# dict

Words: defect
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin defectus  ’lack’, from  defectus, past participle of  deficere  ’to go away from, fail, lack’]//  a fault or a lack of something that means that something or someone is not perfect//  --All the cars are tested for defects before they leave the factory.//  --a genetic defect//\ndefect 2   v [I]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: defectus, past participle;   DEFECT1]//  to leave your own country or group in order to go to or join an opposing one//  defect to/from//  --a Russian actor who defected to the West//  -- defector n  [C] //  -- defection/d[hA366]fek[hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //


Words: defective
Meaning:
adj   not made properly, or not working properly//   faulty//  --The disease is caused by a defective gene.//  --defective products//


Words: defence
Meaning:
W1S2  BrE  defense AmE   n   ----------//\n   1 protection:\n   2 military:\n   3 against criticism:\n   4 in a law court:\n   5 emotions:\n   6 sport:  ----------//\n  1 PROTECTION:  a)  [U] the act of protecting something or someone from attack//  defence of//  --In Britain, the defence of the country has historically been left to the navy.//  --a firm commitment to the defense of human rights//  --The first line of defence is a smoke detector.//  b)  [C] something that can be used to protect something or someone from attack//  --The area’s flood defences need repair.//  defence against//  --The immune system is the body’s defence against infection.//    self-defence//\n  2 MILITARY:  a)  [U] all the systems, people, materials etc that a country uses to protect itself from attack//  --calls for a national debate on defence//  --the Defense Department//  b)  defences//   BrE  defenses AmE [plural] all the armies, weapons, structures etc that are available to defend a place//  --The invading army easily overcame the town’s defences.//\n  3 AGAINST CRITICISM:   [U and C] something that you say or do in order to support someone or something that is being criticized//  in sb’s/sth’s defence//  --Jean wrote a letter to the paper in Angela’s defense.//  defence of//  --a philosophical defence of nationalism//  come/leap to sb’s defence //  --Evelyn Waugh came to Wilson’s defence and acknowledged the brilliance of the book’s themes.//\n  4 IN A LAW COURT:  a)  [C] the things that are said in a court of law to prove that someone is not guilty of a crime//  --Major has a good defence and believes he will win the case.//  --a defence lawyer//  b)  the defence//  all the lawyers who try to prove in a court of law that someone is not guilty of a crime//  --The defense called only one witness.//    prosecution(2)//\n  5 EMOTIONS:   [C] something you do or a way of behaving that prevents you from seeming weak or being hurt by others//  --Liz dropped her defences and began to relax.//\n  6 SPORT:   [C]  BrE the players in a game whose main job is to try to prevent the other team from getting points//


Words: defence mechanism
Meaning:
BrE  defense mechanism AmE  n [C] \n  1 a process in your brain that makes you forget things that are painful for you to think about:\n  2 a reaction in your body that protects you from an illness or danger:


Words: defenceless
Meaning:
BrE  defenseless AmE   adj   weak and unable to protect yourself from attack or harm//  --a defenceless old lady//


Words: defend
Meaning:
W3S3   v   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: defendre, from  Latin defendere, from  fendere  ’to hit’]//\n  1 [I and T] to do something in order to protect someone or something from being attacked:  --a struggle to defend our homeland//  defend sth against/from sth//  --the need to defend democracy against fascism//  defend yourself (against/from sb/sth)//  --advice on how women can defend themselves from sex attackers//  defend against//  --We need to defend against military aggression.//\n  2 [T] to use arguments to protect something or someone from criticism, or to prove that something is right:  --She was always defending her husband in front of their daughter.//  --Students should be ready to explain and defend their views.//  defend sb against/from sb/sth//  --He defended his wife against rumours and allegations.//  defend yourself (against/from sth)//  --Cooper wrote to the journal immediately, defending himself.//\n  3 [T] to do something in order to stop something from being taken away or in order to make it possible for something to continue:  --the workers’ attempts to defend their interests //  --We are defending the right to demonstrate.//\n  4 [I and T] to protect your own team’s end of the field in a game such as football, in order to prevent your opponents from getting points:  --Bournemouth defended well throughout the game.//\n  5 [T] to take part in a competition that you won the last time it was held, and try to win it again:  --The world heavyweight champion was defending his title .//  --the defending champion //  --He is defending a Labour majority of 5,000.//\n  6 [I and T] to be a lawyer for someone who has been charged with a crime:    prosecute//  --He had top lawyers to defend him.//  --Howard, defending, said Thompson had been drinking heavily.//


Words: defendant
Meaning:
W2   n [C]   the person in a court of law who has been accused of doing something illegal//    plaintiff//  American Equivalent:  prisoner//  --We find the defendant not guilty.//


Words: defender
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 one of the players in a game such as football who have to defend their team’s goal from the opposing team:  --It’s his fourth season as an Arsenal defender.//\n  2 someone who defends a particular idea, belief, person etc:  --He presented himself as a defender of democracy.//


Words: Defender of the Faith
Meaning:
a title used by British kings and queens since Henry VIII, who was given it by Pope Leo X in 1521 because he wrote a paper attacking the ideas of Martin  Luther//


Words: defense
Meaning:
n   the American spelling of defence//\ndefense 2   n [U and C]  AmE   the players in a game of football etc whose main job is to try to prevent the other team from getting points//


Words: defensible
Meaning:
adj \n  1 a defensible opinion, idea, or action seems reasonable, and you can easily support it:  → indefensible//  --a morally defensible prison system//\n  2 a defensible building or area is easy to protect against attack:  -- defensibly adv //


Words: defensive
Meaning:
adj \n  1 used or intended to protect someone or something against attack:  → offensive//  --The prince drew up his forces in a strong defensive position.//  --The rockets are a purely defensive measure against nuclear attack.//\n  2 behaving in a way that shows you think someone is criticizing you even if they are not:  --She despised herself for sounding so defensive.//  --a reserved and defensive manner//\n  3  AmE relating to stopping the other team from getting points in a game:  → offensive//  --defensive play//  -- defensively adv //  -- defensiveness n  [U] //\ndefensive 2 n \n  1  on/onto the defensive:  behaving in a way that shows that you think that someone is criticizing you even if they are not//  --In his presence, she was constantly on the defensive.//\n  2  put/force sb on the defensive:  if you put someone on the defensive in an argument, you attack them so that they are in a weaker position//  --an issue that is sure to put the White House on the defensive//


Words: defer
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  deferred present participle  deferring  [T] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: differer, from  Latin differre  ’to delay, be different’. defer to  1400-1500  French deferer, from  Late Latin deferre  ’to bring down’]//  to delay something until a later date//   put back//  defer sth until/to sth//  --Further discussion on the proposal will be deferred until April.//  --The committee deferred their decision .//  -- deferment n  [U and C] //  -- deferral n  [U and C] //  defer to / [defer to sb/sth] phr v//  to agree to accept someone’s opinion or decision because you have respect for that person//  --I will defer to your wishes.//


Words: deference
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   polite behaviour that shows that you respect someone and are therefore willing to accept their opinions or judgment//  deference to//  --Lewis was annoyed that Adam did not show enough respect and deference to him.//  out of/in deference to sth//   (=because you respect someone’s beliefs, opinions etc) //  --They were married in church out of deference to their parents’ wishes.//  -- deferential/def[hA353]ren[hA35D][hA368]l[hA36B]/ adj //  --deferential treatment//  -- deferentially adv //


Words: defiance
Meaning:
n [U]   behaviour that shows you refuse to do what someone tells you to do, especially because you do not respect them//    defy//  act/gesture of defiance //  --Running away was an act of defiance against his parents.//  in defiance (of sth)//  --Many people were drinking in the streets, in flagrant defiance of the ban.//  --Her fists clenched in defiance.//


Words: defiant
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: defiant, present participle of  defier;   DEFY]//  clearly refusing to do what someone tells you to do//  --Mark smashed a fist on the desk in a defiant gesture.//  -- defiantly adv //


Words: defibrillator
Meaning:
n [C]   a machine that gives the heart an electric shock to make it start beating again after a heart attack//


Words: deficiency
Meaning:
n   plural  deficiencies  [U and C]  formal //\n  1 a lack of something that is necessary:   shortage//  deficiency of//  --a deficiency of safe play areas for children//  iron/vitamin etc deficiency //  --Some elderly people suffer from iron deficiency in their diet.//\n  2 a weakness or fault in something:  deficiency in//  --There are deep deficiencies in this law.//


Words: deficient
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: deficiens, present participle of  deficere;   DEFECT1]//\n  1 not containing or having enough of something:  --Women who are dieting can become iron deficient.//  deficient in//  --patients who were deficient in vitamin C//\n  2 not good enough:  --Our prisons are our most deficient social service.//


Words: deficit
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: deficit, from  Latin deficit  ’it lacks’, from  deficere;   DEFECT1]//  the difference between the amount of something that you have and the higher amount that you need//    shortfall//  --the country’s widening budget deficit //  --the US’s foreign trade deficit //  deficit of//  --a deficit of [hA124]2.5 million//  deficit in//  --Many countries have a big deficit in food supply.//  in deficit//  --The US balance of payments was in deficit.//


Words: defile
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: defoul  ’to crush with the feet, make dirty’ (13-17 centuries), from  Old French defouler, from  fouler  ’to step on’]//  to make something less pure and good, especially by showing no respect//  --Hallam’s tomb had been defiled and looted.//\ndefile 2   n [C]  formal   a narrow passage, especially through mountains//


Words: define
Meaning:
W2S3   v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: definer, from  Latin definire, from  finire  ’to limit, end’]//\n  1 to describe something correctly and thoroughly, and to say what standards, limits, qualities etc it has that make it different from other things:  --the ability to define clients’ needs//  --The duties of the post are difficult to define.//  clearly/well defined //  --The tasks will be clearly defined by the tutor.//  define sth as sth//  --70% of the workers can be defined as low-paid.//\n  2 to explain exactly the meaning of a particular word or idea:    definition//  --I’ll now try to define the term ’popular culture’.//  define sth as sth//  --A budget is defined as ’a plan of action expressed in money terms’.//  --Define precisely what you mean by ’crime’.//\n  3 to show the edge or shape of something clearly:    definition//  --The bird has sharply defined black and rust markings.//  -- definable adj //


Words: definite
Meaning:
S3   adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: definitus, past participle of  definire;   DEFINE]//\n  1 clearly known, seen, or stated:   clear//  --It’s impossible for me to give you a definite answer.//  --We need to record sufficient data to enable definite conclusions to be reached.//  --He’d shown definite signs of resigning himself to the situation.//\n  2 a definite arrangement, promise etc will happen in the way that someone has said:    indefinite//  --Fix a definite date for the delivery of your computer.//\n  3 [not before noun] saying something very firmly so that people understand exactly what you mean:  definite about//  --She’s not definite about retiring from the game.//


Words: definite article
Meaning:
n [C usually singular] \n  1 the word ’the’ in English:    indefinite article//\n  2 a word in another language that is like ’the’:


Words: definitely
Meaning:
S1   adv   without any doubt//   certainly//  --’Do you reckon Margot will be there?’ ’ Definitely not .’//  --The hotel fitness centre is definitely worth a visit.//  --I definitely need a holiday.//


Words: definition
Meaning:
W2S3   n \n  1 [C] a phrase or sentence that says exactly what a word, phrase, or idea means:    define//  --a dictionary definition//  definition of//  --There are many definitions of the word ’feminism’.//  definition of sth as sth//  --the definition of God as infinite//\n  2  by definition:  if something has a particular quality by definition, it must have that quality because all things of that type have it//  --People say that students are by definition idealistic and impatient.//\n  3 [U] the clear edges, shapes, or sound that something has:  --technologies such as high definition television//  --good muscle definition//


Words: definitive
Meaning:
adj \n  1 [usually before noun] a definitive book, description etc is considered to be the best and cannot be improved:  definitive study/work/guide etc //  --the definitive study of Victorian railway stations//\n  2 a definitive agreement, statement etc is one that will not be changed:  --a definitive agreement to buy the company//  -- definitively adv //


Words: deflate
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: de- +  inflate]//\n  1 [I and T] if a tyre, balloon etc deflates, or if you deflate it, it gets smaller because the gas inside it comes out:  → inflate//    go down, let down//\n  2 [T] to make someone feel less important or less confident:  --She was deflated when Fen made no comment on her achievement.//\n  3 [T] to show that a statement, argument etc is wrong:  --Simkin hoped to find a way to deflate his opponent’s argument.//\n  4 [I and T]  technical to change economic rules or conditions in a country so that prices fall or stop rising:


Words: deflation
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   a reduction in the amount of money in a country’s  economy, so that prices fall or stop rising//    inflation//  -- deflationary adj //  --the government’s deflationary policies//


Words: deflect
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: deflectere  ’to bend down, turn away’]//\n  1 [I and T] if someone or something deflects something that is moving, or if it deflects, it turns in a different direction:  --Connor deflected the blow with his left forearm.//\n  2 [T] to do something to stop people paying attention to you, criticizing you etc:  deflect sth (away) from sth//  --his attempts to deflect attention away from his private life//  --The committee is seeking to deflect criticism by blaming me.//\n  3 [T] to take someone’s attention away from something:  deflect sb from (doing) sth//  --Nothing can deflect me from reaching my goal.//


Words: deflection
Meaning:
n [U and C] \n  1 the action of making something change its direction:  deflection of//  --the deflection of the missile away from its target//\n  2  technical the degree to which the moving part on a measuring instrument moves away from zero:


Words: Defoe
Meaning:
Daniel   (1660-1731) a British writer whose most famous works are the novels  Robinson Crusoe and  Moll Flanders//


Words: defog
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  defogged present participle  defogging  [T] //   AmE to remove mist from the windows inside a car, by using heat//  British Equivalent:  demist//


Words: defoliant
Meaning:
n [U and C]  formal   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: defoliare, from  Latin folium  ’leaf’]//  a chemical substance, used especially in war, that makes all the leaves of plants drop off//


Words: deforestation
Meaning:
n [U]   the cutting or burning down of all the trees in an area//  --the deforestation of the tropics//  -- deforest/di[hA359]f[hA361]r[hA369]st $ -f[hA350][hA359]-, -f[hA35A][hA359]-/ v  [T usually passive] //


Words: deform
Meaning:
v [I and T]   if you deform something, or if it deforms, its usual shape changes so that its usefulness or appearance is spoiled//  --Wearing badly-fitting shoes can deform your feet.//


Words: deformation
Meaning:
n [U and C]  technical   a change in the usual shape of something, especially one that makes it worse, or the process of changing something’s shape//


Words: deformed
Meaning:
adj   something that is deformed has the wrong shape, especially because it has grown or developed wrongly//  --the deformed toe on his right foot//


Words: deformity
Meaning:
n   plural  deformities  [U and C] //  a condition in which part of someone’s body is not the normal shape//  --a hip deformity//


Words: DEFRA
Meaning:
the abbreviation of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, a British government department.//


Words: defraud
Meaning:
v [T]   to trick a person or organization in order to get money from them//  defraud sb of sth//  --She defrauded her employers of thousands of pounds.//  --He faces charges of theft and conspiracy to defraud  (=a secret plan to cheat someone, made by two or more people) .//


Words: defray
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: defrayer, from  frais  ’cost’]//  defray costs/expenses//   formal to give someone back the money that they have spent on something//  --The proceeds from the competition help to defray the expenses of the evening.//


Words: defrock
Meaning:
v [T]   to officially remove a priest from his or her job because he or she did something wrong//  -- defrocked adj //


Words: defrost
Meaning:
v \n  1 [I and T] if frozen food defrosts, or if you defrost it, it gets warmer until it is not frozen:    melt, thaw//\n  2 [I and T] if a freezer or refrigerator defrosts, or if you defrost it, it is turned off so that the ice inside it melts:\n  3 [T]  AmE to remove ice from inside the windows of a car by using heat or warm air:


Words: deft
Meaning:
adj  written   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin: daft]//\n  1 a deft movement is skilful, and often quick:  --He sketched her with quick, deft strokes.//  --deft footwork//\n  2 skilful at doing something:  --his deft chairmanship of the company//  -- deftly adv //  -- deftness n  [U] //


Words: defunct
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: defunctus, past participle of  defungi  ’to finish, die’]//  not existing any more, or not useful any more//  --the now-defunct nuclear reactor//


Words: defuse
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 to improve a difficult or dangerous situation, for example by making people less angry or by dealing with the causes of a problem:  defuse a situation/crisis/row etc //  --Beth’s quiet voice helped to defuse the situation.//  defuse tension/anger etc //  --The agreement was regarded as a means of defusing ethnic tensions.//\n  2 to remove the fuse from a bomb in order to prevent it from exploding:


Words: defy
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  defied present participle  defying third person singular  defies  [T] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: defier, from  Latin fidere  ’to trust’]//\n  1 to refuse to obey a law or rule, or refuse to do what someone in authority tells you to do:    defiance//  --people who openly defy the law//\n  2  defy description/analysis/belief etc:  to be almost impossible to describe or understand//  --The beauty of the scene defies description.//\n  3  defy logic/the odds etc:  to not happen according to the principles you would expect//  --a 16-week premature baby who defied the odds and survived//\n  4  I defy sb to do sth:   spoken  formal used when you ask someone to do something that you think is impossible//  --I defy anyone to prove otherwise.//


Words: Degas
Meaning:
Edgar   (1834-1917) a French  Impressionist painter, known especially for his pictures of horse racing, theatres,  cafes, and women dancing//


Words: degenerate
Meaning:
v [I]   to become worse//  degenerate into//  --The conference degenerated into a complete fiasco.//  -- degeneration/d[hA366]d[hA360]en[hA353]re[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //\ndegenerate 2   adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: degeneratus, from  genus  ’type, kind, race’]//   formal morally unacceptable//  --The painting was condemned as ’degenerate’.//\ndegenerate 3 n [C]   someone whose behaviour is considered to be morally unacceptable//


Words: degradation
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] an experience or situation that makes you feel ashamed and angry:  --a life of poverty and degradation//\n  2 [U] the process by which something changes to a worse condition:


Words: degrade
Meaning:
v \n  1 [T] to treat someone without respect and make them lose respect for themselves:  --a movie that degrades women//  degrade yourself (by doing sth)//  --How can you degrade yourself by writing such trash?//\n  2 [T] to make a situation or the condition of something worse:  --The dolphin’s habitat is being rapidly degraded.//\n  3 [I and T]  technical if a substance, chemical etc degrades, or if something degrades it, it changes to a simpler form:  -- degradable adj //


Words: degrading
Meaning:
adj   a degrading experience, event etc is unpleasant and makes you lose respect for yourself//  degrading to//  --Pornography is degrading to women and to the men that look at it.//  --the degrading treatment that the prisoners receive in jail//


Words: degree
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: degre, from  Latin gradus  ’step, grade’]//\n  1 [C]  written abbreviation deg. :  a unit for measuring temperature. It can be shown as a symbol after a number. For example, 70[hA13B] means 70 degrees//  --Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.//\n  20 degrees Celsius/70 degrees Fahrenheit/1 degree Centigrade etc :  --The temperature dropped to five degrees Centigrade.//\n  2 [C]  written abbreviation deg. :  a unit for measuring the size of an angle. It can be shown as a symbol after a number. For example, 18[hA13B] means 18 degrees//  --Then the cylinder is rotated 180 degrees.//\n  3 [U and C] the level or amount of something:  degree of//  --1960s Britain was characterised by a greater degree of freedom than before.//  --Newspapers vary in the degree to which they emphasize propaganda rather than information.//\n  4  to a degree:   also to some degree/to a certain degree //  partly//  --To a degree, it is possible to educate oneself.//  --We’re all willing to support him to some degree.//\n  5 [C] a course of study at a university or college, or the qualification that is given to you when you have successfully completed the course:  degree in//  --a degree in Economics//  --Applicants must have a degree in Engineering.//  --an Honours degree//\n  6  by degrees:  very slowly//   gradually//  --By degrees, Huy forced himself into a sitting position.//


Words: dehumanize
Meaning:
also  dehumanise BrE   v [T ]   to treat people so badly that they lose their good human qualities//  --War dehumanizes people.//  -- dehumanizing adj //  -- dehumanization/di[hA359]hju[hA359]m[hA353]na[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -n[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: dehydrate
Meaning:
v \n  1 [T] to remove the liquid from a substance such as food or a chemical:    rehydrate, hydrate//  --The substance is dehydrated and stored as powder.//\n  2 [I and T] to lose too much water from your body, or to make this happen:  --Alcohol dehydrates the body.//  -- dehydrated adj //  -- dehydration/di[hA359]ha[hA366]dre[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: deify
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  deified present participle  deifying third person singular  deifies  [T] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: deifier, from  Latin deus  ’god’]//  to treat someone or something with extreme respect and admiration//  -- deification/di[hA359][hA369]f[hA369]ke[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n, de[hA366]-/ n  [U] //


Words: deign
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: deignier, from  Latin dignus  ’deserving admiration’]//  deign to do sth//  to do something that you think you are really too important to do - often used humorously//  --Travis called after her, but she didn’t deign to answer.//


Words: deism
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: deisme, from  Latin deus  ’god’]//  the belief in a God who made the world but has no influence on human lives//    theism//


Words: deity
Meaning:
n   plural  deities  [C] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: deite, from  Latin deus  ’god’]//  a god or goddess//  --the deities of ancient Greece//


Words: deja vu
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: ’already seen’]//  the feeling that what is happening now has happened before in exactly the same way//  --a strange sense of deja vu //


Words: dejected
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: dejectus, from  jacere  ’to throw’]//  unhappy, disappointed, or sad//  --The unemployed stood at street corners, dejected.//  -- dejectedly adv //  -- dejection/d[hA366]d[hA360]ek[hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: Delaware
Meaning:
DE a small state in the northeastern US. It was one of the original thirteen  colonies established under British rule.//


Words: delay
Meaning:
W3S2   n \n  1 [C ] when someone or something has to wait, or the length of the waiting time:  --Sorry for the delay, Mr Weaver.//  delay in//  --Why was there a delay in warning the public?//  delay of//  --a delay of about an hour//  long/considerable/slight etc delay //  --Long delays are expected on the motorways.//\n  2 [U] when something does not happen or start when it should do:  without delay//  --They must restore normal services without delay.//  --There can be no excuse for any further delay .//\ndelay 2 S3 v   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: delaier, from  laier  ’to leave’]//\n  1 [I and T] to wait until a later time to do something:  --Don’t delay - send off for the information now.//  --He delayed his decision on whether to call an election.//  delay sth until sth//  --The opening of this section of the road is delayed until September.//  delay sth for sth//  --Our meeting was delayed for ten minutes.//  delay doing sth//  --Big companies often delay paying their bills.//\n  2 [T] to make someone or something late:  seriously/badly/slightly etc delayed //  --The flight was badly delayed because of fog.//  -- delayed adj //


Words: delayed-action
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   designed to work or start only after a fixed period of time has passed//  --a delayed-action bomb//


Words: delaying tactic
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]   something you do deliberately in order to delay something so that you gain an advantage for yourself//


Words: delectable
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: delectable, from  Latin delectare  ’to please greatly’]//\n  1 extremely pleasant to taste or smell:   delicious//  --Delectable smells rose from the kitchen.//\n  2 used , often humorously, to describe a very attractive woman:  -- delectably adv //


Words: delectation
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   if you do something for someone’s delectation, you do it to give them enjoyment, pleasure, or amusement//


Words: delegate
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: delegatus, from  Latin legare  ’to send as a representative’]//  someone who has been elected or chosen to speak, vote, or take decisions for a group//    representative//  --Around 350 delegates attended the conference.//\ndelegate 2   v \n  1 [I and T] to give part of your power or work to someone in a lower position than you:  --A good manager knows when to delegate.//  --It takes experience to judge correctly how much power should be delegated.//  delegate sth to sb//  --Minor tasks should be delegated to your assistant.//\n  2 [T] to choose someone to do a particular job, or to be a representative of a group, organization etc:  delegate sb to do sth//  --I was delegated to find a suitable conference venue.//


Words: delegation
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] a group of people who represent a company, organization etc:  delegation to//  --the head of the American delegation to the United Nations//  delegation of//  --a delegation of government officials//  --A trade delegation will visit Kuwait.//\n  2 [U] the process of giving power or work to someone else so that they are responsible for part of what you normally do:  delegation of//  --the delegation of authority//


Words: delete
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: deletus, past participle of  delere  ’to destroy’]//  to remove something that has been written down or stored in a computer//  --His name was deleted from the list.//  --I seem to have deleted a file by mistake.//


Words: deleterious
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: deleterius, from  Greek deleisthai  ’to hurt’]//  damaging or harmful//  --the deleterious effects of smoking//


Words: deletion
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] when you remove something from a piece of writing or from a computer’s memory:  deletion of//  --the deletion of unwanted files//\n  2 [C] a letter or word that has been removed from a piece of writing:


Words: Delhi
Meaning:
a large city in northern India, divided into  New Delhi (the capital of India since 1911) and Old Delhi, which was the capital until 1857//


Words: deliberate
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: deliberatus, past participle of  deliberare  ’to weigh in the mind’, from  libra  ’balance’]//\n  1 intended or planned:  → unintentional//   intentional//  --a deliberate attempt to humiliate her//  --The attack on him was quite deliberate.//\n  2 deliberate speech, thought, or movement is slow and careful:  --He approached her with slow, deliberate steps.//  -- deliberateness n  [U] //\ndeliberate 2   v [I]   to think about something very carefully//  --The jury deliberated for four days before acquitting him.//  deliberate on/about/over//  --There was silence while she deliberated on his words.//


Words: deliberately
Meaning:
W3S3   adv \n  1 done in a way that is intended or planned:   on purpose, intentionally//  --He was deliberately trying to upset her.//\n  2 done or said in a slow careful way:  --He shook his head slowly and deliberately.//


Words: deliberation
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] careful consideration or discussion of something:  -- After much deliberation , first prize was awarded to Derek Murray.//  deliberation of//  --the deliberations of committee meetings//\n  2 [U]  formal if you speak or move with deliberation, you speak or move slowly and carefully:


Words: delicacy
Meaning:
n   plural  delicacies //\n  1 [C] something good to eat that is expensive or rare:  --Snails are considered a delicacy in France.//\n  2 [U] a careful and sensitive way of speaking or behaving so that you do not upset anyone:   tact//  --He carried out his duties with great delicacy and understanding.//\n  3 [U] the quality of being easy to harm or damage:


Words: delicate
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: delicatus]//\n  1 needing to be dealt with carefully or sensitively in order to avoid problems or failure:  --There’s something I have to speak to you about - it’s a delicate matter .//  --delicate negotiations//\n  2 easily damaged or broken:   fragile//  --delicate hand-cut glass//  --The sun can easily damage a child’s delicate skin .//\n  3  old-fashioned someone who is delicate is hurt easily or easily becomes ill:  --a delicate child//\n  4 a part of the body that is delicate is attractive and graceful:  --Her wrists and ankles were slim and delicate.//  --her delicate features //\n  5 made skilfully and with attention to the smallest details:  --a plate with a delicate pattern of leaves//\n  6 a taste, smell, or colour that is delicate is pleasant and not strong:  --The wine has a dry delicate flavour.//  --a delicate pink//  -- delicately adv //    indelicate//


Words: delicatessen
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: German; Origin: French delicatesse  ’delicacy’, from  Latin delicatus]//  a shop that sells high quality cheeses, salads, cooked meats etc//


Words: delicious
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin delicere  ’to attract’]//\n  1 very pleasant to taste or smell:  --’The meal was absolutely delicious,’ she said politely.//  --the delicious smell of new-mown grass//\n  2  literary extremely pleasant or enjoyable:  -- deliciously adv //  --deliciously spicy meat//


Words: delight
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] a feeling of great pleasure and satisfaction:  with/in delight//  --The kids were screaming with delight.//  to sb’s delight/to the delight of sb//  --To the delight of his proud parents, he has made a full recovery.//  squeal/gasp/cry etc of delight //  --She gave a little gasp of delight.//\n  2 [C] something that makes you feel very happy or satisfied:  the delights of sth//  --a chance to sample the delights of nearby Vienna//  it is a delight to do sth //  --It was a delight to see him so fit and healthy.//\n  3  take delight in (doing) sth:  to enjoy something very much, especially something you should not do//  --Chris takes great delight in teasing his sister.//\ndelight 2 v [T]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: delit, from  Latin delectare  ’to please greatly’, from  delicere  ’to attract’]//  to give someone great satisfaction and enjoyment//  --Her fabulous recipes will delight anyone who loves chocolate.//  delight sb with sth//  --He is delighting audiences with his wit and humour.//  delight in [delight in sth] phr v//  to enjoy something very much, especially something that other people think is not nice//  --He delights in complicating everything.//  --She delighted in interesting conversation.//


Words: delighted
Meaning:
S2   adj   very pleased and happy//  delighted to do sth//  --Sandy will be delighted to see you.//  delighted (that)//  --I’m delighted that we have settled the matter.//  delighted with/by/at//  --She was delighted with her new home.//  --I am delighted by the result.//  --Her screams of delighted laughter filled the air.//  -- delightedly adv //  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not say ’very delighted’. Say absolutely delighted . //  ----------//


Words: delightful
Meaning:
adj   very pleasant//  --a delightful little girl//  --The whole house is delightful.//  -- delightfully adv //  --a movie that’s full of delightfully comic moments//


Words: Delilah
Meaning:
in the Old Testament of the Bible, a woman who persuades  Samson to trust her and tell her what makes him so strong. When he tells her that it is his hair, she tricks him into having his hair cut off to make him weak.//


Words: delimit
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   to set or say exactly what the limits of something are//  -- delimitation/d[hA366]l[hA366]m[hA369]te[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //


Words: delineate
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: delineatus, from  linea  ’line’]//\n  1 to describe or draw something carefully so that people can understand it:  --The document delineates your rights and your obligations.//\n  2 to make the borders between two areas very clear:  --The boundaries of these areas should be clearly delineated .//  -- delineation/d[hA366]l[hA366]nie[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: delinquency
Meaning:
n   plural  delinquencies  [U and C] //  illegal or immoral behaviour or actions, especially by young people//  --the ever-rising statistics of delinquency and crime//


Words: delinquent
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: delinquere  ’to fail, offend’, from  linquere  ’to leave’]//\n  1 behaving in a way that is illegal or that society does not approve of:    criminal//  delinquent girls/boys/children/teenagers //\n  2  technical a delinquent debt, account etc has not been paid on time:  --the recovery of delinquent loans//\ndelinquent 2 n [C]   someone, especially a young person, who breaks the law or behaves in ways their society does not approve of//  --Deanes writes and lectures about teenage delinquents.//    juvenile delinquent//


Words: delirious
Meaning:
adj \n  1 talking continuously in an excited or anxious way, especially because you are ill:  --He suffered an attack of malaria and was delirious.//\n  2 extremely excited or happy:  delirious with//  --He was delirious with joy.//  -- deliriously adv //


Words: delirium
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: delirare  ’to leave a straight line, be mad’, from  lira  ’line cut in the ground’]//\n  1 [U] a state in which someone is delirious, especially because they are very ill:  --Before she died she had fits of delirium.//\n  2 [singular,U] extreme excitement:


Words: Delius
Meaning:
Frederick   (1862-1934) a British  composer whose best-known works include  On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring, and the  opera A Village Romeo and Juliet.//


Words: deliver
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 take something somewhere:\n   2 deliver a speech/lecture/address etc:\n   3 do something you should do:\n   4 baby:\n   5 blow/shock etc:\n   6 deliver a judgment/verdict:\n   7 person:\n   8 votes:\n   9 make somebody free of something:  Phrasal verbs//   deliver something → up//  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: delivrer, from  Latin liberare  ’to set free’]//\n  1 TAKE SOMETHING SOMEWHERE:   [I and T] to take goods, letters, packages etc to a particular place or person//  --The morning mail has just been delivered.//  --Do you deliver on Saturdays?//  deliver sth to sb//  --They set off to deliver supplies to an isolated village.//  --I’m having some flowers delivered for her birthday.//\n  2  deliver a speech/lecture/address etc:  to make a speech etc to a lot of people//  --The king delivered a televised speech to the nation on Nov 5.//\n  3 DO SOMETHING YOU SHOULD DO:   [I and T] to do or provide the things you are expected to, because you are responsible for them or they are part of your job//  --the costs of delivering adequate nursing care//  --the failure of some services to deliver the goods  (=do what they have promised) //  --The company will deliver on its promises .//\n  4 BABY:   [T] to help a woman give birth to her baby, or to give birth to a baby//  --They rushed her to hospital where doctors delivered her baby.//\n  5 BLOW/SHOCK ETC:   [T] to give something such as a blow, shock, or warning to someone or something//  --He delivered a strong warning about the dangers facing the government.//\n  6  deliver a judgment/verdict:  to officially state a formal decision or judgment//  --The jury delivered a verdict of unlawful killing.//\n  7 PERSON:   [T]  formal to put someone into someone else’s control//  deliver sb to sb //  --Sharett had betrayed him and delivered him to the enemy.//\n  8 VOTES:   [T]  especially  AmE to get the votes or support of a particular group of people in an election//  --He cannot deliver the Latino vote.//\n  9 MAKE SOMEBODY FREE OF SOMETHING:   [T]  literary  or  biblical to help someone escape from something bad or evil//  deliver sb from sth//  --’Deliver us from evil,’ she prayed.//  -- deliverer n  [C] //  deliver up [deliver sth → up] phr v//  to give something to someone else//  --A bankrupt must deliver up all his books, papers and records.//


Words: deliverable
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]  technical   something that a company has promised to have ready for a customer, especially parts of computer systems//  --software deliverables//


Words: delivery
Meaning:
W3S2   n   plural  deliveries //\n  1 [U and C] the act of bringing goods, letters etc to a particular person or place, or the things that are brought:  --Most Indian restaurants offer free delivery.//  --You can expect delivery in a week to ten days.//  --fresh milk deliveries//  delivery of//  --deliveries of food and supplies//  on delivery//   (=when something is delivered) //  --The restaurant pays cash on delivery for fish, which the local fishermen like.//\n  2  take delivery of sth:  to officially accept something large that you have bought//  --We expect to take delivery of the aircraft sometime in June.//\n  3 [C] the process of giving birth to a child:    labour//  --Mrs Howell had an easy delivery.//  --Liz was taken to the delivery room  (=a room in a hospital for births) immediately.//\n  4 [U] the way in which someone speaks in public:  --You’ll have to work on your delivery.//


Words: Delphic oracle
Meaning:
the   a  temple (=a holy building)  in the town of Delphi in Greece where, in ancient times, a priestess gave answers from the god  Apollo to questions people asked him. His answers were often mysterious and difficult to understand, and were often in the form of a  riddle (=a deliberately confusing question that has a clever answer) .//


Words: delta
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Greek]//\n  1 the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet:\n  2 an area of low land where a river spreads into many smaller rivers near the sea:  --the Nile delta//


Words: Delta Force
Meaning:
a special group of soldiers which is part of the US Army, and is specially trained to do secret and dangerous work, especially fighting  terrorists//


Words: delude
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: deludere, from  ludere  ’to play’]//  to make someone believe something that is not true//   deceive//  --I was angry with him for trying to delude me.//  delude sb/yourself into doing sth//  --It is easy to delude yourself into believing you’re in love.//  --Don’t be deluded into thinking your house is burglarproof.//


Words: deluge
Meaning:
n [C ]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin diluvium  ’flood’]//\n  1 [usually singular] a large amount of something such as letters or questions that someone gets at the same time:   flood//  deluge of//  --Viewers sent a deluge of complaints about the show.//\n  2  formal a large flood, or period when there is a lot of rain:   flood//\ndeluge 2 v [T] \n  1 [usually passive] to send a very large number of letters, questions etc to someone all at the same time:   flood//  be deluged with sth//  --He was deluged with phone calls from friends and colleagues, congratulating him.//\n  2  formal to cover something with a lot of water:   flood//


Words: delusion
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] a false belief about yourself or the situation you are in:  under a delusion (that)//  --He is under the delusion that I am going to cheat him.//\n  2  delusions of grandeur:  the belief that you are much more important or powerful than you really are//  -- delusive/-s[hA366]v/ adj //  -- delusional adj //


Words: deluxe
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ’of luxury’]//  of better quality and more expensive than other things of the same type//    luxury//  --a deluxe hotel//  --The deluxe model costs a lot more.//


Words: delve
Meaning:
v [I]   [Language: Old English; Origin: delfan  ’to dig’]//\n  1 to try to find more information about someone or something:  delve into//  --research that delves deeply into this issue//\n  2 [always + adverb/preposition] to search for something by putting your hand deeply into a bag, container etc:  delve into/in//  --He delved into his pocket and brought out a notebook.//


Words: demagogue
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Greek; Origin: demagogos, from  demos  ’people’ +  agogos  ’leading’]//  a political leader who tries to make people feel strong emotions in order to influence their opinions - used to show disapproval//  -- demagogy, demagoguery n  [U] //  -- demagogic/dem[hA353]g[hA361]g[hA366]k[hA36B] $ -g[hA35A][hA359]-/ adj //


Words: demand
Meaning:
n \n  1 [singular, U] the need or desire that people have for particular goods and services:  --Food production is still increasing faster than demand.//  demand for//  --the demand for new housing//  huge/great/strong etc demand //  --There is a huge demand for new cars.//  --the growing demand for pasta in the UK//  in demand//  --He was a successful lecturer, much in demand .//  --We rely on new sources of energy to meet demand .//  --strong consumer demand //    supply and demand//\n  2 [C] a very firm request for something that you believe you have the right to get:  --demonstrations in support of the nationalists’ demands//  demand for//  --their demand for higher salaries//  demand that//  --demands that he should resign//\n  3  demands [plural] the difficult, annoying, or tiring things that you need to do, or a skill you need to have:  demands of//  --the demands of modern life//  demands on//  --The curriculum makes great demands on the teacher.//  --There are heavy demands on people’s time these days.//  place/put demands on/upon sb/sth //  --the increased demands placed on police officers//\n  4  popular demand:  when a lot of people have asked for something to be done, performed etc//  by/due to popular demand (=because of popular demand) //  --The exhibition will run for an extra week, due to popular demand.//\n  5  on demand:   formal whenever someone asks//  --Should you feed your baby on demand, or stick to a timetable?//\ndemand 2 W2 v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: demander, from  Latin mandare  ’to order’]//\n  1 to ask for something very firmly, especially because you think you have a right to do this:  --Angry demonstrators demanded the resignation of two senior officials.//  demand to know/see/have etc sth //  --I demand to know what’s going on.//  demand that//  --They demanded that the military government free all political prisoners.//  demand sth of sb//  --It seemed that no matter what she did, more was demanded of her.//  --’Where are you going?’ she demanded angrily.//\n  2 if one thing demands another, it needs that thing in order to happen or be done successfully:  --Too many things demanded his attention at the same time.//  --It’s a desperate situation demanding a desperate remedy.//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not say ’demand for something’. Say demand something : I demand my money back! (NOT I demand for my money back!) //  ----------//


Words: demanding
Meaning:
S3   adj \n  1 needing a lot of ability, effort, or skill:  --a demanding job //  physically/emotionally/intellectually etc demanding //  --Climbing is physically demanding.//\n  2 expecting a lot of attention or expecting to have things exactly the way you want them, especially in a way that is not fair:  --Her mother could be very demanding at times.//


Words: demarcate
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: demarcation]//  to decide or mark the limits of an area, system etc//


Words: demarcation
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Spanish; Origin: demarcacion, from  marcar  ’to mark’]//\n  1 the point at which one area of work, responsibility etc ends and another begins:  demarcation between//  --traditional lines of demarcation between medicine and surgery//\n  2 the process of deciding on or marking the border between two areas of land:  demarcation of//  --the exact demarcation of the north-south boundary//


Words: demean
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: de- +   MEAN2]//  to do something that makes people lose respect for someone or something//    degrade//  --language that demeans women//  demean yourself (by doing sth)//  --I wouldn’t demean myself by begging him for a job.//


Words: demeaning
Meaning:
adj   showing less respect for someone than they deserve, or making someone feel embarrassed or ashamed//    degrading//  demeaning to//  --policies demeaning to women//  --I refuse to do demeaning work.//


Words: demeanour
Meaning:
BrE  demeanor AmE   n [singular, U]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: demean  ’to behave’ (14-21 centuries), from  Old French demener  ’to guide’]//  the way someone behaves, dresses, speaks etc that shows what their character is like//  --his quiet, reserved demeanour//


Words: demented
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: dement  ’to drive mad’ (16-19 centuries), from  Latin mens  ’mind’]//\n  1 crazy or behaving in a very strange way:  --She was almost demented with grief.//\n  2  old-fashioned suffering from dementia:


Words: dementia
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: mens  ’mind’]//  an illness that affects the brain and memory, and makes you gradually lose the ability to think and behave normally//


Words: demerara sugar
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: Demerara, area in Guyana where the sugar originally came from]//  a type of rough brown sugar//


Words: demerge
Meaning:
v [I and T]  technical   to make one part of a large company into a separate company//  --After the takeover, several subsidiary companies were demerged.//


Words: demerit
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  formal a bad quality or feature of something:  demerit of//  -- The merits and demerits  (=the good and bad qualities) of this argument have been explored.//\n  2  AmE a mark showing that a student has behaved badly at school:    merit//


