which is normally present only in male cells, which are designated XY. Compare with X CHROMOSOME.

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yd

abbreviation
yard (measure).

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yea archaic or formal

adverb
yes.

noun
an affirmative answer.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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year

noun
1. the time taken by the earth to make one revolution around the sun.
2. (also calendar year) the period of 365 days (or 366 days in leap years) starting from the first of January, used for reckoning time in ordinary affairs.
3. a period of the same length as this starting at a different point.
4. a similar period used for reckoning time according to other calendars.
5. (one's years) one's age or time of life.
6. (years) informal a very long time.
7. a set of students grouped together as being of roughly similar ages.

IDIOMS -
in the year of grace (or Our Lord) in the year AD.
year in, year out continuously or repeatedly over a period of years.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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yearbook

noun
1. an annual publication giving current information about and listing events of the previous year.
2. N. Amer. an annual publication of the graduating class in a school or university, giving photographs of students and details of school activities in the previous year.

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yearling

noun
1. an animal of a year old, or in its second year.
2. a racehorse in the calendar year after its year of foaling.

adjective
having lived or existed for a year.

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yearly

adjective & adverb
happening or produced once a year or every year.

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yearn

verb
have an intense feeling of loss and longing for something.

DERIVATIVES:
yearner noun
yearning noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, from a Germanic base meaning 'eager' .

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year-on-year

adjective
(of figures, prices, etc.) as compared with the corresponding ones from a year earlier.

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year-round

adjective
happening or continuing throughout the year.

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yeast

noun
1. a microscopic single-celled fungus capable of converting sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
2. a greyish-yellow preparation of this obtained chiefly from fermented beer, used as a fermenting agent, to raise bread dough, and as a food supplement.
3. Biology any single-celled fungus that reproduces vegetatively by budding or fission.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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yeasty

adjective (yeastier, yeastiest)
1. of, resembling, or containing yeast.
2. turbulent or restless.

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yell

noun
1. a loud, sharp cry, especially of pain, surprise, or delight.
2. N. Amer. an organized rhythmic cheer, especially one used to support a sports team.

verb
shout in a loud or piercing way.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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yellow

adjective
1. of the colour between green and orange in the spectrum, as of egg yolks or ripe lemons.
2. offensive having a yellowish or olive skin (as used to describe Chinese or Japanese people).
3. referring to a warning of danger which is thought to be near but not actually imminent.
4. informal cowardly.
5. (of a book or newspaper) unscrupulously sensational.

noun
yellow colour or pigment.

verb
become a yellow colour, especially with age.

IDIOMS -
the yellow peril offensive the political or military threat regarded as being posed by the Chinese or by the peoples of SE Asia.

DERIVATIVES:
yellowish adjective
yellowness noun
yellowy adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to GOLD.

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yellow-belly

noun informal
a coward.

DERIVATIVES:
yellow-bellied adjective.

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yellow card

noun
(especially in soccer) a yellow card shown by the referee to a player being cautioned.

verb (yellow-card)
(of the referee) show a yellow card to.

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yellow fever

noun
a tropical disease caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes, causing fever and jaundice and often fatal.

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yellow flag

noun
a ship's yellow or quarantine flag, used to indicate the presence or absence of disease aboard.

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yellowhammer

noun
a common bunting, the male of which has a yellow head, neck, and breast.

ORIGIN: -hammer is perhaps from Old English amore (a kind of bird).

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yellow jersey

noun
(in a cycling race involving stages) a yellow jersey worn each day by the rider who is ahead on time over the whole race, and presented to the rider with the shortest overall time at the finish of the race.

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Yellow Pages

plural noun (trademark in the UK)
a telephone directory printed on yellow paper and listing businesses and other organizations according to the goods or services they offer.

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yelp

noun
a short sharp cry.

verb
utter a yelp or yelps.

ORIGIN: from Old English, «to boast».

