# dict

Words: damned
Meaning:
adjective, adverb, noun \n    adjective, adverb = DAMN\n    noun (the damned) [pl.] people who are forced to live in HELL after they die:\nthe torments of the damned


Words: damnedest
Meaning:
noun, adjective\n(informal)\n IDIOMS \n  the damnedest ... (especially AmE) the most surprising ...:\nIt’s the damnedest thing I ever saw.\n  do / try your damnedest (to do sth) to try as hard as you can (to do sth):\nShe did her damnedest to get it done on time.


Words: damning
Meaning:
adjective\ncritical of sb/sth; suggesting that sb is guilty:\ndamning criticism / evidence * a damning conclusion / report * Her report is expected to deliver a damning indictment of education standards.


Words: damp
Meaning:
adjective, noun, verb \n    adjective (damper, dampest) slightly wet, often in a way that is unpleasant:\nThe cottage was cold and damp. * It feels damp in here. * damp clothes * Wipe the surface with a damp cloth.\n    damply adverb (rare):\nThe blouse clung damply to her skin.\n IDIOMS \n  a damp squib (BrE, informal) an event that is disappointing because it is not as exciting or impressive as expected:\nThe celebrations were a bit of a damp squib.\n    noun [U] (BrE) the state of being damp; areas on a wall, etc. that are damp:\nThe old house smells of damp. * Those marks above the window look like damp to me.\n    verb [VN] (rare) = DAMPEN:\nShe damped a towel and wrapped it round his leg.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  damp down sth to make an emotion or a feeling less strong\n  damp sth<->down to make a fire burn more slowly or stop burning


Words: damp course
Meaning:
(also damp-proof course) noun\n(both BrE) a layer of material near the bottom of a wall that is used to stop damp rising from the ground


Words: dampen
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  (also less frequent damp) to make sth slightly wet:\nPerspiration dampened her face and neck. * He dampened his hair to make it lie flat.\n  2  to make sth such as a feeling or a reaction less strong:\nNone of the setbacks could dampen his enthusiasm for the project. * She wasn’t going to let anything dampen her spirits today.


Words: damper
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a piece of metal that can be moved to allow more or less air into a fire so that the fire burns more or less strongly\n  2  a device in a piano that is used to reduce the level of the sound produced\n IDIOMS \n  put a damper on sth (informal) to make sth less enjoyable, successful, etc:\nRain put a bit of a damper on the event. * Recession in the early nineties put a damper on growth.


Words: dampness
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the fact or state of being damp:\nTo avoid dampness, air the room regularly. * There is some evidence of dampness or condensation in the basement.


Words: damsel
Meaning:
noun\n(old use) a young woman who is not married\n IDIOMS \n  a damsel in distress (humorous) a woman who needs help


Words: dance
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C] a series of movements and steps that are usually performed to music; a particular example of these movements and steps:\na dance class / routine * Find a partner and practise these new dance steps. * Do you know any other Latin American dances? * The next dance will be a waltz.\n  2  [U] the art of dancing, especially for entertainment:\nan evening of drama, music and dance * modern / classical dance * a dance company / troupe\n  3  [C] an act of dancing:\nLet’s have a dance. * He did a little dance of triumph.\n  4  [C] a social event at which people dance:\nWe hold a dance every year to raise money for charity.\n  5  [C] a piece of music for dancing to:\nThe band finished with a few slow dances.\n IDIOMS  see LEAD٠v., SONG\n    verb\n  1  [V] to move your body to the sound and rhythm of music:\nDo you want to dance? * He asked me to dance. * They stayed up all night singing and dancing. * They danced to the music of a string quartet. * Ruth danced all evening with Richard. * Ruth and Richard danced together all evening.\n  2  [VN] to do a particular type of dance:\nto dance the tango * to dance a waltz * He was so excited about the good news that he danced a little jig.\n  3  [V] to move in a lively way:\nThe children danced around her. * The sun shone on the sea and the waves danced and sparkled. * The words danced before her tired eyes.\n IDIOMS \n  dance attendance on sb (BrE, formal) to be with sb and do things to help and please them\n  dance the night away to dance for the whole evening or night\n  dance to sb’s tune (BrE) to do whatever sb tells you to


Words: dance hall
Meaning:
noun\na large public room where people pay to go and dance (more common in the past than now):\nthe old days of the dance halls\ncompare BALLROOM


Words: dancer
Meaning:
noun\na person who dances or whose job is dancing:\nShe’s a fantastic dancer. * He’s a dancer with the Royal Ballet.


Words: dancing
Meaning:
noun\n[U] moving your body to music:\ndancing classes / shoes * There was music and dancing till two in the morning. * disco dancing


Words: dandelion
Meaning:
noun\na small wild plant with a bright yellow flower that becomes a soft white ball of seeds called a dandelion clock


Words: dandle
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (old-fashioned) to play with a baby or young child by moving them up and down on your knee


Words: dandruff
Meaning:
noun\n[U] very small pieces of dead skin, seen as a white dust in a person’s hair:\na dandruff shampoo


Words: dandy
Meaning:
noun, adjective \n    noun (plural dandies) (old-fashioned) a man who cares a lot about his clothes and appearance\n    adjective (old-fashioned, especially AmE) very good


Words: dang
Meaning:
adjective, exclamation\n(AmE, informal) a mild swear word, used instead of DAMN:\nIt’s just dang stupid!


Words: danger
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] ~ (of sth) the possibility of sth happening that will injure, harm or kill sb, or damage or destroy sth:\nDanger! Keep Out! * Children’s lives are in danger every time they cross this road. * animals in danger of extinction * Doctors said she is now out of danger (= not likely to die).\n  2  [C, U] ~ of sth | ~ that the possibility of sth bad or unpleasant happening:\nThere is no danger of a bush fire now. * The building is in danger of collapsing. * How many factory workers are in danger of losing their jobs? * There is a danger that the political disorder of the past will return. * ’Nicky won’t find out, will she?’ ’Oh, no, there’s no danger of that.’\n  3  [C] ~ (to sb/sth) a person or thing that may cause damage, or harm sb:\nSmoking is a serious danger to health. * Police said the man was a danger to the public. * the hidden dangers in your home\nsee also ENDANGER\n IDIOMS \n  be on / off the danger list (BrE) to be so ill that you may die; to no longer be very ill


Words: dangerous
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (for sb) (to do sth) likely to injure or harm sb, or to damage or destroy sth:\na dangerous road / illness / sport * The traffic here is very dangerous for children. * dangerous levels of carbon monoxide * The prisoners who escaped are violent and dangerous. * a conviction for dangerous driving * The situation is highly dangerous. * It would be dangerous for you to stay here.\n    dangerously adverb:\nShe was standing dangerously close to the fire. * His father is dangerously ill (= so ill that he might die). * Mel enjoys living dangerously (= doing things that involve risk or danger).\n IDIOMS \n  dangerous ground a situation or subject that is likely to make sb angry, or that involves risk:\nWe’d be on dangerous ground if we asked about race or religion.


Words: dangle
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [V]   [usually +adv./prep.] to hang or swing freely:\nGold charms dangled from her bracelet. * There was a cigarette dangling from his mouth. * A single light bulb dangled from the ceiling. * His legs dangled over the side of the boat. * He sat on the edge with his legs dangling over the side.\n  2  [VN] to hold sth so that it hangs or swings freely:\nShe dangled her car keys nervously as she spoke.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  dangle sth before / in front of sb to offer sb sth good in order to persuade them to do sth:\nHe had a company directorship dangled in front of him.


Words: Danish pastry
Meaning:
(especially BrE) (also Danish AmE, BrE) noun a sweet cake made of light pastry, often containing apple, nuts, etc. and/or covered with ICING


Words: dappled
Meaning:
adjective\nmarked with spots of colour, or shade:\nthe cool dappled light under the trees * The floor was dappled with pale moonlight.


Words: dare
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to be brave enough to do sth:\nShe said it as loudly as she dared. * He didn’t dare (to) say what he thought. * They daren’t ask for any more money. * (literary) She dared not breathe a word of it to anybody. * Dare to be different! * There was something, dare I say it, a little unusual about him.\n  2  to persuade sb to do sth dangerous, difficult or embarrassing so that they can show that they are not afraid:\n[VN] Go on! Take it! I dare you. * [VN to inf] Some of the older boys had dared him to do it. -> MODAL\n IDIOMS \n  Don’t you dare! (spoken) used to tell sb strongly not to do sth:\n’I’ll tell her about it.’ ’Don’t you dare!’ * Don’t you dare say anything to anybody.\n  How dare you, etc. used to show that you are angry about sth that sb has done:\nHow dare you talk to me like that? * How dare she imply that I was lying?\n  I dare say (also I daresay especially in BrE) used when you are saying that sth is probable:\nI dare say you know about it already.\n    noun [usually sing.] something dangerous, difficult or embarrassing that you try to persuade sb to do, to see if they will do it: (BrE) He climbed onto the roof for a dare. * (AmE) She learned to fly on a dare.\n______________________________\n GRAMMAR POINT \ndare\nDare (sense 1) usually forms negatives and questions like an ordinary verb and is followed by an infinitive with to. It is most common in the negative: I didn’t dare to ask. * He won’t dare to break his promise. * You told him? How did you dare? * I hardly dared to hope she’d remember me. In positive sentences a phrase like not be afraid is often used instead: She wasn’t afraid (= she dared) to tell him the truth.\nIt can also be used like a modal verb especially in present tense negative forms in BrE, and is fol-lowed by an infinitive without to: I daren’t tell her the truth.\nIn spoken English, the forms of the ordinary verb are often used with an infinitve without to: Don’t you dare tell her what I said! * I didn’t dare look at him.\n______________________________


Words: daredevil
Meaning:
noun\na person who enjoys doing dangerous things, in a way that other people may think is stupid:\na reckless daredevil\n    daredevil adjective [only before noun]:\nDon’t try any daredevil stunts.


Words: daring
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective brave; willing to do dangerous or unusual things; involving danger or taking risks:\na daring walk in space * There are plenty of activities at the resort for the less daring. * The gallery was known for putting on daring exhibitions. * a daring strapless dress in black silk\n    daringly adverb:\nThis house would have looked daringly modern when it was built.\n    noun [U] courage and the willingness to take risks:\nthe skill and daring of the mountain climbers


Words: dark
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective (darker, darkest)\n  with little light\n  1  with no or very little light, especially because it is night:\na dark room / street / forest * What time does it get dark in summer? * It was dark outside and I couldn’t see much.\nOPP LIGHT\n  colours\n  2  not light; closer in shade to black than to white:\ndark blue / green / red * Darker colours are more practical and don’t show stains.\nOPP LIGHT, PALE\n  3  having a colour that is close to black:\na dark suit * dark-coloured wood * The dark clouds in the sky meant that a storm was coming.\n  hair / skin / eyes\n  4  brown or black in colour:\nSue has long dark hair. * He was handsome with dark eyes. * Even if you have dark skin, you still need protection from the sun.\n  5  (of a person) having dark hair, eyes, etc:\na dark handsome stranger\n  mysterious\n  6  mysterious; hidden and not known about:\nThere are no dark secrets in our family.\n  evil\n  7  evil or frightening:\nThere was a darker side to his nature. * the dark forces of the imagination\n  without hope\n  8  unpleasant and without any hope that sth good will happen:\nthe darkest days of Fascism * The film is a dark vision of the future.\n IDIOMS \n  a dark horse\n1 (BrE) a person who does not tell other people much about their life, and who surprises other people by having interesting qualities\n2 an unknown competitor in a race, etc. who surprises everyone by winning\n  keep sth dark (BrE, informal) to keep sth secret and not tell people about it:\nHe’s got two children? Well he’s kept that dark, hasn’t he!\n    noun\n  no light\n  1  (the dark) [sing.] the lack of light in a place, especially because it is night:\nAll the lights went out and we were left in the dark. * Are the children afraid of the dark? * animals that can see in the dark\n  colour\n  2  [U] an amount of sth that is dark in colour:\npatterns of light and dark\n IDIOMS \n  after / before dark after/before the sun goes down and it is night:\nTry to get home before dark. * Don’t go out alone after dark.\n  in the dark (about sth) knowing nothing about sth:\nWorkers were kept in the dark about the plans to sell the company. * She arrived at the meeting as much in the dark as everyone else.\n  a shot / stab in the dark a guess; sth you do without knowing what the result will be:\nThe figure he came up with was really just a shot in the dark.\nmore at LEAP n.


Words: darken
Meaning:
verb (written)\n  1  to become dark; to make sth dark:\n[V] The sky began to darken as the storm approached. * [VN] We walked quickly through the darkened streets. * a darkened room\n  2  to make sb unhappy or angry; to become unhappy or angry:\n[VN] It was a tragedy that darkened his later life. * [V] Her mood darkened at the news. * Luke’s face darkened (= he looked angry).\n IDIOMS \n  never darken my door again (old-fashioned, humorous) used to tell sb never to come to your home again:\nGo! And never darken my door again!


Words: darkly
Meaning:
adverb (written)\n  1  in a threatening or unpleasant way:\nHe hinted darkly that all was not well.\n  2  showing a dark colour:\nHer eyes burned darkly.


Words: darkness
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the state of being dark, without any light:\nAfter a few minutes our eyes got used to the darkness. * The house was plunged into total darkness when the electricity was cut off. * In the west the sun went down and darkness fell (= it became night). * There is an extra hour of darkness on winter mornings. * Parking is not allowed during the hours of darkness. * Her face was in darkness. * They managed to escape under cover of darkness.\n  2  the quality or state of being dark in colour:\nIt depends on the darkness of your skin.\n  3  (literary) evil:\nthe forces of darkness


Words: darkroom
Meaning:
noun\na room that can be made completely dark, where you can take film out of a camera and develop photographs


Words: darling
Meaning:
noun, adjective \n    noun\n  1  (spoken) a way of addressing sb that you love:\nWhat’s the matter, darling?\n  2  a person who is very friendly and kind:\nYou are a darling, Hugo.\n  3  the ~ of sb/sth a person who is especially liked and very popular:\nShe is the darling of the newspapers and can do no wrong.\n    adjective [only before noun] (informal) much loved; very attractive, special, etc:\nMy darling daughter. * ’Darling Henry,’ the letter began.


Words: darn
Meaning:
verb, noun, adjective, adverb \n    verb to repair a hole in a piece of clothing by sewing stitches across the hole:\n[VN] to darn socks [also V] \n IDIOMS \n  darn it! (spoken, especially AmE) used as a mild swear word to show that you are angry or annoyed about sth, to avoid saying ’damn’:\nDarn it! I’ve lost my keys!\n  I’ll be darned! (spoken, especially AmE) used to show that you are surprised about sth:\nWell, I’ll be darned! They knew about it all the time!\n    noun a place on a piece of clothing that has been repaired by darning:\na sweater with darns in the elbows\n    adjective (also darned) (spoken) used as a mild swear word, to emphasize sth:\nWhy don’t you switch the darn thing off and listen to me!\n    adverb (also darned) (spoken) used as a mild swear word, instead of saying DAMN, to mean ’extremely’ or ’very’:\nYou had a darn good try. * It’s darn cold tonight.


Words: darned
Meaning:
adjective, adverb\n(AmE) a mild swear word that people use to emphasize what they are saying. People say ’darned’ to avoid saying ’damn’:\nThat’s a darned good idea!\n    darnedest adjective


Words: dart
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C] a small pointed object, sometimes with feathers to help it fly, that is shot as a weapon or thrown in the game of darts:\na poisoned dart\n  2  (darts) [U] a game in which darts are thrown at a round board marked with numbers for scoring. Darts is often played in British pubs:\na darts match\n  3  [sing.] a sudden quick movement:\nShe made a dart for the door.\n  4  [sing.] (written) a sudden feeling of a strong emotion:\nNina felt a sudden dart of panic.\n  5  [C] a pointed fold that is sewn in a piece of clothing to make it fit better\n    verb\n  1  [V +adv./prep.] to move suddenly and quickly in a particular direction:\nA dog darted across the road in front of me. * Her eyes darted around the room, looking for Greg.\n  2  ~ a glance / look (at sb) to look at sb suddenly and quickly: [VN, VNN] He darted an impatient look at Vicky. * He darted Vicky an impatient look.


Words: dash
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  sth done quickly\n  1  [sing.] a ~ (for sth) an act of going somewhere suddenly and/or quickly:\nWhen the doors opened, there was a mad dash for seats. * a 60-mile dash to safety * He jumped off the bus and made a dash for the nearest bar. * We waited for the police to leave then made a dash for it (= left quickly in order to escape).\n  2  [sing.] an act of doing sth quickly because you do not have enough time:\na last-minute dash to buy presents\n  small amount\n  3  [C, usually sing.] ~ (of sth) a small amount of sth that is added to sth else:\nAdd a dash of lemon juice. * The rug adds a dash of colour to the room. * The album is a mixture of rock and gospel, with a dash of jazz thrown in.\ncompare SPLASH\n  symbol\n  4  [C] the mark(-) used to separate parts of a sentence, often instead of a COLON or in pairs instead of BRACKETS\ncompare HYPHEN\n  race\n  5  [C, usually sing.] (especially AmE) a race in which the competitors run very fast over a short distance\nSYN SPRINT:\nthe 100-meter dash\n  way of behaving\n  6  [U] (old-fashioned, approving) a way of behaving that combines style, enthusiasm and confidence:\nHe brought youthful energy, dash and charisma to the department.\n  part of car\n  7  [C] (informal) = DASHBOARD\nsee also PEBBLE-DASH\n IDIOMS \n  cut a dash (BrE) to look attractive in a particular set of clothes, especially in a way that makes other people notice you:\nHe cut quite a dash in his uniform.\n    verb\n  go quickly\n  1  [V]   [usually +adv./prep.] to go somewhere very quickly:\nI must dash (= leave quickly), I’m late. * She dashed off to keep an appointment. * He dashed along the platform and jumped on the train.\n  throw / beat\n  2  [+adv./prep.] to throw sth or make sth fall violently onto a hard surface; to beat against a surface:\n[VN] The boat was dashed repeatedly against the rocks. * [V] The waves were dashing against the harbour wall.\n IDIOMS \n  dash sb’s hopes to destroy sb’s hopes by making what they were hoping for impossible:\nHopes of a peaceful settlement have been dashed.\n  dash (it)! | dash it all! (old-fashioned, BrE) used to show that you are annoyed about sth\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  dash sth<->off to write or draw sth very quickly:\nI dashed off a note to my brother.


Words: dashboard
Meaning:
(also fascia) (also dash especially in AmE) noun\nthe part of a car in front of the driver that has instruments and controls in it


Words: dashing
Meaning:
adjective (written)\n  1  (usually of a man) attractive, confident and elegant:\na dashing young officer * his dashing good looks\n  2  (of a thing) attractive and fashionable:\nhis dashing red waistcoat


Words: dastardly
Meaning:
adjective\n(old-fashioned) wicked and cruel:\na dastardly plot to assassinate the king * My first part was Captain O’Hagarty, a dastardly villain in a children’s play.


Words: data
Meaning:
noun (used as a plural noun in technical English, when the singular is datum)\n  1  [U, pl.] facts or information, especially when examined and used to find out things or to make decisions:\nThis data was collected from 69 countries. * the analysis / interpretation of the data * raw data (= that has not been analysed) * demographical / historical / personal data * (technical) These data show that most cancers are detected as a result of clinical follow-up.\n  2  [U] information that is stored by a computer:\ndata capture / retrieval (= ways of storing or finding information on a computer)


Words: data mining
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (computing) looking at large amounts of information that has been collected on a computer and using it to provide new information


Words: data processing
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (computing) a series of actions that a computer performs on data to produce an OUTPUT (= information that has been analysed)


Words: data protection
Meaning:
noun\n[U] legal restrictions that keep information stored on computers private and that control who can read it or use it


Words: database
Meaning:
noun\nan organized set of data that is stored in a computer and can be looked at and used in various ways


Words: date
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  particular day\n \n  1  [C] a particular day of the month, sometimes in a particular year, given in numbers and words:\n’What’s the date today?’ ’The 10th.’ * Write today’s date at the top of the page. * We need to fix a date for the next meeting. * They haven’t set a date for the wedding yet. * I can’t come on that date. * Please give your name, address and date of birth. * (especially AmE) name, address and birth date * There’s no date on this letter. * Anyone who knows of the vehicle’s whereabouts from that date until 7 March is asked to contact Bangor police station.\nsee also CLOSING DATE, SELL-BY DATE\n \n  past time / future\n \n  2  [sing., U] a time in the past or future that is not a particular day:\nThe details can be added at a later date. * The work will be carried out at a future date. * a building of late Roman date\n \n  arrangement to meet\n  3  [C] (BrE) an arrangement to meet sb at a particular time:\nCall me next week and we’ll try and make a date.\n  romantic meeting\n  4  [C] a meeting that you have arranged with a boyfriend or girlfriend or with sb who might become a boyfriend or girlfriend:\nI’ve got a date with Lucy tomorrow night. * Paul’s not coming. He’s got a hot date (= an exciting one).\nsee also BLIND DATE\n  5  [C] (especially AmE) a boyfriend or girlfriend with whom you have arranged a date:\nMy date is meeting me at seven.\n  fruit\n  6  [C] a sweet sticky brown fruit that grows on a tree called a date palm, common in N Africa and W Asia\n IDIOMS \n  to date until now:\nTo date, we have received over 200 replies. * The exhibition contains some of his best work to date.\nsee also OUT OF DATE, UP TO DATE\n    verb\n  write date\n  1  [VN] to write or print the date on sth:\nThank you for your letter dated 24th March. * The forms should be dated and signed and sent back immediately.\n  find age\n  2  [VN] to say when sth old existed or was made:\nThe skeleton has been dated at about 2 000 BC.\n  of clothes / words\n  3  [V] to become old-fashioned:\nShe designs classic clothes which do not date.\n  person\n  4  [VN] if sth dates you, it shows that you are fairly old or older than the people you are with:\nI was at the Woodstock festival-that dates me, doesn’t it?\n  have relationship\n  5  (old-fashioned, AmE) to have a romantic relationship with sb:\n[VN] She’s been dating Ron for several months. [also V]\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  date back (to ...) | date from ... to have existed since a particular time in the past or for the length of time mentioned:\nThe college dates back to medieval times. * The custom dates back hundreds of years. * a law dating from the 17th century * Our friendship dates back to the late 70s.


Words: dated
Meaning:
adjective\nold-fashioned; belonging to a time in the past:\nThose TV comedies were OK in their day but seem incredibly dated now.\ncompare UNDATED


Words: dating agency
Meaning:
(also dating service) noun\na business or an organization that arranges meetings between single people who want to begin a romantic relationship:\nHe met his wife through a computer dating agency.


Words: dative
Meaning:
noun\n(grammar) (in some languages) the form of a noun, a pronoun or an adjective when it is the INDIRECT OBJECT of a verb or is connected with the INDIRECT OBJECT:\nIn the sentence, ’I sent her a postcard’, the word ’her’ is in the dative.\ncompare ACCUSATIVE, GENITIVE, NOMINATIVE, VOCATIVE\n    dative adjective


Words: daub
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [VN +adv./prep.] ~ A on, etc. B | ~ B with A to spread a substance such as paint, mud, etc. thickly and/or carelessly onto sth:\nThe walls of the building were daubed with red paint.\n    noun\n  1  [U] a mixture of clay, etc. that was used in the past for making walls:\nwalls made of wattle and daub\n  2  [C] a small amount of a substance such as paint that has been spread carelessly:\na daub of lipstick\n  3  [C] a badly painted picture


Words: daunt
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] [usually passive] to make sb feel nervous and less confident about doing sth:\nShe was a brave woman but she felt daunted by the task ahead.\n    daunting adjective:\nShe has the daunting task of cooking for 20 people every day. * Starting a new job can be a daunting prospect.\n    dauntingly adverb\n IDIOMS \n  nothing daunted (BrE, formal) confident about sth difficult you have to do:\nNothing daunted, the people set about rebuilding their homes.


Words: dawdle
Meaning:
verb\n[V]   [usually +adv./prep.] to take a long time to do sth or go somewhere:\nStop dawdling! We’re going to be late! * They dawdled along by the river, laughing and talking.


Words: dawn
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [U, C] the time of day when light first appears\nSYN DAYBREAK, SUNRISE:\nThey start work at dawn. * It’s almost dawn. * We arrived in Sydney as dawn broke (= as the first light could be seen). * I woke up just before dawn. * summer’s early dawns * He works from dawn till dusk (= from morning till night). * The plane took off, leaving London behind in a blue-grey dawn.\ncompare DUSK\n  2  [sing.] ~ (of sth) the beginning or first signs of sth:\nthe dawn of civilization / time / history * Peace marked a new dawn in the country’s history. * the dawn of a golden age in European art\n IDIOMS  see BREAK n., CRACK n.\n    verb [V] \n  1  (written) (of a day or a period of time) to begin:\nThe following morning dawned bright and warm. * A new technological age had dawned.\n  2  to become obvious or easy to understand:\nSlowly the awful truth dawned.\n IDIOMS  see LIGHT n.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  dawn on sb [no passive] if sth dawns on you, you begin to realize it for the first time:\n[+ that] Suddenly it dawned on me that they couldn’t possibly have met before.


Words: day
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  [C] a period of 24 hours:\nI saw Tom three days ago. * ’What day is it today?’ ’Monday.’ * We’re going away in a few days / in a few days’ time. * They left the day before yesterday (= two days ago). * We’re meeting the day after tomorrow (= in two days). * New Year’s Day * Take the medicine three times a day. * We can’t go there today. You can go another day.\nsee also FIELD DAY, OFF DAY, RED-LETTER DAY, SPORTS DAY\n \n  2  [U] the time between when it becomes light in the morning and when it becomes dark in the evening:\nThe sun was shining all day. * I could sit and watch the river all day long. * He works at night and sleeps during the day. * Nocturnal animals sleep by day and hunt by night.\n \n  3  [C, usually sing.] the hours of the day when you are awake, working, etc:\na seven-hour working day * It’s been a long day (= I’ve been very busy). * Did you have a good day? * She didn’t do a full day’s work. * I took a half day off yesterday. * (AmE) Have a nice day!\nsee also WORKDAY\n  4  [C, usually pl.] a particular period of time or history:\nin Queen Victoria’s day * the early days of computers * Most women stayed at home in those days. * (spoken) in the old days (= in the past)\nsee also GLORY DAYS, HEYDAY, NOWADAYS, THE PRESENT DAY\n HELP NOTE  There are many other compounds ending in day. You will find them at their place in the alphabet.\n IDIOMS \n  all in a day’s work part of your normal working life and not unusual\n  any day (now) (spoken) very soon:\nThe letter should arrive any day now.\n  carry / win the day (formal) to be successful against sb/sth:\nDespite strong opposition, the ruling party carried the day.\n  day after day each day repeatedly (used especially when sth is boring or annoying):\nShe hates doing the same work day after day.\n  day by day all the time; a little at a time and gradually:\nDay by day his condition improved.\n  day in, day out every day for a long period of time:\nLiving on junk food day in day out is not good for you.\n  a day of reckoning the time when sb will have to deal with the result of sth that they have done wrong, or be punished for sth bad that they have done\n  sb’s / sth’s days are numbered a person or thing will not continue to live, exist or be successful for much longer:\nHis days as leader of the party are numbered. * Whatever the protests, the school’s days are numbered and it will be closed down.\n  from day one (spoken) from the beginning:\nIt’s never worked from day one. * This game makes reading and spelling fun from day one.\n  from day to day\n1 with no thoughts or plans for the future:\nThey live from day to day, looking after their sick daughter.\n2 if a situation changes from day to day, it changes often:\nA baby’s need for food can vary from day to day.\n  from one day to the next if a situation changes from one day to the next, it is uncertain and not likely to stay the same each day:\nI never know what to expect from one day to the next.\n  have had your day to no longer be successful, powerful, etc:\nShe’s had her day as a supermodel.\n  have seen / known better days (humorous) to be in poor condition:\nOur car has seen better days!\n  if he’s, she’s, etc. a day (spoken) (used when talking about sb’s age) at least:\nHe must be 70 if he’s a day!\n  in sb’s day\n1 during the part of sb’s life when they were most successful, famous, etc:\nShe was a great dancer in her day.\n2 when sb was young:\nIn my day, there were plenty of jobs when you left school. * In Grandfather’s day, owning a television was very unusual.\n  in this day and age now, in the modern world\n  it’s not sb’s day (spoken) used when several unfortunate or unpleasant things happen on the same day:\nMy car broke down and then I locked myself out-it’s just not my day!\n  make sb’s day to make sb feel very happy on a particular day:\nThe phone call from Mike really made my day.\n  make a day of it (spoken) to make a particular enjoyable activity last for a whole day instead of only part of it:\nWe took a picnic lunch to the river and made a day of it.\n  not have all day to not have much time:\nCome on! We don’t have all day!\n  of sb’s day during a particular period of time when sb lived:\nthe best writer / actor / player of his day * Bessie Smith was the Madonna of her day.\n  of the day that is served on a particular day in a restaurant:\nsoup of the day\n  one day at some time in the future, or on a particular day in the past:\nOne day, I want to leave the city and move to the country. * One day, he walked out of the house with a small bag and never came back.\n  one of these days before a long time has passed:\nOne of these days you’ll come back and ask me to forgive you.\n  one of those days (spoken) a day when there are a lot of mistakes and a lot of things go wrong:\nIt’s been one of those days!\n  some day at an unknown time in the future:\nSome day I’ll be famous.\n  take it / things one day at a time (spoken) to not think about what will happen in the future:\nI don’t know if he’ll get better. We’re just taking it one day at a time.\n  that’ll be the day (spoken, ironic) used when you are saying that sth is very unlikely to happen:\nPaul? Apologize? That’ll be the day!\n  these days (spoken) used to talk about the present, especially when you are comparing it with the past:\nThese days kids grow up so quickly.\n  those were the days (spoken) used to suggest that a time in the past was happier or better than now\n  to the day exactly:\nIt’s been three years to the day since we met.\n  to this day even now, when a lot of time has passed:\nTo this day, I still don’t understand why he did it.\nmore at BORN, BREAK n., CALL v., CLEAR adj., COLD adj., DEED, DOG n., EARLY adj., END n., END v., FORTH, GIVE v., HIGH adj., LATE adv., LIVE, LIVELONG, NICE, NIGHT, OLD, ORDER n., OTHER adj., PASS v., PLAIN adj., RAINY, ROME, SALAD, SAVE v.


Words: day care
Meaning:
noun\n[U] care for small children, or for old or sick people, away from home, during the day:\nDay care is provided by the company she works for. * a day care centre


Words: day job
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] the paid work that sb normally does\n IDIOMS \n  don’t give up the day job (informal, humorous) used to tell sb that they should continue doing what they are used to, rather than trying sth new which they are likely to fail at:\nSo you want to be a writer? Well my advice is, don’t give up the day job.


Words: day nursery
Meaning:
(also nursery) (both BrE) (AmE day care center) noun\na place where small children are cared for while their parents are at work\ncompare CReCHE, NURSERY SCHOOL


Words: day off
Meaning:
noun\n(plural days off) a day on which you do not have to work:\nMost weeks, Sunday is my only day off. * Why not take a few days off?


Words: day pupil
Meaning:
(BrE) (also day student AmE, BrE) noun\na school student who lives at home but who goes to a school where other students live in the school


Words: day release
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) [U] a system of allowing employees days off work for education:\ntime off for study on day release * a day release course


Words: day room
Meaning:
noun\na room in a hospital or other institution where people can sit, relax, watch television, etc. during the day


Words: day school
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (old-fashioned) a private school with students who live at home and only go to school during the day\ncompare BOARDING SCHOOL\n  2  (BrE) a course of education lasting one day, at which a particular topic is discussed:\na day school at Leeds University on women in Victorian times


Words: day-to-day
Meaning:
adjective [only before noun]\n  1  planning for only one day at a time:\nI have organized the cleaning on a day-to-day basis, until our usual cleaner returns.\n  2  involving the usual events or tasks of each day:\nShe has been looking after the day-to-day running of the school.


Words: daydream
Meaning:
noun\npleasant thoughts that make you forget about the present:\nShe stared out of the window, lost in a daydream.\n    daydream verb [V]  (about sb/sth):\nI would spend hours daydreaming about a house of my own.


Words: daylight
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the light that comes from the sun during the day:\nThey emerged from the church into the bright daylight. * The street looks very different in daylight. * They left before daylight (= before the sun had risen). * The bridge would be a prime target for enemy aircraft during daylight hours.\n IDIOMS \n  daylight robbery (informal) the fact of sb charging too much money for sth:\nYou wouldn’t believe some of the prices they charge; it’s daylight robbery.\nmore at BROAD adj.


Words: daylights
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.]\n IDIOMS \n  beat / knock the (living) daylights out of sb (informal) to hit sb very hard several times and hurt them very much:\nGet out or I’ll beat the living daylights out of you!\n  frighten / scare the (living) daylights out of sb (informal) to frighten sb very much


Words: daylong
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (especially AmE) lasting for a whole day:\na daylong conference / meeting


Words: daytime
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the period during the day between the time when it gets light and the time when it gets dark:\nYou don’t often see this bird in (the) daytime. * The park is open during (the) daytime throughout the summer. * Daytime temperatures never fell below 80ｰF. * Please give your name, address and daytime phone number.


Words: daze
Meaning:
noun\n IDIOMS \n  in a daze in a confused state:\nI’ve been in a complete daze since hearing the news.


Words: dazed
Meaning:
adjective\nunable to think clearly, especially because of a shock or blow:\nSurvivors waited for the rescue boats, dazed and frightened. * Jimmy was still dazed by the blow to his head.


Words: dazzle
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [often passive]\n  1  if a strong light dazzles you, it is so bright that you cannot see for a short time:\n[VN] He was momentarily dazzled by the strong sunlight. [also V]\n  2  [VN] to impress sb a lot with your beauty, skill, knowledge, etc:\nHe was dazzled by the warmth of her smile.\n    dazzling adjective:\na dazzling display of oriental dance and music\n    dazzlingly adverb:\nShe was dazzlingly beautiful.\n    noun [U, sing.]\n  1  the quality that bright light has that stops you from seeing clearly:\nthe dazzle of the midday sun\n  2  a thing or quality that impresses you but may prevent you from understanding or thinking clearly:\nthe dazzle of publicity


Words: DC
Meaning:
abbreviation\n  1  direct current (an electric current that flows in one direction)\ncompare AC\n  2  District of Columbia in the US:\nWashington, DC


Words: de facto
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] (from Latin, formal) existing as a fact although it may not be legally accepted as existing:\nThe general took de facto control of the country.\n    de facto adverb:\nHe continued to rule the country de facto.\ncompare DE JURE


Words: de jure
Meaning:
adjective, adverb\n(from Latin, law) according to the law:\nHe held power de jure and de facto (= both according to the law and in reality).\ncompare DE FACTO


Words: de luxe
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] of a higher quality and more expensive than usual:\na de luxe hotel * The de luxe edition is bound in leather.


Words: de rigueur
Meaning:
adjective\n[not before noun] (from French) considered necessary if you wish to be accepted socially:\nEvening dress is de rigueur at the casino.


Words: de trop
Meaning:
adjective\n[not before noun] (from French, formal) not wanted, especially in a social situation with other people:\nShe deliberately tried to exclude David from the conversation and show him how de trop he was.


Words: de-
Meaning:
prefix (in verbs and related nouns, adjectives and adverbs)\n  1  the opposite of:\ndecentralization\n  2  removing sth:\nto defrost the refrigerator (= remove layers of ice from it)


Words: deacon
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox Churches) a religious leader just below the rank of a priest\n  2  (in some Nonconformist Churches) a person who is not a member of the CLERGY, but who helps a MINISTER with church business affairs


Words: dead
Meaning:
adjective, noun, adverb \n    adjective\n  not alive\n  1  no longer alive:\nMy mother’s dead; she died in 1987. * a dead person / animal * dead leaves / wood / skin * He was shot dead by a gunman outside his home. * Catherine’s dead body lay peacefully on the bed. * He dropped dead (= died suddenly) last week. * The poor child looks more dead than alive. * (figurative) In ten years he’ll be dead and buried as a politician.\n  idea / belief / plan\n  2  [not before noun] no longer believed in or aimed for:\nMany believe the peace plan is dead. * Unfortunately racism is not yet dead. * Though the idea may be dead, it is far from being buried (= people still talk about it, even though there is nothing new to say).\n  not used\n  3  belonging to the past; no longer practised or fashionable:\nIs the Western a dead art form? * a dead language (= one that is no longer spoken, for example Latin) * By the seventies the suit was dead, kept for weddings, funerals and job interviews.\n  finished\n  4  (informal) finished; not able to be used any more:\ndead matches * There were two dead bottles of wine on the table.\n  machine\n  5  (of machines or equipment) not working because of a lack of power:\na dead battery / engine * The hard disk seems to be dead. * Suddenly the phone went dead.\n  place\n  6  (informal, disapproving) very quiet, without activity or interest:\nThere were no theatres, no cinemas, no coffee bars. It was dead as anything.\n  business\n  7  (informal, disapproving) without activity; with nobody buying or selling anything:\n’The market is absolutely dead this morning,’ said one foreign exchange trader. * Winter is traditionally the dead season for the housing market.\n  tired\n  8  [not usually before noun] (informal) extremely tired; not well:\nhalf dead with cold and hunger * She felt dead on her feet and didn’t have the energy to question them further.\n  without feeling\n  9  [not before noun] (of a part of the body) unable to feel because of cold, etc.\nSYN NUMB:\nMy left arm had gone dead.\n  10   to sth unable to feel or understand emotions\nSYN INSENSITIVE:\nHe was dead to all feelings of pity.\n  11  (especially of sb’s voice, eyes or face) showing no emotion\nSYN EXPRESSIONLESS:\nShe said, ’I’m sorry, too,’ in a quiet, dead voice. * His usually dead grey eyes were sparkling.\n  complete / exact\n  12  [only before noun] complete or exact:\na dead silence / calm * the dead centre of the target * The car gave a sudden jerk and came to a dead stop. * (BrE) This horse is a dead cert for (= will certainly win) the race tomorrow. * She crumpled to the floor in a dead faint (= completely unconscious).\n  never alive\n  13  never having been alive:\ndead matter (= for example rock) * a dead planet (= one with no life on it)\n  in sport\n  14  outside the playing area\n IDIOMS \n  be a dead ringer for sb (informal) to look very like sb:\nShe’s a dead ringer for a girl I used to know.\n  (as) dead as a / the dodo (BrE, informal) completely dead; no longer interesting or valid:\nIn the second half both teams made substitutions to try and liven things up, but the game was as dead as a dodo.\n  (as) dead as a doornail (informal) completely dead\n  a dead duck (informal) a plan, an event, etc. that has failed or is certain to fail and that is therefore not worth discussing\n  be dead and gone (informal) to be dead:\nYou’ll be sorry you said that when I’m dead and gone.\n  the dead hand of sth (written) an influence that controls or restricts sth:\nWe need to free business from the dead hand of bureaucracy.\n  dead in the water a person or plan that is dead in the water has failed and has little hope of succeeding in the future:\nHis leadership campaign is dead in the water.\n  dead meat (informal) in serious trouble:\nIf anyone finds out, you’re dead meat.\n  dead to the world fast asleep\n  over my dead body (spoken) used to show you are strongly opposed to sth:\nShe moves into our home over my dead body.\n  sb wouldn’t be seen / caught dead ... (spoken) used to say that you would not like to wear particular clothes, or to be in a particular situation:\nShe wouldn’t be seen dead in a hat. * He wouldn’t be caught dead going to a club with his mother.\nmore at FLOG, KNOCK v.\n    noun (the dead)\n  1  [pl.] people who have died:\nThe dead and wounded in that one attack amounted to 6 000.\n  2  [sing.] the state of being dead:\nChristians believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. * (figurative) In nine years he has brought his party back from the dead almost to the brink of power.\n IDIOMS \n  in the dead of night (BrE also at dead of night) in the quietest part of the night:\nI crept out of bed in the dead of night and sneaked downstairs.\n  in the dead of winter in the coldest part of winter\n    adverb (informal)\n  completely\n  1  completely; exactly:\nYou’re dead right! * (BrE) a dead straight road * (BrE) The train was dead on time. * He’s dead against the idea. * The sight made him stop dead in his tracks (= stop suddenly). * She’s dead set on getting (= determined to get) this new job.\n  very\n  2  (BrE, informal) very; extremely:\nThe instructions are dead easy to follow. * You were dead lucky to get that job. * I was dead scared.\n IDIOMS \n  cut sb dead (BrE) to pretend not to have seen sb; to refuse to greet sb:\nShe saw me, recognized me and cut me dead.\nmore at RIGHT n.


Words: dead end
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a road, passage, etc. that is closed at one end:\nThe first street we tried turned out to be a dead end.\n  2  a point at which you can make no further progress in what you are doing:\nWe had come to a dead end in our research. * This line of investigation could prove to be a complete dead end. * He’s in a dead-end job in the local factory (= one with low wages and no hope of promotion).


Words: dead heat
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (especially BrE) a result in a race when two competitors finish at exactly the same time\n  2  (AmE) a situation during a race or competition, etc. when two or more people are at the same level:\nThe two candidates are in a dead heat in the polls.


Words: dead letter
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [usually sing.] a law or an agreement that still exists but that is ignored:\nThe treaty had been a dead letter for many years.\n  2  (especially AmE) a letter that cannot be delivered to an address or to the person who sent it


Words: dead loss
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] (BrE, informal) a person or thing that is not helpful or useful:\nHe may be a very talented designer, but as a manager he’s a dead loss.


Words: deadbeat
Meaning:
noun (informal)\n  1  (especially AmE) a lazy person; a person with no job and no money, who is not part of normal society\n  2  (AmE) a person or company that tries to avoid paying their debts


Words: deaden
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to make sth such as a sound, a feeling, etc. less strong\nSYN DULL:\nHe was given drugs to deaden the pain. * The wood panelling in the rooms deadened any noise from outside.\n    deadening adjective [only before noun]:\nthe deadening effect of alcohol on your reactions


Words: deadline
Meaning:
noun\n~ (for sth) a point in time by which sth must be done:\nI prefer to work to a deadline. * The deadline for applications is 30 April. * the January 15 deadline set by the United Nations


Words: deadlock
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [sing., U] a complete failure to reach agreement or settle a dispute:\nEuropean agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. * (BrE) The strike appeared to have reached deadlock. * (AmE, BrE) The strike has reached a deadlock.\n  2  [C] (BrE) (also deadbolt AmE, BrE) a type of lock on a door that needs a key to open or close it\n    deadlocked adjective [not before noun]:\nDespite months of discussion the negotiations remained deadlocked.


Words: deadly
Meaning:
adjective, adverb \n    adjective (deadlier, deadliest)\n HELP NOTE  More deadly and deadliest are the usual forms. You can also use most deadly.\n  1  causing or likely to cause death:\na deadly weapon / disease * deadly poison * The cobra is one of the world’s deadliest snakes. * The terrorists have chosen to play a deadly game with the civilian population. * the seven deadly sins (= for which you could be sent to HELL)\n  2  [only before noun] extreme; complete:\nI’m in deadly earnest. * We sat in deadly silence. * They are deadly enemies (= will always remain enemies, and are full of hatred for each other).\n  3  extremely effective, so that no defence is possible:\nHis aim is deadly (= so accurate that he can kill easily). * It was the deadly striker’s 11th goal of the season.\n  4  (BrE, informal) very boring:\nThe lecture was absolutely deadly.\n    adverb\n  1  (informal) extremely:\ndeadly serious / dull\n  2  (rare) = DEATHLY:\ndeadly pale / cold


Words: deadpan
Meaning:
adjective\nwithout any expression or emotion; often pretending to be serious when you are joking:\ndeadpan humour * She looked up, completely deadpan.