Words: demesne
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: demeine, from  Latin dominicus  ’of a lord’]//  in the past, a very big house and all the land that belonged to it//


Words: demi-
Meaning:
prefix   [Language: Old French; Origin: Latin dimidius  ’half’]//  half//    semi-//  --a demisemiquaver (=very short musical note) //


Words: demigod
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who is so important and powerful that they are treated like a god:\n  2 a man in ancient stories, who is half god and half human:  --demigods such as Hercules//


Words: demijohn
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: dame-jeanne  ’Dame Jane, demijohn’]//  a large bottle with a short narrow neck, used for making wine//


Words: demilitarize
Meaning:
also  demilitarise BrE   v [T usually passive]   to remove the weapons, soldiers etc from a country or area so that there can be no fighting there//  --the demilitarized zone between the two countries//  -- demilitarization/di[hA359]m[hA366]l[hA369]t[hA353]ra[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -r[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: DeMille
Meaning:
Cecil B.   (1881-1959) a US film  producer and  director who helped to establish the film industry in Hollywood. He is famous for making  epics (=long films about people in the Bible or in history, which used hundreds of actors) . His films include  Samson and Delilah (1949) and  The Ten Commandments (1956).//


Words: demise
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: Old French demis  ’sent away’]//\n  1  formal the end of something that used to exist:  demise of//  --the imminent demise  (=happening soon) of the local newspaper//\n  2  formal  or  law death:  --the mystery surrounding Elena’s untimely demise  (=when death happens sooner than is normal or expected) //  -- demise v  [I] //


Words: demist
Meaning:
v [T]    BrE to remove mist from a car window, by using heat//  American Equivalent:  defog//  -- demister n  [C] //


Words: demo
Meaning:
n   plural  demos  [C] //  [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: demonstration]//\n  1 a recording containing an example of someone’s music that is sent to a record company so that they can decide whether to produce it or not:  --a demo tape//\n  2  BrE  informal an event at which a large group of people publicly protest about something:   demonstration//  --Police stood by to stop any pro-independence demos.//\n  3 an explanation of how something works:   demonstration//\n  4 :  a)  AmE an example of a product that is used to show what it is like or how it works//  --demo homes on the new development//  b) a computer program that shows what a new piece of software will be able to do when it is ready to be sold//  --Click here to download a demo of the new version of our personal finance software.//\ndemo 2 v [T]  informal   to show or explain how something works or is done, especially new computer equipment//   demonstrate//  --They’re going to demo some of the new software at this year’s Mac convention.//


Words: demob
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  demobbed present participle  demobbing  [T]  BrE //  [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: demobilize]//  to demobilize soldiers etc//


Words: demobilize
Meaning:
also  demobilise BrE   v [T usually passive]   to send home the members of an army, navy etc, especially at the end of a war//  --programmes to help demobilized soldiers fit into civilian life//  -- demobilization/di[hA359]m[hA353][hA35E]b[hA369]la[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -mo[hA35E]b[hA353]l[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: democracy
Meaning:
W2   n   plural  democracies //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: democratie, from  Greek demokratia, from  demos  ’people’ +  -kratia  ’rule’]//\n  1 [U] a system of government in which every citizen in the country can vote to elect its government officials:  --a return to democracy after 16 years of military rule//\n  2 [C] a country that has a government which has been elected by the people of the country:  --a parliamentary democracy //  --Western democracies//\n  3 [U] a situation or system in which everyone is equal and has the right to vote, make decisions etc:    democratic//  --democracy within the trade unions//


Words: democratic
Meaning:
W2   adj \n  1 controlled by representatives who are elected by the people of a country:  --a democratic government //  --the role of the media in the democratic process //\n  2 organized according to the principle that everyone has a right to be involved in making decisions:  --a democratic management style//\n  3 organized according to the principle that everyone in a society is equally important, no matter how much money they have or what social class they come from:  --a democratic society//\n  4  also  Democratic:  belonging to or supporting the Democratic Party of the US//  --the Democratic nominee for the presidency//  -- democratically/-kli/ adv //  --democratically elected councils//


Words: Democratic Party
Meaning:
n   the Democratic Party//  one of the two main political parties of the US//    the Republican Party//


Words: democratize
Meaning:
also  democratise BrE   v [T]   to change the way in which a government, company etc is organized, so that it is more democratic//  --efforts to democratize school management structures//  -- democratization/d[hA366]m[hA361]kr[hA353]ta[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ d[hA366]m[hA35A][hA359]kr[hA353]t[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: demographic
Meaning:
n \n  1  demographics [plural] information about a group such as the people who live in a particular area:  --the demographics of a newspaper’s readership//\n  2 [singular] a part of the population that is considered as a group, especially by advertisers who want to sell things to that group:  --the 21-40 demographic//  -- demographic adj //  --demographic change//


Words: demography
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: demographie, from  Greek demos  ’people’]//  the study of human populations and the ways in which they change, for example the study of how many births, marriages and deaths happen in a particular place at a particular time//  -- demographer n  [C] //


Words: demolish
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: demolir, from  Latin moliri  ’to build’]//\n  1 to completely destroy a building:  --The entire east wing of the building was demolished in the fire.//\n  2 to prove that an idea or opinion is completely wrong:  --He demolished my argument in minutes.//\n  3 to end or ruin something completely:  --These ants can demolish large areas of forest.//\n  4 to defeat someone very easily:  --Miami demolished Texas 46 - 3.//\n  5  especially  BrE  informal to eat all of something very quickly:  --He demolished a second helping of pie.//  -- demolition/dem[hA353]l[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //


Words: demolition job
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 an act of criticizing someone severely or telling other people things about them which may be unfair or untrue, in order to harm them or to cause people to have a bad opinion of them:  --He accused opposition leaders of doing a demolition job on the President.//\n  2 an event, especially a sports event, in which one person or team defeats the other one very easily:  demolition job against//  --Currie led the team with 55 points in the demolition job against Ireland.//


Words: demon
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Late Latin; Origin: daemon  ’evil spirit’, from  Greek daimon]//\n  1 an evil spirit or force:  --He was speeding down the motorway as if pursued by a demon.//\n  2 [usually plural] something that makes you anxious and causes you problems:  --She struggled with her husband’s demons of addiction and alcoholism.//\n  3 someone who is very good at something - often used humorously:  --a demon cook//\n  4  the demon drink:   BrE alcoholic drink - often used humorously//    daemon//


Words: demoniacal
Meaning:
formal   wild, uncontrolled, and evil//  --Fear gripped her at the demoniacal glint in his dark eyes.//  -- demoniacally/-kli/ adv //


Words: demonic
Meaning:
adj \n  1 wild and cruel:  --demonic laughter//\n  2 relating to a demon:  --the demonic forces in the universe//  -- demonically/-kli/ adv //


Words: demonstrable
Meaning:
adj  formal   able to be shown or proved//  --We must provide demonstrable improvements in health services.//  -- demonstrably adv //  --These conclusions are demonstrably wrong.//


Words: demonstrate
Meaning:
W2   v   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: demonstratus, past participle of  demonstrare, from  monstrare  ’to show’]//\n  1 [T] to show or prove something clearly:  --The study demonstrates the link between poverty and malnutrition.//  demonstrate that//  --Hitchcock’s films demonstrate that a British filmmaker could learn from Hollywood.//  demonstrate how/what/why etc//  --This section will attempt to demonstrate how the Bank of England operates.//  --The government now has an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to reform.//\n  2 [T] to show or describe how to do something or how something works:  demonstrate how//  --They’ll be demonstrating how to handle modern, high performance cars.//  --Instructors should demonstrate new movements before letting the class try them.//\n  3 [I] to protest or support something in public with a lot of other people:  --Supporters demonstrated outside the courtroom during the trial.//  demonstrate against//  --What are they demonstrating against?//\n  4 [T] to show that you have a particular ability, quality, or feeling:  --He has demonstrated an ability to meet deadlines.//


Words: demonstration
Meaning:
W3S3   n [C] \n  1 an event at which a large group of people meet to protest or to support something in public:  peaceful/violent demonstration //  --Police opened fire on a peaceful demonstration.//  --The proposals sparked mass demonstrations .//  demonstration against//  --a demonstration against the government’s educational policies//  stage/hold a demonstration //  --Supporters staged a demonstration outside the US embassy.//\n  2 an act of explaining and showing how to do something or how something works:  demonstration of//  --He gave a practical demonstration of the boat’s military potential.//  --a cookery demonstration//\n  3  formal an action that proves that someone or something has a particular ability, quality, or feeling:  demonstration of//  --The high level of calls is a clear demonstration of the need for this service.//  --a physical demonstration of affection//


Words: demonstrative
Meaning:
adj   willing to show that you care about someone//  --My mother wasn’t demonstrative; she never hugged me.//  -- demonstratively adv //


Words: demonstrator
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who takes part in a demonstration:  --anti-war demonstrators//\n  2 someone who shows people how to do something or how something works:


Words: demoralize
Meaning:
also  demoralise BrE   v [T]   to reduce or destroy someone’s courage or confidence//  --The illness demoralized him and recovery took several weeks.//  -- demoralized adj //  --The refugees were cold, hungry, and demoralized.//  -- demoralizing adj //  --the demoralizing effects of unemployment//  -- demoralization/d[hA366]m[hA361]r[hA353]la[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -m[hA350][hA359]r[hA353]l[hA353]-, -m[hA35A][hA359]-/ n  [U] //


Words: demote
Meaning:
v [T usually in passive]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: de- +  promote]//  to make someone’s rank or position lower or less important//  → promote//  --The sergeant was demoted to private.//  -- demotion/-m[hA353][hA35E][hA35D][hA368]n $ -mo[hA35E]-/ n  [U and C] //


Words: demotic
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: demotikos, from  demos  ’people’]//  used by or popular with most ordinary people//


Words: demotivating
Meaning:
adj   making someone less eager or willing to do their job//  --Tasks that do not challenge you can be very demotivating.//  -- demotivate v  [T] //


Words: demur
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  demurred present participle  demurring  [I] //  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: demorer, from  Latin morari  ’to stay, delay’]//  to express doubt about or opposition to a plan or suggestion//  --They demurred politely, but finally agreed to stay.//\ndemur 2 n [U]   disagreement or disapproval//  without demur//  --I agreed to this without demur.//


Words: demure
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: demore, past participle of  demorer;   DEMUR]//\n  1 quiet, serious, and well-behaved - used especially about women in the past:  --Old photos of Maggie show her young and demure.//\n  2 demure clothes do not show much of a woman’s body:  --a demure white dress//  -- demurely adv //


Words: demystify
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  demystified present participle  demystifying third person singular  demystifies  [T] //  to make a subject that seems difficult or complicated easier to understand, especially by explaining it in simpler language//  --This book attempts to demystify the male worlds of plumbing and carpentry.//  -- demystification/di[hA359]m[hA366]st[hA369]f[hA366]ke[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: den
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: denn]//\n  1 the home of some animals, for example lions or foxes:\n  2 a place where secret or illegal activities take place:  --corrupt gambling dens//  --a den of thieves//\n  3 an enclosed and secret place where children play:\n  4  especially  AmE a room in a house where people relax, watch television etc:\n  5  BrE  old-fashioned a small room in a house where people can work, read etc without being interrupted:  --Father retreated to his den.//\n  6  den of iniquity:  a place where activities that you think are immoral or evil happen - often used humorously//  --Her mother was convinced that London was a den of iniquity.//


Words: Denali
Meaning:
a mountain in Denali National Park in central Alaska, which is the highest point in North America. It was formerly called Mount McKinley.//


Words: denationalize
Meaning:
also  denationalise BrE   v [T]   to sell a business or industry that is owned by the state, so that it is then owned privately//   privatize//  → nationalize//  -- denationalization/di[hA359]n[zB024][hA35D][hA368]n[hA353]la[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -l[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: Deng Xiaoping
Meaning:
(1904-97) a Chinese politician who was the most powerful person in the Chinese  Communist Party from 1977 until his death, although he never officially ruled China. He is known for starting the important changes that helped China to develop its economy and industry, and to do more business with Western countries.//


Words: denial
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] a statement saying that something is not true:    deny//  denial of//  --The government issued an official denial of the rumour.//  denial that//  --denials that border security had not been strict enough//\n  2 [U] when someone refuses to allow someone else to have or to do something:  denial of//  --protests against the denial of human rights//\n  3 [U] a condition in which you refuse to admit or believe that something bad exists or has happened:  in denial//  --His girlfriend is in denial, and refuses to admit that he will soon die.//


Words: denier
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: , name of a coin, from  Latin denarius, from  deni  ’ten each’]//  a unit for measuring how thin nylon, silk etc thread is//  10-/15-/20- etc denier //  --a pair of 15-denier tights//


Words: denigrate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: denigrare, from  niger  ’black’]//  to say things to make someone or something seem less important or good//  --people who denigrate their own country//  -- denigration/den[hA369]gre[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: denim
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: (serge) de N[hA16F]mes  ’(type of cloth) from N[hA16F]mes’, French city where it was first made]//  [U] a type of strong cotton cloth used especially to make jeans//


Words: denizen
Meaning:
n [C + of]  literary   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: deinzein, from  Old French denz  ’inside’]//  an animal, plant, or person that lives or is found in a particular place//


Words: Denmark
Meaning:
a country in northern Europe, north of Germany and surrounded on three sides by sea. Denmark forms part of Scandinavia, and the people there are called Danes. Population: 5,353,000 (2001). Capital: Copenhagen.//


Words: Dennis the Menace
Meaning:
1 a character in the British  comic The Beano. Dennis is a young boy with thick black hair that sticks out in all directions and he wears a  sweater with red and black  stripes. He has a dog called Gnasher, and together they play tricks on people.:\n  2 a character in a US cartoon strip. Dennis is a little boy with light hair who is always causing problems, even though he does not intend to. He especially likes to play with his neighbour, Mr Wilson, who usually gets very annoyed with him.:


Words: denominate
Meaning:
v [T usually passive]  technical   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: denominare, from  nominare  ’to name’]//  to officially set the value of something according to one system or type of money//


Words: denomination
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a religious group that has slightly different beliefs from other groups within the same religion:  --Christians of all denominations//\n  2  technical the value shown on a coin, paper money, or a stamp:


Words: denominator
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   the number below the line in a fraction//    numerator//    lowest common denominator at common denominator(2)//


Words: denote
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: denoter, from  Latin notare  ’to note’]//\n  1 to mean something:    connote//  --What does the word ’curriculum’ denote that ’course’ does not?//\n  2 to represent or be a sign of something:   indicate//  --Crosses on the map denote villages.//  -- denotative adj //  -- denotation/di[hA359]n[hA353][hA35E]te[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -no[hA35E]-/ n  [C] //


Words: denouement
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: denouement  ’untying’]//  the exciting last part of a story or play//  --The plot takes us to Paris for the denouement of the story.//


Words: denounce
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: denoncier  ’to announce’, from  Latin denuntiare, from  nuntiare  ’to report’]//\n  1 to express strong disapproval of someone or something, especially in public:    denunciation//  --Amnesty International denounced the failure by the authorities to take action.//  denounce sb/sth as sth//  --He denounced the election as a farce.//\n  2 to give information to the police or other authority about someone’s illegal political activities:  denounce sb to sb//  --She denounced him to the secret police.//


Words: dense
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: densus]//\n  1 made of or containing a lot of things or people that are very close together:   thick//  dense undergrowth/forest/woodland/jungle etc //  --A narrow track wound steeply up through dense forest.//  --a dense rurally-based population //\n  2 difficult to see through or breathe in:  dense fog/smoke/cloud //  --dense black smoke//\n  3  informal not able to understand things easily:   stupid//  --Am I being dense? I don’t quite understand.//\n  4 a dense piece of writing is difficult to understand because it contains a lot of information or uses complicated language:\n  5  technical a substance that is dense has a lot of mass in relation to its size:  --Water is eight hundred times denser than air.//  -- densely adv //  --a densely populated area//  -- denseness n  [U] //


Words: density
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the degree to which an area is filled with people or things:  density of//  --the size and density of settlements//  --areas of high population density //\n  2  technical the relationship between the mass of something and its size:


Words: dent
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin: dint]//\n  1 a hollow area in the surface of something, usually made by something hitting it:  dent in//  --There was a large dent in the passenger door.//\n  2 a reduction in the amount of something:  dent in//  --The trip made a big dent in our savings.//  --Eight years of effort have hardly put a dent in drug trafficking.//\ndent 2 v \n  1 [I and T] if you dent something, or if it dents, you hit or press it so that its surface is bent inwards:  --No one was injured, but the car was scratched and dented.//\n  2 [T] to damage or harm something:  --The scandal has dented his reputation.//


Words: dental
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: dentalis, from  dens  ’tooth’]//  relating to your teeth//  dental treatment/care //  --Dental care was free in the 60s.//  dental disease/problems/decay etc //


Words: dental hygienist
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who works with a dentist and cleans people’s teeth, or gives them advice about how to look after their teeth//


Words: dentist
Meaning:
n [C]   someone whose job is to treat people’s teeth//  the dentist/the dentist’s (=the place where a dentist works) //  --I’m going to the dentist this afternoon.//


Words: dentures
Meaning:
n [plural]   a set of artificial teeth worn by someone who does not have their own teeth any longer//   false teeth//


Words: denude
Meaning:
v [T usually passive]  formal \n  1 to remove the plants and trees that cover an area of land:  --a hillside denuded in a fire//\n  2 to take something away from someone or something:  denude sb/sth of sth//  --The fact that people have left farm work has denuded many villages of their working populations.//  -- denudation/di[hA359]nju[hA359]de[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -nu[hA359]-/ n  [U] //


Words: denunciation
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: denuntiatio, from  denuntiare;   DENOUNCE]//  a public statement in which you criticize someone or something//


Words: Denver
Meaning:
the capital and largest city of the US state of Colorado, close to the Rocky Mountains. Denver is an important business, educational, and  cultural centre, and it is sometimes called the "Mile High City" because it is one mile above sea level.//


Words: deny
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  denied present participle  denying third person singular  denies  [T] //  ----------//\n   1 say something is not true:\n   2 not allow:\n   3 there’s no denying (that/something):\n   4 feelings:\n   5 deny yourself (something):  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: denier, from  Latin negare  ’to deny’]//\n  1 SAY SOMETHING IS NOT TRUE:  to say that something is not true, or that you do not believe something//    denial//  deny (that)//  --I’ve never denied that there is a housing problem.//  --I can’t deny her remarks hurt me.//  deny doing sth//  --Two men have denied murdering a woman at a remote picnic spot.//  strongly/vehemently/strenuously etc deny sth //  --Jackson vehemently denied the allegations.//  --The government denied the existence of poverty among 16- and 17-year-olds.//  deny a charge/allegation/claim //  --The men have denied charges of theft.//\n  2 NOT ALLOW:  to refuse to allow someone to have or do something//  --landowners who deny access to the countryside//  deny sb sth//  --She could deny her son nothing.//  deny sth to sb//  --This is the only country in Europe to deny cancer screening to its citizens.//\n  3  there’s no denying (that/sth):   spoken used to say that it is very clear that something is true//  --There’s no denying that this is an important event.//\n  4 FEELINGS:  to refuse to admit that you are feeling something//  --Emotions can become destructive if they are suppressed and denied.//\n  5  deny yourself (sth):  to decide not to have something that you would like, especially for moral or religious reasons//  --He denied himself all pleasures and luxuries.//


Words: deodorant
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a chemical substance that you put on the skin under your arms to stop you from smelling bad//    antiperspirant//


Words: depart
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: departir, from  partir  ’to divide’]//\n  1 [I and T] to leave, especially when you are starting a journey:    departure//  depart from//  --ocean liners arriving at and departing from the island//  depart for//  --Dorothy departed for Germany last week.//  --Flights by Air Europe depart Gatwick on Tuesdays.//\n  2  depart this life:   formal to die//\n  3 [I] to start to use new ideas or do something in a different way:    departure//  depart from//  --It’s revolutionary music; it departs from the old form and structures.//  --In his speech, the President departed from his text only once.//\n  4 [I and T] to leave an organization or job:    departure//  --the company’s departing chairman//


Words: departed
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   dead - used in order to avoid saying the word ’dead’//  --his dear departed wife//


Words: department
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 one of the groups of people who work together in a particular part of a large organization such as a hospital, university, company, or government:  --the personnel department//  --the English department//  department of//  --the Department of the Environment//\n  2 an area in a large shop where a particular type of product is sold:  --the toy department//\n  3  be sb’s department:   spoken if something is someone’s department, they are responsible for it or know a lot about it//  --I’ll see what I can do, but it’s not really my department.//\n  4  spoken a particular part of someone’s character, or a particular part of a larger activity or subject:  --Dave was a little lacking in the trustworthiness department.//  -- departmental/di[hA359]p[hA35A][hA359]tmentl[hA36B] $ -[hA35A][hA359]r-/ adj //  --a departmental meeting//    fire department,  police department//


Words: Department for Culture
Meaning:
Media and Sport   a British government department, formerly called the Department of National Heritage, which is responsible for supporting the arts, tourism, sport etc, and for making rules about newspapers and broadcasting in the UK//


Words: Department for Education and Skills
Meaning:
the   DfES formerly called the Department for Education and Employment; a British government department which is responsible for the UK’s education system and for organizing training programmes for people without jobs etc//


Words: Department for Environment
Meaning:
Food and Rural Affairs   DEFRA a British government department that is responsible for things such as plans for new roads and buildings, the protection of the countryside and old buildings, and the quality of the air and water in the UK. It is now also responsible for government policy on farming and the countryside.//


Words: Department for International Development
Meaning:
the   DFID formerly called the Overseas Development Administration (ODA); a British government department that gives money, advice, and help to poorer countries//


Words: Department for Work and Pensions
Meaning:
DWP a British government department which is responsible for paying various types of  benefit (=money paid by the government to support people who need it, for example people who are poor, people who are too old or too sick to work, and people who cannot find jobs) , and for government policy on employment.//


Words: Department of Defense
Meaning:
the   the US government department which is responsible for the military forces in the US, that is, the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. In the UK there is a similar department called the  Ministry of Defence.//    Pentagon//


Words: Department of Education
Meaning:
the   a US government department which is responsible for the education system, including education programmes, laws for schools and colleges, standards for schools and teachers etc//


Words: Department of Health
Meaning:
the   a British government department which is responsible for health programmes in the UK and for the  National Health Service//


Words: Department of Health and Human Services
Meaning:
the   a US government department which is responsible for health programmes, and for providing money and support for people who are poor, people who have no jobs, and people who have stopped working because they are old//


Words: Department of Justice
Meaning:
the   a US government department which deals with the law. Its work includes writing laws, representing the government in a court of law, and doing criminal  investigations (=searching for information to solve crimes) . The head of the Department of Justice is called the  Attorney General. In the UK there is a similar department called the  Lord Chancellor’s Department. //


Words: Department of Labor
Meaning:
the   the US government department concerned with how workers are treated by employers. It examines subjects such as fair wages, safety, and the number of hours worked each week.//


Words: Department of Social Security
Meaning:
the   DSS a British government department which used to be responsible for paying various types of  benefit (=money paid by the government to support people who need it, for example people who are poor, people who are too old or too sick to work, and people who cannot find jobs) . This department changed its name in 2001 and became the Department for Work and Pensions.//


Words: Department of the Environment
Meaning:
the   the DOE a British government department that was responsible for things such as plans for new roads and buildings, the protection of the countryside and old buildings, and the quality of the air and water in the UK. It is now called the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs//


Words: Department of the Interior
Meaning:
the   the part of the US government responsible for protecting the US’s  natural resources (=land, minerals, water, natural energy etc) . The person in charge of this department is called the Secretary of the Interior.//


Words: Department of Transport
Meaning:
the   a British government department that deals with  transport in the UK, for example by making laws about road vehicles and planes, and by building and repairing roads. In the US there is a similar department called the  Department of Transportation.//


Words: Department of Transportation
Meaning:
the   a US government department that deals with  transport in the US, for example by making laws about road vehicles and planes, and by building and repairing roads. In the UK there is a similar department called the  Department of Transport.//


Words: department store
Meaning:
n [C]   a large shop that is divided into separate departments, each selling a different type of goods//


Words: departure
Meaning:
W3   n \n  1 [U and C] an act of leaving a place, especially at the start of a journey:  → arrival//  departure for//  --I saw Simon shortly before his departure for Russia.//  departure of//  --There was a delay in the departure of our plane.//  departure from//  --Mozart’s departure from Paris in September 1778//\n  2 [U and C] an act of leaving an organization or position:  departure from//  --He refused to discuss his departure from the government.//\n  3 [C] a flight, train etc that leaves at a particular time:  --There are several departures for New York every day.//\n  4 [C] a way of doing something that is different from the usual, traditional, or expected way:  departure from//  --Their new designs represent a departure from their usual style.//  radical/major/significant etc departure (=a big change) //  --This would be a radical departure from the subsidy system.//


Words: depend
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: dependre, from  Latin pendere  ’to hang’]//  it/that depends//   spoken used to say that you cannot give a definite answer to something because your answer will be affected by something else//  --’How long are you staying?’ ’I don’t know; it depends.’//  it depends who/what/how/whether etc//  --You may take several months to reach your target weight - it depends how much you want to lose.//  depend on/upon / [depend on/upon sb/sth] phr v//\n  1 if something depends on something else, it is directly affected or decided by that thing:  --The length of time spent exercising depends on the sport you are training for.//  depend on how/what/whether etc//  --Choosing the right bike depends on what you want to use it for.//  depending on sth//  --The expenses you claim can vary enormously, depending on travel distances involved.//\n  2 to need the support, help, or existence of someone or something in order to exist, be healthy, be successful etc:   rely on//  --The country depends heavily on its tourist trade.//  --We depend entirely on donations from the public.//  depend on sb/sth for sth//  --Many women have to depend on their husbands for their state pension.//  depend on sb/sth to do sth//  --I’m depending on you to tell me everything.//  depend on sb/sth doing sth//  --We’re depending on him finishing the job by Friday.//\n  3 to trust or have confidence in someone or something:  --You can depend on Jane - she always keeps her promises.//  ----------//  HINT //  Do not say that one thing ’is depend on’ another. Say one thing is dependent on another. //  ----------//


Words: dependable
Meaning:
adj   able to be trusted to do what you need or expect//  --our most dependable ally//  --a dependable source of income//  -- dependably adv //  -- dependability/d[hA366]pend[hA353]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: dependant
Meaning:
BrE  dependent AmE   n [C]   someone, especially a child, who depends on you for food, clothes, money etc//


Words: dependence
Meaning:
n  also dependency  [U] \n  1 when you depend on the help and support of someone or something else in order to exist or be successful:  → independence//  dependence on/upon//  --our dependence on oil as a source of energy//  --the financial dependency of some women on men//\n  2  drug/alcohol dependence:  when someone is addicted to drugs or alcohol//\n  3  technical when one thing is strongly affected by another thing:  dependence of//  --the mutual dependence of profit and growth//


Words: dependency
Meaning:
n   plural  dependencies //\n  1 [U]  dependence:  --drug dependency//\n  2 [C] a country that is controlled by another country:    colony//  --Britain’s Caribbean dependencies//


Words: dependent
Meaning:
W3S3   adj \n  1 needing someone or something in order to exist, be successful, be healthy etc:  → independent//  dependent on/upon//  --Norway’s economy is heavily dependent on natural resources.//  --Jan’s mother was dependent on her for physical care.//  --Do you have any dependent children  (=who you are still supporting financially) ?//\n  2  addicted to drugs, alcohol etc:  dependent on/upon//  --the needs of people dependent on drugs//  --a danger of becoming alcohol dependent //\n  3  be dependent on/upon sth:  to be directly affected or decided by something else//  --Your pay is dependent on how much you produce.//\ndependent 2 n   the American spelling of dependant//


Words: dependent clause
Meaning:
n [C]   a clause in a sentence that gives information related to the main clause, but cannot exist alone//


Words: depict
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: depictus, past participle of  depingere, from  pingere  ’to paint’]//  to describe something or someone in writing or speech, or to show them in a painting, picture etc//  --a book depicting life in pre-revolutionary Russia//  depict sb/sth as sth//  --The god is depicted as a bird with a human head.//  -- depiction/d[hA366]p[hA366]k[hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //


Words: depilatory
Meaning:
n   plural  depilatories  [C]  formal //  [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: depilate  ’to remove hair’ (16-21 centuries), from  Latin depilare, from  pilus  ’hair’]//  a substance that gets rid of unwanted hair from your body//  -- depilatory adj  [only before noun] //  --depilatory creams//


Words: deplete
Meaning:
v [T usually passive]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: depletus, past participle of  deplere, from  plere  ’to fill’]//  to reduce the amount of something that is present or available//  --Salmon populations have been severely depleted .//  -- depletion/d[hA366]pli[hA359][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //  --the depletion of the ozone layer//


Words: deplorable
Meaning:
adj  formal   very bad, unpleasant, and shocking//   appalling//  --The prisoners were held in deplorable conditions .//  --His conduct was deplorable.//  -- deplorably adv //


Words: deplore
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: deplorer, from  Latin plorare  ’to cry out’]//  to disapprove of something very strongly and criticize it severely, especially publicly//  --The UN deplored the invasion as a ’violation of international law’.//


Words: deploy
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: deployer, from  Latin displicare  ’to scatter’]//\n  1 [I and T] to organize or move soldiers, military equipment etc so that they are in the right place and ready to be used:  deploy forces/troops/weapons etc //  --NATO’s decision to deploy cruise missiles//\n  2 [T]  formal to use something for a particular purpose, especially ideas, arguments etc:  --a job in which a variety of professional skills will be deployed//  -- deployment n  [U and C] //


Words: depoliticize
Meaning:
also  depoliticise BrE   v [T]   to remove political influence or control from a situation//  -- depoliticization/di[hA359]p[hA353]l[hA366]t[hA369]sa[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -s[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: depopulate
Meaning:
v [T usually passive]   to greatly reduce the number of people living in a particular area//  --The disease could depopulate this whole region.//  -- depopulation/di[hA359]p[hA361]pj[hA36A]le[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -p[hA35A][hA359]p-/ n  [U] //


Words: deport
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: deporter, from  Latin portare  ’to carry’]//  to make someone leave a country and return to the country they came from, especially because they do not have a legal right to stay//    export//  deport sb from/to sth//  --He was deported from Ecuador when his visa expired.//  -- deportation/di[hA359]p[hA350][hA359]te[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -p[hA350][hA359]r-/ n  [U and C] //  --the deportation of illegal immigrants//


Words: deportment
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: deportement, from  Old French deporter  ’to behave’, from  Latin portare  ’to carry’]//\n  1  BrE the way that someone stands and walks:  --lessons in manners and deportment//\n  2  old-fashioned  especially AmE the way that someone behaves in public:


Words: depose
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: French; Origin: deposer, from  Latin deponere  ’to put down’]//  to remove a leader or ruler from a position of power//


Words: deposit
Meaning:
W3   n [C] \n  1 a part of the cost of something you are buying that you pay some time before you pay the rest of it:  deposit of//  --A deposit of 10% is required.//  put down a deposit (on sth) (=pay a deposit) //  --We put down a deposit on a house last week.//\n  2 money that you pay when you rent something such as an apartment or car, which will be given back if you do not damage it:  deposit of//  --We ask for one month’s rent in advance, plus a deposit of $500.//\n  3 an amount of money that is paid into a bank account:  → withdrawal//  deposit into//  --I’d like to make a deposit  (=pay some money) into my savings account.//\n  4 a layer of a mineral, metal etc that is left in soil or rocks through a natural process:  deposit of//  --rich deposits of gold in the hills//\n  5 an amount or layer of a substance that gradually develops in a particular place:  --fatty deposits on the heart//\n  6 an amount of money paid by a candidate in a political election in Britain, that is returned to them if they get enough votes:  lose your deposit (=not get enough votes) //\ndeposit 2 v   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: depositus, past participle of  deponere;   DEPOSE]//\n  1 [T always + adverb/preposition]  formal to put something down in a particular place:  --The female deposits her eggs directly into the water.//\n  2 [T] to leave a layer of a substance on the surface of something, especially gradually:  --As the river slows down, it deposits a layer of soil.//\n  3 [T] to put money or something valuable in a bank or other place where it will be safe:  deposit sth in sth//  --You are advised to deposit your valuables in the hotel safe.//  deposit sth with sb/sth//  --The dollars are then deposited with banks outside the USA.//


Words: deposit account
Meaning:
n [C]  especially BrE   a bank account that pays interest on the money that you leave in it//    checking account,  current account//


Words: deposition
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U]  technical the natural process of depositing a substance on rocks or soil:  --the deposition of marine sediments//\n  2 [C]  law a statement written or recorded for a court of law, by someone who has promised to tell the truth:\n  3 [U and C] the act of removing someone from a position of power:


Words: depository
Meaning:
n   plural  depositories  [C] //  a place where something can be safely kept//  -- depository adj //


Words: depot
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: dep[hA175]t, from  Latin depositus;   DEPOSIT2]//\n  1 a place where goods are stored until they are needed:  --the company’s distribution depot //  --a fuel storage depot //\n  2  bus/tram etc depot:   BrE a place where buses etc are kept and repaired//\n  3  AmE a railway station or bus station, especially a small one:


Words: deprave
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   to be an evil influence on someone, especially someone who is young or not very experienced//


Words: depraved
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: deprave  ’to make evil’ (14-21 centuries), from  French depraver, from  Latin pravus  ’bent, bad’]//  completely evil or morally unacceptable//  --a killer’s depraved mind//  -- depravity/d[hA366]pr[zB024]v[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: deprecate
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: deprecari  ’to keep off by prayer’, from  precari  ’to pray’]//  to strongly disapprove of or criticize something//  -- deprecation/depr[hA369]ke[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: deprecating
Meaning:
formal \n  1 expressing criticism or disapproval:  --She glanced at me in a deprecating way.//\n  2  BrE intended to make someone feel less annoyed or disapproving:  --a deprecating smile//    self-deprecating//  -- deprecatingly adv //


Words: depreciate
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Late Latin; Origin: depretiare, from  Latin pretium  ’price’]//\n  1 [I] to decrease in value or price:  → appreciate//  --New cars depreciate in value quickly.//\n  2 [T]  technical to reduce the value of something over time, especially for tax purposes:  --Company computers are depreciated at 50% per year.//\n  3 [T]  formal to make something seem unimportant:  --those who depreciate the importance of art in education//


Words: depredation
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: depredation, from  Latin depraedari  ’to steal and destroy’]//  an act of taking or destroying something//


Words: depress
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: depresser, from  Latin premere  ’to press’]//\n  1 to make someone feel very unhappy:  --The thought of taking the exam again depressed him.//  -- It depresses me that nobody seems to care.//\n  2 to prevent an economy from being as active and successful as it usually is:  --Several factors combined to depress the American economy.//\n  3  formal to press something down, especially a part of a machine:  --Depress the clutch fully.//\n  4  formal to reduce the value of prices or wages:  --High interest rates may depress share prices.//


Words: depressant
Meaning:
n [C]   a substance or drug that makes your body processes slower and makes you feel very relaxed or sleepy//    stimulant//  -- depressant adj //


Words: depressed
Meaning:
adj \n  1 :  a) very unhappy//  --She felt lonely and depressed .//  depressed about//  --Don’t get depressed about it.//  --The divorce left him deeply depressed .//  --I was depressed at the thought of all the hard work ahead.//  b) suffering from a medical condition in which you are so unhappy that you cannot live a normal life//  --patients who are clinically depressed //\n  2 an area, industry etc that is depressed does not have enough economic or business activity:  --Britain’s depressed housing market//\n  3  formal a depressed level or amount is lower than normal:  --a depressed appetite//


Words: depressing
Meaning:
adj   making you feel very sad//  --It’s a depressing thought.//  --The whole experience was very depressing.//  -- depressingly adv //  --depressingly poor results//


Words: depression
Meaning:
W3S3   n \n  1 [U and C] :  a) a medical condition that makes you very unhappy and anxious and often prevents you from living a normal life//  --women who suffer from post-natal depression  (=that sometimes happens after the birth of a baby) //  b) a feeling of sadness that makes you think there is no hope for the future//  --Lucy’s mood was one of deep depression .//\n  2  the (Great) Depression:  the period during the 1930s when there was not much business activity and not many jobs//\n  3 [U and C] a long period during which there is very little business activity and a lot of people do not have jobs:    recession//  --the devastating effects of economic depression //\n  4 [C] a part of a surface that is lower than the other parts:  --depressions in the ground//\n  5 [C]  technical a mass of air under low pressure, that usually causes rain:


Words: depressive
Meaning:
adj   relating to or suffering from depression//  --patients with depressive symptoms//\ndepressive 2 n [C]   someone who suffers from depression//


Words: deprivation
Meaning:
n [C usually plural, U]   the lack of something that you need in order to be healthy, comfortable, or happy//  -- Sleep deprivation can result in mental disorders.//  social/economic/emotional etc deprivation //  --Low birth weight is related to economic deprivation.//  deprivation of//  --the deprivations of prison life//


Words: deprive
Meaning:
v   deprive of [deprive sb of sth] phr v//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: deprivare, from  Latin privare  ’to deprive’]//  to prevent someone from having something, especially something that they need or should have//  --A lot of these children have been deprived of a normal home life.//


Words: deprived
Meaning:
adj   not having the things that are necessary for a comfortable or happy life//  -- Deprived children tend to do less well at school.//  deprived areas/neighbourhoods etc (=where a lot of deprived people live) //  --our deprived inner cities//


Words: depth
Meaning:
W3S3   n   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: deep]//\n  1 [C usually singular, U] :  a) the distance from the top surface of something such as a river or hole to the bottom of it//    deep//  --a sea with an average depth of 35 metres//  to/at a depth of sth //  --The cave descends to a depth of 340 feet.//  --Plant the beans at a depth of about six inches.//  a metre/foot etc in depth (=deep) //  --a channel of about two feet in depth//  b) the distance from the front to the back of an object//  --The depth of the shelves is about 35 cm.//\n  2 [U] how strong an emotion is or how serious a situation is:  depth of//  --the depth of public feeling on this issue//  --People need to realize the depth of the problem.//\n  3 [U] :  a)  also depths //  the quality of having a lot of knowledge, understanding, or experience//  depth of knowledge/understanding/experience //  --I was impressed by the depth of her knowledge.//  --a man of great depth and insight//  --She’s quiet, but perhaps she has hidden depths .//  b) when a lot of details about a subject are provided or considered//  --Network news coverage often lacks depth.//  --The subject was discussed in great depth .//    in-depth//\n  4  be out of your depth:  a) to be involved in a situation or activity that is too difficult for you to understand or deal with//  --I felt completely out of my depth at the meeting.//  b)  BrE to be in water that is too deep for you to stand in//\n  5  the depths of sth:  when a bad feeling or situation is at its worst level//  --She was in the depths of despair .//  --The country was recovering from the depths of recession .//\n  6  the depths of the ocean/countryside/forest etc:  the part that is furthest away from people, and most difficult to reach//  --Astronomers may one day travel to the depths of space.//\n  7  the depths of winter:  the middle of winter, especially when it is very cold//\n  8  the depths:   literary the deepest parts of the sea//


Words: deputation
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   a small group of people who are sent to talk to someone in authority, as representatives of a larger group//


Words: depute
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: deputer, from  Latin deputare  ’to give a particular job to someone’, from  putare  ’to consider’]//  depute sb to do sth//   formal to tell or allow someone to do something instead of you//


Words: deputize
Meaning:
also  deputise BrE   v \n  1 [I]  BrE to do the work of someone of a higher rank than you for a short time because they are unable to do it:  deputize for//  --Jed could deputise for Stewart, if necessary.//\n  2 [T]  AmE to give someone below you in rank the authority to do your work for a short time, usually because you are unable to do it:    delegate//


Words: deputy
Meaning:
W2   n   plural  deputies  [C] //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: depute, past participle of  deputer;   DEPUTE]//\n  1  also  Deputy:  someone who is directly below another person in rank, and who is officially in charge when that person is not there//  deputy director/chairman/governor etc //  --the Deputy Secretary of State//\n  2 someone whose job is to help a sheriff in the US:\n  3 a member of parliament in some countries, for example France:


Words: derail
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: derailler, from  English rail]//\n  1 [I and T] if a train derails or something derails it, it goes off the tracks:\n  2 [T] to spoil or interrupt a plan, agreement etc:  --a mistake that might derail the negotiations//  -- derailment n  [U and C] //


Words: deranged
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: derange  ’to make untidy, make mad’ (18-21 centuries), from  French deranger]//  someone who is deranged behaves in a crazy or dangerous way, usually because they are mentally ill//  --a deranged gunman//  -- derangement n  [U and C] //


Words: Derby
Meaning:
a city in Derbyshire. It is an important centre for industries such as engineering and  china//\n the   a very important yearly horse race held at Epsom in England in May or June, on a day which is known as Derby Day //    Kentucky Derby, the//