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yen [1]

noun (pl. same)
the basic monetary unit of Japan.

ORIGIN: from Japanese, 'round' .

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yen [2]

noun informal
a longing or yearning.

ORIGIN: originally in the sense «craving for a drug»: from Chinese.

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yeoman

noun historical
1. a man holding a small landed estate; a freeholder.
2. a servant in a royal or noble household.
3. Brit. a member of the yeomanry force.

IDIOMS -
yeoman service efficient help.

DERIVATIVES:
yeomanly adjective.

ORIGIN: probably from YOUNG + MAN.

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Yeoman of the Guard

noun
a member of the British sovereign's bodyguard (now having only ceremonial duties).

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yeomanry

noun (treated as sing. or pl. ) historical
a body of yeomen, or yeomen collectively.

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Yeoman Warder

noun
a warder at the Tower of London.

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yes

exclamation
1. used to give an affirmative response.
2. responding to someone addressing one or attracting one's attention.
3. questioning a remark.
4. expressing delight.

noun (pl. yeses or yesses)
an affirmative answer, decision, or vote.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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yes-man

noun informal
a person who always agrees with their superiors.

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yesterday

adverb
on the day before today.

noun
1. the day before today.
2. the recent past.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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yesteryear

noun literary
last year or the recent past.

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yet

adverb
1. up until now or then.
2. as soon as the present or a specified or implied time: wait, don't go yet.
3. from now into the future for a specified length of time.
4. referring to something that will or may happen in the future.
5. still; even (emphasizing increase or repetition).
6. in spite of that.

conjunction
but at the same time.

IDIOMS -
nor yet and also not.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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yeti

noun
a large hairy manlike creature said to live in the highest part of the Himalayas.

ORIGIN: Tibetan, 'little manlike animal' .

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yew

noun
a coniferous tree with poisonous red berry-like fruit and dense, springy wood.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Y-fronts

plural noun Brit. trademark
men's or boys' underpants with a seam at the front in the shape of an upside-down Y.

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YHA

abbreviation
(in the UK) Youth Hostels Association.

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Yid

noun informal, offensive
a Jew.

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Yiddish

noun
a language used by Jews in or from central and eastern Europe, originally a German dialect with words from Hebrew and several modern languages.

adjective
relating to this language.

DERIVATIVES:
Yiddisher noun.

ORIGIN: from Yiddish yidish daytsh 'Jewish German' .

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yield

verb
1. produce or provide (a natural, agricultural, or industrial product).
2. produce or generate (a result, gain, or financial return).
3. give way to demands or pressure.
4. relinquish possession of.
5. (of a mass or structure) give way under force or pressure.

noun
an amount or result yielded.

DERIVATIVES:
yielder noun.

ORIGIN: Old English, «pay, repay».

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yikes

exclamation informal, humorous
expressing shock and alarm.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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yin

noun
(in Chinese philosophy) the passive female principle of the universe. Contrasted with YANG.

ORIGIN: Chinese, 'feminine' , 'moon' , 'shade' .

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yip

noun
a short, sharp cry or yelp, especially of excitement or delight.

verb (yipped, yipping)
give a yip.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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yippee

exclamation
expressing wild excitement or delight.

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ylang-ylang

noun
a sweet-scented essential oil obtained from the flowers of a tropical tree, used in perfumery and aromatherapy.

ORIGIN: Tagalog.

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YMCA

abbreviation
Young Men's Christian Association.

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yob

noun Brit. informal
a rude and loutish young man.

DERIVATIVES:
yobbery noun
yobbish adjective.

ORIGIN: from BOY (spelt backwards).

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yobbo

noun (pl. yobbos or yobboes) Brit. informal
a yob.

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yodel

verb (yodelled, yodelling; US yodeled, yodeling)
practise a form of singing or calling marked by rapid alternation between the normal voice and falsetto.

noun
a song or call delivered in such a way.