Words: deadweight
Meaning:
noun [usually sing.]\n  1  a thing that is very heavy and difficult to lift or move:\nThe sleeping child was a deadweight in her arms.\n  2  a person or thing that makes it difficult for sth to succeed or change


Words: deaf
Meaning:
adjective (deafer, deafest)\n  1  unable to hear anything or unable to hear very well:\nto become / go deaf * She was born deaf. * partially deaf\nsee also STONE DEAF, TONE-DEAF\n  2  (the deaf) noun [pl.] people who cannot hear:\ntelevision subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing\n  3  [not before noun] ~ to sth not willing to listen or pay attention to sth:\nHe was deaf to my requests for help.\n    deafness noun [U]\n IDIOMS \n  (as) deaf as a post (informal) very deaf\n  fall on deaf ears to be ignored or not noticed by other people:\nHer advice fell on deaf ears.\n  turn a deaf ear (to sb/sth) to ignore or refuse to listen to sb/sth:\nHe turned a deaf ear to the rumours.


Words: deafen
Meaning:
verb [VN] [usually passive]\n  1  to make sb unable to hear the sounds around them because there is too much noise:\nThe noise of the siren was deafening her.\n  2  to make sb deaf


Words: deafening
Meaning:
adjective\nvery loud:\ndeafening applause * The noise of the machine was deafening. * the deafening roar of the sea * The government’s response to the report has been a deafening silence (= it was very noticeable that nothing was said or done).\n    deafeningly adverb


Words: deal
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (dealt, dealt )\n  cards\n  1  ~ (sth) (out) | ~ (sth) (to sb) to give cards to each player in a game of cards:\n[V] Whose turn is it to deal? * [VN] Start by dealing out ten cards to each player. * [VNN] He dealt me two aces.\n  drugs\n  2  to buy and sell illegal drugs:\n[V] You can often see people dealing openly on the streets. [also VN]\n IDIOMS \n  deal sb/sth a blow | deal a blow to sb/sth (formal)\n1 to be very shocking or harmful to sb/sth:\nHer sudden death dealt a blow to the whole country.\n2 to hit sb/sth\nmore at WHEEL v.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  deal in sth\n1 to buy and sell a particular product:\nThe company deals in computer software.\n2 to accept sth as a basis for your decisions, attitudes, or actions:\nWe don’t deal in rumours or guesswork.\n  deal sth<->out\n1 to share sth out among a group of people\nSYN DISTRIBUTE:\nThe profits were dealt out among the investors.\n2 to say what punishment sb should have:\nMany judges deal out harsher sentences to men than to women.\n  deal with sb to take appropriate action in a particular situation or according to who you are talking to, managing, etc.\nSYN HANDLE:\nShe is used to dealing with all kinds of people in her job.\n  deal with sb/sth to do business with a person, a company or an organization\n  deal with sth\n1 to solve a problem, carry out a task, etc:\nto deal with enquiries / issues / complaints * Have you dealt with these letters yet? * He’s good at dealing with pressure.\n2 to be about sth:\nHer poems often deal with the subject of death.\n    noun\n  a lot\n  1  [sing.] a good / great ~ much; a lot:\nThey spent a great deal of money. * It took a great deal of time. * I’m feeling a good deal better. * We see them a great deal (= often).\n  business agreement\n  2  [C] an agreement, especially in business, on particular conditions for buying or doing sth:\nto make / sign / conclude / close a deal (with sb) * (informal) Did you cut a deal (= make one)? * We did a deal with the management on overtime. * They were hoping for a better pay deal. * A deal was struck after lengthy negotiations. * The deal fell through (= no agreement was reached). * I got a good deal on the car (= bought it cheaply). * It’s a deal! (= I agree to your terms) * Listen. This is the deal (= this is what we have agreed and are going to do). * As athletes prepare for the Olympics, sporting organizations are looking for big sponsorship deals to pay for the trip to Sydney.\nsee also PACKAGE\n  treatment\n  3  [C, usually sing.] the way that sb/sth is treated:\nIf elected, the party has promised a new deal (= better and fairer treatment) for teachers. * They knew they’d been given a raw / rough deal (= been treated unfairly). * We tried to ensure that everyone got a fair deal. * It was a square deal for everyone.\n  in card games\n  4  [C, usually sing.] the action of giving out cards to the players:\nIt’s your deal.\n  wood\n  5  [U] (especially BrE) the soft pale wood of FIR or PINE trees, especially when it is cut into boards for making things:\na deal table\n IDIOMS  see BIG adj., STRIKE v.


Words: dealer
Meaning:
noun\n  1  ~ (in sth) a person whose business is buying and selling a particular product:\nan art / antique dealer * He’s a dealer in second-hand cars.\nsee also WHEELER-DEALER\n  2  a person who sells illegal drugs\n  3  the person who gives out the cards in a card game


Words: dealership
Meaning:
noun\na business that buys and sells products, especially cars, for a particular company; the position of being a dealer who can buy and sell sth:\na Ford dealership


Words: dealing
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (dealings) [pl.] business activities; the relations that you have with sb in business:\nHave you had any previous dealings with this company? * I knew nothing of his business dealings. * She has always been very polite in her dealings with me.\n  2  [U] a way of doing business with sb:\na reputation for fair / honest dealing\n  3  [U, C] buying and selling:\ndrug dealing * dealings in shares


Words: dean
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (in the Anglican Church) a priest of high rank who is in charge of the other priests in a CATHEDRAL\n  2  (also rural dean) (BrE) a priest who is in charge of the priests of several churches in an area\n  3  a person in a university who is in charge of a department of studies:\nthe dean of the Faculty of Medicine\n  4  (in a college or university, especially at Oxford or Cambridge) a person who is responsible for the discipline of students\n  5  (AmE) = DOYEN


Words: deanery
Meaning:
noun (plural deaneries)\n  1  a group of PARISHES controlled by a dean (2)\n  2  the office or house of a dean (1, 2)


Words: dear
Meaning:
adjective, exclamation, noun, adverb \n    adjective (dearer, dearest)\n  1  ~ (to sb) loved by or important to sb:\nHe’s one of my dearest friends. * Her daughter is very dear to her. * They lost everything that was dear to them.\n  2  (Dear) used at the beginning of a letter before the name or title of the person that you are writing to:\nDear Sir or Madam * Dear Mrs Jones\n  3  [not usually before noun] (BrE) expensive; costing a lot of money:\nEverything’s so dear now, isn’t it?\n  4  (dear old / little ...) (BrE) used to describe sb in a way that shows affection:\nDear old Sue! I knew she’d help. * Their baby’s a dear little thing.\n IDIOMS \n  hold sb/sth dear (formal) to care very much for sb/sth; to value sb/sth highly:\nHe had destroyed everything we held dear.\nmore at HEART, LIFE, NEAR adj.\n    exclamation used in expressions that show that you are surprised, upset, annoyed or worried:\nOh dear! I think I’ve lost my purse! * Oh dear! What a shame. * Dear me! What a mess! * Dear oh dear! What are you going to do now?\n    noun\n  1  (BrE, spoken) a kind person:\nIsn’t he a dear? * Be a dear and fetch me my coat.\n  2  used when speaking to sb you love:\nWould you like a drink, dear? * Come here, my dear.\n  3  used when speaking to sb in a friendly way, for example by an older person to a young person or a child:\nWhat’s your name, dear?\ncompare DUCK\n    adverb (BrE) at a high price:\nto buy cheap and sell dear\n IDIOMS  see COST v.


Words: dearest
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective (old-fashioned)\n  1  used when writing to sb you love:\n’Dearest Nina’, the letter began.\n  2  [usually before noun] that you feel deeply:\nIt was her dearest wish to have a family.\n    noun (old-fashioned) used when speaking to sb you love:\nCome (my) dearest, let’s go home.\n IDIOMS  see NEAR n.


Words: dearly
Meaning:
adverb\n  1  very much:\nShe loves him dearly. * I would dearly like / love to know what he was thinking. * dearly beloved (= used by a minister at a Christian church service to address people)\n  2  in a way that causes a lot of suffering or damage, or that costs a lot of money:\nSuccess has cost him dearly. * She paid dearly for her mistake.


Words: dearth
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] ~ (of sth) a lack of sth; the fact of there not being enough of sth:\nThere was a dearth of reliable information on the subject.


Words: death
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] the fact of sb dying or being killed:\na sudden / violent / peaceful death * the anniversary of his wife’s death * an increase in deaths from cancer * He died a slow and painful death.\n  2  [U] the end of life; the state of being dead:\nTwo children were burnt to death in the fire (= they died as a result of the fire). * He’s drinking himself to death (= so that it will kill him). * Police are still trying to establish the cause of death. * Do you believe in life after death? * a death camp (= a place where prisoners are killed, usually in a war) * He was sentenced to death (= to be executed).\n  3  [U] ~ of sth the permanent end or destruction of sth:\nthe death of all my plans * the death of communism\n  4  (also Death) [U] (literary) the power that destroys life, imagined as human in form:\nDeath is often shown in paintings as a human skeleton. * Death marched in and took him away.\nsee also SUDDEN DEATH\n IDIOMS \n  at death’s door (often humorous) so ill that you may die:\nI suppose you won’t be coming to the party if you’re at death’s door!\n  be the death of sb to worry or upset sb very much:\nThose kids will be the death of me.\n  do sth to death to do or perform sth so often that people become tired of seeing or hearing it:\nThat joke’s been done to death.\n  frighten / scare sb to death to frighten sb very much:\nSpiders frighten him to death.\n  look / feel like death warmed up (BrE) (AmE like death warmed over) (spoken) to look or feel very ill or tired\n  put sb to death to kill sb as a punishment\nSYN EXECUTE:\nThe prisoner will be put to death at dawn.\n  to death extremely; very much:\nto be bored / frightened / scared / worried to death * I’m sick to death of your endless criticism.\n  to the death until sb is dead:\na fight to the death\nmore at CATCH v., CHEAT v., DICE v., DIE v., FATE, FIGHT v., FLOG, GRIM, KISS n., LIFE, MATTER n.


Words: death blow
Meaning:
noun\nan event that destroys or puts an end to sth:\nThey thought the arrival of television would deal a death blow to mass cinema audiences.


Words: death knell
Meaning:
(also knell) noun\n[sing.] an event that means that the end or destruction of sth will come soon:\nIf he loses this referendum, it will sound the death knell for his leadership.


Words: death mask
Meaning:
noun\na model of the face of a person who has just died, made by pressing a soft substance over their face and removing it when it becomes hard


Words: death rate
Meaning:
noun\n  1  the number of deaths every year for every 1 000 people in the population of a place:\na high / low death rate\n  2  the number of deaths every year from a particular disease or in a particular group:\nDeath rates from heart disease have risen considerably in recent years.


Words: death row
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the cells in a prison for prisoners who are waiting to be killed as punishment for a serious crime:\nprisoners on death row


Words: death sentence
Meaning:
noun\nthe legal punishment of being killed for a serious crime:\nthe first death sentence passed on a woman * to be given / to receive the death sentence for murder


Words: death toll
Meaning:
noun\nthe number of people killed in an accident, a war, a disaster, etc:\nThe death toll has now risen to 200.


Words: death trap
Meaning:
noun\n(informal) a building, road, vehicle, etc. that is dangerous and could cause sb’s death:\nThe cars blocking the exits could turn this place into a death trap. * Oil slicks, overhead cables and pollution are all death traps for birds.


Words: death warrant
Meaning:
noun\nan official document stating that sb should receive the punishment of being killed for a crime that they have committed:\nThe President signed the death warrant. * If you pay the ransom, you may be signing your son’s death warrant. * (figurative) By withdrawing the funding, the government signed the project’s death warrant.


Words: death wish
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] a desire to die, often that sb is not aware of:\nThe number of accidents she gets into, you’d think she had a death wish.


Words: deathbed
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] the bed in which sb is dying or dies:\na deathbed confession / conversion / repentance * He told me the truth on his deathbed (= as he lay dying). * She was on her deathbed (= going to die very soon). * (humorous) You’d have to be practically on your deathbed before the doctor would come and see you!


Words: deathless
Meaning:
adjective\n(written) never dying or forgotten: (ironic) written in his usual deathless prose (= very bad)


Words: deathly
Meaning:
(also less frequent deadly) adverb\nlike a dead person; suggesting death:\nHer face was deathly pale. * The house was deathly still. * deathly cold\n    deathly adjective:\nA deathly hush fell over the room as he walked in.


Words: debar
Meaning:
verb\n(-rr-) [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb (from sth / from doing sth) (formal) to prevent sb from doing sth, joining sth, etc:\nHe was debarred from holding public office.


Words: debase
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to make sb/sth less valuable or respected:\nSport is being debased by commercial sponsorship.\n    debasement noun [U]


Words: debatable
Meaning:
adjective\nnot certain because people can have different ideas and opinions about the thing being discussed:\na debatable point * It is highly debatable whether conditions have improved for low-income families.


Words: debate
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun [C, U] ~ (on / about / over sth)\n  1  a formal discussion of an issue at a public meeting or in a parliament. In a debate two or more speakers express opposing views and then there is often a vote on the issue:\na debate on abortion * The minister opened the debate (= was the first to speak). * The motion under debate (= being discussed) was put to a vote. * After a long debate, Congress approved the proposal.\n  2  an argument or discussion expressing different opinions:\na heated / wide-ranging / lively debate * the current debate about tax * There had been much debate on the issue of childcare. * Whether he deserves what has happened to him is open to debate / a matter for debate (= cannot be certain or decided yet). * The theatre’s future is a subject of considerable debate.\n    verb\n  1  to discuss sth, especially formally, before making a decision or finding a solution:\n[VN] Politicians will be debating the bill later this week. * The question of the origin of the universe is still hotly debated (= strongly argued about) by scientists. * [V wh-] The committee will debate whether to lower the age of club membership to 16. [also V]\n  2  ~ (with yourself) to think carefully about sth before making a decision:\nShe debated with herself for a while, and then picked up the phone. * [V wh-] We’re debating whether or not to go skiing this winter. [also V -ing]


Words: debater
Meaning:
noun\na person who is involved in a debate:\nHe was one of the most accomplished debaters in the government.


Words: debauched
Meaning:
adjective\na debauched person is immoral in their sexual behaviour, drinks a lot of alcohol, takes drugs, etc.


Words: debenture
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE, finance) an official document that is given by a company, showing it has borrowed money from a person and stating the interest payments that it will make to them:\nPayment of interest is made to the debenture holder at a specified rate and at clearly defined intervals.


Words: debilitate
Meaning:
verb [VN] (formal)\n  1  to make sb’s body or mind weaker:\na debilitating disease * The troops were severely debilitated by hunger and disease. * She found the heat debilitating.\n  2  to make a country, an organization, etc. weaker:\nProlonged strike action debilitated the industry. * The economy is now strengthening after a long and debilitating recession.


Words: debility
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] (plural debilities) (formal) physical weakness, especially as a result of illness:\nchronic muscle debility


Words: debit
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  a written note in a bank account or other financial record of a sum of money owed or spent:\non the debit side of an account * (figurative) On the debit side (= a negative result will be that) the new shopping centre will increase traffic problems.\n  2  a sum of money taken from a bank account:\nThe total debits on the account were ｣2 000 last month.\ncompare CREDIT n.\nsee also DIRECT DEBIT\n    verb [VN] when a bank debits an account, it takes money from it:\nThe money will be debited from your account each month. * The bank will debit your account with any withdrawals made using your payment card.


Words: debit card
Meaning:
noun\na plastic card that can be used to take money directly from your bank account when you pay for sth\ncompare CREDIT CARD


Words: debrief
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] ~ sb (on sth) to ask sb questions officially, in order to get information about the task that they have just completed:\nHe was taken to a US airbase to be debriefed on the mission.\ncompare BRIEF\n    debriefing noun [U, C]:\na debriefing session


Words: debris
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  pieces of wood, metal, brick, etc. that are left after sth has been destroyed:\nEmergency teams are still clearing the debris from the plane crash. * Several people were injured by flying debris in the explosion.\n  2  (written or formal) pieces of material that are not wanted and rubbish/garbage that are left somewhere:\nClear away leaves and other garden debris from the pond. * the debris of their lunch


Words: debt
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] a sum of money that sb owes:\nI need to pay off all my debts before I leave the country. * an outstanding debt of ｣300 * He had run up credit card debts of thousands of dollars.\n  2  [U] the situation of owing money, especially when you cannot pay:\nHe died heavily in debt. * The club is ｣4 million in debt. * We were poor but we never got into debt. * It’s hard to stay out of debt when you are a student. * a country’s foreign debt burden\nsee also BAD DEBT\n  3  [C, usually sing.] the fact that you should feel grateful to sb because they have helped you or been kind to you:\nto owe a debt of gratitude to sb * I would like to acknowledge my debt to my teachers.\n IDIOMS \n  be in sb’s debt (formal) to feel grateful to sb for their help, kindness, etc.


Words: debunk
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to show that an idea, a belief, etc. is false; to show that sth is not as good as people think it is:\nHis theories have been debunked by recent research.


Words: debut
Meaning:
(also debut)  noun\nthe first public appearance of a performer or sports player:\nHe will make his debut for the first team this week. * the group’s debut album * She’s making her New York debut at Carnegie Hall.


Words: debutante
Meaning:
(also informal deb) noun\na young, rich or UPPER-CLASS woman who is going to fashionable social events for the first time


Words: decadence
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (disapproving) behaviour, attitudes, etc. which show a fall in standards, especially moral ones, and an interest in pleasure and enjoyment rather than more serious things:\nthe decadence of modern Western society


Words: decadent
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) having or showing low standards, especially moral ones, and an interest only in pleasure and enjoyment rather than serious things:\nthe decadent rich * a decadent lifestyle / society * There was something very decadent about filling ourselves with so much rich food.


Words: decaffeinated
Meaning:
adjective\n(of coffee or tea) with most or all of the CAFFEINE removed\n    decaffeinated (also informal decaf AmE, BrE) (BrE also decaff) noun [U, C]:\nRegular coffee or decaf? * I’ll have a decaff, please.


Words: decant
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] ~ sth (into sth) to pour liquid, especially wine, from one container into another:\nDecant the wine and allow it to stand at room temperature for a couple of hours.


Words: decanter
Meaning:
noun\na glass bottle, often decorated, that wine and other alcoholic drinks are poured into from an ordinary bottle before serving


Words: decapitate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to cut off sb’s head:\nHis decapitated body was found floating in a canal.\n    decapitation  noun [U, C]:\nThe child narrowly escaped decapitation by the propellers.


Words: decathlon
Meaning:
noun\n[sing., U] a sporting event in which people compete in ten different sports\ncompare BIATHLON, HEPTATHLON, PENTATHLON, TRIATHLON


Words: decay
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun [U]\n  1  the process or result of being destroyed by natural causes or by not being cared for (= of decaying):\ntooth decay * The landlord had let the building fall into decay. * The smell of death and decay hung over the town. * The decay of the wood will spread if it is not removed.\n  2  the gradual destruction of a society, an institution, a system, etc:\neconomic / moral / urban decay * the decay of the old industries\n    verb\n  1  to be destroyed gradually by natural processes; to destroy sth in this way\nSYN ROT:\n[V] decaying leaves / teeth / food [also VN]\n  2  [V] if a building or an area decays, its condition slowly becomes worse:\ndecaying inner city areas\n  3  [V] to become less powerful and lose influence over people, society, etc:\ndecaying standards of morality


Words: deceased
Meaning:
adjective (law or formal)\n  1  dead:\nher deceased parents\n  2  (the deceased) noun (plural the deceased) a person who has died, especially recently


Words: deceit
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] dishonest behaviour that is intended to make sb believe sth that is not true; an example of this behaviour:\nHe was accused of lies and deceit. * Everyone was involved in this web of deceit. * Their marriage was an illusion and a deceit.


Words: deceitful
Meaning:
adjective\nbehaving in a dishonest way by telling lies and making people believe things that are not true:\nThe government were accused of being hypocritical and deceitful.\n    deceitfully  adverb\n    deceitfulness noun [U]


Words: deceive
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [VN] ~ sb (into doing sth) to make sb believe sth that is not true:\nHer husband had been deceiving her for years. * She deceived him into handing over all his savings.\n  2  ~ yourself to refuse to admit to yourself that sth unpleasant is true:\n[VN] You’re deceiving yourself if you think he’ll change his mind. [also VN that]\n  3  to make sb have a wrong idea about sb/sth\nSYN MISLEAD:\n[VN] Unless my eyes deceive me, that’s the woman he introduced as his wife. [also V] \nsee also DECEPTIVE\n    deceiver noun\n IDIOMS  see FLATTER\n______________________________\n WORD FAMILY \ndeceive v.\ndeceit n.\ndeceitful adj.\ndeception n.\ndeceptive adj.\n______________________________


Words: decelerate
Meaning:
verb (written)\n  1  [V, VN] to reduce the speed at which a vehicle is travelling\n  2  to become or make sth become slower:\n[V] Economic growth decelerated sharply in January. [also VN]\nOPP ACCELERATE\n    deceleration  noun [U]


Words: December
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] (abbreviation Dec.) the 12th and last month of the year\n HELP NOTE  To see how December is used, look at the examples at April.


Words: decency
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] honest, polite behaviour that follows accepted moral standards and shows respect for others:\nHer behaviour showed a total lack of common decency. * Have you no sense of decency? * He might have had the decency to apologize. * standards of taste and decency that we expect broadcasting companies to meet\n  2  (the decencies) [pl.] (formal) standards of behaviour in society that people think are acceptable:\nthe basic decencies of civilized society


Words: decent
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (especially spoken) of a good enough standard or quality:\na decent meal / job / place to live * I need a decent night’s sleep.\n  2  (of people or behaviour) honest and fair; treating people with respect:\nordinary, decent, hard-working people * Everyone said he was a decent sort of guy.\n  3  acceptable to people in a particular situation:\na decent burial * That dress isn’t decent. * She ought to have waited for a decent interval before getting married again.\n  4  (informal) wearing enough clothes to allow sb to see you:\nI can’t go to the door-I’m not decent.\ncompare INDECENT\n    decently adverb:\nI escaped from the party as soon as was decently possible. * You need to be decently dressed to go for an interview.\n IDIOMS \n  to do the decent thing to do what people or society expect, especially in a difficult situation:\nHe did the decent thing and resigned.


Words: decentralize
Meaning:
(BrE also decentralise)  verb\nto give some of the power of a central government, organization, etc. to smaller parts or organizations around the country:\n[VN] decentralized authority / administration * Many European governments were decentralized after the war. [also V]\n    decentralization, decentralisation  noun [U, sing.]:\nthe decentralization of power


Words: deception
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the act of deliberately making sb believe sth that is not true:\na drama full of lies and deception * He was accused of obtaining property by deception.\n  2  [C] a trick intended to make sb believe sth that is not true:\nThe whole episode had been a cruel deception.


Words: deceptive
Meaning:
adjective\nlikely to make you believe sth that is not true\nSYN MISLEADING:\na deceptive advertisement * Appearances can often be deceptive (= things are not always what they seem to be). * the deceptive simplicity of her writing style (= it seems simple but is not really)\n    deceptively adverb:\na deceptively simple idea


Words: decibel
Meaning:
noun\na unit for measuring how loud a sound is:\nNoise from the disco reached 110 decibels. * Gary’s voice rose several decibels as he finally lost patience with them.


Words: decide
Meaning:
verb\n  1  ~ (between A and B) | ~ (against sth) to think carefully about the different possibilities that are available and choose one of them:\n[V] It was difficult to decide between the two candidates. * They decided against taking legal action. * It’s up to you to decide. * I can’t tell you what to do-you’ll have to decide for yourself. * [V wh-] I can’t decide what to wear. * She couldn’t decide whether he was telling the truth or not. * [V (that)] She decided (that) she wanted to live in France. * [V to inf] We’ve decided not to go away after all. * Why did you decide to look for a new job? * [VN] We might be hiring more people but nothing has been decided yet. * [VN (that)] It was decided (that) the school should purchase new software.\n  2  (law) ~ (for / against sb) to make an official or legal judgement:\n[VN] The case will be decided by a jury. * [V] The Appeal Court decided in their favour. * It is always possible that the judge may decide against you.\n  3  to affect the result of sth:\n[VN] A mixture of skill and good luck decided the outcome of the game. * [V wh-] A number of factors decide whether a movie will be successful or not. [also V]\n  4  to be the reason why sb does sth:\n[VN] They offered me free accommodation for a year, and that decided me. [also VN to inf]\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  decide on / upon sth to choose sth from a number of possibilities:\nWe’re still trying to decide on a venue. * I can’t decide on who to invite.\n______________________________\n WORD FAMILY \ndecide v.\ndecision n. (=/= indecision)\ndecisive adj. (=/= indecisive)\nundecided adj.\n______________________________


Words: decided
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] obvious and definite:\nHis height was a decided advantage in the job. * He walked with a decided limp.\ncompare UNDECIDED


Words: decidedly
Meaning:
adverb\n  1  (used with an adjective or adverb) definitely and in an obvious way:\nAmy was looking decidedly worried. * Their relationship is beginning to look decidedly shaky.\n  2  (BrE) in a way that shows that you are sure and determined about sth:\n’I won’t go,’ she said decidedly.


Words: decider
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] the game, race, etc. that will decide who the winner is in a competition:\nthe international title decider against Holland


Words: decimal
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective based on or counted in tens or TENTHS:\nthe decimal system * The figure is accurate to two decimal places (= shows two figures after the decimal point).\n    noun (also decimal fraction) a FRACTION (= a number less than one) that is shown as a dot or point followed by the number of TENTHS, HUNDREDTHS, etc:\nThe decimal 0.61 stands for 61 hundredths.\ncompare VULGAR FRACTION


Words: decimal point
Meaning:
noun\na dot or point used to separate the whole number from the TENTHS, HUNDREDTHS, etc. of a decimal, for example in 0.61


Words: decimate
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  [usually passive] to kill large numbers of animals, plants or people in a particular area:\nThe rabbit population was decimated by the disease.\n  2  (informal) to severely damage sth or make sth weaker:\nCheap imports decimated the British cycle industry.\n    decimation  noun [U]


Words: decipher
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to succeed in finding the meaning of sth that is difficult to read or understand:\nto decipher a code * Can anyone decipher his handwriting?\nsee also INDECIPHERABLE


Words: decision
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] ~ (on / about sth) | ~ (to do sth) a choice or judgement that you make after thinking and talking about what is the best thing to do:\nto take a decision (= to decide) * (BrE) to make a decision (= to decide) * We need a decision on this by next week. * Who took the decision to go ahead with the project? * He is really bad at making decisions. * We finally reached a decision (= decided after some difficulty). * We must come to a decision about what to do next by tomorrow. * a big (= an important) decision * The final decision is yours. * It’s a difficult decision for any doctor. * The editor’s decision is final. * Mary is the decision-maker in the house. * The decisions by the management committee will affect everyone in the company.\n  2  (also decisiveness) [U] the ability to decide sth clearly and quickly:\nThis is not a job for someone who lacks decision.\ncompare INDECISION\n  3  [U] the process of deciding sth:\nThe moment of decision had arrived. * The power of decision remained with the directors.


Words: decision-making
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the process of deciding about sth important, especially in a group of people or in an organization:\nresponsibility for decision-making * All the staff should be involved in the decision-making process.


Words: decisive
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  very important for the final result of a particular situation:\na decisive factor / victory / battle * Climate was a decisive factor in establishing where the tournament should be held. * She has played a decisive role in the peace negotiations. * a decisive step (= an important action that will change a situation) towards a cleaner environment\n  2  able to decide sth quickly and with confidence:\ndecisive management * The government must take decisive action on gun control.\ncompare INDECISIVE\n    decisively adverb:\nShe shook her head decisively.


Words: deck
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  the top outside floor of a ship or boat:\nI was the only person on deck at that time of night. * As the storm began, everyone disappeared below deck(s).\n \n  2  one of the floors of a ship or a bus:\nthe upper / lower / main deck of a ship * We sat on the top deck of the bus. * My cabin is on deck C.\nsee also DOUBLE-DECKER, FLIGHT DECK, SINGLE-DECKER\n \n  3  (also deck of cards) (especially AmE) = PACK\n \n  4  (especially AmE) a wooden floor that is built outside the back of a house where you can sit and relax\n  5  a part of a music system that records and/or plays sounds on a disc or tape:\na cassette / tape deck\n IDIOMS  see CLEAR v., HIT v.\n    verb [VN] \n  1  [often passive] ~ sb/sth (out) (in / with sth) to decorate sb/sth with sth:\nThe room was decked out in flowers and balloons.\n  2  (slang) to hit sb very hard so that they fall to the ground


Words: deckchair
Meaning:
noun\na folding chair with a long fabric seat on a wooden or metal frame, used for example on a beach or beside a swimming pool


Words: declaim
Meaning:
verb\n(formal) to say sth loudly; to speak loudly and forcefully about sth you feel strongly about, especially in public:\n[VN] She declaimed the famous opening speech of the play. * [V] He declaimed against the evils of alcohol. [also V speech, V that]


Words: declamation
Meaning:
noun (formal)\n  1  [U] the act of speaking or of expressing sth to an audience in a formal way\n  2  [C] a speech or piece of writing that strongly expresses feelings and opinions:\nThe most successful newspaper stories are often declamations of patriotism.


Words: declamatory
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) expressing feelings or opinions in a strong way in a speech or a piece of writing


Words: declaration
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] an official or formal statement, especially about the plans of a government or an organization; the act of making such a statement:\nto issue / sign a declaration * the declaration of war * the Declaration of Independence (= of the United States) * The declaration asked governments to consider introducing new environmental taxes.\n  2  [C] a written or spoken statement, especially about what people feel or believe:\na declaration of love / faith / guilt\n  3  [C] an official written statement giving information:\na declaration of income * customs declarations (= giving details of goods that have been brought into a country) * The company will only provide insurance if the information on the proposal form and declaration is correct and complete.


Words: declare
Meaning:
verb\n  1  to say sth officially or publicly:\n[VN] The government has declared a state of emergency. * Germany declared war on France on 1 August 1914. * The government has declared war on (= officially stated its intention to stop) illiteracy. * [V that] The court declared that strike action was illegal. * [VN-N] The area has been declared a national park. * [VN to inf] The painting was declared to be a forgery. * [VN-ADJ] The contract was declared void. * I declare this bridge open.\n  2  to state sth firmly and clearly:\n[V speech] ’I’ll do it!’ Tom declared. * [V that] He declared that he was in love with her. * [VN] Few people dared to declare their opposition to the regime. * [VN-ADJ] She declared herself extremely hurt by his lack of support. [also VN-N]\n  3  [VN] to tell the tax authorities how much money you have earned:\nAll income must be declared.\n  4  [VN] to tell CUSTOMS officers (= at the border of a country) that you are carrying goods on which you should pay tax:\nDo you have anything to declare?\n  5  [V] (in cricket) to decide to end your INNINGS (= the period during which your team is BATTING) before all your players have BATTED:\nEngland declared at 224 for 4 (= 4 BATSMEN had scored 224 RUNS).\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  declare against sb/sth (BrE, formal) to say publicly that you do not support sb/sth\n  declare for sb/sth (BrE, formal) to say publicly that you support sb/sth


Words: declared
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] stated in an open way so that people know about it:\nthe government’s declared intention to reduce crime


Words: declassify
Meaning:
verb\n(declassifies, declassifying, declassified, declassified) [VN] to state officially that secret government information is no longer secret:\ndeclassified information / documents\n    declassification  noun [U]


Words: decline
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun [C, usually sing, U] ~ (in sth) | ~ (of sth) a continuous decrease in the number, value, quality, etc. of sth:\na rapid / sharp / gradual decline * urban / economic decline * The company reported a small decline in its profits. * An increase in cars has resulted in the decline of public transport. * The town fell into (a) decline (= started to be less busy, important, etc.) after the mine closed. * Industry in Britain has been in decline since the 1970s.\n    verb\n  1  [V] to become smaller, fewer, weaker, etc:\nSupport for the party continues to decline. * The number of tourists to the resort declined by 10% last year. * Her health was declining rapidly.\n  2  (formal) to refuse politely to accept or to do sth:\n[V] I offered to give them a lift but they declined. * [VN] to decline an offer / invitation * She declined a second glass of wine and called for a taxi. * [V to inf] Their spokesman declined to comment on the allegations.\n  3  [V, VN] (grammar) if a noun, an adjective or a pronoun declines, it has different forms according to whether it is the subject or the object a verb, whether it is in the singular or plural, etc. When you decline a noun, etc., you list these forms.\ncompare CONJUGATE\n IDIOMS \n  sb’s declining years (literary) the last years of sb’s life


Words: decode
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to find the meaning of sth, especially sth that has been written in CODE\nSYN DECIPHER:\nI was involved in decoding enemy documents.\ncompare ENCODE\n  2  to receive an electronic signal and change it into pictures that can be shown on a television screen:\ndecoding equipment


Words: decoder
Meaning:
noun\na device that changes an electronic signal into a form that people can understand, such as sound and pictures:\na satellite / video decoder * A decoder is required for certain television programmes.


Words: decolletage
Meaning:
noun\n(from French) the top edge of a woman’s dress, etc. that is designed to be very low in order to show her shoulders and the top part of her breasts\n    decollete adjective


Words: decompose
Meaning:
verb\n  1  to be destroyed gradually by natural chemical processes\nSYN DECAY, ROT:\n[V] a decomposing corpse * As the waste materials decompose, they produce methane gas. * [VN] a decomposed body\n  2  [VN, V] ~ (sth) (into sth) (technical) to divide sth into smaller parts; to divide into smaller parts\n    decomposition  noun [U]:\nthe decomposition of organic waste


Words: decompress
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [V, VN] to have the air pressure in sth reduced to a normal level or to reduce it to its normal level\n  2  [VN] (computing) to return files, etc. to their original size after they have been COMPRESSED


Words: decompression
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  a reduction in air pressure; the act of reducing the pressure of the air:\na decompression chamber (= a piece of equipment that divers sit in so that they can return slowly to normal air pressure after being deep in the sea) * decompression sickness (= severe pain and difficulty in breathing experienced by divers who come back to the surface of deep water too quickly)\nsee also BENDS\n  2  (technical) the act or process of allowing sth that has been compressed (= made smaller) to fill the space that it originally took up:\nThe computers have built-in video decompression capabilities.


Words: deconstruct
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (technical) (in literature and philosophy) to analyse a text in order to show that there is no fixed meaning within the text but that the meaning is created each time in the act of reading


Words: deconstruction
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (technical) (in literature and philosophy) a theory that states that it is impossible for a text to have one fixed meaning, and emphasizes the role of the reader in the production of meaning\ncompare STRUCTURALISM\n    deconstructionist noun, adjective:\na deconstructionist critic / approach


Words: decontaminate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to remove harmful substances from a place or thing:\nthe process of decontaminating areas exposed to radioactivity\n    decontamination  noun [U]:\nthe decontamination of water supplies


Words: decontrol
Meaning:
verb\n(-ll-) [VN] (formal, especially AmE) if a government decontrols sth, it removes legal controls from it\nSYN DEREGULATE\n    decontrol noun [U]


Words: decor
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C, usually sing.] the style in which the inside of a building is decorated:\ninterior decor * the restaurant’s elegant new decor * Choosing the furniture and decor for their new home was an exciting project.


Words: decorate
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [VN] ~ sth (with sth) to make sth look more attractive by putting things on it:\nThey decorated the room with flowers and balloons. * The cake was decorated to look like a car.\n  2  (especially BrE) to put paint, WALLPAPER, etc. on the walls and ceilings of a room or house:\n[V] I hate decorating. * He has his own painting and decorating business. * [VN] We need to decorate the sitting room. * The sitting room needs decorating.\n  3  [VN] to be placed on sth in order to make it look more attractive\nSYN ADORN:\nPhotographs of actors decorated the walls of the restaurant.\n  4  [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb (for sth) to give sb a medal as a sign of respect for sth they have done:\nShe was decorated for her efforts during the war.


Words: decoration
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  [C, usually pl.] a thing that makes sth look more attractive on special occasions:\nChristmas decorations * a table decoration\n \n  2  [U, C] a pattern, etc. that is added to sth and that stops it from being plain:\nthe elaborate decoration on the carved wooden door\n \n  3  [U] the style in which sth is decorated:\na Chinese theme in the interior decoration\n \n  4  [U] (BrE) the act or process of decorating sth such as the inside of a house by painting it, etc.\n  5  [C] a medal that is given to sb as an honour:\nHis jacket was heavy with military decorations.


Words: decorative
Meaning:
adjective\n(of an object or a building) decorated in a way that makes it attractive; intended to look attractive or pretty:\nThe mirror is functional yet decorative. * purely decorative arches * The decorative touches have made this house a warm and welcoming home.


Words: decorous
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) polite and appropriate in a particular social situation; not shocking:\na decorous kiss\n    decorously adverb:\nThey sipped their drinks decorously.


Words: decouple
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] ~ sth (from sth) (formal) to end the connection or relationship between two things:\nGasoline prices have been decoupled from crude oil prices.


Words: decoy
Meaning:
noun [C]\n  1  an animal or a bird, or a model of one, that attracts other animals or birds, especially so that they can be shot by people who are hunting them\n  2  a thing or a person that is used to trick sb into doing what you want them to do; going where you want them to go, etc.\n    decoy  verb [VN]


Words: decrease
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb  ~ (from sth) (to sth) to become or make sth become smaller in size, number, etc:\n[V] The number of new students decreased from 210 to 160 this year. * The price of wheat has decreased by 15%. * This species of bird is decreasing in numbers every year. * a decreasing population * Donations have decreased significantly over the past few years. * [VN] People should decrease the amount of fat they eat.\nOPP INCREASE\n    noun  [C, U] ~ (in sth) | ~ (of sth) the process of reducing sth or the amount that sth is reduced by:\nThere has been some decrease in military spending this year. * a decrease of nearly 6% in the number of visitors to the museum\nOPP INCREASE


Words: decree
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C, U] an official order from a ruler or a government that becomes the law:\nto issue / sign a decree * a presidential / royal decree * a leader who rules by decree (= not in a DEMOCRATIC way)\n  2  [C] a decision that is made in a court of law\n    verb (decreeing, decreed, decreed) to decide, judge or order sth officially:\n[VN] The government decreed a state of emergency. * [VN that] It was decreed that the following day would be a holiday. [also V, V wh-]


Words: decree absolute
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] (BrE, law) an order from a court of law that finally ends a marriage, making the two people divorced:\nThe period between the decree nisi and the decree absolute was six weeks.


Words: decree nisi
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] (BrE, law) an order from a court of law that a marriage will end after a fixed amount of time unless there is a good reason why it should not


Words: decrepit
Meaning:
adjective\n(of a thing or person) very old and not in good condition or health:\na decrepit building / vehicle * a decrepit old man


Words: decrepitude
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (formal) the state of being old and in poor condition or health:\nthe decline towards decrepitude and death


Words: decriminalize
Meaning:
(BrE also decriminalise)  verb\n[VN] to change the law so that sth is no longer illegal:\nThere are moves to decriminalize some soft drugs.\n    decriminalization, decriminalisation  noun [U]


Words: decry
Meaning:
verb\n(decries, decrying, decried, decried) [VN] ~ sb/sth (as sth) (formal) to strongly criticize sb/sth, especially publicly\nSYN CONDEMN:\nThe measures were decried as useless. [also VN]


Words: dedicate
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  ~ yourself / sth to sth / to doing sth to give a lot of your time and effort to a particular activity or purpose because you think it is important:\nShe dedicates herself to her work. * He dedicated his life to helping the poor.\n  2  ~ sth to sb to say at the beginning of a book, a piece of music or a performance that you are doing it for sb, as a way of thanking them or showing respect:\nThis book is dedicated to my parents.\n  3  ~ sth (to sb/sth) to hold an official ceremony to say that a church, or other building, or an object has a special purpose or is special to the memory of a particular person:\nThe chapel was dedicated in 1880. * A memorial stone was dedicated to those who lost their lives in the war.


Words: dedicated
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  ~ (to sth) working hard at sth because it is very important to you\nSYN COMMITTED:\na dedicated teacher * She is dedicated to her job.\n  2  [only before noun] designed to do only one particular type of work; used for one particular purpose only:\na dedicated word processor / server * Software is exported through a dedicated satellite link.


Words: dedication
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] ~ (to sth) (approving) the hard work and effort that sb puts into an activity or purpose because they think it is important:\nhard work and dedication\n  2  [C] a ceremony that is held to show that a church or other building, or an object, has a special purpose or is special to the memory of a particular person\n  3  [C] the words that are used at the beginning of a book, piece of music, a performance, etc. to offer it to sb as a sign of thanks or respect


Words: deduce
Meaning:
verb\n~ (sth) (from sth) (formal) to form an opinion about sth based on the information or evidence that is available\nSYN INFER:\n[V that] Can we deduce from your silence that you do not approve? * [VN] We can deduce a lot from what people spend their money on. [also V wh-] \nsee also DEDUCTION\n    deducible  adjective:\nThe answer is deducible from the evidence available.


Words: deduct
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] [often passive] ~ sth (from sth) to take away money, points, etc. from a total amount:\nThe cost of your uniform will be deducted from your wages. * Ten points will be deducted for a wrong answer.


Words: deductible
Meaning:
adjective\nthat can be taken away from an amount of money you earn, from tax, etc:\nThese costs are deductible from profits. * tax-deductible expenses (= that you do not have to pay tax on)\n    deductible noun [C] (AmE):\nThe donation he made was a deductible on his tax form. * After a $75 deductible, Medicare pays 80 per cent of doctors’ bills.


Words: deduction
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U, C] the process of using information you have in order to understand a particular situation or to find the answer to a problem:\nHe arrived at the solution by a simple process of deduction. * If my deductions are correct, I can tell you who the killer was. * We can examine the bones of dinosaurs and make deductions about how they lived.\nsee also DEDUCE\ncompare INDUCTION (3)\n  2  [U, C] the process of taking an amount of sth, especially money, away from a total; the amount that is taken away:\ndeductions from your pay for tax, pension contributions, etc. * tax deductions


Words: deductive
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] using knowledge about things that are generally true in order to think about and understand particular situations or problems:\ndeductive logic / reasoning\ncompare INDUCTIVE


Words: deed
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (formal, literary) a thing that sb does that is usually very good or very bad:\na brave / charitable / evil deed * a tale of heroic deeds\n  2  (often plural in British English) a legal document that you sign, especially one that proves that you own a house or a building:\nthe deeds of the house\nsee also TITLE DEED\n IDIOMS \n  your good deed for the day a helpful, kind thing that you do:\nI took Sarah’s children to school so I’ve done my good deed for the day.


Words: deed of covenant
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) an agreement to pay a regular amount of money to sb/sth, especially a charity, that means that they also receive the tax that would have to be paid on this money:\nSigning a deed of covenant makes ｣1 worth ｣1.33.


Words: deed poll
Meaning:
noun\n[U, sing.] (BrE) a legal document signed by only one person, especially in order to change their name:\nSmith changed his name by deed poll to Jervis-Smith.