Words: derby
Meaning:
n   plural  derbies  [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:]//  [Sense: 1-2, 4; Origin: Derby, important horse race held at Epsom, England, from Lord  Derby (1752-1834) who started it.]//  [Sense: 3; Origin:  From the wearing of such hats at the Derby]//\n  1  Derby:  used in the names of some well-known horse races//  --the Kentucky Derby//  -- the Derby  BrE (=a famous race in England) //\n  2  BrE a sports match between two teams from the same area or city:\n  3  especially AmE a man’s hard round hat that is usually black:  British Equivalent:  bowler//\n  4 a particular type of race or competition:  --a donkey derby//


Words: Derbyshire
Meaning:
a  county in northern central England. The  Peak District National Park is mainly in Derbyshire, and is a popular place for tourists.//


Words: deregulate
Meaning:
v [T usually passive]   to remove government rules and controls from some types of business activity//  --industries that have been deregulated//  -- deregulation/di[hA359]regj[hA36A]le[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: derelict
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: derelictus, past participle of  derelinquere  ’to leave something you are responsible for’]//  a derelict building or piece of land is in very bad condition because it has not been used for a long time//\nderelict 2 n [C]   someone who has no money or home, lives on the streets, and is very dirty - used to show disapproval//


Words: dereliction
Meaning:
n \n  1  dereliction of duty:   formal when someone fails to do what they should do as part of their job//\n  2 [U] the state of being derelict:  --areas of industrial dereliction //


Words: deride
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: deridere, from  ridere  ’to laugh’]//  to make remarks or jokes that show you think someone or something is silly or useless//   mock//  --You shouldn’t deride their efforts.//  deride sb as sth //  --The party was derided as totally lacking in ideas.//


Words: derision
Meaning:
n [U]   when you show that you think someone or something is stupid or silly//  --His speech was greeted with derision by opposition leaders.//


Words: derisive
Meaning:
adj   showing that you think someone or something is stupid or silly//  --derisive laughter//  -- derisively adv //


Words: derisory
Meaning:
adj \n  1 an amount of money that is derisory is so small that it is not worth considering seriously:  --Unions described the pay offer as derisory.//\n  2  derisive:


Words: derivative
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 something that has developed or been produced from something else:  derivative of//  --Heroin is a derivative of morphine.//\n  2 a type of financial investment:  --the derivatives market//\nderivative 2 adj   not new or invented, but copied or taken from something else - used to show disapproval//  --a derivative text//


Words: derive
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: deriver, from  Latin derivare  ’to draw out water’, from  rivus  ’stream’]//\n  1 [T] to get something, especially an advantage or a pleasant feeling, from something:  derive sth from sth//  --Medically, we will derive great benefit from this technique.//  derive pleasure/enjoyment etc //  --Many students derived enormous satisfaction from the course.//\n  2  also be derived :   [I and T] to develop or come from something else//  derive from//  --This word is derived from Latin.//  --patterns of behaviour that derive from basic beliefs//\n  3 [T]  technical to get a chemical substance from another substance:  be derived from sth//  --The enzyme is derived from human blood.//


Words: dermatitis
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: derma  ’skin’]//  a disease of the skin that causes redness, swelling, and pain//


Words: dermatology
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: derma  ’skin’]//  the part of medical science that deals with skin diseases and their treatment//  -- dermatologist n  [C] //


Words: derogate
Meaning:
v   derogate from [derogate from sth] phr v//  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Late Latin; Origin: derogare, from  Latin rogare  ’to ask, make a proposal for (a law)’]//  to make something seem less important or less good//


Words: derogatory
Meaning:
adj   derogatory remarks, attitudes etc are insulting and disapproving//  --Their conversation contained a number of derogatory racial remarks .//


Words: derrick
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: derrick  ’structure for hanging criminals’ (1600-1700), perhaps from a person who operated this called  Derrick]//\n  1 a tall machine used for lifting heavy weights, especially on ships:\n  2 a tall tower built over an oil well, used to raise and lower the drill:


Words: derring-do
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: dorring don  ’daring to do’ (14-15 centuries)]//  deeds/acts etc of derring-do//  very brave actions like the ones that happen in adventure stories - used humorously//


Words: Derry
Meaning:
1 a  county in the west of Northern Ireland:\n  2 another name for the city of  Londonderry in Northern Ireland, used especially by the Roman Catholic population:


Words: dervish
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Turkish; Origin: dervis  ’poor person, beggar’]//  a member of a Muslim religious group, some of whom dance fast and spin around as part of a religious ceremony//


Words: des res
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: desirable residence]//  a house that a lot of people admire and would like to live in - sometimes used humorously//


Words: desalination
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   the process of removing salt from sea water so that people can use it//  -- desalinate/di[hA359]s[zB024]l[hA369]ne[hA366]t/ v  [T] //


Words: descant
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old North French; Origin: Latin cantus  ’song’]//  a tune that is played or sung above the main tune in a piece of music//


Words: Descartes
Meaning:
Rene   (1956-1650) a French  mathematician and  philosopher famous for establishing the principle of "cogito ergo sum" (=I think, therefore I am), which means "I know that I exist because I know that I think"//


Words: descend
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: descendre, from  Latin scandere  ’to climb’]//\n  1 [I and T]  formal to move from a higher level to a lower one:  → ascend//  --Our plane started to descend.//  --I heard his footsteps descending the stairs.//  descend to/from/into etc//  --The path continues for some way before descending to Garsdale Head.//\n  2 [I]  literary if darkness, silence, a feeling etc descends, it becomes dark etc or you start to feel something, especially suddenly:  descend on/upon/over//  --Total silence descended on the room.//  --An air of gloom descended over the party headquarters.//\n  3  in descending order (of sth):  numbers, choices etc that are in descending order are arranged from the highest or most important to the lowest or least important//  --The hotels are listed in descending order of price.//  descend from / [descend from sb/sth] phr v//\n  1  be descended from sb:  to be related to a person or group who lived a long time ago//  --She claims to be descended from Abraham Lincoln.//  --The people here are descended from the Vikings.//\n  2 to have developed from something that existed in the past:  --ideas that descend from those of ancient philosophers//  descend on/upon / [descend on/upon sb/sth] phr v//  if a large number of people descend on a person or a place, they come to visit or stay, especially when they are not very welcome//  --Millions of tourists descend on the area every year.//  descend to [descend to sth] phr v//  to behave or speak in an unpleasant way, which is not the way you usually behave//  --Surely he wouldn’t descend to such a mean trick?//  descend to sb’s level (=behave or speak as badly as someone else) //  --Other people may gossip, but don’t descend to their level.//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  It is more usual to say go down or come down . //  ----------//


Words: descendant
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who is related to a person who lived a long time ago, or to a family, group of people etc that existed in the past:    ancestor//  sb’s descendants/the descendants of sb //  --The coastal areas were occupied by the descendants of Greek colonists.//  --He was a direct descendant of Napoleon Bonaparte.//\n  2 something that has developed from something else:  descendant of//  --Quechua is a descendant of the Inca language.//


Words: descent
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C]  formal the process of going down:  → ascent//  --Passengers must fasten their seat belts prior to descent.//  descent from/to//  --The descent to Base Camp took about two days.//\n  2 [U] your family origins, especially your nationality or relationship to someone important who lived a long time ago:  of Russian/Italian etc descent //  --young men and women of Asian descent//  descent from//  --The emperor claimed descent from David.//  by descent//  --They’re Irish by descent.//\n  3 [C] a path or road that goes down a slope:  → ascent//  descent from/to//  --There is no direct descent from the summit.//\n  4 [singular] a gradual change towards behaviour or a situation that is very bad:  descent into alcoholism/chaos/madness etc //  --the story of his descent into drug abuse//\n  5 [singular]  BrE a sudden unwanted visit or attack:  --the descent on the town by a motorcycle gang//


Words: describe
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: describere, from  scribere  ’to write’]//\n  1 to say what something or someone is like by giving details about them:  --The police asked her to describe the two men.//  --An alternative approach to the problem is described in Chapter 3.//  describe sb/sth as (being/having) sth //  --After the operation her condition was described as comfortable.//  --The youth is described as being 18 to 19 years old.//  describe how/why/what etc //  --It’s difficult to describe how I feel.//  describe sb/sth to sb //  --So describe this new boyfriend to me!//  describe doing sth //  --He described finding his mother lying on the floor.//\n  2  describe a circle/an arc etc:   formal to make a movement which forms the shape of a circle etc//  --Her hand described a circle in the air.//


Words: description
Meaning:
n [U and C] \n  1 a piece of writing or speech that gives details about what someone or something is like:  --Berlin sounds fascinating from your description.//  description of//  --The writer began with a description of the area.//  --The police have issued a detailed description of the missing woman.//  --an accurate description of the event//  --I checked my job description .//  give/provide etc a description //  --The booklet gives a brief description of each place.//  brief/short/full/complete description //  --Your insurance company will need a full description of the stolen property.//  --The guide gives a general description of the island.//  fit/match/answer a description (=be like the person or thing described) //  --He matches the description of the attacker.//\n  2  be beyond/past description:  to be too good, bad, big etc to be described easily//  --The death and destruction were beyond description.//\n  3  of every/some/any etc description:   also of all descriptions //  people or things of every type, some type etc//  --People of all descriptions came to see the show.//


Words: descriptive
Meaning:
adj \n  1 giving a description of something:  --the descriptive passages in the novel//\n  2  technical describing how the words of a language are actually used, rather than saying how they ought to be used:  → prescriptive//  -- descriptively adv //


Words: Desdemona
Meaning:
the main female character in the play  Othello by William  Shakespeare. She is Othello’s wife, and Othello kills her because his enemy, Iago, makes him believe that she is having a sexual relationship with another man.//


Words: desecrate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: de- +  consecrate]//  to spoil or damage something holy or respected//  -- desecration/des[hA366]kre[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: desegregate
Meaning:
v [T]   to end a system in which people of different races are kept separate//    integrate//  → segregate//  -- desegregation/di[hA359]segr[hA369]ge[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ di[hA359]seg-/ n  [U] //


Words: deselect
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 to remove something from a list of choices on a computer:\n  2  BrE if members of a political party deselect an existing Member of Parliament, they refuse to choose him or her as a candidate at the next election:  -- deselection/-lek[hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: desensitize
Meaning:
also  desensitise BrE   v [T]   to make someone react less strongly to something by making them become used to it//  desensitize sb to sth//  --Does TV desensitize people to violence?//  -- desensitization/di[hA359]sens[hA369]ta[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -t[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: desert
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: Late Latin desertum, from  Latin desertus, past participle of  deserere  ’to desert’]//\n  1 [U and C] a large area of land where it is always very hot and dry, and there is a lot of sand:  --the Sahara Desert//  --This area of the country is mostly desert.//  in the desert//  --The plane crash-landed in the desert.//\n  2 [C] a place where there is no activity or where nothing interesting happens:  --The railroad yard was a desert now.//  ----------//  HINT //  Do not confuse desert and dessert although they have similar spellings. //  ----------//\ndesert 2   v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: deserter, from  Latin desertus;   DESERT1]//\n  1 [T] to leave someone or something and no longer help or support them:   abandon//  --Helen was deserted by her husband.//  --Many of the party’s traditional voters deserted it at the last election.//  --The price rise caused many readers to desert the magazine.//  desert sb for sb//  --He deserted her for another woman.//\n  2 [T] to leave a place so that it is completely empty:   abandon//  --The birds have deserted their nest.//\n  3 [I] to leave the army, navy etc without permission:  --Several hundred soldiers have deserted.//\n  4 [T] if a feeling, quality, or skill deserts you, you no longer have it, especially at a time when you need it:  --Mike’s confidence seemed to have deserted him.//


Words: Desert Island Discs
Meaning:
a British radio programme in which famous people talk with the  presenter about their lives and choose the eight records they would like to have with them if they were left alone on a  desert island (=a small tropical island with no one living on it) .//


Words: deserted
Meaning:
adj \n  1 empty and quiet because no people are there:  --The streets were deserted.//  --The old mine now stands completely deserted .//\n  2  deserted wife/husband/child etc:  a wife etc who has been left by her husband etc//


Words: desertion
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] the act of leaving the army, navy etc without permission:\n  2 [U]  law the act of leaving your wife or husband because you do not want to live with them any longer:


Words: deserts
Meaning:
n   get/receive your (just) deserts//  to be punished in a way that you deserve//  --Offenders should receive their just deserts.//


Words: deserve
Meaning:
W3S2   v [T]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin deservire  ’to serve very keenly’, from  servire  ’to serve’]//\n  1 to have earned something by good or bad actions or behaviour:  --What have I done to deserve this?//  deserve to do sth//  --We didn’t deserve to win.//  richly/fully/thoroughly etc deserve sth //  --the success he so richly deserves//  --I’m sorry for the kids. They deserve better  (=deserve to be treated in a better way) .//  deserve a rest/break/holiday etc //  --I think we deserve a rest after all that hard work.//  --Ledley deserves a place in the team.//  --Paula deserves a special mention for all the help she has given us.//  --I would never hit anyone, even if they deserved it.//  --What has he done to deserve this punishment ?//  deserve all/everything you get (=deserve any bad things that happen to you) //  --He deserves all he gets for being so dishonest.//  --People who are sent to prison for drunk-driving get what they deserve .//\n  2  deserve consideration/attention etc:  if a suggestion, idea, or plan deserves consideration, attention etc, it is good enough to be considered, paid attention to etc//   merit//  --This proposal deserves serious consideration.//\n  3  sb deserves a medal:   spoken used to say that you admire the way someone dealt with a situation or problem//  somebody deserves a medal for//  --You deserve a medal for putting up with Ian’s constant demands.//


Words: deserved
Meaning:
adj   earned because of good or bad behaviour, skill, work etc//  --He has a well-deserved reputation as a reliable worker.//  a deserved win/victory/success etc //  --Larsson’s goal gave Celtic a deserved victory.//


Words: deservedly
Meaning:
adv \n  1 in a way that is right or deserved:  deservedly popular/well-known/famous etc //  --Bistro Roti is a deservedly popular restaurant.//  --Arsenal were deservedly beaten 2-1 by Leeds.//\n  2  (and) deservedly so:  used to say that you agree that something is right and deserved//  --She is widely respected in the music world, and deservedly so.//


Words: deserving
Meaning:
adj \n  1 needing help and support, especially financial support:  deserving causes/cases //  --The National Lottery provides extra money for deserving causes.//\n  2  be deserving of sth:   formal to deserve something//  --Some criminals are more deserving of their punishment than others.//


Words: desiccated
Meaning:
adj  technical \n  1 desiccated food has been dried in order to preserve it:\n  2 completely dry:  --desiccated soil//


Words: desideratum
Meaning:
n   plural  desiderata /-t[hA353]/ [C]  formal //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: desiderare;   DESIRE2]//  something that is wanted or needed//


Words: design
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 process of planning:\n   2 arrangement of parts:\n   3 pattern:\n   4 drawing:\n   5 intention:\n   6 have designs on something:\n   7 have designs on somebody:  ----------//\n  1 PROCESS OF PLANNING:   [U] the art or process of making a drawing of something to show how you will make it or what it will look like//  --The new plane is in its final design stage.//  --the design process//  --the design team//  --a course in graphic design //  --computer-aided design//\n  2 ARRANGEMENT OF PARTS:   [U and C] the way that something has been planned and made, including its appearance, how it works etc//  --The car’s design has been greatly improved.//  design of//  --the design of the new building//  --Some changes have been made to the computer’s basic design.//  --a design fault //  --The electric windows are an important design feature of this model.//\n  3 PATTERN:   [C] a pattern for decorating something//  --a floral design//  --Vinyl flooring is available in a wide range of designs.//\n  4 DRAWING:   [C] a drawing that shows how something will be made or what it will look like//  design for//  --the design for the new sports centre//\n  5 INTENTION:   [U and C] a plan that someone has in their mind//  by design//   (=intentionally) //  --We shall never know whether this happened by accident or by design.//  --He has some grand designs for the company.//\n  6  have designs on sth:  to want something for yourself, especially because it will bring you money//  --Several developers have designs on the property.//\n  7  have designs on sb:   formal to want a sexual relationship with someone//  --It soon became obvious that he had designs on her.//\ndesign 2 v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: French  designer, from  Latin designare, from  signare  ’to mark’]//\n  1 to make a drawing or plan of something that will be made or built:  --The tower was designed by Gilbert Scott.//  design sth for sth//  --She designed a new logo for the company.//  well/badly etc designed //  --a badly designed office//  -- specially designed software//\n  2 [usually passive] to plan or develop something for a specific purpose:  design sth to do sth//  --These exercises are designed to strengthen muscles.//  be designed for sb/sth//  --The course is designed for beginners.//  be designed as sth//  --The book is designed as a reference manual.//


Words: designate
Meaning:
v [T usually passive] \n  1 to choose someone or something for a particular job or purpose:  be designated sth//  --The lake was recently designated a conservation area.//  designate sth as/for sth//  --Funds were designated for projects in low-income areas.//  designate sb to do sth//  --She has been designated to take over the position of treasurer.//\n  2 to represent or refer to something using a particular sign, name etc:  --Buildings are designated by red squares on the map.//\ndesignate 2   adj [only after noun]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: designatus, past participle of  designare;   DESIGN2]//   formal used after the name of an official job to show that someone has been chosen for that job but has not yet officially started work//  --the director designate//


Words: designated driver
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who agrees not to drink alcohol when a group of friends go out together to a party, bar etc so that he or she can drive the others safely to and from home//


Words: designation
Meaning:
n  formal \n  1 [U] the act of choosing someone or something for a particular purpose, or of giving them a particular description:  designation as//  --the designation of Stansted as the third London airport//\n  2 [C] a name or title:  --Her official designation is Systems Manager.//


Words: designer
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   someone whose job is to make plans or patterns for clothes, furniture, equipment etc//  --an interior designer //  --a software designer//  dress/fashion designer //\ndesigner 2 adj [only before noun]   made by a well-known and fashionable designer//  designer clothes/jeans/suits etc //  designer label (=an expensive brand from a well-known designer) //


Words: desirable
Meaning:
adj \n  1  formal something that is desirable is worth having or doing:  --The ability to speak a foreign language is highly desirable .//  --a desirable neighborhood//  -- It is desirable that you should have some familiarity with computers.//  --It is desirable to keep the cost as low as possible.//\n  2  literary sexually attractive:  --a desirable young woman//  -- desirably adv //  -- desirability/d[hA366]za[hA366]r[hA353]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti $ -za[hA366]r-/ n  [U] //


Words: desire
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] a strong hope or wish:  desire to do sth//  --a strong desire to win//  desire for//  --a desire for knowledge//  desire that//  --It was Harold’s desire that he should be buried next to his wife.//  express/show a desire //  --She expressed a desire to visit us.//  have no desire to do sth (=used to emphasize that you do not want to do something) //  --I have no desire to cause any trouble.//  overwhelming/burning desire (=very strong desire) //  --Paul had a burning desire to visit India.//\n  2 [U]  formal a strong wish to have sex with someone:  --female sexual desire //  desire for//  --He tried to hide his desire for her.//    your heart’s desire at heart(23)//\ndesire 2 v [T not in progressive]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: desirer, from  Latin desiderare, from  sidus  ’star’ (perhaps from the idea of  ’wishing on a star’)]//\n  1  formal to want something very much:  --The hotel has everything you could possibly desire .//  desire to do sth//  --He desired to return to Mexico.//  --Add lemon juice if desired .//\n  2  literary to want to have sex with someone:  -- desired adj //  --His remarks had the desired effect .//


Words: desirous
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]  formal   wanting something very much//  desirous of//  --He became restless and desirous of change.//


Words: desist
Meaning:
v [I]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: desister, from  Latin sistere  ’to stand, stop’]//  to stop doing something//  --We hope that the military regime will desist from its acts of violence.//    cease and desist at cease1 (2)//


Words: desk
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: desca, from  Latin discus  ’dish, disk’]//\n  1 a piece of furniture like a table, usually with drawers in it, that you sit at to write and work:  --Marie was sitting at her desk.//\n  2 a place where you can get information or use a particular service in a hotel, airport etc:  --the reception desk //  --the check-in desk //\n  3 an office that deals with a particular subject, especially in newspapers or television:  the news/sports desk //


Words: desk tidy plural
Meaning:
desk tidies  n [C]  BrE   a container for putting pens, pencils etc in, that you keep on your desk//


Words: deskill
Meaning:
v [T]   to remove or reduce the need for skill in a job, usually by changing to machinery//  -- deskilling n  [U] //


Words: desktop
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 the main area on a computer where you can find the icons that represent programs, and where you can do things to manage the information on the computer:\n  2 the top surface of a desk:


Words: desktop publishing
Meaning:
n [U]   DTP the work of arranging the writing and pictures for a magazine, small book etc, using a computer and special software//


Words: desolate
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: desolatus, from  solus  ’alone’]//\n  1 a place that is desolate is empty and looks sad because there are no people there:  --a desolate landscape//\n  2 someone who is desolate feels very sad and lonely:  -- desolately adv //  -- desolation/des[hA353]le[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //\ndesolate 2   v [T usually passive]  literary   to make someone feel very sad and lonely//  --David was desolated by his wife’s death.//  -- desolated adj //


Words: despair
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 a feeling that you have no hope at all:  in despair//  --She killed herself in despair.//  the depths of despair (=very strong feelings of despair) //  --The noise from the neighbours used to drive him to despair .//  to the despair of sb//  --To the despair of the workers, the company announced the closure of the factory.//\n  2  be the despair of sb:   old-fashioned to make someone feel very worried, upset, or unhappy//  --She is the despair of her teachers.//\ndespair 2 v [I]  formal   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: desperer, from  Latin desperare, from  sperare  ’to hope’]//  to feel that there is no hope at all//  --Despite his illness, Ron never despaired.//  despair of (doing) sth//  --He despaired of ever finding her.//  despair of sb//  --My teachers began to despair of me.//


Words: despairing
Meaning:
adj   showing a feeling that you have no hope at all//  despairing cry/look/sigh etc //  --She gave me a last despairing look.//  -- despairingly adv //


Words: desperado
Meaning:
n   plural  desperadoes  or  desperados  [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: desperate  ’desperate person’ (16-19 centuries), with the  Spanish ending  -ado]//   old-fashioned a violent criminal who is not afraid of danger//


Words: desperate
Meaning:
W3   adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: desperatus, past participle of  desperare;   DESPAIR2]//\n  1 willing to do anything to change a very bad situation, and not caring about danger:  --I had no money left and was desperate.//  --Time was running out and we were getting desperate .//  --the missing teenager’s desperate parents//  desperate with//  --She was desperate with fear.//\n  2 needing or wanting something very much:  desperate for//  --The team is desperate for a win.//  --I was desperate for a cigarette.//  desperate to do sth//  --He was desperate to get a job.//\n  3 a desperate situation is very bad or serious:  --a desperate shortage of doctors//  --We’re in desperate need of help.//\n  4 a desperate action is something that you only do because you are in a very bad situation:  desperate attempt/bid/effort //  --She made a desperate attempt to escape.//  --We had to resort to desperate measures .//  desperate battle/struggle/fight //  --a desperate struggle to rescue the men//


Words: Desperate Dan
Meaning:
a character in the British  comic The Dandy. He is a very large, friendly  cowboy who eats very large meat  pies called "cow pies". Dan does not realize how strong he is, and he often breaks things by accident.//


Words: desperately
Meaning:
adv \n  1 in a desperate way:  --The doctors tried desperately to save her life.//  --He looked round desperately for someone to help him.//\n  2 very or very much:  desperately want/need //  --The crops desperately need rain.//  desperately poor/ill/tired etc //  --He was desperately ill with a fever.//  desperately unhappy/lonely/worried etc //


Words: desperation
Meaning:
n [U]   the state of being desperate//  --a look of desperation//  in/out of desperation//  --She resorted to stealing food out of desperation.//  --In desperation, we had to borrow the money.//


Words: despicable
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: despicabilis, from  Latin despicari  ’to look down on’]//  extremely bad, immoral, or cruel//  --It’s despicable the way he treats those kids.//  --a despicable act of terrorism//  --a despicable crime //  -- despicably adv //


Words: despise
Meaning:
v [T not in progressive]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: despire, from  Latin despicere  ’to look down on’, from  specere  ’to look’]//  to dislike and have a low opinion of someone or something//  --She despised her neighbours.//


Words: despite
Meaning:
W1S2   prep   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: despit  ’spite’, from  Latin despectus, from  despicere;   DESPISE]//\n  1 used to say that something happens or is true even though something else might have prevented it:   in spite of//  --Despite all our efforts to save the school, the authorities decided to close it.//  despite the fact (that) //  --She went to Spain despite the fact that her doctor had told her to rest.//\n  2  despite yourself:  if you do something despite yourself, you do it although you did not intend to//  --Liz realized that, despite herself, she cared about Edward.//


Words: despoil
Meaning:
v [T]  literary   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: despoillier, from  Latin spoliare  ’to rob’]//\n  1 to make a place much less attractive by removing or damaging things:    spoil//\n  2 to steal from a place or people using force, especially in a war:


Words: despondent
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: despondere  ’to give up, lose hope’, from  spondere  ’to promise’]//  extremely unhappy and without hope//  --Gill had been out of work for a year and was getting very despondent.//  despondent about//  --He was becoming increasingly despondent about the way things were going.//  -- despondency n  [U] //  -- despondently adv //


Words: despot
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: despote, from  Greek despotes  ’lord’]//  someone, especially a ruler, who uses power in a cruel and unfair way//   tyrant//  -- despotic/desp[hA361]t[hA366]k $ -sp[hA35A][hA359]-/ adj //  -- despotically/-kli/ adv //


Words: dessert
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: desservir  ’to clear the table’, from  servir  ’to serve’]//  sweet food served after the main part of a meal//  for dessert//  --What are we having for dessert?//


Words: dessertspoon
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE \n  1 a spoon that is larger than a teaspoon but smaller than a tablespoon:\n  2  also dessertspoonful /-f[hA35E]l/:  the amount that a dessertspoon can hold, used as a unit for measuring food or liquid in cooking//  dessertspoon of//  --Add a dessertspoonful of dry mustard.//


Words: destabilize
Meaning:
also  destabilise BrE   v [T]   to make something such as a government or economy become less successful or powerful, or less able to control events//  --an attempt to destabilize the government//  -- destabilization/di[hA359]ste[hA366]b[hA369]la[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -l[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: destination
Meaning:
n [C]   the place that someone or something is going to//  sb’s destination//  --Allow plenty of time to get to your destination.//  holiday/tourist destination //  --Maui is a popular tourist destination.//


Words: destined
Meaning:
adj \n  1 [not before noun] seeming certain to happen at some time in the future:  destined for//  --She seemed destined for a successful career.//  destined to do sth//  --We were destined never to meet again.//\n  2  destined for sth:  to be travelling to a particular place, or intended to go there//  --The flight was destined for Cairo.//\n  3 [only before noun]  literary a destined person or thing is one that you will have in the future:  --the King’s destined bride//


Words: destiny
Meaning:
n   plural  destinies //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: destinee, from  Latin destinare  ’to fasten, fix’]//\n  1 [C usually singular] the things that will happen to someone in the future, especially those that cannot be changed or controlled:   fate//  sb’s destiny//  --Nancy wondered whether it was her destiny to live in England and marry Melvyn.//\n  2 [U] the power that some people believe decides what will happen to them in the future:  --She always had a strong sense of destiny .//


Words: destitute
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: destitutus, past participle of  destituere  ’to set down, leave’]//\n  1 having no money, no food, no home etc:  --The floods left many people destitute .//\n  2  be destitute of sth:   literary to be completely without something//  --a man who is destitute of compassion//  -- destitution/dest[hA369]tju[hA359][hA35D][hA368]n $ -tu[hA359]-/ n  [U] //


Words: destroy
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: destruire, from  Latin destruere, from  struere  ’to build’]//\n  1 to damage something so badly that it no longer exists or cannot be used or repaired:    destruction//  completely/totally destroy //  --The school was completely destroyed by fire.//  --companies that are polluting and destroying the environment//  destroy sb’s confidence/hope/faith etc //\n  2 if something destroys someone, it ruins their life completely:  --The scandal destroyed Simmons and ended his political career.//\n  3  informal to defeat an opponent easily:  --The Bears destroyed the Detroit Lions 35-3.//\n  4 to kill an animal, especially because it is ill or dangerous:  --One of the bulls had to be destroyed.//  ----------//  WORD CHOICE: destroy, ruin, spoil //  Destroy  means to damage something so badly that it no longer exists or people can no longer use it : The earthquake destroyed even the tallest buildings. |  The rainforests are being destroyed at a frightening rate. //  If you  ruin  or  spoil  something, it still exists, but it has lost all its good qualities or features.  Ruin  is stronger than  spoil : The rain ruined my hair. |  I don’t want to spoil your day. //  ----------//


Words: destroyer
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a small fast military ship with guns:\n  2 someone or something that destroys things or people:


Words: destruction
Meaning:
W3   n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Latin; Origin: destructus, past participle of  destruere;   DESTROY]//  the act or process of destroying something or of being destroyed//    destroy//  destruction of//  --the destruction of the rainforest//  -- weapons of mass destruction //  --the environmental destruction caused by the road building programme//  --The floods brought death and destruction to the area.//


Words: destructive
Meaning:
adj   causing damage to people or things//    destroy//  --the destructive power of modern weapons//  destructive to//  --What is good for the individual can be destructive to the family.//  -- destructively adv //  -- destructiveness n  [U] //


Words: desultory
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: desultorius, from  desilire  ’to jump down’]//  done without any particular plan or purpose//  --They talked briefly in a desultory manner.//  -- desultorily/des[hA368]lt[hA368]r[hA369]li, dez- $ -t[hA350][hA359]r[hA369]li/ adv //


Words: detach
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: detacher, from  Old French destachier, from  atachier  ’to attach’]//\n  1 [I and T] if you detach something, or if it detaches, it becomes separated from the thing it was attached to:  → attach//  detach sth from sth//  --You can detach the hood from the jacket.//  --Please detach and fill out the application form.//\n  2  detach yourself from sb/sth:  to try to be less involved in or less concerned about a situation//  --Doctors have to detach themselves from their feelings.//


Words: detached
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not reacting to or becoming involved in something in an emotional way:  → involved//  --Try to take a more detached view .//  detached from//  --He appeared totally detached from the horrific nature of his crimes.//  detached way/manner //  --She described what had happened in a cold and detached manner.//\n  2  especially BrE a detached house or garage is not joined to another building:    semi-detached,  terraced house//


Words: detachment
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] the state of not reacting to or being involved in something in an emotional way:  → involvement//  detachment from//  --He felt a sense of detachment from what was happening around him.//\n  2 [C] a group of soldiers who are sent away from a larger group to do a special job:\n  3 [singular, U]  formal when something becomes separated from something else:  detachment of//  --detachment of the retina//


Words: detail
Meaning:
W1S2   n   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: detail, from  Old French detail  ’piece cut off’, from  taillier  ’to cut’]//\n  1 [C] a single feature, fact, or piece of information about something:  detail of//  --She told me every detail of her trip.//  down to the smallest/last detail (=completely) //  --Todd had planned the journey down to the smallest detail.//\n  2 [U] all the separate features and pieces of information about something:  in detail//  --He described the process in detail (=using a lot of details) .//  --This issue will be discussed in more detail in Chapter 5.//  --McDougal was reluctant to go into detail  (=give a lot of details) about the new deal.//  --Editing requires great attention to detail .//  --the fine detail of the plan//  have an eye for detail (=be skilled at noticing details) //  --Photographers need to have an eye for detail.//\n  3  details [plural] information that helps to complete what you know about something:  details of//  -- Full details of the incident were recently revealed.//  details about//  --She refused to give any details about what had happened.//  --Details of the course can be found on our website.//  further/more details //  --For further details, contact the personnel department.//\n  4 [singular, U]  technical a specific duty in the army, or the person or group with that duty:  --the security detail//\ndetail 2 v [T] \n  1 to list things or give all the facts or information about something:  --The report details the progress we have made over the last year.//\n  2  detail sb to (do) sth:  to officially order someone, especially soldiers, to do a particular job//  --Four soldiers were detailed to guard duty.//\n  3  AmE to clean a car very thoroughly, inside and out:  British Equivalent:  valet//


Words: detailed
Meaning:
W2   adj \n  1 containing or including a lot of information or details:  detailed description/account/analysis etc //  --a detailed study of crime in Seattle//  --More detailed information is available on request.//\n  2 having a lot of decorations or small features that are difficult to produce:  --a beautifully detailed carving//


Words: detailing
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 decorations that are added to something such as a car or piece of clothing:\n  2  AmE the process of cleaning a car very thoroughly, inside and out:  British Equivalent:  valeting//


Words: detain
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: detenir, from  Latin detinere, from  tenere  ’to hold’]//\n  1 to officially prevent someone from leaving a place:  --Two suspects have been detained by the police for questioning .//  --She was detained in hospital with a suspected broken leg.//\n  2 [usually passive]  formal to stop someone from leaving as soon as they expected:   delay//  --He was detained in Washington on urgent business.//


Words: detainee
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   someone who is officially kept in a prison, usually because of their political views//


Words: detect
Meaning:
W3   v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: detectus, past participle of  detegere  ’to uncover’]//  to notice or discover something, especially something that is not easy to see, hear etc//  --Many forms of cancer can be cured if detected early.//  difficult/impossible/easy/possible etc to detect //  detect a change/difference //  --Dan detected a change in her mood.//  detect a note of sarcasm/irony/excitement etc //  --Do I detect a note of sarcasm in your voice?//  -- detectable adj //


Words: detection
Meaning:
n [U]   when something is found that is not easy to see, hear etc, or the process of looking for it//  detection of//  --Early detection of the disease is vital.//  escape/avoid detection //  --By flying low, the plane avoided detection by enemy radar.//


Words: detective
Meaning:
W3   n [C] \n  1 a police officer whose job is to discover information about crimes and catch criminals:    store detective//\n  2  also private detective :  someone who is paid to discover information about someone or something//  --She hired a detective to find out if her husband was having an affair.//\n  3  detective work:  efforts to discover information, find out how something works, answer a difficult question etc//  --It took a lot of detective work to discover the cause of the problem.//\n  4  detective story/novel etc:  a story etc about a crime, often a murder, and a detective who tries to find out who did it//


Words: detector
Meaning:
n [C]   a machine or piece of equipment that finds or measures something//  --a smoke detector//  --a metal detector//    lie detector//


Words: detente
Meaning:
detente/de[hA366]t[hA361]nt, de[hA366]t[hA35A][hA359]nt $ de[hA366]t[hA35A][hA359]nt/ n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: detente, from  Old French destendre  ’to loosen’, from  tendre  ’to stretch’]//  a time or situation in which two countries that are not friendly towards each other agree to behave in a more friendly way//


Words: detention
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: detentio, from  detentus, past participle of  detinere;   DETAIN]//\n  1 [U] the state of being kept in prison:  in detention//  --Willis was held in detention for five years.//\n  2 [U and C] a punishment in which children who have behaved badly are forced to stay at school for a short time after the others have gone home:  in detention//  --She was always getting put in detention .//


Words: deter
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  deterred present participle  deterring  [T] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: deterrere, from  terrere  ’to frighten’]//  to stop someone from doing something, by making them realize it will be difficult or have bad results//    deterrent//  --The company’s financial difficulties have deterred potential investors.//  deter sb from (doing) sth//  --The security camera was installed to deter people from stealing.//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not say ’deter someone to do something’. Say deter someone from doing something . //  ----------//


Words: detergent
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: detergent, from  Latin tergere  ’to clean by rubbing’]//  a liquid or powder used for washing clothes, dishes etc//


Words: deteriorate
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: deteriorare, from  Latin deterior  ’worse’]//\n  1 to become worse:  --Ethel’s health has deteriorated.//  --America’s deteriorating economy//\n  2  deteriorate into sth:  to develop into a bad or worse situation//  --The argument deteriorated into a fight.//  -- deterioration/d[hA366]t[hA366][hA353]r[hA366]re[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -t[hA366]r-/ n  [U] //


Words: determinant
Meaning:
n [C]    formal something that strongly influences what you do or how you behave//  determinant of//  --Social class is a major determinant of consumer spending patterns.//


Words: determinate
Meaning:
adj    formal definite or with an exact limit//  → indeterminate//  --a determinate prison sentence of five years//


Words: determination
Meaning:
W3   n \n  1 [U] the quality of trying to do something even when it is difficult:  determination to do sth//  --Yuri shows great determination to learn English.//  --his dogged determination  (=very strong determination) to succeed//\n  2 [U and C]  formal the act of deciding something officially:  determination of//  --the determination of government policy//\n  3 [C]  formal the act of finding the exact level, amount, or cause of something:  determination of//  --accurate determination of the temperature//


Words: determine
Meaning:
W1   v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: determiner, from  Latin terminus  ’edge, limit’]//\n  1 to find out the facts about something:   establish//  --Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire.//  determine how/what/who etc//  --The aim of the inquiry was to determine what had caused the accident.//  determine that//  --Experts have determined that the signature was forged.//\n  2 if something determines something else, it directly influences or decides it:  --The amount of available water determines the number of houses that can be built.//  --The age of a wine is a determining factor as to how it tastes.//  determine how/whether/what etc//  --How hard the swimmers work now will determine how they perform in the Olympics.//\n  3 to officially decide something:  --The date of the court case has not yet been determined.//  determine how/what/who etc//  --The tests will help the doctors determine what treatment to use.//\n  4  determine to do sth:   formal to decide to do something//  --We determined to leave at once.//


Words: determined
Meaning:
W3   adj \n  1 having a strong desire to do something, so that you will not let anyone stop you:  --Gwen is a very determined woman.//  determined to do sth//  --She was determined to win.//  determined (that)//  --He was determined that the same mistakes would not be repeated.//\n  2 showing determination, especially in a difficult situation:  determined attempt/effort //  --She was making a determined effort to give up smoking.//  --The library was closed down despite determined opposition .//


Words: determiner
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   a word that is used before a noun in order to show which thing you mean. In the phrases ’the car’ and ’some cars’, ’the’ and ’some’ are determiners//


Words: determinism
Meaning:
n [U]   the belief that what you do and what happens to you are caused by things that you cannot control//  -- deterministic/d[hA366]t[hA362][hA359]m[hA369]n[hA366]st[hA366]k[hA36B] $ -[hA362][hA359]r-/ adj //


Words: deterrent
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 something that makes someone less likely to do something, by making them realize it will be difficult or have bad results:  --The small fines for this type of crime do not act as much of a deterrent .//  deterrent to/for/against//  --Window locks are an effective deterrent against burglars.//  --the deterrent effect of prison sentences//\n  2  nuclear deterrent:  the nuclear weapons that a country has in order to prevent other countries from attacking it//  -- deterrence n  [U] //


Words: detest
Meaning:
v [T not in progressive]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: detestari, from  testis  ’one who gives information against someone’]//  to hate something or someone very much//  --Liz and Mo detested each other.//  -- detestation/di[hA359]teste[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: detestable
Meaning:
adj  formal   very bad, and deserving to be criticized or hated//  --a detestable little man//  -- detestably adv //


Words: dethrone
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 to remove a king or queen from power:\n  2 to remove someone from a position of authority or importance:  --an attempt to dethrone the senator//  --Douglas dethroned Tyson in a fight that shook the boxing world.//  -- dethronement n  [U] //


Words: detonate
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: detonare, from  tonare  ’to thunder’]//  to explode or to make something explode//  -- detonation/det[hA353]ne[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: detour
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: detour]//\n  1 a way of going from one place to another that is longer than the usual way:  make/take a detour //  --We took a detour to avoid the town centre.//\n  2  AmE a different road for traffic when the usual road cannot be used:  British Equivalent:  diversion//\ndetour 2 v [I and T]  AmE   to make a detour//


Words: detox
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: detoxification]//\n  1  informal special treatment to help people stop drinking alcohol or taking drugs:   rehab//  in detox//  --She spent a month in detox.//\n  2 when you do not eat solid food or only drink special liquids for a period of time, which is thought to remove harmful substances from your body:\ndetox 2 v [I]  informal \n  1 if someone detoxes, they are given special treatment at a hospital to help them stop drinking alcohol or taking drugs:\n  2 to not eat solid food or only drink special liquids for a period of time, which is thought to remove harmful substances from your body:


Words: detoxification
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the process of removing harmful chemicals or poison from something:\n  2 detox:  -- detoxify/di[hA359]t[hA361]ks[hA369]fa[hA366] $ -t[hA35A][hA359]k-/ v  [T] //


Words: detract
Meaning:
v   detract from [detract from sth] phr v//  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: detractus, past participle of  detrahere  ’to take away’]//  to make something seem less good//  --One mistake is not going to detract from your achievement.//


Words: detractor
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who says bad things about someone or something, in order to make them seem less good than they really are//  sb’s detractors//  --Even the President’s detractors admit that the decision was the right one.//


Words: detriment
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: detrimentum, from  deterere  ’to rub away’]//  harm or damage//  to the detriment of sth//   (=resulting in harm or damage to something) //  --He worked very long hours, to the detriment of his marriage.//


Words: detrimental
Meaning:
adj  formal   causing harm or damage//   damaging//  detrimental to//  --Smoking is detrimental to your health.//  --the detrimental effect of pollution on the environment//  -- detrimentally adv //


Words: detritus
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  deterere  ’to rub away’]//  pieces of waste that remain after something has been broken up or used//