DERIVATIVES:
yodeller noun.

ORIGIN: German jodeln.

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yoga

noun
a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practised for health and relaxation.

DERIVATIVES:
yogic adjective.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit, 'union' .

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yogi

noun (pl. yogis)
a person who is proficient in yoga.

ORIGIN: Sanskrit.

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yogurt (also yoghurt or yoghourt)

noun
a semi-solid slightly sour food prepared from milk fermented by added bacteria.

ORIGIN: Turkish.

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yoke

noun
1. a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to a plough or cart that they pull in unison.
2. (pl. same or yokes) a pair of yoked animals.
3. a frame fitting over the neck and shoulders of a person, used for carrying pails or baskets.
4. something that represents a bond between two parties: the yoke of marriage.
5. something oppressive or burdensome: the yoke of imperialism.
6. a part of a garment that fits over the shoulders and to which the main part of the garment is attached.

verb
couple or attach with or to a yoke.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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yokel

noun
an unsophisticated country person.

ORIGIN: perhaps from dialect yokel «green woodpecker».

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yolk

noun
the yellow internal part of a bird's egg, which is rich in protein and fat and nourishes the developing embryo.

DERIVATIVES:
yolked adjective
yolky adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to YELLOW.

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Yom Kippur

noun
the most solemn religious fast of the Jewish year, the last of the ten days of penitence that begin with Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year).

ORIGIN: Hebrew, 'day of atonement' .

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yon literary or dialect

determiner & adverb
yonder; that.

pronoun
yonder person or thing.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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yonder archaic or dialect

adverb
at some distance in the direction indicated; over there.

determiner
that or those (referring to something situated at a distance).

noun (the yonder)
the far distance.

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yonks

plural noun Brit. informal
a very long time.

ORIGIN: perhaps related to donkey's years (see DONKEY).

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yore

noun (in phrase of yore) literary
of former times or long ago.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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Yorkist

noun
a follower of the House of York in the Wars of the Roses.

adjective
relating to the House of York.

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Yorks.

abbreviation
Yorkshire.

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Yorkshire pudding

noun
a baked batter pudding typically eaten with roast beef.

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Yorkshire terrier

noun
a small long-haired blue-grey and tan breed of terrier.

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you

pronoun (second person sing. or pl. )
1. used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing.
2. used to refer to the person being addressed together with other people regarded in the same class.
3. used to refer to any person in general.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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you'd

contraction
1. you had.
2. you would.

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you'll

contraction
you will; you shall.

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young

adjective (younger, youngest)
1. having lived or existed for only a short time.
2. relating to or characteristic of young people.

noun (treated as pl. )
young children or animals; offspring.

DERIVATIVES:
youngish adjective.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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young offender

noun Law
(in the UK) a criminal between 14 and 17 years of age.

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youngster

noun
a child, young person, or young animal.

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your

possessive determiner
1. belonging to or associated with the person or people that the speaker is addressing.
2. belonging to or associated with any person in general.
3. (Your) used when addressing the holder of certain titles.

ORIGIN: Old English.

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you're

contraction
you are.

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yours

possessive pronoun
used to refer to something belonging to or associated with the person or people that the speaker is addressing.

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yourself

pronoun (second person sing. ) (pl. yourselves)
1. used as the object of a verb or preposition when this is the same as the subject of the clause and the subject is the person or people being addressed.
2. (emphatic ) you personally.

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youth

noun (pl. youths)
1. the period between childhood and adult age.
2. the qualities of vigour, freshness, immaturity, etc. associated with being young.
3. (treated as sing. or pl. ) young people.
4. a young man.

ORIGIN: Old English, related to YOUNG.

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youth club (also youth centre)

noun
a place or organization providing leisure activities for young people.

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youthful

adjective
1. young or seeming young.
2. characteristic of young people.

DERIVATIVES:
youthfully adverb
youthfulness noun.