Words: deem
Meaning:
verb\n(formal) (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to have a particular opinion about sth\nSYN CONSIDER:\n[VN-N] The evening was deemed a great success. * I deem it an honour to be invited. * [VN-ADJ] She deemed it prudent not to say anything. * They would take any action deemed necessary. [also V (that), VN to inf]


Words: deep
Meaning:
adjective, adverb, noun \n    adjective (deeper, deepest)\n  top to bottom\n  1  having a large distance from the top or surface to the bottom:\na deep hole / well / river * deep water / snow\nOPP SHALLOW\n  front to back\n  2  having a large distance from the front edge to the furthest point inside:\na deep cut / wound * a deep space\nOPP SHALLOW\n  measurement\n  3  used to describe or ask about the depth of sth:\nThe water is only a few inches deep. * How deep is the wound?\n  far inside\n  4  ~ in sth far inside or down in sth:\ndeep in the desert / forest * He stood with his hands deep in his pockets.\n  -deep\n  5  (in adjectives) as far up or down as the point mentioned:\nThe water was only waist-deep so I walked ashore.\n  6  (in adjectives) in the number of rows mentioned, one behind the other:\nThey were standing three-deep at the bar.\n  breath / sigh\n  7  [usually before noun] taking in or giving out a lot of air:\nShe took a deep breath. * He gave a deep sigh.\n  sounds\n  8  low:\nI heard his deep warm voice filling the room. * a deep roar / groan\n  colours\n  9  strong and dark:\na rich deep red\nOPP PALE\n  sleep\n  10  a person in a deep sleep is difficult to wake:\nto be in a deep sleep / trance / coma\nOPP LIGHT\n  serious\n  11  extreme or serious:\nHe’s in deep trouble. * a deep economic recession * The affair had exposed deep divisions within the party. * a place of great power and of deep significance\n  emotions\n  12  strongly felt; sincere:\ndeep concern / regret / affection / respect * a deep sense of loss\n  knowledge\n  13  showing great knowledge or understanding:\na deep understanding / insight / analysis\n  difficult to understand\n  14  difficult to understand\nSYN PROFOUND:\nThis discussion’s getting too deep for me. * He pondered, as if over some deep philosophical point.\n  involved\n  15  ~ in sth fully involved in an activity or a state:\nto be deep in thought / conversation / prayer * He is often so deep in his books that he forgets to eat. * The firm ended up deep in debt.\n  person\n  16  if a person is deep, they hide their real feelings and opinions:\nShe’s always been a deep one, trusting no one.\n  in sport\n  17  to or from a position far down or across the field:\na deep ball from Beckham\nsee also DEPTH\n IDIOMS \n  go off the deep end (informal) to suddenly become very angry or emotional\n  in deep water(s) (informal) in trouble or difficulty\n  jump / be thrown in at the deep end (informal) to start or be made to start a new and difficult activity that you are not prepared for:\nJunior hospital doctors are thrown in at the deep end in their first jobs.\nmore at DEVIL, SHIT n.\n    adverb (deeper, deepest) ~ (below, into, under, etc.) a long way below the surface of sth or a long way inside or into sth:\nDig deeper! * The miners were trapped deep underground. * whales that feed deep beneath the waves * He gazed deep into her eyes. * They sat and talked deep into the night (= until very late).\n IDIOMS \n  deep down\n1 if you know sth deep down, you know your true feelings about sth, although you may not admit them to yourself:\nDeep down I still loved him.\n2 if sth is true deep down, it is really like that, although it may not be obvious to people:\nHe seems confident but deep down he’s quite insecure.\n  go / run deep (of emotions, beliefs, etc.) to be felt in a strong way, especially for a long time:\nFeelings about the death of a parent are bound to go deep. * Dignity and pride run deep in this community.\nmore at DIG v., STILL\n    noun [sing.] (the deep) (literary) the sea:\nHis body was committed to the deep (= he was buried at sea).\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \ndeep / deeply\nThe adverbs deep and deeply can both mean ’a long way down or into something’. Deep can only mean this and is more common than deeply in this sense. It is usually followed by a word like into or below: We decided to go deeper into the jungle.\nDeeply usually means ’very much’: deeply in love * deeply shocked. You can use deep down (but not deeply) to talk about a per-son’s real nature: She can seem stern, but deep down she’s a very kind person. * _S_h_e_ _c_a_n_ _s_e_e_m_ _s_t_e_r_n_,_ _b_u_t_ _d_e_e_p_l_y_ _s_h_e_’_s_ _a_ _v_e_r_y_ _k_i_n_d_ _p_e_r_s_o_n.\n______________________________


Words: deep-fry
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] [usually passive] to cook food in oil that covers it completely:\ndeep-fried chicken pieces


Words: deep-rooted
Meaning:
, deep-seated adjective\n[usually before noun] (of feelings and beliefs) very fixed and strong; difficult to change or to destroy:\na deep-rooted desire / fear / problem * The country’s political divisions are deep-seated.


Words: deep-sea
Meaning:
(also less frequent deep-water) adjective\n[only before noun] of or in the deeper parts of the sea:\na deep-sea diver * deep-sea fishing / diving


Words: deep-six
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] [usually passive] (AmE, informal) to decide not to do or use sth that you had planned to do or use:\nPlans to build a new mall were deep-sixed after protests from local residents.


Words: deepen
Meaning:
verb\n  1  if an emotion or a feeling deepens, or if sth deepens it, it becomes stronger:\n[V] Their friendship soon deepened into love. [also VN]\n  2  to become worse; to make sth worse:\n[V] Warships were sent in as the crisis deepened. * a deepening economic recession [also VN]\n  3  [V] to become deeper; to make sth deeper:\n[V] The water deepened gradually. * His frown deepened. * [VN] There were plans to deepen a stretch of the river.\n  4  [VN] to improve your knowledge or understanding of sth:\nan opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of different cultures\n  5  [V, VN] if colour or light deepens or if sth deepens it, it becomes darker:\ndeepening shadows\n  6  if a sound or voice deepens or if you deepen it, it becomes lower or you make it lower:\n[V] His voice deepened to a growl. [also VN]\n  7  [V] if your breathing deepens, you breathe more deeply than usual


Words: deeply
Meaning:
adverb\n  1  very; very much:\nShe is deeply religious. * They were deeply disturbed by the accident. * Opinion is deeply divided on this issue. * deeply rooted customs / ideas * deeply held beliefs / convictions / views (= that sb feels very strongly)\n  2  used with some verbs to show that sth is done in a very complete way:\nto breathe / sigh / exhale deeply (= using all of the air in your lungs) * sleep deeply (= in a way that makes it difficult for you to wake up) * to think deeply (= about all the aspects of sth)\n  3  to a depth that is quite a long way from the surface of sth:\nto drill deeply into the wood -> DEEP


Words: deer
Meaning:
noun\n(plural deer) an animal with long legs, that eats grass, leaves, etc. and can run fast. Most male deer have ANTLERS (= horns shaped like branches). There are many types of deer:\na herd of red deer * a deer park\nsee also FALLOW DEER, REINDEER, ROE DEER, DOE, FAWN, STAG


Words: deerstalker
Meaning:
noun\na cap with two PEAKS, one in front and one behind, and two pieces of fabric which are usually tied together on top but can be folded down to cover the ears


Words: deface
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to damage the appearance of sth especially by drawing or writing on it:\nThey were charged with defacing public property.\n    defacement noun [U]


Words: defamation
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] (formal) the act of causing harm to sb by saying or writing bad or false things about them:\nThe company sued for defamation. * He brought a legal action against the magazine for defamation of character.


Words: defamatory
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) (of speech or writing) intended to harm sb by saying or writing bad or false things about them:\nThe article was highly defamatory.


Words: defame
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) to harm sb by saying or writing bad or false things about them:\nThe newspaper denies any intention to defame the senator’s reputation.


Words: default
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [U, C] failure to do sth that must be done by law, especially paying a debt:\nThe company is in default on the loan. * Mortgage defaults have risen in the last year.\n  2  [U, C, usually sing.] (especially computing) what happens or appears if you do not make any other choice or change:\nThe default option is to save your work every five minutes. * On this screen, 256 colours is the default.\n IDIOMS \n  by default\n1 a game or competition can be won by default if there are no other competitors:\nHe became world champion in 1990 by default.\n2 if sth happens by default, it happens because you have not made any other decision or choices which would make things happen differently:\nI became a teacher by default rather than by design.\n  in default of sth (formal) because of a lack of sth:\nThey accepted what he had said in default of any evidence to disprove it.\n    verb [V] \n  1  ~ (on sth) to fail to do sth that you legally have to do, especially by not paying a debt:\nto default on a loan / debt * defaulting borrowers / tenants\n  2  ~ (to sth) (especially computing) to happen when you do not make any other choice or change\n    defaulter noun:\nmortgage defaulters


Words: defeat
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [VN] \n  1  to win against sb in a war, competition, sports game, etc.\nSYN BEAT:\nHe defeated the champion in three sets. * a defeated army * The government was defeated by 200 votes to 83.\n  2  (formal) if sth defeats you, you cannot understand it:\nThe instruction manual completely defeated me.\n  3  to stop sth from being successful:\nThe motion was defeated by 19 votes. * Staying late at the office to discuss shorter working hours rather defeats the object of the exercise!\n    noun\n  1  [U, C] failure to win or to be successful:\nThe party faces defeat in the election. * a narrow / heavy defeat * The world champion has only had two defeats in 20 fights. * They finally had to admit defeat (= stop trying to be successful).\n  2  [C, usually sing.] the act of winning a victory over sb/sth:\nthe defeat of fascism


Words: defeatist
Meaning:
adjective\nexpecting not to succeed, and showing it in a particular situation:\na defeatist attitude / view\n    defeatist noun:\nHe is a pessimist and a defeatist.\n    defeatism noun [U]


Words: defecate
Meaning:
verb\n[V] (formal) to get rid of solid waste from your body through your bowels\n    defecation  noun [U]


Words: defect
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun  a fault in sth or in the way it has been made which means that it is not perfect:\na speech defect * a defect in the glass\n    verb  [V] ~ (from sth) (to sth) to leave a political party, country, etc. to join another that is considered to be an enemy:\nA number of writers and musicians defected from the Soviet Union to the West in the 1960s. * She defected from the party just days before the election.\n    defection  noun [U, C] ~ (from sth) (to sth):\nThere have been several defections from the ruling party.\n    defector noun


Words: defective
Meaning:
adjective\nhaving a fault or faults; not perfect or complete\nSYN FAULTY:\ndefective goods * Her hearing was found to be slightly defective.\n    defectively adverb\n    defectiveness noun [U]


Words: defence
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE defense)  noun\n  protection against attack\n  1  [U] the act of protecting sb/sth from attack, criticism, etc:\nsoldiers who died in defence of their country * When her brother was criticized she leapt to his defence. * What points can be raised in defence of this argument? * I have to say in her defence that she knew nothing about it beforehand.\nsee also SELF-DEFENCE\n  2  [C, U] ~ (against sth) something that provides protection against attack from enemies, the weather, illness, etc:\nThe town walls were built as a defence against enemy attacks. * The harbour’s sea defences are in poor condition. * The body has natural defence mechanisms to protect it from disease. * Humour is a more effective defence than violence.\n  3  [U] the organization of the people and systems that are used by a government to protect a country from attack: (BrE) the Ministry of Defence * (AmE) the Department of Defense * Further cuts in defence spending are being considered.\n  support\n  4  [C] something that is said or written in order to support sth:\na defence of Marxism\n  law\n  5  [C] what is said in a court of law to prove that a person did not commit a crime; the act of presenting this argument in a court of law:\nHer defence was that she was somewhere completely different at the time of the crime. * He wanted to conduct his own defence.\n  6  (the defence) [sing.+sing./pl. v.] the lawyer or lawyers whose job is to prove in a court of law that a person did not commit a crime\ncompare PROSECUTION\n  in sport\n  7  [sing., U] the players who must prevent the other team from scoring; the position of these players on the sports field:\nWelford cut through the defence to score the winning goal. * (BrE) She plays in defence. * (AmE) He plays on defense.\ncompare ATTACK, OFFENSE\n  8  [C] a contest, game, etc. in which the previous winner or winners compete in order to try to win again:\nMilan’s defence of the European Cup


Words: defenceless
Meaning:
adjective\nweak; not able to protect yourself; having no protection:\ndefenceless animals / children * The village is defenceless against attack.


Words: defend
Meaning:
verb\n  protect against attack\n  1  ~ (sb / yourself / sth) (from / against sb/sth) to protect sb/sth from attack:\n[VN] All our officers are trained to defend themselves against knife attacks. * Troops have been sent to defend the borders. * The male ape defends his females from other males. * [V] It is impossible to defend against an all-out attack.\n  support\n  2  [VN] ~ sb / yourself / sth (from / against sb/sth) to say or write sth in support of sb/sth that has been criticized:\nPoliticians are skilled at defending themselves against their critics. * How can you defend such behaviour? * He defended his decision to punish the boy.\n  in sport\n  3  [V, VN] (in football, hockey, etc.) to protect your own goal to stop your opponents from scoring\n  in competitions\n  4  [VN] to take part in a competition that you won the last time and try to win it again:\nHe is defending champion. * She will be defending her title at next month’s championships. * (politics) He intends to defend his seat in the next election.\n  law\n  5  to act as a lawyer for sb who has been charged with a crime:\n[VN] He has employed one of the UK’s top lawyers to defend him. * Smith has announced that she will defend herself in the case. [also V]


Words: defendant
Meaning:
noun\nthe person in a court of law who is accused of committing a crime, or who is being sued by another person\ncompare PLAINTIFF, ACCUSED


Words: defender
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a player who must stop the other team from scoring in games such as football\n \n  2  a person who defends and believes in protecting sth:\na passionate defender of human rights


Words: defensible
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  able to be supported by reasons or arguments that show that it is right or should be allowed:\nIs abortion morally defensible?\n  2  (of a place) able to be defended from an attack


Words: defensive
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  1  protecting sb/sth against attack:\na defensive measure * Troops are taking up a defensive position around the town.\ncompare OFFENSIVE\n  2  behaving in a way that shows that you feel that people are criticizing you:\nDon’t ask him about his plans-he just gets defensive.\n  3  (sport) connected with trying to prevent the other team or player from scoring points or goals:\ndefensive play\ncompare OFFENSIVE\n    defensively adverb\n    defensiveness noun [U] \n    noun\n IDIOMS \n  on / onto the defensive acting in a way that shows that you expect to be attacked or criticized; having to defend yourself:\nTheir questions about the money put her on the defensive. * Warnings of an enemy attack forced the troops onto the defensive.


Words: defer
Meaning:
verb\n(-rr-) to delay sth until a later time:\n[VN] The department deferred the decision for six months. * She had applied for deferred admission to college. [also V -ing]\n    deferment, deferral  noun [U, C] \n PHRASAL VERBS \n  defer to sb/sth (formal) to agree to accept what sb has decided or what they think about sb/sth because you respect him or her:\nWe will defer to whatever the committee decides.


Words: deference
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (written) behaviour that shows that you respect sb/sth:\nThe women wore veils in deference to the customs of the country. * The flags were lowered out of deference to the bereaved family.\n    deferential  adjective\n    deferentially  adverb


Words: defiance
Meaning:
noun\n[U] open refusal to obey sb/sth:\na look / an act / a gesture of defiance * Nuclear testing was resumed in defiance of an international ban.


Words: defiant
Meaning:
adjective\nopenly refusing to obey sb/sth, sometimes in an aggressive way:\na defiant teenager * The terrorists sent a defiant message to the government.\n    defiantly adverb


Words: defibrillator
Meaning:
noun\n(medical) a piece of equipment used to control the movements of the heart muscles by giving the heart a controlled electric shock


Words: deficiency
Meaning:
of sth)\n  1  [U, C] the state of not having, or not having enough of, sth that is essential:\nVitamin deficiency in the diet can cause illness. * a deficiency of Vitamin B\n  2  [C] a fault or a weakness in sth/sb that makes it or them less successful:\ndeficiencies in the computer system


Words: deficient
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  ~ (in sth) not having enough of sth, especially sth that is essential:\na diet that is deficient in vitamin A\n  2  (formal) not good enough:\nDeaf people are sometimes treated as being mentally deficient.


Words: deficit
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (economics) the amount by which money spent or owed is greater than money earned in a particular period of time:\na budget / trade deficit * The trade balance has been in deficit for the past five years.\ncompare SURPLUS\n  2  the amount by which sth, especially an amount of money, is too small or smaller than sth else:\nThere’s a deficit of $3 million in the total needed to complete the project. * The team has to come back from a 20 deficit in the first half.


Words: defile
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal or literary) to make sth dirty or no longer pure, especially sth that people consider important or holy:\nMany victims of burglary feel their homes have been defiled. * The altar had been defiled by vandals.\n    defilement noun\n\n noun\n(formal) a narrow way through mountains


Words: define
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [VN] ~ sth (as sth) to say or explain what the meaning of a word or phrase is:\nThe term ’mental illness’ is difficult to define. * Life imprisonment is defined as 60 years under state law.\n  2  to describe or show sth accurately:\n[VN] We need to define the task ahead very clearly. * The difficulty of a problem was defined in terms of how long it took to complete. * [V wh-] It is difficult to define what makes him so popular.\n  3  [VN] to show clearly a line, shape or edge:\nThe mountain was sharply defined against the sky.\n    definable adjective


Words: definite
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  1  ~ (that ...) sure or certain; unlikely to change:\nCan you give me a definite answer by tomorrow? * Is it definite that he’s leaving? * I’ve heard rumours, but nothing definite. * a definite offer of a job * I’m not sure-I can find out for definite if you like. * That’s definite then, is it? * They have very definite ideas on how to bring up children.\n  2  easily or clearly seen or understood; obvious:\nThe look on her face was a definite sign that sth was wrong. * There was a definite feeling that things were getting worse.\n  3  [not before noun] ~ (about sth) | ~ (that ...) (of a person) sure that sth is true or that sth is going to happen and stating it to other people:\nI’m definite about this.\n    noun [sing.] (informal) something that you are certain about or that you know will happen; sb who is sure to do sth:\n’We’re moving our office to Glasgow.’ ’That’s a definite, is it?’ * ’Is Sarah coming to the party?’ ’Yes, she’s a definite.’


Words: definitely
Meaning:
adverb\n  1  (especially spoken) a way of emphasizing that sth is true and that there is no doubt about it:\nI definitely remember sending the letter. * ’Was it what you expected?’ ’Yes, definitely.’ * ’Do you plan to have children?’ ’Definitely not!’ * Some old people want help; others most definitely do not.\n  2  in a way that is certain or that shows that you are certain:\nThe date of the move has not been definitely decided yet (= it may change). * Please say definitely whether you will be coming or not.


Words: definition
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] an explanation of the meaning of a word or phrase, especially in a dictionary; the act of stating the meanings of words and phrases:\nclear simple definitions * Neighbours by definition live close by (= this is what being a neighbour means).\n  2  [C] what an idea, etc. means:\nWhat’s your definition of happiness? * There is no agreed definition of what a comprehensive school should be.\n  3  [U] the quality of being clear and easy to see:\nThe definition of the digital TV pictures is excellent.


Words: definitive
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  final; not able to be changed:\na definitive agreement / answer / statement * The definitive version of the text is ready to be published.\n  2  [usually before noun] considered to be the best of its kind and almost impossible to improve:\nthe definitive biography of Einstein * the definitive guide to the golf courses of Europe\n    definitively adverb


Words: deflate
Meaning:
verb\n  1   [VN, V] to let air or gas out of a tyre, BALLOON, etc.; to become smaller because of air or gas coming out\n  2  sth feel or seem less important:\nAll the criticism had left her feeling totally deflated.\n  3   [VN] (economics) to reduce the amount of money being used in a country so that prices fall or stay steady\ncompare INFLATE (3), REFLATE


Words: deflation
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  (economics) a reduction in the amount of money in a country’s economy so that prices fall or remain the same\n  2  the action of air being removed from sth\nOPP INFLATION\n    deflationary  adjective:\ndeflationary policies


Words: deflect
Meaning:
verb\n  1  to change direction or make sth change direction, especially after hitting sth:\n[V] The ball deflected off Reid’s body into the goal. * [VN] He raised his arm to try to deflect the blow.\n  2  [VN] to succeed in preventing sth from being directed towards you:\nAll attempts to deflect attention from his private life have failed. * She sought to deflect criticism by blaming her family.\n  3  [VN] ~ sb (from sth) to prevent sb from doing sth that they are determined to do:\nThe government will not be deflected from its commitments.


Words: deflection
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C, usually sing.] a sudden change in the direction that sth is moving in, usually after it has hit sth; the act of causing sth to change direction:\nthe angle of deflection * the deflection of the missile away from its target * The goal was scored with a deflection off the goalkeeper.


Words: defoliate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (technical) to destroy the leaves of trees or plants, especially with chemicals\n    defoliation  noun [U]


Words: deforest
Meaning:
(also disafforest) verb\n[VN] [usually passive] to cut down and destroy all the trees in a place:\nTwo thirds of the region has been deforested in the past decade.


Words: deforestation
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the act of cutting down or burning the trees in an area:\nland erosion caused by widespread deforestation\ncompare AFFORESTATION, REFORESTATION


Words: deform
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to change or spoil the usual or natural shape of sth:\nThe disease had deformed his spine.


Words: deformation
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the process or result of changing and spoiling the normal shape of sth:\nthe deformation of the human body in much Cubist art\n  2  [C] a change in the normal shape of sth as a result of injury or illness:\na deformation of the spine


Words: deformed
Meaning:
adjective\n(of a person or a part of the body) having a shape that is not normal because it has grown wrongly:\nShe was born with deformed hands. * Babies affected by the disease will be born small, deformed and brain damaged.


Words: deformity
Meaning:
noun\n(plural deformities) [C, U] a condition in which a part of the body is not the normal shape because of injury, illness or because it has grown wrongly:\nDrugs taken during pregnancy may cause physical deformity in babies. * The injury resulted in a deformity of the hip joint.


Words: defraud
Meaning:
verb\n~ sb (of sth) to get money illegally from a person or an organization by tricking them:\n[VN] They were accused of defrauding the company of $14 000. * [V] All three men were charged with conspiracy to defraud.


Words: defrock
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] [usually passive] to officially remove a priest from his or her job, because he or she has done sth wrong:\na defrocked priest


Words: defrost
Meaning:
verb\n  1  to become or make sth warmer, especially food, so that it is no longer frozen:\n[VN] Make sure you defrost the chicken completely before cooking. * [V] It will take about four hours to defrost.\n  2  [VN, V] when you defrost a refrigerator or FREEZER, or when it defrosts, you remove the ice from it\ncompare DE-ICE, MELT, THAW, UNFREEZE\n  3  [VN] (AmE) to remove ice from the surface of a car’s windows\n    defroster noun


Words: deft
Meaning:
adjective (especially written)\n  1  (of a person’s movements) skilful and quick:\ndeft hands / fingers / footwork * He finished off the painting with a few deft strokes of the brush. * In one, deft movement, he had her hand locked behind her back.\n  2  skilful:\nher deft command of the language\n    deftly adverb:\nI threw her a towel which she deftly caught. * They deftly avoided answering my questions.\n    deftness noun [U]


Words: defuse
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to stop a possibly dangerous or difficult situation from developing, especially by making people less angry or nervous:\nLocal police are trying to defuse racial tension in the community.\n  2  to remove the FUSE from a bomb so that it cannot explode:\nPolice closed the road while they defused the bomb.


Words: defy
Meaning:
verb (defies, defying, defied, defied) [VN] \n  1  to refuse to obey or show respect for sb in authority, a law, a rule, etc:\nI wouldn’t have dared to defy my teachers. * Hundreds of people today defied the ban on political gatherings.\n  2  ~ belief, explanation, description, etc. to be impossible or almost impossible to believe, explain, describe, etc:\na political move that defies explanation * The beauty of the scene defies description.\n  3  to successfully resist sb/sth to a very unusual degree:\nThe baby boy defied all the odds and survived (= stayed alive when it seemed certain that he would die).\n______________________________\n WORD FAMILY \ndefy v.\ndefiance n.\ndefiant adj.\n______________________________


Words: degenerate
Meaning:
verb, adjective, noun \n    verb  [V] ~ (into sth) to become worse, for example by becoming lower in quality or weaker:\nThe march degenerated into a riot. * Her health degenerated quickly.\n    adjective \n  1  having moral standards that have fallen to a level that is very low and unacceptable to most people:\na degenerate popular culture\n  2  (technical) having returned to a simple structure; lacking sth that is usually present\n    degeneracy  noun [U]:\nThe movie is full of scenes of crime and degeneracy.\n    noun  (written) a person whose behaviour shows moral standards that have fallen to a very low level


Words: degeneration
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the process of becoming worse or less acceptable in quality or condition:\nsocial / moral degeneration * Intensive farming in the area has caused severe degeneration of the land. * Speech degeneration often occurs in children who become deaf after acquiring language.


Words: degenerative
Meaning:
adjective\n(technical) (of an illness) getting or likely to get worse as time passes:\ndegenerative diseases such as arthritis


Words: degradable
Meaning:
adjective\n(especially AmE, technical) that can be changed to a simpler form\nsee also BIODEGRADABLE


Words: degradation
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  a situation in which sb has lost all SELF-RESPECT and the respect of other people:\nthe degradation of being sent to prison\n  2  (technical) the process of sth being damaged or made worse:\nenvironmental degradation


Words: degrade
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [VN] to show or treat sb in a way that makes them seem not worth any respect or not worth taking seriously:\nThis poster is offensive and degrades women.\n  2  [V, VN] (technical) to change or make sth change to a simpler chemical form\n  3  [VN] (technical) to make sth become worse, especially in quality


Words: degrading
Meaning:
adjective\ntreating sb as if they have no value, so that they lose their SELF-RESPECT and the respect of other people:\nthe inhuman and degrading treatment of prisoners * Many people agree that pornography is degrading to women.


Words: degree
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  [C] a unit for measuring angles:\nan angle of ninety degrees (90ｰ)\n \n  2  [C] (abbreviation deg.) a unit for measuring temperature:\nWater freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (32ｰF) or zero / nought degrees Celsius (0ｰC).\n \n  3  [C, U] the amount or level of sth:\nHer job demands a high degree of skill. * I agree with you to a certain degree. * To what degree can parents be held responsible for a child’s behaviour? * Most pop music is influenced, to a greater or lesser degree, by the blues.\n \n  4  [C] the qualification obtained by students who successfully complete a university or college course:\nMy brother has a master’s degree from Harvard. * She has a degree in Biochemistry from London University. * a four-year degree course\n  5  [C] (BrE) a university or college course, normally lasting three years or more:\nI’m hoping to do a chemistry degree.\n  6  [C] a level in a scale of how serious sth is:\nmurder in the first degree (= of the most serious kind) * first-degree murder * third-degree (= very serious) burns\n IDIOMS \n  by degrees slowly and gradually:\nBy degrees their friendship grew into love.\nmore at NTH\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \ndegree / certificate / diploma\nA degree is usually the qualification that you get by completing a course of study at a college or university: a bachelor’s degree * I got my degree in 1987. In BrE it can also mean the course itself: She’s doing a physics degree.\nDiploma and certificate are both words for official documents that show you have done or achieved something. Diploma is used for degrees and other courses of study but certificate can be more general: a High School diploma * a degree certificate * a certificate of attendance * a swimming certificate.\nIn BrE the qualification or course of study can also be called a diploma or a certificate: a two-year diploma course * I’m studying for the First Certificate in English.\n______________________________


Words: dehumanize
Meaning:
(BrE also dehumanise)  verb\n[VN] to make sb lose their human qualities such as kindness, pity, etc:\nthe dehumanizing effects of poverty and squalor\n    dehumanization, dehumanisation  noun [U]


Words: dehydrate
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [VN] [usually passive] to remove the water from sth, especially food, in order to preserve it\n  2  to lose too much water from your body; to make a person’s body lose too much water:\n[V] Runners can dehydrate very quickly in this heat. * [VN] the dehydrating effects of alcohol\n    dehydration  noun [U]:\nto suffer from dehydration


Words: deify
Meaning:
verb\n(deifies, deifying, deified, deified) [VN] (formal) to treat or worship sb as a god\n    deification  noun [U]:\nthe deification of medieval kings


Words: deign
Meaning:
verb\n[V to inf] (disapproving) to do sth in a way that shows you think you are too important to do it\nSYN CONDESCEND:\nShe just grunted, not deigning to look up from the page.


Words: deity
Meaning:
noun (plural deities)\n  1  [C] a god or GODDESS:\nGreek / Roman / Hindu deities\n  2  (the Deity) [sing.] (formal) God


Words: deja vu
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (from French) the feeling that you have previously experienced sth which is happening to you now:\nI had a strong sense of deja vu as I entered the room.


Words: dejected
Meaning:
adjective\nunhappy and disappointed:\nShe looked so dejected when she lost the game.\n    dejectedly adverb:\nHe stared dejectedly at his feet.


Words: dekko
Meaning:
noun\n IDIOMS \n  have a dekko (at sth) (old-fashioned, BrE, slang) to look (at sth):\nLet’s have a dekko at your new car.\n ORIGIN  From the Hindi word for ’look!’, used by the British army in India.


Words: delay
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C] a period of time when sb/sth has to wait because of a problem that makes sth slow or late:\nCommuters will face long delays on the roads today. * We apologize for the delay in answering your letter. * a delay of two hours / a two-hour delay * Increased congestion and traffic delays are expected.\n  2  [C, U] a situation in which sth does not happen when it should; the act of delaying:\nThere’s no time for delay. * Report it to the police without delay (= immediately).\n    verb\n  1  to not do sth until a later time or to make sth happen at a later time:\n[VN] The judge will delay his verdict until he receives medical reports on the offender. * She’s suffering a delayed reaction (= a reaction that did not happen immediately) to the shock. * [V -ing] He delayed telling her the news, waiting for the right moment. * [V] Don’t delay-call us today! * We can’t delay much longer.\n  2  [VN] to make sb late or force them to do sth more slowly:\nThousands of commuters were delayed for over an hour. * The government is accused of using delaying tactics (= deliberately doing sth to delay a process, decision, etc.). * What could have delayed him?


Words: delectable
Meaning:
adjective (written)\n  1  (of food and drink) extremely pleasant to taste, smell or look at:\nthe delectable smell of freshly baked bread * delectable chocolate truffles\n  2  (humorous) (of a person) very attractive:\nhis delectable body * Steve’s latest girlfriend, the delectable Tara.


Words: delegate
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun  a person who is chosen or elected to represent the views of a group of people and vote and make decisions for them:\nThe conference was attended by delegates from 56 countries.\n    verb \n  1  ~ (sth) (to sb) to give part of your work, power or authority to sb in a lower position than you:\n[V] Some managers find it difficult to delegate. * [VN] The job had to be delegated to an assistant.\n  2  [VN to inf] [usually passive] to choose sb to do sth:\nI’ve been delegated to organize the Christmas party.


Words: delegation
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people who represent the views of an organization, a country, etc:\nthe Dutch delegation to the United Nations * a delegation of teachers\n  2  [U] the process of giving sb work or responsibilities that would usually be yours:\ndelegation of authority / decision-making


Words: delete
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] ~ sth (from sth) to remove sth that has been written or printed, or that has been stored on a computer:\nYour name has been deleted from the list. * This command deletes files from the directory. * (BrE) Mr / Mrs / Ms (delete as appropriate) * Delete the word ’it’ and insert ’them’.\n    deletion  noun [U, C]:\nHe made several deletions to the manuscript.


Words: deliberate
Meaning:
adjective, verb \n    adjective \n  1  done on purpose rather than by accident\nSYN PLANNED:\na deliberate act of vandalism * The speech was a deliberate attempt to embarrass the government.\n  2  (of a movement or an action) done slowly and carefully:\nShe spoke in a slow and deliberate way.\n    verb  to think very carefully about sth, usually before making a decision: [V] The jury deliberated for five days before finding him guilty. * They deliberated on whether to continue with the talks. [also V wh-]


Words: deliberately
Meaning:
adverb\n  1  done in a way that was planned, not by chance\nSYN INTENTIONALLY, ON PURPOSE:\nShe’s been deliberately ignoring him all day.\n  2  slowly and carefully:\nHe packed up his possessions slowly and deliberately.


Words: deliberation
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U, C, usually pl.] the process of carefully considering or discussing sth:\nAfter ten hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of ’not guilty’. * The deliberations of the committee are completely confidential.\n  2  [U] the quality of being slow and careful in what you say or do:\nShe signed her name with great deliberation.


Words: delicacy
Meaning:
noun (plural delicacies)\n  1  [U] the quality of being, or appearing to be, easy to damage or break:\nthe delicacy of the fabric * Her skin had the delicacy of a flower.\n  2  [U] the quality of being done carefully and gently:\nthe delicacy of his touch\n  3  [U] very careful behaviour in a difficult situation so that nobody is offended:\nShe handled the situation with great sensitivity and delicacy.\n  4  [U] the fact that a situation is difficult and sb may be easily offended:\nI need to talk to you about a matter of some delicacy.\n  5  [C] a type of food considered to be very special in a particular place:\nlocal delicacies * Dr Jaffrey handed us a plate of dates: traditionally the delicacy with which to break the Ramadan fast.


Words: delicate
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  easily damaged or broken\nSYN FRAGILE:\ndelicate china teacups * The eye is one of the most delicate organs of the body. * the delicate ecological balance of the rainforest * Babies have very delicate skin. * a cool wash cycle for delicate fabrics\n  2  (of a person) not strong and easily becoming ill:\na delicate child / constitution * His health had always been delicate.\n  3  small and having a beautiful shape or appearance:\nhis delicate hands * Women were treated like delicate flowers needing special treatment.\n  4  made or formed in a very careful and detailed way:\nthe delicate mechanisms of a clock\n  5  showing or needing skilful, careful or sensitive treatment:\nI admired your delicate handling of the situation. * a delicate problem * The delicate surgical operation took five hours.\n  6  (of colours, flavours and smells) light and pleasant; not strong:\na delicate fragrance / flavour * a river scene painted in delicate watercolours\n    delicately adverb:\nHe stepped delicately over the broken glass. * delicately balanced flavours


Words: delicatessen
Meaning:
(also deli) noun\na shop/store or part of one that sells cooked meats and cheeses, and special or unusual foods that come from other countries


Words: delicious
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  having a very pleasant taste or smell:\nWho cooked this? It’s delicious. * a delicious alternative to cheese * This dish is delicious with cream.\n  2  (literary) extremely pleasant or enjoyable:\nthe delicious coolness of the breeze * A delicious shiver of excitement ran through his body.\n    deliciously adverb:\ndeliciously creamy soup * The cream felt deliciously cool on my hot skin.


Words: delight
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [U] a feeling of great pleasure:\na feeling of sheer / pure delight * The children squealed with delight when they saw the puppy. * She won the game easily, to the delight of all her fans. * He takes (great) delight in (= enjoys) proving others wrong.\n  2  [C] something that gives you great pleasure:\nThis guitar is a delight to play. * the delights of living in the country * the unrivalled culinary delights of the hotel\n    verb [VN] to give sb a lot of pleasure and enjoyment:\nThis news will delight his fans all over the world.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  delight in sth / doing sth [no passive] to enjoy doing sth very much, especially sth that makes other people feel embarrassed, uncomfortable, etc.


Words: delighted
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (to do sth) | ~ (that ...) | ~ (by / at / with sth) very pleased:\na delighted smile * I’d be absolutely delighted to come. * I was delighted that you could stay. * She was delighted by / at the news of the wedding. * I was delighted with my presents. * ’Can you stay for dinner?’ ’I’d be delighted (to)!’\n    delightedly adverb:\nShe laughed delightedly.


Words: delightful
Meaning:
adjective\nvery pleasant:\na delightful book / restaurant / town * a delightful child\n    delightfully  adverb:\nThe hotel is delightfully situated on the edge of the lake.


Words: delineate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) to describe, draw or explain sth in detail:\nOur objectives need to be precisely delineated. * The ship’s route is clearly delineated on the map.\n    delineation  noun [U, C]


Words: delinquency
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] (plural delinquencies) bad or criminal behaviour, usually of young people:\nan increase in juvenile delinquency


Words: delinquent
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (especially of young people or their behaviour) showing a tendency to commit crimes:\ndelinquent teenagers\n  2  (AmE, finance) having failed to pay money that is owed:\na delinquent borrower\n  3  (AmE, finance) (of a sum of money) not having been paid in time:\na delinquent loan\n    delinquent noun-see also JUVENILE DELINQUENT


Words: delirious
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  in an excited state and not able to think or speak clearly, usually because of fever:\nHe became delirious and couldn’t recognize people. * By the time she was rescued, she was delirious with cold and fear.\n  2  extremely excited and happy:\nThe crowds were delirious with joy.\n    deliriously adverb


Words: delirium
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a mental state where sb becomes delirious, usually because of illness:\nfits of delirium * He mumbled in delirium all night.


Words: deliver
Meaning:
verb\n  take goods / letters\n  1  ~ (sth) (to sb/sth) to take goods, letters, etc. to the person or people they have been sent to; to take sb somewhere:\n[VN] Leaflets have been delivered to every household. * Do you have your milk delivered? * [V] We promise to deliver within 48 hours.\n  give speech\n  2  [VN] to give a speech, talk, etc. or other official statement:\nShe is due to deliver a lecture on genetic engineering. * He delivered his lines confidently. * The jury finally delivered its verdict.\n  keep promise\n  3  ~ (on sth) to do what you promised to do or what you are expected to do; to produce or provide what people expect you to:\n[V] He has promised to finish the job by June and I am sure he will deliver. * She always delivers on her promises. * [VN] If you can’t deliver improved sales figures, you’re fired. * The team delivered a stunning victory last night. * Successive administrations have failed to deliver adequate funding for education. * the failure of successive governments to deliver economic growth\n  give to sb’s control\n  4  [VN] ~ sb/sth (up / over) (to sb) (formal) to give sb/sth to sb else so that they are under this person’s control:\nThey delivered their prisoner over to the invading army.\n  baby\n  5  [VN] ~ a baby to help a woman to give birth to a baby:\nThe baby was delivered by Caesarean section.\n  6  [VN] be delivered of a baby (formal) to give birth to a baby:\nShe was delivered of a healthy boy.\n  throw\n  7  [VN] to throw or aim sth:\nHe delivered the blow (= hit sb hard) with all his force.\n  rescue\n  8  [VN] ~ sb (from sth) (old use) to rescue sb from sth bad:\nDeliver us from evil.\n IDIOMS  see GOODS, SIGN v.


Words: deliverable
Meaning:
noun\n[usually pl.] a product that a company promises to have ready for a customer:\ncomputer software deliverables


Words: delivery
Meaning:
noun (plural deliveries)\n \n  1  [U, C] the act of taking goods, letters, etc. to the people they have been sent to:\na delivery van * Please pay for goods on delivery (= when you receive them). * Allow 28 days for delivery. * Is there a postal / mail delivery on Saturdays? * (formal) When can you take delivery of (= be available to receive) the car? * (figurative) the delivery of public services\n \n  2  [C, U] the process of giving birth to a baby:\nan easy / difficult delivery * a delivery room / ward (= in a hospital, etc.)\n \n  3  [sing.] the way in which sb speaks, sings a song, etc. in public:\nThe beautiful poetry was ruined by her poor delivery.\n \n  4  [C] a ball that is thrown, especially in cricket or baseball:\na fast delivery\n IDIOMS  see CASH n.


Words: delta
Meaning:
noun\n  1  the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet ({Delta},{delta})\n  2  an area of land, shaped like a triangle, where a river has split into several smaller rivers before entering the sea:\nthe Nile Delta


Words: delude
Meaning:
verb\n~ sb / yourself (into doing sth) to make sb believe sth that is not true\nSYN DECEIVE:\n[VN] Don’t be deluded into thinking that we are out of danger yet. * You poor deluded creature. * He’s deluding himself if he thinks it’s going to be easy. * [VN that] She had been deluding herself that he loved her.\nsee also DELUSION


Words: deluge
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun [usually sing.]\n  1  a sudden very heavy fall of rain; a flood:\nWhen the snow melts, the mountain stream becomes a deluge.\n  2  a large number of things that happen or arrive at the same time:\na deluge of calls / complaints / letters\n    verb [VN] \n  1  ~ sb/sth (with sth) [usually passive] to send or give sb/sth a large number of things at the same time\nSYN INUNDATE:\nWe have been deluged with applications for the job. * He was deluged with phone calls from friends and colleagues. * Applicants deluged the office with calls.\n  2  [often passive] (formal) to flood a place with water:\nThe campsite was deluged by a flash flood.


Words: delusion
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] a false belief or opinion about yourself or your situation:\nthe delusions of the mentally ill * Don’t go getting delusions of grandeur (= a belief that you are more important than you actually are). * He was suffering from paranoid delusions and hallucinations. * Love can be nothing but a delusion.\n  2  [U] the act of believing or making yourself believe sth that is not true:\nHe seems to have retreated into a world of fear and delusion.


Words: delve
Meaning:
verb\n[V +adv./prep.] to search for sth inside a bag, container, etc:\nShe delved in her handbag for a pen.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  delve into sth to try hard to find out more information about sth\nSYN PROBE:\nShe had started to delve into her father’s distant past.


Words: demagogue
Meaning:
noun\n(disapproving) a political leader who tries to win support by using arguments based on emotion rather than reason\n    demagogic  adjective\n    demagogy  noun [U]


Words: demand
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C] ~ (for sth / that ...) a very firm request for sth; sth that sb needs:\na demand for higher pay * demands that the law on gun ownership should be changed * firms attempting to meet / satisfy their customers’ demands (= to give them what they are asking for)\n  2  (demands) [pl.] ~ (of sth) | ~ (on sb) things that sb/sth makes you do, especially things that are difficult, make you tired, worried, etc:\nthe demands of children / work * Flying makes enormous demands on pilots. * She shouldn’t always give in to his demands.\n  3  [U, C] ~ (for sth/sb) the desire or need of customers for goods or services which they want to buy or use:\nto meet the demand for a product * There’s an increased demand for organic produce these days. * Demand is exceeding supply.\n IDIOMS \n  by popular demand because a lot of people have asked for sth:\nBy popular demand, the play will run for another week.\n  in demand wanted by a lot of people:\nGood secretaries are always in demand\n  on demand done or happening whenever sb asks:\nFeed the baby on demand.\nsee also SUPPLY AND DEMAND\n    verb\n  1  to ask for sth very firmly:\n[VN] She demanded an immediate explanation. * [V that] The UN has demanded that all troops be withdrawn. * (BrE also) They are demanding that all troops should be withdrawn. * [V to inf] I demand to see the manager. * [V speech] ’Who the hell are you?’ he demanded angrily.\n  2  [VN] to need sth in order to be done successfully:\nThis sport demands both speed and strength.


Words: demanding
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of a piece of work) needing a lot of skill, patience, effort, etc:\nThe work is physically demanding. * the most demanding challenge I have ever faced\n  2  (of a person) expecting a lot of work or attention from others; not easily satisfied:\na demanding boss / child * My grandma became very demanding as she got older.\nOPP UNDEMANDING


Words: demarcate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) to mark or establish the limits of sth:\nPlots of land have been demarcated by barbed wire. * The police demarcated the city into eighteen geographical divisions.


Words: demarcation
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] a border or line that separates two things, such as types of work, groups of people or areas of land:\nIt was hard to draw clear lines of demarcation between work and leisure. * social demarcations


Words: demean
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  ~ yourself to do sth that makes people have less respect for you:\nI wouldn’t demean myself by asking for charity.\n  2  to make people have less respect for sb/sth\nSYN DEGRADE:\nSuch images demean women. * Behaviour like this demeans politics.