Words: Dettol
Meaning:
trademark   a type of liquid  antiseptic sold in Britain, used especially for preventing wounds from becoming infected and for killing  bacteria//


Words: deuce
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: deus  ’two’, from  Latin duos]//\n  1 [U] the situation in tennis when both players have 40 points, after which one of the players must win two more points to win the game:\n  2 [C]  AmE a playing card with the number two on it:\n  3  what/how etc the deuce ...?:   old-fashioned  spoken used to add force to a question//  --What the deuce is going on?//


Words: Deutschmark
Meaning:
n  also mark  [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: German; Origin: ’German mark’]//  the standard unit of money used in Germany before the euro//


Words: devalue
Meaning:
v \n  1 [I and T]  technical to reduce the value of one country’s money when it is exchanged for another country’s money:  --Nigeria has just devalued its currency .//\n  2 [T] to make someone or something seem less important or valuable:  --History has tended to devalue the contributions of women.//  -- devaluation/di[hA359]v[zB024]ljue[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //  --the devaluation of the pound//


Words: devastate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: devastare, from  vastare  ’to lay waste, destroy’]//\n  1 to make someone feel extremely shocked and sad:  --Rob was devastated by the news of her death.//\n  2 to damage something very badly or completely:  --The city centre was devastated by the bomb.//  -- devastation/dev[hA353]ste[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: devastating
Meaning:
adj \n  1 badly damaging or destroying something:  devastating effect/impact //  --Acid rain has a devastating effect on the forest.//  devastating results/consequences //  --The oil spill has had devastating consequences for local wildlife.//  --It will be a devastating blow for the town if the factory closes.//\n  2 making someone feel extremely sad or shocked:  --He was in Nice when he heard the devastating news .//  --Long-term unemployment can be devastating.//\n  3 very impressive or effective:  --In a devastating display of military muscle, soldiers seized the town yesterday.//\n  4  literary extremely attractive:  --a devastating smile//  -- devastatingly adv //  --a devastatingly attractive man//


Words: develop
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 grow:\n   2 new idea/product:\n   3 feeling:\n   4 skill/ability:\n   5 disease:\n   6 fault/problem:\n   7 problem/difficulty:\n   8 idea/argument:\n   9 land:\n  10 photography:  ----------//  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: developper, from  Old French voloper  ’to wrap’]//\n  1 GROW:   [I and T] to grow or change into something bigger, stronger, or more advanced, or to make someone or something do this//    advance//  --Knowledge in the field of genetics has been developing very rapidly.//  --Corsica has developed its economy around the tourist industry.//  develop into//  --Chicago developed into a big city in the late 1800s.//  develop from//  --It’s hard to believe that a tree can develop from a small seed.//  --exercises to develop muscle strength//\n  2 NEW IDEA/PRODUCT:   [T] to design or make a new idea, product, system etc over a period of time//  --Scientists are developing new drugs to treat arthritis.//  --She should have developed her own style instead of copying him.//  --Researchers are developing technology for the US military.//\n  3 FEELING:   [T] to start to have a feeling or quality that then becomes stronger//  --He had developed a certain affection for me.//  develop a sense/awareness/knowledge of sth //  --The children are beginning to develop a sense of responsibility.//  --It was in college that he developed a taste for  (=started to like) rugby football.//\n  4 SKILL/ABILITY:   [I and T] if you develop a skill or ability, or if it develops, it becomes stronger or more advanced//  --The course is designed to help students develop their speaking skills.//\n  5 DISEASE:   [I and T] if you develop a disease or illness, or if it develops, you start to have it//  --Some alcoholics develop liver disease.//  --Pneumonia can develop very quickly.//\n  6 FAULT/PROBLEM:   [T] to begin to have a physical fault//  --The oil tank had developed a small crack.//  --The plane developed engine trouble and was forced to land.//\n  7 PROBLEM/DIFFICULTY:   [I] if a problem or difficult situation develops, it begins to happen or exist, or it gets worse//  --Trouble is developing in the cities.//  develop into//  --Regional clashes could develop into larger quarrels.//\n  8 IDEA/ARGUMENT:   [T] to make an argument or idea clearer, by studying it more or by speaking or writing about it in more detail//  --We will develop a few of these points in the seminar.//\n  9 LAND:   [T] to use land for the things that people need, for example by taking minerals out of it or by building on it//  --We would like to see the land developed for low-cost housing.//\n  10 PHOTOGRAPHY:   [I and T] to make a photograph out of a photographic film, using chemicals//  --Did you ever get the pictures developed ?//


Words: developed
Meaning:
adj \n  1 a developed country is one of the rich countries of the world with many industries, comfortable living for most people, and usually an elected government:    developing, underdeveloped//  --energy consumption in the developed world //  developed countries/nations //  --The charity works with children in less developed countries.//\n  2 a developed sense, system etc, is better, larger, or more advanced than others:  --Dogs have a highly developed sense of smell.//  --plants with well developed root systems//  --Labour has a more  fully developed  programme for the unemployed.//


Words: developer
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] a person or company that makes money by buying land and then building houses, factories etc on it:  --a Florida  property developer //\n  2 [C] a person or an organization that works on a new idea, product etc to make it successful:  --software developers//\n  3 [U and C] a chemical substance used for making images appear on film or photographic paper:    late developer at late1 (7)//


Words: developing
Meaning:
adj \n  1 a developing country is a poor country that is trying to increase its industry and trade and improve life for its people:    developed, underdeveloped//  developing countries/nations //  --aid to developing countries//  --poverty and hunger in the developing world //  developing economies/markets //  --the developing economies in Eastern Europe//\n  2 growing or changing:  --the growth of the developing embryo//  --a developing crisis in Washington//


Words: development
Meaning:
W1   n   ----------//\n   1 growth:\n   2 economic activity:\n   3 event:\n   4 new plan/product:\n   5 improvement:\n   6 building process:\n   7 houses/offices etc:  ----------//\n  1 GROWTH:   [U] the process of gradually becoming bigger, better, stronger, or more advanced//  --child development//  development of//  --a course on the development of Greek thought//  professional/personal development //  --opportunities for professional development//\n  2 ECONOMIC ACTIVITY:   [U] the process of increasing business, trade, and industrial activity//  economic/industrial/business etc development //  --economic development in Russia//\n  3 EVENT:   [C] a new event or piece of news that changes a situation//  -- recent political developments in the former Soviet Union//  --We will keep you informed of developments .//\n  4 NEW PLAN/PRODUCT:   [U] the process of working on a new product, plan, idea etc to make it successful//  --The funds will be used for marketing and product development .//  under/in development//  --Spielberg has several interesting projects under development.//\n  5 IMPROVEMENT:   [C] a change that makes a product, plan, idea etc better//  --There have been significant computer developments during the last decade.//\n  6 BUILDING PROCESS:   [U] the process of planning and building new houses, streets etc on land//  for development//  --The land was sold for development.//\n  7 HOUSES/OFFICES ETC:   [C] a group of new buildings that have all been planned and built together on the same piece of land//  --a new housing development //


Words: developmental
Meaning:
adj   relating to the development of someone or something//  --the developmental stages of childhood//  --Higher education is a continuing  developmental process .//  -- developmentally adv //


Words: deviance
Meaning:
[U]   when something is different, especially in a bad way, from what is considered normal//  --sexual deviance//


Words: deviant
Meaning:
adj   different, in a bad way, from what is considered normal//  --deviant behaviour//  -- deviant n  [C] //  --a sexual deviant//


Words: deviate
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: deviatus, from  Latin via  ’way’]//  to change what you are doing so that you are not following an expected plan, idea, or type of behaviour//  deviate from//  --The plane had to deviate from its normal flight path.//\ndeviate 2   adj  formal    deviant//


Words: deviation
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] a noticeable difference from what is expected or acceptable:  deviation from//  --There must be no deviation from the normal procedure.//\n  2 [C]  technical the difference between a number or measurement in a  set and the average of all the numbers or measurements in that set:    standard deviation//


Words: device
Meaning:
W2   n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: devis,  devise  ’division, plan’, from  deviser  ’to divide, tell’;   DEVISE]//\n  1 a machine or tool that does a special job:   gadget//  --modern labour-saving devices//  device for doing sth//  --a device for separating metal from garbage//  device to do sth//  --The company makes devices to detect carbon monoxide.//\n  2 a special way of doing something that makes it easier to do:  device for doing sth//  --Testing yourself with information on cards is a useful device for studying.//  --a memory device//\n  3 a plan or trick, especially for a dishonest purpose:  device to do sth//  --Their proposal was only a device to confuse the opposition.//\n  4 a bomb or other explosive weapon:  explosive/nuclear/incendiary etc device //\n  5 the special use of words in literature, or of words, lights etc in a play, to achieve an effect:  --Metaphor is a common literary device.//    leave sb to their own devices at leave1 (4)//


Words: devil
Meaning:
n   [Language: Old English; Origin: deofol, from  Greek diabolos]//\n  1  the devil:   also  the Devil//  the most powerful evil spirit in some religions, especially in Christianity//   Satan//\n  2 [C] an evil spirit:   demon//  --The villagers believed a devil had taken control of his body.//\n  3  speak of the devil:   also talk of the devil  BrE //   spoken used when someone you have just been talking about walks into the room where you are//\n  4  poor/lucky/handsome etc devil:   spoken used to talk about someone who you feel sorry for, who is lucky etc//  --What on earth is wrong with the poor devil?//\n  5  little/old devil:   spoken used to talk about a child or an older man who behaves badly, but who you like//  --He’s a naughty little devil.//  --I really miss the old devil.//\n  6  be a devil:   BrE  spoken used to persuade someone to do something they are not sure they should do//  --Go on, be a devil, have another gin and tonic.//\n  7  what/who/why etc the devil?:   old-fashioned  spoken used to show that you are surprised or annoyed//  --How the devil should I know what she’s thinking?//\n  8  a devil of a time/job etc:   old-fashioned  spoken a difficult or unpleasant time, job etc//  --We had a devil of a job trying to get the carpet clean again.//\n  9  go to the devil!:   old-fashioned  spoken used to tell someone rudely to go away or stop annoying you//\n  10  do sth like the devil:   old-fashioned  spoken to do something very fast or using a lot of force//  --They rang the bell and ran like the devil.//\n  11  better the devil you know (than the devil you don’t):  used to say that it is better to deal with someone or something you know, even if you do not like them, than to deal with someone or something new that might be worse//\n  12  between the devil and the deep blue sea:  in a difficult situation because there are only two choices you can make and both of them are unpleasant//\n  13  ... and the devil take the hindmost:  used to say that everyone in a situation only cares about what happens to themselves and does not care about other people//    devil’s advocate//


Words: devil’s advocate
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who pretends to disagree with you in order to have a good discussion about something//  --He would play devil’s advocate with anyone.//


Words: Devil’s Island
Meaning:
an island near the coast of French Guiana in South America, which was used as a prison by France until 1938//


Words: devilish
Meaning:
adj \n  1  literary very bad, difficult, or unpleasant:  --devilish schemes to cheat people//\n  2 seeming likely to cause trouble, but in a way that is amusing or attractive:  --Dalton looked at her with a devilish grin.//


Words: devilishly
Meaning:
adverb]  old-fashioned   very - used to show that you think something is annoying or bad//  --a devilishly difficult task//


Words: devious
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: devius, from  via  ’way’]//\n  1 using dishonest tricks and deceiving people in order to get what you want:    deceitful//  --a devious politician//\n  2  formal not going in the most direct way to get to a place:  --a devious route//  -- deviously adv //  -- deviousness n  [U] //


Words: devise
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: deviser, from  Latin divisus, past participle of  dividere  ’to divide’]//  to plan or invent a new way of doing something//  --She  devised a method  for quicker communications between offices.//


Words: devoid
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: desvuidier  ’to empty’]//  be devoid of sth//  to be completely lacking in something//  --His face was devoid of any warmth or humour.//


Words: devolution
Meaning:
n [U]   when a national government gives power to a group or organization at a lower or more local level//  -- devolutionist adj //  -- devolutionist n  [C] //


Words: devolve
Meaning:
v  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: devolvere, from  volvere  ’to roll’]//\n  1 [I and T] if you devolve responsibility, power etc to a person or group at a lower level, or if it devolves on them, it is given to them:  devolve sth to sb/sth//  --The federal government has devolved responsibility for welfare to the states.//  devolve on/upon//  --Half of the cost of the study will devolve upon the firm.//\n  2 [I and T] if land, money etc devolves to someone, it becomes their property when someone else dies:


Words: devote
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: devotus, past participle of  devovere, from  vovere  ’to promise’]//\n  1 to use all or most of your time, effort etc in order to do something or help someone:   dedicate//  devote your time/energy/attention etc to sth //  --He wanted to devote his energies to writing films.//  devote yourself to sth//  --She devoted herself full-time to her growing business.//\n  2 to use a particular area, period of time, or amount of space for a specific purpose:  devote sth to sth//  --The meeting will be devoted to health and safety issues.//


Words: devoted
Meaning:
adj \n  1 giving someone or something a lot of love and attention:  --a devoted father//  devoted to//  --Isabella was devoted to her brother.//\n  2 dealing with, containing, or being used for only one thing:   dedicated//  devoted to//  --a museum devoted to photography//\n  3 strongly supporting someone or something because you admire or enjoy them:  --Beckham’s  devoted fans //  --The journal had a  devoted following  of around 1000 subscribers.//  -- devotedly adv //


Words: devotee
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who enjoys or admires someone or something very much:  devotee of//  --a devotee of 1930s films//\n  2 a very religious person:  --a Sikh devotee//


Words: devotion
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] the strong love that you show when you pay a lot of attention to someone or something:  devotion to//  --Alanna has always shown intense devotion to her children.//\n  2 [U] the loyalty that you show towards a person, job etc, especially by working hard:    dedication//  devotion to//  --the soldier’s courage and devotion to duty //  --his integrity and devotion to his patients//\n  3 [U] strong religious feeling:\n  4  devotions [plural] prayers and other religious acts:


Words: devour
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: devorer, from  Latin vorare  ’to swallow’]//\n  1 to eat something quickly because you are very hungry:  --The boys devoured their pancakes.//\n  2 to read something quickly and eagerly, or watch something with great interest:  --He devoured science fiction books as a teenager.//\n  3  be devoured by sth:  to be filled with a strong feeling that seems to control you//  --Cindy felt devoured by jealousy.//\n  4  literary to destroy someone or something:  --Her body had been almost entirely devoured by the disease.//\n  5 to use up all of something:  --a job that devours all my energy//


Words: devout
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: devot, from  Latin devotus;   DEVOTE]//\n  1 someone who is devout has a very strong belief in a religion:  --a devout Catholic//\n  2  formal a devout hope or wish is one that you feel very strongly:  --It is my devout hope that we can work together in peace.//  -- devoutly adv //


Words: dew
Meaning:
n [U]   [Language: Old English; Origin: deaw]//  the small drops of water that form on outdoor surfaces during the night//


Words: Dewey decimal system
Meaning:
the  also the Dewey Decimal Classification   a system used by libraries for putting books into groups according to their subject. General subjects (for example, sports) are given a number, and then particular parts of this subject (for example, the Olympics) are each given a more specific number using decimal numbers. The system was invented by Melvil Dewey (1851-1931), a US  librarian.//


Words: dexterity
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 skill and speed in doing something with your hands:  --Computer games can improve children’s manual dexterity .//\n  2 skill in using words or your mind:  --his charm and  verbal dexterity //


Words: dexterous
Meaning:
adj  also dextrous   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: dexter  ’right, skilful’]//\n  1 skilful and quick when using your hands:  --dextrous use of the needle//\n  2 skilful in using words or your mind:  --his dexterous accounting abilities//  -- dexterously adv //


Words: dextrose
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: dexter  ’right’]//  a type of sugar that is in many sweet fruits//


Words: Dhaka
Meaning:
the capital and the most important industrial city of Bangladesh. Its name used to be spelled Dacca.//


Words: Di Maggio
Meaning:
Joe   (1914-99), a US  baseball player who played for the New York Yankees team, and was one of the greatest players ever. He was also famous for being married to Marilyn  Monroe.//


Words: Di Stefano
Meaning:
Alfredo   (1926-) a football player born in Argentina, who is considered one of the greatest players. He played international football for Argentina in the 1940s but moved to Spain and played both for the Spanish national team and for the Real Madrid team in the 1950s.//


Words: di-
Meaning:
prefix   [Language: Greek; Origin: ’two’]//  two, twice, or double//  --A diphthong is a vowel made up of two sounds.//    semi-,  bi-,  tri-//


Words: diabetes
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek, from  diabainein  ’to pass through’]//  a serious disease in which there is too much sugar in your blood//


Words: diabetic
Meaning:
adj \n  1 having diabetes:  --Sarah is diabetic.//\n  2 caused by diabetes:  --a diabetic coma//\n  3 produced for people who have diabetes:  --diabetic chocolate//\ndiabetic 2 n [C]   someone who has diabetes//


Words: diabolical
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: diabolique, from  Greek diabolos  ’devil’]//\n  1  also diabolic /da[hA366][hA353]b[hA361][hA36B]l[hA366]k $ -b[hA35A][hA359]-/:  evil or cruel//  --diabolical abuse//\n  2  BrE  informal extremely unpleasant or bad:  --The toilets were in a diabolical state.//  -- diabolically/-kli/ adv //


Words: diacritic
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Greek; Origin: diakritikos, from  krinein  ’to separate’]//  a mark placed over, under, or through a letter in some languages, to show that the letter should be pronounced differently from the same letter without a mark//  -- diacritical adj //  --diacritical marks//


Words: diadem
Meaning:
n [C]  literary   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Greek diadein  ’to tie around’]//  a circle of jewels that a queen, princess etc wears on her head//


Words: Diaghilev
Meaning:
Sergei   (1872-1929) a Russian who began the Ballet Russes, which is considered to have begun the modern style of Ballet. Many famous dancers and  composers worked with the Ballet Russes.//


Words: diagnose
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: diagnosis]//  to find out what illness someone has, or what the cause of a fault is, after doing tests, examinations etc//  diagnose sb as (having) sth//  --Joe struggled in school before he was diagnosed as dyslexic.//  diagnose sth as sth//  --The illness was diagnosed as mumps.//  diagnose sb with sth//  --She was diagnosed with breast cancer.//


Words: diagnosis
Meaning:
n   plural  diagnoses /-si[hA359]z/ [U and C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek, from  diagignoskein  ’to know apart’]//  the process of discovering exactly what is wrong with someone or something, by examining them closely//    prognosis//  diagnosis of//  --diagnosis of kidney disease//  --An exact diagnosis can only be made by obtaining a blood sample.//


Words: diagnostic
Meaning:
adj   relating to or used for discovering what is wrong with someone or something//  diagnostic tests/tools //  --Doctors depend on accurate diagnostic tools.//


Words: diagonal
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: diagonalis, from  Greek diagonios  ’from angle to angle’, from  gonia  ’angle’]//\n  1 a diagonal line is straight and joins two opposite corners of a flat shape, usually a square:    horizontal, vertical//\n  2 following a sloping angle:  --diagonal parking spaces//  -- diagonal n  [C] //  -- diagonally adv //  --The path goes diagonally across the field.//


Words: diagram
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Greek; Origin: diagramma, from  diagraphein  ’to mark out with lines’]//  a simple drawing or plan that shows exactly where something is, what something looks like, or how something works//  diagram of//  --a diagram of the heating system//  -- diagrammatic/da[hA366][hA353]gr[hA353]m[zB024]t[hA366]k[hA36B]/ adj //  -- diagrammatically/-kli/ adv //\ndiagram 2   past tense and past participle  diagrammed present participle  diagramming  v [T] //  to show or represent something in a diagram//


Words: dial
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin dies  ’day’]//\n  1 the round part of a clock, watch, machine etc that has numbers that show you the time or a measurement:  --The lighted dial of her watch said 1.20.//  --She looked at the dial to check her speed.//\n  2 the part of a piece of equipment such as a radio or thermostat that you turn around to do something, such as find a different station or change the temperature:  --The  dial on the heater was  set to  ’HOT’.//\n  3 the wheel on an older telephone with numbered holes for your fingers that you move around in order to make a call:\ndial 2   past tense and past participle  dialled present participle  dialling  BrE //  past tense and past participle  dialed present participle  dialing  AmE  v [I and T] //  to press the buttons or turn the dial on a telephone in order to make a telephone call//  --I think I dialed the wrong number.//


Words: dial tone
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE the sound you hear when you pick up the telephone that lets you know that you can make a call//  British Equivalent:  dialling tone//


Words: dial-up
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   relating to a telephone line that is used to send information from one computer to another//  --a dial-up connection//  -- dial-up n  [C] //


Words: dialect
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: dialecte, from  Greek dialektos  ’conversation, dialect’, from  dialegesthai  ’to talk to someone’]//  a form of a language which is spoken only in one area, with words or grammar that are slightly different from other forms of the same language//    accent//  Chinese/Yorkshire/Belfast etc dialect //  --The people up there speak a Tibetan dialect .//  --the local dialect //


Words: dialectic
Meaning:
n  also dialectics  [U]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: dialectica, from Greek%  dialektos;   DIALECT]//  a method of examining and discussing ideas in order to find the truth, in which two opposing ideas are compared in order to find a solution that includes them both//  -- dialectical adj //


Words: dialling code
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE the numbers at the beginning of a telephone number that represent a specific area of a city or country//  American Equivalent:  area code//


Words: dialling tone
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE the sound you hear when you pick up the telephone that lets you know that you can make a call//  American Equivalent:  dial tone//


Words: dialogue
Meaning:
also  dialog AmE   n [U and C]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: Greek dialogos, from  dialegesthai  ’to talk to someone’]//\n  1 a conversation in a book, play, or film:  --a boring movie full of bad dialog//  --Students were asked to read simple dialogues out loud.//\n  2  formal a discussion between two groups, countries etc:  dialogue between/with//  --There is a need for constructive dialogue between leaders.//    monologue//


Words: dialogue box
Meaning:
BrE  dialog box AmE n [C]   a box that appears on your computer screen when the program you are using needs to ask you a question before it can continue to do something. You click on one part of the box to give your answer.//


Words: dialysis
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek,  ’separation’, from  lyein  ’to loosen’]//  the process of taking harmful substances out of someone’s blood using a special machine, because their kidneys do not work properly//  --a dialysis machine //  on dialysis//  --He has been on dialysis for the past three years.//


Words: diameter
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: diametre, from  Greek diametros  ’measure across’, from  metron  ’measure’]//  a straight line from one side of a circle to the other side, passing through the centre of the circle, or the length of this line//\n  3 inches/1 metre etc in diameter :  --Draw a circle six centimetres in diameter.//  diameter of//  --The diameter of the Earth is about 13,000 km.//


Words: diametrically
Meaning:
adv   diametrically opposed/opposite//  completely different and opposite//  --The two ideas are diametrically opposed.//


Words: diamond
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: diamant  ’hard metal, diamond’, from  Greek adamas;   ADAMANT]//\n  1 [U and C] a clear, very hard valuable stone, used in jewellery and in industry:  --a diamond engagement ring//\n  2 [C] a shape with four straight but sloping sides of equal length, with one point facing directly up and the other directly down:  --Cut the cookie dough into diamonds.//\n  3 :  a)  diamonds//  one of the four  suits (=types of cards)  in a set of playing cards, which has the design of a red diamond shape on it//  two/queen etc of diamonds //  --the ace of diamonds//  b)  [C] a card from this suit//  --You have to play a diamond.//\n  4 [C] :  a) the area in a baseball field that is within the diamond shape formed by the four bases//  b) the whole playing field used in baseball//


Words: diamond anniversary
Meaning:
n [C]   the date that is exactly 60 years after the date when two people were married or after some other important date//


Words: diamond in the rough
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE someone who behaves in a slightly rude way, but is really kind and generous//  British Equivalent:  rough diamond//


Words: diamond jubilee
Meaning:
n [C]   the date that is exactly 60 years after the date of an important event, especially of someone becoming a king or queen//    golden jubilee,  silver jubilee//


Words: diamond lane
Meaning:
n [C]  American English   a special lane on a road or street that is marked with a diamond shape and can be used only by buses, taxis etc and sometimes private cars with more than one passenger//


Words: Diana
Meaning:
in Roman  mythology, the goddess of hunting and the moon. In Greek mythology her name is Artemis.//\n Princess of Wales  also Princess Di Princess Diana Lady Di   (1961-97) the former wife of Prince  Charles and the mother of Prince William and Prince Harry. She was originally called Lady Diana Spencer and she married Prince Charles in 1981. Eventually their marriage failed and they got a  divorce in 1996. In 1997, she died in a car crash in Paris.//


Words: diaper
Meaning:
S3   n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: diapre  ’fine cloth’, from  Medieval Greek diapras  ’pure white’]//   AmE a piece of soft cloth or soft paper that is put between a baby’s legs and fastened around its waist to hold liquid and solid waste//  British Equivalent:  nappy//  --Wait a minute while I change her diaper .//


Words: diaper rash
Meaning:
n [U]    AmE sore skin between a baby’s legs and on its buttocks, caused by a wet diaper//  British Equivalent:  nappy rash//


Words: diaphanous
Meaning:
adj  literary   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: diaphanus, from  Greek diaphainein  ’to show through’]//  diaphanous cloth is so thin that you can almost see through it//


Words: diaphragm
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Late Latin; Origin: diaphragma, from  Greek diaphrassein  ’to make a fence across, block’]//\n  1 the muscle that is between your lungs and your stomach, and that you use when you breathe:\n  2 a round rubber object that a woman can put inside her vagina to stop her from getting pregnant:\n  3  technical a thin round object, especially in a telephone or loudspeaker, that is moved by sound or that moves when it produces sound:\n  4  technical a round flat part inside a camera that controls the amount of light that enters the camera:


Words: diarrhoea
Meaning:
BrE  diarrhea AmE   n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: diarrhoea, from  Greek diarrhein  ’to flow through’]//  an illness in which waste from the bowels is watery and comes out often//


Words: diary
Meaning:
n   plural  diaries  [C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: diarium, from  dies  ’day’]//\n  1 a book in which you write down the things that happen to you each day:   journal//  --Inge kept a diary  (=wrote in a diary) during the war years.//  diary entry (=what you have written for a particular day) //\n  2  especially BrE a book with separate spaces for each day of the year, in which you write down the meetings, events etc that are planned for each day:  American Equivalent:  calendar//  --Did you put the meeting date in your diary ?//


Words: Diary of a Nobody
Meaning:
The   (1892) a humorous book by George and Weedon Grossmith. It is written in the form of a  diary belonging to the main character, Mr  Pooter, who describes his life during the early 1890s. Mr Pooter is a very ordinary man, who often gets into embarrassing social situations and makes himself look stupid.//


Words: Diary of Anne Frank
Meaning:
The   the  diary (=book in which you write down your thoughts, experiences etc each day)  written by Anne  Frank when she and her family were hiding from the  Nazis in Amsterdam during World War II. It was published after her death in a  concentration camp, and it has been made into a play and film.//


Words: diaspora
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: diaspeirein  ’to scatter’]//\n  1  the Diaspora:  the movement of the Jewish people away from ancient Palestine, to settle in other countries//\n  2 the spreading of people from a national group or culture to other areas:  --the African diaspora//


Words: diatonic scale
Meaning:
n   the diatonic scale//  a set of eight musical notes that uses a particular pattern of spaces between the notes//


Words: diatribe
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: diatriba, from  Greek diatribe  ’enjoyable activity, speech’, from  diatribein  ’to pass time’]//  a long speech or piece of writing that criticizes someone or something very severely//  diatribe against//  --a diatribe against contemporary American civilization//


Words: dibs
Meaning:
n [plural]  AmE  informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Probably from  dibstones  ’game played with small stones’, from  dib  ’to hit lightly’ (17-19 centuries)]//  the right to have, use, or do something//  --Freshmen have first dibs on dormitory rooms.//


Words: dice
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Plural of   DIE1]//\n  1 [plural]  singular die :  one or more small blocks of wood, plastic etc that have six sides with a different number of spots on each side, used in games//  throw/roll the dice //  --It’s your turn to roll the dice.//\n  2 [U] any game of chance that is played with dice:\n  3  the dice are loaded:  the situation is arranged so that a particular person will win or gain an advantage//\n  4  no dice:   especially AmE  old-fashioned  spoken used to refuse to do something or to say that something is not possible//  --’Can I borrow some cash?’ ’Sorry, no dice.’//\n  5  a throw of the dice:  something you do that you hope will have an effect on a situation, but is not certain to do so//  --a last desperate throw of the dice to try and win his wife back//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Die is singular and dice is plural, but many people use dice when they are talking about a single die. //  ----------//\ndice 2 v \n  1  also dice sth → up :   [T] to cut food into small square pieces//  --diced carrots//\n  2  dice with death:  to put yourself in a very dangerous situation//


Words: dicey
Meaning:
adj  informal   slightly dangerous and uncertain//  --The future looks pretty dicey for small businesses.//


Words: dichotomy
Meaning:
n   plural  dichotomies  [C]  formal //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Greek; Origin: dichotomia, from  dichotomos  ’cut in two’]//  the difference between two things or ideas that are completely opposite//  dichotomy between//  --a dichotomy between his public and private lives//


Words: dick
Meaning:
n [C]   [Sense: 1,2; Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  From the male name  Dick]//  [Sense: 3; Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Perhaps from  detective]//\n  1  informal  not polite a penis:\n  2  spoken  not polite an offensive word for a stupid annoying person, especially a man:  --He’s acting like a complete dick.//\n  3  AmE  old-fashioned a private detective:    clever dick at clever(6),  spotted dick//\ndick 2 v   dick around [dick sb around] phr v//  to cause a lot of problems for someone, especially by changing your mind a lot or preventing them from getting what they want//  --The phone company’s been dicking me around for three months.//


Words: Dickens
Meaning:
Charles   (1812-70) a British writer whose novels made him the most popular British writer of the 19th century, and are still very popular today. His books contain humorous characters with unusual names, many of whom have become very well known. But they also show how hard life was in Victorian England, especially for poor people and children. His books include  David Copperfield,  Oliver Twist,  Great Expectations,  A Christmas Carol,  A Tale of Two Cities, and  The Pickwick Papers//


Words: dickens
Meaning:
n  spoken  old-fashioned   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Perhaps from the name  Dickens]//\n  1  what/who/where the dickens ...?:  used when asking a question to show that you are very surprised or angry//  --What the dickens is the matter with her?//\n  2  as pretty/smart etc as the dickens:   AmE very pretty, clever etc//  --Isn’t she as cute as the dickens!//


Words: Dickensian
Meaning:
adj   Dickensian buildings, living conditions etc are poor, dirty, and unpleasant//  --a single mother living in a Dickensian block of flats//


Words: dicker
Meaning:
v [I]  informal  especially AmE   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Perhaps from  dicker  ’group of ten (animal skins)’ (11-19 centuries) (from the exchanging of skins for other goods)]//  to argue about or discuss the details of a sale, agreement etc//  dicker about/over//  --Politicians in Washington are still dickering over the budget.//


Words: dickhead
Meaning:
n [C]  spoken  not polite   an offensive word for a stupid annoying person, especially a man//  --Don’t be such a dickhead!//


Words: Dickinson
Meaning:
Emily   (1830-86) a US poet whose clever and original work is still very popular. She is sometimes called "the Belle of Amherst", and was a recluse (=someone who lives alone and avoids other people)  for the last 25 years of her life.//


Words: dicky
Meaning:
adj  BrE  old-fashioned   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Origin unknown]//  weak, and likely to break or not work properly//  dicky heart/ticker (=a heart that is weak and not very healthy) //\ndicky 2  dickey n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Probably from the male name  Dicky]//  a false shirt front or collar worn under a suit or dress//


Words: dickybird
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  informal \n  1 a small bird - used by or when speaking to children:\n  2  not hear a dickybird:  to not hear any news about someone or something//  --’Have you heard from them since they moved?’ ’No, not a dickybird.’//


Words: Dictaphone
Meaning:
n [C]  trademark   an office machine on which you can record speech so that someone can listen to it and type it later//


Words: dictate
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: dictare  ’to say often, say firmly’, from  dicere  ’to say’]//\n  1 [I and T] to say words for someone else to write down:  dictate a letter/memo etc to sb//  --She’s dictating a letter to her secretary right now.//\n  2 [I and T] to tell someone exactly what they must do or how they must behave:  dictate to//  --The media cannot be allowed to dictate to the government.//  dictate who/what/how etc//  --Can they dictate how the money will be spent?//  --Federal funds have to be used as dictated by Washington.//  dictate that//  --Islamic custom dictates that women should be fully covered.//  --The US government attempted to dictate the terms of the agreement.//\n  3 [T] to control or influence something:   determine//  dictate what/how etc//  --Funds dictate what we can do.//  dictate that//  --The laws of physics dictate that what goes up must come down.//  --The massive publicity dictated a response from the city government.//\ndictate 2   n [C]   an order, rule, or principle that you have to obey//  dictate of//  --teenagers following the dictates of fashion//


Words: dictation
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] when you say words for someone to write down:  --There were no secretaries available to take dictation  (=write down what someone is saying) .//\n  2 [C] a piece of writing that a teacher reads out to test your ability to hear and write the words correctly:  --I hate doing French dictations .//


Words: dictator
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a ruler who has complete power over a country, especially one whose power has been gained by force:  --the downfall of the hated dictator//\n  2 someone who tells other people what they should do, in a way that seems unreasonable:  --a real little dictator//


Words: dictatorial
Meaning:
adj \n  1 a dictatorial government or ruler has complete power over a country:  --dictatorial regimes//\n  2 a dictatorial person tells other people what to do in an unreasonable way:  --Professor Clement’s dictatorial attitude//  -- dictatorially adv //


Words: dictatorship
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] government by a ruler who has complete power:\n  2 [C] a country that is ruled by one person who has complete power:


Words: diction
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: dictio  ’speaking’, from  dicere  ’to say’]//\n  1 the way in which someone pronounces words:  clear/perfect/good etc diction //  --She had perfect diction.//\n  2 the choice and use of words and phrases to express meaning, especially in literature:


Words: dictionary
Meaning:
n   plural  dictionaries  [C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: dictionarium, from  Late Latin dictio  ’word’;   DICTION]//\n  1 a book that gives a list of words in alphabetical order and explains their meanings in the same language, or another language:  --a German - English dictionary//\n  2 a book that explains the words and phrases used in a particular subject:  --a science dictionary//


Words: Dictionary of National Biography
Meaning:
The  also the DNB   a book produced in the UK which contains short accounts of the lives of important people in British history and society, arranged in alphabetical order//


Words: dictum
Meaning:
n   plural  dictums  or  dicta /-t[hA353]/ [C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: ’thing said’, from the past participle of  dicere  ’to say’]//\n  1 a formal statement of opinion by someone who is respected or has authority:\n  2 a short phrase that expresses a general rule or truth:  --Descartes’ famous dictum: ’I think; therefore, I am’//


Words: didactic
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Greek; Origin: didaktikos, from  didaskein  ’to teach’]//\n  1 speech or writing that is didactic is intended to teach people a moral lesson:  --His novel has a didactic tone.//\n  2 someone who is didactic is too eager to teach people things or give instructions:  -- didactically/-kli/ adv //


Words: diddle
Meaning:
v [T]  BrE  informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Perhaps from  Diddler, name of a character in a 19th-century English play]//  to get money from someone by deceiving them//  diddle sb out of sth//  --They’ll diddle you out of your last penny if you give them the chance.//


Words: diddly
Meaning:
AmE  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Probably from  doodlysquat  ’nothing’ (1900-2000)]//  not know/mean diddly//  to know or mean nothing at all//  --Brad? He doesn’t know diddly about baseball.//


Words: didgeridoo
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  From the sound]//  a long wooden musical instrument, played especially in Australia//


Words: Dido
Meaning:
in ancient Roman stories, the queen of  Carthage who loved  Aeneas, and who killed herself when he left her//    Aeneid, the//


Words: die
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  died present participle  dying third person singular  dies  [I] //  ----------//\n   1 become dead:\n   2 disappear:\n   3 machines:\n   4 be dying for something/to do something:\n   5 be dying of hunger/thirst/boredom:\n   6 I nearly died/I could have died:\n   7 I’d rather die:\n   8 in the dying minutes/seconds/moments (of something):\n   9 old habits/traditions/customs die hard:\n  10 never say die:\n  11 die a/the death:\n  12 die laughing:\n  13 to die for:  Phrasal verbs//   die away//   die back//   die down//   die off//   die out//  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Origin:  Probably from  Old Norse deyja]//\n  1 BECOME DEAD:  to stop living and become dead//  --He died in 1985 at the age of 76.//  --Her father died suddenly in an accident when she was only ten.//  die of/from//  --The animals died of starvation in the snow.//  --patients who are dying from cancer//  --She died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 98.//  die for sth//   (=be killed while fighting to defend something) //  --Do you believe in anything enough to die for it?//  die young/happy/poor //  --She died young, at the age of 27.//  --The bullet went straight through his head, and he  died instantly .//  to your dying day/until the day you die (=until you die) //  --It must remain a secret until the day I die.//  sb’s dying breath/wish (=someone’s last breath or wish) //  --It was his dying wish that the house be opened to the public.//  die a hero/martyr/rich man etc //  --My uncle died a hero.//  die a natural/violent/agonizing death //  --Did she die a natural death (=did she die naturally, or did someone kill her?) ?//\n  2 DISAPPEAR:  to disappear or stop existing//  --Our love will never die.//  --The family name will die with him (=disappear when he dies) .//  --He’s one of a dying breed  (=a type of person that is no longer common) .//\n  3 MACHINES:   informal to stop working//   break down//  --The engine spluttered and died.//  die on sb//   (=stop working while they are using it) //  --The mower just died on me.//\n  4  be dying for sth/to do sth:   spoken to want something very much//  --I’m dying for a cup of coffee.//  --She was dying to ask where he’d got it.//  --I’m dying to see what it is.//\n  5  be dying of hunger/thirst/boredom:   spoken to be very hungry, thirsty, bored etc//  --Do you fancy a cup of tea? I’m dying of thirst.//\n  6  I nearly died/I could have died:   spoken used to say that you felt very surprised or embarrassed//  --I nearly died when I saw it was my ex-husband!//\n  7  I’d rather die:   spoken used to say very strongly that you do not want to do something//  --I’d rather die than work for him!//\n  8  in the dying minutes/seconds/moments (of sth):  during the last minutes or seconds before the end of something//  --United scored an equaliser in the dying minutes of the game.//\n  9  old habits/traditions/customs die hard:  used to say that it takes a long time to change to a new way of doing something//\n  10  never say die:   spoken used to encourage someone to continue doing something that is difficult//\n  11  die a/the death:   informal to gradually fail or be forgotten//  --The rumour gradually died a death.//\n  12  die laughing:   spoken to laugh a lot//  --We nearly died laughing when he told us.//\n  13  to die for:   informal if something is to die for, it is extremely nice, attractive, or desirable//  --She had hair to die for.//  die away phr v//  if sound, wind, or light dies away, it becomes gradually weaker until you cannot hear, feel, or see it//  --Her voice died away as she saw the look on David’s face.//  --She waited until the footsteps had died away.//  die back phr v//  if a plant dies back, it dies above the ground but remains alive at its roots//  die down phr v//  if something dies down, it becomes less strong, active, or violent//  --Don’t worry, the gossip will soon die down.//  --when the excitement had died down//  die off phr v//  if a group of people or animals die off, they die one by one until there are no more of them//  die out phr v//  to disappear or stop existing completely//  --The wild population of koalas is in danger of dying out.//  --There will be outbreaks of rain, gradually dying out in the afternoon.//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: die //  a ceremony for someone who has died: funeral a ceremony at which someone who has died is buried or burned //  burial when someone’s body is put into the ground //  cremation when someone’s body is burned //  hearse a large car that takes the body to the funeral //  coffin a box in which someone is buried or carried to the funeral  //  grave the place where someone is buried //  graveyard/cemetery an area where dead people are buried //  undertaker someone who arranges funerals //  the mourners the people at a funeral //  See also:  death, widow, widower, orphan, bereaved, will2 , obituary//  ----------//\ndie 2 n [C] \n  1 a metal block used to press or cut something into a particular shape:  2 a dice//\n  3  the die is cast:  used to say that a decision has been taken and cannot now be changed//


Words: die casting
Meaning:
n [U]   the process of making metal objects by forcing liquid metal into a hollow container with a particular shape, and then allowing it to become hard//


Words: diehard
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who opposes change and refuses to accept new ideas//  -- diehard adj //  --a few diehard fans//    old habits die hard at die1 (9)//


Words: Dieppe
Meaning:
a port in northern France, on the English Channel. Boats regularly carry people and cars between Dieppe and the English port of Newhaven.//


Words: diesel
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Rudolph  Diesel (1858-1913), German engineer who invented the engine]//\n  1 [U] a type of heavy oil used instead of petrol in engines, especially in trucks, buses, and trains:  --a 1.9 litre diesel engine //  diesel car/truck etc //\n  2 [C]  informal a vehicle that uses diesel:


Words: diet
Meaning:
W2S3   n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: diete, from  Greek diaita  ’way of living, food to be eaten’]//\n  1 [U and C] the kind of food that a person or animal eats each day:  balanced/healthy/poor etc diet //  --It is important to have a balanced, healthy diet .//  --the effects of poor diet and lack of exercise//  vegetarian/high-fibre/Western etc diet //  diet of//  --They exist on a diet of fish.//  --Bamboo is the panda’s staple diet  (=main food) .//  in sb’s diet//  --the importance of vitamins and minerals in your diet//\n  2 [C] a limited range and amount of food that you eat when you want to get thinner:  go/be on a diet //  --Lyn always seems to be on a diet.//\n  3 [C] a limited type of food and drink that someone is allowed because they have a health problem:  --a salt-free diet//\n  4  a diet of sth:  too much of an activity that you think is boring or has bad effects//  --Kids today are raised on a constant diet of pop music and television.//\n  5 [C]  old-fashioned an official meeting to discuss political or church matters:\ndiet 2 v [I]   to limit the amount and type of food that you eat, in order to become thinner//   slim//\ndiet 3 adj [only before noun]   diet drinks or foods contain less sugar or fat than ordinary ones//  -- a diet soda //


Words: dietetics
Meaning:
n [U]   the science that is concerned with what people eat and drink and how this affects their health//


Words: dietician
Meaning:
dietitian/da[hA366][hA353]t[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n [C]   someone who is trained to give people advice about what it is healthy for them to eat and drink//


Words: Dietrich
Meaning:
Marlene   (1901-92) a German actress who became a famous film actress in the US. She was famous for being sexually attractive, and for singing in a deep, sexy voice. Her films include  The Blue Angel (1930) and  Destry Rides Again (1939).//


Words: Dieu et mon droit
Meaning:
a French phrase meaning God and my right, which is the  motto on the British royal family’s  coat of arms//


Words: differ
Meaning:
W3   v [I]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: differer  ’to delay, be different’, from  Latin differre, from  ferre  ’to carry’]//\n  1 to be different from something in some way:  --The two systems differ in many respects.//  differ from//  --People differ from one another in their ability to handle stress.//  differ between//  --The symptoms did not differ between the two groups.//  differ widely/greatly/significantly etc //  --We soon found that prices differed enormously.//  --Experts have differing views on the subject.//\n  2 if two people or groups differ about something, they have opposite opinions:   disagree//  differ about/on/over//  --The two lawyers differed about how to present the case.//\n  3  agree to differ:  to stop arguing with someone and accept that you will never agree//\n  4  I beg to differ:   spoken  formal used to say that you disagree with someone//


Words: difference
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] a way in which two or more people or things are not like each other:  → similarity//  difference between//  --The main difference between the groups was age.//  --There’s a  big difference  between knowing that something is true, and being able to prove it.//  difference in//  --Researchers found a number of  important differences  in the way boys and girls learn.//  -- subtle differences  in meaning//  --There was a  marked difference  in his behavior toward me.//  -- There was  certainly  no difference  between them in terms of intelligence.//  -- There is very little difference  between the parties on green issues.//  -- There’s a world of difference  between us.//  --Do children know the difference between right and wrong?//  --See if you can  spot the difference  between these two pictures.//  --Class differences still play an important role in society.//\n  2 [singular, U] the amount by which one thing is greater or smaller than another:  difference in age/size etc //  --There’s not much difference in price.//  --There’s a five-hour time difference between London and New York.//    split the difference at split1 (9)//\n  3  make a/the difference:  to have an important effect or influence on something or someone//  --Whatever she did, it made no difference.//  make a/the difference to//  --One more person wouldn’t make any difference to the arrangements.//  make a/the difference between//  --It could make the difference between missing your train and getting to work on time.//  --Having a good teacher has made all the difference for Alex (=had an important influence) .//\n  4  it makes no difference to sb:  used to say that it does not matter to someone which thing happens, is chosen etc//  --Morning or afternoon. It makes no difference to me.//\n  5  our/your/their differences:  disagreements//  --We’ve had our differences in the past, but we get on OK now.//  settle/resolve your differences (=agree not to argue any more) //\n  6  difference of opinion:  a slight disagreement//  --There have been some differences of opinion as to exactly how the money should be spent.//\n  7  with a difference:   informal used to describe something which is interesting or unusual, especially in a good way//  --an adventure holiday with a difference//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  big/major/important/significant difference //  small/minor difference //  subtle difference (=not obvious) //  marked difference (=very noticeable) //  there’s no difference (=they are the same) //  there’s very little difference (=they are very similar) //  there’s a world of difference (=they are very different) //  know/can tell the difference (=be able to recognize the difference) //  spot the difference (=notice the difference) //  ----------//


Words: different
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: differer;   DIFFER]//\n  1 not like something or someone else, or not like before:  → similar//  different from//  --Our sons are  very different  from each other.//  different to//  --Her jacket’s different to mine.//  different than//   AmE //  --He seemed different than he did in New York.//  --The place looks  completely different  now. //  --They decided to try a radically different  approach.//  -- We found women had  significantly different  political views from men. //  --a  slightly different  way of doing things//  -- What actually happened was  subtly different  from the PR people’s version. //  --The show is  refreshingly different  from most exhibitions of modern art.//  -- The publishing business is  no different from any other business in this respect.//  --It’s  a different world  here in London.//\n  2 [only before noun] used to talk about two or more separate things of the same basic kind:   various//  --Different people reacted in different ways .//  different types/kinds etc //  --There are many different types of fabric.//  --I looked in lots of different books but couldn’t find anything about it.//\n  3 [only before noun] another:  --I think she’s moved to a different job now.//\n  4  spoken unusual, often in a way that you do not like:  --’What did you think of the film?’ ’Well, it was certainly different.’//  -- differently adv //  --I didn’t expect to be treated any differently from anyone else.//  --Things could have turned out quite differently.//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  very/quite different //  completely/totally/entirely different //  radically different  (=very different) //  significantly/markedly different  (=different in a very noticeable way) //  slightly different //  subtly different  (=different in a way that is not easy to notice) //  refreshingly different  (=different in a good way) //  no different (from/to something) //  a different world (=a very different situation or environment) //  HINT sense 1 //  In spoken British English, different from and different to are both common, but teachers prefer different from . Different than is also used in American English and occasionally in British English. Do not say different of . //  ----------//


Words: differential
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  formal a difference between things, especially between the wages of people doing different types of jobs in the same industry or profession:  pay/wage/salary differential //\n  2  technical a differential gear:\ndifferential 2 adj   based on or depending on a difference//  --differential rates of pay//  --differential treatment of part-time and full-time staff//


Words: differential gear
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   an arrangement of gears that allows one back wheel of a car to turn faster than the other when the car goes around a corner//


Words: differentiate
Meaning:
v \n  1 [I and T] to recognize or express the difference between things or people:   distinguish//  differentiate between//  --It’s important to differentiate between fact and opinion.//  differentiate sth from sth//  --It’s sometimes hard to differentiate one sample from another.//\n  2 [T] to be the quality, feature etc that makes one thing or person clearly different from another:   distinguish//  --What differentiates these two periods of history?//  differentiate sth from sth//  --Its unusual nesting habits differentiate this bird from others.//\n  3 [I] to behave differently towards someone or something, especially in an unfair way:   discriminate//  differentiate between//  --a policy which differentiates between men and women//  -- differentiation/d[hA366]f[hA353]ren[hA35D]ie[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //  --socio-economic differentiation//


Words: difficult
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: difficulty]//\n  1 hard to do, understand, or deal with:  → easy//  --a difficult question//  --an immensely difficult task//  --Was the exam very difficult?//  -- It’s difficult to see how more savings can be made.//  difficult (for sb) to understand/find/obtain etc //  --That’s rather difficult for me to explain.//  --He’s finding it difficult to get a job.//\n  2 involving a lot of problems and causing a lot of trouble or worry:  --a difficult situation//  --Things are a bit difficult at home at the moment.//  --There could be difficult times ahead.//  make life/things difficult for sb (=cause problems for someone) //  --She’s doing everything she can to make life difficult for him.//\n  3 someone who is difficult never seems pleased or satisfied:   awkward//  --Don’t be so difficult!//  --a difficult customer//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: difficult //  difficult to do: hard,  tough,  challenging,  daunting //  difficult and needing a lot of physical effort: tough,  strenuous,  back-breaking,  gruelling,  arduous,  punishing //  difficult to deal with or talk about: tricky,  awkward,  delicate,  sensitive,  touchy //  words for describing a difficult person: awkward,  trying //  words for describing difficult conditions: adverse,  hostile //  ----------//


Words: difficulty
Meaning:
n   plural  difficulties //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: difficultas, from  difficilis  ’difficult’, from  facilis  ’easy’]//\n  1 [U] if you have difficulty doing something, it is difficult for you to do:  have/experience difficulty (in) doing sth //  --They had  great difficulty  in finding a replacement.//  with/without difficulty//  --He got to his feet with difficulty.//\n  2 [C usually plural] a problem or something that causes trouble:  difficulty with//  --There are several difficulties with this theory.//  --If you  have  any  difficulties , give me a call.//  --The project soon ran into difficulties . //  -- Difficulties  can  arise  when there is more than one defendant. //  --We’re confident that the legal  difficulties  can be  overcome .//  --The rearrangement of school classes may  cause  timetabling  difficulties .//  --Their ten years of marriage have  been fraught with difficulties . //  -- the  practical difficulties  of prosecuting alleged war criminals//  --The broadcast was delayed because of  technical difficulties  .//  --She developed breathing difficulties during the night.//\n  3 [U] if you are in difficulty, you are in a situation in which you have problems:  in difficulty//  --The business is in financial difficulty.//  get/run into difficulty (=get into a difficult situation) //  --She soon got into difficulty with debt.//\n  4 [U] the quality of being difficult to do:  the difficulty of (doing) sth//  --the difficulty of solving such problems//\n  5 [U] how difficult something is:  --The tests vary in difficulty.//    learning difficulties//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not say that someone ’has difficulty to do something’. Say that someone has difficulty doing something or has difficulty in doing something . //  COLLOCATES for sense 2 //  have/experience/encounter difficulties //  run/get into difficulties  (=experience difficulties) //  difficulties arise //  overcome difficulties //  cause difficulties (for somebody) //  be fraught with/beset by difficulties  (=involve a lot of difficulties) //  practical difficulties //  mechanical/technical difficulties //  financial difficulties (=a bad financial situation) //  breathing difficulties //  behavioural difficulties (=bad behaviour) //  marital difficulties  (=problems between a husband and wife) //  ----------//


Words: diffident
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: , present participle of  diffidere  ’to distrust’, from  fidere  ’to trust’]//  shy and not wanting to make people notice you or talk about you//  diffident manner/smile/voice etc //  diffident about//  --He was diffident about his own success.//  -- diffidently adv //  -- diffidence n  [U] //


Words: diffract
Meaning:
v [T]  technical   to bend light or sound waves as they pass around something or through a hole//    refract//  -- diffraction/d[hA366]fr[zB024]k[hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: diffuse
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: diffuser, from  Latin diffusus, past participle of  diffundere  ’to spread out’]//\n  1 [I and T] to make heat, light, liquid etc spread through something, or to spread like this:  diffuse through/into/across//  --The pollutants diffuse into the soil.//\n  2 [I and T] to spread ideas or information among a lot of people, or to spread like this:  --Their ideas diffused quickly across Europe.//\n  3 [T] to make a bad feeling or situation less strong or serious:  --an attempt to diffuse his anger//  -- diffusion/d[hA366]fju[hA359][hA360][hA368]n/ n  [U] //\ndiffuse 2   adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: diffusus;   DIFFUSE1]//\n  1 spread over a large area:  --The organization is large and diffuse.//\n  2 using a lot of words and not explaining things clearly and directly:  --His writing is diffuse and difficult to understand.//  -- diffuseness n  [U] //


Words: dig
Meaning:
S3   v   past tense and past participle  dug /d[hA356]g/present participle  digging //  [Date: 1100-1200; Origin:  Perhaps from  Old English dic  ’ditch’]//\n  1 [I and T] to move earth, snow etc, or to make a hole in the ground, using a spade or your hands:  dig a hole/trench/grave etc //  --They dig a small hole in the sand to bury their eggs.//  dig down//  --Dig down about 6 inches.//  dig for//  --birds digging for worms//\n  2 [T] to remove something, especially vegetables, from the ground using a spade:  --freshly dug carrots//\n  3 [I,T always + adverb/preposition] to put your hand into something, especially in order to search for something:  --She dug around in her bag for a pen.//  --He dug his hands deep into his pockets.//\n  4  dig your heels in:  to refuse to do something in spite of other people’s efforts to persuade you//\n  5  dig deep:  to use something which you have, especially money or effort, which you would not normally need//  --With one man sent off, the team had to dig deep and hang on for a draw.//\n  6  dig a hole for yourself:   also dig yourself into a hole //  to get yourself into a difficult situation by doing or saying the wrong thing//\n  7  dig sb out of trouble/a mess/a hole etc:  to help a person or organization get out of trouble//\n  8  dig your own grave:  to do something that will cause serious problems for you in the future//\n  9 [T]  old-fashioned to like something:  --I dig that hat!//  dig in phr v//\n  1  dig sth → in:   also dig sth into sth //  to mix something into soil by digging//  --Dig some fertiliser into the soil first.//\n  2  also dig (sth) into sth :  to push a hard or pointed object into something, especially someone’s body, or to press into something//  --She dug her finger nails into his arm.//  dig sth → in//  --He dug his spurs in and urged his horse on.//  --I could feel one of the hooks digging in.//\n  3 if a group of people, especially soldiers, dig in, they make a protected place for themselves or prepare for a difficult situation:  --The troops dug in along the defensive line.//  --We just have to dig in and hope we can turn things around.//\n  4  also dig into sth :   informal to start eating food that is in front of you//  --Go in - dig in!//  --He was already digging into his pie and chips.//  dig into [dig into sth] phr v//\n  1 to start using a supply of something, especially money:  --I’m going to have to dig into my savings again.//\n  2 to try to find out about something unknown or secret:  --He had been digging into her past.//    dig in//  dig out [dig sth → out] phr v//\n  1 to get something out of earth, snow etc using a spade or your hands:  dig something → out of//  --We had to dig the car out of a snow drift.//\n  2 to find something you have not seen for a long time, or that is not easy to find:  --I must remember to dig out that book for you.//  dig up [dig sth → up] phr v//\n  1 to remove something from the earth using a spade:  --I’ll dig up that plant and move it.//\n  2 to remove the surface of an area of ground, road etc, or to make holes in it:  --They’re digging up the road just outside my flat.//\n  3 to find hidden or forgotten information by careful searching:  --They tried to dig up something from his past to spoil his chances of being elected.//\ndig 2 n [C] \n  1 a joke or remark that you make to annoy or criticize someone:  dig at//  --He couldn’t resist a dig at the referee.//  --Here was a chance to have a dig at trade unionists.//\n  2  give sb a dig:  to push someone quickly and lightly with your finger or elbow//  --Ginnie gave her sister a dig in the ribs.//\n  3 an organized process of digging in order to find ancient objects for study:  --an archaeological dig //\n  4  digs [plural]  BrE  old-fashioned a room that you pay rent to live in:  in digs//  --He’s 42 and still living in digs .//


Words: digest
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: digestus, past participle of  digerere  ’to carry apart, arrange, digest’]//\n  1 to change food that you have just eaten into substances that your body can use:  --Most babies can digest a wide range of food easily.//    ingest//\n  2 to understand new information, especially when there is a lot of it or it is difficult to understand:  --I struggled to digest the news.//\ndigest 2   n [C]   a short piece of writing that gives the most important facts from a book, report etc//


Words: digestion
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] the process of digesting food:\n  2 [C] your ability to digest food easily:  --Too much tea is bad for your digestion.//


Words: digestive
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   connected with the process of digestion//  digestive system/organs/juices etc //


Words: digicam
Meaning:
n [C]   a type of camera that can store pictures in a digital form which can be put into a computer, rather than on film//


Words: digit
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: digitus  ’finger, toe’]//\n  1 one of the written signs that represent the numbers 0 to 9:  three-digit/four-digit etc number //  --4305 is a four-digit number.//\n  2  technical a finger or toe:


Words: digital
Meaning:
adj \n  1 using a system in which information is recorded or sent out electronically in the form of numbers, usually ones and zeros:  --digital TV//  --a digital signal//  --a digital camera //  --digital recording//  digital cassette/audiotape etc //  --a recording on digital audiotape//  2 giving information in the form of numbers//    analogue//  --a digital watch //\n  3  formal relating to the fingers and toes:  -- digitally adv //


Words: digital television
Meaning:
n \n  1  also digital :   [U] a system of broadcasting using digital signals//    analogue, cable//\n  2 [C] a television which can receive digital broadcasts:


Words: dignified
Meaning:
adj   behaving in a calm and serious way, even in a difficult situation, which makes people respect you//  --a dignified old lady//  --She made a dignified departure.//


Words: dignify
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  dignified present participle  dignifying third person singular  dignifies  [T] //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: dignifier, from  Latin dignus  ’deserving admiration’]//  to make something or someone seem better or more important than they really are, especially by using a particular word to describe them//  dignify sb/sth with sth//  --I cannot dignify him with the name ’physician’.//


Words: dignitary
Meaning:
n   plural  dignitaries  [C] //  someone who has an important official position//   VIP//  --Flowers were presented to visiting dignitaries.//


Words: dignity
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: dignite, from  Latin dignitas  ’worth’, from  dignus  ’deserving admiration’]//\n  1 the ability to behave in a calm controlled way even in a difficult situation:  with dignity//  --The family faced their ordeal with dignity and courage.//  --an appearance of quiet dignity//\n  2  your dignity:  your sense of your own value or importance//  retain/lose your dignity //  --Old people need to retain their dignity and independence.//  --Arguing was beneath her dignity  (=was something she thought she was too important to do) .//\n  3 the fact of being respected or deserving respect:  with dignity//  --Patients should be allowed to die with dignity.//  --Prisoners should be treated with regard for human dignity .//\n  4 a calm and serious quality:  dignity of//  --the dignity of the occasion//\n  5  stand on your dignity:   formal to demand to be treated with proper respect//


Words: digress
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: digressus, past participle of  digredi  ’to step aside’]//  to talk or write about something that is not your main subject//  --Do you mind if I digress for a moment?//  -- digression/da[hA366]gre[hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //  --After several long digressions he finally reached the interesting part of the story.//


Words: diktat
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: German; Origin: Latin dictatus, past participle of  dictare;   DICTATE1]//  an order that is forced on people by a ruler or government//  --government by diktat//


Words: dilapidated
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: dilapidare  ’to scatter like stones, misuse, destroy’, from  lapidare  ’to throw stones’]//  a dilapidated building, vehicle etc is old and in very bad condition//    derelict//  -- dilapidation/d[hA369]l[zB024]p[hA369]de[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: dilate
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: dilater, from  Latin latus  ’wide’]//  if a hollow part of your body dilates or if something dilates it, it becomes wider//  → contract//  --dilated pupils//  -- dilation/da[hA366]le[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //  dilate on/upon [dilate on/upon sth] phr v//  to speak or write a lot about something//  --He dilated upon their heroism.//


Words: dilatory
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Late Latin; Origin: dilatorius, from  Latin dilatus, past participle of  differre  ’to delay’;   DIFFER]//  slow in doing something//


Words: Dilbert
Meaning:
a popular US cartoon strip by Scott Adams, about a computer engineer called Dilbert who works in an office. Although he is kind, intelligent, and works hard, he is never very successful because his manager gives unreasonable orders and his company has many silly and annoying rules. Dilbert has an intelligent dog called Dogbert, who wears glasses and speaks, and who believes that people will only do things that give them an advantage. //


Words: dildo
Meaning:
n   plural  dildos  [C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Perhaps from  Italian diletto  ’pleasure’]//  an object shaped like a male sex organ that a woman can use for sexual pleasure//


Words: dilemma
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Greek; Origin: ’double statement’, from  lemma  ’statement’]//  a situation in which it is very difficult to decide what to do, because all the choices seem equally good or equally bad//  --a moral dilemma//  in a dilemma//  --I’m in a dilemma about this job offer.//  --This placed Robert Kennedy in a dilemma .//  --Many women are faced with the dilemma of choosing between work and family commitments.//    be on the horns of a dilemma at horn1 (6)//


Words: dilettante
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Italian; Origin: , present participle of  dilettare  ’to give pleasure to’, from  Latin delectare;   DELIGHT2]//  someone who is not serious about what they are doing or does not study a subject thoroughly//  -- dilettante adj  [only before noun] //


Words: diligent
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: Latin, present participle of  diligere  ’to put high value on, love’]//  someone who is diligent works hard and is careful and thorough//  --a diligent student//  -- diligently adv //  --They worked diligently all morning.//  -- diligence n  [U] //


Words: Dillinger
Meaning:
John   (1903-34) a famous US  robber and murderer. In 1933 and 1934 he and his  gang (=group of criminals)  robbed many different banks in the US, using guns and killing many people. The  FBI finally organized a trap and shot him as he was leaving a theatre.//


Words: dilly-dally
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  dilly-dallied present participle  dilly-dallying third person singular  dilly-dallies  [I] //  [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: dally]//  to waste time, because you cannot decide about something//  --Don’t dilly-dally, just get on with it!//


Words: dilute
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: dilutus, past participle of  diluere  ’to wash away’]//\n  1 to make a liquid weaker by adding water or another liquid:    water down//  --diluted fruit juice//  dilute sth with/in sth//  --Dilute the paint with a little oil.//\n  2 to make a quality, belief etc weaker or less effective:    water down//  --an attempt to dilute the proposals//  -- dilution/da[hA366]lu[hA359][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //  --Any dilution of standards must be resisted.//\ndilute 2 adj   a dilute liquid has been made weaker by the addition of water or another liquid//  --dilute hydrochloric acid//


Words: dim
Meaning:
adj   comparative  dimmer superlative  dimmest //  ----------//\n   1 dark:\n   2 shape:\n   3 take a dim view of something:\n   4 dim recollection/awareness etc:\n   5 eyes:\n   6 future chances:\n   7 in the dim and distant past:\n   8 not intelligent:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin:]//\n  1 DARK:  fairly dark or not giving much light, so that you cannot see well//  → bright//  --in the dim light of the early dawn//  --a dim glow//\n  2 SHAPE:  a dim shape is one which is not easy to see because it is too far away, or there is not enough light//  --The dim outline of a building loomed up out of the mist.//\n  3  take a dim view of sth:  to disapprove of something//  --Miss Watson took a dim view of Paul’s behaviour.//\n  4  dim recollection/awareness etc:  a memory or understanding of something that is not clear in your mind//   vague//  --Laura had a dim recollection of someone telling her this before.//\n  5 EYES:   literary dim eyes are weak and cannot see well//  --Isaac was old and his eyes were dim.//\n  6 FUTURE CHANCES:  if your chances of success in the future are dim, they are not good//  --Prospects for an early settlement of the dispute are dim.//\n  7  in the dim and distant past:  a very long time ago - used humorously//\n  8 NOT INTELLIGENT:   informal not intelligent//  --You can be really dim sometimes!//  -- dimly adv //  --a dimly lit room//  --She was only dimly aware of the risk.//  -- dimness n  [U] //\ndim 2 v   past tense and past participle  dimmed present participle  dimming //\n  1 [I and T] if a light dims, or if you dim it, it becomes less bright:  --The lights in the theatre began to dim.//\n  2 [I and T] if a feeling, quality etc dims or is dimmed, it grows weaker or less:  --Even the rain could not dim their enthusiasm.//  --Hopes of a peaceful settlement have dimmed.//\n  3  dim your headlights/lights:   AmE to lower the angle of the front lights of your car, especially when someone is driving towards you//  British Equivalent:  dip//


Words: dime
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: ’tenth part’, from  Latin decima]//\n  1 a coin of the US and Canada, worth one tenth of a dollar:\n  2  a dime a dozen:   AmE  informal very common and not valuable//  British Equivalent:  ten a penny//  --PhDs are a dime a dozen nowadays.//


Words: dimension
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin dimetiri  ’to measure out’]//\n  1 a part of a situation or a quality involved in it:   aspect//  dimension of//  --the moral dimension of world politics//  add a new/an extra/another etc dimension (to sth) //  --His coaching has added another dimension to my game.//  political/social/economic etc dimension //  --It is important to keep in mind the historical dimension to these issues.//  --You can have a spiritual dimension to your life without being religious.//\n  2 [usually plural] the length, height, width, depth, or diameter of something:  --a rectangle with the dimensions 5cm x 2cm//  dimension of//  --We’ll need to know the exact dimensions of the room.//\n  3 a direction in space that is at an angle of 90 degrees to two other directions:  --A diagram represents things in only two dimensions.//    fourth dimension,  three-dimensional(1),  two-dimensional(1)//\n  4  dimensions [plural] how great or serious a problem is:  --We’re heading for a catastrophe of enormous dimensions.//


Words: diminish
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: diminue  (14-16 centuries), from  Old French diminuer, from  Latin minuere  ’to make less’]//\n  1 [I and T] to become or make something become smaller or less:   reduce//  --The party’s share of the electorate has diminished steadily.//  --These drugs diminish blood flow to the brain.//\n  2 [T] to deliberately make someone or something appear less important or valuable than they really are:  --Don’t let him diminish your achievements.//  --But that’s not to diminish the importance of his discoveries.//\n  3  diminishing returns:  when the profits or advantages you are getting from something stop increasing in relation to the effort you are making//


Words: diminished responsibility
Meaning:
also diminished capacity  AmE  n [U]  law   when someone is not considered to be responsible for their actions because they are mentally ill//


Words: diminuendo
Meaning:
n   plural  diminuendos  [C] //  [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Italian; Origin: Latin minuere  ’to make less’]//  a part in a piece of music where it becomes gradually quieter//  → crescendo//  -- diminuendo adj  adv //


Words: diminution
Meaning:
n [U and C]  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin minuere  ’to make less’]//  a reduction in the size, number, or amount of something//  diminution of/in//  --a diminution in value//


Words: diminutive
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: diminutif, from  Latin minuere  ’to make less’]//  small//  --a shy diminutive man//\ndiminutive 2 n [C]   a word formed by adding a diminutive suffix//


Words: diminutive suffix
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   an ending that is added to a word to express smallness, for example ’ling’ added to ’duck’ to make ’duckling’//


Words: dimple
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Probably from  Old English dympel]//\n  1 a small hollow place on your skin, especially one on your cheek or chin when you smile:\n  2 a small hollow place in a surface:  -- dimpled adj //  --dimpled cheeks//


Words: din
Meaning:
n [singular]   [Language: Old English; Origin: dyne]//  a loud unpleasant noise that continues for a long time//  din of//  --The din of the engines was deafening.//  above the din//  --Ged was trying to make himself heard above the din.//\ndin 2 v   past tense and past participle  dinned present participle  dinning //  din into [din sth into sb] phr v//  to make someone learn and remember something by saying it to them many times//  --Respect for our elders was dinned into us at school.//


Words: dinar
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Arabic; Origin: Latin denarius;   DENIER]//  the standard unit of money in Yugoslavia and some Middle Eastern countries//


Words: dine
Meaning:
v [I]  formal   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: diner, from  Vulgar Latin disjejunare  ’to eat after not eating for a time’]//  to eat dinner//  --He was dining with friends at the Ritz.//    wine and dine sb at wine2 //  dine on/off [dine on/off sth] phr v//  to eat a particular kind of food for dinner, especially expensive food//  --We dined on lobster and strawberries.//  dine out phr v//\n  1  formal to eat dinner in a restaurant or in someone else’s house:    eat out//  --They would dine out together once a month.//\n  2  dine out on sth:   BrE  informal to keep using a story about something that has happened to you, in order to entertain people at meals//


Words: diner
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who is eating in a restaurant:\n  2  especially AmE a small restaurant that serves cheap meals:


Words: Diners Card
Meaning:
also Diner’s Club Card  trademark   a type of  charge card that can be used to pay for goods and services all over the world//


Words: ding-a-ling
Meaning:
[C]  AmE  spoken   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: ding-a-ling  ’sound of a bell’ (19-21 centuries)]//  a stupid person//  --Some ding-a-ling parked too close to us.//


Words: ding-dong
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1 [U] the noise made by a bell:\n  2 [singular]  BrE  spoken a noisy argument:  --They were having a real ding-dong in the kitchen.//\n  3 [C]  AmE  spoken a stupid person:


Words: dinghy
Meaning:
n   plural  dinghies  [C] //  outboard motor, dinghy//  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Hindi; Origin: dingi  ’small boat’, from  dinga  ’boat’]//  a small open boat used for pleasure, or for taking people between a ship and the shore//    rubber dinghy//


Words: dingo
Meaning:
n   plural  dingoes  [C] //  [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Australian Aboriginal; Origin: dingu]//  an Australian wild dog//


Words: dingy
Meaning:
adj   comparative  dingier superlative  dingiest //  [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Perhaps from  dungy  ’dirty’ (15-19 centuries), from  dung]//  dark, dirty, and in bad condition//  --a dingy room//  --a dingy side-street//  -- dinginess n  [U] //


Words: dinky
Meaning:
adj  informal   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Scottish English; Origin: dink  ’neat’]//\n  1  BrE small and attractive:  --a dinky little bag//\n  2  AmE too small and often not very nice:  --It was a really dinky hotel room.//


Words: dinner
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: diner, from  diner  ’to eat’;   DINE]//\n  1 [U and C] the main meal of the day, eaten in the middle of the day or the evening:  to dinner//  --Perhaps we should invite them to dinner .//  for dinner//  --We’re having fish for dinner tonight.//  --What time do you usually have dinner? //  --We eat dinner at about seven.//  --a three course dinner//  school dinners  BrE  (=meals provided in the middle of the day at school) //  dinner money  BrE  (=money children are given to pay for their meal at school) //  Sunday/Christmas/Thanksgiving dinner (=a special meal eaten on Sunday, at Christmas, at Thanksgiving etc) //  --dinner guests//\n  2 [C] a formal occasion when an evening meal is eaten, often to celebrate something:  --The Club’s annual dinner will be held in November.//    dog’s dinner at dog1 (9),  more sth than you’ve had hot dinners at hot1 (30),  TV dinner//  ----------//  WORD CHOICE: dinner, supper, tea, lunch //  In Britain, the main meal of the day is  dinner  and it is usually eaten in the evening. Some people call this meal  supper , but to others supper is a very small meal that is eaten just before they go to bed. Some people call this main evening meal  tea , but to others tea is a small meal that is eaten in the afternoon. //  Some people use  dinner  to refer to the meal they eat in the middle of the day, but if you want to be clear that you are referring to this meal, use  lunch . //  ----------//


Words: dinner table
Meaning:
n   the dinner table//  a) an occasion when people are eating dinner together//  --It wasn’t a very suitable conversation for the dinner table.//  b) the table at which people eat dinner//    dining table//


Words: dinner theater
Meaning:
n [U and C]  AmE   a restaurant in which you see a play after your meal, or this type of entertainment//


Words: dinnertime
Meaning:
n [U]   the time when you usually have dinner, especially in the middle of the day//  --Do you want to go for a drink at dinnertime?//


Words: dinosaur
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: deinos  ’terrible’ +  sauros  ’lizard’]//\n  1 one of a group of reptiles that lived millions of years ago:\n  2  informal someone or something that is old-fashioned and no longer effective or suitable for modern times:  --lengthy speeches by some of the party’s dinosaurs//


Words: dint
Meaning:
n   [Language: Old English; Origin: dynt  ’blow, hit’]//  by dint of (doing) sth//  by using a particular method//  --By dint of hard work and persistence, she had got the job of manager.//


Words: diocese
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Greek dioikesis  ’management and organization’]//  the area under the control of a bishop in some Christian churches//  -- diocesan/da[hA366][hA361]s[hA369]s[hA368]n $ -[hA35A][hA359]-/ adj //


Words: diode
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: di- +  Greek hodos  ’way’]//  a piece of electrical equipment that makes an electrical current flow in one direction//


Words: Diogenes
Meaning:
also Diogenes the Cynic //  (?412-?323 BC) an ancient Greek  philosopher who said that the simple life was the best life and who, according to ancient stories, lived in a  barrel (=a round wooden container for liquids) //


Words: Dionysus
Meaning:
in Greek  mythology, the god of wine and  fertility. He is usually connected with uncontrolled behaviour involving lots of drinking, parties, and sex. In Roman mythology his name is  Bacchus.//


Words: dioxide
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a chemical compound that contains two atoms of oxygen and one atom of another chemical element//    carbon dioxide//


Words: dioxin
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: di- +  ox- (as in  oxygen)]//  a very poisonous chemical used in industry and farming//


Words: dip
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  dipped present participle  dipping //  ----------//\n   1 put something in liquid:\n   2 move down:\n   3 become less:\n   4 road/path:\n   5 dip your headlights/lights:\n   6 animals:  Phrasal verbs//   dip into something//  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: dyppan]//\n  1 PUT SOMETHING IN LIQUID:   [T] to put something into a liquid and lift it out again//  dip sth in/into sth//  --He dipped his hand in the water.//  --Dip the strawberries into melted chocolate.//\n  2 MOVE DOWN:   [I and T] to move down, or to make something move down, usually for just a short time//  --We watched the sun dip below the horizon.//  --She dipped her head and spoke into the microphone.//\n  3 BECOME LESS:   [I] if an amount or level dips, it becomes less, usually for just a short time//   fall//  --Profits dipped slightly last year.//  --Temperatures dipped to -10[hA131]C last night.//\n  4 ROAD/PATH:   [C] if land or a road or path dips, it slopes down and then goes up again//\n  5  dip your headlights/lights:   BrE to lower the angle of the front lights of your car when someone is driving towards you//\n  6 ANIMALS:   [T] to put animals in a chemical that kills insects on their skin//    skinny-dipping//  dip into [dip into sth] phr v//\n  1 to read short parts of a book, magazine etc, but not the whole thing:  --It’s the kind of book you can dip into now and again.//\n  2 to use some of an amount of money that you have:  --Medical bills forced her to dip into her savings .//  --Parents are being asked to dip into their pockets for new school books (=use their own money to pay for them) .//\n  3 to put your hand into a bag or box in order to take out one of the things inside:  --On her lap was a bag of candy which she kept dipping into.//\ndip 2 n   ----------//\n   1 swim:\n   2 decrease:\n   3 food:\n   4 in a surface:\n   5 for animals:\n   6 person:\n   7 a dip into something:  ----------//\n  1 SWIM:   [C]  informal a quick swim//  --Are you coming in for a dip?//  take/have a dip //  --Let’s take a dip in the lake before lunch.//\n  2 DECREASE:   [C] a slight decrease in the amount of something//  dip in//  --an unexpected dip in profits//\n  3 FOOD:   [U and C] a thick mixture that you can dip food into before you eat it//  --sour cream and onion dip//\n  4 IN A SURFACE:   [C] a place where the surface of something goes down suddenly, then goes up again//  dip in//  --a dip in the road//\n  5 FOR ANIMALS:   [U and C] a chemical that kills insects on sheep and other animals//  -- sheep dip //\n  6 PERSON:   [C]  AmE  spoken a stupid person//\n  7  a dip into sth:  a quick look at information, a book, magazine etc//  --People interested in history would enjoy a dip into this book.//    lucky dip//


Words: diphtheria
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek diphthera  ’leather’; because of the hardened skin in the throat]//  a serious infectious throat disease that makes breathing difficult//


Words: diphthong
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: Late Latin diphthongus  ’two sounds’, from  Greek phthongos  ’voice, sound’]//  a vowel sound made by pronouncing two vowels quickly one after the other. For example, the vowel sound in ’main’ is a diphthong.//


Words: diploma
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: ’passport, diploma’, from  Greek,  ’folded paper’]//\n  1  BrE a document showing that someone has successfully completed a course of study or passed an examination:  --I’m hoping to get my teaching diploma this year.//  diploma in//  --a diploma in catering//\n  2  AmE a document showing that a student has successfully completed their high school or university education:  high school/college diploma //


Words: diplomacy
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the job or activity of managing the relationships between countries:  --international diplomacy//\n  2 skill in dealing with people without upsetting them:  --The job requires tact and diplomacy.//    gunboat diplomacy at gunboat(2)//


Words: diplomat
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: diplomate, from  diplomatique;   DIPLOMATIC]//\n  1 someone who officially represents their government in a foreign country:    ambassador//  --French diplomats//\n  2 someone who is good at dealing with people without upsetting them:


Words: diplomatic
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: diplomatique, from  Latin diploma;   DIPLOMA]//\n  1 relating to or involving the work of diplomats:  --Diplomatic efforts to end the fighting began on Oct 25.//\n  2  diplomatic relations/ties:  the arrangement between two countries that each should keep representatives at an embassy in the other’s country//  establish/break off diplomatic relations //  --The two countries established diplomatic relations last year.//\n  3 dealing with people politely and skilfully without upsetting them:   tactful//  --They were always very diplomatic with awkward clients.//  --a diplomatic answer//  -- diplomatically/-kli/ adv //  --Maria handled the situation very diplomatically.//


Words: diplomatic bag
Meaning:
n [C]   a bag or container used for sending official government documents to diplomats working abroad//


Words: diplomatic immunity
Meaning:
n [U]   a diplomat’s special rights in the country where they are working, which protect them from local taxes and prosecution//


Words: Diplomatic Service
Meaning:
n   the Diplomatic Service//  the British government department that sends people to represent Britain in other countries//


Words: dipper
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a small bird that finds its food in streams:\n  2 a large spoon with a long handle, used for taking liquid out of a container:    big dipper//


Words: dippy
Meaning:
adj  informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Perhaps from  dipso  ’drunk person’ (19-21 centuries), from  dipsomaniac]//  silly or crazy//


Words: dipsomaniac
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  old-fashioned   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: dipsa  ’feeling of wanting a drink’ +  English maniac]//  someone who has a very strong desire for alcohol, which they cannot control//   alcoholic//


Words: dipstick
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a stick for measuring the amount of liquid in a container, especially the amount of oil in a car’s engine:\n  2  spoken a stupid person:


Words: diptych
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: diptycha, from  Greek, from  diptychos  ’folded in two’]//  a picture made in two parts which can be closed like a book//    triptych//


Words: dire
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: dirus]//\n  1 extremely serious or terrible:  --warnings of dire consequences that often don’t come true//  --The country is in dire need of food aid.//  --The situation looked dire.//\n  2  be in dire straits:  to be in an extremely difficult or serious situation//  --Everyone agrees the sport is in dire straits.//\n  3  dire warning/prediction/forecast:  a warning about something terrible that will happen in the future//  --Last night there were dire warnings of civil war.//


Words: direct
Meaning:
W1S2   adj   ----------//\n   1 without involving others:\n   2 from one place to another:\n   3 exact:\n   4 behaviour/attitude:\n   5 direct descendant:\n   6 direct hit:\n   7 direct heat/sunlight:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: directus, past participle of  dirigere  ’to set straight, guide’]//\n  1 WITHOUT INVOLVING OTHERS:  done without any other people, actions, processes etc coming between//  → indirect//  --Experienced users have direct access to the main data files.//  --I’m not in direct contact with them.//  --Few policy-makers have had direct experience of business.//  direct effect/impact/influence etc //  --Educational level has a sizeable direct effect on income.//  direct link/connection/relationship etc //  --There is a direct link between poverty and ill-health.//  direct result/consequence //  --The decision to close the hospital is a direct result of Government health policy.//\n  2 FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER:  going straight from one place to another without stopping or changing direction//  → indirect//  --Which is the most direct route to London?//  --a direct flight to New York//\n  3 EXACT:   [only before noun] exact or total//  --Weight increases in direct proportion to mass.//  --For Lawrence, in direct contrast to Adam, everything seemed to come so easily.//  --a direct quote  (=exact words) from the book//\n  4 BEHAVIOUR/ATTITUDE:  saying exactly what you mean in an honest clear way//  → indirect//  --Women often feel men are too direct and not sympathetic enough.//  --Now, let me ask you a direct question , and I expect a direct answer .//\n  5  direct descendant:  someone who is related to someone else through their parents and grandparents, not through their aunts, uncles etc//  direct descendant of//  --She claimed to be a direct descendant of Wordsworth.//\n  6  direct hit:  an occasion on which something such as a bomb hits a place exactly, causing a lot of damage//  --During the war, the cathedral suffered many direct hits .//  --One of the bombers scored a direct hit .//\n  7  direct heat/sunlight:  strong heat or light that someone or something is not protected from//  → indirect//  --Never change the film in direct sunlight.//    directly,  directness//\ndirect 2 v   ----------//\n   1 aim:\n   2 be in charge:\n   3 film/play:\n   4 way/route:\n   5 tell somebody to do something:  ----------//\n  1 AIM:   [T always + adverb/preposition] to aim something in a particular direction or at a particular person, group etc//  direct sth at/towards etc sth//  --The machine directs an X-ray beam at the patient’s body.//  --The new route directs lorries away from the town centre.//  --I’d like to direct your attention to paragraph four.//  --I want to direct my efforts more towards my own projects.//\n  2 BE IN CHARGE:   [T] to be in charge of something or control it//  --Mr Turner was directing the investigation from a very early stage.//  --The choir was directed by Sir David Willcocks.//\n  3 FILM/PLAY:   [I and T] to give the actors in a play, film, or television programme instructions about what they should do//  --The play was directed by Frank Hauser.//\n  4 WAY/ROUTE:   [T]  formal to tell someone how to get to a place//  direct sb to sth//  --Could you direct me to Trafalgar Square, please?//\n  5 TELL SOMEBODY TO DO SOMETHING:   [T]  formal to tell someone what they should do//   order//  direct sb to do sth//  --The judge directed the jury to find Mr Baggs not guilty.//  direct that//  --He directed that his body should be buried in Upton, Northamptonshire.//  ----------//  WORD CHOICE: direct, take, guide, lead //  If you  direct  someone somewhere, you tell them which way to go to get there, but you do not go with them : He directed me to a hotel near the airport (NOT He guided me to a hotel near the airport). //  !!  Do not say that you direct something in a particular direction. Say that you  point  something in a particular direction : He pointed the gun at the policeman (NOT He directed the gun at the policeman). //  If you  take ,  guide , or  lead  someone somewhere, you go with them there : I’ll take you to the airport.  Use  guide  especially to talk about helping someone along a difficult route : They guided me through a maze of one-way streets.  Use  lead  to talk about going in front of someone who is following you : The waiter led us to a table in the corner. //  ----------//\ndirect 3 adv \n  1 without stopping or changing direction:   directly//  --Can we fly direct to Chicago, or do we stop in Salt Lake City first?//\n  2 without dealing with anyone else first:   directly//  --Esther decided to contact the manager direct.//  --It is usually cheaper to buy the goods direct from the wholesaler.//