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youth hostel

noun
a place providing cheap accommodation, aimed mainly at young people on holiday.

verb (youth-hostel)
take a holiday in which one stays overnight in youth hostels.

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you've

contraction
you have.

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yowl

noun
a loud wailing cry of pain or distress.

verb
make such a cry.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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yo-yo

noun (pl. yo-yos)
1. (trademark in the UK) a toy consisting of a pair of joined discs with a deep groove between them in which string is attached and wound, which can be spun alternately downward and upward by its weight and momentum as the string unwinds and rewinds.
2. a thing that repeatedly falls and rises again.

verb (yo-yoes, yo-yoed)
move up and down repeatedly; fluctuate.

ORIGIN: probably ultimately from a language of the Philippines.

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YT

abbreviation
Yukon Territory.

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YTS

abbreviation
Youth Training Scheme.

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yucca

noun
a plant of the agave family with sword-like leaves and spikes of white bell-shaped flowers, native to warm regions of the US and Mexico.

ORIGIN: variant of YUCA.

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yuck (also yuk) informal

exclamation
used to express strong distaste or disgust.

noun
something messy or disgusting.

DERIVATIVES:
yucky (also yukky) adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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Yugoslav

noun
a person from Yugoslavia.

DERIVATIVES:
Yugoslavian noun & adjective.

ORIGIN: Austrian German Jugoslav, from Serbo-Croat jug 'south' + SLAV.

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Yule (also Yuletide)

noun archaic
Christmas.

ORIGIN: Old English or Old Norse, originally applied to a pagan festival lasting twelve days; related to JOLLY.

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yule log

noun
1. a large log traditionally burnt in the hearth on Christmas Eve.
2. a log-shaped chocolate cake eaten at Christmas.

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yummy

adjective (yummier, yummiest) informal
delicious.

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yuppie (also yuppy)

noun (pl. yuppies) informal, derogatory
a well-paid young middle-class professional working in a city.

DERIVATIVES:
yuppiedom noun
yuppify verb.

ORIGIN: from the acronym young urban professional.

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YWCA

abbreviation
Young Women's Christian Association.

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Z

Z (also z)

noun (pl. Zs or Z's)
1. the twenty-sixth letter of the alphabet.
2. (usu. z) the third unknown quantity in an algebraic expression.
3. used in repeated form to represent buzzing or snoring.

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zany

adjective (zanier, zaniest)
amusingly unconventional and idiosyncratic.

noun (pl. zanies)
1. a zany person.
2. historical a comic performer partnering a clown, whom he imitated in an amusing way.

DERIVATIVES:
zanily adverb
zaniness noun.

ORIGIN: Italian zani or zanni, Venetian form of Gianni, Giovanni 'John' , stock name of the servants acting as clowns in the commedia dell'arte.

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zap informal

verb (zapped, zapping)
1. destroy or obliterate.
2. move or propel suddenly and rapidly.
3. use a remote control to change television channels, operate a video recorder, etc.

noun
a sudden burst of energy or sound.

DERIVATIVES:
zapper noun
zappy adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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zeal

noun
great energy or enthusiasm for a cause or objective.

ORIGIN: Greek zlos.

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zealot

noun
1. a fanatical and uncompromising follower of a religion or policy.
2. (Zealot) a member of an ancient Jewish sect aiming at a world Jewish theocracy and resisting the Romans until AD 70.

DERIVATIVES:
zealotry noun.

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zealous

adjective
having or showing zeal.

DERIVATIVES:
zealously adverb
zealousness noun.

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zebra

noun
an African wild horse with black-and-white stripes and an erect mane.

ORIGIN: from Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese, originally in the sense 'wild ass' .

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zebra crossing

noun Brit.
a pedestrian street crossing marked with broad white stripes.

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zebu

noun
a breed of domesticated ox with a humped back.

ORIGIN: French.

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zeitgeist

noun
the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history.