Words: demeaning
Meaning:
adjective\nputting sb in a position that does not give them the respect that they should have:\nHe found it demeaning to work for his former employee.


Words: demeanour
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE demeanor)  noun\n[U] (formal) the way that sb looks or behaves:\nHe maintained a professional demeanour throughout.


Words: demented
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (especially BrE) behaving in a crazy way because you are extremely upset or worried:\nI’ve been nearly demented with worry about you. * The children have driven me demented today. * He was crashing about the house like a demented animal.\n  2  (old-fashioned or medical) having a mental illness\n    dementedly adverb


Words: dementia
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (medical) a serious mental disorder caused by brain disease or injury, that affects the ability to think, remember and behave normally\nsee also SENILE DEMENTIA


Words: demerit
Meaning:
noun (formal)\n  1  [usually pl.] a fault in sth or a disadvantage of sth:\nthe merits and demerits of the scheme\n  2  (AmE) a mark on sb’s school record showing that they have done sth wrong:\nYou’ll get three demerits if you’re caught smoking on school grounds.


Words: demilitarize
Meaning:
(BrE also demilitarise)  verb\n[VN] [usually passive] to remove military forces from an area:\na demilitarized zone\nOPP MILITARIZE\n    demilitarization, demilitarisation  noun [U]


Words: demise
Meaning:
noun [sing.]\n  1  the end or failure of an institution, an idea, a company, etc.\n  2  (formal or humorous) death:\nhis imminent / sudden / sad demise


Words: demist
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE defog) verb\n[VN] to remove the CONDENSATION from a car’s windows so that you can see clearly


Words: demo
Meaning:
noun (plural demos) (informal)\n  1  (especially BrE) = DEMONSTRATION (1):\nThey all went on the demo.\n  2  = DEMONSTRATION (2):\nI’ll give you a demo.\n  3  a record or tape with an example of sb’s music on it:\na demo tape


Words: demo-
Meaning:
prefix\n(in nouns, adjectives and adverbs) connected with people or population:\ndemocracy * democratic


Words: demob
Meaning:
verb\n(-bb-) [VN] [usually passive] (BrE, informal) = DEMOBILIZE:\nHe was demobbed in 1946.\n    demob noun [U] (BrE)


Words: demobilize
Meaning:
(BrE also demobilise)  (also BrE informal demob) verb\n[VN] to release sb from military service, especially at the end of a war:\nWe were waiting to be demobilized. * The army has demobilized 200 000 soldiers in the last two years.\ncompare MOBILIZE\n    demobilization, demobilisation  noun [U]


Words: democracy
Meaning:
noun (plural democracies)\n  1  [U] a system of government in which all the people of a country can vote to elect their representatives:\nparliamentary democracy * the principles of democracy\n  2  [C] a country which has this system of government:\nWestern democracies * I thought we were supposed to be living in a democracy.\n  3  [U] fair and equal treatment of everyone in an organization, etc., and their right to take part in making decisions:\nthe fight for justice and democracy


Words: democrat
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who believes in or supports democracy\n  2  (Democrat) (abbreviation D, Dem.) a member or supporter of the Democratic party of the US\ncompare REPUBLICAN


Words: democratic
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of a country, state, system, etc.) controlled by representatives who are elected by the people of a country; connected with this system:\na democratic country * a democratic system / election * democratic government / rule / accountability * They are aiming to make the institutions of the EU truly democratic. * Exercise your democratic right to vote.\n  2  based on the principle that all members have an equal right to be involved in running an organization, etc:\ndemocratic involvement / participation * a democratic decision\n  3  based on the principle that all members of society are equal rather than divided by money or social class:\na democratic society / outlook * democratic values / reforms\n  4  (Democratic) (abbreviation Dem., D) connected with the Democratic party in the US:\nthe Democratic senator from Oregon\n    democratically  adverb:\na democratically elected government / leader * democratically accountable / controlled * The decision was taken democratically.


Words: democratize
Meaning:
(BrE also democratise)  verb\n[VN] (formal) to make a country or an institution more democratic\n    democratization, democratisation  noun [U]


Words: demography
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the changing number of births, deaths, diseases, etc. in a community over a period of time; the scientific study of these changes:\nthe social demography of Africa\n    demographer  noun\n    demographic  adjective:\ndemographic changes / trends / factors


Words: demolish
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to pull or knock down a building:\nThe factory was demolished in 1980. * The building will have to be demolished.\n  2  to show that an idea or theory is completely wrong:\nA recent book has demolished this theory.\n  3  to defeat sb easily and completely:\nThey demolished New Zealand 226 in the final.\n  4  (BrE, informal) to eat sth very quickly:\nThe children demolished their burgers and chips.\n    demolition  noun [U, C]:\nThe whole row of houses is scheduled for demolition. * His speech did a very effective demolition job on the government’s proposals.


Words: demon
Meaning:
noun\n  1  an evil spirit:\ndemons torturing the sinners in Hell\n  2  (informal) a person who does sth very well or with a lot of energy:\nHe skis like a demon. * He’s a demon: he gets up early, he works out, he goes home early, he studies, he works out again ...\n  3  something that causes a person to worry and makes them unhappy:\nthe demons of jealousy\n IDIOMS \n  the demon drink (BrE, humorous) alcoholic drink


Words: demonic
Meaning:
adjective\nconnected with, or like, a demon (1):\ndemonic forces / powers * a demonic appearance / nature


Words: demonstrable
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) that can be shown or proved:\na demonstrable need * There is no demonstrable link between the two events.\n    demonstrably  adverb:\ndemonstrably unfair


Words: demonstrate
Meaning:
verb\n  1  ~ sth (to sb) to show sth clearly by giving proof or evidence:\n[V that] These results demonstrate convincingly that our campaign is working. * [VN] Let me demonstrate to you some of the difficulties we are facing. * [V wh-] His sudden departure had demonstrated how unreliable he was. * [VN to inf] The theories were demonstrated to be false. * [VN that] It has been demonstrated that this drug is effective.\n  2  [VN] to show by your actions that you have a particular quality, feeling or opinion\nSYN DISPLAY:\nYou need to demonstrate more self-control. * We want to demonstrate our commitment to human rights.\n  3  ~ sth (to sb) to show and explain how sth works or how to do sth:\n[VN] Her job involves demonstrating new educational software. [also V wh-]\n  4  [V] ~ (against sth) | ~ in favour / support of sth) to take part in a public meeting or march, usually as a protest or to show support for sth\nSYN PROTEST:\nstudents demonstrating against the war * They are demonstrating in favour of free higher education.


Words: demonstration
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (also informal demo especially in BrE) [C] ~ (against sb/sth) a public meeting or march at which people show that they are protesting against or supporting sb/sth:\nto take part in / go on a demonstration * to hold / stage a demonstration * mass demonstrations in support of the exiled leader * anti-government demonstrations * a peaceful / violent demonstration\ncompare MARCH\n  2  (also informal demo) [C, U] an act of showing or explaining how sth works or is done:\nWe were given a brief demonstration of the computer’s functions. * a practical demonstration * a demonstration model (= a model used to show how sth works) * We provide demonstration of videoconferencing over the Internet.\n  3  [C, U] an act of giving proof or evidence for sth:\na demonstration of the connection between the two sets of figures * a demonstration of how something that seems simple can turn out to be very complicated\n  4  [C] an act of showing a feeling or an opinion:\na public demonstration of affection * a demonstration of support for the reforms


Words: demonstrative
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  1  showing feelings openly, especially feelings of affection:\nSome people are more demonstrative than others. * a demonstrative greeting / friendship\n  2  (grammar) used to identify the person or thing that is being referred to:\n’This’ and ’that’ are demonstrative pronouns.\n    noun (grammar) a demonstrative pronoun or DETERMINER


Words: demonstrator
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who takes part in a public meeting or march in order to protest against sb/sth or to show support for sb/sth:\nTroops opened fire on the demonstrators. * pro-democracy demonstrators\n  2  a person whose job is to show or explain how sth works or is done:\nHe works as a demonstrator in anatomy at Wolfson College.


Words: demoralize
Meaning:
(BrE also demoralise)  verb\n[VN] [usually passive] to make sb lose confidence or hope\nSYN DISHEARTEN:\nConstant criticism is enough to demoralize anybody.\n    demoralized, demoralised adjective:\nThe workers here seem very demoralized.\n    demoralizing, demoralising adjective:\nthe demoralizing effects of unemployment\n    demoralization, demoralisation  noun [U]


Words: demote
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] [often passive] ~ sb (from sth) (to sth) to move sb to a lower position or rank, often as a punishment\nOPP PROMOTE\n    demotion  noun [C, U]


Words: demur
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (-rr-) (formal) to say that you do not agree with sth or that you refuse to do sth:\n[V] At first she demurred, but then finally agreed. [also V speech] \n    noun\n IDIOMS \n  without demur (formal) without objecting or hesitating:\nThey accepted without demur.


Words: demure
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of a woman or a girl) behaving in a way that does not attract attention to herself or her body; quiet and serious:\na demure young lady\n  2  suggesting that a woman or girl is demure:\na demure smile * a demure navy blouse with a white collar\n    demurely adverb:\n’I’ll think about it,’ she said demurely. * The blouse had a demurely high neckline.


Words: demystify
Meaning:
verb\n(demystifies, demystifying, demystified, demystified) [VN] (written) to make sth easier to understand and less complicated by explaining it in a clear and simple way\n    demystification  noun [U]


Words: den
Meaning:
noun\n  1  the hidden home of some types of wild animal:\na bear’s / lion’s den\n  2  (disapproving) a place where people meet in secret, especially for some illegal or immoral activity:\na den of thieves * a drinking / gambling den * He thought of New York as a den of iniquity.\n  3  (AmE) a room in a house where people go to relax, watch television, etc.\n  4  (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) a room in a house where a person can work or study without being disturbed:\nHe would often retire to his den.\n  5  a secret enclosed place where children play:\nThey made themselves a den in the woods.\n IDIOMS  see BEARD v., LION


Words: denationalize
Meaning:
(BrE also denationalise)  verb\n[VN] to sell a company or an industry so that it is no longer owned by the government\nSYN PRIVATIZE\nOPP NATIONALIZE\n    denationalization, denationalisation  noun [U]


Words: denial
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] ~ (of sth / that ...) a statement that says sth is not true or does not exist:\nthe prisoner’s repeated denials of the charges against him * The terrorists issued a denial of responsibility for the attack. * an official denial that there would be an election before the end of the year\n  2  [C, U] (a) ~ of sth a refusal to allow sb to have sth they have a right to expect:\nthe denial of basic human rights * The advertising ban is a denial of freedom of speech.\n  3  [U] (psychology) a refusal to accept that sth unpleasant or painful is true:\nThe patient is still in denial.


Words: denier
Meaning:
noun\n(especially BrE) a unit for measuring how fine threads of NYLON, silk, etc. are:\n15 denier stockings


Words: denigrate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) to criticize sb/sth unfairly; to say sb/sth does not have any value or is not important:\nI didn’t intend to denigrate her achievements.\n    denigration  noun [U]


Words: denim
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  [U] a strong cotton fabric that is usually blue and is used for making clothes, especially JEANS:\na denim jacket\n \n ORIGIN  From the French serge de Nimes, meaning serge (a type of fabric) from the town of Nimes.\n \n  2  (denims) [pl.] (old-fashioned) trousers/pants made of denim\nSYN JEANS


Words: denizen
Meaning:
noun\n(formal or humorous) a person, an animal or a plant that lives, grows or is often found in a particular place:\npolar bears, denizens of the frozen north * the denizens of the local pub


Words: denomination
Meaning:
noun (formal)\n  1  a branch of the Christian Church:\nChristians of all denominations attended the conference.\n  2  a unit of value, especially of money:\ncoins and banknotes of various denominations


Words: denominator
Meaning:
noun\n(mathematics) the number below the line in a FRACTION showing how many parts the whole is divided into, for example 4 in ｾ\ncompare NUMERATOR, COMMON DENOMINATOR


Words: denote
Meaning:
verb (formal)\n  1  to be a sign of sth\nSYN INDICATE:\n[VN] A very high temperature often denotes a serious illness. [also V that]\n  2  to mean sth \nSYN REPRESENT:\n[VN] In this example ’X’ denotes the time taken and ’Y’ denotes the distance covered. * The red triangle denotes danger. * Here ’family’ denotes mother, father and children. [also V wh-]\ncompare CONNOTE


Words: denouement
Meaning:
(also denouement)  noun\n(from French) the end of a play, book, etc., in which everything is explained or settled; the end result of a situation:\nan exciting / unexpected denouement


Words: denounce
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  ~ sb/sth (as sth) to strongly criticize sb/sth that you think is wrong, illegal, etc:\nShe publicly denounced the government’s handling of the crisis. * The project was denounced as a scandalous waste of public money.\n  2  ~ sb (as sth) to tell the police, the authorities, etc. about sb’s illegal political activities:\nThey were denounced as spies. * Many people denounced their friends and neighbours to the secret police.\nsee also DENUNCIATION


Words: dense
Meaning:
adjective (denser, densest)\n  1  containing a lot of people, things, plants, etc. with little space between them:\na dense crowd / forest * areas of dense population\n  2  difficult to see through:\ndense fog / smoke / fumes\n  3  (informal) stupid:\nHow can you be so dense?\n  4  difficult to understand because it contains a lot of information:\na dense piece of writing\n  5  (technical) heavy in relation to its size:\nLess dense substances move upwards to form a crust.\n    densely adverb:\na densely populated area * densely covered / packed


Words: density
Meaning:
noun (plural densities)\n  1  [U] the quality of being dense; the degree to which sth is dense:\npopulation density * low density forest\n  2  [C, U] (physics) the thickness of a solid, liquid or gas measured by its MASS (= weight) per unit of volume:\nthe density of a gas\n  3  [U] (computing) the amount of space available on a disk for recording data:\na high / double density floppy


Words: dent
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [VN] \n  1  to make a hollow place in a hard surface, usually by hitting it:\nThe back of the car was badly dented in the collision.\n  2  to damage sb’s confidence, reputation, etc:\nIt seemed that nothing could dent his confidence.\n    noun a hollow place in a hard surface, usually caused by sth hitting it:\na large dent in the passenger door\n IDIOMS \n  make, etc. a dent in sth to reduce the amount of sth, especially money:\nThe lawyer’s fees will make a dent in our finances.


Words: dental
Meaning:
adjective [only before noun]\n \n  1  connected with the teeth:\ndental disease / care / treatment / health * a dental appointment * dental records * (BrE) a dental surgery (= where a dentist sees patients)\n \n  2  (phonetics) (of a consonant) produced with the tongue against the upper front teeth, for example / /, or against the RIDGE of the teeth, for example / n, d, t /


Words: dentist
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  (also formal dental surgeon) a person whose job is to take care of people’s teeth\n \n  2  (dentist’s) a place where a dentist sees patients:\nan appointment at the dentist’s


Words: dentistry
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the medical study of the teeth and mouth\n  2  the work of a dentist:\npreventive dentistry


Words: dentures
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] artificial teeth on a thin piece of plastic (= a PLATE), worn by sb who no longer has all their own teeth\n    denture adjective:\ndenture adhesive\ncompare FALSE TEETH, PLATE n. (14)


Words: denunciation
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] ~ (of sb/sth) an act of criticizing sb/sth strongly in public:\nan angry denunciation of the government’s policies * All parties joined in bitter denunciation of the terrorists.\nsee also DENOUNCE


Words: deny
Meaning:
verb (denies, denying, denied, denied)\n  1  to say that sth is not true:\n[VN] to deny a claim / a charge / an accusation * The spokesman refused either to confirm or deny the reports. * There’s no denying (the fact) that quicker action could have saved them. * [V -ing] He denies attempting to murder his wife. * [V (that)] She denied (that) there had been any cover-up. * [VN that] It can’t be denied that we need to devote more resources to this problem.\n  2  [VN] to refuse to admit or accept sth:\nShe denied all knowledge of the incident. * The department denies responsibility for what occurred.\n  3  ~ sth (to sb) | ~ (sb) (sth) (formal) to refuse to allow sb to have sth that they want or ask for: [VNN, VN] They were denied access to the information. * Access to the information was denied to them.\n  4  [VN] ~ yourself (sth) (formal) to refuse to let yourself have sth that you would like to have, especially for moral or religious reasons\n______________________________\n WORD FAMILY \ndeny v.\ndenial n.\nundeniable adj.\n______________________________


Words: deodorant
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] a substance that people put on their bodies to remove or hide unpleasant smells:\n(a) roll-on deodorant\nsee also ANTIPERSPIRANT


Words: depart
Meaning:
verb (rather formal)\n  1  ~ (for ...) (from ...) to leave a place, especially to start a trip:\n[V] Flights for Amsterdam depart from Terminal 3. * She waited until the last of the guests had departed. * [VN] (AmE) The train departed Amritsar at 6.15 p.m.\n  2  (AmE) to leave your job:\n[V] the departing president * [VN] He departed his job December 16.\nsee also DEPARTURE\n IDIOMS \n  depart this life to die. People say ’depart this life’ to avoid saying ’die’.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  depart from sth to behave in a way that is different from usual:\nDeparting from her usual routine, she took the bus to work.


Words: departed
Meaning:
adjective [only before noun] (formal)\n  1  dead. People say ’departed’ to avoid saying ’dead’:\nyour dear departed brother\n  2  (the departed) noun (plural the departed) the person who has died


Words: department
Meaning:
noun\n(abbreviation Dept) a section of a large organization such as a government, business, university, etc:\nthe Department of the Environment * the Treasury Department * a government / university department * the marketing / sales department * the children’s department (= in a large store) * the English department\nsee also THE STATE DEPARTMENT\n IDIOMS \n  be sb’s department (spoken) to be sth that sb is responsible for or knows a lot about:\nDon’t ask me about it-that’s her department.


Words: department store
Meaning:
noun\na large shop/store that is divided into several parts, each part selling a different type of goods


Words: departmental
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] connected with a department rather than with the whole organization:\na departmental manager / meeting


Words: departure
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  [C, U] ~ (from ...) the act of leaving a place; an example of this:\nHis sudden departure threw the office into chaos. * Flights should be confirmed 48 hours before departure. * They had received no news of him since his departure from the island.\n \n  2  [C] a plane, train, etc. leaving a place at a particular time:\narrivals and departures * All departures are from Manchester. * the departure lounge / time / gate * the departures board\n \n  3  [C] a ~ (from sth) an action that is different from what is usual or expected:\nIt was a radical departure from tradition. * Their latest single represents a new departure for the band.\n \n IDIOMS  see POINT n.


Words: depend
Meaning:
verb\n IDIOMS \n  that depends | it (all) depends used to say that you are not certain about sth because other things have to be considered:\n’Is he coming?’ ’That depends. He may not have the time.’ * I don’t know if we can help-it all depends. * I might not go. It depends how tired I am. * ’Your job sounds fun.’ ’It depends what you mean by ’fun’.’ * I shouldn’t be too late. But it depends if the traffic’s bad.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  depend on / upon sb/sth\n1 to rely on sb/sth and be able to trust them:\nHe was the sort of person you could depend on. * [+ to inf] He knew he could depend upon her to deal with the situation.\n2 to be sure or expect that sth will happen:\nDepend upon it (= you can be sure) we won’t give up. * [+ -ing] Can we depend on you coming in on Sunday? * (formal) You can depend on his coming in on Sunday. [+ to inf] (ironic) You can depend on her to be (= she always is) late.\n  depend on / upon sb/sth (for sth) (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to need money, help, etc. from sb/sth else for a particular purpose:\nThe community depends on the shipping industry for its survival. * I don’t want to depend too much on my parents.\n  depend on / upon sth (not used in the progressive tenses) to be affected or decided by sth:\nDoes the quality of teaching depend on class size? * It would depend on the circumstances. * [+ wh-] We might need more food depending on how many people turn up.\n______________________________\n GRAMMAR POINT \ndepend on\nIn informal English, it is quite common to say depend rather than depend on before words like what, how or whether: It depends what you mean by ’hostile’. In formal written English, depend should always be followed by on or upon: It depends on how you define the term ’hostile’. Upon is more formal and less frequent than on.\n______________________________


Words: dependable
Meaning:
adjective\nthat can be relied on to do what you want or need:\na dependable person / car\n    dependability  noun [U]


Words: dependant
Meaning:
(BrE) (also dependent AmE, BrE) noun\na person, especially a child, who depends on another person for a home, food, money, etc:\nMarried women receive only the basic pension as their husband’s dependant.


Words: dependence
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  ~ (on / upon sb/sth) the state of needing the help and support of sb/sth in order to survive or be successful:\nhis dependence on his parents * Our relationship was based on mutual dependence. * the dependence of Europe on imported foods * financial / economic dependence\nOPP INDEPENDENCE\n  2  (also dependency) the state of being ADDICTED to sth (= unable to stop taking or using it):\ndrug / alcohol dependence\n  3  ~ of A and B (technical) the fact of one thing being affected by another:\nthe close dependence of soil and landforms


Words: dependency
Meaning:
noun (plural dependencies)\n  1  [U] ~ (on / upon sb/sth) the state of relying on sb/sth for sth, especially when this is not normal or necessary:\nfinancial / economic dependency * Their aim is to reduce people’s dependency on the welfare state. * the dependency culture (= a way of life on which people are too dependent on money from the government)\n  2  [C] a country, an area, etc. that is controlled by another country:\nThe Orkney islands were formerly dependencies of Norway and Denmark.\n  3  = DEPENDENCE (2)


Words: dependent
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  1  ~ (on / upon sb/sth) (for sth) needing sb/sth in order to survive or be successful:\na woman with several dependent children * You can’t be dependent on your parents all your life. * The festival is heavily dependent on sponsorship for its success.\n  2  ~ on / upon sth ADDICTED to sth (= unable to stop taking or using it):\nto be dependent on drugs / alcohol\n  3  ~ on / upon sth (formal) affected or decided by sth:\nA child’s development is dependent on many factors. * The price is dependent on how many extras you choose.\n    noun (especially AmE) = DEPENDANT


Words: depersonalize
Meaning:
(BrE also depersonalise)  verb\n[VN] [often passive] (written) to make sth less personal so that it does not seem as if human beings with feelings and personality are involved


Words: depict
Meaning:
(rather formal)\n  1  to show an image of sb/sth in a picture:\n[VN] a painting depicting the Virgin and Child * [VN -ing] The artist had depicted her lying naked on a bed.\n  2  [VN] to describe sth in words, or give an impression of sth in words or with a picture:\nThe novel depicts French society in the 1930s. * The advertisements depict smoking as glamorous and attractive.\n    depiction  noun [U, C]:\nThey object to the movie’s depiction of gay people.


Words: depilatory
Meaning:
noun\n(plural depilatories) a substance used for removing body hair\n    depilatory adjective [only before noun]:\ndepilatory creams


Words: deplete
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] [usually passive] to reduce sth by a large amount so that there is not enough left:\nFood supplies were severely depleted.\n    depletion  noun [U]:\nozone depletion * the depletion of fish stocks


Words: deplorable
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) very bad and unacceptable, often in a way that shocks people:\na deplorable episode / incident * They were living in the most deplorable conditions. * The acting was deplorable.\n    deplorably  adverb:\nThey behaved deplorably. * deplorably high / low / bad


Words: deplore
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) to strongly disapprove of sth and criticize it, especially publicly:\nLike everyone else, I deplore and condemn this killing. * He deplored the fact that these criminals were treated by many as heroes and martyrs.


Words: deploy
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  (technical) to move soldiers or weapons into a position where they are ready for military action:\nUS forces deployed in the Gulf * At least 5 000 missiles were deployed along the border.\n  2  (formal) to use sth effectively:\nto deploy arguments / resources\n    deployment noun [U]:\nthe deployment of peace keeping forces * the deployment of resources / staff


Words: depopulate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] [usually passive] to reduce the number of people living in a place:\nWhole stretches of land were laid waste and depopulated.\n    depopulation  noun [U]


Words: deport
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to force sb to leave a country, usually because they have broken the law or because they have no legal right to be there:\nHe was convicted of drug offences and deported.\n    deportation  [C, U]:\nSeveral of the asylum seekers now face deportation. * a deportation order


Words: deportment
Meaning:
noun [U] (formal)\n  1  (BrE) the way in which a person stands and moves:\nlessons for young ladies in deportment and etiquette * He has good deportment. * deportment classes\n  2  (old-fashioned, especially AmE) the way in which a person behaves


Words: depose
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to remove sb, especially a ruler, from power:\nThe president was deposed in a military coup.


Words: deposit
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  money\n  1  [usually sing.] a ~ (on sth) a sum of money that is given as the first part of a larger payment:\nWe’ve put down a 5% deposit on the house. * They normally ask you to pay ｣100 (as a) deposit. * All deposits are non-refundable.\n  2  [usually sing.] a sum of money that is paid by sb when they rent sth and that is returned to them if they do not lose or damage the thing they are renting:\nto pay a deposit * They’ll probably ask you to leave a deposit.\n  3  a sum of money that is paid into a bank account:\nDeposits can be made at any branch.\n  4  (in Britain) the amount of money that a candidate in an election to Parliament has to pay, and that is returned if he/she gets enough votes:\nAll the other candidates lost their deposits.\n  substance\n  5  a layer of a substance that has formed naturally underground:\nmineral / gold / coal deposits\n  6  a layer of a substance that has been left somewhere, especially by a river, flood, etc., or is found at the bottom of a liquid:\nThe rain left a deposit of mud on the windows. * Turkish coffee always leaves a thick deposit at the bottom of the cup. * fatty deposits in the arteries of the heart * glacial deposits\n    verb [VN]\n  put down\n  1  [+adv./prep.] to put or lay sb/sth down in a particular place:\nShe deposited a pile of books on my desk. * (informal) I was whisked off in a taxi and deposited outside the hotel.\n  leave substance\n  2  (especially of a river or a liquid) to leave a layer of sth on the surface of sth, especially gradually and over a period of time:\nSand was deposited which hardened into sandstone.\n  money\n  3  to put money into a bank account:\nMillions were deposited in Swiss bank accounts.\n  4  to pay a sum of money as the first part of a larger payment; to pay a sum of money that you will get back if you return in good condition sth that you have rented\n  put in safe place\n  5  ~ sth (in sth) | ~ sth (with sb/sth) to put sth valuable or important in a place where it will be safe:\nGuests may deposit their valuables in the hotel safe.


Words: deposit account
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a type of account at a bank or BUILDING SOCIETY that pays interest on money that is left in it\ncompare CURRENT ACCOUNT


Words: deposition
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U, C] (technical) the natural process of leaving a layer of a substance on rocks or soil; a substance left in this way:\nmarine / river deposition\n  2  [U, C] the act of removing sb, especially a ruler, from power:\nthe deposition of the King\n  3  [C] (law) a formal statement, taken from sb and used in a court of law


Words: depot
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a place where large amounts of food, goods or equipment are stored:\nan arms depot\n  2  (BrE) a place where vehicles, for example, buses are kept and repaired\n  3  (AmE) a small station where trains or buses stop


Words: deprave
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) to make sb morally bad\nSYN CORRUPT:\nIn my view this book would deprave young children.


Words: deprecate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) to feel and express strong disapproval of sth\n    deprecating (also less frequent deprecatory ) adjective:\na deprecating comment\n    deprecatingly adverb


Words: depreciate
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [V] to become less valuable over a period of time:\nNew cars start to depreciate as soon as they are on the road. * Shares continued to depreciate on the stock markets today.\nOPP APPRECIATE\n  2  [VN] (business) to reduce the value, as stated in the company’s accounts, of a particular ASSET over a particular period of time:\nThe bank depreciates PCs over a period of five years.\n  3  [VN] (formal) to make sth seem unimportant or of no value:\nI had no intention of depreciating your contribution.\n    depreciation  noun [U]:\ncurrency depreciation * the depreciation of fixed assets


Words: depress
Meaning:
verb\n  1  to make sb sad and without enthusiasm or hope:\n[VN] Wet weather always depresses me. * [VN to inf] It depresses me to see so many young girls smoking.\n  2  [VN] to make trade, business, etc. less active:\nThe recession has depressed the housing market.\n  3  [VN] to lower the value of prices or wages:\nto depress wages / prices\n  4  [VN] (formal) to press or push sth down, especially part of a machine:\nto depress the clutch pedal (= when driving).


Words: depressed
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  very sad and without hope:\nShe felt very depressed about the future.\n  2  suffering from the medical condition of DEPRESSION\n  3  (of a place or an industry) without enough economic activity or employment:\nan attempt to bring jobs to depressed areas\n  4  having a lower amount or level than usual:\ndepressed rates / prices


Words: depressing
Meaning:
adjective\nmaking you feel very sad and without enthusiasm:\na depressing sight / thought / experience * Looking for a job these days can be very depressing.\n    depressingly adverb:\na depressingly familiar experience


Words: depression
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] a medical condition in which a person feels very sad and anxious and often has physical SYMPTOMS such as being unable to sleep, etc:\nclinical depression * She suffered from severe depression after losing her job. * post-natal depression\n  2  [U, C] the state of feeling very sad and without hope:\nThere was a feeling of gloom and depression in the office when the news of the job cuts was announced.\n  3  [C, U] a period when there is little economic activity and many people are poor or without jobs:\nThe country was in the grip of (an) economic depression. * the great Depression of the 1930s\n  4  [C] (written) a part of a surface that is lower than the parts around it \nSYN HOLLOW:\nRainwater collects in shallow depressions on the ground.\n  5  [C] (technical) a weather condition in which the pressure of the air becomes lower, often causing rain:\nan atmospheric depression moving east from the Atlantic\ncompare ANTICYCLONE


Words: depressive
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective connected with the medical condition of depression:\ndepressive illness\n    noun a person who is suffering from the medical condition of depression\nsee also MANIC-DEPRESSIVE


Words: deprivation
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the fact of not having sth that you need, like enough food, money or a home; the process that causes this:\nneglected children suffering from social deprivation * sleep deprivation * government policies to reduce urban / rural deprivation * the deprivation of war (= the suffering caused by not having enough of some things)


Words: deprive
Meaning:
verb\n\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  deprive sb/sth of sth to prevent sb from having or doing sth, especially sth important:\nThey were imprisoned and deprived of their basic rights. * Why should you deprive yourself of such simple pleasures?


Words: deprived
Meaning:
adjective\nwithout enough food, education, and all the things that are necessary for people to live a happy and comfortable life:\na deprived childhood / background / area * economically / emotionally / socially deprived


Words: depth
Meaning:
noun\n \n  measurement\n \n  1  [C, U] the distance from the top or surface to the bottom of sth:\nWhat’s the depth of the water here? * Water was found at a depth of 30 metres. * They dug down to a depth of two metres. * Many dolphins can dive to depths of 200 metres. * The oil well extended several hundreds of feet in depth. * the depth of a cut / wound / crack\n \n  2  [C, U] the distance from the front to the back of sth:\nThe depth of the shelves is 30 centimetres.\n \n  of feelings\n \n  3  [U] the strength and power of feelings:\nthe depth of her love / friendship / anger / fear\n  of knowledge\n  4  [U] (approving) the quality of knowing or understanding a lot of details about sth; the ability to provide and explain these details:\na writer of great wisdom and depth * a job that doesn’t require any great depth of knowledge * His ideas lack depth.\n  deepest part\n  5  [C, usually pl.] the deepest, most extreme or serious part of sth:\nthe depths of the ocean * to live in the depths of the country (= a long way from a town) * in the depths of winter (= when it is coldest) * She was in the depths of despair * He gazed into the depths of her eyes. * Her paintings reveal hidden depths (= unknown and interesting things about her character).\n  of colour\n  6  [U] the strength of a colour:\nStrong light will affect the depth of colour of your carpets and curtains.\n  picture / photograph\n  7  [U] (technical) the quality in a work of art or a photograph which makes it appear not to be flat\nsee also DEEP\n IDIOMS \n  in depth in a detailed and thorough way:\nI haven’t looked at the report in depth yet. * an in-depth study\n  be out of your depth\n1 (BrE) to be in water that is too deep to stand in with your head above water:\nIf you can’t swim, don’t go out of your depth.\n2 to be unable to understand sth because it is too difficult; to be a situation that you cannot control:\nHe felt totally out of his depth in his new job.\nmore at PLUMB v.


Words: depute
Meaning:
verb\n[VN to inf] [often passive] (formal) to give sb else the authority to represent you or do sth for you\nSYN DELEGATE:\nHe was deputed to put our views to the committee.


Words: deputize
Meaning:
(BrE also deputise)  verb\n[V] ~ (for sb) to do sth that sb in a higher position than you would usually do:\nMs Green has asked me to deputize for her at the meeting.


Words: deputy
Meaning:
noun (plural deputies)\n  1  a person who is the next most important person below a business manager, a head of a school, a political leader, etc. and who does the person’s job when he or she is away:\nI’m acting as deputy till the manager returns. * the deputy head of a school\n  2  the name for a member of parliament in some countries\n  3  (in the US) a police officer who helps the SHERIFF of an area


Words: derail
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to make a train leave the track: (figurative) This latest incident could derail the peace process.\n    derailment noun [C, U]


Words: deranged
Meaning:
adjective\nunable to behave and think normally, especially because of mental illness:\nmentally deranged * a deranged attacker / mind / laugh\n    derangement noun [U]:\nHe seemed to be on the verge of total derangement.


Words: derby
Meaning:
noun (plural derbies)\n \n  1  (AmE) = BOWLER (2)\n \n  2  (BrE) a sports competition between teams from the same area or town:\na local derby between the two North London sides * a derby match\n \n  3  a race or sports competition:\na motorcycle derby\nsee also DEMOLITION DERBY\n \n  4  (Derby) used in the name of several horse races which happen every year:\nthe Epsom Derby * the Kentucky Derby


Words: deregulate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] [often passive] to free a trade, a business activity, etc. from rules and controls\nSYN DECONTROL:\nderegulated financial markets\n    deregulation  noun [U]\n    deregulatory  adjective [only before noun]:\nderegulatory reforms


Words: derelict
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective (especially of land or buildings) not used or cared for and in bad condition:\nderelict land / buildings / sites * The canal has been derelict for many years.\n    noun (formal) a person without a home, a job or property:\nderelicts living on the streets\nSYN VAGRANT


Words: dereliction
Meaning:
noun (written)\n  1  [U] the state of being derelict:\nindustrial / urban dereliction * a house in a state of dereliction\n  2  [U, sing.] ~ of duty (formal or law) the fact of deliberately not doing what you ought to do, especially when it is part of your job:\nThe police officers were found guilty of serious dereliction of duty.


Words: deride
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] [often passive] ~ sb/sth (as sth) (formal) to treat sb/sth as ridiculous and not worth considering seriously\nSYN MOCK:\nHis views were derided as old-fashioned. * The play was derided by the critics. [also V speech]


Words: derision
Meaning:
noun\n[U] unkind laughter or remarks that show you think sb/sth is ridiculous and not worth considering seriously:\nHer speech was greeted with howls of derision. * He became an object of universal derision.


Words: derisive
Meaning:
(also less frequent derisory) adjective\nunkind and showing that you think sb/sth is ridiculous:\nShe gave a short, derisive laugh.\n    derisively adverb


Words: derisory
Meaning:
adjective (formal)\n  1  too small or of too little value to be considered seriously\nSYN LAUGHABLE:\nThey offered us a derisory ｣10 a week.\n  2  (rare) = DERISIVE


Words: derivative
Meaning:
noun, adjective \n    noun a word or thing that has been developed or produced from another word or thing:\n’Happiness’ is a derivative of ’happy’. * Crack is a highly potent and addictive derivative of cocaine.\n    adjective (usually disapproving) copied from sth else; not having new or original ideas:\na derivative design / style * I found the novel thin and derivative. I had expected more.


Words: derive
Meaning:
verb\n\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  derive sth from sth\n1 (formal) to get sth from sth:\nHe derived great pleasure from painting.\n2 (technical) to obtain a substance from sth:\nThe new drug is derived from fish oil.\n  derive from sth | be derived from sth to come or develop from sth:\nThe word ’politics’ is derived from a Greek word meaning ’city’.


Words: derogatory
Meaning:
adjective\nshowing a critical attitude towards sb\nSYN INSULTING:\nderogatory remarks / comments * (formal) She indicated by her tone that this was only her private opinion and in no way derogatory of Colonel Ferguson.


Words: derrick
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a tall machine used for moving or lifting heavy weights, especially on a ship; a type of CRANE\n  2  a tall structure over an oil WELL for holding the DRILL (= the machine that makes the hole in the ground for getting the oil out)


Words: derring-do
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (old-fashioned, humorous) brave actions, like those in adventure stories:\ntales of derring-do


Words: dervish
Meaning:
noun\na member of a Muslim religious group whose members make a promise to stay poor and live without comforts or pleasures. They perform a fast lively dance as part of their worship:\nHe threw himself around the stage like a whirling dervish.


Words: descale
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (BrE) to remove the SCALE (= the hard white material left on pipes, etc. by water when it is heated) from sth


Words: descant
Meaning:
noun\n(music) a tune that is sung or played at the same time as, and usually higher than, the main tune


Words: descend
Meaning:
verb\n  1  (formal) to come or go down from a higher to a lower level:\n[V] The plane began to descend. * The results, ranked in descending order (= from the highest to the lowest) are as follows: * [VN] She descended the stairs slowly.\nOPP ASCEND\n  2  [V] (formal) (of a hill, etc.) to slope downwards:\nAt this point the path descends steeply.\nOPP ASCEND\n  3  [V] ~ (on / upon sb/sth) (literary) (of night, darkness, a mood, etc.) to arrive and begin to affect sb/sth\nSYN FALL:\nNight descends quickly in the tropics. * Calm descended on the crowd.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  be descended from sb to be related to sb who lived a long time ago:\nHe claims to be descended from a Spanish prince.\n  descend into sth [no passive] (formal) to gradually get into a bad state:\nThe country was descending into chaos.\n  descend on / upon sb/sth to visit sb/sth in large numbers, sometimes unexpectedly:\nHundreds of football fans descended on the city.\n  descend to sth [no passive] to do sth that makes people stop respecting you:\nThey descended to the level of personal insults.


Words: descendant
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person’s descendants are their children, their children’s children, and all the people who live after them who are related to them:\nHe was an O’Conor and a direct descendant of the last High King of Ireland. * Many of them are descendants of the original settlers.\n  2  something that has developed from sth similar in the past


Words: descent
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, usually sing.] an action of coming or going down:\nThe plane began its descent to Heathrow. * (figurative) the country’s swift descent into anarchy\nOPP ASCENT\n  2  [C] a slope going downwards:\nThere is a gradual descent to the sea.\nOPP ASCENT\n  3  [U]  (from sb) a person’s family origins\nSYN ANCESTRY:\nto be of Scottish descent * He traces his line of descent from the Stuart kings.


Words: describe
Meaning:
verb\n  1  ~ sb/sth (to / for sb) | ~ sb/sth (as sth) to say what sb/sth is like:\n[VN] Can you describe him to me? * The man was described as tall and dark, and aged about 20. * Jim was described by his colleagues as ’unusual’. * The current political situation in Vietnam is described in chapter 8. * [V wh-] Describe how you did it. * [V -ing] Several people described seeing strange lights in the sky. [also VN -ing]\n  2  [VN] (formal or technical) to make a movement which has a particular shape; to form a particular shape:\nThe shark described a circle around the shoal of fish. * The road describes a long loop around the town.\n    describable adjective


Words: description
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U]  (of sb/sth) a piece of writing or speech that says what sb/sth is like; the act of writing or saying in words what sb/sth is like:\nto give a detailed / full description of the procedure * a brief / general description of the software * Police have issued a description of the gunman. * ’Scared stiff’ is an apt description of how I felt at that moment. * a personal pain that goes beyond description (= is too great to express in words) * the novelist’s powers of description\n  2  [C] of some, all, every, etc.  of some, etc. type:\nboats of every description / all descriptions * Their money came from trade of some description. * medals, coins and things of that description\n IDIOMS \n  answer / fit a description (of sb/sth) to be like a particular person or thing:\nA child answering the description of the missing boy was found safe and well in London yesterday.\nmore at BEGGAR v.


Words: descriptive
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  saying what sb/sth is like; describing sth:\nthe descriptive passages in the novel * The term I used was meant to be purely descriptive (= not judging).\n  2  (linguistics) saying how language is actually used, without giving rules for how it should be used\nOPP PRESCRIPTIVE


Words: desecrate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to damage a holy thing or place or treat it without respect:\ndesecrated graves\n    desecration  noun [U]:\nthe desecration of a cemetery * (figurative) the desecration of the countryside by new roads


Words: desegregate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to end the policy of SEGREGATION in a place in which people of different races are kept separate in public places, etc:\nto desegregate schools\n    desegregation  noun [U]


Words: deselect
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  if the local branch of a political party in Britain deselects the existing Member of Parliament, it does not choose him or her as a candidate at the next election\n  2  (computing) to remove sth from the list of possible choices on a computer MENU\n    deselection noun [U]


Words: desert
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun -see also DESERTS [C, U] a large area of land that has very little water and very few plants growing on it. Many deserts are covered by sand:\nthe Sahara Desert * Somalia is mostly desert. * burning desert sands * (figurative) a cultural desert (= a place without any culture)\n    verb \n  1  [VN] to leave sb without help or support\nSYN ABANDON:\nShe was deserted by her husband.\n  2  [VN] [often passive] to go away from a place and leave it empty\nSYN ABANDON:\nThe villages had been deserted. * The owl seems to have deserted its nest.\n  3  to leave the armed forces without permission:\n[V] Large numbers of soldiers deserted as defeat became inevitable. [also VN]\n  4  [VN] to stop using, buying or supporting sth:\nWhy did you desert teaching for politics?\n  5  [VN] (written) if a particular quality deserts you, it is not there when you need it:\nHer courage seemed to desert her for a moment.\n    desertion  noun [U, C]:\nShe felt betrayed by her husband’s desertion. * The army was badly affected by desertions.\n IDIOMS  see SINK v.


Words: deserted
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of a place) with no people in it:\ndeserted streets * The office was completely deserted.\n  2  left by a person or people who do not intend to return\nSYN ABANDONED:\na deserted village * deserted wives


Words: deserts
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.]\n IDIOMS \n  sb’s (just) deserts what sb deserves, especially when it is sth bad:\nThe family of the victim said that the killer had got his just deserts when he was jailed for life.


Words: deserve
Meaning:
verb\n(not used in the progressive tenses) if sb/sth deserves sth, it is right that they should have it, because of the way they have behaved or because of what they are:\n[VN] You deserve a rest after all that hard work. * The report deserves careful consideration. * One player in particular deserves a mention. * What have I done to deserve this? * [V to inf] They didn’t deserve to win. * He deserves to be locked up for ever for what he did. [also V -ing] \n IDIOMS \n  sb deserves a medal (spoken) used to say that you admire sb because they have done sth difficult or unpleasant:\nShe deserves a medal for teaching those 5-year-olds all day!\n  get what you deserve | deserve all / everything you get (informal) used to say that you think sb has earned the bad things that happen to them\nmore at TURN n.


Words: deservedly
Meaning:
adverb\nin the way that is deserved; correctly:\nThe restaurant is deservedly popular. * He has just been chosen for the top job, and deservedly so.