Words: direct access
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   the ability to obtain data directly from a computer file without starting from the beginning//


Words: direct action
Meaning:
n [U]   an action such as a strike or a protest that is intended to make a government or company change something immediately//  --Peaceful direct action by pressure groups has a powerful effect on public opinion.//


Words: direct debit
Meaning:
n [U and C]  BrE   an instruction you give your bank to pay money directly out of your account regularly to a particular person or organization//


Words: direct deposit
Meaning:
n [U]   a method of paying someone’s wages directly into their bank account//  -- direct deposit v  [T] //


Words: direct marketing
Meaning:
n [U]   the business of selling things directly to people by post or telephone rather than in shops//


Words: direct object
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   in grammar, the person or thing that is affected by the action of a transitive verb, for example ’Mary’ in the statement ’I saw Mary’//    indirect object//


Words: direct speech
Meaning:
n [U]   speech reported using the actual words spoken, as in " ’I don’t want to go,’ said Julie."//    indirect speech,  reported speech//


Words: direct tax
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a tax, such as income tax, which is collected from the person who pays it, rather than a tax on goods or services//    indirect tax//  -- direct taxation n  [U] //


Words: direct-to-consumer
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   direct-to-consumer advertising is aimed at the customer who will buy the product rather than the shops where it will be sold//


Words: direction
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 towards:\n   2 directions:\n   3 way something develops:\n   4 control:\n   5 where from or where to:\n   6 purpose:\n   7 film/play:  ----------//\n  1 TOWARDS:   [C] the way something or someone moves, faces, or is aimed//  --Which direction did they go in ?//  in the direction of sth//  --The suspects were last seen heading in the direction of Miami.//  in sb’s direction//  --Tony glanced in her direction and their eyes met.//  --The girls pointed in the opposite direction .//  --On seeing me, Maurice changed direction and went along the wharf instead.//  --As shots rang out, the crowd ran screaming in all directions .//  from the direction of sth//  --There was a loud scream from the direction of the children’s pool.//  in a southerly/easterly etc direction //  --Continue in a southerly direction until you reach the road.//\n  2  directions [plural] :  a) instructions about how to get from one place to another//  --A very helpful woman gave me directions to the police station.//  b) instructions about what to do//  --Be sure you read the directions before using any piece of equipment.//\n  3 WAY SOMETHING DEVELOPS:   [C] the general way in which someone or something changes or develops//  --We are happy with the direction the club is taking .//  move/head/go in the right direction //  --I believe that things are heading in the right direction in South Africa.//  new/different/exciting etc direction //  --The company is hoping to extend its operations in new directions.//\n  4 CONTROL:   [U] control, management, or advice//  under sb’s direction//  --Under Thompson’s direction, the college has developed an international reputation.//\n  5 WHERE FROM OR WHERE TO:   [C] where something comes from or where something leads//  in a direction//  --The evidence all points in this direction.//  from a direction//  --Help came from a wholly unexpected direction.//\n  6 PURPOSE:   [U] a general purpose or aim//  --Her mother felt that Rachel’s life lacked direction .//\n  7 FILM/PLAY:   [U] the instructions given to the actors and other people working on a film, play etc//    a step in the right direction at step1 (2)//


Words: directional
Meaning:
adj  technical \n  1 relating to the direction in which something is pointing or moving:\n  2 a directional piece of equipment receives or gives out radio signals from some directions more strongly than others:


Words: directive
Meaning:
n [C]   an official order or instruction//  directive on//  --proposals for implementing the EU directive on paternity leave//\ndirective 2 adj  formal   giving instructions//  --The team leader will have a less directive role.//


Words: directly
Meaning:
adv \n  1 with no other person, action, process etc between:  → indirectly//  --The new property tax law won’t directly affect us.//  --We hope to bring together the countries directly involved in the conflict.//  directly to/from//  --Application for admission to this course should be made directly to the University.//\n  2 exactly in a particular position or direction:   right//  directly in front of/behind/under etc sth //  --It was a small house, directly behind the church.//  --The girl was sitting directly opposite him.//  --Have you noticed how he never looks directly at you?//\n  3  speak/ask/answer etc directly:  to say exactly what you mean without trying to hide anything//  --Jeff has a job in mind, but refuses to say directly what it is.//\n  4  BrE  old-fashioned very soon:  --He should be here directly, if you don’t mind waiting.//\n  5  BrE  old-fashioned immediately:\ndirectly 2 conj  BrE  old-fashioned   as soon as//  --I came directly I got your message.//


Words: directness
Meaning:
n [U]   the quality of being clear, plain, or easy to understand//  --She has a childlike enthusiasm and directness.//  directness of//  --The directness of the question startled me.//


Words: director
Meaning:
W1   n [C] \n  1 someone who controls or manages a company:    executive//  director of//  --a former director of Gartmore Pensions Ltd//  --The company is run by a board of directors  (=a group of directors) .//\n  2 someone who is in charge of a particular activity or organization:  director of//  --the director of education for Norfolk//  finance/marketing/sales etc director (=the person in charge of the financial department etc) //\n  3 the person who gives instructions to the actors and other people working on a film or play:    producer//


Words: Director of Public Prosecutions
Meaning:
the DPP in the legal system of England and Wales, the lawyer whose job it is to decide whether or not a person should be charged with a crime, in cases where it is not clear. There is a similar official in Scotland called the  procurator fiscal.//


Words: Director of Studies
Meaning:
n [C]   a teacher in a British university or language school who is in charge of organizing the students’ programmes of study//


Words: director’s cut
Meaning:
n [C]   a film containing all the parts that the director wanted to include, that usually appears after the film has been shown in cinemas without those parts//


Words: director-general
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   the person in charge of a large public organization//  --the Director-General of Fair Trading//


Words: directorate
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 the group of directors who run a company:   board//\n  2 a department of a government or large organization in charge of a particular area or activity:  --the regional directorate of education//


Words: directorial
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   relating to the work of a film or theatre director//  --De Niro’s directorial debut, Tales of the Bronx//


Words: directorship
Meaning:
n [C]   the position of being a director of a company or organization//  under the directorship of sb//  --The Institute was established in 1960 under the directorship of Professor Leon Radzinowicz.//


Words: directory
Meaning:
n   plural  directories  [C] //\n  1 a book or list of names, facts etc, usually arranged in alphabetical order:  --I couldn’t find your number in the telephone directory.//  --a new business directory//\n  2 a place in a computer where files or programs are organized:


Words: directory enquiries
Meaning:
BrE directory assistance  AmE n [U]   a service on the telephone network that you can use to find out someone’s telephone number//


Words: dirge
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: dirige  ’guide’ (the first word of a funeral song), from  dirigere;   DIRECT1]//\n  1 a slow sad song sung at a funeral:\n  2 a song or piece of music that is too slow and boring:


Words: dirt
Meaning:
S3   n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old Norse; Origin: drit]//\n  1 any substance that makes things dirty, such as mud or dust:  --You should have seen the dirt on that car!//  --His face and hands were black with dirt.//  --a patch of grass, covered in dog dirt  (=waste from a dog’s bowels) //\n  2  especially AmE earth or soil:  --Michael threw his handful of dirt onto the coffin.//  in (the) dirt//  --The children had been sitting in the dirt.//\n  3  informal information about someone’s private life or activities which could give people a bad opinion of them if it became known:  --The newspapers had been digging up dirt on the President.//\n  4 talk, writing, a film etc that is considered bad or immoral because it is about sex:    dish the dirt at dish2 ,  hit/strike paydirt at paydirt,  hit the dirt at hit1 (17),  treat sb like dirt at treat1 (1)//


Words: dirt cheap adj
Meaning:
adv  informal   extremely cheap//  --Such cheap goods obviously rely on dirt cheap labor.//  --I got these shoes dirt cheap.//


Words: dirt farmer
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   a poor farmer who works to feed himself and his family, without paying anyone else to help//


Words: dirty
Meaning:
W3S2   adj   comparative  dirtier superlative  dirtiest //  clean, dirty//  ----------//\n   1 not clean:\n   2 sex:\n   3 bad/immoral:\n   4 something is a dirty word:\n   5 give somebody a dirty look:\n   6 dirty trick:\n   7 wash your dirty linen/laundry:\n   8 do somebody’s dirty work:\n   9 it’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it:\n  10 drugs:\n  11 dirty bomb:\n  12 sport:  ----------//\n  1 NOT CLEAN:  covered in or marked by an unwanted substance//  → clean//  --a stack of dirty dishes in the sink//  --How did you get so dirty?//  dirty clothes/washing/laundry //  --She circled the bedroom, picking up dirty clothes.//\n  2 SEX:  relating to sex, in a way that is considered immoral or unpleasant//  --kids telling dirty jokes //  --a dirty magazine//  --She looked at me as if I had said a dirty word .//  have a dirty mind  BrE  (=think about sex a lot) //  dirty weekend  BrE  (=a weekend when a man and woman who are not married to each other go away to have sex) //\n  3 BAD/IMMORAL:  used to emphasize that you think someone or something is bad, dishonest, or immoral//  --You’re a dirty liar!//  --a dirty fighter//  --you and your dirty little deals//  do the dirty on sb  BrE  (=treat someone in a way that is unfair or dishonest) //  --What a dirty rotten trick!//\n  4  sth is a dirty word:  if something is a dirty word, people believe it is a bad thing even if they do not know or think much about it//   swear word//  --’Liberal’ has somehow become a dirty word in America.//\n  5  give sb a dirty look:  to look at someone in a very disapproving way//  --Susan gave her brother a dirty look.//\n  6  dirty trick:  a dishonest or unfair action, especially done by a government, company, or organization//  --political dirty tricks//\n  7  wash your dirty linen/laundry:   also air your dirty laundry  AmE to discuss something embarrassing or bad about yourself where everyone can see, know, or hear//  --The divorce has meant airing their dirty laundry in court.//\n  8  do sb’s dirty work:  to do an unpleasant or dishonest action for someone, so that they do not have to do it themselves//  --I’m not talking to him; you do your own dirty work!//\n  9  it’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it:  used to say that something is unpleasant to do, but that it is necessary - often used humorously//\n  10 DRUGS:   AmE  informal containing or possessing illegal drugs//\n  11  dirty bomb:  a bomb that contains a  radioactive substance which makes the bomb more dangerous than bombs containing only traditional explosives//\n  12 SPORT:  a dirty sports event is one in which people competing in the event have illegally used drugs to improve their performance//  --Many people think that the race has been a dirty event for years.//  -- dirtily adv //  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: dirty //  similar words: filthy,  grubby,  grimy,  mucky (BrE),  muddy,  greasy,  dusty,  soiled,  contaminated,  polluted //  ----------//\ndirty 2 adv  informal \n  1  play dirty:  to behave in a very unfair and dishonest way, especially in a competition or game//  --a team that plays dirty//\n  2  talk dirty:  to talk about sex using offensive words//\n  3  dirty great/dirty big:   BrE  spoken extremely big//  --a dirty great snake//\ndirty 3   past tense and past participle  dirtied present participle  dirtying third person singular  dirties  v [I and T] //\n  1 to make something dirty:\n  2 to make someone feel or seem bad, dishonest, or immoral:  --The army’s actions dirtied its reputation.//\n  3  dirty your hands:  to do hard physical work, in which your hands become dirty//


Words: dirty old man
Meaning:
n [C]  informal   an older man who is too sexually interested in younger women - used to show disapproval//


Words: dis-
Meaning:
prefix   [Language: Old French; Origin: des-, from  Latin dis-, from  dis  ’apart’]//\n  1 shows an opposite or negative:  --I disapprove (=do not approve) //  --dishonesty (=lack of honesty) //\n  2 [in verbs] shows the stopping or removing of a condition:  --Disconnect the machine.//  --Disinfect the wound.//


Words: disability
Meaning:
n   plural  disabilities //\n  1 [C] a physical or mental condition that makes it difficult for someone to use a part of their body properly, or to learn normally:  with a disability//  --Public places are becoming more accessible to people with disabilities.//  learning/physical/mental etc disability //  --children with severe learning disabilities //\n  2 [U] when you have a physical or mental disability:  --learning to cope with disability//\n  3 [U]  AmE money that is given by the government to people who have physical disabilities:  on disability//  --Evans lives on disability because of an accident that left her paralyzed.//


Words: disable
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 [usually passive] to make someone unable to use a part of their body properly:  --Carter was permanently disabled in the war.//\n  2 to deliberately make a machine or piece of equipment impossible to use:  --The virus will disable your computer.//  -- disablement n  [U and C] //  -- disabling adj //  --a disabling injury//


Words: disabled
Meaning:
W3   adj \n  1 someone who is disabled cannot use a part of their body properly, or cannot learn easily:    handicapped//  --a support group for parents of disabled children//  --a severely disabled polio patient//  physically/mentally disabled //  --If you are elderly or physically disabled, massage can be beneficial.//  --teachers who work with learning disabled children (=children who have problems learning) //  disabled parking/toilet/access etc (=for physically disabled people) //\n  2  the disabled:   [plural] people who are disabled//  --The theatre has good access for the disabled.//


Words: disabuse
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: dis- +   ABUSE2 ’to deceive’ (15-18 centuries)]//  to persuade someone that what they believe is not true//  disabuse sb of sth//  --I tried to disabuse him of that notion.//


Words: disadvantage
Meaning:
n [U and C]   something that causes problems, or that makes someone or something less likely to be successful or effective//  → advantage//  disadvantage of//  --The main disadvantage of the material is that it fades in strong sunlight.//  disadvantage to//  --There are some  big disadvantages  to marriage - you do lose a lot of your freedom.//  --Both methods have their  advantages and disadvantages  .//  --Anyone who can’t use a computer  is at a disadvantage  these days.//  --The new rules may  put European farmers  at a disadvantage .//  --The benefits of the system far  outweigh the disadvantages .//  --Criminal behaviour can be linked to  economic disadvantage .//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  big/major/serious/grave disadvantage //  advantages and disadvantages //  be at a disadvantage (=have a disadvantage) //  put/place somebody at a disadvantage //  the advantages/benefits outweigh the disadvantages (=there are more advantages than disadvantages ) //  social/economic/educational disadvantage (=a situation in which someone has a much lower social, economic, or educational level than other people) //  ----------//\ndisadvantage 2 v [T]   to make someone less likely to be successful or to put them in a worse situation than others//


Words: disadvantaged
Meaning:
adj \n  1 having social problems, such as a lack of money or education, which make it difficult for you to succeed:  --disadvantaged areas of the city//\n  2  the disadvantaged [plural] people who are disadvantaged:  --health programs for the disadvantaged//


Words: disadvantageous
Meaning:
for]  formal   unfavourable and likely to cause problems for you//  → advantageous//  -- disadvantageously adv //


Words: disaffected
Meaning:
adj  formal   not satisfied with your government, leader etc, and therefore no longer loyal to them or no longer believing they can help you//  --the disaffected youth from poor neighborhoods//  -- disaffection/-fek[hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: disaffiliate
Meaning:
v [I,T + from]  formal   if an organization disaffiliates from another organization or is disaffiliated from it, it breaks the official connection it has with it//  → affiliate//  -- disaffiliation/d[hA366]s[hA353]f[hA366]lie[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: disagree
Meaning:
S2   v [I] \n  1 to have or express a different opinion from someone else:  → agree//  disagree with//  --He is tolerant of those who disagree with him.//  disagree about/on/over//  --Experts disagree on how much the program will cost.//  --Barr strongly disagreed with Kronfeld’s statement.//\n  2 if statements, numbers, or reports about the same event or situation disagree, they are different from each other:  → agree//  --The statements of several witnesses disagree.//  disagree with [disagree with sb] phr v//  if something such as food or weather disagrees with you, it has a bad effect on you or makes you ill//  --Seafood always disagrees with me.//


Words: disagreeable
Meaning:
adj  formal \n  1 not at all enjoyable or pleasant:  → agreeable//  --a disagreeable job//  disagreeable to//  --The conversation was disagreeable to him.//\n  2 unfriendly and bad-tempered:  → agreeable//  --a rude, disagreeable woman//  -- disagreeably adv //


Words: disagreement
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] a situation in which people express different opinions about something and sometimes argue:  → agreement//  --We’ve had a few disagreements , but we’re still good friends.//  disagreement about/over/as to/on//  --disagreements about who will be allowed to vote//  disagreement among/between//  --There were disagreements among doctors about the best way to treat the disease.//  disagreement with//  --Connor’s disagreements with school administrators//  sharp/fundamental/profound etc disagreement (=serious disagreement) //  be in disagreement//   (=disagree) //  --Scientists are in disagreement about the significance of the data.//\n  2 [U] differences between two statements, reports, numbers etc that ought to be similar:  → agreement//  disagreement between//  --There is disagreement between these two estimates.//


Words: disallow
Meaning:
v [T]   to officially refuse to accept something, because a rule has been broken//  → allow//  --Machester United had a goal disallowed for being offside.//


Words: disappear
Meaning:
v [I] \n  1 to become impossible to see any longer:   vanish//  → appear//  disappear behind/under/into etc//  --The sun had disappeared behind a cloud.//  disappear from view/sight //  --David watched her car until it disappeared from view.//  --At this point the path seemed to disappear altogether  (=disappear completely) .//\n  2 to be lost, or to become impossible to find:   vanish//  --The two girls disappeared while walking home from school.//  --My keys have disappeared again.//  disappear without trace  BrE //  /without a trace  AmE  (=without any way of finding them) //  --75,000 soldiers simply disappeared without trace.//\n  3 to stop existing:  --The rain forest may disappear forever.//


Words: disappearance
Meaning:
n [U and C] \n  1 when someone or something becomes impossible to see or find:  --Police are investigating the woman’s disappearance.//\n  2 when something stops existing:    extinction//  --the disappearance of ancient forests//


Words: disappoint
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: desapointier, from  apointier  ’to arrange’]//\n  1 to make someone feel unhappy because something they hoped for did not happen or was not as good as they expected:  --I hated to disappoint her.//  --Great things were expected of this band, and they didn’t disappoint.//\n  2  disappoint sb’s hopes/expectations/plans:  to prevent something from happening that someone hoped for or expected//  --The Berlin settlement of 1878 disappointed Russian hopes in the Balkans.//


Words: disappointed
Meaning:
adj   unhappy because something you hoped for did not happen, or because someone or something was not as good as you expected//  --Dad seemed more disappointed than angry.//  --disappointed customers//  disappointed at/with/about//  --Local residents were disappointed with the decision.//  disappointed (that)//  --I was disappointed that we played so well yet still lost.//  disappointed in//  --I’m very disappointed in you.//  bitterly/deeply/terribly disappointed //  --The girl’s parents were bitterly disappointed at the jury’s verdict.//  disappointed to hear/see/find etc //  --Visitors were disappointed to find the museum closed.//


Words: disappointing
Meaning:
adj   not as good as you hoped or expected//  --disappointing profit figures//  --The Lakers’ loss in the playoffs was very disappointing.//  -- disappointingly adv //


Words: disappointment
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] a feeling of unhappiness because something is not as good as you expected, or has not happened in the way you hoped:  --He could see the disappointment in her eyes.//  to sb’s (great) disappointment//  --To Edward’s disappointment, Gina never turned up at the party.//  disappointment at/with/over etc//  --the managers’ disappointment with the results//  --Several people expressed disappointment at the delay.//  disappointment that//  --her disappointment that she hadn’t been picked//  --She was unable to hide her bitter disappointment .//\n  2 [C] someone or something that is not as good as you hoped or expected:  --The movie was kind of a disappointment.//  great/bitter disappointment //  --The loss was a bitter disappointment.//  disappointment to//  --She felt she was a disappointment to her family.//  disappointment for//  --The team’s performance has been a disappointment for the fans.//


Words: disapprobation
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   disapproval of someone or something because you think they are morally wrong//  → approbation//


Words: disapproval
Meaning:
n [U]   an attitude that shows you think that someone or their behaviour, ideas etc are bad or not suitable//  → approval//  disapproval of//  -- strong disapproval of the country’s human rights record//  with/in disapproval//  --Baxter eyed our clothes with obvious disapproval.//  --Clarissa shook her head in disapproval.//


Words: disapprove
Meaning:
v \n  1 [I] to think that someone or their behaviour, ideas etc are bad or wrong:  → approve//  --I knew my parents would disapprove, but I went anyway.//  disapprove of//  --I disapprove of diets; it’s better to eat sensibly.//  --Her family strongly disapproved of her behaviour.//\n  2 [T]  formal to not agree to something that has been suggested:  → approve//  --The board of directors disapproved the sale.//


Words: disapproving
Meaning:
adj   showing that you think someone or something is bad or wrong//  → approving//  --a disapproving frown//  -- disapprovingly adv //


Words: disarm
Meaning:
v \n  1 [I] to reduce the size of your army, navy etc, and the number of your weapons:  → arm//  --Getting the rebels to disarm will not be easy.//\n  2 [T] to take away someone’s weapons:  → arm//  --Captured soldiers were disarmed and put into camps.//\n  3 [T] to make someone feel less angry or disapproving of you, and more friendly:    disarming//  --His tact and political skills disarmed his critics.//\n  4 [T] to take the explosives out of a bomb, missile etc:


Words: disarmament
Meaning:
n [U]   when a country reduces the number of weapons it has, or the size of its army, navy etc//  --a commitment to worldwide nuclear disarmament //


Words: disarming
Meaning:
adj   making you feel less angry or disapproving towards someone, and more friendly//  --a disarming sense of humor//  -- disarmingly adv //


Words: disarray
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   the state of being untidy or not organized//  in disarray//  --This left the Liberal Party in total disarray .//  throw sth into disarray/fall into disarray //  --The delay threw the entire timetable into disarray.//


Words: disaster
Meaning:
W3S2   n [U and C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: desastre, from  Italian disastro, from  astro  ’star’ (from the idea of luck coming from the stars)]//\n  1 a sudden event such as a flood, storm, or accident which causes great damage or suffering:    catastrophe//  --One hundred and twenty people died in China’s worst  air disaster .//  --the economic consequences of the Chernobyl  nuclear disaster //  disaster for//  --The oil spill was a disaster for Alaskan sea animals.//  --The 1987 hurricane was the worst natural disaster to hit England for decades.//  --Their expedition nearly  ended in disaster , when one of the climbers slid off the mountain.//  --The drought could spell disaster for wildlife.//  -- Disaster struck when two men were killed during their parachute jumps.//  --The peace process was  on the brink of disaster .//  --Luckily the pilot saw the other plane just in time, and a disaster  was narrowly averted .//\n  2 something that is very bad or a failure, especially when this is very annoying or disappointing:  sth is a complete/total/disaster //  --Because of the weather, the parade was a total disaster.//  --The evening was an unmitigated disaster  (=a complete failure) .//  disaster for//  --The cuts in funding will be a disaster for the schools.//  --Five small boys on skis is a recipe for disaster  (=is very likely to end badly) .//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  air disaster //  nuclear disaster //  natural disaster  (=caused by nature) //  ecological/environmental disaster  (=one that causes great damage to nature) //  end in disaster //  spell disaster  (=mean that there will be disaster) //  disaster strikes  (=it happens) //  on the brink of disaster //  prevent/avert a disaster //  something is a disaster waiting to happen //  ----------//


Words: disaster area
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a place where a flood, storm, fire etc has happened and caused a lot of damage:  --The town was declared a disaster area  (=officially called a disaster area) after the floods.//\n  2  informal a place that is very untidy or dirty:  --The kitchen is a disaster area.//


Words: disastrous
Meaning:
adj   very bad, or ending in failure//  --a disastrous first marriage//  disastrous effects/consequences/results //  --Climate change could have disastrous effects on Earth.//  --The move proved disastrous  (=was disastrous) for the company.//  -- disastrously adv //


Words: disavow
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   to say that you are not responsible for something, that you do not know about it, or that you are not involved with it//  -- disavowal n  [U and C] //


Words: disbar
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  disbarred present participle  disbarring  [T] //  to make a lawyer leave the legal profession//    debar//


Words: disbelief
Meaning:
n [U]   a feeling that something is not true or does not exist//    unbelief, belief//  --The reaction to the murders was one of shock and disbelief.//  in/with disbelief//  --Rosie stared in disbelief.//


Words: disbelieve
Meaning:
v [I and T]  formal   to not believe something or someone//  --I see no reason to disbelieve him.//  -- disbelieving adj //


Words: disburse
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: desborser, from  borse  ’money bag’]//  to pay out money, especially from a large sum that is available for a special purpose//  -- disbursement n  [U and C] //


Words: disc
Meaning:
S3  also  disk especially AmE   n [C] \n  1 a round flat shape or object:  --three keys attached to a metal disc//\n  2 a compact disc:\n  3 a record that you play on a record player:\n  4  BrE a computer disk:  on disc//  --The report form is available on disc from Personnel.//\n  5 a flat piece of cartilage between the bones of your back:  --He retired early because of a slipped disc  (=one that has moved out of its correct place) .//    disc brakes,  disc jockey,  disk drive,  laser disk//


Words: disc brakes
Meaning:
n [plural]    brakes that work by two hard surfaces pressing against a disc in the centre of a car wheel//


Words: disc jockey
Meaning:
n [C]   DJ someone whose job is to play the music on a radio show or in a club where you can dance//


Words: discard
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: dis- +   CARD15]//\n  1 [T] to get rid of something:   throw away//  --Discard any old cleaning materials.//  --discarded paper//\n  2 [I and T] to put down unwanted cards in a card game:\ndiscard 2   n [C]   an unwanted card that is put down in a card game//


Words: discern
Meaning:
v [T not in progressive]  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: discernere  ’to separate’, from  cernere  ’to sift’]//\n  1 to notice or understand something by thinking about it carefully:  discern what/where/why etc//  --Officials were keen to discern how much public support there was.//\n  2 to be able to see something by looking carefully:   perceive//  --We could just discern a town in the distance.//  -- discernible adj //  -- discernibly adv //


Words: discerning
Meaning:
adj   showing the ability to make good judgments, especially about art, music, style etc//   discriminating//  --an ideal tour for the discerning traveller//  the discerning eye/ear (=someone who can make good judgments about art or music) //


Words: discernment
Meaning:
n [U]  formal \n  1 the ability to make good judgments about people or about art, music, style etc:  --the woman’s taste and discernment//\n  2 when you notice or understand something:  --the discernment of opportunities//


Words: discharge
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 send somebody away:\n   2 gas/liquid/smoke etc:\n   3 shoot:\n   4 duty/responsibility/debt etc:\n   5 electricity:\n   6 a wound:\n   7 goods/passengers:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: descharger, from  Late Latin carricare  ’to load’]//\n  1 SEND SOMEBODY AWAY:   [T] to officially allow someone to leave somewhere, especially the hospital or the army, navy etc, or to tell them that they must leave//  --Hospitals now tend to discharge patients earlier than in the past.//  --The judge discharged the jury.//  discharge sb from sth//  --Several of the recruits were discharged from the Army due to medical problems.//  discharge yourself  BrE  (=leave hospital before your treatment is complete) //  conditionally discharge sb  BrE  (=let someone leave prison if they obey particular rules) //  --Dunning was conditionally discharged for two years.//\n  2 GAS/LIQUID/SMOKE ETC:   [I always + adverb/preposition, T] to send out gas, liquid, smoke etc, or to allow it to escape//  discharge sth into sth//  --Sewage is discharged directly into the sea.//  discharge into//  --Rainwater collects here and then discharges into the river Kennett.//\n  3 SHOOT:   [T]  formal to fire a gun or shoot an arrow etc//  --A soldier accidentally discharged his weapon.//\n  4 DUTY/RESPONSIBILITY/DEBT ETC:   [T]  formal to do or pay what you have a duty to do or pay//  discharge your duties/responsibilities/obligations etc //  --The trustees failed to discharge their duties properly.//\n  5 ELECTRICITY:   [I and T] if a piece of electrical equipment discharges, or if it is discharged, it sends out electricity//\n  6 A WOUND:   [I and T] if a wound or body part discharges a substance such as pus (=infected liquid) , the substance slowly comes out of it//\n  7 GOODS/PASSENGERS:   [T]  formal to take goods or passengers off a ship, plane etc//\ndischarge 2   n  formal \n  1 [U] when you officially allow someone to leave somewhere, especially the hospital or their job in the army, navy etc:  discharge from//  --Nurses visit the mother and baby for two weeks after their discharge from the hospital.//    dishonourable discharge,  honorable discharge//\n  2 [U and C] when gas, liquid, smoke etc is sent out, or the substance that is sent out:  discharge of//  --the discharge of toxic waste into the sea//\n  3 [U and C] when a substance slowly comes out of a wound or part of your body, or the substance that comes out:\n  4 [U and C] electricity that is sent out by a piece of equipment, a storm etc:\n  5 [U] when someone performs a duty or pays a debt:  discharge of//  --the discharge of the college’s legal responsibilities//\n  6 [U] when someone shoots a gun:


Words: disciple
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 800-900; Language: Latin; Origin: discipulus  ’pupil’]//\n  1 someone who believes in the ideas of a great teacher or leader, especially a religious one:  disciple of//  --He was also an avid reader and a disciple of Tolstoy.//\n  2 one of the first 12 men to follow Christ:  -- discipleship n  [U] //


Words: disciplinarian
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who believes people should obey orders and rules, and who makes them do this//  --Dad was a strict disciplinarian .//


Words: disciplinary
Meaning:
adj   relating to the punishment of someone who has not obeyed rules, or to trying to make people obey rules//  --The investigation led to disciplinary action  (=things you do to punish someone) against two officers.//  disciplinary hearing/committee (=a meeting or group that decides if someone should be punished) //


Words: discipline
Meaning:
W2S3   n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: descepline, from  Latin disciplina  ’teaching, learning’, from  discipulus;   DISCIPLE]//\n  1 [U] a way of training someone so that they learn to control their behaviour and obey rules:  --The book gives parents advice on discipline.//  --serious discipline problems in the police force//\n  2 [U] the ability to control your own behaviour, so that you do what you are expected to do:  --Working from home requires a good deal of discipline.//    self-discipline//\n  3 [U and C] a way of training your mind or learning to control your behaviour:  --Martial arts teach respect, discipline, and cooperation.//  discipline for//  --Learning poetry is a good discipline for the memory.//\n  4 [C] an area of knowledge or teaching, especially one such as history, chemistry, mathematics etc that is studied at a university:\ndiscipline 2 v [T] \n  1 to punish someone in order to keep order and control:  --The officers were later disciplined.//\n  2 to teach someone to obey rules and control their behaviour:  --Different cultures have different ways of disciplining their children.//\n  3  discipline yourself (to do sth):  to control the way you work, how regularly you do something etc, because you know it is good for you//  --Try to discipline yourself to write every day.//


Words: disclaim
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   to state, especially officially, that you are not responsible for something, that you do not know about it, or that you are not involved with it//   deny//  disclaim responsibility/knowledge etc //  --Martin disclaimed any responsibility for his son’s actions.//


Words: disclaimer
Meaning:
n [C]   a statement that you are not responsible for or involved with something, or that you do not know about it - used especially in advertising or legal agreements//


Words: disclose
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: desclore, from  Medieval Latin disclaudere  ’to open’]//\n  1 to make something publicly known, especially after it has been kept secret:   reveal//  --Some companies have already voluntarily disclosed similar information .//  --He refused to disclose the identity of the politician.//  disclose that//  --It was disclosed that [hA124]3.5 million was needed to modernize the building.//\n  2 to show something by removing the thing that covers it:   reveal//


Words: disclosure
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a secret that someone tells people, or the act of telling this secret//  --the disclosure of private medical information//


Words: disco
Meaning:
n   plural  discos //  [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: discotheque]//\n  1 [C] a place or social event at which people dance to recorded popular music:  --the school disco//\n  2 [U] a type of dance music that was first popular in the 1970s:


Words: discoloration
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] the process of becoming discoloured:\n  2 [C] a place on the surface of something where it has become discoloured:


Words: discolour
Meaning:
BrE  discolor AmE   v [I and T]   to change colour, or to make something change colour, so that it looks unattractive//  --Once cut, apples quickly discolour.//


Words: discombobulated
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Probably from  discompose or  discomfit]//  completely confused - used humorously//


Words: discomfit
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: desconfit, past participle of  desconfire  ’to destroy’, from  confire  ’to make’]//  to make someone feel slightly uncomfortable, annoyed, or embarrassed//  --He was discomfited by her silence.//  -- discomfiture n  [U] //


Words: discomfort
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] a feeling of slight pain or of being physically uncomfortable:  --If the exercise causes discomfort, stop immediately.//\n  2 [U] a feeling of embarrassment, shame, or worry:  --To her discomfort, he laughed.//\n  3 [C] something that makes you feel uncomfortable or gives you a slight pain:  --the discomforts of air travel//


Words: discompose
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   to make someone feel worried and no longer calm//   disturb//  -- discomposure/-p[hA353][hA35E][hA360][hA353] $ -po[hA35E][hA360][hA353]r/ n  [U] //


Words: disconcert
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Old French; Origin: desconcerter, from  concerter  ’to bring into agreement’]//  to make someone feel slightly confused, embarrassed, or worried//  -- disconcerted adj //  --a disconcerted look//


Words: disconcerting
Meaning:
adj   making you feel slightly confused, embarrassed, or worried//  --a disconcerting question//  -- disconcertingly adv //


Words: disconnect
Meaning:
v \n  1 [T] to remove the supply of power, gas, water etc from a machine or piece of equipment:  → connect//  disconnect sth from sth//  --Always disconnect the machine from the mains first.//  --The family agreed to disconnect her life support system.//\n  2 [I and T] to separate something from the thing it is connected to, or to become separated:  → connect//  disconnect from//  --Two freight cars disconnected from the train engine.//  disconnect sth from sth//  --Disconnect part A from part D.//\n  3 [T] to officially stop supplying a service, such as water, telephone, electricity, or gas, to a house or other building:  → connect//  --Eleven percent of households were disconnected for non-payment of bills.//\n  4 [I and T] if you disconnect or become disconnected from your feelings, family, society etc, you no longer feel as though you belong or have a relationship with them:  disconnect from//  --Divorced men can too easily become disconnected from their children.//\n  5 [T] to break the telephone connection between two people:  → connect//  -- disconnection/-nek[hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //\ndisconnect 2 n [singular]   when two people or groups no longer understand or have a relationship with each other//  --the disconnect between the ordinary public and the concerns of politicians//


Words: disconsolate
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: disconsolatus, from  Latin consolari  ’to console’]//  extremely sad and hopeless//  --He was disconsolate after his divorce.//  -- disconsolately adv //


Words: discontent
Meaning:
[U]   a feeling of being unhappy and not satisfied with the situation you are in//  → contentment//  discontent with//  --Discontent with the current government is strong.//  discontent at/over//  --There is widespread discontent at the quality of education.//  --Perhaps she sensed my growing discontent .//


Words: discontented
Meaning:
adj   unhappy or not satisfied with the situation you are in//  → contented//  discontented with//  --She became increasingly discontented with her work.//  -- discontentedly adv //


Words: discontinue
Meaning:
v [T]   to stop doing, producing, or providing something//  --Bus route 51 is being discontinued.//  --a discontinued china pattern//  -- discontinuation/d[hA366]sk[hA353]nt[hA366]njue[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //  -- discontinuance/d[hA366]sk[hA353]nt[hA366]nju[hA353]ns/ n  [U] //


Words: discontinuity
Meaning:
n   plural  discontinuities //\n  1 [C] a sudden change or pause in a process:  discontinuity between//  --the policy discontinuities between the present and previous governments//\n  2 [U] when a process is not continuous:  --discontinuity in economic development//


Words: discord
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: discorde, from  Latin discors  ’heart apart, disagreement’]//\n  1 [U]  formal disagreement or arguing between people:  --marital discord//  --discord within NATO//\n  2 [U and C] an unpleasant sound made by a group of musical notes that do not go together well:    harmony//


Words: discordant
Meaning:
adj \n  1  formal a discordant sound is unpleasant because it is made up of musical notes that do not go together well:\n  2  literary strange, wrong, or unsuitable in relation to everything around:  → harmonious//  --The modern decor strikes a discordant note in this 17th century building.//\n  3  formal not in agreement:  --discordant results from the experiment//


Words: discotheque
Meaning:
n [C]  especially BrE   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: discoth[hA169]que, from  disc  ’record’ +  -th[hA169]que (as in  biblioth[hA169]que  ’library’)]//  a disco//


Words: discount
Meaning:
S3   n [C]   a reduction in the usual price of something//  10% discount/discount of 25% etc //  --Members get a 15% discount .//  at a discount//  --Employees can buy books at a discount.//  discount on//  --The Young Persons Railcard gives you a discount on rail travel.//  offer/give sb a discount //  discount price/fare //  --discount airfares to Europe//  discount store/shop/warehouse (=a place where you can buy goods cheaply) //\ndiscount 2   v [T] \n  1 to regard something as unlikely to be true or important:  --Experts discounted the accuracy of the polls.//  --General Hausken had not discounted the possibility of an aerial attack.//\n  2 to reduce the price of something:  --Games were discounted to as little as $5.//


Words: discourage
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 to persuade someone not to do something, especially by making it seem difficult or bad:  → encourage//  --attempts to discourage illegal immigration//  discourage sb from doing sth//  --My father is a lawyer, and he discouraged me from entering the field.//\n  2 to make someone less confident or less willing to do something:   demoralize//  → encourage//  --You should not let one failure discourage you.//\n  3 to make something less likely to happen:  → encourage//  --Aspirin may discourage tumour growth in some types of cancer.//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not say ’discourage someone to do something’. Say discourage someone from doing something. //  ----------//


Words: discouraged
Meaning:
adj   no longer having the confidence you need to continue doing something//   demoralized//  --A lot of players get discouraged and quit.//


Words: discouragement
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] when you no longer feel confident or willing to do something:  --In research, times of discouragement alternate with times of great achievement.//\n  2 [U] when you try to persuade someone not to do something, especially by making it seem difficult or bad:  --the discouragement of smoking//\n  3 [C] something that discourages you:


Words: discouraging
Meaning:
adj   making you lose the confidence or determination you need to continue doing something//  --The results were discouraging.//  -- discouragingly adv //


Words: discourse
Meaning:
W3   n  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Late Latin; Origin: discursus  ’conversation’, from  Latin,  ’running around’, from  currere  ’to run’]//\n  1 [C] a serious speech or piece of writing on a particular subject:  discourse on/upon//  --a discourse on art//\n  2 [U] serious conversation or discussion between people:  --Candidates should engage in serious political discourse.//\n  3 [U] the language used in particular types of speech or writing:  --a study of spoken discourse//\ndiscourse 2   v   discourse on/upon [discourse on/upon sth] phr v//  to make a long formal speech about something, or to discuss something seriously//


Words: discourteous
Meaning:
adj  formal   not polite, and not showing respect for other people//   rude, impolite//  --It would be discourteous to ignore his request.//  -- discourteously adv //


Words: discourtesy
Meaning:
n   plural  discourtesies  [U and C]  formal //  an action or behaviour that is not polite or does not show respect//


Words: discover
Meaning:
W1S2   v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: descovrir, from  Late Latin discooperire  ’to uncover’]//\n  1 to find someone or something, either by accident or because you were looking for them:  --The body was discovered in a field.//  --Forest Service crews often discover campfires that have not been put out completely.//\n  2 to find out something that you did not know about before:  --The exercises let students discover math concepts on their own.//  discover (that)//  --She discovered that she was pregnant.//  discover who/what/how etc//  --His friends were shocked to discover how ill he was.//\n  3 if someone discovers a new place, fact, substance etc, they are the first person to find it or know that it exists:  --The Curies are best known for discovering radium.//\n  4 to notice or try something for the first time and start to enjoy it:  --At fourteen, Louise discovered boys.//\n  5 to notice someone who is very good at something and help them to become successful and well-known:  --a band that’s waiting to be discovered//  -- discoverer n  [C] //