ORIGIN: German, from Zeit 'time' + Geist 'spirit' .

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Zen

noun
a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition.

ORIGIN: Japanese, «meditation».

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zenith

noun
1. the point in the sky directly overhead.
2. the highest point in the sky reached by a given celestial object.
3. the time at which something is most powerful or successful.

DERIVATIVES:
zenithal adjective.

ORIGIN: from an Arabic phrase meaning «path over the head».

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zephyr

noun literary
a soft gentle breeze.

ORIGIN: Greek zephuros 'god of the west wind, west wind' .

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Zeppelin

noun historical
a large German dirigible airship of the early 20th century.

ORIGIN: named after Ferdinand, Count von Zeppelin (1838 1917), German airship pioneer.

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zero

cardinal number (pl. zeros)
1. the figure 0; nought.
2. a temperature of 0°C (32°F), marking the freezing point of water.

verb (zeroes, zeroed)
1. adjust (an instrument) to zero.
2. set the sights of (a gun) for firing.
3. (zero in on) take aim at or focus attention on.

ORIGIN: Arabic, «cipher».

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zero hour

noun
the time at which a military or other operation is set to begin.

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zero tolerance

noun
strict enforcement of the law regarding any form of anti-social behaviour.

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zest

noun
1. great enthusiasm and energy.
2. excitement or piquancy.
3. the outer coloured part of the peel of citrus fruit, used as flavouring.

DERIVATIVES:
zestful adjective
zesty adjective.

ORIGIN: French zeste.

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zester

noun
a kitchen utensil for scraping or peeling zest from citrus fruit.

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zeugma

noun
a figure of speech in which a word applies to two others in different senses (e.g. John and his driving licence expired last week).

ORIGIN: Greek, from zeugnunai 'to yoke' .

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zigzag

noun
a line or course having abrupt alternate right and left turns.

adjective & adverb
veering to right and left alternately.

verb (zigzagged, zigzagging)
take a zigzag course.

ORIGIN: German Zickzack.

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zilch informal, chiefly N. Amer.

pronoun
nothing.

determiner
not any; no.

ORIGIN: perhaps from a Mr Zilch, a character in the 1930s magazine Ballyhoo.

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zillion

cardinal number informal
an extremely large number of people or things.

DERIVATIVES:
zillionaire noun
zillionth ordinal number.

ORIGIN: from Z (perhaps as a symbol of an unknown quantity) + MILLION.

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Zimmer (also Zimmer frame)

noun trademark
a kind of walking frame.

ORIGIN: from Zimmer Orthopaedic Limited, the name of the manufacturer.

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zinc

noun
1. a silvery-white metallic chemical element which is a constituent of brass and is used for galvanizing iron and steel.
2. galvanized iron or steel.

verb (zinced )
coated with zinc.

ORIGIN: German Zink.

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zing informal

noun
energy, enthusiasm, or liveliness.

verb
1. move swiftly.
2. N. Amer. criticize sharply.

DERIVATIVES:
zingy adjective.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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Zion (also Sion)

noun
1. the hill of Jerusalem on which the city of David was built.
2. the Jewish people or religion.
3. (in Christian thought) the heavenly city or kingdom of heaven.

ORIGIN: Hebrew.

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Zionism

noun
a movement for the development and protection of a Jewish nation in Israel.

DERIVATIVES:
Zionist noun & adjective.

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zip

noun
1. chiefly Brit. a fastener consisting of two flexible strips of metal or plastic with interlocking projections closed or opened by pulling a slide along them.
2. informal energy; vigour.

pronoun N. Amer. informal
nothing at all.

verb (zipped, zipping)
1. fasten with a zip.
2. informal move or propel at high speed.
3. Computing compress (a file) so that it takes up less space.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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zip code (also ZIP code)

noun US
a postal code consisting of five or nine digits.

ORIGIN: acronym from zone improvement plan.