Words: deserving
Meaning:
adjective\n (of sth) (formal) that deserves help, praise, a reward, etc:\nto give money to a deserving cause * This family is one of the most deserving cases. * an issue deserving of attention * A distinction was made between the deserving and the undeserving poor.\nOPP UNDESERVING


Words: desiccated
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of food) dried in order to preserve it:\ndesiccated coconut\n  2  (technical) completely dry:\ntreeless and desiccated soil


Words: desiccation
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (technical) the process of becoming completely dry:\nThe dramatic desiccation of North Africa is a perplexing phenomenon.


Words: design
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  arrangement\n  1  [U, C] the general arrangement of the different parts of sth that is made, such as a building, book, machine etc:\nThe basic design of the car is very similar to that of earlier models. * special new design features * The machine’s unique design prevents it from overheating. * The magazine will appear in a new design from next month.\n  drawing / plan / model\n  2  [U] the art or process of deciding how sth will look, work, etc. by drawing plans, making models, etc:\na course in art and design * a design studio * computer-aided design * the design and development of new products\nsee also INTERIOR DESIGN\n  3  [C]  (for sth) a drawing or plan from which sth may be made:\ndesigns for aircraft * new and original designs\n  pattern\n  4  [C] an arrangement of lines and shapes as a decoration:\nfloral / abstract / geometric designs * The tiles come in a huge range of colours and designs.\n  intention\n  5  [U, C] a plan or an intention:\nIt happened-whether by accident or design-that the two of them were left alone after all the others had gone. * It is all part of his grand design for government.\n IDIOMS \n  have designs on sb (formal or humorous) to want to start a sexual relationship with sb:\nHe was quite aware of her marital designs on him.\n  have designs on sth to be planning to get sth for yourself, often in a way that other people do not approve of:\nRumours spread that the Duke had designs on the crown (= wanted to make himself king).\n    verb\n  draw plans\n  1  ~ sth (for sb/sth) to decide how sth will look, work, etc., especially by drawing plans or making models:\n[VN] to design a car / a dress / an office * a badly designed kitchen * He designed and built his own house. * They asked me to design a poster for the campaign. [also VNN]\n  plan sth\n  2  [VN] to think of and plan a system, a way of doing sth, etc:\nWe need to design a new syllabus for the third year.\n  for special purpose\n  3  [usually passive] ~ sth (for sth) | ~ sth (as sth) to make, plan or intend sth for a particular purpose or use:\n[VN] The method is specifically designed for use in small groups. * This course is primarily designed as an introduction to the subject. * [VN to inf] The programme is designed to help people who have been out of work for a long time.


Words: designate
Meaning:
verb, adjective \n    verb  [often passive]\n  1  ~ sth (as) sth | ~ sth (as being sth) to say officially that sth has a particular character or name; to describe sth in a particular way:\n[VN-N] This area has been designated (as) a National Park. * This floor has been designated a no-smoking area. * In 1992, Birmingham was designated (as) the UK City of Music. * [VN] Several pupils were designated as having moderate or severe learning difficulties. * a designated nature reserve * designated seats for the elderly\n  2  ~ sb (as) sth to choose or name sb for a particular job or position:\n[VN] The director is allowed to designate his / her successor. * [VN-N] Who has she designated (as) her deputy? * [VN to inf] the man designated to succeed the president\n  3  [VN] to show sth using a particular mark or sign:\nThe different types are designated by the letters A, B and C.\n    adjective  [after noun] (written) chosen to do a job but not yet having officially started it:\nan interview with the director designate


Words: designated driver
Meaning:
noun\n(informal) the person who agrees to drive and not drink alcohol when people go to a party, a bar, etc.


Words: designated hitter
Meaning:
noun\n(in baseball) a player who is named at the start of the game as the person who will hit the ball instead of the PITCHER


Words: designation
Meaning:
noun (formal)\n  1  [U]  (as sth) the action of choosing a person or thing for a particular purpose, or of giving them or it a particular status:\nThe district is under consideration for designation as a conservation area.\n  2  [C] a name, title or description:\nHer official designation is Financial Controller.


Words: designer
Meaning:
noun, adjective \n    noun a person whose job is to decide how things such as clothes, furniture, tools, etc. will look or work by making drawings, plans or patterns:\na fashion / jewellery designer * an industrial designer\n    adjective [only before noun] made by a famous designer; expensive and having a famous BRAND name:\ndesigner jeans / jewellery / labels * designer beer / water * He had a trendy haircut, an earring and designer stubble (= a short beard, grown for two or three days and thought to look fashionable).


Words: designer drug
Meaning:
noun\na drug produced artificially, usually one that is illegal:\na tablet of the designer drug Ecstasy


Words: desirable
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (formal) ~ (that) ... | ~ (for sb) (to do sth) that you would like to have or do; worth having or doing: (BrE) It is desirable that interest rates should be reduced. * (AmE) It is desirable that interest rates be reduced. * highly desirable * The house has many desirable features. * It is no longer desirable for adult children to live with their parents. * She chatted for a few minutes about the qualities she considered desirable in a secretary. * Such measures are desirable if not essential.\nOPP UNDESIRABLE\n  2  (of a person) causing other people to feel sexual desire:\nShe suddenly saw herself as a desirable young woman.\n    desirability  noun [U] (formal):\nNo one questions the desirability of cheaper fares.


Words: desire
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C, U]  (for sth) |  (to do sth) a strong wish to have or do sth:\na strong desire for power * enough money to satisfy all your desires * She felt an overwhelming desire to return home. * (formal) I have no desire (= I do not want) to discuss the matter further. * (formal) He has expressed a desire to see you.\n  2  [U, C]  (for sb) a strong wish to have sex with sb:\nShe felt a surge of love and desire for him.\n  3  [C, usually sing.] a person or thing that is wished for:\nWhen she agreed to marry him he felt he had achieved his heart’s desire.\n    verb (not used in the progressive tenses)\n  1  (formal) to want sth; to wish for sth:\n[VN] We all desire health and happiness. * The house had everything you could desire. * The dessert can be topped with cream, if desired (= if you like). * The medicine did not achieve the desired effect. * [V to inf] Fewer people desire to live in the north of the country. [also VN to inf]\n  2  to be sexually attracted to sb:\n[VN] He still desired her, and she him.\n IDIOMS \n  leave a lot, much, something, etc. to be desired to be bad or unacceptable:\nThe service in the restaurant left a lot to be desired.


Words: desirous
Meaning:
adjective\n[not before noun]  (of sth / of doing sth) |  (to do sth) (formal) having a wish for sth; wanting sth:\nAt that point Franco was desirous of prolonging the war.


Words: desist
Meaning:
verb\n[V] ~ (from sth / from doing sth) (formal) to stop doing sth:\nThey agreed to desist from the bombing campaign.


Words: desk
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a piece of furniture like a table, usually with drawers in it, that you sit at to read, write, work, etc:\nHe used to be a pilot but now he has a desk job.\nsee also ROLL-TOP DESK\n \n  2  a place where you can get information or be served at an airport, a hotel, etc:\nthe check-in desk * the reception desk\nsee also CASH DESK\n \n  3  an office at a newspaper, television company, etc. that deals with a particular subject:\nthe news / sports desk\nsee also CITY DESK


Words: deskill
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (technical) to reduce the amount of skill that is needed to do a particular job\n    deskilling noun [U]


Words: desktop computer
Meaning:
(also desktop) noun\na computer with a keyboard, screen and main processing unit, that fits on a desk\ncompare LAPTOP, NOTEBOOK


Words: desktop publishing
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (abbreviation DTP) the use of a small computer and a printer to produce a small book, a magazine, or other printed material


Words: desolate
Meaning:
adjective, verb \n    adjective \n  1  (of a place) empty and without people, making you feel sad or frightened:\na bleak and desolate landscape\n  2  very lonely and unhappy:\nThe thought that her husband did not want the baby made her feel utterly desolate.\n    verb  [VN] [usually passive] (literary) to make sb feel sad and without hope:\nShe had been desolated by the death of her friend.


Words: desolation
Meaning:
noun [U] (written)\n  1  the feeling of being very lonely and unhappy:\nHer death left him with a terrible sense of desolation.\n  2  the state of a place that is ruined or destroyed and offers no joy or hope to people:\na scene of utter desolation


Words: despair
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun [U] the feeling of having lost all hope:\nShe uttered a wordless cry of despair. * A deep sense of despair overwhelmed him. * He gave up the struggle in despair. * One harsh word would send her into the depths of despair. * Eventually, driven to despair, he threw himself under a train.\nsee also DESPERATE\n IDIOMS \n  be the despair of sb to make sb worried or unhappy, because they cannot help:\nMy handwriting was the despair of my teachers.\nmore at COUNSEL n.\n    verb [V] ~ (of sth/sb) | ~ (of doing sth) to stop having any hope that a situation will change or improve:\nDon’t despair! We’ll think of a way out of this. * They’d almost despaired of ever having children. * I despair of him; he can’t keep a job for more than six months.


Words: despairing
Meaning:
adjective\nshowing or feeling the loss of all hope:\na despairing cry / look / sigh * With every day that passed he became ever more despairing.\n    despairingly adverb:\nShe looked despairingly at the mess.


Words: desperado
Meaning:
noun\n(plural desperadoes or desperados) (old-fashioned) a man who does dangerous and criminal things without caring about himself or other people


Words: desperate
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  feeling or showing that you have little hope and are ready to do anything without worrying about danger to yourself or others:\nThe prisoners grew increasingly desperate. * Stores are getting desperate after two years of poor sales. * Somewhere out there was a desperate man, cold, hungry, hunted. * I heard sounds of a desperate struggle, just above my room.\n  2  [usually before noun] (of an action) giving little hope of success; tried when everything else has failed:\na desperate bid for freedom * She clung to the edge in a desperate attempt to save herself. * His increasing financial difficulties forced him to take desperate measures. * Doctors were fighting a desperate battle to save the little girl’s life.\n  3  [not usually before noun]  (for sth) |  (to do sth) needing or wanting sth very much:\nHe was so desperate for a job he would have done anything. * I was absolutely desperate to see her. * (informal) I’m desperate for a cigarette.\n  4  (of a situation) extremely serious or dangerous:\nThe children are in desperate need of love and attention. * They face a desperate shortage of clean water.\n    desperately adverb:\ndesperately ill / unhappy / lonely * He took a deep breath, desperately trying to keep calm. * They desperately wanted a child. * She looked desperately around for a weapon.


Words: desperation
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the state of being desperate:\nIn desperation, she called Louise and asked for her help. * There was a note of desperation in his voice. * an act of sheer desperation


Words: despicable
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) very unpleasant or evil:\na despicable act / crime * I hate you! You’re despicable.


Words: despise
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (not used in the progressive tenses) to dislike and have no respect for sb/sth:\nShe despised gossip in any form. * He despised himself for being so cowardly.


Words: despite
Meaning:
preposition\n  1  used to show that sth happened or is true in spite of sth:\nHer voice was shaking despite all her efforts to control it. * Despite applying for hundreds of jobs, he is still out of work. * She was good at physics despite the fact that she found it boring.\n  2  (despite yourself) used to show that sb did not intend to do the thing mentioned:\nHe had to laugh despite himself.


Words: despoil
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] ~ sth (of sth) (literary) to steal sth valuable from a place; to make a place less attractive by damaging or destroying it


Words: despondent
Meaning:
adjective\n (about sth)| (especially AmE)  (over sth) sad, without much hope:\nShe was becoming increasingly despondent about the way things were going. * There are times when it is hard not to feel despondent.\n    despondency  noun [U]:\na mood of despondency * Life’s not all gloom and despondency.\n    despondently adverb


Words: despot
Meaning:
noun\na ruler with great power, especially one who uses it in a cruel way:\nan enlightened despot (= one who tries to use his / her power in a good way)\n    despotic  adjective:\ndespotic power / rule


Words: dessert
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] sweet food eaten at the end of a meal:\nWhat’s for dessert? * a rich chocolate dessert * a dessert wine * (BrE) the dessert trolley (= a table on wheels from which you choose your dessert in a restaurant)\ncompare AFTERS, PUDDING, SWEET


Words: dessertspoon
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a spoon of medium size\n \n  2  (also dessertspoonful ) the amount a dessertspoon can hold


Words: destabilize
Meaning:
(BrE also destabilise)  verb\n[VN] to make a system, country, government, etc. become less firmly established or successful:\nTerrorist attacks on senior officials were threatening to destabilize the government. * The news had a destabilizing effect on the stock market.\ncompare STABILIZE\n    destabilization, destabilisation  noun [U]


Words: destination
Meaning:
noun\na place to which sb/sth is going or being sent:\npopular holiday destinations like the Bahamas * to arrive at / reach your destination * Our luggage was checked all the way through to our final destination.


Words: destined
Meaning:
adjective (formal)\n  1   for sth |  to do sth having a future which has been decided or planned at an earlier time, especially by fate:\nHe was destined for a military career, like his father before him. * We seem destined never to meet.\n  2   for on the way to or intended for a place:\ngoods destined for Poland


Words: destiny
Meaning:
noun (plural destinies)\n  1  [C] what happens to sb or what will happen to them in the future, especially things that they cannot change or avoid:\nthe destinies of nations * He wants to be in control of his own destiny. * The contemporary hero is one who stands out against the crowd to fulfil a personal destiny.\n  2  [U] the power believed to control events\nSYN FATE:\nI believe there’s some force guiding us-call it God, destiny or fate. * She was spurred on by a strong sense of destiny and ambition.


Words: destitute
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  without money, food and the other things necessary for life:\nWhen he died, his family was left completely destitute.\n  2  (the destitute) noun [pl.] people who are destitute:\nhomes and refuges for the destitute\n  3   of sth (formal) lacking sth:\nThey seem destitute of ordinary human feelings.\n    destitution  noun [U]:\nhomelessness and destitution


Words: destroy
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to damage sth so badly that it no longer exists, works, etc:\nThe building was completely destroyed by fire. * They’ve destroyed all the evidence. * Heat gradually destroys vitamin C. * You have destroyed my hopes of happiness. * Failure was slowly destroying him (= making him less and less confident and happy).\n  2  to kill an animal deliberately, usually because it is sick or not wanted:\nThe injured horse had to be destroyed.\nsee also SOUL-DESTROYING\n______________________________\n WORD FAMILY \ndestroy v.\ndestroyer n.\ndestruction n.\ndestructive adj.\nindestructible adj.\n______________________________


Words: destroyer
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a small fast ship used in war, for example to protect larger ships\n  2  a person or thing that destroys:\nSugar is the destroyer of healthy teeth.


Words: destruction
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the act of destroying sth; the process of being destroyed:\nthe destruction of the rainforests * weapons of mass destruction * a tidal wave bringing death and destruction in its wake * The central argument is that capitalism sows the seeds of its own destruction (= creates the forces that destroy it).


Words: destructive
Meaning:
adjective\ncausing destruction or damage:\nthe destructive power of modern weapons * the destructive effects of anxiety * Opencast coal mining is among the most environmentally destructive activities carried out in Wales.\ncompare CONSTRUCTIVE\n    destructively adverb\n    destructiveness noun [U]


Words: desultory
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) going from one thing to another, without a definite plan and without enthusiasm:\nI wandered about in a desultory fashion. * a desultory conversation\n    desultorily adverb


Words: detach
Meaning:
verb\n  1  ~ (sth) (from sth) to remove sth from sth larger; to become separated from sth:\n[VN] Detach the coupon and return it as soon as possible * One of the panels had become detached from the main structure. * [V] The skis should detach from the boot if you fall.\n  2  [VN] ~ yourself (from sb/sth) (formal) to leave or separate yourself from sb/sth:\nShe detached herself from his embrace. * (figurative) I tried to detach myself from the reality of these terrible events. * A figure in white detached itself from the shadows.\ncompare ATTACH\n  3  [VN] (technical) to send a group of soldiers, etc. away from the main group, especially to do special duties:\nFive destroyers were detached to carry out a bombardment of the port.


Words: detached
Meaning:
adjective\n \n  1  (of a house) not joined to another house on either side\ncompare SEMI-DETACHED\n \n  2  showing a lack of feeling\nSYN INDIFFERENT:\nShe wanted him to stop being so cool, so detached, so cynical.\n \n  3  (approving) not influenced by other people or by your own feelings\nSYN IMPARTIAL:\na detached observer


Words: detachment
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the state of not being involved in sth in an emotional or personal way:\nHe answered with an air of detachment. * She felt a sense of detachment from what was going on.\n  2  [U] (approving) the state of not being influenced by other people or by your own feelings:\nIn judging these issues a degree of critical detachment is required.\n  3  [C] a group of soldiers, ships, etc. sent away from a larger group, especially to do special duties:\na detachment of artillery\n  4  [U] the act of detaching sth; the process of being detached from sth:\nto suffer detachment of the retina


Words: detail
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  facts / information\n  1  [C] a small individual fact or item; a less important fact or item:\nan expedition planned down to the last detail * He stood still, absorbing every detail of the street. * Tell me the main points now; leave the details till later.\n  2  [U] the small facts or features of sth, when you consider them all together:\nThis issue will be discussed in more detail in the next chapter. * The research has been carried out with scrupulous attention to detail. * The sketch was from memory but he had an eye for detail (= noticed and remembered small details). * The fine detail of the plan has yet to be worked out.\n  3  (details) [pl.] information about sth:\nPlease supply the following details: name, age and sex. * Further details and booking forms are available on request. * They didn’t give any details about the game. * ’We had a terrible time-’ ’Oh, spare me the details (= don’t tell me any more).’\n  small parts\n  4  [C, U] a small part of a picture or painting; the smaller or less important parts of a picture, pattern, etc. when you consider them all together:\nThis is a detail from the 1844 Turner painting. * a huge picture with a lot of detail in it\n  soldiers\n  5  [C] a group of soldiers given special duties\n IDIOMS \n  go into detail(s) to explain sth fully:\nI can’t go into details now; it would take too long.\n    verb\n  give facts / information\n  1  [VN] to give a list of facts or all the available information about sth:\nThe brochure details all the hotels in the area and their facilities.\n  order soldier\n  2  [often passive] to give an official order to sb, especially a soldier, to do a particular task:\n[VN to inf] Several of the men were detailed to form a search party. [also VN]\n  clean car\n  3  [VN] (AmE) to clean a car extremely thoroughly:\nHe got work for a while detailing cars.


Words: detailed
Meaning:
adjective\ngiving many details and a lot of information; paying great attention to details:\na detailed description / analysis / study * detailed instructions


Words: detain
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to keep sb in an official place, such as a police station, a prison or a hospital, and prevent them from leaving:\nOne man has been detained for questioning.\n  2  (formal) to delay sb or prevent them from going somewhere:\nI’m sorry-he’ll be late; he’s been detained at a meeting.\nsee also DETENTION


Words: detect
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to discover or notice sth, especially sth that is not easy to see, hear, etc:\nThe tests are designed to detect the disease early. * an instrument that can detect small amounts of radiation * Do I detect a note of criticism?\n    detectable adjective:\nThe noise is barely detectable by the human ear.\nOPP UNDETECTABLE


Words: detection
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the process of detecting sth; the fact of being detected:\ncrime prevention and detection * Last year the detection rate for car theft was just 13%. * Many problems, however, escape detection. * Early detection of cancers is vitally important.


Words: detective
Meaning:
noun (abbreviation Det)\n  1  a person, especially a police officer, whose job is to examine crimes and catch criminals:\nDetective Inspector (Roger) Brown * detectives from the anti-terrorist squad * a detective story / novel\nsee also STORE DETECTIVE\n  2  a person employed by sb to find out information about sb/sth\nsee also PRIVATE DETECTIVE


Words: detector
Meaning:
noun\na piece of equipment for discovering the presence of sth, such as metal, smoke, explosives or changes in pressure or temperature:\na smoke detector


Words: detente
Meaning:
(also detente especially in AmE)  noun\n[U] (from French, formal) an improvement in the relationship between two or more countries which have been unfriendly towards each other in the past:\na new international climate of detente


Words: detention
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the state of being kept in a place, especially a prison, and prevented from leaving:\na sentence of 12 months’ detention in a young offender institution * police powers of arrest and detention * allegations of torture and detention without trial * a detention camp\n  2  [U, C] the punishment of being kept at school for a time after other students have gone home:\nThey can’t give me (a) detention for this.\nsee also DETAIN


Words: detention centre
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE detention center) noun\n  1  a place where young people who have committed offences are kept in detention\n  2  a place where people are kept in detention, especially people who have entered a country illegally


Words: deter
Meaning:
verb\n(-rr-) ~ sb (from sth / from doing sth) to make sb decide not to do sth or continue doing sth, especially by making them understand the difficulties and unpleasant results of their actions:\n[VN] I told him I wasn’t interested, but he wasn’t deterred. * The high price of the service could deter people from seeking advice. [also V] \nsee also DETERRENT


Words: deteriorate
Meaning:
verb\n[V] ~ (into sth) to become worse:\nHer health deteriorated rapidly and she died shortly afterwards. * deteriorating weather conditions * The discussion quickly deteriorated into an angry argument.\n    deterioration  noun [U, C]:\na serious deterioration in relations between the two countries


Words: determinable
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) that can be found out or calculated:\nDuring the third month of pregnancy the sex of the child becomes determinable.


Words: determinant
Meaning:
noun\n(formal) a thing that decides whether or how sth happens:\nInterest rates are a major determinant of currency trends.


Words: determination
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U]  (to do sth) the quality that makes you continue trying to do sth even when this is difficult:\nfierce / grim / dogged determination * He fought the illness with courage and determination. * I admire her determination to get it right. * They had survived by sheer determination.\n  2  [U] (formal) the process of deciding sth officially:\nfactors influencing the determination of future policy\n  3  [U, C] (technical) the act of finding out or calculating sth:\nBoth methods rely on the accurate determination of the pressure of the gas.


Words: determine
Meaning:
verb (formal)\n  1  to discover the facts about sth; to calculate sth exactly:\n[VN] An inquiry was set up to determine the cause of the accident. * [V wh-] We set out to determine exactly what happened that night. [also VN that]\n  2  to make sth happen in a particular way or be of a particular type:\n[VN] Age and experience will be determining factors in our choice of candidate. * Upbringing plays an important part in determining a person’s character. [also V wh-]\n  3  to officially decide and/or arrange sth:\n[VN] A date for the meeting has yet to be determined. * [V (that)] The court determined (that) the defendant should pay the legal costs.\n  4  ~ on sth / to do sth to decide definitely to do sth:\n[V to inf] They determined to start early. [also V, V (that)]


Words: determined
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  [not before noun]  (to do sth) if you are determined to do sth, you have made a firm decision to do it and you will not let anyone prevent you:\nI’m determined to succeed.\n  2  showing a person’s determination to do sth:\na determined effort to stop smoking * The proposal had perished in the face of determined opposition.\n    determinedly adverb


Words: determiner
Meaning:
noun\n(grammar) (abbreviated as det. in this dictionary) a word such as the, some, my, etc. that comes before a noun to show how the noun is being used


Words: determinism
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (philosophy) the belief that people are not free to choose what they are like or how they behave, because these things are decided by their background, surroundings and other things over which they have no control\n    deterministic  adjective


Words: deterrent
Meaning:
noun\n (to sb/sth) a thing that makes sb less likely to do sth (= that deters them):\nHopefully his punishment will act as a deterrent to others. * the country’s nuclear deterrents (= nuclear weapons that are intended to stop an enemy from attacking)\n    deterrence  noun [U] (formal):\nHis view is that prison sentences must be long enough to satisfy the requirements both of retribution and deterrence.\n    deterrent adjective:\na deterrent effect


Words: detest
Meaning:
verb\n(not used in the progressive tenses) to hate sb/sth very much:\n[VN] They detested each other on sight. [also V -ing]\n    detestation  noun [U]


Words: detestable
Meaning:
adjective\nthat deserves to be hated:\nAll terrorist crime is detestable, whoever the victims. * ’You’re detestable!’ she said, shaking.


Words: detonate
Meaning:
verb\nto explode, or to make a bomb or other device explode:\n[V] Two other bombs failed to detonate. [also VN]


Words: detour
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  a longer route that you take in order to avoid a problem or to visit a place:\nWe had to make a detour around the flooded fields. * It’s well worth making a detour to see the village.\n  2  (AmE) = DIVERSION\n    verb (AmE) ~ (to ...) to take a longer route in order to avoid a problem or to visit a place; to make sb/sth take a longer route:\n[V] The President detoured to Chicago for a special meeting. [also VN]


Words: detoxification
Meaning:
noun\n[U] treatment given to people to help them stop drinking alcohol or taking drugs:\na detoxification unit


Words: detoxify
Meaning:
verb (detoxifies, detoxifying, detoxified, detoxified) [VN] \n  1  to remove harmful substances or poisons from sth\n  2  to treat sb in order to help them stop drinking too much alcohol or taking drugs


Words: detract
Meaning:
verb\n\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  detract from sth | detract sth from sth (not used in the progressive tenses) to make sth seem less good or enjoyable:\nHe was determined not to let anything detract from his enjoyment of the trip.


Words: detractor
Meaning:
noun\n[usually pl.] (especially written) a person who tries to make sb/sth seem less good or valuable by criticizing it:\nDetractors claim the building will be ugly and impractical.


Words: detriment
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C, usually sing.] (formal) the act of causing harm or damage; sth that causes harm or damage:\nWood accounts for 90% of energy production in some countries, with consequent environmental detriment.\n IDIOMS \n  to the detriment of sb/sth | to sb/sth’s detriment resulting in harm or damage to sb/sth:\nHe was engrossed in his job to the detriment of his health.\n  without detriment (to sb/sth) not resulting in harm or damage to sb/sth:\nThis tax cannot be introduced without detriment to people’s living standards.


Words: detrimental
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (to sb/sth) harmful:\nthe sun’s detrimental effect on skin * The policy will be detrimental to the peace process.\n    detrimentally  adverb


Words: detritus
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  (technical) natural waste material that is left after sth has been used or broken up:\norganic detritus from fish and plants\n  2  (formal) any kind of rubbish/garbage that is left after an event or when sth has been used:\nthe detritus of everyday life


Words: deuce
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U, C] (in tennis) the situation when both players have 40 as a score, after which one player must win two points one after the other in order to win the game\n  2  [C] (AmE) a playing card with two PIPS on it:\nthe deuce of clubs\n  3  (the deuce) [sing.] (old-fashioned, spoken) used in questions to show that you are annoyed:\nWhat the deuce is he doing?


Words: deus ex machina
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] (literary) an unexpected power or event that saves a situation that seems without hope, especially in a play or novel


Words: Deutschmark
Meaning:
(also mark) noun (abbreviation DM)\n  1  [C] the unit of money in Germany (to be replaced by the euro)\n  2  (the Deutschmark) [sing.] (finance) the value of the Deutschmark compared with the value of the money of other countries:\nThe pound slumped to 2.47 against the Deutschmark.


Words: devalue
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [V, VN] ~ (sth) (against sth) (finance) to reduce the value of the money of one country when it is exchanged for the money of another country\nOPP REVALUE\n  2  [VN] to give a lower value to sth, making it seem less important than it really is:\nWork in the home is often ignored and devalued.\n    devaluation  noun [C, U]:\nThere has been a further small devaluation against the dollar.


Words: devastate
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to completely destroy a place or an area:\nThe bomb devastated much of the old part of the city.\n  2  [often passive] to make sb feel very shocked and sad


Words: devastating
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  causing a lot of damage and destruction:\na devastating explosion / fire / cyclone * Oil spills are having a devastating effect on coral reefs in the ocean. * He received devastating injuries in the accident. * It will be a devastating blow to the local community if the factory closes.\n  2  extremely shocking to a person:\nthe devastating news that her father was dead\n  3  impressive and powerful:\nhis devastating performance in the 100 metres * Her smile was devastating. * a devastating attack on the President’s economic record\n    devastatingly adverb:\na devastatingly handsome man * The play was devastatingly funny.


Words: devastation
Meaning:
noun\n[U] great destruction or damage, especially over a wide area:\nThe bomb caused widespread devastation. * The cost of the devastation could run to ｣6 million.


Words: develop
Meaning:
verb\n  grow bigger / stronger\n  1  ~ (sth) (from sth) (into sth) to gradually grow or become bigger, more advanced, stronger, etc.; to make sth do this:\n[V] The child is developing normally. * The place has rapidly developed from a small fishing community into a thriving tourist resort. * [VN] She developed the company from nothing.\n  new idea / product\n  2  [VN] to think of or produce a new idea, product, etc. and make it successful:\nThe company develops and markets new software. * A new type of painkilling drug has recently been developed.\n  disease / problem\n  3  to begin to have sth such as a disease or a problem; to start to affect sb/sth:\n[VN] Her son developed asthma when he was two. * The car developed engine trouble and we had to stop. [also V]\n  become serious / important\n  4  [V] to start to happen and then become more serious or important:\nA crisis was rapidly developing in the Gulf.\n  become better\n  5  to start to have a skill, ability, quality, etc. that becomes better and stronger; to become better and stronger:\n[VN] He’s developed a real flair for management. * [V] Their relationship has developed over a number of years.\n  build houses\n  6  [VN] to build new houses, factories, etc. on an area of land, especially land that was not being used effectively before:\nThe site is being developed by a French company.\n  idea / story\n  7  [VN] to make an idea, a story, etc. clearer by explaining it further:\nShe develops the theme more fully in her later books.\n  photographs\n  8  [VN] to treat photographic film with chemicals so that the pictures can be seen:\nI had the film developed yesterday.


Words: developed
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of a country, society, etc.) having many industries and a complicated economic system:\nfinancial aid to less developed countries * The average citizen in the developed world uses over 155kg of paper per year.\ncompare UNDERDEVELOPED\n  2  in an advanced state:\nchildren with highly developed problem-solving skills\nsee also WELL DEVELOPED


Words: developer
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] a person or company that buys land or buildings in order to build new houses, shops/stores, etc., or to improve the old ones, and makes a profit from doing this:\nproperty developers\n  2  [C] a person or a company that designs and creates new products:\na software developer\n  3  [U] a chemical substance that is used for developing photographs from a film


Words: developing
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (of a country, society, etc.) poor, and trying to make its industry and economic system more advanced:\ndeveloping countries / nations / economies * People in many developing countries are free of forms of cancer that are common in the West.\ncompare UNDERDEVELOPED


Words: development
Meaning:
noun\n  growth\n  1  [U] the gradual growth of sth so that it becomes more advanced, stronger, etc:\na baby’s development in the womb * the development of basic skills such as literacy and numeracy * career development\n  new product\n  2  [U, C] the process of producing or creating sth new or more advanced; a new or advanced product:\nthe development of vaccines against tropical diseases * The government is encouraging the development of small businesses. * developments in aviation technology * This piece of equipment is an exciting new development.\nsee also RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT\n  new event\n  3  [C] a new event or stage that is likely to affect what happens in a continuing situation:\nthe latest developments in the war * Are there further developments in the investigation?\n  new buildings\n  4  [C] a piece of land with new buildings on it:\na commercial / business / housing development\n  5  [U] the process of using an area of land especially to make a profit by building on it, etc:\nHe bought the land for development.


Words: developmental
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  in a state of developing or being developed:\nThe product is still at a developmental stage.\n  2  connected with the development of sb/sth:\ndevelopmental psychology


Words: deviant
Meaning:
adjective\ndifferent from what most people consider to be normal and acceptable:\ndeviant behaviour / sexuality\n    deviant noun:\nsexual deviants\n    deviance  noun [U]:\na study of social deviance and crime


Words: deviate
Meaning:
verb\n[V] ~ (from sth) to be different from sth; to do sth differently from what is usual or expected:\nThe bus had to deviate from its usual route because of a road closure. * He never deviated from his original plan.


Words: deviation
Meaning:
noun ~ (from sth)\n  1  [U, C] the act of moving away from what is normal or acceptable; a difference from what is expected or acceptable:\ndeviation from the previously accepted norms * sexual deviation * a deviation from the plan * Modern examples of this type of weaving showed little deviation from traditional patterns.\n  2  [C] (technical) the amount by which a single measurement is different from the average:\na compass deviation of 5ｰ (= from true north)\nsee also STANDARD DEVIATION


Words: device
Meaning:
noun\n  1  an object or a piece of equipment that has been designed to do a particular job:\na water-saving device * This portable device enables deaf people to telephone the hospital by typing a message instead of speaking. * electrical labour-saving devices around the home\n  2  a bomb or weapon that will explode:\nA powerful device exploded outside the station. * the world’s first atomic device\n  3  a method of doing sth that produces a particular result or effect:\nSending advertising by mail is very successful as a marketing device.\n  4  a plan or trick that is used to get sth that sb wants:\nThe report was a device used to hide rather than reveal problems.\n IDIOMS \n  leave sb to their own devices to leave sb alone to do as they wish, and not tell them what to do


Words: devil
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (the Devil) (in the Christian, Jewish and Muslim religions) the most powerful evil being \nSYN SATAN:\nHe would sell his soul to the Devil.\n  2  a wicked evil spirit:\nThey believed she was possessed by devils.\n  3  (informal) a person who behaves badly, especially a child:\na naughty little devil\n  4  (informal) used to talk about sb and to emphasize an opinion that you have of them:\nI miss the old devil, now that he’s gone. * She’s off to Greece for a month-lucky devil! * James was a handsome devil and rich, too.\n IDIOMS \n  be a devil (BrE) people say Be a devil! to encourage sb to do sth that they are not sure about doing:\nGo on, be a devil, buy both of them.\n  better the devil you know (than the devil you don’t) (saying) used to say that it is easier and wiser to stay in a bad situation that you know and can deal with rather than change to a new situation which may be much worse\n  between the devil and the deep blue sea in a difficult situation where there are two equally unpleasant or unacceptable choices\n  the devil (old-fashioned) very difficult or unpleasant:\nThese berries are the devil to pick because they’re so small.\n  a devil of a job / time (old-fashioned) a very difficult or unpleasant job or time:\nI’ve had a devil of a job finding you.\n  go to the devil! (old-fashioned, spoken) used, in an unfriendly way, to tell sb to go away\n  like the devil (old-fashioned, informal) very hard, fast, etc:\nWe ran like the devil.\n  speak / talk of the devil (informal) people say speak/talk of the devil when sb they have been talking about appears unexpectedly:\nWell, speak of the devil-here’s Alice now!\n  what, where, who, why, etc. the devil ... (old-fashioned) used in questions to show that you are annoyed or surprised:\nWhat the devil do you think you’re doing?\nmore at PAY v.


Words: devil’s advocate
Meaning:
noun\na person who expresses an opinion that they do not really hold in order to encourage a discussion about a subject:\nOften the interviewer will need to play devil’s advocate in order to get a discussion going.


Words: devil-may-care
Meaning:
adjective\n[not usually before noun] cheerful and not worrying about the future:\na devil-may-care attitude to life


Words: devilish
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  cruel or wicked:\na devilish conspiracy\n  2  morally bad, but in a way that people find attractive:\nHe was handsome, with a devilish charm.


Words: devious
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  behaving in a dishonest or indirect way, or deceiving people, in order to get sth \nSYN CUNNING:\na devious politician * He got rich by devious means.\n  2  ~ route / path a route or path that is not straight but has many changes in direction; not direct:\na devious route from the airport\n    deviously adverb\n    deviousness noun [U]


Words: devise
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to invent sth new or a new way of doing sth\nSYN THINK UP:\nA new system has been devised to control traffic in the city.


Words: devoid
Meaning:
adjective\n~ of sth (written) completely lacking in sth:\nThe letter was devoid of warmth and feeling.


Words: devolution
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the act of giving power from a central authority or government to an authority or a government in a local region:\na supporter of devolution for Scotland


Words: devolve
Meaning:
verb\n\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  devolve on / upon sb/sth (written)\n1 if property, money, etc. devolves on/upon you, you receive it after sb else dies\n2 if a duty, responsibility, etc. devolves on/upon you, it is given to you by sb at a higher level of authority\n  devolve sth to / on / upon sb to give a duty, responsibility, power, etc. to sb who has less authority than you:\nThe central government devolved most tax-raising powers to the regional authorities.


Words: devolved
Meaning:
adjective\nif power or authority is devolved, it has been passed to sb who has less power:\ndevolved responsibility * a system of devolved government


Words: devote
Meaning:
verb\n\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  devote yourself to sb/sth to give most of your time, energy, attention, etc. to sb/sth:\nShe devoted herself to her career.\n  devote sth to sth to give an amount of time, attention, etc. to sth:\nI could only devote two hours a day to work on the project.


Words: devoted
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (to sb/sth) having great love for sb/sth and being loyal to them:\nThey are devoted to their children. * a devoted son / friend / fan\n    devotedly adverb


Words: devotee sth
Meaning:
1  a person who admires and is very enthusiastic about sb/sth:\na devotee of science fiction * He’s been a golf devotee for 25 years.\n  2  a very religious person who belongs to a particular group:\ndevotees of Krishna


Words: devotion sth
Meaning:
1  [U, sing.] great love, care and support for sb/sth:\nHis devotion to his wife and family is touching.\n  2  [U, sing.] the action of spending a lot of time or energy on sth:\ndevotion to duty / a cause * Her devotion to the job left her with very little free time.\n  3  (devotions) [pl.] prayers and other religious practices


Words: devour
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to eat all of sth quickly especially because you are very hungry:\nHe devoured half of his burger in one bite.\n  2  to read or look at sth with great interest and enthusiasm:\nShe devoured everything she could lay her hands on: books, magazines and newspapers.\n  3  (formal) to destroy sb/sth:\nFlames devoured the house.\n IDIOMS \n  be devoured by sth to be filled with a strong emotion that seems to control you:\nShe was devoured by envy and hatred.


Words: devout
Meaning:
adjective\n(of a person) believing strongly in a particular religion and obeying its laws and practices:\na devout Christian / Muslim\n    devoutly adverb:\nShe devoutly (= very strongly) hoped he was telling the truth. * a devoutly Catholic region


Words: dew
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the very small drops of water that form on the ground, etc. during the night:\nThe grass was wet with early morning dew.


Words: dewy-eyed
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) showing emotion about sth, perhaps with a few tears in the eyes\nSYN SENTIMENTAL:\nShe gets slightly dewy-eyed as she talks about her early days in show business.


Words: dexterity
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  skill in using your hands:\nYou need manual dexterity to be good at video games.\n  2  the ability to do sth skilfully:\nmental / verbal dexterity


Words: dexterous
Meaning:
(also dextrous)  adjective\n(written) skilful with your hands; skilfully done:\nanimals that are naturally dexterous\n    dexterously (also dextrously) adverb


Words: DfEE
Meaning:
abbreviation\nDepartment for Education and Employment (the government department in Britain that is responsible for education and employment policy)


Words: di-
Meaning:
combining form\n(chemistry) (in nouns that are names of chemical compounds) containing two atoms or groups of the type mentioned:\ncarbon dioxide


Words: diabetes
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a medical condition caused by a lack of INSULIN, which makes the patient produce a lot of URINE and feel very thirsty


Words: diabetic
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  1  having or connected with diabetes:\nShe’s diabetic. * a diabetic patient * diabetic complications\n  2  suitable for or used by sb who has diabetes:\na diabetic diet\n    noun a person who suffers from DIABETES


Words: diabolical
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (informal, especially BrE) extremely bad or annoying:\nThe traffic was diabolical.\n  2  (also less frequent diabolic ) evil and wicked; like a devil\n    diabolically  adverb


Words: diacritic
Meaning:
noun\n(linguistics) a mark such as an ACCENT, 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\n    diacritical  adjective:\ndiacritical marks


Words: diagnose
Meaning:
verb\n~ sb (as / with) (sth) | ~ sth (as sth) to say exactly what an illness or the cause of a problem is:\n[VN] The test is used to diagnose a variety of diseases. * The illness was diagnosed as cancer. * He has recently been diagnosed with angina. * [VN-N] He was diagnosed (as) a diabetic when he was 64. [also V, VN-ADJ]


Words: diagnosis
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] (plural diagnoses ) ~ (of sth) the act of discovering or identifying the exact cause of an illness or a problem:\ndiagnosis of lung cancer * They are waiting for the doctor’s diagnosis. * An accurate diagnosis was made after a series of tests.


Words: diagnostic
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective [usually before noun] (technical) connected with identifying sth, especially an illness:\nto carry out diagnostic assessments / tests * specific conditions which are diagnostic of Aids\n    noun (computing)\n  1  (also diagnostic program) a program used for identifying a computer fault\n  2  a message on a computer screen giving information about a fault


Words: diagonal
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective (of a straight line) at an angle; joining two opposite sides of sth at an angle:\ndiagonal stripes\n    diagonally  adverb:\nWalk diagonally across the field to the far corner and then turn left.\n    noun a straight line that joins two opposite sides of sth at an angle; a straight line that is at an angle


Words: diagram
Meaning:
noun\na simple drawing using lines to explain where sth is, how sth works, etc:\na diagram of the wiring system * The results are shown in diagram 2.\n    diagrammatic  adjective\n    diagrammatically  adverb


Words: dial
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  the face of a clock or watch, or a similar control on a machine, piece of equipment or vehicle that shows a measurement of time, amount, speed, temperature, etc:\nan alarm clock with a luminous dial * Check the tyre pressure on the dial.\nsee also SUNDIAL\n  2  the round control on a radio, cooker/stove, etc. that you turn in order to adjust sth, for example to choose a particular station or to choose a particular temperature\n  3  the round part on some older telephones, with holes for the fingers, that you move around to call a particular number\n    verb\n (-ll-, AmE -l-) to use a telephone by turning the dial or pushing buttons to call a number:\n[VN] He dialled the number and waited. * Dial 0033 for France. [also V]


Words: dialect
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] the form of a language that is spoken in one area with grammar, words and pronunciation that may be different from other forms of the same language:\nthe Yorkshire dialect * dialect words / expressions\ncompare ACCENT, IDIOLECT\n    dialectal  adjective:\nThere are dialectal differences from one area of the country to another.


Words: dialectic
Meaning:
noun [sing.] (also less frequent dialectics [U])\n  1  (philosophy) a method of discovering the truth of ideas by discussion and logical argument and by considering ideas that are opposed to each other\n  2  (formal) the way in which two aspects of a situation affect each other\n    dialectical  adjective


Words: dialling code
Meaning:
(also code) noun\n(BrE) the numbers that are used for a particular town, area or country, in front of an individual telephone number:\ninternational dialling codes\ncompare AREA CODE


Words: dialling tone
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE dial tone) noun\nthe sound that you hear when you pick up a telephone that means you can make a call


Words: dialogue
Meaning:
(AmE also dialog)  noun [C, U]\n  1  conversations in a book, play, or film/movie:\nThe novel has long descriptions and not much dialogue. * dialogues for language learners\n  2  a formal discussion between two groups or countries, especially when they are trying to solve a problem, end a dispute, etc:\nThe President told waiting reporters there had been a constructive dialogue.\ncompare MONOLOGUE


Words: dialogue box
Meaning:
(BrE) (also dialog box AmE, BrE) noun\na box that appears on a computer screen asking the user to choose what they want to do next:\nSelect an option from the dialog box.


Words: dialysis
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (technical) a process for separating substances from a liquid, especially for taking waste substances out of the blood of people with damaged KIDNEYS:\nkidney / renal dialysis * a dialysis machine


Words: diameter
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a straight line going from one side of a circle or any other round object to the other side, passing through the centre\ncompare RADIUS:\nthe diameter of a tree trunk * The dome is 42.3 metres in diameter.\n \n  2  (technical) a measurement of the power of an instrument to MAGNIFY sth:\na lens magnifying 300 diameters (= making sth look 300 times larger than it really is).