Words: discovery
Meaning:
W3   n   plural  discoveries //\n  1 [C] a fact or thing that someone finds out about, when it was not known about before:  --recent archaeological discoveries//  discovery about//  --The Hubble Telescope has allowed astronomers to make significant discoveries about our galaxy.//  discovery that//  --the discovery that bees can communicate with each other//\n  2 [U] when someone discovers something:  discovery of//  --the discovery of oil in Alaska//


Words: discredit
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 to make people stop respecting or trusting someone or something:  --The company’s lawyers tried to discredit her testimony.//\n  2 to make people stop believing in a particular idea:  --Some of Freud’s theories have now been discredited.//\ndiscredit 2 n [U]   the loss of other people’s respect or trust//  to sb’s discredit//  --To his discredit, he knew about the problem but said nothing.//  bring discredit on/upon/to sb/sth //  --The behaviour of fans has brought discredit on English football.//


Words: discreditable
Meaning:
adj  formal   bad or wrong, and making people lose respect for you or trust in you//  --discreditable dealings//


Words: discreet
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: discret, from  Latin discretus, past participle of  discernere;   DISCERN]//\n  1 careful about what you say or do, so that you do not offend, upset, or embarrass people or tell secrets:  → indiscreet//  --He assured her that he would be discreet.//  --I stood back at a discreet distance.//\n  2 small and showing good taste or judgment - use this to show approval:  --discreet jewelry//  -- discreetly adv //


Words: discrepancy
Meaning:
n   plural  discrepancies  [U and C] //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: discrepare  ’to make unpleasant sounds that do not go together’]//  a difference between two amounts, details, reports etc that should be the same//  discrepancy in//  --Police found discrepancies in the two men’s reports.//  discrepancy between//  --There is a large discrepancy between the ideal image of motherhood and the reality.//


Words: discrete
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: discretus;   DISCREET]//  clearly separate//  --The change happens in a series of discrete steps.//  -- discretely adv //  -- discreteness n  [U] //


Words: discretion
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the ability and right to decide exactly what should be done in a particular situation:  at sb’s discretion//   (=according to someone’s decision) //  --The awards are made at the discretion of the committee.//  --Promotions are left to the discretion of the supervisor.//  discretion over/as to//  --People want to have more discretion over their working hours.//  use/exercise your discretion //  --The judge exercised his discretion rightly to admit the evidence.//  discretion to do sth//  --The committee has the absolute discretion to refuse applications.//\n  2 the ability to deal with situations in a way that does not offend, upset, or embarrass people or tell any of their secrets:  --British newspapers no longer feel they must treat the royal family with discretion.//\n  3  discretion is the better part of valour:  used to say that it is better to be careful than to take unnecessary risks//


Words: discretionary
Meaning:
adj   not controlled by strict rules, but decided on by someone in a position of authority//  --the court’s discretionary powers //  discretionary award/grant/fund etc //


Words: discretionary income
Meaning:
n [U]   the money remaining from your income after your bills have been paid, which can be spent on entertainment, holidays etc//


Words: discriminate
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: discriminare  ’to divide’, from  discernere;   DISCERN]//\n  1 [I] to treat a person or group differently from another in an unfair way:  discriminate against//  --Under federal law, it is illegal to discriminate against minorities and women.//  discriminate on the grounds/basis of sth //  --It was found that the company still discriminated on the basis of race in promotions.//\n  2 [I and T] to recognize a difference between things:   differentiate//  discriminate between//  --Newborn babies can discriminate between a man’s and a woman’s voice.//  discriminate sth from sth//  --the process of learning to discriminate fact from opinion//


Words: discriminating
Meaning:
adj   able to judge what is of good quality and what is not//   discerning//  --a book that will appeal to discriminating readers//


Words: discrimination
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the practice of treating one person or group differently from another in an unfair way:  --laws to prevent discrimination//  discrimination against//  --widespread discrimination against older people in the job market//  discrimination in favour of//  --discrimination in favour of university graduates//  racial/sex/religious etc discrimination (=treating someone unfairly because of their race, sex etc) //    positive discrimination,  reverse discrimination//\n  2 the ability to recognize the difference between two or more things, especially the difference in their quality:  --shape discrimination//


Words: discriminatory
Meaning:
adj   treating a person or a group of people differently from other people, in an unfair way//  --discriminatory hiring practices//


Words: discursive
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: discursivus, from  Latin discursus;   DISCOURSE1]//  discussing many different ideas, facts etc, without always having a clear purpose//  --a long, discursive article//  -- discursively adv //


Words: discus
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: ’disk, plate’]//\n  1 a heavy flat circular object which is thrown as far as possible as a sport:\n  2  the discus:  the sport of throwing this object//


Words: discuss
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: discussus, past participle of  discutere  ’to shake to pieces’]//\n  1 to talk about something with another person or a group in order to exchange ideas or decide something:  --Littman refused to discuss the case publicly.//  --If you would like to discuss the matter further, please call me.//  discuss sth with sb//  --Pupils should be given time to discuss the book with their classmates.//  discuss what/who/where etc//  --Your accountant will discuss with you how to complete these forms.//\n  2 to talk or write about something in detail and consider different ideas or opinions about it:  --This topic will be discussed in Chapter 4.//


Words: discussion
Meaning:
W1   n [U and C] \n  1 when you discuss something:  --class discussions//  --the topics suggested for discussion//  discussion of//  --the discussion of important issues//  discussion about//  --high-level discussions about trade and commerce//  discussion with//  --The embassy will continue discussions with the Chinese government.//  --We have had discussions about her legal situation.//  under discussion//   (=being discussed) //  --The project is under discussion as a possible joint venture between the two space agencies.//\n  2 a piece of writing about a subject that considers different ideas or opinions about it:  discussion of//  --the report’s discussion of the legislation//


Words: discussion list
Meaning:
n [C]   a place on the Internet where people can write and receive messages in order to share ideas and information about a particular subject//  --the Mercedes-Benz discussion list//


Words: disdain
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   a complete lack of respect that you show for someone or something because you think they are not important or good enough//  with disdain//  --She watched me with disdain.//  --a look of complete disdain//  disdain for//  --his disdain for capitalism//\ndisdain 2 v  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: desdeignier, from  deignier;   DEIGN]//\n  1 [T] to have no respect for someone or something, because you think they are not important or good enough:  --Childcare was seen as women’s work, and men disdained it.//\n  2  disdain to do sth:  to refuse to do something because you are too proud to do it//  --Butler disdained to reply.//


Words: disdainful
Meaning:
adj  formal   showing that you do not respect someone or something, because you think that they are not important or good enough//  --a disdainful look//  disdainful of//  --university professors who are disdainful of popular entertainment//  -- disdainfully adv //


Words: disease
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: desaise, from  aise  ’relaxed feeling, comfort’]//\n  1 [U and C] an illness which affects a person, animal, or plant:  --She suffers from a rare disease of the brain.//  -- Heart disease  runs in our family.//  --filthy conditions that cause disease//  --She contracted the disease while she was abroad on holiday.//  --The government has taken steps to halt the spread of the disease .//  --vaccinations against  infectious diseases  such as measles//  --’Mad cow disease’ is a  fatal  degenerative  disease  of the nervous system.//  --The first  symptoms of the disease  are vomiting and a slight fever.//\n  2 [C] something that is seriously wrong with society or with someone’s mind, behaviour etc:  --Loneliness is a disease of our urban communities.//  -- diseased adj //  --diseased muscles//  --a diseased plant//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  have/suffer from a disease //  heart/liver/brain etc disease //  a disease of the brain/stomach etc //  catch a disease //  contract a disease formal (=catch a disease) //  a disease spreads/the spread of a disease //  infectious/contagious disease (=one that spreads quickly from one person to another) //  a fatal/deadly disease (=one that causes death) //  an incurable disease (=one that cannot be cured) //  a degenerative disease (=one that gradually gets worse and worse) //  a cure for a disease //  the symptoms of a disease (=the things that show that someone has it) //  ----------//


Words: disembark
Meaning:
v \n  1 [I] to get off a ship or aircraft:  → embark//\n  2 [T] to put people or goods onto the shore from a ship:  -- disembarkation/d[hA366]semb[hA35A][hA359]ke[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -b[hA35A][hA359]r-/ n  [U] //


Words: disembodied
Meaning:
adj \n  1 existing without a body or separated from a body:  --disembodied spirits//\n  2 a disembodied sound or voice comes from someone who cannot be seen:


Words: disembowel
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  disembowelled present participle  disembowelling  [T] //  to remove someone’s bowels//  -- disembowelment n  [U] //


Words: disenchanted
Meaning:
adj   disappointed with someone or something, and no longer believing that they are good//   disillusioned//  disenchanted with//  --By that time I was becoming disenchanted with the whole idea.//  -- disenchantment n  [U] //  --Voters have expressed growing disenchantment with the government.//


Words: disenfranchise
Meaning:
v [T]   to take away someone’s rights, especially their right to vote//  -- disenfranchisement/-t[hA35D][hA366]zm[hA353]nt $ -t[hA35D]a[hA366]z-/ n  [U] //


Words: disengage
Meaning:
v \n  1 [T] to move so that you are not touching or holding someone:  disengage yourself //  --Sally found it difficult to disengage herself from his embrace.//\n  2 [I and T] if you disengage something, especially a part of a machine, or if it disengages, you make it move away from another part that it was connected to:  → engage//  --Disengage the gears when you park the car.//  --He tapped in the code and the lock disengaged.//\n  3 [I] to stop being involved or interested in something:  disengage from//  --Too many young people disengage from learning.//\n  4 [I and T] if two armies disengage, they stop fighting:  → engage//  -- disengagement n  [U] //


Words: disengaged
Meaning:
adj   not involved with or interested in something or someone, and feeling separate from them//  → engaged//  --teenagers who are depressed or disengaged from their families//


Words: disentangle
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 to separate different ideas or pieces of information that have become confused together:  --It’s very difficult to disentangle fact from fiction in what she’s saying.//\n  2  disentangle yourself (from sb/sth):  to escape from a difficult situation that you are involved in//  --She had just disentangled herself from a long relationship.//\n  3 to remove knots from ropes, strings etc that have become twisted or tied together:\n  4 to separate something from the things that are twisted around it:


Words: disestablish
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   to officially decide that a particular church is no longer the official church of your country//


Words: disfavour
Meaning:
BrE  disfavor AmE   n [U]   a feeling of dislike and disapproval//  → favour//  with disfavour//  --The job creation program is looked upon with disfavour by the local community.//  --Coal fell into disfavour because burning it caused pollution.//


Words: disfigure
Meaning:
v [T]   to spoil the appearance that something naturally has//  --His face had been disfigured in an accident.//  -- disfigured adj //  -- disfigurement n  [U and C] //  -- disfiguring adj //  --a disfiguring disease//


Words: disgorge
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: desgorger, from  gorge  ’throat’]//\n  1 [T]  literary if a vehicle or building disgorges people, they come out of it in a large group:  --Cars drew up to disgorge a wedding party.//\n  2 [T] if something disgorges what was inside it, it lets it pour out:  --Chimneys were disgorging smoke into the air.//\n  3 [I and T] if a river disgorges, it flows into the sea:  --The Mississippi disgorges its waters into the Gulf of Mexico.//\n  4 [T]  formal  to give back something that you have taken illegally:\n  5 [T]  formal to bring food back up from your stomach through your mouth:


Words: disgrace
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] the loss of other people’s respect because you have done something they strongly disapprove of:  --Smith faced total public disgrace after the incident.//  in disgrace//  --Toranaga sent us away in disgrace.//  --His actions brought disgrace on the family.//  --There was no disgrace in finishing fourth.//\n  2  be a disgrace:  used to say that something or someone is so bad or unacceptable that the people involved with them should feel ashamed//  --The UK rail system is a national disgrace.//  be a disgrace to//  --You are a disgrace to the medical profession.//  absolute/utter disgrace //  -- It’s an absolute disgrace, the way he treats his wife.//\ndisgrace 2 v [T]   to do something so bad that you make other people feel ashamed//  --How could you disgrace us all like that?//  disgrace yourself (by doing sth)//  --I’m not the one who disgraced herself at the wedding!//  be (publicly) disgraced (=be made to feel ashamed, especially in public) //


Words: disgraceful
Meaning:
adj   bad, embarrassing, or unacceptable//  --It’s a disgraceful waste of taxpayers’ money.//  absolutely/utterly etc disgraceful //  --Their behaviour was absolutely disgraceful.//  -- It is disgraceful that anyone should have to live in such conditions.//  -- disgracefully adv //


Words: disgruntled
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: gruntle  ’to complain’ (15-19 centuries), from  grunt]//  annoyed or disappointed, especially because things have not happened in the way that you wanted//  --a disgruntled client//


Words: disguise
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: desguiser, from  guise  ’appearance’]//\n  1 to change someone’s appearance so that people cannot recognize them:  disguise yourself as sb/sth//  --Maybe you could disguise yourself as a waiter and sneak in there.//  --He escaped across the border disguised as a priest.//\n  2 to change the appearance, sound, taste etc of something so that people do not recognize it:  --There’s no way you can disguise that southern accent.//  disguise sth as sth//  --a letter bomb disguised as a musical greetings card//\n  3 to hide a fact or feeling so that people will not notice it:  --Try as he might, Dan couldn’t disguise his feelings for Katie.//  disguise the fact (that) //  -- There’s no disguising the fact that business is bad.//  --The speech was seen by many as a thinly disguised attack on the president.//\ndisguise 2 n \n  1 [U and C] something that you wear to change your appearance and hide who you are, or the act of wearing this:  --His disguise didn’t fool anyone.//  --She wore dark glasses in an absurd attempt at disguise.//\n  2  in disguise:  a) wearing a disguise//  --The woman in the park turned out to be a police officer in disguise.//  b) made to seem like something else that is better//  --’Tax reform’ is just a tax increase in disguise.//    blessing in disguise at blessing(4)//


Words: disgust
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 a strong feeling of dislike, annoyance, or disapproval:  with disgust//  --Joan looked at him with disgust.//  in disgust//  --Sam threw his books down in disgust and stormed out of the room.//  to sb’s disgust//  -- Much to my disgust , I found that there were no toilets for the disabled.//  disgust with//  --Nelson’s disgust with US politics//  disgust at//  --The fans didn’t hide their disgust at the umpire’s decision.//\n  2 a very strong feeling of dislike that almost makes you sick, caused by something unpleasant:  --He reached into the bin with a look of disgust on his face.//  with disgust//  --Edward tasted the thin, sour wines with disgust.//\ndisgust 2 v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: desgouster, from  goust  ’taste’]//\n  1 to make someone feel very annoyed or upset about something that is not acceptable:  --Many parents claimed to be disgusted by the amount of violence in the film.//  be disgusted to find/hear/see etc//  --Dear Sir, I was disgusted to see the picture on page one of Sunday’s feature section.//\n  2 to be so unpleasant that it makes you feel almost sick:  --The thought of dissecting a frog disgusts me.//


Words: disgusted
Meaning:
adj   very annoyed or upset by something that is not acceptable//  --Disgusted onlookers claimed the driver was more concerned about his car than about the victim.//  disgusted at/by/with//  --Most locals are disgusted by the anti-foreigner violence.//  disgusted that//  --Animal welfare workers were disgusted that anyone could do this to a puppy.//


Words: disgusting
Meaning:
S2   adj \n  1 extremely unpleasant and making you feel sick:   revolting//  --Rubbish was piled everywhere - it was disgusting.//  --Smoking is a really disgusting habit.//\n  2 shocking and unacceptable:  --Sixty pounds for a thirty-minute consultation. I think that’s disgusting!//  --That’s a disgusting thing to say.//  -- disgustingly adv //  --They’re disgustingly rich.//


Words: dish
Meaning:
S3   n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: disc, from  Latin discus  ’disk, plate’]//\n  1 a flat container with low sides, for serving food from or cooking food in:    bowl//  --a serving dish//  --an ovenproof dish//  dish of//  --a large dish of spaghetti//\n  2  the dishes:  all the plates, cups, bowls etc that have been used to eat a meal and need to be washed//  do/wash the dishes //  --I’ll just do the dishes before we go.//\n  3 food cooked or prepared in a particular way as a meal:  --a wonderful pasta dish//  --The menu includes a wide selection of vegetarian dishes.//  --This soup is substantial enough to serve as a main dish  (=the biggest part of a meal) .//\n  4 something that is shaped like a dish:  --a soap dish//\n  5  informal  old-fashioned someone who is sexually attractive:    side dish,  satellite dish//\ndish 2 v   [I and T]  informal to give a lot of information about something or someone, especially something that would usually be secret or private//  dish on//  --She’s ready to dish on boys, beauty, and break-ups in her new column.//  dish the dirt (=tell people shocking things about someone’s private life) //  dish out [dish sth → out] phr v//\n  1 to give something to various people in a careless way:  --We’ll probably dish out some leaflets there too.//  --Paul still tends to dish out unwanted advice.//\n  2 to serve food to people:  --Sam’s dishing out sandwiches if you want one.//\n  3  sb can dish it out but they can’t take it:  used to say that someone often criticizes other people, but does not like being criticized//  dish up [dish sth → up] phr v//  to put food for a meal into dishes, ready to be eaten//  --Could you dish up the vegetables?//


Words: disheartened
Meaning:
adj  formal   disappointed, so that you lose hope and the determination to continue doing something//  --If young children don’t see quick results they grow disheartened.//  -- dishearten v  [T] //


Words: disheartening
Meaning:
adj   making you lose hope and determination//  it is disheartening to hear/see etc sth //  --It’s disheartening to see what little progress has been made.//  -- dishearteningly adv //


Words: disher
Meaning:
n  also dirt-disher  [C]  AmE  informal   someone who enjoys telling people a lot of information about other people’s behaviour and private lives//   gossip//  --the movie role of the light-hearted Hollywood disher//


Words: dishevelled
Meaning:
BrE  disheveled AmE   adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: deschevele, from  chevel  ’hair’]//  if someone’s appearance or their clothes, hair etc is dishevelled, they look very untidy//  --Pam arrived late, dishevelled and out of breath.//


Words: dishonest
Meaning:
adj   not honest, and so deceiving or cheating people//  → honest//  --dishonest traders//  --People on welfare are wrongly seen as lazy or dishonest.//  -- dishonestly adv //  --A person is guilty of theft if he or she dishonestly obtains property.//


Words: dishonour
Meaning:
BrE  dishonor AmE   n [U]   loss of respect from other people, because you have behaved in a morally unacceptable way//  → honour//  --You’ve brought enough dishonour on your family already without causing any more trouble.//\ndishonour 2  BrE  dishonor AmE v [T] \n  1  formal to make your family, country, profession etc lose the respect of other people:  --He dishonored the uniform and did not deserve to be a marine.//\n  2 if a bank dishonours a cheque, it refuses to pay out money for it:  → honour//\n  3 to refuse to keep an agreement or promise:  → honour//  --Union leaders accused management of dishonouring existing pay agreements.//


Words: dishonourable
Meaning:
BrE  dishonorable AmE   adj   not morally correct or acceptable//  → honourable//  --Surrender was seen as dishonourable.//


Words: dishonourable discharge
Meaning:
BrE  dishonorable discharge AmE n [U and C]   an order to someone to leave the army, navy etc, because they have behaved in a morally unacceptable way//


Words: dishwasher
Meaning:
n [C]   1 a machine that washes dishes//\n  2  especially AmE someone whose job is to wash dirty dishes, plates etc, especially in a restaurant:


Words: dishwater
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 dirty water that dishes have been washed in:\n  2  informal if you say that tea or coffee tastes like dishwater, you mean that it tastes unpleasantly weak:


Words: disillusion
Meaning:
v [T]   to make someone realize that something which they thought was true or good is not really true or good//  --I hate to disillusion you, but I don’t think she’s coming back.//  -- disillusionment n  [U] //


Words: disillusioned
Meaning:
adj   disappointed because you have lost your belief that someone is good, or that an idea is right//   disenchanted//  disillusioned by/with//  --As she grew older, Laura became increasingly disillusioned with politics.//


Words: disincentive
Meaning:
n [C]   something that makes people less willing to do something//  → incentive//  disincentive to (doing/do) sth//  --High interest rates can be a disincentive to expanding a business.//


Words: disinclination
Meaning:
n [U]   a lack of willingness to do something//  → inclination//  --the increasing disinclination of farm workers’ children to consider a job in farming//


Words: disinclined
Meaning:
adj   be/feel disinclined to do sth//   formal to be unwilling to do something//   reluctant//  --I was disinclined to talk to Stephen about it.//


Words: disinfect
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 to clean something with a chemical that destroys bacteria:  --First use some iodine to disinfect the wound.//  --Disinfect the area thoroughly.//\n  2 to run a special computer program to get rid of a computer virus:


Words: disinformation
Meaning:
n [U]   false information which is given deliberately in order to hide the truth or confuse people, especially in political situations//    misinformation//  --government disinformation about the effects of nuclear testing//


Words: disingenuous
Meaning:
adj  formal   not sincere and slightly dishonest//  → ingenuous//  --Keeping the details of the tax changes vague is disingenuous.//  -- disingenuously adv //


Words: disinherit
Meaning:
v [T]   to take away from someone, especially your son or daughter, their legal right to receive your money or property after your death//    inherit, will//


Words: disintegrate
Meaning:
v \n  1 [I and T] to break up, or make something break up, into very small pieces:  --The whole plane just disintegrated in mid-air.//\n  2 [I] to become weaker or less united and be gradually destroyed:  --a society disintegrating under economic pressures//  -- disintegration/d[hA366]s[hA366]nt[hA369]gre[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //  --the disintegration of the Soviet empire into separate republics//


Words: disinter
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  disinterred present participle  disinterring  [T]  formal //\n  1 to dig and remove a dead body from a grave:  → inter//\n  2 to find or use something that has been lost or not used for a long time:  --She disinterred two frozen TV dinners from the freezer.//


Words: disinterest
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 a lack of interest:  disinterest in//  --The exception to Balfour’s disinterest in social issues was education.//\n  2 when you are able to judge a situation fairly because you are not involved in it:


Words: disinterested
Meaning:
adj \n  1 able to judge a situation fairly because you are not concerned with gaining any personal advantage from it:   objective, impartial, unbiased//  --A lawyer should provide disinterested advice.//\n  2 not interested. Many teachers think that this is not correct English:    uninterested//  -- disinterestedly adv //


Words: disinvestment
Meaning:
n [U and C]  technical   the process of taking your money out of a company by selling your shares in it//  → investment//


Words: disjointed
Meaning:
adj \n  1 something, especially a speech or piece of writing, that is disjointed has parts that do not seem well connected or are not arranged well:  --disjointed fragments of information//\n  2 a disjointed activity or system is one in which the different parts do not work well together:  --Burley was critical of his team’s disjointed performance.//


Words: disjunction
Meaning:
[C usually singular]  formal   a difference between two things that you would expect to be in agreement//  --a disjunction between the skills taught in schools and the skills demanded by employers//


Words: disjunctive
Meaning:
adj  technical   a disjunctive conjunction expresses a choice or opposition between two ideas. For example, ’or’ is a disjunctive conjunction.//


Words: disk
Meaning:
W3S2   n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: discus  ’disk, plate’]//\n  1 a small flat piece of plastic or metal which is used for storing computer or electronic information:\n  2 the usual American spelling of disc:    compact disc,  floppy disk,  hard disk,  laser disk//


Words: disk drive
Meaning:
n [C]   a piece of equipment in a computer system that is used to get information from a disk or to store information on it//


Words: dislike
Meaning:
v [T not in progressive]   to think someone or something is unpleasant and not like them//  → like//  --Why do you dislike her so much?//  dislike doing sth//  --I dislike being the centre of attention.//\ndislike 2   n \n  1 [U and C] a feeling of not liking someone or something:  → liking//  dislike of//  --She shared her mother’s dislike of housework.//  dislike for//  --Truman had a strong dislike for communism.//  intense/acute/violent etc dislike (=very strong dislike) //  --His colleagues regarded him with intense dislike.//  --When the two men met, they took an instant dislike to each other (=they disliked each other immediately) .//\n  2  dislikes [plural] the things that you do not like:  --A good hotel manager should know his regular guests’ likes and dislikes .//


Words: dislocate
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 to move a bone out of its normal position in a joint, usually in an accident:  --I dislocated my shoulder playing football.//\n  2  formal to spoil the way in which a plan, system, or service is arranged, so that it cannot work normally:   disrupt//  --Communications were temporarily dislocated by the bad weather.//  -- dislocated adj //  --a dislocated elbow//  -- dislocation/d[hA366]sl[hA353]ke[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -lo[hA35E]-/ n  [U and C] //  --The 1930s was a period of economic dislocation.//


Words: dislodge
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 to force or knock something out of its position:  --Ian dislodged a few stones as he climbed up the rock.//\n  2 to make someone leave a place or lose a position of power:  --the revolution that failed to dislodge the British in 1919//


Words: disloyal
Meaning:
adj   doing or saying things that do not support your friends, your country, or the group you belong to//  → loyal//  disloyal to//  --He felt he had been disloyal to his friends.//  -- disloyalty n  [U] //


Words: dismal
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: Medieval Latin dies mali  ’evil days’]//\n  1 if a situation or a place is dismal, it is so bad that it makes you feel very unhappy and hopeless:  --The future looks pretty dismal right now.//  --a dismal, grey afternoon//\n  2 bad and unsuccessful:  --The team’s record so far is pretty dismal.//  --Her scheme was a dismal failure .//  -- dismally adv //


Words: dismantle
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: desmanteler, from  mantel  ’cloak’]//\n  1 to take a machine or piece of equipment apart so that it is in separate pieces:  --Chris dismantled the bike in five minutes.//\n  2 to gradually get rid of a system or organization:  --an election promise to dismantle the existing tax legislation//


Words: dismay
Meaning:
n [U]   the worry, disappointment, or unhappiness you feel when something unpleasant happens//  with/in dismay//  --They stared at each other in dismay.//  to sb’s dismay//  --I found to my dismay that I had left my notes behind.//  --The thought of leaving filled him with dismay .//\ndismay 2 v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: desmaiier]//  to make someone feel worried, disappointed, and upset//  --The poor election turnout dismayed politicians.//


Words: dismayed
Meaning:
adj   worried, disappointed, and upset when something unpleasant happens//  dismayed to see/discover/learn etc //  --Ruth was dismayed to see how thin he had grown.//  dismayed at/by//  --They were dismayed at the cost of the repairs.//  dismayed that//  --We are dismayed that the demonstration was allowed to take place.//


Words: dismember
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: desmembrer, from  membre  ’arm or leg’]//\n  1 to cut a body into pieces or tear it apart:\n  2  formal to divide a country, area, or organization into smaller parts:  -- dismemberment n  [U] //


Words: dismiss
Meaning:
W3   v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: dimissus, past participle of  dimittere  ’to send away’]//\n  1 to refuse to consider someone’s idea, opinion etc, because you think it is not serious, true, or important:  --The government has dismissed criticisms that the country’s health policy is a mess.//  dismiss sth as sth//  --He just laughed and dismissed my proposal as unrealistic.//  --It’s an idea that shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand  (=dismissed immediately and completely) .//\n  2 to remove someone from their job:   fire, sack//  dismiss sb from sth//  --Bryant was unfairly dismissed from his post.//  dismiss sb for sth//  --Employees can be dismissed for sending obscene emails.//\n  3  formal to tell someone that they are allowed to go, or are no longer needed:  --The class will be dismissed early today.//\n  4 if a judge dismisses a court case, he or she stops it from continuing:  --The case was dismissed owing to lack of evidence.//\n  5 to end the innings of a player or team in the game of cricket:


Words: dismissal
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] when someone is removed from their job:  --Wilson was claiming compensation for unfair dismissal .//  --No dismissals have been announced yet.//\n  2 [U] when someone decides or says that something is not important, serious, or true:  --Gill’s dismissal of the book as ’386 pages of rubbish’//\n  3 [U and C] a decision by a judge to stop a court case:


Words: dismissive
Meaning:
adj   refusing to consider someone or something seriously//  dismissive of//  --Some historians have been dismissive of this argument.//  dismissive gesture/wave/shrug etc //  --Cath spread both hands in a dismissive gesture.//  -- dismissively adv //


Words: dismount
Meaning:
v  formal \n  1 [I + from] to get off a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle:  → mount//\n  2 [T] to take something, especially a gun, out of its base or support:


Words: Disney
Meaning:
Walt   (1901-66) a US film  producer who is famous for making  cartoon films for children, and for inventing some of the best-known cartoon characters, including  Mickey Mouse and  Donald Duck. His cartoon films include  Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and  Fantasia. His company continues to make popular films, especially for children.//


Words: Disney World the Walt Disney World
Meaning:
trademark   a very large park near the US city of Orlando, Florida, with  rides, games, shops etc, similar to Disneyland//


Words: Disneyland
Meaning:
trademark \n  1 a very large park near the US city of Los Angeles with many  rides (=exciting journeys in special vehicles) , shops, restaurants, and hotels. Many of the shows and rides are based on Walt Disney’s film characters, such as Mickey Mouse.:\n  2 one of the similar parks near Paris (formerly called Eurodisney) or Tokyo:


Words: disobedient
Meaning:
adj   deliberately not doing what you are told to do by your parents, teacher, etc//  → obedient//  -- disobedience n  [U] //    civil disobedience//


Words: disobey
Meaning:
v [I and T]   to refuse to do what someone with authority tells you to do, or refuse to obey a rule or law//  → obey//  --punishment for disobeying orders//


Words: disorder
Meaning:
W3   n \n  1 [C]  medical a mental or physical illness which prevents part of your body from working properly:  a disorder of the brain/liver/digestive system etc //  --He  suffers from  a rare  disorder  of the liver.//  a stomach/lung/heart etc disorder //  a mental/psychiatric disorder //  --people with mental disorders//  --severe  eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia//\n  2 [U] a situation in which a lot of people behave in an uncontrolled, noisy, or violent way in public:  civil/public/crowd disorder //  --A number of stadiums were closed because of crowd disorder.//\n  3 [U] a situation in which things or people are very untidy or disorganized:  → order//  in/into disorder//  --Everything was in disorder, but nothing seemed to be missing.//  --His whole system was  thrown into disorder .//


Words: disordered
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not tidy, planned, or arranged in order:  --her grey, disordered hair//\n  2 if someone is mentally disordered, their mind is not working in a normal and healthy way:


Words: disorderly
Meaning:
adj  formal \n  1 untidy or without any order:  → orderly//  --clothes left in a disorderly heap//\n  2 behaving in a noisy violent way and causing trouble in a public place:  disorderly conduct/behaviour //  --He was arrested for disorderly conduct.//  --Bell denied being drunk and disorderly .//


Words: disorganized
Meaning:
also  disorganised BrE   adj \n  1 not arranged or planned in a clear order, or lacking any kind of plan or system:  → well-organized//  --The conference was completely disorganized.//\n  2 someone who is disorganized is very bad at arranging or planning things:  → organized//  --He’s an extremely disorganized person.//    unorganized//


Words: disoriented
Meaning:
BrE \n  1 confused and not understanding what is happening around you:\n  2 confused about where you are or which direction you should go:  --When he emerged into the street, he was completely disoriented.//


Words: disorienting
Meaning:
BrE \n  1 making someone not know where they are or which direction they should go:  --a disorientating maze of corridors//\n  2 confusing you and making you not certain about what is happening around you:  --Lack of sleep can be disorienting.//  -- disorient also disorientate  BrE  v  [T] -- disorientation/d[hA366]s[hA350][hA359]ri[hA353]nte[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: disown
Meaning:
v [T not in progressive]   to say that you no longer want to be connected with someone or something, especially a member of your family or something that you are responsible for//  --Frankly, I’m not surprised her family disowned her.//  --Since 1960, Kubrick has virtually disowned the film.//


Words: disparage
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: desparagier  ’to marry below one’s social class’, from  parage  ’rank’]//  to criticize someone or something in a way that shows you do not think they are very good or important//  --Matcham’s theatres were widely disparaged by architects.//  -- disparagement n  [U and C] //


Words: disparaging
Meaning:
adj   criticizing someone or something, and showing that you do not think they are very good or important//  disparaging remarks/comments //  --She made some disparaging remarks about the royal family.//  -- disparagingly adv //


Words: disparate
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: disparatus, past participle of  disparare  ’to separate’]//  consisting of things or people that are very different and not related to each other//  --a meeting covering many disparate subjects//  --the difficulties of dealing with disparate groups of people//


Words: disparity
Meaning:
n   plural  disparities  [U and C]  formal //  a difference between two or more things, especially an unfair one//    parity//  disparity in/between//  --We are still seeing a disparity between the rates of pay for men and women.//


Words: dispassionate
Meaning:
adj   not influenced by personal emotions and therefore able to make fair decisions//   impartial//  --a dispassionate view of the situation//  -- dispassionately adv //\ndispatch 1  despatch/d[hA366]sp[zB024]t[hA35D]/ v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Italian; Origin: dispacciare, from  Old French despeechier  ’to set free’]//\n  1  formal to send someone or something somewhere for a particular purpose:  dispatch sb/sth to sb/sth//  --A reporter was dispatched to Naples to cover the riot.//  --Goods are normally dispatched within 24 hours.//\n  2 to deal with someone or to finish a job quickly and effectively:  --She dispatched (=beat) her opponent 6-2, 6-1.//\n  3  old-fashioned to deliberately kill a person or animal:\ndispatch 2 n  despatch\n  1 [C] a message sent between military or government officials:  --a dispatch from headquarters//\n  2 [C] a report sent to a newspaper from one of its writers who is in another town or country:\n  3 [singular] the act of sending people or things to a particular place:  --the dispatch of warships to the region//\n  4  with dispatch:   formal if you do something with dispatch, you do it well and quickly//    mentioned in dispatches at mention1 (4)//


Words: dispatch box
Meaning:
n  BrE \n  1  the dispatch box:  a box on a central table in the British Parliament, which important members of parliament stand next to when they make speeches//\n  2 [C] a box for holding official papers:


Words: dispatcher
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   someone whose job is to send out vehicles such as taxis or ambulances to places where they are needed//


Words: dispel
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  dispelled present participle  dispelling  [T] //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: dispellere, from  pellere  ’to drive, beat’]//  to make something go away, especially a belief, idea, or feeling//  --We want to dispel the myth that you cannot eat well in Britain.//  --Light poured into the hall, dispelling the shadows.//


Words: dispensable
Meaning:
adj   not necessary or important and so easy to get rid of//  → indispensable//  --Part-time workers are considered dispensable.//


Words: dispensary
Meaning:
n   plural  dispensaries  [C] //  a place where medicines are prepared and given out, especially in a hospital//    pharmacy//


Words: dispensation
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] special permission from someone in authority, especially a religious leader, to do something that is not usually allowed:  --Caroline’s marriage was annulled by special dispensation from the church.//\n  2 [U]  formal the act of providing people with something as part of an official process:  dispensation of//  --the dispensation of justice//\n  3 [C]  formal a religious or political system that has control over people’s lives at a particular time:


Words: dispense
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: dispensare  ’to share out’, from  pendere  ’to weigh’]//\n  1 to give something to people, especially in fixed amounts:   give out//  dispense sth to sb//  --Villagers dispensed tea to people involved in the accident.//  --a machine for dispensing cash//\n  2 to officially provide something for people:  dispense justice (=decide whether or not someone is guilty of a crime and what punishment they should receive) //\n  3 to officially prepare and give medicines to people:  dispense with [dispense with sth] phr v//  to not use or do something that people usually use or do, because it is not necessary//  --Ann suggested that they dispense with speeches altogether at the wedding.//  dispense with sb’s services (=no longer employ someone) //  --Let’s dispense with the formalities  (=speak openly and directly) , shall we?//


Words: dispenser
Meaning:
n [C]   a machine which provides a particular amount of a product or substance when you press a button or put money into it//  --a paper towel dispenser//    cash dispenser//


Words: dispersal
Meaning:
n [U and C]   the process of spreading things over a wide area or in different directions//  --the role of birds in the dispersal of seeds//


Words: disperse
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: disperser, from  Latin dispergere  ’to scatter’]//\n  1 if a group of people disperse or are dispersed, they go away in different directions:  --Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.//\n  2 if something disperses or is dispersed, it spreads in different directions over a wide area:  --The clouds dispersed as quickly as they had gathered.//


Words: dispirited
Meaning:
adj   someone who is dispirited does not feel as hopeful, eager, or interested in something as they were in the past//  --At last, dispirited and weary, they gave up the search.//  -- dispiritedly adv //


Words: displace
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 to take the place or position of something or someone:   replace//  --Coal has been displaced by natural gas as a major source of energy.//  --immigrants who displace US workers in the job market//\n  2 to make a group of people or animals have to leave the place where they normally live:  --Fifty thousand people have been displaced by the fighting.//\n  3 to force something out of its usual place or position:  --The water displaced by the landslides created a tidal wave.//  -- displaced adj //


Words: displaced person plural
Meaning:
displaced persons  n [C]  technical   someone who has been forced to leave their country because of war or cruel treatment//   refugee//


Words: displacement
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U]  formal when a group of people or animals are forced to leave the place where they usually live:\n  2 [singular]  technical the weight or volume of liquid that something replaces when it floats in that liquid - used especially to describe how heavy something such as a ship is:


Words: display
Meaning:
W2   n [C]   jewellery//  ----------//\n   1 objects:\n   2 entertainment:\n   3 on display:\n   4 display of affection/emotion/aggression etc:\n   5 on equipment:  ----------//\n  1 OBJECTS:  an arrangement of things for people to look at or buy//  display of//  --a superb display of African masks//  --a dazzling display  (=very good display) of flowers//  --The window display caught her eye.//  -- display cases containing old photographs//\n  2 ENTERTAINMENT:  a public performance of something that is intended to entertain people//  --a fireworks display//  display of//  --a display of juggling//\n  3  on display:  a) something that is on display is in a public place where people can look at it//   on show//  --Mapplethorpe’s photographs were first put on display in New York.//  be/go on display //  --One of the world’s oldest cars has gone on display in Brighton today.//  b) if a quality, feeling, or skill is on display, it is very clear and easy to notice//  --The musical talent on display is extremely impressive.//\n  4  display of affection/emotion/aggression etc:  an occasion when someone clearly shows a particular feeling, attitude, or quality//  --Unprovoked displays of aggression cannot be tolerated.//\n  5 ON EQUIPMENT:  a part of a piece of equipment that shows information, for example a computer screen//  --This time the display flashed a red warning signal.//\ndisplay 2 W2 v   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: despleier, from  Latin displicare  ’to unfold’]//\n  1 [T] to show something to people, or put it in a place where people can see it easily:  --shop windows displaying the latest fashions//  --All the exam results will be displayed on the noticeboard.//\n  2 [T] to clearly show a feeling, attitude, or quality by what you do or say:  --She displayed no emotion on the witness stand.//  --ten piano pieces, each written to display the talents of individual players//\n  3 [T] if a computer or something similar displays information, it shows it on its screen:  --I pressed ’return’ and an error message was displayed.//\n  4 [I] if a male bird or animal displays, it behaves in a particular way as a signal to other birds or animals, especially to attract a female:


Words: displeased
Meaning:
adj  formal   annoyed or not satisfied//  → pleased//  --He looked extremely displeased.//  displeased with//  --City officials are displeased with the lack of progress.//  -- displease v  [T] //  -- displeasing adj //


Words: displeasure
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   the feeling of being annoyed or not satisfied with someone or something//   annoyance//  displeasure at/with//  --Their displeasure at being kept waiting was clear.//  incur sb’s displeasure (=make someone displeased) //


Words: disport
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: desporter, from  porter  ’to carry’]//  disport yourself//   old-fashioned to amuse yourself by doing things that are active and enjoyable - used humorously//


Words: disposable
Meaning:
adj \n  1 intended to be used once or for a short time and then thrown away:  --disposable nappies//\n  2 available to be used:  --disposable resources//  -- disposable n  [C] //


Words: disposal
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] when you get rid of something:  disposal of//  --the safe disposal of radioactive waste//  -- bomb disposal experts//\n  2  at sb’s disposal:  available for someone to use//  --Tanner had a lot of cash at his disposal .//  sb is at your (complete) disposal (=someone is ready to help you in any way) //\n  3 [C]  AmE a small machine under the kitchen sink which breaks vegetable waste into small pieces:   waste disposal//\n  4 [U]  technical the sale of something you own such as a house, a business, or land:  --The profit or loss on the disposal of an asset must be accounted for.//\n  5 [U]  formal the way in which an amount of money is used:  --The Commission has complete control over the disposal of the funds.//


Words: dispose
Meaning:
preposition]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: disposer, from  Latin disponere  ’to arrange’]//   formal to arrange things or put them in their places//  --Chinese vases are disposed around the gallery.//  dispose of [dispose of sth] phr v//\n  1 to get rid of something, especially something that is difficult to get rid of:  --an incinerator built to dispose of toxic waste//\n  2 to sell something, especially part of a business:  --I am still not sure how best to dispose of the shares.//\n  3  formal to deal with something such as a problem or question successfully:  --Your idea at least disposes of the immediate problem.//\n  4 to defeat an opponent:  --Two goals by Raul disposed of Barcelona.//  dispose to/towards [dispose sb to/towards sth] phr v//  to make someone more likely to have particular feelings or thoughts//  --The body releases a chemical that disposes you towards sleep.//