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zipper chiefly N. Amer.

noun
a zip fastener.

verb
fasten with a zipper.

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zippy

adjective (zippier, zippiest) informal
1. bright, fresh, or lively.
2. speedy.

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zip-up

adjective chiefly Brit.
fastened with a zip.

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zircon

noun
a mineral consisting of zirconium silicate, typically brown but sometimes in translucent forms of gem quality.

ORIGIN: German Zirkon.

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zit

noun informal, chiefly N. Amer.
a spot on the skin.

ORIGIN: of unknown origin.

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zither

noun
a musical instrument consisting of a flat wooden soundbox with numerous strings stretched across it, placed horizontally and played with the fingers and a plectrum.

ORIGIN: German, from Greek kithara, denoting a kind of harp; related to CITTERN.

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zodiac

noun
a belt of the heavens within about 8° of the ecliptic, including all apparent positions of the sun, moon, and planets and divided by astrologers into twelve equal divisions or signs.

DERIVATIVES:
zodiacal adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek zidiakos, from zidion 'sculptured animal figure' , from zion 'animal' .

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zombie

noun
1. a corpse supposedly revived by witchcraft, especially in certain African and Caribbean religions.
2. informal a lifeless, apathetic, or completely unresponsive person.

DERIVATIVES:
zombify verb.

ORIGIN: West African.

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zone

noun
1. an area distinguished on the basis of a particular characteristic, use, restriction, etc.
2. (also time zone) a range of longitudes where a common standard time is used.
3. chiefly Botany & Zoology an encircling band or stripe of distinctive colour, texture, etc.

verb
divide into or assign to zones.

DERIVATIVES:
zonal adjective.

ORIGIN: Greek, 'girdle' .

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zonk

verb informal
1. hit heavily.
2. (zonk out) fall suddenly and heavily asleep.
3. (zonked) under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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zoo

noun
1. an establishment which keeps wild animals for study, conservation, or display to the public.
2. informal a confused or chaotic situation.

ORIGIN: abbreviation of zoological garden, originally applied to the zoo at Regent's Park, London.

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zookeeper

noun
an animal attendant employed in a zoo.

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zoology

noun
1. the scientific study of the behaviour, structure, physiology, classification, and distribution of animals.
2. the animal life of a particular region or geological period.

DERIVATIVES:
zoological adjective
zoologically adverb
zoologist noun.

ORIGIN: from Greek zion 'animal' .

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zoom

verb
1. move or travel very quickly.
2. (of a camera) change smoothly from a long shot to a close-up or vice versa.

noun
an act of a camera zooming.

ORIGIN: imitative.

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zoom lens

noun
a lens allowing a camera to zoom by varying the focal length.

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Zoroastrianism

noun
a religion of ancient Persia based on the worship of a single god, founded by the prophet Zoroaster (also called Zarathustra) in the 6th century BC.

DERIVATIVES:
Zoroastrian adjective & noun.

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zucchini

noun (pl. same or zucchinis) chiefly N. Amer.
a courgette.

ORIGIN: Italian, plural of zucchino 'little gourd' .

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Zulu

noun
1. a member of a South African people living mainly in KwaZulu/Natal province.
2. the Bantu language of this people.

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zygote

noun Biology
a cell resulting from the fusion of two gametes.

DERIVATIVES:
zygotic adjective.

ORIGIN: from Greek zugtos 'yoked' .

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About this book
ISBN : 8605765
© Oxford University Press 2002

This dictionary is ideal for everyone needing clear and accessible information on today's English. With over 140,000 words, including phrases, derivatives and idioms in more than 30,000 definitions, it provides a comprehensive coverage of everyday English. The meanings are given in a plain and straightforward style. Usage notes give guidance on points of grammar, usage, and spelling. Concise and useful information on interesting aspects of word origins is provided, avoiding technical terminology. Open layout with different elements starting on a new line makes the dictionary user-friendly and easy to use.