Words: diamond
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  [U, C] a clear colourless precious stone of pure CARBON, the hardest substance known. Diamonds are used in jewellery and also in industry, especially for cutting glass:\na ring with a diamond in it * a diamond ring / necklace * She was wearing her diamonds (= jewellery with diamonds in it). * The lights shone like diamonds.\nsee also ROUGH DIAMOND\n \n  2  [C] a shape with four straight sides of equal length and with angles that are not RIGHT ANGLES\n \n  3  (diamonds) [pl., U] one of the four SUITS (= sets) in a pack/deck of cards. The cards are marked with red diamond shapes:\nten of diamonds * Diamonds are / is trumps.\n \n  4  [C] a card of this SUIT:\nYou must play a diamond if you have one.\n  5  [C] (in baseball) the space inside the lines that connect the four BASES; also used to mean the whole baseball field


Words: diamond jubilee
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] the 60th anniversary of an important event, especially of sb becoming king/queen; a celebration of this event\ncompare GOLDEN JUBILEE, SILVER JUBILEE


Words: diamond wedding
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE diamond anniversary) (also diamond wedding anniversary AmE, BrE) noun\nthe 60th anniversary of a wedding:\nGrandma and Grandpa are celebrating their diamond wedding this year.\ncompare GOLDEN WEDDING, RUBY WEDDING, SILVER WEDDING


Words: diaphanous
Meaning:
adjective\n(written) (of cloth or fabric) so light, delicate and fine that you can almost see through it


Words: diaphragm
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (anatomy) the layer of muscle between the lungs and the stomach, used especially to control breathing\n  2  (BrE also cap) a rubber or plastic device that a woman places inside her VAGINA before having sex to prevent SPERM from entering the WOMB and making her pregnant\n  3  any thin piece of material used to separate the parts of a machine, etc.\n  4  (technical) a thin disc used to turn electronic signals into sound and sound into electronic signals in telephones, LOUDSPEAKERS, etc.


Words: diarist
Meaning:
noun\na person who writes a diary, especially one that is later published:\nSamuel Pepys, the famous 17th century diarist


Words: diarrhoea
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE diarrhea)  (also informal the runs) noun\n[U] an illness in which waste matter is emptied from the bowels much more frequently than normal, and in liquid form:\nSymptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting.


Words: diary
Meaning:
noun (plural diaries)\n \n  1  (BrE) (AmE datebook) a book with spaces for each day of the year in which you can write down things you have to do in the future:\na desk diary * I’ll make a note of our next meeting in my diary.\n \n  2  a book in which you can write down the experiences you have each day, your private thoughts, etc:\nDo you keep a diary (= write one regularly)? * The writer’s letters and diaries are being published next year.\ncompare JOURNAL -> AGENDA


Words: diaspora
Meaning:
noun [sing.] (formal)\n  1  (the diaspora) the movement of the Jewish people away from their own country to live and work in other countries\n  2  the movement of people from any nation or group away from their own country


Words: diatribe
Meaning:
noun\n~ (against sb/sth) (formal) a long and angry speech or piece of writing attacking and criticizing sb/sth:\nHe launched a bitter diatribe against the younger generation.


Words: dice
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n (plural dice)\n \n  1  (also die especially in AmE) [C] a small CUBE of wood, plastic, etc., with a different number of spots on each of its sides, used in games of chance:\na pair of dice * to roll / throw / shake the dice * (figurative) It was a last desperate throw of the dice to save his marriage.\n \n  2  [U] a game played with dice:\nWe played dice all night.\n \n IDIOMS \n \n  no dice (spoken, especially AmE) used to show that you refuse to do sth or that sth cannot be done:\n’Did you get that job?’ ’No dice.’\nmore at LOAD v.\n    verb [VN] to cut meat, vegetables, etc. into small square pieces:\ndiced carrots\n IDIOMS \n  dice with death (informal) to risk your life by doing sth that you know is dangerous


Words: dichotomy
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] (plural dichotomies) ~ (between A and B) (formal) the separation that exists between two groups or things that are completely opposite to and different from each other


Words: dickens
Meaning:
noun (the dickens) (old-fashioned, informal)\n  1  used in questions instead of ’devil’ to show that you are annoyed or surprised:\nWhere the dickens did he go?\n  2  (AmE) used when you are saying how attractive, etc. sb is:\ncute as the dickens


Words: Dickensian
Meaning:
adjective\nconnected with or typical of the novels of Charles Dickens, which often describe social problems and bad social conditions:\na Dickensian slum


Words: dicker
Meaning:
verb\n[V] ~ (with sb) (over sth) (especially AmE) to argue about or discuss sth with sb, especially in order to agree on a price\nSYN BARGAIN


Words: dickhead
Meaning:
(also dick) noun\n(!!!, slang) a very rude way of referring to sb, especially a man, that you think is stupid \nSYN IDIOT


Words: dicky bird
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) (used by or when speaking to young children) a bird\n IDIOMS \n  not say, hear, etc. a dicky bird (BrE, informal) to say, hear, etc. nothing:\nHe won’t say a dicky bird but we think he knows who did it.


Words: Dictaphone
Meaning:
noun\na small machine used to record on tape people speaking, so that their words can be played back later and written down


Words: dictate
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb \n  1  ~ (sth) (to sb) to say words aloud for sb else to write down:\n[VN] He dictated a letter to his secretary. [also V]\n  2  ~ (sth) (to sb) to tell sb what to do, especially in an annoying way:\n[VN] They are in no position to dictate terms (= tell other people what to do). * [V wh-] What right do they have to dictate how we live our lives? [also V that]\n  3  to control or influence how sth happens:\n[VN] When we take our vacations is very much dictated by Greg’s work schedule. * [V wh-] It’s generally your job that dictates where you live now. [also V, V that]\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  dictate to sb [often passive] to give orders to sb, often in a rude or aggressive way:\nShe refused to be dictated to by anyone.\n    noun  [usually pl.] (formal) an order, a rule or a command that you must obey:\nto follow the dictates of fashion


Words: dictation
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the act of speaking or reading aloud so that sb can write down the words\n  2  [C, U] a test in which students write down what is being read aloud to them, especially in language lessons


Words: dictator
Meaning:
noun (disapproving)\n  1  a ruler who has complete power over a country, especially one who has gained it using military force\n  2  a person who behaves as if they have complete power over other people, and tells them what to do:\nHer father was a dictator and the whole family was afraid of him.


Words: dictatorial
Meaning:
adjective (disapproving)\n  1  connected with or controlled by a dictator:\na dictatorial ruler * a dictatorial regime\n  2  using power in an unreasonable way by telling people what to do and not listening to their views or wishes:\ndictatorial behaviour\n    dictatorially  adverb


Words: diction
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the way that sb pronounces words:\nclear diction\n  2  (technical) the choice and use of words in literature:\nWordsworth rejected poetic diction in favour of ordinary language.


Words: dictionary
Meaning:
noun (plural dictionaries)\n  1  a book that gives a list of the words of a language in alphabetical order and explains what they mean, or gives a word for them in a foreign language:\na Spanish-English dictionary\n  2  a book that explains the words that are used in a particular subject:\na dictionary of mathematics\n  3  a list of words in electronic form, for example stored in a computer’s SPELLCHECKER


Words: dictum
Meaning:
noun\n(plural dicta  or dictums) (formal) a statement that expresses sth that people believe is always true or should be followed:\nthe dictum that ’In politics, there are no friendships.’


Words: didactic
Meaning:
adjective (formal)\n  1  designed to teach people sth, especially a moral lesson:\ndidactic art / poetry\n  2  (usually disapproving) telling people things rather than letting them find out for themselves\n    didactically  adverb


Words: diddle
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] ~ sb (out of sth) (BrE, informal) to get money or some advantage from sb by cheating them


Words: diddly
Meaning:
noun\n(AmE, informal) (used in negative sentences) not anything; nothing:\nShe doesn’t know diddly about it.


Words: die
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (dies, dying, died, died)\n  1  ~ (of / from sth) | ~ (for sth) to stop living:\n[V] to die of / from cancer * Her husband died suddenly last week. * He died for his beliefs. * That plant’s died. * I’ll never forget it to my dying day (= until I die). * (spoken) I nearly died when I saw him there (= it was very embarrassing). * [VN] to die a violent / painful / natural death * [V-ADJ] She died young. * At least they died happy. * [V-N] He died a poor man.\n  2  [V] to stop existing; to disappear:\nThe old customs are dying. * His secret died with him (= he never told anyone). * The words died on my lips (= I stopped speaking).\n  3  [V] (of a machine) to stop working:\nThe engine spluttered and died. * My car just died on me.\n IDIOMS \n  be dying for sth / to do sth (informal) to want sth or want to do sth very much:\nI’m dying for a glass of water. * I’m dying to know what happened.\n  die a / the death (BrE, informal) to fail completely:\nThe play got terrible reviews and quickly died a death.\n  die in your bed to die of old age or illness\n  die laughing to find sth extremely funny:\nI nearly died laughing when she said that.\n  old habits, traditions, etc. die hard used to say that things change very slowly\n  to die for (informal) if you think sth is to die for, you really want it, and would do anything to get it:\nShe was wearing a dress to die for.\nmore at CROSS v., FLY n., SAY v.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  die away to become gradually weaker or fainter and finally disappear:\nThe sound of their laughter died away.\n  die back if a plant dies back, it loses its leaves but remains alive\n  die down to become gradually less strong, loud, noticeable, etc:\nThe flames finally died down. * When the applause had died down, she began her speech.\n  die off to die one after the other until there are none left:\nThe reindeer herds are slowly dying off.\n  die out to stop existing:\nThis species has nearly died out because its habitat is being destroyed.\n    noun\n  1  a block of metal with a special shape or with a pattern cut into it, that is used for shaping other pieces of metal such as coins, or for making patterns on paper or leather\n  2  (especially AmE) = DICE\n IDIOMS \n  the die is cast (saying) used to say that an event has happened or a decision has been made that cannot be changed


Words: diehard
Meaning:
adjective\nstrongly opposing change and new ideas:\ndiehard supporters of the exiled king\n    diehard noun:\nA few diehards are trying to stop the reforms.


Words: diesel
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (also diesel fuel, diesel oil) [U] a type of heavy oil used as a fuel instead of petrol/gas:\na diesel engine (= one that burns diesel) * diesel cars / locomotives / trains\ncompare PETROL\n  2  [C] a vehicle that uses diesel fuel:\nOur new car is a diesel.


Words: diet
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C, U] the food that you eat and drink regularly:\nto have a healthy, balanced diet * the Japanese diet of rice, vegetables and fish * to receive advice on diet\n  2  [C] a limited variety or amount of food that you eat for medical reasons or because you want to lose weight; a time when you only eat this limited variety or amount:\na low-fat, salt-free diet * diet drinks (= with fewer calories than normal) * I decided to go on a diet (= to lose weight) before my holiday.\n  3  [sing.] a ~ of sth (disapproving) a large amount of a restricted range of activities:\nChildren today are brought up on a diet of television cartoons and soap operas.\n    dietary  adjective [usually before noun]:\ndietary advice / changes / habits * dietary fibre\n    verb [V] to eat less food or only food of a particular type in order to lose weight:\nShe’s always dieting but she never seems to lose any weight.


Words: dietician
Meaning:
(also dietitian)  noun\na person whose job is to advise people on what kind of food they should eat to keep healthy


Words: differ
Meaning:
verb [V] \n  1  A and B ~ (from each other) | A ~s from B to be different from sb/sth:\nThey hold differing views. * French differs from English in this respect. * French and English differ in this respect. * Ideas on childcare may differ considerably between the parents.\n  2  ~ (with sb) (about / on / over sth) to disagree with sb:\nI have to differ with you on that. * Medical opinion differs as to how to treat the disease.\n IDIOMS  see AGREE, BEG


Words: difference
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] ~ (between A and B) | ~ (in sth) the way in which two people or things are not like each other; the way in which sb/sth has changed:\nThere are no significant differences between the education systems of the two countries. * He was studying the complex similarities and differences between humans and animals. * There’s no difference in the results. * She noticed a marked difference in the children on her second visit. * I can never tell the difference (= distinguish) between the twins * There’s a world of difference between liking someone and loving them. * What a difference! You look great with your hair like that.\nOPP SIMILARITY\n  2  [sing., U] ~ (in sth) (between A and B) the amount that sth is greater or smaller than sth else:\nThere’s not much difference in price between the two computers. * There’s an age difference of six years between the boys (= one is six years older than the other). * I’ll lend you ｣500 and you’ll have to find the difference (= the rest of the money that you need). * We measured the difference in temperature.\n  3  [C] a disagreement between people:\nWe have our differences, but she’s still my sister. * Why don’t you settle your differences and be friends again? * There was a difference of opinion over who had won.\n IDIOMS \n  make a, no, some, etc. difference (to / in sb/sth) to have an effect/no effect on sb/sth:\nThe rain didn’t make much difference to the game. * Your age shouldn’t make any difference to whether you get the job or not. * Changing schools made a big difference to my life. * What difference will it make if he knows or not? * I don’t think it makes a lot of difference what colour it is (= it is not important). * ’Shall we go on Friday or Saturday?’ ’It makes no difference (to me).’\n  make all the difference (to sb/sth) to have an important effect on sb/sth; to make sb feel better:\nA few kind words at the right time make all the difference.\n  same difference (spoken) used to say that you think the differences between two things are not important:\n’That’s not a xylophone, it’s a glockenspiel.’ ’Same difference.’\n  with a difference (informal) (after nouns) used to show that sth is interesting or unusual:\nThe traditional backpack with a difference-it’s waterproof.\nmore at BURY, SINK v., SPLIT v., WORLD


Words: different
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  ~ (from / to / than sb/sth) not the same as sb/sth; not like sb/sth else:\nAmerican English is significantly different from British English. * (BrE) It’s very different to what I’m used to. * (AmE) He saw he was no different than anybody else. * It’s different now than it was a year ago. * People often give very different accounts of the same event. * My son’s terribly untidy; my daughter’s no different. * The room looks different without the furniture. * Now he spoke in a different and kinder voice.\nOPP SIMILAR\n  2  [only before noun] separate and individual:\nShe offered us five different kinds of cake. * The programme was about customs in different parts of the country. * They are sold in many different colours. * I looked it up in three different dictionaries.\n  3  [not usually before noun] (informal) unusual; not like other people or things:\n’Did you enjoy the play?’ ’Well, it was certainly different!’\n    differently adverb:\nBoys and girls may behave differently. * The male bird has a differently shaped head.\n IDIOMS \n  a different kettle of fish (informal) a completely different situation or person from the one previously mentioned\nmore at COMPLEXION, KNOW v., MATTER n., SING v., TELL\n______________________________\n BRITISH / AMERICAN \ndifferent from / to / than\nDifferent from is the most common structure in both BrE and AmE. Different to is also used in BrE: Paul’s very different from/to his brother * This visit is very different from/to last time.\nIn AmE people also say different than: Your trains are different than ours. * You look different than before.\nBefore a clause you can also use different from (and different than in AmE): She looked different from what I’d expected. * She looked different than (what) I’d expected.\n______________________________


Words: differential
Meaning:
noun, adjective \n    noun\n  1  ~ (between A and B) a difference in the amount, value or size of sth, especially the difference in rates of pay for people doing different work in the same industry or profession:\nwage / pay / income differentials\n  2  (also differential gear) a GEAR that makes it possible for a vehicle’s back wheels to turn at different speeds when going around corners\n    adjective [only before noun] (formal) showing or depending on a difference; not equal:\nthe differential treatment of prisoners based on sex and social class * differential rates of pay


Words: differentiate
Meaning:
verb\n  1  ~ (between) A and B | ~ A (from B) to recognize or show that two things are not the same\nSYN DISTINGUISH:\n[V] It’s difficult to differentiate between the two varieties. * [VN] I can’t differentiate one variety from another.\n  2  [VN] ~ sth (from sth) to be the particular thing that shows that things or people are not the same\nSYN DISTINGUISH:\nThe male’s yellow beak differentiates it from the female.\n  3  [V] ~ between A and B to treat people or things in a different way, especially in an unfair way\nSYN DISCRIMINATE\n    differentiation  noun [U]


Words: difficult
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  ~ (for sb) (to do sth) not easy; needing effort or skill to do or to understand:\na difficult problem / task / exam * It’s difficult for them to get here much before seven. * It’s really difficult to read your writing. * Your writing is really difficult to read. * She finds it very difficult to get up early.\n  2  full of problems; causing a lot of trouble:\nto be in a difficult position / situation * My boss is making life very difficult for me. * 13 is a difficult age.\n  3  (of people) not easy to please; not helpful:\na difficult child / customer / boss * Don’t pay any attention to her-she’s just being difficult.\n IDIOMS  see JOB, LIFE


Words: difficulty
Meaning:
noun (plural difficulties)\n  1  [C, usually pl., U] a problem; a thing or situation that causes problems:\nthe difficulties of English syntax * children with severe learning difficulties * We’ve run into difficulties / difficulty with the new project. * He got into difficulties while swimming and had to be rescued. * The bank is in difficulty / difficulties. * It was a time fraught with difficulties and frustration.\n  2  [U] the state or quality of being hard to do or to understand; the effort that sth involves:\nI had considerable difficulty (in) persuading her to leave. * I had no difficulty (in) making myself understood. * The changes were made with surprisingly little difficulty. * He spoke slowly and with great difficulty. * We found the house without difficulty. * They discussed the difficulty of studying abroad.\n HELP NOTE  You cannot say ’have difficulty to do sth’: _I_ _h_a_d_ _d_i_f_f_i_c_u_l_t_y_ _t_o_ _p_e_r_s_u_a_d_e_ _h_e_r_ _t_o_ _l_e_a_v_e_.\n  3  [U] how hard sth is:\nvarying levels of difficulty * questions of increasing difficulty


Words: diffident
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (about sth) not having much confidence in yourself; not wanting to talk about yourself \nSYN SHY:\na diffident manner / smile * He was modest and diffident about his own success.\n    diffidence  noun [U]:\nShe overcame her natural diffidence and spoke with great frankness.\n    diffidently adverb


Words: diffract
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (physics) to break up a beam of light into a series of dark and light bands or into the different colours of the SPECTRUM\n    diffraction  noun [U]


Words: diffuse
Meaning:
adjective, verb \n    adjective \n  1  spread over a wide area:\ndiffuse light * a diffuse community\n  2  not clear or easy to understand; using a lot of words:\na diffuse style of writing\n    diffusely adverb\n    diffuseness noun [U] \n    verb \n  1  (formal) to spread sth or become spread widely in all directions:\n[VN] The problem is how to diffuse power without creating anarchy. * [V] Technologies diffuse rapidly.\n  2  [V, VN] (technical) if a gas or liquid diffuses or is diffused in a substance, it becomes slowly mixed with that substance\n  3  [VN] (formal) to make light shine less brightly by spreading it in many directions:\nThe moon was fuller than the night before, but the light was diffused by cloud.\n    diffusion  noun [U]:\nthe diffusion of Marxist ideas * the rate of diffusion of a gas


Words: dig
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (digging, dug, dug )\n  1  ~ (for sth) to make a hole in the ground or to move soil from one place to another using your hands, a tool or a machine:\n[V] to dig for coal / gold / Roman remains * They dug deeper and deeper but still found nothing. * I think I’ll do some digging in the garden. * [VN] to dig a ditch / grave / hole / tunnel * (BrE) I’ve been digging the garden.\n  2  [VN] to remove sth from the ground with a tool:\nI’ll dig some potatoes for lunch.\n  3  [V]   [usually +adv./prep.] to search in sth in order to find an object in sth:\nI dug around in my bag for a pen.\n  4  [VN] (old-fashioned, spoken) (slang) to approve of or like sth very much\n IDIOMS \n  dig deep (into sth)\n1 to search thoroughly for information:\nYou’ll need to dig deep into the records to find the figures you want.\n2 to try hard to provide the money, equipment, etc. that is needed:\nWe’re asking you to dig deep for the earthquake victims.\n  dig your heels / toes in to refuse to do sth or to change your mind about sth:\nThey dug in their heels and would not lower the price.\n  dig (deep) in / into your pocket(s), savings, etc. to spend a lot of your own money on sth\n  dig sb in the ribs to push your finger or your elbow into sb’s side, especially to attract their attention\n  dig yourself into a hole to get yourself into a bad situation that it will be very difficult to get out of\n  dig your own grave | dig a grave for yourself to do sth that will have very harmful results for you\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  dig in (spoken)\n1 used to tell sb to start to eat:\nHelp yourselves, everybody! Dig in!\n2 to wait, or deal with a difficult situation, with great patience:\nThere is nothing we can do except dig in and wait.\n  dig sth<->in\n1 to mix soil with another substance by digging the two substances together:\nThe manure should be well dug in.\n2 to push sth into sth else:\nHe dug his fork into the steak.\n  dig yourself in (of soldiers) to protect yourself against an attack by making a safe place in the ground\n  dig into sth\n1 (informal) to start to eat food with enthusiasm:\nShe dug into her bowl of pasta.\n2 to push or rub against your body in a painful or uncomfortable way:\nHis fingers dug painfully into my arm.\n3 to find out information by searching or asking questions:\nWill you dig a little into his past and see what you find?\n  dig sth into sth\n1 to mix soil with another substance by digging the two substances together\n2 to push or press sth into sth else:\nShe dug her hands deeper into her pockets.\n  dig sb/sth<->out (of sth)\n1 to remove sb/sth from somewhere by digging the ground around them or it:\nMore than a dozen people were dug out of the avalanche alive.\n2 to find sth that has been hidden or forgotten for a long time:\nI went to the attic and dug out Grandad’s medals.\n  dig sth<->over to prepare ground by digging the soil to remove stones, etc.\n  dig sth<->up\n1 to break the ground into small pieces before planting seeds, building sth, etc:\nThey are digging up the football field to lay a new surface.\n2 to remove sth from the ground by digging\nSYN UNEARTH:\nAn old Roman vase was dug up here last month.\n3 to discover information about sb/sth\nSYN UNEARTH:\nTabloid newspapers love to dig up scandal.\n    noun-see also DIGS\n  1  a small push with your finger or elbow:\nShe gave him a dig in the ribs.\n  2  ~ (at sb/sth) a remark that is intended to annoy or upset sb:\nHe kept making sly little digs at me. * to have a dig at sb/sth\n  3  an occasion when an organized group of people dig in the ground to discover old buildings or objects, in order to find out more about their history \nSYN EXCAVATION:\nto go on a dig * an archaeological dig


Words: digest
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb \n  1  when you digest food, or it digests, it is changed into substances that your body can use:\n[VN] Humans cannot digest plants such as grass. * [V] You should allow a little time after a meal for the food to digest.\n  2  [VN] to think about sth so that you fully understand it:\nHe paused, waiting for her to digest the information.\n    noun  a short report containing the most important facts of a longer report or piece of writing; a collection of short reports:\na monthly news digest


Words: digestion
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the process of digesting food:\nVegetables are usually cooked to aid digestion.\ncompare INDIGESTION\n  2  [C, usually sing.] the ability to digest food:\nto have a good / poor digestion


Words: digestive
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] connected with the digestion of food:\nthe digestive system / tract * digestive problems


Words: digestive biscuit
Meaning:
(also digestive) noun\n(BrE) a round sweet biscuit made from WHOLEMEAL flour, sometimes covered with chocolate:\na packet of chocolate digestives


Words: digger
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a large machine that is used for digging up the ground\n \n  2  a person or an animal that digs\nsee also GOLD-DIGGER


Words: digit
Meaning:
noun\n  1  any of the ten numbers from 0 to 9:\nThe number 57306 contains five digits.\n  2  (anatomy) a finger, thumb or toe


Words: digital
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  1  using a system of receiving and sending information as a series of the numbers one and zero, showing that an electronic signal is there or is not there:\na digital camera * digital terrestrial and digital satellite broadcasting\n  2  (of clocks, watches, etc.) showing information by using figures, rather than with HANDS that point to numbers:\na digital clock / watch\ncompare ANALOGUE\n    digitally :\ndigitally remastered tapes\n    noun [U] digital television:\nHow long have you had digital? * With digital you can choose the camera angle you want.


Words: digital recording
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] a recording in which sounds or pictures are represented by a series of numbers showing that an electronic signal is there or is not there; the process of making a recording in this way


Words: digital television
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the system of broadcasting television using digital signals\n  2  [C] a television set that can receive digital signals


Words: digitize
Meaning:
(BrE also digitise)  verb\n[VN] to change data into a DIGITAL form that can be easily read and processed by a computer:\na digitized map


Words: dignified
Meaning:
adjective\ncalm and serious and deserving respect:\na dignified person / manner / voice * Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence.\nOPP UNDIGNIFIED


Words: dignify
Meaning:
verb (dignifies, dignifying, dignified) [VN] (formal)\n  1  to make sb/sth seem impressive:\nThe mayor was there to dignify the celebrations.\n  2  to make sth appear important when it is not really:\nI’m not going to dignify his comments by reacting to them.


Words: dignity
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  a calm and serious manner that deserves respect:\nShe accepted the criticism with quiet dignity.\n  2  the fact of being given honour and respect by people:\nthe dignity of work * The terminally ill should be allowed to die with dignity.\n  3  a sense of your own importance and value:\nIt’s difficult to preserve your dignity when you have no job and no home.\n IDIOMS \n  beneath your dignity below what you see as your own importance or worth\n  stand on your dignity (formal) to demand to be treated with the respect that you think that you deserve:\nOur teacher never stands on her dignity with us, but treats us all as friends and colleagues.


Words: digress
Meaning:
verb\n[V] (formal) to start to talk about sth that is not connected with the main point of what you are saying\n    digression  noun [C, U]:\nAfter several digressions, he finally got to the point.


Words: diktat
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] (disapproving) an order given by a government, for example, that people must obey:\nan EU diktat from Brussels * government by diktat


Words: dilapidated
Meaning:
adjective\n(of furniture and buildings) old and in very bad condition\n    dilapidation  noun [U]:\nin a state of dilapidation


Words: dilate
Meaning:
verb\nto become or to make sth larger, wider or more open:\n[V] Her eyes dilated with fear. * [VN] dilated pupils / nostrils * Red wine can help to dilate blood vessels.\n    dilation  noun [U, C]:\nThe doctor checked his eyes but there was no abnormal pupil dilation.


Words: dilatory
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (in doing sth) (formal) not acting quickly enough; causing delay:\nThe government has been dilatory in dealing with the problem of unemployment.


Words: dilemma
Meaning:
noun\na situation which makes problems, often one in which you have to make a very difficult choice between things of equal importance:\nto face a dilemma * to be in a dilemma\n IDIOMS  see HORN


Words: dilettante
Meaning:
noun\n(plural dilettanti  or dilettantes) (disapproving) a person who does or studies sth but is not serious about it and does not have much knowledge\n    dilettante adjective:\na dilettante artist


Words: diligence
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (formal) careful and thorough work or effort:\nShe shows great diligence in her schoolwork. * The captain exercised all reasonable diligence to prevent the ship from sinking.


Words: diligent
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) showing care and effort in your work or duties:\na diligent student / worker * After a diligent search, the police found the missing child.\n    diligently adverb:\nThey worked diligently on the task they had been given.


Words: dill
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a plant with yellow flowers whose leaves and seeds have a strong taste and are used in cooking as a herb. Dill is often added to vegetables kept in VINEGAR:\ndill pickles


Words: dilly-dally
Meaning:
verb\n(dilly-dallies, dilly-dallying, dilly-dallied, dilly-dallied) [V] (old-fashioned, informal) to take too long to do sth, go somewhere or make a decision:\nDon’t dilly-dally on the way home from school.


Words: dilute
Meaning:
verb, adjective  \n    verb [VN] \n  1  ~ sth (with sth) to make a liquid weaker by adding water or another liquid to it\nSYN WATER DOWN:\nThe paint can be diluted with water to make a lighter shade.\n  2  to make sth weaker or less effective\nSYN WATER DOWN:\nLarge classes dilute the quality of education that children receive.\n    dilution  noun [U]:\nthe dilution of sewage * This is a serious dilution of their election promises.\n    adjective (also diluted) (of a liquid) made weaker by adding water or another substance:\na dilute acid / solution


Words: dim
Meaning:
adjective, verb \n    adjective (dimmer, dimmest)\n  light\n  1  not bright:\nthe dim glow of the fire in the grate * This light is too dim to read by.\n  place\n  2  where you cannot see well because there is not much light:\na dim room / street\n  object\n  3  that you cannot see well because there is not much light:\nthe dim outline of a house in the moonlight * I could see a dim shape in the doorway.\n  eyes\n  4  not able to see well:\nHis eyesight is getting dim.\n  memories\n  5  that you cannot remember or imagine clearly:\ndim memories * She had a dim recollection of a visit to a big house. * (humorous) in the dim and distant past\n  person\n  6  (informal, especially BrE) not intelligent:\nHe’s very dim.\n  situation\n  7  not hopeful or good:\nHer future career prospects look dim.\n    dimness noun [U]:\nIt took a while for his eyes to adjust to the dimness.\nsee also DIMLY\n IDIOMS \n  take a dim view of sb/sth to disapprove of sb/sth; to not have a good opinion of sb/sth:\nShe took a dim view of my suggestion.\n    verb (-mm-)\n  light\n  1  if a light dims or if you dim it, it becomes or you make it less bright:\n[V] The lights in the theatre dimmed as the curtain rose. [also VN]\n  feeling / quality\n  2  if a feeling or quality dims, or if sth dims it, it becomes less strong:\n[V] Her passion for dancing never dimmed over the years. [also VN]


Words: dime
Meaning:
noun\na coin of the US and Canada worth ten cents\n \n IDIOMS \n \n  a dime a dozen (AmE) = TWO / TEN A PENNY


Words: dimension
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a measurement in space for example, the height, width or length of sth:\nWe measured the dimensions of the kitchen. * Computer design tools that work in three dimensions.\nsee also THE FOURTH DIMENSION\n  2  [usually pl.] the size and extent of a situation:\na problem of considerable dimensions\n  3  an aspect, or way of looking at or thinking about sth:\nHer job added a new dimension to her life. * the social dimension of unemployment\n  4  (-dimensional) (in adjectives) having the number of dimensions mentioned:\na multi-dimensional model\nsee also THREE-DIMENSIONAL, TWO-DIMENSIONAL


Words: diminish
Meaning:
verb\n  1  to become or to make sth become smaller, weaker, etc.\nSYN DECREASE:\n[V] The world’s resources are rapidly diminishing. * His influence has diminished with time. * Our efforts were producing diminishing returns (= we achieved less although we spent more time or money). [also VN]\n  2  [VN] to make sb/sth seem less important than they really are:\nI don’t wish to diminish the importance of their contribution.


Words: diminished responsibility
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (BrE, law) a state in which a person who is accused of a crime is not considered to be responsible for their actions, because they are mentally ill:\nHe was found not guilty of murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.


Words: diminuendo
Meaning:
noun\n(plural diminuendos) [C, U] (music) a gradual decrease in how loudly a piece of music is played or sung\nOPP CRESCENDO


Words: diminution
Meaning:
in sth) (formal)\n  1  [U] the act of reducing sth or of being reduced:\nthe diminution of political power\n  2  [C, usually sing.] a reduction; an amount reduced:\na diminution in population growth


Words: diminutive
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective (formal) very small:\nShe was a diminutive figure beside her husband.\n    noun\n  1  a word or an ending of a word that shows that sb/sth is small, for example piglet (= a young pig), kitchenette (= a small kitchen)\n  2  a short informal form of a word, especially a name:\n’Nicky’ is a common diminutive of ’Nicholas’


Words: dimly
Meaning:
adverb\nnot very brightly or clearly:\na dimly lit room * I was dimly aware (= only just aware) of the sound of a car in the distance. * I did remember, but only dimly.


Words: dimmer switch
Meaning:
(also dimmer) noun\n  1  a switch that allows you to make an electric light brighter or less bright\n  2  (AmE) = DIP SWITCH


Words: dimple
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [V] to make a hollow place appear on each of your cheeks, especially by smiling\n    noun\n\n \n  1  a small hollow place in the skin, especially in the cheek or chin:\nShe had a dimple which appeared when she smiled.\n \n  2  any small hollow place in a surface:\na pane of glass with a dimple pattern\n \n    dimpled :\na dimpled chin


Words: din
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] a loud, unpleasant noise that lasts for a long time:\nThe children were making an awful din. * We couldn’t hear ourselves speak above the din.


Words: dine
Meaning:
verb\n[V] (formal) to eat dinner:\nWe dined with my parents at a restaurant in town.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  dine on sth to have a particular type of food for dinner:\nWe dined on fresh local fish.\n  dine out to eat dinner in a restaurant or sb else’s home\n  dine out on sth (informal) to tell other people about sth that has happened to you, in order to make them interested in you\n IDIOMS  see WINE v.


Words: diner
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person eating a meal, especially in a restaurant:\na restaurant capable of seating 100 diners\n  2  (especially AmE) a small, usually cheap, restaurant:\na roadside diner


Words: ding-dong
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] used to represent the sound made by a bell:\nI rang the doorbell. Ding-dong! No answer.\n  2  (BrE, informal) an argument or fight:\nThe two men were having a real ding-dong on the doorstep.


Words: dinghy
Meaning:
noun (plural dinghies)\n  1  a small open boat that you sail or row:\na sailing dinghy\n  2  = RUBBER DINGHY\ncompare YACHT


Words: dingy
Meaning:
adjective\n(dingier, dingiest) dark and dirty:\na dingy room / hotel * dingy curtains / clothes\n    dinginess noun [U]


Words: dinky
Meaning:
adjective (informal)\n  1  (BrE, approving) small and neat in an attractive way:\nWhat a dinky little hat!\n  2  (AmE, disapproving) too small:\nI grew up in a dinky little town that didn’t even have a movie theater.


Words: dinner
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U, C] the main meal of the day, eaten either in the middle of the day or in the evening:\nIt’s time for dinner. * Have you had dinner yet? * What time do you serve dinner? * Let’s invite them to dinner tomorrow. * What shall we have for dinner tonight? * It’s your turn to cook dinner. * She didn’t eat much dinner. * I never eat a big dinner. * Christmas dinner * a three-course dinner * I’d like to take you out to dinner tonight. * (BrE) school dinners (= meals provided at school in the middle of the day) -> MEAL\n  2  [C] a large formal social gathering at which dinner is eaten:\nThe club’s annual dinner will be held on 3 June.\nsee also DINNER PARTY\n IDIOMS  see DOG n.


Words: dinner jacket
Meaning:
(BrE) noun\na black or white jacket worn with a BOW TIE at formal occasions in the evening\ncompare TAILS n. (6), TUXEDO


Words: dinner suit
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE tuxedo) noun\na DINNER JACKET and trousers/pants, worn with a BOW TIE at formal occasions in the evening


Words: dinner table
Meaning:
noun\n(often the dinner table) [usually sing.] the table at which people are eating dinner; an occasion when people are eating together:\nconversation at the dinner table * The dinner table was laden with crystal and silver.\ncompare DINING TABLE


Words: dinosaur
Meaning:
noun\n  1  an animal that lived millions of years ago but is now EXTINCT (= it no longer exists). There were many types of dinosaur, some of which were very large.\n  2  (disapproving) a person or thing that is old-fashioned and cannot change in the changing conditions of modern life


Words: dint
Meaning:
noun\n IDIOMS \n  by dint of sth / of doing sth (formal) by means of sth:\nHe succeeded by dint of hard work. * She became an honorary member by dint of winning the championship.


Words: diocese
Meaning:
noun\n(in the Christian Church) a district for which a BISHOP is responsible\n    diocesan  adjective


Words: diode
Meaning:
noun\n(technical) an electronic device in which the electric current passes in one direction only, for example a SILICON CHIP


Words: dioxide
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] (chemistry) a compound formed by combining two atoms of OXYGEN and one atom of another chemical element\nsee also CARBON DIOXIDE


Words: dip
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (-pp-)\n  1  [VN] ~ sth (into sth) | ~ sth (in) to put sth quickly into a liquid and take it out again:\nHe dipped the brush into the thick white paint. * Dip your hand in to see how hot the water is. * The fruit had been dipped in chocolate.\n  2  [usually +adv./prep.] to go downwards or to a lower level; to make sth do this:\n[V] The sun dipped below the horizon. * Sales for this quarter have dipped from 38.7 million to 33 million. * The road dipped suddenly as we approached the town. * [VN] The plane dipped its wings.\n  3  [VN] (BrE) if you dip your HEADLIGHTS when driving a car at night, you make the beam from them point down so that other drivers do not have the light in their eyes\n  4  [VN] when farmers dip animals, especially sheep, they put them in a bath of a liquid containing chemicals in order to kill insects, etc.\n IDIOMS \n  dip into your pocket (informal) to spend some of your own money on sth:\nShe was forced to dip into her own pocket to pay for the repairs.\n  dip a toe in / into sth | dip a toe in / into the water (informal) to start doing sth very carefully to see if it will be successful or not:\nWe decided to dip a toe in the computer games market.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  dip into sth\n1 to put your hand into a container to take sth out:\nShe dipped into her purse and took out some coins.\n2 to read or watch only parts of sth:\nI have only had time to dip into the report.\n3 to take an amount from money that you have saved:\nWe took out a loan for the car because we didn’t want to dip into our savings.\n    noun\n  1  [C] (informal) a quick swim:\nLet’s go for a dip before breakfast.\n  2  [C] a decrease in the amount or success of sth, usually for only a short period:\na sharp dip in earnings / profits\n  3  [C] a place where a surface suddenly drops to a lower level and then rises again:\na dip in the road * The village lay in a dip among the hills. * Puddles had formed in the dips.\n  4  [C, U] a thick mixture into which biscuits and pieces of raw vegetables are dipped before being eaten\n  5  [U, C] a liquid containing a chemical into which sheep and other animals can be dipped in order to kill insects on them\n  6  [sing.] ~ into sth a quick look at sth:\nA brief dip into history serves to confirm this view.\n  7  [C, usually sing.] a quick movement of sth down and up:\nHe gave a dip of his head.\nsee also LUCKY DIP


Words: dip switch
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE dimmer switch) noun\na switch that allows you to make the beam from the front lights on a car point downwards


Words: diphthong
Meaning:
noun\n(phonetics) a combination of two vowel sounds or vowel letters, for example the sounds  or the letters ou in doubt


Words: diploma
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (BrE) a course of study at a college or university:\na two-year diploma course * She is taking a diploma in management studies.\n  2  a document showing that you have completed a course of study or part of your education:\na High School diploma -> DEGREE


Words: diplomacy
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the activity of managing relations between different countries; the skill in doing this:\ninternational diplomacy * Diplomacy is better than war.\n  2  skill in dealing with people in difficult situations without upsetting or offending them\nSYN TACT:\nShe was praised for her tact and diplomacy.\nsee also SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY


Words: diplomat
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (also old-fashioned diplomatist) a person whose job is to represent his or her country in a foreign country, for example, in an EMBASSY\n  2  a person who is skilled at dealing with other people:\nYou’ll need to be a real diplomat to persuade them to come to some agreement.


Words: diplomatic
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  connected with managing relations between countries (= DIPLOMACY):\na diplomatic crisis * Attempts are being made to settle the dispute by diplomatic means. * to break off / establish / restore diplomatic relations with a country\n  2  having or showing skill in dealing with people in difficult situations:\na diplomatic answer / move / smile * You could try being a little more diplomatic this time.\n    diplomatically  adverb:\nThe country remained diplomatically isolated. * ’Why don’t we take a break for coffee?’ she suggested diplomatically.


Words: diplomatic bag
Meaning:
noun\na container that is used for sending official letters and documents between a government and its representatives in another country and that cannot be opened by CUSTOMS officers


Words: diplomatic corps
Meaning:
noun\n(usually the diplomatic corps) [C+sing./pl. v.] (plural diplomatic corps) all the DIPLOMATS who work in a particular city or country


Words: diplomatic immunity
Meaning:
noun\n[U] special rights given to diplomats working in a foreign country which mean they cannot be arrested, taxed, etc. in that country:\nThe advisers were granted diplomatic immunity.


Words: dipstick
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a metal rod used for measuring the amount of liquid in a container, especially the amount of oil in an engine\n  2  (informal) a stupid person


Words: dire
Meaning:
adjective (direr, direst)\n  1  [usually before noun] (formal) very serious:\nliving in dire poverty * dire warnings / threats * Such action may have dire consequences. * We’re in dire need of your help. * The firm is in dire straits (= in a very difficult situation) and may go bankrupt.\n  2  (BrE, informal) very bad:\nThe acting was dire.


Words: direct
Meaning:
adjective, verb, adverb \n    adjective\n  nobody / nothing in between\n  1  [usually before noun] happening or done without involving other people, actions, etc. in between:\nThey are in direct contact with the hijackers. * His death was a direct result of your action. * She has direct responsibility for all new trainees. * We are looking for somebody with direct experience of this type of work. * This information has a direct bearing on (= it is closely connected with) the case. * They see a direct link between the money supply and prices.\nOPP INDIRECT\n  journey / route\n  2  going in the straightest line between two places without stopping or changing direction:\nthe most direct route / course * a direct flight (= a flight that does not stop) * There’s a direct train to Leeds (= it may stop at other stations but you do not have to change trains). * a direct hit (= a hit that is accurate and does not touch sth else first)\nOPP INDIRECT\n  heat / light\n  3  [only before noun] with nothing between sth and the source of the heat or light:\nProtect your child from direct sunlight by using a sunscreen.\n  exact\n  4  [only before noun] exact:\nThat’s the direct opposite of what you told me yesterday. * a direct quote (= one using a person’s exact words)\n  saying what you mean\n  5  saying exactly what you mean in a way that nobody can pretend not to understand:\na direct answer / question * You’ll have to get used to his direct manner. * She has a very direct way of speaking. * I prefer a more direct approach.\nOPP INDIRECT\n  relationship\n  6  [only before noun] related through parents and children rather than brothers, sisters, aunts, etc:\na direct descendant of the country’s first president * With his death, the direct male line of the House of Capet came to an end.\nOPP INDIRECT\n    verb\n  aim\n  1  [VN] ~ sth to / towards sth/sb | ~ sth at / against sth/sb to aim sth in a particular direction or at a particular person:\nThe machine directs a powerful beam at the affected part of the body. * There are three main issues that we need to direct our attention to. * Most of his anger was directed against himself. * Was that remark directed at me?\n  control\n  2  [VN] to control or be in charge of sb/sth:\nA new manager has been appointed to direct the project. * He was asked to take command and direct operations.\n  movie / play / music\n  3  to be in charge of actors in a play, or a film/movie, or musicians in an orchestra, etc:\n[V] She prefers to act rather than direct. * [VN] The movie was directed by Steven Spielberg. * She now directs a large choir.\n  show the way\n  4  [VN] ~ sb (to ...) to tell or show sb how to get to somewhere or where to go:\nCould you direct me to the station? * A police officer was directing the traffic. * He was directed to a table beside the window.\n  give order\n  5  (formal) to give an official order:\n[VN to inf] The police officers had been directed to search the building. * [V that] The judge directed that the mother be given custody of the children. * (BrE also) The judge directed that the mother should be given custody of the children.\n  letter / comment\n  6  [VN] ~ sth to ... (formal) to send a letter, etc. to a particular place or to a particular person:\nDirect any complaints to the Customer Services department.\n    adverb\n  journey / route\n  1  without stopping or changing direction:\nIt costs more to fly direct to Hong Kong. * The 10.40 goes direct to Leeds.\n  nobody in between\n  2  without involving other people:\nI prefer to deal with him direct.