Words: disposed
Meaning:
adj  formal \n  1  be well/favourably/kindly disposed (to/towards sb/sth):  to like or approve of someone or something//  --Management is favourably disposed to the idea of job-sharing.//\n  2  be/feel/seem etc disposed to do sth:   formal to want or be willing to do something//  --Jon disagreed, but did not feel disposed to argue.//\n  3  be disposed to sth:   formal to have a tendency towards something//  --a man disposed to depression//


Words: disposition
Meaning:
n  formal \n  1 [C usually singular] a particular type of character which makes someone likely to behave or react in a certain way:   temperament//  of a nervous/sociable/sensitive etc disposition (=having a nervous etc character) //  --The film is not suitable for people of a nervous disposition.//  have a cheerful/sunny etc disposition (=have a happy character) //\n  2 [singular] a tendency or willingness to behave in a particular way:   inclination//  have/show a disposition to do sth //  --Neither side shows the slightest disposition to compromise.//  disposition towards//  --Most children have a disposition towards obedience.//\n  3 [C usually singular] the position or arrangement of something in a particular place:  disposition of//  --a map showing the disposition of American forces//\n  4 [U]  formal the way in which something is dealt with or used:  disposition of//  --A solicitor advised him as to the disposition of the money.//\n  5 [U and C]  law the act of formally giving property to someone:  --the disposition of assets on death//


Words: dispossess
Meaning:
v [T usually passive]   to take property or land away from someone//  be dispossessed of sth//  --Many black South Africans had been dispossessed of their homes.//  -- dispossession/-ze[hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: disproportion
Meaning:
n [U and C]  formal   a situation in which two or more things are not equal in amount, level etc//  --a dangerous disproportion between production and consumption//


Words: disproportionate
Meaning:
adj   too much or too little in relation to something else//  --the disproportionate amount of money being spent on defence//  -- disproportionately adv //


Words: disprove
Meaning:
v [T]   to show that something is wrong or not true//  → prove//  --These figures disproved Smith’s argument.//  -- disproof/-pru[hA359]f/ n  [U and C]  formal //


Words: disputable
Meaning:
adj   something that is disputable is not definitely true or right, and therefore is something that you can argue about//  → indisputable//


Words: dispute
Meaning:
W2   n [U and C] \n  1 a serious argument or disagreement:  dispute with//  --The firm  is involved in a  legal  dispute  with a rival company.//  dispute over//  --He  got into a dispute  over a taxi fare.//  --Every effort was made to  settle the dispute , but without success.//  dispute between//  --the bitter border dispute between the countries//  --A long-running  pay dispute is disrupting rail services.//  --The coal industry was plagued by  industrial disputes .//  --The police don’t usually like to intervene in  domestic disputes .//  --The miners  were in dispute with  their employers over pay.//  -- A dispute arose  over who was to be the next king.//\n  2  be beyond dispute:  if something is beyond dispute, everyone agrees that it is true or that it really happened//  -- It is beyond dispute that advances in medicine have enabled people to live longer.//\n  3  be open to dispute:  if something is open to dispute, it is not completely certain and not everyone agrees about it//  --His interpretation of the poem is open to dispute.//\n  4  be in dispute:  if something is in dispute, people are arguing about it//  --The facts of the case are still in dispute.//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  be involved in a dispute //  get into a dispute (=become involved) //  settle/resolve a dispute //  bitter dispute //  long-running dispute (=one that lasts a long time) //  political/legal dispute //  pay dispute //  industrial dispute  British English //  labor dispute  American English (=between workers and employers) //  territorial dispute  (=about land) //  domestic dispute  (=between a couple who live together) //  be in dispute with somebody  (=be involved in a dispute) //  a dispute arises (=it starts) //  ----------//\ndispute 2   v   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: desputer, from  Latin disputare  ’to discuss’, from  putare  ’to think’]//\n  1 [T] to say that something such as a fact or idea is not correct or true:  --The main facts of the book have never been disputed.//  dispute that//  --Few would dispute that travel broadens the mind.//\n  2 [I and T]  formal to argue or disagree with someone:  dispute (sth) with sb//  --Hazlitt, though much younger, was soon disputing with Wordsworth on equal terms.//  --What happened next is hotly disputed .//\n  3 [T] to try to get control of something or win something:  --Soviet forces disputed every inch of ground.//


Words: disqualify
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  disqualified present participle  disqualifying third person singular  disqualifies  [T usually passive] //\n  1 to stop someone from taking part in an activity because they have broken a rule:   ban//  disqualify sb from (doing) sth//  --He was disqualified from driving .//\n  2 to unfairly prevent someone from doing a job or taking part in an activity:   exclude//  disqualify sb from (doing) sth//  --a system which disqualifies the poor from education//  -- disqualification/d[hA366]skw[hA361]l[hA369]f[hA369]ke[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -kw[hA35A][hA359]-/ n  [U and C] //  --automatic disqualification//


Words: disquiet
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   anxiety or unhappiness about something//  disquiet over/about/at//  -- public disquiet over deaths in police custody//  disquiet among//  --His appointment caused disquiet among members.//  express/voice your disquiet //  --The union has voiced its disquiet about the way the protest was handled.//


Words: disquisition
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: disquisitio, from  disquirere  ’to try to get information’]//  a long speech or written report//


Words: Disraeli
Meaning:
Benjamin   (1804-81) a British politician in the conservative Party who was Prime Minister of the UK in 1868 and from 1874 to 1880. He also wrote several novels, including  Sybil.//


Words: disregard
Meaning:
v [T]   to ignore something or treat it as unimportant//  --He ordered the jury to disregard the witness’s last statement.//  --Mark totally disregarded my advice.//\ndisregard 2 n [singular, U]   when someone ignores something that they should not ignore//  disregard for/of//  --his disregard for her feelings//  total/reckless/complete/flagrant etc disregard //  --Local councillors accused the terrorists of showing a complete disregard for human life.//  in disregard of sth//  --He said the bombing was in complete disregard of the Geneva Convention.//


Words: disrepair
Meaning:
n [U]   buildings, roads etc that are in disrepair are in bad condition because they have not been cared for//  --buildings allowed to fall into disrepair //  --The castle is in a state of disrepair .//


Words: disreputable
Meaning:
adj   considered to be dishonest, bad, illegal etc//  → reputable//  --disreputable behavior//  --a disreputable neighbourhood//


Words: disrepute
Meaning:
n [U]   a situation in which people no longer admire or trust someone or something//  --He faces six charges of bringing the game into disrepute .//  --This theory fell into disrepute in the fifties.//


Words: disrespect
Meaning:
n [singular, U]   lack of respect for someone or something//  → respect//  disrespect for//  --disrespect for the law//  --Damien has always had a healthy disrespect  (=that you think is good) for media opinion.//  --It was said on the spur of the moment and I meant no disrespect to anybody.//  -- No disrespect to Phil, but the team has performed better since he left (=used to show you are not criticizing someone) .//  -- disrespectful adj //  -- disrespectfully adv //\ndisrespect 2 v [T]   to say or do things that show a lack of respect for someone//  --Hicks accused Williams of disrespecting him at a record company party.//


Words: disrupt
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: disruptus, from  rumpere  ’to break’]//  to prevent something from continuing in its usual way by causing problems//  --Traffic was disrupted by a hoax bomb.//  --Climate change could disrupt the agricultural economy.//


Words: disruption
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a situation in which something is prevented from continuing in its usual way//  --The strike caused widespread disruption .//


Words: disruptive
Meaning:
adj   causing problems and preventing something from continuing in its usual way//  disruptive to//  --Night work can be very disruptive to home life.//  --Mike’s parents thought I was a disruptive influence  (=a person who causes disruption) .//  --ways to handle disruptive pupils //  -- disruptively adv //


Words: dissatisfaction
Meaning:
n [U]   a feeling of not being satisfied//  → satisfaction//  dissatisfaction with//  --30% of customers expressed dissatisfaction with the service.//


Words: dissatisfied
Meaning:
adj   not satisfied because something is not as good as you had expected//  → satisfied//  --dissatisfied clients//  dissatisfied with//  --If you are dissatisfied with this product, please return it.//


Words: dissect
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: dissectus, from  secare  ’to cut’]//\n  1 to cut up the body of a dead animal or person in order to study it:\n  2 to examine something carefully in order to understand it:  --books in which the lives of famous people are dissected//\n  3 to divide an area of land into several smaller pieces:  --fields dissected by small streams//  -- dissection/-sek[hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //


Words: dissemble
Meaning:
v [I and T]  literary   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: dissimule  ’to hide your feelings’ (14-17 centuries), from  Latin dissimulare;   DISSIMULATE]//  to hide your true feelings, thoughts etc//


Words: disseminate
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: disseminare, from  seminare  ’to plant seed’]//  to spread information or ideas to as many people as possible//  --Her findings have been widely disseminated .//  -- dissemination/d[hA366]sem[hA369]ne[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //  --the dissemination of information//


Words: dissension
Meaning:
n [U and C]   disagreement among a group of people//  dissension in/within/between/among//  --This move sowed dissension within the party ranks.//  --The Labour Party was torn by internal dissensions .//


Words: dissent
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] refusal to agree with an official decision or accepted opinion:   opposition//    consent, assent//  --the ruthless suppression of political dissent//  --These voices of dissent grew louder and louder.//\n  2 [C]  law a statement by a judge giving their reasons for disagreeing with the other judges in a law case:\ndissent 2 v [I]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: dissentire, from  sentire  ’to feel’]//\n  1 to say that you disagree with an official decision or accepted opinion:  dissent from//  --Few historians would dissent from this view.//  --There are some dissenting voices  (=people who do not agree) among the undergraduates.//\n  2  law if a judge dissents, they say formally that they do not agree with the other judges in a law case:


Words: dissenter
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a person or organization that disagrees with an official decision or accepted opinion:  --Political dissenters were imprisoned.//\n  2  also  Dissenter:  someone in the past who did not accept the beliefs of the established Protestant church in Western Europe//   non-conformist//


Words: dissertation
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: dissertatio, from  dissertare  ’to discuss’]//  a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one written for a university degree//


Words: disservice
Meaning:
n   do sb/sth a disservice//   also do a disservice to sb/sth //  to do something that gives other people a bad opinion of someone or something//  --The fans have done the game a great disservice.//


Words: dissident
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: dissidere  ’to sit apart, disagree’, from  sedere  ’to sit’]//  someone who publicly criticizes the government in a country where this is punished//  --a prominent political dissident//  -- dissident adj  [only before noun] //  --dissident writers//  -- dissidence n  [U] //


Words: dissimilar
Meaning:
adj   not the same//  → similar//  dissimilar to//  --Madonna’s career is not dissimilar to  (=is quite similar to) Cher’s.//  -- dissimilarity/d[hA366]s[hA366]m[hA369]l[zB024]r[hA369]ti, d[hA366]ss[hA366]-/ n  [U and C] //  --dissimilarities between the US and Britain//


Words: dissimulate
Meaning:
v [I and T]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: dissimulare, from  simulare  ’to make like’]//  to hide your true feelings or intentions, especially by lying//


Words: dissipate
Meaning:
v  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: dissipare, from  supare  ’to throw’]//\n  1 [I and T] to gradually become less or weaker before disappearing completely, or to make something do this:  --As he thought it over, his anger gradually dissipated.//  --Little by little, the smoke was dissipated by the breeze.//\n  2 [T] to waste something valuable such as time, money, or energy:  --His savings were soon dissipated.//


Words: dissipated
Meaning:
adj  formal   spending too much time enjoying physical pleasures such as drinking alcohol in a way that is harmful//


Words: dissipation
Meaning:
n [U]  formal \n  1 the process of making something gradually weaker or less until it disappears:  --the dissipation of heat//\n  2 the enjoyment of physical pleasures in a way that is harmful:  --a life of dissipation//\n  3 the act of wasting money, time, energy etc:  --the dissipation of resources//


Words: dissociate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: dissociare, from  sociare  ’to join’]//\n  1 to do or say something to show that you do not agree with the views or actions of someone with whom you had a connection:  dissociate yourself from sth//  --I wish to dissociate myself from Mr Irvine’s remarks.//\n  2  technical to regard two things or people as separate and not connected to each other:  → associate//  -- dissociation/d[hA366]s[hA353][hA35E][hA35D]ie[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n -sie[hA366]- $ -so[hA35E]-/ n  [U] //


Words: dissolute
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: dissolutus, past participle of  dissolvere;   DISSOLVE]//  having an immoral way of life, for example drinking too much alcohol or having sex with many people//


Words: dissolution
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the act of formally ending a parliament, business, or marriage:    dissolve//  --The president announced the dissolution of the National Assembly.//\n  2 the act of breaking up an organization, institution etc so that it no longer exists:  --the dissolution of the monasteries//\n  3 the process by which something gradually becomes weaker and disappears:  --the eventual dissolution of class barriers//


Words: Dissolution of the Monasteries
Meaning:
the   the closing of all the  monasteries in England in the 1530s, during the Reformation. King Henry VIII ordered the monasteries to be closed, and sold their property in order to increase his own wealth and power.//


Words: dissolve
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 become part of liquid:\n   2 end:\n   3 emotion:\n   4 become weaker:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: dissolvere, from  solvere  ’to loosen’]//\n  1 BECOME PART OF LIQUID:  a)  [I and T] if a solid dissolves, or if you dissolve it, it mixes with a liquid and becomes part of it//  --Stir until the sugar dissolves.//  dissolve in//  --Sugar dissolves in water.//  dissolve sth in sth//  --Dissolve the tablet in water.//\n  2 END:   [T] to formally end a parliament, business arrangement, marriage etc//  --The monarch had the power to dissolve parliament.//\n  3 EMOTION:   dissolve into/in laughter/tears etc//  to start laughing or crying//  --She dissolved into fits of laughter.//\n  4 BECOME WEAKER:   [I and T] to gradually become smaller or weaker before disappearing, or to make something do this//  --Her enthusiasm dissolved his shyness.//  --A few clouds formed briefly before dissolving again.//


Words: dissonance
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: dissonare, from  sonare  ’to sound’]//\n  1 [U and C]  technical a combination of notes that sound strange because they are not in harmony:  → consonance//\n  2 [U]  formal lack of agreement:  -- dissonant adj //


Words: dissuade
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: dissuadere, from  suadere  ’to persuade’]//  to persuade someone not to do something//  → persuade//  dissuade sb from (doing) sth//  --a campaign to dissuade young people from smoking//  -- dissuasion/d[hA366]swe[hA366][hA360][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: distance
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 amount of space:\n   2 far away:\n   3 unfriendly feeling:\n   4 keep your distance:\n   5 go the (full) distance:  ----------//\n  1 AMOUNT OF SPACE:   [U and C] the amount of space between two places or things//  distance from/between//  --the distance from Chicago to Detroit//  --Measure the distance between the two points.//  short/long/considerable/great distance //  --The cottage is some distance  (=quite a long distance) from the road.//  at a distance of 2 feet/10 metres etc//  --A shark can smell blood at a distance of half a kilometer.//  --Some members travelled a considerable distance to attend the meeting.//  --She felt she had to put some distance between herself and the house (=go quite a long way away from it) .//  within walking/striking/commuting etc distance (of sth) (=near enough for you to reach in a reasonable time) //  --If you are within striking distance of Speyside, visit the lakes.//  stopping/braking distance (=the distance you travel in a car after pressing the brakes before the car stops) //\n  2 FAR AWAY:   [singular] used to talk about a situation when something is far away from you in space or time//  in the distance//  --Church bells rang in the distance (=they were far away) .//  at/from a distance//  --We watched from a safe distance  (=we were far away) .//\n  3 UNFRIENDLY FEELING:   [singular] a situation in which two people do not have a close friendly relationship//  distance between//  --There was still a distance between me and my father.//\n  4  keep your distance:  a) to stay far enough away from someone or something to be safe//  --A lighthouse on the cliff warns ships to keep their distance.//  b)  also keep sb at a distance //  to avoid becoming too friendly with someone//  --The neighbours tend to keep their distance.//\n  5  go the (full) distance:   informal to finish something you have started//  --Do you think Greg will go the distance this time?//    long-distance,  middle distance//\ndistance 2 v   distance yourself (from sth)//  to say that you are not involved with someone or something, especially to avoid being connected with them//  --The UNO has firmly distanced itself from the anti-government movement.//


Words: distant
Meaning:
W3   adj   ----------//\n   1 far away:\n   2 not friendly:\n   3 not concentrating:\n   4 relative:\n   5 distant from something:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: distans, present participle of  distare  ’to stand apart’, from  stare  ’to stand’]//\n  1 FAR AWAY:  far away in space or time//  --the sound of distant gunfire//  --Her honeymoon seemed a distant memory .//  --That affair was in the dim and distant past  (=a long time ago) .//  --The President hopes to visit Ireland in the not too distant future  (=quite soon) .//  distant from//  --stars that are distant from our galaxy//\n  2 NOT FRIENDLY:  unfriendly//  --After the quarrel Sue remained cold and distant.//\n  3 NOT CONCENTRATING:  thinking deeply about something private, rather than about what is happening around you//  --Geri had a distant look in her eyes.//\n  4 RELATIVE:   [only before noun] not closely related to you//  → close//  --a distant cousin//\n  5  distant from sth:  different from something or not closely connected with it//  --The reality of independence was distant from the hopes they had had.//  -- distantly adv //  --We are distantly related .//


Words: distaste
Meaning:
n [U]   a feeling that something or someone is unpleasant or morally offensive//  distaste for//  --her distaste for any form of compromise//


Words: distasteful
Meaning:
adj   unpleasant or morally offensive//  --What follows is John’s story. Parts of it may seem distasteful, even shocking.//


Words: distemper
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: distemperare  ’to combine (liquids in the body that affect health) wrongly’]//\n  1 a serious infectious disease that affects animals, especially dogs:\n  2  BrE a type of paint that you mix with water to paint walls:


Words: distend
Meaning:
v [I and T]  formal   to swell or make something swell because of pressure from inside//  -- distended adj //  --a distended stomach//  -- distension/-ten[hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U]  technical //


Words: distill
Meaning:
distil/d[hA366]st[hA366]l/ v   past tense and past participle  distilled present participle  distilling  [T] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: distiller, from  Latin stillare  ’to fall in drops’]//\n  1 to make a liquid such as water or alcohol more pure by heating it so that it becomes a gas and then letting it cool. Drinks such as whisky are made this way:  --distilled water//\n  2 to remove a chemical substance from a plant, for example by heating or pressing it:\n  3 to get the main ideas or facts from a much larger amount of information:  distill sth into sth//  --The notes I had brought back were waiting to be distilled into a book.//  -- distillation/d[hA366]st[hA369]le[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //


Words: distillery
Meaning:
n   plural  distilleries  [C] //  a factory where strong alcoholic drink such as  whisky is produced//


Words: distinct
Meaning:
W3   adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: distinctus, past participle of  distinguere;   DISTINGUISH]//\n  1 clearly different or belonging to a different type:  --two entirely distinct languages//  distinct types/groups/categories etc //  --There are four distinct types.//  distinct from//  --The learning needs of the two groups are quite distinct from each other.//\n  2  as distinct from sth:  used to make it clear that you are not referring to a particular kind of thing, but to something else//  --a movie star, as distinct from an actor//\n  3 something that is distinct can clearly be seen, heard, smelled etc:  --The outline of the ship became more distinct.//\n  4 [only before noun] a distinct possibility, feeling, quality etc definitely exists and cannot be ignored:  --I got the distinct impression he was trying to make me angry.//  -- There is a distinct possibility that this will eventually be needed.//  --the distinct lack of enthusiasm from my sister//


Words: distinction
Meaning:
W2S3   n   ----------//\n   1 difference:\n   2 excellence:\n   3 being special:\n   4 result:  ----------//\n  1 DIFFERENCE:   [U and C] a clear difference or separation between two similar things//  distinction between//  --the distinction between formal and informal language//  clear/sharp distinction //  --There is often no clear distinction between an allergy and food intolerance.//  make/draw a distinction //  --The Act makes no distinction between children and adults (=it treats them as if they were the same) .//\n  2 EXCELLENCE:   [U] the quality of being excellent and important//  --No one today doubts Eliot’s distinction as a poet.//\n  3 BEING SPECIAL:   [singular] the quality of being special in some way//  have/earn/achieve etc the distinction of doing sth //  --At that time, it had the distinction of being the largest bridge in the UK.//  --The US enjoys the dubious distinction of being the lawsuit capital of the world.//\n  4 RESULT:   [U and C] a special mark given to a student whose work is excellent//  with distinction//  --He obtained a law doctorate with distinction.//


Words: distinctive
Meaning:
adj   having a special quality, character, or appearance that is different and easy to recognize//  --a rock band with a distinctive sound//  -- distinctively adv //  -- distinctiveness n  [U] //


Words: distinctly
Meaning:
adv \n  1 clearly:  --Speak clearly and distinctly.//  --He distinctly remembered the day his father left.//\n  2 very:  --Paul was left feeling distinctly foolish.//  distinctly uncomfortable/uneasy/unhappy etc //\n  3 used to say that something has a particular quality or character that is easy to recognize:  --dishes with a distinctly Jewish flavor//


Words: distinguish
Meaning:
W3S3   v   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: distinguer, from  Latin distinguere  ’to separate using a sharp pointed object’]//\n  1 [I and T] to recognize and understand the difference between two or more things or people:   differentiate//  distinguish between//  --His attorney argued that Cope could not distinguish between right and wrong.//  distinguish sb/sth from//  --a method of distinguishing cancer cells from normal tissue//\n  2 [T not in progressive] to be the thing that makes someone or something different or special:  distinguish sb/sth from//  --The factor that distinguishes this company from the competition is customer service.//  distinguishing feature/mark/characteristic //  --The main distinguishing feature of this species is the leaf shape.//\n  3 [T not in progressive]  written to be able to see the shape of something or hear a particular sound:  --The light was too dim for me to distinguish anything clearly.//\n  4  distinguish yourself:  to do something so well that people notice and remember you//  --He distinguished himself on several occasions in the civil war.//


Words: distinguishable
Meaning:
adj   easy to recognize as being different from something else//  distinguishable from//  --The fake was barely distinguishable from the original painting.//  barely/hardly/scarcely distinguishable //  clearly/easily/readily distinguishable //  --The cheese is easily distinguishable by its colour.//


Words: distinguished
Meaning:
adj \n  1 successful, respected, and admired:  --a long and distinguished career//\n  2 dressed in neat and attractive clothes that are worn by adults, not looking like a young person:  --a tall distinguished figure in a dark suit//


Words: distort
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: distortus, past participle of  distorquere  ’to twist out of shape’]//\n  1 [I and T] to change the appearance, sound, or shape of something so that it is strange or unclear:  --Tall buildings can distort radio signals.//\n  2 [T] to report something in a way that is not completely true or correct:  --His account was badly distorted by the press.//\n  3 [T] to change a situation from the way it would naturally be:  --an expensive subsidy which distorts the market//  -- distorted adj //  --His face was distorted in anger.//  -- distortion/d[hA366]st[hA350][hA359][hA35D][hA368]n $ -[hA350][hA359]r-/ n  [U and C] //  --a gross distortion of the facts//


Words: distract
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: distractus, past participle of  distrahere  ’to pull apart’]//  to take someone’s attention away from something by making them look at or listen to something else//  --Try not to distract the other students.//  distract sb/sth from sth//  --Coverage of the war was used to distract attention from other matters.//  -- distracting adj //


Words: distraction
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] something that stops you paying attention to what you are doing:  --I study in the library as there are too many distractions at home.//  distraction from//  --Demands for equality were seen as a distraction from more serious issues.//\n  2  drive sb to distraction:  to continue annoying or upsetting someone very much//  --The baby’s constant crying drove me to distraction.//\n  3 [C]  old-fashioned a pleasant activity:


Words: distraught
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: distractus;   DISTRACT]//  so upset and worried that you cannot think clearly//  --Relatives are tonight comforting the distraught parents.//


Words: distress
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: destresse, from  Latin districtus, past participle of  distringere  ’to pull apart, prevent from acting or leaving’]//\n  1 a feeling of extreme unhappiness:  --Luke’s behaviour caused his parents great distress.//  in distress//  --The girl was crying and clearly in distress.//\n  2 suffering and problems caused by a lack of money, food etc:  --acute financial distress//  in distress//  --charities that aid families in distress//\n  3  formal great physical pain:\n  4 a situation when a ship, aircraft etc is in danger and needs help:  --We picked up a distress signal 6 km away.//  in distress//  --The ship is in distress and taking on water.//\ndistress 2 v [T]   to make someone feel very upset//  --The dream had distressed her greatly.//


Words: distressed
Meaning:
adj \n  1 very upset:  deeply/visibly distressed //  --Hannah was deeply distressed by the news.//  distressed at/by//  --My client is very distressed at the treatment she received from your officers.//  distressed to find/hear/see/learn etc sth//  --She was distressed to see he was crying.//\n  2  technical in a lot of pain:  --The animal was clearly distressed.//\n  3 distressed furniture or clothes have been made to look older than they really are:\n  4  formal having very little money:  --a family living in distressed circumstances//


Words: distribute
Meaning:
W3   v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: distribuere  ’to give out’, from  tribuere  ’to give to a particular person’]//\n  1 to share things among a group of people, especially in a planned way:   give out//  distribute sth among/to sb//  --Clothes and blankets have been distributed among the refugees.//  --a man distributing leaflets to passers-by//\n  2 to supply goods to shops and companies so that they can sell them:  --Milk is distributed to the local shops by Herald’s Dairies.//\n  3 to spread something over a large area:  --Make sure the weight of the load is evenly distributed .//\n  4  be distributed:  to exist in different parts of an area or group//  be widely/evenly distributed //  --This species of dolphin is widely distributed throughout the world.//  --The population is distributed in a very uneven pattern.//


Words: distribution
Meaning:
W2   n \n  1 [U] the act of sharing things among a large group of people in a planned way:  distribution of//  --the distribution of aid supplies//\n  2 [U] when goods are supplied to shops and companies for them to sell:  --a distribution centre//\n  3 [U and C] the way in which something exists in different amounts in different parts of an area or group:  --population distribution//  distribution of//  --the highly unequal distribution of economic power//


Words: distributor
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a company or person that supplies shops and companies with goods:\n  2 the part of an engine that sends an electric current to the spark plugs:


Words: distributorship
Meaning:
n [C]   a company that has an arrangement to sell the products of another company//  --the UK distributorship for Sol lighting products//


Words: district
Meaning:
W2S3   n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: Medieval Latin districtus  ’area under control of a lord or judge’, from  districtus  ’taken hold of, forced’, from the past participle of  Latin distringere;   DISTRESS1]//\n  1 an area of a town or the countryside, especially one with particular features:  rural/financial/theatre etc district //  --a house in a pleasant suburban district//\n  2 an area of a country, city etc that has official borders:  --a postal district//


Words: district attorney
Meaning:
n [C]   a lawyer in the US who works for the government in a particular area and who is responsible for bringing people who may be criminals to court//


Words: district council
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a group of people elected to organize local services such as education, health services etc in a particular area//


Words: District of Columbia
Meaning:
D.C.  the District of Columbia//  the special area in the eastern US, next to Maryland and Virginia, which includes Washington, the capital of the US//


Words: distrust
Meaning:
n [U]   a feeling that you cannot trust someone//    mistrust//  --Local people regard the police with suspicion and distrust.//  distrust of//  --Dylan’s deep distrust of journalists made him difficult to interview.//  -- distrustful adj //\ndistrust 2 v [T]   to not trust someone or something//  → trust//  --She had every reason to distrust him.//


Words: disturb
Meaning:
v [T]   ----------//\n   1 interrupt:\n   2 worry:\n   3 move:\n   4 change:\n   5 disturb the peace:  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: destourber, from  Latin turbare  ’to put into  disorder’]//\n  1 INTERRUPT:  to interrupt someone so that they cannot continue what they are doing//  -- Sorry to disturb you , but I have an urgent message.//  --The thieves fled when they were disturbed by a neighbour.//  -- Do not disturb  (=a sign you put on a door so that people will not interrupt you) .//\n  2 WORRY:  to make someone feel worried or upset//  --What disturbs you most about this latest development?//\n  3 MOVE:  to move something or change its position//  --If you find a bird’s nest, never disturb the eggs.//  --I promise not to disturb anything .//\n  4 CHANGE:  to change a normal situation in a way that causes problems//  --My hormone balance is disturbed by my pregnancy.//  --New procedures often disturb the comfortable habits of the workforce.//\n  5  disturb the peace:   law to behave in a noisy and unpleasant way in public//


Words: disturbance
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C]  formal a situation in which people behave violently in public:  --There were disturbances in the crowd as fans left the stadium.//  create/cause a disturbance //  --army training on controlling civil disturbance //\n  2 [U and C] something that interrupts what you are doing, or the act of making this happen:  --We arrange the work so there’s as little disturbance as possible.//  disturbance to//  --When a helicopter lands, it can cause a disturbance to local residents.//\n  3 [U] a medical condition in which someone is mentally ill and does not behave normally:  --a history of mental disturbance//


Words: disturbed
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not behaving normally because of a mental condition:  mentally/emotionally disturbed //  --the care of emotionally disturbed children //  --while the balance of his mind was disturbed//\n  2 worried or upset:  disturbed by/about/at//  --Police are very disturbed about the latest trend.//  seriously/deeply/greatly etc disturbed //  disturbed to find/see/discover/learn etc //  --She was disturbed to learn he had bought a motorbike.//  disturbed that//  --I’m disturbed that so many of the students appear to be illiterate.//\n  3  disturbed sleep:  sleep that is interrupted//


Words: disunited
Meaning:
adj   people who are disunited are in the same organization, country, or group but cannot agree or work with each other//


Words: disunity
Meaning:
n [U]   a situation in which a group of people cannot agree or work with each other//  --Disunity destroyed the Republicans at the polls.//


Words: disuse
Meaning:
n [U]   a situation in which something is no longer used//  --The building eventually fell into disuse .//


Words: ditch
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: dic]//  a long narrow hole dug at the side of a field, road etc to hold or remove unwanted water//    last-ditch//\nditch 2 v \n  1 [T]  informal to stop having something because you no longer want it:  --The government has ditched plans to privatise the prison.//\n  2 [T]  informal to end a romantic relationship with someone:  --Meg and Neil were due to marry, but she ditched him.//\n  3 [T]  AmE  spoken  informal to not go to school, a class etc when you should:  British Equivalent:  skip//  --Did you ditch class today?//\n  4 [T]  AmE  spoken  informal to leave someone you are with in a place without telling them you are going:\n  5 [I and T] to land an aircraft in a controlled crash into water:  --Two balloonists who ditched during the race were rescued by helicopter.//


Words: dither
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: didder  ’to shake’ (14-19 centuries)]//  to keep being unable to make a final decision about something//  dither over/about/between//  --He accused the government of dithering over the deal.//  -- Stop dithering , girl, and get on with it!//  -- ditherer n  [C] //


Words: ditransitive
Meaning:
adj   a ditransitive verb has an indirect object and a direct object. ’Give’ in the sentence ’Give me the book’ is ditransitive.//    intransitive, transitive //


Words: ditto
Meaning:
adv  spoken  informal \n  1 used to say that you have exactly the same opinion as someone else:  --’I hated school.’ ’Ditto.’//\n  2 used to say that what is true of one thing is also true of another:  --Where should she go? Mississippi? Too hot. Ditto Alabama.//\nditto 2  also ditto mark   plural  dittoes  n [C]  written //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Italian; Origin: , past participle of  dire  ’to say’]//  a mark (乂) that you write immediately under a word in a list to show that the same word is repeated//


Words: ditty
Meaning:
n   plural  ditties  [C] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: ditie  ’poem’]//  a short simple poem or song - used humorously//


Words: ditzy
Meaning:
ditsy/d[hA366]tsi/ adj  AmE  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Probably from  dizzy]//  silly or stupid, and likely to forget things easily//  -- ditz n  [C] //


Words: diuretic
Meaning:
n [C]  medical   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Late Latin; Origin: diureticus, from  Greek diourein  ’to urinate’]//  a substance that increases the flow of urine//  -- diuretic adj //


Words: diurnal
Meaning:
adj  technical   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: diurnalis, from  dies  ’day’]//\n  1 happening or active in the daytime:  → nocturnal//\n  2 happening every day:


Words: diva
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Italian; Origin: ’female god’]//  a very successful and famous female singer//  --opera diva Jessye Norman//


Words: divan
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Turkish; Origin: Persian diwan  ’official book, council room, seat in such a room’]//\n  1 a bed with a thick base:\n  2 a long low soft seat without a back or arms:


Words: dive
Meaning:
v   past tense  dived  also  dove /d[hA353][hA35E]v $ do[hA35E]v/ AmE, past participle  dived  [I] //  ----------//\n   1 jump into water:\n   2 swim under water:\n   3 go deeper/lower:\n   4 move quickly:\n   5 dive into your bag/pocket etc:\n   6 numbers:  Phrasal verbs//   dive in//  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: dufan  ’to sink’ and  dyfan  ’to put into liquid’]//\n  1 JUMP INTO WATER:  to jump into deep water with your head and arms going in first//  dive into/off etc//  --The snaps show the TV presenter as she dives into a pool.//  --Diving off the cliffs is dangerous.//\n  2 SWIM UNDER WATER:  to swim under water using special equipment to help you breathe//  --The first time you dive on a coral reef is an experience you will never forget.//\n  3 GO DEEPER/LOWER:  to travel down through the air or through water to a lower level//  --The submarine began to dive.//  --The aircraft appeared to dive vertically towards the crowd.//\n  4 MOVE QUICKLY:   [always + adverb/preposition] to move or jump quickly in a particular direction or into a particular place//  --Jackson dived after the ball.//  --We dived into a shop to avoid the rain.//  --The soldiers were diving for cover  (=to protect themselves behind something) .//\n  5  dive into your bag/pocket etc:  to put your hand quickly in your bag, pocket etc in order to get something out//  --He dived into his pocket and produced a packet of cigarettes.//\n  6 NUMBERS:  if numbers, prices etc dive, they suddenly become much lower than before//  --The dollar dived against the yen in Tokyo today.//  dive in phr v//  to start doing something eagerly//  --Harvey dived in with several questions.//\ndive 2 n [C]   ----------//\n   1 sudden movement:\n   2 sudden fall:\n   3 movement downwards:\n   4 jump:\n   5 swim:\n   6 place:  ----------//\n  1 SUDDEN MOVEMENT:  a sudden movement in a particular direction or into a particular place//  --She made a dive for the bathroom.//\n  2 SUDDEN FALL:  a sudden fall in the amount, value, or success of something//  --The news put shares in a dive .//  --The team’s fortunes have taken a dive this year.//\n  3 MOVEMENT DOWNWARDS:  when something moves down through the air or water//  --Thankfully, the pilot managed to pull out of the dive and regain control.//  steep/vertical dive //\n  4 JUMP:  a jump into deep water with your head and arms going in first//\n  5 SWIM:  the act of going under water to swim, using special equipment to help you breathe//\n  6 PLACE:   informal a bar, club etc that is cheap and dirty//


Words: diver
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who swims or works under water using special equipment to help them breathe:\n  2 someone who jumps into water with their head and arms first:


Words: diverge
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: divergere, from  Latin vergere  ’to lean’]//\n  1 if similar things diverge, they develop in different ways and so are no longer similar:  --The two species diverged millions of years ago.//  --Global growth rates are diverging markedly.//\n  2 if opinions, interests etc diverge, they are different from each other:  diverge from//  --Here Innocent’s views diverged from Gregory’s.//\n  3 if two lines or paths diverge, they separate and go in different directions:  → converge//  -- divergence n  [U and C] //  --divergence between the US and Europe//  -- divergent adj //  -- divergent views //


Words: diverse
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin diversus, past participle of  divertere;   DIVERT]//  very different from each other//  --subjects as diverse as pop music and archaeology//  -- diversely adv //


Words: diversify
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  diversified present participle  diversifying third person singular  diversifies //\n  1 [I and T] if a business, company, country etc diversifies, it increases the range of goods or services it produces:  diversify (away) from//  --farmers forced to diversify away from their core business//  diversify into//  --The company is planning to diversify into other mining activities.//  --We need to diversify the economy.//\n  2 [I and T] to change something or to make it change so that there is more variety:  --User requirements have diversified over the years.//\n  3 [I]  technical to put money into several different types of investment instead of only one or two:  diversify into//  --Spread the risk by diversifying into dollar bonds.//  -- diversification/da[hA366]v[hA362][hA359]s[hA369]f[hA369]ke[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ d[hA369]v[hA362][hA359]r-, da[hA366]-/ n  [U] //  --diversification of the rural economy//


Words: diversion
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] a change in the direction or use of something, or the act of changing it:  diversion of//  --a campaign to halt the diversion of the river//  --the diversion of funds into the military budget//\n  2 [U and C] an enjoyable activity that you do to stop yourself from becoming bored:\n  3 [C] something that stops you from paying attention to what you are doing or what is happening:  --Two prisoners created a diversion to give the men time to escape.//\n  4 [C]  BrE a different way that traffic is sent when the usual roads are closed:


Words: diversionary
Meaning:
adj  written   intended to take someone’s attention away from something//  --Most children are skilled in diversionary tactics .//


Words: diversity
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] the fact of including many different types of people or things:  cultural/ethnic/linguistic etc diversity //  --The curriculum will take account of the ethnic diversity of the population.//\n  2 [singular] a range of different people, things, or ideas:   variety//  diversity of//  --a diversity of opinions//


Words: divert
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: divertir, from  Latin divertere, from  vertere  ’to turn’]//\n  1 to change the use of something such as time or money:  divert sth into/to/(away) from etc sth//  --The company should divert more resources into research.//  --Officials diverted revenue from arms sales to the rebels.//\n  2 to change the direction in which something travels:  divert a river/footpath/road etc //  --Canals divert water from the Truckee River into the lake.//  --The high street is closed and traffic is being diverted .//\n  3 if you divert your telephone calls, you arrange for them to go directly to another number, for example because you are not able to answer them yourself for some time:  --Remember to divert your phone when you are out of the office.//\n  4 to deliberately take someone’s attention from something by making them think about or notice other things:  divert (sb’s) attention (away from sb/sth) //  --The crime crackdown is an attempt to divert attention from social problems.//  --He’d been trying to divert suspicion away from himself.//\n  5  formal to amuse or entertain someone:


Words: divest
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Old French; Origin: desvestir  ’to undress’, from  Latin vestire  ’to dress’]//  [I and T]  technical if a company divests, it sells some of its assets, investments etc//  --pressure on hospitals to divest tobacco-related stocks//  divest of [divest sb of sth] phr v//\n  1  divest yourself of sth:  to sell or give away something you own//  --Dad had long since divested himself of anything valuable.//\n  2  divest yourself of sth:  to remove something you are wearing or carrying//  --Pedro divested himself of his overcoat.//\n  3 to take something away from someone:  --The king was divested of all his wealth and power.//


Words: divide
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 separate:\n   2 keep separate:\n   3 share:\n   4 spend time/energy:\n   5 mathematics:\n   6 disagree:\n   7 divide and rule/conquer:\n   8 divided loyalties:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: dividere, from  videre  ’to separate’]//\n  1 SEPARATE:   [I and T] if something divides, or if you divide it, it separates into two or more parts//  divide sth into sth//  --Scientists traditionally divide the oceans into zones.//  --The book is divided into six sections.//  divide into//  --Here, the river divides into three channels.//\n  2 KEEP SEPARATE:   also divide off //   [T] to keep two areas separate from each other//  --The Wall used to divide East and West Berlin.//  divide sth from sth//  --Only a thin curtain divided her cabin from his.//\n  3 SHARE:   also divide up //   [T] to separate something into parts and share them between people//  divide sth between/among sb/sth//  --The money will be divided equally among the charities.//\n  4 SPEND TIME/ENERGY:   [T] if you divide your time, energy etc between different activities or places, you spend part of your time doing each activity or in each place//  divide sth between sth/sb//  --She divides her time between New York and Paris.//\n  5 MATHEMATICS:  a)  [T] to calculate how many times one number contains a smaller number//    multiply//  divide sth by sth//  --If you divide 21 by 3, you get 7.//  --’What’s six divided by three?’ ’Two’.//  b)  [I] to be contained exactly in a number one or more times//  divide into//  --8 divides into 64.//\n  6 DISAGREE:   [T] to make people disagree so that they form groups with different opinions//  --The issue of cloning has sharply divided voters.//\n  7  divide and rule/conquer:  to defeat or control people by making them argue with each other instead of opposing you//\n  8  divided loyalties:  a feeling you have when two people you like have argued and you are not sure which person you should support//  --Divorce is an agony of divided loyalties for children.//  -- divided adj //  --a deeply divided society//  --The committee was divided over the proposal.//\ndivide 2 n [C usually singular] \n  1 a strong difference between the beliefs or way of life of groups of people, that may make them hate each other:  --The North/South divide is characteristic of Britain.//  cultural/political/racial etc divide //  --people on both sides of the political divide //\n  2  AmE a line of high ground between two river systems:   watershed//