Words: direct action
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] the use of strikes, protests, etc. instead of discussion in order to get what you want:\nEnvironmental groups are threatening direct action if plans for the new road go ahead.


Words: direct current
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] (abbreviation DC) an electric current that flows in one direction only\ncompare ALTERNATING CURRENT


Words: direct debit
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] (in Britain) an instruction to your bank to allow sb else to take an amount of money from your account on a particular date, especially to pay bills:\nWe pay all our bills by direct debit.\ncompare STANDING ORDER


Words: direct mail
Meaning:
noun\n[U] advertisements that are sent to people through the post/mail:\na direct mail campaign aimed at US small businesses


Words: direct marketing
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the business of selling products or services directly to customers who order by mail or by telephone instead of going to a shop/store


Words: direct object
Meaning:
noun\n(grammar) a noun, noun phrase or pronoun that refers to a person or thing that is directly affected by the action of a verb:\nIn ’I met him in town’, the word ’him’ is the direct object.\ncompare INDIRECT OBJECT


Words: direct rule
Meaning:
noun\n[U] government of a region by a central government, when that region has had its own government in the past


Words: direct speech
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (grammar) a speaker’s actual words; the use of these in writing:\nOnly direct speech should go inside inverted commas.\ncompare INDIRECT SPEECH, REPORTED SPEECH


Words: direct tax
Meaning:
noun\n(technical) a tax which is collected directly from the person who pays it, for example income tax\ncompare INDIRECT TAX\n    direct taxation noun [U]


Words: direction
Meaning:
noun\n  where to\n  1  [C, U] the general position a person or thing moves or points towards:\nTom went off in the direction of the post office. * She glanced in his direction. * The aircraft was flying in a northerly direction. * The road was blocked in both directions. * They hit a truck coming in the opposite direction. * Has the wind changed direction? * When the police arrived, the crowd scattered in all directions. * I lost all sense of direction (= I didn’t know which way to go).\n  development\n  2  [C, U] the general way in which a person or thing develops:\nThe exhibition provides evidence of several new directions in her work. * I am very unhappy with the direction the club is taking. * It’s only a small improvement but at least it’s a step in the right direction.\n  where from\n  3  [C] the general position a person or thing comes or develops from:\nSupport came from an unexpected direction. * Let us approach the subject from a different direction.\n  purpose\n  4  [U] a purpose; an aim:\nWe are looking for somebody with a clear sense of direction. * Once again her life felt lacking in direction.\n  instructions\n  5  [C, usually pl.] instructions about how to do sth, where to go, etc:\nLet’s stop and ask for directions. * Simple directions for assembling the model are printed on the box.\n  control\n  6  [U] the art of managing or guiding sb/sth:\nAll work was produced by the students under the direction of John Williams. * She was entrusted with the direction of the project.\n  film / movie\n  7  [U] the instructions given by sb directing a film/movie:\nThere is some clever direction and the film is very well shot.


Words: directional
Meaning:
adjective (technical)\n  1  producing or receiving signals, sound, etc. better in one particular direction:\na directional microphone / aerial\n  2  connected with the direction in which sth is moving:\ndirectional control / stability


Words: directive
Meaning:
noun, adjective \n    noun an official instruction:\nThe EU has issued a new set of directives on pollution.\n    adjective (formal) giving instructions:\nThey are seeking a central, directive role in national energy policy.


Words: directly
Meaning:
adverb, conjunction \n    adverb\n  1  in a direct line or manner:\nHe drove her directly to her hotel. * She looked directly at us. * He’s directly responsible to the boss. * We have not been directly affected by the latest cuts. * The President was not directly involved. * The issues raised in the report relate directly to the ongoing work of the charity. * The two incidents are not directly linked.\nOPP INDIRECTLY\n  2  exactly in a particular position:\ndirectly opposite / below / ahead * They remain directly opposed to these new plans.\n  3  immediately:\nShe left directly after the show.\n  4  (old-fashioned, BrE) soon:\nTell them I’ll be there directly.\n    conjunction (BrE) as soon as:\nI went home directly I had finished work.


Words: directness
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the quality of being simple and clear, so that it is impossible not to understand:\n’What’s that?’ she asked with her usual directness. * He presents his case with refreshing clarity and directness.


Words: director
Meaning:
noun\n  1  one of a group of senior managers who run a company:\nthe managing director * an executive / non-executive director * He’s on the board of directors.\n  2  a person who is in charge of a particular activity or department in a company, a college, etc:\na musical / art director * a regional / technical / finance director * the director of education / finance\n  3  a person in charge of a film/movie or play who tells the actors and staff what to do\ncompare PRODUCER


Words: Director of Public Prosecutions
Meaning:
noun\n(abbreviation DPP) (in England and Wales) a public official whose job is to decide whether people who are suspected of a crime should be brought to trial


Words: director-general
Meaning:
noun\n(especially BrE) the head of a large organization, especially a public organization:\nthe director-general of the BBC


Words: directorate
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a section of a government department in charge of one particular activity:\nthe environmental directorate\n  2  the group of directors who run a company


Words: directorial
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] connected with the position or work of a DIRECTOR, especially of a director of films/movies:\nThe film marks her directorial debut.


Words: directorship
Meaning:
noun\nthe position of a company DIRECTOR; the period during which this is held:\nunder the directorship of Anne Croft * His directorship has come under fierce attack.


Words: directory
Meaning:
noun (plural directories)\n  1  a book containing lists of information, usually in alphabetical order, for example people’s telephone numbers or the names and addresses of businesses in a particular area:\na telephone / trade directory * a directory of European Trade Associations\n  2  a file containing a group of other files or programs in a computer


Words: directory enquiries
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE directory assistance or informal information) noun\n[U+sing./pl. v.] a telephone service that you can use to find out a person’s telephone number


Words: dirge
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a song sung in the past at a funeral or for a dead person\n  2  (informal, disapproving) any song or piece of music that is too slow and sad


Words: dirndl
Meaning:
noun\n(from German) a very full wide skirt, pulled in tightly at the waist; a dress with a skirt like this and a closely fitting top


Words: dirt
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  any substance that makes sth dirty, for example dust, soil or mud:\nHis clothes were covered in dirt. * First remove any grease or dirt from the surface. * The problem with white is that it soon shows the dirt.\n  2  (especially AmE) loose earth or soil:\nHe picked up a handful of dirt and threw it at them. * Pack the dirt firmly round the plants. * They lived in a shack with a dirt floor.\n  3  (informal) unpleasant or harmful information about sb that could be used to damage their reputation, career, etc:\nDo you have any dirt on the new guy?\n  4  (informal) = EXCREMENT:\ndog dirt\n IDIOMS  see DISH v., TREAT v.


Words: dirt farmer
Meaning:
noun\n(AmE) a farmer who has poor land and does not make much money, and who does not pay anyone else to work on the farm


Words: dirt track
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (AmE) = DIRT ROAD\n  2  a track made of CINDERS, soil etc. used for motorcycle racing:\na dirt-track race / meeting


Words: dirty
Meaning:
adjective, verb, adverb \n    adjective (dirtier, dirtiest)\n  not clean\n  1  not clean:\ndirty hands / clothes * a dirty mark * Try not to get too dirty! * I always get given the dirty jobs (= jobs that make you become dirty).\n  offensive\n  2  [usually before noun] connected with sex in an offensive way:\na dirty joke / book * He’s got a dirty mind (= he often thinks about sex).\n  unpleasant / dishonest\n  3  [usually before noun] unpleasant or dishonest:\na dirty lie / liar * She’s a dirty player. * He’s a great man for doing the dirty jobs (= jobs which are unpleasant because they involve being dishonest or mean to people).\n  colours\n  4  [only before noun] dull:\na dirty brown carpet\n  drugs\n  5  (AmE, slang) using illegal drugs\n IDIOMS \n  be a dirty word to be a subject or an idea that people think is bad or immoral:\nProfit is not a dirty word around here.\n  (do sb’s) dirty work (to do) the unpleasant or dishonest jobs that sb else does not want to do:\nNext time you can get somebody else to do your dirty work for you!\n  do the dirty on sb (BrE, informal) to cheat or betray sb; to treat sb unfairly:\nI’d never do the dirty on my friends.\n  give sb a dirty look to look at sb in a way that shows you are annoyed with them\nmore at HAND n., WASH v.\n    verb (dirties, dirtying, dirtied, dirtied) [VN] to make sth dirty\n    adverb\n IDIOMS \n  dirty great / big (BrE, informal) used to emphasize how large sth is:\nWhen I turned round he was pointing a dirty great gun at me.\n  play dirty (informal) to behave or play a game in an unfair way\nmore at TALK v.


Words: dirty old man
Meaning:
noun\n(informal) an older man whose interest in sex or in sexually attractive young women is considered to be offensive or not natural for sb of his age


Words: dirty trick
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [usually pl.] dishonest, secret and often illegal activity by a political group or other organization, that is intended to harm the reputation or success of an opponent:\na dirty tricks campaign\n  2  an unpleasant and dishonest act:\nWhat a dirty trick to play!


Words: dis
Meaning:
(also diss)  verb\n(-ss-) [VN] (slang, especially AmE) to show a lack of respect for sb, especially by saying insulting things to them:\nIf he disses me again, I’ll hit him.


Words: dis-
Meaning:
prefix\n(in adjectives, adverbs, nouns and verbs) not; the opposite of:\ndishonest * disagreeably * disadvantage * disappear


Words: disability
Meaning:
noun (plural disabilities)\n  1  [C] a physical or mental condition that means you cannot use a part of your body completely or easily, or that you cannot learn easily:\na physical / mental / permanent disability * people with severe learning disabilities\n  2  [U] the state of not being able to use a part of your body completely or easily; the state of not being able to learn easily:\nHe qualifies for help on the grounds of disability. -> DISABLED


Words: disable
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to injure or affect sb permanently so that, for example, they cannot walk or cannot use a part of their body:\nHe was disabled in a car accident. * a disabling condition / illness\n  2  to prevent sth from working correctly:\nThe burglars gained entry to the building after disabling the alarm.


Words: disabled
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  unable to use a part of your body completely or easily because of a physical condition, illness, injury, etc.; unable to learn easily:\nphysically / mentally disabled * severely disabled * He was born disabled. * facilities for disabled people * Does the theatre have disabled access?\n  2  (the disabled) noun [pl.] people who are disabled:\ncaring for the sick, elderly and disabled\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \ndisabled / handicapped\nDisabled is the most generally accepted term to refer to people with a permanent illness or injury that makes it difficult for them to use part of their body completely or easily. Handicapped is slightly old-fashioned and many people now think it is offensive. People also now prefer to use the word disability rather than handicap. The expression disabled people is often preferred to the disabled because it sounds more personal.\nDisabled and disability can be used with other words to talk about a mental condition: mentally disabled * learning disabilities.\nIf somebody’s ability to hear, speak or see has been damaged but not destroyed completely, they have impaired hearing/speech/sight (or vision). They can be described as visually/hearing impaired or partially sighted: The museum has special facilities for blind and partially sighted visitors.\n______________________________


Words: disablement
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (formal) the state of being disabled or the process of becoming disabled:\nThe insurance policy covers sudden death or disablement.


Words: disadvantage
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] ~ (of sth) | ~ (to sth) something that causes problems and tends to stop sb/sth from succeeding or making progress:\na serious / severe / considerable disadvantage * One major disadvantage of the area is the lack of public transport. * There are disadvantages to the plan. * What’s the main disadvantage? * I was at a disadvantage compared to the younger members of the team. * The fact that he didn’t speak a foreign language put him at a distinct disadvantage. * I hope my lack of experience won’t be to my disadvantage. * The advantages of the scheme far outweighed the disadvantages. * Many children in the class suffered severe social and economic disadvantage.\n    disadvantage verb:\n[VN] Some pension plans may disadvantage women.


Words: disadvantaged
Meaning:
1  adjective not having the things, such as education, and enough money, that people need in order to succeed in life\nSYN DEPRIVED:\ndisadvantaged groups / children * a severely disadvantaged area * socially disadvantaged sections of the community\nOPP ADVANTAGED\n  2  (the disadvantaged) noun [pl.] people who are disadvantaged


Words: disadvantageous
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (to / for sb) (formal) causing sb to be in a worse situation compared to other people:\nThe deal will not be disadvantageous to your company.\nOPP ADVANTAGEOUS


Words: disaffected
Meaning:
adjective\nnot longer satisfied with your situation, organization, belief etc. and therefore not loyal to it:\nSome disaffected members left to form a new party.\n    disaffection  noun [U]:\nThere are signs of growing disaffection amongst voters. * The government’s response to popular disaffection has been simply to increase security.


Words: disagree
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [V] ~ (with sb) (about / on / over sth) if two people disagree or one person disagrees with another about sth, they have a different opinion about it:\nEven friends disagree sometimes. * He disagreed with his parents on most things. * Some people disagree with this argument. * No, I disagree. I don’t think it would be the right thing to do. [also V that]\n  2  [V] if statements or reports disagree, they give different information\nOPP AGREE\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  disagree with sb if sth, especially food, disagrees with you, it has a bad effect on you and makes you feel ill\n  disagree with sth / with doing sth to believe that sth is bad or wrong; to disapprove of sth:\nI disagree with violent protests.


Words: disagreeable
Meaning:
adjective (formal)\n  1  not nice or enjoyable\nSYN UNPLEASANT:\na disagreeable smell / experience / job\n  2  (of a person) rude and unfriendly\nSYN UNPLEASANT:\na disagreeable bad-tempered man * Are you always as disagreeable as this when you don’t get what you want?\nOPP AGREEABLE\n    disagreeably  adverb


Words: disagreement
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] ~ (about / on / over / as to sth) | ~ (among ...) | ~ between A and B a situation where people disagree about sth and often argue:\nDisagreement arose about exactly how to plan the show. * disagreement on the method to be used * There is considerable disagreement over the safety of the treatment. * It was a source of disagreement between the two states. * There is disagreement among archaeologists as to the age of the sculpture. * They have had several disagreements with their neighbours. * We are in total disagreement as to how to proceed. * There’s no room for disagreement on this point.\nOPP AGREEMENT


Words: disallow
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] [often passive] to officially refuse to accept sth because it is not valid:\nto disallow a claim / an appeal * The second goal was disallowed.\ncompare ALLOW (6)


Words: disappear
Meaning:
verb [V] \n  1  [often +adv./prep.] to become impossible to see\nSYN VANISH:\nThe plane disappeared behind a cloud. * Lisa watched until the train disappeared from view.\n  2  to stop existing\nSYN VANISH:\nHer nervousness quickly disappeared once she was on stage. * The problem won’t just disappear. * Our countryside is disappearing at an alarming rate.\n  3  to be lost or impossible to find\nSYN VANISH:\nI can never find a pen in this house. They disappear as soon as I buy them. * The child disappeared from his home some time after four.\n    disappearance  noun [U, C]:\nthe disappearance of many species of plants and animals from our planet * Police are investigating the disappearance of a young woman.\n IDIOMS  see ACT n., FACE n.


Words: disappoint
Meaning:
verb\n  1  to make sb feel sad because sth that they hope for or expect to happen does not happen or is not as good as they hoped:\n[VN] Her decision to cancel the concert is bound to disappoint her fans. * I hate to disappoint you, but I’m just not interested. * The movie had disappointed her (= it wasn’t as good as she had expected). * [V] His latest novel does not disappoint. [also VN that]\n  2  [VN] to prevent sth that sb hopes for from becoming a reality:\nThe new government had soon disappointed the hopes of many of its supporters.


Words: disappointed
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (at / by sth) | ~ (in / with sb/sth) | ~ (to see, hear, etc.) | ~ (that ...) | ~ (not) to be ... upset because sth you hoped for has not happened or been as good, successful, etc. as you expected:\nThey were bitterly disappointed at the result of the game. * I was disappointed by the quality of the wine. * I’m disappointed in you-I really thought I could trust you! * I was very disappointed with myself. * He was disappointed to see she wasn’t at the party. * I’m disappointed (that) it was sold out. * She was disappointed not to be chosen.


Words: disappointing
Meaning:
adjective\nnot as good, successful, etc. as you had hoped; making you feel disappointed:\na disappointing result / performance * The outcome of the court case was disappointing for the family involved. * The team has had a disappointing start to the season.\n    disappointingly adverb:\nThe room was disappointingly small.


Words: disappointment
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] sadness because sth has not happened or been as good, successful, etc. as you expected or hoped:\nBook early for the show to avoid disappointment. * To our great disappointment, it rained every day of the trip. * He found it difficult to hide his disappointment when she didn’t arrive.\n  2  [C] ~ (to sb) a person or thing that is disappointing:\na bitter / major disappointment * That new restaurant was a big disappointment. * I always felt I was a disappointment to my father. * He’s suffered a whole string of disappointments this week.


Words: disapproval
Meaning:
noun\n[U] ~ (of sb/sth) a feeling that you do not like an idea, an action or sb’s behaviour because you think it is bad, not suitable or going to have a bad effect on sb else:\ndisapproval of his methods * to show / express disapproval * He shook his head in disapproval. * She looked at my clothes with disapproval. * There was a look of strong disapproval on my parents’ faces.\nOPP APPROVAL


Words: disapprove
Meaning:
verb\n[V] ~ (of sb/sth) to think that sb/sth is not good or suitable; to not approve of sb/sth:\nShe wants to be an actress but her parents disapprove. * He strongly disapproved of the changes that had been made.\nOPP APPROVE


Words: disapproving
Meaning:
adjective\nshowing that you do not approve of sb/sth:\na disapproving glance / tone / look * She sounded disapproving as we discussed my plans.\nOPP APPROVING\n    disapprovingly adverb:\nHe looked disapprovingly at the row of empty wine bottles.


Words: disarm
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [VN] to take a weapon or weapons away from sb:\nMost of the rebels were captured and disarmed.\n  2  [V] (of a country or a group of people) to reduce the size of an army or to give up some or all weapons, especially nuclear weapons:\nThe government was reluctant to disarm.\n  3  [VN] (written) to make sb feel less angry or critical:\nHe disarmed her immediately by apologizing profusely. * The best way to disarm your critics is to make them laugh.\ncompare ARM


Words: disarmament
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the fact of a country reducing the size of its armed forces or the number of weapons, especially nuclear weapons, that it has:\nnuclear disarmament * disarmament talks\ncompare ARMAMENT


Words: disarming
Meaning:
adjective\nmaking people feel less angry or suspicious than they were before:\na disarming smile * Her disarming honesty immediately created a much less hostile atmosphere in the room.\n    disarmingly adverb:\ndisarmingly frank


Words: disarray
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a state of confusion and lack of organization in a situation or a place:\nThe peace talks broke up in disarray. * Our plans were thrown into disarray by her arrival. * We’re decorating, so everything’s in complete disarray at home.


Words: disaster
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] an unexpected event such as a very bad accident, a flood or a fire that kills a lot of people or causes a lot of damage\nSYN CATASTROPHE:\nan air / a ferry disaster * environmental disasters * Thousands died in the disaster. * a natural disaster (= one that is caused by nature)\n  2  [C, U] a very bad situation that causes problems:\nLosing your job doesn’t have to be such a disaster. * Disaster struck when the wheel came off. * financial disaster * The discovery of the disease among sheep spells financial disaster for farmers. * Letting her organize the party is a recipe for disaster (= something that is likely to go badly wrong).\n  3  [C, U] (informal) a complete failure:\nAs a teacher, he’s a disaster. * The play’s first night was a total disaster.\n IDIOMS  see WAIT v.


Words: disaster area
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a place where a disaster has happened and which needs special help\n  2  (informal) a place or situation that has a lot of problems, is a failure, or is badly organized:\nHousing is another disaster area for the government. * His office was a disaster area with papers piled everywhere.


Words: disastrous
Meaning:
adjective\nvery bad, harmful or unsuccessful:\na disastrous harvest / fire / result * Lowering interest rates could have disastrous consequences for the economy. * It was a disastrous start to the season for the team.\n    disastrously adverb:\nHow could everything go so disastrously wrong?


Words: disavow
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) to state publicly that you have no knowledge of sth or that you are not responsible for sth/sb:\nThey disavowed claims of a split in the party.\n    disavowal  noun [C, U]


Words: disband
Meaning:
verb\nto stop sb/sth from operating as a group; to separate or no longer operate as a group:\n[VN] They set about disbanding the terrorist groups. * [V] The committee formally disbanded in August.\n    disbandment noun [U]


Words: disbar
Meaning:
verb\n(-rr-) [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb (from sth / from doing sth) to stop a lawyer from working in the legal profession, especially because he or she has done sth illegal


Words: disbelief
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the feeling of not being able to believe sth:\nHe stared at me in disbelief. * To enjoy the movie you have to suspend your disbelief (= pretend to believe sth, even if it seems very unlikely).\ncompare BELIEF (3)\ncompare UNBELIEF


Words: disbelieve
Meaning:
verb\n(not used in the progressive tenses) (formal) to not believe that sth is true or that sb is telling the truth:\n[VN] Why should I disbelieve her story? [also V]\n    disbelieving adjective:\na disbelieving look / smile / laugh\n    disbelievingly adverb \n PHRASAL VERBS \n  disbelieve in sth to not believe that sth exists


Words: disburse
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) to pay money to sb from a large amount that has been collected for a purpose:\nThe funds were to be disbursed in two instalments.\n    disbursement noun [U, C]:\nthe disbursement of funds * aid disbursements


Words: disc
Meaning:
(also disk especially in AmE)  noun\n  1  a thin flat circular object:\nHe wears an identity disc around his neck.\n  2  = CD:\nThis recording is available on disc or cassette.\n  3  (BrE, rare) a disk for a computer\n  4  (old-fashioned) = RECORD (2)\n  5  one of the layers of CARTILAGE between the bones of the back:\nHe’s been off work with a slipped disc (= one that has moved from its correct position, causing pain).


Words: disc brake
Meaning:
noun\n[usually pl.] a BRAKE that works by two surfaces pressing onto a disc in the centre of a wheel


Words: disc jockey
Meaning:
noun\n(abbreviation DJ) a person whose job is to introduce and play popular recorded music, on radio or television or at a club


Words: discard
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb \n  1  [VN] ~ sb/sth (as sth) to get rid of sth that you no longer want or need\nSYN CAST ASIDE:\nThe room was littered with discarded newspapers. * He had discarded his jacket because of the heat. * 10% of the data was discarded as unreliable * (figurative) She could now discard all thought of promotion.\n  2  [VN, V] (in card games) to get rid of a card that you do not want\n    noun  a person or a thing that is not wanted or thrown away, especially a card in a card game


Words: discern
Meaning:
verb (not used in the progressive tenses) (formal)\n  1  to know, recognize or understand sth, especially sth that is not obvious:\n[VN] It is possible to discern a number of different techniques in her work. * He discerned a certain coldness in their welcome. * [V wh-] It is often difficult to discern how widespread public support is. [also V that]\n  2  [VN] to see or hear sth, but not very clearly:\nWe could just discern the house in the distance.\n    discernible adjective:\nThere is often no discernible difference between rival brands. * His face was barely discernible in the gloom.


Words: discerning
Meaning:
adjective\n(approving) able to show good judgement about the quality of sb/sth:\nThe discerning customer will recognize this as a high quality product.


Words: discernment
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (formal, approving) the ability to show good judgement about the quality of sb/sth:\nHe shows great discernment in his choice of friends. * She is a woman of the highest taste and discernment.


Words: discharge
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb \n  from hospital / job\n  1  [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb (from sth) to give sb official permission to leave a place or job; to make sb leave a job:\nPatients were being discharged from the hospital too early. * She had discharged herself against medical advice. * He was discharged from the army following his injury. * She was discharged from the police force for bad conduct.\n  from prison / court\n  2  [VN] [often passive] to allow sb to leave prison or a court of law:\nHe was conditionally discharged after admitting the theft.\n  gas / liquid\n  3  ~ (sth) (into sth) when a gas or a liquid discharges or is discharged, or sb discharges it, it flows somewhere:\n[V] The river is diverted through the power station before discharging into the sea. * [VN] The factory was fined for discharging chemicals into the river.\n  force / power\n  4  (technical) to release force or power:\n[VN] Lightning is caused by clouds discharging electricity. [also V]\n  duty\n  5  [VN] (formal) to do everything that is necessary to perform and complete a particular duty:\nto discharge your responsibilities / obligations * to discharge a debt (= to pay it)\n  gun\n  6  [VN] (formal) to fire a gun, etc.\n    noun \n  of liquid / gas\n  1  [U, C] the action of releasing a substance such as a liquid or gas; a substance that comes out from inside somewhere:\na ban on the discharge of toxic waste * thunder and lightning caused by electrical discharges * nasal / vaginal discharge (= from the nose / vagina)\n  from hospital / job\n  2  [U, C] ~ (from sth) the act of officially allowing sb, or of telling sb, to leave somewhere, especially sb in a hospital or the army\n  of duty\n  3  [U] (formal) the act of carrying out a task or a duty or of paying money that is owed:\nthe discharge of debts / obligations * Arrangements have been made for the discharge of mortgage payments.


Words: disciple
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who believes in and follows the teachings of a religious or political leader:\na disciple of the economist John Maynard Keynes\n  2  one of the people who followed Jesus Christ and his teachings when he was living on earth, especially one of the twelve APOSTLES


Words: disciplinarian
Meaning:
noun\na person who believes in using rules and punishments for controlling people:\nShe’s a very strict disciplinarian.


Words: disciplinary
Meaning:
adjective\nconnected with the punishment of people who break rules:\na disciplinary hearing (= to decide if sb has done sth wrong) * The company will be taking disciplinary action against him. * She will have to explain her actions before the disciplinary committee.


Words: discipline
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [U] the practice of training people to obey rules and orders and punishing them if they do not; the controlled behaviour or situation that results from this training:\nThe school has a reputation for high standards of discipline. * Strict discipline is imposed on army recruits. * She keeps good discipline in class. * Lack of discipline at home meant that many pupils found it difficult to settle in to the ordered environment of the school.\n  2  [C] a method of training your mind or body or of controlling your behaviour; an area of activity where this is necessary:\nYoga is a good discipline for learning to relax.\n  3  [U] the ability to control your behaviour or the way you live, work, etc:\nHe’ll never get anywhere working for himself-he’s got no discipline. * Her determination and discipline were admirable.\nsee also SELF-DISCIPLINE\n  4  [C] an area of knowledge; a subject that people study or are taught, especially in a university:\nThe new recruits were drawn from a range of academic disciplines.\n    verb\n  1  [VN] ~ sb (for sth) to punish sb for sth they have done:\nThe officers were disciplined for using racist language.\n  2  [VN] to train sb, especially a child, to obey particular rules and control the way they behave:\na guide to the best ways of disciplining your child\n  3  ~ yourself to control the way you behave and make yourself do things that you believe you should do:\n[VN to inf] He disciplined himself to exercise at least three times a week. * [VN] Dieting is a matter of disciplining yourself.\n    disciplined adjective:\na disciplined army / team * a disciplined approach to work


Words: disclaim
Meaning:
verb [VN] (formal)\n  1  to state publicly that you have no knowledge of sth, or that you are not responsible for sth\nSYN DENY:\nShe disclaimed any knowledge of her husband’s whereabouts. * The rebels disclaimed all responsibility for the explosion.\n  2  to give up your right to sth, such as property or a title


Words: disclaimer
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (formal) a statement in which sb says that they are not connected with or responsible for sth, or that they do not have any knowledge of it\n  2  (law) a statement in which a person says officially that they do not claim the right to do sth


Words: disclose
Meaning:
verb\n  1  ~ sth (to sb) to give sb information about sth, especially sth that was previously secret\nSYN REVEAL:\n[VN] The spokesman refused to disclose details of the takeover to the press. * [V that] The report discloses that human error was to blame for the accident. * [VN that] It was disclosed that two women were being interviewed by the police. [also V wh-]\n  2  [VN] (written) to allow sth that was hidden to be seen\nSYN REVEAL:\nThe door swung open, disclosing a long dark passage.


Words: disclosure
Meaning:
noun (formal)\n  1  [U] the act of making sth known or public that was previously secret or private\nSYN REVELATION:\nthe newspaper’s disclosure of defence secrets * The bank will need full disclosure of your financial situation and assets. * The court ruled to prevent public disclosure of the contents of the documents.\n  2  [C] information or a fact that is made known or public that was previously secret or private\nSYN REVELATION:\nstartling disclosures about his private life


Words: disco
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (also old-fashioned discotheque) a club, a party, etc. where people dance to recorded pop music:\ndisco music / dancing * the youth club disco\n  2  the lights and sound equipment for such an event


Words: discoloration
Meaning:
(BrE also discolouration)  noun\n  1  [U] the process of becoming discoloured:\ndiscoloration caused by the sun\n  2  [C] a place where sth has become discoloured:\nHe began to notice a few small brown discolorations on his skin and made an appointment to see the doctor.


Words: discolour
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE discolor)  verb\nto change colour, or to make the colour of sth change, in a way that makes it look less attractive:\n[V] Plastic tends to discolour with age. * [VN] The pipes were beginning to rust, discolouring the water.


Words: discomfit
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] [often passive] (literary) to make sb feel confused or embarrassed:\nHe was not noticeably discomfited by the request. * a discomfiting gaze / silence\n    discomfiture  noun [U]:\nHe was clearly taking delight in her discomfiture.


Words: discomfort
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [U] a feeling of slight pain or of being physically uncomfortable:\nYou will experience some minor discomfort during the treatment. * abdominal discomfort\n  2  [U] a feeling of worry or embarrassment:\nJohn’s presence caused her considerable discomfort. * I could sense their discomfort at what I was saying.\n  3  [C] (formal) something that makes you feel uncomfortable or causes you a slight feeling of pain:\nthe dangers and discomforts of a life at sea\n    verb [VN] [often passive] (formal) to make sb feel anxious or embarrassed:\nMany patients complained of being discomforted by the doctor’s manner.


Words: disconcert
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to make sb feel anxious, confused or embarrassed:\nHis answer rather disconcerted her.\n    disconcerted adjective:\nI was very disconcerted to find that everyone else already knew it.\n    disconcerting adjective:\nShe had the disconcerting habit of saying exactly what she thought.\n    disconcertingly adverb


Words: disconnect
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  ~ sth (from sth) to remove a piece of equipment from a supply of gas, water or electricity:\nFirst, disconnect the boiler from the water mains. * It was the family’s decision to disconnect her from the life-support machine.\n  2  [usually passive] to officially stop the supply of telephone lines, water, electricity or gas to a building:\nYou may be disconnected if you do not pay the bill.\n  3  ~ sth (from sth) to separate sth from sth:\nThe ski had become disconnected from the boot.\n  4  [usually passive] to break the contact between two people who are talking on the telephone:\nWe were suddenly disconnected.\nOPP CONNECT\n    disconnection noun [U, C]:\nCustomer disconnections have fallen by 30% over the past year.


Words: disconnected
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  not related to or connected with the things or people around:\ndisconnected images / thoughts / ideas * I felt disconnected from the world around me.\n  2  (of speech or writing) with the parts not connected in a logical order


Words: disconsolate
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) very unhappy and disappointed\nSYN DEJECTED:\nThe disconsolate players left for home without a trophy.\n    disconsolately adverb:\nHe wandered disconsolately around the town in the pouring rain.


Words: discontent
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] ~ (at / over / with sth) a feeling of being unhappy because you are not satisfied with a particular situation; sth that makes you have this feeling\nSYN DISSATISFACTION:\nThere is widespread discontent among the staff at the proposed changes to pay and conditions. * (formal) There are a wide variety of popular discontents which need discussing.\ncompare CONTENTMENT


Words: discontented
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (with sth) unhappy because you are not satisfied with your situation:\nHe felt discontented with the way his life had turned out. * discontented party members\nOPP CONTENTED\n    discontentedly adverb


Words: discontinue
Meaning:
verb\n  1  to stop doing, using or providing sth, especially sth that you have been doing, using or providing regularly:\n[VN] It was decided to discontinue the treatment after three months. * The company has discontinued the practice of providing the staff with free lunches. [also V -ing]\n  2  [VN] [usually passive] to stop making a product:\na sale of discontinued china


Words: discontinuity
Meaning:
noun (plural discontinuities) (formal)\n  1  [U] the state of not being continuous:\ndiscontinuity in the children’s education\n  2  [C] a break or change in a continuous process:\nChanges in government have led to discontinuities in policy.\nOPP CONTINUITY


Words: discontinuous
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) not continuous; stopping and starting again\nSYN INTERMITTENT:\nWomen typically have discontinuous patterns of employment.


Words: discord
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] (formal) disagreement; quarrelling:\nmarital / family discord * A note of discord surfaced during the proceedings.\nOPP CONCORD\ncompare HARMONY\n  2  [C, U] (music) a combination of musical notes that sound harsh together


Words: discordant
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  [usually before noun] (formal) not in agreement; combining with other things in a way that is strange or unpleasant:\ndiscordant views * The functional modernity of the computer struck a discordant note amid the elegant eighteenth-century furniture.\n  2  (of sounds) sounding harsh together


Words: discount
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun  [C, U] an amount of money that is taken off the usual cost of sth\nSYN REDUCTION:\nto get / give / offer a discount * discount rates / prices * a 10% discount * They were selling everything at a discount (= at reduced prices). * a discount shop (= one that regularly sells goods at reduced prices) * Do you give any discount?\n    verb  [VN] \n  1  ~ sth (as sth) (formal) to think or say that sth is not important or not true:\nWe cannot discount the possibility of further strikes. * The news reports were being discounted as propaganda.\n  2  to take an amount of money off the usual cost of sth; to sell sth at a discount:\ndiscounted prices / fares * Most of our stock has been discounted by up to 40%.


Words: discounter
Meaning:
(also discount store) noun\na shop/store that sells things very cheaply, often in large quantities or from a limited range of goods


Words: discourage
Meaning:
verb\n  1  ~ sth | ~ sb from doing sth to try to prevent sth or to prevent sb from doing sth, especially by making it difficult to do or by showing that you do not approve of it:\n[VN] a campaign to discourage smoking among teenagers * I leave a light on when I’m out to discourage burglars. * His parents tried to discourage him from being an actor. [also V -ing]\n  2  [VN] ~ sb (from doing sth) to make sb feel less confident or enthusiastic about doing sth:\nDon’t be discouraged by the first failure-try again! * The weather discouraged most people from attending.\nOPP ENCOURAGE\n    discouraged adjective [not usually before noun]:\nLearners can feel very discouraged if an exercise is too difficult.\n    discouraging adjective:\na discouraging experience / response / result\n    discouragingly adverb


Words: discouragement
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] a feeling that you no longer have the confidence or enthusiasm to do sth:\nan atmosphere of discouragement and despair\n  2  [U] the action of trying to stop sth:\nthe government’s discouragement of political protest\n  3  [C] a thing that discourages sb from doing sth:\nDespite all these discouragements, she refused to give up. * The rise in fuel prices is intended to act as a discouragement to car users from using their cars.


Words: discourse
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun \n  1  [C, U] (formal) a long and serious treatment or discussion of a subject in speech or writing:\na discourse on issues of gender and sexuality * He was hoping for some lively political discourse at the meeting.\n  2  [U] (linguistics) the use of language in speech and writing in order to produce meaning; language that is studied, usually in order to see how the different parts of a text are connected:\nspoken / written discourse * discourse analysis\n    verb \n PHRASAL VERBS \n  discourse on / upon sth (formal) to talk or give a long speech about sth that you know a lot about:\nHe discoursed for hours on the problems of the education system.


Words: discourteous
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) having bad manners and not showing respect for other people\nSYN IMPOLITE:\nHe didn’t wish to appear discourteous.\nOPP COURTEOUS


Words: discover
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [VN] to be the first person to become aware that a particular place or thing exists:\nCook is credited with discovering Hawaii. * Scientists around the world are working to discover a cure for Aids.\n  2  to find sb/sth that was hidden or that you did not expect to find:\n[VN] Police discovered a large stash of drugs while searching the house. * We discovered this beach while we were sailing around the island. * [VN -ing] He was discovered hiding in a shed. * [VN-ADJ] She was discovered dead at her home in Leeds.\n  3  to find out about sth; to find some information about sth:\n[VN] I’ve just discovered hang-gliding! * [V (that)] It was a shock to discover (that) he couldn’t read. * [V wh-] We never did discover why she gave up her job. * [VN that] It was later discovered that the diaries were a fraud. * [VN to inf] He was later discovered to be seriously ill.\n HELP NOTE  This pattern is usually used in the passive.\n  4  [VN] [often passive] to be the first person to realize that sb is very good at singing, acting, etc. and help them to become successful and famous:\nThe singer was discovered while still at school.\n    discoverer noun:\nthe discoverer of penicillin * I was the lucky discoverer of a very valuable painting.\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \ndiscover / invent / find out / learn / know\nIf you invent something, you make or design something that did not exist before.\nIf you discover something, you find something that already exists or learn about it for the first time, before anyone else does: Who discovered America?\nYou can also discover a piece of information that other people knew but you didn’t: When did you discover that she’s married?\nIf you learn something, you come to know it by study or enquiry: learning new vocabulary.\nYou can find something out either by chance or by study or enquiry: When did you find out that she’s married?\nIf you know something, you have that knowledge or information in your mind: I couldn’t find out what the word meant as it wasn’t in my dictionary, but John told me, so now I know it.\n______________________________


Words: discovery
Meaning:
noun (plural discoveries)\n  1  [C, U] ~ (of sth) | ~ (that ...) an act or the process of finding sb/sth, or learning about sth that was not known about before:\nthe discovery of antibiotics in the 20th century * The discovery of a child’s body in the river has shocked the community. * Researchers in this field have made some important new discoveries. * He saw life as a voyage of discovery. * She was shocked by the discovery that he had been unfaithful. * the discovery of new talent in the art world * In 1974 Hawking made the discovery (= he discovered) that black holes give off radiation.\n  2  [C] a thing, fact or person that is found or learned about for the first time:\nThe drug is not a new discovery-it’s been known about for years.


Words: discredit
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [VN] \n  1  to make people stop respecting sb/sth:\nThe photos were deliberately taken to discredit the President. * a discredited government / policy\n  2  to make people stop believing that sth is true; to make sth appear unlikely to be true:\nThese theories are now largely discredited among linguists. * This new evidence discredits earlier findings.\n    noun [U] (formal) damage to sb’s reputation; loss of respect:\nViolent football fans bring discredit on the teams they support. * Britain, to its discredit, did not speak out against these atrocities. * My brother’s behaviour did great discredit to the family.\ncompare CREDIT n. (7)


Words: discreet
Meaning:
adjective\ncareful in what you say or do, in order to keep sth secret or to avoid causing embarrassment or difficulty for sb\nSYN TACTFUL:\nHe was always very discreet about his love affairs. * You ought to make a few discreet enquiries before you sign anything. * A discreet glance at the clock told me the interview had lasted an hour.\n    discreetly adverb:\nShe coughed discreetly to announce her presence.\n______________________________\n WORD FAMILY \ndiscreet adj. (=/= indiscreet)\ndiscretion n. (=/= indiscretion)\n______________________________


Words: discrepancy
Meaning:
noun\n(plural discrepancies) [C, U] ~ (in sth) | ~ (between A and B) a difference between two or more things that should be the same:\nwide discrepancies in prices quoted for the work * What are the reasons for the discrepancy between girls’ and boys’ performance in school? * There has always been a / some discrepancy between his public and private image.


Words: discrete
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal or technical) independent of other things of the same type\nSYN SEPARATE:\nThe organisms can be divided into discrete categories.\n    discretely adverb\n    discreteness noun [U]


Words: discretion
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the freedom or power to decide what should be done in a particular situation:\nI’ll leave it up to you to use your discretion. * How much to tell terminally ill patients is left to the discretion of the doctor.\n  2  care in what you say or do, in order to keep sth secret or to avoid causing embarrassment or difficulty for sb; the quality of being DISCREET:\nThis is confidential, but I know that I can rely on your discretion. * Jane is the soul of discretion (= you can trust her). * Use the utmost discretion when you talk to her.\ncompare INDISCRETION\n IDIOMS \n  at sb’s discretion according to what sb decides or wishes to do:\nBail is granted at the discretion of the court. * There is no service charge and tipping is at your discretion.\n  discretion is the better part of valour (saying) you should avoid danger and not take unnecessary risks


Words: discretionary
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] (formal) decided according to the judgement of a person in authority about what is necessary in each particular situation; not decided by rules:\nYou may be eligible for a discretionary grant for your university course.


Words: discriminate
Meaning:
verb\n  1  ~ (between A and B) | ~ A from B to recognize that there is a difference between people or things; to show a difference between people or things:\n[V] The computer program was unable to discriminate between letters and numbers. * [VN] When do babies learn to discriminate voices? * A number of features discriminate this species from others.\n  2  [V] ~ (against sb) | ~ (in favour of sb) to treat one person or group worse/better than another in an unfair way:\npractices that discriminate against women and in favour of men * It is illegal to discriminate on grounds of race, sex or religion.


Words: discrimination
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] ~ (against sb) the practice of treating sb or a particular group in society less fairly than others:\nracial / sex / sexual discrimination (= because of sb’s race or sex) * discrimination against the elderly * discrimination in favour of the young * discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, or sexual orientation * With the current job situation, age discrimination in employment is becoming more common.\nsee also POSITIVE DISCRIMINATION\n  2  [U] (approving) the ability to judge what is good, true, etc.\nSYN DISCERNMENT:\nHe showed great discrimination in his choice of friends.\n  3  (formal) [U, C] the ability to recognize a difference between one thing and another; a difference that is recognized:\nto learn discrimination between right and wrong * fine discriminations


Words: discriminatory
Meaning:
adjective\nunfair; treating sb or one group of people worse than others:\ndiscriminatory practices / rules / measures * sexually / racially discriminatory laws


Words: discursive
Meaning:
adjective\n(of a style of writing or speaking) moving from one point to another without any strict structure:\nthe discursive style of the novel


Words: discus
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] a heavy flat circular object thrown in a sporting event\n  2  (the discus) [sing.] the event or sport of throwing a discus as far as possible


Words: discuss
Meaning:
verb\n  1  ~ sth (with sb) to talk about sth with other people, especially in order to decide sth:\n[VN] Have you discussed the problem with anyone? * I’m not prepared to discuss this on the phone. * They met to discuss the possibility of working together. * [V wh-] We need to discuss when we should go. * [V -ing] We briefly discussed buying a second car. [also VN -ing]\n HELP NOTE  You cannot say ’discuss about sth’: _I_ _d_i_s_c_u_s_s_e_d_ _a_b_o_u_t_ _m_y_ _p_r_o_b_l_e_m_ _w_i_t_h_ _m_y_ _p_a_r_e_n_t_s_._ _L_o_o_k_ _a_l_s_o_ _a_t_ discussion.\n  2  to write or talk about sth in detail, showing the different ideas and opinions about it:\n[VN] This topic will be discussed at greater length in the next chapter. [also V wh-]


Words: discussion
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U, C] the process of discussing sb/sth; a conversation about sb/sth:\na topic / subject for discussion * After considerable discussion, they decided to accept our offer. * The plans have been under discussion (= being talked about) for a year now. * Discussions are still taking place between the two leaders. * We had a discussion about the differences between Britain and the US. * A lively discussion followed about whether he should be allowed to join the club.\n  2  [C] a speech or a piece of writing that discusses many different aspects of a subject:\nHer article is a discussion of the methods used in research.


Words: disdain
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun [U, sing.] ~ (for sb/sth) the feeling that sb/sth is not good enough to deserve your respect or attention\nSYN CONTEMPT:\nto treat sb with disdain * a disdain for the law * He turned his head away in disdain.\n    verb (formal)\n  1  [VN] to think that sb/sth is not good enough to deserve your respect:\nShe disdained his offer of help. * Immigrants accept the jobs disdained by the local workforce.\n  2  [V to inf] to refuse to do sth because you think that you are too important to do it:\nHe disdained to turn to his son for advice.


Words: disdainful
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (of sb/sth) showing disdain:\nShe’s always been disdainful of people who haven’t been to college.\n    disdainfully  adverb


Words: disease
Meaning:
noun [U, C]\n  1  an illness affecting humans, animals or plants, often caused by infection:\nheart / liver / kidney disease * health measures to prevent the spread of disease * an infectious / contagious disease (= one that can be passed to sb very easily) * It is not known what causes the disease. * protection against sexually transmitted diseases * He suffers from a rare blood disease. * A fatty diet increases the risk of heart disease. * the problem of controlling pests and disease with organic gardening methods\n  2  [C] (formal) something that is very wrong with people’s attitudes, way of life or with society:\nGreed is a disease of modern society.


Words: disembark
Meaning:
verb\n[V] ~ (from sth) (informal) to leave a vehicle, especially a ship or an aircraft, at the end of a journey\nOPP EMBARK\n    disembarkation  noun [U]:\nPlease assemble on the deck for disembarkation.


Words: disembodied
Meaning:
adjective [usually before noun]\n  1  (of sounds) coming from a person or place that cannot be seen or identified:\na disembodied voice\n  2  separated from the body:\ndisembodied spirits


Words: disenchanted
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (with sb/sth) no longer feeling enthusiasm for sb/sth; not believing sth is good or worth doing:\nHe was becoming disenchanted with his job as a lawyer.\n    disenchantment noun [U]:\na growing sense / feeling of disenchantment with his job


Words: disenfranchise
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to take away sb’s rights, especially their right to vote:\na disenfranchised group / minority\nOPP ENFRANCHISE


Words: disengage
Meaning:
verb\n  1  ~ (sth/sb) (from sth/sb) | ~ yourself (from sb/sth) (formal) to free sb/sth from the person or thing that is holding them or it; to become free:\n[VN] She gently disengaged herself from her sleeping son. * to disengage the clutch (= when driving a car) * (figurative) They wished to disengage themselves from these policies. * [V] We saw the booster rockets disengage and fall into the sea.\n  2  [V, VN] (technical) if an army disengages or sb disengages it, it stops fighting and moves away\ncompare ENGAGE\n    disengagement noun [U]


Words: disentangle
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  ~ sth (from sth) to separate different arguments, ideas, etc. that have become confused:\nIt’s not easy to disentangle the truth from the official statistics. * It is important to disentangle all the factors that may be causing your stress.\n  2  ~ sth/sb (from sth) to free sb/sth from sth that has become wrapped or twisted around it or them:\nHe tried to disentangle his fingers from her hair. * (figurative) She has just disentangled herself from a painful relationship.\n  3  to get rid of the twists and knots in sth:\nHe was sitting on the deck disentangling a coil of rope.


Words: disestablish
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) to end the official status of a national Church:\na campaign to disestablish the Church of England\n    disestablishment noun [U]


Words: disfavour
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE disfavor)  noun\n[U] (formal) the feeling that you do not like or approve of sb/sth:\nThey looked upon the birth of a girl with disfavour. * She seems to have fallen into disfavour with the director.


Words: disfigure
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to spoil the appearance of a person, thing or place:\nHer face was disfigured by a long red scar. * An ugly power station disfigures the landscape.\n    disfigurement noun [U, C]:\nHe suffered permanent disfigurement in the fire.


Words: disgorge
Meaning:
verb [VN] (written)\n  1  to pour sth out in large quantities:\nThe pipe disgorges sewage into the sea.\n  2  if a vehicle or building disgorges people, they come out of it in large numbers:\nThe bus disgorged a crowd of noisy children.


Words: disgrace
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [U] the loss of other people’s respect and approval because of the bad way sb has behaved\nSYN SHAME:\nHer behaviour has brought disgrace on her family. * The swimmer was sent home from the Olympics in disgrace. * There is no disgrace in being poor. * Sam was in disgrace with his parents.\n  2  [sing.] a ~ (to sb/sth) a person or thing that is so bad that people connected with them or it feel or should feel ashamed:\nYour homework is an absolute disgrace. * That sort of behaviour is a disgrace to the legal profession. * The state of our roads is a national disgrace. * It’s a disgrace that (= it is very wrong that) they are paid so little.\n    verb [VN] \n  1  to behave badly in a way that makes you or other people feel ashamed:\nI disgraced myself by drinking far too much. * He had disgraced the family name.\n  2  (be disgraced) to lose the respect of people, usually so that you lose a position of power:\nHe was publicly disgraced and sent into exile. * a disgraced politician / leader


Words: disgraceful
Meaning:
adjective\nvery bad or unacceptable; that people should feel ashamed about:\nHis behaviour was absolutely disgraceful! * It’s disgraceful that none of the family tried to help her. * a disgraceful waste of money\n    disgracefully  adverb


Words: disgruntled
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (at sb/sth) annoyed or disappointed because sth has happened to upset you:\nI left feeling disgruntled at the way I’d been treated. * disgruntled employees


Words: disguise
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [VN] \n  1  ~ sb (as sb/sth) to change your appearance so that people cannot recognize you:\nThe hijackers were heavily disguised. * She disguised herself as a boy. * They got in disguised as security guards.\n  2  to hide sth or change it, so that it cannot be recognized:\nShe made no attempt to disguise her surprise. * It was a thinly disguised attack on the President. * She couldn’t disguise the fact that she felt uncomfortable. * He tried to disguise his accent.\n    noun\n  1  [C, U] a thing that you wear or use to change your appearance so that people do not recognize you:\nShe wore glasses and a wig as a disguise. * The star travelled in disguise (= wearing a disguise). * (figurative) A vote for the Liberal Democrats is just a Labour vote in disguise.\n  2  [U] the art of changing your appearance so that people do not recognize you:\nHe is a master of disguise.\n IDIOMS  see BLESSING


Words: disgust
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun [U] ~ (at / with sth) | ~ (for sb) a strong feeling of dislike or disapproval for sb/sth that you feel is unacceptable, or for sth that looks, smells, etc. unpleasant:\nShe expressed her disgust at the programme by writing a letter to complain. * The idea fills me with disgust. * I can only feel disgust for these criminals. * He walked away in disgust. * Much to my disgust, they refused to help. * She wrinkled her nose in disgust at the smell of urine.\n    verb [VN] if sth disgusts you, it makes you feel shocked and almost ill because it is so unpleasant:\nThe level of violence in the film really disgusted me.


Words: disgusted
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (at / by / with sb/sth / yourself) feeling or showing disgust:\nI was disgusted at / by the thought that he had touched her. * He was disgusted to see such awful living conditions. * I was disgusted with myself for eating so much.\n    disgustedly  adverb:\n’This champagne is warm!’, he said disgustedly.


Words: disgusting
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  extremely unpleasant:\nThe kitchen was in a disgusting state when she left. * What a disgusting smell!\n  2  unacceptable and shocking:\nI think it’s disgusting that they’re closing the local hospital. * His language is disgusting (= he uses a lot of obscene words).


Words: disgustingly
Meaning:
adverb\n  1  (sometimes humorous) extremely (in a way that other people feel jealous of):\nHe looked disgustingly healthy when he got back from the Bahamas.\n  2  in a disgusting way:\ndisgustingly dirty


Words: dish
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C] a flat shallow container for cooking food in or serving it from:\na glass dish * an ovenproof dish * a baking / serving dish * They helped themselves from a large dish of pasta.\n \n  2  (the dishes) [pl.] the plates, bowls, cups, etc. that have been used for a meal and need to be washed:\nI’ll do the dishes (= wash them).\n \n  3  [C] food prepared in a particular way as part of a meal:\na vegetarian / fish dish * This makes an excellent hot main dish. * I can recommend the chef’s dish of the day.\nsee also SIDE DISH\n  4  [C] any object that is shaped like a dish or bowl:\na soap dish\nsee also SATELLITE DISH\n  5  [C] (informal) a sexually attractive person:\nWhat a dish!\n    verb\n IDIOMS \n  dish the dirt (on sb) (informal) to tell people unkind or unpleasant things about sb, especially about their private life:\nShe loves to dish the dirt on her sisters.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  dish it out (disapproving) to criticize other people:\nHe enjoys dishing it out, but he really can’t take it (= cannot accept criticism from other people).\n  dish sth<->out\n1 (informal) to give sth, often to a lot of people or in large amounts:\nStudents dished out leaflets to passers-by. * She’s always dishing out advice, even when you don’t want it.\n2 to serve food onto plates for a meal:\nCan you dish out the potatoes please?\n  dish up | dish sth<->up to serve food onto plates for a meal\n  dish up sth to offer sth to sb, especially sth that is not very good


Words: disharmony
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (formal) a lack of agreement about important things, which causes bad feelings between people or groups of people:\nmarital / racial / social disharmony


Words: dishearten
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (written) to make sb lose hope or confidence:\nDon’t let this defeat dishearten you.\n    disheartened adjective:\na disheartened team / community\n    disheartening  adjective:\na disheartening experience / failure


Words: dishevelled
Meaning:
(especially BrE) (AmE usually disheveled) adjective (of hair, clothes or sb’s general appearance) very untidy:\nHe looked tired, dishevelled and very pale.


Words: dishonest
Meaning:
adjective\nnot honest; intending to deceive people:\nBeware of dishonest traders in the tourist areas. * I don’t like him, and it would be dishonest of me to pretend otherwise.\n    dishonestly adverb:\nHe was accused of dishonestly obtaining property.\n    dishonesty noun [U]:\nFive civil servants were dismissed for dishonesty and misconduct.


Words: dishonour
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE dishonor)  noun, verb \n    noun [U] (formal) a loss of honour or respect because you have done sth immoral or unacceptable:\nHer actions have brought shame and dishonour on the profession.\n    verb [VN] (formal)\n  1  to make sb/sth lose the respect of other people:\nYou have dishonoured the name of the school.\n  2  to refuse to keep an agreement or promise:\nHe had dishonoured nearly all of his election pledges.\nOPP HONOUR


Words: dishonourable
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE dishonorable)  adjective\nnot deserving respect; immoral or unacceptable:\nIt would have been dishonourable of her not to keep her promise. * He was given a dishonourable discharge (= an order to leave the army for unacceptable behaviour).\n    dishonourably  adverb:\nShe acted dishonourably in accepting money for information.


Words: dishwasher
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a machine for washing plates, cups, etc:\nto load / stack the dishwasher * Are these glasses dishwasher safe?\n  2  a person whose job is to wash plates, etc., for example in a restaurant


Words: dishwater
Meaning:
noun\n[U] water that sb has used to wash dirty plates, etc: (humorous) The coffee looked and tasted like dishwater (= it was weak and unpleasant).\n IDIOMS  see DULL adj.


Words: disillusion
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to destroy sb’s belief in or good opinion of sb/sth:\nI hate to disillusion you, but not everyone is as honest as you.\n    disillusion noun [U] = DISILLUSIONMENT


Words: disillusioned
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (by / with sb/sth) disappointed because the person you admired or the idea you believed to be good and true now seems without value:\nI soon became disillusioned with the job. * I feel utterly disillusioned by his refusal to take any action. * Her book is the testimony of a disillusioned woman.


Words: disillusionment
Meaning:
(also disillusion) noun\n[U, sing.] ~ (with sth) the state of being disillusioned:\nThere is widespread disillusionment with the present government. * Disillusionment among the young is worrying for schools.


Words: disincentive
Meaning:
noun\n[C] ~ (to sth) a thing that makes sb less willing or less keen to do sth:\nA sudden fall in profits provided a further disincentive to new investors. * A low starting salary acts as a strong disincentive to getting back to work for the unemployed.\nOPP INCENTIVE


Words: disinclination
Meaning:
noun\n[sing., U] (formal) a lack of willingness to do sth; a lack of enthusiasm for sth:\nThere was a general disinclination to return to the office after lunch.


Words: disinclined
Meaning:
adjective\n[not before noun] ~ (to do sth) (formal) not willing\nSYN RELUCTANT:\nHe was strongly disinclined to believe anything that she said.


Words: disinfect
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to clean sth using a substance that kills bacteria:\nto disinfect a surface / room / wound\n  2  to run a computer program to get rid of a computer VIRUS


Words: disinformation
Meaning:
noun\n[U] false information that is given deliberately, especially by government organizations:\nIt was a very plausible piece of disinformation.


Words: disingenuous
Meaning:
adjective\n[not usually before noun] (formal) not sincere, especially when you pretend to know less about sth than you really do:\nIt would be disingenuous of me to claim I had never seen it.\ncompare INGENUOUS\n    disingenuously adverb


Words: disinherit
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to prevent sb, especially your son or daughter, from receiving your money or property after your death\ncompare INHERIT (1)


Words: disintegrate
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to break into small parts or pieces and be destroyed:\nThe plane disintegrated as it fell into the sea. * The wall just disintegrated in a shower of fragments and dust.\n  2  to become much less strong or united and be gradually destroyed:\nThe authority of the central government was rapidly disintegrating.\n    disintegration  noun [U]:\nthe gradual disintegration of traditional values


Words: disinter
Meaning:
verb (-rr-) [VN] (formal)\n  1  to dig up sth, especially a dead body, from the ground\nOPP INTER\n  2  ~ sth (from sth) to find sth that has been hidden or lost for a long time


Words: disinterest
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  ~ (in sth) lack of interest:\nHis total disinterest in money puzzled his family.\n  2  the fact of not being involved in sth


Words: disinterested
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  not influenced by personal feelings, or by the chance of getting some advantage for yourself:\na disinterested onlooker / spectator * Her advice appeared to be disinterested.\n  2  (informal) not interested -> INTERESTED\n    disinterestedly adverb


Words: disjointed
Meaning:
adjective\nnot communicated or described in a clear or logical way; not connected:\nthe disjointed thoughts of a dying man * The novel suffers from a disjointed plot and pale, insignificant characters.


Words: disjunction
Meaning:
noun\n~ (between A and B) (formal) a difference between two things that you would expect to be in agreement with each other:\nthe wide disjunction between the cultural norms of his home and community and those of the school


Words: disk
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (especially AmE) = DISC\n  2  (also magnetic disk) (computing) a device for storing information on a computer, with a MAGNETIC surface that records information received in electronic form\nsee also FLOPPY DISK, HARD DISK


Words: disk drive
Meaning:
noun\na device that passes data between a disk and the memory of a computer or from one disk or computer to another:\na floppy / hard disk


Words: dislike
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (rather formal) to not like sb/sth:\n[VN] Why do you dislike him so much? * He disliked it when she behaved badly in front of his mother. * [V -ing] I dislike being away from my family. * Much as she disliked going to funerals (= although she did not like it at all), she knew she had to be there. * [VN -ing] He disliked her staying away from home.\n    noun\n  1  [U, sing.] ~ (of / for sb/sth) a feeling of not liking sb/sth:\nHe did not try to hide his dislike of his boss. * She took an instant dislike to the house and the neighbourhood.\n  2  [C, usually pl.] a thing that you do not like:\nI’ve told you all my likes and dislikes.


Words: dislocate
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to put a bone out of its normal position in a joint:\nHe dislocated his shoulder in the accident. * a dislocated finger\n  2  to stop a system, plan etc. from working or continuing in the normal way\nSYN DISRUPT\n    dislocation  noun [C, U]:\na dislocation of the shoulder * These policies could cause severe economic and social dislocation.


Words: dislodge
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  ~ sth (from sth) to force or knock sth out of its position:\nThe wind dislodged one or two tiles from the roof.\n  2  ~ sb (from sth) to force sb to leave a place, position or job:\nThe rebels have so far failed to dislodge the President.


Words: disloyal
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (to sb/sth) not loyal or faithful to your friends, family, country, etc:\nHe was accused of being disloyal to the government. * a disloyal remark * It was very disloyal of you to repeat what I’d said to Peter.\n    disloyalty  noun [U]:\nShe felt guilty of disloyalty to her dead husband.


Words: dismal
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  causing or showing sadness\nSYN MISERABLE, GLOOMY:\ndismal conditions / surroundings / weather * Christmas will be dismal without the children.\n  2  (informal) not skilful or successful; of very low quality:\nThe singer gave a dismal performance of some old songs. * Their recent attempt to increase sales has been a dismal failure.\n    dismally  adverb:\nI tried not to laugh but failed dismally (= was completely unsuccessful).


Words: dismantle
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to take apart a machine or structure so that it is in separate pieces:\nI had to dismantle the engine in order to repair it. * The steel mill was dismantled piece by piece.\n  2  to end an organization or system gradually in an organized way:\nThe government was in the process of dismantling the state-owned industries.\n    dismantling noun [U]


Words: dismay
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun [U] a worried, sad feeling after you have received an unpleasant surprise:\nShe could not hide her dismay at the result. * He looked at her in dismay. * To her dismay, her name was not on the list. * The news has been greeted with dismay by local business leaders.\n    verb [VN] to make sb feel shocked and disappointed:\nTheir reaction dismayed him.\n    dismayed adjective ~ (at / by sth) | ~ to find, hear, see, etc.:\nHe was dismayed at the change in his old friend. * The suggestion was greeted by a dismayed silence. * They were dismayed to find that the ferry had already left.


Words: dismember
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to cut or tear the dead body of a person or an animal into pieces:\nPolice say the body had been dismembered.\n  2  (formal) to divide a country, an organization, etc. into smaller parts:\nThe British railway network has gradually been dismembered.\n    dismemberment noun [U]


Words: dismiss
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  ~ sb/sth (as sth) to decide that sb/sth is not important and not worth thinking or talking about\nSYN WAVE ASIDE:\nI think we can safely dismiss their objections. * Vegetarians are no longer dismissed as cranks. * He dismissed the opinion polls as worthless. * The suggestion should not be dismissed out of hand (= without thinking about it).\n  2  ~ sth (from sth) to put thoughts or feelings out of your mind:\nDismissing her fears, she climbed higher. * He dismissed her from his mind.\n  3  ~ sb (from sth) to officially remove sb from their job:\nShe claims she was unfairly dismissed from her post.\n  4  to send sb away or allow them to leave:\nAt 12 o’clock the class was dismissed.\n  5  (law) to say that a trial or legal case should not continue, usually because there is not enough evidence:\nThe case was dismissed.\n  6  (in cricket) to end the INNINGS of a player or team


Words: dismissal
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U, C] the act of dismissing sb from their job; an example of this:\nHe still hopes to win his claim against unfair dismissal. * The dismissals followed the resignation of the chairman.\n  2  [U] the failure to consider sth as important:\nHer casual dismissal of the threats seemed irresponsible. * Dismissal of the last piece of evidence as unreliable would severely affect our case.


Words: dismissive
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (of sb/sth) showing that you do not believe a person or thing to be important or worth considering:\na dismissive gesture / tone * She was always dismissive of other women in the office.\n    dismissively adverb:\nto shrug / wave dismissively


Words: dismount
Meaning:
verb\n[V] ~ (from sth) to get off a horse, bicycle or motorcycle:\nShe bought her horse to a halt and dismounted.\nOPP MOUNT


Words: disobedient
Meaning:
adjective\nfailing or refusing to obey:\na disobedient child * I was very disobedient to my father.\nOPP OBEDIENT


Words: disobey
Meaning:
verb\nto refuse to do what a person, law, order, etc. tells you to do; to refuse to obey:\n[VN] He was punished for disobeying orders. * How dare you disobey me! [also V] \nOPP OBEY


Words: disorder
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] an untidy state; a lack of order or organization:\nHis financial affairs were in complete disorder. * The room was in a state of disorder. * Everyone began shouting at once and the meeting broke up in disorder.\nOPP ORDER\n  2  [U] violent behaviour of large groups of people:\nan outbreak of rioting and public disorder * Twenty people were arrested after a night of civil disorder.\ncompare ORDER (3)\n  3  [C, U] an illness that causes a part of the body to stop functioning correctly:\na blood / bowel disorder * eating disorders * He was suffering from some form of psychiatric disorder. * a rare disorder of the liver * Most people with acute mental disorder can be treated at home.


Words: disordered
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  showing a lack of order or control:\ndisordered hair * a disordered state\nOPP ORDERED\n  2  (technical) suffering from a mental or physical disorder:\nemotionally disordered children


Words: disorderly
Meaning:
adjective [usually before noun] (formal)\n  1  (of people or behaviour) showing lack of control; publicly violent or noisy:\ndisorderly conduct * They were arrested for being drunk and disorderly.\n  2  untidy:\nnewspapers in a disorderly pile by the door\nOPP ORDERLY


Words: disorganized
Meaning:
(BrE also disorganised)  (also less frequent unorganized, disorganised) adjective\nbadly planned; not able to plan or organize well:\nIt was a hectic disorganized weekend. * She’s so disorganized. * Don’t expect him to get there on time-he’s completely disorganized.\ncompare ORGANIZED\n    disorganization, disorganisation  noun [U]


Words: disorientate
Meaning:
, AmE, BrE) verb [VN] \n  1  to make sb unable to recognize where they are or where they should go:\nThe darkness had disorientated him.\n  2  to make sb feel confused:\nEx-soldiers can be disorientated by the transition to civilian life.\ncompare ORIENT\n    disorientated (also disoriented) adjective:\nShe felt shocked and totally disorientated.\n    disorientation  noun [U]


Words: disown
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to decide that you no longer want to be connected with or responsible for sb/sth:\nHer family disowned her for marrying a foreigner.


Words: disparage
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) to suggest that sb/sth is not important or valuable:\nI don’t mean to disparage your achievements.\n    disparagement noun [U]\n    disparaging adjective:\ndisparaging remarks\n    disparagingly adverb:\nHe spoke disparagingly of his colleagues.


Words: disparate
Meaning:
adjective (formal)\n  1  made up of parts or people that are very different from each other:\na disparate group of individuals\n  2  (of two or more things) so different from each other that they cannot be compared or cannot work together:\na critical study that aims to cover such disparate forms as Anglo-Saxon poetry and the modern novel.


Words: disparity
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] (plural disparities) (formal) a difference, especially one connected with unfair treatment:\nthe wide disparity between rich and poor * growing regional disparities in economic prosperity


Words: dispassionate
Meaning:
adjective\n(approving) not influenced by emotion\nSYN IMPARTIAL:\ntaking a calm, dispassionate view of the situation * a dispassionate observer\n    dispassionately adverb:\nThe case needs to be examined dispassionately at a public inquiry.


Words: dispatch
Meaning:
(BrE also despatch)  verb, noun \n    verb [VN] \n  1  ~ sb/sth (to ...) (formal) to send sb/sth somewhere, especially for a special purpose:\nTroops have been dispatched to the area. * A courier was dispatched to collect the documents.\n  2  ~ sth (to sb/sth) (formal) to send a letter, parcel/package or message somewhere:\nGoods are dispatched within 24 hours of your order reaching us.\n  3  (formal) to deal or finish with sb/sth quickly and completely:\nHe dispatched the younger player in straight sets.\n  4  (old-fashioned) to kill a person or an animal\n    noun\n  1  [U] (formal) the act of sending sb/sth somewhere:\nMore food supplies are ready for immediate dispatch.\n  2  [C] a message or report sent quickly from one military officer to another or between government officials:\nThe latest dispatch was held up for three hours at the border. * He was mentioned in dispatches (= for brave acts in war).\n  3  [C] a report sent to a newspaper by a journalist who is working in a foreign country:\ndispatches from the war zone\n IDIOMS \n  with dispatch (formal) quickly and efficiently:\nHe carries out his duties with efficiency and dispatch.


Words: dispatch box
Meaning:
(also despatch box) (both BrE) noun\n  1  [C] a container for carrying official documents\n  2  (the Dispatch Box) [sing.] a box on a table in the centre of the House of Commons in the British parliament, which ministers stand next to when they speak


Words: dispatch rider
Meaning:
(also despatch rider) noun\n(both BrE) a person whose job is to carry messages or packages by motorcycle


Words: dispel
Meaning:
verb\n(-ll-) [VN] to make sth, especially a feeling or belief, go away or disappear:\nHis speech dispelled any fears about his health.


Words: dispensable
Meaning:
adjective\n[not usually before noun] not necessary; that can be got rid of:\nThey looked on music and art lessons as dispensable.\nOPP INDISPENSABLE, ESSENTIAL


Words: dispensary
Meaning:
noun (plural dispensaries)\n  1  a place in a hospital, shop/store, etc. where medicines are prepared for patients\n  2  (old-fashioned) a place where patients are treated, especially one run by a charity


Words: dispensation
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] special permission, especially from a religious leader, to do sth that is not usually allowed or legal:\nShe needed a special dispensation to remarry. * The sport’s ruling body gave him dispensation to compete in national competitions.\n  2  [U] (formal) the act or process of providing sth, especially by sb in authority:\nthe dispensation of justice\n  3  [C] (technical) a political or religious system that operates in a country at a particular time


Words: dispense
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n \n  1   sth (to sb) to give out sth to people:\nThe machine dispenses a range of drinks and snacks.\n \n  2   sth (to sb) (formal) to provide sth, especially a service, for people:\nThe organization dispenses free health care to the poor. * to dispense justice / advice\n \n  3  to prepare medicine and give it to people, as a job:\nto dispense a prescription * (BrE) to dispense medicine * (BrE) a dispensing chemist\n \n PHRASAL VERBS \n  dispense with sb/sth to get rid of sth or stop using it because you no longer need it:\nDebit cards dispense with the need for cash altogether. * I think we can dispense with the formalities (= speak openly and naturally to each other).


Words: dispenser
Meaning:
noun\na machine or container holding money, drinks, paper towels, etc., that you can obtain quickly, for example by pulling a handle or pressing buttons:\na soap dispenser\nsee also CASH DISPENSER


Words: dispersal
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] (written) the process of sending sb/sth in different directions; the process of spreading sth over a wide area:\npolice trained in crowd dispersal * the dispersal of seeds


Words: disperse
Meaning:
verb\n  1  to move apart and go away in different directions; to make sb/sth do this:\n[V] The fog began to disperse. * The crowd dispersed quickly. * [VN] Police dispersed the protesters with tear gas.\n  2  to spread or to make sth spread over a wide area:\n[VN] The seeds are dispersed by the wind. [also V]


Words: dispersion
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (technical) the process by which people or things are spread over a wide area:\npopulation dispersion * the dispersion of light


Words: dispirited
Meaning:
adjective\n(written) having no hope or enthusiasm:\nShe looked tired and dispirited.\ncompare SPIRITED


Words: displace
Meaning:
verb [VN] [often passive]\n  1  to take the place of sb/sth:\nGradually factory workers have been displaced by machines. * (technical) The ship displaces 58 000 tonnes (= as a way of measuring of its size).\n  2  to force people to move away from their home to another place:\nAround 10 000 people have been displaced by the fighting.\n  3  to move sth from its usual position:\nCheck for roof tiles that have been displaced by the wind.\n  4  (especially AmE) to remove sb from a job or position:\nThe nation’s displaced workers are not receiving enough help with job-seeking.


Words: displacement
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  (formal) the act of displacing sb/sth; the process of being displaced:\nthe largest displacement of civilian population since World War Two\n  2  [C] (physics) the amount of a liquid moved out of place by sth floating or put in it, especially a ship floating in water:\na ship with a displacement of 10 000 tonnes


Words: display
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb  sth (to sb)\n  1  [VN] to put sth in a place where people can see it easily; to show sth to people:\nThe exhibition gives local artists an opportunity to display their work. * She displayed her bruises for all to see.\n  2  [VN] to show signs of sth, especially a quality or feeling:\nI have rarely seen her display any sign of emotion. * These statistics display a definite trend.\n  3  [VN] (of a computer, etc.) to show information:\nThe screen will display the user name in the top right-hand corner. * This column displays the title of the mail message.\n  4  [V] (technical) (of male birds and animals) to show a special pattern of behaviour that is intended to attract a female bird or animal\n    noun\n\n \n  1  an arrangement of things in a public place to inform or entertain people or advertise sth for sale:\na beautiful floral display outside the Town Hall * a window display * a display cabinet\n \n  2  an act of performing a skill or of showing sth happening, in order to entertain:\na firework display * a breathtaking display of aerobatics\n \n  3  an occasion when you show a particular quality, feeling or ability by the way that you behave:\na display of affection / strength / wealth\n \n  4  the words, pictures, etc. shown on a computer screen:\na high resolution colour display\nsee also LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY, VDU\n IDIOMS \n  on display put in a place where people can look at it:\nDesigns for the new sports hall are on display in the library. * to put sth on temporary / permanent display


Words: displease
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) to make sb feel upset, annoyed or not satisfied:\nThe tone of the letter displeased her.\nOPP PLEASE\n    displeased adjective  (with sb/sth):\nAre you displeased with my work?\n    displeasing adjective  (to sb/sth):\nHis remarks were clearly not displeasing to her.


Words: displeasure
Meaning:
noun\n[U] ~ (at / with sb/sth) (formal) the feeling of being upset and annoyed:\nShe made no attempt to hide her displeasure at the prospect. * The incident has heightened public displeasure with the authorities.\ncompare PLEASURE


Words: disposable
Meaning:
adjective [usually before noun]\n  1  made to be thrown away after use:\ndisposable gloves / razors * (BrE) disposable nappies * (AmE) disposable diapers\n  2  (finance) available for use:\ndisposable assets / capital / resources * a person’s disposable income (= money they are free to spend after paying taxes, etc.)


Words: disposal
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the act of getting rid of sth:\na bomb disposal squad * sewage disposal systems * the disposal of nuclear waste\n  2  [C] (business) the sale of part of a business, property, etc:\nThe next step is to think about disposal of your assets.\n  3  [C] (AmE) = WASTE-DISPOSAL UNIT\n IDIOMS \n  at your / sb’s disposal available for use as you prefer/sb prefers:\nHe will have a car at his disposal for the whole month. * Well, I’m at your disposal (= I am ready to help you in any way I can).


Words: dispose
Meaning:
verb (formal)\n  1  [VN +adv./prep.] to arrange things or people in a particular way or position\n  2   sb to / toward(s) sth to make sb behave in a particular way:\n[VN] a drug that disposes the patient towards sleep [also VN to inf]\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  dispose of sb/sth\n1 to get rid of sb/sth that you do not want or cannot keep:\nthe difficulties of disposing of nuclear waste * to dispose of stolen property\n2 to deal with a problem, question or threat successfully:\nThat seems to have disposed of most of their arguments.\n3 to defeat or kill sb:\nIt took her a mere 20 minutes to dispose of her opponent.


Words: disposed
Meaning:
adjective [not before noun] (formal)\n  1  ~ (to do sth) willing or prepared to do sth:\nI’m not disposed to argue. * You’re most welcome to join us if you feel so disposed.\n  2  (following an adverb) ~ to / towards sb/sth having a good/bad opinion of a person or thing:\nShe seems favourably disposed to the move.\nsee also ILL-DISPOSED, WELL DISPOSED


Words: disposition
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, usually sing.] the natural qualities of a person’s character:\nto have a cheerful disposition * people of a nervous disposition\n  2  [C, usually sing.] ~ to / towards sth | ~ to do sth (formal) a tendency to behave in a particular way:\nto have / show a disposition towards acts of violence\n  3  [C, usually sing.] (formal) the way sth is placed or arranged\n  4  [C, U] (law) a formal act of giving property or money to sb


Words: dispossess
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] [usually passive]  sb (of sth) (formal) to take sb’s property, land or house away from them\n    dispossession  noun [U]


Words: disproportion
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] ~ (between A and B) (written) the state of two things not being at an equally high or low level; an example of this:\nthe disproportion between the extra responsibilities and the small salary increase * a profession with a high disproportion of male to female employees


Words: disproportionate
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (to sth) too large or too small when compared with sth else:\nThe area contains a disproportionate number of young middle-class families.\ncompare PROPORTIONATE\n    disproportionately adverb:\nThe lower-paid spend a disproportionately large amount of their earnings on food.


Words: dispute
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun  about sth) an argument or a disagreement between two people, groups or countries; discussion about a subject where there is disagreement:\na dispute between the two countries about the border * the latest dispute over fishing rights * industrial / pay disputes * The union is in dispute with management over working hours. * The cause of the accident was still in dispute (= being argued about). * The matter was settled beyond dispute by the court judgment (= it could no longer be argued about). * His theories are open to dispute (= can be disagreed with).\n    verb \n  1  to question whether sth is true and valid:\n[VN] These figures have been disputed. * to dispute a decision / claim * The family wanted to dispute the will. * [V that] No one is disputing that there is a problem. [also V wh-]\n  2  to argue or disagree strongly with sb about sth, especially about who owns sth:\n[VN] The ownership of this land has been disputed for centuries. * disputed territory * The issue remains hotly disputed. [also V]\n  3  [VN] to fight to get control of sth or to win sth:\nOn the last lap three runners were disputing the lead.


Words: disqualify
Meaning:
verb\n(disqualifies, disqualifying, disqualified, disqualified) [VN]  sb (from sth / from doing sth) |  sb (for sth) to prevent sb from doing sth because they have broken a rule or are not suitable:\nHe was disqualified from the competition for using drugs. * (BrE) You could be disqualified from driving for up to three years. * A heart condition disqualified him for military service.\n    disqualification  noun [C, U]:\nAny form of cheating means automatic disqualification.


Words: disquiet
Meaning:
noun\n[U] ~ (about / over sth) (formal) feelings of worry and unhappiness about sth:\nThere is considerable public disquiet about the safety of the new trains.


Words: disregard
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [VN] to not consider sth; to treat sth as unimportant:\nThe board completely disregarded my recommendations. * Safety rules were disregarded.\n    noun [U] ~ (for / of sb/sth) the act of treating sb/sth as unimportant and not caring about them/it:\nShe shows a total disregard for other people’s feelings. * The company showed a reckless disregard for the safety of the environment.


Words: disrepair
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a building, road, etc. that is in a state of disrepair has not been looked after and is broken or in bad condition:\nThe station quickly fell into disrepair after it was closed.


Words: disreputable
Meaning:
adjective\nthat people consider to be dishonest and bad\nOPP RESPECTABLE:\nShe spent the evening with her disreputable brother Stefan. * a disreputable area of the city\ncompare REPUTABLE


Words: disrepute
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the fact that sb/sth loses the respect of other people:\nThe players’ behaviour on the field is likely to bring the game into disrepute.


Words: disrespect
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] ~ (for / to sb/sth) a lack of respect for sb/sth:\ndisrespect for the law / the dead * No disrespect intended sir; it was just a joke.\n    disrespectful sth)\n    disrespectfully  adverb


Words: disrobe
Meaning:
verb\n(formal or humorous) to take off your or sb else’s clothes; to take off clothes worn for an official ceremony:\n[V] She went behind the screen to disrobe. [also VN]


Words: disrupt
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to make it difficult for sth to continue in the normal way:\nDemonstrators succeeded in disrupting the meeting. * Bus services will be disrupted tomorrow because of the bridge closure.\n    disruption  noun [U, C]:\nWe aim to help you move house with minimum disruption to yourself. * disruptions to rail services * The strike caused serious disruptions for several days.


Words: disruptive
Meaning:
adjective\ncausing problems, noise, etc. so that sth cannot continue normally:\nShe had a disruptive influence on the rest of the class.


Words: dissatisfaction
Meaning:
noun\n[U] ~ (with / at sb/sth) a feeling that you are not pleased and satisfied:\nMany people have expressed their dissatisfaction with the arrangement.


Words: dissatisfied
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (with sb/sth) not happy or satisfied with sth:\ndissatisfied customers * If you are dissatisfied with our service, please write to the manager.\nOPP SATISFIED\ncompare UNSATISFIED


Words: dissect
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to cut up a dead person, animal or plant in order to study it:\nThe biology students had to dissect a rat. * dissecting instruments\n  2  to study sth closely and/or discuss it in great detail:\nHer latest novel was dissected by the critics.\n  3  to divide sth into smaller pieces, areas, etc:\nThe city is dissected by a network of old canals.\n    dissection  noun [U, C]:\nanatomical dissection * Your enjoyment of a novel can suffer from too much analysis and dissection.


Words: dissemble
Meaning:
verb\n(formal) to hide your real feelings or intentions, often by pretending to have different ones:\n[V] She was a very honest person who was incapable of dissembling. [also VN]


Words: disseminate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) to spread information, knowledge, etc. so that it reaches many people:\nTheir findings have been widely disseminated.\n    dissemination  noun [U]


Words: dissent
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [U] the fact of having or expressing opinions that are different from those that are officially accepted:\npolitical / religious dissent * Voices of dissent began to rise against the established authority in the 1950s and 1960s. * Stability only exists in the country because dissent has been suppressed.\n  2  [C] (AmE) a judge’s statement giving reasons why he or she disagrees with a decision made by the other judges in a court case\n    verb [V] ~ (from sth) (formal) to have or express opinions that are different from those that are officially accepted:\nOnly two ministers dissented from the official view.\n    dissenting adjective:\ndissenting groups / voices / views / opinion


Words: dissenter
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who does not agree with opinions that are officially or generally accepted\n  2  (Dissenter) (in Britain in the past) a Protestant who refused to accept the teachings of the Church of England\ncompare NONCONFORMIST


Words: dissertation
Meaning:
noun\n~ (on sth) a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one written for a university degree


Words: disservice
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.]\n IDIOMS \n  do sb a disservice to do sth that harms sb and the opinion that other people have of them:\nThe minister’s comments do teachers a great disservice.


Words: dissident
Meaning:
noun\na person who strongly disagrees with and criticizes their government, especially in a country where this kind of action is dangerous:\nleft-wing dissidents\n    dissidence  noun [U]\n    dissident adjective


Words: dissimilar
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (from / to sb/sth) not the same:\nThese wines are not dissimilar (= are similar). * The two languages are completely dissimilar from each other.\nOPP SIMILAR\n    dissimilarity  noun [C, U]


Words: dissimulate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN, V] (formal) to hide your real feelings or intentions, often by pretending to have different ones\nSYN DISSEMBLE\n    dissimulation  noun [U]:\nHe was capable of great dissimulation and hypocrisy.


Words: dissipate
Meaning:
verb (formal)\n  1  to gradually become or make sth become weaker until it disappears:\n[V] Eventually, his anger dissipated. * [VN] Her laughter soon dissipated the tension in the air.\n  2  [VN] to waste sth, such as time or money, especially by not planning the best way of using it


Words: dissipated
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) enjoying activities that are harmful such as drinking too much alcohol:\nHe plays a dissipated American writer living in Europe.


Words: dissipation
Meaning:
noun [U] (formal)\n  1  the process of disappearing or of making sth disappear:\nthe dissipation of energy in the form of heat\n  2  the act of wasting money or spending money until there is none left:\nconcerns about the dissipation of the country’s wealth\n  3  (disapproving) living a life of harmful but enjoyable activities


Words: dissociate
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  (also disassociate) ~ yourself / sb from sb/sth to say or do sth to show that you are not connected with or do not support sb/sth; to make it clear that sth is not connected with a particular plan, action, etc:\nHe tried to dissociate himself from the party’s more extreme views. * They were determined to dissociate the UN from any agreement to impose sanctions.\n  2  ~ sb/sth (from sth) (formal) to think of two people or things as separate and not connected with each other:\nShe tried to dissociate the two events in her mind.\nOPP ASSOCIATE\n    dissociation  noun [U]:\nthe dissociation of political and moral ideas


Words: dissolute
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal, disapproving) enjoying immoral activities and not caring about behaving in a morally acceptable way


Words: dissolution
Meaning:
noun [U] ~ (of sth) (written)\n  1  the act of officially ending a marriage, a business agreement, or a parliament\n  2  the process in which sth gradually disappears:\nthe dissolution of barriers of class and race\n  3  the act of breaking up an organization, etc:\nthe dissolution of the Soviet Union


Words: dissolve
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [V] ~ (in sth) (of a solid) to mix with a liquid and become part of it:\nSalt dissolves in water. * Heat gently until the sugar dissolves.\n  2  [VN] ~ sth (in sth) to make a solid become part of a liquid:\nDissolve the tablet in water.\n  3  [VN] to officially end a marriage, business agreement or parliament:\nTheir marriage was dissolved in 1989. * The election was announced and parliament was dissolved.\n  4  (written) to disappear; to make sth disappear:\n[V] When the ambulance had gone, the crowd dissolved. * [VN] His calm response dissolved her anger.\n  5  [V] ~ into laughter, tears, etc. to suddenly start laughing, crying, etc:\nWhen the teacher looked up, the children dissolved into giggles. * Every time she heard his name, she dissolved into tears.\n  6  ~ (sth) (away) to remove or destroy sth, especially by a chemical process; to be destroyed in this way:\n[VN] a new detergent that dissolves stains * [V] All the original calcium had dissolved away.


Words: dissonance
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] (music) a combination of musical notes that sound harsh together\nOPP CONSONANCE\n  2  [U] (formal) lack of agreement\n    dissonant  adjective:\ndissonant voices / notes


Words: dissuade
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] ~ sb (from sth / from doing sth) to persuade sb not to do sth:\nI tried to dissuade him from giving up his job. * They were going to set off in the fog, but were dissuaded.


Words: distaff
Meaning:
noun\na stick that was used in the past for holding wool when it was spun by hand\n IDIOMS \n  on the distaff side (old-fashioned) on the woman’s side of the family


Words: distance
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C, U] the amount of space between two places or things:\na short / long distance * the distance of the earth from the sun * a distance of 200 kilometres * What’s the distance between New York City and Boston / from New York City to Boston? * In the US, distance is measured in miles. * The beach is within walking distance of my house (= you can walk there easily). * Paul has to drive very long distances as part of his job. * Our parents live some distance away (= quite far away).\nsee also LONG-DISTANCE, MIDDLE DISTANCE, OUTDISTANCE\n  2  [U] being far away in space or in time:\nDistance is no problem on the Internet.\n  3  [sing.] a point that is a particular amount of space away from sth else:\nYou’ll never get the ball in from that distance.\n  4  [U, C] a situation in which there is a lack of friendly feelings or of a close relationship between two people or groups of people:\nThere was a growing distance between the two sides of the family. * The coldness and distance in her voice took me by surprise.\n IDIOMS \n  at / from a distance from a place or time that is not near; from far away:\nShe had loved him at a distance for years.\n  go the (full) distance to continue playing in a competition or sports contest until the end:\nNobody thought he would last 15 rounds but he went the full distance.\n  in / into the distance far away but still able to be seen or heard:\nWe saw lights in the distance. * Alice stood staring into the distance. * Five miles of sand stretched away into the distance.\n  keep sb at a distance to refuse to be friendly with sb; to not let sb be friendly towards you:\nThe manager prefers to keep employees at a distance.\n  keep your distance (from sb/sth)\n1 to make sure you are not too near sb/sth\n2 to avoid getting too friendly or involved with a person, group, etc:\nShe was warned to keep her distance from Charles if she didn’t want to get hurt.\nmore at SHOUTING, SPIT v., STRIKE v.\n    verb [VN] ~ yourself sb/sth (from sb/sth) to become less involved or connected with sb/sth:\nWhen he retired, he tried to distance himself from politics. * It’s not always easy for nurses to distance themselves emotionally.


